Blood Test - Lawns mowed - Carol Ann Duffy

.
The day started with my INR blood-test (the level is 5.1 - it should be 3) and then we went shopping. In Lidl, Y had a severe twinge of sciatica. Although it has happened elsewhere, it often seems to strike in Lidl. Poor girl - she had to hold onto the freezer cabinets for support.

Then we did Morrisons and then home. Although Y was still suffering she felt her planned swim at the Hayley Centre would do more good than harm, and so it proved. I insisted on offering transport both ways.

This dramatic fungi on a tree-stump near the barriers looked worth a photograph. We don't intend to try it ourselves but if edible, one could offer a meal to a large number of people.

Perhaps Bob could help us with identity and also culinary value.

Whilst at Ann and Roy's on Saturday Roy lent us this book of Carol Ann Duffy. Although described as children's poetry there is plenty in there to delight adults too. I'm on my second read through and Y is also enjoying it. She says that although not a poetry fan she loves this. Particularly the two poems about Elvis. I am glad Carol Ann is now the Poet Laureate. She is a premier league poet and fully deserves the honour.

Her thoughts flow with a beautiful lyrical rhythm. And what a well-stocked mind !

I don't know how our WoW people fared today. The weather has been good if they did eventually decide on Calver. A lovely spot with several excellent possible walks. No doubt I shall hear in due course and receive some pictures.

Appropriately, following our Haworth Trip to the Bronte Parsonage, Radio 7 are serialising Wuthering Heights and Heathcliffe is equipped with a delightful Yorkshire accent. Well he would be wouldn't he? Incidentally some of the costumes to be used in the new TV production were on display at the Museum.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob .... Someone told me that Nyger seed and Thistle seed were in fact the same thing.

All these grocery connections.

jbw .... Wowee ! Clever Grandma.

Yvonne ..... You were very brave today to go swimming ! I'm so glad it worked out.

Jill ..... I was glad that, in the end, we rendered your comment 'compliant with the rules'. I didn't want to miss out on an interesting comment but on the other hand ......

Buses are becoming more user friendly, albeit slowly. You would love our trams.

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

Quotation time .......

"An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it."

Jef Mallett

"Sleep tight - Hope to catch you tomorrow"

.

Monday trip out - lunch - garden jobs - 68F - Light wind

.
We got going quite early this morning because we'd both had a better night's sleep and the weather looked promising.

Peter G had said that Dobbies Garden Centre near Chesterfield was worth a look. And so it proved. Well stocked and I found my Goldfinches a bag of their beloved thistle seed. They have been turning their beaks up at 'canary seed with thistle seed in it' which I bought in Pauls for a £1 per bag.

The whole place has a nice 'feel' to it but Oh Boy ! the prices. Picture 2 is included to give you some idea. WoWee, what a bargain, two potted fuschias for £20 eh ? How about that ?

The food hall was v.good and well stocked with high quality and interesting things. A bit reminiscent of Chatsworth. I bought some links of 'interesting' sausages. Thai sausages, some from Toulouse, and some Venetian links of a rich orange colour, and by the sniff, liberal on the garlic and tomato. A report back can be expected.

Anyway we had a pleasant lunch there. The restaurant is light and airy and although busy we found a corner table with a bench back OK. Y had a cooked lunch, centre-ing round chicken-curry while I settled for a Panini. I only ate half and wrapped the remainder in a paper napkin to bring home for my tea. Just eating it now in fact.

Picture 1 demonstrates the Artichoke plant almost in full swing. Barry Marlow, at the club, prizes his as a delicacy but we prefer to enjoy the flowers and eventually the dried out seed heads. I'm far from satisfied with the 'blue' though and am thinking of asking Reg to pop over with his new camera to see how it deals with the problem. I can change the hue in Photoshop, but none of the options I'm presented with on the slider accurately captures it. Neither my D80 nor the little Fuji A100 are better than the other. By the way - the A100 could distort barrels for England !

Y suffered some aches & pains again and needed a 'lie-down' when we got home. I certainly wasn't going to argue. When adequately rested I dealt with our food purchases, topped up the bird-feeders and fed and watered the Courgette plant and the Tomatoes. There will be at least one tomato ready for the table tomorrow and a couple of courgettes.

In idle moments we completed the Telegraph Crossword. A good team effort. A couple of clues were anagrams which Y had solved without spotting that they were anagrams. Is that a gift ? I always used to consider Monday's an easy one anyway - I think they didn't like to stretch you too much after a weekend off.

My responses to your previous comments

Pete B ..... Thanks for your good wishes and I am pleased to be so much better. Y is good too but increasingly subject to aches & pains. In her head she fells 52 but her body keeps telling her she will be 73 next. She does wonders though.

I sincerely hope that things work out so that you can retire at a reasonable age. The Good Lord didn't design us to be working in our 70s.

I really like the story about your daughters and the River Dart and it would have been lovely to be able to open the picture. Unfortunately the link in the comment didn't work and, whatever cunning wrinkles I employed I couldn't open it anyway/anywhere. Madeline discovered some days ago that you can't post links in comments-boxes and resorted to e-mailing me a Norton Hotfix I needed. I think you will have to do the same with the picture.

But please do it. Because I think other readers would like to see it too.

Bob .... The newspaper wasn't a surrogate table cloth. It was there to stand the steamer top on and I hadn't got round to moving it.

As you know - I also am a prominent member of Hoarders Anonymous. I found some bicycle clips the other day - well you never know do you .......

Pleased about your credit card. It is a fact that 99% of people are honest and will hand in anything they find.

Jill ..... Y isn't keen on gravy, and I'm trying to eat without it mainly because of its fattening effects. However, and you never know do you - if ever I have the pleasure of cooking a meal for you I shall prepare the requisite gravy pond ! And it will be good gravy too - you will need a round of bread & butter to mop it up with.

We hope that Ro's checks prove satisfactory. And it is so good when sons and things mastermind transport arangements isn't it ?

I think Y has given up on the notion of converting me into a tidy person. I do try - honest.

I'm loving all the coverage of Tennyson's Bicentenary, particularly on the radio. What a tortured soul he was. The classic serial reading of Maud was excellent, all 3 times I've listened to it. And I'm now giving his Ulysses the same treatment. The poet Sean O'Brien is reading it very well indeed. The Poetry Archive, which the link takes you to, is well worth having on your computer - mostly thanks to Andrew Motion - it is a well stocked resource. Even, by the way, an early wax cylinder recording of Tennyson himself reading The Charge of The Light Brigade.

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

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

"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?"

Al Boliska

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

Normal sort of Saturday - Chilly - 63F - 8mph Westerly

.
Picture 1 is another of The Pantiles at Royal Tunbridge Wells - now there's posh for you.

Isn't it where 'disgusted' who used to write letters to The Telegraph lived? It is a nice place though, but again, we were lucky with the weather. I didn't mention it yesterday but I tried a glass of the famous iron-rich spa water served by the lady shown in the link, or a lookalike. I thought the iron would be good for my back - Y couldn't be tempted though. Although some similar snaps have featured in the collages, I wanted you to see these a little bigger.

Since we returned Y has been so busy washing and ironing, I think her back will undoubtedly suffer. I managed a little gardening - tomatoes, weeding herb-bed, feeding and watering our courgette from which we enjoyed the first 'crop' today. Although small, picking them will allow the others room to expand. Very tasty they were too.

Some computer jobs and dealing with pictures have occupied my afternoon. I have deleted maybe seven in every ten - such is the joy of digital. It isn't good policy to delete any while in the camera - you can't see them well enough. But on a big screen - well !!

Picture 2 is the carp pond at Chartwell. I liked the swirls of fish and water, and those enormous guneras on the left. Very photogenic but best not handled too much - a rash ensues.

At one stage today the weather seemed promising, a little sun - but now the strong gusty wind is back and I have donned my smoking jacket for warmth.

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne ..... I think we are in agreement about the holiday. Great ! And I'm glad your 'Battle of Britain' simulation was so good. I guessed it would be your sort of thing.

I can't see the attraction of Shopping Malls like Bluewater. You might just as well go down Nottingham, all the shops are there. And those 'milling-about' crowds of people.

Jill ..... The big shopping place near here is Meadow Hall, nr Sheffield and, although much smaller, but nearer is McArthy Glen. I suppose they have their place. In fact I must confess to a soft-spot for McCarthy Glen which, as such places go, is pleasant enough.

The swimming pool at the Hilton was well up to R's requirements and was deep enough at the deep-end for me at 5'10½" to be out of my depth. And, as you saw from the snap, quite comfortably large. And at the side of it a full equipped gym, with those apparent instruments of torture. He would probably have enjoyed the gym too? Certainly the Jacuzi.

Re collages - in the first one, top right corner, the pretty bridge was at Bluewater ! Sorry !

In the second one, your guess is correct = The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells.

Bob ..... I think Kitchen Shops always have a certain attraction, for we culinary dabblers.

My digestion is iffy at the moment, and I do suffer from bile. Y suggests I discuss 'gallstones' with the GP.

I didn't intend a double admonition re the Order of Mercy. I spoke to Peter earlier today. He has a photograph of his medal, and as soon as I have it to hand, publication will follow.

Glad you sorted your 'cargo trousers'. I never did find the receipt anyway.

Sandra is so lucky to have a wren as tame as that. Our wren is extremely timid and camera-shy.

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

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

While away I bought a selection of Thomas Hardy. I prefer him as a poet rather than as a novellist. This little extract sums up my feelings when I start to feel tired.

"Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk

With an old horse that stumbles and nods

Half asleep as they stalk."

Thomas Hardy

Sleep tight - hope to catch you tomorrow.




.

Weird weather - heavy rain/sunshine - 59F now

.
Another part of the old Clematis - it traverses almost all the front wall.

However, the purpose of the snap is to show the Witch Hazel which for the first time ever has some cobnuts set.

I suppose that, being of the 'hazel' family, it is entitled to nuts - its just that I have never encountered it before.

Our morning started with my more -or-less routine blood test taken by Sheila with not a trace of bruising. She was amused at my last weeks bruising at the hands of the 'expert'. Then we visited the Disability Aids place for a replacement collapsible walking stick and, after that, to Ikea for free coffee. Whilst there we bought a three-drawer chest of drawers for my bedroom - the present system of pull out boxes being unsatisfactory. Naturally the item is a flat-pack so I shall have the pleasure of erecting it tomorrow. Our Ikea 'family card' led to a reduction in price from £44 to £34. One simply has to ask for a card and we were pleased we took ours with us. I think Y keeps it in her handbag anyway.

Y collected new Ikea catalogues for family and friends - a new edition, only released 1st July 09. As I think I must have mentioned before I love mooching round Ikea. I consider their 'design' to be excellent and up-to-date and there is nothing stuffy to be encountered anywhere.

After Ikea we came home and Karen was still here. The house looked neat and tidy and smelt fresh. She likes doing our house she says, because she can 'see a difference' when finished. I'm not sure if that is a compliment or not ?

For lunch I cooked Sausage, Mashed Potato (with Swede) Carrots, Courgettes and our Cauliflower (just cut) from Derek. He had soaked it in salty water, for Y's benefit, so she didn't encounter any unsuspected protein ! For pudding we had Y's fruit salad, prepared yesterday. Delicious !

The, after a kip, I planted an outstanding Dahlia - it just wasn't fit yesterday. Today I managed to dodge the showers. I fed everything I could think of and then started my pictures.

Picture 2 shows the recently germinated Coriander. I know Bob does the same, but I don't waste money on seed-catalogue seed - I just use a few pinches of cooking coriander seed. It always seems to work as well and at least you know you are growing a recognised culinary variety. If, in an enlargement, you can read the plant labels you will be able to see that the planting date was 29th June 09. Just over a week ago !

Buying a replacement collapsible walking-stick had the frequently occurring miracle of causing the lost one to turn up.

On coming home some days ago I had collapsed the stick and put it, carefully, on top of a bedside cabinet which lives in the garage, and over which I store my 'wheels'. Messing about with the 'wheels' namely tying the front and rear legs together with a piece of string to stop them flopping about had resulted in the stick being pushed over the back of the bedside cabinet, where it rested, out of sight, until today.

Ah well ! Two sticks is better than none !

Alex is creating a new front fence for Derek and Betty which involves serious looking hardwood gate-posts and although he is nowhere near finished, you can tell its going to be a super job. Poor chap, trying to worked inbetween the torrents. I think in the end he gave up and decided to work while saturated. Incidentally - he brought us another half-dozen eggs - leading to our tea of scrambled eggs on toast. Truly scrumptious - that yellow - and the richness of the flavour. Are we not lucky bunnies ?

My responses to your much valued comments

Bob ...... Love the Kestrel Haiku. But, honestly, I can recognise a Kestrel, and a Sparrowhawk, mostly. It could have been some sort of Harrier I suppose. Nowhere near big enough for a Buzzard. I must return to Narrow Lane, armed with binoculars, and Nikon with long telephoto on board. If you remember I had a Sparrowhawk in the garden and blogged a picture thereof.

See blog-post 10th August 2008 - I had thought it to be a Buzzard but knowledgeable grand-children soon put me right.

I know what you mean about prefering a Bullfinch to the Black-currants but, personally, I find them a little chewy.

See e-mails re mobile phone v voice recorder and other matters.

Yvonne .... The smoked haddock was good but I'm game to try some of these 'in the bag' things. Eventually the smell clears from the kitchen but it is abit tedious.

Thanks for the added info re the chest of drawers. I had forgotten all about the 'heavy' bit. You and I could have managed I suppose. with great difficulty, plus the danger of falling over.

Jill .... Having a Matalan is valuable because the range of products is much wider than Primark. I once bought a really high quality copper-bottomed large saucepan there and it has become one of my favourite tools.

Please see above re fish in 'bags'. I am already convinced and we'll give them a whirl a.s.a.p. And I am sure you are right about the price. I think our piece of haddock, which we shared, was £2.78 without any tasty sauce etc.

Looking forward to the 'knitter' on the plinth on July 13th. Here is a link to Gormley's site for the exercise. Y thinks the idea 'silly' but I disagree and consider it an important piece of living-history archive. What better 'record' of life over a hundred days in 2009. How valuable for future historians. Think of checking it over in 100 years time for a record of how we dressed, what Trafalgar Square looked like, what we did etc.,? And I am so pleased some of your 'knitting' people had the foresight to go for it.

So pleased to hear your Duck arrived, in good condition, and rarin' for an outin'. And I don't want to find that you have allowed him to share your bath.

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

Quotation time .......

"We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones."

François de La Rochefoucauld

For the 'ç' I am indebted to Alt Gr .....................

- And the man himself -



I think he passes the 'spend an hour in the pub' test


"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow - but could be early or late because we are National Trusting at Thaymar Icecream near Retford in the evening"




.

BJ day for Y - Me messing about - Max 90F - little wind

.
I took this around 4.30am, with flash, and thought that, as it was so distinctive, identification would be simple. Not so. I can't find anything remotely similar in my Collins.

Suggestions will be welcomed.

I'm beginning to think it doesn't really matter very much whether one knows the variety or not. It is a brown moth and I suppose that's good enough.

By 5.30am I was up-and-about and the light was gorgeous for photography. The rambling rose shown below is determined to climb the rowan tree. And why not ! ..... I continued working 'earlies' and went shopping before taking Y to the tram. My theory was that, after I had delivered her, I could just 'slump' and avoid the worst of the heat.

Alex has been here all day and has worked through it - he must have lost pounds - but he has shifted an incredible amount of jobs. The conifer hedge at the rear, clearing out the gutters, rotovating ..... to mention but a few.

During my shopping jaunt I bought a large pair of mole-grips, as being about the only tool which would grab the ring-nut holding the hot-water tap in place - underneath the wash-hand basin in Y's bathroom. My assumption proved correct and I was able to finish off that job.


While I was in B&Q I bought one of the little yellow duck watering cans for Jill.

See picture on the right. Either this evening, or tomorrow, I'll make a parcel of it and send it on its way to Chiswick.

We are having jacket potatoes and salad for our main meal and, while in the kitchen I dealt with the 3lbs of goosberries and have stewed them with some bramley apple. They are cooling now, and they taste good.

My responses to your comments

jbw .... Yours is the only comment so far John. I guess I am publishing a little early.

Couldn't agree more about Longfellow !

Jill ...... Good job I didn't publish then but 'saved' - I knew you would be along.

Re the bruising. Quite funny really considering the blood test was taken by the self-proclaimed expert. Anyway - she is such a nice girl I forgive her. It's worse today, but no picture - I don't want to have to impose a 9pm watershed.

Your waste-collection system, or lack of it, sounds horrendous. We shall all have to become Jack Russell owners.

Bob ..... There are certainly less insects than hithertofore. Last night I sat with the light on and my bedroom window open. In the 40s and 50s my room would have been alive with moths etc., but not so now. Just the solitary visitor photographed.

I'm afraid I don't see the point of humane traps. When you release the critters they simply return to where they wanted to be all along.

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

Quotation time .......

"By the shores of Gitche Gumee By the shining Big-
Sea- Water Downward through the evening twilight
In the days that are forgotten"

Longfellow

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

An early blog like this will free up our evening. We both want to watch the Hockney programme on iplayer. That's a link folks. Save you finding it yourself if you want to watch it.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

Torrential Rain - Heating On - 47F - 6mph NE wind

.
Whoops ! I think yesterday's blog-post should have read 'Quiet Saturday etc.etc..'

Fancy getting my days mixed up. Some social worker will be asking me the name of the Prime Minister next ! ..... I'm surprised one of my regular commenters didn't mention it though.

Picture 1 is from David's Caravan Holiday at the Peterborough site and weren't they lucky to have such lovely weather. (I love that strong diagonal D.)

Today has been awful here but Y spoke to Debra who was enjoying a warm sunny day.

That's England I suppose. But I wouldn't want to swap it.

There was a lull in the weather around 9.45am and I managed a little while in the garden. After clearing some more of the 'herb bed' I transplanted a sage plant which had become potbound in it's pot.

I split it into 3 and gave each one some space and I'm expecting them to prosper. Our fearless Robin came to within a few inches of my kneeling mat and managed to find beaks-full of grubs where I couldn't see any. He/she would go back to the nest and then come back for more.

Picture 2 is a Kalanchöe which David and Helen brought Y on Mothering Sunday (22nd March) - the photograph was taken yesterday. Hasn't it done well ! Between us we have given it care though - dead-heading and keeping it trim.

I think 'succulents' do perhaps have a longer flowering life-span than other houseplants. Except of course for the current varieties of Orchid.

We've had a pretty standard Sunday. Leisurely start with the weekend supplements, out shopping to Lidl. We were going to do Morrisons as well but in the end we gave it a miss. It wasn't worth getting soaked for.

Over lunch we watched (Y wasn't keen but she was happy for me to watch it) an excellent programme on Arena (thanks to iPlayer) about T.S.Elliott. It certainly held my interest and, unless reminded, one forgets how important he has been to 20th/21st Century Poetry. He must have been a helluva' fella because in whatever job he did he was destined for the top. A top level banker for Lloyds. An excellent publisher/editor of Faber & Faber. Seamus Heaney was an important part of the programme and I always find him a joy to watch, and listen to too.

This afternoon I did some photographic printing. Possible now after Brian's good offices.

Picture 3 is also from David. As he says - the blog tries to cater for all interests. This must be part of the Nene Valley Railway which has a station as part of the Ferry Meadows Caravan Club site. Or a level crossing near it.

Talking of catering for all interests as Pete B says in his comment, the TT races are in full swing, except of course for the bad weather delays.

Please click here for a full update and some great pictures. I love the sidecar snaps Pete.

And bear in mind Pete is not really a 'bike' fan so his coverage on his site is by way of a public service to us blog-readers. I love the way bloggers side step the media, and editors - they really are 'power to the people' organs.

My replies to your previous comments

Jill .... I suppose it must be a 'tea infuser'. I was hoping it would be called something more exotic. Perhaps someone could invent a more flamboyant name.

We too are great 'English Breakfast' fans. Usually Mr. Twinings. It's base is Assam and, as you will see from the link it is described as full-bodied and a fine accompaniment to breakfast.

I think the behaviour of bus passengers is inevitably a product of area. And without wishing to sound snobbish I think Chiswick probably has the edge over Eastwood and Arnold.

Bob .... We also were relieved that the BNP councillor lost her seat in our ward. So did Labour. The Tories won it. I just hope they don't start boggering up our local services because we think the Labour Council have been pretty good...... But Labour Councillors have lost their seats all over the country through no fault of their own,

Bright idea using your tea-infuser for herbs. I'm certainly going to borrow that one.

Yvonne ..... You make a fair point about tea-bags. I think that, like so many things, they have improved greatly in recent years. Definitely not 'dust' anymore.

Pete B ..... Thanks very much for the 'word from the streets' about the TT races.

As you will see above I have included a link to your site.

David .... Thanks very much for an excellent story about JD in his Night-Club management days.

For the benefit of other readers - JD is a friend of David's from School Days. Unfortunately now he is an M.S. sufferer but struggles on gamely. He is also a talented artist.

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

Quotation time .....

"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. "

Martin Luther

.

Quiet Sunday - Gone cold again - 52F - 16mph ENE

.
I bought this gadget in Ikea yesterday and have already used it successfully several times.

They must have a proper name but I can't remember what it is. The idea is to put a spoonful of leaf-tea in the wire-mesh end (it opens by compressing the two arms against the spring) then you put it in your mug and pour boiling water over. Obviously, when your tea is a suitably brewed colour you take it out.

Ingenious ! The one we had at home wasn't spring loaded and had holes in the metal rather then mesh. The results so far have been more than satisfactory.

The rain has been extremely heavy and our poorly draining bits are awash. Going down now though (6pm) because it has stopped raining. Also very cold and an ENE wind with 29mph gusts. I am so sorry for people just about to set off on holiday. Let's hope it brightens and warms up abit.

For lunch I cooked fresh Sea Bass and decided to oven-bake it which worked well. As accompaniments I did Jersey Royals and Mange-toute peas. Followed by a Y jelly and Greek Yoghurt. Delicious.

Microsoft have introduced a new search-engine, to rival google. It is called Bing and has one or two nice features. As 'google' now does, it offers suggestions to possible sites when you enter a search term. But a new nicety is that, when it opens a list of results, it offers a summary of each site before you decide whether to open it or not. This is achieved by hovering your mouse over the right hand edge of the listed site. So easy and useful when you get used to it. I could become a convert !

Picture number 2 needs no explanation. It is a cartoon by Bob.

As usual, beautifully drawn.

My responses to your comments

Jill ..... You may be right that John & Yvonne are now heading for home but yesterday we received a real post-card (the sort with a stamp) from Port Fréjus. This apparently is located between Cannes and Saint-Tropez.

Lucky old you, going to Alaska while it was so unspoilt.

I wasn't as much in favour of the Sheila Hancock Poetry programme as you were. I realise that much of her chosen work was relevant to what she had found comforting after the death of John Thaw. But I think she has milked this dry. Maybe I just don't like the woman very much.


Bob .... I think we do the same as you. In the first place, years ago, we set ordinary cooking coriander seed. Then harvested some seed from the result, and have simply kept it going ever since.

The service buses I have used very occasionally are, as you say, and Y affirms, uncomfortable. Her main complaint though, is the thoughtless behaviour of the clientelle.

Coaches on the other hand always suit me fine. So long as we sit on the driver's side so I can stretch my really bad left leg down the aisle. I would go so far as to say that I actually like and enjoy coach travel. Maybe because it's mostly with our Mansfield National Trust chums whose company we love.

Alaska to Siberia via The Bering Strait is just a walk. When the sea is frozen, which it mostly is. My memory tells me there was a move afoot once to build a land-bridge. Don't know what happened to the project.

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

Quotation time ......

"To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world"

John Muir

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow



.

BJ day for Y - Catch up day for me - 60F - 5 mph Northerly

.
Lupins have been mentioned and this morning Y noticed that ours are putting in an appearance. I hadn't been in that bit of the garden recently, not being able to find my Safari hat or brushwood knife.

Everyday there's something new in the garden, it's hard to keep track of developments.

What was the old song about -

'June is bustin' out all over'

...... It's from Carousel by-the-way.

Y has gone over to Burton Joyce for her Thursday grannying stint but first, we went to vote.

At the polling-station we saw Roger and he told us what a great day WoW had had at Bempton Cliffs. I told him Bill S had already sent 4 snaps that looked brilliant. Roger said they had excellent photography weather !

Then we went to Lidl to buy swimming-goggles and a beach towel for Y which we spotted in the Lidl Newsletter for today. If one isn't there early people buy them all and sell them on e-bay at a good profit. Doesn't seem fair but I don't suppose Lidl are bothered.

I have done some gardening jobs. The most important one was to replant Basil seed. Although those I planted in April are clinging to life they aren't romping away as they they usually do.

Don't know why, I didn't do anything differently. But as you can see from the picture on the left above, they aren't in vigorous good health.

The last picture today is of a really old shrub rose that has moved about with us. The flower is odd with a green bud-type thing in the middle of each bloom. The scent is heavenly and the rose always does well.

I noticed aphids on it this morning but no black-spot or mildew etc..

My other odd jobs include, as ever, computer jobs and photograph stuff.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob .... I passed your comments on to the thrush this morning. He replied 'My pleasure'.

If my conversation with the Sat/Nav lady causes comment, I must restrict my conversations to those with the birds and the flowers. Plus of course the Trees. Rumour has it that Prince Charles talks to his trees - so he can't be all bad !

Re your problem with shortening the bus-story to 200 words. As I said in my e-mail -

"Tis when I labour to be brief that I become obscure"

Horace

Jill ...... In our area there are now some weird bus-services. But the main ones are excellent. Our Trent/Barton service cannot really be faulted. Y uses it a lot. There are two an hour into Nottingham from a bus stop 50 yards away. The coming back bus stop is about 20 yards away and on our side of the road. And yes, they do say on the front where they are going.

Two of our Nat Trust friends Dorothy and Joan (both in their 80s) often go on bus adventures - to Derby, to Newark, Lincoln etc., and they don't mind at all having to change. It's all part of the fun for them.

Please send your photos. If they need remedial work I will do my best and send them back to you. With your camera I think the only solution is to keep the camera more or less level and point the lens at what you want to snap. Keep the shutter button half depressed while it focuses on something and then click. That will probably work out most of the time. The camera manufacturers have abandoned viewfinders unless you want to pay a lot of money. ...... please see jbw's comment.

The Museum Café sounds great. They often seem to be.

Kate Adie still introduces the radio programme 'from our own correspondent' and very good she is too.

Tomorrow (Friday) evening on Radio 4 David Attenborough begins the first of 20 programmes about his life as a naturalist. The programmes are only 10 minute slots and should be well worth a listen.

jbw .... You are right about viewfinders. We shall all have to go back 50+ years and have a black cloth to drape over our heads and the camera.

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

Tomorrow morning Peter and Joan are coming over early and we are taking them to IKEA for one the fabled breakfasts. We rabbitted on about them so much they decided they had to give them a try.

Quotation time .......

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast"

John Gunther

He should have added - plus the Telegraph crossword. But he was an American.

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

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"




.

Yaris plus Garmin - irresistable - 71F - 9mph NE wind

.
An opening shot especially for Y. Dry-stone walling, a stone gate-post, and a field full of this year's amazing buttercups. 2009 has certainly been 'The year of the Yellow Flower'. Firstly the daffodils were good, then the dandelions were unusually good, and now the buttercups are outstanding. In Derbyshire at least, there are rolling fields full of them. And such a pleasant yellow too, much better than rape.

Our destination was Carsington Water and the Sat/Nav took us via Wirksworth - not the way I would have gone - but an excellent route, lots of narrow country lanes with grass growing in the middle. The above shot was from our first coffee-stop.

We had a great time at Carsington. A good place to be - plenty of different interests. Next time we've promised ourselves we'll hire a rowing-boat or an unflatable. Lets just hope the current blog-thread about 'capsize' doesn't prove an omen.

Just before you get to the nearest bird-hide is a carefully nurtured pond with a bridge over and I noticed several blue dragonflies darting about. My Collins Wildlife book allowed me to identify them as Common Blue Damselflies. The snap is the pick of a not very good bunch, all the rest are already in the recycle bin.

A knowledgeable? bystander told me they were laying eggs.

I know nothing about the habits of dragonflies, so I am more than willing to yield the description if anyone knows better.

Another picnic was enjoyed. A flask of coffee of course, but we took some lemonade, some filled cobs, and a selection of fruit. We ate it looking over the water - always attractive to English people. The urban myth is that it stems from our history as a maritime nation.

Last night, thanks to iPlayer we watched Ian Hislop's 'The Changing of the Bard' on BBC 4. The programme was about the Poets Laureate, since Dryden, all the way through to Carol Ann Duffy. We both love his 'impish' sense of humour. Andrew Motion came over very well again.

If you don't fancy actually watching the programme (which is what I have linked you to) click here for some text about it.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob .... Yeah we know all that. What we wanted from you was something that links 'capsize' to a boat overturning. How can it possibly have anything to do with 'cap' or 'size'.

I'm sure your tomatoes will be fine. A resilient species. On one of ours we actually have a tiny little truss already.

Reg .... I will indeed give the Sat/Nav a test (to your house) a week on Wednesday probably. Incidentally my very best wishes go with you all to Bempton Cliffs and I also know that you are aware why I feel it would be too much for me.

Re Hayley. My guess is that the admission of the under 18s won't much affect the 'offpeak members' - except of course for School Holidays.

You are probably right about the 'sneaky' way they are using the alleged results of a vote to support a change that they had decided on anyway.

jbw ..... Thanks very much for the Sat/Nav info. And also for the further particulars in your e-mail. Your point about their value after dark is first-class.

I must research the matter of 'Landmarks'. On the device itself is a 'help' page with loads of info. therein. Always worth scrutinising 'help' pages, in my experience. It's the same with 'right-click' menus. Folks don't realise what a wealth of info is there at their fingertips.

Yvonne ..... It sounds as if you got Hayley membership just right. Trust you.

They obviously need to raise more money and the under 18s is just one method. Lets hope it doesn't spoil it for you, or for Reg and Maureen for that matter.

We agree 100% about our Sat/Nav. Good fun. The loud 'bleeping' when in a speed-restriction area with cameras, is a bit irksome. But better that than a speeding ticket I suppose.

It seems we have a lot to learn yet. But it's going to be an attractive 'learning-curve' not a niggly one.

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

Quotation time ........

"The poppy opes her scarlet purse of dreams"

Scharmel Iris

Strange poet. Strange chap. He probably talked to his Sat/Nav.

Just an excuse to use a Bob poppy picture as an endpiece


Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow
.

Sunday Rest Day - Did lots - 74F - Wind returns

.
Decided to show you a collage of the Sat/Nav's box plus the gadget in operation.

First things first. We had a leisurely morning. Although Y was earlier I didn't actually get dressed till noon by which time Y was scrutinizing the Garmin Sat Nav and its instructions. Such devices no longer scare her and she is now willing to keep pressing knobs and clicking buttons till something happens.

I cooked pork-chops for lunch and for pudding Y made a blackberry and apple crumble and custard. Both courses were lovely.

In the afternoon we decided to take the Garmin for a spin and made the unwise decision to select somewhere we knew the way to i.e. Newstead Abbey. All was well and we were approaching correctly when the lady announcer told us to turn right about a mile before we should. We were shocked and critical. Then later we realised that the device didn't know we usually go to the Mansfield Road entrance and was directing us to a geographically nearer entrance.

Our return journey was more satisfying because, on being told to turn left at some lights I deliberately drove straight on. The SatNav was quick to announce 'recalculating' and thereafter gave us an accurate turn-by-turn instruction to get home. Our score = at least 9/10, I suppose. It is rather unnerving to realise that a satellite way up in the sky can actually see your vehicle and know what it is doing. It gives you good warning when you are to turn, and then tells you again when you are say 50yards away. Also, spookily, it sounds strong warnings if you dare to exceed the speed-limit !

The device seems happier with post-codes than addresses, but maybe there are intricacies to learn !

I realise all this is already known to most of our readers and I apologise if I have bored them. But I am writing for posterity !

The final picture is another bottle-top lens view of the patio and some orchid leaves. I've flipped it upside down to make the content more understandable.

Talking of the Orchids, I have just watered ours and then I took particular care with Betty's. It is a relief to say they still look fit and healthy, as do the scented-leaved geranium plugs I potted up for her. I guess they return sometime next week and my responsibility for the plants will cease. Not that I really mind because they are such excellent neighbours.

The weather has been super again and, when I spoke to David this morning, it was good to hear their holiday weather has been like this throughout. David has certainly got the interest-in-words gene. They had been talking canoe/kayak and the word capsize occurred. Like him I can see no logical link between the size of someone's hat and turning upside down in a boat.

All suggestions will be gratefully received !

The wind has got-up again today (16 mph ENE) - quite enough to blur flower pictures !

My replies to your comments

Bob..... I don't intend to stray into 'Sports Desk' territory.

Good for you - going to the pictures. What a good idea to show films in Village Halls. We haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire - the clips and the reviews didn't appeal. I'm surprised though that Egmanton is a place where you could lose the Village Hall.


Rob .... Great Haiku ! Congratulations - they flow from your pen.

Didn't know Garmin sponsored anything at all. Perhaps Middlesborough now need it more than ever.

Y will be speaking to Lach's Gran during the week. It will be fun to hear her opinions about the Summer Camp.

Just the weather for your Caravanning. Don't know how long it is scheduled to last though !

I haven't given up on 'pinhole' photography - it is the traditional problem of 'hours in the day' and being so busy when you retire. A pleasant enough problem though !

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

Quotation time .....

"The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off"

Abe Lemons

.

Activity filled Day - 48F - Cloudy and Cool

.

The pictures are from later in the day, and show where Y goes swimming. Today 6 lengths. Jacuzi, and walk home. The Hayley Centre is beautifully situated in pleasant parkland and everything looks in 'good order' - no litter, edges trimmed, grass neatly mown - that sort of thing .

Today we crammed a lot in. Took Library Books back, collected tablets, went over to Joan's for coffee and then to The TreeTops for lunch. Whilst at Joan's we booted-up Yvonne's laptop with the vodafone dongle so Joan could see some correspondence Y wanted her to see.

We had a good chat about wildflowers because Joan really does know the subject well. We identified several pictures from my Cromford shots and she put me right about my umbellifers, my ranuculaecea and my avens etc.. I have so much to learn but she lent me a good book.

After lunch I dropped Y off for her swim and she walked home via The Headstocks, all while I had a much needed lie-down. The chair in the Treetops hadn't suited me at all and eventually I had to give up and go and sit in the car. However, after getting home and taking pain-killers, I rallied enough to go out and de-weed part of the ring border in the front lawn (Y had already more-or-less cracked it) and then we planted some Geraniums, which have done well there before. Excellent, well-rooted plants, some from Aldi and some from Morrisons - they were all good. The we watched Springwatch and enjoyed it. I wish Kate Humble would do less gesticulating though - it must be contagious. Chris Packham the new presenter is good and knowledgeable and quite honestly, although I am sorry he is ill, we were ready for a change from Bill Oddie.

The third picture is from my Cromford collection and shows Viper's Bugloss. Now there is a name to conjure with. I shall have to research how it came to be thus named.

Sorry if the snap is a little dull but the flower was growing in a heavily shaded area and what you see is a fair representation of how it was.

I've decided to try and WoW tomorrow, unless I wake up feeling awful. Helen is turning out and when Reg rang me he said there was talk of going to Darley Abbey near Derby. It sounds like an interesting place and, if their website is any indication, it should be fun.

My responses to your previous comments

jbw ..... I have seen your 'mobile-phone cum sat/nav' up at EPS. I think the point was however that the satellites themselves, up there in the sky, might be reaching the end of their useful .......

Pete B ..... We are all loving this TT info. straight from where it is all happening. Please keep it coming.

Yvonne ..... Now you've mentioned it, bells rang, and I'm not sure if David and gang's invasion of Debra's was not post Le Mans rather than the IofM TT. No doubt when he returns from Holiday he will sort it out.

He sent me a holiday-picture on my mobile this afternoon but I'm unsure how to move it onto my computer because it looks like a video rather than a still.

Jill...... Glad you have sorted out your picture problem. I thought it was impossible to push a USB in the wrong way round. Hope you haven't caused any damage.

What an interesting piece about the Hebe and the bees and butterflies. I've never seen one that popular ! Must have been a memorable sight.

I already knew about sewage-works and tomato plants, and they always look so healthy. Am afraid I personally wouldn't be able to use it as a source though. Bob might !

Please give Jenny our best wishes !

Bob .... Re-introducing past species to this country always worries me. Why bother ? If they turn up of their own accord so be it and they should be cherished but there seems to be more important 'green' issues that need to be worked at.

The Poetry Archive is a very valuable resource and Andrew Motion is to be congratulated for his work on it. Little compares with a poet reading his/her own work. There are exceptions but they are rare.

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

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow

This is one of Y's favourites - Good enough reason to use it


.

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

.
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.

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

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




.

Bank Holiday - 51F - 5mph W - BJ Gala

.
I asked Helen C for permission to publish this picture because we had been discussing James Turrell and I was reminded. She agreed, so here it is.

In my opinion an oustanding picture which ticks all the buttons. The teardrop construction suits the subject. I like the 3 portholes, or whatever they are called in Churches. The 'Atrium' and the patch of sky are gorgeous. And she waited for those little wispy clouds. The whole picture has a certain lapidary quality. Lovely stuff !

Which brings me to my task of the day. i.e. Judging the photographs at Burton Joyce Gala or, more accurately, the 3 Villages Gala. There were maybe 50 entries, in different classes from under 11 to adult, in different categories.

A delightful task but demanding. There were some excellent pictures and contestants had gone to a lot of trouble. I was fed and provided with hot tea and, as I said to Y, I would be happy to judge a photographic competition anywhere for a slice of Aunty Pauline's Coconut Cake - it was exquisite - so moist!

When I got home and decided to put the car away I thought I must let everyone see the results of Y's labours in the Garage.

I suppose really, for you to be able to judge the transformation, I should have done a 'before' picture too. But I didn't so you will have to use your imaginations.

Before going over to the Gala Field, Y managed a snap of the hatched chicks in the Great Tit nesting box. But I haven't as yet got access to the picture.

My responses to your previously made comments

jbw..... Thanks for the tip. Lighthouse sounds like a good organisation. I think we pass one of their outlets on the way to Heanor.

We already store unground coffee beans in the freezer having read the tip some years ago.

Reg .... Tell Mo she is 'on the list' for Basil.

Helen C .... Thank you also for the further information on recycling large-ish objects. All we have left is a wooden TV and Video Player stand and that is small enough to fit in the car anyway.

We'll probably take it to JBW's 'Lighthouse' because we need to go to Heanor in the next few days anyway.

Bob ..... My forgetting to stop the camera from spot-metering wasn't a sophisticated error. Just simple carelessness.

I must admit to 'tetchiness' over the Yes to 4 chairs but No to 6. Seemed so unnecessary.

Your £15 DAB Radio from Tesco does indeed sound like a good bargain. So maybe Jill, have a peep in Tesco before spending too much money.

Roy ..... Your Basil will remain in good hands until you need him. Growth rate is healthy but not impossibly fast.

Reg also pointed out that the acronym WoW is more correctly for 'Walkies on Wednesday'. I shall not offend again, lest someone shouts 'Heel' at me.

Jill .... You are quite right about the seed merchants' decisions. I can only assume they go by weight. A packet of Wallflower seed provides sufficient plants to decorate a fair sized County. In a packet of Pelergonium seed you would be lucky to get 6.

I'm sure you will find exactly the DAB radio to suit your needs. Happy digital listening! This Digital Radio magazine regularly e-mail me their latest.

I love the juxtaposition between your sun-lounger purchase and needing the central heating on when you returned.

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

Quotation time .....

"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,

Smiles awake you when you rise:"

Thomas Dekker

I remember hearing these words used as the start of a Beatles track and thinking, wowee, how poetic, very good chaps. Then I discovered it was a Thomas Dekker love poem written circa 1,600. Still good though - and at least the tune was theirs.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow - another busy day with Nat Trst in the evening"

Thought the fish were due for an airing


.

Eventful May Day - Doctors - Car - Cold

.
I had a successful 10 minutes with Dr. Barrett just after 9am - most things going well - and then I took the car in for Service. When Steve at the Garage rang to say it was ready, he confirmed my suspicions that the automatic gear-box is almost at the end of its useful life and could let us down at any time. It has been snatching and 'hunting' for a few months and he said that to replace it would be more than the value of the car.

So, straight to the crux - we have bought another one. The Toyota Yaris Verso shown above.

Slightly unusual looking I suppose but it could have been designed for the job. It stands 2 feet higher than the Civic and is so easy for me to get into and out of. The height allows my 'wheels' to stand vertically in the rear which obviates the need to collapse flatten the rear seats. The front doors are as wide as our present car and Y has always wanted to have a 4 door so that, when we carry passengers, she doesn't have to clamber into the back. As an Estate Agent might say, it is suprisingly spacious. We are taking delivery a week on Monday. No doubt I shall think of other things to tell you about it.

Y has been working very hard cleaning up the garage. She started the task this morning before it was decided to purchase a new inmate. Precognition perhaps ?


The snap on the left is another good old Basil Rooting. This one, when potted up, is for Roy and will be going around with them in the Caravan.

While I was at it I decided to root a spare which can replace one of our own ageing plants. I am also germinating some seed because new plants from seed often seem more robust.

You will be interested in the latest news from the Great Tit nesting box at Burton Joyce. So far, 4 have hatched but I don't have a picture to share yet !






My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne .... So pleased things are going well with the Lib/Dems and the fact that your decision was prior to their resounding success over the Gurkhas. Nick Clegg's decision to ride shotgun for Joanna Lumley was inspired. And she wasn't 'a Joanna cum lately' because her father was an Officer in a Gurkha Regiment.

For once it seems that the Press are united - Red Tops join Broad Sheets in their praise, and their disgust at the mean-spirited actions of the Government.

Bob ...... Interesting that Earl Grey's vary. Could you recommend one as not to heavy on the bergamot ?

Rob .... It is always pleasant when you turn up on the blog with a pungent point or a Haiku, or a report fromn the Sports desk.

The bottom left 'collage' picture that you mentioned was taken looking over the valley as you drive from Elton towards Gratton. The guy on the ridge looked like The Monarch of the Glen, albeit facing in the wrong direction.

The EPS Annual Exhibition, shown on Thursday evening was of a very high standard in my opinion with varied and lively content. I enjoyed seeing your pictures, and Elaines whose B & W portraits bore up really well.

As always, thanks for the poetry. Great news that Carol Ann Duffy is to be the new Poet Laureate. She is a fine poet, with a light lyrical style but she hits targets too. An excellent thing to have a woman in the post for the first time.

Jill ..... Re Radio 7. You CAN get it via Sky, or online, but ideally you need a DAB radio. They don't broadcast at all on FM so the question of frequency is not applicable.

I apologise for accusing you of not opening links ! In any case, the blog isn't compulsory - it is supposed to be a light entertainment. I was quite out of order.

I enjoyed 'Suggestica'. You really couldn't invent these gems.

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

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow


.