Took stuff to 'tip' - 59F - 3mph Southerly

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Last night's moon was an almost perfect 'half moon' and was easy enough to photograph because it was a clear night. I didn't sleep too well though but I found plenty to do.

I was 'up and running' around 5.30am and messing about in the garden, sorting out bird-feeders and herb beds, potting-up Basil plants etc... The morning was so beautiful and the temperature warm enough to enjoy it.

When I went into the garage I could see what a lot of work Yvonne did yesterday. It really looks dramatically better and the amount of removed clutter makes a real difference.

So, this morning after breakfast our first job was to transport most of 'said clutter' to the Council Tip at Kimberley. It was suprisingly busy with people being good citizens. We know that most of it won't ever reach 'landfill' because someone will give a perfectly adequate dining table a good home for instance. But all to the good. We had previously rung the Council and had been quoted a price of £20 to remove three items ! If there were to be more, an Inspector would call and give an estimate (i.e. more than £20). We took many more than three items and nowwe have that warm feeling you get when you save yourself money.

From Lidl we buy this creamy Greek Yoghurt.

First class stuff, but what amuses us is the tub it comes in. Please see below.

It looks as if one has bought a container of Emulsion from B & Q to decorate the walls with doesn't it?

Not having a 50p piece to hand, to put by the side of it for scale, I thought you wouldn't mind if I used 2 x 20p and a 10p !

The afternoon play was The Admirable Crichton by JM Barrie. Nice adaptation and well acted. And the full hour which I prefer to the 45 minute plays we often get.



My responses to previous comments

Bob ..... Sorry the Civic gave you back-ache on the way back from Norfolk. For general use, which on occasion included some distance, Yvonne and I did indeed find it a comfortable car. In my case especially so - except for getting in and out of it.

I really am pleased and relieved to learn that your endoscopy revealed a satisfactory result.

The Yaris is several years old I'm afraid. I suppose I meant 'new' to us. Even with the Govt's £2,000 off the price would have been too much. I can always spend the residue on important things like camera lenses and taking my lady on holiday.

Carol Ann Duffy's work will inevitably come more under public scrutiny and I feel sure, knowing a little about your literary tastes, that you will approve.

Jill .... Please see above re the Yaris's age ! Not new I'm afraid, £2,000 or not.

I'm glad you too approve of Carol Ann Duffy - the press this morning, like Kirsty Walk, seem determined to dwell on what they see as negative aspects. She is undoubtedly a poet of the first-division. I suppose for a correct analogy I should say 'Premier Division'.

The collage on the left shows you what typical fixed position DAB radios look like. You can of course unplug them and plug them in somewhere else. Some will run on batteries, but they are quite heavy on batteries.

Tomorrow I'll show you some portables

Most makers produce good sets but I would avoid the bargain-basement end of the market. Curry's, Staples, John Lewis etc. would be reliable sources.

All are manually tune-able and the pre-sets are easy to do. Mine only has 5 pre-sets whil I think Y's has 10. I don't listen to 10 radio stations anyway !

'Roxy Jezabel' does have a certain ring to it. Like our Sky and Brooke - whatever their names you just love them don't you ?

Yvonne ...... As mentioned above - Well done with that Garage. No wonder you had a lie-down this afternoon. You deserved it.

Fancy my worrying you with Basil Rooting's sherry glass. If I was going to slide, it would be a brandy & soda. But best not 'eh?

jbw ..... You are right about Whittards, in Nottingham at least. We use the one opposite Waterstones. There is a particular brand of coffee, high roast, shiny black beans which we can only obtain there. Initially it seems expensive but, in the brew I favour, I only need 4 rounded tea-spoons as against 6 of a cheaper brand.

The points card sounds interesting. Next time we go in we will investigate.

Interesting too that you get a special bargain at McArthur Glen.

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

Quotation time .......

"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind"

Aristotle

Full Friday Morning - Quiet Afternoon - 47F - S wind

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One of the EPS Competitions scheduled for next year, or my subject-out-of- the- hat is 'Night'. I can't remember which and it doesn't matter in this context.

Knowing my propensity for nocturnal activity you wont be surprised that I decided to have 'a go' in the early hours. I simply put my old Casio on a tripod and let it do its own thing. At a guess the exposure was around 20 seconds.

To me it doesn't look bad. The light-sources between the trees and the bungalows are both street-lights I'm afraid. Nothing so romantic as the moon.

Talking of 'street lights' - my picture out of the office window of 'Snow under Streetlight' was placed first in the monthly open competition on Thursday and my 'Mint Sauce Jug' collage came third in the 'Repetition' category. Y said "Bet you are sorry you didn't go ?" but I'm not. I'm not keen on Judges even when they select my pictures.

This morning we nipped over to Arnold, firstly to deliver something to our Accountant, and second to visit the big Sainsbury's to get Vegemite. Haven't been successful elsewhere. The store in question has recently been given a make-over and extended.....

Now, it is most attractive - you could spend days in there. Very well stocked and good wide aisles. And shelves-full of Vegemite. The Forsythia illustrated was just opposite the Accountants, but it is all over the place and at its best at the moment. And it looks OK even when the flowers have fallen - the foliage is such an attractive green.

For main meal we had fresh salmon fillets lightly brushed with olive oil and grilled. Accompanied by new potatoes, and purple-sprouting broccoli. A little garnish of our own fresh parsley and I did small amount of white sauce for me, Y is not a lover. For pudding I twisted her arm to do jelly and ice-cream.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ..... We both like tulips. Of all shapes ..... A long time ago a favourite was a May flowering variety called Clara Butt, unfortunately long gone. Y is keen on them in a vase when they begin to droop - 'artistically'.

I'm sorry the word limit prevented a full description of your bus journey. But, at the risk of being tedious, could I say that such a description is not really a 'comment' on my blog but a possible post in your own. Perhaps 'Twitter' would be the answer to your 'blogging' aspirations. Twitter gains in popularity at a phenomenal rate. Here is a link please click here and, if you set up an account, I would immediate offer myself as your first 'friend'.

Jill ..... In ordinary light the apparently 'salmon pink' daff is not such an interesting colour. I was crouched down, so far as I am able, and the light was being reflected from elsewhere I think. I'll take another so you can see it in a truer colour. Sorry to sound a disappointing note.

Reg's 'panoramas' are always good. If I can persuade him to send me one he did ages ago, of a woodland scene, I will be happy to publish it. Brian S had a print of it hanging in his shop for ages.

Very interested in your old camera that captured wide-angle shots. Can you remember anything more about it please?

Reg ..... I suppose that, whenever one sees a viaduct like that, it implies either rail, or occasionally canal. With a 'road' they would make you go steeply down one side, across the bridge, and then up again the other side. I'd never thought it through before.

Pete .... Please see above, my remarks to Jill about the 'pink' daff. My fault I think, not the daff's.

Thanks also for the link to the Telegraph picture. I had actually seen it before during my research into 'pinhole' photography. As Brian S says, a 6 month exposure is of 'interest' but hardly an attractive photograph.

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

Quotation time ..... I've probably published this before but it is so, so true. My working life seemed beset by people 'pinching' ideas and not accrediting them....

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit"

Harry S Truman

Tomorrow morning we are going over to Long Eaton around coffee-time and it will be lovely to see everyone. I must remember this time to copy some of Sky's poetry onto a memory stick, so I can enjoy it at leisure.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"


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33F - Treacherous - Wind dropped

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The above picture, out of the office window yesterday evening, was with the Casio on a tripod. I would estimate the exposure time as 8 seconds and the available light came from a street lamp off-stage right. The result was far too orange due to the sodium street lighting but Photoshop Elements adjust white-balance made short shrift of the problem. Jill will enjoy the snap as it is almost sepia. Another plus is that my 'out of the hat' topic at the Camera Club for the forthcoming year is 'night'.

The snow in Jill's part of the world, Chiswick, made it onto the front page of today's Daily Mail.

I have no reason to believe that the lady (in the middle of the picture wielding the broom) is Jill. In fact, from her e-mails and 'comments' I think she and Ro wisely decided to stay indoors.

This evening should have been our monthly National Trust meeting in Mansfield Library but a very sensible decision to cancel was reached. Y and I were very relieved because we would have had to have gone, raffle, minutes to distribute etc., but we would have had our 'hearts in our mouths' because the higher reaches of the A60 between Shoulder of Mutton Hill and Mansfield can be dodgy. Also, even if we had gone in reasonable conditions there could have been a deep snowfall to greet our return.

Y and I have had a relaxing day - reading, radio, telly, lies-down etc. I made a shaky start on the Crossword and Y has finished it. A relief because we both thought that, either the clues were getting harder or, more likely, our cryptic brains were going off.

I've had a annoyance. In my book about PS Elements the author keeps referring to the 'Basic' tab - and I can't find it, or work out what she is talking about.

Kevin dropped by with a book about the Police at Stapleford which I shall enjoy reading. It looks to be my era.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob..... Welcome back !

Re coincidence Corner..... I think what you were describing here is what I call 'synchronicity'.

"Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events which occur in a meaningful manner, but which are causally unrelated."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity

Often confused with the post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this therefore because of this) fallacy is based upon the mistaken notion that simply because one thing happens after another, the first event was a cause of the second event. Post hoc reasoning is the basis for many superstitions and erroneous beliefs.

I won't go on - honest ................

Nice to hear from the Sports Desk.

Jill ..... Again, I've made a collage of a selection of your pictures.

I think that sticking a ruler upright in the snow is a graphic and unarguable way of showing its depth. Much more effective than a 50p piece.

I'm pleased we finally get to see the 'iced greyhound' (bottom left corner) sorry for confusing him with the bird bath.

You garden and the trees look really beautiful. Tell your Fox that, should he/she appear, publication on the internet is guaranteed.

I hope your Solicitor was helpful and encouraging. My money is still on you rather than the Council. My bet is that eventually they will fold and settle - that seems to be what normally happens.

Rob ..... Thanks for trying with Reg's watersplash. Y's pal Joan doesn't know either and our National Trust meeting this evening has been cancelled, so I can't ask there.

I too remember the Marx Brothers 'horn blowing' scene but I can't find it on YouTube.

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

Quotation time .......

"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom. But they do"

Goethe

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

We are hoping to WoW - but all depending on the weather. Nobody wants to take risks on icy roads but it would be nice to get out. Helen has finished her 'Marking' and would welcome a little fresh air and a change.

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

Weekend Off - Y's hair - Shopping

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Perhaps the best way to persuade a doubting-bungus of the melon-like characteristics of the full moon is to publish this explanatory panorama. Isn't retirement and messing-about good fun ?......... Can't wait for you to join us Rob. This 'going to work', especially when you don't like the job, is a right pain.

Y had her hair done in Eastwood this morning and has arranged, in future, to have her nails done there too. My fingers always want to type 'furute'. So, if I say I am looking into the furute and I don't spot it, please don't be confused. There's enough of us about already !

Picture 2 is entitled 'Peter Pan plays in RG's new shower' and I used it for the first time this morning. Super job by Ian who did it, at estimate price, and quickly and efficiently and arranged for the 'tiler' who was similar. My Sigma 10-20mm has distorted it somewhat but it is a 'record' and conveys the idea.

My somewhat hopeless notion was, with my powerful hand lantern, to illuminate the interior without using flash. I didn't realise motion would be frozen to quite this extent. There ya go sunshine !

After 'hair' we shopped at Lidl, followed by Morrisons and intended to sample their recommended coffee but the timing was all wrong so we came home and had our customary Friday lunch of Fish, Chips and Peas even though, by then, it was 2.10pm.

Several fairly happy computer jobs, on all three devices. Y's Vista is into energy conservation and takes it upon itself to shut down if you leave it on unattended for long. I've fixed that and it now stays on, happily showing Y's pictures as a screen-saver, until she decides to shut down.

There are glitches with Picasa 3, but all surmountable, and the programme is after all still in 'beta' (meaning it's still being developed) but that's true for most Google programmes anyway. There has been nice coverage of the Queen's visit and she had a laugh at the v.popular YouTube page about the laughing baby. The Google Search page for the day was brilliant.

Please see picture above right. I did a screen-print and saved it.

Good for Queenie for going and good for Google for getting it just right.

Comments

incy wincy ........ You did miss a good day. I'm sorry you weren't with us to point out your lead work. There is a certain magic in having an artist show one his/her work and discuss its features. And along with William Morris and Ruskin I do consider that craftsmanship of that order merits the classification 'Art'.

Wollaton Hall will repay a further visit anyway, in better weather and in better light. The building is an undervalued gem in my opinion.

I now we are running out of time before you are costa-bound. But hope to see you next Wednesday because Y and I are then on holiday and a couple of days after we get back you are off.

bungus ..... I like the 'distraction' joke and I really must try Morrison's coffee.

I was confused by the "30 to 40 sq inch sheet" thinking you meant "40 inches square". To paraphrase Churchill I thought - "Some pig and some cheek !"

The figure in the 'arch picture' is Helen ! Either my prose is becoming obscure or you didn't read it properly. It doesn't really matter which.

See the lead picture for a better explanation of the Melon/Moon imbroglio.

anonymousrob ...... I don't think I have ever met anyone with an NVQ in plastic pipe assembly. Impressive or what ?

Thanks for the note about the Exhibtion at the - Djanogoly Art Gallery - I think Reg mentioned it on Wednesday. Sounds well worth a visit. Perhaps this coming Wednesday if the weather is still bad.

Fancy Colin Gibson having an FRPS - as Erewash Valley has it "ood a thowt it ?"

p.s. I think I'm confusing him with David Gibson aren't I ?

Pepperoni prepared like parma ham and 'fatty' doesn't sound good. I've always thought of pepperoni as sliced discs from a long sausage with a diameter of maybe just over an inch. But I haven't researched it.

Thanks for the brief piece from the 'Sports Desk' and I think, as blogmeister, it will be best to leave the Astronomy Desk unmanned/unwomanned.

They'd only spend their days gazing out of the window anway, hoping for a glimpse of heaven and completely ignoring Jill when she walks past......

Lovely, witty last sentence. I'll try not to make a 'fool' of myself !

Quotation time ................Nice one Gore !

"Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either"

Gore Vidal

I think Jill returned today. Hope you had a good time Jill. Talk us all through it, and pictures would be nice.

Sleep tight all. ...... .Hope to catch you tomrrow


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Keen frost - Lovely day - Ankles improving

Up in the night and couldn't waste the time hence this Moon with my 300mm Tamron. Venus was there too, sort of 'off-stage left' but was obviously not emitting sufficient light to register on my Nikon's sensor. Re Venus - I speak without any astronomical knowledge at all but was once told that any prominent star low in the western sky will be Venus.

I would be delighted to defer to any reader who actually knows !

Although I didn't sleep well Y did, which in many ways is better. I'm used to it but she likes a decent kip.

Today has been a hoot. I decided to cook Moussaka, from my original Delia compendium, and it failed dismally. The topping didn't rise, or cook enough in the time given, the aubergines had soaked up far too much olive oil etc........ It actually made me sick (as in vomit rather than cross) but, rushing to Delia's defence I didn't use the correct ingredients (mince-wise) and busked it, with tinned steak-in-gravy. The result was the devil's reward for my banging on too much about Delia's god-like qualities. Pleasingly though, in yesterday's Telegraph she was quoted as saying "I don't do organic. My aim is to produce easy nutritional meals that people can afford". Been my point for years Delia.

So much for my return to the 'galley'. Should have left Y in charge. BTW Ionce witnessed a fierce argument in a Police Canteen as to whether it was 'mousse-ar-ka' or 'mousse-acka' (claimed correct by someone who had been to Greece).

Picture 2 is courtesy of AnonymousRob and shows some of the 120yr old bricks in his house.

n.b.. even Bungus will be hard-pressed to read that as the 120, year-old bricks, but he might.

In any-case we would like to hear from him, wearing his architect's hat, on the bricks, and the laying-style which looks odd to my untrained eye.

Rob was right to persuade one brick to hold the customary 50p in its teeth, for scale, because they look bigger than modern bricks?

Comments.....Thanks AnonymousReg for the Historic Mansfield information. And your (still in use) fretsaw made in school metalwork impresses. In Woodwork ( it took me two terms) I made a hand held dibber for planting cabbage plants. It looked like this but made of wood. The idea was too teach us the joint (whose name escapes me) where the bottom piece fits snugly in the top. Wish I could say I was still using it. My Dad loyally used it for half a season whereupon it fell apart! I've always said my forte was 'chucking people out of pubs' nothing too technical.

Bungus..... The chocolate chat lead me to a 'blog-search' often so revealing, and I came across this ChocoBlog which seems fun because the blogger talks about Lidl and the 'Ecuador' choc which is my personal favourite. Internet rumour has it that the makers 'J.D.Gross' is a special name for a chocolate range made by a famous chocolate firm specifically for Lidl. I wonder who? In any-case they are doing a fine job.

As you know, I agree with you absolutely about work. We all did it honestly and reliably but now have tasted (or even supertasted) the alternative I would give up many things before contemplating work. There is so much to do and to learn - it isn't about achievement it's about self-fulfilment. Please join us Rob, as soon as you can!

AnonymousRob..... Helen will be thrilled with your thumbs up. And there are other Reg pictures I'm sure - ha ha! Apart from his beautiful woodland panorama - what about his 'brasso tin in the window' for instance?

Best of luck to Elaine with your assembled journeymen tomorrow. And re your being in Nottingham nick tomorrow - I'm sure we can arrange bail !!

Quotations - both appropriate to current 'comments' .......

"He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little"

and

"It is when I labour to be brief that I become obscure"

Horace... c 55 BC

The winter-bug seems to have returned to Burton Joyce - although Steven is a little better, Hannah is poorly, Miles is subsiding, and Millicent is grouchy.

Had a lovely chat to David this morning and they are fine. Brooke has her 'head teacher's award on the mantlepiece and has the confidence to draw it to people's attention. Her Dad describes her as 'quietly confident' which is a definite 'hurrah quality' I think. Y also spoke to Debra and touch wood, no repeat of Ruby's tantrum.

n.b. Reg suggests, and I agree, a permanent note on the blog, pointing out that photos remain in the copyright of the author.

I can make it appear somewhere in the header/footer but it will involve HTML work in the template which I don't mind - but it involves care. Other than that I will simply copy/paste the above on a daily basis.


.... I thought the 'shutting the shop' smiley was due for an airing, but I, along with thousands of others, really miss good old Smiley Xtra4. Nice to see the smiley included in your e-mail Rob. Googlemail doesn't like one to do that - you can, but it's quite a tedious procedure involving far too many clicks. Sleep tight folks - and hope to catch you tomorrow.

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Hardwick Inn - NT Cmmttee - Lakeside Walk

Apart from being awake half the night, hence Picture 1, I managed a few hours. It doesn't worry me anyway and I make pots of tea, write e-mails explore the delights of Stumbleupon, browse arty/photo websites, listen to the radio etc., etc....... My advice is, if you are a busy person with lots to do do not open that link. Stumbling is so addictive - but often extremely productive of fertile new ideas and websites. You have been warned.

I wanted the waning Moon and Venus in the same frame but she persisted in hiding the other side of the right hand conifer.

It was a Karen day so we set off for Mansfield in plenty of time. Certainly the end of an era because Joan, Peggy and Connie are standing down at the AGM after many, many years of loyal and productive service. It was a good and constructive committee meeting - there were disagreements but nobody took offence.

After the meeting we drove over to The Hardwick Inn and had a super carvery lunch. No complaints today, and the clean plates spoke for themselves. Connie and Peggy were in our car and after lunch the ladies decided that a health giving walk round the lake was called for and that I could be left in a photogenic spot.

Pictures 2 and 3 were nearby and Picture 3 is included solely to prove that I haven't faked Picture 2. I set my tripod to the right height and effectively poked my lens through the hole in the piece of sculpture shown. I shall call it - "I love Hardwick'. Twee or what? Perhaps AnonymousRob could create a 'urinotype' from it. From a great height probably.

The ladies were all elegantly dressed in business clothes with appropriate footwear, and it was muddy round the lake. But they reached the correct decision that it didn't matter and to 'go for it' !

Then it was home to a pot of tea, the crossword, mess-about with pictures and finally the blog.

Comments..... AnonymousRob. Nice of you to point up the sometimes 'didactic' nature of the blog. It is definitely two way as far as I'm concerned. We all learn from each-other because we have all reached a stage in life where we have something to impart. And the occasional, and very welcome, contribution from younger people keeps us in touch with the real world. You and Dennis have done extremely well to win exhibition-space in Angel Row Library - it's Nottingham's equivalent to The Hayward on the South Bank !

Bungus...... So sorry you missed your hospital appointment and I'm glad the garage replaced the dodgy battery without any hassle. Misread the print, and thought you said Sandra had become a Luddite. I'd visions of her going on a hospital equipment wrecking rampage. Quite disappointed to discover that she had merely fallen under the spell of Lidl.

Re Delia. I've been using Marigold Bouillon since first time round, and also the delightfully grainy Maldon Sea Salt which is so flavourful.

Loved your Wellow stories.

Jill......Don't know what has been happening to your 'comments' - we can't blame the rain again, or can we? Our weather has been spring-like but Chiswick might have been different. Re Rob's fishcake recipe query. You have told us the ingredients but he no doubt would like to know (as I would) the quantities because the ratio of one t'other sounds crucial. But, if you do as I do, and merely eye-ball it, we shall all just have to experiment. To Bungus's horror Delia would prolly have us use Auntie Bessies ready prepared 'mash'.

Quotation time..... Another must for camera-club judges:-

"Criticism is prejudice made plausible"

H. L. Mencken

........Tomorrow we plan an expedition to the Nottingham Eye and hopefully a trip thereon. But it is half-term and it may be far too busy. Y and I want to go to John Lewis anway to look at new tellies and dishwashers and I'm sure a pleasant day will be had by all. Sleep tight......

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Nearly 'back' to normal. Pictures again.

Just happened to be up and around at 3.30am, making a pot of tea on my bedroom tray, and there was the moon, over Brynsmoor Road. So thinking "I can't do another day's blog without fresh pictures" - put my camera on a tripod pointed it out of the window and let it do its best.

Thirteen seconds at f10 (I know, photographers - don't ask) and I've done nothing to the result except crop it. A copper-bottomed 'record shot' because it captures just how it was.

Picture 2 might not be very good but it is, at last, a wren. Such furtive little creatures and I thought that, before I get my camera he/she will be gone. But I was lucky - I've been trying to capture a wren-picture for my collection for ages and here we are. For me it's nearly the equivalent of a Yeti.

I'm also pleased to report that we have sparrows, blue tits, great tits, and the goldfinches paid us a visit this morning. Plus the inevitable blackbirds and a robin - also the woodpieons, and ring-doves. Fortunately we seem light on magpies so far, and I assume the starlings have gone for their winter peregrinations.

Back/legs-wise I am nearly back to normal and we are looking forward to Peter and Joan's visit tomorrow. Then next week we shall be busy - National Trust stuff mostly, including our Mansfield Centre's Christmas trip to Rockingham. I'll provide a link later.

Comments...I've sorted out by e-mail exhange with Bungus, Sandra's position re back attacks. I know how stoical she is but, as Jill also comments, expert 'advice' by non-sufferers is at best useless and can sometimes be counter-productive.

Couldn't agree more about 'un-nice' people who achieve high office or great wealth by trampling on others. And we must put EuroStar to Paris on our TBD list, perhaps in the new year. To see the refurbished St.Pancras, the train trip, those galleries (if we can only do one I prefer the Musée d'Orsay to the Louvre. ) Having said that, if you open the links, The Louvre's website is enchanting.

Thank you Jill for your comments, about my kind remarks, about your comments etc...... Ha Ha!

Nor being a footie-fan AnonymousRob I really can't comment on Shearer. When I told Y what you had said she was surprised and keeps muttering Chelsea and Mourinho. And then she says 'Phwoooor' or something. I am at a loss to explain these obviously expert views.

Quotation for the Day - Courtesy of Bungus

"Doctor, I can't pronounce my F's, T's and H's"
"Well you can't say farer than that then"

Tommy Cooper

Comic genius he may have heen, but from his wiki-page he doesn't sound a very nice man.

Good to be more or less back to normal and I'll catch you tomorrow. After our lunch out. Sleep tight folks.

'Flu jabs - Knitted Dolls - Stir fry

Continuing with my 'photos of the media' I chanced on this page, referred to by both Jill and Bungus. Jill knows the author of the dolls and Bungus saw her on the Graham Norton show. I rarely watch his show but I enjoy him and Ruby Wax as 'agony aunts' in the Telegraph Weekend Review.

To segue back to the point - I think the dolls are really good fun and I particularly like the 'Elvis'. As I didn't see the show could one of you give me some idea of the dolls' sizes. As usual the camera-man omitted to get one of them to hold a 50p piece in its teeth.

I decided that, as I don't usually suffer adverse effects, I would have my 'flu jab this morning as planned and I left poor Y still with her temperature. As this is now a TT establishment I had to prevail upon her to have a whisky & water for medicinal purposes - and it seems to have done her good. A small portion of stir-fry at lunchtime and then back to bed. I've just messed-about, which I am so good at.

She had booked us in at The Four Bells at Woodborough for my birthday lunch but I was not happy about her going, and my legs aren't good either - not painful but useless. So I rang up and cancelled. The landlady was genuinely grateful that I had, "So many people just don't turn up" she said. Whatever happened to polite practice?

Getting back to my 'painkiller patches', the pharmacy delivered further supplies yesterday and I had to sign for them. Prominent on the plain packet was a CD sticker. I thought the chemist was sending me some entertainment until I realised it stood for Controlled Drug. Ho hum, as Ray says.

Picture 2 is what remains of an enormous bag of green tomatoes Reg brought us. They must just love the window-sill they live on because they are turning red at a steady rate. Sufficient for me to have one at breakfast time (cut into 6 segments and a liberal dusting of salt) and one later in a salad. If they continue to ripen like this, making green-tomato chutney will be merely hypothetical. And they are a lovely tasting tomato too - Moneymaker, at a guess?

"Strictly come......." was good again. Y voted for Anton and I voted for John Barnes (he's going to need the votes) but it was touch and go whether I voted for Gabby instead. And although Dominic remains a bit of a twerp (Jill's words not mine) his performance tonight was plucky and quite reasonable. But, although I don't really like him much, I have to admit that Matt and Flavia are looking like potential winners.

Hannah and Y had a good text-chat on Google Chat which is a sort of instant e-mail to and fro conversation facility, and Hannah is aiming to do more 'blog' over the weekend.

Quote for the day:-

"Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune."

Kin Hubbard

We musical 'hayseeds' have much sympathy with this view.

If you are reading this before going to bed please remember to put your clocks back and enjoy your extra hour in bed in the morning. In my case it will prolly mean waking at 2.30am instead of 3.30am when, notwithstanding (such a dignified word) I shall enjoy my pot of tea.

Have a nice Sunday. Out of my office window I can see the tree branches illuminated by the street-lights, there is a South wind blowing at 18mph and every so often flocks of pretty leaves come off. Sleep tight and I'll catch you tomorrow.

More heavy rain - 65F - Y grannying

Sometimes it is difficult to take old adages seriously - "red sky at night, shepherds delight........." etc..

Picture 1 was the sky last night and yet today it has rained incessantly. Perhaps it has to be completely red.

Y is on another granny duty, in Palmers Green and I took her to the tram around 9.30am. She returns on Monday morning and we have things to do next week. But Y likes to be busy, and she so loves the grandchildren. This weekend we are sort of splitting them because I am going over to Long Eaton in the morning to spend some time with Sky and Brooke. It will be nice to see David and Helen of course, and I aim to arrive for coffee. I spoke to Steven mid afternoon and he didn't feel very good today. 'Asthmaticky' - he described it, and he sounded very hoarse and rather breathless. He was setting off soon after my call to see the Doctor. That's the family paragraph folks.

Vic and Lynn's burglar alarm went off around 4am, so I was prowlin' around in my dressing-gown. Y slept through it. Their friends have the key but we didn't ring them till 7.30am, and they have now been and reset it. Here's hoping it doesn't go off at 4am again tonight. I think the problem is that, apart from us, no-one ever sets their alarm when they are in residence, so any fault only becomes apparent when they are away !

Picture 2 is some 'sour cherry' juice from Lidl and I can strongly recommend it. Not a hint of artificial sweetener and very pleasant.

Every-so-often an unusual 'comment' appears on the blog and yesterday 'imigrante' from Brasil sent me his 'rock and roll' blog which, if I was keen on music, would be nice because there are loads of downloadable things on it. My McAfee SiteAdvisor
pronounced it virus-free so I wasn't at all unhappy.

I have made the above a live-link because the programme is free, and checks anything that you are thinking of opening, before you do so. It is much recommended. If you google something for instance and are provided with a results list, McAfee will put a green tick at the side of the clean sites, an amber question mark if it is in doubt, and a red cross if the site is virus-laden. I personally wouldn't feel I was surfing safely without it.

Just a point for new readers. You are not restricted to the current month, i.e. July. If you wanted to refer to something earlier, click on the appropriate month in the list on the left, under Blog Archive.

This quote picks up on Bungus's point of a few days ago, about sesame oil for Chinese, fenugreek for Indian :-

"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good".

Alice May Brock

With that I will wish you a very good evening - and hope to catch you tomorrow.

Quick sortie to Arnold - 13C - Less wind

After all that lead up - here is the full moon from my bedroom window around 4.20am, looking SouthWest.

I know it's abit fuzzy but what do you expect. Usually around that time I'm awake and making tea and things so it wasn't a particular effort on my part. Once we've been through all the phases and discovered the correct names I intend to delete that add-on and substitute something a little mor exciting. Suggestions please from Google Homepage people.

Re: The Queen Mary 2. I thought they were ahead timewise, but Bungus makes a good point and they may be behind. A crucial point which we weren't told was where they were sailing from - to Florida. Anyway. Thanks Anon1 for telling us they have now docked. And I missed it. I've looked at the WebCam today and aren't they high up?

The smileys are from Smiley Xtra and that is the link to their homepage. It seems that you need to be using Firefox because it is one of their add-ons. Just in case you don't use Firefox I've linked that too. It's a super browser and I wouldn't dream of going back to IE6/7

We decided on a quick trip to Arnold again. to shop at Sainsburys and have a look at the shops in general.

So it would have been rude not to call at Joan's for coffee. Picture 2 is a bit of Joan's conservatory and her elbow is left in to add human interest. She is a great believer in using available space - every corner of it. If one offers her something gardenwise she always says "I'll find room for it somewhere"

Then to Arnold shops and finally to the supermarket and then home for a late lunch. Cornbeef sandwiches with very fresh and crusty Tiger bread, plus of course, the statutory Branston. Jacket potato and salad this evening ! Ho hum! as Ray says

My Camera Club 'subject' for the coming year, you pick one out of a hat, is 'Pairs'. Not easy but it did make me think. Why are underpants, a singular garment surely, called a 'pair' - while a bra, definitely a plural garment if ever I saw one, is in the singular ? This lateral thinking can be a real timewaster sometimes.

For Anon 1's children.....and this, if they like bananas

Burton Joyce - Camera Club

Two pictures, not really faked, but in No.1 the moon was hopelessly over-exposed, to get any detail at all into the sky.

Then I took another and deliberately under-exposed by 2 stops in order to get some detail in the moon.

Picture 2 is a result of merging the two together and a little smudging of cloud over the rim so it doesn't look too artificial.

It will be a matter of opinion as to whether or not it works but there is a night-shot competition coming up at t'club and I don't want to be without an picture to enter.

Just to return very briefly to the 'execution'and Bungus's point about the lynching of Mussolini and some works of art. Surely the point is that Mussolini hanging from a lampost (an image I remember well from the time) was actually a lynching and didn't pretend to be the outcome of 'due process of law'.

I think I veer Madeline's way because there have been, and still are, many evil men who we do nothing about. Pinochet was a prime example. But he didn't have much oil.

Nikon Capture NX is a brilliant programme and I can see it replacing PhotoShop as the industry standard. You don't have to bother with 'selections' and 'layers' etc., and it does a super job with its 'control points'. I won't bore you with details because I realise it is a 'minority sport'.

With the additional memory (1.5GB) my laptop positively speeds through things. "Rats up drainpipes" and "s**t off a shovel" spring to mind.

Y was delivered to Phoenix Park tram this morning and I've tried to spend a few hours lying down. Not due to idleness but because my ankles look like moon-boots again. It reduced them a little. I just can't miss out on my Camera Club. In between everything else, I went shopping after dropping Y off, and this afternoon I've cooked a spag-bol for this evening. A tasting was satisfactory, even though I have no fresh herbs except a little basil. Seed-sowing seems to be called for again.

Although the internet tells me it's 11C in Nottingham, Brinsley feels much colder than that. There's still a very strong breeze so I guess it is wind-chill.

...Keep smiling. Catch you tomorrow....

Busy Day - Cold Night - Sunny Day

Picture 1 is when I finally reached the gate and I realised that Santa's ' Brinsley representative' hadn't left me anything "on this occasion" as lawyers say. But he will be back; I have every confidence.

Obviously normal traffic had resumed as Rudolph turned the Sleigh into Moor Road and I appreciated the red tail lights going one way and the headlights approaching from the other. What I am trying to master is 'slow sync - rear curtain' in which the flash fires as the shutter is closing. In theory, you should get a still picture of the vehicle with the lights trailing out behind it. It obviously needs further work! I'm OK with the trailing lights bit; all I'm short of is the car. Watch this space. I'm keen to capture a tram after dark.

Still on photography matters, I've been toying with the idea of acquiring Nikon Capture NX which is a RAW converter, but it is expensive. Bit of research on the Nikon website revealed a 30 day free trial. So I downloaded it. Looks good , and there is plenty in the Help menu to get me started.

Picture 2 has no artistic merit. I wanted to record Joan's 'thongs' for posterity. I use them all the time and it is so good not to keep dropping my stick and then struggling to retrieve it.

I can't remember if it was idea 6,322 or not. But simple and effective. Perhaps not quite a design-classic though.

Blood-test this morning and, as I was down there, I went to Lidl and Morrisons for bread. Their Pain de Campagne which they claim to bake fresh every morning. But when we used it to make a sandwich this evening, was stale. Ho Hum! If I could be bothered to get the car out I'd take it back.

For lunch I cooked a roast chicken, made a little stuffing, accompanied by charlotte potatoes, french shallots, celery and brussells. Plus of course, gravy. All turned out well and for pudding we had jelly and ice-cream (again!).

We've achieved a lot today. Sorted out a Hospital appointment which we knew I didn't need to go to because it had been cancelled. An NHS computer glitch I was told. My notes said I didn't need to attend but nobody had told the computer, which generated the letter. Sorted out the TV and digi-box. Y had been unable to receive several channels which we pay for and it looked as if we needed a visit from NTL (and they won't give you a time). I wondered if the 'close-down, wait ten minutes, then switch on and reboot' principle would work as well with a telly as it does with a computer. So that's what I did - plus unplugging all the scart leads and then plugging them back in again. Eventually switched it all on again and left it to settle down for a few minutes and presto ! It now works perfectly.

Stopping there because I want to print several pages from the Help menu of Nikon Capture NX and then an early night.

.....'cos I'm tired already

Y's Birthday Lunch - Blogger beta

Picture 1 is the Liquidamber again, at night and including the moon. It looked so much bigger than that - but that's cameras innit?

This is my first day on the new Blogger beta. And everything seems OK so far. Being awake quite early, I decided to tackle the migration and here's hoping that things go smoothly. The finished result, for you 'dear readers', shouldn't change, at least I hope not.

There are substantial differences at this end, which I won't bore you with a full list of. But the pictures download quicker which is good. Apparently one can tag and label 'posts' to make things easier to find retrospectively, but I haven't investigated that facility yet

Picture 2 is the Railway Bridge at Basford which I mentioned. The light was in the wrong place for a proper 'study' so this snap is through the tram window. I promise a better picture in due course.

For years it had looked increasingly distressed and I was so relieved when a decision was made to 'renovate rather than demolish'. My knowledge of railway architecture is zilch but I've always thought it attractive and have looked forward to seeing it each time my journey has taken me past it, under it, or over it.

Y's birthday lunch at The Lakeside Restaurant (nee Bestwood Pumping Station) was excellent. The menu was good, the food was good, the waiters were good, and the children were good. No tears. Not even any pouting. Pictures will follow tomorrow. After the meal we adjourned to TJ's for a typical family thrash. Lots of running around, cake candles re-lit 3 times so pictures could captured, with lusty renditions of 'happy birthday' each time. Tracy had arranaged for the cake to be iced with one of the rafting pictures. She thinks of everything !

Andy had drawn an incredibly good picture of Yvonne with Ruby and Elli, and included her multifarious interests, from Egypt to Sudoku. David and John's present was an electronic sudoku which, it says on the box, will produce a million unique puzzles. That should keep her occupied on a few railway journeys! My present, until we get to the Rhine Cruise next year, was a pink sapphire ring which she really wanted. We picked it together. And it blends in beautifully with her new nails. A picture will follow.

Ta Ta for today because I fancy watching The Culture Show...............

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