Tuesday - Karen - Fat Clinic - Blood Test

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We started the day by 'getting from under Karen's feet' i.e. we went to Ikea for breakfast. I had a child's portion of two hash-browns and baked beans. Y had a more normal 'middle' breakfast - plus free coffee. One of the reasons for going (to collect Peter G's Ikea card) proved unnecessary because it had already been sent to him via snail-mail.

After that, and a couple of jobs in Eastwood, I went to my Obesity Clinic (I used fat-clinic in the title line for space reasons) and the practice-nurse told me that the 5 kgms I had lost in the month was perhaps a little too much. She made a note for the Doctor who I am due to see on Thursday anyway for the result of my kidney-function blood test. It's all getting too complicated.

I told her I was wearing my lightweight underpants, but she wasn't really impressed.

Picture 1 is of Derek & Betty's new five-barred gate, fitted this morning by Alex. Sepia seemed to suit the subject. Alex had Reuben with him, fast asleep in the passenger seat. Y nipped out to see him and was surprised to see a sturdy 4yr old. It doesn't seem 5 minutes since he was born. Alex had taken him to the scrapyard with him and the cranes had impressed him. I bet 'going to the scrapyard with Daddy' will be a treasured moment.

I couldn't resist 'googling' to discover the history of the five-barred gate but it is going to need more time and effort than I have available this evening. What we really need is for 'nifty-googler Rob' to have a go at it.

Picture 2 is of the recently blooming Echinacea, or purple cone-flower. I know they have medicinal properties but I don't know if you are supposed to brew them, chew them, or grind them up ? And is it the flowers or the roots which are efficacious ? I suppose you could 'suck it and see'.

The sharpness of the front flower and the gradual blurring-away of the rest is deliberate - with my 50mm lens at f2.

We bought Y a new Fujifilm compact, also to serve as a replacement family compact for the old Casio which has become almost impossible to hold together long enough to take a snap.

But I really can't function without a viewfinder ! Even on a dull day, the LCD screen isn't bright enough for me to compose a picture. I'll have another 'go' with the old Casio - perhaps stronger rubber bands round it ?

We both enjoyed The Street last night, by Jimmy McGovern. As before, a well written play, well cast, well directed and well acted. The clumsy stitch-straps across the soldier's horrendous facial injury were probably over-done for effect. They just wouldn't have sent him out looking like that.

Nevertheless - a powerful, thought-provoking story which went some way to making more possible to comprehend what 'our boys' are undergoing in Afghanistan. I hope some politicians watched it. I am indebted to Y for drawing the series to my attention in the first place.

This afternoon on Radio 4 I heard an excellent episode of A Good Read, introduced as always by Kate Mosse. The programme featured poet John Hegley and singer Imelda May. A high spot for me was a piece about 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Matsuo Basho' which would have pleased Rob, with its emphasis on Haiku. Written in the 17th Century of course - but what's wrong with that ?

My responses to your comments

Jill ...... I agree with you about the noise in these 'hell-holes'. It is unique. The noise of happy children playing in an outdoor playground is also unique - but pleasant !

I think you should watch The Street Episode 3 on iPlayer - and we will do likewise with Byron - so a critique would be valuable.

The Bramleys do sound early. But Bob will know - they have a tree.

Bob .... My taking the 'p' out of Pompidou was quite unintentional I assure you. Mind you, I spotted the error during my editing preview - and decided to leave it uncorrected, just for fun !

I hope your fall down the stairs hasn't left you with any serious problems. You sound perky enough ! However, at our sort of age (and I know you are a few years older) these falls are a major problem. You could have easily broken a large limb and finished up in hospital again.

Yvonne ..... As you know, my admiration for your AquaSplash activities is second to none. Volunteering to be the 'nominated adult' in the first place was a major undertaking. But I know from your telling me about it, that you enjoyed it all immensely.

All those slides and chutes and splashes !

You are right about the LibDem sign. Neither of us expected it to survive the first night. But it did, and 5/6 more too ?

I'm looking forward to 'Desperate Romantics' again this evening. The link is to the programme's actual website - and good fun it looks too.

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Quotation time .......

"Like a god going thro' his world there stands One mountain, for a moment in the dusk, Whole brotherhoods of cedars on its brow "

Robert Browning

Personally I rate his wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning the better poet. especially the sonnets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My responses to your comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Quotation slot ......

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

Frank Leahy

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

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Routine Thursday - Y at BJ - Me messing-about - 67F and 5mph W Wind

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Having done a collage of flowers out in the front garden yesterday it seemed to naturally follow that I turn my attention to the rear garden today. And there they are. I suppose we could have a 'name that flower' competition, but then again .......

I took Y to the 9.38am tram and then went to the doctor's for 10.10am - she had had a cancellation and saw me at 10am. Dr Chamberlain, another young lady doctor who I hadn't seen before. I was quite happy with her and she put my mind at rest about certain things. She took yet another blood test and I am to see her a week today for the result.

After the doctor's I went shopping to Lidl and Morrisons - it takes the pressure off tomorrow. I know we are going to Debra's and don't want to leave a fridge full of commodities we shan't use.

Picture 2 is a photoshop drawing of The Pantiles.

For those of us who can't draw these sort of programmes create for oneself the illusion that one can - if you see what I mean.

I shall probably print it as a 10 x 8 print, just to see what it looks like.

The weather is really weird isn't it ? Here today there's been sunny spells, but all the time that niggly wind - and now it is raining again, quite heavily. So much for the bit of gardening I had promised myself this evening. And I don't know if there is anything we can watch together on the telly.

My responses to your comments

Madeline ..... Thank you very much indeed for your input. The Norton Safeweb symbols are simply Norton's equivalent to McAfee's siteadvisor symbols. Green tick for 'site clear' etc ...... Allegedly updated more often than McAfee though.

I haven't yet got round to working through your suggested 'workaround' but it all seems to make sense and I'll have a go either this evening, or in the dead of the night. By the way, I don't think one can do 'links' in the comments box.

During today there has been a 'Firefox update' to build 3.0.12 so. if that goes onto the laptop too (I'm on the PC at the moment) it may have solved the problem anyway.

I shall report back.

Thanks for the kind comments about the blog !

Bob ...... I thought Epoisses would appeal to you. It really is worth making a special trip to Sainsburys - although I don't know where your nearest is. Perhaps on one of your Newark or Retford sorties !

No problem with flies - I feel the aroma would knock-em out rather than attract them.

The bed-height isn't really a Karen type problem. There are these special cuplike devices braced across for safety. I already have some on an easy chair, and they work well.

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Quotation slot ......

"There is nothing more dreadful than imagination without taste"

Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

"Sleep tight everybody - I'll try and catch you tomorrow - prior to a break over the weekend"



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Typical Tuesday - 61F - 10mph SSE wind - Jobs

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I'm not obsessed with the front garden but, a comment alleged that my photography 'blew it up'.

Had I wished to make it look bigger I would have photographed it thus. Had I wished to 'blow it up' I would have used a well known horticultural explosive like Nitro-glycerine.

Y managed yesterday, as she notes in her comment, in the sun, to dead-head the roses and other things and you can certainly see an immediate improvement. From tatty to dapper at once. I think she has the 'twinges' to show for it though. Y now understands my Magwitch analogy - the pain does hit you that suddenly.

Our day has been fairly typical for Tuesday, which is a Karen day. My first appointment was with my blood-lady Sheila and she was delighted with the holiday postcards I took in. Her surgery doesn't have an outside window and she brightens it by encouraging her patients to send or take postcards. It is also nice for people, whilst sitting there wincing, to look how widely travelled are one's fellow patients.

Then we had several calls in Eastwood, Y's 'hair', The Library, and the Bank. We called in at Paul's for some large rubber bands but to no avail. However, later in the day, Y obtained some just-right ones from W.H.Smith's. I need broad ones to hold my collapsible sticks together - thin ones don't last five minutes. After that I took Y over to Sherwood for her Nails service.

Picture 2 features 'Dragon fruit' which we hadn't previously sampled. I can't recommend it. Not a trace of redeeming sweetness - at best bland and tasteless, for all it's exciting looks.

I still haven't fixed my Norton problem. Another go tomorrow.

This evening we aim to watch a drama/documentary 'Desperate Romantics' based on The PreRaphaelite Brotherhood. How true to history it will be ? and how much just an excuse for another costume drama is anyone's guess. The trouble is that, unlike Cranford for instance, there wasn't a well-written novel to hang it on. The programme well need plenty of 'water on its wheel' to pass muster because I know a fair bit about the PRB and Y knows even more.

My responses to your comments

Yvonne .... Well done with University Challenge ! My only recollection, from passing through the room, was the lady team captain with the male voice. Not a tenor either, more a baritone. Not that these things matter but they do draw attention rather.....

You are right about the moon-landing conspiracy theory ! Load of ....... ! Mike H has sent me this recently published photo that shows the lower half of the lunar module in situ. The bit which was left behind when Armstrong and Aldrin blasted back up off the surface.

Jill .......... You certainly were busy and anyway, you don't have to comment. It isn't like handing in homework. It is just that we all enjoy your comments so much.

In the garden I only manage to do the fiddly bits. Y does the real graft. But she does enjoy 'cutting-back' and moving things about. With these twinges though I try to persuade her to only do tiny little stints - if it gets too much for us we can always have Alex for a day or two !

The garage-door frame badly needs painting but, I mentioned it to Karen yesterday and she said "I'll do that for you - I love painting & decorating" .... So there you go.

Hope you have a good time in Sussex - and I hope that soon your hot water becomes more reliable.

Re Carrie's conspiracy theories and The Moon. Please see my note above to Y. I know it isn't conclusive evidence but ......

Bob ..... Glad The Snooty Fox has re-opened. I always enjoyed our visits to it but as you will see ( if you open the link that is) the 'reviewers' had a wide range of opinions.

"Through a glass darkly" is indeed 1 Corinthians 13. Perhaps you are getting confused with "The dark lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets ?

Thanks for the advice to address the Russian Soldier in the terms ‘привет, привет, привет. Что мы получили здесь тогда?’. That is what I was going to say to him anyway.

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Quotation time ......

"Cabbage: A familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and as wise as a man's head."

Ambrose Bierce

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"

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Quick blog - computer problems - is it the heat ?

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We are indebted to Rob for today's lead picture. A collage of "the son et lumiere at Blois Chateau" from their recent holiday. Rob wanted to ensure the picture captured the atmosphere and it certainly does, particularly when clicked on and viewed at full screen size. In the centre frame, I do believe, is William Tell - I trust the music was fitting !

It is a relief to have a picture at all. After a stint in the garden, when the day's torrential rain gave way to a lovely sunny evening, I decided on a very brief blog-post due to tired-ness. But I couldn't get on the internet. Loads of peculiar error messages. I feared the problem could be the new Firefox 3.5 but Internet Explorer couldn't get me on the net either. In the end we had to shut the whole system down, TV included, and reboot.

We've been quite busy. Y went swimming. Then we did a little shopping. And of course - not forgetting the Tennis. Murray put up a gallant performance but was deservedly beaten by Roddick who still has that 'class'.

My responses to your comments - I hope I've caught them all

Yvonne ..... Well done again with the swimming. Nice story about Millicent and 'mummy duck'

Re: Grunters - interesting to note the vacant seats in the 'grunter's' Court.


jbw ...... I know your local authority is different from ours. Our 'bin' system sounds comparatively simple. General waste, including food residues, in black lidded bin. Collected fortnighly on a Tuesday. Recycle stuff (handy check list provided) in green lidded bin collected fortnighly on Tuesday when it isn't the black-lidded bin. Garden waste - Wednesdays fortnightly. Glass - monthly.



Bob .... I've decided to settle for brown/yellow moth.

To get an é acute - depress the Alt Gr key on your keyboard whilst typing the e. The Alt Gr is often on the bottom row next to the space bar.

Jill .... I really do sympathise with your waste collections system. Can you read for a Degree in it?

Your torrential rain reached us during the night and this morning. Fine now. I fancy it was dark a little earlier. Remembering the 20 minutes a day dictum.

I will pay attention to your e-mailed problems with 'google' and 'Picasa' tomorrow morning. Also I've acquired packaging for your little yellow duck and she will be en route tomorrow.

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No time for quote - sleep tight - and I'll catch you tomorrow



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

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

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

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

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

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

However, courtesy of Peter Kay :-

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Quotation spot ......

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

Larry Wall

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




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A good day - nice meal - good company - 68F

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My e-bay acquired lens cap arrived from Hong Kong this morning and I've been very satisfied with the transaction. I completed the purchase on 19th June and here it was. Item including postage £3.39p as against the official Nikon replacement at £8.89p from a shop or by mail order. And the latter would have attracted additional shipping costs.

An added attraction to the one I have bought, is the thread-loop to attach the cap to your camera to obviate future loss. Miss Wongrm can be assured of my future custom should the need arise.

We've had a lovely day. I didn't sleep too well and was in the garden around 6.30am doing some little tidying-up jobs. Then around 9.30am we went over to Peter & Joan's prior to going out for Joan's Birthday, to The Woodend at Huthwaite. Peter and I managed some time with his PC and I was able to help with a few 'workarounds' which will make his computing-life easier and more satisfying. In my opinion, at 80, he does remarkably well but what is more, he is eager to learn.

He went and collected Jean and we eventually set-0ff in both cars because it made sense for us to come home directly rather than drive back into Mansfield. Moreover, it allowed Y some extra Wimbledon time this afternoon.


When we got home I fancied a 'kip' rather than tennis, after which I watered and it is nice to see the first flower on my petunia hanging-basket - father's day prezzie from Long Eaton. Please see picture on the right.

We have some lovely coloured petunias. There is one in the front which is purple and white striped and looks really jazzy. I'm sure a snap will eventually surface. Y and I both like brash flamboyant flower colours, dahlias, petunias, and things like that. It says much about our 'common' tastes.

For tea Y made scrambled egg on ciabatta toast, with the two remaining eggs from Alex. She got the consistency just right and the beautifully rich yellow colour shouted 'home reared eggs'. They tasted great too.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... I accept my mistake over the venue of Sandra's smoking problem. It just sounded like the same sort of place.

Re the entertainment. I am still trying to find out better particulars. Basically it was two blokes making weak jokes and leading community singing of songs like 'My old man said follow the band'. But I now realise that I have probably been too critical because I heard this morning that several people had enjoyed it very much.

The intransigence you encountered in Newark Morrisons is only too common and, if anything, is on the increase.

If Diogenes will permit me my laptop I would be more than willing to share his barrel.

Roy .... Ludlow is one of our favourite Shropshire towns, apart from the supermarket now plonked in the middle. Friends of ours live near Craven Arms and whenever we go we seem to have good weather.

Give my best wishes to little Basil and tell him I have every confidence in his ability to transcend these minor hurdles.

Jill .... No doubt the photographs have exaggerated the size of the garden. Whilst large it falls well short of 'grounds'.

I am happy to withdraw my remarks about 'entertainment suitable for an old-folks home'. They were unnecessarily discriminatory. Of course people are entitled not to be treated as if they are unintelligent and have lower standards. Sorry !

The Woodend Pub meal was fine, especially so considering that it is basically a £3.50p carvery. I asked for the 'vegetarian option' and was served, quite speedily, with a brocolli and brie bake, with which I had a selection of the veg from the carvery hotplate. No criticisms at all. Joan felt that the stuffing balls, stored on the hotplate and under strong lights, had gone rather hard-cased. None of us had room for pudding.

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Quotation slot .......

"........... second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything"

Shakespeare - As you Like It

"Sleep tight - I'll catch you tomorrow"
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Busy Tuesday - Blood, Hair and Nails - 78F - Light E Wind

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The first picture is a 'left-over' from Saturday. Just as we were leaving to go over to Burton Joyce this Dakota flew over as part of the Brinsley Carnival celebrations. I didn't have chance to change to a longer telephoto but was quite pleased with this result anyway.

On looking at the snap I notice that the fuselage door is open. Perhaps they were going to 'leaflet' us saying that the Government are rubbish.

First job this morning for me was a blood-test, and then I collected Y and we both went to have our hair cut. My barber Matt is a caravanner and very keen to hear all about North Norfolk which is one of his favourite areas. Then I took Yvonne over to Sherwood to have her 'nails' serviced. We decided I would leave her there and come back home, she to return on the bus - which all worked out fine.

It meant I could only manage one charity shop, Oxfam, but I found a lovely dog-eared edition of Ansell Adams' book called 'The Negative'. All about the 'zone-system', always worth brushing up on.

The picture on the right is one of Reg's 'Goldfinch' photos and "credit where it's due" - his is sharper than mine and well deserving of publication.

We've even got a catchlight in the critter's eye !

The weather has been great all day. Hot, very little wind, and fairly high pressure - so it feels good. Karen thought it too warm when she arrived this morning. It couldn't be too warm for Y - I remember her thinking the Tropical Biodome at The Eden Project was just about right.

Whilst in bird-picture mode we had a visit this morning from a Siskin. Please see left.

Bird habits vary so much between species. The tits and the finches seem busy and hurried feeders while this Siskin had all the time in the world. He sat there for around 10 minutes without doing anything, or making any attempt to feed.

Good news for photographers though.

I have decided against Wow-ing tomorrow. In the evening we have the National Trust Annual Dinner at The Hostess, Warsop and I need to conserve my energies for that. We have been before as a group and it always works quite well.

We plan to go over to Peter & Joan around 6pm and then collect Jean en route. Chairman Gary has arranged 'entertainment' rather than a 'speaker' so I have absolutely no idea what that will entail.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... Although my diet may sound uninteresting, it isn't. This evening I cooked fresh Sea Bass, oven-baked, with fried slices of left-over salad potatoes from the fridge. Marcel Boulestin always used to recommend this. He advised "If you cook salad potatoes (the waxy kind) always cook too many and store the residue in the fridge". You can then always rustle-up a meal in minutes.

For pudding we again had Y's fruit-salad - even better today !


Jill ..... Thanks for your good wishes ! Although still rather fragile, I'm coping.

I'll scan Y's fruit-salad recipe. I think it is a Delia, with modifications !

Y is going to be just the same as you with Wimbledon. At the moment she is watching Murray whose opponent Kendrick is mounting a sturdy defence.

Rob .... Lovely to hear from you. I'll make Amboise in the Loire Valley a live link and then everyone can see where you are.

Glad it is hot and sunny and we'll look forward to more on your return.

Internet cafés are ropey. I take it your dongle doesn't work there. Or is it prohibitively expensive. I love my dongle - use it lots. It was great in Norfolk on holiday.

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Too tired to dig out a quotation. May catch you tomorrow - or may not, it depends



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Back home, back to normal - 60F - heavy rain

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We seem to have been away ages but in fact just under a week. The Mansfield Centre of The National Trust's long weekend in Norfolk was a great success. The organiser, Jean, had done a super job and, as usual arranged for us to have excellent weather.

Our itinerary included so much of interest I think it best not to list them all. But we included stately homes and gardens plus the seaside.

Picture 1 is of Sandringham the Queen's country retreat and everything was in lovely condition. I spent more time in the gardens than the house.

Our seaside day was at Wells-Next-The-Sea where again the weather favoured us. We enjoyed fresh crab and Y discovered a delicatessen which deserves mention. A fascinating find and although I just went to look, inevitably I bought things. One notable purchase was Maldon Sea Salt (smoked). I use the ordinary all the time but I'm interested to encounter the smoked version. I shall report back.

Our room was exceptionally good with a magnificent view from our bay window. Looking right you could see the sea and looking front and left were lovely meadows, village houses, and a Shire Horse Rescue Station. In the mornings you could see the heavy horses in their fields.

We never had time in our busy schedule to fit in a visit to them. Perhaps next time.

On the return journey Jean's control over the weather only held out as far as our last visited place, Norwich where we had several hours. Some people visited the Castle, some the Cathedral, some, including us, just had a good mooch about. Just 20 minutes after we left Norwich the skies opened.

We stopped in a Farm Shop/Restaurant at Holbeach where I inadvisedly ate a pork pie. I think it had recently been defrosted - it was suspiciously cold to the touch. But, fortunately after dropping off Jean and Wendy, I just managed to get home before I was violently ill. Sickness, diarrhea and violent and uncontrollable twitching - at my request Y sent for the Doctor who was out making visits and called in. She prescribed anti-biotics and things for the sickness. By today I was well enough to go for my blood-test and I know my INR level will have gone haywire again. I was so ill I didn't take my Warfarin on Monday and the tablets prescribed will affect it anyway. I await the results with interest.

My replies to your previous comments

Jill .... Your keyboard is fine. Apparently the 'wireless' ones which transmit a signal to the PC leave enough space for cybercriminals to intercept and download account numbers etc.

Glad Ro's results were OK.

The bridge at Ashford in the Water is, without doubt, of the pack-horse persuasion.

Yvonne .... It seems well-dressings no longer are limited to religious themes and are simply works-of-art in their own right..


Bob .... I'm pleased your trouble is diagnosed as Achilles rather than DVT which is more serious. Colin Fletcher has DVT trouble and it has made him quite poorly.

There may be some mistake. Your Ashford-under-Water sounds post deluge. Our WoW trip was to Ashford-in-the-Water.

jbw ... I know Tissington very well, being an Ashbourne lad. My father's firm owned the village pub there.

Rob .... Thanks for your good wishes for Norfolk - all of which were fulfilled. We met a local in Norwich who directed us to The Walnut Tree Shades pub down an alley. Every word was intelligible - our objective was a quiet pub without juke-box and this was spot on.

Y may well say more in her comment.

Thanks for The Haiku from the Sports Desk. It is undoubtedly a gift you have there. Just wish for your sake there was some money in it.

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The fun-fare is arriving bit by bit on the Football Field opposite, prior to The Carnival on Saturday. But we are going over to Long Eaton to enjoy their's. Previously we have sat out on David and Helen's forecourt and watched it go by. Here's hoping the weather allows us to do so again.

Quotation time .....

"No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one"

Elbert Hubbard

Some TV to watch tonight Y tells me, a programme about the Pre-Raphs on BBC 4 and a whole hour about The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on BBC 2 at 7pm. Yvonne and I have always loved the Summer Exhibition and it must be about time for us to pay another visit.

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I don't believe I've shown you The Ducks yet




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Y at BJ - Me at Camera Club - 54F - 12mph W wind

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I had more or less decided to keep the above in reserve for any upcoming 'most boring panorama' competition but decided instead to blog-it. It might interest Pete in the Isle of Man. Our County Hall is in a splendid position on the banks of the River Trent but, oh dear, that extension on the right-hand side of the picture. In my humble etc., it wrecks the looks of an imposing building.

This house, also on the riverside, looks most impressive.

The building seems to me reminiscent of either Le Corbusier or even Frank Lloyd Wright- and we have Helen C to thank for the snap.

My knowledge of architecture is not as thorough as Bob's and I hope he will put us right.

Y has been over to Burton Joyce today and will have been busy busy because Lisa is ill and isn't going shopping. I delivered her to the tram and we hope Steven will run her into town on the return journey. She has a jacket potato in the oven, on the timer, to look forward to when she gets home. Our paths might cross at 7pm when I shall set off for EPS.

Yesterday evening we watched and enjoyed The Baroque on BBC 4 Waldemar Januszczak, the presenter. has however some annoying characteristics. He insists on walking away with his back to the cameraman while talking over his shoulder. He no doubt thinks this looks good but after the tenth example it begins to pall. The content of the programme and the art-history was excellent though. But Baroque, for me, is too flamboyant and fussy. Simplicity and strong lines suits me best. Having said that, many individual artists of the period i.e. Velasquez, Caravaggio, and particularly Rembrandt are marvellous.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... My single reliable commenter ! Thanks Bungus.

Glad that you at least had good weather yesterday. Ours was good in the late afternoon but by then we were home with cameras put away. Not that I can only be happy in my environment with a camera in my hand, I am not an under-training Japanese tourist..

I loved your 'fishermen link'. Great pictures and a good read. Well found ! I'm pleased it is in the blog.

Re vicars. I am lucky because the Reverend David Jones has promised to do the necessary. Unless he pops off first of course. And he says it doesn't have to be a Christian occasion because he can take off his Anglican priest hat and don his 'chum' hat.

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

Tomorrow Y goes to London and I shall have a messing-about type 'shangri-la'. I just hope she doesn't overtire herself. Sometimes Debra thinks her Mum is in her 5os rather her 70s. On Saturday morning I'm going over to Long Eaton. Looking forward to that.

And I must think 'obesity clinic' and not nibble whilst unsupervised !

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

"The first priest was the first rogue who met the first fool"

Voltaire

That Voltaire - now he knew a thing or two ! ....... I have several things I need to research and that will keep me out of mischief anyway. See you tomorrow.

p.s. I may reopen after EPS - depending if there is anything I want to add. On the other hand, if 'done-for' I shan't. Don't be inhibited from comments however.

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Windy Monday - 44F - 7mph W - Colder than that !

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Somebody. probably Bob or Jill, liked our ancient little mint-sauce jug so I decided to offer a multi-view collage. The centre picture shows it standing on a normal sized 'coaster' so I felt the statutory 50p piece was redundant. I chose that shot also for the centre-piece because I like the reflection of my bedroom window therein. Its age must remain uncertain but I can't remember acquiring it so most likely it is a family piece. Cousin Kenneth would know because his recollection of the contents of my childhood home at Ashbourne is much clearer than mine. And more acquisitive ! Whenever we go over to his place I keep seeing things I remember. Not to worry, I haven't got a hang-up about possessions.

Picture 2 is from my Hairy Bikers Cook Book. Bob said he hadn't fared well with a Vegetable Curry so I thought I would publish the recipe I used on Sunday.

Looking at it I am a little ashamed at the annotations. Many years ago I was successful with the story "The Book Reviver" which Heinemann published.

The thrust of the story was about an eccentric old codger who takes exception to people writing pencil comments in Library books and makes it his business to erase them. (The comments that is, not the people). I can only plead that cookery books one owns, are in a special category. Someone else's book, or a Library copy, would remain sacrosanct.

We've had a lovely restful day. Re the title of this blog-post - from the temperature and wind-speed you would imagine "quite mild". It isn't. Its viciously cold. In my bedroom en suite loo there's no heating and I have felt no desire to linger therein with my RPS monthly magazine. Good job I haven't been hitting the pain-killers too hard. They have a certain side-effect.

Just a brief aside about qualifiers like 'very'. One of the Radio 4 editors this morning was talking about 'really'. He says that occasionally he is forced to allow a 'really' but he frowns on the multi-really, really. He definitely draws the line at the 'really, really, really' that he sometimes encounters. I will be really really careful in future.

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne ..... I think you are wise not to name names, and we will leave the identity of the 'smelly men' unstated. They weren't that smelly anyway but you were wedged in a bit. But we did, as I remember, mostly ensure you had a window-seat.

Bob ...... I suppose my aversion to 'dialects' is an aversion to people speaking forcefully in a way I can't understand and who make no effort to make themselves intelligible. The people in the programme seemed too pompous to bother.

Mostly, as you know I love local 'speech', Erewash Valley, Mansfield and North Notts, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Geordie, Norfolk ----- as I'm doing this list I realise how many I do actually enjoy. Maybe it was just the people I didn't take to.

Thanks for the fun quotes. All good. Even the Sports Desk.

Rob .... Lovely Haiku - much appreciated. The verse form suits you.

Indeed - 'those were the days my friend' - well worth a link so I've made it one. In fact, to the original Mary Hopkin version. As I recall, she didn't prosper after falling out with Lennon & MaCartney.

Jill .... Can't add much to all this weight-gain advice from your blog-chums. I just hope you aren't burning up too many calories with those knitting needles. I bet that, when you get to an easy bit of a pattern your needles are simply a whirr ! Does you compact do videos ? If so I bet that helpful granddaughter of yours would act as camera-man ? We would all love to see you going full-tilt.

Or Carrie could YouTube you. Talking of which this link is to Carrie's Youtube about her house. I know our readers will be fascinated. She is quite a girl !

I'm not 100% about your Lech Walesa suggestion for Bob's 'Woodman'. I'm still scratching my head !

Your Brown's afternoon tea sounds splendid. And a sincere thanks for the details. These particularities are so important to the blog, forming as it does, a historical record.

I was fortunate to stay at Browns wayback en route to Canada with my Mum and Stepfather (who wasn't a man to stint himself). One of my contacts was a Police Inspector chum stationed at West End Central. He gave me a number to ring and a person to speak to etc.etc. ....

This evening we watched The Book Quiz on BBC 4 and I meant to link you to the actual programme. However, too quick off my blocks, 'cos it isn't available yet. So the link behind that title is to an actual quiz you can fill in and instantly see how well you did. Have fun ! By-the-way, the programme is always slated by the critics. The Guardian in particular is quite venomous. Dunno' why.

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Quotation time ................ While searching for a suitable London quote I was side-tracked when I read this. It was so charming I wanted to share it .......

"Any member introducing a dog into the Society's premises shall be liable to a fine of one pound. Any animal leading a blind person shall be deemed to be a cat."

Rule 46 , Oxford Union Society, London.

"Ordinary Tuesday tomorrow - Karen coming - Ikea breakfast for us"

"Sleep tight - catch you all being well"


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Film cameras - 49F - University Challenge - Useless Virgin

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Two more collages today. I might form a Collage Society and call it The Old Montagarians or similar ! The first one is about my recently acquired Nikon F401X which I bought at the weekend on e-bay (£5 and £3 p.p.) paid for by PayPal and it arrived today. It works. And part of the 'packaging' was this sturdy old Nikon camera-bag which I hadn't ordered. I e-mailed the vendor with my surprised thanks and he said that having no use for it he thought I might like it. E-bay, in my experience, is a happy place to be. Most of the web is like that - there are only a few unpleasant rogues. Like spammers !

My reason for wanting a 35mm film DSLR is in the pursuit of my pinhole interests. This evening I had a pleasant 10 minute chat to Roy about it all because film photography is his first love and I need advice about films etc.


Collage 2 is about Bob's rotting-head (in his garden !) and his attendance at woodcarving classes. The classes tire him out and I have advised him to take it easy. The head in the garden has always reminded me of Charles de Gaulle but is apparently now suffering the ravages of time. I have linked you to a Wiki page so you can check out the similarity.

Unfortunately I shan't be WoW-ing tomorrow. Senior Management (i.e. Y) has been quite clear about the matter.

At the moment our television works but not the old NTL remote amd while we have a good quality picture on the screen the sound is too low to be audible. Virgin media have been most helpful and are to send us a new remote control as a matter of urgency. Delivery time ? Between 2 and 8 days. However, on the PC and also the laptops, we can use BBC iPlayer so we don't actually miss anything. The University Challenge final for instance which we loved.

However Y wanted to watch the Milan v Manchester football match live and had an incredibly bright idea. While watching the match on the telly she tuned her radio to Radio 5Live and received on the spot commentary. If the idea had been one of mine it would be allocated number 6 ???. ..... The linked page carries a live interview with Mourinho so she will be watching that !

My responses to your previous comments

Jill ..... Oh dear. What an accident and time ravaged lot we are. Y seems the fittest, except for her blood-pressure and even that isn't too bad at the moment. And this runny nose she can't shake-off.

I agree about Gail Trimble - to call her 'Grace' must have been a feudian slip because she is indeed 'graceful' for one so frighteningly bright.

Sorry your face is going to take 6 months to heal. Were you told that the concomitant pain would also last that long ? Take loads of pain-killers would be my response.

Bob ..... Your Tesco Tea bargains do indeed sound worth dropping-in for. Another item where sale-by dates are hardly relevant when you consider how slow the East Indiamen were doing the round trip.

The lateral-thinking arising from linseed-oil made me smile. But who am I going to get to apply it ? Y would refuse point-blank and I think Karen would expect an impossibly high wage increase to take the job on.

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Quotation time .... Without I hope straying into the Sports Desk's emporium...

"(Wayne) Rooney has signed a deal to do five books. That’s an awful lot of crayons.”

Johnnie Walker

I've linked you to a page about his radio show. Unfortunately I don't listen to it, so I can't enlighten you.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"




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Blood Test - Brocolli & Stilton Soup - 49F still chilly

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Y's snowdrops look great but the hearts-ease and the purple crocuses are struggling abit.

Started the day with a 'fasting' blood test at 8.30am and then I did a mini shop at The Co-op because I'd decided to make Broccoli & Stilton soup for one meal and we also needed tea and coffee etc. In Paul's £1 shop I got things I needed. One thing was a pack of 3 x shorthand note books (for a £1) - excellent value and very nice ones too, with a built in rubber-band to mark one's place. For lunch we had double egg and chips with our favourite stewed mushrooms. Delicious. The Y did Bananas & Custard for pudding. Again - delicious.

The Telegraph crossword is completed except for an across clue in the bottom left corner. Something about a container ship ? I can't be more specific because the papers have gone to the bin and its too cold to retrieve it. Now there is a boring story for you !


The kitchen window-sill panorama was achieved by moving the camera along the row rather than swivelling it and I've learnt something. The method doesn't work as well, and I shall do them the old way in future. In any case the snap doesn't do the sunlit basil justice.

The Christianity episode was probably the best of the series so far. Written and presented by Prof. Colin Blakemore he mounted his atheist argument with more tolerance and less abrasiveness than Richard Dawkins.

Later in the evening we both enjoyed Jeremy Paxman about the Victorians and their Art. The Telegraph have been rather too critical of him I feel. But we certainly take no notice of many 'critics' who feel they must find something to knock ! There are honourable exceptions like Charles Spencer in the Telegraph.

The general thrust of the programme was fine we thought, but for me, the presentation of the Art was occasionally too gimmicky and often showed not the full canvas but some computer-manipulated bits of it. Distracting. This evening we aim to watch him in the final of University Challenge and are most interested to see Gail Trimble.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob.... I took no offence. When I do I shall tell you - as you well know. 'Groundnut Oil' would seem to be most appropriate.

Linseed oil is for cricket bats I seem to remember. Glorious smell and so reminiscent of England and Grammar Schools.

Jill .... Glad you enjoyed the bird collage. I really like the 'collage' idea - it is so easy in Picasa 3. The system is good, in my opinion, for a round-up picture of something one has been doing, where 6 separate pictures for instance would be tedious.

I'm sure you are right about the efficacy of rubbing-in rather than swallowing. But, even with external use of many things, my warfarin causes a problem. We are lucky to have a pharmacist just round the corner who carefully checks out anything I fancy having a go with.

The Sissinghurst programme does sound interesting and maybe I can find it on BBC iplayer. The NT know from experience, the sort of nosh which is popular in their restaurants, and will I think insist on the last word in the matter.

Yvonne .... Thanks for you on-blog sympathy with my aches & pains. I feel rather better today, as you will have realised.

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

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river"

Nikita Khrushchev

Another smiley that took my eye


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Back to normal - its been fun - 43F

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The picture is from just before 9am this morning and, as you can see, the computer-thon was still in full swing. But 'brave little Tom' is mssing from the end taking the photo. If you want to watch an 'animation to drive you mad' just open the link. Young people love it and it is very catchy ! Hence its appearance here.

After a leisurely start we took Hannah back to Burton Joyce where she got a very warm welcome. She had been missed and I think that although she enjoyed the sleepover she was quite happy to be home. We all learnt lots of odds and ends from each other and easier ways of doing things. Hannah had also helped me a lot with meal preparation. Like me she enjoys cooking and certainly won't be one of those teenagers who go to university unable to make a spagbol !

Picture 2 is a Helen C photo from WoW-ing at Ashover. The chaps came upon this water-filled hole with water of an unusual green.

The consensus was that it could be the shaft to a disused copper mine - hence the green-coloured water. However, google tells me that Ecton in Derbyshire was the only site of copper ore. That is some miles from where they were walking. But you never know.

Apart from a visit to the Doctor in the morning (the last to our much loved Dr Latimer) we plan a quiet restful day, hopefully the first of several. Personally I am worn-out. But I shall recover. It is a relief not to be going to EPS this evening. Brian was witty on Wednesday, guessing I wouldn't be going as it was a competition, he said "Graham, beware judges". It reminded me of the medieval map bearing the legend 'here be hippogriffs'. I also like the quote "Unicorns dont really exist, they just think they do" but I can't remember who said it.

Reg draw my attention to Pete Brady's site 'mannanans cloak' where he speaks of the value of Emu oil for all manner of aches and pains. (look under Ramsey Ramblings) All the rage in Oz apparently. I'll check tomorrow morning whether or not Dr Latimer can prescribe it ! Ha Ha !

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne..... I'm so pleased about all this new information you now have access too. And also I noted breakfast television too. A whole new experience.

Re Katy Perry in a corset and tights. I thought originally you were talking about Grayson Perry the award-winning transvestite potter. If one ignores the weirdness of the artist and the unfortunate subject matter of most of his work, speaking in art criticism terms, his stuff is extremely good.

Bob.... Pleased your weather seems to have improved. It's been OK here too although still quite chilly.

I need some sun so I can experiment with my 'pinhole' stuff. Today started well but by the time I got around to it the clouds had arrived.

JBW ..... The Poets Corner has certainly been given a new lease of life. I spoke to a regular who was even closer to the open fire than I was, and he waxed 'poetic' about it. Excellent food, micro-brewery at the back producing an excellent beer, and really warm welcoming feel to it. I would be more than happy to revisit.

Jill ..... You are quite right about the radio version of 'Ladies of Letters' and jolly good it was too. The linked site tells you about its history from Radio 4. I used to love Anne Reid in 'Dinner Ladies'.

All our WoW-ers are old enough to remember mangles - with the possible excpetion of Helen C who is much younger.

Joyce is difficult - but The Dubliners is for me the most accessible.

Sorry about your cheekbone and more sorry that you still have pain (see above re Emu Oil). Re your claim - I still have great confidence in the eventual outcome.

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To tired to do a quote.


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Karen Day - Nails Day - 40F - 5 mph Southerly wind

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Picture 1 is just a 'straight' photograph of our Hyacinth, and I think I prefer it to the 'good ideas' version. As is so often the case it looks more natural. In anycase, in my pictures I am usually trying for a straightforward record shot anyway.

This morning I took Y over to Carlton for her 'nails service' and left her there because she then went into Nottingham to meet Joan for lunch and to do some other bits like Bromley House and M & S.

Also this morning was a Karen day and she brought back my Victorian Mirror. This has always been around and I remember it from childhood. Some months ago, in the middle of the night I opened my bedroom window and unfortunately knocked it out where it fell onto the patio, broken into pieces.

I was lucky the glass had not broken, neither had any of the constituent parts.

I had discussed it with Karen and she felt her pal Dave would probably be able to fix it.

We do move in 'interesting' circles because Dave owns and runs a 'porn' shop (not a spelling mistake) and is also very handy. He obtained the right glue and staples and a piece of plastic to secure the back and there you are, as good as new. In future I have promised not to throw it out of the window in the middle of the night !

The lay figure lives on the window-sill anyway, so I thought he/she may as well gesture towards the mirror rather than merely stand there looking faintly embarrassed.

All being well I hope to go WoW-ing tomorrow but the weather isn't very promising. This forecast is for Mansfield and I think, having just spoken to Reg, that we may be going there to see the NEMPF Exhibition. in the Mansfield Museum and Art Gallery.


It doesn't look like 'go to Derbyshire' weather, so I will take a camera but not bother with my flask.

I recognise that I recently raided Matt but this cartoon about Members of The House of Lords taking payments for agreeing to influence amendments makes the point in his
usual withering way.

It needs absolutely no comment at all from me does it?

My responses to your previous comments.

JBW ..... Some good ideas there. Thanks.

Rob .... Ditto... And thank for the suggestions as to what to do with my hyacinth bulb !

Pleased to hear that you managed to see Bob, and Sandra and that her arm continues to heal.

I know I shall attract an attack of hornets but I sometimes think we omnivores have better 'healing characteristics' than our vegetarian colleagues.

Helen will be only too pleased to hear your blunt advice on some of her pictures. And I will certainly tell her that such advice will be valuable and constructive.

Thanks for the Sports Desk update.

Jill ....... The bulb picture you like best certainly has an Alien feel to it. I've tried unsucessfully to find on Youtube the scene in the film where the creature emerges from his chest. A moment to compare with Magwitch jumping out from behind the gravestone.

Ranunculi and Anenomes together should be nice and cheerful. Begone dull colours ! We want Spring. Y won't have Amaryllis in the house - far too phallic. When all the flowers are open they always remind me of those loudspeakers on the tops of cars at Election time.

In retrospect I wish we'd switched off the testiculating black man on the Christianity programme. I could have spent the time more usefully - like having a kip !

This evening we watched The Book Quiz on BBC iPlayer and Y was ace. She got many more than I did and often beat the panellists by succeeding where they didn't, or she was quicker.

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Quotation time ....... Present company excepted, obviously !

"A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people's patience"

John Updike

The link is as it is rather than to his Wiki page because people tend only to think of him as a novellist. He is a tidy poet too.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"


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40F and 6mph NW wind - Shopping

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Must start today with a reference to yesterday, when I collected Y from Burton Joyce.

There was only one of Hannah's scones left and it was toasted for me when I arrived to accompany a mug of tea. I broke a bit off because Y hadn't tasted them either. Thanks Hannah - delicious ! Anytime you want .........

Today we had a prompt start and even so the supermarkets were busy. We did Lidl first because we needed frozen chips for our Friday fish & chip lunch, then we braved Morrisons. Sod's law I think, because we encountered a lengthy queue at each checkout but by the time we were through, all the queues had vaporised and people weren't having to queue at all. The fish was also from Lidl and was first rate.

Our shopping also included ingredients for a vegetarian curry from my Hairy Biker's Book (Christmas present) and it looks good. The only item which proved elusive was curry leaves. I used to grow it in the greenhouse but no more - no greenhouse for a start !

The idea is to cook it for ourselves as a test-run. As hosts of some experience we realise the dangers of cooking an untried recipe for guests.

Picture 2 is a collage of some of Jill and Ro's holiday snaps and they give a good feel for your trip Jill.

You clearly had a welcome respite from this very cold winter we are having.

When I saw the TV News at lunchtime there was the statutory piece about elderly people unable to afford to have their heating on. T'was ever thus wasn't it? Over the decades I seem to have regularly seen this TV stuff. The simple fact is that old people are reluctant to spend money on keeping their homes warm irrespective of how much money the government throws at the problem. They won't take taxis either - yet a taxi fare split 4 ways if they went shopping together would be most reasonable. Mini-rant over !

My responses to your previous comments.

Jill ...... When I sort out my guillotine you will be one of the first I contact for candidates. They don't have to be national figures - there are one or two locals too. And all you and Y and Helen C and Madeline will need to say is "Off with his/her head"

You are right to feel it is milder. Google tells me that in North London today it should have been 45F (7C) - but with a 13mph SE wind to contend with it wouldn't feel too cosy outdoors.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head with the duck ID. It is probably, as you say, a common or garden farmyard duck. I can mangle adjectives with experts.

Roy might come up with the definitive answer when he reads the blog and sees the picture.

Reg ..... I think we've now 'got it' with the info on Sky. And the 'paws' facility must be very handy. The only reason we stick with Virgin Media is because of the TV, Phone, and Broadband package at £30. But it isn't very reliable and Y often says (after yet another shutdown and reboot) we should give Sky a whirl.

Just an aside, having recently watched a TV journalist on an outside broadcast, on WebUser forums there was new word for 2009. ..... Testiculating : waving your hands about and talking b****ks.

Younger readers should not worry about the above sentence - it's old folks humour.

I'm glad the competition went well and my commiserations on your not being placed.

And using my response to you, as a suitable spot - Congratulations Mike H ! I shall no doubt see the pictures sometime during the year.


KevinB ...... Congratulations ! I think I must steel myself and brave another competition evening, even if I don't enter anything myself.

I'm also pleased to hear of such good work from our recent joiners. Did our young ladies enter stuff ?

Quotation time ....... I tried to find a relevant quote - and this caught my eye .....

"Focus on competition has always been a formula for mediocrity"

Daniel Burrus

I hadn't come across this chap before but he is impressive - I actually found time to read his blog - we bloggers must stick together.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"


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