Better Day - Some rain some Sun - 61F

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I think we have a couple of tomatoes 'on the turn'. Please scrutinise carefully the bottom truss of the second plant from the left. It is only the 30th July and I didn't expect them to be ripening till mid August in their outside location - even if it is a sunny spot.

I saw the Doctor this morning and she didn't seem terribly worried about my rate of weight loss. My 'kidney function' is too low on a scale where I can't even remember the acronym let alone what the letters stand for. Normal is 80, they worry if it falls below 60 and they really worry if it gets down to 30. Mine is 49, up from 45 last week, but I am to have it tested again. My 'normal' aches and pains continue, as does my sickness. But she is a sensible lady and is willing to leave things a fortnight before recommending hospital checks. I hate hospitals.

After Doctors we shopped. Lidl and Morrisons and Y didn't have a Lidl back-twinge. The I cooked a chilli for lunch which was a success. For pudding we had a Y speciality Orange jelly and our favourite Greek Yoghurt.

Picture 2 is the view out of my office window, a few minutes ago. We feel honoured by a sunny evening.

I also managed to top up the bird feeders. How awful if the goldfinches went off in a huff ?

Rick Stein appealled to me for this evening, but it's an hour and I decided to watch it another day on iPlayer. Strange to have Y at home today but Burton Joyce people are on holiday. The meet-up between David's lot and Steve's worked, We know because both texted a picture of the children. I've been trying to work out how to download them onto the computer, but I haven't managed it yet. I used to be able to transfer the snaps but I've now forgotten how.

My replies to your comments

Jill .... We don't seem to have had a good drying day for ages. If the clothes dried once the onset of torrential rain has been so sudden they easily got soaked again.

I'm really sorry your Saga holiday has been cancelled. And we sympathise with Ro. He enjoys his Country & Western so. We sympathise with you too, but you know what I mean !

Bob .... Yes. I do realise the record-shot aspect of Paul Sandby's watercolours. Like Turner's water-colour notebooks. And the WoW group people are also well up to appreciating them.

I don't really need to 'confirm' that Wiener Schnitzel is veal in crumb. Yesterday, the link to the Wiener Schnitzel wikipedia page was to the same page and described it perfectly. I guess you omitted to open the link. It isn't a big read and the words about 'veal coated in breadcrumb' are on the third line down.

Perhaps it's just not worth doing links.

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

"By far the most dangerous foe we have to fight is apathy - indifference from whatever cause, not from a lack of knowledge, but from carelessness, from absorption in other pursuits, from a contempt bred of self-satisfaction"

William Osler

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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.

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

No quote tonight - feeling a little tired and queasy.

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow.



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

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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.

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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
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Yvonne returned - Wind troublesome - Happy with Yaris

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I've tried to capture an admixture of almost sapphire blue sky and wind gusts of up to 32mph.

These strong gusts of wind I find really unpleasant and I think I shall have to get on to Tim at Watnall to see if something can be done to change them. I have been using my wheels rather than my stick just to go across the patio to the garage because I am so fearful of being blown over. The consequences could be dire.

Anyway, now Y has returned I shall have more confidence. Picking her up from Phoenix Park was a joy and she had no difficulty finding the Yaris. I had parked in my usual dropping off/picking up spot anyway. She is understandably tired but happy with it. Again she has been 'a really useful engine' but is finding the journey increasingly onerous.

When Y's trip is to be to Broadstairs she favours the Coach. A 2hr wait at Victoria would be entailed though. Jill said they would be able to meet-up because it doesn't take Jill long to get to Victoria.

The Monday 'meet' was an outstanding success, according to all participants. And Barbara who has been so ill gave a good account of herself. Peter Jones is a good venue and as it is a bit of a special occasion, the prices are tolerable. I have linked you to the website again because it is such a good website. Simple enough to appeal to the cognoscenti but well laid out and accessible.

Betty and Derek have gone on holiday today and I have been appointed 'Keeper of the Watson Orchids'. see right.

I've also been provided with some compost-filled plant trays in which to prick out her plug plants when they arrive. They are such good neighbours it will give me pleasure. A big responsibility though and I just hope nothing keels over during the next three weeks.

My responses to your previously made comments

incy wincy Denis ..... Great to have you back, and commenting. We must get together one evening and you can bring me up to date with what you have been doing. And bring me some pictures to look at...... Plus I would like to know about the Skegness Court copper.

I e-mailed you the Pete Brady 'tomoto soup' all the way from the Isle of Man. Well worth the trouble of making it.

Bob ..... The witty card was from our friends Peter and Joan. I wanted him to know that I had found it witty. I didn't feel a responsibilty to scan and publish a personal card for general consumption.

Jill ..... Early impressions of the Yaris are 'very much in favour'. Ingress/egress are easier by a large factor. Roomier inside too, which seems odd in a smaller car.

I bet it's great having a table overlooking Sloane Square. Did you see many 'rangers' wandering about?

Sorry about the Peter & Joan card. Perhaps I didn't deal with it very well.

You are right about the weather and this determined cold. I got a thick winter shirt out of my normal sized wardrobe this morning.

Yvonne ..... Lovely to have you home. And I'm delighted you enjoyed your meal. (grilled sausage, mashed potatoes with chives, carrots julienne, sweetheart cabbage, followed by bananas & custard prepared by your good self). You are quite right about my eating habits while you are away. I consider almost a responsibility to go through the freezer, eating up those odd left-over single portions of things that we have saved.

I'm really looking forward to seeing your pictures on a full sized screen. They looked pretty good on the little screen on the back of your camera but, until you see them computer-screen size you are never sure of quite what you have got. This is why deleting from your camera is a bad idea.

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Quotation time ....... I may have used this one before - if so - Sorry !

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work"

Thomas A Edison

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow
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Good WoW at Strelley - Strong 13mph Westerly - 57F

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This collage is made of 2 of John's photographs from Dune de Pilat and John describes the lower picture as the biggest sand-dune in Europe. 103 metres high !

I love the simplicity of the upper image and John seems to have an excellent 'eye' for a picture. Particularly water !

Keep the pictures coming John - it's great to hear from you, and to see the snaps of what you are doing is the icing on the cake.

My day, following yesterday's action-packed Tuesday. has been comparitively quiet but none-the-less enjoyable.

When we met up at Reg's for WoW, there was much discussion as to venue. In the end, Strelley was chosen, which is just round the corner. I wanted to do some wildflowers and the last thing one wants is a 13mph wind rattling all the subjects about. However, I got some results and decided on a collage in an effort to disguise the errors a little.

There were 9 attendees but, due to his troublesome leg, Roger decided to come round with me rather than tackle the walk with 'the chaps'. The 'collage' is on the left.

Helen has just e-mailed me with some information on Courses for Wildflower identification.

I know there's a wealth of information on-line and in books but they don't seem to work for me. I need someone to point at a plant and say "This is Herb Robert" and then let me take a photograph of it.

There are courses available and I would guess one needs to go at different times of the year because of the transient nature of the subject matter.

Our bridle path route took us over the M1 via a narrow bridge and we both decided to snap some motorway traffic with an attempt at speed-blur.

I don't know how Roger fared but my best effort is on the right.

The trick is to achieve a long exposure time, with a tiny aperture (f22 in this case) preferably with a tripod, which I didn't have with me needless to say. I did my best with the camera braced against one of the stanchions of the Motorway bridge super-structure.

I don't know what you think but it seems to me that the 'blurr' is more pronounced on traffic which is going away from us than it is with traffic approaching !

There is probably a technical reason and perhaps one of more expert members can enlighten us ?

Y is at Burton Joyce tomorrow and I have a more-or-less free day. But I have lots of jobs that will fill it.

My responses to your previously crafted comments

Bob .... Epson ARE good. Brian recommended the model I have and it is still going strong. I forgive it the occasional glitch because the results please me so much. John once visited and, seeing some A4 pictures, said in his inimitable manner "Did you print those Father?". But I am afraid I don't really like printing - mainly because of the faff involved in cutting mounts (incidentally Brian will cut those for you too if you ask him) so I have a tendency to stick to projected images.

Your 'game-dealer' Stuart Rose, seems a very affable and knowledgeable chap. Apparently it was 'on the cards' some years ago that the National Trust would buy Laxton. Certainly some method of preserving it should be devised. It is a living museum and so important to the study of Agricultural History.

Now. Come on ! Everybody knows you drink Rimbaud, not eat it. A glass of a good mature 'Rimbaud de pays' is crisp on the palate and excellent with chips.

Jill ..... Re the Great Tit chicks. Miles says he has counted 6 and he is a pretty reliable source. We can only hope they fare better this year. Although, when calamity struck last year, all the children were very matter-of-fact about it.

I loved the wren story. The are very noisy little birds aren't they ? One wonders how so much sound emanates from such a tiny body. Please keep us informed.

Steel bands have such a mellow sound, and one can understand the relationship with mellow yellow. I tried to find a YouTube steel band that was just right, to link you to. But I failed.

Re your blue-ey tinge in your pictures. You can remedy a lot in Picasa, which I am sure we persuaded you to download. If you have it, we will talk you through the necessary in the near future.

Thanks for asking about my 'blood' and I am delighted to be able to tell you that the level is just about perfect. It is 3.1 and I don't need it tested again for a fortnight. If it is 3-ish then, they will probably risk leaving me for a month.

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Quotation time .......

"When rage and hot blood are his counsellors"

King Henry 1vth Part 2

I've not felt like that for 3 decades. Midly 'miffed' is about my extreme.



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Weather deteriorates - 49F - chucking it down

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When I saw this sky out of my office window yesterday evening, I should have guessed what today would bring. And it did - bucket's full. As Ray says, it has been hissing down all day.

There was a few minutes break which allowed Y to nip round the corner for some milk. A litre container, sale by date 1st May, kept in a cold cupboard, had gone solid. Not just 'off' but like white scrambled egg. I think we must blame Lidl - whose standards, like today's weather, seem to be deteriorating. At least in the fresh food department.

Picture 2 is of some Green Tea, not from Lidl, but I am intrigued by the clever box-closing idea. After opening there is a white flap which engages with two tabs inside the lid and keeps the box closed. Not airtight obviously, but clever.

While doing this collage I made a discovery. Text which you have put on the constituent pictures doesn't stay in place when you prepare the collage. So any text you want has to be entered post collaging. Not a big deal when you know, but annoying if you don't.

John texted me to say they had moved to Fouesnant on the South Brittany coast. It looks a fun place to be and a nice bay. Probably Rob knows it.

Incidentally I am becoming a big fan of Radio 7. There is such a goodly amount of class listening from dramatisation, and plays and straight-forward readings - always good actors and actresses. In my preset buttons it is the one just to the right of Radio 4 - so, if John Humphries is annoying me (quite often these days) I just click the button.

It isn't my intention to start discussing politics but Y and I both think the government's stance about the Gurkhas residency claims is despicable. The riff-raff we do allow in apparently, but loyal men who have fought and given their lives for us are to be excluded. The reason for this paragraph is our delight that Nick Clegg and the Lib/Dems are to join forces with Joanna Lumley to campaign on the Gurkhas behalf.

I can see myself in that voting booth, with my black pencil poised ...............

My responses to your previous comments

Pete ..... Don't be put off by the 'soft scoop' description. It always seems fairly hard to me. Certainly hard enough to cut a slice and separate with a knife.

Bob .... All I can say about 6 in-laws for lunch is 'rather you than me'. Sounds like a great meal though. And a choice of puddings !

Yvonne ..... How Google's computers work out what sites to put in their right hand column is a mystery. But it can be the source of amusement. It is almost worth including some provocative words in ones text, just to see what they come up with.

It could prove an unusual creative tool.

Jill ..... My bendy basin 'idea' doesn't seem at all original now. Everybody is saving them.

Re the Clematis. I never doubted it was a Montana. The question was 'which sub- variety?' - Rubens or Grandiflora ?

You crammed a lot into your holiday and I think you were wise to have a 'rest day' - we certainly need them nowadays. One trouble is that I have lost the ability to 'nap' in a coach seat, or even an armchair. I have to lie down.

Thanks for the 'further and better particulars' about the food. I wouldn't have been happy either.

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Quotation time ......

"I prithee go and get me some repast;
I care not what, so it be wholesome food."

Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew.

Saturday - 58F wind 9mph SW - Cooking

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Picture 1 is of two facing pages from my National Trust, Weather Forecasting book scanned and collaged together. I've chosen to publish it because our sky this morning looked very similar to the picture.

But before we get to Picture 2 and our Brinsley sky I would like to publish in the body of the blog, a link to David's Sailing Club's website and their extremely good live weather page. The site in general is lively and good fun and I wish I knew how they do the changing pictures at the top of the page.

Apart from some drizzle around lunchtime the forecast from my book seems fairly accurate.

This morning we did a quick shop for bits for tomorrow and also nipped into Jacksdale Garden Centre for some minature gardening gloves for Millicent - she is keen to help, and will be encouraged. We spent a small fortune on weedkillers, and insecticides and stuff. The stems leading to some rosebuds are already infested with aphids. I seem to remember that my Dad just used soapy water, occasionally with a jollop of Jeyes fluid therein ..... Much cheaper !

Picture 2 on the left shows our Brinsley sky this morning.

When we got home I spent a couple of hours in the kitchen preparing the Bolton HotPot, but it will make things easier tomorrow and I shall be able to enjoy TJ's company without slaving over a hot stove etc......

Picture 3 is the Bolton Hotpot and the recipe, a tried and trusted one, from my Best of British Cooking book which was a present from Stewart A. maybe thirty years ago. Often with recipe books you are lucky if you find 3 recipes that are really good. In this book I have at least 10 which are first class.

The forerib of beef I swear by and the cauliflower cheese is a nuisance but worth it.

Y makes an excellent Fruit Salad from it. The Carse of Gowrie's Fruit Salad is its 'given name' and again a lot of messing-about but the end result is delicious.

I had a nice chat on the phone to Debra and the sale of their house is nearing completion. I hope the planned move to Broadstairs comes about soon - won't it be fun having family living at the seaside ? Friends have offered to put them up if there is an overlap - now there's real friendship for you, accommodating a whole family.

If you open the link it looks a fun place and I can't wait to have a browse in The Old Curiosity Shop.

My responses to your previous comments

David ..... Thanks for the web-address of your Sailing Club. As you will see I've linked it in the body of the blog. Good site !

Bob ..... Thanks for the chicken low-down. The gamekeeper at Winkburn used to keep Banties and Silkies as a hobby mainly but he used to use the eggs and give me a dozen when he had a surplus.

Which reminds me of a reminiscence. Once I caught a well known poacher from Chesterfield 'trespassing in pursuit of game" at Winkburn. I took his shot gun saying "I am confiscating this gun" to which he replied "It's up to a Court to 'confiscate' it young man - you are 'seizing' it". Embarrassment for keen young policeman because of course, he was right. Still, he had the decency to plead quilty ! I stressed how helpful and non-aggressive he had been and the bench only fined him a £5 - but of course, he lost his shot-gun. I was given the task of destroying it in the boiler-room fire .... I seem to remember we kept the skeletons of a couple of twelve-bores just in case the Magistrates Clerk decided to check, so ..................... He was delighted. I never found out where the brace of pheasants came from, which appeared just inside the Police House gate ..............

The mind boggles on Wordsworth let loose on dandelions ! Perhaps Rob could delight us with a Haiku.

Your Bank Holiday commitments sound manifold. Hospital ? Don't understand that bit.

JBW ..... Lovely little homily....... Well worth bear-ing in mind !

Yvonne ..... I well remember Steven and the central heating at St Leodegarious in Basford.

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Quotation time .......

"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

Sean O'Casey

Just showing off. The RSC stage at Stratford.

And by popular request


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

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

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

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

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


My responses to your previous comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Quotation time ......

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

Shakespeare - Troilus and Cressida

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Good Good Friday - Good sleep - 52F/ 3mph S

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After the useful interchange with Tim Dawson, about wind-speeds and things, I found the above book irresistible. It caught my eye in the National Trust shop at Clumber during our Wednesday visit. Inside is plenty of technical explanation but the main thrust of the book is 24 beautiful sky-portraits. What can be inferred from them appears on the facing page. I shall take it with me wherever .........

It is perhaps best if I don't comment on yesterday's blog. One comment was about twice the length of the blog itself but .....ah well !

Picture 2 is here solely because of my love of natural light 'still-lifes'. The method seems to imbue the picture with more life than using flash or any other form of artificial light. The colours are better and you don't get that harshness, and shadow outlines etc....

David and Helen and family are safely off on their big holiday and I know they will send me pictures. It was good to see their new Toshiba laptop yesterday. Glossy and shiny seems the 'in' thing and it certainly looked attractive. And I guess it will perform well. It is well specified and Toshiba are good. Even the keys are glossy. Running Vista rather than XP but folks seem to be getting used to it. Y is very happy with hers.

Tomorrow is Millicent's 'do' at the farm and TJ is picking her Mum up during the afternoon.

This morning we went to Hucknall Tesco for bits of shopping and I acquired (on David's recommendation) a three-headed Scart lead adaptor and en route we called in at the Watnall Farm shop for lamb-chops for TJ on Sunday. We did ask if she would like a change from lamb and got the reply "If it isn't going to be lamb, I'm not coming!"

My responses to your previous comments

David ..... See above re your Toshiba and please thank Helen and Sky and Brooke very much for the super Easter Cake. Beautifully finished and presented but we haven't actually tasted it yet.

Bob ..... Thank for your e-mailed info about The Reindeer at Edingley. We have been with Peter & Joan. But I shall pass on your comments.

We do remember Typhoon Tyson and how extremely fast he was. Probably accuracy was a little sacrificed for speed ?

Endoscopy probably is a 'catch-all' description. But I have never know it used for the other end i.e - throat or oesophagus.

Pete ..... Thanks for congratulations ! Never too late. And, bearing in mind previous efforts, we are quite proud of our 26yrs this time.

Brian S .... although via e-mail rather than the 'comments' system, we likewise thank you for your congratulations and best wishes.!

Jill ..... You are right about the tiny bird being a Wren. Our bird-consultant Miles (nearly 8) said immediately "It's a Wren". He also identified some Geese I wasn't sure about as Greylag.

There often is a Sutcliffe Exhibition at Whitby. They are justifiably proud of him and lose no opportunity to exhibit... Sensible people because they always pull a goodly number of photographers. And I'm sure the hand-knitted Guernseys were a bonus. Or vice versa .....

Where we went today i.e. Hucknall Tesco there is a superb modern sculpture of a Miner. When the weather is better I'll take a photo for you. But today there was so little light you would have been able to see the finer points.



Tilly ..... Please don't spend hours searching for the 'Headstocks' picture. If you have sent it me once it must be on my computer too. And I've got more time than you.

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Quotation time ......

"He draweth out the thread of his verbosity

finer than the staple of his argument ....."

Shakespeare - Loves Labour Lost

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Typical Thursday - 49F - W at 9mph - Y at BJ

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The picture on the left is one of Yvonne's.

I had installed myself in the car and didn't want to get out again, just before we left the car park at Cromford Mill. So I asked Y if she would nip out and take a photo of the Church through all the shrubbery.

This was the result and I love it. It so sets the time of year with the daffs and just a hint of green on the trees. In a month you won't be able to see the Church at all for the foliage.


Likewise with picture 2 which is looking from Cromford Mill towards the distant hills. You can just see the hole in the wall where the gate was (centre bottom) and you can imagine the hundreds of thousands of people over the years who have been so happy to see this view at the end of a shift.

My viewpoint is high to exclude the atmosphere-wrecking cars.

Today has been a rest-day although I am going to EPS this evening. The NEMPF Exhibition is being shown and it will be an interesting evening. I know we have at least one member with accepted work. Y, as usual has been over at Burton Joyce and I dropped her at the tram this morning after collecting an undelivered package from the GPO place. We were quite let down when we discovered it was a pile of National Trust Secretarial stuff. Eventually it will end !

My responses to your previous comments

Pete ..... Thanks for your good wishes. My INR level has done this sort of thing before. It is usually associated with some medication change and I have recently had my Fentanyl patches strength changed. I guess it is that.

Bob ..... Unfortunately I missed Heston Blumenthal. I heard his name in the pub yesterday lunchtime and I guess it was that programme they were discussing. My ability to process 3 conversations at the same time is diminishing. Nowadays I can only manage 2.

Alyssum is unfortunately close to asylum don't you think ? I'm not going to set any this year, just in case.

I suspect I knew about the 'puffball' source of some vegetarian foods but hadn't associated it with Quorn.

Jill ..... You are right. Not even one chip - tempting though they were, served in a communal rectangular crock which was passed round.

The wall with the alyssum was very sheltered and seemed in full sun at midday.

I agree that the use of the word 'loin' in fish seems something of a misnomer, this linked picture shows exactly what they looked like though.

Witty old you - about the blackbird's off-spring. Logically you should, by that process finish up with a white blackbird ha ha!

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Quotation time ..... I often have this feeling too ....

"I don't necessarily agree with everything I say."

Marshall McLuhan

The latest from the MS website Squiffy

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"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"
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Y at BJ - Pleasant Spring Day - 46F - E wind 6mph

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One of Reg's lovely Panoramas (4 shots in this one) and the subject is Monsal Head during yesterday's WoW. I chanced upon Duggie in Eastwood this morning and he told me they'd had a great day. Weather good, light good and pub good. What more could you wish for ? We really are lucky to live so close to such beautiful countryside.

I took Y to the tram en route for Burton Joyce and today's light wasn't bad so I decided to see if I could locate all the different varieties of daff which Y has planted and 'collage' them. She is very good with bulbs and can succeed with snowdrops where no-one else can. She swears by 'planting in the green' but last year planted snowdrop bulbs and they did will too. Grape hyacinths (muscari) flourish all over the place.

We both love daffs, and tulips and we have the latter to look forward to. Outside a front window is a miscellany border with some flamboyant reds and yellows all mixed up. Y feels they are a litle brash but I enjoy their vigour. A sort of Marxist/Lenninist bed.

I don't usually comment on current events or celebrities but I feel I must mention the death, after a minor ski-ing accident, of Natasha Richardson. One can only sympathise deeply with Vanessa Redgrave her mother.

To lose a child under such tragic circumstances must be about the worst thing that can happen. One would much prefer to die ones-self.

My responses to your previous comments

Pete ..... I think cardboard policemen are an excellent idea ! They don't need refreshment breaks, they don't get into marital difficulties but, most importantly, they don't qualify for large pensions. I bet canteen banter is a little flat though.

Jill .... Y's back-ache is much improved but she is talking of going in the garden tomorrow. If for pleasure I can only wish her well, for half an hour, but if because she feels she must - I have already got agreement from Karen to spend some hours each week doing routine stuff, in addition to the lawns.

Glad you feel the same about some aspects of TV News.

Keep attacking the claim forms ! ...... and the 'tent' quote is definitely LBJ.

Bob ...... Did you really have to stand in the bus all the way from Mansfield to Ollerton ? I think I would have emulated Jill and sat on the floor. Otherwise I would have been wrecked for a week. Anyway I would have found it physically impossible !

If you look at my photo of the veg. curry recipe you will see I have added a note to be careful not to overcook because the veg will go mushy. Mine never went into the oven at all, I oven topped it. Much more controlable. I'm surprised at the slow-cooker getting it wrong though.

Maybe my glitch wasn't googlemail's fault after all, Maybe it was my PC. but I thought not.

JBW..... Hazlitt was a man well to the forefront of his times. How marvellous though of your uncle to be able to recite an essay verbatim. Most impressive. Hazlitt's essay on The Monarchy formed the basis of my own views, and I've seen little cause to change them since.

Thank you very much for solving the "It simply come to pieces in my hand" phrase and I have taken the liberty of fwd-ing your e-mail to Reg.

It was a line in a Roger McGough poem in the Mersey Sound anthology.

• there is a mushroom cloud in the back garden
  i did i tried to bring in the cat
  but it simply came to pieces in my hand
  i did i tried to whitewash the windows
  but there weren't any
• "Mother the Wardrobe is Full of Infantrymen", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

Having looked at several links I realise they have changed the book's cover. And I can't find my original copy.

Thanks again.

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I don't think I need a quote this evening. When Roger McGough has provided one.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"

The old barometer in the hall looks promising for the next few days.




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Jobs sorted – bedroom tidier - 48F W wind 0 mph

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If the title intrigues you, my 'weather page' intrigued me too. How can you have a West Wind at 0 mph ? How do they know ? I must ask Tim at the Club - he works in the Met Office locally.

An ‘at home day’ for relaxing together.

This morning I spent an hour plus, trying to make my bedroom tidier and I think I’ve succeeded. My photo-mounting boards and equipment are under my bed. (I once had a pal who kept welding rods under his bed so perhaps not that unusual a place for picture-mounts).

If you were unkind enough to think 'it doesn't look very tidy to me' - you should have seen it before !

We both did all sorts of jobs and by afternoon Y had back-ache so we both decided on a lie-down. Of course, carrying a 6yr old up the stairs at Palmers Green couldn't possibly be anything to do with it !

For main meal we had a Fray Bentos chick & mushroom pie, shredded sweetheart cabbage together with sliced leeks, carrots, and Maris Piper mash with swede mixed in. And although I’m trying to be ‘obesity-clinic’ aware, I mashed the potato with around half an ounce of butter. Not much, but it made a difference. Y did Angel Delight for pudding, delicious, so real cordon bleu stuff in the Radiogandy household. It is lovely to have her back – although I got told off for taking a picture of the African Violet on the kitchen window-sill while she was washing up.

The African Violet immediately made me think of Jill's/Bob's comment about hairy little yellow balls. Don't know why.

If the font does strange things today it's because there's been another googlemail 'outage' and I started the blog in Word and then copy/pasted when I got a connection. Google mail will loose many many customers if this happens much more. It is the third in around 6 weeks. It doesn't affect me greatly but if you are running a busy commercial Office it just wouldn't be good enough. Come back Mr. Gates. all is forgiven.

Two things I must remember to mention. Our 'S' registered Honda sailed through it's MOT test again.

Another is that Reg can remember a radio catch-phrase from wayback when, about

'It simply come to pieces in my hand !'

I think I also sort of remember it but its source eludes me. Google can't solve it, being convinced that I want to know about piano pieces played with the left hand, and arpeggios. Perhaps a job for 'nifty googler' !

My last picture, taken this evening and looking West, shows the vapour trails left by the aircraft returning from yesterday's Eastbound mission,

They seem to converge on the setting sun, as yesterday's converged on the rising sun. This is a little weird and explanations would be welcomed.

My responses to your previous comments

Pete ..... Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is well thought of and has the best collection in the country of the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. Y's favourite artistic grouping.

Like you, we are both Museum lovers, as is Bob, and I think Jill. And I would guess, the others too. If you love beauty, and photographers do, they are a must. Having said all that I suspect that Brian S isn't 100% in favour. Places of endless fascination though and I would demonstrate to keep access free. It is what 'knowledge' should be all about.

p.s. I have 'accepted' your second comment, just for today. But I set up a bog rule of ONE comment per day and if I bend it for you, I would have to bend it for everyone else. cheers Graham.

BTW Pete, do you know you can now obtain White Blu Tack which doesn't show through even lightweight paper.

Bob..... I don't watch the sub-titles and radio doesn't go in for them much. The news on telly irritates me because of the journalists waving their arms abolut pointlessly. And I know it makes us bad people but neither of us can watch when someone is 'signing for the deaf'. I've threatened to cut a piece of cardboard just to fit over the right hand bit of the screen.

I also find annoying News 24's habit of repeating the same clips of film endlessly. After I've seen the same bit 4 times I tactfully retreat to another room.

Your Mansfield day by bus sounds good fun ! Particularly the Museum. BTW I understand Wetherspoons may be in trouble. I do hope they survive. The founder has contributed a lot.

Yvonne ..... Always a pleasure to cook for you darlin' ..... And yes, my fellow WoW-ers are very good re my mobility problems. When planning a walk they always bear in mind photo-opportunities for me and somewhere interesting to park. And there is always an offer of help with my wheels.

I hope they had a good day today and that someone sends me pictures for the Picasa Web Album portfolio.

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Quotation time ..... A little philospohical this, but cunning and I like it .....

"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."

Friedrich Nietzsche

Better to have him 'inside the tent p***ing out, than outside the tent p***ing in' as LBJ memorably said.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"


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Busy, rewarding, beautiful day - Definitely Spring

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My first picture has to be Helen's Duck. She sent it me on 6th March for publication in the hope of identification. It was on the Cromford end of the Canal.

To my untutored eye it looks like a Mongrel Mallard. But we hope Roy may be able to 'name that duck'. It may be another of his 'Eh up me' s.

My second job is by way of an experiment.

Please click here and if it works you should be able to hear the birdsong I recorded at 4.30am yesterday morning. Again, I would be delighted if someone could say Robin or Chaffinch or Blackbird etc.

Sorry, it doesn't seem to work at this end. But I'll leave it live - it might work on somebody else's computer. ..... Back to the drawing-board.

The snap on the left intrigued me, it looked as if the vapour-trails were converging on the rising sun.

This morning I took some pictures, remembering Y's border where she needs a record of empty spaces. Then I sorted out the bird feeders. After a light lunch I went and shopped so we don't have to rush about tomorrow when Yvonne returns from her grannying duties.

It was fortunate she was there because Elli had to kept off school due to a bad cough and Y was able to do the necessary.

My afternoon photographs were the Langley Mill Boat Basin. always photogenic

The picture on the right appealed due to its symmetry, and proper water. If Pete (Mannanan) reads this post he will enjoy the picture. No canals on the Isle of Man you see.




My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne ..... Ha Ha ! Thats what comes of waking up feeling good !

I thought "just show me that dragon what's troubling my darlin' girl" and I'll sort the blighter out. I think I must have had one of those weird lucid dreams. It'll be nice to have you back tomorrow.

You are right about the weather. This afternoon was super here too. If you are game I would like to plan a trip to Montecute House (with overnight stay) and see the National Portrait Gallery Exhibition of portraits of Tudor Women. Your favourite period !

Bob .... I'm confused with the days now. If you say 'tomorrow' yesterday, is it 'today' today. If you catch my drift. I hope you enjoy your Veg Curry whenever you have it. Those Aubergines sound a real bargain. Can you freeze them?

For anyone who is interested in Urban Farming this is a link to last week's The Food Programme which was about Cuba's approach. please click I had sent it to Bob and Rob and both thought it important. Bob suggested blogging the link - so there it is.

Ages ago I said to Y "If the house remains unsold long enough, the large garden will prove a plus point rather than a disincentive"

I fully accept the deserved wrist-slap for my reference to americans being of caucasian stock. I was only thinking of the Pilgrim Fathers not everybody else. Sorry !! How prejudiced of me.

Rob ..... My apology is abject ! And I completely retract my caucasian description of americans. See above in my comment on Bob's comment.

Re ploughing with oxen. Hasn't Dennis a photo of similar in Spain ? Or are they towing a cart ? I remember one picture clearly, the cart one, but have a vague recollection of another.

I don't know if the Sports Desk would be intending to cover the Rugby ? If not I think we must record the English victory over the French. So nice to see Martin Johnson with a smile on his face.

Jill ..... I didn't think you were being racist at all. It just reminded me of my friend and his unwillingness to contemplate reading a book on racism by an american (it is Stewart A. who we are talking about Bob). Absolutely no need for apology, and I'm absolutely sure no-one was offended. Hides like rhinocerouses etc...

You are also right about the Wells Fargo cow catchers ! It was a convenient shorthand.

Oh dear oh dear, - as you say they are making it difficult for you. Doubtless on purpose ! ..... But you are intelligent and tenacious. Pity the poor people who are neither. They would have given up ages ago and the Council would have clocked another victory. You go for it gal ! ..... The blog is behind you.

Reg .... That's great stuff Reg. Jill will be delighted.

I would quite like the job of serving a writ on Boris if the chance arises. I can offer good work experience on this one. Not that I dislike Boris - he seems the sort of chap you could enjoy an hour with in the pub.

And he seems to have some very good ideas about London too.

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

"Patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched"

Guy de Maupassant

If anyone wanted to study the art of the Short Story writer they could do worse than buy a copy of his short stories. Each one a beautifully crafted jewel.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

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