Smashing Weather - Burton Joyce Day

Another Renishaw Hall picture. And I must admit that it made my remaining few socialist nerve-ends twitch abit when one had to pay to walk through the woods with no access to the house.

Admittedly the gardens were lovely and one had admission to a museum, and some interesting art-galleries. But "a tad on the big side for one family" I thought. Never mind 'eh? We had a super day out and we would like to go again. My loyal contributor 'Bungus' who saw this picture yesterday evening is of the opinion that I should have repositioned myself for the benefit of the fountain. But I didn't want the fountain right in the middle of the frame and I wanted to show the steps, statues and house. So consider it another 'record shot' dear boy.

A strange day, computer-wise. A close friend is very annoyed that WUforums have started attaching adverts to individual posts and isn't going to contribute anymore until they stop the practice. When I looked into it I found that where I had included the words 'computer' 'laptop' 'Wi-Fi' etc., the words were now bold and underlined and, if hovered over, produced a linked 'pop-up'. I composed a 'post' complaining that I felt I had copyright over my own words and objected to them being used in this way. Even Google is polite enough to put their 'related advertising' in a separate column, not inside the email itself. But eventually it was pointed out to me that according to a specific clause in the rules, the site-owners have the right to use a 'post' in anyway they choose. Others pointed out that it was up to me to install an efficient 'adblocker'. So, by early evening, I went on Open Forum and ran up a white flag

Thursdays is Yvonne's Burton Joyce 'grannying' day and I took her to the tram as usual. A charming incident took place. The tram she boarded was in fact the one before the one she intended and it wasn't quite 9.30am. She tendered her money but the conductor refused it and said "By the time I've been up the tram and come back it will be 9.30am and free". Who said the age of chivalry is dead ? She had a lovely day and is now Millicent's big buddy. She rushes to Yvonne with little arms outstretched and one would need a heart of stone not to pick her up - tiring though it is. Children can be so sensitive ! Hannah now gives me a sort of thigh-hug so I don't need to try to bend down to kiss her. When I arrived to pick Yvonne up they were playing footie in the garden and she was rushing about and kicking goals like a 20yr old. Lisa made me a hot drink and I sat and chatted to her about her cleaning-lady who is starting after Whit. Lisa has been reluctant, feeling that it is her role to deal with the house. But I made the point that I bet no previous occupants had done such a large house all by themselves. Lisa told me that originally the house had had servants, and when they first moved in someone researching their family-tree had a relative who had lived there. And that would be before the house was extended.

I had, as usual, put Jacket Potatoes in the oven, timed to be ready when we arrived back, and on Bungus's recommendation had used Estima as an alternative to my favoured Desiree or Maris Piper. He is certain to read this and it gives me no pleasure to say "they were rubbish". I prepared them exactly the same, gave them the same oven-time and temperature but, in comparison, the skins, instead of being crisp and crunchy were at best 'leathery'. Perhaps there is a secret.