Jenny, Ian, Jon, Zara, and Jenny's friend Laurie: are about to embark on one of their crazy inexorable gallops round the planet. There's some convoluted planning afoot. Zara Flew to NZ to catch up with Jon. Together they're now en route to Australia. Jenny and Laurie leave for Australia tomorrow via China. Ian leaves the next day travelling via Indonesia. He's escorting a party of 60. He's one of the coaches of the GB team Oz Rules football - they'll be playing in an International tournament in Melbourne. After the football is over Ian and Jenny will meet up with Jon and Zara and travel to NZ - in their words "just for a look round". Ian said they plan to be back in the UK just in time for the new school term. That's their summer sorted then. Good luck with the games everyone.
It strikes me that there's only Baby Jai who has his feet on the ground - he's happy jamming with rocker Grandad, Gary. Ian Hunter, Paul Weller, eat your hearts out! |
A get well message for MFJ (AKA My Friend Jose). I had an e-mail from her yesterday telling me all about it and she's out of action good and proper. She and Claude went to Wales for a few days. Poor Jose had a fall which resulted in an ambulance ride to hospital. She's back in Codsall now - nothing broken but she fell so heavily on her hip things are pretty painful at the moment and she can only move about on a frame.
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I found this on Facebook - I think Zara and Jonathan have been trying to do some creative photography to while away the time as they wait for their flight at Christchurch Airport. They've managed to make the air ticket look bigger than their suitcases. I hear Jenny is having trouble deciding what to pack because they're calling at different temperature zones - she reckons she needs clothing ranging from bikini to big puffy ski jacket. One of those little dilemma the blokes don't understand. |
24th July 2017
Another new week - washing's pegged so I thought I'd stop by for a chat. Trouble is nothing's been happening so there's little to tell you. Jay and Les were home gardening all weekend - Shrewsbury people stayed put too. Bern and I did nothing more interesting than housework and telly watching and dibbling on our iPads - a nerdy thing to do. (Note I said 'dibbling' and not 'dribbling'). He called to see his mother in her care home - she was quite chirpy and actually remembered his name. Bern's taken to reading the long range weather forecast and tells me the latest predictions are that in a few weeks time we'll be getting temperatures in the region of 40 degrees; later on, in the winter months, there'll be record breaking rainfall. Lots to look forward to - NOT. |
I've lots to grumble about: my car tax is due and a couple of weeks later it's time to fork out for an MoT and car service. A mega spend on boring things which coincides with the launch of Gudrun Sjoden's autumn collection on July 27th. Talk about bad timing. However... I still have a £100 voucher than I won in a competition earlier this year, I've been hanging onto it ready for the new stuff. Exciting!
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One more little matter that's come to my attention, BBC website reports that 2,500 items have shrunk - manufactures have sneakily reduced the size of their products to avoid putting up prices. OK I can live with that it's just the Andrex toilet rolls that cause me annoyance. They are still the same price but the 240 sheets have been reduced to 221 sheets. Why didn't they reduce them by 20 sheets rather than 19? - to keep it a nice round number. And who counted them in order to write the article? That one odd sheet is niggling.... isn't it? Perhaps it's the grisly one that always clings to the cardboard centre.
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22nd July 2017 Hi everyone - are you up for a bit of useless information that I've just read on Facebook? Here goes... Add the age you will be this year to the year you were born and the answer will be 2017. The amazing thing is that this little calculation only works every 1000th year. I wonder who on earth discovered it in the first place... and why? Now we know what boffins do all day! And when 3017 comes round will anyone remember to see if it works? |
20th July 2017
Bit of a damp one today. The man of the moment popped in yesterday afternoon accompanied by Nanny Carol. He's constantly hell bent on getting outside. If there's a door he heads straight for it and if he sees a gate he's off like a shot. He can't quite manage on his own so it's back ache for the grown ups.. I've never met such a little chap with so much determination. He had a lovely time rattling our back gate in the hope it would open. Little Jai managed to reveal a bird bath design fault - they're the wrong height. Little man suddenly discovered he could do his bath time "splashy splashy" routine in the bird bath resulting in a hands and arms wash before we let him go home to Mummy. Bern's just set out on his weekly walk. He suddenly came up with the notion to go to the churchyard to clean one or two family headstones. He's taken a packet of those floor wipe things from the kitchen draw. Watch out Mum and Dad, baby Emma, and Father in Law - you're about to be smartened up. They're all long gone but never forgotten.
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19th July 2017
Morning all. What's afoot today then? Bern's been busy tearing his hair out. Oh dear that was an unkind metaphor - he'd tear it out if there was any. Computer problems. There's nothing more hair-tearing than technological troubles. I waded through the freebie papers and found a new number to try and, I'm pleased to say, we found a whiz of a chap called Jamie Martin who fixed the problem on Bern's Apple Mac desktop in no time at all and at a reasonable cost. He's local, operates under the name "Bits & Bytes" and he's happy with Apple and Windows systems. AND they offer discount for OAPs. Oh well... being old has its compensations and we can insist that we're only old on the outside. I'll put more details on the "Links to This and That" page (see menu above). The main thing is Bern's back down from the ceiling and he's given up on the colourful invective. Between you and me, I think the problem may have been caused by passwords being forgotten... the usual sort of thing that geriatrics encounter; thankfully Jamie sorted him out. |
Who am I to mention the word geriatric? I had a right old senior moment yesterday. I worked hard all morning to drum up ideas for the writers' group homework. I glued my bum to the chair until I had it written and then when I fished it out of my bag at the meeting I realised I'd done next week's homework by mistake. Time to keep my mouth shut then.
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17th July 2017
I'm forever bewildered by what turns up on Facebook. I'd only popped in to catch up on my scrabble games (and maybe nose around a bit) and then I spotted this little message (right) from the Council's bin department I've only just taken on board the many text messages I get from the hospital to remind me of my appointment and then another to say how did I enjoy my appointment , Then comes another one asking you to give your experience a score. If you respond with a score there's another text asking why you decided on that particular score. |
South Staffordshire Council · 14 July at 17:10 · Due to delays at the disposal site, our crews collecting your grey bins in #Bilbrook are running late. Please leave your bin at the collection point and we will be with you as soon as we can. Apologies for any inconvenience that this has caused.
Guess what - if you click on the little link they included above (#Bilbrook) you get to see a picture of a bin... what fun! Where will it end? Who will be fretting if their bin is emptied a little later than usual? I've heard mention of a social media site called Snapchat which is popular with the tech-savvy kids - I Googled it and found it's a facility to send pictures and videos to one's friends but after a couple of seconds they self destruct. The pics and videos not the friends. I'm worrying now if that has dark undertones - what if people send obnoxious stuff? - there'll be no traceability following the self destruct business. Maybe I'm not understanding how it works but my first thoughts are that it's daft and dangerous.
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I bet you're wondering why I haven't shown you my latest picture. Fact is, I've decided it's a rubbish. I've just obliterated it with white gesso. The original picture on the canvas was of physalis - those orange lantern plants. It looked too amateurish so I gessoed over it and then painted a jungle scene. I lived with it for a few days until I couldn't bear to look at it. Now it's a white gessoed canvas again awaiting for inspiration, expertise, and ideas, all of which elude me. The canvas is getting thick and robust though. Gesso is made of a similar mix to plaster of Paris - white, claggy, and dries to a hard finish. If this canvas ever receives a picture I'm happy with chances are it will be so heavy it'll demolish the wall when if I hang it.
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13th July 2017
From the site stats I see that loads of people popped in yesterday to see if I was in. Sorry for my tardiness - I've been immersed in my art homework - the summer project Roland set. Hope you didn't think I'd fallen of my perch or something. OK - a quick run down of recent days. Last Saturday's gardening skirmish turned out trumps: Andy and Rajni's front garden looks very presentable with all the rubbish shifted, lawns mowed, weeds banished and no more disapproving glares from the neighbours. Whew! It was hot work though carried out by Bern, Andy, Karen, Lewis (Emma's boyfriend - not sure how he spells his name). And I did a titchy bit too - picking up stuff and chucking it in the skip. Then they phoned Pattingham café and ordered sandwiches all round - so we had a lovely picnic while taking turns to walk up and down with Jai. Big Jay and Lesley were in Greywell to see Lesley's parents. ( Hi to Audrey and Jack). Glad to hear all's well in Hampshire. |
Tuesday's writers' meeting was good - we had Bert Flitcroft again to do a poetry workshop. He is currently Staffordshire Poet Laureate and has been overseeing a county-wide project with publication online. The works are by people from around the country and about Staffordshire. The judges chose a poem by our very own Maggie to include in the collection. You can read her poem by following this link - it's called "Perton's Living Fields" and harks back to the time when there was an airfield on wartime Perton. Congratulations Mags!https://staffordshirepoetlaureate.wordpress.com/the-staffordshire-poetry-collection/
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Look at my painting pinny - proof I've been occupied. Can't tell the pinny from the palette. Oil paint is so mucky, it takes me ages to clean up after a painting session, brushes, hands, and the mess that ends up in the sink. not to mention the odd dabs of paint that find their way onto my clothes, hair, floor.
And while we're looking at stupid pictures - this landed on my phone from Raj. Rajni you have committed a mortal sin by distributing such propaganda - Gran is not amused. Oh no! Adding insult to injury, someone doesn't know where to place the apostrophe!. You know the 'C' word is banned until December. Poor Raj she gets over excited at the thought of 'C' - she's making party plans in the middle of summer.
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5th July 2017
Whats App was buzzing merrily last night when Zara landed in NZ - our lot are quite OTT when something's afoot. I still have trouble appreciating the time differences - she arrived in time for breakfast on Wednesday morning but it was still Tuesday evening here. Let's not worry about all that. It's just that when I said to her, "hope John has cooked you a nice meal," she replied "he has bacon and eggs on the go." It was then I worked it out. It looks like they've been out for a stroll already (complete with selfie stick by the look of it) - it was also mooted that she's finding the chilly temperature a bit of shock to the system after leaving sunny Europe. |
4th July 2017
Morning everyone - we've had a message from Friends of Bilbrook - I've put the details on the Upcoming Events page. They're looking for help with clearing the invasive Himalayan Balsam plant that flourishes in the Jubilee Wood area. They're also encouraging us to visit this little green oasis to enjoy the wildflowers and peaceful environment while summer is here. |
I had a message from Zara yesterday evening - she was all excited and about to board a flight in Dusseldorf on another leg of her journey from Amsterdam to meet up with Jonathan in New Zealand. They'll be doing some sight-seeing for a few weeks and meeting up with Ian and Jenny in Australia in August. Jon has left his job. After his summer travels with Zara he's coming home to rethink the future. We suspect the long term plan is to settle in Amsterdam. But who knows...? The ease with which the young ones pootle round the planet these days is on a par with my wanderings up to the Co-op
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I'm frantically trying to come up with something for today's writers meeting. The brief is to write something based on food. Hmm... not quite my cup of tea... I always declare that I eat to live rather live to eat these days. Maybe I'll cheat a bit, dredge the computer files for something I wrote yonks ago. Not sure I've ever written about food.
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3rd July 2017
It was lovely to have summer back for the weekend. We had a great time at Emma's birthday bash on Saturday afternoon - as usual I took my camera and forgot to take any pics. So what's new? I hear you say. Baby Jai turned up for the 'do' hell bent on showing off his nearly-walking skills. He didn't want to sit on the grass and he didn't want to sit on anyone's lap - it was a matter of taking turns to do the back-bending task of letting him hang onto your fingers and march up and down the lawn. It's looking like we have another athlete in the making. Ian missed the party as he was playing Oz Rules Footy in Liverpool and managed to get a knee injury resulting in a hospital visit. Luckily a mate was able to drive Ian's car and get them home again. Gran's brave little soldier that he is (believe me he'll cringe to hear that but I delight in winding him up) turned out on Sunday morning to watch Jenny run her first triathlon. I don't know a damn thing about triathlons but apparently you have to swim, cycle, and run considerable distances without having a breather in between the various disciplines. They tell me Jenny made good time and finished only a few minutes after her brother. Her time was 01:24:38. Ian and Jenny in the top pic and Jenny with brother Simon on the below. Whew: I'm breathless just thinking about it. |
1st July 2017
Happy Birthday to Jonathan - still snowboarding in the mountain just outside Christchurch NZ. Also Happy Birthday Emma for the 29th June. We're all descending on Emma today for a birthday barbecue. Jon's escaped all the fuss this year but we've bombarded him with Facebook and What's App messages. It's something you have to put up with in this family - if it's your birthday there's no respite - everyone turns up and then it's all about cards and cake. You have to sneak off to another planet if you want to avoid the hoo-ha. Jon is really into what I would term a bad weather sport - I don't quite get it - why would anyone want to be so cold and wet as that even if it is exhilarating to whoosh down a slope on a lump of wood? I guess I'm seeing it from the point of view of an oldie. Brrrrr! |
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1st July 1858: Charles Darwin presented his paper outlining his "Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection" to the British Linnean Society. A similar paper was also presented on this date by Alfred Wallace. I think it has taken mankind a long time to accept the idea that our future doesn't lie in the lap of the Gods - if we want a planet to live on for a few more millennia we'd better get our act together and do something about it.
Darwin said: It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. Wallace said: In one of my latest conversations with Darwin he expressed himself very gloomily on the future of humanity, on the ground that in our modern civilization natural selection had no play, and the fittest did not survive. Those who succeed in the race for wealth are by no means the best or the most intelligent, and it is notorious that our population is more largely renewed in each generation from the lower than from the middle and upper classes. |
I've been busy hunting through the Gudrun Sjoden online sale. I've also been chatting with all the other Gudrun Girls (aka Gudrun Fashionistas - in truth, oldish ladies like me who are fans of Gudrun.) who are in the Gudrun Girls Group on Facebook. There's great excitement in there with everyone posting their pictures wearing the said clobber. If you are on Facebook have a look at the groups Gudrun Girls on Greene Street and/or Gudrun Girls London. Here's my latest two pics wearing old and new GS stuff. The game is to sit back and see how many "likes" you get from around the world. Some of us are easily amused.
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25th June 2017
Crikey, look at the date, exactly halfway to the day we'll be worrying about what time to put the turkey in the oven. Sorry for that - Maggie and Hilary please note I didn't mention the 'C' word. Hope everyone is up and running again now the temperature is down a bit. I've been a bit slow for a couple of days as the old rheumatoid arthritis had a "flare up" as they call it. Strange expression isn't it - sounds like I might self-combust. |
We were all at Lichfield Hockey/Cricket Club last night for Jenny's 30th bash. Another chance to catch up with everyone - but you had to grab your moment to exchange a few pleasantries between the bouts of loud music. Jenny's Grandma (Madeleine) and I had great difficulty swapping important news about our aches and pains. I'm wondering if the young will be deaf before old age sets in, although they appear to have developed the art of communication despite the noise barrier. Ah! Got it! That's why they're always thumbing it on their phones - they're text talking to the person sitting beside them. Now I'm thinking if evolution takes over in true Attenborough fashion the human race will evolve into creatures that don't speak or hear - it'll be facial expressions and text messages only. Gawd knows how they'll manage to dance in unison though - it'll have to be jungle jogging type movements up and down on the spot like ancient tribal rituals. Are we moving forwards? I'm not knocking the party - it was lovely - it's just that my people watching observations set me thinking. Here's Birthday Girl enjoying a cake and chocolate moment. |
Happy Birthday to Jenny (Ian's wife) it's a significant one with an '0' - everyone will turn up at the big bash next Saturday evening so brace yourselves Lichfield. The month of June is birthday overload for us. Emma's is coming up next week too with the promise of another 'do' next Saturday.
Yesterday's writers' meeting was lively - good turnout and lots of homework pieces were read, and pulled to pieces. We like call it constructive criticism. All good fun.
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19th June 2017
A red letter day today - Carol's Birthday - birthday wishes from us all. We've had quite a Shrewsbury weekend - everyone descended yesterday laden with cake for a fathers' day do and afternoon tea in the garden. Then Bern and I turned up again at lunchtime today for a birthday picnic in the garden with Carol (she was on a day off) - we sheltered from the mid-day sun under the old apple tree. Apologies for the star-gazing pose, we haven't quite got the hang of this selfie lark. |
Little Jai was not a happy chappy this morning. He decided it was too warm to go to nursery: however, Mummy managed to persuade him and then spent the rest of the day worrying if he was OK. A phone call... "he's fine" she was told. Little man is learning the ways of the world and how to do something about the bits you don't like. Here he is fed and washed and nearly ready to go - It looks to me as if he's thinking things over and making alternative plans.
How are you getting on with the heat? I feel like a blob of something that's melted. All you need is a beach this weather and the odd ice cream.
Jay and Lesley had a flying visit to Christchurch for their anniversary weekend to inhale the ozone and enjoy the sea breeze. There was a bit of mighty hiccup en route to the seaside - I won't go into details but it involved diesel engine car and PETROL pump. Oops! Oh, and a hefty bill. |
16th June 2017
My Mum used to quote old sayings and words of wisdom the like of which I'd never heard before nor since. One of her little gems was "tell a lie and prove it." I finally understood its meaning this morning. Jay is always nagging us about leaving the back door open or unlocked especially when we're both upstairs in our respective glory holes glued to a computer. Many times I've reassured him that we wouldn't be so silly and we would hear the door or someone coming up the path. However: as I was busy Facebooking (if there is such an adjective) this morning, I had a text from Jay. It simply said "coffee?" So I texted back to say "I'll go and put the kettle on". When I got downstairs, Jay was in the kitchen, kettle on and coffee almost ready and we hadn't heard a thing. I guess we were caught in the act (of not hearing the car, door, footsteps, whatever). He rests his case. What can we say other than "oops!" |
Happy Wedding Anniversary Jay and Les and we promise to the lock the door.
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15th June 2017
Hilary has reported on the Codsall Treasure Hunt that took place on the 13th (notice below). She said they had a good night, great fun, and I guess everyone benefitted from the walk. Thanks Hilary. I've posted details of Codsall Community Group's next event on the Local Events page (menu above). |
Today was our last art class before the summer break - we lapsed into holiday mood which resulted in less painting, more talking, no masterpieces. Nadine came with news of a great place to buy art materials - it's called The Paper House located near Stafford. Must investigate.
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14th June 2017
I thought we'd have sunshine yellow in honour of today's summery sunshine. I would have been here earlier but Bern called me for tea on the terrace - what he actually meant was a cuppa on the back yard. Prior to that we had a fab morning with Jay and Carol at David Austin garden centre café. Coffee, a bite to eat, and time to smell the roses. Lesley and Gary were at work while we dabbled with the plus side of retirement. Carol is on "collect little Jai from nursery" duty so we departed around mid-day. Here's Carol trying to out-smile the roses. |
13th June 2017
This picture landed on my phone this morning - it's from Jon in NZ, he's busy snow-boarding at the moment on Mount Hutt which is about 90 minutes drive from Christchurch where he's living. I presume he is the red dot on the right. I find it difficult to contemplate snow in the middle of June. Hilary (my friend from art class) has been busy with the Codsall group organising a treasure hunt. Here's the details in case you'd like to join in. There's another event they're organising which is scheduled for early July so I'll let you know about that too.
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12th June 2017
Crikey, here we are diving into another new week. Tempus fugit and all that... The weekend got off to a bad start with Bern's mum having a fall in her care home. A phone message told us she'd been taken to hospital so Bern dashed off to New Cross: but, they had no record of her admittance. A few phone calls later we found that she was in Russells Hall - the original caller had forgotten to mention it. So off he went to Dudley. Ethel refused to co-operative with the consultant. He said she couldn't be forced to have blood tests and x-rays. So after a day of trying to cajole her into having the tests done and her tearing off the neck brace contraption they'd applied she was returned to the care home without treatment. Not much anyone can do about it - no one is going to argue with a 101 year old. |
More news of Friday's Rod Stewart concert. Carol and Gary got very wet as the seating was mid-football pitch. So glad I hadn't tagged along. However, they enjoyed the gig - seems you can ignore the rain when you're rocking.
I'm not going to talk politics - things didn't work out to plan. The aftermath of infighting, finger pointing, back-stabbing, and vitriolic squabbles bores me to bits. End of story.
I've got to try to do my homework for tomorrow's writers' meeting - I haven't an inkling of an idea yet but live in hope. I'm sure you won't mind if I leave a message for Rene here: she's a loyal reader of my drivel. Hi Rene, while Bern was surfing the local hospitals on Saturday I went to the Co-op (as you do). I bumped into Kath Madeley - not literally, we didn't clash trollies or anything like that. (Kath of Bilbrook's favourite grocery store - now gone). Anyway we chatted for ages, she said to bring you to her house for a cuppa so we can make plans when I see you.
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Ian (no 1 grandson) and his wife Jenny - they've been doing "get fit" stuff this weekend. Sounds like it's self torture to me. They've been running up the Wrekin. Or as they describe it run/walk up the Wrekin.
I used to love walking up there but I don't think I could get to the top even on my hands and knees these days. Last time I climbed the Wrekin was several years ago - I think it was a New Year's day when Bern Lesley Jay and I made it to the top. It was freezing cold and icy and we had a job to say upright on the icy pathways. |
8th June 2017
I've found a picture of a couple of Rockers waiting for Rod Stewart to appear on stage - Carol and Gary at last night's concert at Shrewsbury Football Club. It looks a little too damp draughty for my liking. Heard on the Whats App grapevine that little Jai is a bit poorly today following his immunisation jabs. Oh dear.
I did an ink and wash drawing at art class today working from pictures of the garden . It's not a realistic image - I mixed various elements from the pics to make a fictitious scene. Bit naff really but it used up the allotted time.
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6th June 2017
I'm not impressed with today's wintry weather - it seems twice as cold after the summery stuff we were just getting used to. Sorry I've been missing for a day or two - put it down to creeping geriatricism (if there is such a thing) also I'm still coughing and nose-dripping all over the place. Apologies for the unsavoury nature of my current state. However, I do recall the kidney consultant saying to me as he dished out some new medication that it would probably give me a cough so maybe that's what's causing it. I'd begun to think that It was hay fever, which I don't usually suffer from. That's quite enough moaning so onward and upward (sniffling as I go). |
I've been to the writers' meeting today (minus my homework). No excuses to offer other than lack of inspiration. It was a lively meeting with everyone having achieved except yours truly.
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I guess the horror of last Saturday's terrorist attack in London is in everyone's thoughts. There are no words that can put things right.
It's a notable date today: D-Day. I read that the D stands for Day and is not short for Debarkation or Disembarkation as some seem to think. It was the military way of referring to an unnamed date. In France it is called Jour-J for the same reason. |
2nd June 2017
Another birthday - Have a lovely day RENE. Aaaaaargh... realisation dawns. June 2nd was Coronation Day - that means Wendy's birthday is today and Rene's was yesterday. What a geriatric mess up. My sister never pointed out my mistake when I phoned her for an hour's birthday conversation yesterday - she's either as daft as me or more likely too polite to point out my faux pas. Must dash out now and make my peace with Rene. Back soon. |
Home again and you'll never believe this little story. I jumped in my car and the damn thing wouldn't start so I dragged Bern from his computer for a lift round to Rene's. I launched into my apology and she told me that I hadn't muddled the days at all... I had a nice birthday visit and Rene's daughter and son-in-law dropped me home later. How I manage to dig these holes for myself I'll never know. Panic over and my sister is non the wiser about my suspected batty moment, although I'm still confused about the dates.
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I continue to follow the Gudrun Girls site and now have 134 'likes' with a blue thumbs up icon. I fessed up about being a Brit on the New York site and apologised for gate-crashing. A woman replied to me saying she was in Switzerland and hadn't been chucked out yet. Then people popped up from Australia, UK, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and New Zealand who had also muscled in on the American scene. Seems it's multi-national and abounding with bon homie and they're all up for a giggle. What's not to like?
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Wendy - my sister in Wales. I always get a bit worried when June arrives because it's halfway to 'C'. Let's hope we get some suitable summer weather before the shops start flogging cards and crackers and really putting the frighteners on us. Sorry, I didn't mean to dive into June so pessimistically. Blame the media - they're not helping my mood with reports of political in-fighting. There'll be no peace until the election is done with.
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28th May 2017
We all had a lovely time at Baby Jai's birthday do yesterday. There were several generations present ranging from small babies to great grandparents (that's us) to great-great aunts and uncles. It wasn't quite sandwiches, jelly and cake with a game of pass the parcel as used to happen back in the day. How times have changed. Think village hall. Bouncy castle, bouncy something else for the very small ones with play balls, and all sorts of gismos to keep them happy. Then the "baby group" lady came along and organised the mums and babies to go through their paces in the same way they do at their weekly group meetings. (A whole new world to me). Little Jai seemed to know what was going on, as he clapped and laughed in all the right places. Then it was out with the bibs and the babies were fed while the adults tucked into a tasty buffet. Busy-busy-busy all afternoon. Then it was time to stuff the babies into their car seats and home to bath and bed. |
26th May 2007
All winter long I've been dreaming of warm sunshine and now it's here it's knocked me for six. I'm never satisfied - it's glorious isn't it, but it does turn me into an old lazy bones. I didn't make it to the writers' meeting this week but I did get to art class yesterday - but there's no masterpiece to show you. |
We have another book recommendation from one of our keen readers: "The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena. Thanks to whoever tipped us off, can't remember if it was Carol or Maggie. It's just a matter of topping up your Kindle, getting down to the library or forking out for a paperback.
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While we're talking books I have to Mention Jay and his loyalty to the Bernard Cornwell "The Last Kingdom" series of novels about the boy Uhtred and the life and times of Alfred the Great and his descendants as they took part in many conflicts with the marauding Vikings. Jay is on novel number ten in the series. I've read one just to see what they're all about - there's blood and guts, lots of galloping up and down, hiding your gold and silver in case it gets nicked, rape and pillage, clashing swords, armies on the march with the King hanging out in the poshest tent surrounded by general mayhem. We see the action from young Uhtred's point of view. A good read for blokes especially if they like Vikings.
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OK so that all the literary stuff done with. Just a quick word about undies (if I may be so bold). Today's date 1818 - US feminist Amelia Jenks Bloomer was born. She became a champion of women's rights and is mainly remembered for wearing baggy long-legged garments as a gesture of equality with men and to escape the restrictions of feminine fashions of her day such as hooped petticoats and crinoline dresses. The garment became known as Bloomers and were the forerunner of those things we now take for granted - knickers! I wonder what she'd make of today's skimpy efforts. Even the ones we refer to as "big knickers" would make Amelia's originals look like a marquee.
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23rd May 2017
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Babba Jai is one year old today. He's spending the day with Mum and Dad visiting the zoo - we're all turning up on Saturday for his party. He was supposed to arrive at the end of July last year - difficult to believe now that he chose May instead. |
Sorry I've not been very chatty this week - I've been having a bit of a battle with aches and pains and lack of sleep. We're virtually rid of our colds so that's a bonus and I'm hoping to be on form for Saturday's shindig.
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More atrocities - very sad. We send our thoughts and good wishes to Manchester.
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Maggie has read the book that Carol recommended to us a couple of weeks ago. She says she couldn't put it down - always a good sign of a winner. Here it is again in case you're looking for a good read. "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty
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17th May 2017
Quite an aBOMination - that unexploded WWII device in Birmingham. A case of tit-for-tat I reckon. German workmen uncovered a similar device a couple of weeks ago in Hannover. After all these years the atrocities of war come back to haunt both sides. It had me wondering if that's what they mean by "...the sins of the fathers will visit the 3rd and 4th generations..." |
Bern and I have been holed up for a couple of days our coughs and colds still persist. I didn't even make it to the Writers' meeting. With both of us spluttering I feel we're wallowing in germs but I ventured out this morning to get my hair trimmed. The jungle drums (i.e. family WhatsApp group) say that plans are afoot for little Jai's 1st Birthday party. We look forward to that and should be germ-free by the 27th.
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15th May 2017
Monday again - damp and dismal - and I've acquired a rotten cold to add to the fun. Bern's just come in grumbling - he's been to the barber and can't find anywhere to park and returned unshorn. Mind you, I have to admire his optimism in thinking his locks warrant the attention of comb and scissors. Monday must be an old man's day for hair cuts because my brother called in first thing - he too had visited the Bilbrook Barber and called in here for a chat and coffee. He told us about his bike rides, walking stick making and gardening in exchange for our updates on Big Jay's retirement, Babba Jai's progress, and general family stuff. My brother's son (our nephew Steven) is head gamekeeper at a large estate further north in the county. We get to hear pleasant pheasant stories and tales of country life with a green welly and tweeds flavour. |
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14th May 2017
It's official then... after one week of retirement Jay is bored or so the family grapevine has it. I reckon he'll be job hunting before we know it. A week of gardening, cleaning windows, and cooking curry must have proved less than riveting. |
I've nothing stupendous to report - Bern's made a cake, I've flicked a duster, and the washing's on the line. Oh, and the garden is happy to have had some rain. Sounds like I'm in a competition for the person who can bore the hind legs off a donkey.
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We watched part of the Eurovision thing last night but only because we couldn't find anything else that we hadn't seen before. Another little gem you didn't need to know - I must be in the running to win the competition I mentioned. Never mind - maybe tomorrow will bring us a Momentous Monday.
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11th May 2017
Another few days when my arms won't go and typing is uncomfortable. No good moaning is it... I didn't even make a cake. I popped round to see baby Jai yesterday, he's bouncing along and trying to stand up. Had a message from Doreen who reminded me it's time to watch the little falcons in Nottingham, do you remember we saw them last year. The four little chicks are doing well - camera 2 gives the best close up view. Here's the link: http://www.camscape.com/view/34307 |
I didn't accomplish much at this morning's art class - my flipping arms hinder everything. Only managed a fat pig in my sketch book using pen and ink and a water wash. I like big grunty pigs but hope we don't have too much in common.
Carol has sent us news of a good book - an unputdownable one. She says the story is nothing like she expected and it's gripping. One for putting on my Kindle. "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty. |
8thMay 2017
Yesterday's warm sunshine was a real treat for my achey bones so I wallowed in it. James popped round in the afternoon and we talked about a discussion at a recent writers' meeting about the sheep that appears on the Balcony of Wolverhampton's Art Gallery gallery. I'm ashamed to say, that having lived here for 70+ years I've never actually seen it in action. Jay, has cruised round You Tube and sent us a link in case anyone wants to watch the sheep in wolf's clothing putting in an appearance on the Art Gallery balcony. [left click on the link] Thanks Jay. |
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=acjBzAC29Ys
This large automata operates on the hour from 8am until 10pm. The sheep appears above the balcony. When it is in full view, it rears up and its belly splits open to reveal a wolf which looks from side to side. Then the sheep closes over the wolf and retreats from view. There is a ram's head indicator in the foyer of the Art Gallery to mark the time until the next showing. The sheep and the wolf have long standing connections with the City of Wolverhampton. The sheep was on the crest of the old borough to mark the importance of the city's medieval wool trade. The wolf is the mascot of Wolverhampton Wanderers, better known as the Wolves |
I've just read a little snippet that says May 8th 1984 saw the official opening of the Thames Flood Defence Barrier. I cast my mind back to 1984... the company where I worked (Hydraulics & Pneumatics Ltd) designed and installed the hydraulic controls for this monumental piece of engineering. My role in the proceedings was to type the operating instructions for controlling the barriers. Interesting stuff at the time and a mammoth typing task - pre-computers too - it was bashed out on an electric typewriter and the many copies were reproduced on a photocopier. Very labour intensive when you include, punching the copies and binding them and folding the many large drawings and illustrations that had to be included at the appropriate place in the text.
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6th May 2017
Hi everyone - I've just the spent the morning sorting through my paints, I've decided it's about time I had another go at a proper picture. I also dragged out an old painting and put some figures in it, they're in the far distance so not too much details was necessary as I'm rubbish at painting people. |
Bern's just gone off to do what he calls "a bit of Wombling" i.e. joining in with the Friends of Bilbrook litter picking volunteers. He's turning into a right old Uncle Bulgaria in his old age. I reckon he might just as well Womble - he has the specs, beard, grey hair.... its a no brainer.
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If you want to know what policemen do in their time off take a look at this. It's James' (Jay) at his retirement do last night - which was attended by many colleagues with hats to match his. Apparently night-time Birmingham witnessed a posse of this ilk - I don't what the collective noun for Mexican Hat Wearers is. and I can't show you the hat clad hundreds as it's not prudent to post pics of serving police officers. I believe a good time was had by all. Hope the headaches are not too bad this morning. And no, that strange thing under you arm doesn't need a drink!
Sorry Jay, your Mum-in-law will get to see this, I know she pops in here. (Hi Audrey). |
3rd May 2017
Oh dear... techno mayhem again. My poor old iPad has gone and died, kaput, gasped its last. So there I was prowling and growling, quite bereft, nothing to do but watch boring telly. I decided there's only one thing for it - bite the bullet - only when you're talking iPads you not only have to bite the bullet you have to swallow the flipping gun too. But I've done it - spent a fortune - a new one will arrive this morning to a metaphorical fanfare of joy and welcome-ness. |
The next problem will be sorting it out. It's bound to be different from my old one. Tempers will inevitably fray and I'll be yelling for Bern to "do something!". I guess it might help if I took the trouble to read instruction books - I find them such a drag I can hardly turn the pages.
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We planted a couple of things yesterday afternoon: firstly, a rambling rose called Madame Alfred Carriere - sounds pretty posh doesn't it? I presume there was a person with that name but I don't get the Alfred bit if she was a Madame. A horticultural conundrum. Note to self: do some research - get Googling.
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The other thing we planted is a summer Jasmine which will meander round the perimeter fence and fill the summer air with a heady perfume. How pretentious is that? What I really mean is with a bit of luck it'll smother our fence and block the view of next door's bins - the nice smell will be a bonus.
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1st May 2017
Happy May Day to one and all - anyone off to the village green to jig around the maypole and get tangled up in ribbons? I guess we can be excused for giving it a miss while these late April showers are around, we might slip on the wet grass. Jay and Les have been in London over the weekend for a concert (can't remember the group). Carol and Karen also ventured down to the City to see "Stepping Out" at the Vaudeville Theatre. |
I was so bored yesterday I ended up making two cakes instead of one - carrot cake and lemon drizzle. Now that my arms are so wonky and uncooperative I have a kitchen aid. I wonder if you're thinking it's one of those posh five-hundred quid with bells on jobs with the trade name Kitchen Aid. They're very nice aren't they - and they come in such pretty colours. Afraid I haven't invested in one - my kitchen aid is called Bern. I supervise and he does the biz, so now we have cake coming out of our ears. I think Jay and Les are due at lunchtime so we'll be able to dispose of some of it - better on their hips than mine.
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1st May was known as Beltane in days gone by - a cross quarter point in the farming year, a relatively quiet time between sowing and reaping. There's endless superstitions relating to this time of year and warnings about the changeable weather, i.e. "Ne're cast a clout till May be out," Some think it means when the May Blossom is on the hawthorn, but it actually means until the month is out. Another such warning says, "He who bathes in May will soon be laid in clay." I interpret that to mean no skinny dipping in the river the water's still a bit chilly. Even Shakespeare wagged a warning finger too:
"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May." [ sonnet 18 (1609) ] |
27th April 2017
We called in to see little Jai yesterday. He's doing fine and was busy playing with a load of balls in a play-pen sort of thing. There are wonderful toys around these days - do you remember when the most technical toy for little ones was a rattle or a string of plastic balls stretched across the pram? Nowadays all the toys talk, sing, light up, churn out a tune, and dance... I can see the day coming when everything's robotic. All good fun. I've Googled - found out those things are called ball pits.
If you have a little chappy madly hurling balls around the room you might consider him to be.... wait for it.... can't resist the odd pun... a ball pit terrier |
Grown up Jay called in this afternoon - today is his first thumb twiddling day of retirement, having worked the requisite number of years i.e. RAF time plus Police time to qualify for his pension. No doubt he'll have trouble adapting to the pipe and slippers routine but we have to say, well earned! Second thoughts about the pipe and slippers - he's more into cameras and kayaks - a paddle and pictures sort of bloke rather than an armchair hugger.
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25th April 2017
First writers' group meeting of the summer term - back to the grindstone (fingers on keyboard actually) to churn out some homework - last minute as usual. We have an odd brief this week: pretend you have a pet that can talk. Mmm that took a bit of thinking about but it finally puttered out of the printer just in time. |
Carol popped in yesterday after work. Their Easter holiday in Spain is consigned to the distant past - once back at work it feels like you've never been - I remember it well. They're living in near isolation at the moment - no Internet no landline. A bit of hyperbole took over there - but it always feels like isolation to me without the Internet. The story is: a couple of weeks ago Gary had cause to ring BT to sort out a problem. He got so frustrated when trying to speak with a REAL person after having spent ages going through various rigmaroles of press button this and button that - when he finally made contact with a human he was at bursting point and quickly told BT where to put their phone, wires, plugs, switches, hubs, Internet, its everything. So now they're in a queue waiting for another provider to link them up to the world again. I think we've all experienced similar problems when chasing service providers. About time we thought up an adjective to describe it - something like interdisconnectionisation, or maybe tweenprovidersnotonline.
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24th April 2017
Sorry I'm late - we had to pop out this morning to say Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law - she's 101 today - not quite 'with it' these days but doing well at such a great age and was more lucid than usual this morning. |
I've been reading some gloom and doom stuff about today's date in my trusty book of folk lore. Did you know it's St Mark's Eve today? It's the night the wraiths of people who are going to die sometime this year will appear in the churchyard around midnight. I'll not be taking part in that jolly little outing. It also says, that if they're going to be ill and not actually die, they'll just be peeping through the door without crossing the threshold. Life was just a barrel of laughs back in the day. If you happened to live in Yorkshire you had to turn up for three nights running to clock who was about to snuff it. How ghoulish is that?
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23rd April 2017
Anyone been out to slay the odd dragon? Happy St George's Day everyone. Must say though, I'm always a bit bamboozled by the St George thing. Lots of other countries lay claim to him too, and it's doubtful that he ever did see off a dragon. I find it hard to pledge my allegiance to a myth. I'm happy to wave the England flag but I can manage that without the aid of fairy stories. OK so my cynicism increases - guilty as charged. |
As we've acknowledged St George, we'd better say Happy Birthday to dear old Will Shakespeare - it's his 450th birthday today. Just remembered, I think it's also the anniversary of his death, quite a big day for him then.
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We've been feeding the roses this morning with a bag of stuff from Austin Roses. It was a bit pongy to say the least so I hope the roses like it. The cherry blossom tree is busy doing its confetti act - love it. I'm not sure our neighbour likes the little pink polka dots that are settling on her car right now - sorry Alison, they'll blow away soon.
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21st April 2017
Firstly, happy birthday to Her Maj - hope you have a happy day Ma'am (pronounced mam as in jam). It's the real birthday today, the pretend one with the big parade happens later on. I don't go much on the expense of having two but who am I to comment on matters of state and money wastage? The two birthdays thing began in the reign of the Queen's father King George VI. I'm wondering about the mam thing too - I've heard northerners refer to their mothers as "me mam". |
I've rummaged through today's news and found this interesting little item. A new species of spider has been discovered. Glad to say it lives in Mexico. It was first seen in 2013 and has just been confirmed a new species and named the "Sierra Cacachilas wandering spider" - hope it doesn't wander over here. It can reach a length of 10cm (4 ins). Fancy him in your bath? The write up says he has red fangs. The stuff of nightmares.
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19th April 2017
We've not done a lot over the Easter the break. Jay and Les were in Hampshire to see Lesley's folks (Hi Audrey and Jack, David and Samantha). They called to see us on Monday. Luckily I'd made a cake - something I tend to do when I'm a bit bored (Mary Berry's weekend cake - nice recipe). They brought some lovely tulips - I did a quick sketch of them with crayons. I don't think you'll have much trouble deciding which is the real thing and which is the sketch book version. |
The rest of the family are due home from Spain tomorrow. Jon has taken Zara back to Rotterdam before he returns to NZ in a couple of days. He has finally met Zara's parents - her father said to him, "you do exist then." They've been meeting up all over the world since their first meeting her two summers ago when he first set off on his travels - Zara's parents were beginning to think he was a figment of her imagination. We've had news that Baby Jai didn't like the sea - too noisy and the fact that it moved towards him really freaked him out.
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I wore THE legendary pinny to make the Mary Berry cake. It's nothing to shout about (the apron I mean) but I did find a pretty button to fasten it instead of the usual tie arrangement. And yes, I have a button tin just like my Mum did - doesn't everyone?
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12th April 2017
Good morning everyone - sorry I've been AWOL again - had a few tired and achey days and a very un-fun afternoon at the hospital yesterday. However, they said they'd found nothing untoward so we can put yesterday's probings firmly in the past. I just need to drum up a bit more joie de vive. I chatted with Babba Jai on the phone this morning - we sang Pat-a-Cake, he clapped and laughed and then started chewing the phone. |
I've had a quick look at the world news - it's all despair and disaster which, sadly, we're learning to live with. There was one positive story I noted: In the interests of animal protection the Taiwan Parliament has passed a law to stop people eating cats and dogs. I guess that means pet-pie is off the menu! Ugh! I wonder if they ate their own cats and dogs or just selected any old roaming stray. Or even worse, did they have cat and dog meat shops? Maybe we're better off not knowing the answers. These thoughts send me nearer to becoming totally vegetarian. At the moment, I'm only a "nearly" vegetarian.
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Sixty-three years ago today, rock and roll pioneer Bill Bailey recorded his hit record "Rock Around the Clock". When the film came out in 1956 I recall being in big trouble at home for sitting through it twice and arriving home much later than the curfew mother imposed. I was 16 at the time and considered Bill Haley and the Comets worth mother's wrath. Can't say I'm keen on them any more - they seem pretty tame compared with what's arrived in the world of pop music since the 1950s.
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7th April 2017
Just to prove that spring is really here, have a look at this little video I've "borrowed" from my BBC Home Page. Just left click on the link. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-39513635 |
Jay called in this morning on his way to work - he's on a late shift so we had a coffee and biscuit moment and a quick conflab about world happenings before he took off again. Even more to worry about now with the US firing missiles - can't help but feel on tenterhooks about possible repercussions.
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My fabric turned up yesterday - the stuff I told you about on Monday. The supplier recommends that you pre-shrink it before sewing. I've dunked it in hot water and now it's on the line. Bit of a palaver just for a pinny which I'll probably rarely wear. The thought of chocolate tea-pot comes to mind but I'll not condemn the pinny project just yet.
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I've been busy dead-heading the daffs this week. It's best to remove the heads as they wither but keep the leaves intact until they turn yellow before removing them. The leaves will feed the bulbs so they flower again next year and removing the heads prevents them putting all their energy into producing seed.
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4th April 2017
Oh no... I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The Saturday polar bear story was an April Fool joke. How stupid can you get? Jay has sent me a press cutting listing all the media jokes and my bear story was of course, top of the list. I so wanted it to be true. |
Hooray! I've done my writers' group homework - I was well in advance and managed to knock it together over the weekend. This week we have to write a Clerihew. [ Sounds like a bird - I must be thinking of curlew.] A Clerihew is a set form and not to be confused with the limerick. It must name a well known person and lampoon them in the rhyme. Sooooo... I'm afraid I can't post my effort here for fear of being sued for libel. I will say that the subject of my Clerihew is someone who, if you depart from the west side of Ireland, cross the Atlantic to the next big land mass, you'll find him stomping around, waving his arms, and probably spraying his hair until it forms a hay bale.
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3rd April 2017
It was very green and spring-like this morning when we popped out to get my blood tests done. I noticed that our cherry blossom is coming into bloom so we'll soon have a lovely froth of pink by the gate. Today's downside: I see Mr Trump is rattling his sabre in the direction of North Korea - the thought of what could develop is more than scary- I think both he and the Korean leader are loose canons. |
I do a lot of Internet surfing these days - it helps fill my day. I saw a lovely Apron on the Toast.com website. OK - I know - who the hell gets excited about an apron? It was just the clever design that grabbed me - so I'm a sad case. It was very nicely made out of linen with a price tag of £50. "Fifty quid!" I yelled, "for a pinny!". Yesterday afternoon I made a paper pattern from the sport section of Saturday's Telegraph. (I knew it would come in useful for something). I've been online this morning and ordered a piece of chambray. If it turns out to be presentable I'll model it for you. Am I going to be a pinny-maker extraordinaire or will it be smuggled into the bin and never mentioned again? The excitement is palpable.
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1st April 2017
Oh crikey - I've been had already. I opened an e-mail from Joules (the clothing store) they were introducing a new rain-cape i.e. one big cape with four head holes. There was a photograph of a family of four cycling side by side under one big cape - smiley faces, having fun. My immediate thought was, what a dangerous idea, if one of them slowed down they'd all be yanked off their bikes. I immediately thought of writing to say what a daft and dangerous idea. Then I clicked to see further details... April Fool! Good one and all before breakfast because I was up early so the window cleaner didn't see me in bed... But I think you've heard that one before... |
Carol is singing with the choir "Got to Sing" today - they're taking part in "The Big Busk" in Shrewsbury - the town's annual music festival. Looks like they'll be literally, singing in the rain. It's quite a big event with stuff happening all over the town. No doubt they'll carry on regardless despite the weather being intent on unkindness this year. |
Jay and Lesley have been lucky with their weather in Budapest - they've had a warm sunny week and they're en route for home right now. I'm happy when everyone's back under their own roof. |
The cuckoo is supposed to arrive in April - or so says my trusty book of folklore. I've not heard one for years, a cuckoo that is The book has it that when you first hear a cuckoo call you should turn or jingle the money in your pocket and to avoid a year of idleness you should get up and run. If the cuckoo call comes from your right you will have good luck, but if you are standing on bare earth you will be dead within twelve months. Maybe it's just as well we don't get many cuckoos in these parts - it'll save me charging around like a whiling dervish, and hopping about to avoid standing on bare earth. Makes you wonder who dreamed up such daft notions.
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30th March 2017
Oh dear, I've had to miss art class again, it coincided with a doctor's appointment- the outcome of which is more blood tests scheduled for next week. Seems like I always have something to moan about. |
I'm bored with Brexit talk already - there's nothing but coming from the media - and they banged on big time yesterday. I'm refusing to listen any more - I'll tune in when it's all sorted out and we're ready to go it alone.
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Did you read about the "fish out of water" situation in Queensland Australia? Emergency crews found a large shark on a flooded road - all due to the cyclone they've been experiencing. Just shows any-fin can happen in extreme weather conditions.
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30th March 1853 - I always think of Vincent van Gogh on his birthday (today). A tormented soul with a sad story. Millions of pounds have exchanged hands over the years buying and selling his pictures so someone got rich from them. He never earned a penny while he lived. Some say he only sold one picture in his lifetime and traded others for paint and equipment. In a letter of October 24th 1888 he confided to his brother Theo, "I cannot help it that my paintings do not sell. The time will come when people will see that they are worth more than the price of the paint." I just wish he'd had chance to know that the art world finally considered them to be good. Here's a link to my favourite little You Tube video about Vincent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD1ih3Q9otE You might need to grab a tissue. |
29th March 2017
What's afoot today then? I guess there'll be many squabbles ahead after Mrs May's exit/Brexit letter hits the fan at lunchtime. I reckon we'll just have to ride out the inevitable storm(s) until the wind dies down and everyone has retreated to their own corner. I think there's been too many fingers in too many pies creating fat bank balances for Eurocrats in recent years - they still can't account for all the money that's been spent. Roll on the day when we can stand on our little UK feet. |
I usually scan the news online; this morning I came across an horrific story about an Indonesian man who was devoured whole by a monster python. There's even a video of friends, who had searched for the missing man, extricating the body from the snake. No, I didn't click the 'go' button - it's the stuff of nightmares. The very thought of what happened to the poor chap will haunt me. If you're made of sterner stuff than me and not averse to the macabre, you can find the video by Googling "snake swallows man" - if you dare.
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I've been umming and arring (spelling?) about whether or not to show you my mother's day card from Carol. Oh well, here goes... I'm not sure who will laugh and who will groan, It had me laughing aloud - inside she'd written "I'll return the favour... some day." I'm emphatic (fingers crossed just in case) that scenario will never come to pass. |
28th March 2017
Last night's University Challenge was exciting - the two young super-brains who captained the two Cambridge teams were brilliant. Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull - great contestants with an impressive range of knowledge. Even Jeremy Paxman was impressed. |
Welcome to the new £1 coin - they say it's lighter than the old one - it'll sit more comfortably in purse or pocket.
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25th March 2017
Firstly, Happy Birthday to my lovely friends, Hillary (art class) and Zara in Rotterdam. I've had such a lovely time this morning - it all came about because Jay, Les, Carol and Gary had booked concert tickets in Cambridge to see The Stranglers (don't ask, I don't know, but they sound a bit noisy). Anyway, they all decided on a bit of a do today in case they were too late getting home to do Mothers' Day stuff tomorrow. So we were invited out for a posh breakfast at the David Austin Roses Restaurant. It was just fab... lovely food, and I was showered with presents, and loved every minute so a big thanks everyone. Carol was eager for me to open a little oblong parcel - I laughed my socks off (as you do) inside was a little carved wood Gudrun doll from the Gudrun Sjoden shop - my guilty secret clothes place. I've found her a little place to sit among all the art stuff in my den. Here's Gudrun and me standing by one of my daft paintings about to get pecked to death. Er... try not to dwell on the wrinkles, and as you see, I'm not very good at taking selfies. It amuses them all because they think we look alike. |
24th March 2017
What terrible goings on we've seen this week. Of course our thoughts are with the victims and all those who carry out the difficult job of policing, and the medical people who rescue and treat the injured. Let's remind ourselves how grateful we are for their presence in these troubled times - thumbs up to THE THIN BLUE LINE |
We've had an e-mail message from our local Police to say that someone is harming the local cats and some have had to be put down. So keep an on eye on your moggy.
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I went to art group yesterday morning - I painted a few daffodils which don't warrant a public viewing and they'll certainly not inspire Mr Wordsworth - he'll need to wander lonely and cloudlike a bit longer before I can come up with daffs worthy of a poem.
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We've had a lovely message from Zara this morning. She is Jon's (No 3 grandson in NZ) girlfriend, thanking us for her birthday card. Zara is still at Uni and lives in Rotterdam. It's a long distance romance and I thought how nice of her to contact the oldies.
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17th March 2017
I thought we'd best go a bit green today just in case anyone has Irish genes - happy St Patrick's Day begorra. |
I've been an old lazy bones again and lost a couple of days along the way. All due to my running out of steam - I'm doing less so find less to waffle about. I went to art class and writers' group this week scraping by with mediocre efforts on both counts and producing nowt to shout about. Highlight of my week was "Warm Wednesday" when we had our lunchtime sandwich and a cup of tea in the garden. Then winter returned. Life at the cutting edge - NOT!
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I've been reading about St Patrick and was surprised to learn that he was born in Wales. He was captured by pirates and sold to slavery in Ireland. He escaped and ended up in France where he became a monk, was promoted to bishop, and then returned to Ireland around 432. He is said to have banished snakes from Ireland - they still have no snakes. He performed the miracle of rendering Irish soil so obnoxious that serpents died when touching it. I'm wondering if the Blarney Stone had a hand in this little tale. I have to say, I'm here again uttering my well worn phrase " I just don't get it." There are worldwide celebrations for the chap who purportedly eliminated snakes on the Emerald Isle - I'd prefer to revere Sir David Attenborough for his lifelong work in research, exploration, and educating us about the need to conserve and protect ALL life on our planet.
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On March 17th 1845 Stephen Perry (an English inventor) received a patent for the rubber band. Now I know who to blame... I'm forever picking up the jolly red ones that the postman chucks on our front path.
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Apparently Mr Perry came up with his invention for the purpose of keeping papers and envelopes tidy. I wonder if he realised the million and one uses we have for them today - good old laccy bands.
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13th March 2017 March thirteenth is an astral sort of day: on this day in 1781 Uranus was discovered; in 1930 it was confirmed that Pluto was part of the cosmic scene. Also on this date in 1986 a robotic probe was launched by European Space Agency to take a close-up look at Halley's Comet on one of its infrequent visits - it's only near enough for Earthlings to catch a glimpse every 75-76 years. |
I guess the Queen was having an early breakfast today - she was due to pop outside first thing to hand over the Commonwealth Games baton - a sort of kicking-off ceremony to set next years Games in motion - it's all happening in Australia so it'll take a time for the Baton to get there. Apparently HM has put a message inside the baton. It seems a labour intensive way of getting a message from London to the Gold Coast when maybe an e-mail would have done.
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12th March 2017
What a lovely day - the garden is calling. Daffs and crocuses are looking good and I love these striped ones. The odd weed needs pulling, otherwise it's fairly tidy but time to start watching for marauding slugs and snails. I've spoken with Carol this morning, she and Gary are gardening too but most of the chat was about Baby Jai so I've put his news on his own page. Big Uncle Jay is on duty all weekend - hope Lesley is putting her feet up. |
12th March 1829: Cambridge University challenged Oxford University to a boat race - the race took place on 10th June. The 2017 Boat Race is scheduled for 2nd April. It's funny how some events become an institution - I'd say the Boat Race is as English as Elgar, Village Cricket, Bluebells, Seaside Holidays, with Fish and Chips thrown in for good measure.
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10th March 2017
I was so tired yesterday I gave art class a miss - just couldn't muster enough steam to get going. But I popped up OK this morning and I'm back on track. I felt such a lazy bones for missing art class, I made myself tackle next week's writers' group homework so the morning wasn't wasted. I hate being on a "go slow". I'm finding current news items tiresome - all Budget and Brexit and tales of endless political tantrums - hardly the stuff to revive my missing mojo. |
This afternoon we did the Weston Park Art Gallery to see the current exhibition - the theme was architecture, it proved to be more interesting than I expected. Worth a visit if art is your thing. Right: detail of a large impasto oil painting we saw. The paint was really thick, textured, vibrant and gloriously yummy. I think dear old Vincent Van Gogh would have loved it.
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8th March 2017
Happy Birthday Lesley. We've had birthday overload this weekend. We'll all pop round to Pattingham when she gets home from work. Sorry Les - you have to go with the flow. We had a visit from Elaine yesterday evening - she brought birthday greetings. I promise not to mention birthdays for ages now. Happy to say Baby Jai had a good night's sleep and ate his breakfast this morning - a good sign he's on the mend again. |
Are you watching the TV drama "The Replacement"? Plenty of tension - unusual plot - well written. We're watching it on catch up - people at writers' group recommended it and now we're hooked. Maggie says the best books she's read for ages is "Apple Tree Yard" by Louise Doughty. She said despite watching the TV dramatization, it is still worth reading the book. I think Carol also recommended this one to us some weeks ago.
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7th March 2017
Happy Birthday to Bern - 78 today. Doreen and Brian came up with the funniest birthday thingy - JELLYATRICS! don't you just love it? Some of the young ones will be popping in this evening when they've finished work We've had news that Baby Jai is poorly again - he spent time at the hospital over the weekend as his breathing was not good - he's home again now with a poorly chest- something he's prone to due to his early arrival last May. Get well little man. x
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Rene wrote a good piece about her Sunny Jim doll - he was acquired by saving the box tops from Force Wheat Flakes - a cereal that was around in the 1930s. Can you imagine today's kids hankering after one of these? I see that Sunny Jim dolls are being sold on E-bay and the cereal is still available via the Internet so I presume it has some die-hard followers (or should it be swallowers?).
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6th March 2017
Hi everyone - sorry I'm late. I was waylaid by the notion that I ought to show willing and do some homework for tomorrow's writers' meeting. Oh the angst - sometimes the words just won't come. This week we have to write about memories of a childhood toy. Toys were a different kettle of fish (is that a mixed metaphor?) - no not quite) back in my young days compared with the hi-tech realistic stuff today's children have. Take dolls for instance - my doll had a cloth body and a crock head which became a bit chipped but she learned to live with it. Today's dolls are more resilient, quite lifelike and can wet their knickers if you give them enough to drink. Even baby Jai's little toys sing and talk to him or make interesting noises. |
Our little Saturday "do" for all the birthday people went off OK. Relatives turned up and Doreen and Brian came too - lots of chat etc. We made a vegetarian shepherds pie (from the Hairy Bikers' programme recipe by Lorraine Pascale). People seemed to like it and several asked for the recipe so I'll put it on our Recipe Page here. I tripled the recipe and it went round 15-16 people easily. Do be careful not to overdo the chilli flakes.
You can serve meat separately for the carnivores e.g. chicken legs, meat balls, etc. |
Clarence Frank Birdseye II (December 9, 1886 – October 7, 1956) was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and naturalist, and is considered to be the founder of the frozen food industry. His first batch of goods went on sale on this date in 1930 in Massachusetts - I always thought Captain Birdseye (king of the fish fingers) was an Englishman.
Many others developed methods of freezing food successfully but it was Mr Birdseye who developed the quick-freeze method. Now I get it... that's why the advert says... "fresh as the moment when the pods went pop..." or something like that. |
3rd March 2017
We've a hat trick of Saints' days this week - 1st St David, 2nd St Chad, and today it's St Winnold (not that I've ever heard of him. However, there's an old folklore ditty that goes.... "First comes David, next comes Chad, then comes Winnold roaring like mad." He's done his stuff on time this year. |
Yesterday's art class attendance was low so we had plenty of elbow room. While I grappled with oil pastel Bern went for his weekly walk and came back well muddy. I just read on Facebook that some low-life idiots have broken into the Compton Hospice charity shop on Birches Bridge and trashed it. What empty-headed mentality - or was it someone so desperate they need to pinch second-hand clothes?
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We're having a bit of a "do" tomorrow - all the family are coming round as we have three birthdays this week. Gary, Bern, Lesley on 5th 7th 8th respectively. It's to be a buffet lunch so I'm off to dust up the corners now and maybe thump a few cushions.
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1st March 2017
If March comes in like a lion it'll leave like a lamb - so the old saying goes. I think Storm Doris delivered the lion bit last week. We should be sporting a daffodil or a leak today - it's St David's Day. My "know it all" book says the daffodil should be worn in your buttonhole and the leak in your hatband. I'll not bother as someone might mistake me for a mobile greengrocer - happy St David's Day to our family members in Wales. |
What about this for a St David's day "happening". In Prestatyn, North Wales, someone has grown an unusual nine-headed daffodil.
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We had a good writers' meeting yesterday but only 7 turned up - we may have to do a recruitment exercise - anyone care to join us? No qualifications required - just a bit of a yen to scribble - and you don't have to be a super-brain. Most of us indulge in this hobby to keep the old grey matter working. Bingo bores us, you can only do so many Sudoku and crosswords - but if one of us ever gets a million dollar book deal we'd all be so flummoxed and flabbergasted we'd expire from sheer shock and excitement!
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28th February 2017
Oh well... that's February almost done with. As I settled down for our morning chat I thought about the fact that as it's not a leap year so we'll be giving the 29th a miss - writing if off, sending it into the ether, or maybe it just mysteriously melts. Then I began wondering why do we do the leap year thing...? is it just more messing about with the calendar to confuse us? As you might guess, out came my little book and I think I've got to the bottom of things. If it's divisible by 4 it's always a leap year - yeah we all know that one. What I didn't know is, when the year ends in 00 i.e. such as 2000 then it has to be divisible by 4 and by 400 to make it a leap year so 2000 was a leap year. If it ends in 00 and is NOT divisible by 400 then it is not a leap year. Why? My book says it's to keep the calendar year in line with the solar year of 365.2422 days. That's another little mystery solved - sort of. Leap year day is called an intercalary - then the book tells me the formal word for leap year is bissextile year. How curious - sounds a bit rude too. Time to leap off that little bandwagon before I bore us all to death, and anyway, March is waiting in the wings. |
What else is happening today? Bern's gone to have a new air bag put in the car - no, he's not replacing me, he's had a recall letter from Honda - he'll be happy this is one garage visit that won't involve a hefty bill. It's writers group for me this afternoon. Also I keep hopping up and down to see if there's any birds on our new bird feeder. It's hanging from the holly tree - not one flipping visitor as yet. Come on birdies, what are you waiting for? The cafe's open.
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27th February 2017
Hope you all still have a roof in the wake of Storm Doris. Bern spent yesterday afternoon helping Jay repair their fence - 6 panels adrift and some broken posts to contend with. Congratulations to our fab daughter-in-law Lesley - she's hit the headlines in the Bovis Homes' Newsletter. Here's the picture for her mum and dad to see (Jack and Audrey in Hampshire). Blue Apple (contract caterers) are Les's employer but she's on a long term placement at Bovis Homes' head office in Penkridge. Well done Lesley! |
We had Saturday lunch at David Austin Roses in Albrighton. Worth going - it's a lovely place to eat. Our mission was to get a rambling rose - one we saw growing there last summer called Rambling Rosie - happy to report mission accomplished. It's a repeat flowering one with clusters of small red blooms. All we have to do now is get it planted if and when the rain stops. I hope it'll be happy in our garden.
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27th Feb 1991 - a day of great relief in our family - a ceasefire was announced when Kuwait was reclaimed during the Gulf War and we knew Jay would soon be home.
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What a carry on at last nights' Oscar's ceremony. I've not much time for these events and never watch them. You can't escape picking up the gist of things when listening to the news. I go into killjoy mode when the luvvies applaud themselves in such a lavish and badly behaved manner with millions spent on clothes and parties while children around the world starve.
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22nd February 2017
Hi everyone - hospital visit done. Outcome: keep taking the pills and come back in six months. I know there's loads of negative discussion going on about the NHS at the moment - but just as the clock got round to my appointment time, we were just leaving the hospital. Can't complain about having to wait. Kidney department done and dusted for the time being. |
Do you have your red nose ready for Friday 24th March
I see Sainsbury's are selling them |
It's a damp old morning here and I've nothing to report. I'm still scrabbling round for subject matter for writing and painting - my mojo and my muse have gone a-wandering. The "daily dump" has just arrived - the fistful of rubbish that the postman shoves through our letterbox. A colourfully illustrated pizza publication claims to offer freshly handcrafted food. What nonsensical words they use to persuade us to eat junk food. I interpret "Handcrafted" to mean someone placed the sliced tomatoes on the top all by themself with their very own fingers. Hope they washed their hands first. There's another leaflet by a well known outlet offering "footlong food" when what they actually mean is an extra long bread roll. My eyes roll heavenwards as I groan "spare me...." Besides, the mention of feet and food in the same sentence does little to whet my appetite!
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It's George Washington's birthday today - the first president of the USA. My little book tells me that his ancestors are from the North East of England and it was one of his great-grandfathers who emigrated to the New World. I know I've banged on about the calendar many times but I still worry about the 11 missing days and the people who didn't get a birthday cake all because of the calendar reform when 11 days were "lost" and the New Year was altered from March to January. The change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar took place in 1752. This meant that it is recorded that George was born on 11th Feb 1732 (but originally the 22nd as they'd chucked 11 days away) and celebrated his 21st birthday on 22nd February 1753. To add to the confusion sometimes his birth is given as 1731/2 - (1731 old calendar / 1732 new calendar). I wonder what bright spark dreamt up that little plan. And what about the people who lived out in the sticks? No phone, e-mails, newspapers, TV. They must have been out of kilter with the rest of the country for some time.
George seems a pretty decent chap - I wonder how he'd compare with Mr Trump when it comes to civility and decent behaviour - the stuff GW mentions in his text on the right. Maybe it's an unfair comparison - I guess we live in different times and it's wrong to make judgements out of context. |
"George-isms" (also known as "The 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour)" is a text that George Washington wrote down when he was fourteen years old and used as a touchstone all his life.
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20th February 2017
Good morning albeit it a Monday one. I used to hate Mondays in our working days - but they're OK now. Hope you've all had a good weekend - we had a quiet one but enjoyed a couple of brief sessions in the garden removing dead stuff and admiring the crocuses - it looks a bit tidier now. |
Jay and Lesley arrived yesterday afternoon armed with some nice iced buns - kettle was actioned pronto. They were just back rom Llandudno where they'd spent the weekend with Carol and Gary to see a musical about The Kinks.
How retro can you get? The Kinks were around when I was young and I did quite like them. The success of this show will top up their pensions nicely. |
It's half term week in Staffordshire so there's no writers' group meeting (meaning no homework) and no art class. Looks like I'm in for a lazy week: unless, of course, I manage to give myself a boot up the backside and get on with some painting or writing. I have been round doing a half-hearted dusting session this morning so that's housework out of the way- sort of.
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Another hospital visit in the morning - had all the blood stuff done last Friday ready for tomorrow. Ian [No 3 G] and Jenny have flown to Norway to stay with relatives (Jenny's Granny's sister). Skiing is not on Ian's agenda - he's still on crutches due to his busted ankle which is a bit of a bummer when you're lucky enough to have relatives living in Norway.
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17th February 2017
Happy birthday to Ian (for yesterday) - No 1 Grandson has reached an age where it's best stop counting. We're going over to Lichfield tonight to mark the occasion where there'll be a family gathering, an inspection of the plaster cast he's sporting, and much discussion about this and that. He was hoping to get back into work this week but Health and Safety rules say he can't be in the classroom while still on crutches. We've made contact with Jon (No. 3 G) to ascertain his proximity to the Christchurch wildfires in New Zealand. He's OK - it's happening a few miles from his home but he says he gets a good view of them from his place of work. |
17the Feb 1904 - Madame Butterfly first saw the light of day - well she first saw the footlights of La Scala, Milan on the occasions of its premier. I'd love to see it.
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If you're into hearts and flowers, here's wishing you a happy Valentine's day. We seem to have dropped the saint bit - it always used to be known as Saint Valentine's day. I see the Roman Catholic church has dropped him from their list as so little is known about him - facts, if ever there were any, have been lost in the mists of time. He wasn't around in Chaucer's time and some sources say there's confusion between two blokes - no one is sure which one was St Valentine. Now I'm wondering if we're celebrating someone who never was. I bet the floristry, chocolate, restaurant, and greeting card industries will do their best to keep that notion under wraps.
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13th February 2017
What a bright and breezy washday Monday - mind you, I didn't argue when Bern offered to peg the washing, it's what you'd call "brisk" out there. Did anyone watch the BBC Painting Challenge programme last night? Before the evening was out Roland (our art group tutor) had sent an e-mail saying he disagreed with the comments and outcomes of this first session. I'm keeping an open mind at this stage. |
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It's sad about the hundreds of dead wales in North Island NZ. I listened to an eco-person explaining the difficulties in clearing up such a huge volume of decomposing matter at one time without damaging the environment and the effect the putrid material might have on other living species on land and in the water. They have an unenviable task on their hands.
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It's time to panic about tomorrow's writers' group homework now. Brief: write an adult fairy story. Help! I'm not sure how to tackle it. Do I do a good fairy, bad fairy thing with rude bits or does it need to be more sophisticated than that? I just don't know. I need to ponder longer and come up with something before tomorrow lunchtime.
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Maggie and I have set ourselves a long term challenge. We've bought a book called "52" - it's by Jo Bell and involves writing a poem a week using the themes stipulated in the text. We've made a start but with 51 more weeks to go we've hardly scratched the surface. It's an interesting book giving an in depth explanation of each theme together with examples by 'proper' poets on the given theme. The thing is, the themes are not the obvious subject matter for a poem - they're challenging.
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9th February 2017
A Thursday "hello" everyone - back from art class (my picture's in the bin by the way). I grabbed a lunchtime sandwich and then dozed off on the sofa. I'm going to have to kick this napping habit before my eyes heal over. |
I can't believe what I've just been reading. There's a media discussion going on about whether or not one should keep the tomato ketchup in the fridge. (Do they get paid to talk about such stuff?) Some say 'yes' and some say 'no'. For the record we have a foot in both camps - in the cupboard until it's opened, then it's allowed to hide in the fridge. It's a debate about as interesting as my sofa-naps.
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On my way to art class this morning I saw that Birches Bridge garage was being wiped from the face of the earth - there was all sorts of demolition machinery including a flock of cranes (machines not birds).
I felt a tad sad as it's been there for ever. When we were kids it was a wooden building not much more than a shed. I believe it was built in the early 1930s by Mr Brindley. Who'd have thought it would eventually grow into the big swish showroom that we know today - at least we did until this morning. |
February 9th 1942 saw the start of soap rationing in the UK. Each household was allowed a choice of 4 ounces of household soap or 2 ounces of toilet soap. I guess the level of personal cleanliness depended on how many people were in the household. How on earth would we cope with that today in the light of liquid soap, bubbly shower and bath products we're so fond of ? Do you remember these brands of soap? It was about as good as it got in my younger days - in terms of the luxury scale, they were about level with the crisp and crunchy Izal toilet paper we were subjected to. We were diabolic carbolic kids until soap rationing ended in September 1950. That must have been the time when our Mum pushed the boat out and we started having nicely scented soaps like Pears, Lux, Knight's Castile and Imperial Leather. Happy days...
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8th February 2017
Apologies for being late (again). It was hospital day yesterday and too late to go to the writers' meeting by the time we got home. The up side is I missed having to own up about not managing the homework. It was a really difficult task - the brief was to write a cento. A cento involves trawling through lots of poems (proper ones by proper poets) then you have to pinch a line from several different poems and try to stitch them together to form a sensible new poem. It whiffs of plagiarism I suppose, but it does make you take in the works of accomplished poets, Re the hospital visit - they've added another pill to my list and said come back in a fortnight to see how you're getting on with it - just a matter of keep taking the tablets and missing writers' group in a fortnight's time. Jon (no 3 grandson in NZ) has sent this picture of his crayfish supper. He spent last weekend with his mates camping and fishing. I wouldn't know where to start to turn these into a meal - I suppose you'd have to kill them first and I couldn't do that. They look like something from a medical museum (amongst other things!) |
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For Audrey (Lesley's Mum) Happy birthday Aud a few flowers for you have a lovely day xxx |
5th February 2017
I can hardly believe that people are flapping about the lack of lettuce. Lives are not endangered during a lettuce shortage - get a grip - eat something else. Years ago we only had salad items when it was warm enough for your dad to grow them and then they came with the obligatory slugs in them. And what a chore washing lettuce was in those days. Have a good look at this if you're pining for a lettuce leaf. |
3rd February 2017
I'm just trying to think what's happened since my last visit - hmph... not much. I managed to get to yesterday's art class and do a bit of drawing. We had a nice afternoon when Jay turned up around lunch time (good timing) he was on a rest day. I've just sent a text to Ian to ascertain the state of his ankle. He has a temporary cast on it accompanied by a case of seriously cold toes. It has to be done again next Tuesday at the fracture clinic and probably with something more substantial like a big clunky boot thing. Hope you don't mind seeing an injured leg but Jon in NZ likes to know all the ins and outs of what his brothers are up to. |
I see it was groundhog day yesterday - no one told us if Mr Groundhog stayed down the hole or came out for some fresh air so we still don't know what the US weather is about to do. There's a similar notion in Germany but their story features a badger. I reckon we could start a such a myth of our own - we could call it Betty's Co-op day - if it's warm enough for me to go to the Co-op then we'd know the weather ain't so bad - if it's still wintery I'll say, "blow this for a game of soldiers, let's see what's in the freezer," and stay indoors. Talking of Co-op - there's a bit of a "do" at Codsall Co-op tomorrow - official opening of the recent refurbishment. I reckon it'll be a proper jolly trolley dash with free tasters of this that. You could go round a few times pretending you can't find something and eat enough to get a free lunch. Just a thought...
To tell the truth, I never eat those freebies sitting on a tray in supermarkets - you never know who's sneezed on them. Sorry... it was just another thought... enjoy your lunch if you're heading for the Co-op tomorrow. |
1st February 2017
I'm going to see Kerry this morning - it's hair trim day - she'll have me looking a tad tidier (maybe miracles do happen). Bad news this morning - Ian (no 1 grandson) has broken his ankle. Not a good move for a PE teacher! He's grounded for a while - marooned on the sofa awaiting a pile of school paperwork to prevent him from getting bored. His bone can't be set until Friday as everything is too swollen. Sounds a bit grim - mend well Ian. |
31st January 2017
Another month all used up - time to sweep away the crumbs of January. Writers' group meeting today and, thanks be, I managed to do a bit of homework. Nothing profound but it fits the brief. We had to write about something that gets used for a purpose other than for which it was designed. OK so we're a weird bunch with strange ways of amusing ourselves. Some members attended events at last weekend's Wolverhampton Literature Festival. My entry didn't get anywhere in the Festival's poetry competition, BUT, I'm chuffed to say it did get a mention on the Express & Star website. Well... you can't win 'em all but it would seem that some journalistic genius saw the light and gave it a thumbs up. |
Oh dear... how long will I be able to resist? This morning's mail turned out to be the new season Gudrun Sjoden designs catalogue. That's my bank balance heading for disaster then.
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29th January 2017
First and foremost - Happy Birthday to Jay. He'll find this public announcement somewhat cringe-worthy, but happy birthday anyway. He shares the day with the anniversary of the first broadcast of Desert Island Discs (1942). Today's guest is David Beckham to celebrate the programme's 75th birthday - there's a big article about it in this week's Radio Times. We'll do birthday stuff later today when we catch up with Jay and Les. They've been in Manchester all weekend for Lesley's works "do". They've taken the opportunity to stay an extra night and take in a photography exhibition and/or visit the Lowry Gallery. |
27th January 2017
Good morning... hang on I've just heard something clatter through the letterbox. It was my parcel of printer inks hitting the mat. I only ordered them yesterday (click of a mouse) and they're here already. I just can't fault the company I get them from. They're what I call "look alike" cartridges but as good as the "real thing" at a much kinder price. I've put a link on the "Links to This and That" page in case you want to try them. The company is INKredible.co.uk. I believe in giving praise where it's due. |
Back to our morning. I went to yesterday's art class. No Eureka moments, I drew a tree and not a very good one at that. I only took my sketch book and pencils - hospital doctor said not to carry anything for a while following the injections - I've found that the old bones protest noticeably if I do.
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Chinese New Year is imminent. 2017 is the year of the Rooster. Most Chinese tend to name a zodiac year from Chinese New Year according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, thus the 2017 lunar year of the Rooster starts on January 28th. Hope it's a lucky (or clucky) one.
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25th January 2017
I'm in good humour this morning having slept for 6 hours without a twinge after yesterday's steroid injections. I don't know why but it was all done from behind so I didn't get to see anything. When the doctor said a local anaesthetic was to be applied I imagined a hypodermic needle the size of pneumatic drill. However, I didn't get to see it because everything was kept out of sight. It was a jab in both shoulder joints and a plaster on each. Oh well... the mysteries of medicine... and it didn't hurt anyway, well only for a split second - all quite do-able. |
Anyone dining on Haggis today? I'm giving it a miss - I've never managed to appreciate the joys of an oaty-groaty posh faggot. I went to a Burn's Night Supper once and just couldn't take to the fat little round thing that was dished up. It was more than 'dished up' - it was 'piped in' by a chap in a kilt. The haggis (not the chap in a kilt) was about the size of a hamster and tasted like one, or what I imagine roast hamster would taste like. Apologies if you're from north of the border - have a great Burn's Night.
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24th January 2017
I'm sorry to have to miss today's writers' meeting - they have a workshop with Bert Flitcroft - have a productive afternoon everyone. Unfortunately it coincides with my hospital appointment in rheumatology. |
On Jan 24th 1848 gold was discovered by James W Marshall at Sutter's Mill near Coloma, California. The news eventually filtered through to the wider public and so began the great Gold Rush of 1849. Those who upped sticks and rushed off to dig for gold became known as forty-niners.
I called myself a forty-niner for a time - just for a couple of years following my fiftieth birthday. |
23rd January 2017
Yay! the sunshine's back. Jay and Les brought this little pot of dinky daffs the other day and when we came down this morning they'd decided to wake up and smile - so cheerful at this time of year. I've looked round the garden (very brief dash) the bulbs are coming up, and I found snowdrops and primroses in bloom too. Dare we yet say it? Roll on spring. Oh crikey! I see there's something else to worry about now. Don't let your toast get too brown - it must be no darker than golden yellow (like the daffs on your right). The scientists say that when starchy food is heated to 120 degrees or above something called acrylamide is produced - it's a cancer causing substance. The list includes crisps, bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, cakes, and coffee. We also have to be careful about starchy vegetables such as potatoes and parsnips when baking, roasting, or grilling. It looks like we've been eating acrylamide for years. Time for a rethink? |
I have to dash now - we're going to a funeral. A sad day - Steve was ill for the last few years - prostate cancer. He is my brother's wife's sister's husband. RIP Steve.
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5 pm - home again now. It was at Bushbury Crematorium and afterwards at the Bradford Arms on the A5 for a very nice buffet where we met up with relatives we haven't seen in ages. I suppose it's the case with many families these days - busy lifestyles and all that - it's a pity that we rely on weddings and funerals to catch up with people we don't see very often.
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My funny gloves have arrived - the blurb says they contain silver which helps generate heat and is also anti-bacterial so here's to germ free warmish hands. They're not very glamorous and have the languid look of a lifeless rodent so I hide them inside these pretty mittens Lesley and Jay gave me. If you need some of these gloves they're available from Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK. http://www.sruk.co.uk |
18th January 2017
What a dull, drab, dun-coloured day. I thought I'd defy the weather and put us "in the pink" - an "up yours" to a grey day. I got through the writers' meeting OK having managed to muster a bit of homework to fit the brief. I'll put it on the writing page. As my piece was inspired by our last week's marmalade session, Maggie asked if I would put instructions on the recipe page. Happy marmalading Mags. Cora kindly brought us the itinerary for the forthcoming Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival - there's loads of literary events going on around our area during Friday 27th - Sunday 29th January 2017. Many of the events are free and suitable for children. |
Here's a chance of funding for local causes.... Friends of Bilbrook have sent us the link....
https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sstaffs-lottery The link above gives you the opportunity to express your views on the question of whether South Staffordshire should have a lottery funding good causes. Please click on the link to take you to a very short questionnaire. |
16th January 2017
Good morning. Another wet weekend out of the way. On Saturday Bern joined the Friends of Bilbrook litter picking session. They gathered 22 large bags of rubbish - a job well done I reckon, and it's nice to know there are a few people in the village willing to make a difference to the place where we live. Thank you everyone who took part. It was the first time Bern had met the group and by strange coincidence the man he walked round with turned out to be one of Jay's old friends - they were in the Air Cadets together as teenagers and lost touch when Jay went into the RAF and Keri the Army some 30+ years ago. One more coincidence, Keri and his family live in the house adjoining number 39, Homefield Road, where I was born and grew up. |
I'll leave you in peace now - it's time to worry about getting some homework done for tomorrow's writers' meeting.
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13th January 2017
More kind and thoughtful messages from Thelma and Hilary - thank you. I didn't make it here yesterday as it was hospital day. Usual outcome - "we can't cure you but we can make the symptoms more comfortable." Consultant has prescribed steroid injections to reduce the pain plus some eye drops and mouth spray. |
Happy Lohri to our Indian relatives. Today is the Festival of Lohri - a ritual that takes place all round the world to mark the end of the cold days and hope for a successful harvest in the months to come. The timing is not quite right for UK weather but Happy Lohri one and all.
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I had a lovely surprise this morning - a phone call from my lifelong friend Peggy who emigrated to Australia in the mid 60s. As you might imagine the conversation was not about world affairs; we were more inclined to talk of our geriatric shortcomings, what all the young ones are up to, and how many pills we take. She said she was feeling pretty lifeless and planned to stay indoors due to the excessive heat - I'm planning to stay indoors because of the excessive cold. We met when I was 15 and started work in the offices of Boulton & Paul Aircraft (just outside Bilbrook on Wobaston Road - now closed down) Boulton & Paul was a Norwich based company which moved to Wolverhampton in the 1930s. Many families moved with the company and settled in Bilbrook. My good friend Hilary's parents were Norwich people. And talking of Hilary, she's checked in on the message thing to say she's living it up on throat lozenges right now - she's been quite poorly over Christmas with a chest infection - cough, cold, winter germs etc. linger on.
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Carol and her work colleagues are tootling down to Kent today - a long train ride and an overnight stay for their annual work's "do". Brrr seems quite a jaunt on a chilly day for a bit of a knees-up if you ask me. I saw on Facebook that they were en route - have fun girls.
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Reading matter recommended by Carol:
"The Good Liar" by Nicholas Searle. She says it's a bit dry to begin with but it's worth sticking with it as it gets better and more intriguing, turning out to be "something quite different". |
Writers Group and Art Group began the new term this week. I missed the art class because of my hospital appointment. Maggie says only 9 turned up so hope it's better next week. The writers' meeting went well with a good attendance. Guess who failed in the homework department (again) sorry.
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We've had another of our little technology traumas - we're very prone to them. Do you remember when, last summer, I told you we'd had a new house phone and opted for a fancy thing that blocked unwanted sales calls. We went through the instruction book, a lengthy process, to do the set up procedure. We pressed button 2 to let people in and pressed the one with a cross on to keep them out if they were selling stuff or trying to get into our computers. However, most people started calling our mobiles and the house phone didn't ring. We assumed people were on holiday or didn't like the BT lady asking them who they are before putting them through so we could choose if their number was permanently accepted. Then by December we felt that we were definitely consigned to the "Johnny No Mates" department. At Christmas we met up with old friends who told us they'd phoned but no one was in. We had the same message from Jose and others. Then we tried ringing our own number when we were out... It rang and rang and the answer phone didn't kick in. Here's the daft bit, and why didn't we think of it before? - why not ring our own number while we're in the house using a mobile. Friends were right - the house phone didn't ring. We spent a couple of days doing phone calls to BT. Each call taking forever to get through. When finally making contact with a real person, the BT bods talked us through the process of "fixing" things. It involved me relaying instructions to Bern as he crawled round the hall floor with a screwdriver, unplugging things, pressing this and that, swapping which is plugged into where and generally making things worse and all to no avail. Then BT suggested we cough up with £130 for an engineer to come, we had to pay because they said the fault is at our end. Rock and a hard place etc. So we agreed to fork out. We had a call - on the mobile the evening before the engineer was due - he said they've discovered the fault lies with BT and they can fix it their end. As of yesterday our new phone system finally works and we are back in circulation still clutching our £130. Whew! BT call their phone "BT 8600 With Advance Call Blocker" - they managed to block our calls all right! But, all's well that ends well I suppose.
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I haven't made any New Year Resolutions. If you've made some I wish you the fortitude to carry them through. Historially all sorts of things took place on January 1st - here's a few from the list...
I've recently joined a website community called SRUK - it's a UK society for those suffering with Scleroderma and Raynaud's disease. It a good source of medical information and there's chat rooms where you can exchange experiences with others. I can't decide whether it's a good thing or not - one can learn helpful management strategies or, are we all just wallowing in our misfortune to have contracted the illness? Haven't yet decided.
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