9th October 2015
No doubt you'll think I'm a tardy so-and-so... all due to Weebly having a wobble - Weebly being this website host, I just couldn't get in to chat as everything was in s...l...o...w m...o...t...i...o...n.... |
I did Facetime with Jonathan this morning (No 3 grandson who is tootling round the Antipodees). He's back in Auckland now and flies to Bali on Sunday. This flipping technology - he had to keep reminding to take my finger off the little round thing on the iPad - I was covering the camera bit with my thumb and he couldn't see me. I got to see and speak with some of the other young peoples he's hooked up with.
|
7th October 2015
There's not much happening today. Yesterday's writers' meeting went well - a couple of us turned up without having done our homework. The spare moments were filled with eating chocolate - Ryan had brought a box of extra nice Thornton's Moments to celebrate his new job as a journalist and to mark his leaving the group as his job is with a Derby newspaper. How exciting is that for a young chap diving into the world of work? Of course we all wished him well and had no trouble polishing off the chocs. Ryan joined our group on starting his university course (a degree in journalism) and we like to think we've spurred him on and provided encouragement. He's promised to look in on us as when his time permits. |
5th October 2015
First and foremost - happy birthday Rajni, who is clinging to the last year of her twenties. Raj and Andy have been away for a birthday weekend so we may catch up with them later today. Jay and Les have been visiting Audrey and Jack in Greywell and Carol and Gary are still in sunny Spain. Jon has reached Christchurch (South Island) NZ and is visiting a mate from Codsall who lives there. I believe Ian and Jenny have been up to their ears in Rugby. We've had a quiet weekend and now it's back on the Monday treadmill. Jan and I are going to Maggie's this morning; we'll be sorting out the writers' group anthology submissions. We'll have our editor's hats on as it's time to tackle the paper mountain. |
I talked with Carol on Facetime yesterday evening, just before they went out for a stroll and tapas (apparently they're well into tapas, whatever it is, as it crops up in the conversation frequently). I saw round their holiday apartment and the sea view from their balcony and Gary gave a wave. Hurrah for Facetime - thing is they were doing it from an iPod to my iPad - life is getting too technical by far. I try hard to keep up but sometimes I think I'm being out-galloped (if there is such a word?)
|
Our last night's supper was total disaster and I ended up eating a giant slice of Victoria sponge cake (made earlier). Even the cake, which was incredibly yummy, had me miffed because Bern had made it and it was better than my usual efforts. As for the supper - a vegetable curry recipe from the Waitrose magazine - it was like eating dynamite, it blew your head off and sent you rushing for a gallon of water. Needless to say, it's now in the bin along with its recipe.
|
Back again. We had a productive morning, Maggie and I did pencil drawing, Jose painted watercolour nasturtiums and Hilary was drawing shells. Lots of other interesting stuff going on too. Then I popped to the Co-op, made a rice pudding, pegged some washing and walked round the garden to see where the little cyclamen are popping up.
|
E-mail from David,(Lesley's brother in Hampshire and James' brother-in-law). David has sent this photograph of himself and David Seaman for Gary and the boys to see and apparently they will be envious or (another chance to say it) well jell. I hadn't a clue who David Seaman is but Google tells me he's a famous ex-Arsenal player. In the Mitchel household that means he has God status so I guess they will appreciate the photograph. Oh, forgot to mention, David met him when he came to David's place of work to purchase golf clubs. Eat your hearts out Gary, Ian, Andy, Jon. In case you are as ignorant as me about football, our David is on the right and the Arsenal David is on the left - I think he looks like Michael Portillo.
|
29th September 2015
What shall we talk about today? The art group website is up and running - there's a link to it on the Home Page here. Hopefully some of the other members will take up a "gallery" page and we'll have something to look at. I've been outside in the garden - the sun's out but there's a chill in the air first thing. Everything is draped with cobwebs and there's a lovely earthy smell of autumn - we can see where John Keats was coming from when he wrote his famous "Ode to Autumn". I've just noticed his dates - he was a Scorpio - no wonder he waxed lyrical about autumn - it's Scorpio's time of year. He died aged 26 yet ranked as one of the topmost of the English romantic poets achieving fame and acclaim at a young age. |
London's Metropolitan Police Force came into being on this date in 1829 when Sir Robert Peel was Home Secretary, the first Metropolitan Police Act was passed and the Metropolitan Police Force was established.This new force superseded the local Watch in the London area but the City of London was not covered. Even within the Metropolitan Police District there still remained certain police establishments, organised during the eighteenth century, outside the control of the Metropolitan Police Office, viz:-
|
28th September 1925 - the first issue of The Radio Times went on sale - cover price two pence. I was going to put 2d but I thought the young ones wouldn't recognise that. I still buy The Radio Times now it costs £2. I had to nip downstairs to look at our current copy to find the price. I didn't realise it cost that much - I just shove it in the shopping trolley when supermarket shopping. 2d to £2 - how "times" have changed over the last 90 years.
|
27th September 2015
Apologies for banging on about the moon again - it may having something to do with my being a bit 'loony' anyway - but a chap on the telly this morning said we have to be out of bed at 3.a.m. to see it at it's best. Now shall I set the alarm for 3. a.m.? I wonder what Bern would say if I did. We went round to James and Lesley's yesterday afternoon - it was their turn to do the tea and cakes thing. They were in gardening mode big time - jay was up to his elbows in the flower border and as we arrived he'd just had a nasty encounter with cat poo (ugh let's not go there). I've solved the mystery of Jon's new Facebook friend, Yukiko. Seems like she's a pretty little Japanese girl who is also travelling in New Zealand but they'll be parting company soon as she's off to North Island and Jon's already done that.
|
|
On Sunday night, the moon will be both its brightest and its darkest in the year. But if you’re looking up to the sky, you’ll want to make sure you time it right — the full show will only last for about 71 minutes. The two events will happen late on 27 September, and in the early morning of 28 September. The first part of the night, the Supermoon, will last all evening. Looking at the sky at any time during the night — and to a lesser extent the days around it — you should be able to see a brilliant full moon. But then the brightest moon of the year will gradually be plunged into darkness, as the lunar eclipse begins. When the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, it sends it dark — and then as the light bends around our planet on its way from the sun, it will turn it red, and the bloody colour of the moon gives it its name. The two events taking place at the same time hasn't happened in 30 years.
|
Just done my little exercise of sleuthing round Facebook in the hope of finding out what Jon is up to. Seems like he's having a ball - current escapade is horse-riding - lovely horse, beautiful scenery, amiable companions, and it looks to me like he's on his flipping phone!!! Is there anything that will separate the young from their electronic devices?
Grapvine tells me Jon did a skydive today. Deffo not my cup of tea - there's no way I could chuck myself out of a plane. Facebook tells me Jon is now a Facebook friend of Yukiko Hatakeyama Dayo - I wonder if he can pronounce his new friend's name; and is it a him or a her? |
25th September 2015
I've watered them, fed them, watched them grow, urged them onward and upward despite the summer weather turning out a bit pants. (Horrible expression but I try to be 'cool'). They've finally come to fruition as we move into autumn BUT they've taught me a lesson and managed to have the last say. Just by way of a change, I planted them in a different place this year and they don't like it. Maybe they're just being petulant, all we get to see is the backs of their heads as they leer over the fence and smile benevolently on next door's garden. The holly tree is keeping the sun off them and when the blooms open they turn to the sun. They're fun though - sunshiny smiley companions, even though they don't gaze in my direction. |
24th September 2015
Sorry I'm late getting here today. I've been to art class this morning. When I got home I put my lunchtime sandwich and a drink on a tray and brought it up here to eat while chatting to you. I was waylaid by Candycrush which made me later than ever. I'm such a fickle friend. Perhaps I should leave the 'r' out of that and describe myself as a fickle fiend, but that's a contradiction of terms. I think I'll shut up now and carry on as if nothing had happened. So... I went to art class. MFJ was missing (my friend Jose) - dentist appointment. But my friends Maggie, Jackie and Hilary were there - we got through the morning aided by coffee and chat and all came up with "something". I messed about with pen and ink because Thursday arrived and I hadn't given any forethought about what to do, so I snipped off a hydrangea head on my way out of the door. Hardly a masterpiece but it kept me busy enough to convince Roland I was working. |
I'm been for a stroll round Facebook, it gets worse doesn't it. So much garbage to wade through, I can't understand why people just pass round twee pictures of something mawkish to put across a message - then whomsoever they've "shared" it with decides to also "share" you end up getting the same old rubbish tenfold. (Sorry, quick digression). I found this picture of Jon and his fellow travellers. Why would they go looking for snow in September? I'm cold just looking at it. He posts the pictures but doesn't give us any information so I can't say where it is other than it's in NZ. Nor can I explain the blue coats and the funny red bags - it must be some sort of organised trip whereby they provide the proper kit. I wonder if it's a cardboard backdrop and you dress up for the picture... I think it's Jon second from left with the stripey hat.
|
23rd September 2015
This morning's sunshine seems like a celebration of the Autumn Equinox - a quarter point in the wheel of the year, a day when darkness and daylight are equal before we wander into winter's shortening days. Incidentally, I got to see the early sun as Bern awoke to a flat tyre and I had to drive him to work, at an unmentionable hour but the sun was up with a cheerful smile. |
I've finished the pink jumper at last - there's a picture on the Crafty page.
Now I have to decide what to do for tomorrow's art class - problems, problems... |
22nd September 2015
Da-de-da-de-da-de-da, da-de-da-de-da-da... got it? I'm sure you have... it's the Archers' tune. A reminder of Grace Archer's death on this date in 1955. The BBC "killed" her off, so it's said, to coincide with the launch of ITV on the same evening. Twenty million listeners tuned in to hear the horror of Grace's death. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33288079 Right: No 3 grandson, Jon - still happy in NZ - they're on South Island now. Yet another hostel and yet more baked beans on the menu by the look of it, plus the ever present "always" hat. I've named it his always hat because he's always wearing it.
|
21st September 2015
I'm just listening to Radio 4 - "You and Yours" - someone was telling us about the latest must-have for the garden. The great item of desire and most wanted is an outdoor pizza oven. Now I'm flummoxed. If you're in the garden you're usually pretty near to your kitchen (unless you live at Downton Abbey). My advice is pop your pizza in the kitchen oven, slap it on a plate and you can still eat it al fresco. A top of the range outdoor pizza oven costs around £1100 - a cheapo version is in the region of £150. I rest my case. And anyway... I don't eat pizza so I'll not be buying one. |
Furthermore, they told us that marketing experts can check what's trending by recording what we're all clicking on when surfing the Internet. From this data they determine which items to stock in retail outlets. Today's eat-in-the-garden people's top clicks are the said pizza ovens with the good old barbecue coming second. Now I've an urge to keep clicking on something totally useless to see if it finds its way into the shops. When we resume our garden centre visits next spring I bet they'll be full of outside pizza ovens. Time will tell...
|
I know I moan about it every year, but I see they're hawking Christmas already. I've seen, cards, wrapping paper, and chocolate bars with snowmen and santas. Anything to do with the C word should be banned until we're put the clocks back, and that would still be a bit too early for me. When I was in the Co-op the other day, on the veg shelf I saw packets of fresh chopped onion - do people not chop onions these days? They'll be flogging ready-peeled spuds next... or maybe they do and I haven't spotted them.
|
My friend Maggie has been having a Mary Berry moment. I think these look yummy - she says they're maids of honour with a coconut twist. The recipe is from the Be-Ro Cookbook. I remember Be-Ro flour - not sure if it's still on the shelves. Excuse me while I do a quick Google. Yes! It's still available and so is the Be-Ro Cookbook. You can get it via this website. http://www.be-ro.co.uk/ There's nothing like a nice bit of cake
|
Our sporting duo, Jenny and Ian, are cosied up on the sofa this evening, wearing their England shirts of course, to watch the rugby. I have to admit, I couldn't define a scrum or a try to save my life. You'd think PE teachers would be all sported out after a week in school but our two never seem to tire of it.
|
16th September 2015
Do you ever put things off until the day comes when you have no option but to get and do it? Well, this morning we did it. And what a performance - the outcome of long term neglect! We started off with the spray stuff, then attacked it with the steamer gadget, and at last it's presentable again, inside and out and washed behind the ears. Such a boring task - even worse than cleaning windows and ironing. I reckon ours, being a Bosch one, has a German accent. When it was all clean and smiley I heard it whisper.... "O ven vill you cleanz me again?" We start back to art class tomorrow so I've been stuffing things in my bag in the hope of getting myself out on time in the morning - I seem to be a bit short of "hurry" these days. I'm not going to lug the painting I've been working on at home - it such a performance putting a wet canvas in the car, I end up getting paint all over the place as well as over myself. I'm settling for drawing gear in the morning, but what to draw eludes me.
|
Congratulations Maggie (writers' group). She nailed the short story of the week slot in Saturday night's Express & Star. She's caught me up now - we've both had two stories published in E&S. I'll have to look through my files to see if I can find another one to try my luck again. Well done Mags. Jan and Cora have also been successful in recent weeks - if you ask me Codsall Writers are doing a good job of providing copy for E&S.
|
The tea cosy arrived in Hampshire and David has taken it to Samantha. Had an e-mail from her this morning to say it goes a treat with her teapot. Now they can have very cosy tea-for-two. When I knew Samantha needed a tea cosy I turned the house upside down looking for my pattern. Guess where it was - on the Kindle app on my iPad. Another of those little senior moments that seem to beset me these days.
|
A little bit of trivia for golf anoraks: not that I'm pointing at David of tea cosy fame, or Ian of PE teacher fame whose been indulging in this pastime in recent weeks.... On this date in 1868 the first recorded "hole in one" was scored by Scottish golfer Tom Morris during the Open Golf Championship in Prestwick, which he won.
|
Oh crikey - this picture gives me the horrors. Neat, clean, cheerful but oh the proximity to everyone else. It's the type of room found in the hostels where Jon and his new companions are sleeping. Definitely no leeway for antisocial habits and quarters only suitable for the young. I found the pic among the photos he's put on Facebook and I very much like the folk art decoration.
|
10th September 2015
Message from Ian says my guess about the round green door (yesterday's post) is indeed Tolkein related - it's probably part of a set used in the filming of Lord of the Rings. Talking of Tolkein did you know that in the little Dutch town of Geldrop there is a neighbourhood with streets named after the characters from J R Tolkein's stories, i.e. hobbits, dwarves, wizards and elves - must be a magical place to live. Even the local pre-school nursery is called De Hobbit. I find that quite amusing - for little people, I guess. In his book Tolkein also referred to the Hobbits as Halflings - equally amusing. Sorry if this is boring, blame Jonathan and his wanderings for luring me into Middle Earth or wherever it is that Hobbits lurk. |
J R Tolkein 1892 - 1973.
A chap with an awesome intellect |
I've been doing my usual snoop round Facebook - I found this picture of Jonathan. Looks like he's hooked up with a some more Brits who are doing "the tour". (Jon is in the middle under the ever-present baseball cap). I've no idea what the round green door is all about, I'm just guessing it's some sort of tourist attraction... it looks a bit Hobbit-ish or a Stig of the Dump sort of place. Or maybe someone does know what the round green door is all about???
|
8th September 2015
There's oodles of autumn mist about today... so grab a morning moment of mellow fruitfulness if you must as per John Keats. Writers' meeting later, but other than that I've nothing much to mention. I'm quite a fan of the TV programme Doc Martin and enjoyed last night's first episode of the seventh and final series. My incidental sidelines keep nudging for attention - canvas is unfinished and being pondered, the Bill Bryson book is still on the go, I've started another winter jumper, finished Samantha's tea cosy it just needs posting. I've tried it on our teapot and it seems to fit OK. My sunflowers are gigantic triffid-like monsters, all stalk and leaves but minus smiley yellow faces. Maybe they need more sunshine, or perhaps I should have planted the seeds earlier. A plethora of projects pending. |
7th September 2015
I've a crossed wire to untangle before I create more confusion. Carol wasn't at Symphony Hall on Saturday - the rehearsal was at Dudley Town Hall - but the final "do" is at the posh venue later this month. We had a pleasant afternoon yesterday - not a pub crawl but a cup-of-tea crawl. First stop Andy and Rajni's new house where we had a guided tour and tea in the conservatory, and a very nice place it is too - 4 bedrooms, three lavatories, two baths, two showers and cupboards enough to hide all sorts of stuff. Then round the corner to Jay and Les's - tea in the garden while we admired their handiwork - they've spent the weekend catching up on gardening chores. Lesley's agapanthus were looking good in the sunshine. Here they are for Audrey and Jack to see (Les's Mum and Dad in Hampshire). Bear with me while I send a few messages. |
I always have to think twice when saying "bear with me" - is it bear as in Goldilocks or bare as in skinny dipping? I've looked it up and it's definitely the growly bear one as in the meaning of forbearance.
|
To Maggie:
Our books have arrived from Simon at Offa's Press - I'll bring your copy to writers' meeting tomorrow. |
To David:
I've started Samantha's tea cosy so it's currently work in progress and will be with you around next weekend so watch out for the postman. |
To James and Lesley:
The thing I'd read about in the Chronicle and tried to tell you about on Sunday and then found I'd forgotten what it was... well I've remembered it again. Thought you might be interested.... Madness are doing an open air concert at Wolverhampton Racecourse on 25th September - might be fun. |
To Carol and James:
who've both asked me what veg can they grow in the winter. I've Googled and found a list which includes cabbage, broad beans, carrots, winter lettuce, shallots, onions... but you'll see in the waffle I'll e-mail. Have to say, this blogging business saves me a fortune in phone calls. |
6th September 2015
More news from Carol - she said the rehearsal was a great buzz - 400 songsters assembled to sing their hearts out. Now I'm wondering with that many doing the business where are they going to put the audience? I sent Jonathan a PM on Facebook and got one back saying "I'm good Gran." I take those few words to mean that he's OK and all's well in his world. He's already found a friend from the UK (Chris Evans from Fordhouses) whom I presume is now living in NZ - they managed to meet up before Jon left Auckland. |
I had a text from Carol early doors (strange expression that's doing the rounds right now, I thought I'd give it an airing so you'll think I'm streetwise and savvy) but between you and I, it's a pretty daft thing to say. Now I've forgotten what I was going to tell you. Oh... Carol texted to say she was on her way to Symphony Hall, Birmingham for the big rehearsal of the Got-2-Sing choir - they're doing a big gig there soon with lots of Got-2-Sing choirs coming together for the event. It's an impressive venue.
|
I watched a couple of travel programmes on telly this week. Sue Perkins in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) - I'm glad they've reinstated its proper Indian name. She told us about life as it really is rather than a nostalgic journey for those with a delicate sensibility. Mind you, I was a little squeamish when Sue ventured underground to inspect the city's sewer system city that the British built years ago, especially when her guide said they had to get out before 6 am as the bathrooms above would begin to be active... ugh! Let's not even think about that one... my delicate sensibility has kicked in.
The other programme was Stephen Fry doing Central America. Both presenters gave us an honest picture of the joys and problems faced by the people of these countries. |
Oh no, he's crawling round the rim of my coffee mug - that is not allowed - his days are numbered. Excuse me while I leap about and slash the air with a rolled up magazine. Don't get swatting your screen - this one on the right is pretend. Ouch! Just slammed my hand down on the desk - painful - and the damn fly escaped again.
|
If you do Facebook you might like to go to the Creative Wolverhampton page - lots of information about what's going on in our town. I was happy to find news of this book on there, mainly because the three writers are all past members of Codsall Writers and the editor is Jane who comes to do our poetry workshops each term. It looks like it has a very local flavour. I've been to the publisher's website (http://www.offaspress.co.uk) and the blurb is as follows: The Nailmakers’ Daughters [Paperback] This stylish new collection features the poetry of Emma Purshouse, Iris Rhodes and Marion Cockin, deftly edited by Jane Seabourne. These Black Country women’s lives are deeply rooted in the history of the area, their poems will challenge and delight by turns.
ISBN 978-0-9565518-8-7 Cover price: £7.95 |
Further to my post of 28th August about John West Tuna - I'm a bit embarrassed as they've sent me £10 in recompense for my complaint with a very reasonable explanation about ring pulls having to be strong enough to withstand transit, handling, shelf-stacking etc. They pointed out that no one else has complained so it looks like I'm a bit of a wimp and couldn't knock the skin of a rice pudding, let alone yank a ring pull on a tin of tuna. Er.... I hate to mention it, but on the back of the postal order are instructions for conditions of use - the print is so small and faint I can't read it. I'll not bother to complain else who knows where this will end?
|
31st August 2015
Bank Holiday washout! Disappointing weather or what? We had planned to go up to Bridgemere garden centre but we've knocked that one on the head - who wants to mooch about in this. Jonathan and I have exchanged messages on Facebook this morning - he flies from Honk Kong to NZ today and he tells me he's made loads of new friends - he seemed chirpy and well so maybe I can stop worrying (for now). |
Jay and Lesley have been off in their old camper van this weekend - they were heading for Abersoch - hope it didn't turn into Aber-soggy.
|
29th August 2015
We're in for a quiet bank holiday weekend - our lot are all out and about doing things - wish I had their energy. But I can boast having put brush to canvas and so far so good - I'm happy with it. Don't get too excited though, there's as long way to go yet. I made an early start on the painting but must confess, not because I was bursting with creative ideas; it's window cleaner day and I feel compelled to be out of bed looking calm and collected before he pops up at the window. Our street is his first call on a Saturday morning so we're lumbered with the crack-of-dawn slot. |
I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms at the mo - Candy Crush and Candy Crush Soda have locked me out. Not sure how the system works but I think it's because I refuse to pay - I only do freebie games so I have to wait ages now before it will let me join in again. We can have a mutual sulk, me because I can't play and them because they're getting no money out of me.
|
Carol, Gary, Jenny and Ian are doing their last moments at the Fringe today.Here's Ian and Jenny's selfie as they take up their seats to see a Freddie Flintoff gig. Carol said the street are choc-a-bloc with people and every step you take someone thrusts a leaflet into your hand to publicise an event. I know we all have our funny little ways, our personal idiosyncrasies, but Carol's fetish is paper - waste paper that is. Gary has put his foot down and told her "No, you're not bringing all these bits of paper home to put in the blue bin." He's learnt from past experience as she's been known to fill her car boot with old phone books, and the contents of the office waste paper bin in order to recycle it. We joke about her "extreme green" tendencies but someone has to save the planet.
|
27th August 2015
I've just had a little chat with Jonathan via the Facebook messaging thing. He's fine but says the weather is awful - cloudy and very hot and humid. Then I had a sudden thought and wondered what time it is in Hong Kong - luckily I hadn't buzzed him in the middle of the night, it was about 6.00 in the evening. |
If you wake up one morning and wonder where your hedge has gone - here lies the answer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34054321 This little creature is on the march - it's already gobbling up hedges in the London area and is hell bent on travelling north. |
I must be turning into a crabby old woman - I'm thinking of complaining to John West about their tins of tuna. I like the dinky little tins of tuna in spring water, I'm not partial to olive oil and I buy these tiny tins so the rest of the family don't have to join my fat-free regime. Anyway, I can't open them because the ring-pull is stronger than me. Then when I get Bern to have a go it just breaks off leaving the tin intact and the contents remain incarcerated. Then I have to rummage for the old fashioned tin opener, fiddle with the lid, blah, blah... all adding to life's list of small irritations.
|
Talking of unwelcome creatures - last night I was reminded of the item I saw about spiders being driven indoors by the warm wet weather [see 23rd August post]. While I was watching telly yesterday evening a gargantuan - mammoth - behemoth of a spider (well it was biggish) ran out from behind the telly. Bern was snoring up his end of the sofa so I grabbed a glass to put over it. I swear it's at least three inches across - the spider not the glass. Thing is, I've just remembered it - it's been there all night entombed - I wonder if it's suffocated. It's lunch time now... bye.
|
Back gain. I felt guilty about you-know-who under the glass. I checked to see if he had gasped his last but he gave me a defiant wink as I peered down at him. I got him to smile for the camera before I put him outside. I took him to the end of the garden and put him by the fence - he was keen to scurry off into next door's garden, and I hope he stays there. Anyway, here's his portrait but it's a bit fuzzy as I insisted he stayed under the glass seeing as I had to get close up to him to take the pic.
Mish-mash of a day isn't it - all tuna and tarantulas - Hong-Kong and caterpillars. I think I'll visit the canvas now, it's still waiting.... |
26th August 2015
I live in fervent hope that summer hasn't deserted us just yet but it looks like we're in for another damp day. I've acquired one of the Rowan new season pattern books - looks good, maybe I'll embark on a new knitting project soon - something in a shouty colour to ward off winter gloom. The yarns are a bit pricey but I'll trawl the Web to search out suppliers offering discount. Sometimes you can get a great bargain on posh yarns in House of Fraser (Beatties). |
NOTE: for Andy and Ian. I've put little bro's airport picture on the "Family" page.
Ian and Jenny are flying up to Edinburgh today to say "budge up" to Carol and Gary in their rented apartment and grab a couple of days Fringe fun.
|
Rene and I had a cosy afternoon yesterday. As promised she brought her holiday pictures on a memory stick. We got on the sofa with my laptop and enjoyed her recent visit to Scotland's west coast (right oop north) with her daughter and son-in-law. They're professional photographers and had compiled a slide show backed with pieces from Mendelssohn's Hebrides Symphony. We also watched a lovely little video (with musical accompaniment) of their encounter with pine martens. This isn't Rene's pine marten in the pic - just one I found on the Internet.
|
Get read for these little visitors. Hope we don't get too many in our territory - who wants a houseful of bonking spiders? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34026269
|
The number of giant house spiders creeping into UK homes is set to rise after the hot wet summer weather, experts say. The spiders, which can grow up to 12cm in length, are heading indoors to find a dry place to mate. Despite the name, house spiders more commonly live in sheds and gardens. Stuart Hine, insect specialist at the Natural History Museum said "they can give you a nip if you pick them up" but they are not harmful to humans. He said: "This is mating season. The males when they are mature will leave their webs in search of a female spider, so off they go on their little trek to find love. In doing so they stop feeding so they actually don't live that long as an adult and they're just sort of roaming around."
|
22nd August 2015
I'm a bit disillusioned with the current spate of popular fiction - they're all much of a muchness (strange phrase...) and based on endless angst. I've decided there's enough of that going on in real life and it's subsequently shovelled into our thoughts by the media. Therefore, I've opted for a Bill Bryson - I began his "Lost Continent " last night in bed and it had me laughing aloud. I think he's on my wavelength. I had to give up on a recent read called "I Let You Go" because I got exasperated with the main protagonist who was being regularly bashed to a pulp by her partner - I'm yelling at the pages "just walk away - don't put up with it" but she carried on coming back for more instead of going to the police in the first place. Her situation was a bit more complicated than that but even so I just couldn't "buy" the plot. |
Carol and Gary are journeying north today for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As I type this a text has arrived to say they've just landed on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Och Ay!
I expect Jonathan is consulting his many lists and working out how much stuff he can squeeze into his backpack in readiness for his big send off on Tuesday. |
James and Lesley are visiting Hampshire to do a belated birthday bash for Jack. Have fun everyone.
|
21st August 2015
I went into my glory hole this morning - viewed yesterday's painting - then realisation dawned: it's a bloody mess, so I proceeded to scrape it all off and trying not to think about the cost of decent oil paint. Back to the drawing board as they say, in my case literally. I hope there's a bit of truth in this inspirational quote. |
19th August 2015
We've had a message from David (a writers' group member) to say he'll be on the telly 11th September taking part in Eggheads. Exciting or what? I'll mention it again nearer the time just to remind you, (if I remember that is, I've put it on the calendar and in my diary so I'm in with half a chance). I love the team name they've chosen... get this... "Wolverhampton Ponderers" - and yes, he's a Wolves fan. |
There's been a blank canvas sitting on my easel for days now - ever since I first mooted the idea of trying to do an abstract. You might not believe it, but one of the scariest things in the world (well... in my world) is a stark, white, hostile, blank canvas... staring at you, daring you to besmirch its pristine virginity - I like the word besmirch, it sounds destructive. Anyway, with trepidation, I'm going to have a go and see what happens. If it turns out awful I will become modestly silent, incommunicado, and never mention it again and the thing will float itself into the bin with no one any the wiser. If... a big if... I like it, I'll show it to you... eventually... perhaps. In the meantime it's looking at me and waiting to see what I'm going to do.
David Bailey I'm not! What a plonker - I've pictured myself in the mirror taking the picture - now maybe you'll understand how I manage to drive myself mad! Another thought... taking a picture of a none-picture seems rather stupid - that's me! |
9.30 am and just eating my bite size Shredded Wheat - low-fat, low-sugar, and fibre enough to make a door mat, which has me thinking there must be more exciting things to eat. I did drop off to sleep before daylight and this morning's 2.30 am muttering seems way in the past. I'm sure our garden birds are taking a vacation - we haven't seen many lately - where do they go?
|
17th August 2015
Here we are into another Monday - I finished the green jumper yesterday evening - only the sewing up to do. I've been such a lazy bones today, other than jumping on a couple of snails and falling asleep this afternoon, that was my day. Oh well, I'll try to do better tomorrow. I've spent a bit of time doing the writers' website but somehow I've let one of Rene's poems slip off into the ether - don't know how it happened - one of those moments that will be an eternal mystery. I've looked through my "deleted" list and rummaged in the virtual wastepaper bin. So sorry Rene - here's hoping you still have a copy. |
I don't know about you but I always have the feeling that my computer has the upper hand.
|
16th August 2015
I enjoyed sitting in the warm sunshine this morning and then it went AWOL. We had a message yesterday to say that Jay and Lesley had seen the VJ flypast at Horseguards Parade and they saw the Queen doing her stuff on a giant screen. We had a smashing time at Carol and Gary's in Shrewsbury - the chaps had a good old ping-pong session in the garden, while others were busy in the kitchen sorting out the food. The ladies did wedding dress chat with Jenny and everyone offered travel advice for Jonathan. So one way and another we put the world to rights. Jenny, Queen of the Selfie Stick and fronting the left hand picture, was official photographer for the day. On the right our intrepid traveller with his Mum and Dad. With Jonathan gone can someone please turn up at Shrewsbury to play ping-pong with Gary, who incidentally, sent a text to say he'd eaten the left over cake I'd made for his breakfast. Ugh! |
15th August 2015
Sorry I've not had time to chat this morning - I've been busy making Lucy's Strawberry Slices from the Mary Berry recipe book. They're Jonathan's favourite and I'd promised to do them for this afternoon's little get-together. Just so that you're not overly impressed with my baking skills, I've pinched this photograph from Mary Berry - my effort is definitely less perfect and refuses to stand to attention like Mary's. We're lucky the rain has cleared up so there may be some competitive ping-pong going on in Shrewsbury back garden. We shall miss James and Lesley being there. Ages ago they'd booked to see the Paul Weller exhibition (the one Carol and Gary went to the other week) plus a couple of other exhibitions including one on Wildlife Photography in London. I guess the capital will be ram-jammed this weekend with the VJ event and extra security everywhere. |
14th August 2015
No watering cans nor hosepipes needed today then... umbrellas at the ready... not that I ever use one, just can't be bothered holding it. I listened to the new late night Woman's Hour programme last night - much time was given to, and get this: women reclaiming the nerdiverse, science fiction, fandom, fanfiction, fandom, and cosplay. I knew these strangely named events went on but I didn't realise they were such a big thing. Strikes me the intimation of nerdy is appropriate. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064zqyw this is a link to the podcast in case you wish to investigate. |
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/14/watch-car-stuck-in-trescott-ford-flood/ford1ae14/
Considering last night's rain and a further deluge this morning it's difficult to believe that someone would attempt driving through Trescott Ford - seeing is believing (link above) did they not notice the warning signs and the gauge displaying the depth of the water! |
13th August 2015
I've an inkling of an idea for an abstract painting - now I have to make up my mind about which medium to use. I've been wading through hundreds of pictures online looking for inspiration. I'm not aiming to copy one, just trying to find a starting point. I looked into the dark sky a couple of times last night and didn't catch sight of a single twinkle from the Perseid Meteor thing. Disappointed! |
There are three anniversaries worth a mention that fall on 13th August :
1940: the Nazis had planned to execute their plan Adler Tag (Eagle Day) i.e. the day they invaded England. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36t5m9Bu8AY 1961: The border between East and West Berlin was closed and the Berlin Wall was begun.
Seems a bit incongruous sandwiching dear little Bambi between those two events! |
12th August 2015
No doubt everyone's rushed off to grab a grouse as it's the "glorious twelfth"). I feel a bit sorry for the poor old grouse - they're bred in captivity, then someone bangs about to frighten them into the air so someone else can shoot them. Hardly a level playing field. I feel like telling those who pay a lot of money just to shoot birds to read a book or find another hobby. Having said that, I suppose I'm a hypocrite as I eat chicken, dear little lambs and the rest of it - thing is, when it's from the supermarket without fur or feathers and its eyes aren't looking at you, it's just a lump of something to eat rather than a little creature with the right to live out its natural lifetime. |
It was D-day yesterday - Deansley Centre Haematology at New Cross for my biopsy result. Consultant said, the lymph nodes were enlarged but nothing nasty is going on. [Relieved sigh]. However, my blood is "all wrong" and my immune system not working properly. I'm being referred to another consultant to resume the mystery tour in another direction. Onward and upward as they say but at least I now know why I feel like I've run out of steam.
|
I'm about to chop the legs off a pair of Jonathan's jeans - he wants them turned into shorts ready for his New Zealand trip. (Grandson No 3). He's taking time to look round Hong Kong en route before moving on to Auckland (North Island). He intends to do a tour of South Island before making further plans. Quite an adventure to do alone - thank goodness for today's easy communication methods.
|
We've had a few book recommendations:
The Flower Arrangement by Ella Griffin (Denise) The Girl in the Photograph by Kate Riordan (Denise) The Other Child by Lucy Atkins (Denise and Maggie) The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (Samantha) You can always check the reviews on Amazon to see if they are your cup of tea. Mind you, as Amazon is such a public sort of place, I always wonder if the authors and author's friends write a good review to boost sales. Oh dear, my cynical bent rearing it's ugly head again. I found this website which might interest you. http://www.lovereading.co.uk/ |
11th August 2015
I was listening to Woman's Hour this morning (Radio 4) and heard that a new series begins at 11.00 pm on Thursday called Late Night Woman's Hour. Just the job for listening in bed (with my earphones) and it follows Book at Bedtime. Then it's the News followed by Book of the Week. A decent hour-and-a-half for insomniacs - think I'll put my name down for that. |
Message from Maggie: she says she's read in the press that we need more sleep in order to live longer. She has tried going to bed earlier but then is awake at the crack of dawn. Maybe some people need more sleep than others. And if you make yourself stay in bed longer than usual you could end up with back ache and bedsores. It's a catch 22 scenario - and a can of worms to boot. Unless you're a teenager of course - I've heard that it's the devil's own game trying to prize them out of bed. And I have a distant memory of the young in our family achieving a round-the-clock sleep.
|
Carol and Gary had dinner guests on Saturday evening. They've been friends with Sue and Steve since their teenage years. I've done my Facebook snoop and found this. It didn't take too much detective work to deduce that Carol and Sue may have partaken of wine with their main course, wine with the pudding, and maybe followed it up with an after-dinner wine, they're looking like they've thrown all cares to the wind and are verging on boisterous. Well you don't wave your arms about on lemonade. How does that song go?..... girls just want to have fun!
|
It's Izaak Newton's birthday today (1653).he was born in our county town of Stafford. I've always wondered about the spelling of the work he is remembered for "The Compleat Angler" - the Oxford English Dictionary indicates that compleat is an archaic form of complete - mystery solved. I like this quote from the book which typifies the pace of life in Izaak Newton's day "No life, my honest scholar, no life so happy and so pleasant as the life of a well-governed angler, for when the lawyer is swallowed up with business and the statesman is preventing or contriving plots, then we sit on clowslip-banks, hear the birds sing, and possess ourselves in as much quietness as these silver streams, which we now see glide so quietly by us."
|
At long last we've been promised a taste of summer today - hallelujah! I can't wait to feel the warm sun on my achey bones. That cryptosporidium parasite in the Lancashire water is worrying - I imagine it creeping along the pipes until goodness knows where it will turn up. Low levels of crypto have been detected at Franklaw water treatment works outside Preston which provides water to Blackpool, Chorley, Fylde, Preston, South Ribble and Wyre. They are recommending people boil tap water before drinking it or using it in food preparation, or to brush teeth. Something to bear in mind if you're travelling north.
|
7th August 2015
It's one of those days today - not much happening this morning. I've been making progress with my jumper; the back is finished and I'm on the sleeves now. I always knit two sleeves at once on the same needles; it seems to lessen the task somehow but I know I'm just kidding myself but it does save counting rows so that they're both the same length. This is the colour I'm doing. |
Carol called in after work yesterday evening. She said Gary is almost delirious with excitement waiting for the football season to kick off. From that I take it "Bake Off" doesn't score on his "things to do" list. A little hint on your left as to what turfs him out of bed and floodlights his weekend. Hang in there Gaz, not long to go now. Sunday 9th August Arsenal v. West Ham, but I guess you probably know that.
|
6th August 2015
Jonathan called in yesterday on his way home from work. (Jon is grandson no 3). He'd come to tell us about his big adventure. He's off to New Zealand on 25th August and says he may stay on and get a job there - with today's technology at least he'll not be disappearing into the vast beyond incommunicado, and I still have a couple of weeks to bombard him with granny advice. He's travelling alone - thank goodness for iPads and Facetime. I know he reads this blog via his phone so I can still get at him through these pages. Brace yourself Jon! Gran is on your case! |
Did you see "Bake Off"? I felt so sorry for the woman whose cake collapsed - quite mortifying. I've had an e-mail from Rene - she's right oop north on the west coast of Scotland, Loch Sunart. She's been watching otters, seals and is thrilled to have seen a Golden Eagle soaring high.
|
5th August 2015
It's 101 years today since the first traffic light was installed - with Google celebrating with its own special Doodle at www.google.co.uk. The doodle depicts the first electric lights to be put into major use in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 5 1914. As many Wulfrunians will probably be aware, Wolverhampton had an important role to play in the history of traffic lights - it became the first town in Britain to introduce automated traffic lights at the junction of Lichfield Street and Princess Street. Picture of the test run courtesy of Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies, |
It's time to get your pinny out again - Mary Berry and blue-eyed Paul are poised to begin a new "Bake Off". First episode tonight.
|
Excuse me a minute - I'm sitting here and I've just spotted a cobweb dangling from the ceiling. Now I'm wondering how many people have seen it and have been too polite not to mention it. If it's you.... well it's gone now. I screwed up a tissue into a long thin spiral, Sellotaped it to a pencil, stood on a little stool and flicked it away. Sorted!
|
Here's Jenny and Ian with their hostess Francesca plus another friend, Mirko.
|
This must be Italy's equivalent to kissing the Blarney Stone - apparently one has to do a bit of spin on the bull's rude bits to ensure good luck. This is Ian (grandson no 1) getting his money worth of 'good luck' in Milan. I wonder who dreamed up that little ritual.
|
I've had a text from Roland (our art teacher) - he's included pictures of a collage he's been working on recently. It's made up of tiny pieces of paper torn from the Sunday supplement magazines. He says, "... it was quite a challenge but it all falls into place if you stand ten paces back". Here's a close up to show how it's done - it's clear here that the picture is built up with paper scraps. I've put the completed picture on the arty page (click on 'More' at the top of this page and then select 'Arty Page') I have Roland's permission to show it to you but he said he hoped none of our readers were overly sensitive to nudism. As he says, it does all fall into place when viewed from a distance. Well done Roland.
Oops! almost forgot to say, bag packed, I have to be up with the dawn chorus tomorrow - I'm due at New Cross at 7.00 am. I'll pop in if I'm compos mentis later on tomoz.
|
1st August 2015
Pinch punch, first of the month - white rabbits - whatever.... superstitious nonsense and still I do it. Carol popped in again yesterday evening with some lovely flowers, scented white stocks and roses. Their perfume was lovely when I came downstairs this morning. I've nosed round Facebook (as per) to see what they are all up to. Jenny is doing a dresses recce with her bridesmaids-to-be, before she and Ian fly off to Milan to visit a former colleague. |
Rajni and Andy are settling into their new gaff, James is on duty all weekend, I bet Lesley will be catching up on housework, and I don't know what Jonathan is up to. Oh, mustn't forget about Bern, he's gone to Sainsbury's to do the shopping.
|
Carol and Gary have zoomed off to London to attend a Paul Weller exhibition at Somerset House. Here's what the write-up of the exhibition says: As one of Britain's biggest rock stars, Paul Weller's music is well known to millions. His private life has always been something of a mystery but that's all about to change with an exhibition at Somerset House. It charts his journey from a schoolboy in Woking to frontman of the Jam. And it's got the personal touch because it's curated by his sister.
|
I've finally got round to starting some new knitting - I bought some wool in House of Fraser sale the other day. We went in there for a mooch round following one of my hospital visits. I always seem to gravitate towards green (it's greeny/blue colour). I reckon I have Kermit syndrome as well as whatever it is they might find from their scans and proddings. Ugh! MRI one tonight. Then a whole day off from doctors tomorrow followed by a crack of dawn start on Monday. I have to be there by 7.00 am. I've just found the perfect word that suits me when confronting all this medical stuff - pusillanimous - that's me!
|
31st July 2015
We'll be in August tomorrow - hope the weather pulls its socks up. Maggie has been out and about in Birmingham - she went to see the new library and thought it a good place to spend time and wander round; but she said the rest of the city felt like a building site; lots of no-go areas and pedestrians having to pick their way round various disruptions. I guess it's all in the name of progress and the spending of taxpayers' money. [My cynical streak is known to pop up now and again.] Apologies for mentioning medical matters (yet again) a phone call this morning from New Cross saying I have to attend for pre-op stuff at lunchtime today. A bit of notice would have been nice, but mustn't grumble as they're getting on with things. I have an MRI scan tomorrow and then turn up at 7.am on Monday for the biopsy business. I'm beginning to feel suspicious of the way things are moving so swiftly - are they just being efficient or do they know something I don't; or are my thoughts the product of a vivid imagination? Perhaps I'll not dwell on that one, I'll catch up on my Scrabble games instead. |
Masterpiece or monster?
Birmingham's new library. I've only heard good reports from people who've visited and they say the inside makes a visit worthwhile. I think there's no point in harking back to Doric pillars and Gothic gargoyles and fancy pointy bits, they're of their time and have a value, but let's look to an innovative future. |
There's going to be a blue moon tonight. There won't be another blue moon until 2018 - the last one was in 2012. The moon doesn't actually appear to be blue, the term is used to describe the second of two full moons appearing in the same calendar month. I guess that's why the phrase "once in a blue moon" implies "not very often".
My brother visited this afternoon on his way back from a bike ride to Craven Arms. He and a mate had cycled there yesterday, stayed overnight, and rode back today. An exercise in how to keep fit at 77. |
29th July 2015
It's the anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's death today (Post-Impressionist painter d. 1890). He's one of my favourites. I always feel sad that he never got to experience fame - I believe he only ever sold one picture while he was alive - now collectors make millions from his work. Bit of a bummer really - RIP Vincent. |
Maggie came this morning - we swapped books, Anita Shreve for Lucie Atkins, helps keep our grey matter ticking. I've not had much to say today as I've been updating the Codsall Writers' website - Maggie sends us a weekly exercise and submissions from those who respond are posted on there. It's just a bit of fun really so we don't dry up and go to seed over the summer. We don't want any serious cases of writer's block.
|
25th July 2015
My legs and back are a bit creaky today so Bern's gone off to do Sainsbury's. I know Denise pops in here to see what we're up to so I'll take this opportunity to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY Denise. I'm still messing about and failing to come up with a new project - painting, knitting, crochet, - ideas elude me. Bern's back, I'd better go and join in the putting away session. |
Well, well, well... what a turn up. Denise has e-mailed to say another of my stories is in tonight's Express & Star. I'll have to see if I can get a copy tomorrow
|
24th July 2015
Well, it's a gloomy damp Friday with nothing much going on here. I dived into one of my little books looking for inspiration for something to chat about and discovered that on this day, in 1704, we nicked Gibraltar from Spain - the British fleet was commanded by Sir George Rooke and Sir Cloudesley Shovell (you couldn't make up a name like that). I wonder if, at the time of his demise, did the vicar say to his workman, "dig a grave for Mr Shovell." Oh dear.... anyway, I'm not happy that history reveals how we went round the world (as did other countries) acquiring (or stealing) bits of territory that we considered useful. I don't approve of the fact that we cling on to the Falklands - another bit of land we 'acquired' by fair means or foul. I'm aware that these thoughts will open a can of worms so I'll abandon that tack. I was bemused to find that a rock group is named Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell - the word that comes to mind is "why?" I'd make a guess that the 17th Century Admiral and the Rock Group are pretty much chalk and cheese. |
23rd July 2015
"I Let You Go" by Clare Mackintosh - I've put it on my Kindle and made a start last night instead of doing Facebook Scrabble in bed - got to chapter 4 and so far it's very readable. I'll have to catch up on my Scrabble games this morning - a good excuse to leave the dusters in the under-stairs cupboard. Maggie has recommended another book for us: "The Other Child" by Lucy Atkins. She says it's a psychological thriller similar to our recent reading. An e-mail just in from Rene points out that there's another book entitled "The Other Child" by Charlotte Link. Well spotted Rene. |
We had an hour in the garden this afternoon - chopped the tops off a couple of large mahonia shrubs and let some daylight in. Our water butts hadn't been filling so Bern dismantled the filler gismo to find it all gunged up - so that's working again and held together with duck tape. I think a trip to B&Q or somewhere is called for to get a replacement. Mind you, he looked a bit odd standing on the flat roof and pouring water with a watering can down the drainpipe to test the taped-up contraption - I bet the neighbours were playing guessing games.
|
Yesterday, Carol Gary Jon Jenny and Ian went to a wedding fayre (fair) in Lichfield with Ian and Jenny's 2016 nuptials in mind. I did a bit of "reading between the lines" and I reckon when they were all weddinged out they resorted to a liquid lunch - (found on Facebook). Looks like Gary and Jenny are just peeping round the corner, sort of on the fringe of things.
|
LEFT: Another Facebook find - Ian and Jenny doing teacher stuff at an end of term event. (Jenny second left and Ian, far right). I see the chap in the middle has a medal - I wonder what that's all about. I note the same faces are on the cricket picture below. |
RIGHT: This picture made me laugh. Lesley's brother, David e-mailed it to me. During their recent visit to London with David's friends from Canada, Samantha and Carmine were having a quick fun hug in the sunshine when David spotted a snooping policeman trying to see what all the fuss was about. Family members may recognise the onlooker ??? We reckon he was a bit fired up by being back in the Metropolis - familiar stomping ground in the past.
|
19th July 2015
We've no special plans for today so I hope your day will be more exiting than ours. I couldn't sleep last night so after doing Scrabble and Candy Crush on Facebook I listened to the radio (via earphones) in the dark. I like Radio 4 Extra if I'm awake in the night, most of the programmes are from the BBC archives and I heard an interview with Barbara Cartland - I found myself strongly disagreeing with her responses - maybe that's why I never got beyond page 2 of the one book of hers I tried. However, she was successful, so someone out there liked them... a case of "each to his own". |
18th July 2015
We did the supermarket shop late yesterday afternoon leaving Saturday free to evolve as it will. We've changed the bed, washing machine's in motion, porridge downed, and sunflowers watered as they looked a bit thirsty. Now we're twiddling our thumbs and wondering what to do next... Had a quick snoop round Facebook and found this pic (taken yesterday evening) Ian and Jenny and colleagues at an end-of-term outing - they're at Edgbaston watching the cricket - I see Jon has hitched a ride and is sitting next to Ian - Jenny is in the row behind them second from right. Looks like a nice gathering of smiley people. |
Here's poor old Miggins who is showing her age these days but still turned up to ask "where's my supper?" while James and Lesley were enjoying a bun in the sun. The other cat didn't bother waking up while we were there. Lawns were mowed and borders weeded - they'd had a busy morning - Jay and Les that is, not the sleepy cats.
|
17th July 2015
I always have coffee around eleven, but I was struck by a wayward whim this morning and opted for hot chocolate and reached for my special mug (courtesy of Ian and Jenny) which I keep for hot chocolate (I've mentioned before that I'm prone to nerdy-ness). As I was downing this comforting gloop I read the BBC News website and there, screaming at me, were the health experts saying we all desperately need to half our sugar intake... of course they're quite right... I rushed downstairs to read the hot chocolate jar and discovered I've just ingested 3.3 grammes of sugar that wouldn't have been present had I stuck with coffee. Thing is, I don't know where 3.3 grammes registers on the naughty scale. |
16th July 2015
Had a text at 6.30am to say that my parcel from Jackson's Art Supplies (oil pastels) will be arriving by Parcel Force. I took that to mean "get up now to save the chap banging on your door and having to wait while you scramble downstairs in your PJs with your hair sticking out all over the place - such a fright for the delivery man!" I can't argue with that so I got up early today. Have to say, that in theory modern day technology-based shopping methods are pretty efficient. I have friends who argue that we're doing others out of business - or we're causing the book shops to close - corner shops to close - etc etc. I suppose we are, but the world is a-changing and I'm all for "going with the flow" and embracing technology. There were those who said the motor car would never catch on.... as if. If you're into art or craft Jackson's website is great - you get loyalty points and the products are a bit cheaper than in the high street art shops - love it. I had enough points to get a fiver knocked of my bill. |
Journey's end - "Girl on the Train" finished and I can reveal that loose ends have been tied up and the murderer is.... oops, better not in case you're going to read it. Thanks Maggie for the loan of your book. |
16th July 1945 - the first atomic bomb was detonated at a desert site in New Mexico. Three weeks later on August 6th 1945 a similar device was used to create devastation against the Japanese at Hiroshima. Albert Einstein was involved in the development of the atomic bomb and it remained his lifelong regret. A year later New York Times published Einstein's telegrame to them. It said, "...the unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift towards unparalleled catastrophe." A moment of deja vu has me thinking I've wheeled all this stuff out before.... however, best we don't forget.... man's inhumanity and all that....
|
15th July 2015
St Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain; St Swithin's Day if thou be fair, For forty days 'twill rain nae mair. (Traditional rhyme) That's summer done for then! |
I seem to have got waylaid this morning - which is my way of saying I'm a bit disorganised and flit from one thing to another frittering time and messing about. I dreamed up a daft job to do earlier on: I have a purpose made box for storing pastels (I use oil pastels not the soft chalky ones) and it had become very mucky because I'm not careful enough to put them back in their original spaces. I'd ordered a few new ones yesterday and the lighter colours would become marked with darker pigments in the mucky compartments so I decided to clean it up. Washing in hot soapy water didn't work. Then I attacked it with spray bleach - no joy. Finally I found some turps substitute in the garage and poured some in each little compartment - job done. Mind you, there are three trays each with 44 compartments so it was a bit of a fiddle.
It's late afternoon now and Bern's asleep in a deckchair outside. I'd take a pic to show you but it would be a bit unkind to reveal him in snoring glory although I'm unsure if that's unkind to Bern or unkind to our readers - maybe it applies to both options. The rain has stayed away so perhaps old St Swithin isn't going to cast his spell this year. |
14th July 2015
Le Quatorze Juillet is what they call it in France - here we say Bastille Day. When the Bastille was stormed on this day in 1789 only six prisoners were released but it is seen as the beginning of the French Revolution and the ousting of the Monarchy. |
I've been to collect my latest batch of stuff to swallow - it should keep me going for the next 8 weeks. Quite a pill-ar.
|
I've not much left to read of "The Girl on the Train" - when I'm into a good book I never want it to end. I like being able to "pop in" to the story to see what's happening. We watched a TV drama on Sunday evening called "The Outcast". It all seemed so familiar and then I consulted my little notebook where I keep a list of books I've read - and found I'd read the book ages ago - "The Outcast" by Sadie Jones. We read it when I belonged to the library's reading group - many didn't like it but I thought it was good and the TV drama seems to be following the story as depicted in the book.
Do you like my "books I've read" notebook? Lesley brought it from India a few years ago - it's covered with block printed fabric and it's just the job for my nerdy listing. |
12th July 2015
Looks like being a damp morning - I've already been out in the drizzle to jump on the hosta eating monsters. We turned up a tad early for my appointment yesterday and we were in and out before the official appointment time had arrived. Quick chat with the consultant who only had x-rays from two years ago so he's put me down for another MRI scan. Not my favourite thing but it has to be done. |
It's Orangemen's Day in Northern Ireland. This morning's BBC News showed the size of the bonfires they've built on waste land adjacent to residential properties. Madness - about time some of these rituals were left in the past. Flipping religion playing its part again - the entire thing is basically Protestant versus Catholic and I just don't get it!
|
I've just had half an hour on the phone to Carol - she said she and Gerry enjoyed their market trip and had lots of laughs. She's also changed her car after several recent breakdowns of her sporty two-seater. She has a Ford KA. Practical, fuel efficient, cheaper road tax, does the biz. I've also nagged her to get to the doctors, I could hear her asthmatic wheeze - she might need something more than her usual inhalers. Carol! Do as you're told!
|
We decided to pop over to Shrewsbury this afternoon to see Carol and Gary's new patio; the weather had taken a turn for the better and it was too nice to stay home and watch telly. We found Jon and Gary getting very competitive with the table tennis kit - they were ping-ponging like there's no tomorrow. We called in at the Percy Thrower Garden Centre on the way there to find it's been taken over by Wyevale but they've displayed a little sign saying it used to be the Percy Thrower one - a name from the past that only my generation will remember.
|
11th July 2015
Sending good wishes to Greywell - (Lesley's family). They have visitors from Canada. Jay and Les will be popping in on the reunion. Maybe David will send us some pics. Carol and her friend Gerry have tootled off to London - they're hell bent on doing Southwark Food Market, which is, apparently, the oldest market of its type in the country. Carol even has delusions of bumping into Nigel Slater - he's one of her culinary heroes. Jon and Gary are enjoying some bloke-time with Carol out of the way. Over the past week they've had a new extended patio area laid. Gary and Jon have adorned it with a full-size table-tennis set up and are happily wearing themselves out with their new toy. Maybe there's a ping-pong party in the offing. |
While they're all occupied elsewhere Bern and I will be going for my hospital appointment at 1pm today - they seem to come up with some odd appointment times these days - I guess they're catching up with a backlog.
|
10th July 2015
I was forced out of bed at an unearthly hour this morning - just after the dawn chorus I had a text from a delivery company to say our new gas hob would be delivered this morning and our four hour "window" is 7am - 11am. I was washed, dressed, bed made, and eating my bite size Shredded wheat in the garden before 8am. It's after 9 now and they haven't shown up as yet (twiddles thumbs) I'll be ready for lunch by coffee time. |
I'm tickled pink - I've just had news that my friend Cora (writers' group) has acquired a ukulele and is going to learn to play it. - What a fun thing to do - go for it Cora - I love it!
|
9th July 2015
I'm still reading "The Girl on the Train" - intriguing, complicated plot with the first person narrative related by different characters - Carol says the ending is not as expected but refuses to say more. Not much in the news other than politicians and press banging on about the budget. I don't think the world will allow little me to do anything about it so I irresponsibly let it all slide over my head. I sat down here to chat to you a couple of hours ago and then I heard the washing machine winding down so I went out to peg the woollies (it's socks and woolly day today). Once I was out there all else was forgotten - I dead-headed a few roses, planted a little campanula that I bought for £1 in Morrisons yesterday, dibbled here and there with my trowel and then remembered what I first set out to do. So I'm back again with a mug of coffee, having apologised to the computer for my whimsical lapse. And after all that... I haven't anything interesting to say, I've even mooched round Facebook to see if I can find stuff the young ones have left lying about but they all seem to have their noses to the grindstone and remain incommunicado. |
|
8th July 2015
Nothing special going on here at the moment. Oh, one tiny frisson of excitement - after weeks and weeks of being stuck on 105 I've finally got to the next level of Candy Crush - well worth it to hear all the whizz-bang-wallops when you score. "What mindless nonsense," I hear you cry: I quite agree. |
I've been to Jose's this morning for coffee and a chat. So glad I did because Claude has recently taken up cake making. He's knocked the socks off Mr Kipling, Mary Berry and dear Delia - in fact having eaten one slice, I went back for another... just to level the cake up of course. Levelling of cakes and puddings has become a bit of thing in our family. It's when you want another slice but know you shouldn't. So you shave a sliver to satisfy your urge - and then you coyly declare to the assembled company "I'm only levelling it up" so that they don't brand you a greedy pig. Anyway Claude - ten out of ten.
|
I'd just finished listening to all the budget stuff this afternoon when the doorbell went ding-dong. Lovely surprise - it was my friend Hilary (art group). I really have the kindest friends - she was armed with homegrown strawberries fresh from their garden in Moatbrook Lane. I've taken a quick pic - they're just the job for a July afternoon.
|
Back again - we had quite a turnout for the workshop. Lesley (who moved to Church Stetton) came to join us with three members from the writers' group she's started over there - plus nearly a full crew of our own people. All in all, a lively session thanks to Jane. There wasn't time to nip round ensuring I'd taken some good pics - however, here's Jane in full flow with a few participants in the frame.
|
6th July 2015
Pegged the washing and down came the rain - unpegged the washing it's inside again! It's not at all a jolly day - Greece is unhappy, the stock market's unhappy, not to mention all the other happenings to worry about. Did you hear about the twin black holes they discovered somewhere out there way beyond the sky that are orbiting each other. I don't understand about black holes but it sounds like a good place to dump the horrible things that are going on in the world. |
I've just had a caller get shirty with me: it was a cold call and she asked to speak to Bern so I asked, "who is calling?" She said, "the National Hearing Service". I told her, "he's not deaf so I don't think he'll want to take the call as we make a point of not giving information over the phone." I heard the tone of her voice change and she demanded, "and why not?" That's when, rather than waste my breath, I hung up.
|
With 4th July falling on a Saturday this year - I wonder if Americans will miss out on a day's holiday. I've just been wandering round the BBC News website and found this little gem quoted from the New York Times... well, I thought we'd see what the US has to share with us... "A tennis player can produce up to three litres of sweat in an hour..." Just what you need to know when you're eating your Wimbledon strawberries.
|
I heard the thunder last night, there was plenty of lightning too. We expected the water butt to be overflowing this morning but we don't seem to have had that much rain. I see they're flying in water from the River Jordan for Princess Charlotte's christening which takes place on Sunday - I don't get that at all - H20 is H20 wherever it comes from - there's a nice puddle of it on our garage flat roof, they're welcome to that and it wouldn't involve an aeroplane.
|
Jay and Les came over late morning as Jay had promised to help Bern repair the fence. Mission accomplished and so we had a leisurely lunch, loads of chat and more tales about their recent holiday and an added bonus was that Jay managed to resolve Bern's printer problem. Result!
|
3rd July 2015
Late again, sorry.... I'm so achey today.... had a bad night with my back which causes pains in my feet... Have you noticed how I can always rustle up something to moan about. By fortuitous coincidence the appointment my GP requested a couple of months ago arrived this morning - it's for Saturday 11th to see the spine man. I've made a start on the book Maggie loaned me - The Girl on the Train - I'm hooked already, it's proving to be a good read. |
With art class finished for the summer and only a couple more writers' meetings left, I could do with a bit of a project. Painting, knitting, sewing, writing? I can't decide... but I'll have to get stuck into something instead of letting the days drift by. Thelma says it's her last art class this week so that makes two of us looking for inspiration. To shake off my laziness we went to a garden centre this afternoon and bought some geraniums in a shouty pink.
|
I'm a bit confused as to what we call them - geraniums or pelargoniums. I read somewhere that true geraniums are the other things also known as cranesbill.
|
2nd July 2015
Hope you had a comfortable night - I didn't crawl under the duvet until dawn was threatening to wake the birds. James and Lesley called in after work yesterday. They'd had a wonderful holiday and looked well. They said if guests weren't "eating in" at lunch time they were provided with a picnic so they hired a car and tootled off to explore the island. They had a few instances of getting lost especially after dark - no street lights in the countryside, acres of very high sugar cane growing on vast plantations and no way of seeing over it to get an idea of which direction to go - hence much driving round in circles to find their way back to the hotel. |
Today's short showers were welcomed by the dry ground - although my little sunflower plants keeled over and I've had to wangle them into a perpendicular position helped with sticks and garden string. I'm just hoping they grow big and strong before something eats them.
|
1st July 2015
Welcome to July at 5am on a Wednesday morning. It's too hot to sleep so I thought I'd come and worry you guys. The windows are wide and I think the tuneless calls of the gormless pigeons woke me. I always feel a bit sorry for pigeons - they've not much going for them have they? I get a bit fed up with the ones that perch on our telly aerial and do what pigeons do all over one of our little stone garden seats. Bern's woken up now and put the telly on - weather man says we're in for the hottest day so far this year - one for flopping about and not doing much I reckon... or you could sit glued to the tennis... definitely not my cup of tea though. Guess what... I think I might have another 40 winks now... see you later. Carol says she had a Harry Potter moment this morning. When she got in her car the door knobs rattled and moved all by themselves (spooky magic) and then she found she was locked in. Only way in and out of the car is to climb over the passenger seat and wangle a way out on the passenger side. It's a low two-seater so not an easy task unless you're a contortionist. |
Happy Birthday Jonathan
No 3 Grandson 24 Today |
The meeting went well - the exercise was about doing research. You can bet good old Google has been busy in the Codsall area then. Jan did an interesting piece about probiotic yoghurt and the implications of good and bad gut bacteria. She explained that current studies indicate that people suffering from certain conditions, by adjusting the balance of gut bacteria it may be possible to cure their symptoms. Definite conclusions have not been reached yet - an interesting one for the future. In the meantime, I suggest we hedge our bets and carry on with the probiotic yoghurt. What's your gut reaction to that? Maggie has kindly lent me her copy of "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins - she says it's a real page turner - thanks Mags.
|
29th June 2015
Jay and Les are due home today after their two week silver-wedding celebration in Mauritius. Lesley's Mum, Audrey, rang for a chat yesterday - I think like us, she and Jack will be glad when the travellers are back on terra firma. These troubled times are so unsettling. Audrey has been diagnosed with DVT and is currently taking warfarin which involves frequent tests and monitoring - I know she pops in here to see what we're all doing - Waving to you Audrey - hope all goes well. I put on a summer skirt this morning - another item that needs a chunk chopping out. On Saturday evening when we were at Emma's do, Jonathan took a selfie (Jon, Me, Andie, Rajni ) - it's popped up on Facebook (aaaaargh! I scream) but I was shocked to see how shrunken and prune-like I look. Just you wait Jon, I'll get my own back!!! Gran is on the warpath. |
This picture is for Audrey - I found it on on Facebook - it's Jay trying to make us jealous with this selfie as he and Les languish on the silver sands beneath blue skies and a sea breeze. Judging by the sarcastic comments of his colleagues it's had the desired effect. I had to consult the atlas to find out where it is and found it's a dot in the ocean to the right of Africa.
|
I've finally found out how selfie sticks work. I always wondered how they press the 'go' button to take a picture with one's phone attached to the end of a stick which you wave about in front of yourself. Apparently the sticks have to be charged up and operate via blue tooth (another mystery but never mind) to do the business. I was watching and ear-wigging as all the young ones sorted out one that Emma had received as a birthday gift.
|
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. It is built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building. The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees, which formerly led directly to the city palace of the Prussian monarchs. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002. During post-war Partition of Germany, the gate was isolated and inaccessible immediately next to the Berlin Wall, Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered a symbol of the tumultuous history of Europe and Germany, but also of European unity and peace. (Wikipedia)
|
Look at Maggie's lovely lilies. She says they have lily beetle but she has managed to keep them going. Green fingers I reckon.
|
We're off to another birthday bash shortly - Happy Eighteenth to Emma (Chappell). Carol and Gary are due back from Berlin today so we'll meet up with them and the rest of the family at the "do".
|
25th June 2015
I awoke with feelings of trepidation this morning - another hospital session in the offing. I have to turn up an hour early to drink a load of gunk. Oh well, it'll all be over soon and I keep telling myself the anticipation is worse than the doing. (Fingers crossed). Nothing much comes to mind this morning, telly was rubbish last night and the weather is overcast, With so little to catch our interest I delved into one of my books of facts - (drum roll - ta-da!) Today in 1867 one Lucien B Smith was granted a patent for barbed wire. I wonder how he sold that to the committee - "I've invented a long piece of wire with pointy bits sticking out".... As boring as it sounds he was on a winner and it's still in use today - cheap to produce, lasts forever - what's not to like? We'd never had got through the day without knowing the origins of barbed wire. (Sorreeee. Yes, I can talk just for the sake of it). |
My friend Maggie is out of circulation this week - she's on a decorating mission. I so admire her organised approach. She even plans how long it will take to complete a room - and what's more she sticks to her plan. Respect! Oh, and don't worry about the paint colours to your left - I think she's using magnolia. Do be careful on the stepladder Mags. I keep nagging her on this point as it's not so long ago that she had a broken femur.
|
"Ich bin ein Berliner" I call to Carol and Gary as they disappear over the horizon. They've hopped over to Berlin for a few days to do a bit tourist stuff. I was reading about Berlin in the weekend papers - a city with a lively nightlife. People who live and work there have trouble sleeping due to the noisy tourists who are out and about late into the night. Very annoying if one has to get up early for work. Anyway, rather than do the grumpy kill-joy thing with "Be Quiet" notices or shooing the (revellers away, they've employed mime artists to help calm the noise and amuse the late nighters. |
24th June 2015
What a lovely morning... just the sort of day to be aimless, my mood for today. I might even get some art materials out and see what sort of mess I can make. Maybe I've been prompted by Victoria Coren Mitchell's programmes "How to be a Bohemian" - I recorded the last three episodes and watched them back-to-back last night. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/p02vdq7h This is a link to iPlayer if you have a yen to join the decadent set, I reckon my pink hair gives me a head start though. (Pun intended). In the programmes she explores what the word bohemian actually means - the outcome is, it means different things to different people. |
23rd June 2015
Panic in progress.... I'm still battling with the dragon homework... can't quite get the punchline. It's touch and go now whether it'll be done in time for today's meeting. I decided upon a children's poem in view of the subject matter. Current state of play - half typed, half scribbled, crossings out... oh, and not very good content. I even resorted to cheating (sort of) and delved into my rhyming dictionary. Last night, just as I was getting into bed, the final verse popped into my head. Great! Did I write it down? I was convinced I'd remember it this morning. Guess what? Time to utter an expletive #$!&*?#!!! Back to the blood-out-of-a-stone exercise. I'll catch up with you later, all being well. |
22nd June 2015
Hope you've found your way here today and didn't find the journey too convoluted - I've started a new page as things were getting slow and unresponsive - a case of digital indigestion! I suspect the website is protesting about being stuffed to the gunnels with my drivel. All that's gone before is still there under BETTY BLOGS 1 which you can access by hovering your mouse over BETTY BLOGS 2 on the menu above. While I was having a spring clean I thought we'd have a pretty tree at the top of the page by way of a change. My Mum used to say "a change is as good as a rest." We're all pink and purple now but it'll do until we get fed up with it. |