Milldale by WoW - great day - poor light

Our 'Walking on Wednesday' today took us to Milldale, just on the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Although the weather wasn't great we managed a couple of rain free hours. The river was as swollen as any of us had ever seen it. Picture 1 is Duggie, Reg, Brian and Roy, setting off over the bridge. As usual, Pathfinder Duggie leads the way.

They left me in a pretty spot with cameras, a tripod, 3 lenses, plus of course, my flask of coffee and my laptop.

I found plenty of photo-opportunities and, as I've been banging-off about candy-floss water, I thought I had better demonstrate that, if I want to, I can produce as good a milky effect as the next.

Hence Picture 2. But I still don't like it. Water should look like water. The 'chaps' blame the Photo Magazines which publish them ad infinitum and Exhibitions that keep accepting them. Not to mention the Judges who are effusive in their praise.

I couldn't resist including the Robin for s special reason. When I published Reg's Rufford Robin I asked readers to guess whereabouts in Rufford Park he was? because the apparent straight lines and blocks of colour in his eye suggested buildings. If you enlarge this snap you will notice almost identical lines and shadows.

So I deduce Watson, that it is in the nature of robins' eyes. Unless of course this little fella had flown over from Rufford for the day?

After the walk, and photographs, we drove to the Miners Standard Inn just outside Winster for our chip-cobs. Delicious they were too, and so reasonable at £1.60p. A witty notice on the wall sad 1653 'Pub of the Year'.

Then it was back home. Y arrived around 3pm and was tired out but happy having seen the little girls and being useful. The journey altogther took 5 hours and she is quite entitled to be tired.

Comments.....Bungus ....Thanks for the comments. I too like the 'burnside' 'sideburns' tale. Was he the famous American Civil War general who leaned over a parapet and said "They couldn't hit a barn-door from that dist..........." ?

The group terms are sometimes strange in that the 'word' bears no apparent 'link' to the group in question. A 'clutter' of starlings I can accept. But why a 'vein' of goldfinches? However I enjoyed the 'anthology of pros'.

Jill...... The young can be quite arrogant in the mistaken belief that one knows nothing about anything. Not one's own, or the children of close friends, thank goodness. A couple of weeks ago Tracy was out and about at work, and rang me re a computer problem (fortunately I knew the answer) but her colleagues were surprised she chose to ring me rather than the County Council's technical department.

Notes for new blog-readers.:-

1. If you left click a picture, you get an enlargement on a new page. When you've finshed with it, left click the green 'back' arrow at the top of your screen.
2. If words appear underlined and in orange they are a live link. i.e. if you left click the link, you are whisked away to the appropriate web-page.
3. To leave a 'comment' (and they are always welcomed) scroll right down the page until nearly the bottom. There you will find the word 'comments'. Left click it and a window will open in which you can write your comment. Follow the instructions......

Quotation for the day.......This is so true.....

"Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian"

Robert Orben

....9.15pm and my old friend The Rev David Jones has just left; it was lovely to see him and catch up on all his news. It is ages since we saw him but we had such a lovely evening it felt as if he had been here last week. He was very interested in the mysterious stones that 'the haps ' photographed on a WoW day during the summer. And AnonymousRob discovered a site about them. I must research back blogs and track them down for him. He was intrigued by 'dip your ghosts' if I've got it right. Sleep tight folks and I'll atch you tomorrow.....

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Banksy at auction - A Karen day - still stormy

Having discussed the John Singer Sargent of the children in the garden with their amazingly illuminated lanterns, I thought I ought to track it down and share it. It is in the Tate and the effect when you stand in front of it is breathtaking. My reproduction can only hint at the apparent incandescence of the lanterns. The title is "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" which must be the names of the flowers, or the girls I guess. For some reason it reminds me of the famous 'hoax' photo of the fairies.

I'm happy enough to use it to grace these pages, as it is in the public domain (i.e. its copyright has expired). I shudder to think what a Nempf judge would make of it....(that's enough of that..ed.)

Picture 2 is one of my newly arrived Siskins breakfasting in the pouring rain. They seem to like the nyger seed as much as the goldfinches do and their beaks are narrow enough for the specially desgined slot in the feeder. The sparrows, greenfinches, and particularly the starlings have no chance.

Thank you all for your 'group names' for birds suggestions, and I ask our lady readers to excuse this silly nevergrownup lad-talk about the 'tits'. I think Bungus that 'brafull' isn't subtle enough. And AnonymousRob's 'gymnasium', 'demolition', and ' education' (although from sound and witty reasoning) are a tad boring. His 'Jordan' leads by a neck, in my opinion. My suggestion of a 'handfull' is perhaps too coarse.

Yesterday's Xword. You were right Bungus, it was 'deserted' and when you think about it, if we had assumed the comma between - "didn't stay, uninhabited" - we would all have got it.

As you know this blog has always supported Banksy in his quest to liven up boring places, plus of course the sheer brilliance of his Art. The buzz in the art-world (confirmed) is that a 'piece' of his on a concrete wall has just been sold at auction for £200,000 sterling. Sparing no google on your behalf I tracked it down to the Portobello Post.

In explanation, it isn't a photo of him doing his 'tag'. The painting is a jokey 'him with his pallette, doing his tag'. Andy will love it. Being a talented graphic artist himself he recognises near-genius when he sees it. And so obviously does someone with a spare two-hundred grand, or with an eye to a sound investment, or both. Prolly Damien Hirst !

Quotation....... Not literary.... but witty...

"The cure for writer's cramp is writer's block"

Inigo Deleon

No Wiki page and although the quote appears all over google (260,000 pages) there is a dearth of biographical details. I checked the first 30 and then thought 'life is too short'.

Off for a mug of tea and a sandwich now. I'm running early. Good job I have some smiley's stored because 'clicksmilies' is down now, as well as smiley Xtra4. Hoping to go wowing tomorrow and, of course, Y returns. Sleep tight.

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Jacksdale - busy morning - very stormy

I was out and about at 8am this morning and managed to pull in Lidl, The Co-op, a haircut (because Y had said I was looking seedy again) Morrisons and Jacksdale Garden Centre (for nyger seed for my goldfinches) all by 10.30am.

It is a photographic adage that you should 'photograph the light not the land' and both of these were taken en route to Jacksdale. The light before the gathering storm was surreal. In picture 1, when you enlarge it you can see, vaguely, something sticking up in the middle of the skyline. It's Crich Stand; it always is. You seem to see it from anywhere in this area.

The conifers, again on the skyline, and swaying in the wind, are at Jacksdale Garden Centre my desitnation. When my friend Trevor owned it there was a bowling green where the conifers now are. But the present owners demolished it to give them more space.

Both photographs were on my little Casio Compact. It really is the picture that counts, not the camera. Neither has been heavily tweaked in Photoshop, just a crop and straighten. The light really was like that, and I didn't get out of the car. With views, a filthy windscreen makes no difference because you won't focus that close, provided you hold the camera close to the glass.

I've nearly finished the Telegraph Xword. My suspicion has always been that Monday's is easy, to gentle you back into the working week. I'm stuck on:-

26 Across. Didn't stay uninhabited (8).....D***R*E* Any suggestions ?

Quotation....... Probably I've used this before, but I love it:-

"Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters"

Samuel Johnson

"Guilty your Worships, on occasions" says RG.

Comments.....Bungus... When I said the piece of embroidery was not an original I used the wrong word. Clearly it IS an original piece of work, my meaning was that it didn't date from the date of the room and wasn't a piece that Lady Willoughby had cast aside unfinished. Thanks for the quotes etc., and I obviously agree with you about John Singer Sargent. There is a painting of his of some children in a garden with lanterns and it is almost impossible not to believe that they are illuminated from behind the work. You may be right about the tense-change in The Snake but it didn't jar with me or anything.

It is great to have the ArtDaily videos back. And I have noticed that, if you double click one, not only can you get full screen but you get a further list of related videos, down the right hand side.

Madeline.....Thanks for the wiki list of group names for birds. I disagree though with 'murmuration of starlings'. A 'vexation of starlings' would be more appropriate; ill-tempered creatures that they are. And, I'm sure to my son Steven's bawdy amusement, there doesn't seem to be anything for 'tits'. Bytheway, does your acquisition of a blogger.com logo mean that you have joined the blogo-sphere? If you have, I would love to read your blog. I clicked it, but got a window saying your blog-profile could not be displayed.

.........Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow. A Karen day and I intend to have a Rest Day...

Sunday Rest Day - Still wet

Complete Sunday Rest Day. Great fun. Picture 1 is the Stable Block at Wollaton and Photoshop kindly made it into a line drawing for me, so that the beautiful architecture can be enjoyed, uncluttered. Maybe people wont like it, but your blogmeister does - so it's in. And I converted it to sepia to please Jill.

A side-effect is that the interpretation conveys a feeling of age, which suits the subject.

Picture 2 is also from Wollaton. Permission to take photographs inside the building is such a concession, and there is a wealth of photogenic material. Tomorrow I shall e-mail them a 'thank you' and say how much I applaud their policy.

This embroidery is I guess, not an original, but the box of cottons looks just right. Many of us remember mothers and grandmothers with a frame such as this and a very similar box. And I am sure that the hobby, and the equipment are extant.



Welcome back Madeline - lovely to hear from you and I am sure that you are right with the 'charm of goldfinches'. They are charming. Far less strident than starlings, less assertive than robins, but still with such a 'presence'.

Sorry about your potential loss of power and I hope you still have it. But Picture 3 shows a chap with the complete, green, alternative.

I've had a great day and caught up on reading, and plenty of radio. The Classic Serial, Poetry Please is back, with the redoubtable Roger McGough in the chair. One of the poems featured was Lawrence's 'The Snake" which in my opinion is one of the best ever nature poems. Please click here if you would like to read it. But many poems can better be appreciated if listened to with the text in front of you. You can always use the BBC's 'listen again' facility and so much these days is available to download (for free) and transfer to your MP3 player.

ArtDaily is good today. And if you catch the John Singer Sargent video you will see a fleeting glimpse of his portrait of Lady Agnew. The painting is probably Y and my favourite portrait and is in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. Looking at their current website (the link above) the painting is not mentioned. So perhaps the current curator doesn't rate it. But, being absolutely sure that it is there I did a little googling and here she is. Beautiful lady, beautiful painting, but my less than mediocre reproduction doesn't do her justice. If you are ever in Edinburgh it would repay you etc.......... Unless the curator has got her hidden down in the stacks.

Quotation.......Dylan Thomas points out a nice point.....

"An alcoholic is someone you don't like who drinks as much as you do"

....Nice chat to David this morning, texts exchanged with Y, and my cookery exploits have rested on eating left-over portions that we have frozen. I've had spicy-carrot soup and toasted ciabatta, spagbol and bread, and numerous coffee and bscuit breaks. Several years ago there was an hilarious radio play about this family who used to employ a woman to come in each day to eat their left-overs. Sleep tight and I'll catch you tyomorrow..........

Brinsley Sunrise - Elizabeth Willoughby

Today I shall keep well away from controversy and if any photography judges happen to pass by my window I shall call them in for a cup of tea, or even a whisky.

And if my EPS chums think that Picture 1 is the same sunrise I took last year, but toned down. it isn't, it's brand new this morning. The Exif date should be there, albeit an hour out, because I can't be bothered to change the clock on the camera. The rather charming sun's rays are only there because my study window needs a good clean.

Isn't it great that it is light just that little bit earlier. Brinsley had a burst water main and we were all without water for several hours. If Severn Trent came round warning us like they used to, we missed it, and didn't have any saved. Then I realised I had a 2 gallon watering can outside full of rain, which would have done for tea and coffee, if boiled. Damn me, no sooner had I had the thought than it came back on again. The boy scout in me felt quite disappointed.

Picture 2 is Elizabeth Willoughby by George Gower. It is inscribed in the upper left 1573 and would be very early on in English portraiture. (the link takes you to the family rather than to her specifically).

Gower was the painter of the portrait of Elizabeth 1 which everybody recognises. It is known by the way as the Armada portrait.

As I photographed the lady looking down on the painting, because it was on the floor, propped up in a corner, I needed in Photoshop, to stretch the bottom corners out abit to make it symmetrical. In so doing I somehow lost the knack of enlarging the picture back to fit the screen. A quick call to AnonymousReg fixed the problem. This is what I mean Bungus about the IT world being a friendly place in which folks help each-other.

Y is enjoying prime Palmers Green time and Ruby and Elli actually asked if she had made a jelly for Grandad Graham? She had. A delicious 'signature' orange jelly with mandarin segments suspended in it. Tracy rang as she does, bless her!, when her Mum is away. She was pleased to hear I was having a great time messing-about as is my wont.

Comments..... Wowee Jill. A flock of Goldfinches ! I'm not sure what the group term is, but could I suggest "A glitter of Goldfinches". Fifty-strong eh? We might get 3 and Bungus would be delighted if just one visited Boughton. I think the young ones seem plumper than the adults but I'm not sure.

Bungus..... Whoops! Fancy getting me 'Doric' mixed up with me 'Ionic'. Nice to learn that the squiggly bits at the top are 'volutes'. Thank you and I'm sure I shall soon find a suitable conversation to drop it into. Long live picking other people's brains ! Lovely update though re Sandra's 'shopping triumphs' and I enjoyed the 'Browser and Jesus' story. Thanks for the 'star wars hand grenade' suggestion but, relooking at the picture she seems more to be releasing something rather than catching it. I can live with either. Pleased to hear on the phone that Simon is out of Hospital and walking, albeit in a lot of pain.

.....Still got a lot of reading to catch up on. And my favourite OneWord DAB radio station has finally folded. With its output of poetry readings, literature, and other 'arty farty' matters without music it must only have had a handful of listeners like me. Not really attractive to the advertising moguls. Sad though. Sleep tight. Catch you tomorrow......

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More about Nempf - and 'judging' !

More from Wollaton Hall. This delightful chap has been keeping his beady eye on the Nottingham peasantry for centuries. He looks remarkably modern doesn't he? Not sure about the curly hair and beard though.

Picture 2 is called 'moon dust' and nothing clever, the flared bit is my flash reflected in the glass case that this lady was standing in.

I did the right thing and asked about photography because so many historic houses are a little precious about it. But at Wollaton a curator lady said, "Fine. Go ahead and take as many as you like" And I was using my big Nikon as against my compact, which often worries secutiry people. Ergo, Nottingham welcomes happy photographers.

Y has gone to Palmers Green for a few days, her monthly visit, and she has already rung to announce her safe arrival.

After dropping her at the tram I went to Durban House and had a long look at the Nempf Exhibition. I veer strongly into the AnonymousRob camp. Although some very fine images, notably some by our own Paul Alexander, had been selected, there were, in my opnion far too many clichés. We had the statutory wizened black faces, preferably with a turban (in my opinion there is more than a sniff of racism about the incessant inclusion of these pictures), the candyfloss water (it's so passé; why not let water look like water?), the trees that have been stretched in Photoshop; wildlife photographs with the backgrounds completely blurred (nary a hint of context or environment) sunsets so unreal that normal chocolate-box manufacturers would reject them. A good Picasso quote springs to mind:-

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun"

Pablo Picasso

I'm afraid that in the Nempf Exhibition the former category were the winners. Maybe my comments are too academic but, as Bungus and Rob know, my Art History qualifications are sound. The trouble with that sort of photography is that it doesn't have legs. At least people's holiday snaps and family photographs will be of interest to future generations, whereas, after the death of the authors, most photos of the type I am knocking will find their spiritual home in the bin !

This picture, by last night's judge, Bill Hall, was quite rightly accepted by Nempf as part of a prize-winning panel. Most holiday snappers try to avoid having Doric columns sprouting from people's heads, but Nempf know better. I've already gone on far too long for our readers who aren't fascinated by photography. Little to add now to my comments of yesterday - his remarks were, in my opinion, too severe and quite off-putting to those brave souls who had submitted pictures. For instance a portrait of a little oriental girl (white skinned) attracted his criticism because she wasn't smiling. As I've said before, what would they make of Don McCullin's 'Confused Marine' ? And it's got a burnt-out sky. In the opinion of many though, it is one of the defining pictures of the 2oth Century

Paul's pictures as mentioned above were first class, and Brians motorbike, and others were really good. But some of the epithets he used would be more accurate if discussing Nempf. Last year one of our members, Lesley, described the Exhibition as 'formulaic' - no need to change your view this year Lesley !!

Comments.....Thanks for the nice words about the Wollaton Hall interior pictures. And I didn't realise that you too Jill had had 'hedge' problems. We are like Rob in that our neighbours are lovely, helpful and reliable. But whether or not that will survive this 'drain' problem disclosed during the house-survey, I do not know.

.....This smiley is just for Bungus who seems to have lost his proper googlemail page. I'm sure it's fixable. Sleep tight and I'll catch you tomorrow..........

p.s. A lovely quote, courtesy of AnonymousRob, seems appropriate today :-

"You can’t depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus" – Mark Twain

And that is a live link.

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Camera Club - Y at Burton Joyce

Another interior from Wollaton Hall and it serves its purpose of illustrating what I have been doing. Not an 'exhibition' photo, nor a 'camera club' photo, but a 'blog' photo and I suppose that my photographs are mainly blog-fodder'.

But at least they have a purpose.

I shall return tomorrow to the subject of the 'judging' this evening. Too tired at the moment to do the subject justice in any depth. Suffice it to say that, in my opinon, he was far too severe in his comments. Our club, and others, worry about the low number of competition entries but, with this sort of judging, no-one should be surprised. It will eventually kill off Camera Clubs. Most people have more to do with their lives than concern themselves solely with how many hundred exhibition successes they have. Producing pictures with that aim in mind seems a peculiarly sterile pursuit.

Y did her regular grannying at Burton Joyce and I collected her and brought her back asround 6.40pm. The longer daylength is just beginning to be noticable. Apparently, the light lengthens by 20 minutes a week. Goody goody say all.

Catch you tomorrow.

National Trust - WoW at Wollaton

Last night's National Trust lecture was excellent. Pauline Marples and her husband kept us rapt for over an hour. The pit at Forest Town was sunk early in the 1900's and she has meticulously catalogued the development of the village through to the present day.

She was assisted by her husband Malcolm, on digital projector, and the pictures were marvellous on a very large screen. We started with a picture of the map in 1900 when the site was green fields and it progressed from there. The building of the shops, the churches, the Miners' Welfare and the quality of the photographs was amazing. So sharp and well balanced. In one picture of the 'sinkers' sitting round the edge of the open shaft, you could identify a chap smoking a small clay pipe about 40 yards away. As I have commented before. photography hasn't changed all that much, except for colour, and not everyone feels that that is an improvement. The pictures were so atmospheric.

It fell to me to say 'thanks', a task I was delighted to do, with gusto. In view of my professional history I know about 'pit bobbies' and the amazing heart and cultural span of a colliery village. The colliery has gone now, so Pauline had a ready-made starting and finishing point for her hundred year history.

Too tired when we got home to consider re-opening yesterday's blog so I've had to tell you all about it today.

This mornng was, surprisingly fine, so we WoW-ed over to Wollaton. I stayed at the top, near the hall, and did the interior mostly, while the chaps went down, through some of the deer park, to the lake. Cold, but lovely light. The interior has recently been renovated tastefully, and attractively.

Then we chip-cobbed at the Nelson & Railway, a great pub in Kimberley with a proper pubby feel to it. Not that I took advantage today, but it is a free Wi-Fi hotspot. More importantly the chip-cobs are excellent.

Comments..... I fear Bungus that my bungled attempt at heavy irony, over the matter of yesterday's 'apologies' seems to have failed. Was I attempting 'litotes' ? If so I almost, but not quite, missed the target.

Re the consultant and the dosage, I guess he was using 'scientific' in its meaning of 'exact' or 'precise'. Awful experience for Simon, and of course, for you and Sandra. It is fervently hoped that he does not have the 'back injury' they are concerned about. Did the cars stop? Whatever, give him our very best wishes.

Jill..... I think the 'pearly barley' saga still has legs and we all are keen to know how it finishes. Best of luck with the fish & chip shop. When Y and I were courting we soon established a mutual love of fish & chips.

AnonymousRob..... You have succeeded in making the Nempf Exhibition unmissable.... If only to see if we all agree with your modest and understated opinions ! There we go - litotes again. P.G. Wodehouse was the master though!

Quotation...... As the George Burns quote went down so well, here is another.....

"If you live to be a hundred, you've got it made. Very few people die past that age"

George Burns

......Y at BJ tomorrow, grannying, and I hope to make it it to my Camera Club. Sleep tight everybody and I aim to catch you in the evening.........................

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A National Trust day - carvery lunch

Too busy today for taking snaps so I've raided my recent bird archive for todays pictorial interest. Our colony of great-tits thrives and this young fellow is particularly fine, and of course, my real pride are the goldfinches as per picture 2.

Such handsome birds and how best to provide an environment which they enjoy rather than imprison them in an aviary.

I disapprove of photographers who take 'wildlife' photographs (so called) in aviaries as much as Blake ever did about 'Robins in Cages' et al.

Our National Trust Committee meeting was a joy to attend. Good humoured, productive and although different views were expressed they were made and received in a constructive spirit. I would not for a moment suggest that this was due to the absence of a committee member who has the knack of annoying his colleagues.

My blog is my resposibility and should not be considered as 'minutes' by the way.

After that we lunched at The Rufford Hotel. If you remember, last time the meeting had made me so tetchy I took it out on the young barman at the same Hotel. Today I was sweetness and light and enjoyed my carvery meal. We both enjoy a good carvery.

Smiley Xtra 4, one of my favourite 'smiley' sources has dried up. The site-owner says he can't deal with the spam anymore. Fortunately I have saved some of them so all is not lost but I shall miss the copy/paste facility.

Comments.... Lovely comment Bungus. As ever amusing, informative and a joy to read. Re the Long Red Florence shallots - my snap was of them still mostly covered by their brown skins. Once stripped of them their appearance is much redder. Next time I use one I shall send you a picture.

Quotation..........Although I don't drink anymore I can vaguely remember.......etc., and this caught my eye.

"It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fourteenth".

George Burns

I'm stopping there because after a sandwich we need to set off for Mansield again for our National Trust lecture. Sleep tight..........Catch you tomorrow.

Joan's - Nails - Cheesecake Shop - Shopping

Plunging straight into the matter of the 'eschallots' , we must immediately congratulate Bugus on his detective work And without even seeing the items at this end!

I feel absolutely sure that our 'eschallots' are Long Red Florence.

It is to be wondered if she, and Long Tall Sally who created Steve's sunken Victorian Garden are, in fact, related.? I think we should be told! As Private Eye used to say.

Spot-on about the mild sweet flavour and I guess the August cropping is probably right. If they are completely mature and the necks have narrowed, most members of the onion family cropped around that time, keep OK till Easter.

After a terrible night I rallied this morning and we went over to Joan for coffee -plus malt-loaf and a piece of toasted and buttered Panettone. New to me but I like it. And we delivered Joan her pack of Sushi. She didn't need warning about the Wasabi, she knew!. Y took her Digital Photo Frame and was able to show a selection of 'over the holiday' photographs.

Then to The Cheesecake Shop for soup with toasted Ciabatta. The soup was very pleasant, even though difficult to establish its parentage! The shopping and then home. With my rejuvenated Printer I decided to tackle the printing I had tried to send to Aldi. Aldi online Photoprinting do a tidy job and their prices for prints are rock bottom i.e. 4p for a 6x4" and the 10x8" are 35p and printed on a decent weight Fuji Classic paper. I spent ages yesterday but couldn't get my pictures to download to their site. Anyway, the job is now done and they look fine.

Comments...... You are quite right Bungus about 'best' Wiljas. Have you also noticed that the only sort of batteries produced are all 'super strength'. 'Ordinary' strength ones are no longer available. I had thought that the 'boiling' water thread had run out of steam and then in comes nifty-googler with an argument clincher. And the piece is almost poetic ! I shall print it (on my own printer) and paste it into the back of Delia.

Like Mark Twain last night, I can do no other than admit I was completely wrong.

Thanks Mannanan for words from that fair Island. And I am glad you fully recovered from whatever lergie it was that beset you.

.....An early bath I think because we are National Trusting most of tomorrow. Committee meeting in the morning and then the monthly meeting in the evening. The lecture is "A centenary of village history" by Pauline Marples - about which google maintains a stony silence. Hence - no link !

Catch up with you sometime................................

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Complete Rest Day - Sausage & Mash

The Robin has finally managed to alight on the tit-feeder! I had every confidence that he would succeed - they seem such determined little critters.

A quiet day except that Y had a lot of washing & ironing and I cooked, by request, sausage and mash, plus brussels, carrots, courgette and french shallots. Each year around this time Lidl have these ''eschallots' and they are deliciously delicately flavoured. Obviously 'onion' family but refined! The mash was 2 thirds potato and 1 third swede, which we like, and I was lucky to get everything spot on. Simple ice-cream for pudding.
My reference to Boulestin's potato book did him a disservice. It wasn't a 100 ways as I said, it was 101 ways as you will see from Picture 2.

My other misleading paragraph was about Professor Joad and the conjunction. It was a 'the' instead of an 'a' conjunction I'm afraid. He was using the '/' to mark where the conjunction should go. Along with everyone else I have always accepted that 'and' and 'but' etc., are conjunctions.

Things are no doubt even more obscure now than they were before.

A further technical problem today has been uploading some pictures to the Aldi online service which I have used before without any problem. Today they just seem to refuse to finish loading.

Comments........Thanks AnonymousReg for the boiling water information. I am still not clear though; is the water temperature higher on a 'fast' boil than on a 'simmer' ? This is where the disagreement lies. And we shall certainly put the Nempf Exhibition on our agenda.

Jill...... King Edwards were a good all purpose potato although Bungus has remarked that they seem different today. They certainly look slightly different. Maris Piper is good only, as you say, for roast potatoes. One of our favorites is Desirée - reliable for most purposes. We used to like Wilja which now only seem available at farm-gates in half-cwt sacks and we only want a few pounds at a time.

Bungus...... Glad the sketch-pad/mouse-mat idea has been incorporated. Difficult not to fill up a page too quickly though. But an A3 mouse-mat would be a step too far. Especially for a little mouse like mine!

Quotation time......

"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more"

Mark Twain

One of my many uses of quotations used to be the deflection of 'tellings-off'. My Chief Superintendent was once in mid-tirade and I said "You could say Sir that it was a case of..

"Minerva's owl flies only in the dusk"

Marshall McLuhan

After a lengthy silence and a glare he simply said "Get out!"

I just hope those damned pictures have gone to Aldi. If not I'm going to cancel and try again tomorrow. Catch you soon. We are over to Joan's in the morning, then Y's nails and then maybe lunch somewhere..............

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Over at Sherwood - Lovely lunch

The macabre sense of humour enjoyed by 6yr old boys is probably as timeless as the joy a good game of 'hide and seek' brings. We probably played it with kids in our caves and the whoops of delight must have sounded similar.

Andy cooked a delightful chunk of fresh salmon, wrapped in prosciutto with some red-pepper and one of his renowned sauces. Served with small, herby potatoes and an interesting salad with dill and something dressing. The clean plates told their 0wn story. Then for pudding we had a choice of apple crumble, rhubarb crumble, with either ice-cream or custard. There was a small portion of the salmon left over and I was allowed to bring it home in a doggy bag. I would have hated to think of it in the bin.

One of my presents from Debra and Andy was this delightful book, from a charity shop - they know the old boy's idiosyncrasies by now ! It is written by "Professor" C.E.M. Joad who older readers may just remember on BBC Radio, chairing The Brains Trust. I used to listen during the war with my parents. Joad was certainly erudite and was often trotted out for an 'expert' opinion. I keep dibbing into the book and it is difficult to put down. Often outrageous by today's standards, but important reading for anyone wishing to do pedantry impersonations!

Comments..... How lovely for your family Jill, to have climbed a telly-imortalised tree! I am glad you have thought it cold too. Perhaps Bungus is having hot-flushes. So pleased though that his hospital day went so calmly. Also pleased he managed a digital photography chat with his driver-convert.

The culinary differences in 'boils' is interesting, as are many distinctions made by chefs. My '100 ways with the Potato' by Marcel Boulestin classifies about 10 different characteristics, from waxy, yellow, white-dense etc...... I might edit Wikipedia (never done it, yet!) because, in his list of books, there is no mentioin of it. And there my volume sits,/ in the kitchen. Ha Ha! Joad recommends the conjunction with the comma, when the comma alone is not strong enough. I shall soon be rivalling 'you know who' for the post of head pedant.


.....Haven't used this "sheep/dog" for some months. Night night. Kip calls. Catch you tomorrow.....

Newstead Abbey - Lunch at The Hutt

I hope you will excuse a brief-ish blog without tracklements this evening. Our busy period continues and we met Lisa and children, Debra & Andy and children, plus Tracy, at Newstead Abbey. Unfortunately David and family are still suffering with this norovirus and didn't feel up to it.

One needed to be feeling fairly fit because it was bitterly cold. But fortunately we managed a couple of hours without actual rain. They parked me near the Café, just off the bottom right of the picture, if you open the link. I happily messed-about , took pictures, chatted to the chap manning the garden gate, read, listened to radio, did the crossword. In fact the 2hrs was sacredly enough, and they were back. They had cirumnavigated the bottom lake, fed ducks, dashed about and generally had a great time. The healthy, rosy cheeked faces on their return were a joy.

Picture 2 is entitled "I'm keeping my eye on you" and follows the Mies dictum again.

Everyone was cold, but no complaints of it and I treated them all to lunch at The Hutt, a famous pub just opposite the Abbey Gates. I couldn't find a link with a picture, so I haven't linked you to it. Good appetites were in evidence and everyone was polite, well-behaved and not too noisy. I was proud of them. Y and I arrived first and Y dashed in and did brilliantly to find a refectory table that seated 10 plus a high-chair for Millicent. The food was good too.

Then to complete the day's activity we went to Curry's in Mansfield (just down the road) and bought a new microwave oven. I've plugged it in and got it going and reheated some cold coffee, just to check. And now it is pouring with rain.

Comments...... We shall have to settle for disagreeing Bungus. I'm certainly no physicist but I thought 'boiling water' had a known temperature. Does it get hotter then if the boil is fast? It sounds suspiciously like one of those 'kitchen myths' which Heston Blumenthal is so happen to refute. Like 'sealing' meat which he says doesn't 'seal' anything and is a waste of time and effort to say nothing of the unnecessary washing up.

Jill.......Y says she has posted whatever and should be with you by Monday latest.

AnonymousRob and Bungus........I think we have sorted wage/salary rates in the 50s and 60s and satisfasctorily explained the different views.

Quotation...... Just a quick 'arty one'......

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun"

Pablo Picasso (who else?)

A smiley for Jill. Hope Bungus's Hospital Trip wasn't too horrendous. Sleep tight. Catch you tomorrow. We are over at Tracy's for lunch, before Debra goes back and then I think we can have a Rest Day. Phew !

p.s. If Picture 2 has you scratching your head......there are peacocks at Newstead.

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Y at Burton Joyce - Opted out of EPS

Just a little more canal-art because like Jill, I love it. So cheerful and easy to understand, without being garish or kitsch. Jill's comment about a possible Russian influence set me googling, but without much success. I found this :-

"One of the perverse pleasure of the roses and castles tradition is its mysterious origin, for nobody really knows where it came from. There have been plenty of suggestions and speculation, but no hard evidence. And it certainly did decorate, nearly everything. The drinking water can on the cabin roof was painted and decorated, as was the wash basin, cabin stool, headlamp, bucket and the horse's feed tin. Pictures and posies adorned the walls inside the cabin, the built-in furniture and the little doors that led into it. ..."

Courtesy of the Canalcrafts and Canalware website.

Perhaps nifty-googler at Annesley might do better.

Straight into foodie matters. If anyone is a Sushi fan and has a Lidl to hand, this I can recommend. They haven't been stocking it for around 6 months and it isn't cheap at £3.49 but it is delicious. Beware of the stuff in the white, green and yellow packet in the ramekin. It's Wasabi - japanese horseradish - with a powerful kick. My first experience several years ago was wondering what that greenish paste was for and putting a match-head sized chunk on my tongue to find out. I managed to refit my nasal linings and the top of my skull without medical assistance, but only just

The beef-stew with pearly barley sounds enticing, and my inclination would be to ignore any elfand safety guff. Several hours at a chuckling simmer in a slow-cooker should deal with most problems.

Bungus.... I do envy you your embossed Brewers, and I knew nothing of his local connections. Obviously mistakenly, but I always considered him American. We all wish you well for Friday, tomorrow, and are in awe of your cussed streak that enables you to make creative use of your experiences. We look forward to wahtever 'ospital ode', ballad, sonnet, or perhaps even 'canticle' springs from your trip.

AnonymousRob...... Thanks for your comments on the 'smokey canal boat' picture. The method, can't remember where or who I cribbed it from, was simply to desaturate all colours except red. It seems effective and people always assume you have very precisely put the red into a monochrome picture. As you know, that would be almost impossible to do without 'seeing the join'.

Re the cost of my Auden Aphorisms. Yes, it was expensive, but I feel you must be mistaken over rates of pay in 1962. When I became a policeman in 1957 my pay was £8.4s a week, so it would be more in 1962. I suppose when you divvy up the cost of the book, over 45 years, it works out at 8 pence a year. And it has been well worth it.

"See how the moonlight sleeps upon this hill"

Shakespeare

That line alone, must be worth 8d. In just 8 words he tells you exactly what the night was like, what the hillside was like and more or less how he felt about it. A penny a word?

We poetry lovers have been having an unexpected treat. One of my favourite radio-stations OneWord is in trouble and may not survive. They aren't running a full schedule but are broadcasting all day - good readers, reading poetry. Yesterday we had the war poets, Wilfred Owen and Sassoon. And today we had Byron, the first cantos of Don Juan and quite a lot of John Clare, always one of my favourites because he was considered too working class for the Wordsworth and Tennyson loving middle classes. And the whole of The Ancient Mariner and, like the wedding guest, I was transfixed. No wonder I've hardly got anything done.

And then I was too done for to go to my Camera Club. It was a 'skills night' and fortunately they weren't relying on me to do anything. I shall catch up with life sometime in the next few weeks, I hope.

Debra and Co. have arrived at Tracy's (and no, I don't think her job even though wide-ranging, includes the fireworks) and health and weather permitting we are meeting at Newstead Abbey tomorrow. I might be lucky enough to have some Byronic influence rub off. Catch you tomorrow......

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WoW at Shardlow - Great Day but dull

Five of us went to the Shardlow canal-side, Brian, Reg, Roy, Y and me and had a smashing day even though it was around -14C (well it felt like that) and not counting the wind-chill factor. The Malt-Shovel Inn (1799) is directly behind where I stood to take these pictures.

As usual they parked me in a pretty place, with my coffee and an assortment of lenses and had a good bracing walk lasting about 1hr 45mins. Y went with the chaps and thoroughly enjoyed herself. When they returned we adjourned to the adjacent pub where the statutory chip-cobs were eaten with relish ! Their appetites seemed healthy and I managed to force mine down. In its time-honoured manner, within ten minutes of getting into the pub, the sun came out. It didn't last long though.

Following the Mies' dictum of 'less is more' I hope these 2 pictures set the scene. Several narrow-boats went by and although jolly I suspect that the boatmen were colder than the walkers. I took lots of pictures and enjoyed my day immensely.

My printer problem was child's play to Brian. He told me exactly how to fix it via Control panel>Printers and other hardware>clear buildup of files. When I got home having done what I was advised to do, I plugged my printer in and switched on. My computer recognised the Epson, re-installed it and now it works perfectly. The IT world is a world of shared knowledge and a pleasant environment to be in.

The picture on the right is by AnonymousRob who says

"However, for a hand-held digital compact it's not bad. It was taken just after midnight last night/this morning from the edge of Market Square looking up Friar Lane towards the Castle."

He means 1st Jan, and I think he captures the feel excellently.

Comments........Please click here for my trusty poached egg method. I've used it for about 4 years, since I discovered it and it hasn't let me down. I can only apologise for revealing the 'porridge' story; I do hope you aren' t too scarred. The 'Brewer's.....' sound great. I love the description you chose to publish. I only know their 'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable' which google tells me is now online, hence the link.

A busy period lies ahead. Y at BJ tomorrow and I shall deliver her then David & co are visiting after going to IKEA, then I have my Camera Club in the evening. On Friday Debra and family are coming up and we are going to Newstead Abbey - I just hope it is a little warmer or they come with layers of warm clothes then on Saturday we are all invited over to Tracy's for lunch, bless her. I have been given permission to bail out at any stage !

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

"Water speaks in long syllables, air in short"

Malcom de Chazal

I am indebted to my Faber Book of Aphorisms edited by Auden for that one. Not unfortunately a charity shop acquisition. I paid 30s folding money for it in 1962. Maybe it will finish up in Oxfam though.

Sleep tight folks. Catch you tomorrow - sometime !