Further Vista progress - Pleasant day

.
Picture 1 is the pub Bungus has spoken of, on Mansfield Road, Sutton or Sutton Road, Mansfield. Often a moot point and although he has tried several times to describe it's location, I am still unsure. Maybe the pub has had a name-change - they so often do.

He says the food is good, and we must try it.

Y and I have had a further day with Y's new laptop and we are both becoming more familiar with it. I know some people winge about Windows Vista, but 'speak as you find ' and I am warming to the programme. Many features are an improvement on XP and it is certainly faster and often more user-friendly. But, as we were saying the other day, some people criticise first and think later !

It seems that with Y having a googlemail account she is automatically on google-chat (in the old days one had to download it as a separate function). Grandchildren have discovered Granny on google-chat and have, from time to time during the day, called her on her own lappy. She loves it !

Nice chat to David. They are all fine and it was good to hear all the family and school news.

Picture 2 is simply a try-out with my 300mm Nikkor to see how effective the vibration reduction mechanism is in practice. The answer is "Very".

Standing on the front porch, I set to spot-meter and focused on the building works through a gap in the trees...... No tripod and the result looks surprisingly sharp to me. We are talking around half a mile away here.

Some time ago Roy mentioned someone in need of a tripod. I think I now may well be able to spare one ! (from my collection of 3, plus a mono-pod).

During all this frenzy I cooked steak, chips, grilled tomato, egg and beans (a proper slimming Sunday dinner) and Y did a blackberry and apple crumble, with cream.

This evening we watched The Sculpture Diaries on Channel 4. Personally I find Waldemar Januszczak too irritating to watch for long but he did briefly visit James Turrell's installation in a volcano crater in Flagstaff, Arizona...... A couple of years ago Bungus and I were fortunate to be able to see his work at The Yorkshire Sculpture Park where he had created The Deer Shelter....... (My blog-post of 21st September 2006 refers)........... p.s... My filing and reference system isn't that good - but google's is !

Comments

bungus ..... How interesting to hear about Sandra having pins stuck in her. This should result I suppose in a small doll somewhere suffering extreme pain !

As you know I agree completely about the 'purposes' of Art/ Photography... In a couple of months Rob and I are sharing an 'evening' at the camera club and I am to talk about the effects of painting on photography, and vice versa. .... It is, after all, one of the few subjects where I do know what I am talking about..... Unless I did an hour on 'pentimenti' in Titian...... perhaps not 'eh?

Thanks for the info. about the humble hawthorn berry...... So many 'old wives tales' are proving to have a modern scientific basis.

I think you maybe right about the silhouetted bull. Incy explained who was responsible for putting it there ..............but I can't find his comment !!

Jill ...... Throughout my life I have called 'turnips' turnips, and for the past 25yrs Y has been telling me they are swedes. To be honest - I'm no longer bothered what people call them.

I've always thought that mangle-worzel was the name of a scarecrow played by Jon Pertwee.

Apart from liver (calf's or lamb's only) I dislike offal. Y won't eat it at all. .... But I cook pork-hocks, and take the lean meat only and press it into a sort of sliceable cake..... Always popular.

Y has just watched Tess of the D'Urbevilles and enjoyed it.

anonymousrob ....... How nice to hear from you. Sorry about the weather but good that the problems with airlines aren't affecting you.

Your communication sort of proves your dongle is working. Although I suppose you could have found a Wi-Fi hotspot or something.

Keep on eating and drinking ----it's kind of essential.

and re your p.s ..... I consider you and Bungus to be joint-editors of material coming from the Sports Desk.

reg .... what's wrong with baseball caps ? Unless on back-to-front of course !

Please tell Mo I fully understand about 'the picture' and I hope I didn't sound rude by saying I didn't want a new one.

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

"If there were no God, there would be no Atheists"

G. K. Chesterton

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow


.

New laptop day - Windows Vista

.
.

Pictures 1 and 2 are courtesy of Brian Smith who owns the negatives. I don't think we know who actually took the pictures. The quality, in photographic terms, of snaps from the 1920s and 30s always surprises me and I am humbled to realise how little the 'craft' has progressed..... The equipment has improved I suppose but not the output. A bit like comparing Tracy Emin with Titian.

Not that I'm knocking Tracy. She can actually draw rather well and has creative ideas. A couple of days ago I saw a lengthy interview she held with Sir Peter Blake (of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album cover fame) and she did a sound and well-informed job. An important point is that he obviously liked her and her work.

The picture on the left will be around 1923 when The Old Market Square, The Council House and the tramlines were altered. For non-East Midlands readers - The Square has just been altered again. Many shout "waste of money" but personally I like the new square and, give it 50 years or so, people will be staunchly defending it against any suggested change..... Folks are like that.

Sir Nigel Gresley the man, stands at the side of his train, which makes Picture 2 an historic snap. The number was subsequently changed for reasons mentioned on the linked website - please clicky and the locomotive currently resides in the York Museum.

Picture 3 is a companion to Dennis's photo of the Spanish farmer's oxen. As you can see, here the farmer is actually ploughing...... I feel sure Dennis won't mind me quoting from his e-mail to explain the picture:-

".....The tower is an old beacon, and they are all along the coast, but in a bad state of repair, and the government has suddenly realised that it's losing it's heritage, and the plans are to restore them, the first is the one at Nerja, which will be made into a tourist info office.....".

Not that I need to remind anyone that the same copyright rules apply as previously.

Y and I have had a busy day. The new laptop has been unpacked, plugged in, and set up and persuaded to run. It never is as easy as plug-in. switch on, and start using - is it? .....Finding e-mail accounts, setting clocks, deciding on names, installing some pictures, passwords etc........ A different machine, Windows Vista instead of XP so I didn't know where things were, but Y did remarkably well, and together we got there. Even 'shutting down' was so different it took me ages to work it out.

Comments

bungus ....... As you say, Jessica is quick-witted and obviously the master/mistress of the 'put-down'. A valuable if dangerous gift !

I can only wish you both well with scans, anniversary scans etc., and enjoy your barium meal. Are you permitted a 'doggy bag'.

Although I didn't mention it, my freezer labelling is also meticulous...... i.e "Watnall Pork & Leek sausages, wrapped in 4 links, 12th Sept 08"....... I can't post a 'link' I'm afraid, ha Ha!

A further Ashbourne expression was "Ays got t'munk on" which translates as "he has the monkey on his back" meaning "he is grumpy this morning".

To answer your question. RG flies by the seat of his pants, generally.

Jill ..... You are quite right to make the point ! Pikelets are nearly as flat as pancakes, while Crumpets are nearly an inch thick. Both respond well to about half a pound of butter though. If one is economising that is. ...

With you 100% over coffee being impossible without sugar, whereas sugar spoils tea. 

Virol OK. And I used to quite like Scott's emulsion and Syrup of Figs too. My - don't these things stick in the memory ?

Another sepia snap for you today.

incy wincy ...... Me too. re Camp Coffee with condensed milk in it. Did you know that the Camp Coffee label had to be changed so as not to show the little black fella serving coffee to the white officer? PC again I'm afraid. What on earth was the harm in it?

Can't help with uses for hawthorn berries. Unless they keep a pet blackbird.

Now, on the other hand, I like the smell of hops, boiling or otherwise.

Everybody is enjoying your pictures.

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

"Photography is a great excuse for seeing things you ordinarily wouldn’t"

Christopher Beirne

Sleep tight. Catch you tomorrow.



.

Full Friday - Watnall Farm Shop

.

Aint that a super photo. The author and © holder is Dennis Morley and awful things will befall anyone who steals the picture...... Don't even think about it...... The texture of the icing is captured so well I can taste it!

Eastwood Photographic Society had an excellent meeting last night. There was no judging or anything of that nature. Members were invited to bring along examples of their summer activities and the range was first rate. Lots of lively work and it was rewarding that newcomers to the club felt able to bring and exhibit their pictures.

One of our young lady members had had a brilliant idea. She photographed a plate with 2 slices of toast being buttered, jammed, and then eaten..... and when displayed, clicked quickly through the 20 or so images (I am guessing at the number) until the plate was empty except for some crumbs. The idea worked beautifully and was so original. I've no idea what NEMPF judges would have made of it. But who cares?...... It might be a good idea to appoint our young ladies to be NEMPF judges for a season and see what lively images they would select for an Exhibition!

Our Friday has been quiet. After shopping and putting away. We had needed meat, eggs and greengrocery etc ., and re-visited the Watnall Farm Shop. It didn't disappoint. The only thing it lacks is a website. I am irrationally anti PDF pages. Then to Lidl and finally to Morrisons. Wrapping for the freezer took me well over an hour. My theory is that, if I spend time cling-filming sausages in twos, rashers of bacon in fours and so-on it keeps the freezer tidy and eases the burden at the other end, when I need something to cook.

Picture 2 is another Dennis and the same rules apply. The snap is authentic from the 'costa del sol' but he will no doubt explain more in a comment. I'm sure Jill will enjoy the sepia !..... It is so in keeping.

A personal opinion is that you've burnt-in the bull on the skyline a little too much. If it is 'as was' I think it needs dodging, just a tad.

Apparently the farmer also ploughs with the same two oxen, and, as they fertilise the ground while performing, the farmer's carbon footprint is tiny.

Comments

bungus..... Sorry to hear about the slip-ups with the drip-trip. We could make it a tongue-twister. Do you remember those ? "The Leith Police dismisseth us" - was a good one.

The 'alien' hernia sounds horrendous. Did it eventually un-balloon itself ? Or was medical attention necessary ?

"Ah, you see, men have a gift for things mechanical, an instinctive, mystical connection....." I'm not at all sure that this is correct. John and David and Steven are very good with things, but I am fairly hopeless. I can tighten screws and bolts and things but I completely lack subtlety.

incy wincy ..... I think your geography is correct. The problem arose because I misread the caption to John's picture.

He actually said they had moved south to The Med coast because La Rochelle was cloudy.

And I completely misunderstood.

Roy will be interested to hear of the new Kodak B&W film.

reg ..... Thanks for the update on the current 'jiffy', 'mo', 'half a mo' and '2 ticks' position. Perhaps Jill can join in, if things are different down south.

'blog-search' is a google tool which enables you to search the blogosphere for anything at all. Please click here to download the tool. As with all things google' it's a freebie and very efficient. You type in a search box what you are interested in, and click. Google then searches all the blogs and if someone has 'blogged' about your chosen subject, the blog in question will be produced..... Often very revealing ! Bloggers for instance don't have the reticence of professional restaurant critics. However, the laws of libel apply to blogs as much as they do to any other sort of published prose.

As an experiment I did a blog-search for 'aeromodelling' and it produced lots and lots. Please click here for an example. I obviously don't understand what they are talking about. But you will.

Like you I hope Rob hasn't fallen foul of the XL catastrophe.

I hated Cod Liver Oil, Radio Malt was yummy, and Condensed Milk was great.

Still keep getting out my Nikkor 70-300mm VR and fondling it..... I need some sun !!

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

It's too late to go searching for a quotation. No doubt one will appear tomorrow.

Sleep tight and everything



.

EPS - Y at BJ - John touring

.
Picture 1 is another from John's mobile phone, sent to me via text with an 'orange' key for the computer.

The technical transmission details are not important. They are touring in their campervan again and have reached the Mediteranean Coast. The picture is from the beach at La Rochelle which, from the website, looks delightful and interesting.

He seems to have a knack with 'water pictures' and he also knows I enjoy them so 'Thanks John'!

Picture 2 is a tad self-explicit but I wanted to show you my new Nikkor 70-300 VR lens in glorious technicolour. This is at the 70mm end......When extended to full 300mm length and with the lens-hood on the correct way round, the camera looks awesome.

First results are very promising and although Picture 3 is the inevitable Goldfinch, he looks good and sharp. The snap was hand-held out of the window, and without benefit of tripod. This freedom from composing whilst on a tripod, gives such flexibility. I can go from the feeders to the bird bath for instance in a jiffy. (I don't know where a 'jiffy' ranks on the 'half a mo' or '2 ticks' scale ?)

Y insisted on going to Burton Joyce today completely under her own steam, so as to allow me to conserve my energies for the Camera Club this evening. I am married to a very thoughtful and unselfish lady and her strategy has worked because I am now looking forward to it very much indeed, instead of felling that I would rather not go at all.

Comments

incy wincy .... I deleted your comment and then partly reintroduced it lower down. The reason is solely that I thought it best not to have your e-mail address out there in cyberspace...... I didn't want you to be deluged with spam..... or worse !

Apparently spam producers, and 'phishers' trawl forums, websites and blogs for unsuspecting targets. Anyway, I have now e-mailed you my address....... Please don't let this inhibit you from leaving comments though ! Because we would miss them so, and without personal details my blog is safe and secure...... Even from my own blog-profile for instance, no-one can discover my e-mail address etc.

Incidentally I agree with you about pubs.

bungus ...... Re the pub chip-cobs. We did both actually. Incidentally, if one does a bog-search for the Horse and Groom at Basford my blog comment is top of the list. Blog-searches are much more honest than restaurant reviews. Or about anything else for that matter.

Your Kings Mill pictures need no apologies. They are good and they show us what we want to see..... as you know, I am more keen on 'record photography' than any other variety which is pompously over full of its own importance.

Next time I am in Mansfield I will look out for the pub you describe.

You are right about 'digital dying' ...... the cuckoo in the sky you hear singing is being closely pursued by a flying pig.

Jill ..... Y said exactly the same thing about Joanna Lumley's apparent lack of make-up ! She added something about "you men are so gullible". But, when I mentioned 'wrinkles' it wasn't their absence so much as JL's confidence in being pictured with them, on her neck particularly.

The doctor was fne. My kidney function is about what she expected and she has increased some of my tablets. But I need further tests and have to see her again in around a month. Y read me what you had said in your letter and it is lovely that you care, but honestly, don't worry too much. I am as tough as old boots really. Since hearing Steven Fry on Monday I am now letting rip with the clichés.

Your baby-sitting sounded fun. These 11+ children are so competent aren't they ? Sorry about the car ..... I think they are a little like computers. ...... The AA are so good aren't they? .... A possible business idea would be to start an emergency service for computer-fixing. ..... Perhaps good idea 6,331 ?..... Pity I'm not about 40 isn't it ?

reg ..... Ah yes ! Fennings fever cure. Saying you became addicted is probably nearly true !

Many of the old cures had a hefty dollop of morphine in them - thats why they worked so well ! I think Zubes and several of the other cough linctuses had plenty in them for a 'fix'. Happy days 'eh?

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

Quotation time ..... today's quote is from my igoogle home-page............

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is stoned to death"

Joan D. Vinge

At first I thought she was making quite a powerful point. Then I thought "Well - they wouldn't score many direct hits would they?..... Even if they could find him in the first place"

p.s. I could possibly return after Camera Club - if there's something important to tell you. If not sleep tight and I'll see you tyomorrow.

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

WoW at Brewhouse Yard - Bungus at Kings Mill

.
After the doctors I went over to Reg's and we set off for our Wow to The Brewhouse Yard Museum in Nottingham collecting first Roy and then Brian in town..... and Picture 1 is of all three enjoying some brief sun after our visit. The tableau is appropriate because there had been much to see, hear about, and discuss.

We had a great time - criticising the Nottingham and Notts photo exhibition which was the main reason for our visit. The consensus was that although some v.good pictures had been selected, too many were clichés, were boring, or lacked life.

After the Exhibition we went to Calumet and I bought the Nikkor 70-300mm VR lens, like Reg's, and from the same place...... I met, and was served by, Jason, who the others all know, and I found him a very knowledgeable and confidence-inspiring young man..... More will inevitably follow - with snaps.

Thence to the Horse and Groom at Basford, for our chip-cob and what a disappointment. Picture 2 illustrates. The 'few' chips were not good, the cobs tiny and the salad garnish appeared to have been scraped up from the kitchen-floor. And it used to be such a busy, old-fashioned, good pub!

Having said all that we had a great time. Lots of laughs, good fun 'slagging off' the photos and it was great to see Brian on his feet again and enjoying a couple of hours with chums.

Bungus sent pictures of the new building at Kings Mill Hospital and here they are ! Please click here - I found it too difficult editorially to select a couple so decided to create a Picasa WebAlbums folder and publish a link to it for everyone....... Interesting architecturally ! though a couple, towards the end of the slideshow, look rather prison-like. Maybe prisons and hospitals have things in common anyway....... Very good snaps Bungus ! Thank you.

Comments

bungus ...... Do I take it that you would like your surgeon to belong to Alcoholics Anonymous ?

Nice one about your semi-colon ! I like it !...... I like also your Lidl story. Vesta Chow Mien 'eh? didn't we all think we were daring in the 50 s..... Some of the exhibits in the Museum triggered memories... Little liver pills, Farley's rusks, a laundry ponch and so much more.

Thanks also for the 'eating out' info. and when we resume (soon I hope) our Mansfield jaunts we must venture further afield than Leeming Street and The Market Place.

What an amazing google-list of qualities for the humble hyssop. I shall have to look them up because there are several where I have no idea of the meaning. Not unusual.

incy wincy ...... The 'cake' was splendid and you could taste the love. In the weekend supplements there was a list of 50 typical English things. They omitted 'rich fruit cake with marzipan' which must be a strong contender.

I'm afraid that, as 'blogmeister' I am the only one who can actually publish pictures into the blog. So the procedure is, e-mail me the pictures as attachments, I will download them and publish them. It would be super to have a picture from you..... Add abit of class what ?

reg .... Thanks for the aero-modelling information. As you have described the 5ft wing-span model I can well undertsand the £3,000 value.

Also thanks for your help with the lens acquisition. See you Thursday evening.

.

Still stormy - quiet day - Joanna Lumley

.
Weather still fairly awful and we stayed at home. Y fetched bread and milk and a bar of chocolate from the little shop - what more do you need ?

Y had intended to meet Joan for lunch and visit The Castle Art Gallery for the Dame Laura Knight Exhibition but the weather was so threatening they called it off. The Exhibition is called Laura Knight at the Theatre and Helen has seen it and sounded very enthusiastic when I spoke to her on the 'phone.

This afternoon Reg and Maureen called to deliver a couple of pieces of 'the cake' and Reg also brought us some photographs of the wedding on a memory stick. Picture 1 was from some excellent pictures of excellent model aircraft at his Club (on the end of the same stick). To me, when photographed like this against the sky, they are indistinguishable from the real thing. His wedding pictures were of the evening 'do' and of people of indeterminate age, dancing. The 'aircraft' were a prettier sight.

Due to the weather and my current lack of mobility I have very few recent shots to share with you. So I decided on a couple from The Isle of Wight.

Deck Chairs with light shining through the fabric, looked good and this picture makes me think of two dour but sturdy men sitting on the left with their two elegant and attractive ladies sitting on the right.

Fortunately, apart from the model aircraft, I am not without guest pictures today. Jill sent me two shots of this plant. She wonders if is a sort of laveteria? In my opinion it is, but the Horticultural Desk may know better. Please click for google-images page 1.

If it is Laveteria, and I'm by now almost sure it is, you will need to keep it trimmed Jill. They quickly become rampant but are not a long term worry because after perhaps 7 years they collapse and die.

It looks lovely and healthy at the moment I think. Is it a little gift from heaven or did you plant it?

This evening, over a late tea, we watched Joanna Lumley's programme about her search for the Northern Lights. If anyone who missed it would like to see it, her name is a live link to the BBC iPlayer recording of the programme.

From a mere man's point of view she is absolutely fabulous. No make-up, frozen eye-lashes, and wrinkles and she looks terrific !

Comments

helen c ...... The Rob and Elaine snap is very good indeed and, if you read Incy Wincy you will see where the real credit lies for setting the scene.

Y is quite excited about her laptop. Not actually up-and-running yet but books are being read !...... Knowing my wife as I do, it won't be long before she is proficient +plus !

Sorry you can't WoW tomorrow but you are very valuable to them at Cromford and I know you enjoy your tour responsibilities. I hope that link best describes about Arkwright for readers.

incy wincy ...... when one looks at yesterday's Rob & Elaine picture one can see the skill and the eye which went into the structure of the setting. Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing the real McCoy.

Thanks for your good wishes re the legs etc., People shouldn't worry too much about me. I remain in good spirits, with objectives to reach and fun things to do.

My Gran used to say "A bit of pain is good for you. It lets you know you are still alive"..... So I have adopted her philosophy.

bungus ...... It seems I shall have little choice in the matter of not interfering with Y's laptop. She is reading a text book about Windows Vista and wants a 'new' password for her e-mail.....I don't think she realises - yet! that the whole laptop could be password protected. Bless her - I shall assist only, when called upon.

Thanks for your note to Jill about 'judging books by their cover'. Y had a similar experience on the London train last year. Her intended carriage was full of boisterous football hooligans. She slipped and fell on entering the coach whereupon two very solicitous lads helped her to her feet, picked up her luggage and guided her to a seat. They then resumed their role as football hooligans.

Jill .... I know full well that you are not a 'person who pre-judges people and I fully accept the acne & earrings as stage-setting description. Anyway I feel that, at our age, we have the knowledge and experience of the world, to reach such decisions, even if they may be critical.

Rob will be delighted to be described as 'debonair'. He is an extremely nice chap although, like Jenny, he doesn't suffer fools ..... He always gravitates to jobs where his caring skills can be used and has a real concern for people's welfare. It sounds rather as if I'm writing him a 'reference' doesn't it? Whereas he is looking forward eagerly to being able to retire !

The happy couple set off on their honeymoon tomorrow but Rob tells me he is taking his dongle, so we might hear from them, or even receive a couple of snaps.

Glad you enjoyed the Jack Benny quote. I remember him in a film where he played the part of God. Excellent role for him but I'm damned if I can remember the title.

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

Hoping to WoW tomorrow. I have a Doctor's appointment for 9.25am but after that we can be off. ..... There is an Exhibition at The Brewhouse Yard Museum which we would all like to see...... I don't know what The Trip to Jerusalem next door is like for chip-cobs though !

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

Quotation time :.............. Alan Coren is sadly missed by Radio 4 listeners, and in other journalistic places too ............

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what they think it is you would like to hear"

Alan Coren

Can't fault you Alan 'owd lad !

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow
.

Mama Mia ! - Y's Laptop - Plums

.

There was just no contest for the 'lead picture' today which I have just received from a buoyant sounding Rob.....What a handsome couple, all slim and elegant.The photo's author is Laura Barnes (Elaine's eldest son's partner)and congratulations to her. Typically Rob's first concern was about my health?

The answer more or less follows. A busy day.... We started off with the Xword and then I rang Staples and talked through laptops for Y.

Over to Mansfield and Y settled on a very nicely specified Toshiba which she is happy with. A most helpful and knowledgeable lady called Lyn served us; the same person who I spoke to on the phone.

The eventually to the Cinema and met Jean who also wanted to see Mama Mia. She brought us a large bag of freshly picked plums !

Mama Mia is every bit as good as everyone says it is. and if you get chance ....... This link please click is the best clip I can find. But there seemed a reluctance to permit saving shots of the cast etc., during the making. Nothing would let me right-click and save-as, but they reckoned without a resourceful hacker with Scr Prt and paste in Paint facilities. I marvelled at the resourceful author who spotted that a good story could be created from Abba lyrics. All the cast were remarkably good but Meryl Street shone. ..... along with her many talents she can actually sing very well too..... I'm sure that awards will follow.

I came back 'done-for' as usual, but at least we did it. My promise to Y is that I don't aim to interfere in the matter of the Laptop. I'm not even going to be present at the unpacking and will only speak when spoken to. Had to be careful not to split an infinitive there. Incidentally Steven Fry this morning (which I haven't listened to yet) is talking about clichés. As his clip said "You won't catch me using a cliché, no way!"

Comments

Incy Wincy ...... We were all sympathising with your photo assignment in view of the weather but when the little 'dry man' emerged from the weather clock you would be snapping away!

I can well understand your tension though, till the processed films are back !

The 'lovely grub' was much enjoyed it seems.

4 ticks ..... I share your concerns for incy wincy's task and, from the picture above, I have to agree the bridge looks great.

The food also sounds terrific - sandwiches with the crusts cut off ! Well .....

Re special characters. There are lots of short cuts. One is, hold down Alt Gr while typing e and you get é. Often handy.

bungus .... pleased the raspberries are cropping well. To be honest I can't really taste a difference between the earlies and the lates.

What a disappointment over the Bramley and Blackberry pie !

Re Rob and Elaine - the picture above shows them both resplendent and emergent.

Jill ....... Y was amazed when she learnt that Murray has beaten Nadal. She thought he wouldn't even win a set. I'm sure she will be ablbe to catch up on it somewhere.

You, with a little help from Bungus, have convinced me that in future my cauliflower-cheese will be a simpler job. My old one did indeed have a touch of Shirley Conran about it.

Well done in Tesco ! You have no need to reproach yourself. You gave them lots of chances and they weren't up to the job. That is Sir Timothy Leahy's fault, not yours.

I'm sorry you didn't know about the wedding and an e-mail from me would have been correct. I deliberately didn't publish much on the blog because, with my worldwide coverage, I didn't want them to suffer gate-crashers.

Jenny is lucky to have all this caring attention but I think she deserves it. She has featured several times in the blog, to everyone's interested delight, so please give her all our best wishes.

Quotation time ........

"I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either"

Jack Benny

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow



.

Got dressed - weather still bad

.
Got dressed this morning and managed to walk, with wheels, down the garden to pick raspberries. Total standing time maybe 10 minutes.

Our raspberries are cropping for a second time, or some later fruiting varieties are now thriving in the row. We got mixed up because when we were on the point of moving, 300 years ago, Bungus and I dug up several canes, for his family, and those that are left have now filled in all the gaps.

Re Jill's query as to why my Cauliflower Cheese takes ages, I thought I had better publish the recipe from my Best British Cooking book. You will see from the annotations over the years I follow it fairly closely.

I think perhaps that I do make 'heavy weather' of it and Jill's simpler approach would produce a dish just as good. Next time I'll try it out. The cauliflowers seem to be very high quality this year.

Picture 3 is the Hand-Book of Proverbs I recently mentioned. The only significance of the pocket-knife is to hold the book open while I photographed it.

The weather is incredibly bad and although we haven't had the flood troubles it is beginning to be a little depressing. If the sun breaks through, it only lasts a few minutes, before vanishing again.

Nice chat to David and it was so good to hear what a good day they had at Carsington when Steve and Lisa and Hannah, Miles and Millicent went over. Big cycle rides were accomplished and apparently Millicent was an uncomplaining pedaller over a large distance, even with her stabilisers. I can see them being abandoned soon. Also good to hear that David's physiotherapy has much improved his neck and collar-bone pain when riding his bike and raising his arm. It's been a long job.

Tomorrow, depending how I am, we hope to go to Mansfield to see Mama Mia which I have promised Y for some time. All I need to do is make it into the car, out again at the other end, and then sit in a luxurious cinema seat. Modern cinemas are v. good in this respect. I have heard good reports of the film. Apparently Pierce Brosnan singing is high on the cringe scale though.

Comments

Bungus ......... I like the call girl story. And also, although not related, the account of Sandra's visit to Riverdance. Obviously their seats defeated the whole object. I would have thought a complaint justified.

The 'left overs' sound good. But they so often are. I much prefer boxing-day turkey, cold stuffing, and tracklements to the hot version. When I was doing National Service in Germany, on an outlying radar station, Kurt our German cook used to do a delightful dish called (phonetically) 'veege' which was a sort of sophisticated bubble & squeak - everything chucked in, bound together with egg, and then fried. Delicious.

And I can't fault apple and blackberry pie with cream. I'm assuming your own Bramleys and freshly picked hedgerow blackberries.

Thanks for the rhubarb info. I suspect that I now know slightly more than I need, about the subject.

Like you I was very sorry to have missed Rob & Elaine's 'do' and I'm pleased to hear it all went so well.

Jill ...... Please see above re cauliflower cheese. I think mine is far too much of a faff and I shall simplify in future.

You are quite right about the 'toy' quality of our different acquisitions. I don't think I realised one could have 'toys' in one's 70s - but why not !

I've told Y that a real letter, in an envelope, is on its way.

anonymousrob ...... We are overjoyed to hear your day went so well and you both sound so lovely and happy. The 'carbon footprint' of your guest list just demonstrates the high regard in which you are held.

I have no doubt at all that Dennis's photos will capture that certain something. I hope though that 'webding photo' is a typo. If you don't know it, one day I'll show you the webding font - it's spooky !

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

I've rabbitted on far too long - so no quotation tonight. Catch you tomorrow.

Better day for me - Weather bad for R & E

.
Thinking I wouldn't be able to get up at all I decided to trawl recent folders for pictures. The first is from Tuesday's trip along the A60 to Mansfield. I had been following the rainbow for some miles and in the end couldn't resist the temptation to draw my trusty Casio from my shirt pocket and hold it to the windscreen.

Naughty - but it was a lovely bright rainbow.

The dark marks are on the windscreen and not on my sensor.

Today I can report some legs- improvement. I can now stand for a couple of minutes, but no more, and I'm afraid Rob and Elaine's reception was just not possible. Reg rang early evening and I asked him to present our apologies. I feel bad that, yet again, I have had to let Y down over something she was looking forward to.

Picture 2 shows what a day it has been. I set the lay-figure to do a jaunty little Michael Flatley type jig to represent my head rather than my body. I hope you open the link, it's good to see Riverdance again.

Picture 3 is my 'Book of Proverbs' which I recently recovered from lost in the garage. The compilation of the book must have been a mammoth undertaking. Each proverb is cross-referenced in separate sentences, and alphabetically too. Even on a computer you would need much careful thought.

Y has been ace in the Galley and in the tea & coffee department. But I masterminded cauliflower cheese, with bacon bits, whilst sitting in the kitchen. The recipe is from my very old British Cookery and takes ages. It always proves worth it though. Unfortunately it leaves a heap of washing up.

Comments

bungus ....... Glad you are going to keep Google Chrome handy. I think they are onto a winner - but that's nothing unusual for Google is it? I've been on WebUser and the statistics show an enormous % take up just on the first day. No-one reports major snags and everyone is thrilled with the sheer speed, efficiency and ease of use.

I knew that rhubarb leaves are poisonous to pigs - giving them what pig-men call the 'skitters', but I don't know what they do to humans. Strangely enough, I also recall that you should not put rhubarb leaves on a compost heap.

Like you I can only hope that there was some break in the weather for Rob and Elaine, and that Incy Wincy managed a couple of half decent snaps.

4 ticks ...... A warm welcome to the blog-comments column.

Without tasting Helen & Julian's 'chard and stuffed marrow' I couldn't possibly comment on the flavour. I think you and Bungus have given them a bad time when the dish was probably delicious.

Re its 'carbon footprint'. The footprint would have been tiny. 'Cos its called Swiss Chard doesn't mean it came from Geneva. It only travelled here from Boughton and the marrow I guess would have travelled a matter of yards only. Of the stuffing I cannot speak.

Jill ..... The Rosemary/Lavender mistake is quite understandable. There is quite a variety range within each and the green plant and blue flowers can be very similar.

You 'tiring' day was obviously a very enjoyable one for you, I know the RHS Hall quite well having been to exhibitions there in the past.

I shall enjoy (and I expect other readers will too) your Yarn Harlot link. She sounds quite a gal ! ............. So glad also that the stalls were such good fun and so 'catholic'...... When I've had a good shop in similar circumstances and you unpack when you get home, it's like playing with ones toys I suspect.

You certainly wont have bored anyone with your comment - it was 'delightful, delicious, delovely' - if I'm quoting the musical correctly.

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

I don't think I published a link to the Swiss Chard Soup recipe which I used. So that is it, under the name.

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

"Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature".

Tom Robbins

A bit like the old Horace quote that no great poetry was ever written by water drinkers.

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

Sleep tight everybody ----------- Catch you tomorrow

n.b. I've had to re-publish the pictures in each blog-post back to Wednesday, when I first used Google-Chrome. Fortunately I checked in my 'preview' page and found that they were NOT enlarging to a left click !!

Presumably they haven't been working for you readers either. Sorry.

Back to Firefox till they've sorted out the glitches.

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

.

Bedside Blog - Wet Weather

.

Nipped out shopping and then back to bed, due to the usual.

A brief blog only, because sitting up is a bit problematic. Day filled with radio, newspapers, reading etc., but got up for evening meal because Tracy called in again having finished her stint at The Hayes. She reports that all went well. She looked tired when she arrived but a half-hour kip worked wonders.

We are a great family for- 'going for a lie-down' - aren't we.

The picture, due to the circumstances, is a 'bedside view'. Of no photographic merit except to set the scene.

Yesterday I think I said I would mention Google Chrome which is a browser. It is Google's own answer to Firefox and Internet Explorer. I am using it at the moment and first impressions are most favourable. It is fast, extremely fast, and easy to understand. The address-box doubles as a search-box which is efficient and saves on space. If you fancy giving it a try these words Google Chrome are a link to the download page.

Comments

Incy Wincy ....... We are all devoutly hoping for a little light to facilitate your photograph-taking. But I'm rather afraid that our combined efforts may not be successful. Knowing how resourceful you are though, I'm absolutely sure you will produce something good.

Looking forward to seeing the results.

As from your comment, and the others, about the Lapwing, Plover and Peewit - it seems that where you grew up decides what you call it. Plus the fact that lads and lasses of all ages can get these things wrong. Whatever it should be called this is a link to a beautiful example of the fella we saw at Carsington. In the interests of accuracy I should point out that, until we saw the enlarged photograph, we didn't realise we'd seen it !

Re eating dogs. The usual method is hot and in a long thin bread-roll with soggy onions and american mustard. Any fule kno that !

Bungus ...... Carrying on directly from the lapwing discussion, you asked who cropped the photograph? I did, because it was my picture. Although it was Reg's lens, the lens was on my camera at the time, and I clicked the shutter.

You City Hospital Consultation sounds amazingly speedy ! Back home for 11am - mostly you have barely started by then.

p.s for others - Glad Mannanan's tomato soup is proving so popular. You can find his own blog by clicking his name at the front of his comment. His website can be found here.

Jill..... Nobody else has mentioned 'green' in the Plover thread. But my Collins book says they are more colourful close to than the black & white one notices at a distance. The link is here again.

I hope the weather lets you get as far as your Exhibition in the dry.

Glad Jenny is home and has done so well. The story about the ward TV being on 16 hours a day, to allow the staff to improve their English, is truly beyond belief. Personally I would have complained twice and then yanked the thing out of the wall, in the hope thereby that the staff would learn a little about where their priorities should lie. Somehow I don't think they would have 'got away with it' with you. You would have sat in the middle of the floor or something.

Helen C ....... We actually like Spinach ! Or what little there is left of it when you have cooked a saucepan full. My, doesn't it reduce. It goes nicely in stir-fries for that reason, as with the Choi family.

We like Pak Choi and have recently been eating British Choi because they have it in Lidl - I suspect that the Chois and the Chards may be related.

Mannanan ...... Thanks for dropping in. Great story about the Chard Crumble. Did you have custard with it, or ice-cream ?

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

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

"You can pretend to be serious; you can't pretend to be witty"

Sacha Guitry

Hope things are better tomorrow. I shall keep you informed.

A quiet, cool day - Swiss Chard Soup

.
Picture 1 is from yesterday and features the Cliff Inn at Crich where, if I didn't mention it, the chip cobs are excellent. We are always made very welcome and it is a traditional 'pubby' Derbyshire pub with small separate rooms, and in the winter open fires.

Today started off well, and I collected Y from the tram just after 2pm. The London train and connections had been trouble free so she was quite early.

This afternoon I decided to make my Swiss Chard soup (Bungus brought me a plastic bag containing a pound and a half of Chard - the sort with the red stalks). I found a good recipe on the web but there was roughly twice as much as I needed so I shared with Helen & Julian - feeling Bungus would rather the residue go to a good home than be wasted.

The result is flavoursome and different. Y feels it a little 'earthy' but it appeals to me. Picture 2 illustrates.

Unfortunately, after lunch, I suffered a bad attack of leg-ache and unsteadiness and I had to ring Helen to say I couldn't manage EPS this evening, the first meeting of the new season - and to offer my apologies.

Comments

Bungus ..... I think Lapwing, Plover and Pee-whit are all the same thing. I am willing to yield to Roy's expert opinion though.

The regularity of August's wetness was news to me too. One has childhood memories of idyllic sun-drenched School holidays - but it probably chucked it down each year and we never noticed.

My ostrich aversion cannot be due to their similarity to dogs or horses because I wasn't aware that they are. And eating horse/dog wouldn't offend me at all. The former is eaten on the Continent and the latter in the Orient I think.

The illustrated tour of the new Kings Mill buildings is keenly awaited and blog-space will be reserved.

Jill ..... We've all tried these strange eco-dishes I think. David tells a childhood horror story of when I cooked Skate Wings and insisted they eat the result !

Y wanted to watch the Jane Austen thing too - but it wasn't on at Palmers Green and she didn't like to ask...... She will be pleased to learn she avoided being irritated.

Your iKnitLondon sounds so attractive. I hope not too many stitches are slipped due to alcohol intake.

The way Helen described the Cliff Inn 'Ladies' confirmed your view that it was excellent. Well - 'interesting' at least.

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

It is a shame I have been more-or-less immobilised because I have commitments I want to attendto at the weekend. One of the problems is this 'edema' or 'dropsy' as it used to be called. A worrying characteristic is that my legs and ankles are about twice as bad as those illustrated in Y's Medical Encyclopedia. I'd publish a picture if it wasn't for the worry of causing nightmares and people to go off their food and take to the bottle.

Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow - tell you all about Google Chrome - it's brilliant

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

.

WoW at Carsington - Cliff Inn

.

Only three of us WoW-ed in the end - Brian couldn't manage it due to illness in the family.... a shame because a few hours out would have done him good. Perhaps next week. Mike was not available due to medical reasons and Roy was too recently returned from his 'hols' i.e yesterday..... Good to have him back on the blog anyway.

And when we got together outside Reg's we decided to go to Carsington - if you remember I was due to be there anyway, in David's caravan. But today was just for an hour or so and I was accompanied rather than wandering about in the woods alone. We had a good time and went down to the 'hide' and took some photographs. The above snap was from the hide and looking across the reservoir with my long Tamron..... Picture 2 is cropped from a picture on Reg's new Nikkor 70-300 VR, of mainly Canada Geese. But when I was downloading to my laptop I noticed this lapwing lurking on a promontory.

On the left are the basking geese and then, further up on the right, you will see his/her spiky crest feathers sticking up. The enlargement will be clearer. I didn't know they frequented watering holes because, as boys, we used to see them in fields. We called them 'pee-whits' because of their distinctive cry.

This was a very severe crop and the sharpness of Reg's lens, at the range involved is amazing.

On the way back we went to The Cliff Inn at Crich for our chip-cobs. I couldn't find a decent webpage to link you to but Helen reported that the ladies' loos were very strong on witty graffiti.

Picture 3 is her snap of a notice which she felt wouldn't be too offensive. Jill has already said she doesn't object to down-to-earth vulgarity anyway.

As a mere man I must admit to recognizing the wit and the cleverness.

Perhaps we might look forward to further editions.

As as happened so frequently of late, this afternoon it began to rain and has more or less continued for the rest of the day.

Tracy is here at the moment. Tomorrow she's working at The Hayes Conference Centre and has presentations and things to do from 9am onwards. She has 120 people working for her now and we are so proud of her having such a high-powered job.

The Centre is just a mile down the road and it makes sense for her to sleep here rather than at home and then cope with rush-hour traffic which on the A610 is so unreliable..

Comments

Incy Wincy ..... We will indeed keep clear of tuffets, as well as 'drain-pipes'. I might still have a pair of 'flares' somewhere though.

Your cyanotype advice to AnonymousRob worked well. The picture looks great now !

See more re my wheeled gizmo later. But there's obviously a case for spoilers at the rear and a Peco exhaust,

We accept your birding-lore and Roy (see later) agrees.

Jill ..... Don't worry too much about the chronological order of 'comments'. Google's blogger.com is remarkably efficient at sorting things out, and providing links to the relevant blog etc.

My heavy-duty wheels are really the 'bizz'. I used them again today and although Reg and Helen no doubt walked more slowly with me than they would have, I enjoyed reaching the hide under my own steam. Reg attracted disapproving glances for operating the webcam. It is obviously considered to be a staff toy!

I suspect I would be among the people declining to try Ostrich. No specific reason. I s'pose I'm just burying my head in the sand.

Bungus ..... Your 'yellow polka dot bikini' lyric is the definitive one.

Re my 'wheels' . I don't actually sit in it whilst in motion. It is designed for pushing with the occasional sit down..... However, no doubt fearsome enough under most circumstances.

I must make a special visit to Kings Mill to contemplate the design.

Your typo of Welbeck instead of Clumber was clearly an accident. But, as you know, because we've been, there's limited catering at Welbeck too at the Harley Gallery.

AnonymousRob....... You certainly move in exalted prisoner circles. The Secretary of an organisation I was involved with (and a friend) did time for embezzlement.

You triggered Loneliness of Long Distance Runner memories. At the moment on Radio 4 at 3.30pm in the Afternoon Readings slot the week is all Alan Sillitoe short stories. Very good they are too ! The lad could certainly turn a decent phrase.

Pleased to see The Sports Desk has fired up its generators and is issuing output !

Roy ..... Welcome back from your holidays. No doubt we shall hear all about it, and perhaps see a few snaps.

Thanks for your bird info. Had you been here you would have soon corrected my buzzard/sparrow-hawk mistake.

And I love Haslet. But the supermarket version always seems far too dry. I also like brawn but seldom see it.

See you Thursday night no doubt.

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

No time for a quote tonight. I'm running late. Visitors and stuff.

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

Wheels - Rob's pictures - National Trust

..

Rob was kind enough to e-mail me the latest version of his Lumsdale Bowl cyanotype. He felt, and I agree, that if readers can see Mk 1 and Mk 2 side-by-side it would help them to reach an informed opinion as to respective merit. As we discussed previously, in Art there is no such thing as a final version.

My own view is that Mk 2, on the right, wins by a short head...... Frames within a painting are nothing new, it is a favourite device of Howard Hodgkin who has recently been honoured by some prestigious award. The images under the link will give you some idea. Online and small doesn't give you a very good idea. Seen in the flesh they have impact !.

This morning, taking advantage of favourable weather I decided on a walk along the disused Railway Line at the side of the Headstocks. I also wanted to try out (for the first time) my heavy-duty wheels. ....Pictures 3 and 4 are self-explicit.

Their performance pleased me muchly. Having the ability to sit down for a rest, mess about with my tripod, lenses, etc., made the venture manageable and not painful. My range at least doubled and my walking pace considerably speeded up. And although not illustrated there were blackberries unpicked and I had a light lunch of coffee and blackberries. There was also lots of lovely dappled shade but I won't go rushing off to Gerard Manley Hopkins to quote the poem I quote most years....... But if anyone ..... here's a link.

On the subject of poetry, I've just received an email from Reg :-

"Incy Wincy Spider

Climbed up the spout

Down came the rain

and washed the spider out."

Our spouts are spiderless this summer
Reg

And we are working on the definitive version of "Incy Wincy, teeny weeny, yellow polka-dot bikini"

Comments

Jill ..... I understand now - about your vanishing comment. Computers are strange things.

It seems everyone who has responded received the reader-advice in 'webdings', or purple gobbledegook as you more accurately describe it. As you will see at the bottom, I have transcribed it into Arial in a Word Document. You won't need it anyway, it is designed for people who are not regular blog readers.

You assumed quite right that, at the stage you mention, I didn't know it was in the public domain. I have a button to click marked 'save a draft' which I use if I'm not ready to publish. But t seems that blogger.com is publishing at that point anyway.

Bungus ..... You make a sound point about National Service ! I suspect though, that at the time, there wasn't a high level of unemployment. I don't know what to make of it.

I like Sandra's concern over 'bungalow legs'. I've certainly got them.

Re getting your appointment date wrong - as the saying ges, there is always a liddle silver lining.

It's probably a dangerous thing to say but I am quite looking forward to the new Kings Mill Hospital building.

Newark Food Fair sounds good, and I enjoyed your account of it, especially the baklava. I assumed you were taking the pistachio. The food buys sounded exciting. I've never eaten ostrich and I'm keen to hear about it.

AnonymousRob ....... I suspect that, if one had an attack of the webdings, one would certainly know about it.

The absence of output from the Sports Desk is a matter of grave editorial concern. We are aware that, like The Sun, many people read this journal solely for the sports pages. They skim-read the rest.

Thank you at least for 'the results' - lovely touch !

And well clarified. Doesn't that involve dunking things in butter?

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

I'm going to publish at this point and have a little tea prior to National Trust. I may return later, depending..................

Returned as promised - now 1030pm, well after my bedtime. National Trust went well. Good lecture, good pictures, good bloke. He's only been head-gardener for 3 years - has already achieved a lot and loads of ideas for the future.

He is working closely with Clive the Chef and growing older varieties for taste, not longevity and toughness to withstand travelling. I would estimate the distance fruit and veg travel is around 150yards. The Restaurant is good, Y and I have eaten there recently and it is altogether exiting high quality nosh ! ..... Just like it was in 1772 I guess, when the walled kitchen garden was created.

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

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow.


.

p.s. Please click here for Blog reader advice. Sorry the earlier notes were in Webdings.

p.p.s. Incy ..... Your comment has been 'clocked' and will be responded to tomorrow.

Moist Monday - Bird in Hand at Blidworth

.
Blood test first thing and then a little shopping for bread and milk and over to Bungus's for coffee. Then we went to The Bird in Hand at Blidworth where Bungus had booked a table for 12noon.

Picture 1 is that table and, although I've probably published similar snaps before, this is the view at the rear, over the Nottinghamshire countryside and towards Lincolnshire. A fellow diner told us that, from the tower of the Church next door, on a clear day, one can see Lincoln Cathedral.

Picture 2 is the actual view through the window and just below the line of trees on the right, about a third in, you will see some watering taking place. In view of the wet August we were surprised to see a farmer finding it necessary. His soil could be particularly sandy or something. For clarity I've enlarged and inset the watering pump.

We had a nice meal - Bungus the meat pie and me the battered haddock, mushy peas, and chips. Sandra joined us and had a salad cob and chips. The chat flowed freely and we had some good laughs and it was very nice to see them both. Now Bungus is coming to the end of his clinic attendances, we should be able to manage more get-togethers. His dentistry will go on for several more weeks and he says the length of time is due to the Dentist being so busy. Whatever, it will be good when he is sorted.

All being well we shall be WoW-ing this week, and Helen, Reg, and Brian are more or less certainties. Roy is, we think, back from holiday too.

I have the National Trust to deal with at Mansfield tomorrow. In the absence of Y, I shall need helpers, but Ron and June will be there for the Raffle, Jean is back from her holiday and Peter and Joan will attend. The lecture is about the walled garden at Clumber, which should be interesting. The website tells me it dates from 1772 so by now, they should have a reasonable tilth. I am looking forward and I'm sorry Y will miss it.

Comments

Jill ...... I sympathise about your 'comment' being 'gone'. Do you mean physically gone or metaphorically 'gone' due to being side-tracked by putting the kettle on?

It seems painfully easy to be side-tracked these days. I frequently start a task, go to another room for something to do with it, start doing something else, go to another room for something connected. It's pure chance that I eventually go back into Room 1 and find the uncompleted task still sitting there....... This isn't just a product of age I don't think. I remember as a boy going upstairs for a book, reaching the top of the stairs and going into the loo for a wee, and then going back downstairs without the book. Happened all the time.

Lucky goldcrest you ! I don't think I would recognise one if I saw one.

Like you, I think the only answer to this silly 'unsteady' problem is to take lots and lots of care. And be prepared to just stand there till one is ready to move off....... I was speaking to Peter's Joan only half an hour ago and she is just the same. The reason I nearly fell over at Rob's stagnight was that, having stood up I was embarrassed just to stand there for a while. So I immediately headed for the door and, a few steps later, I nearly paid the price.

Bungus ...... I'm beginning to feel embarrassed by all this praise for my snaps. Are you sure you feel OK? You'll be complimenting me on my prose style next !

Nice read about the bird-poetry and the Dorian Gray tie-up.

It's perhaps best to remove all naturist age-limits. I shouldn't have started such a daft thread in the first place.

The trug is a first-rater in design terms. We have two. A beautiful lapped-wood one and a foul green plastic thing. The wooden one is a joy for many different purposes, even tools etc. The plaggy thing is only ever for weeding and it is so awful it is lucky still to be around.

The 'things' Jill and Ro and Y and I eat with lamb and all sorts of things are not Yorkshire puddings at all. They are made with plain flour, egg, milk and water - all whisked together several hours before being baked for say 40 minutes in a hot oven. Their actual name is MUPUBATS , short for multi-purpose batter puddings...... I'm sorry you have been confused all these years.

I've just checked the 'p.s. to new readers' you mentioned. The font is small at this end, but certainly not in webdings. Perhaps other readers could let me know if their version is legible.

AnonymousRob ...... I have just received by e-mail your updated version of the Lumsdale bowl. Incy Wincy's advice was clearly as sound-as-a-pound. I must be careful not to run out of superlatives but............. it's magic. Definitely first snap in the blog tomorrow.

Quotation time ........ I have decided to dip into my newly rediscovered leather-bound 'Hand-Book of Proverbs' and it's a treasure trove. Published MDCCCLVll for you Latin scholars.

"There's nothing agrees worse, than a proud mind and a beggar's purse"

.....very true, whoever you were.

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow - unless exhausted by Mansfield Nat. Trst.




.