Karen day - Y 'hair' and then 'nails' at Sherwood

Steven sent these pictures from their holiday in Scotland and, for space reasons, I've collaged them together. He also sent some lovely people pictures not for publishing because Y doesn't like the idea of worldwide access to them, particularly the children.

Although the above two snaps depict rather forbidding weather they have had some sun too and sound very much as if they are enjoying themselves which is the main thing. The children are at a super age to amuse themselves, and, with Millicent, no-one will be bored.

I'm so pleased to be able to publish the picture on the left - to demonstrate the return of the Goldfinches.

The level of thistle seed in their feeder had not been going down very much but, over the last couple of days they have made up for lost time.

The Great Tits are more active but are such frenzied feeders (mostly peanuts) its hard to get a decent sharp photograph. I shall keep trying however and when I succeed mug-shots will appear herein.

This morning Karen arrived just before 9.30am and Y's Hair appointment wasn't till 10.45am so we didn't rush out. Its nice to see her for an hour anyway - we learn lots about 'how the other half lives' not Karen, who is quite normal but some of her neighbours and their friends. She sometimes does cleaning jobs for her landlord and she agreed to clean up one of his houses. The tenants had done a 'midnight flit' after having been growing cannabis in the loft.

I took Y down to Eastwood for her 'hair' and then onwards to Sherwood for her 'nails'. I didn't wait for her but came back via Mapperley Top and Newstead. I discovered the road from the A60 to Papplewick and Linby was closed for repairs so my attempt to avoid the holdup near the City Hospital didn't actually save any time. The scenery was prettier though. Y bussed it into Nottingham and then to Brinsley.

In the absence of Reg, WoW tomorrow is being masterminded by Roy. I can't manage it due to a conflicting blood-test but the group intend to go to Calver which is always nice. I've left a message on Helen C's answer-phone.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... Re the Green Man and Black's Head Royal Hotel at Ashbourne. During my time local people simply called it The Green Man.

Re: My 'wheels' versus 'my shooting stick'. I must admit to feeling more tired, and my legs and back ache more. But I am convinced it is the right thing to do. There's no doubt that some people react to you differently if you appear 'disabled' and I don't like to be treated as a deaf idiot. We will see how we go !

Yvonne .... I sincerely hope that the Hayley Pool isn't overcrowded tomorrow. If I'm to drop you off it would perhaps make sense for me to hang around for 5 minutes to see is you want to come straight back. If you don't appear I'll assume that all is well.

I agree about Mrs Cleese, and also the carnivorous pitcher plant named after David Attenborough. The linked page explains and I thought we should have it on record.

Jill ..... I managed to circumvent having deleted your comment. Thank goodness ! I would have felt awful.

Re: Howell & Marsden. The firm was a Grocers but they also had a wholesale liquor licence. The firm owned 3 pubs in the town itself and several more in surrounding villages. These they supplied with the booze. My Dad had a nervous breakdown in 1949 and, as I was only 14yrs old there was little I could do. The family all insisted that the business and the freehold to the premises, including the pubs, be sold off so they could get at the money. It was a tragedy.

The only public transport I use regularly is the tram to Nottingham. These are beautifully designed. No steps.

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Quotation time ......

"The smaller the mind the great the conceit"

Aesop

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"

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David & family visit - 69F and 9mph NW wind

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I thought you might like to see an uptodate picture of our outdoor tomatoes. They are against the south-facing side wall of the garage. I think this absorbs heat during the day and realeases it steadily during the night. Whatever, they are doing well and taste delicious.

David and Helen and Sky and Brooke visited us this morning (instead of tomorrow when they are doing something with John). We had a great time. David helped me a lot with my new gadget, and I think now it is just a matter of practice and getting used to it. He showed me how to surf the internet, and also how to access my blog, and my gmail inbox.

Helen was pleased to see how well our tomatoes are doing (she grew the plants for me) and apparently the variety, Gardeners Delight, is Brooke's favourite. At home she had 6 yesterday ! The variety is renowned for producing big trusses, quite early, with excellently flavoured fruit.

Both Y and I read both school reports and both girls are doing very well indeed !

Talking of school matters I am delighted to able to report that Debra's appeal was successful and both Ruby and Elli will now go the the same school. Great result because going to a new town, and a new school it is nice to have your sister there too. So Debra, that completely unstaged bursting into tears didn't do any harm at all !

As I have previously discussed it I thought you might like to see a picture of our 'magic' Matalan teapot.

You probably don't need me to talk you through the 'collage' but I will. The top picture shows the cosy and the teapot side by side. The bottom picture shows the teapot with the cosy in situ.

I'm not exagerating if I tell you that tea an hour old is perfectly acceptable AND HOT ! Obviously it is better if you top the pot up having once poured a couple of mugs.

I have discovered a site for a good read. It is called Arts and Letters Daily and the front page is a series of introductory paragraphs to some serious reading. Ok - it caters for the 'egghead' and 'poetry lover'. Anybody who has sometimes enjoyed Granta will be at home here.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob .... Warfarin is indeed an ugly beast but without it my blood would revert to a normal persons 'thickness' and I would have either a stroke or a heart attack.

Then, if it gets too thin, I suffer internal bleeding. The latter of course is why they use it to kill rats.

Hence their scrupulous control of my dosage; sometimes changing it by as little as a ½ tablet a week. Followed of course by the frequent blood-tests until the level becomes stable again.

I sympathise with your wild fluctuations in BP ! I suppose I've got to have something that is OK - and my BP is it. Y is the BP sufferer.

Thanks for updating the Sports Desk. This please click is a link to a report of the Stags v Luton match to which you refer

The 'Ollerton of Yesteryear' also sounds good. These local history items are so important. The link is to their web-site.

Jill ..... How interesting that African Violets don't necessarily run true to colour, in leaf cuttings ! Seeds of some plants are notorious for producing siblings of a different type altogther. But I had always assumed that a cutting from a parent plant would come true to type i.e. dahlias, and chrysanths etc.of specific named varieties. There is another hour or two's research during a sleepless night !

As you know I don't watch that much television. But both of us are completely taken with the quality of Jimmy McGovern's writing. I agree that it can be downright depressing but, in a way, I am pleased he doesn't opt for a populist and artificially cheerful ending. Makes it more believable I think.

I can only sympathise with you being letterless and busless. An enforced walk of a mile is something you certainly didn't need. Wouldn't a taxi have been the answer? ..... Have a doormouse day, until the aches and pains recede.

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Quotation time .....

"History, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in.... I read it a little as a duty; but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars and pestilences in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all - it is very tiresome."

Jane Austen - bless her !

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At home day - best weather 6am-7am - then rainy

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Today we enjoyed a quiet 'at home' day and managed lots of reading, crossword puzzle, computer jobs etc. And I must mention some Radio. A programme called Under The Red Duster on Radio 4. It's a history of the Merchant Navy presented by John Prescott - and he is doing it very well indeed.

The weather first thing was lovely - sunny and still, but by 7am it had started to deteriorate to windy, rainy and cold which has mostly persisted. Y walked round to the newsagents to pay the papers and buy some milk but apart from that we have simply stayed in.

For lunch I cooked some Venetian Sausages (from our Dobbies at Chesterfield trip) and initially I was worried because whilst under the grill they exuded this bright orange gunge. Lots of it. When fully cooked however we were most pleased with them. A good flavour; not over spiced and a nice texture. I served them with green beans, mashed potatoes, courgettes and a mushroom. Into the mashed potato I folded some chopped chives (Y managed two jobs together - we had chives growing in between two patio slabs so she pulled them out and I chopped them). For pudding Y did my favourite red fruit compote, with greek yoghurt.

Picture 1 is something I've been wanting to try for a day or two. A snap of this Orchid with my 50mm lens at f1.8, to achieve the very restricted depth-of-field. Like it or loathe it - thats the effect I was trying for.

Picture 2 is odd in a different way. David brought Y this Kalanchoe plant on Mothering Sunday and it had flower spikes covered in separate flowers. Although the flowers died off the plant didn't, so I pruned it and tended it.

The plant has rewarded me with a second flowering. But this time the flowers are single blooms !

Isn't nature strange ? So unpredictable.

I've just spoken to Helen about the Crabbing Championships and none of our people won anything but everybody had a great time. Helen said the atmosphere was terrific. 1,200 people registered and took part. And I'm sure the crabs found it tolerable because they were all thrown back, replete with food and none the worse for their experience.

Sky still isn't 100% but better, although she still has a nasty nocturnal cough. All being well they are coming over to see us on Thursday. That will be super. Hear all the news, and see the pictures.

I still haven't got my LG Renoir KC910 actually working yet. But I have found a web-site and a forum ! So, it is only a matter of time.

My responses to your previous comments

Jill .... Glad you enjoyed the asters; they get better each day. There are only a few plants but they look so cheery I wish we'd got a bed full. When they are approaching their prime I'll blog another snap.

How clever of you (and Martin) to recognise what butterfly will be forthcoming from which caterpillar.

Shame the stocks have to be sacrificed though. I love stocks and think the scent so typically English.

Long live Amazon. Such a slick organisation. The Govt ought to headhunt some of their IT people and pay them what it takes to have a go at the NHS.

Bob .... Sorry about confusing my right hand with my left hand again. It wasn't a deliberate 'tester' honest.

I'll always be happy to publish Sports Desk items about The Stags. It's the least I can do to support our local team.

As this caterpillar thread has aroused interest - if you would like to research the Cinnabar moth I would be delighted to publish a picture. Cinnabar sounds really exotic dunnit?

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Quotation time ......

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar"

Bradley Millar

"A bit early - but sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"




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Return to bad weather - 67F - 6mph West Wind

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The purpose of our visit to Palmers Green was to attend Ruby's AquaSplash birthday party which was held in the Leisure World complex shown. For grownups, Tracy warned me, inside was like hell on earth. Unbearably hot - enough to make one feel queasy and noisy enough to do damage to your ear drums.

But the kids loved it and Y was designated as the adult to go in the pool - there had to be at least one apparently. She went down slides and chutes etc., - some of the blue coloured external tubes shown in the snap are water chutes leading down to the pool. Pictorially, I love the garishness and the feeling of vigorous life, and those external tubes make you think of The Pomidou Centre.

Tracy thought it would not be a good idea for me to actually go in to the AquaSplash bit. so the closest I came was to walk into the building and peep through a large window. I managed to wave to people.

Then she took me just over the road to the MacDonalds where I installed myself with my laptop and my Vodafone dongle came into play yet again. Excellent 3MB broadband signal - later a nice MacDonalds lady told me that they are a WiFi hotspot which is available to customers free.

I listened to my radio and, in fact, quite happily did the sort of thing I usually do. At intervals I saw people. Elli and Ruby came separately to see me. and check if I was OK !

We eventually returned to Palmers Green and I took them out for evening meal to the Rimini Italian Restaurant and everyone enjoyed their food. Although the menu was very small print Andy found 'calves liver and onions' for me which wasn't too rich. Only the girls could find room for pudding. Elli chose ice-cream which people had a spoonful of here and there.

I was very comfortable in my room and managed to install myself satisfactorily. Just next door to the bathroom, which was good. In the morning Tracy brought me a muf of tea which was most welcome. She certainly looked after me extremely well.

Andy cooked two gorgeous meals. Bubble & Squeek for Breakfast, with a poached egg and some bacon. Then for lunch he did an equally sumptious Fish Pie. And everyone was happy for me to only have very small portions.

Tracy drove us home, and although there were lots of 50mph areas on the Motorway, we made good time and arrived around 6pm. We both slept well and when I weighed-in prior to my shower this morning I was delighted to find that I hadn't gained anything. We have had a quiet day today and although Y was a bit off-colour first thing she relied by mid-morning. I managed to do a few gardening jobs too.

We really have been lucky with weather this year. Each time it has been fine at the place we have visited and awful back here in Nottingham/Mansfield. Since we returned we have had the torrential squalls again.

My responses to your comments

Yvonne ..... I bow to your accurate memory of the outdoor-shower incident. I know you regretted not joining me - perhaps a chance will occur this autumn !

Madeline ..... Thanks for your good wishes ! As you will see above - we did indeed have a good weekend.

Bob ..... The bottle-bags are designed in pleasant cheerful designs and have draw-strings at the top. They are intended for use when you give someone a bottle of wine rather than to transport it around in.

Jill ..... Your spag/bol at a nudist beach café incident raised a smile. Where do you carry a tissue to wipe it off with ?

I haven't been watching New Tricks so I can't comment. But I think Y still enjoys it.

This evening we intend to watch the third episode of The Street. Having read the link I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.

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Quotation slot ......

"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity."

Frank Leahy

And if I hear anyone mutter "physician heal thyself'" I shall be down the line to them - ed

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Simply Sunday - 55F - still now but blustery - watched The Open

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We have reached the time of dramatic sunsets over the garage. Surprisingly you can see quite a lot of clear sky because most of the day seems to have been heavy squally rain. I had a chat with Helen on the phone this morning - David had taken Sky to the Sailing Club to check out competitive events for her. Brooke had opted for staying at home with Mum to do quietly creative things with the Doll's House. My granddaughters personalities are quite different - but no problem with that, in fact its probably best that way.

I talked to David this evening and they go on holiday this coming weekend to a Wareham Caravan Site and, while they are down south, they are hoping to meet up with Steve and Lisa and group. Can't do a link to the actual site because I'm not sure which one it is. Tracy is taking us to London to see Debra and family because the people they are staying with are to be away and it makes an overnight stay possible for us. More detail later.

The Orchid on the left gives me great pleasure to publish because this a re-flowering from a last year's plant. I know Reg and Maureen have achieved this previously but I haven't.

I followed orchid-culture advice and cut the flowering stems back and put the plant in a cold spot which stimulates the production of new flower spikes. And it has worked. There are two more healthy plants on my toilet window-sill which look equally promising.

We watched The Open together and enjoyed it immensely. The light was favourable for good pictures and our new TV does a tidy job. Apart from the golf itself the scenery and the presentation were delightful. Stewart Cink and Tom Watson tied in first place and a playoff was necessary. For nostalgia, people hoped Tom might pull it off, at 59yrs, but it wasn't to be and Stewart proved a worthy winner. Golf appeals on the telly because everyone, players, crowd, officials etc., are invariably polite and sportsmanlike to each other which reflects so well on the sport.

My responses to your previous replies

Bob .... No apologies needed for incoherence. I didn't notice anyway.

The Iron-rich water had a slightly metallic taste, but way away from being 'foul'. It was quite pleasant in fact. Perhaps the origin of Ironbru ?

'Gunnera' is indeed a plant species. I accept though that it reminds one of the unspeakable diseases one was warned about as a recruit during National Service. The rash is quite different I understand !

I haven't seen the Halford's TV advert, so I can't comment.

Jill ..... Thank you for your praise for The Pantiles picture. The light made all the difference.

Sorry to hear of Ro's continued leg-pain problem. As you memorably said "Getting old isn't for wimps".

Your gran's recipe using left over stale bread sounded great. We never seem to get 'stale' bread these days, it goes mouldy before 'stale'.

Yvonne .... Re Bluewater and similar. I agree in general terms. But you succeeded, on a blisteringly hot afternoon, to track down an ice-cold non-alcoholic lager and a gin & tonic. Even though the bill was a tenner ? I suppose such places have a 'place' in extremis.


Isn't your Lidl sciatica strange ? (Honestly folks - we go into Lidl and 2 minutes later Y has a pain in her back and down her leg - editor)

If anyone else would like to join the 'Reinstate Arlene Phillips' campaign to which you refer, that is a live link to it.

Pete B .... I agree with your view that the RNLI should receive some govt. funding especially when you consider some of the things they do support.

Hope you enjoy your holiday, and the break. I can only wish for you the sort of weather we had. Also hope the Football Academy works well.

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No quote tonight - feeling a little tired and queasy.

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow.



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Tardy blog-post - definitely cooler - 53F - No wind

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At last I've got round to doing my blog.

I publish the picture of my Ikea chest-of-drawers almost as the mug-shot of an offender, because that is where my time has gone and leading to my being flat-packered.

Y's praise, whilst welcome, was a little premature. The outer shell was no problem. But the drawers had wheels running in runners and were hard (for me that is) to assemble. Anyway the task is now completed.

I managed to make it to The Widow Frost in Mansfield to meet Bob for lunch. We both opted for the 'veggie-burger/salad/chips - plus drink' option which seemed reasonable at £4.69p. Mine came with a Becks Alcoholfree and Bob had a pint of bitter. We had a good chat and some laughs although I had to leave fairly early, to return to my chest-of-drawers.

Y did her usual Burton Joyce run but it tires her a little these days. It is a 3½ hr round trip, and she has her routine tasks whilst there. When Millicent starts proper School in September Y thinks she will make alternative BJ visiting arrangements. She has been going since Hannah was born - 12yrs ago and she has loved it.

Millicent was kind enough to ask Y to bring me the picture on the left. As you can see, it is a portrait. Millicent says she 'can't do bodies' hence my long legs leading straight down from the neck. Its all there - the sun (with rays) a blue sky above my head, some grass to stand on, and a tree with a very narrow trunk but with plenty of red berries. It is some time since I had a new grand-child picture for my wall and I shall treasure it.

Our National Trust trip to Thaymar IceCream was a success and it is good to support and find out about local environmentally friendly enterprises. The lady proprietor who founded the firm 20 yrs ago was good to listen to. Minor problems were due to her being under-staffed and over-stretched. The buffet was of excellent quality but a pot of tea with it would have been nice. At our table for instance, as with the others, Joan G had to ask for water.

Another good thing happened today.

I searched the car thoroughly for a 'pin' which Bill S has lost. Something under a rear seat gleamed and I thought he was in luck.

The lucky person however was me. The item was my 'lost' Police College cuff-link which I can't remember if I told you about or not.

A difficult subject to photograph. On camera flash made a right pig's ear of it. The best result was on 800ISO and photographed under-exposed under my desk light. I then corrected the 'white-balance' in photoshop.

My responses to your comments

Bob .... It is a Witch-Hazel and the nut-shaped things are quite hard like cobnuts. Just that it hasn't had them before.

Glad we were able to semi-sort out your phone's abilities. 'Text' reminders should be just what you need.

Yvonne ..... Please see above re chest-of-drawers.

We shall just have to disagree about the 4th Plinth.

Jill ..... TK-Maxx sounds well worth a visit. I've just googled to find that we have 2 in Nottingham and 1 in Mansfield so I shall have to go and see for myself.

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

"I detest life-insurance agents; they always argue that I shall some day die, which is not so."

Stephen Leacock

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"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow (really will)"



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Nice Sunday - plenty 'kips' - jobs done - 75F - no wind

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Although suffering computer problems David managed to send me this picture this morning.

The children had been promised that everyone would sleep outside in the tent (Brooke excited since Thursday) and they managed to erect the tent in the rear garden.

Only just by the looks of it. As I said to David on the phone it resembles a space-ship forced to make an emergency landing. Anyway - it all went well. Unfortunately it was a dull morning and they didn't wake to the rising sun and the dawn-chorus. By the way, I asked David about maths teaching and our Lidl girl's problem with 4 x 6 = 24. He said children are still taught 'times tables' but perhaps, if one's career aspirations lie in the supermarket check-out line of work ...........

This morning we did our favourite Sunday morning routine i.e. stay in bed and catch up on Saturday's papers. I listened to Desert Island Discs where the 'marooned' was Arlene Phillips (of Strictly come Dancing fame) and I was very impressed by her, both personally and career-wise. If the Sun story that she is to be replaced on 'Strictly' by Alesha Dixon, a former winner, I consider it an ill-judged move. Alesha is a nice, rather silly young girl singer who couldn't possible bring to the show Arlene's depth of knowledge about Dance...........

As I have recently mentioned Fruit Salad I thought I ought to publish Y's extremely good and always successful 'Carse of Gowrie' recipe. But, as Jill says and Delia always tells you - "use whatever you've got available ....."

However, courtesy of Peter Kay :-

"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."

For lunch we had pasta (linguine) with a basic, tomato-ey sauce which worked rather well. For afters 'fruit salad'. This evening Betty brought us a bowl of freshly picked garden strawberries. The tasted great ....... after my tea of Rocquefort and biscuits. Rocquefort, recommended by Debra is a sheep's milk cheese and it packs sufficient clout to make up for anyone missing cows milk hard cheeses. The link is to it's Wikipage. Therein the word 'crumbly' is used. I certainly would not have chosen that word because my sample was almost spready with more the texture of a well-matured Stilton. Most acceptable though and I shall have it again.


When the sun started to go down and be less over-powering I went out and did some garden jobs.

There's a bed just outside the back door where Y has done all the hard work of cutting back and clearing. All I had to do was use a hand fork and trowel to make sure most of the twitch was out and then I hoed and raked.

The bed is now ready for planting and we aim to visit a garden-centre tomorrow to buy a few suitable plants. I stress 'suitable' because in wet weather the bed becomes water-logged and can stay that way for weeks. This is why the Iris Sibirica, being basically a marsh plant, has been so happy there.

Y tells me she can 'possibly' find me a 'window' prior to lunch. After swimming and certainly before the tennis, which starts in the afternoon.


Re the picture above - I think this single poppy arrived to thank me for tidying up her living quarters in the herb bed.

I know I ought to dig out the mint, replant it in a bucket or something, to restrain it because, in a week or two it will be all over the place. Such an invasive plant but so essential in the garden of anyone who cooks abit.

My replies to your personally crafted 'comments' which are so welcome each day

Bob .... I am pleased you find Lactofree so acceptable. I honestly didn't realise it was for you ..... we naturally assumed it was for Sandra. Also you were lucky to find their cheeses - Eastwood Morrisons haven't managed to 'have it in' yet, likewise the cream.

In any case I seem to be OK with the 'greek yoghurt' we get in Lidl ( in the cartons which resemble large tubs of emulsion).

Thanks very much for the kind offer for us to 'drop in' during Laxton trip. In the end we decided to give it a miss and have a 'rest day'. Albeit with jobs. Y is 'ironing' at this moment.

Lucky you with your goosegogs. As you know, for me, the pain if picking outweighs the joy of eating. Some of our raspberries are ready and yesterday we casually chucked a net over a few. However, the birds had beaten us to it. The blackbirds are the wortst offenders. A permanent 'fruit cage' is the answer really. Perhaps in our new house ........

So pleased also that your camera turned up. My life wouldn't be the same without a camera.

Yvonne ...... With you 100% about the arrival in the comments columns of Peter G. Our readers will enjoy his ascerbic mode and his sense of humour.

I think you were a little harsh on Chris Evert. I know you didn't really like her but I considered her a sound and talented player. Pretty frocks don't win you 18 grand slam titles !

Your report of the finale of Robin Hood astounded me. No deathbed scene where he fires his final arrow to identify where to dig his grave, and surrounded at his deathbed by Little John and Will Scarlett. I was amazed when you told me the Will Scarlett hadn't even been in it !

Jill .... You are probably right about School's preference to teach citizenshp etc., instead of 'times tables' - David's reassurances notwithstanding.

We seldom encounter the 'change' problem in Supermarkets because we always pay by debit-card. In our more normal local shops, the shopkeepers seem pretty nimble. Kumar and Rachel rpund the corner are quite sharp, (well it is their own shop) and ditto Paul the £1 shop equivalent up in Eastwood.

It is quite remarkable how well John McEnroe has transmogrified from loud-mouthed player into dignified and well informed commentator. We really like to see him now and he adds much to the game.

As with Y and dead-heading. I have this mental image of you in a floral frock, spready straw sun-hat. secateurs, and a wooden trug going round the roses in the evenings when the sun is cooler. It must be a proper wooden-trug by the way, none of this horrible green plastic rubbish !

Differently from you though, we both like the hot weather and it doesn't trouble me at all. As I have already mentioned somewhere, Yvonne considered the Tropical Biome at The Eden Project just about right !

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Quotation spot ......

"The Harvard Law states: Under controlled conditions of light, temperature, humidity and nutrition, the organism will do as it damn well pleases"

Larry Wall

"A busy day tomorrow - but sleep tight - and hope to catch you come blog-time"




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Monday 22nd - 72F (phew!) - No wind

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Picture 1 is of my Father's Day cards and although there isn't one from John he did ring, all the way from Lyons and it was great to hear him.

The cards were all 'thoughtful' because, as Tracy reports, it is nigh impossible to obtain cards which are neither twee, nor rubbish. I guess I must be a difficult father to please !

I was pleased they all succeeded as well as they did.

Our trip to Burton Joyce for the Barbeque was good and we were lucky the weather held. Y doesn't like 'children pictures' on the blog but they all looked great.

Hannah is rapidly becoming a very nice-looking young lady - why can't they just stop as little girls I wonder?

The garden looked good - which is mostly due to Alex's ministrations.

Unfortunately my tummy played-up again and I had to go indoors for a sit-down. I'm beginning to think quantity is as responsible as any particular foodstuff.

However, for lunch today, I cooked. My portion was one sausage, 1½ small potatoes, 2 broccoli florets, and 4 small chestnut mushrooms. No gravy. For pudding I had a small portion of mandarin orange flan which Hannah had made, with two spoonsful of Greek Yoghurt. And I kept it all down - even though I needed a rest.

In response to a query, Helen C forwarded a full and explanatory email from one of her choir colleagues. She thinks he is trying to persuade her to go from 'vegetarian' to full 'vegan' but there was loads of interesting material . And live links to sources, which is handy.

On the left is a picture of Lactofree from Morrisons - (Debra's recommendation).

Although still cow's milk, the enzyme which causes digestion problems has been filtered out. I can't tell the difference from ordinary semi-skimmed milk - honestly ! - and it certainly seems the answer.

According to the packet, the same firm produce yoghurts, cheeses and creams. The world is my oyster !

Mainly though, for me, the answer seems minuscule portions of things. Obesity Clinic - here I come again ! A Mies van de Rohe "less is more" approach to diet !

For tea today I had a slice of bread & butter (well - Bertolli olive-oil spread) and a dish of fresh fruit salad which Y had made. Delicious it is too. I could breakfast, lunch, and dine on it, which she says is a good because the recipe yielded a medium-sized pyrex full.

The tennis has started. Wimbledon fortnight has always been a highlight for Yvonne and she used to plan her holidays around it. Unfortunately our 15yr old star Laura Robson lost her match but put up a very creditable performance. We shall hear more of her in the future.

A good feature of our Virgin media is around 9 matches being broadcast simultaneously and the click of a button takes you from one to the other. Anything to avoid the 'grunting'. Apparently a referee can now warn a player under a 'match hindrance' rule. Lets just hope it happens because for many people. certainly Y and I, it renders a match unwatchable.

This morning I took Y to the Hayley Leisure Centre and got her officially registered. We have neglected to do it for several days. She learnt lots of things she can do - classes etc., some of which sounded interesting even though her main reason for joining is the recreational and fitness inducing swimming. You never know - she might start pumping iron, and sessions on the rowing machines, kick-boxing ????? ..... where will it end?

Alex has spent a full day in our garden today and has shifted an incredible amount of work. Several years' worth if I'd have tried to do it. Not that I could have done all of it anyway. Some was far to heavy

My responses to your previous comments

Bob .... You make an excellent point about freezing cooked chickpeas instead of the hummus itself. I have already bought the chickpeas but forgot the Tahini. Anyway I need really to look in my handwritten kitchen book for the proper recipe !

The main reason is that I found Morrison's own version far too bland. It needed another 4 cloves of garlic...... At least !

The other point is that, apparently, cooked chickpeas are a good 'staple' in other dishes too.

Jill .... Very witty about 'can't wait to get to 80'. Personally I think I'll just let it arrive. I'm not in a rush.

Yvonne .... Thanks for the 'blog-holder' comment.

As you suggest, within the next couple of days I must introduce you to the intricacies of my 'blogger-dashboard' and then you could act as a fully qualified deputy-editor.

You've gained so much confidence and expertise since acquiring you own laptop haven't you. By the way, at BJ, Hannah said she would like to come over again for a sleep-over and show you even more 'tricks of the trade'.

Tilly .... We did indeed enjoy our barbeque. And for pudding at lunchtime today, we had your orange flan. Super - very happy to have it again. We had greek yoghurt with ours instead of cream. But you need to be a greek yoghurt fan because it conveys a lovely sharp flavour.

Sorry !!! The parasol- squishing was entirely my fault ! Should have looked where I was going.

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Quotation slot .....

"No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office"

George Bernard Shaw

I've linked you to his Nobel Laureate page. He deserved it.




and finally - one of Ray's - in his spaceship


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Good trip to Long Eaton Carnival - the weather held

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We arrived at Long Eaton just after 10.30am and sat outside David/Helen's to watch The Carnival go by. A good long procession with lots of floats. I've not shown many with kids on because parents can worry.

I was disappointed to see the Carnival led by Policemen in a van ! In my day we used to have an Officer at the front (on foot) 'pulling' and one at the back 'pushing'. Times change.

The floats were good - people work so hard. It was interesting to see no fewer than three DeLoreans ! Shame the concept didn't take off because the vehicles certainly had style. The elderly Barton's Coach was a joy. It actually looked luxurious with the antimacassars over the headrests. The regd.no. RVO 668L tells exactly how old it is and I hope someone will work it out for us.

After the Carnival had passed we had lunch. David had made some super stuffed Jacket potatoes and salad, followed by fruit tart. I'm sticking to my dairy-free approach and I feel OK. Still not 100% but getting there. My Father's Day prezzie is a hanging basket of petunias. They look good and when we got home I found a place for them to hang over by the garage. Pictures will inevitably follow.

Picture 2 is yesterday evening's sky at around this time i.e. 6pm-ish. Tonight's isn't so dramatic.

If you have a spare minute or so The Cloud Appreciation Society is worth a visit.

Apparently there's a new cloud formation around called 'Asperatus' and, if you open the link, you will be able to see some.

Personally I am more than a little suspicious, knowing what can be done in image manipulation programmes like Photoshop.

Maybe I shouldn't be such an old cynic but they just don't 'look right' to me. Views please !

Picture 2 in the series (see link) seems to owe more to Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' than to a record-shot of cloud formations.

Tracy has just arrived - she wants to be here in the morning for Father's Day, and John rang from somewhere north of Lyons. He says the weather is just starting to 'go off' abit and they are heading north, intending to sail back to UK on July 2nd. It will be good to see them when they get here. What a trip they've had !

My responses to your comments

Bob ..... I take your point about homemade/Tesco hummus. 'Bought' is certainly more convenient because I seem to remember that, when making it, I finished up with about a bucketful - and I only use a dessertspoonful on a piece of toast. Can you freeze it ? I can't remember.

It would be fun to make it again though !

Whether horses 'pull' with their collars or 'push' seems a classic case of Newtonian Physics. "To each action there is an equal and opposite reaction ....." and all that Jazz.

I seem to have known your chickens had names. But perhaps so did the Fox. And I certainly knew your chickens were egg producers because I have sampled the delights ..... Please accept our condolences.....

Whilst disliking scallops I am a keen roe-eater. The soft variety rather than the hard. I like them peppered and lightly fried in butter, with a dash of olive oil to stop it burning.

Jill .... You are right about the garden. It is full of joy at the moment. Once I get started I don't want to come in. But Y tries to keep me sensible about it.

When I was seconded to The Home Office (Police Federation and Discipline) my Region included Norfolk and Suffolk and Cambridge. I used to hold the regional meeting at North Walsham, and eat at Mundesley or Bacton (where the Oil Installation is).

Pleased you saw your 80yr old friend. 80 seems to be 'where it's at' at the moment. Our National Trust Friend Peter is 80 and last time they came over he wanted to get the mower out and do our lawns. And Yes ! he was serious. He's marvellous - but I had better spare his blushes because he is now a regular blog reader. He just wants a quick tutorial so he can start leaving ascerbic comments.

Quotation time ......

"A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule"

Michael Pollan

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WoW at Darley Abbey - weather foul - flat battery

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David sent me this picture, entitled 'Lunch at The Lakeside Café' from their Caravan Club site. He has a sense of humour and knows his Dad.

A pint of Bitter and a Chip Cob - those were the days.

Today I had no lunch at all, due to arriving at The Bell Inn, Smalley at 2.07pm - I was firmly told they stop serving lunch at 2pm !

n.b. There isn't a link because, if they can't rustle me up a sandwich at 2.07pm, I can't give them any free publicity.

In Darley Abbey where I had been parked down by the Cricket Pitch while the chaps completed their walk, I inadvertently left my side-lights on for almost 2 hours. The result was a flat battery needing the AA to come to my rescue. The AA man said, later borne out by Steve at the Garage, that modern cars and batteries don't permit lengthy parking on side-lights like they used to 50years ago. I hadn't had my car-radio on or anything like that. But I shall have to be more careful in future. There is a 'lights on warning' icon but it didn't attract my attention. Steve says to take the car up in the morning and he will check the battery. If it needs a new one they will fit it at no cost.

Darley Abbey is a pretty town with many interesting buildings, an Arboretum and a scenic Park. All to no avail unfortunately with the incessant rain. But our Wow-ers don't give in easily and I have already had photos sent in.

The snap on the left was taken about 100yards from where I parked.

An amusing story from yesterday.

Karen told us that one of her friends says "Karen drives her car as if she has just stolen it". We assume she means 'fast'. Sounds like Karen - bless her !

My responses to your comments

Jill ...... Re 'Golden Years' menus. Plenty for me too. But yesterday I was so un-hungry I opted for 'toast and paté' with a few salad leaves.

I still haven't caught up with 'Simon Sharma on John Donne' but I must because it is important.

Yvonne ..... I will 'catch up' with the Simon Sharma while you are over at Burton Joyce. The weeks go by so quickly it's hard to believe it's Thursday again.

Your Hayley Centre stories are good fun ! With you and Reg both reporting-in.

Bob .... According to the author of this Viper's Bugloss link the plant is far from a cosy little beauty. If you open the link I feel you will agree that he only has himself to blame - he shouldn't have been trying to pull it up.

The plant's defenses account for the 'viper' element of its name but I wonder where 'Bugloss' comes from? The plant looks a little like the common Bugle - perhaps that's it.

I agree with you about the poetry of Andrew Motion which to my ear always sounds rather stilted. A first rate chap though - we saw him on The Book Quizz and were favourably impressed.

Reg .... You are right about the way some men drive certain cars. In this family publication I can't tell you what policemen used to say about BMWs.

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Quotation slot ..............

"Macho doesn't prove mucho"

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Peter B sent me a link to some free lines/dividers - thanks. This is one of them



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Super day - gardening in lovely weather.

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The weather has been great - 66F and 5mph W wind but, in the bit of the garden where I was working, there was no wind at all.

I completely cleared a patch of sunny border by the garage and have put my Gardener's Delight tomato plants there. Already potted up by Helen so I had very little to do except make decisions. The patch you can see was completely overgrown with Periwinkle except for the very edge where I had too much Chives and some Thyme and a new Curry Leaf plant.

Basically I loosened it all with a strong fork and a spade and then used my kneeler and a trowel and hand-fork to get it all out. The Courgette Helen has also given me I planted in a previously cleared bit of flower border opposite.

Y changed beds, and then weeded out the Ring Around in the front garden where we aim to plant some Geraniums to blend in with some Pansies which are still doing well. We both worked hard and tired ourselves a bit and a lie-down was very welcome. Very satisfying though and a sense of achievement.

David has just rung to say he has tracked down a good deal on a Garmin NUVI 205 at Halfords. Half price and it seems just the thing we want. Perhaps have a look in Mansfield Halfords tomorrow, if they are open.

David and family go away tomorrow to the Caravan Club Ferry Meadows site near Peterborough. And jolly nice it looks too. Adjacent to the Nene Valley Park which also looks delightful. There certainly looks plenty of interesting things. Bird-watching hides, a lake and cycling !

At lunchtime we watched, courtesy of iplayer, a doumentary about Wilfred Owen which Yvonne had found. It was about Wilfred Owen, the outstanding First World War Poet and Jeremy Paxman now seems to do an excellent job with this sort of subject. Very harrowing content, but important, and I'm glad we watched it.

My responses to your previous comments

Pete B .... How interesting about Gertrude Jekyll. I too hope your plant flowers soon and you can tell us all about it. Haven't had chance to check-out your blog yet.

Do the TT Race supporters cause problems ? Or do you all be pleased to see them for tourist reasons? The Official Website looks very lively and attractive.

Bob ..... Perhaps the Log Cabins are on someone's 'wish-list' and they are not yet imminent.

I am kind to bees but I have to be extremely careful. My tolerance to bee-venom diminished over the years rather than increased. I had a particularly nasty reaction to a sting and the Consultant advised me to give up the hobby. I keep some histamine tablets readily available and also a spray.

Jill ..... As you will see from the picture on the right Gertrude Jekyll is a Climber/Rambler - I'm never sure what the difference is. And does it matter ? She certainly gets about a bit and flowers over a reasonable period. After the first flush around now, the plant will continue to produce blooms till the end of the season albeit not as prolifically as May/June.

And, as we have mentioned, the scent is worth lingering near the Rose for. It was a good decision to plant her near our front door. Probably Y's !

I went out specifically to take the photo to include here but, as you can see, the sun has gone over to the other side of the Bungalow. Would be better in the morning.

We too are not in favour of plants with a very short flowering period. Peonies are out for us for that very reason.

Glad your Hospital visit worked out OK but 3 buses sounds tedious. You will have to change your mind about things with ear-phones because Y now swears by her MP3 player and won't travel on public transport without it.

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Quotation time ........

Talking about trains, and with it being Whitsuntide, I can't but think of Philip Larkin and The Whitsun Weddings.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"

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Weather picking up - 70F - 10mph S wind - pleasant though

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I heard David and family arrive - having been in my room to put on some new 'mail-order' trousers.

When I went into the Hall I thought "Ah ha! There are Princesses about" and there were, three of them Helen, Sky and Brooke".

We really enjoyed their visit, so much news, Sky awarded her Level 5 in English, a year early at least. She is so knowledgeable and quick-witted. And Brooke had lots to tell us too. Helen brought us two very healthy looking tomato plants, already potted up into their final containers - all they are going to need is a longer cane in due course, routine watering and the occasional feed of Tomorite. It's going to be quite like the old days.

Helen and I had a pleasant gardening chat and if the weather is like today, I'm looking forward to an hour in the garden tomorrow.

Gertrude Jekyll never lasts very long but at the moment, at the side of the front door, she is gorgeous. Earlier Y gave her a couple of buckets of water.

When one walks down the path one is rewarded by the rose's super delicate perfume. Just like old English roses are supposed to smell. I drew it to Sky's attention and she fully appreciated the scent. Maybe one day she will tell her granddaughter about the smell of old English roses.

And David managed to fix my digital watch, to stop it 'going off' unbidden at 12 midnight each day. My previous workaround has been to wrap it in a handkerchief and hide it in my dressing-gown pocket !

They are off on their Holiday on Monday and are hoping to meet up with Steve and Lisa and family at Swanage. I reminded them to take their cameras !

Both Joan G and Jean B rang to say how much they had enjoyed their lunch at RedBrick House yesterday.

It really was a splendid occasion - the weather held, the surroundings were lovely, and the food was beyond reproach. Their calls were appreciated. I know that a call of thanks or a note is second nature to courteous folk of our generation - but not all by any means. And it seems to have passed the younger generation by completely. We still have no idea whether or not Alannah received her birthday money for instance. Her birthday was 12th May.

Before we leave the roses, I think a proper 'flower portrait' is in order. So here goes. smack in the centre of the page.


Our busy-ness continues. This evening TJ is calling in and I am cooking her her beloved lamb-chops. We haven't planned a pudding yet - but we have Peter's rhubarb of course which would be delicious - perhaps hot and with ice-cream. We shall see. Y has just reminded me she has done a Mandarin Jelly with segments in it. One of my favourites. Say no more !


.Re Poetry programmes. The half-hour programme on BBC 4 dedicated to 30 years of Poetry Please was much much better than the Gryff Rhys Jones effort. The people who made this programme are actually poetry lovers which showed through.

My replies to your previous comments

Bob .... Maybe, due to the recession, the log-cabins will go on hold for sometime. Possibly forever. I don't suppose they would be an eyesore anyway. Presumably they applied for planning permission. Did you see it?

The Bumblebee's death was entirely natural. Although I kill wasps I never would kill a bee. I tend to collect them in a tumbler and take them outside to be released.

I shall follow the Jury Team with interest. One of The Telegraph's writers this morning was making noises of approval.

Edward Langley will not grace these pages again. His English was atrocious and his supposed point doesn't make sense anyway. On reflection I don't know what persuaded me to use the quote.

Jill ..... Re.. The five people in the car. Peter Green, Joan Green, Jean Bradbury, Graham Marsden and Yvonne Marsden. Joan is not yet 80 and neither are we - but we felt unable to refuse entry to those named.

Re ... Our political system. I don't think it needs to be changed at all. Just some people chucked out and some new (honest) people elected.

It was such a relief to us lefties to find that Dennis Skinner has claimed almost nothing by way of expenses. No 'snout in the trough' for Dennis !

Glad your Golden Anniversary Roses are performing. The other flowers you mention are earlier than ours. Hope you managed an hour's 'garden-enjoyment' before Hospital visiting.

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Quotation time .....

"Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine/

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:"

Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow all being well"

And it's good that my file-hosting site Walagata recovered from the nadgers of yesterday




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Car change-over day - ENE Wind - 11⅓C -Coolish

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Our well-cherished Civic has gone and our much-to-be-loved Yaris has arrived. The changeover seems to have occupied most of my day.

The big bit Willis (the garage-owner) did for me i.e. going to the tax office, changing over the details, obtaining my new tax-disc - he is very good. We have been customers a long time. This is the third car we've bought from him - he always does the servicing and we pay cash-on-the-nail.

Perhaps in terms of looks the Civic wins, but in other respects, particularly with regard to my disabilities, the Yaris has the edge and Y will so enjoy the four-door aspect.

As you will see from the title we are still having wind trouble. The raw wind-speed is 17mph but with gusts of 31mph. Incidentally the Yaris tells us the outside temperature. Something else to bore people with !

We received this lovely and witty card from Peter & Joan this morning, welcoming the new car.

What a sweet thought - I think some of our friends are as daft as we are ! .... I don't mean it Peter and when Yvonne has settled in from her London trip we must exchange visits. Then we can show you our Yaris and perhaps even take you out in it.

Some of the roses have been showing 'colour' for some days now but the first to actually bloom is Gertrude Jekyll at the side of the front door. I must remember to mix up some feed and go round as many as I can. They are a little early I think, at least for this garden.

In Notts and Derbys June is accepted as the prime month for roses and a trip to Haddon Hall is always worth it.

Y has already been round ours with her first application of Rose Clear. Usually she does it 4 times which sounds a nuisance but it certainly does seem to control black spot.

I really am looking forward to getting out in the garden again, to do a little more work, but honestly it is too cold and windy.

My Dad, who was a good gardener, used to consider Whitsuntide plenty early enough to make a serious start. His exception was his Runner Beans, always Scarlet Emperor, and he would say - "Plant 13th of May, grow night and day". And we always had beans just as early as everyone else.

It will be good to have Y back tomorrow afternoon. I'm due to collect her from Phoenix Park around 2.30pm. I hope she remembers to look for a strange blue vehicle rather than a racy looking low-slung job in red ! ...... I can always toot. We spoke earlier and she had had a great 'lunch' with Jill. Barbara turned up too. I think they were aiming for Peter Jones.

My responses to your previous comments

Jill ..... Whether or not David & Helen and family have seen the Windsor Dolls House online I
don't know but here is a link to what looks like a good webpage about the official guide-book.

I'm not sure whether Marlene is black or red cherry jam. Very dark red is the physical colour. Had I more space I would have published a snap.

Ian Hislop is a very talented young man ! As you say - many-faceted. He owes his career in some part to Richard Ingrams who appointed him as his successor at Private Eye while Ian was still in his early twenties.

Bob .... Two cassettes is no substitute for a book. Was the ordering error yours or theirs?

jbw .... I'm sure David and family will know about the Ripley emporium. They have had Dolls Houses as a hobby for some time now and will have ferreted out such places. Thanks anyway.

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Quotation time .....

"I can't think of a decent quotation for this evening"

Alfred Goosewhistle - 2009

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Gale-like gusts abated - E at 5mph - 15C - Peaceable Sunday

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John texted me yesterday evening to say they had now reached the Dordogne and were enjoying this delightful site for their camper-van.

Abutting the River Dordogne the site seems to merit John's description of 'blissful'.

And their weather seems good. As this website says, May is a good month to be there.

My morning entailed inching a little further up the Windows Vista learning-curve on my new Dell. But I'm getting there. Basically the system does the same job as XP but things look different. So far I'm sure, all the errors have been mine rather than the system or the laptop.

I arrived at Long Eaton shortly after 10am and it was great to see everyone. They all looked really well, no doubt due to all that fresh air, and chips, at Whitby. David showed me a slide-show of their pictures. Fortunately, this time, they remembered to take a camera. My eye was drawn magnetically to the Doll's House which, as Helen said, undergoes change on a regular basis. It's a lovely hobby - they make things for it, and acquire bits from fellow enthusiasts and is certainly full of interest.

We sat on the new patio for coffee and cakes and then the girls wanted me to see their latest Wii game, basically it's a 'Mario' and involves controlling vehicles tearing around at breakneck speed and collecting points. They both seemed very good at it - I would be absolutely hopeless. They were kind enough not to press me. Their other grandad, Helen's Dad, has been cajoled into 'having a go' and from the sound of it - he's pretty hopeless too.

I asked for an outside shot of the Doll's House because I liked the window-cleaner's barrow and ladders. All absolutely precise to the 12th scale. When I got home I decided on a kip and now feel rejuvenated. When I woke up it was tea-time so I made a pot of tea and had a slice of bread & butter with jam on it. We've discovered a delicious cherry jam at Lidl, called Marlene. What a nice name for a Jam !

My responses to your previously crafted comments

jbw ..... I'm a supporter of our old imperial measurements. I can just about visualise a speed based on travelling 15 miles in an hour. '2lbs' is also understandable to me - I think of 2 x bags of sugar. But how the hell can you visualise 450 of anything ?

Tim has a lively sense of humour - and more powder to his blunderbuss ! The Weather Centre at Watnall is innocent !

Jill .... I should have realised it was you and accepted your 'anonymous' comment rather than deleting it. Anyway - sorted now !

I think you can be sure that Y won't have been ballet dancing. She would though, if one of her little darlings needed her to.

You are quite right. Anyway - what's wrong with pyjamas, or dressing gowns al fresco ?

Thanks for the real-life contribution to The Sports Desk. Enthusiasts in any hobby are always a strange bunch. I think P. J. O'Rourke once said there was a definite whiff of either the lynch-mob or lemmings about them. Whatever the hobby !

Hope you and Y's meet-up works out tomorrow. It will be fun.

Yvonne .... How lovely to be receiving your comments - from Palmers Green !

I agree about the jaw-dropping nature of observing the young at their computers. Even Millicent at 4yrs.

Good fun to hear about your perfectionist approach to your Wisteria photos. Your camera is certainly equipped with an excellent lens, so we can't be doing with inferior results !

Bob ..... Weeding can so easily be put off, and put off, as you say. But, when you have actually knuckled down and done it, the result is rewarding.

I agree that 'vegetarians are mostly nicer'. Helen C being a case in point - Ha Ha!

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Quotation time ......

"Rogues are preferable to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest"

Alexander Dumas

Alexandre Dumas, père, looks like an excellent candidate for our 'good hour in a pub' test. The photograph, mid 19th Century, would probably be a 'daguerrotype'. With that sharpness of the detail it certainly looks like it

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow - new car day !

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