Shortish Blog - Ikea Flat-Packered

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I must finish telling you about Thursday night's Camera Club talk. The lecturer was Bill Hall from Derby Rolls Royce Club and he was good. Very widely travelled both holidays and with his job he had a wide range of excellent images to show us. And he talked good sense photography to photographers. Unfortunately due to leg ache etc., I thought it prudent to bail out at half-time. I explained the position to Bill rather than just vanishing. I would be happy to hear him again.

Reg realised I had been suffering a little because he kindly rang this afternoon to enquire how I was.

This morning Y had a sort of 'annual MOT' at the Doctors and everything seems to be fine I'm pleased to say. Then, after some brief shopping and odds and ends in Eastwood, I tackled the Ikea flatpack 'Billy' bookcase.

As you will see from the picture on the left I succeeded and already it is nearly full of books. There must be some version of Parkinson's Law which covers this.

Y paid me the ultimate compliment by saying "It looks as if its always been there".

I had frequent coffee stops, but even the simplest flat-pack leaves me exhausted. However my bedroom is now much tidier because I used the venture as an avenue for throwing out much clutter, dog-eared magazines and outdated paperwork.

Picture 2 is a smashing snap of Jill's urban fox taken from her bedroom window. The fox looks so comfortable in what resembles a purpose built lean-to for passing foxes.

Further photos will be most welcome Jill as I guess our young people will be very interested. Not to mention us 'oldies' too of course.

The final picture, on the right, is a Chaffinch in one of our rowans. And yesterday, although I wasn't lucky photo-wise we had a visit from a bullfinch during the morning. and, in the middle of the night a tawny owl which perched on one of the upright posts which has attracted the sparrowhawk.

Plans are afoot for Hannah to visit for a 2 night sleep-over during half-term. She has so much computer stuff she needs to teach to Grandma, and to GG too I suspect.

We are all looking forward to it. And I am not talking tongue-in-cheek at all about her teaching us things because although she is only 11 her IT knowledge is amazing.

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne.... Looks like, so far, you are out-voted on the artistic merits of The White Horse. Time will tell. But I will be prepared to wager you an even fiver it will not have the artistic longevity of the original White Horse cut into the chalk hillside at Uffington, Wiltshire. As you know it dates from the Bronze Age and is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful things ever produced by mankind.

Bob .... You have explained to me about Ogee curves and cast-iron gutters before. But to hear it again is welcome.

It doesn't worry me at all to wear Lady Gloves, if that is what mittens were called. Whatever their real name is I missom.

How interesting to hear about Jilly Cooper's diminutive stature. I always thought she was a horsy type of woman !

Reg ..... The Comment Deleted line in the comments box was yours, at 3.14pm. It showed up twice, so I decided to delete one of them. And both vanished. And I hadn't had a drink either.

It wasn't a problem though, because I was able to retrieve it from my e-mail inbox and I re-posted it myself and signed in as Reg..... Hope you don't mind. It now reads as being originated at 7.24pm though which might have mystified you.

As so much interest has been generated I've decided to post a link to Bennets the Ironmongers of Derby.

You are right about Pearsons of Nottingham too. I never failed to be enchanted by the fact that you could enter from Long Row and emerge into Parliament Street 3 floors up. Simple things .... simple minds....etc.

Next time we WoW down Nottingham way we must stop on Lenton Boulevard and have a look at Mitchells who I am sure are still going strong as an old-fashioned ironmongers.

Jill .... Fancy you and Ro knowing the Devon ironmongers which Reg referred to. Small world innit?

Pleased Y has a fellow voter for the White Horse. But like you, Anthony Gormley's work is, mostly, impressive. He is just brimming over with creative ideas.

I like your idea of a string, or a piece of elastic didn't it used to be, passing through my coat sleeves so I don't lose my mittens. Would you really knit me another pair ? They really would be much appreciated.

Pete ..... It is so sad that these city sculptures are prone to vandalism. There was a small bronze in Theatre Square Nottingham which welcomed you as you got off the tram. But that has had to be removed due to vandalism.

Re The White Horse. If I feel like it tomorrow I might go on WebUser in the Open Forum and pose a question with a 'poll' - I've never done that ! But I guess it will be fairly user-friendly.

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Quotation time ..... I always thought this was attributable to Frank Zappa but my 'reference' sources say Tom Stoppard ....

"It is not hard to understand modern art. If it hangs on a wall it's a painting, and if you can walk around it it's a sculpture."

Tom Stoppard

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"



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Camera Club this evening - 33F

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There weren't many 'nodding donkey' replicas at Eakring yesterday but this one was fairly near to the car-park.

My recollection from being the policeman for the area in the 60s was of a much rougher piece of equipment. This one looks rather like a 'sculpture' of a nodding donkey and designed more to please the eye than to do a job. Ah well - I could be wrong.

Incidentally, a proposed 'white horse' sculpture 164ft high is to be created in Kent. In my opinion it looks altogether too realistic and lacking in creativity. It is too much like a photograph of a horse.

Obviously, due to its massive size it will have impact. But not the impact of Anthony Gormley's beautiful and imposing Angel of The North for instance.

Picture 2 is of Roy guarding an imposing S shaped curve (Hogarths Line of Beauty) and if I ever give that particular talk again I shall use it. Elongated S shape, line of beauty, Ogee curve all refer basically to the same shape.

Today has been restful for me although during the past hour it has started to snow again. Y is at Burton Joyce but should be back around 7pm when I should just be walking out of the front door to go to the Camera Club. I hope her journey hasn't been too awful. I started the blog quite early intending to 'save as draft' and to finish it off when I return from Eastwood.

n.b. I have now returned and I haven't much to add really. Trevor has my entries for next week. Rob and Elaine were there and it was nice to see them and manage a few words chat.

David tells me that Sky and friends represented "The 15th Long Eaton Fearless" cubs in a 'build a monster' competition. Needless to say they won ! and Sky gets to keep the shield for a month !

Although David didn't say this in his e-mail but drawing on previous history, my bet would be that Sky was team-leader and she would have sorted them out double-quick.

On the right is the trophy.

My responses to your previous comments

Bob..... Yes. I did see the Elephants Head before taking the picture. As I said in the blog I concentrated on looking for interesting patterns in the ice.

I thought you had got used to 'abit' by now. But I will try to remember, if it irritates.

Re Ironmongers.... As far as I know Mitchells are still trading on Lenton Boulevard. But I haven't been in for years so I don't know if the inside is still traditional. They still pile stuff on the pavement outside though.

Jill...... You are right. The company and the fresh air were beneficial. Talking about my extremities though I have a confession and apology. Perhaps a 'confolgy' or maybe an 'apolession'. Somehow I have managed to lose the mittens you knitted for me. Probably put them down somewhere and the 'mitten thief' got them.

Glad you enjoyed the Lower Marsh website. It was different and a bright idea. At the back of my mind I recall a method of making pictures etc., be 'links'. It will stand research.

Your photographs have arrived but I haven't had time to look at them yet.

Reg .... Thanks for the update on Durban House. I didn't manage to talk to you much about today's meeting. Please keep updating us as more emerges. I did hear you about the need for protest and I will spread the word.

Pete (Mannanan)..... Glad you too spotted the 'elephants head'. It's a good job I didn't make it a sort of 'spot the ball' competition and offer money prizes !

The 'line' is a good one. One thing I've always liked about the internet community is the way folk are happy to help each other. WebUser was my introduction to it. And I have learnt so much from their forum, and similar. The blogging-community is just the same. Somebody will know the answer to your problem, and be willing to share it with you - invariably for nothing.

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Quotation slot ..... I'm sure this is right - but I resent it !

"The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things."

Jilly Cooper

I've linked you to her website rather than a wiki-page. It looked nicely designed,

Tomorrow I'll tackle the IKEA bookcase. Wish me well !

I'm sure to have forgotten something


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WoW at Duke's Wood Eakring - 34F

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Although the weather was still 'raw' there was some sun this morning and a decision was made to go to Duke's Wood at Eakring where the 'nodding donkey' oilfield is, or was.

Although a fun day out, perhaps we went at the wrong time of year. But we had lots of laughs and all together we mustered 8 wow-ers. For some reason Mike is missing from the picture on the left - don't know where he had got to.

Supporting the notice board on Reg's left were some cut-out badgers and I suspect that Helen's determined approach indicates she has spotted them too. The picture of them, on the right is courtesy of Reg. They are very effective I think.

I guess everyone captured a few pictures and I spent some time searching for patterns in the ice, of which there were plenty.

In this one I can see an elephants head with the trunk slightly raised. And I am quite ready for a chorus of "I can't see anything at all like an Elephants Head" but then, I am perhaps possessed of an over-active imagination.

As usual I persuaded 'the chaps' to walk off ahead and leave me, contentedly, with my wheels (which have a seat). With my flask of coffee I walk abit, sit abit, snap abit. But they don't really like to do it. Because they are such nice people they are concerned about my welfare and I have to be quite firm to get them to be off and enjoy their walk

It was also nice to know that we were in Rob's thoughts and he was kind enough to send me the picture on the right. He had a business meeting in Kettering and thought he had found proof that we WoW-ers had been there earlier and started vandalising the place !

As if ! Far from being 'reprobates' as he described us our style is more SAS with a hint of MI5 and Crime Squad.

Anyway, to return to today. I hadn't been at all cold while out and about in bleakest Eakring but when we arrived for our Chip-Cob at The Bird-in-Hand at Blidworth I started to chill out, as they say.

The pub just didn't seem as warm as it should have been. We had a warm welcome as usual, and the chip-cobs were fine, but I started to freeze. I nearly had to ask the chaps to walk me about, against the risk of sleep and hypothermia.

My responses to your previous comments

JBW.... The Photoshop 'merge' method for old maps sounds a very useful tool. So often one needs to know how an area 'was' in older times. My Vodafone 'dongle' allows me instant internet access (I used it successfully this morning) in most places. Some parts of wildest Derbyshire have defeated it, but not many. And of course broadband internet is even handier than old maps.

Jill .... Perhaps you are right about cotoneaster berries needing to ripen. Maybe they are like a mature Stilton or a Camembert. Brussel sprouts do indeed benefit from a frost. So does celery, or it used to.

'Dancing at Laughansa' defeated me, and google too. I'm sure we shall hear more.

Lower Marsh sounds most interesting. And it obviously has some with-it people who have designed the linked website. The internal links are set out like little shops on a street. Great fun ! Unfortunately I couldn't find IKnitLondon there but I succeeded in finding its own website.

Bob..... You were quite right about Eakring. Shame about the Museum being shut - but you can't get the staff you know.....

I haven't a glib answer to your serif/non-serif point. Blogger.com does some strange things but usually it is so user-friendly I forgive the occasional glitch. As with Picasa 3. I suppose with free, easy going software there must be a certain tolerance.

You are right about the nostalgia associated with ironmongers shops. There was that unmistakeable aura. And those brown overall coats the staff wore.

Yvonne ..... Margaret M's grandson is certainly doing well isn't he ? You are right about the 'breakfasts' too. It will be fun when Hannah comes for her sleep-over. Computer-wise we shall learn lots.

Rob .... Thanks for explaining the Ikea bill to Bob. Age-related you know !

And thanks for bringing the Sports Desk up to date.

I'm sure you are right about the loss-leader nature of Ikea breakfasts. But, as a trading strategy it works. After 'breakfast' folks are surely going to browse. And Ikea design stuff is so attractive one is unlikely to emerge from the store empty handed.

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"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

I've nicked this new ending-line from Manxislander's website !

Ikea for breakfast - shopping - 34F

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As it was a Karen day we followed our usual practice and cleared off to give her a good run. Even so, when we returned, I found a few tiny tiny shards of thermos still in the bedroom carpet. It isn't her fault - as the light changes, different bits show up.

We went first to Ikea for breakfast, which I have mentioned before. The bill receipt at the side isn't in a scale relationship with the meal. I just mackled the two pics together to show you what excellent value the meals are. And free coffee, as many refills as you like. For the free coffee throughout the day though, you need an IKEA family card which doesn't cost anything, you just need to ask for one.

And their trading strategy worked. We came away with an extra bookcase, a storage box, some drinking straws, a new thermos and so on .....

Then we went up to Eastwood, the Library, the Bank and statements, and then to Lidl for a whole range of goodies and finally to Morrisons for bread, milk. tea etc., the more humdrum things.

When I got home I decided to rephotograph the cotoneaster berries - their previous picture, according to Bob, made them look like blobs of paint. I think the simple explanation is that they DO look like blobs of paint. It seems to be in the nature of cotoneaster berries.

This afternoon I did some office work and I must collect together some pictures to hand to Leslie on Thursday evening for The Exhibition. I keep putting it off and I think now it is going to have to be Thursday itself because we are hoping to go WoWing tomorrow. ..... It seems weeks since I went and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.

Reg has suggested we may go to the Eakring Oil Wells where the nodding donkeys are. I know about it because in the early sixties I was the rural policeman covering the area. No doubt it will all have changed but at least I know how to get there.

Picture 3 is of the Yeti tracks which were left when he visited in the hours of darkness to grab a snap of our Witch Hazel. He only needed to ask and I would have e-mailed him a selection.

While Derek was with us he told us a lovely granddaughter story. You honestly couldn't make them up ! The child had gone to a great deal of trouble wrapping the dog's Xmas present. A few minutes later she was seen furiously tearing off the wrapping paper. "Why are you unwrapping it ?" she was asked "I've left the price label on" she replied.

Well, of course, its obvious and only stupid grandparents wouldn't understand.

I've posted off my Nikon body-cap for drilling prior to our pinhole photography adventure. Pictures will surely follow.

My responses to your previous comments

JBW .... Thanks again for the Lacock Abbey info and the grid reference. Is the OS "Get-a-map" associated in any way with the "Get-a-life" site ?

Bob...... Please see above re berries like blobs of paint. That is what they look like. Ditto our wrong-coloured beaked blackbird. Next time I see it I shall shoo the blighter off !

I think I share your concerns (and Jill's) about present day King Edwards. Even though they are subtly different I still consider them good for roasting.

Rob .... Apparently the Evening Post are still running with the Durban House closure story, please click for latest.

According to Reg - Alan Sillitoe and the Prof of D H Lawrence studies at the University have become involved.

Heavy guns indeed. BTW I agree with your other points.

Yvonne ..... I remember our trip to the Fox Talbot museum so very well. As I recall, the weather was gorgeous. Just wish I could find the snaps !

If no-one else wants to go, you and I will go by ourselves. Give the Sat.Nav. an airing - when we get it !

Jill ..... Delia is a staunch Desirée or Maris Piper fan for roasts. But I'm sure Bob is correct to identify others that are good. We quite like the new Rooster variety but I haven't tried them as roasts yet.

I seem to remember Duke of York as quite an old variety. According to the linked page it was bred in 1942 and Waitrose is mentioned.

Is yarn-tasting a typo? Should it be testing? I had a vision of you all flossing your teeth. When you describe the farmer lady having sheep and goats I assume the exotic sounding cashmere comes from the goats? Didn't we have an interesting blog-thread ages ago when some wool came from the belly hair of some weird creature....... ? Sounds as if you had a marvellous time though - especially with wine, nibbles and cake.

LIZZIE 4TICKS ..... Sounds very bad practice over your outstanding greetings cards and their way of dealing with it is downright rude. As you say - please keep us informed. And we would very much like to know the outcome of Thursday's meeting.

Roy ..... How strange about the cotoneaster berries and the blackbirds. I'm sure ours have been the same but I have never noticed before. The rowan berries seem to be top of their culinary list because they never last very long.

No doubt the Antiques Roadshow people were filming the water-splash. I'm sure in Erewash Valley it must be 'watter-splash'.

I'm not sure of 'trassin' either. 'Tazin' I know - as in "he was really 'tazin' along in his Peugot."

I'm afraid you are right about Local Government expenditure too. Durban House would be a sad loss because we were all so pleased when it was so well renovated and dedicated to Lawrence.

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Quotation time ...... I think this is accurate - but I can't actually track it down.. Even if not accurate, it is certainly true.....

"The government solution to a problem is usually worse than the problem."

Milton Friedman

"Sleep tight - catch you tomorrow"

With lots of pictures like this please open that link !


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Definite thaw even if still 34F

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Yet another shot out of the office window but not dawn today. Even though the blackbirds sit happily on the front wall oblivious of traffic, they have until yesterday turned their beaks up at these cotoneaster berries. However, they have now succumbed.

My bird feeders tend to concentrate on the smaller birds to the exclusion of starling and pigeons because they knock the food off bird-tables which then attracts rats. And the blackbirds suffer in consequence. In any case I always consider them slighlty mad - it is that staring yellow-rimmed eye that glowers at you. The one on the right is managed to half look at me whilst kicking up the snow.

No guests for lunch today and I did a chicken stir-fry with mixed chinese veg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, sliced mushrooms and some fresh basil.. Seasoned with a couple of tbsps Oyster Ketchup and a dessert spoon of toasted sesame oil. Y said it couldn't be faulted for flavour but I didn't put any green bits in. I had planned some sliced green beans but forgot !

There are distinct signs of a thaw even though the temperature is still quite low. By Friday it is forecast to have risen to 41F which should get rid of some more snow.

Amazon really are a slick organisation. I think I mentioned ordering two books by mistake. No problem in returning just one of them. They e-mailed me a barcode label to include in the package and a postage label to stick on the front. What makes me say slick is that in the e-mail was a live link saying 'Print this label' which, when clicked, sent it straight to my printer without any faffing about.

Caught some good radio today. 'Quote Unquote' as you would expect is one of my favourites. One lovely quote was from the late Linda Smith about Jesus being clearly not English because he wore sandals, without socks.

And the afternoon play had Andrew Sachs in a play about Edward Lear called The Need for Nonsense. Interestingly Lear had a Greek Manservant, Grigorio who sounded just like Andrew Sachs in Fawlty Towers. Most confusing !

My responses to your previous comments

Bob ...... I guessed you would react to 'no wind' in the title. It surprised me that you didnt react to 'Derek for lunch' - I expected the reaction "I thought you were having pork chops".

For some reason 'Dancing on Ice' doesn't appeal to either of us even though we know several people who really rate it.

JBW....... You definitely qualify for a Radiogandy Star and probably also a house point for your work on the water-splash at Lacock.

n.b. I notice in my e-mail inbox a further comment from you. Would you mind please posting it in response to today's blog because I don't feel I can breach my 'no multiple comments' rule. Sorry.

Jill ...... Even though the dawn was OK the rest of the day was unexceptional. I think 'Raw' sums it up. Not pleasant at all.

We thought Ann Widdicombe did a tidy job with her Reformation bit in the Christianity series. As you no doubt know she went 'Roman' a few years ago and her interest in the period showed through.

Apple sauce was available although I personally don't like it with meat. Stewed apple always goes with custard in my book.

Some goose-fat came in our Xmas Hamper from Helen and David. But I keep forgetting to use it and do the roast potatoes in about half an inch of extra virgin. They always seem to turn out well. In my opinion King Edwards or Desirée give the best result with Maris Piper a possible third.

I remember the Robert Hughes series very well. An excellent Art Historian.

Yvonne ..... You are quite right about Lacock and this is a print from that very first negative.

I can't remember when you and I went but I have a photograph of that same latticed window from the outside.

Needless to say - I can't find it !

Reg ..... Google Images produced me this view of Lacock of the Abbey from the rear. Perhaps this is the stream which hosts the water-splash.

It would, as you say, be too far for a routine WoW.

Perhaps the answer would be to have an extended WoW and travel down one day, book in B & B and then travel back the next day. With suitable stopping places for taking snaps !

Quotation time ......

"A few strong instincts and a few plain rules will suffice us"

R. W. Emerson

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We haven't had the fish for some time


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Derek for Lunch - 35F - No wind

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A panorama of dawn and even though it looks quite colourful I was about 30 seconds too late and some vividness had gone. Now I've got used to them, panoramas are a doddle in PS Elements 7. I think I shall abandon the Serif programme because it isn't as good.

Sorry to report my legs/back are not good and I can't get comfortable at all. Even so, I enjoyed cooking lunch for neighbour Derek. The meal was pork chop, stuffing, roast potatoes (King Edwards) yorkshire puddings, carrots and brussels. I was very pleased with everything, especially the roast potatoes which had crisp golden brown outers and fluffy inners. I couldn't eat my last one so Derek had it - now there's a sincere compliment to the chef. For pudding Y did cherry pancakes with ice-cream and the whole occasion was most pleasant. Derek and Betty are great neighbours and Derek does lots for us (cutting hedges and disposing of the clippings, dustbins up/down, daily security checks when we are away) and that sort of thing. So we feel that cooking him proper meals while Betty is in Hospital is some recompense. He reports that the food in The City Hospital is pretty awful.

Had a nice chat with David this morning and found out the Long Eaton news. They all seem OK but he still gets tired and done for. He had taken everybody sledging at Wollaton Hall where there is a smashing slope but he found the walking back up the hill with sledges exhausting and he had to pace himself. But David has got bottle and will keep attacking !

Had some interchange with Rob about 'pinhole photography' and I intend to have a go. Back to the birth of photography, and before in fact, via the camera obscura. David Hockney has long been convinced that Canaletto, amongst others, was a keen user. Yet another new project for me - How exciting ! And a cheap one for a change because you don't have to buy any lenses, just have a pinhole drilled in one's camera's body-cap.

The tulip on the right isn't an example. It is just a very conventional snap, even if close-up.

This evening we plan to watch Christianity: A History which is now reaching The Reformation. The presenter is Ann Widdicombe who, even if one disagrees with her politics always seems a straight-talking sort of gal.

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne ..... I'm sure I did ramble on too long and you, and Jill, are no doubt right about 'rabbited' also. I was unduly influence by the risk of 'rab- bited' and the fear that I might have been got at by a Rabbi.

Jill ...... 'Inhabited' was the clincher I think. The shards of those speciality glasses, Pyrex, Thermos, etc., seem particularly good at flying great distances and lodging in peculiar places.

Glad your Peter Jones jaunt finally came to pass. I know how much you enjoy them.

Your Grandad sounds great ! Vivid imaginations are excellent child pleasers.

David .... Fancy you remembering about the newsagent ringing when I'd been on nights and you were late for your paper-round. I hope I wasn't too angry.

Bob ...... I'm glad I managed to describe the thermos-smashing sufficiently well for your to get a mental picture.

The 'cartoon' fully deserved my praise.

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Quotation time .....I may have published this before, but it deserves another airing.

"The problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."

Bertrand Russell

Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow

The oldie train must be due for another showing too



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Idle day - feeling rocky - leg ache

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I suppose I ought to start with the sunrise. Not being a good sleeper its never a hardship. In fact it was a relief when the papers arrived around 6am.

They are very reliable round at the Newsagents.

It was good the sun was semi-obscured behind the trees because I was able to capture just a hint of snowy lawn. If the sun had been brighter the foreground would have been completely blocked up (black and without any detail, for non photographers). I could have worked on it in Photoshop but at my level of proficiency you would have been able to see where I had been. Much better 'as taken' and then it never looks false.

I needed flash for the tulips, and as Jill says, yet more yellow flowers. I guess she is right that yellow is a spring colour. But in English gardens there always seem a lot of yellow anyway.


The third picture is following a 'thermos smashing event' I had in the middle of the night. It was almost like an Irish joke.

I picked up my flask to pour a coffee and noticed water dripping out of the bottom. So I unscrewed the bottom plate to pour out the water that had obviously entered when we washed it. While it was upside down I noticed coffee dripping out of the top pouring end which still had the stopper in. I instinctively turned the thing the right way up to stop this and crash, the inner thermos bit fell out and smashed into thousands of pieces on the floor.

With my warfarin intake as it is I daren't risk cutting myself even slightly, I bleed like a stuck pig, and for a long time.

So I managed to drag my slippers to me and I went and collected a brush and pan from the kitchen. There were shards everywhere, under the bed, in my loo and they had even got under the door into corridor. I had to collect them together because I didn't want Y to cut herself either. Over an hour it took me. And that was only a first run. Later we used the vacuum cleaner. But I still keep finding the odd slivver. Neither Y's nor my eyes are sharp enough and it will be a job for Karen in Tuesday.

Thanks Reg - the website you have sent me for 3am use will come in handy. I've got one of those steel unbreakable flasks in the garage to where it was consigned. The reason - it didn't seem to retain the heat as well as my old-fashioned Thermos.

This afternoon I listened to a great The Saturday Play by Nigel Planar called 'On the Ceiling'. The idea was that two of Michelangelo's artisan plasterer workmen are on the top of the scaffold for the Sistine Chapel. Whoever wrote the blurb obviously didn't hear the whole play from start to finish because, contrary to what the hack wrote, the two chaps Lapo and Loti finish up awestruck by the work of their boss. As did Pope Julius. There were lots of 'in' art-history jokes about fresco and spolvero methods but I won't bore you with links.

I know of Nigel Planar as an actor but I didn't realise what a talented playwright he is too.

My responses to your previous comments

KevinB ..... Many congratulations on your competition success - again !

You must be very well placed in the ongoing list that Trevor keeps of points scored.

I understand the 3rd position joke now Helen has explained it to me. If I can't produce prize-winners myself, being the model for other people's successes is an honour indeed.

Jill ..... It is good to be back. Like cooking I find writing my blog therapeutic ! I'm absolutely sure that your knitting does the same for you.

Re the witch hazel - I'm sure your grandfather was right - if he had the gnarled and twisted variety. As Bob said lower down there seems two distinct shapes and ours is as straight as a willow wand, to which they are related.

Our snow is going, but very very slowly and 'cold and raw' sums it up. We have a 9mph northerly wind which makes it feel much colder than the 35f shown on my weather page.

The Surbiton et al experience is common all over the country I fear. As you say more 'grit' is needed with a little 'determination'. And I've not seen the point made anywhere but motorists can't just blame the Councils and the Government - why not buy a set of skid-chains ? In the old days I would write to the Telegraph and the letter would probably be published. But I canna be bovvered !

Bob ..... Thanks for the BungusBlessing ! Are you sure it isn't like the GlasgowKiss ?

I can stand the criticism of my snowflake picture and, if it reminded you of third class rail travel, so much to the good.

Sorry to hear that Jack is ill. If I'm remembering the correct chap he certainly is a 'character' and satisfactorily eccentric to fit in.

This seems the right place to share you Survivor drawing with all our readers.

Putting my art critic hat on I must say that in my opinion it is quite excellent and yet again, an incredibly good likeness - facially anyway - I don't know about the rest, thank God. I trust Sandra didn't have to model for the lady in the foreground apparently with a stick !

Helen C ....... Thanks for the lowdown on the projected images panel and I'm pleased that my misty morning found favour. You did extremely well and, as Roy and others have said, your progress has been remarkable.

You will just have to save up for that macro lens ! Pity it won't be a Nikon 'cos then we could all have cadged it.

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I'm giving the quotation a miss this evening because I've rabbitted on far too long anyway.

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"

Snow still with us - 34F - NW wind

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Yesterday evening I ventured out to photograph the Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) which is managing to flower in these adverse conditions.

David said all that needed to be said really in his blog comment. When you consider that his mum and I were divorced as long ago as 1966 I was surprised how much her death knocked me sideways. Memories of when we were very young flooded back.

Y, who I didn't meet until many years after the divorce, was stalwart in her support and said and did all the right things. As David says we must now move on.

In the middle of the night two days ago I contrived to order the same book twice from Amazon and they e-mailed me to say that both had been dispatched in the same delivery. Their returns policy however is as slick as the rest of the operation. So, unless any reader would like a copy of Jeff Carlson's book about Photoshop Elements 7 for a small fee I aim to send it back tomorrow. I say a small fee because I'll have to pay postage to send it back anyway.

During the snow I have tried several times to capture some snow-flakes actually falling. The picture on the left is the pick of the bunch. Unsurprisingly I suppose, in my hands anyway, the old Casio Compact produced a more intelligible shot than my Nikon D80.

To quote what an elderly Sgt once said to me - "Pc Marsden, you'd best leave that to them what understands that sort of job"

The panels of projected images were judged last night but I'm assuming I didn't do very well or I think someone would have rung me. Ah well !

Betty next door went into the City Hospital for her knee operation on Wednesday and all went well according to Derek. He doesn't expect her home much before next Tuesday or Wednesday and he joined us at lunchtime for our regular Fish & Chips and mushy-peas. Followed by Sponge Pudding and Custard. All healthy stodge for this winter weather. We enjoyed having him and, all being well, he is to join us for Sunday lunch too.

My responses to your previous comments

I don't think there are any blog-comments outstanding which need a response from me. If there are please post a 'comment' letting me know.

The way Yvonne popped into the editorial chair was a great help.

Quotation time ...... This I like ....

"Only the mediocre are always at their best."

Jean Giraudoux

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"



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Temporary suspension of the Blog

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From Yvonne:

There will be no blog today. John and David's mother (Graham's first wife) has died and Graham is too upset to compose a blog post.

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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.

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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

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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"

Proper Snow - 31F - 8mph NE wind

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Thanks for contributing your snowy pictures. I know I am having a little affair with Miss Collage at the moment but I'm quite keen. Above are pics from Brinsley, Burton Joyce, Chiswick and Boughton. Top left is Jill's 'Iced Stone Greyhound' - to me it looks like the air ventilation shaft to Ro's bunker and to the right is Lisa braving the arctic conditions to see to her bird-feeders. There's altruism for you ! Bottom right is from a miserable owd sod who asks "Who decided snow is attractive? " - Well, Y and I think it is anyway.

My unavoidable trip for my warfarin blood-test was safely out of the way before the snow storm began and when I returned I had the foresight to put out tomorrow's bin and close the gates. So neither of us has had to venture out again. Y is still not 100% but improving by the hour, and her appetite is better.

At lunchtime we watched David Attenborough's programme on BBC iPlayer about Charles Darwin. It was quite excellent and he is a role-model to demonstrate that the older gentleman can still 'cut the mustard'. The link above has an internal link so if anyone who missed it wants to watch it, there it is, just two clicks away. There were points about 'evolution' that have always worried me, like the human eye for instance ! But with some brilliant computer graphics he put our minds at rest.

My suggestion that Bob might like to submit his 'comments' in the form of pictures with text thereon attracted a very nice drawing which I feel I must share with you.

It is in fact an excellent likeness. Whatever else, he can certainly draw.

My responses to your previous comments

JBW...... You are to be congratulated on your persistence with the water-splash, which I feel sure will lead to a result ! Y hasn't had chance yet to ask her chum Joan who knows lots of things like that.

Also, we are at Mansfield Centre for the National Trust tomorrow evening for our monthly talk, and it is just the sort of thing someone there might know. The lecturer is Bill Clarke talking about Kedleston Hall.

So don't lose heart Reg - I've got agents working on it.

Jill ....... We can see/hear from the media that your Snow is much worse than ours. Here in the gentle Erewash Valley we seem protected from extremes of weather. But please send more pictures ! To capture a pic of your urban fox would be great and of much interest to our more far-flung readers.

Our 'rib-sticking stew' was indeed plenty for today too. There is perhaps a quarter of a pint of gravy left but I have already frozen it - to seed the next suitable meal. We can't waste gravy of that quality. It was a temptation to let it down abit and have some dumplings in it. But I am fat enough n'est ce pas ?

Re the Charles Darwin - I assume we are talking about the same prog - with David Attenborough ? See remarks above.

Re all your choices - didn't Reg say you can record more than one, while watching another. Trouble is then, finding time to watch them all. When video recorders were first invented I commented in an article that "we had just bought a machine to watch the television for us"......

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Quotation time ......

"Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like video-recorders and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times"

Charles M Schulz - Peanuts

I used to love Linus ? with his comfort blanket .... brilliant cartoons and a lovely man by all accounts.

and


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Snowy Sunday - 28F - 10mph wind

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Today I am using two guest pictures, the one on the left an original drawing by Bob. It reminds me very much of the Marx brothers film Duck Soup
Please don't ask me why.

Or I could be confused with something by The Three Stooges.

It was a film where they went out duck-shooting. Definitely a case for 'nifty googler' but he will prolly be too busy. This 'work' business interfers far too much with life.

Anyway - Thank you Bob. Typically witty and beautifully drawn. The hippo has a wistful look, but happy enough. Or should I say 'hippy' enough.

n.b. herein may lie the answer to your 'blog comment title' problem. Send me a picture with your 'comment' thereon in text, and I can publish it !


Guest Picture 2 is Jill's amaryllis and in an e-mail she wonders about Y's reaction to the phallic symbol. Obviously Y has decided on a discreet silence. But your editor considers that, in phallic terms, it definitely looks like a 'before and after' depiction !

As you will gather from the title, it is chilly here to say the least, and we have a light covering of snow. Please see the picture on the right. The view from my bedroom window around 5.30pm. And it has snowed again since. Tomorrow morning will be interesting. My only commitment is my blood-test at 9.10am. And I don't have to make Snowmen for people these days.

I had a nice chat to David this morning and he sounds about fully back to his normal chipper self. He has done a full week at work but has been trying to leave at a reasonable 4/4.30pm rather than after 5.30pm which he had slid into. David is a conscientious young man and I am very proud of him. Also today is Brooke's birthday and she is going to use her birthday money on some acquisition for The Dolls House.

I hope Jill will forgive me but I have done a little work on her Amaryllis to brighten it. All the light was outside, leaving the plant itself a little under-exposed.

For main meal I cooked a beef-stew. Shin beef, swede, carrot, celery, mushrooms. And I managed to find fresh thyme in the garden - two bay leaves (not in the garden) and beef-stock. As I have commented before, its 'beef-stew ' if you are to eat it yourselves but the same meal served to guests miraculously becomes a 'beef-casserole'.

Aren't we Brits a strange race ?

David suggests that my yesterday's Triptych showing the changing sky at sunrise could perhaps qualify as an 'idea'. Number 6,332 in fact. Some of the tick-comments on Ephotozine were very complimentary about the idea of showing the progression one after the other. Ephotozine is a free online camera magazine, and one can have a portfolio of pictures which other members can comment on and give a tick to. Often if I'm not sleeping too well I can spend a happy hour looking at other people pics.

My responses to your previous comments

Yvonne...... You did indeed rise from your sick-bed to be a loyal wife. Thank you for your comment. I am very pleased however that you have been wise and spent most of the day reading in bed and keeping warm. And I am glad you enjoyed the beef-stew so much. You paid me the genuine compliment of using your dessert spoon to finish off your gravy.

And thanks for doing the golden syrupp sponge-pudding and custard for pudding. Just what was called for on this bitterly cold day.

Fancy winning the village tote - again ! ...... We are clearly on the right side of the contribution/winnings table.

Jill ...... I suppose 7.30am must still seem like the middle of the night ! But I definitely think that, on a nice day, one can now notice a difference in day-length. Roll on the spring.

This evening we watched Rageh Omah in the series on Christianity. His subject was based on the Crusades. He made an excellent programme of it. I have always considered him a talented journalist. Rageh now works for Al Jazeera which I know Ray watches and listens to, in order to obtain a more balanced coverage of events in that part of the world rather than restricting oneself to BBC.

Re theatre seats. I can only think that the Victorians had smaller bottoms and shorter legs. Or they considered pain an essential accompaniment to culture.

Again, the info on your evacuation was most interesting. Y has told me how she used to come and see you when you were in Hospital with TB.

Reg ...... I for one don't know the whereabouts of the Antiques Roadshow watersplash.

But, here is the place to ask. If 'nifty googler' can't crack it I suspect that Y's pal Joan will probably know. I must remember to ask Y to enquire next time they enjoy a leisurely hours chat on the phone !

It is definitely a lady-thing isn't it. I speak to you on the phone at least once a week and it's usually 90 seconds max.

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

"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business"

Tom Robbins

"Sleep tight - Catch you tomorrow"


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