Blood test - Karen day - Still cool and windy

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My blood test was before 9am and I was back home by 8.50am - Sheila the phlebotomist is so quick and reliable, and, it being 3 weeks since she had seen me she immediately said she could see I had lost some weight and it suited me. Well .....

Then Karen arrived and Y and I went to Jacksdale Garden Centre for some plants mainly for the ringaround bed in the front lawn. Oo0-er, if you open the link you will find a decent website. Obviously most pubs can't do it but garden-centres can.

We did a little shopping (good time to go - very quiet and unhurried and plenty of parking spaces). By the time we got back Alec had arrived to do some heavy jobs in the garden.

This afternoon I finished off de-weeding the ringaround and planted most of our newly acquired plants. They were in good order and nicely rooted. It's going to be a hotchpotch of little groups of geraniums, asters, petunias, lobelia and french marigolds. With Alec working in one part of the front garden and me working in another, the robin was 'spoilt for choice'. Wherever the most recently turned soil was, he was there. The photo on the left was the best I could manage. (a) he didn't like the camera and (b) brown birds don't show up well against brown soil.

I'm enjoying my little forays into the garden. Y is concerned lest I overdo it (as I do most things) but it IS good exercise, and from my kneeling mat I can't fall down very far. By-the-way I forgot to tell you but yesterday, the Dentist was very pleased with Y's teeth. "You really do look after your teeth don't you?" was his judgement as he told her no remedial wotk was necessary.


Although more guarded than the Robin about my presence Mrs. Blackbird decided the pickings were too good and plentiful to ignore.

The snap on the right demonstrates even more the problems of brown birds against brown backgrounds. Never mind - just a record shot anyway.

Y is also suffering aches & pains, and back-ache and we both needed a lie-down. But, due to Alec being here we decided one of us should stop up. Y took the first watch and then after an hour, I toook the second. It's abit much when you have to have naps in shifts !

Alec has promised us another day's work next week, probably Wednesday or Thursday by which time we shall have returned from our Norfolk break with Mansfield National Trust. We are really looking forward to it but unfortunately Peter and Joan aren't going.

WoW tomorrow. In Reg's absence, people are to meet here at the usual time. No decisions yet as to venue. Hope the weather is friendly.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... AVG is OK but it kept flashing messages at me ! My new Norton (effectively free!) beavers away quietly in the background and also offers me secure online storage space.

My first experience with headphones was a crystal-set I managed to build from a kit and I was allowed to have it in my boyhood bedroom. You see I was a radio fanatic even then ! Then you are right, I did have to use them during my National Service.

Jill .... I think we are all getting more accustomed to the new crossword compilers at The Telegraph. The way they flag anagrams, and sound-likes etc., is subtly different. Today I think there's a 'sound-like' flagged as 'noisily' which I thought quite clever.

What a shame your friend can't take an interest in the garden birds. Now they really do sound exotic. Parakeets and a Green Woodpecker. Brinsley wouldn't be ready for that.

By-the-way, rose varieties with multi-bloomed stems are usually called 'floribunda'.

Pete B .... A pleasure to plug your site. Unfortunately Reg is still on holiday but he is a 'red arrows' fan and in fact all aircraft. He is also a keen aero-modeller. Wow-ee, another link there well worth opening.

Rob ..... Nice to see you. I agree with your points overall and your concerns about the County Council in particular. Tracy says how helpful Labour have always been to her and her Arts Administration department. I wouldn't expect much from the Tories in that respect. She now has 140 people working for her and really fears cutbacks.

Y spoke to Margaret this morning and some interesting news about 'Lachs'. With The Panthers Coach's approval he is being 'poached' by Manchester. The Panther's coach feels the experience there will be very good for his career. Also he is having part-time release so he can go to Manchester University at the same time. Margaret of course refers to him as Robert and is very pleased for him, and proud of him too.

Its early days but I like the look of Norton 360.

I accept that compared with Tesco my earphones were pricey. But 'hey ! why not push the boat out ?

I agree - The Haiku certainly creaks abit.

jbw .... I'm mystified as to how you managed to uninstall Norton when you couldn't boot-up your computer.

I agree McAfee is good. And their SiteAdvisor is useful so long as not taken as gospel. Some of the sites they accord green, amber, or red ticks to, haven't been checked by them for a year or more.

..........................................

Quotation time .....

"The haiku lets meaning float; the aphorism pins it down"

Mason Cooley

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow - and, just for Rob -



I think it was one of his in the first place !
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A pleasant relaxing day - 57F - 7mph NEasterly

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Picture 1 is the old -fashioned Shrub Rose. We have no idea of a name but she does well each year.

Even though its been an easy-going sort of day we seem to have done lots. After breakfast and a good go at the Crossword (finished mid-afternoon) I managed an hour in the garden - my herb bed is more or less complete and the main task now is clearing out some very overgrown vinca minor.

Y decided to go swimming so I took her to the Hayley Leisure Centre and she walked back via the Headstocks.

She managed 10 lengths and has told you herself about the annoying Aqua Club old women who can't swim and just stand there occupying water-space !

For lunch I did a Quorn mince-substitute Spag.Bol which was OK - certainly not more and Y did jelly and greek yoghurt plus a little compote for pudding which redeemed the meal. This afternoon Y was at the Dentists and I did some computer jobs. The main one was uninstalling AVG (I've never liked it and it expired today anyway) then I installed Norton 360 which seems fine. I got 3 licences when it came with my new Dell laptop. Gone are the days when Norton was slow and clunky and slowed everything else to a crawl. This version suffers from none of that.

Picture 2 is of a sparrow on the nut-feeder. A common-or-garden House Sparrow I think, unless anyone knows better.

The weather has been so variable again. You look at the sky and think that it is going to pour, then 10 minutes later you are in bright sun.

While Y was actually in the Dentists I went to the Computer shop and bought some new earphones to fit my Sanyo DAB Radio/MP3 player. The were quite cheap, £4, but as my listeneing is restricted to the spoken word there was little point in posh expensive ones.

My responses to you previous comments

Jill ..... I bet your 'donner & blitzen' at 7am was quite scary. I'm not sure if the weather really is unusual or whether it sometimes is like this in June.

Re the Kalanchoe - I think I decided that, having done so well, it deserved the reward of the gravel in the saucer. Probably it is good for plants. acting as a slow release source of moisture but I'm not convinced it's essential.

Sorry to hear about the rain damage to your Albertine rose. I'm hazarding a guess that it will be a 'white' and, as a generalisation they don't seem to like wet weather at all. We had 'Iceberg' once but gave up on it for the same reason.

Bob .... I get over the foot-washing problem by sitting on the bathroom box and giving them the once-over with a flannel. JC never seems to be around when you need him !

Re 'infuser' names. I don't like 'mashball' at all. Sounds too much like something to do with Robocop.

Yvonne .... How philistine to describe Waiting for Godot as a load of rubbish. It is great play and, as you know, I rate Beckett.

jbw .... Thank you for your sweet comment about Millicent and big-school !

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Quotation time .......

"Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices"

Laurence J Peter

Sleep tight - I'll catch you tomorrow

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Y dead-heads the roses - I kipped a lot. Cloudy start.

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Thrushes are apparently endangered so I decided to publish a mug-shot of ours. I'm not sure where they are nesting but we see one most days.

The bird on the left looks very young. But not quite young enough to be this year's I suspect.

Yvonne has been busy this morning dead-heading the roses. Two points - (1) we have a lot of roses and (2) the garden so much repays her efforts because the roses now look super. They were fine before but even better now.

I was up quite early this morning and had breakfast, did a few crossword clues, and then announced I was going for a lie-down because my back was bad. Next thing I knew it was 2.30pm. My first thought was that it was 2.30am then, due to the light, I realised it was afternoon. I must have needed the sleep I suppose. Y had finished the crossword.

This afternoon I sorted out the recent pictures that WoW members have sent me. I uploaded them to a Picasa Web Album, sorted the captions out and reduced them to 1024, amended the Album title and then circulated everyone with the amended link.

My responses to your previous comments

jbw .... I yield the point about 3 dimensional views being necessary.

Jill .... A warm welcome back. Glad Bristol was 'interesting' but I am sorry about your hayfever. Even in towns, privet always triggers Y's. I'm not a sufferer at all, but I do sympathise.

Re Sat/Navs. I note that, within our Garmin, one can change 'the voice' were R to object to the lady suggesting that he turn left.

Your Bath day open-top bus trip sounds good. Plus the river trip. Y and I love a boat trip, anywhere.

Yvonne ...... No need at all to apologise for using the 'forum' aspect of the blog.

I am pleased when people follow up the 'comments' of other readers. It would indeed be boring stuff if only I was able to initiate a 'thread' for discussion.

Bob ..... I don't understand about the bus. Have you explained already? Can you tell the bus-driver where you want to go - like a taxi ?

We must try your brushwood solution (ha ha!) because this morning Y noticed an intrusive blackberry bramble and when they get a foothold .......

..................................

Quotation time .....

"Extreme thoughts take hold in his mind, like the brambles in a wild field. "

Denis Diderot

From her knowledge of 'The Enlightenment' Y will probably tell you all about Diderot and The Encyclopédie-ists in uder 200 words in her comment !

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow




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A first-class WoW at Dovedale - 60F - Little wind

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This morning I decided to WoW.

After picking up Helen and dropping Y at the Hayley Leisure Centre we went over to Reg's and Dovedale was selected as a venue. Quite a long way I suppose but it proved worth it.

We were lucky with the weather which stayed fine and there were a few brief periods of sun. We parked in the bottom car-park and, thanks to my wheels, I managed to walk as far as the Stepping Stones. The snap on the left is almost compulsory if you visit. And of course many boyhood memories came to me. Informal competitions were held to see who could run across the stepping stones quickest. There were several unplanned 'dips' and The Dove is a cold, cold river. We used to swim in it, further down, at Mappleton where the river is wider and deeper and lengthy periods in the water were not popular. Shall we say 'bracing' !

The 'chaps' went off on their customary trek but I found plenty of interest. Possibly the main thing was this 'Dipper' which I had noticed. I decided to sit down on my wheels chair and observe him/her and managed a few reasonable shots with my 70-300mm treasure.

Then, after staying still for some time the bird flew into this hole in the bank which closer observation revealed to be their nest. The 'dipping' is to collect water-borne insects and other fodder and you can see he has a beak-full.

Picture 3, below and on the left, is the nest and, after I'd found it I was hoping for an action shot of the bird flying in, or out. I sat there for probably 5 minutes but no luck.

When I got home and researched it I found this excellent website, by the RSPB of course, and when you have found your bird, you go to it via an alphabetical chart to particulars. And there's a button to click to hear it's song. Great fun !

For chip-cobs we went to The Cliffe Inn at Crich where we were greeted with the landlady's usual bon-homie and v.good chip-cobs. I had a cheese-cob instead and the home made 'Beetroot and Orange Chutney' was delicious.

When I arrived home I was delighted to open my blood-test result and find my INR level bang-on 3 - exactly where it should be. In consequence, I don't need to be re-tested till the 9th of June and there's no change to my Warfarin dosage.

Yvonne's good experience at the Hayley was great to hear about and she obviously enjoyed herself muchly. It is going to be 'her thing' and I have promised not to muscle in on it.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... Anglesey Abbey is near Cambridge not in Wales. I think I know how it got it's name but I can't remember.

The Big Issue can be v.good and it's heart is in the right place. The 'arts' coverage is often surprisingly good. Mind you, so is The Telegraph's.

Yvonne ...... So glad The Eastwood Hall, Hayley experience worked out so well and I promise not to interfere.

At lunchtime Reg told me that one can eat there and the Restaurant is first class. But prohibitively expensive. You can read his comment about the Jacuzi and the human wave-machine !

Perhaps, if you have more leaflets to deliver, it would be worth taking some kitchen-tongs with you. You could then push the leaflets right through and remain un-injured.

Jill ..... Re vegetables. There's undercooked and undercooked. We quite like al denté and dislike greens boiled till mushy and tinged yellow.

You and I can certainly sit in a swimming-pool lounge and be onlookers. We could amuse ourselves taking the mickey out of the actual swimmers and doing the Telegraph crossword.

Re my Tree book. No complaint about the pictures or the quality. But I wish it were a bigger book, with more entries.

Reg ..... I'll vouch for you. Definitely in Dovedale, followed by Crich.

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"Sleep tight - 10.30pm too late for a quote - catch you tomorrow"


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Busy,busy, day - this wind is making us unsettled

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I'd done a record-shot of branches being bent by the wind.

But it was ugly.

Jill's comment has just arrived saying that yesterday's snap showed the effect anyway.

So I've deleted it.

Instead you are treated to Incy Wincy Denis's Mandarin Duck. Much nicer pic Denis and thank you for it. This breed of duck is new in my collection and I must pay a visit to Colwick Park if the wildfowl are as exotic as this one. If you open the link there's another picture of a Mandarin Duck, on the water, 2nd row, left hand edge.

I personally didn't WoW today but the chaps went to Newark - a busy day in Newark because it's Market Day. Brian S and Terry S have already sent some pictures but I shall await the arrival of others before opening a Web Album. If I'm in too much of a hurry it only means I have to keep editing it.

Our day began quite early because we went to Ikea for breakfast. Before we went I potted-on 6 Basil seedlings, all of which were well rooted and looking healthy.

The picture on the right is the Palmers Green picture which Y wanted as a record of the rear of the house and also this beautiful wisteria currently in full flower. Y says that the blue of the blooms isn't blue enough. But it doesn't seem easy to fix. Anyway it is a very nice crisp picture and a good record of the Palmers Green house.

After Ikea Y went to Decathlon for swimming goggles for Elli, her existing ones are too big. Then we went to Heanor for cling-film from Aldi. It really is so good it's worth a special trip. The to Buy Right next door for odds and ends and a couple of those small self-assembly boxes.

Then to Netto at Langley Mill to see if they have any of the bird-feeder posts still in stock. They hadn't. So then to Lloyds TSB in Eastwood to ensure that all the financing of the Yaris had taken place, cheques paid in etc., thence to the Computer Shop for 'USB to Camera lead' for Y. And finally home and eventually lunch.

My responses to your previously written comments

Yvonne ..... I hope your letter is published by The Telegraph. Like you, I become more and more impressed with Vince Cable as each week progresses.

He shows good judgement and he keeps spotting things and making important points.

!00% agree with you about the new car. It's chubby little looks are beginning to appeal to me too. And I love the height off the ground and the better visibility all round.

Bob ..... Y's approach to travel by Coach, Rail or anything else is to try and enjoy the journey - looking at different things and places but, above all, her MP4 player, books, and newspapers.

Interesting about 'keel over'. Someone once made the point that when we are in trouble we use nautical metaphors, 'touch on the tiller' etc. But when things are going well we use motoring metephors like 'firing on all four cylinders' and so on.

Jill ..... I remember your letter in the Telegraph. We had to get Marilyn round at the Shop to organise an extra copy didn't we?

During my working life I had quite a lot of things published by The Telegraph, The Times and other more scurrilous organs. All work based though.

Comparitive sizes remain a mystery don't they and I'm prepared to let them be so. Almost linked is the ideal vessel for things? Fine bone china certainly improves the flavour of tea. Those really heavy, over-sized jam jar type beer glasses wreck the taste of Real Ale. Brandy glasses are just right for brandy etc, etc, although I've never been able to explain why these things matter.

................................

I don't think we actually need a quotation today. This picture says lots.

I'm somewhere between 8 and 9 I'm afraid - on a good day.

And I've pinched the following line from Pete Brady


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Action-packed Tuesday - still a coldish wind

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Thought I'd better start with the Great Tit chicks, courtesy of Y, from Steve's Telly. Shame the nest-box camera isn't colour because you can just imagine those wide open yellow gapes. But gosh, the technology is wonderful enough anyway and who am I to knock Black & White ? Roy would probably say "It looks better anyway"

Nice photo Y and it records where the little family are now at.

This morning I had my regular blood test and then Brian came to sort out my printers. And what a difference he has made. We did a print on my old Epson (after he'd got it going) and then he adjusted the colours, minus a little magenta to rid the clouds of a pinky tinge, then adjustments to cyan and yellow to rid the greens of a blue-ey cast, and the difference is truly remarkable. And he decided that the problem with the HP was probably simply that the black cartridge had expired.

This afternoon I was at the obesity-clinic and I have regained over 2lbs. At least it reassured my 'advisor' that my weight-loss IS due to changing the amount I ate and not due to some underlying or worrying cause. So, back to more rigorous eating habits.

Picture 2 is part of the steel-band from yesterday and is again, courtesy of Y's new camera. The band was actually about 3 times this size and filled the rest of the stage to the left (the bit shown was about a third).

TJ had organised this item, see Y's comment. And all in all the event was a great success and Steven in his role as Chairman, did extremely well. But Oh Boy ! did he work hard. Well done.

I enjoyed my picture-judging contribution which, Steve assured me had "gone down a storm!" - (I think that is good?) and that everyone had much appreciated my hand-written comments on their entry cards. I only put comments on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category - not on all 50+.

Picture 3 is from David and family at Whitby. They have returned now but had a super time.

They caught crabs and enjoyed the Morris Dancers.

Their Caravan was based at Low Moor nr Sneaton and, from the look of the website, seems well up to normal Caravan Club standards. Which ARE high and well justify the annual subscription in my opinion.

As David says re Robin Hood's Bay/Whitby I would have speed-control difficulties going down the hill to the sea-front. He says nothing about the return journey.

This evening was the last National Trust Tuesday lectures of the winter season and was an excellent talk, with films and slides, by Stuart Rose about the Historic Village of Laxton which is still farmed on the medieval 'strip system'. Stuart is Trustee of the Visitor Centre, among other responsibilities which you will understand better if you open the link. Lovely website which is a credit to its author. He came with 'assistants' and I suspect that the lady operating the Microsoft Powerpoint programme was that person.

Laxton is only a few miles from Bob and I believe he knows Stuart Rose.

We saw Peter and Jean and Colin and Margaret, Wendy and and and -- too many to mention. There was a certain attraction to being able to sit and gossip without tearing up raffle tickets, counting money, making notes to thank the speaker and all of Y's previous multifarious jobs.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to WoW and, as usual we are meeting at Reg's just before 10am to decide on a 'place to go'.

My responses to your previously made comments

Helen C .... Trust me ! The Atrium picture will do well for you.

Re words ..... 'Lapidary' seems a fair swap for 'Eidetic' (in your e-mail)

Garages are strange things. Y always hopes that ours can remain tidy whereas I consider it a place in which to store things. I think Reg once said that you keep lengths of wood knowing you will need them one day. And then when you do, each piece is just 6 inches too short. Most young people think it reasonable to have £12,000 worth of car standing on the drive whilst the garage is full of £120 worth of junk.

Yvonne .... Thanks for your report on the Carnival. A great success indeed. And great credit to your boy.

Bob ..... Thanks for your Gar(b)age photo. Space limitations are the only reason it isn't 'blogged'.

Like you my knowledge of Rimbaud is limited. I suppose I must have read something of his, in an anthology or something. But nothing that hit me between the eyes. His wiki page describes him as a French libertine and a restless soul - so he might be worth a dib into.

Pete .... I think Y could set up a garage-tidying service ! But its the travel you know and I'm not sure I could release her just at the moment.

Thanks for the swing bridge picture. Again - pressures of space ......

Jill ..... Thats a good thing about 'Golden Slumbers' - it seems to have spawned a host of versions.

Re Yvonne and Garages...... I'm afraid she can't be spared at present. Far too much to do looking after me. I hope your planned 'meet' comes to pass while she is down your way. And I know she would really like to see Barbara again.

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It's nearly 11pm and I'm too tired to dig out a quotation


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Moorgreen Woods - 63F and 3mph S wind - Sunny !

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This morning Y and I ventured out for an hour and went to the woods in which Helen C had mentioned bluebells. We followed her excellent directions but then, having parked the car and, while following a path we bore left instead of right and went up this hard-core hill (see centre shot) unnecessarily. Eventually we retraced our steps and were amply rewarded by a lovely walk which we intend to revisit. There are so many good walks in the area and although I had several sit-down pit stops thanks to my wheels we covered quite a distance.

For the collage I managed to capture a female Chaffinch and a Speckled Wood butterfly. Across the top is today's mystery bird. Although it had a reddish head I'm fairly sure it wasn't a Goldfinch. Also it had a sweet and complicated song which more or less rules out a Woodpecker, and anyway, it wasn't quite big enough.

The day has been idyllic. The chilly wind has almost gone away. Merely a leaf-rustler which you can't feel at all in some places. Walking down the path in the central collage shot it was great to feel the sun on your back.

In my bedroom I have set the lay figure to guard my glass bottle-top. I had a nap this afternoon but not a lengthy one.

I haven't heard from the WoW-ers yet but I guess that wherever they went they would have enjoyed the lovely weather.

The Budget will not be discussed. As the Matt cartoon said this morning "Is it possible to be alarmed and bored at the same time?"

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ...... I couldn't discover much about Tomasto but I agree it sounds interesting. You and I both love words that sound as if they should be something else. Only this morning while looking for something to spit my prune stones into I had the experience with Ramekin. The word sounds as if it should be a little helper, like Santa's elves.

Tomasto incidentally is a large American family mostly in the New York area.

And I am firmly with Yvonne over the question of Christian names. Why should we be bullied into 'forenames' anyway when we live in a Christian Country, where the Church of England is The Established Church. As I have said before, with strangers I will settle for either Mr. Marsden or Sir.

I have noticed that Consultants for instance always get it right. It is only when we are being addressed by people from the shallow end of the gene pool, like hospital receptionists, that a rude informality creeps in.

................................

Quotation time .......

"Oh thou monster ignorance, how deformed dost thou look !"

Shakespeare - Love's Labour's Lost

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Blood test day - feeling good - 67F 2mph E wind

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The first of two 'collages' today.

Whilst I still want a good close-up of our Robin I liked this picture enough to 'collage' it with the young Blackbird adjacent. In both birds I am taken by their feet.

(I can hear Steve saying "You should get out more")

The two birds compete in the early hours as to who can sing the loudest and sweetest, and in my opinion its neck and neck. Or should I say throat and throat.

The Blackbird is not tolerant of other visitors and frequently chases Tits and the Thrush away. The Goldfinches make a token movement but fly back within seconds.

The second 'collage' is from my boyhood edition (1912) of Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert.

Robin and Little John fighting on the bridge is compulsory but I used to find (aged 11yrs) that 'Robin shoots his last shaft' very moving.

I must have read the novel 20 times and always had to linger at that bit.

If I did the same, it would entail Y interring me somewhere in the middle of the Football Field.

To return to reality. Blood Test this morning, so I'm now awaiting a call, or not, from the clinic. Most likely they will ring because even if my INR is coming down, as we hope, a Warfarin dosage change is still likely.

I have felt pretty good today so I don't want it to be spoiled. Lunch was a spag/bol which worked fine, followed by Icecream in Wafers which Y got just right. This afternoon, after a nap, I went over to Colliers Wood hoping for some pics, but there wasn't much that was photogenic.

We hope Jill and Roland got off to Durham successfully. If the weather continues as today they will enjoy it. Now there IS a photogenic spot and Durham Cathedral is one of the outstanding examples of Norman architecture in Europe.

My responses to your previously made comments

Bob ..... Thanks for the Sports Desk update.

And you don't have to contemplate 'milk and a slice of lemon' in tea. A straightforward typo, I think, because I have one or the other. And I have realised that if I am going to have the lemon version I only need to let it brew for 1½ to 2 minutes at the most. Otherwise it tastes really stewed.

Plus, I am now drinking black coffee, and I need this to be much weaker than hithertofore.

Well. Fancy that. Would you believe it?

According to my Colliers Wood Dandelion its 5.40 pm already.

That was the only halfway decent picture I managed to shoot this afternoon.

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Quotation time ...............

"When shepherds pipe on oaten straws
And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks
When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,
And maidens bleach their summer smocks."

Shakespeare - Love's Labour's Lost

I've published nearly the whole stanza because a few days ago folks had difficulty working out the meaning of the bit I quoted....... Come to think of it - you don't see, or hear many skylarks these days do you?

p.s Stop Press - The Clinic rang at 6.30pm. My INR level is down to 3.3 so Hoo Rah ! And a slight dosage change. Further test Monday 27th April 09. Real progress.

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Wet and windy again - 46F NE wind at 6mph

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Another fairly short blog because I'm still suffering a bit. I seem to have reached the stage of "frequent naps interspersed with rest periods". Y was going to ring up and cancel her usual Thursday at Burton Joyce but I persuaded her I was quite OK to be left, and I have been. I haven't eaten much, a few dry biscuits and a clementine, and I seem to have gone right off strong tea and coffee - don't know what that's all about ! I'd done jacket potato and salad for evening meal, on Y's return, but I left half of mine.

The picture on the left is a further adventure in bottle-top country.

Some fascinating images are available to experiment and I've discovered that manual focus is better so as to get the image in the sphere sharp rather than anything else. On auto-focus it was all over the place.

Interestingly one can see the whole patio, the potted plant which becomes the background in the snap, not to mention the garage, garden etc. I suppose it's like a fish eye lens on the cheap, with added interest.


My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne .... Thanks for the Sports Desk update. I listened on Tuesday night to hear if you were shouting "Chelsea, Chelsea, easy, easy" but, as you explained, it was a hard match.

JBW .... Thank you for your good wishes. You are right about tablets in general and their side effects. One ponders on the fact that our parents didn't take all these tablets. They didn't, but they died ! My Dad had the same heart condition as me, in that era untreatable, and he died when he was 64yrs. And I've really enjoyed the bonus 10yrs so far, so I'm not really complaining.

Tilly - Glad you enjoyed the woodpecker. Grandma has told me how brave you have been - again ! ...... and that you have had a further 3 teeth removed. One really difficult one which was growing behind one you need to keep. And you haven't complained, not even once ! We are really proud of you.

Bob ..... Don't worry about 'lost response points'. I'm sure I repeat myself often enough for you to find a suitable place in the future to drop them in.

Thanks also for your Sports Desk take. There is so much of interest to come.

Jill ..... Glad to be back too. Even though you say it's your daily fix, we all love your comments - always relevant, and witty with it. What could be better ?

Like you, I'm quite sure of the greenfinch's identity. I know of no other garden bird with such a fearsomely powerful beak. Odd areas of colouring can be so subject to the light.

I'm sure your gardener Martin sounds like a knowledgeable chap.. Trees and shrubs can look dead but then suddenly come back. We had a big garden fuchsia that looked done-for and the next spring I was going to dig out the root-ball. Lo and behold, it started sprouting. As I think we've said before, I think that if you threaten them, they start off again.

Helen C .... Thanks for your comment. It's true that I no long feel at death's door but I'm still not too well.

Pete ..... Thanks. I hope so too. I've sent you a collage of a snap of me next to the picture of you that you published in Ramsay Ramblings. When Y first saw it she thought it was me...... How peculiar!

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Quotation time ......

"Without observance or respect of any,
In will peculiar and in self-admission"

Shakespeare - Troilus and Cressida

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Good to be back - 57F - 15mph NE - very windy

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How lovely it was, this morning, to emerge from my bedroom and to lurch into my office next door. So welcoming !

Senior Management has issued strict instructions that I am only to pen a mini-blog and I shall do as I'm told. Thank you all for your good wishes and I do feel quite a lot better. The doctor rang this morning and she is sure that the coughing-up blood is due to internal bleeding caused by my Warfarin dosage. We decided to do nothing rash until my INR level is down to normal. If I am still coughing blood then, that will be the time to explore different procedures. She knows how reluctant I am to go into hospital and is very level headed. We trust her judgement.

Before I left my bedroom I managed a few bird pictures and this 'collage' is the result. A blackbird in full song, an evil looking greenfinch, and a startled great tit.

I was very proud of Y, taking over the editor's chair for a day, but now I am back. She is really busy because I leave everything to her at the moment. Excellent meals have been produced and and gardening has been done, not to mention all the washing and stuff. TJ as always has been concerned and thank you Jill for keeping an eye on me, via Yvonne.

I hope the WoW-ers had a good day p.s. an e-mail just in from Helen tells me the weather in Matlock Bath was pretty awful. So I won't expect too many pictures. Bet the pub was good though.

If 'comments' posted earlier, remain unacknowledged, I crave your indulgence.

Quotation time .....

"As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free"

Shakespeare -The Tempest: V,1

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Easter Saturday - Millicent's 4th - 49F 2mph E wind

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Shortly after 10am Y disappeared with Tracy to go to Millicent's 4th birthday thrash at Manor Farm at East Leake.

The Farm is full of fun things for children to do. Birds and animals to stroke, donkeys to ride, walls to climb - phew !

Picture 1 shows Y with a tame Owl called Misty. I had my doubts at first but was assured that the birds have all been rescued from bad conditions where they have been mistreated and starved and stuff. So I guess Manor Farm is better. Y says they all seemed happy enough.

Millicent is going through an "I love ponies phase" so, poor Steven, I guess it is just a matter of time.......

I was excused duty and left at home to mess-about, which I managed to do plenty of.

My Reg Cure problem is well in hand and I have sent the firm the 'Scrn Prts' they need to diagnose what's holding things up. I also spent several hours spring-cleaning My Pictures, moving old picture material to Ext Hard Disc, rationalising folders and things - all jobs which have needed to be done for some time.

Also sorted out Picasa WebAlbums re WoW material.

Photo 2 is by way of another photographic experiment. Y had thrown out a posh bottle of bath gunge with a spherical glass stopper and, as it was waiting to go into the appropriate re-cycling box, I noticed that the top was acting as a lens. So I had a play with it. More will follow.

David texted me to say they had arrived at Stanmore Hall Touring Site near Bridgnorth and they had settled in comfortably. The website looks most attractive and I'm sure they will have a great time.

When Y and TJ returned I cooked the promised lamb-chops, a rather delicate eschallot-sauce, pan-fried potatoes, carrots, fine beans and purple-sprouting. Much praised and even though I sez it as shouldn't ...... Some nice fancies for pudding and TJ found room for some stilton and fudges 'thins' for a final course.

My responses to your previous comments

JBW .... People do so enjoy their caravans and your friends pursuits seem harmless enough.

Re the 'smiley'. I keep my eyes open and wherever I see a promising looking 'icon' or 'animation' I simply right-click it and 'save as'. Then, when it is in My Pictures, I have a folder called 'current icons' in which I store them. The 'caravan' came originally from Rob I remember.

I also subscribe to a file-hosting site called Walagata. Please click and I store lots of different material from documents to icons and animations there. The idea of a file-hosting site is not only storage but anything you store there is given a URL (http etc..) which means I can post a link either on the blog, or in an e-mail etc.. Although the package I have with Walagata is a paid-for one there are several free ones around.

Bob ..... I suppose 'looking forward to forecasts' is the only option really.

Obviously you are right about the background to the freesias but it was only a record-shot, as usual.

Jill ..... Y and I both love freesias ! The scent is intriguing and quite unmistakable.

I'm sure the History of Guernseys would stand serious research. This site please click makes them sound most attractive. The oiled wool sounds just the thing for serious outdoor activity but, as you say, it must have been the very devil to knit.

Rob .... You will be most welcome to borrow the Weather Forecasting book ! It is, as I think I said, unputdownable ! Its emphasis is perhaps a little 'coastal' but all the explanations are fascinating. The first thing to do is to stand with your back to the surface wind and then, look up to see what the upper clouds are doing etc.. etc...

Thanks for your concern and, as you will derive from all the above, I am feeling much rested. Plenty naps. But the day-length is confusing me. I wake up at say 6.30 and the only clue whether it's morning or evening is pyjamas or underpants.

You are right about the 'still-lifes' and backgrounds. Simple carelessness Sir ! I'll do better next time.

Thanks for the update to the Sports Desk.

Helen C ..... We must use our sunrise/sunset gadgets to find the best time to photograph the Hucknall Miner. I'm so glad that you like it too. Great piece of work !

I'm sure that, with some careful planning, we can minimise the effetcs of the surrounding clutter.

Glad you liked the Shakespeare quote. It seemed germane.

I don't know if you saw this site please click when I posted details of it the other day. Although at first sight it looks like a simple rhyming dictionary it is in fact much much more. If you enter your word and then click the down arrow at the side of the 'find rhymes' box there is a drop-down menu of all other goodies. Including Shakespeare, And then, when it has found your word in Shakespeare, you click 'the play' at the right hand side and the whole scene unfolds before your very eyes.

Fancy 'knock, knock whos there?' being Shakespearean.

I can play with it for hours.

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Quotation time .......

"The midwife wonder'd and the women cried
O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth"

Shakespeare - King Henry V1 Part 111

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow - weather looks dodgy though"


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Good day at Clumber - Weather pleasant but coolish

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Even before we set off for our Wedding Anniversary day at Clumber I managed this quick picture of a Great Tit sitting just above the feeders, in the ornamental Rowan.

As you can probably remember I've been trying for sometime to get a halfway decent pic of one of these.

It isn't brilliant but, yet again, a record.

Their colouring is so strong it is difficult to quieten the contrast down a tad without rendering the picture completely wishy-washy.

We enjoyed a leisurely start to the day - why not? - we thought. It is our anniversary. When we reached Clumber we decided on lunch first followed by walk down to the lake, through the woods, then the walled garden and the glass-houses and finally back to the Restaurant for scone with jam and cream, plus tea. For our main meal we both decided on the fish-pie (an excellent decision because it was delicious) followed by bread & butter pudding and custard. One portion would have been enough for us both. But both courses were very good. Can recommend the Restaurant - and I noted the vegetarian options for Helen and Julian.

During our woodland walk I spotted and managed to capture a snap of this tiny bird. At first I thought it was a wren, but now I can see the photograph I am not sure. It is, I'm afraid a wobbly photo but perhaps enough for an ID. Any help, or ideas, would be welcomed.

When we arrived at the walled garden it was well worth the extended walk. And, with benefit of wheels, I managed with just one sit down. They really have extended my range quite dramatically. I'm so pleased for Yvonne's sake because she does so love a walk. My frequent camera-stops can irritate her but, overall, she is very patient with her patient.

We drove home the picturesque route, through Edwinstowe and hit the rush-hour in Mansfield Woodhouse. But a minor matter.

I've still got computer jobs to complete but they will just have to wait their turn.

My reponses to your previously posted comments

Yvonne ...... Going back to 50s cricket, the fast bowling was dominated by Freddie Truman and Brian Statham. If it hadn't been for them Derbyshire's Les Jackson would have collected many more England Caps. He deserved them.

David ...... You are quite right about 'endoscopy'. Merely a little poetic licence I'm afraid.

Bob ..... The Tesco kidneys sound a real bargain. But with most offal I have to be quite careful because Y can be a little picky re them.

I think Y eventually tracked down a list of 'players' in the Ashes series in question. But I know it wasn't easy. I bet she will provide a workaround though.

My 'giant leap forward' was a 'leap in the dark' to 'where the sun never shines'.

Rob ..... Talking about radio and sport - Y has just listened to Liverpool v Chelsea on BBC 5 live and loved every minute of it. From the other end of the house I could hear chortles, boos, and even applause ! She explored the idea of watching it live online but it would have involved paying Sky £2 and she didn't like the sound of that.

We must get little Den back on the blog and we must gentle him into being Dennis instead of Incy Wincy.

Jill .... My interest in football is about the same as yours, and it doesn't make us bad people. Looking out of my office-window I can see a beautiful moon - now that is interesting.

Hannah will be pleased with your comment about her teeth. She knows it will all have been worth it, when, as a a beautiful 16yr old she is flashing white bright smiles around !

So nice to have a blog-comment from her anyway. It stops us fogeys sinking too far into fogey-hood.

Coots can certainly be aggressive. I had a colleague (unfortunately no longer with us) Bernard John Clegg Coote and he was. - shall we say assertive ?

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Our EPS vice-chairman Tim Dawson works in the local Met.Office and he had previously e-mailed me information on the Beaufort Wind Scale - having picked up my interest from the blog.

He has written his own version for photographers. Please click here. I rate it as 'very funny' and an 'excellent piece of writing'. Congratulations Tim !

The © copyright remains strictly with him. And I can prove the date of publication.

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Quotation time ......

"Anything too stupid to be said is sung"

Voltaire

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"


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Tuesday Karen day - 55F SW at 8mph - Shopping

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Yesterday on our Codnor Reservoir walk we saw this Coot's nest. Obviously comfortable enough to sit in but not quite complete.

If we assume that Mrs Coot is sitting in the nest Mr Coot was bringing quite large reed leaves in his beak. These were graciously received by Mrs Coot who set them around her.

I wasn't lucky enough to snap the actual handing-over bit. Charming scene though.

Today we decided against a walk because of an 'obesity-clinic' appointment and we also decided against National Trust this evening. I'm waiting to see if the clinic change my warfarin dose and don't want to venture out unnecessarily. It is the first time for years when we haven't had to go.

The 'obesity-clinic' lady is very pleased with my progress. I have lost a further 2 kgs (4.40lbs) which she considers a good result. I have to go again in a fortnight but then it may be modified to monthly visits.

Picture 2 is the Ring doves in the Silver Birch tree and I'm not sure what to make of it. They are usually in pairs and I'm not sure Brinsley is ready for a dove 'Ménage à trois' just yet.

Virgin media problems continue, both TV and Broadband. Sometimes we have to shut-down and reboot several times a day

One of today's problems though was due, we think, to Karen being a little vigorous with the hoover at the back of the TV. In the absence of a picture, closer examination revealed a scart-lead detached. David has told us we really need a multi-jack scart lead to take stress away from the existing ones. We will get one on Friday. Tomorrow we are hoping to go to Clumber Park for our wedding-anniversary outing and a meal.

My responses to your previous comments

David ..... I 'googled' the Wineglass Dinghy and they don't look as nice as your Topper Buzz. In fact I thought that, in comparison to your boat, they look rather boring.

And I also looked briefly at the handicap system - but didn't pursue it.

Bob..... Hope all was well with your 'endoscopy' and they get to the bottom of it.

We intended to watch The Book Quiz over our mid-day meal. But please see above re Virgin problems.

Y had a good time googling Ashes series, and teams (players) names this morning. I think she is beginning to grasp the power of the internet.

I like your FA interest in soccer. Me too ! And No! I didn't rise to the dizzy rugby heights of Harlequins. My limit was playing for the Police (Notts) the RAF in Germany and here a County Trial (unsuccessful).

Jill ..... Celandines are no trouble to anybody and I can't understand the RHS's strictures. Creeping-Buttercup now IS a problem. We spent many hard hours eradicating it, or trying to, at our Derby Road house.

Reg has answered your mining queries so I won't go over the same ground.

Yvonne ..... Going over to Swarkestone to see David & Helen sailing, plus the girls would be very pleasant. We must mention it directly.

Reg ..... You make a very good point about the cost of tickets to first class Cricket in the 50s and before. My pocket-money wasn't large but I was able to go.

Being Derbyshire of course, Cliff Gladwin, Les Jackson and earlier Bill Copson were my schoolboy heroes. When the daily paper had been read I used to cut out the cricket results from the back page and paste them into an exercise book.

If Dennis comes on the blog we must tell him that, under the new rules, he will have to be Dennis now and not Incy Wincy.

Tilly .... Nice to have you back and hear your news Hannah. You are being very brave with regard to your teeth.

Glad you liked the 'headstocks' pictures. I seem to remember that you took a picture of Brinsley Headstocks for a competition and it did well. If it is easy for you to access it and you could e-mail it to me, I would be delighted to publish it on the blog.

It will be nice if you can meet up with the Long Eaton folks when you are in Dorset.

Pete .... Glad you liked the canal picture. I'm sure there will be more as the year progresses.

AnonymousHelen .... Kind of you to ring to explain the blogger.com-glitch. There seems to have been a lot of them just lately.

However, when you mentioned Julian in your last sentence, it was a sort of clue !

I agree with you about the nit-picking attitude to the 'listing' of the headstocks. I think we have all seen 'listed' buildings with quite modern windows in them for instance. Probably Bob knows much more about this than I do.

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Another cartoon form Squiffy's Multiple Scleroris website

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Quotation time .......

"There cannot be any more crises this week. My schedule is already full"

Henry Kissinger

and thanks again to Ray for this 'smiley' he knew the gears working would appeal


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Canal-side Walk - 54F - SW at 3mph - Steak and Chips

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We had a lovely walk this morning. Starting off at the Langley Mill end of the Nottingham/Cromford Canal - not a great distance but I managed it with only one stop for a sit down. We went outwards via the footpath and returned along the canal bank. This bridge is almost at the end of the walk. Lots of photogenic things and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Y was very patient because, being a rambler, she wants to stride purposefully forward.

There's been quite a lot of work down there too (still the same council) and small areas have been fenced off into wild-life friendly enclosures.

Talking of which I acquired a good specimen for my bird collection. A tree-creeper no less. If you look closely you can see what big feet he/she has.

He was creeping up a post however rather than a tree. The picture won't win any prizes - but I don't want it to, it's just a record-shot for my collection and to illustrate the blog.

We didn't see many people. Family with bicycles, families with dogs. men with dogs, a fisherman with fishing tackle ....that sort of thing .....

When we got home, after a sit, I cooked Steak, mushrooms, eggs, and chips. For pudding Y did hot Syrup pudding and Custard. Not very 'obesity-clinic' but it IS Sunday.

My responses to your previous comments

Rob .... Strange about the localised nature of the Virgin 'outage' as they called it. It was restricted to NG16 which must mean you aren't NG16 I suppose. Anyway, I was happy enough with my 'dongle' and quite enjoyed being sort of self-sufficient. And Vodafone were most helpful. I had a box flash up saying I had exceeded my limit. But I hadn't in fact, and a very helpful young lady, probably in India, talked me through upping my monthly limit from 50mbs to a respectable 2500mbs, at no extra cost.

I actually watched the Nimmo Brothers YouTube link which I posted and I liked them. Quite a grungy sound I thought, And they aren't kids which is nice.

Bob ...... Bad luck about the horses. But console yourself. If you had actually backed them, they would probably have lost.

I thought folks would like your 'bike on the pit-tip' collage. Such a poignant picture. Are you sure the cyclist's body isn't in the water ?

You are quite right about tonights's telly viewing. Thank goodness for BBC iPlayer and Catchup TV.

Re - Headstocks. Reg's explanation is first rate but I think Jill, and everybody else too, would like to see a shot of Clipstone's headstocks, dramatic as they are. You took some from the bus I seem to remember - if your impeccable filing system etc ......

Re - JBW. There is no fakir to stand comparison.

Jill .... Sound advice with the Kerria. Cutting back to ground level works wonders for many plants.

Glad you enjoyed the 'collage' and Reg's piece about 'headstocks' is faultless. It doesn't need adding to. And we all seem in agreement about pies too.....

And you are right about the sunshine. It lifts everyone's spirits. Particularly after such a long, hard, winter.

Yvonne ..... As you say, fancy you missing the internet ! Never thought ... ...

I know your approach to pain makes sense. But even you can't always control your face. And when your bursitis strikes, a big wince is inevitable.

I'm sure the Sports Desk will be pleased with your input. But shouldn't you be reporting ladies tennis and lacrosse and things like that. Rather than Soccer, Ice Hockey and Rugby League ! ...... I speak in jest ! And when you see Margaret Mulligan and have a snippet about Lachs .... you can WoW them all.

Reg ... Thanks for the spot-on explanation of 'headstocks'.

When I was at Langold, a pal of mine was the Engine-Wright. What a skilled job ! It's probably different now but in those days he had to work out how to stop the cage precisely at the bottom of the shaft. Or at different seams on the way down. This of course varied from time to time and ropes stretched, and shrank. And lives depended on his skill.

Like 4 ticks, son David had a temp. job at Northern Foods - to begin with, squirting hot jelly in the hole at the top of pork pies.

He went on to work for them full time and was making a good career for himself in management. Then he decided on a complete career change and now teaches Maths.

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I had a nice chat to David this morning and secured Sky's permission to use a few lines of her poetry. She has been collecting together 20 poems to send to her adult Poet friend who wants to see them.

She wanted to complete that assignment before I published anything. They are on holday now and on Friday morning are off to Shropshire with the Caravan. Here's hoping they have a lovely time and great weather.

Quotation time ......

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and the shadows will fall behind you"

Walt Whitman

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Abnormal Wednesday - Not WoW-ing - 54F and Mild

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Although I didn't WoW myself I wanted to open with this picture of Brian S's. As I said yesterday they visited Nottingham's canal and I guess this is some modern development of expensive waterfront apartments. They look good though.

I love the light. As a sucker for good architectural photos - if you throw in some water and reflections, not to mention a bit of foliage breaking up the sky in the corner, well .........

I took Y to the tram this morning as she was meeting Joan for lunch at The Bell, they secured their favourite table (previously booked) in the window overlooking the square and they had a great time.

On the bit of dual carriageway, just before turning into Phoenix Park tram station, I spotted this bed of wild primroses. So I went back after dropping Y.

Not since boyhood have I seen such an extensive bed. The Ashbourne ones always used to flourish on a particular slightly sloping bank. The genuine wild ones seem to enjoy a slight tilt to their environment. Guess it is to do with drainage.

Had a good day doing all sorts of things. Finished the Telegraph crossword, listened to the afternoon play which starred Ricky Tomlinson and Johnny Vegas -

A Question of Royalty - By Andrew Lynch

Two bungling losers, self-employed plasterers, blithely ignorant of the constitutional crisis their action could precipitate, steal The Queen's wedding certificate while working on the refurbishment of the Public Records Office

A funny play which I recommend if you listen to radio at all. Please click here

You might like the love-birds on the left.

It seems to have got to that time of year doesn't it ?

They will soon be at it up in Boughton I've no doubt. My x2 converter works, but focussing is a helluva problem. Without autofocus it seems very easy to get the twigs in front sharp and the birds fuzzy.

I've also fixed a couple of computer problems which I won't bore you with. It also came to my attention that Twitter is to restrict people to one tweet a day, and their word-count is 149 characters. Characters folks, not Words. (I suppose this also could be an April Fool's joke, but we don't 'twitter' so we don't know).

At my request Y has swapped my winter duvet for my summer-weight one. I hope I haven't been hasty.

Tomorrow Y is at Burton Joyce so I shall, as usual, do plenty of 'messing about'. I also think I may give EPS a miss and save myself for the following week when our young ladies Millie and Frankie are having the evening to themselves. It'll be standing room only.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... I assume your Jessica story about 'gullible' was an April Fools day joke !

Re Collages - I think this is the answer. When you open 'collages', set 'picture pile'. With Picasa 3 you can left button and drag each picture to exactly where you want it to be. At the side of each picture is a red button, via this you can tilt and enlarge each constituent picture separately, and finish up with just what you want. Try experimenting with it. Let me know how you get on.

Yvonne ..... I think we were both fooled to begin with. Before we looked at the calendar.

Tracy ..... How nice of you to put in a guest appearance.

Jill .... I was fooled by almost all the news-stories. When I read about the fish generating electricity by twanging the wires I actually thought "They will hardly generate anything at all". I never thought April Fool. So I certainly was gullible !

The 'high up the ankle' boots are OK for walking in or sitting in. But dangerous to drive in. They are rather insensitive under-foot. As I've found, managing to depress accelerator instead of brake. I was in the drive fortunately. and immediately moved my foot.

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Quotation time ...... I've heard this one before but I don't think I've used it here...

"There is no reciprocity. Men love women, women love children, children love hamsters."

Alice Thomas Ellis

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"