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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My responses to your previous comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk

With an old horse that stumbles and nods

Half asleep as they stalk."

Thomas Hardy

Sleep tight - hope to catch you tomorrow.




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A busy Tuesday - 53F - Gusty wind - heavy rain.

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This is the entrance to Anglesey Abbey, located what seems miles from the Visitor's Centre and Restaurant.

The meal in the Restaurant, Roast Pork with cauliflower, carrots, roast potatoes and gravy was so awful Y complained. At £9.30 it was seriously over-priced. Y was offered a refund which she pointedly refused, saying she wasn't trying to get a free meal but registering a considered complaint about the quality.

The carrots seemed to have been cooked for around 10 minutes and were virtually raw. Ditto the cauliflower. The cook obviously thought cauliflower needs around the same time as broccoli i.e. 12 minutes. The resultant florets were too resilient to sink a fork into. Not that there was broccoli - there was no greenstuff at al, not even peas. The Pork had been carved 'with the grain of the meat' rather than against it. But the 'piece de resistance' was the gravy which had settled-out, leaving the top 3 inches of liquid fat. You only discovered this AFTER pouring because it was in a thermos ! Not a place to be recommended.

Anyway, today has been fun. The first thing was calling in at the Hayley Centre so that Yvonne could register as a member of the Leisure Club and enjoy the Swimming Pool You will immediately see the pool area if you open the link. There's a pleasant lounge/bar where I can settle down with my laptop while Y does her 40 lengths ! I'm sure she will tell you more about it via a 'comment'.

Then it was my blood test, followed by Y's Hair, some shopping then over to Sherwood for the monthly 'nails' service.

Before Sherwood I nipped home to put frozen things in the freezer and Karen told me that Willis (garage-owner) had called in about some paper-work to do with the new car. When we called in, thinking the cheque must have bounced ha ha!, he handed us two gents umbrellas, a spray can of flysquat remover, a small purse with old coins in. So much for my clearing out the old car !

In Sherwood there was a whole new set of Charity Shops for me. The Oxfam is a gem to which I shall return. On the left is my 'haul' but I bought the Big Issue from a chap on the street. Looks like a good issue too !

I think it was my most expensive purchase because I gave the vendor £2.

All the Charity Shops, - Oxfam, The Children's Society, Mind, Nottingham Hospice, were thoroughly checked for a pottery/china butter dish for Bob, but I'm afraid I was unsuccessful. It is in my mind now though so watch this space.

This afternoon Y has been keen to get out and deliver her allotted number of Lib.Dem election circulars which arrived this morning but the weather has ruled it out. The sun shines and 10 minutes later the clouds open. And I didn't want to have to collect a bedraggled, saturated, Liberal Democrat from the bottom of Mansfield Road.

My responses to your comments

Bob ..... I have identified the trees as 'Betula utilis var. jacquemontii' - 'Silver Shadow' and if you open this link I hope you well agree. Thanks for the Alder suggestion but, of course, you hadn't had the advantage of having seen the trees.

Re Rainbow Bridge. You will have read my thoughts previously expressed and I agree with yours. Steady on though about People's Friend ! I once had two pieces published therein which earned me the princely sum of £15.23p.

However, a decent bit of poetry on the subject, is Byron's Poem to 'Boatswain' his Newfoundland. Even the Gravestone at Newstead is moving.

My 'bird-feeder' comment was my preference for the feeders hanging in the Rowan Tree anyway. The point I had added was that, now the tree is in full leaf, I can't see the birds clearly enough for a snap. Not really important though. Aesthetics is all !

Jill ..... Thanks for your comment about 'The Trees'. Y says it is one of my best pictures.

I also read about the Hockney Trees. I cherish the hope that one day this Summer I shall be able to see his big picture, made up I think of 40 panels. I think it is in Tate Modern.

We often treat ourselves to a burst of Central Heating. Trouble is the 'bursts' often need to be of several hours duration.

Yvonne ...... You have caught up with me 'blogwise' so well today that you are in fact in the lead.

I've known you long enough and I've never considered you 'vain'. And, if you remember, in this respect I do know what I'm talking about.

You are wise to read carefully the pamphlets you are delivering. It would be so embarrassing, and counter-productive, if some potential voter said "Whats this all about then?" jabbing a finger at an article, and you not to know the answer.

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Quotation time ..... And while we are talking about Byron, this quote of his is relevant this year isn't it?

"The English winter—ending in July,
To recommence in August."

Lord Byron

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow

Blood test day - feeling good - 67F 2mph E wind

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The first of two 'collages' today.

Whilst I still want a good close-up of our Robin I liked this picture enough to 'collage' it with the young Blackbird adjacent. In both birds I am taken by their feet.

(I can hear Steve saying "You should get out more")

The two birds compete in the early hours as to who can sing the loudest and sweetest, and in my opinion its neck and neck. Or should I say throat and throat.

The Blackbird is not tolerant of other visitors and frequently chases Tits and the Thrush away. The Goldfinches make a token movement but fly back within seconds.

The second 'collage' is from my boyhood edition (1912) of Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert.

Robin and Little John fighting on the bridge is compulsory but I used to find (aged 11yrs) that 'Robin shoots his last shaft' very moving.

I must have read the novel 20 times and always had to linger at that bit.

If I did the same, it would entail Y interring me somewhere in the middle of the Football Field.

To return to reality. Blood Test this morning, so I'm now awaiting a call, or not, from the clinic. Most likely they will ring because even if my INR is coming down, as we hope, a Warfarin dosage change is still likely.

I have felt pretty good today so I don't want it to be spoiled. Lunch was a spag/bol which worked fine, followed by Icecream in Wafers which Y got just right. This afternoon, after a nap, I went over to Colliers Wood hoping for some pics, but there wasn't much that was photogenic.

We hope Jill and Roland got off to Durham successfully. If the weather continues as today they will enjoy it. Now there IS a photogenic spot and Durham Cathedral is one of the outstanding examples of Norman architecture in Europe.

My responses to your previously made comments

Bob ..... Thanks for the Sports Desk update.

And you don't have to contemplate 'milk and a slice of lemon' in tea. A straightforward typo, I think, because I have one or the other. And I have realised that if I am going to have the lemon version I only need to let it brew for 1½ to 2 minutes at the most. Otherwise it tastes really stewed.

Plus, I am now drinking black coffee, and I need this to be much weaker than hithertofore.

Well. Fancy that. Would you believe it?

According to my Colliers Wood Dandelion its 5.40 pm already.

That was the only halfway decent picture I managed to shoot this afternoon.

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

"When shepherds pipe on oaten straws
And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks
When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,
And maidens bleach their summer smocks."

Shakespeare - Love's Labour's Lost

I've published nearly the whole stanza because a few days ago folks had difficulty working out the meaning of the bit I quoted....... Come to think of it - you don't see, or hear many skylarks these days do you?

p.s Stop Press - The Clinic rang at 6.30pm. My INR level is down to 3.3 so Hoo Rah ! And a slight dosage change. Further test Monday 27th April 09. Real progress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My responses to your previous comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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Quotation time ......

"He draweth out the thread of his verbosity

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

Shakespeare - Loves Labour Lost

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Saturday rest-day - John's birthday - N wind at 10mph

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I'm hovering between 'synchronicity' and 'serendipity' in connection with the bullfinch picture.

It's some months since we had a visit and then, the day after missing Peter and Joan's, here we are. A bullfinch. Whether or not when appearing at Peter's he had been told "Get you over to Brinsley straight away!" and, being a God-fearing bullfinch .......

Nice record-shot though. Not a NEMPF winner due to the surrounding crud and, the background isn't sufficiently blurred. But I like to have some idea of the surroundings - good or bad.

My eldest son John is 50 today. WoWee - getting old or what? And he has only days to go before retirement. He is putting his birthday money towards a canoe - and there just happens to be a canoe-selling day today at Home Pierrepont. It's called a Paddlefest From the link it looks like a fun day. But crikey ! I just wish it was warmer for them. A 10mph N wind and it feels vicious here - I shudder to think what it's like at West Bridgford. A paddlefest ! Did I start something with the Sausage-fest ?

Picture 2 is Y's 'posh' book from Cromford.

A quick peek reveals she's reached page 68 and is just starting about Sophocles and Antigone. Although thoroughly enjoying some serious reading again, as she says, "Not a Saturday afternoon book."

For lunch I grilled fresh salmon fillets again with some steamed veg. and new potatoes. The variety was Exquisa and what Boulestin described as 'of the waxy type'. It isn't a bad idea to cook more than you need because, from the fridge, a quick tasty meal can be rustled up toute suite. For pudding Y did sliced banana and greek yoghurt. Sharp and delicious.

Before we leave pictures, here is our minuscule parsley patch which I have successfully over-wintered. Not enough to make parsley sauce for ten I suppose, but handy for the odd garnish. Such a pretty fresh colour I always think. And one can understand the old Derbyshire euphemisim "Having a poke around in the Parsley-Patch".


My responses to your previous comments

Jill ..... There has been a splurge of £3.50 carveries in this area. But I guess in London you would expect to pay more. They vary quite dramatically. The best is probably Chatsworth - but not at £3.50. The Farm Shop is first rate and not exorbitantly expensive. At least it wasn't when answerable to the Dowager Duchess. We haven't been since the new Duke took over.

I hope your steamed cod-loins were a success. Cod usually is. It's the right time of year for inshore catches. The M&S sandwich fillers sound good, probably too good for me, trying to make 'obesity-clinic' gestures.

Bob ..... You are right to ask 'does anyone under 50 eat broken biscuits?' I used to enjoy buying a bag-full of assorted broken biscuits at the Grocers. 6p a 1lb seems to ring a bell. And that's a lot of biscuits.

Rather like shoe-cleaning with polish and brushes. I don't think anyone under 50 has even heard of it being done !

Glad you managed to change your 'desktop'. The random slide-show you describe is called a 'screen saver'. It should vanish as soon as you touch the keyboard or move the mouse. It's a hang-over from CRT days when an unchanged image would 'burn' itself onto the screen. It doesn't happen anymore but people have grown to enjoy the random slide-show or whatever other screen-saver they decide upon.

Fish pies always seem to be fattening. I've got a favourite recipe too. Not Delia surprisingly enough. Blackberry & Apple pie is a bit out-of-season isn't it? Consider your carbon footprint my boy. Apples certainly OK, and I suppose the blackberries could be from the freezer.

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Quotation time .......

"Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning"

George Carlin

Here is today's cartoon from The Multiple Sclerosis Squiffy Website



"Sleep tight - but Daylight Saving means - remember to put your clocks ON one hour with effect from 1am"


The old adage is 'Spring forward, Fall back"

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A Good Friday - not the official one but Good anyway

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As yesterday's crocuses found favour I thought you might like a few more........ My OTTP reputation is peerless. Many years ago I had a county-trial you know !

These flowers are on the roadside verge opposite and I haven't exhausted the possibilities. As we were driving home this morning I spotted yet another angle.

This morning was my first appointment with Dr Barrett our new GP. Y and I were both delighted . She is a mature lady with a charming hint of geordie accent and exuding common-sense and competence. She has upped my Fentanyl Patch dosage a little and I am to attend the obesity clinic. I knew it was bound to come and I will do my best - honest !

After the doctors we went to Lidl and Morrisons and shopped for Sunday when we are entertaining Helen and Julian, and Rob and Elaine, to lunch. I am cooking the Hairy Biker's Vegetable Curry that I kitchen tested a couple of weeks ago. After our Fish & Chips and Mushy peas I retired to my room for a lie down and almost immediately a man come to measure up for the new loose covers we are having in the big room. The existing ones are nearly 15 years old and beginning to look a little distressed. But they were well made by John Lewis and we have enjoyed them. The furniture is too good to ditch. We have chosen the material, and the man has measured the furniture so watch this space. But don't hold your breath because he estimated 6 to 8 weeks.

When I went back to my room the late afternoon sun had created an action tableau from the lay figure and a wardrobe door. I thought the picture could be entitled 'Don't jump'. The 'spectrum' by his right arm is the chance result of a prism on the Victorian mirror.

I won't start the 'pinhole' thread again. Suffice it to say that Reg took 2 sample pictures with my pinhole lens on his camera and there is far far less 'crud'., so it seems proven that the problem is within my Nikon. Yesterday evening Roy gave me the pinhole lens which Bill has drilled for me and at first try, it is as good, if not better than the commercially produced one.

I need to thank Bob (Bungus) for Picture 3. It is the Wikipedia Woolly Mammoth and his text inscription sounds most encouraging.

We could definitely use the creature on all future WoW trips, except perhaps for visiting Exhibitions in Libraries.

The quick-release hooks look ideal for camera bags, and Brian's tripod and perhaps even, a saddle could be fitted for my personal use. Isn't there something called a Howdah or similar which would be even better

Snap-tin I understand but what on earth is a 'dudley' ?

As you will have noticed I didn't reopen yesterday's blog-post. The EPS evening was most enjoyable as these 'skills evenings' usually are. It got going immediately and there was that pleasant hubbub which comes from contented camera club members. My modest Picasa 3 corner was very successful. Ernie was very taken with the programme - he didn't realise how function-full it was and we went through lots of things. Terry joined us with interest because his son-in-law has been sending him links to Picasa Web Album stuff. Ernie's pictures were excellent. He is a very good photographer but somewhat judge-shy ! I think Roy said that I should feel honoured to see them. But I became somewhat tired and uncomfortable so, after tea and a biscuit, I came home.

My responses to your previous comments

Jill .... Wendy Cope would always have been a good guess for the 'When I am old' poem. And for the 'spring poem' I had no idea.

In retrospect I agree about D'Artagnon 'dart'ing about. See remarks above re OTTP.

Re The Miners Strike, I couldn't face it. Doing the 'archive' for it was my responsibility and they weren't happy times.

An interesting menu at Fi's pub ! All I know about pigs cheek was that it was a constituent part of my Mum's brawn recipe. I always seemed to get the bits with hairs still attached. Not a favourite.

Pete (Mannanan) ..... We own the same Jenny Joseph 'When I am old...' book. Beautifully produced, small, and, as you say 'pride of place' stuff. n.b. I have made Pete's name a link to the Ramsay Ramblings blog bit of his website.

Bob ....... As above- thanks for the WoW Mammoth. I intend to publish your 'woodman' picture tomorrow. Pressures of space dear boy !

The Honeywood File sounds promising. 'Wry English humour' is a phrase which keeps cropping up in the reviews. Didn't realise it dated back to the 1920s though.

Please see above comment to Jill about the Miners Strike. Y found the police-torture in Red Riding too hard to take. From personal knowledge I can reassure people that it certainly didn't occur. Violence - Yes. Torture - No. If it had happened I would have known about it. And if John is reading the blog a comment would be helpful, because he was there, on the front line.

I must distance myself from your reproof of Jill with her walking stick. My stance would be "Go for it Gal !".

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

Quotation time .....

"A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name"

Evan Esar

Not much to draw on for that link. Certainly no YouTube which surprised me.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"


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Nails day ! - Carrot and Coriander Soup.

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Honestly I'm not 'showing off' with my Xmas books - I just wanted to demonstrate how well the family all know my tastes and interests.

The black one, in the centre of the bottom row, is a Moleskine Diary from my lady wife. A classy piece of goods and very beautiful .....

This morning it was over to Carlton for Y's routine 'nails' service after which she went into town to change some things at M & S. I came home and had a happy hour cooking carrot and coriander soup. In true Delia fashion, as I didn't have any leeks I used some French Shallots which are 'in' at the moment. It worked perfectly.

Poor David has reverted to being feverish and is going back to the doctors in the morning. I am so glad he is doing that because, as Jill says, it has gone on too long.

We aren't WoW-ing in the morning either. Reg has succumbed to the cold/cough/flu symptoms and he also has decided on a trip to the doctor. I'm still not 100%, Roy has a commitment and Helen also has things that need doing. Mike is in Whitby. In any case, in this bitterly cold weather it isn't really a hardship not to go. I hope Brian isn't too dissapointed though.

Comments

Jill ..... Robins are great little creatures aren't they. Each seems to have an identified personality in a way lacking in starlings for instance.

AnonymousKevin ..... Glad Bradgate Park worked out, but you are right about the weather. It doesn't put one in the right mood for photography at all.

bungus ...... The staccato style précis has a certain attraction. Is the answer perhaps to cover less ground ? You have always quoted Mies Van de Rohe's 'Less is more' dictum with approval anyway.

Yvonne ..... How nice to have your pithy and germane comment ! And if I disagree I can always shout down the corridor can't I ?

Mannanan ....... Thank you for your good wishes. I was intending to publish a link to your site, but keep getting 'page cannot be found' error message. As you mentioned in your e-mail there seems to be glitches at the moment. When I have cracked it, I will edit this accordingly. As you said in your e-mail, if blog-comments are too long, the end result is that folks simply don't bother to read them. And all the very best to you and yours in 2009.

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Quotation time......

"There is always a well-known solution to every human problem--neat, plausible, and wrong"

H. L. Mencken

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

Pleasant Sunday - Snow this morning -36F

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Please be sympathetic to my 'artistic' adventure into Photoshop Elements. It is so pleasant to go into the kitchen and smell blue hyacinth. So subtle and distinctive. I have this theory that the scent of the blue is preferable to the red ? In a few years some IT person will invent a way of trasmitting smells through cyberspace and all you will need to do is scratch the picture on your monitor for the room to be filled.......

We had steak, egg and chips for lunch. Aldi frozen oven chips have now further refined them. The Lidl brand tells you the chips are cut from whole potatoes - Aldi now tell you the variety, namely Maris Piper. A first class choice for chips or roasts. Delicious ! Followed by Xmas pudding and custard.

Picture 2 is a photograph of a JD painting which I consider to be rather good ! JD is David's pal who lives in the New Forest and ubnfortunately has MS. He can't get about much anymore and so he paints. And very well too.

He in turn has a friend who is an approved copy-artist who has official commissions to copy famous paintings. According to him JD's work will soon be good enough for people to buy. Praise indeed !

My research into the childhood book I mentioned proved fruitful. i.e.

clipped from www.abebooks.co.uk

The Magic Door
As a child, I had a copy of a book called “The Magic Door” (Author unknown). It told stories about a class of schoolboys who find a door knocker. This door knocker open a door into History, where the boys have various adventures. They meet Alfred the Great, they meet the Romans in Britain etc., Eventually they go back to Prehistoric times and meet the dinosaurs, one of which escapes through the door into the modern world. The book had a number of coloured plates, and I vaguely recall a green hardback cover. It was all very exciting stuff, and like many of us who are getting on a bit, I would love to recover just a bit of my childhood. Any ideas? - Roland
SOLVED: The Magic Door by Dan Billany, solved by Matthew in Chicago, IL
POSTED: Monday March 24, 2003

The bad news is that, however diligently I searched, all I got was 'no copies available'. The extract above is exactly as I remember reading the book and, from the bit about the dinosaur escaping into the modern world, so did the author of Jurassic Park.

Unfortunately Dan Billany died in the war leaving only three books. T.S.Eliot rated him highly and had encouraged him to write more. So my boyhood impression of brilliant was not wide of the mark.

I enjoyed my Sunday chat to David and learning all the news which unfortunately contained Brooke having had a flu type cold, and Sky currently suffering.

Comments

David ....... You remember your shared bedroom at Rostellen well. I suppose it was a little barrack-room-ish. But you had a nice view ! And a three bedroomed prefab at the bottom of the garden as a playroom.

Sorry about the lack of chip-cob pictures but I've not been out with my WoW chums for a week or two. More will surely follow.

I forgive you your non pc joke because it is very funny. I had to read it twice before the penny dropped.

bungus...... I think you had previously told me Tripoli and I'd forgotten. Always pleased to hear stories about the rebellious.

I thought of it when I listened this afternoon to the final part of The Good Soldier Švejk and the adaptation has been first rate. Obviously for radio it was edited substantially and unfortunately many good bits were left out.

I certainly intended no euphemism re Peggy Owen. A rather chaste kiss in a corridor outside an annual school dance was it. But cherished !

Re John Buchan. I thought everyone had read The Thirty-nine Steps and in those days I thought it a great novel.

Anonymous ..... Thanks for the up date on the 'bed-block' !

By dint of painstaking research I finally unearthed a picture of a full kit-inspection type bed layout.

The bed-block or 'biscuits' are the carefully folded blankets and sheets at the head of the bed. They are spot-on for accuracy.

This is obviously much later than 1953 though. The mess tins and brushes are still correct. But the mug is porcelain - ours were white tin with a blue rim. And I can't see his 'irons' (knife, fork and spoon) also the luggage at the side has replaced the kit-bag.

The spit-and-polish boots are genuine !



Quotation time ......

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."

Oscar Levant

stop press - Just watched Strictly come Dancing and please click here if you want
to know who went out. Don't open it if you have video-ed it etc.

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Quiet Sunday - Newspapers and Left-overs

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I've no doubt published similar before, at this time of the year when the late afternoon sun makes the trees at the far end of the football field so beautiful. But I felt sure you would enjoy them again.

We feel fine, post the soss-fest excitement - in fact much better than we thought we would. Everything was cleared up by just after 6pm so we watched 'Strictly come Dancing'. Y voted for Christine and Mathew while I, I suppose out of devilment, voted for John Sergeant again. I know he should go, and that keeping him in means that a better dancer is eliminated, but it has developed into a power struggle between the judges and the public. And I feel my place is with the proletariat rather than the judiciary.

Nice Sunday chat to David. They had been to The Theatre Royal to see Oliver and apparently it was super. They enjoyed the Opera and it was only when finding the link above that I realised how many well known and catchy songs there are in it.

Picture 2 is published because the Silver Birch tree in the rear garden fascinates me due to it's apparent 'brain'.

I think we have discussed this before but, since Alex lopped the top third out of the tree about 3 yrs ago, the tree is trying desperately to grow back into the traditional silver birch shape. My problem is with the top two branches which, at the point of cut, are vertical.

The branches a few inches below them are growing outwards at a more normal angle. The picture I published on 7th November still had too much leaf to see the effect clearly.

Do trees have brains ? If not, how do these branches come to a decision to act differently from the others ?

If we have any arbori-culturist readers your comments would be much valued.

Steven will probably say that I "ought to get out more". But these things interest me.

There weren't many left-overs but we nibbled away at cheese and bread-sticks for lunch, followed by fruit-salad but for tea we plan 'beans on toast' while watching the denouement of Strictly.

I've e-mailed Jill with some explanatory pictures about changing her keyboard, and thanks to all of you who e-mailed us with thanks for the soss-fest. We are so glad it was so much enjoyed.

Comments

bungus ...... I'm so glad that you feel the outing and the 'food' had a therapeutic effect. You did extremely well and although I know you would have enjoyed more WoW-ers, and Bloggers exposure, I think you were right to leave while you were still ahead. Sandra was very brave but I could see she was flagging, poor girl, and not surprising in the circumstances.

It must have tired you both, but your 'kip' till 10.30am this morning will have "knitted up the ravelled sleeve ........." etc.

Sandra was correct about the veggie sausages. There were only 5 which must be due to metrication. The pack was covered in cardboard and I assumed six links. A little embarrassing really because I catered for 3 each for Sandra and Helen. We marked them accordingly because from past experience some non-veggie person thinks "Oh they look nice" and suddenly there's none left for the genuine veggies.

The title about sorting out Virgin was semi-written to elicit some response. All it referred to was our success with Virgin Media.

anonymousrob ...... You and Elaine were great ! And you did help even though I made a joke of it. And the floral basket Elaine brought was quite beautiful, and it meant alot to Y.

Glad you got to meet Bungus and Sandra at long last and he did look smart, in a jacket an 'all !

Glad to hear that the football teams did so well.

Also glad that you had such a satisfactory day at the NEC. Hahnemuhle paper always looks attractive and I mean to try it.

Worried though at your 'funny turn'. I desperately hope it wasn't a sausage from yesterday. If anyone else was affected I hope they will let me know so that, at least, I can apologise.

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The Classic Serial in Radio 4 is The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek. It is one of favourite books ever and is being read brilliantly. He always means so well but gets into incredible scrapes. Well worth a listen. Please click here to listen. When the webpage opens click next to the little loudspeaker icon.

There is a Wiki page please click and this illustration is typical Sweik

Quotation time ........

Just got to be a Shweikism.....

'And so they've killed our Ferdinand,' said the charwoman to Mr Švejk, who had left military service years before, after having been finally certified by an army medical board as an imbecile, and now lived by selling dogs — ugly, mongrel monstrosities whose pedigrees he forged.

"Sleep tight all - Catch you tomorrow"




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Friday fine - Brief Bloggette

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Picture 1 isn't a prize-winner but it does the job of showing you how the mini-salad is growing back after several harvests.

When we had cut off and used its product, mainly for garnishes but once in the latter stages of a crispy-beef stir-fry, I was reluctant to compost it. So I let it go on living on the kitchen window sill and, as I suspected, there were seeds still to germinate. My guess is that when we return from The Rhine there will be another crop to enjoy.

I had my ear (singular - right) syringed by the Practice Nurse this morning and she also reported a good harvest. Immediately I could hear better - I was sure I could detect the sea ! So I need no longer ensure that Y is to my left. We collected our Euros and I've loaded loads of spoken-word podcasts onto my MP3 player. The we packed and our luggage is within the prescribed weight limits. Perhaps I've been a little OTT in the matter of lenses but you never know what you might need ! I have my little DAB radio and plenty of reading. We are so looking forward to a complete break and doing different things.

Last night I e-mailed my contact-list with the third version of my mobile telephone number. 'Eagle eye Brian' spotted that, in error, I had included an extra digit '9'. As Bungus wittily said in reply to my e-mail "I hadn't realised it was a serial".

Comments

jill ..... Glad you enjoyed the pictures. And you would most certainly have enjoyed incy wincy's talk and pictures yesterday evening. He specialises in monochrome work and has the most natural 'eye' for a picture of anyone I know of. There was a print of some old fellas in a Spanish Café playing dominoes which Cartier-Bresson would have been proud of. That link is to Cartier-Bresson's Wiki page, please click here for a link to some of his pictures.

Thanks for 'the Cruising advice' and Y has noted it.

Can't think why my leather coat is so cosy - but it is.

bungus ...... You make a fair point about the coat and my size. 2 points - I can't button it up, and I was fairly hefty when we bought it.

Thanks for the précis of the driptrip. Could Jackson Pollock have painted a driptriptych do you think or was he too busy christening tasteless fish ?

Yesterday evening at EPS we didn't actually 'get around' to needing me to do my Picasa 3 slot. And I was relieved. I think Reg took one look at my face and realised I was suffering ! Now, if EPS could meet at say 3.30am they would catch me at my best. But as I guess I would be there all by myself, no-one would appreciate the finer points of my lecture.

Re 'carrying music around'. I don't ! The items I download onto my MP3 player are Radio 4 programmes like Melvyn Bragg's 'In our time' and Roger McGough's 'Poetry Please' , Radio 3's ' The Essay' and stuff like that. Music is mostly lost on me. MP3 players are only storage devices, they aren't exclusively for music.

"I wish I'd looked after my Teef" sounds like Pam Ayres. Is it ?

Like jill below, I need an explanation of the acronym FSMO. I won't hazard a guess because they all sounded rude.

Quotation time ................ This appeals to me...........

"What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as we open and shut our eyes ! "

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

Sounds like quite a fella. Good hour in a pub etc., .............

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I haven't done a link to The Rhine. And I'm not taking my laptop. So the next time you hear from me will probably be the 3rd November. Please feel free to exchange 'comments' via the blog, as has happened before, and it keeps the generators ticking over so to speak. But if you all need a rest too ........ etc.,

David's birthday occurs while we are away - So Happy Birthday David !!

Y at Burton Joyce - EPS this evening.

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All the pictures are from yesterday's WoW and you can see what a pretty village Alport is. Unspoilt is the word which spring to mind. It is unfortunate that people have cars but they need them there more than we do in the Eastwood/Brinsley area.

Picture 1 is mine (some more chocolate box for Bungus) but I'm relieved he doesn't necessarily use the phrase as a term of disapproval. Picture 2 is by Helen and shows me trying to capture the pretty cottage (shown yesterday) in some decent light. My leather coat is genuinely distressed and at 40+ years old is entitled to be distressed. Y has never liked it and calls it my gestapo coat. But yesterday with such a cold wind it was just what was needed. The coat repels wind and water with equal panache and is extremely comfortable to wear.

Picture 3 is again by Helen and shows Reg and Denis (incy wincy) discussing the finer points of Mill-races, weirs, and charming country bridges.

I have achieved a lot today. Carphone Warehouse were given an ultimatum. Either fix my phone so I can receive calls and all other functions, or give me my money back.

They chose the former. The girl who had originally served me had messed things up. I daren't go into detail because it becomes confusing. Basically by putting my old Sim card into my new phone meant that I retained my old number.

So I had to spend time this morning circulating to everyone who I had informed that my number had changed, that it hadn't. (see what I mean about confusing) Not straightforward because I got several 'mailer daemons' but I hope things are now sorted. I'm pleased because I really like the phone. It has a pleasantly solid and well-made feel.

Another, more pleasant task has been to install my recently arrived Photoshop Elements 7 on the Office PC. A genuinely user-friendly piece of software more suited to my needs and abilities (sounds like the Communist Manifesto dunnit?) than the full grown-up version ! And it installed in a straightforward and intuitive manner which should save me from becoming a 'Reg-botherer' again.

I decided on an early blog because it's doubtful that I shall feel up to it when return from Eastwood. A 'volunteers evening' is planned and I have offered to 'do' something about Picasa, Picasa Web Albums, and Blogs, if anyone is interested. My guess is they will all want to concentrate on Photoshop anyway - their choice isn't it ?

Denis (incy wincy) has offered to bring prints and talk about them till tea-break. I've asked him to be sure to bring the infra-red 'dunes and life-belt stand' picture because I am keen to see the actual mounted print rather than a digital image on a computer screen. Reg sounded a little worried that not enough people would bring things - but I feel sure that it will be like an adaptation of the 'Peter Principle' i.e. that 'work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion'.

The other reason for an early blog is because neither of us has started packing yet. I also need to download some 'podcasts' etc., onto my MP3 player and DAB radio so I have to hand something to listen to. From National Service days I remember that Deutsche Welle was a bit heavy going (but now, having found a link, the script is in English). I don't expect the radio will be though. Nordwest Deutsche Rundfunk was easier on the ear but, having found a link, I note that it closed down in 1955 !

Comments

bungus ...... Interesting about Jessica's homework. Is the 'cupboard' referred to, the 'naughty cupboard' ?

The grandchildren never cease to amaze. Millicent, speaking on the phone with great confidence, told me a few minutes ago that Grandma isn't very good at the card game 'pairs'. (The cards are dealt face down, randomly, on the floor) You can turn one over but then if it doesn't match, you have to replace it face-down and try to remember where it is. If you get 2 matching, you pick them up and score 1 point. At 3yrs, Millicent beats Y every time, and genuinely, because Y doesn't 'let her win' - there's no need to.

Re 'energy saving'. And there's me thinking that plug-ins are software extensions to Firefox and similar open-source programmes.

Re chip-cobs. There were, under the mountain of first-class chips, rather nice wholemeal seeded cobs.

Re Ann's picture. I may be 'unkind to seal pips' - I don't know because I've never eaten any. Don't they get stuck behind your teeth ?

Re 'taste-less fish'. If all there was to eat was some obscure, easily farmed fish, that didn't have any flavour, I would join Helen and Sandra and become vegetarian. I wouldn't go as far as 'no animal products' because I would be happy to get my protein intake via the cheese-board.

Like you I can sleep almost anywhere - when I can sleep at all, that is. As soon as we are back from the Rhine, I aim to tackle the cake-recipes.

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A conversation yesterday about English weather brought to mind a J. B. Priestley quote but I'm damned if I can find it. It was to do with putting his hand on the wood of his desk and knowing the tree had experienced March winds, snowy Februaries and the July sun....... Ah well ! This one will have to do ..............

“If there is one thing left that I would like to do, it's to write something really beautiful. And I could do it, you know. I could still do it.”

Addicted to Priestley's essays before moving onto the novels, I had a good grounding. And I consider 'An Inspector Calls' perhaps the most powerful play of the 2oth Century. He was responsible I think for my early lurch to the left, from which I have never straightened. There is a connection to the currently popular "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher" by Kate Summerscale.

Might catch you later - Might not !

Quiet Friday - Start Weekend Off

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I will come to the pictures in due course, because I must first mention last night's EPS club night. In the programme, a digital skills evening was scheduled. And it was, but almost exclusively a 'photoshop skills evening'. Hardly anyone was interested in Picasa, or producing a blog. I had taken my Vodafone dongle, which connected me with the internet, but only Roy had any real interest. Jim, bless him was interested in what I was doing but unfortunately he himself isn't on the internet.

People's photoshop interests lie in things like making skies more dramatic, brightening individual buildings, cloning things from one picture to another and the like; all of which are anathema to me. To me the results are faked pictures which fall ignominiously into a dust-bin between Photography and Art. I can understand someone 'cloning out' an ex-partner from a treasured picture (as I know Brian was sometimes asked to do when acting professionally).

I saw nothing to compare with Incy Wincy's 'farmer ploughing with oxen' which I had the honour of publishing a few days ago. In that picture the sky was completely blank, which concentrated one's attention on the important passages of the picture. Plus of course, AnonymousRob's cyanotype, brilliant pin-hole 'bowl'. And many of Reg's, Brian's, and Roy's pictures which are all about 'seeing a good picture' and grabbing it.

And OK, I do it myself. But only in a 'graphics way' as above (to show a book followed by 2 open pages for example) and I'm not setting out to win a competition anyway.

Rant over ! People must do what pleases them most, in the residual freedom we enjoy in this country.

In passing, here is a link to the updated Picasa 3 which has many useful improvements and innovations. At long last there is a 'retouch' tool for removing many blemishes. Also a 'text' tool to write text on pictures, and it's range of fonts outstrips Photoshop.

Picture 1 is my old lappy with Y's sleek new Toshiba at it's side. Sorry about the aging banana in between. I didn't notice it. I suppose I could clone it out....................... !!

Picture 2 is all about this gorgeous book on the left which I was fortunately enough to find in the second-hand book shop at Canons Ashby at the extortionate price of £2 for a leather bound, hand-press printed (you can see the slightly raised indentations on the reverse of each sheet), first edition of a collection of quotations selected by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Wow--eeee ! What a find. And lovely content too.

Comments

incy wincy ...... As Rob says, and as I know - with your gift for understatement, I think we can all assume that the 'wedding snaps' are little short of brilliant. And considering what awful conditions you had to contend with. At least they wont all have their eyes squinting against the fierce sun !

You are right about pub food and the microwave. I know I distrust these £3.50 'Carveries' which have blossomed, but at least they would have difficulty microwaving a turkey. But on the other hand...................... !

Like you, the mysteries of high finance elude me. I don't like 'stocks and shares' and my 'few quid' is in National Savings Bonds. But no doubt a way will be found to cause me concern too.

AnonymousRob ....... You too are quite right about pubs, but I agree with Bungus's point about the silly 'no smoking' ban...... Like you, we find little pleasure in eating inferior food out when we can eat better at home. There are exceptions and the Restaurant at Clumber is now good.

Pleased you are not neglecting your 'sports desk' responsibilities.

Thanks for your holiday activities and events info. and we are all looking forward to the pictures, - here's hoping you continue to avoid suicidal motorists.

Bungus ........... Thanks for the blow-by-blow account of your scan but sorry it was so horrendous.

But your 'odds & ends' haul sounds magnificent.

I've noticed the pasta of which you speak in Lidl and now, on your recommendation, intend to try it.

You ask if Canons Ashby is to do with the poet Dryden. I would have thought that, when I wrote in Tuesday's blog ...."The house is the ancestral home of the poet Dryden"...... it would have given you a clue !

Thanks for your thoughts about the alcoves. I should have persuaded Y to stand next to them. They were perhaps just under 5' and a small person could well have sheltered from the weather, whilst eating the vittals provided. The brickwork stuff was most interesting too.

4 ticks ....... I will certainly send you Bungus's 'spiced gooseberry' recipe.

We had 2 gooseberry bushes but, in the end, uprooted them because of the pain involved in picking the fruit !

I must speak up in support of Reg. .... Cotmanhay, Awsworth, Ilkeston, Heanor - what the hell? He found it in the end. I can get lost going to Ashbourne (my home town).

Glad you are still enjoying the basil. I will root you another to take over when that one gets past it.

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Quotation time ....... From my Hand-Book of Proverbs again.... I can speak to the truth of this, having been married to one such.....

"A woman that loves to be at the window, is like a bunch of grapes on the highway"

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p.s. I'm loving all these 'comments' ..... Please keep them coming.....

Sleep tight and I'll catch you tomorrow




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