End of the Year

Wow! is it really some months since I was last here? How time flies!

Whatever has occurred in the interval since my last post cannot have been of any note, can it? What I do know is that our famous British weather has lived up to its reputation - the summer was cool and wet, the autumn warm and dry, and so far winter has been unseasonably warm. Christmas is upon us and according to the forecasts we could be having picnics.

My study badly needed redecorating. I calculate that it has been some 15 years, and the wallpaper was peeling. So, armed with the necessary enthusiasm I resolved to tackle the whole job, carpet and all. It is not easy, or ideal, to decorate without removing the furniture, but available space in the house was taken up by my books so there was little choice. Soon there was paint and paper everywhere as I was dabbing it here, dabbing it there. I wasn't actually stuck to the floor but some lines of the old song certainly rang true. Now it is done. It only remains for a new blind to be bought and fitted (after a disastrous first effort involving wrong reading of measurements), and I think it looks first rate.

On Saturdays we like to have breakfast out. Our usual haunts are The Copper kettle in Andover, Caffé Nero in Winchester, and either Costa Coffee or Debenhams in Basingstoke. Recently though we have found another place in Winchester, run by Raymond Blanc. It is a little more expensive, but the quality of the food and the service certainly makes up for it. Last Saturday though was different. Because of the proximity of the date to Christmas we decided to go early to Winchester to ensure a parking spot and avoid the worst of the crowds. Breakfasting at Raymond Blanc's establishment was disastrous. The wrong drinks were delivered, the boiled eggs were raw, cutlery had to be sought (they tried supplying desert spoons and forks - for boiled eggs?) and other people were delivered goods which they had not ordered. Eventually the chaos was sorted (for us, anyway) and recompense offered as money off the bill. A great shame as until then the venue had been a good experience. We shall try again, but if the situation is unimproved we shall not return.

It is now four days before Christmas and all the shopping is done! Presents are wrapped, food and drink bought. Forgive me if I'm a little smug. Cooking still needs doing and the decorations put up, and of course the fresh fruit & vegetables bought, but we are readier and more relaxed than for some years. On Saturday to come (Christmas Eve) we are visiting our local Indian restaurant. The Wife & I ate there recently for the first time in a while and were impressed. Saturday should be good, convivial, and jolly. Food and drink will abound no doubt, but I hope that it will not give cause for another entry here.

For the last several years we have hosted a neighbourhood gathering one evening before Christmas. Drinks and nibbles are served and a generally happy and pleasant evening is enjoyed by all. There are something like a dozen people who attend and for four hours or so it is better than an over-the-garden-fence chat. This year we had to cancel the event at the last minute. One neighbour received terrible news about her son which depressed the neighbourhood too, and cancellation was obviously the thing to do. The lady herself is away now staying with a daughter. We shall arrange another evening, perhaps in the Spring, for the annual gossip. In the meantime our thoughts are with our lady neighbour.

Another disaster has befallen us. Actually it is a bit of a mystery too. Every day or two The Wife checks the pond fish. A couple of weeks ago she missed the light-coloured goldfish, but as the weather was very cold assumed that they had sounded like whales. After another couple of days she reported it to me and further investigation revealed the absence not only of those three fish, but of the two large koi as well. The reddish goldfish remain but current thinking is that we have been visited by a heron. Until last year the pond was overshadowed by a magnolia tree. We felled it because the roots had begun to push over the pond's retaining wall. We never gave a thought to the fact that the space was now available to a heron because there is still a pergola on one side of the pond and other bushes at either end. During the Summer, of course, the pond is adorned with plants and waterlilies which would shield the fish. Oh, well, one well-fed heron! The fish stock will be replenished in the Spring, and security of the pond improved. In the meantime, to protect the remaining fish I have laid garden trellis panels across the pond. Let's see the little devil fish there now!

Looking at my diary for 2011 I see that the year has been remarkable. There have been triumphs and disasters and the making of new friends. We have acquired a new daughter in law, two step-grandchildren, two lovely and charming Norwegian friends, and a step-dog. We are to be repeat grandparents in about July 2012 and are thrilled. Hopefully we shall be able to visit Norway next Summer to see her/him and to celebrate our younger step-grandchild's confirmation. Next year, too, I shall turn 70 and am busy thinking of the best way to celebrate (is that the word?) the event. Ten years ago I was treated to a wonderful day out in London, and five years ago Number One Son and his then wife came over especially to be here for a special meal out at an up-market restaurant. Watch this space...



Tragedy & Disaster

In sombre mood I have to record the untimely death of Fanta. Fanta was a pussycat who lived with his owners a little way down the road. He had a near sibling, Tango. As may be guessed they are/ were both ginger cats, but Tango is short-haired while Fanta was long-haired with the most luxurious tail I have ever seen on a domestic cat. We got to know him a little (he was shy) as he visited for breakfast each morning. His owners moved from our cul-de-sac to a ribbon road, and within weeks Fanta was run down by a car and had to be put to sleep. He (or she, we were never able to tell!) could have been only 4 or 5 years old. RIP

In a more light-hearted vein, let me turn to waffles. Following the gift from the Norwegians, we made waffles. At least that was the intention. The mix was ready, the waffle maker was seasoned and hot, and the audience (me!) stood by. The Wife carefully placed a ladle full of the mix in either side of the waffle maker, filling the mould, and closed the lid. Panic!!!!! The lid rose slightly as the mixture expanded and ran from the front & sides of the iron. Attempting to lift the lid to see what was going on made matters worse as the half-cooked mixture now clung to both top & bottom surfaces with the uncooked centre oozing apart under tension. The attempt was abandoned at this point, and instead we had waffle-mix pancakes with the remaining mixture cooked in the frying pan; but we still had the cream & jam, so not all was lost!!
An inquest was held. It was decided that too much waffle mix was loaded into the mould and that the mix should not, perhaps, have been left standing for a while before use. It was further decided that the waffle maker had not been properly seasoned with oil before use. Having taken two days to clean the iron, it is now thoroughly seasoned and lies inert and brooding on the counter-top in the kitchen challenging us to try again. The weekend beckons. Watch this space!!

The rest of the week is more or less routine. Being something of a good Samaritan one day, I trimmed a neighbour's rather overgrown shrub that was blocking light. I had thought that the trim was straight, but once down the ladder I can see that it is more like a donkey's hind leg. Never mind, it will grow out and next time I will use a line for a straight edge. I have also made a start repairing the summerhouse roof. Close inspection shows that I may be just in time. I was ably assisted by Portia, as you can see, cutting the template & measuring the roofing felt.

We also have a new garden bench, which will make better use of a neglected corner of the garden. On reflection, we may swap it for a slightly longer bench from elsewhere in the garden; it might be more aesthetically pleasing.

Phew! Now that they've gone...

I do not mean to suggest that the Norwegians weren't enjoyable in any way, they were, but Phew!

Before I get to that I have to say, "Yippee" because the car wash guys are back in the supermarket car park. And just in time too with the Norwegians visiting in just two days time. A wash and brush-up for the car, new tyres postponed, and we're all set. We also have new neighbours. I haven't met them yet, but The Wife has and says they're very nice and looking to buy locally. Lady Neighbour is heavily pregnant, a teacher, and expecting her husband to join her when their flat is sold.

On Monday evening the Norwegians arrived; Number One son, New Wife, and two granddaughters with enough luggage to move home. It had been arranged that we should meet at The White Hart and have a family meal. Being a nice evening we thought that meeting outside over a leisurely drink would be nice, but flying ants decided to swarm about three weeks early, and so we were driven inside. However the meal was excellent, with dietary considerations well catered for. Introductions between Number Two son and Daughter in Law were effected and they seemed to hit it off quite quickly. The rooms at the hotel are excellent, the first time I have seen upstairs, and were both en suite. The adult's room was inside a sort of cupboard, but it turned out to conceal a corridor leading to other rooms too, so that was alright. During the week we had reports of the excellent service and accommodation  provided by the hotel, so that is definitely a recommendation.

On the last day Number One son had a phone call from the hotel to ask why they had left their luggage. It turned out that the booking had been made one night short! Panic ensued with visions of people sleeping in our conservatory and getting us all up at 4.00 AM for the departure. However, the hotel were able to offer an alternative room, and peace returned. They evidently got away OK on Monday morning.

While here, The Norwegians decided to have a day in London to visit The Tower, and to eat gluten-free fish & chips! By all accounts a successful visit despite the fact that the elder daughter decided that morning to sport an obscene t-shirt, which the security guards at The Tower deemed unacceptable for a Royal Palace. In the event a jacket covered everyone's embarrassment and they were allowed to stay. Obscenities on clothing of adults is offensive, but on that of a 15 year old girl is worse. Royal Palaces have by-laws about such matters.

On the Friday we all went bowling. Scoring was chaotic because of glitches in the computer system, but the final print-out proved that the boys had beaten the girls by just 13 points! And that despite the fact that the boys were outnumbered. Go fellas!!

Saturday saw us climbing the tower of Salisbury cathedral, The Daughter-in-Law for the first time, and judging by the number of photos enjoyed the experience.

Very kindly as they departed the house for the last time this visit, Number One Son and The Daughter-in-Law made us a present of an electric double waffle maker. I am so excited! The strawberry jam and the creme fraiche have been purchased, and the waffle ingredients too, but as yet no waffles! This is psychological torture. However, I am promised waffles over the weekend. I can hardly contain myself...

In the Interval...

As I was saying, going for breakfast on a Saturday has its irritations, mainly from uncaring strangers muscling in on our preferred table. Take the last time we went to Andover. There is a nice circular table in the corner which accommodates three nicely. We are hardly small people and the 4 place setting is comfortable. Number Two Son was making his way when, standing aside to allow a staff member access, two strangers hijacked "our" table right in front of him. Bloody cheek! The subsequent breakfast was good, as always, even if we were a little more cramped than we might otherwise have been.

I have been looking, somewhat in a dilatory way, at digital cameras. I have a perfectly serviceable SLR film camera, but it is heavy, cumbersome, and not so user friendly as the modern digitals. However, I have been overwhelmed by the sheer choice available, in terms of both specification and price. Time was when camera shopping was much simpler! I guess that I am going have to properly analyse my expected (desired?) use of the instrument before shopping, and that is such a bore. Still, it could be cheaper in the long run rather than buying something which I later regret. If only I understood the technicalities a bit more, or at all.

The Daughter pointed me at a website a while ago, where one can ask for, or give away, unwanted items. Since I am currently in the throes of clearing the garage there are a few items I need to discard. Two such items were a pair of bathroom cabinets, and a computer table. I advertised the cabinets as a "test balloon" and very quickly had several positive responses. My chosen recipient then proceeded to blow hot & cold on the deal, causing me to approach another responder who remained silent! Just when I despaired, the original contacted me (something like 8 days later) and happily took the cabinets. She later emailed to say how delighted she was. A week or so later I saw an advert for a computer table. I volunteered the supply and because the lady in need was disabled (and local) I delivered it. The table was in a dismantled state, but fortunately the lady's nephew was visiting and after a few hours I had an email to say that assembly was complete and they were happy. So, the system works and may now become a regular source of disposal for items that we have no more use for.

We have acquired a barbecue. To try it out The Daughter and The Boyfriend came to join us one Saturday evening. It turned out to be the world's shortest barbecue. The charcoal burned for only about 20 minutes before expiring, necessitating the food being cooked in the kitchen. A good and jolly time was had by all, but I think we need a bit more practice. Once the weather improves, and possibly when Number One Son and his new wife arrive next week, an opportunity will present itself

There has been a wedding in the family. Number One Son has remarried in Norway and we are all delighted. The New Wife is a lovely woman with two daughters and a dog. We met them in Norway in May and expect the Happy Couple here next week for a brief visit, together with the two Regular Granddaughters. Preparations begin in earnest now, which include new tyres on at least one car! We shall try not to schedule visits to places every day, but we are already booked to ascend the tower of Salisbury cathedral, and should be able to visit Arundel Castle. Other than that, who knows?

A Mixed Week

Having missed, last week, an invitation to visit The Daughter we didn't dare forego another chance for fear of ex-communication. So, on Tuesday we duly attended at her house and were welcomed, as ever, very warmly. Tea was taken in the garden, it being clement weather, and we even got to stroke her cat, Whisky, who is normally very shy around strangers, A good time was had by all.

The garage clearance continues with a vengeance. We now have so much space that it make me feel dizzy, A small hiccup occured to the overall plan, however when I realised that in order to continue clearing where we were, the other side had to make some room. Efforts were therefore concentrated in clearing space on the second side to accommodate various articles from the first side to give room to clear the first side. I hope that's clear! Along the way I discovered that a shelf unit, installed by a previous occupant, was supported on only two screws. No wonder that it had become saggy and misshapen. I fixed two more brackets to give suppport and it should now be good for a few years. All this, of course, means more trips to the municipal dump which pleases The Wife no end.

We have had some rain at last. Since February we have had only about two days of rain and both crops and gardens are showing the signs of shortage. And now, as I write, rain is again falling but we need an immense amount more to compensate for the short fall. A dry, hot summer is forecast but I hope they are wrong.

Number Two Son's car was in need of some attention; the ABS warning light was evident. Our local trusty garage were able to find time for the repair, and also to persuade my son that his windscreen wipers needed replacement. Earlier in the month they failed The Wife's car's MOT on the grounds of corroded sills, which they were able to plate and weld. Another garage, about two months earlier, had stated that the sills were ok and that the corrosion was not critical. If our local garage has started to drum up business by doing work which is borderline necessary, we may have to seek another garage, or at least employ a second opinion. I know times are tough for business, but they are tough for me too and I know where my loyalty lies!

Clearing our garage has revealed a few items which are still useful but redundant to us. Normally I would take them to the tip, and bite the bullet. EBay is too much hassle for the low value of the items involved, and anyway many of them would require collection. The Daughter directed me to Freecycle.com. The site seeks to marry unwanted items with people who need them, and to do it for nothing. I sent up a test balloon in the shape of an unwanted electric garden shredder/ vac. It has been hanging around the garage for years largely unused because it is so damned heavy and cumbersome. Within two days I had something like nine replies all wanting this item and all I had to do was choose. I ignored the person who said they wanted it because they had rabbits (!) and went for someone local. The hand-over was easy and I have additionl garage space to fill with some other junk. There are more items to be advertised, but it should be straightforward enough.

This week began fairly quietly. Number Two Son and I mutually, but separately, agreeing to forego a morning newspaper in future I was able to have a brief lie-in. Our reasons for the newspaper embargo are perhaps unremarkable in these days of continual, rolling, world-wide news but very briefly are these (in no particular order). Rarely is there an article of interest to read; increasingly social and "celebrity" gossip is encroaching; there are few decent journalists reporting dispassionately on anything; trivia seems normal; editorial bias is becoming evermore noticeable; there are too many supplements (mainly on obscure aspects of life of interest only to the advertisers); and about half of the favoured paper (The Times) is sport. So, after continuous subscription for nearly 50 years I have decided to call it a day. Rupert Murdoch has finally succeeded in killing my interest, even if he did save the paper all those years ago. And I don't miss it.

Tuesday was the nadir of the week. Having decided to do something about the junk pile that is my garage contents I had sorted some items to go to the dump. Having loaded the car (an estate) I was distracted at the point of closing the lid and shut the keys in. I had (I do now!) no spare keys. The local garage came with their screwdriver and wedge and gadget to lassoo the inside lock, and after 10 minutes or so succeeded in operating the peg on the inside of the door. Unfortunately the door was deadlocked, and so a new key had to be ordered. The finale was pantomime. New key opened the door - ALARM!  - me in and clambering over the back of the front seat, the back seat, and reaching into the far reaches of the boot amid the contents designated for the municipal dump before I could operate the fob to shut off that damned alarm. But all's well that ends well as I now know that the car is virtually theft-proof (this is not a challenge!)


Other than that, which caused us to miss tea and cake with The Daughter, who is not speaking to us, it has been an unremarkable week. The Wife is caring for next door's cats while their owners are on holiday. They are lonely and we get occasional visits.

Norway and other accidents

Two years ago The Wife & I travelled to Bodø in northern Norway, principally to attend the confirmation of our grandson. Number One Son has resided in Norway for many years and our visit was as much to do with supporting him in his newly single state as it was about The Grandson. The event passed off smoothly (so far as we outsiders could tell), but we were stuck at the back of the auditorium for the ceremony, and were able to see clearly only because of the telephoto lens on the camera. Thank God for messrs. Kodak et al.

This year it was the turn of Number One Granddaughter, and we just had to be there. Number One Son has a new fiancée, has moved house and is much happier. The bad news is that we had nowhere to stay. New in-laws-to-be to the rescue. Generously they offered to accommodate us, and to help with the arrangements for the confirmation which, being secular on this occasion, is more of a right of passage from childhood to adulthood.

Tickets bought, currency changed, arrangements made for Number Two Son to look after Number One Cat, packing done, when The Wife had a heavy fall in the kitchen. Despite the pain it was clear that nothing was broken (except the teapot), but she had a badly swollen and bruised leg. Valiantly she declared herself fit to travel, and at 06.30 the next day the taxi called.

We were met at Bodø airport by a regular delegation of five people! The intended in-laws are delightful people, warm, friendly and welcoming. They took us into their home and within an hour or two it was as though we had known each other for years. The Intended, too, is delightful, easy to laugh, and clearly in love. We met her two daughters, typical teenagers, and eleven of us sat down to eat. What a good job it was a large table!

The confirmation ceremony went without a hitch on the Saturday ( except that I forgot my camera) and we saw everything clearly from nine rows back. Dinner was a blast, even Number One Granddaughter's boyfriend, "Fluffy", enjoyed it. After all the work put in by our hosts and The Intended, and the caterer who deserves a medal, Sunday was truly a day of rest. Even lazy could have taken lessons. Monday was shopping day and Tuesday we flew home. All in all a very successful trip. It is always nice to see the family and to meet new people.

Everyone forgets, sometimes. On this occasion I forgot that my car keys were in the boot (where I always put them while loading the boot) and being distracted at a vital moment closed the door. The local garage were unable to gain entry, but charged me for turning out, and ordered a spare key. That set off the alarm causing me to climb over the front seat, over the rear seat and stretch full length to retrieve the fob and shut off the alarm. At least we know (as do the neighbours) that the alarm works and that the car is very secure. So, seventy pounds poorer I drive with a new found respect for Vauxhall Motors.

Last Week

Since I last posted on this site, a modicum of drama has befallen our way. For some years now we have had fitted to a wall fairly adjacent to the incoming gas supply, a carbon monoxide detector & alarm. It's one of those things, like insurance, which sounds a good idea to have, but you don't ever expect to use it. Indeed the previoius monitor was in situ for about 5 years before it told us in piercing tones that it had failed and needed to be replaced. Consequently the current one is about 8 months old. Imagine our shock, then, when the thing sounded mid afternoon one day. Rapid ventilation of the house followed and a quick inspection of the only gas appliances in the house (boiler, and hob). Nothing obviouis was apparent, but not getting much of a second chance with CO I called the gas emergency line.
Within two hours they were with us, with their meters and their gadgets, inspecting every part of the appliances and rendering them safe (what they meant was don't use them!) to await a fitter to rectify the problem, and no doubt charge accordingly. For cooking we were down to the microwave, and for hot water the immersion heater. Only then did we discover that the immersion thermostat was non-functioning. Along came the electrician to fit a new one, which necessitated punching a hole in the ceiling to accommodate the length. The following day the gas man came, took two hours to service the boiler (dust was the problem) and we are back to normal, none the worse thank goodness.

Taking advantage of cooler weather I pressure-washed the patios. Since the process uses a lot of water and we have had no rain since February (bar one day only), I am expecting a hose pipe ban, but at least our barbeques can be eaten on clean stone. Number One Cat has adopted the new cushions bought for the bench bought last year, but is unamused that they are in the sun. We try to shade them with umbrellas, and the patio awning, but she is unflinching in her resentment at the tree which hitherto gave her shelter, being felled as it was undermining the house. Can someone please explain civil engineering to Portia?

Last Friday was the Royal Wedding. I had fully intended not to watch, but succumbed like most of the population. We opted for Sky's coverage which we found to be excellent. There was no inane chatter from the commentators, no pointless interviews with sundry members of the public up & down the country, and no commercials. The BBC and ITV, on the other hand from what I've seen, were crass. Commentators who shouted, were more about themselves than the event, and crammed coverage of the event into only half the screen on occassion, with the other half showing the presenter! ~I am not a fan of Sky, generally, but my heartiest congratulations are due to them on this occassion. As for the happy couple, she was spectacularly gorgeous in that dress, and he looked to be over the moon. I have high hopes for the future of the monarchy now, if only the odious papparazzi will desist. Go Wills & Kate!!!!!!!!!

Easter

So, here we are again in this annual festival upon which no-one seems able to agree a fixed date. Legislation was passed in 1928 in the UK for standardisation, but the arguments continue between the various Christian denominations, and the Act has not yet been given legal force. And so, we the public continue to munch our annual chocolate ration (and then some!) largely unenlightened as to the arcane calculations that give us Easter as a moveable feast. Who cares anyway? Astronomers, theologians, and others have predicted the dates well into the future, even ad infinitum, so that school boards and chocolate retailers know ahead of time for their planning requirements, while the rest of us simply enjoy the time off work or school that enable us to over-indulge happily.

Speaking of over-indulgence, yesterday we as a family went out to a local hostelry for a carvery lunch. Being a hot day they had provided what they were pleased to call a large summer salad as an alternative to the traditional vegetables, and very nice it was too, but I would hate to see the small one (if one's eyesight was that good!) Nevertheless, the meal was very enjoyable and washed down well with good ale and topped off with ice cream. What better? Siiting in the sun at homeafterwards, chatting, made for a very convivial afternoon. Later I had a skull-crushing migraine, perhaps brought on by too much sun, but by then the family-friendly enjoyment of the day was complete.

Some snide person has damaged my car. Parked on Thursday in a supermarket car park, the spaces in which are fairly tight, whoever was the person in the next car failed to take sufficient care when exiting. The result has been a scraping of my front faring above the bumper, right around the curve as they have steered round my car. Whilst it is just possible that they may be unaware, they must have found by now my car's colour on their coachwork to give them pause. Will they exercise more care in future? I doubt it.

Our trip to Norway, to see number one son and family, looms. The Wife is busy buying presents for them and at the same time forward planning for the reciprocal visit in July. Our visit is a little daunting since we shall be breaking new ground (as it were), meeting The Intended, staying with her parents (!) and so on. The prime reason for the visit is the Confirmation of the number one Granddaughter. Two years ago this rite of passage was undergone by The Grandson with attendant meal. Since neither TheWife nor I speak Norwegian the ceremony was largely incomprehensible, as was chatter around the dining table afterwards. However, this time whilst still ignorant of the language, we may have better seats at the ceremony and can renew acquaintance with The Granddaughter's maternal family members. Realtionships may still be strained there, but the ordeal will have to be endured one more time after this. So, gird up thy loins, Wife, and go to it!

I have signed up to Flickr. More photos and videos will be added over time, but please check it out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dufferroy/

The Wife & I usually trudge round the supermarket on a Friday morning. Not the most enjoyable activity, but what makes it even remotely tolerable is the fact of breakfast out. That in itself is hardly the highlight of the week but it does enable us to people-watch while we gird our loins. An added bonus is that a hand carwashing facility is offered in the car park, no doubt by immigrant workers (legal & otherwise) under a gang master. I have learned to make a memorable remark when commissioning their expertise to avoid the more easily being charged twice for the service, or being thought dishonest for not paying on return to my car. This morning I jokingly requested a "short back and sides" as I handed over my tenner. It was as well I did for the young man did indeed approach me for payment a second time, but he remembered my jocularity when reminded. Be warned!

A nightmare of being retired and home most of the time is that occassionally one has to put up with The Wife's friends. We entertained five of them to lunch on Tuesday. The event passed off reasonably happily with many laughs. Janet & John (not their real names) came, also Darby & Joan, with Heidi. All are now in their 70's at least which made The Wife & I feel quite spry. Long may they continue to make us feel that way!!

The car expense, which I mentioned last time, turned out to be both the clutch master cylinder, and two font coil-springs. The clutch is probably wear & tear, but the other problem has to be pot holes. The roads are quite (some very) bad. Although the Council is, as I write, attending to the most serious problems in that regard, much more needs to be done. The government has made available an additonal £100M towards the national cost, but they could also help the unemployed by giving them some of the work. Now there's a thought.

Twitter is not the experience I thought it might be. It is fun and easy, but the sheer volume of tweets is mind-blowing. I had hoped to keep my end up, as it were, but in reality am overwhelmed by all the other trivia. I enjoy it and will continue at @dufferroy

Is summer here? The last two days have been simply glorious weather. Today I removed the winter covers from the various garden benches (noting inter alia that some of them need painting) and better sited them in the garden. Shade was provided by judicious placing of umbrellas, and it felt good to believe that all is right with the world. Number One Cat eschewed my efforts and remained stubbornly indoors, but my will shall prevail eventually. All that remains is the barbie season to properly arrive, and for the evenings to remain balmy not hot (or cold) and we shall have achieved perfection. Roll on summer.

Vicissitudes

I suppose that we all have them, but that truth doesn't alter the frustration we feel when Life decides to throw a wobbly.
We have a broken loo seat. Normally one would visit the DIY store and pick up a replacement for a few quid, buit noooo! This one comes with a fitting which I cannot fathom, unless the solution is to remove the toilet from the wall in order to gain access to the rear of the thing. Enter the plumber, a representative of the local firm who fitted the wretched thing. After an hour or so he emerged triumphantly with the broken seat in tow and announced that it looked like a special purchase. He departed for the supplier, while I had visions of having to replace the entire toilet for want of the seat. We then had to send him photos of the loo to aid identification (Goodness knows what any intercepting agency might have thought). That was on Wednesday and we shall not see the new seat until Monday, perhaps, at a cost of some £65 + VAT. For a loo seat? And then there is the cost of fitting..

Yesterday my car played a trick on me. Exiting a car park which I have used countless times, a sound from beneath the car suggested a grounding, unlikely. Instantly the clutch pedal refused to return to its position, leaving me to change gear with a movement based on about half-an-inch of travel. The car ran ok, even if changing gear was necessarily cautious. After some 10 miles or so and to the accompaniment of another "graunch" the pedal returned to its full height, making driving easier. What can it be? Hopefully the garage will diagnose the cause and remedy tomorrow.

Number One son has had some set-backs of his own this week and some good news. Due to the activities of some at his workplace, and other happenings in his life, great stress has been endured. He is now signed off work for a couple of weeks while the problem gets sorted (hopefully) by an independent third party. Additionally, his legal challenge to recover money from a previous house sale failed, meaning that the immediate future will be a little more impecunious. However, sale of his current house went through smoothly, as did the move to the flat of the Intended, enabling him to put most of these trials behind him. Life goes on and should now get better and better.

I have joined Twitter! Early days yet, of course, but I hope to join in with the wider community in due course. Watch this space!!

The Joys of Living

Living as I do on the fringes of woodland, it is an education at this time of year to watch the nesting birds. Predominantly here we have rooks and jackdaws on a site where they have nested for close on 300  years. To watch them setting up home, with their constant squabbling and incessant chatter is to watch a mirror on our own society.
First comes the selection of a suitable tree, then that bird departs in search of a mate for a second opinion. Meanwhile another bird views the same site and leaves also. The first, now pair, return and begin to build their nest, performing real acrobatics in order to wrest suitable twigs from the living, but leafless, trees. Now the second pair return and squabbles abound. In the event they set up home in a neighbouring tree where they continue to barrack their neighbours and, determining to be the neighbours from hell, stealing the nesting material collected by the first pair.
As if that isn't bad enough, both pairs refuse to retrieve any material dropped, instead leaving in search of fresh replacement, which of course gives the opportunity for more stealing! Eventually things settle down, although the occasional squabble occurs. Exchanges are more inclined to be reduced to more of the chat over the garden fence type, except when new neighbours decide to move in adjacent and the whole cycle begins again, this time with the original two pairs ganging up on the newcomers!
Eventually all settles down except that the jackdaws do seem to have a real gift of the gab as they chatter all day and all night. Presently we shall have chicks yelling for food 24 hours a day, and then the mess begins to build up. Discarded twigs, moss, faeces, feathers, all in my garden! Then will come the spectacle of the fledglings standing their ground on the grass, waiting for another meal and facing down the local cat who is also hungry.
Soon they join their parents in their daily excursion who knows where, and quiet will return to the trees. Until, that is, about 9 pm when the entire flock returns together with the loudest chorus to take up their nightly roost. In the long evenings of summer the returning flock get later, but as the nights draw towards autumn they return increasingly early until, eventually, they settle down to a new routine for winter. Peace. But there is always next year...

Domestic animals also give pleasure of course. Number one cat, Portia, who has always used a litter tray, decided a while ago to also go outside. This made our life less messy and marginally cheaper. Imagine The Wife's chagrin when she found the midden in the garden! Having cleared it, twigs, thorns, and other deterrents were placed, but Portia simply moved them aside and continued her daily visits. She must, sometimes have balanced on two legs to get into the correct position. Rediscovering the midden yesterday, I cleared it and decided that if I couldn't deter Portia, at least I would try to ensure that it was all in one place. I therefore removed the twigs and ensured that the soil was fresh, clean, and loose. Portia promptly used her box! Oh, well.

For many years The Wife has kept fish. First it was goldfish, then tropicals, now both. The large tropical tank has been stable for some years and well cared for. On rising yesterday it was discovered that the water was extremely clouded, one fish was dead, and the others were all struggling to breathe. Fortunately we have a small reserve tank which was hurriedly set up and the struggling fish transferred. The large tank was tested for toxins, with negative results, and then thoroughly cleaned. This morning the fish survived their overnight in the smaller tank, but the large one remains clouded as though there is something in solution. We are baffled and concerned about the surviving fish's welfare since the change in their water may yet cause them to fail. We shall see.

Wouldn't you just know it?

A couple of weeks ago I complained that my car was covered in mud (some of it quite thick) following a police diversion. Since then the weather has been inclement to the extent that I have been very reluctant to wash the car. It has either been too cold, or wet. I am averse to using an automated car-wash after an Incident with the previous car. Thus the car has languished in its unwashed state, albeit in fairly regular use which increases the dirt.

On Saturday, with the temperature positively balmy and the atmosphere dry and sunny, I decided to undertake the much needed washing of the car. Out came the hosepipe, the bucket, shampoo, leather, polishing cloth, window cleaner, elbow grease and MP3 player. Some 90 minutes later with sweat dripping and aching in both arms, I surveyed the beast. Bright, shiny, and gleaming in every (visible) part it was a work of art, a labour of love, and worth more than the cup of tea The Wife presented me with. Away went the hosepipe, bucket et al and I retired to the TV with that smug sense of satisfaction that every car-washer knows. Will we never learn?

Sunday dawned, and the weather was chucking it down, and did so all day. High winds accompanied the rain just to make sure that muck from way off was whipped in the general direction of my car, where it stuck to the now wet paintwork, chrome, plastic, and glass. Now the car needs washing, again...

I am reminded of the immortal song by the late Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, "The Gas Man Cometh". Those two knew a thing or two about life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPZM8Ebt-mU

You never know...

One day last week The Wife & I were invited to "take tea" with The Daughter, who lives in a rural suburb some 13 miles away. All went well until we approached the last village of size before the main road that has to be crossed or otherwise negotiated en route. Police were evident in quantity, the road was closed and a diversion was in place. I should explain that the road is a single carriageway and at the time we were travelling (about 1.30 pm) most traffic flows north - our direction. Thus we were in a line of cars and one large (but not articulated) lorry.

We all turned left to follow the diversion, onto a farm track thick with mud. The track was riddled with pot holes, some filled with water, and was single file. We bumped and rattled round this course trying not to skid on the mud and narrowly avoiding by deft maneouvering the small amount of oncoming traffic. "Our" lorry was doing well on the bends until it came face to face with another of similar size in the opposite direction. Eventually the diversion spat us out onto a crossroads in a part of the village I had not previously seen with no indicaton of direction. I headed for the church, the tower of which I could just see above rooftops in the middle distance, and eventually arrived at The Daughter's for tea.
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The Daughter has two rescue cats. One is fit (should that be fat?) and healthy, the other is of great age, has multiple medical problems and is greatly emaciated. However, he is perfectly happy and eats like a horse. He is not in pain or distress but is slowly fading. When we arrived he was sitting by the front door in the sun.I'm sure he had no idea where he was or what day it was, but he was warm.

After arriving home we discovered that the police presence had been due to a fatal accident that morning. The victim was 30 years old. I'm sure that most of the drivers in the diverted traffic complained about the mud (now thick on my car, too) but that was nothing compared to the tragedy that had occured. Later still we heard that the other driver had been charged in connection with the death. The accident had happened at 8.20 am and we wait now to see if drink was a factor. How easily and quickly these things happen.

I Just Knew It!!

The New Year started off much too smoothly, something was bound to go wrong. Not only did my calm euphoric state not last, it was shattered in a variety of ways and just to make it more emphatic it happened on successive days.

It started quietly enough with the car warning me that the brake pads were worn down. No problem, book the car in for remedial work. An unexpected expense, but ok it is wear and tear and, to be honest, something to cope with where mechanical devices are concerned. Fine. I trust the garage who do the repairs, I've used them for years, and duly took the car to them on Friday.

Later that day, while surfing the Net, I picked up one of the nastiest viruses imaginable. It told me my computer had a multitude of problems and that I should pay money to a particular website for the key to unlock their removal tool. Then to underline the problems (which I did not previously have) it disabled my security software, prevented access to any program which might help to remove the offending virus and, over a few hours, progressively prevented access to other programs too. All the while it bombarded the screen with pop-ups and periodically connected me to websites that I'd rather not see. So, I switched off and rang the chap who in the past has ministered to our various computers and who seems really to know his stuff. Saturday was the day for salvation. To cheer up The Family I booked cinema seats to see The King's Speech on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday lunchtime I loaded the defective computer into the newly repaired car and delivered it to the repair guy en route for the cinema. The cinema had no booking (for which I'd paid) and, worse, had no showing at the relevant time! There are two cinemas in our town, about two miles apart, one of which changed its name from Vue to Odeon a while ago, while the other is still Vue. I had apparently booked Vue when I should have booked Odeon, but now it was too late to make the booking on time! We ended by paying again. It's a good job the film was good and in some way made me feel that I didn't mind quite so much paying twice as much to see it!!!

I collected the computer on Sunday. The Guy had been up half the night removing the Offence, but it had left the computer so slow that reformatting was the only option. Now I have my car, and pleasant memories of a good film to ease my task in re-loading the computer with my software. Thank God I keep back-ups of my data!!

Happy New Year!

It's not too late, is it?
The Event passed off unremarkably, not even many fireworks down in the valley we overlook. Perhaps people were just so jaded after the Christmas thing, or perhaps a beginning to reigning in spendig, like the  government wants. Anyway, it suited our mood and we are all in this together!

New year, new beginnings. The Daughter and The Boyfriend came for dinner and games on the 2nd. It went ok from our end, but things may have been a bit fraught at theirs Anyway their stay was pleasant enough. The rest of that week passed off quietly and we were glad of it. No 2 Son returned to work, and the Wife and I returned the house largely to order, but we still have all that drink...

This (2nd) week has been occupied. I suddenly had a warning light on the dashboard telling me the brake pads are clapped, so the car is booked in for Friday for remedial work. Vauxhall attended to the recall work within 20 minutes on Monday but I haven't noticed any difference yet. No 1 Cat went to the vet for a blood pressure test on Tuesday and was found to be OK. That visit and one the previous week for routine jabs cost me £64. Wednesday I had off (!) and today I was at the quacks for a minor routine check; all is well.I really don't know what I shall do next week as normally the demands of this week would be spread over a month! Still, the car goes in tomorrow for the brakes, but who knows what else they may find...?