tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62358416421494230682024-03-16T14:03:21.333+00:00Above the RiverCJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comBlogger691125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-35923950906308670962024-03-03T21:41:00.001+00:002024-03-03T21:41:48.718+00:00Silver birches<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHQAcQOdwjtmh9sZrN9Ouf7TO7FQoe0t6DanKCLMz3_ZjN_h2lTZHDXEkSGHFhMvK1FElS6VLpPXmnJJESy4ixNKj-ATNCdz3tjjVD902zZhs4NwCm_4AggE-L5wzvSOmp81JzmE8C6AyTQc3B9po5HZdurm0qM-z0AGA3hmN9cFehFBt0U1aYC9Q0Kg/s1600/ab.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHQAcQOdwjtmh9sZrN9Ouf7TO7FQoe0t6DanKCLMz3_ZjN_h2lTZHDXEkSGHFhMvK1FElS6VLpPXmnJJESy4ixNKj-ATNCdz3tjjVD902zZhs4NwCm_4AggE-L5wzvSOmp81JzmE8C6AyTQc3B9po5HZdurm0qM-z0AGA3hmN9cFehFBt0U1aYC9Q0Kg/w640-h426/ab.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KKJ3wVI_68DSHKvj4RYwILOpBhhtYApTJmK-rdHKDCEq84_y75mZrNoQLSWP8fyFWkJt4LdK_wJNR_VH8WCvRVSYiHgbizJfy7Rn7th312zXFfyDFiygPO859RwxUf8qJARxMPyJlc9FozAtujy9f1lH-1KGIt7G0RQmL2F5BIadJ8xB5OIbzZpPRr8/w640-h480/aa.JPG" width="640" /></a><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNqLG4-BMdi6-2ytTLybCNYdEqr3lmUg3DfORZ7xnBnFEpDeQV08GKprgEeW_EPACMLrFWJMG3yizKWiSI2keBwbsKw2mZtyiwKlpuej7RV4ChAoCa0AsfaVcg5m6DxNA3hlLVOgG3jKvMRFNThiEs-OoblU8rKSgpAZpY5yT6T2EUaKPOK_P8ZK7z_g/s1600/aa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNqLG4-BMdi6-2ytTLybCNYdEqr3lmUg3DfORZ7xnBnFEpDeQV08GKprgEeW_EPACMLrFWJMG3yizKWiSI2keBwbsKw2mZtyiwKlpuej7RV4ChAoCa0AsfaVcg5m6DxNA3hlLVOgG3jKvMRFNThiEs-OoblU8rKSgpAZpY5yT6T2EUaKPOK_P8ZK7z_g/w640-h426/aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I am suddenly obsessed with silver birch trees. I was already very much a tree person, always wondering whether I can squeeze a tree in here or there and lamenting the tree cutting on my morning dog walks by the stream. Then I saw something about how perfect silver birches are for small gardens - slender, not too thick they block the light etc.</p><p>Plus, I remember reading ages ago that they are second only to oak in the number of species they can support. More than 300 insect species, according to the Woodland Trust. So I have put a couple in the garden. They are just very small at the moment, but I do so love planting a tree. If I were ever to come into money, I would buy woodland I think, trees just makes me happy.</p><p>And of course, now I am spotting silver birches everywhere. I chose the native one, which I assume is probably the best bet for wildlife. I'm also thinking about digging a hole or two in the patio and sticking in a fig tree and an olive that I have knocking around in pots, but I'm slightly concerned that I might hit the mains sewer. It feels like the sort of thing I might do. Does anyone know where they go? I seem to recall they mostly go out the front and to a main pipe running down the middle of the road, but it would be big mistake to make, even for me, if it turned out to be under the patio. Might just stick with the containers to be on the safe side.</p><p>Not much news here, I am working, working, working which doesn't make for exciting reading. The dog is well, and has been enjoying a dry and sunny day after surprise snow yesterday morning. No-one was expecting it at all, so the morning dog walk was full of astonishment from all and sundry. It was a proper thick white snowfall, but the day warmed up and it was gone by lunchtime. No complaints from me, I have usually had enough after a day of snow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz00pDHy0mGNoUOc94dRrVX_JuhU-ZG0sz3Y0OCG_aeYuxR3T0huuHlhYApmqkwJVtB87qrzrrIMR8c9w8O28DnyI4bE_lXRRZjrR7punO1tg-iKW8BZsPpA9PBt3_8HeYby-2Ow17HBOrMtBba13sCW1Q32M6sivQ4-KT1Yb4TwOMV75URqOoD5fG1PE/s1600/ae.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz00pDHy0mGNoUOc94dRrVX_JuhU-ZG0sz3Y0OCG_aeYuxR3T0huuHlhYApmqkwJVtB87qrzrrIMR8c9w8O28DnyI4bE_lXRRZjrR7punO1tg-iKW8BZsPpA9PBt3_8HeYby-2Ow17HBOrMtBba13sCW1Q32M6sivQ4-KT1Yb4TwOMV75URqOoD5fG1PE/w640-h480/ae.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFvwYbCVSVb9gnsv58QWXtFuC6sbV_i9jobHgGreQ5bVv6SXQZYTKgRV1bO1dVSRTUtTwutcwGJ4y_XvynHa_5VhbhM_3o3ORSwZhuKDXgvQ4QSTt8sxxUstZwm55Xy4LTJtLKIlhcv1cGW_E0451g3HZHBonAimRRreFNp9uFppT0YzfsB732NYw5SE/s1600/ad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFvwYbCVSVb9gnsv58QWXtFuC6sbV_i9jobHgGreQ5bVv6SXQZYTKgRV1bO1dVSRTUtTwutcwGJ4y_XvynHa_5VhbhM_3o3ORSwZhuKDXgvQ4QSTt8sxxUstZwm55Xy4LTJtLKIlhcv1cGW_E0451g3HZHBonAimRRreFNp9uFppT0YzfsB732NYw5SE/w640-h480/ad.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Just a week ago I was rescuing early bees who had come out for a look round and collapsed with exhaustion/cold/thirst/hunger. I found one on the pavement, with acres of tarmac all around. I took her into the kitchen where it was warmer and popped her on a plate with some honey and water. You could see her lapping at it for ages. When she was all warmed up and buzzy we took her out to the woodpile. I hope that's the right thing to do. A day or two later, there was another one. Hopefully they are tucked back up for now though. </p><p>I shall leave you now and be back when I have some actual news. I hope all is well at your end. CJ xx</p></div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-81365019915066545732023-12-23T17:19:00.000+00:002023-12-23T17:19:14.279+00:00The festive stepladder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvXEkK3__ATHe6E7-cc79xsTcjO5EXyhIfiNCpLBEhNySna33G1G8zNlY2aHPz8KiXpNk24r0kYI4iWi9ILjJSa6EXvKkbkTH7V2yClICByLCpAbboWPU_djzV1dFRXYHeznxBUszsr-Rp605VZ5q8Qp7NScOgNOkYpfBLx09AF266-jPSRt1kT5TQIQ/s4272/IMG_3733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvXEkK3__ATHe6E7-cc79xsTcjO5EXyhIfiNCpLBEhNySna33G1G8zNlY2aHPz8KiXpNk24r0kYI4iWi9ILjJSa6EXvKkbkTH7V2yClICByLCpAbboWPU_djzV1dFRXYHeznxBUszsr-Rp605VZ5q8Qp7NScOgNOkYpfBLx09AF266-jPSRt1kT5TQIQ/w640-h426/IMG_3733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm_DnwoyqTnphPHJTBv3y4BpV9vtK1x-uR3R8qSsRFr_bbbF-9eqdLWmygPt_SXS2XNSMy8G-brJg2TP97BYVZX_QEYt0xBaDzsZT6o-wya2pzhDo9HkjfdUROG5dmfLhrD4he76mYs756swwyhlhUaNO7Od9_mvxD40nDh8FRgn2cmW1XkbK_UaNa_k/s4272/IMG_9569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm_DnwoyqTnphPHJTBv3y4BpV9vtK1x-uR3R8qSsRFr_bbbF-9eqdLWmygPt_SXS2XNSMy8G-brJg2TP97BYVZX_QEYt0xBaDzsZT6o-wya2pzhDo9HkjfdUROG5dmfLhrD4he76mYs756swwyhlhUaNO7Od9_mvxD40nDh8FRgn2cmW1XkbK_UaNa_k/w640-h426/IMG_9569.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeisZGdWTtUuv22tF10-D9BoUFZlNSy3keimwIRVh0Kf8mSm8-7dCZS391BCN7ujvzHMsAbuxrHBwOjHuqdEaFxqFkt-dKjm2qR1XJLmYiCMbQnkG3a13Pd5kWTz9sBD6PdKLJXUBVQRX0Tbb09Hf0lQXUX3zg147RC8TvYoLWLzzXhcCgT3CBmdcCsU/s4272/IMG_9618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeisZGdWTtUuv22tF10-D9BoUFZlNSy3keimwIRVh0Kf8mSm8-7dCZS391BCN7ujvzHMsAbuxrHBwOjHuqdEaFxqFkt-dKjm2qR1XJLmYiCMbQnkG3a13Pd5kWTz9sBD6PdKLJXUBVQRX0Tbb09Hf0lQXUX3zg147RC8TvYoLWLzzXhcCgT3CBmdcCsU/w640-h426/IMG_9618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwxMEY6OuiRU5uPYC7V8ZyUc8X3k5NGCVNH_zmlMT5lJ6TqqIvDWKahOkSNgu3ZdZdDOkx6Ipw13N-ltLC2Cogbi2kMt_beFCxuU1uFr47OOz-qcERc2uxTxeYrkjeVl_Otoc6mCvjdrVKB1EzHGBbx6Hf5EPxQz90W454eD52wD6_nw3dw3eIW78_Bg/s4272/IMG_9641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwxMEY6OuiRU5uPYC7V8ZyUc8X3k5NGCVNH_zmlMT5lJ6TqqIvDWKahOkSNgu3ZdZdDOkx6Ipw13N-ltLC2Cogbi2kMt_beFCxuU1uFr47OOz-qcERc2uxTxeYrkjeVl_Otoc6mCvjdrVKB1EzHGBbx6Hf5EPxQz90W454eD52wD6_nw3dw3eIW78_Bg/w640-h426/IMG_9641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I find I have absolutely no new photos on my camera, so I am cheating with some preloved images so that I can come and wish you all the seasonal stuff.</p><p>And also so that I can tell you about my Christmas tree, as has become our annual tradition. You may recall the year we had one that was so fat that the middle boy and I couldn't see the television and had to sit outside of the circle being sarcastic for the whole festive season. Then there was the year I bought a tiny real tree with the idea of bringing it inside every year, except that all the needles fell off in February, probably after the trauma of going from ideal growing conditions (garden centre) to Above the River Towers and then outside. And the year I inherited an artificial tree which I believed would solve all of my problems, being eco-friendly and reusable ad infinitum, until I got it out of the box and it turned out to be 18 inches tall and could only handle ten baubles.</p><p>This year, I had a genius idea. A festive stepladder! Yes. You can see them on the interwebs and they are very nice indeed, people make a lovely job of them. And in the spring you can hang handmade quilts and Welsh wool blankets on them, and in the summer you can prop them against an apple tree and it all looks marvellous. I had no sooner had the idea pop into my head than I was on Ebay sourcing one. The idea is you festoon it with baubles or greenery or tinsel or whatever you have to hand and it all looks beautiful.</p><p>In a stroke of luck, I found one almost immediately, only a half hour's drive away. It looked nice and vintage and was attractively photographed in the street from quite a distance. Which should have set a small alarm bell ringing, but didn't, because I was caught up in the fast excitement and brilliance of my idea. I measured the car to make sure it would fit, then before you know it I was back on Ebay and it was bought. From idea to execution couldn't have been more than twenty minutes.</p><p>This was the point at which I measured the height of the living room. Yes, indeed, I should probably have done that before I bought it. And the strange thing was, the stepladder was actually taller than room. What are the odds? I was still fairly hopeful that once it was opened out it would fit in nicely. Have you ever done one of those personality test things? My leading strength is optimism, which is probably just as well. So off I went to collect it.</p><p>Oh my. It is HUGE. The stepladder of a giant. Unlike anything I have ever seen before. And I suddenly understood why it had been photographed in the street from a distance. As well as being really tall, it is also really wide. It just about fitted in the car, although some mirrors and windows were temporarily obscured.</p><p>I got the middle boy to help me into the house with it when I got home, as he is the calmest and least prone to providing unsolicited advice. Plus, I feel this sort of thing is pretty much what he expects from me most of the time, so he just takes a slightly deeper breath than normal and gets on with things.</p><p>We eventually worked out how to get it in the living room door. It turns out that even with both legs as wide apart as they will go, the ceiling is too low for it to fit. So we propped it, closed, against the wall. I then spent a week thinking. Should I admit defeat and try to sell it? Put it in the garage along with all of my other brilliant ideas? By the time a week had passed, we were all used to it, despite the fact that it takes up quite a chunk of space. So I decided to decorate it.</p><p>The Christmas decorations live in a very tricky-to-access spot in the converted loft, so there was quite a bit of cross, sweaty shifting of giant cricket bags to get to the cupboard. And even more cross sweaty stuff when I couldn't find the lights. Honestly, it never looks like that in the adverts, some poor woman stuck in the corner of what could be mistaken for a junk shop, falling over as she tries to get out, hair all dragged the wrong way and baubles falling out of a damp box. No, on the television it is all smiles and shiny bouncy hair being tossed around as the family all gather together in festive bliss.</p><p>The middle boy helped some more by suggesting the right placement for the lights (trickier than you would imagine on a festive stepladder) and admiring some of the more minimalist decorations, including a pipe cleaner arrangement with a small silver bauble stuck on top and an old bean tin with holes punched in it that I believe is FC. The fairy is jammed against the ceiling and the slight roughness of the stepladder, the authenticness one might say, has dragged some of the feather boa effect off of some of the angels, but from a distance you can hardly tell. </p><p>Anyway, it is all done now and no-one has dared to say anything too direct about it, although there have been one or two comments about the fact that it has <b>CONTRACTOR</b> stamped across the front a couple of times in giant letters. I have not quite worked out where it will go for the rest of the year, given its size and the fact that the garage is, as aforementioned, already full up with some of my previous brilliant ideas. But in the meantime, I have NO PINE NEEDLES so I am calling it a win. I will try and take a photo in daylight. I did try just now, but everything was orange and I feel you wouldn't be seeing it in its best light. </p><p>I hope all is well at your end and that you are all prepared for some nice days. I have somehow ended up with an insane amount of parsnips, but otherwise everything is going to plan. So far. Except obviously the festive stepladder. Have a lovely day, and I shall see you on the other side. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-67559558028447200712023-11-19T21:50:00.000+00:002023-11-19T21:50:22.232+00:00An egg in a pocket<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrom-4UMlmNFMgKq-K1QqtiOS-z_fHlpgxLM3Vh6WbzqeaPP0s2l2NM8OQ1mT5IqQYG9WanA5oRoUSFpf-VFgt6PRpqgsj7ME5479CPPu6MY-IPXHkUKdx41GBPVc6ijxXcTIbNihpCYiKFeci0koA_RRuP8kpXDaC7Xx9G-urb3iZnAze96mB0cEg60/s5184/IMG_2620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrom-4UMlmNFMgKq-K1QqtiOS-z_fHlpgxLM3Vh6WbzqeaPP0s2l2NM8OQ1mT5IqQYG9WanA5oRoUSFpf-VFgt6PRpqgsj7ME5479CPPu6MY-IPXHkUKdx41GBPVc6ijxXcTIbNihpCYiKFeci0koA_RRuP8kpXDaC7Xx9G-urb3iZnAze96mB0cEg60/w640-h426/IMG_2620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div>Autumn photos from the canal and a couple of great reads from last month. I particularly enjoyed reading 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' around Hallowe'en time, it's deliciously dark. I have moved on to 'Fourth Wing' now, one of those books I am reading to see what all the fuss is about/so as not to miss out. I'm enjoying it so far.<div><br /></div><div>I made miso and surprisingly it has been an absolute triumph. It matured for ages and I'd sort of forgotten about it or assumed it wouldn't be anything to write home about, but it's fabulous. As good as professional miso! I have loads of it, so I'm hoping it will keep. In the meantime, I'm making lots of soup and aiming to boost everyone' immune systems - they've been bringing various viruses home from school on a regular basis.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a new washing machine, which plays Schubert's "The Trout" at the end of a cycle which I am told may be some complex metaphor for being trapped by doing the washing. One of its first tasks was to wash an egg out of a pocket.</div><div><br /></div><div>Someone gave the littlest boy a freshly laid egg which he was intending to cook for his breakfast the following day. This was around lunchtime. He put it in his pocket (I KNOW) and wandered around with it in there ALL DAY. He even flopped down on his bed and still it was fine. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the end he plunged his hand into his pocket to put his ear buds away and that was the end of it. Me and the middle boy have not got over our amazement that he could carry an egg around for as long as that without breaking it.<br /><p>I am in the middle of doing NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month at the moment. It's challenge where you aim to write 50,000 words in a month, which isn't generally a whole novel, but it's nice start. I am all on track so far, even a couple of days ahead in fact. I do love writing a first draft, but the editing bit is a strain. </p><p>When I am not writing (which is my day job as well), I am looking out the window at the wildlife. Lots of long-tailed tits appear sometimes, right outside of the window. A squirrel came looked right in the other day as well. Good job the dog didn't spot it. Still no hedgehog though. There was a dead one on the green the other day which was sad. Someone told me that they eat pumpkin and it can kill them.</p><p>So I may be adding unattended pumpkin to the things that I am opposed to now, which already includes fireworks and Christmas. Well, more of the packaging/landfill side of Christmas, you know what I mean. But I worry that it makes me a Grinch and that the list is getting longer.</p><p>I hope all is well at your end and that you haven't been too badly battered by wind and rain. CJ xx</p></div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-59660055392632293472023-10-14T22:05:00.000+01:002023-10-14T22:05:03.695+01:00Carcasses and power naps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i8eN8CIRu3DyTm-ySmSe_c8YiFyvK9gbI4ctwLtMs56y8uMdMx3PJau4hzGTSQkd73MtszZr-XsaMU9rvge-titPCuxCWQ_MTZitJwCOeZTisfGwFdhczUsV4TxgByF5j3l_lyllE-5UYycZh-ujuBmtwzZhVgBaibvv3Q4n6q1Uds1R2V5S4EanK44/s5184/IMG_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i8eN8CIRu3DyTm-ySmSe_c8YiFyvK9gbI4ctwLtMs56y8uMdMx3PJau4hzGTSQkd73MtszZr-XsaMU9rvge-titPCuxCWQ_MTZitJwCOeZTisfGwFdhczUsV4TxgByF5j3l_lyllE-5UYycZh-ujuBmtwzZhVgBaibvv3Q4n6q1Uds1R2V5S4EanK44/w640-h426/IMG_2599.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFowcfIAf4SOGTxL4j9201OaenfmNGnVt38e1UBEqBm3pflDi2kmf7gbJEMePbi-HgMJ8IUEjfzLn0_x_J4Dd4doAkSNYjL51DGPwONOVs9udgj377mW62BVKh1xKop3cVv_ulsvo2M8XkyypHuVCcxhRla6Zv-WcQFcf7m6osJQBgt_9G0SCCc_kcSuw/s5184/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFowcfIAf4SOGTxL4j9201OaenfmNGnVt38e1UBEqBm3pflDi2kmf7gbJEMePbi-HgMJ8IUEjfzLn0_x_J4Dd4doAkSNYjL51DGPwONOVs9udgj377mW62BVKh1xKop3cVv_ulsvo2M8XkyypHuVCcxhRla6Zv-WcQFcf7m6osJQBgt_9G0SCCc_kcSuw/w640-h426/IMG_2592.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOFdqAEUWRA4dqC89PfLTFaSnS7E8Ot0gepzmfz-brQSPjX2MRbfw8v5qg6Cmu-9W7f8jHYmUdGaQF4wwm-RbhEPCZEf42uKp1gKD6uELgL5YPJ9gHFi8iAd7jO7Gaa8w6IxYqCZnPCqRBH0R5Xsal3wfDH25px5ut5Pw1uzX2s6_QkvtmOPkZSHCU9Q/s5184/IMG_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOFdqAEUWRA4dqC89PfLTFaSnS7E8Ot0gepzmfz-brQSPjX2MRbfw8v5qg6Cmu-9W7f8jHYmUdGaQF4wwm-RbhEPCZEf42uKp1gKD6uELgL5YPJ9gHFi8iAd7jO7Gaa8w6IxYqCZnPCqRBH0R5Xsal3wfDH25px5ut5Pw1uzX2s6_QkvtmOPkZSHCU9Q/w640-h426/IMG_2591.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rcnu1IQsUPW72a4hvdzfdsIoTNhhVIhcM88bH0_QLhSmqJ8XdbTYaD0a_4_Hls8NdwUaXbu-J72LiWjhYL1fsxGmgAGMsvU2lGmvwXaeh1zTbqeG26z65-Ji9pB7EKYwNZ25wYaZxY8p7dIR9uLblUgsxcKAw3V32zqGUg-siwBXwGX3jE_sZbQ55Eg/s5184/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rcnu1IQsUPW72a4hvdzfdsIoTNhhVIhcM88bH0_QLhSmqJ8XdbTYaD0a_4_Hls8NdwUaXbu-J72LiWjhYL1fsxGmgAGMsvU2lGmvwXaeh1zTbqeG26z65-Ji9pB7EKYwNZ25wYaZxY8p7dIR9uLblUgsxcKAw3V32zqGUg-siwBXwGX3jE_sZbQ55Eg/w640-h426/IMG_2603.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>A distinct lack of photos on my camera at the moment. The cosmos picture is from earlier today, in the setting sun, but the fruit has long since been eaten. Strangely, I have the urge to grow vegetables, just as it is almost all over for the season. I have ordered Rekha Mistry's allotment book which looks lovely. Maybe I should pop in some broad beans. I tend not to grow onions and garlic now as I don't use them very much. But I did love the feeling that the new planting season was starting in October and watching the new green shoots appearing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I might pull out the strawberries and plant asparagus instead. In fact, I went outside today to get started and then got cold feet. The strawberries were dreadful this summer, sort of pale and flaccid, but what if they were just having an off moment and are intending to be amazing next year?</div><div><br /></div><div>The flowers were from the biggest boy and are from an ethical flower company. They were so lovely, all scented and delicious, with herbs and everything in there. I have of course kept the mint and rosemary as cuttings. For me that was the most exciting bit. And good to know that banging on about the horrors of some parts of the flower industry all these years did not fall on deaf ears. They are actually listening to me! On occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dog surpassed himself the other day. He found what I can only describe as a carcass up on the green near the local shop. He and I were locked in battle over it for a good ten minutes. I have no idea what it was, it was properly butchered (no limbs or innards or fur) but it was all flappy and really just not a very nice thing to have a tug of war with. He thought it was utterly delightful. We made a huge spectacle of ourselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>The dog was absolutely committed to keeping (and eating) whatever it was. Rabbit maybe. He has recently discovered rabbits at the community woodland and has been naughtier than ever before, running off after them (none caught, I'm happy to report). Anyway, there we were deadlocked over this dead flappy thing. As he got tired of holding on he made a last grab of it and pretty much squashed my finger, cutting it open slightly. So there I was, bleeding, with dog saliva and carcass bacteria coursing through my veins, but triumphantly holding my prize. I marched him home after that and got someone else to take him out so that I could wash my hands and sulk. Anyway, that was a few days ago and I am happy to report I am still here. I put the carcass in the bin and it had gone by morning. Clearly it was very sought after.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not really any news to report here. The littlest boy went to the theatre in London and I had to pick him up at 1.30am. On a school night. The rain was biblical and actually lapping against the curb as cars went past. I pity the teachers who had to teach them the next day. I had a 10am power nap and was as good as new. I never have a lie-in, I hate missing the early mornings, but I am a big fan of the power nap when needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Has anyone else been amazed by the hoo-ha over the sycamore tree in Hadrian's Wall? While it is always disappointing to see a beautiful mature tree cut down, it was a single tree in a barren and over-grazed landscape. Where is all the outrage over the destruction of ancient woodlands, home to countless wild creatures? I have been quite cross about it all. Well, maybe it will encourage more tree protection in general, we shall see. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wishing all a lovely Sunday. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-73799808634972529382023-09-09T21:39:00.001+01:002023-09-09T21:39:23.964+01:00Of butterflies and moths<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykbC1Os6fi016WqkOJMdCk5HXTJcIfZjmUGkifFsOnSwrGYAzjJUDVH4M7qZMjMfjob2R_8v8CJskBv0qZzshdXJbstxeuSk21Zgx33KbAiEXqdsZuEZb2Tf_jfqkan_D6fT9bbip6pjoK65e8gyipmcBQxhYzaIbRhxKbvo7I3h04y_J-pRlHxzjFng/s3264/P1000863.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykbC1Os6fi016WqkOJMdCk5HXTJcIfZjmUGkifFsOnSwrGYAzjJUDVH4M7qZMjMfjob2R_8v8CJskBv0qZzshdXJbstxeuSk21Zgx33KbAiEXqdsZuEZb2Tf_jfqkan_D6fT9bbip6pjoK65e8gyipmcBQxhYzaIbRhxKbvo7I3h04y_J-pRlHxzjFng/w640-h480/P1000863.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYCXWDTTT96j046EtLlarJek59iEG9ibOHC8Hky0mBMDZSEt4C_C-dAEUY4fP4Hj9PHGlH2F9M2mLbs4-4qZs_m2QPVLzeof51RmyuiIHDUchF2xnuLTQkKJEJ173aLlD8UBmqo6yhssTqXrdxTTV6CtuTEb61-5mXJSVcxPgWgid7jsALe3FQ5KL8mI/s3264/P1000813.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYCXWDTTT96j046EtLlarJek59iEG9ibOHC8Hky0mBMDZSEt4C_C-dAEUY4fP4Hj9PHGlH2F9M2mLbs4-4qZs_m2QPVLzeof51RmyuiIHDUchF2xnuLTQkKJEJ173aLlD8UBmqo6yhssTqXrdxTTV6CtuTEb61-5mXJSVcxPgWgid7jsALe3FQ5KL8mI/w640-h480/P1000813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjalvVc0Vib44uSefpIA6Zdnsm2CyRFYO9khJcNtQKZvQSfE996iqRxZSy3ay-FLbZ0A5ST-5oS-u9hrFxZzIwgRba13B-cExiHaC-7Advee5rsmR_tfMZoQzufBJeT6CoUSCC6tdXQjDfebWrXCeHUZR9xsPILnmx2YvsUIL4uKhCetJ6tx-4N-AJAM/s4000/P1000855.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjalvVc0Vib44uSefpIA6Zdnsm2CyRFYO9khJcNtQKZvQSfE996iqRxZSy3ay-FLbZ0A5ST-5oS-u9hrFxZzIwgRba13B-cExiHaC-7Advee5rsmR_tfMZoQzufBJeT6CoUSCC6tdXQjDfebWrXCeHUZR9xsPILnmx2YvsUIL4uKhCetJ6tx-4N-AJAM/w640-h480/P1000855.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0WGl6x4O-0dFxOKBTUHTn28PjtcGmR8xv90_6YJJoZ0zJXcW3hMybP2YPm9aAcVTrGioDvyRsgWTRP-EkBtlBB-ahu1v1OcwsqPVfCMf6RfrBrX1LXbIcdtpdFg9VIX6-u1Ux4FE0jpc0K7vgqI5dQxWr_MwkBKGynhYvABhXJlVwXMY_k1Zp0TRwk8/s4000/P1000842.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0WGl6x4O-0dFxOKBTUHTn28PjtcGmR8xv90_6YJJoZ0zJXcW3hMybP2YPm9aAcVTrGioDvyRsgWTRP-EkBtlBB-ahu1v1OcwsqPVfCMf6RfrBrX1LXbIcdtpdFg9VIX6-u1Ux4FE0jpc0K7vgqI5dQxWr_MwkBKGynhYvABhXJlVwXMY_k1Zp0TRwk8/w640-h480/P1000842.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_Hr3M-d5CrZybq_cMUE3aopE4FjFxHHsK1isa6AYNXRsfPgsSV4328sOt-Dwt00aZ6ZnsUSk_4Vmf6NUsbUuX9aevxdR4SS-5yBsjMB9K8KZs9ZQkLAaAStyXVSg_yXqbHxOJIgXtki5CRu1N41RfhH22BaUdiuPUXfcmb5vWAQUN8qM0w5KlOuHbv8/s4000/P1000850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_Hr3M-d5CrZybq_cMUE3aopE4FjFxHHsK1isa6AYNXRsfPgsSV4328sOt-Dwt00aZ6ZnsUSk_4Vmf6NUsbUuX9aevxdR4SS-5yBsjMB9K8KZs9ZQkLAaAStyXVSg_yXqbHxOJIgXtki5CRu1N41RfhH22BaUdiuPUXfcmb5vWAQUN8qM0w5KlOuHbv8/w640-h480/P1000850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>A little more Wales, which seems like a while ago now. A storm moved in and whipped up waves on the lake. The castle is Conwy Castle, built between 1283 and 1287. I can't imagine how, it's completely amazing. The old town walls are apparently some of the finest and most complete in Europe and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I'd love to visit in winter when it's quiet and have a really good look round.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the moment I've been enjoying the warm evenings, walking about the place with the dog as the sun sets. Windows are thrown open to try and capture a breath of air and lights are on as the evenings draw in. It's been lovely, although the afternoons have been a bit hot for my taste and I do love regular rain keeping everything green.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the subject of green, let's talk about box moths. I don't know if it's the same across the country, but they have absolutely devastated box hedges here. There has been a little damage over the past couple of years, but this year, oh my. Below is a box ball a few weeks into the summer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0EdE60MvhFsDX9h44bkHK4dzMRDWXNM12cwbH455wGLMxjWeSeOl1WNDBWE1jdr2_30FUXNDpmtD7RhjEBNI5nWfg25BJDzkOcwNNJVWuNZ2S92-juMVoZYWYyH7_9XIA2Bn_4C9bXehZHcrkmdjiwEvK3xKVqNvOdPjoR_xKUaFGE1eGBEGDlKtL50/s1600/ab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0EdE60MvhFsDX9h44bkHK4dzMRDWXNM12cwbH455wGLMxjWeSeOl1WNDBWE1jdr2_30FUXNDpmtD7RhjEBNI5nWfg25BJDzkOcwNNJVWuNZ2S92-juMVoZYWYyH7_9XIA2Bn_4C9bXehZHcrkmdjiwEvK3xKVqNvOdPjoR_xKUaFGE1eGBEGDlKtL50/w640-h426/ab.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The other ten or so I have were in similar shape. Then in a matter of days, they were like this:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07NQOkL22H6UjZoGhunkI5NsZcVGMJ7eVA_x64SFQG0G8qCT7m50yziLTO5FrZBp6f1UZWgo5krBTgZwPcLtkuoHP3Ohozyc7i3S6ofAmRFr-J9TRv2oUQvgK8JTLdNLuBD6KWtF5EqUwvviysZBe2Zf_j3xcUu9dcQM2U7CKPe3j6N7UJZJ_hDfGSs8/s1600/ag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07NQOkL22H6UjZoGhunkI5NsZcVGMJ7eVA_x64SFQG0G8qCT7m50yziLTO5FrZBp6f1UZWgo5krBTgZwPcLtkuoHP3Ohozyc7i3S6ofAmRFr-J9TRv2oUQvgK8JTLdNLuBD6KWtF5EqUwvviysZBe2Zf_j3xcUu9dcQM2U7CKPe3j6N7UJZJ_hDfGSs8/w640-h426/ag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnXIZiAslR4VlsceLdwSr0Rrhm5jcIUiU7VKbhkUjTdBeKuzj9hRp9pe7sXb3FEpqUMqDIG_v7wqd-fSjWrPgO5WKM0P4BShsRW5mPqpafEqcR-ghEnBXkFPC1QBK1skaSC_N03hvxRwVyf8VuoCQgWH-pYsepb_N9otP6VcZUcY8pVjrjh4XivOfzE/s1600/ae.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnXIZiAslR4VlsceLdwSr0Rrhm5jcIUiU7VKbhkUjTdBeKuzj9hRp9pe7sXb3FEpqUMqDIG_v7wqd-fSjWrPgO5WKM0P4BShsRW5mPqpafEqcR-ghEnBXkFPC1QBK1skaSC_N03hvxRwVyf8VuoCQgWH-pYsepb_N9otP6VcZUcY8pVjrjh4XivOfzE/w640-h426/ae.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7sXGATj2g9iCzLsuHC8i4JFDnuzU62Shk5dfAMf8ZnjxXotCYnnklKfAYBB-WDTqFwnN4cIMrbVlncIo9Zwo5zxBmcKnNV0HZ5jGhhuDB0T3UinUUX6Au5igSDdPcNskML_1vxp7wv3VKZlo3Gr0oCJcd1krfC4IDFhZQZKn6h3WTLyROxhgook-vxI/s1600/ac.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7sXGATj2g9iCzLsuHC8i4JFDnuzU62Shk5dfAMf8ZnjxXotCYnnklKfAYBB-WDTqFwnN4cIMrbVlncIo9Zwo5zxBmcKnNV0HZ5jGhhuDB0T3UinUUX6Au5igSDdPcNskML_1vxp7wv3VKZlo3Gr0oCJcd1krfC4IDFhZQZKn6h3WTLyROxhgook-vxI/w640-h426/ac.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Shall we take a look at the culprit?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEZyaznx_1ztSFLs3bj8Q3YYlYMtOaSxtkjE7vqy-oXGctIVSkWe9MxCNd12jvZgmA3QLZ2EoMydR05e2JJll29LMzsLclhim5SAT-YT4Ozy-yf_bfD9hWbtD4SLYjXn4r4mOZiQqdG6o92EXQt60DJZ2e3i4sW-t_XYeOkOetJJlbC7lJZguN4oGbRM/s1600/af.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEZyaznx_1ztSFLs3bj8Q3YYlYMtOaSxtkjE7vqy-oXGctIVSkWe9MxCNd12jvZgmA3QLZ2EoMydR05e2JJll29LMzsLclhim5SAT-YT4Ozy-yf_bfD9hWbtD4SLYjXn4r4mOZiQqdG6o92EXQt60DJZ2e3i4sW-t_XYeOkOetJJlbC7lJZguN4oGbRM/w640-h426/af.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There must be hundreds of thousands of them. Big box hedges have been reduced to straw, it's astonishing. There were around eight box moths in the bathroom the other evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have ordered some yew plants to replace the box, but they'll take a while to grow. In the meantime I have quite a few empty pots. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've added a few acers and ferns though, which should be nice when they're bigger. I do like lots of green shady stuff. The back of the house faces south, so I put the shady stuff along the east-facing fence where it's not too brutally sunny. I have a prized acer at the moment (prized by me, probably not to anyone else, it's not exactly spectacular, but I have high hopes) and I am moving it round during the day to keep it out of the sun. </div><div><br /></div><div>Something that has surprised me is that a cloud of butterflies has turned up to feed on the ripe figs. There are a handful that are too high up to pick, and I have had red admirals fluttering around them every day, it's been lovely. No pictures, they've been too high up, but I do have a gatekeeper for you. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKt36x-Yd4wQJ3EcwjdgnRwNO-CEEDFEDRvAy7c9rzKhNlgnZQwJTWDZMMwWy_yOZ5Zm4fNi5wH75ho2eouNKFTAMNhDIgpYjyk6_5FSmxg_8gE4vwhhby3CsJR1ZFjTZOjZdSTl-myRfzWpAOIG2r8Bg_-6volgQm_z1R77HBXP28QYNL4sYP0UgX-s/s1600/aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKt36x-Yd4wQJ3EcwjdgnRwNO-CEEDFEDRvAy7c9rzKhNlgnZQwJTWDZMMwWy_yOZ5Zm4fNi5wH75ho2eouNKFTAMNhDIgpYjyk6_5FSmxg_8gE4vwhhby3CsJR1ZFjTZOjZdSTl-myRfzWpAOIG2r8Bg_-6volgQm_z1R77HBXP28QYNL4sYP0UgX-s/w640-h426/aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I have also tackled the pond, which is a non-favourite job. Although the anticipation is worse than the actual job. Once I've got a grip of myself and plunged my hands into the murky depths it's quite satisfying. The frogs and newts have more space to swim about now that most of the waterlily and weed have been removed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not much news at the moment. I am working hard now the urchins are back at school and learning as much as I can about writing and self-publishing in my spare time. And also cooking the mountain of windfall apples that I have this year. I thought about getting a dehydrator and making apple rings, but I'm trying not to eat too much sugar. Although of course cooked apple has exactly the same amount of sugar, so I don't know where my logic is on that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've noticed that People can be quite slow to take a homegrown apple out of the fruit bowl if it has a blemish on it. I usually have to rant at them a bit to persuade them. Ridiculous, because they taste sublime. Luckily ranting is one of my strengths.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope all is well at your end and that you have apples and butterflies aplenty. I'd be interested to know if box moths are as common and have done as much damage where you are. CJ xx</div><div><br /></div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-11974931380326688362023-08-23T21:57:00.000+01:002023-08-23T21:57:09.477+01:00As wise as David Beckham<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2w7Zuixyc_P92NTD74BEoKuyI2QLH6eiNG7MWh5wRyu-yxiTsA7ZDtAySIWysCyjUckudebEuP5mg4-BGiWLZDSSz1wI9OI7AV3gi7QHjC2cvBT57C3IkRCE1tFDWdXzn-VTswoIIpi_s6bvawyV-Nf06FmgLmBD6JCzrSjULnR-y4U_9pDpjFsLv7M4/s3264/P1000802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2w7Zuixyc_P92NTD74BEoKuyI2QLH6eiNG7MWh5wRyu-yxiTsA7ZDtAySIWysCyjUckudebEuP5mg4-BGiWLZDSSz1wI9OI7AV3gi7QHjC2cvBT57C3IkRCE1tFDWdXzn-VTswoIIpi_s6bvawyV-Nf06FmgLmBD6JCzrSjULnR-y4U_9pDpjFsLv7M4/w640-h480/P1000802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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How fast a summer week flies by. How fast a whole summer flies by in fact. There has been walking and kayaking and rock climbing and surfing. The dog went on a boat, which he hated, as did another less portable dog. He also found the kayaking very stressful and stayed in the lake too long trying to keep everyone together and got cold and shivery.</p><p>Other major shocks included sheep strolling about the streets, a hang glider dropping out of the sky i front of him and the above goat, which was larger than it looks in the picture. I persuaded the dog to edge a bit closer for a photo and we both jumped out of our skins when it had a huge snorty sneeze. </p><p>On the home front, I have been tackling a couple of enormous evergreens this evening. It's one of those jobs that I started on a whim and may live to regret. Now I have a couple of enormous evergreens with a giant chunk cut out of the sides and more green waste than I know what to do with. The inside of the trees is very brown and dry. Fire hazard dry. The trees are overhanging the new neighbour's garden, but it turns out they like trees and are quite happy with them, so I'm trimming rather than removing. At the moment the trees are winning.</p><p>When we moved in, they were small and manageable. Somehow they have romped away when I wasn't looking. But the pigeons love nesting in them each year and the smaller birds like to look for insects in there, so they are quite nice to have. They look vastly better from upstairs, where you are eyeball to eyeball with the birds and it's like being in a nest.</p><p>The littlest boy, who incidentally is now 15 and taller than me, has been making me laugh. He absolutely loves a treasure hunt and suggested I hide his phone and give him a clue/riddle as to where it was. I could immediately see the problem with that plan, in the event that he didn't find it straightaway, so I gave him an easy clue. I hid it next to an owl and said, <i>A wise one can help you</i>. </p><p>After things degenerated and got a bit tantrummy I helped him a bit by asking him what word he immediately thought of when I said 'wise'. Oh my. He did not immediately think of 'owl'. In fact he did not think of owl at all and things got even more tense. Some of his guesses were 'bread' and 'David Beckham'. Suffice to say he has very different thought processes to me. And probably to the rest of the world. I gave the clue to a brother in the end who found the phone in ten seconds flat.</p><p>Another conversation that made me laugh involved a mention of Leonard Cohen. Littlest boy: <i>Was that the bloke that invented the spud gun?</i> In case you were wondering, it wasn't. I did check, in case he knew something that I didn't and LC had put it together in an idle moment in between writing songs and wrestling with poetry.</p><p>Any wisdom at your end? I do hope so. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-18265780144588820812023-07-30T09:45:00.002+01:002023-07-30T09:45:42.959+01:00Bird people arrive<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEindYFATFFPJW-zVt9_RKGsMV9py4ms5N6b5WXzWMsgA5qZWyeZvrcIGvJWWbbtud6PvbQoXH7D1Ref8tFvqSYjop5eu1X_jpSjgLQTBLSfWKsdAlCUSeQpDLy46OdA_jvGeepkEZpqN2tA2gthpUrWvF5YIp8iBZz28Fq0YiHh-o6EPlOcROZTYfSFrc4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEindYFATFFPJW-zVt9_RKGsMV9py4ms5N6b5WXzWMsgA5qZWyeZvrcIGvJWWbbtud6PvbQoXH7D1Ref8tFvqSYjop5eu1X_jpSjgLQTBLSfWKsdAlCUSeQpDLy46OdA_jvGeepkEZpqN2tA2gthpUrWvF5YIp8iBZz28Fq0YiHh-o6EPlOcROZTYfSFrc4=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCciT_RSLU5KP9bdZJ7Ut7InuxpLOSJJecSCr33eNh_JjKhuLFaK9BQOTzxKlpElNALzkRvA-UfZVcjErS_pUeXhb5gYRxRDC-g-u1PjqddAQ3oT-gjW5DXotsCHUZhRgTIjub8mmltER2sQG8BcfZwcSZ3XRI_KN-_Qtq3O1XeWo-Xv3DHTAhnOiB2Q/s1600/ab.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCciT_RSLU5KP9bdZJ7Ut7InuxpLOSJJecSCr33eNh_JjKhuLFaK9BQOTzxKlpElNALzkRvA-UfZVcjErS_pUeXhb5gYRxRDC-g-u1PjqddAQ3oT-gjW5DXotsCHUZhRgTIjub8mmltER2sQG8BcfZwcSZ3XRI_KN-_Qtq3O1XeWo-Xv3DHTAhnOiB2Q/w640-h426/ab.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgHsqzCiWWThyCFJ3siPnK_9Dy2OuXJDHS09OQQyFjeBmWgADtOKs1HjvcDsx9dLfNwT--cQQB49jNvzdnHj_-kym1VgnaQcv1WtVachrOgYC6okMTR_wBpxYseg2zv5qLaAeQPf-U1PM7V5jAjvvPjsQv7c3gZOsWpzpCraWKQdJi_KPicPWLRiXae4/s1600/aa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Large red damselfly" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgHsqzCiWWThyCFJ3siPnK_9Dy2OuXJDHS09OQQyFjeBmWgADtOKs1HjvcDsx9dLfNwT--cQQB49jNvzdnHj_-kym1VgnaQcv1WtVachrOgYC6okMTR_wBpxYseg2zv5qLaAeQPf-U1PM7V5jAjvvPjsQv7c3gZOsWpzpCraWKQdJi_KPicPWLRiXae4/w640-h426/aa.JPG" title="Large red damselfly" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Greetings from the middle of summer. I am rather enjoying all of the rain and the greenness everywhere, it feels how it should be somehow.</p><p>I have been noticing that box hedging everywhere locally has been looking dreadful. I have some box in pots as well as in the ground and I can see that its days are numbered. Box moth is the problem. It's gone from a small area of damage to widescale destruction. A shame, but I'll just find something else to grow instead. </p><p>The bin men are on strike around here at the moment so I am trying not to do too much pruning in the garden unless I can compost the stuff myself as the recycling centre has descended into chaos. The street bin chap has not been impressed as he is having to empty bins with nine bags of rubbish next to them, or stuffed with bottles so that he can't even lift the bag or, on one occasion, with actual concrete blocks in it. </p><p>He is particularly cross because the recycling and household bin people are already paid a huge amount more than him and all they have to do is wheel the bin to the lorry and hook it up and not trudge across fields in the rain to a lone bin. I told him he should go on strike. </p><p>There has been a knock-on effect with the roads leading to recycling centres completely clogged up and businesses losing money as they can no longer access them. One local operation has apparently lost thousands. </p><p>The garden is absolutely full of birds at the moment eating all of the fruit. I am pretty much leaving them to it. Happy to share. Although it's a bit disappointing when the blackbirds pull off a blueberry, drop it and pick another one instead. Food waste! I have been picking them up and putting them on the bird table.</p><p>We have new neighbours and I am very excited to see that no only do they have actual plants, including herbs and lavender, (there hasn't been a single plant in the garden for years), they have a nest box, a bird bath and a bird table with food on it. Bird people! </p><p>Cricket teams were back out yesterday after a damp couple of weeks. One local team put six first team players in a lower team, which caused rather a fuss. Honestly, it is all taken so seriously. I have seen grown men have lengthy temper tantrums on more than one occasion. Did you know that there's even scope for the home team's cricket tea provision to be rated and reported upon? And if the umpire makes a wrong call, oh my. It is NEVER forgotten.</p><p>I am wondering if I should get a Kindle. I don't really like reading hardbacks, especially if I want to take my book in a bag somewhere, plus sometimes the print is a bit small. I pulled my copy of Pride and Prejudice off of the shelf last night and put it back because the font just wasn't big enough. Any recommendations for which sort of Kindle is best? I don't need it to be all-singing, all-dancing, just easy on the eye if you know what I mean. And lightweight, but I am assuming that they are all lightweight. I would have loved one when I went travelling on my bicycle years ago. As it was, I had a single book with me (Anna Karenina) which I eked out over six months. Yes, it was a long time ago :) </p><p>I hope all is good at your end and that you have the right amount of rain and a good book to read. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-19448864983545798342023-07-16T21:50:00.000+01:002023-07-16T21:50:58.493+01:00Elephants in the garden<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqUVbsP98wo1i2uyEiOoIsvIc1M61MVAvf8fMh-Fcl5Ljq6nobtP-PvThqR9NSXVVuGpaeDC18EQ8r-d69Ja1uqnbOgDyv1FTw7SMt28ttdsQpYoNEBNDugcy_ZShhRLpjJsCDklbRhPGzKHdMFYddiB5g8PdySrUddSPya7KDxghD5gjwknP_6oPVzk/s3264/P1000665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqUVbsP98wo1i2uyEiOoIsvIc1M61MVAvf8fMh-Fcl5Ljq6nobtP-PvThqR9NSXVVuGpaeDC18EQ8r-d69Ja1uqnbOgDyv1FTw7SMt28ttdsQpYoNEBNDugcy_ZShhRLpjJsCDklbRhPGzKHdMFYddiB5g8PdySrUddSPya7KDxghD5gjwknP_6oPVzk/w640-h480/P1000665.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinexJAsdD3_f7onJ6iU2BO_Jey0QrPqhDua7fMTsTpfUfiEZItT3XUWRb4wSoDS8U7nsaiI0QAw8nmIAicX0eLMhq0AFlrzwMSnIl_2oTOaqRq9NE0AfcIHdEF2h8Hjz_ASbvC4vKhuphMZ_YUwuMNVDwQPxdvZdJ2rfMqt4_fyz3r7xlLC6RKOq-lgIM/s1600/al.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinexJAsdD3_f7onJ6iU2BO_Jey0QrPqhDua7fMTsTpfUfiEZItT3XUWRb4wSoDS8U7nsaiI0QAw8nmIAicX0eLMhq0AFlrzwMSnIl_2oTOaqRq9NE0AfcIHdEF2h8Hjz_ASbvC4vKhuphMZ_YUwuMNVDwQPxdvZdJ2rfMqt4_fyz3r7xlLC6RKOq-lgIM/w640-h480/al.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l0z0buJL8A4-vwAPp_enyjQuQ17WsZsDXFRLZP6lhNgDXi2MNfJdVMpLU75pARFFeE7jXJj5riVbDTOUnkly-c22flmuphd8ozGsw53T44Pyxmx9Smlo0Frju8GOxnO7E1dg1Nzfw_tmc9cC5cd6sngxJR7YH4HpSpWcTV8UO4UTHt-CuveNk1VEcD8/s1600/am.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l0z0buJL8A4-vwAPp_enyjQuQ17WsZsDXFRLZP6lhNgDXi2MNfJdVMpLU75pARFFeE7jXJj5riVbDTOUnkly-c22flmuphd8ozGsw53T44Pyxmx9Smlo0Frju8GOxnO7E1dg1Nzfw_tmc9cC5cd6sngxJR7YH4HpSpWcTV8UO4UTHt-CuveNk1VEcD8/w640-h480/am.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Photos from an afternoon garden tour at Highgrove House. For overseas peeps, that's the King's country home. And very nice it was too. I booked it ages ago, assuming as I always do that at some distant future date I would somehow have spare time to go swanning around country estates. And of course when it actually came around to it I didn't really, but I went anyway. Work has been busy, busy, busy lately, and I rarely take an afternoon off, so it was lovely.</p><p>The guide told us that the garden 'wasn't manicured', and it was really refreshing to see the odd thing that had been nibbled or an apple tree that looked a bit like mine. Apparently the King doesn't much like stuff to be cut back either, so there are lots of climbing plants over the house that aren't to be touched.</p><p>The pictures are from outside the private gardens, with no photos allowed inside. You can see inside <a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/highgrove-gardens-highgrove-gardens/hQXREOWqhVHoJw?hl=en-GB" target="_blank">here</a> though. </p><p>I left with a really good feeling about my own scruffy not-always-productive garden, which was nice. I imagine if I went to the Chelsea Flower Show I'd get home and look at my patch and be a bit despondent. But Highgrove was very encouraging. Let it all grow! It's all brilliant, let's just see what comes up etc. The wildflower meadow had faded this late into the season, but there were still lots of butterflies. </p><p>Takeaways were:</p><p>1. Don't give up on the olive tree (mine had some sort of leaf problem and I was thinking about composting it)</p><p>2. More wildflowers - keep going and just see what comes up every year</p><p>3. Yew always looks amazing</p><p>4. Keep planting thyme - theirs hadn't done very well, so they were replanting</p><p>5. A group of life-sized elephants on the grass is absolutely the way to go</p><p>I bought a little salvia to go with my (small) collection, none of which are doing very well at the moment for some reason. I suspect some old potting compost might have been to blame, so I've repotted.</p><p>I've been loving the showers (except yesterday when me and the dog pushed our luck on a long evening walk and had to stand under some plum trees for about 15 minutes to avoid a deluge). The local authority have planted lots of saplings and they were struggling in the dry weather, so it has been nice to seem them well-watered and perking up nicely.</p><p>In other news it is of course perilously close to the end of term. As above, I always imagine I will somehow magically have time off, only to take on a load of work at the last minute. But the urchins are fairly self-sufficient and don't generally need to be taken to the seaside or to see the goat at the garden centre any more. </p><p>I am knowing my limits this year and not pretending I will accomplish all sorts of amazing summer things, such as fantastic trips, arts and crafts projects, minor garden construction (raised beds, hedgehog house refurbishment and insect hotels), working through the To Be Read pile, decluttering and award-winning cuisine. You can see I haven't even thought about it.</p><p>How is everything at your end? I hope summer (or winter) is chugging along nicely. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-68935649994782412292023-06-03T14:55:00.000+01:002023-06-03T14:55:14.099+01:00Barbara Kingsolver in Bath<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGBUcE48rh9ldSYs5nmt9gk6L4xAh_91cynWC2e3yCf9avldlNPgafPa638-vPYAR6MYYzFHAS-4GHyK-ozVAnv_JdcqhmrVBGCUzgasxprYEWcxEDfqHVne5gktGdwIgZmjoCjXIoEw3tM79c5eJ1FlyOacn0r0yndDzKmPNrcykNfneCJLv7Sa0/s1600/ah.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGBUcE48rh9ldSYs5nmt9gk6L4xAh_91cynWC2e3yCf9avldlNPgafPa638-vPYAR6MYYzFHAS-4GHyK-ozVAnv_JdcqhmrVBGCUzgasxprYEWcxEDfqHVne5gktGdwIgZmjoCjXIoEw3tM79c5eJ1FlyOacn0r0yndDzKmPNrcykNfneCJLv7Sa0/w640-h426/ah.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadU3i52RjsoceSV_hMhMslAGHYXzINQy-2wucdPpEdFbmbwbV9FiEIAP6HgF9o2veH9Oq4befHBZbTpTI7fPH5Wl_nDAurpyBBcTWPv15ukogdstY13YxV8ffHL5tTk9foGh7SZZuebwUjyw4OErBqQXyf4ibOvzyLVD5RSq1iuHAlNzvTxTGotLU/s1600/ai.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadU3i52RjsoceSV_hMhMslAGHYXzINQy-2wucdPpEdFbmbwbV9FiEIAP6HgF9o2veH9Oq4befHBZbTpTI7fPH5Wl_nDAurpyBBcTWPv15ukogdstY13YxV8ffHL5tTk9foGh7SZZuebwUjyw4OErBqQXyf4ibOvzyLVD5RSq1iuHAlNzvTxTGotLU/w640-h426/ai.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Dubious flower arranging skills with some tulips received as a gift after the littlest boy rescued a neighbour's dog from the street after he had escaped. There was chocolate too but I haven't seen any of that. </p><p>The grass in the back garden (unmown since April) is gradually attracting pollinators as the flowers appear. Also beloved of bees are the raspberry flowers, foxgloves and chives. In fact, bumble bees are living in the nest box now, which is lovely. I'm glad I spotted them though as I generally shin up a ladder and clear the nest box out in July by reaching up and in and taking out old nesting material. Imagine my surprise...</p><p>I had the most amazing evening last week when I went to see Barbara Kingsolver in Bath. I was partway through Demon Copperhead, her latest novel, when I happened to find out that she would be in the UK. By some miracle, three of the dates were not far from me. </p><p>She is my joint favourite author (along with Philip Pullman) and what I've read so far of Demon Copperhead is just stunning. </p><p>She did a brilliant interview, talking about how she wanted to tell the story of the opioid crisis in Appalachia but she didn't know how to approach it until she stayed at the house in Broadstairs where Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield. She sat down at his desk and pretty much heard his voice saying, 'You tell the child's story'. So she did.</p><p>I believe that some of the background is that it suited certain industries (timber, coal and tobacco) to keep the population in Appalachia uneducated, providing a constant supply of workers. The area is incredibly poor and I think the most badly affected by the opioid crisis. I read later that health insurance there really only buys a pill most of the time. Doctors were given backhanders by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma to prescribe OxyContin to patients, an opioid that is very addictive and that has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths as well as utter misery for many more. I've been reading about it since and it is utterly horrific. American friends no doubt know a lot more about it.</p><p>From what I've read of the novel so far, Barbara deals expertly with the subject, which might otherwise have been difficult to read about. I'll let you know what I think when I've finished it. But definitely a story that needed to be told. It was a complete privilege to hear her speak as well. Hurray for coming to the UK! </p><p>I sat near a librarian who told me that she reads extensively and that this is the best book she has read in ten years. It has already won a Pulitzer prize and has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, to be announced on 14 June. I'm really hoping it wins.</p><p>Lovely picture of Barbara in the UK <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs3tZScoA-T/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Hope all is well at your end. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-34193936821224463832023-05-21T14:47:00.000+01:002023-05-21T14:47:03.191+01:00Up in the air<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrklz-8FwXlf9AtbR08d1nphTD4G6nPQ1NpeAjwNkM0seLYwK0_Qt6XAG6hHirq34TB2YBFBKMK4XTziAS4r92LsgACTGSNUWj2Qh4nHULur2sRf9SX8eJ09vX88Uh-W7yUlfG7ouDIZ7EZv5E3cN-tt_Q_5aXVQ2OolO5V5itbEc6VdeU6hIzpIJ4/s1600/af.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrklz-8FwXlf9AtbR08d1nphTD4G6nPQ1NpeAjwNkM0seLYwK0_Qt6XAG6hHirq34TB2YBFBKMK4XTziAS4r92LsgACTGSNUWj2Qh4nHULur2sRf9SX8eJ09vX88Uh-W7yUlfG7ouDIZ7EZv5E3cN-tt_Q_5aXVQ2OolO5V5itbEc6VdeU6hIzpIJ4/w640-h480/af.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehWzfJVBj8qh62ICXyXQG16-bJbGAiyXgUHnwbUm3Ur-uTBHGJaK_5Xnyg08hoTZJZ0lspXJse-iX-R5eWt9iR5QgUiFyzGQ-FRaso_GAyQylSZ66tDsr9zqxZoERruh1sxmlYD86Jju7ecD4Vz-AoDYvgLVmMnNgdd1bX6-Ab7l-TjkRXZsmzYWW/s1600/aa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC4szmWMZ5c8HX9p8m9hBO-nEJCwTfac5pRseCe1ggukL1bMIGOAmfm2JlQE2uyu6zpzS2wG7U0FuFpC6iJpOMNAMcTNsh22LTSQMXplLJWj7z8R1NyJop8YAFn_cd61D2ArPZTpMcebDCzPvIyEfLhUUy14ubIJoiYQrA0ej9TyZeJBPrMlrrEOU/s5184/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC4szmWMZ5c8HX9p8m9hBO-nEJCwTfac5pRseCe1ggukL1bMIGOAmfm2JlQE2uyu6zpzS2wG7U0FuFpC6iJpOMNAMcTNsh22LTSQMXplLJWj7z8R1NyJop8YAFn_cd61D2ArPZTpMcebDCzPvIyEfLhUUy14ubIJoiYQrA0ej9TyZeJBPrMlrrEOU/w426-h640/IMG_2381.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzNIkIBEpPipSM8UGLQZWIRCY8par2kcxBQ9_LBpAjtxhAJf8Nd5m3OmW7Y4FMm23wpEzEfQJ2c5-F8G8DXr7vpAA2W2raFDy-cSbAb6oFczwYOwocKq0aReEXOzkXQ2BVSRY3NYMCWGO8mW_odh_lHAPEyiyeFkZnCaYyjXcwdJuw6DRXtL8H6Dn/s5184/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzNIkIBEpPipSM8UGLQZWIRCY8par2kcxBQ9_LBpAjtxhAJf8Nd5m3OmW7Y4FMm23wpEzEfQJ2c5-F8G8DXr7vpAA2W2raFDy-cSbAb6oFczwYOwocKq0aReEXOzkXQ2BVSRY3NYMCWGO8mW_odh_lHAPEyiyeFkZnCaYyjXcwdJuw6DRXtL8H6Dn/w640-h426/IMG_2382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Vertiginous shots from the top of St Mary's Church at Hawkesbury. It doesn't look that high from the ground, but it felt a bit scary up there to be honest. And it was a <i>very</i> tight squeeze going up the stairs and out of the tiny door at the top. Lovely views though, so all worth it. I didn't go too close to the edge, the parapet wasn't very high and I'm definitely one for keeping below parapets whenever possible.</p><p>No Mow May is in full swing in the garden. There are all sorts of flowers coming up, which is nice. There is a tiny scrap of grass near here and I have counted at least 12 different wildflowers in it. It's around one metre by two metres and just stuck at the edge of the pavement. But so much variety in there, it's wonderful, I have been fascinated by it.</p><p>The wisteria is in full swing in the garden and I have spent far too long looking out of the window at it. The dog keeps standing right under/in the flowers wagging his tail because of the loveliness of it all so that the petals fall off on him, then he brings them all into the house on his fur and they fall off all over the carpet. And the littlest boy dropped a cactus in his bed this morning. So all of the usual clearing up to be done around the homestead.</p><p>I took the middle boy to an author book signing thing last week. The author has a book on astropolitics out and the event sounded really interesting. In fact it was a big disappointment. The interviewer was a young chap from a local paper who just asked a load of questions about the author's childhood heroes and how he got into journalism. Astropolitics was hardly mentioned. There must have been almost a hundred people there and I bet they largely felt the same. Of course we all clapped politely at the end. It's like the green bench all over again. Which incidentally has not faded in any meaningful way and is still really shiny and really bright. </p><p>I have been hedge trimming today, but the battery will only hold enough charge to trim for two minutes at a time. I am taking the hint and giving up. I did make sure there were no nesting birds before starting.</p><p>I discovered The Glucose Goddess the other day. She is all about keeping glucose levels steady, which is something I struggle with sometimes. I remember years ago going to the doctor about it and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. There seems to be a lot more knowledge and understanding about it all now.</p><p>The Glucose Goddess has lots of simple recommendations for avoiding glucose spikes, such as drinking apple cider vinegar before meals and adding more fibre to a dish and eating things at different times than you might otherwise - such as fruit after a meal and not on its own. It's all been very enlightening. </p><p>Right, I am off to do a final two minutes of hedge trimming now, then it will be weeding the strawberries and then maybe going to the shop and buying some strawberries that someone else has grown and weeded and watered. I hope all is well at your end and that you have sunshine and some berries. xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-41489743851285338922023-04-16T22:22:00.001+01:002023-04-16T22:22:44.329+01:0042 notebooks<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hvXvuoqLG8kyXWgPXpAz_jo5i9NfuQp8YpNlikynVYE-cHMvNsL9xGwvw-mq0ozJEN5OQbSPQsLcqrWpKT5tOpH4aL4v0sbxOwxhPufILB0GeiXWztRKByvsirc6QiZuTwVpzt0FXKwxQiu8UUm9q8a5qnUYt7QYTb0kaDBIpJt5utOpVdTK0Pg2/s1600/ai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hvXvuoqLG8kyXWgPXpAz_jo5i9NfuQp8YpNlikynVYE-cHMvNsL9xGwvw-mq0ozJEN5OQbSPQsLcqrWpKT5tOpH4aL4v0sbxOwxhPufILB0GeiXWztRKByvsirc6QiZuTwVpzt0FXKwxQiu8UUm9q8a5qnUYt7QYTb0kaDBIpJt5utOpVdTK0Pg2/w640-h426/ai.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_s2LVY7Hqf7o2cIK5p5uzw_IyYVmadyJs3leaHmq6DUkAg_-fQ2mWxtMbJoxAV_7nsyWaM0nncTTit3AB_liUsRCtrPiY5RMHYo42J3XiG9MDa3SV4COGey3hZxsyKTaTYtKEAhVZcqOQn7Yxf9XocMP3l3hTEu6mxDmJVwun5Nb7CQwWUys-l4R/s1600/ab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_s2LVY7Hqf7o2cIK5p5uzw_IyYVmadyJs3leaHmq6DUkAg_-fQ2mWxtMbJoxAV_7nsyWaM0nncTTit3AB_liUsRCtrPiY5RMHYo42J3XiG9MDa3SV4COGey3hZxsyKTaTYtKEAhVZcqOQn7Yxf9XocMP3l3hTEu6mxDmJVwun5Nb7CQwWUys-l4R/w640-h426/ab.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OiPsppw9dsJt-AwxOMGdzq-IUQT0jkdAsPnr74dZFG9pXIfEZM4QV1QFR79valR7F0xqMR_HhSO8m91T8697dnnQMR0UyExKBCcZwBdTragG4VJHTp8f09x50UYGlJMNlLg5hgLcj7bWP0BXEVK_nu_WpXTu6jdP_FPqu6YD7n0TMGAQvyVnng-U/s1600/aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OiPsppw9dsJt-AwxOMGdzq-IUQT0jkdAsPnr74dZFG9pXIfEZM4QV1QFR79valR7F0xqMR_HhSO8m91T8697dnnQMR0UyExKBCcZwBdTragG4VJHTp8f09x50UYGlJMNlLg5hgLcj7bWP0BXEVK_nu_WpXTu6jdP_FPqu6YD7n0TMGAQvyVnng-U/w640-h426/aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have just uploaded all of the above photos to my blog in one fell swoop and it has made me so happy. I used to be able to do lots at once, then something weird happened and every single one had to be done individually. I just tried it the old way and hurray, it is back. All in a random order, but I'm not complaining.</p><p>The magnolia in the top photo is a stunted little tree in a pot. It was supposed to be a white one, but it was grafted and the grafted top died, so I was just left with the root. Every year it hardly grows and snails eat at least half of it and all summer it just looks sad and I think, 'I'll compost it and move on", and yet I never do. And then in spring it pushes out a handful of flowers and I vow to look after it better. </p><p>The middle boy loves a bit of philosophy and the dog likes to visit his room and bring his toys with him. In this case a zebra with no ears left. Or any other parts either really. That is the joy of a dog toy to Bertie, taking the bits off of them, one by one. And when it comes to new dog beds, the real pleasure is discovering what the stuffing is like. </p><p>He had a bit of a disgraceful walk this morning, just for a change. First of all he ate something before I could call him off. Okay, I wouldn't have been able to call him off, but let's just pretend I could if I'd spotted it all in time. Then he found a pigeon's egg and ate that and it didn't smell fresh. At all. Then he spotted his friend and ran to catch up because her person has a pocket full of really big dog treats. He sat down in front of her so that she couldn't keep walking and felt obliged to get the treats out. He gulped his down in one, then when his friend popped hers on the path for a minute so that she could readjust it, he ate that one too. It's not the first time he's done it either, he has form. She's a rescue dog who used to live on the street in a far-flung country, but to look at the two of them you would think he was the one who was worried about where his next meal is coming from. She is all dainty and polite and he is a grabber and a stuffer.</p><p>The younger two urchins were away on a school trip last week. Oh the peace. Literally not one raised voice all week. Teachers are utterly marvellous aren't they. A whole week with other people's children. I got so much work done. Which is just as well as I've got stacks of it at the moment. All good, but a bit wearing. The odd afternoon off would be nice, but I'm pretty much working every day, have been for ages. It makes me slightly stressed when I think about the other things that need to be done, but it's nice to have the work and I'm not complaining. </p><p>I am reading Ninth House and avoiding David Copperfield, which is what the middle boy says I should be reading, before I get to Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, which I am very much looking forward to. David Copperfield has a lot of pages and all of them have a lot of words on them and they are printed in a very small font. I wouldn't mind, I do like Charles Dickens, but my reading time is short and David would take up all of it for a very long time. </p><p>I fear the cricket season is on the horizon. Grass has been mowed, boundary netting is up, white lines are being painted. There are four pairs of cricket pads in the house (at least) and the littlest boy claims that none of them fit him. It will pain me to have to purchase more. And we are running out of storage space. There must be at least seven golf bags in the garage and three giant cricket bags in the house as well as a piano and several guitars. I take up almost no room in comparison to everyone else. Just a <strike>small cardigan collection</strike> modest capsule wardrobe, a jar of kefir and 42 notebooks. </p><p>How is everything at your end? Lots of space or all crammed in amongst the cricket gear? Hope all going well. CJ xx</p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-68914603171635646512023-03-26T21:32:00.000+01:002023-03-26T21:32:51.017+01:00Anything worm<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxveeYdNNJoeiS5ArguloXanQBS55GZmgcYwnd8rv-y3a1HAzaPRKyuNY8TYh6IGNnuwdSqz8dB-HfHL68y1-KgtaM8UyEVp9emJQJeGfT5UVMdV_EPG0jQ-94oJ-L1hg09AGOOS8ixrbiPW8nRVYoO8m928XQtpjX5mDo67rJGRUssOpfR3IGbVrU/s1600/aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxveeYdNNJoeiS5ArguloXanQBS55GZmgcYwnd8rv-y3a1HAzaPRKyuNY8TYh6IGNnuwdSqz8dB-HfHL68y1-KgtaM8UyEVp9emJQJeGfT5UVMdV_EPG0jQ-94oJ-L1hg09AGOOS8ixrbiPW8nRVYoO8m928XQtpjX5mDo67rJGRUssOpfR3IGbVrU/w640-h426/aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_P_y2wpB3zwV1Qj8lFLVcj1_n1P4FGLPA-msotanMkQMiKsuNT8lIVFen46X0yMwRpeDJ82ijKsatuNRTNnB0P4o5aL68PWsGa_dwwiigvhzd4bIY7eepmCA4oiabSyq0a82wFiXzq_630z54DCrW3f20SKwMBIqPRaPpYhUlQj4fETLpyIZ7PRe/s1600/ae.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_P_y2wpB3zwV1Qj8lFLVcj1_n1P4FGLPA-msotanMkQMiKsuNT8lIVFen46X0yMwRpeDJ82ijKsatuNRTNnB0P4o5aL68PWsGa_dwwiigvhzd4bIY7eepmCA4oiabSyq0a82wFiXzq_630z54DCrW3f20SKwMBIqPRaPpYhUlQj4fETLpyIZ7PRe/w640-h426/ae.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt77xXYkMhSmZrqMH70gETP4rWZrYsV0tXFfQnJQFEJlMSoU5htryuEULQmG-xI7BjDIuT-YYAf2FI-mtR94-pXtQZddt9QhEHlKv_a5-AlU6DG1x7zghRg2JIXo5Ml6y3tQcguc2keBZ-q3hXzpiHnXQgol4e66KkEb16F7B9n-sU5WGl_1xfKle/s1600/af.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt77xXYkMhSmZrqMH70gETP4rWZrYsV0tXFfQnJQFEJlMSoU5htryuEULQmG-xI7BjDIuT-YYAf2FI-mtR94-pXtQZddt9QhEHlKv_a5-AlU6DG1x7zghRg2JIXo5Ml6y3tQcguc2keBZ-q3hXzpiHnXQgol4e66KkEb16F7B9n-sU5WGl_1xfKle/w640-h426/af.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Lovely to feel a bit of spring in the air is it not? On Sunday evening after the clocks sprang forward, the dog walk in daylight was absolutely blissful. Suburbia was so quiet except for birdsong, everywhere. And me yelling at the dog not to eat random stuff that he finds on the pavement.</p><p>I emptied the liquid out of the bottom of the wormery the other day. It's excellent for feeding plants, but very stinky, although in a good organic sort of a way. A bit like pig manure for example. All marvellous and natural, but a bit on the pungent side. The dog thinks it is all utterly delicious. He found a tub of worm liquid with an ill-fitting lid and drank a load down. Sigh.</p><p>In fact, he likes anything worm. He often finds one on the grass and rolls on it. A bit like other dogs and things left behind by foxes. Bert doesn't do that. He has other plans for that. Then he eats the worm. I think he views them as tasty little bits of ready-to-eat meat. Like teenage boys and Fridge Raiders. Vaguely edible, although not really advisable and of relatively unknown origin. (I don't buy Fridge Raiders, for the record. Hopefully you knew that. In fact, my fridge is generally of very great disappointment to the family. Full of aubergine and kefir and kimchi, which is all viewed with a huge amount of suspicion.)</p><p>Did I tell you that I nearly superglued all of my fingers together? I am a great one for mending stuff and much of what I own is held together in various way. I was repairing my watch strap and I couldn't open the superglue. I stabbed at it and without my realising it opened and went all over my hand. By the time I noticed, I was very nearly glued solidly to both the watch strap and my own fingers. It was a very close thing. I remember when superglue was first invented, people were always gluing themselves to stuff. Now most people seem to have got the hang of it.</p><p>Apologies if I have told you that tale before. I don't have much actual news. A couple of weeks ago, two loose Alsations ran up our road. The dog was watching in the window and went absolutely beserk at the post-apocalyptic horror of it. He doesn't do well with Alsations. And they were big, and in a pack of two and completely free and alone. They trotted into the front garden of the house over the road and set off their Tibetan terriers just for the hell of it, then on they went. It was all so fast that by the time I had my shoes on and was out the door, they had vanished. I think the police rounded them up later on.</p><p>Anyway, I told the biggest boy when he rang. And then a week or two later, I told him again, in a breathless and excited sort of way. He politely told me that I had in fact already mentioned that. I was a bit deflated as that was literally all of my news. </p><p>I have given up sugar for Lent. I always feel better for it. And also salty snacks. Oh how I love a salty snack. I have found a brilliant sugar-free flapjack recipe though. I am still having a tiny bit of dried fruit, so I am allowing myself that. </p><p>Recipe <a href="https://www.naturallysweetkitchen.com/sugar-free-flapjacks/" target="_blank">here</a> if you are interested. I put the soaked dates in the food processor with most of the oats and blitz them that way and it works really nicely. And I put vanilla extract in instead of cinnamon. And I don't cook them for too long. And I don't use the dried apple, but a bit of dried apricot. And sometimes some nuts. It's absolutely scrumptious. I have been looking for a good low sugar flapjack recipe for so long. </p><p>On the 30th I believe it is my blogaversary. Ten years of blogging! That has seen the urchins through from 9, 7 and 4 to 19, 17 and 14. Oh my. And it is also the dog's birthday. Six! I am getting him a new dog bed. And if he finds a worm, maybe I won't yell. Hope all is well at your end. xx</p><br />CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-85590722377950988142023-02-16T22:13:00.002+00:002023-02-16T22:13:36.764+00:00In praise of big trees<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjl3HQYxFQrgv1UCzHwFvj90UlOsh1LBoLMvlFvnc_fHg2CmcaL7uifU9Wkw9hQvLxlug_BGCNhFy4kN7zBSEFx7m01X99qBkYdSUkp5XMNR07VoeeBaItIo5_HMFdMOvN2_T9Ps4N8kpFra8EItEvAJ_N9m4pf7ojTpkUOmcGi9Ubr5veAAGBz0S/s5184/IMG_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjl3HQYxFQrgv1UCzHwFvj90UlOsh1LBoLMvlFvnc_fHg2CmcaL7uifU9Wkw9hQvLxlug_BGCNhFy4kN7zBSEFx7m01X99qBkYdSUkp5XMNR07VoeeBaItIo5_HMFdMOvN2_T9Ps4N8kpFra8EItEvAJ_N9m4pf7ojTpkUOmcGi9Ubr5veAAGBz0S/w640-h426/IMG_2309.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5JTCzLnifj9wzg-bOylPqJAHuJj67cIkb0jvto0EigUG6Mr6Oppi6BTtVzxoJSEg-fc_KHQTkO1DtnUz2O-6QohCjY_t_qfdzGYo1aNIWpqKAjiIK-pFIZonqTZ3irrogv9LaPTQIFIDpbEfPdGuFa63nRZJV48wKneCluZucfUNpQRnjch2CAz5/s5184/IMG_2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5JTCzLnifj9wzg-bOylPqJAHuJj67cIkb0jvto0EigUG6Mr6Oppi6BTtVzxoJSEg-fc_KHQTkO1DtnUz2O-6QohCjY_t_qfdzGYo1aNIWpqKAjiIK-pFIZonqTZ3irrogv9LaPTQIFIDpbEfPdGuFa63nRZJV48wKneCluZucfUNpQRnjch2CAz5/w640-h426/IMG_2295.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_q3t8GSC8TUwLjEhtAH1DYK0BClWNtFj5gt5ICEu9Lm2wz9CK57tEFYLVb6QyvguGCCvQf0dvlTlD-yGDD-bJx67aq2koWzup_s-WT0LTX-dRazpCNdMBi1uxNZmSrUOTq1WKdT_ASRyOJzx2K5eFPuT6CHRrNLsco9S3tfHKLDVHHFT7d6efAxZ/s5184/IMG_2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_q3t8GSC8TUwLjEhtAH1DYK0BClWNtFj5gt5ICEu9Lm2wz9CK57tEFYLVb6QyvguGCCvQf0dvlTlD-yGDD-bJx67aq2koWzup_s-WT0LTX-dRazpCNdMBi1uxNZmSrUOTq1WKdT_ASRyOJzx2K5eFPuT6CHRrNLsco9S3tfHKLDVHHFT7d6efAxZ/w640-h426/IMG_2307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Photos from a glorious afternoon dog walk with the middle boy on his birthday the other day. 17 no less. He keeps muttering things about motorbikes. I pretend I haven't heard.<div><br /></div><div>We were driving home the other day and we spotted a car that someone had driven actually into the front door of a house on a neighbouring road. The house was on the corner so I'm guessing someone went around it a little too fast. Very annoying for the homeowner who had no use of their front door for several days until it was removed. When we got home we found a brown envelope on the mat containing the middle boy's provisional driving licence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Locally, it seems to be all about trees and hacking things back at the moment. A large number of mature trees have been removed, many of them ash trees with ash die-back I think. A few saplings have been planted to replace them. Fair enough. But the local authority is absolutely obsessed with cutting back hedgerows to almost nothing which is a bit rubbish. I just wrote, '<i>I am in a permanent fury</i>' and then deleted it. Wouldn't want you to think I am all cross all of the time, but it does REALLY bother me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Out of the window I can see a wonderful tree. Pictures below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_zeOqZ4HRPNZVftyqYycqJypDEEyvqack1cL15GuFarybaY-Z6mHt4aSEvnUdEYhgKWWyH_xJ9PSpC7K_TPbZhqilN7u637CaksAzDoGE2YjnKBokAXIoJW2R_p8VxLpST4UCrQGZqTlr1qa6ZyJGGiN8Wwm3rifghIed9Wz0HiVOKGFPnBFScyt/s5184/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_zeOqZ4HRPNZVftyqYycqJypDEEyvqack1cL15GuFarybaY-Z6mHt4aSEvnUdEYhgKWWyH_xJ9PSpC7K_TPbZhqilN7u637CaksAzDoGE2YjnKBokAXIoJW2R_p8VxLpST4UCrQGZqTlr1qa6ZyJGGiN8Wwm3rifghIed9Wz0HiVOKGFPnBFScyt/w640-h426/IMG_2287.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F6nUlLEIB35xz7amS7idNXxs0RFKoNHgh5qmpyjVtYZ_iVGBboDEhZk-eMvqJ2Z9IDBEoB7E6OOuVQryWrh1MhTiFxF8sMwBWImdkvDzEdYJTY0IP-pDlX4lsVWKhsrasf8vqTnZKAmvcggt0DqtuFLn8qhoIemLLgbYtzjExyML4mh0zWVkHrAy/s5184/IMG_2285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F6nUlLEIB35xz7amS7idNXxs0RFKoNHgh5qmpyjVtYZ_iVGBboDEhZk-eMvqJ2Z9IDBEoB7E6OOuVQryWrh1MhTiFxF8sMwBWImdkvDzEdYJTY0IP-pDlX4lsVWKhsrasf8vqTnZKAmvcggt0DqtuFLn8qhoIemLLgbYtzjExyML4mh0zWVkHrAy/w640-h426/IMG_2285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp3a_XcnU-xqs4Q0sSySuThCqCR2-CuQNF9ZwZ9FhzHtCWibvmTtP6JC-Ihl1EtJJWO1CMex9Uozssfok-6bOoO_CF-_x5BwhnFpc9kND7FfjXJvnzzr-71fk5QZrE_5eezQ_H3EiVZyYOeEz3IeGRhbabxUxpJOq6xs-YLKBhUl3pbvwOhgXGWju/s5184/IMG_2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp3a_XcnU-xqs4Q0sSySuThCqCR2-CuQNF9ZwZ9FhzHtCWibvmTtP6JC-Ihl1EtJJWO1CMex9Uozssfok-6bOoO_CF-_x5BwhnFpc9kND7FfjXJvnzzr-71fk5QZrE_5eezQ_H3EiVZyYOeEz3IeGRhbabxUxpJOq6xs-YLKBhUl3pbvwOhgXGWju/w640-h426/IMG_2282.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I always look at it when I get up to stretch and procrastinate. It's lovely and so many different species of birds use it, including for roosting at night and for nesting. There was another one, but it has been removed. I live in fear of this one going as well. But for now it is there, in all its glory. It amazes me how much habitat a single tree provides. It only takes up a few square feet on the ground, but in the air, a whole world of wildlife. Absolutely wonderful. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the past two or three days the frogs have started getting out and about again. The littlest boy and I saw three on the evening dog walk alone today. Sadly, they are struggling to find garden ponds these days. I think about putting one in the front garden sometimes, but then I would worry about the traffic if it attracted frogs. </div><div><br /></div><div>I dragged the dog (literally) to the vet the other day. Have you ever wondered why the floor at the vet's is so shiny? It's all the cockapoos being slid along the lino. He didn't seem quite himself and the vets do love to get stuck into tests and things. He was squeezed and prodded and as usual refused to show anyone his gums. I provided a (very small) urine sample which they said they would send off for analysis.</div><div><br /></div><div>After I chased them up a few days later, they rang me back with a conversation that started with, 'Unfortunately, ...' My heart actually skipped a beat. In fact, the unfortunate thing was that they had failed to send off the urine sample which was now no longer fresh and they wanted another one. It was quite a good tactic because after the initial shock of thinking that he had been diagnosed with something dreadful I was happy as a clam that it was just an administrative snafu. So we went back out on the streets with our pot. It didn't go quite as well the second time to be honest. I didn't really want to go down to the bus stop and have an audience of 15, so we went somewhere else, and the dog wasn't keen about the pot and then there was some leakage in the bag and all in all it was a bit disappointing. Anyway, all seems well and I was promised some sort of small refund because of the failure, which was a surprise.</div><div><br /></div><div>The two younger urchins had another ski lesson the other day. The middle boy slalomed past some little people at an odd angle so as not to canon into them and ended up hurtling into the netting at the end of the ski run, handily placed to stop skiers from hurtling off the end and into the car park 30 feet below. Both of his skis shot through the netting and he was briefly wedged, which the littlest boy quite enjoyed. At some stage I shall have to buy them all of the things on the list of clothing. I hadn't quite appreciated how much is involved in skiing when I blithely signed the initial form. </div><div><br /></div><div>All good at your end? CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-9129523991720408542023-01-21T21:20:00.000+00:002023-01-21T21:20:14.349+00:00All the things I'm going to do the week after next<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG_VV_15nkku1D_aDT1-TVktR4dS0Bflls1EnqtwdrOjQfJwQiGCzja1Tq23E1yihHuPubpuHqH5ZUzZw1DtFLc7GFjO1auERHtGrSbU6zc6uPfWr0wiZLoCcXNlIF3Sg-NLPck_ndz3Il4szNwvCuhc0fo_xIjUEgyZHSeqr-rfPhDaePCcXs-bj/s5184/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG_VV_15nkku1D_aDT1-TVktR4dS0Bflls1EnqtwdrOjQfJwQiGCzja1Tq23E1yihHuPubpuHqH5ZUzZw1DtFLc7GFjO1auERHtGrSbU6zc6uPfWr0wiZLoCcXNlIF3Sg-NLPck_ndz3Il4szNwvCuhc0fo_xIjUEgyZHSeqr-rfPhDaePCcXs-bj/w640-h426/IMG_2156.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>How are we enjoying the fresh January energy? I always love this time of year with its lovely cosy winter days, long dark evenings and fabulous skies. I love the excitement of a new year and I am still ever-optimistic this will be the year that I will get ALL of the things done. </p><p>I've realised that I always genuinely believe that just as soon as I get <i>this</i> particular pile of work done, I will have time to make a start on everything that I want to accomplish. Somehow, I imagine that if I can just get on top of stuff, just clear this work away, then I will be in charge and free to achieve absolutely everything.</p><p>I know this about myself, and yet I still believe it somehow. I actually will have more time the week after next, I just know it. I can't fault myself for optimism.</p><p>The upshot of this is that I don't really have any news, except that I have my nose to the grindstone. It's good to have lots of work of course and I am very glad of it. And very much looking forward to the week after next. Or maybe the one after that.</p><p>I have returned the eldest to university. The most interesting change I noticed was that he now enjoys country music. The littlest boy found a secondhand guitar in a local charity shop, so we bought that for him and he is happy as a clam. I told him that we should go to Nashville. I have always fancied a trip to Nashville. I don't know the first thing about it really, except that there will be guitars and cowboy boots and I imagine loads of creative energy. And I believe it is really expensive. </p><p>The books are from the local community bookshop. I popped in and it started raining. As time went by, the deluge got worse and worse and so I was forced to stay where I was and buy books. It was dreadful. I've read Sharp Objects before and really enjoyed it. The others are new to me. It's a brilliant shop, and very cheap. Just 50p a book, with all proceeds going to the local community. I've taken quite a lot in over the years as well. It's good to have a nice secondhand book shop as so many are closing. The big Book Barn I used to go, with over a million books, closed down a while ago. </p><p>I think I shall start with Lessons in Chemistry, which I've heard quite a bit about. I think I shall be able to start it the week after next.</p><p>Do let me know your news. And I shall try very hard to do something newsworthy to report back next time. Although most of the things on the calendar are appointments such as 'optician', 'dentist' and 'vet', so I can't exactly pinpoint where the excitement will come from. </p>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-30837085403533880402022-12-28T22:24:00.000+00:002022-12-28T22:24:05.074+00:00Keeping out the Welsh<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueswQ6xzhPZzAJ-p2_KDuUK1cnyiMG42kjyuNKHiGxiIl1PjS4wXyITvsd67BJHj6kt_xEnQ3jKmkx8HxdD0v-ApZePrpixOW5E7DkYlcEoZBEzOM-omSQmFprMmz_PC2MVQNJj_gZg1AeHnKpZvnAsbOiEHCylkeXmMTF2jKI_EpGzk4dshE-RxC/s1600/ao.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueswQ6xzhPZzAJ-p2_KDuUK1cnyiMG42kjyuNKHiGxiIl1PjS4wXyITvsd67BJHj6kt_xEnQ3jKmkx8HxdD0v-ApZePrpixOW5E7DkYlcEoZBEzOM-omSQmFprMmz_PC2MVQNJj_gZg1AeHnKpZvnAsbOiEHCylkeXmMTF2jKI_EpGzk4dshE-RxC/w640-h426/ao.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KMMV13ebAAqfpx6xhAHOGT3bqNotoraWTAa3akHzKnqC4kvcRxhD-7Kx3EoN9h6dBiFHVFj4idaLyGwzBYlen9AUBm-oBvsDH4jC9SneaNZPrNwbUdbGyD_Im9-1qAPZzQBGbjibp_9eKodjZiEcgNwZhPfI3G8UA96JetuOjqpz83TUrzJAcLhm/w640-h426/at.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Glimpses of Berkeley Castle, built in the 12th century to keep out the Welsh, which clearly hasn't worked. It's also where Edward II is believed to have been murdered in 1327. It's pretty much been in the same family the whole time, although it's a wedding venue as well as their home now and also does a bit of jousting and that sort of thing from time to time. It's basically like Lower Loxley, if you are familiar with the Archers.</div><div><br /></div><div>The white house nearby was the home of Edward Jenner, 'father of immunology' who pioneered the concept of vaccines. He also created a vaccine for smallpox which had killed around 10% of the global population. He experimented with it on his gardener's 8-year-old son. Good job it worked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the glasshouse round the back. I reckon I could grow my own pineapples if I had something like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did we all power through Christmas okay? It has been nice to have the biggest boy back, although I had forgotten how much space he takes up and how much food he eats. He came home and opened the fridge with a happy sigh, saying, 'The good thing about being at home is there's food in the fridge. Oh.' Turned out it was disappointingly empty.</div><div><br /></div><div>He texts me and the littlest boy photos of his meals sometimes. The littlest boy looked at one of them and said, 'His food looks so much better than ours mum. How is he outdoing us?' Sigh.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did I ever tell you about the food shopping insurance? Some student insurance provides £200 of cover in case you are robbed on your way home from the supermarket and all of your shopping is stolen. This type of thing is not reassuring to a mother, imagining some post-apocalyptic urban hellscape where you cannot even get your soya milk and organic lentils and Morrison's vodka home safely.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dog pretended he couldn't see him when he first came home after three months away. Literally turned his back on him and studiously ignored him. I think he may have forgiven him now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for all of your bench commiserations and pep talks. I love the sound of subdued aubergine and also embracing Mediterranean tastes and stepping out of my comfort zone. </div><div><br /></div><div>On another garden topic, I have finally found a use for figs. I usually pick off all the small fruits that are left at the end of the season, but I couldn't reach the high up ones and ladders made me very nervous, being highly clumsy, so I left quite a few this year. It turns out that the birds really like them, or at least they did during the cold snap. Which made me think that maybe I could freeze some of the ripe ones and bring them out for the birds in the winter. They've also been getting through loads of sunflower seeds. </div><div><br /></div><div>The local garden shop has just closed its doors for good which is a shame. They sold beans and peas and onion sets loose and you could just put as many as you wanted in a paper bag. They grew all of their own beddings and vegetable plants and the rest of their stock came from local nurseries. And apart from pet food and food for the wild creatures, it was all plants and no novelty hot water bottle covers or peanut brittle. </div><div><br /></div><div>The urchins had a go at skiing the other day on the dry ski slope. I say dry, but actually there was biblical rain, so they got soaked. Someone accidentally slid backwards into a row of new skiiers. Honestly, is there anything funnier than seeing a bunch of people who can barely stand up themselves trying to stop someone sliding away by all holding onto a bit of their anorak. And probably nothing much more annoying than seeing someone who is sitting drinking a nice hot flask of coffee and laughing instead of actually getting off their arse and giving it a go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you all had a good festive blast and are ready for the clean, clear energy of January. I also hope American friends are all okay in the storm. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-56014332604088972332022-11-29T21:37:00.000+00:002022-11-29T21:37:42.147+00:00The importance of a tightly drafted brief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa0zKr3hSUbfUyg1J1_dquILNHfl2U-PkUQrI2-0jrGECc0e5domabbtE13ewB2PUALWPDKGXcwn7KtqVur5BcP2ndh4PElbB7WUmScam3pLx2l3zOmAaaitVUtHEDqHrDQ_Fm0fnmzIIWiBprgcOw14bNLi64jC7hYCmpl7TLpeVaSR1a4eyv3An/s700/1-IMG_3529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa0zKr3hSUbfUyg1J1_dquILNHfl2U-PkUQrI2-0jrGECc0e5domabbtE13ewB2PUALWPDKGXcwn7KtqVur5BcP2ndh4PElbB7WUmScam3pLx2l3zOmAaaitVUtHEDqHrDQ_Fm0fnmzIIWiBprgcOw14bNLi64jC7hYCmpl7TLpeVaSR1a4eyv3An/w640-h426/1-IMG_3529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiYeEfoAW1N82wWuxIwKt4ExmIvJI2wSIrqVldLfWeMbyM27ZK7SAIgFpxgyzggzBNVRtLeO0Sn32mjUD0UKN9Yt8bSkbj_3vijoErIrgPxfTTMFtYqNWvS4XstMC6uesAQsJmwytIMUuwwSV9RqGMI6laQ5xQIK42-bFns-Jv86-2asmxqQEyo55/s700/1-IMG_9856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiYeEfoAW1N82wWuxIwKt4ExmIvJI2wSIrqVldLfWeMbyM27ZK7SAIgFpxgyzggzBNVRtLeO0Sn32mjUD0UKN9Yt8bSkbj_3vijoErIrgPxfTTMFtYqNWvS4XstMC6uesAQsJmwytIMUuwwSV9RqGMI6laQ5xQIK42-bFns-Jv86-2asmxqQEyo55/w640-h426/1-IMG_9856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I am just about ready to tell you the sorry tale of my garden bench. I dug out a couple of old photos so that you could get an idea of what it looked like Before. The wood was past its best, but the ends were lovely and smooth with a sort of blue-black look to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to repair it, rather than buy a new one, even though a new one would have been cheaper than buying new wood and new fixings. It's a bog standard cheap bench and quite old, but I hate throwing things away so I got the necessary stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't remove the old bolts, which were rusted, so I asked the local community repair shop to do it. I gave them the bench and the wood and the new bolts and they assured me it would be no trouble at all to fit the new wood.</div><div><br /></div><div>I bumped into one or two of the chaps out and about and they hinted that a lovely job was being made of it. The wood would be treated! It would all be magnificent. </div><div><br /></div><div>They were also doing up bikes for Ukrainian refugees because they are all in all good eggs, so I waited patiently for weeks, looking forward to having a functional bench again. It was a bit of a treat to be honest, splashing out on the wood. I could picture how nice it would be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the call came. It was done! I could go and get it! </div><div><br /></div><div>I rounded up some strong boys and off we went. There was excitement at the shop, they'd gone all out they told me. Not just wood treatment, but they'd given it a coat of paint was well! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, I said, how nice. Inside I was thinking, <i>paint???</i> I tried to imagine what colour they had gone for. I guessed green. And I was right. It was indeed green. THICK BRIGHT GREEN GLOSS. WITH ORANGE VARNISH. Oh horror of horrors. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was almost lost for words. The lovely smooth patina-ed ends all choked up with hideous gloss paint. Thick, thick, thick gloss paint. It is never coming off, ever. And it will never fade. It might chip, but not to worry, THERE IS MORE UNDERNEATH.</div><div><br /></div><div>They all looked pleased as punch to have gone above and beyond and delivered such a thing. It was carried out and placed in isolated splendour for me to appreciate it in all its perfection. The orange wood really stood out against the THICK BRIGHT GREEN. I couldn't imagine a more striking combination. </div><div><br /></div><div>I paid the money and organised the urchins to carry it off and spent at least two minutes thanking them nicely because I didn't want to hurt the feelings of the person who had had the brilliant idea of green paint and orange varnish and who had made sure I had such a magnificent surprise. But inside, inside I was screaming. </div><div><br /></div><div>So here it is, back home in the garden, where I can see it all day from where I work. To be fair, the wood has changed colour slightly, possibly even for the better. But the green paint, no siree, that is as fresh as the day it was painted back in the summer. It has taken me this long to speak about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose you want to see it. Don't say I didn't warn you.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0skQU4zM_Ck2iexM6QSosT0yc4QmYGR5xoyHIwzCH1-khf9W4oG8Z0qstdg-mdfpWpJvNJLkQm2_6YjhUfyRJKsOTJ6A84ACY-ypXVguqoROtntkXMh45x8KQoaRlvBs9kYAPa56c7yIQhzDZ-s0OyUcVWBOpsmT9N2b_sH1C2NoVoX-z3G5HUGc/s5184/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0skQU4zM_Ck2iexM6QSosT0yc4QmYGR5xoyHIwzCH1-khf9W4oG8Z0qstdg-mdfpWpJvNJLkQm2_6YjhUfyRJKsOTJ6A84ACY-ypXVguqoROtntkXMh45x8KQoaRlvBs9kYAPa56c7yIQhzDZ-s0OyUcVWBOpsmT9N2b_sH1C2NoVoX-z3G5HUGc/w640-h426/IMG_1767.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Contrast it, if you will, with the other bench, which is blending in nicely and not shouting at all.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pKcC35o_s9dxp0AG2v4X2DaGTEwejzACLk5027MZsXnd1dWY1pG5TFOEWNNHkJ6Rl1HhYzc0idhwDK7PRDQMYb3490uXUjtv0tHSbvqbPHCNOI32yOcd99so10MoLUML8pAJ-RogJ_aXtWpTIUaeOoWvjGwQ4WyDUapAg2qYXirmFok9bIBbS6OM/s5184/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pKcC35o_s9dxp0AG2v4X2DaGTEwejzACLk5027MZsXnd1dWY1pG5TFOEWNNHkJ6Rl1HhYzc0idhwDK7PRDQMYb3490uXUjtv0tHSbvqbPHCNOI32yOcd99so10MoLUML8pAJ-RogJ_aXtWpTIUaeOoWvjGwQ4WyDUapAg2qYXirmFok9bIBbS6OM/w640-h426/IMG_1808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I suppose the trick will be to sit on the ghastly orange and green bench and look at the other bench. Although this doesn't solve the problem of me staring out of the window at it all the livelong day. Sigh. I know I am being overly dramatic, but what was supposed to be more of an eco-friendly solution has turned into a gloss paint nightmare. But it's fine. I am almost over it and I am certain that you will come up with a tasteful solution for me, such as covering it with a nice soft padded patchwork throw or rubbing yoghurt into it so that it ages back into beauty. You will come up with a tasteful solution, won't you?</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-74329595493342845542022-11-25T22:13:00.003+00:002022-11-25T22:13:59.856+00:00Tranquility, and the magnificence that is Patricia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdib8ejcxnhh0h-pDZxgI9-hJ55V93XQjZAGA-jDO7ysE0mUcqjkqdY52Z9Pwn6L2C16F3N9nj0BATTISA7xYmKIZ7-rj97ZfqKzknzeRcutC8F-mvm3WFlUl3hybfPH7e3thhcJxEo9KxNvVwzn75w_UeHSTHbx9RVmKGlDgdXIoTsOO3JvjVYOb/s1600/ao.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdib8ejcxnhh0h-pDZxgI9-hJ55V93XQjZAGA-jDO7ysE0mUcqjkqdY52Z9Pwn6L2C16F3N9nj0BATTISA7xYmKIZ7-rj97ZfqKzknzeRcutC8F-mvm3WFlUl3hybfPH7e3thhcJxEo9KxNvVwzn75w_UeHSTHbx9RVmKGlDgdXIoTsOO3JvjVYOb/w640-h426/ao.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxelg8bDCCVpDYBgk6rgwchzhSmNHEDAveE1GA5nrQJ8N2FKZx9t2Gy_pJm3tUzw6cFKuVPxsEUeaSSBYx0FLW_fTLh0ZZ8YccbcjJAvihr486YDm6O3ptp3F6K61LHrcQN2mBjA1JoB65lPL_mmsNrE0GtTTWvQtQztg703k0wWZ7MWJI5kRgSKv/s1600/ax.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxelg8bDCCVpDYBgk6rgwchzhSmNHEDAveE1GA5nrQJ8N2FKZx9t2Gy_pJm3tUzw6cFKuVPxsEUeaSSBYx0FLW_fTLh0ZZ8YccbcjJAvihr486YDm6O3ptp3F6K61LHrcQN2mBjA1JoB65lPL_mmsNrE0GtTTWvQtQztg703k0wWZ7MWJI5kRgSKv/w640-h426/ax.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8LOVwUgs38lksEv0etPoSnXYgLyHxdMaH-tIZxtytmee2VF6ti3WCa8XR6TUy51kh8IrxY3dgdGga3bEaSLMlrQ6ifewiIx3BKOQwSYJXglMkYAM5kuzpK0um_9iRMPfJBHB2Y8DbRvZuacukjCug5Qswnxwl4sVpjUiKeTbCL1BiNhfzbbtyTqM/s1600/ay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8LOVwUgs38lksEv0etPoSnXYgLyHxdMaH-tIZxtytmee2VF6ti3WCa8XR6TUy51kh8IrxY3dgdGga3bEaSLMlrQ6ifewiIx3BKOQwSYJXglMkYAM5kuzpK0um_9iRMPfJBHB2Y8DbRvZuacukjCug5Qswnxwl4sVpjUiKeTbCL1BiNhfzbbtyTqM/w640-h426/ay.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Photos from a glorious day by the canal with the middle boy, who wanted to go fishing. We were out pretty much from sunrise to sunset. He caught a pike while I pottered around taking photos and reading about canal history.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's fascinating. Take this pill box for example:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTXgpV_Oarqp_H5S7BVFeU0ZyDkQWb_2UfSHAme5DGDBKZkc8sxRpYp_IeoCa1kM7yzC1tSCldzNSiKA9kPYu4NtzsgyDIizG_F2Dx8xZLXlLgu66R2nts29NXd4KJ-4wj0Xs8cbycE8E9iVpb8bbI7umcdWM3kjpJdGvgpdlACfQPODk3ECOWEGE/s1600/al.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTXgpV_Oarqp_H5S7BVFeU0ZyDkQWb_2UfSHAme5DGDBKZkc8sxRpYp_IeoCa1kM7yzC1tSCldzNSiKA9kPYu4NtzsgyDIizG_F2Dx8xZLXlLgu66R2nts29NXd4KJ-4wj0Xs8cbycE8E9iVpb8bbI7umcdWM3kjpJdGvgpdlACfQPODk3ECOWEGE/w640-h426/al.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It is one of a ring of around 260 pill boxes forming a protective circle, known as Stop Line Green, around Bristol and the port of Avonmouth, to try and prevent German forces from approaching from the east in the Second World War. It was also to defend the factory there, which was a ghost factory, ready to take over munitions production if another factory was bombed. Scary times indeed. The pill box is unusual in that it is two storeys high, rather than just one, and has what is believed to be an anti-aircraft placement on top.</div><div><br /></div><div>The factory was in an old cloth mill, originating from the late 1400s. Lots of history down on the canal, I'm telling you.</div><div><br /></div><div>The bit I liked best was called 'The Ocean':</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuXQgh4PalkWmdYaw3KTUwBiVDlACSWaOcbQSnopELe_aFzXblpXcHutAXCuWdmL30hV3Y_wWGcm_rlXZW16gb5-Gw6IyQhoCKN35woSgKhwg3GRPIlKqyeZoNjXX4MKqrUk_JuqqBnqEeYP22sgQp4jVIE30FP2rl8Huq-D8uStijVIMMb37vxKg/s1600/az.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuXQgh4PalkWmdYaw3KTUwBiVDlACSWaOcbQSnopELe_aFzXblpXcHutAXCuWdmL30hV3Y_wWGcm_rlXZW16gb5-Gw6IyQhoCKN35woSgKhwg3GRPIlKqyeZoNjXX4MKqrUk_JuqqBnqEeYP22sgQp4jVIE30FP2rl8Huq-D8uStijVIMMb37vxKg/w640-h426/az.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Not exactly ocean-sized, but very pretty. No-one knows exactly why it's called The Ocean - maybe a touch of sarcasm. Or maybe because back in the day it was as near to an ocean as the yokels got.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also read about how a railway bridge over the canal has just been rebuilt after they drained a stretch of the canal, moving fish and everything. The wildlife has reappeared now the water is back. A kingfisher flew right past me and I saw a buzzard right overhead and a greater spotted woodpecker in a tree. A family of swans spent the day drifting up and down a pretty stretch of the water. All in all a good day out. I even managed to stay calm(ish) when the fish was caught. You will be happy to know it was released again and no-one was bitten.</div><div><br /></div><div>The old manor house behind the wall with the grass and the bench (ate my sandwiches there) is Stonehouse Court and dates back to 1601. In fact the estate is mentioned in the Domesday book. The church next to it (the photo with the weeping willow) dates back originally to the 1200s, but the building that is there now was started in the 1400s.</div><div><br /></div><div>Panning out, there was a glorious barge in the canal next to Stonehouse Court called Patricia. I know you'll want to see her...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ccJ0pYmL3HEueocA5y1bugkH-NP14pERoKsBR-xZ0qsfouF_zPuviCoUW3ibSo4_TS37LraP-JxXBbkafHyP6bbs2pBr70A-e3Ps3PZNTrqH6bir8wSgxilaUg5x8YCllSS1QvInRUwYBwYMGDDDdIkh-15ft7WxNfNjQedXu7UODb7FswUcFHKe/s1600/au.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ccJ0pYmL3HEueocA5y1bugkH-NP14pERoKsBR-xZ0qsfouF_zPuviCoUW3ibSo4_TS37LraP-JxXBbkafHyP6bbs2pBr70A-e3Ps3PZNTrqH6bir8wSgxilaUg5x8YCllSS1QvInRUwYBwYMGDDDdIkh-15ft7WxNfNjQedXu7UODb7FswUcFHKe/w640-h426/au.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Magnificent, no? Who knew you could get a JCB boat?</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news I am ignoring both the World Cup and Christmas. There is almost nothing positive about the former and the latter is just annoying and generally an eco-disaster.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been enjoying the early sunsets and the cosy winter feeling. While simultaneously trying to hold back with the heating :) Tricky isn't it. I do so love the countryside in winter. All that cold clean sky and pretty cottages with lighted windows in the dusk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do you think it's time to put sunflower seeds out for the birds? They naturally dispersed in spring so I stopped feeding them, like they do at the wetlands place. But I feel it might be time to start up again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also contemplating getting a crab apple tree for wildlife. Although I never see birds actually eating crab apples. Maybe that's because I am always walking past the tree at the time. I have pretty much persuaded myself anyway. They are very pretty almost all year round. I would want one with small berry-sized (bird-bite-sized) crab apples for the birds I think. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am still waiting for a hedgehog. Well, there could actually be one in the hedgehog house but I don't like to look in case there is and I disturb it. I think the rat is still living under next-door's decking though. Bertie has a good sniff around on a regular basis and he should know with his super-spaniel nose. I am not fussy about wildlife, a rat will do nicely for now. </div><div><br /></div><div>All okay at your end? Ignoring anything? Got a hedgehog?</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-90563446850955472632022-10-31T21:55:00.000+00:002022-10-31T21:55:15.928+00:00Squash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH8Ij0pwy-HyDmHdICIqUW64eAnDUR7sndDIvSwzcny0TCBWON8sbz4R6mTU3KYAVwRs-JylTZPm2WJiXUo2sYZ3D3eCJRaOvOKnVEMc9NjkSAZTNHusEoARTzYuCprPB8pMCkK7VTml1UHoiMheJvEhIOMQIsAAOl6IZ6xn0T25d6n2PP0-EA7c4/s1600/aj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH8Ij0pwy-HyDmHdICIqUW64eAnDUR7sndDIvSwzcny0TCBWON8sbz4R6mTU3KYAVwRs-JylTZPm2WJiXUo2sYZ3D3eCJRaOvOKnVEMc9NjkSAZTNHusEoARTzYuCprPB8pMCkK7VTml1UHoiMheJvEhIOMQIsAAOl6IZ6xn0T25d6n2PP0-EA7c4/w640-h426/aj.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0KXbiWd0wiAweaG9JebQs5E1L5dZn6hG8-brr72NoFdIu2e2me5puBXa9DHPOmrvVqvKjB60-MaYvZYnlGD7M8dx10_z53XrZBSQ2Z7CXDb0yp3fHy6m5JyEQj6nOt-shnEa-dIAFpw213X3iyWzX6zYUZeGhLTknVlf6-FHtJ_UkzechTQ1sYIv/s1600/am.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0KXbiWd0wiAweaG9JebQs5E1L5dZn6hG8-brr72NoFdIu2e2me5puBXa9DHPOmrvVqvKjB60-MaYvZYnlGD7M8dx10_z53XrZBSQ2Z7CXDb0yp3fHy6m5JyEQj6nOt-shnEa-dIAFpw213X3iyWzX6zYUZeGhLTknVlf6-FHtJ_UkzechTQ1sYIv/w640-h426/am.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><u><br /></u></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKvXH1Mp6FefJIb_fBsGMO-HusYYYjvi9A9DyuYXkSi0dG-NNtE2QZ-A6-dtji2IiZWgnghiZ7S41p9uPkAZb4cH7vwdlu81_bXLjVeT-eANM9EJ6ZhM_d1AKHYWeiW4cMEni0_nnodV9nVx1L3AwJH83kQQCU3zZKcHFtFOb61n7r3T5v17YQ34h/s1600/al.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKvXH1Mp6FefJIb_fBsGMO-HusYYYjvi9A9DyuYXkSi0dG-NNtE2QZ-A6-dtji2IiZWgnghiZ7S41p9uPkAZb4cH7vwdlu81_bXLjVeT-eANM9EJ6ZhM_d1AKHYWeiW4cMEni0_nnodV9nVx1L3AwJH83kQQCU3zZKcHFtFOb61n7r3T5v17YQ34h/w640-h426/al.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A volunteer squash plant popped up in the garden in early summer. It turned out to have these delightful little squashes on it. I vaguely remember buying a small squash last year that was part green stripes and part orange. No doubt the seeds were composted and found their way into the vegetable beds.</div><div><br /></div><div>The squashes above are all from the same plant. Just one is dark green, and it has a spot of orange on it. I left them on the plant to ripen and they are all lasting really well. I think I shall save some seeds and grow some more next year, I just love how dinky they are.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNb4uyaCoSIlnGl76wArofD1xXfBubohZepAWfno5pPop7s-Ot1GFsan7DBi1EOprzCRflLXEWdbdqIyK1LtC7IqDwILPT7y7SK_M_X4T87zy-6ydz-Rl0u1GnJIRiMiU6TJqaD2n2iSPK-UJivY7p-enXlvIHM88DZ0qetFBpZI97hz3zxL-h_-U/s1600/ah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNb4uyaCoSIlnGl76wArofD1xXfBubohZepAWfno5pPop7s-Ot1GFsan7DBi1EOprzCRflLXEWdbdqIyK1LtC7IqDwILPT7y7SK_M_X4T87zy-6ydz-Rl0u1GnJIRiMiU6TJqaD2n2iSPK-UJivY7p-enXlvIHM88DZ0qetFBpZI97hz3zxL-h_-U/s320/ah.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8fCf-XKFszaz8X-CVgnvcFqmwFE8CGG8NHAcIXSDRD01ODk9v2Qb3Sk-vpWaCK2RUCmDGzVG29gwXb6iep5SBCNMv8xoYOTaaaDacrtkqmBJdm5QOKFEw49SRdFVGPCHbvB6De-SVXUgtFcUOGP0fGBro4z4q9Sg68YQLr6L-9OEOpLvgNb6LUEB/s1600/ai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8fCf-XKFszaz8X-CVgnvcFqmwFE8CGG8NHAcIXSDRD01ODk9v2Qb3Sk-vpWaCK2RUCmDGzVG29gwXb6iep5SBCNMv8xoYOTaaaDacrtkqmBJdm5QOKFEw49SRdFVGPCHbvB6De-SVXUgtFcUOGP0fGBro4z4q9Sg68YQLr6L-9OEOpLvgNb6LUEB/s320/ai.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We are at the end of 11 days of holiday for the urchins. The littlest boy was doing his homework before bed. I was very cross. I must have asked him ten times during the holidays whether he had done everything for school. Honestly.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a dearth of trick or treaters on the streets tonight when the dog and I made our inspection of the neighbourhood. Some people had made a brilliant job of decorating and there were lots of nicely carved pumpkins and candles. One or two households were actively trying to lure people in by shouting, 'Do you want sweets?' across the road at other people. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bertie found something on the pavement and ate it. His revenge for me not allowing him the half of a burger he found this morning. Last Hallowe'en we came across someone in a giant dinosaur costume and he was terrified. At least there was nothing scary out there tonight. Although I did see at least eight cats and a good half of them were real. He's not the most observant dog though, so he didn't see them. You can bet that they saw him though. I felt they were looking down their noses a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think I have any actual news today. I took the littlest boy shopping at the mall this afternoon and it has rather taken it out of me. I can barely string a sentence together. I bought him a new t-shirt, which I rather regret now (see homework, above) and some socks. I bought two new notebooks which I absolutely definitely need. For something, at some point, possibly soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, a plant pot as the littlest boy has rather an indoor plant addiction now he has taken over the big bedroom with the big south-facing window. And I am pretty much an enabler. We went to the garden centre and looked at cactuses and I said helpful things like, 'Ooh, look at this one, we haven't got one like this.' I need to rein us in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hoping you are enjoying Hallowe'en. I have celebrated by eating a dark chocolate KitKat from the bowl for the trick or treaters. In fact, there are still some left.</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-65756404356696171622022-10-25T22:13:00.002+01:002022-10-25T22:13:46.390+01:00Snappish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IHjaBNf0YsaeH0h3vhsU3rvxt_XzEeYywg1kufKl7oAQS4JHE4nnIlLoU9dn2vMYGS0uiJv-rGacYM1ndxlM6LtcIxpGjFImHosz4NYtSnBCHSrWV0BN--iLPs_FGycwe4eQasvyLFpwbXZYFdXIhOzUXpSDGjMjdJUP400xp4lnpghclvZCT_4x/s1600/ai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IHjaBNf0YsaeH0h3vhsU3rvxt_XzEeYywg1kufKl7oAQS4JHE4nnIlLoU9dn2vMYGS0uiJv-rGacYM1ndxlM6LtcIxpGjFImHosz4NYtSnBCHSrWV0BN--iLPs_FGycwe4eQasvyLFpwbXZYFdXIhOzUXpSDGjMjdJUP400xp4lnpghclvZCT_4x/w640-h426/ai.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzKckNRYtSmXYNUahN_wIwOOd2velfrECTYB7eF-M0gUkvhKVrlhIjesrf5YsDvn_1uNKHjvOHhP7jGB9QVDHhm3Yh1hC9b-T5pnjdQamXQhgVmGunF71V9T7wjvyFQ8FzlmQ1jFeNlc_49lZJTO9x5aaUBTXvI6FAJTlsh1-QrPCzmuMDNcEXkh-/w640-h426/al.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tv-ncIlqs-4bRpmsuLXIdXsZIFjyWFI3v-ev4akoI4WydjXq97ukqQHRHiBRKumDdZTCYg8wvyYXDJ-G5EVRGR8hUoeMYLPBYH125AjfBUbSMpaUvCY_yQ3UNkeG4fSpl4xOfcDk8WkLm_nRffsgb8cOS7EaF30DFtGblokuJC1B8MgWKITfq8rZ/s1600/aj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tv-ncIlqs-4bRpmsuLXIdXsZIFjyWFI3v-ev4akoI4WydjXq97ukqQHRHiBRKumDdZTCYg8wvyYXDJ-G5EVRGR8hUoeMYLPBYH125AjfBUbSMpaUvCY_yQ3UNkeG4fSpl4xOfcDk8WkLm_nRffsgb8cOS7EaF30DFtGblokuJC1B8MgWKITfq8rZ/w640-h426/aj.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Obligatory tourist shots from the nation's capital. I took the two younger urchins who were quite frankly rather snappish at times. We went to the Tower of London where we had the option of a guided tour. The middle boy said we had a guide book and didn't need such a thing, then proceeded to hurtle round it at the speed of light, not opening the book once. </div><div><br /></div><div>After we left an argument broke out and I had a Moment, explaining how, as I normally work most of the weekend I had mistakenly thought it would be wonderful to finally have a day off and go somewhere lovely with my wonderful children BUT IN FACT IT WAS ALL COMPLETE HORROR. Then we all settled down for a bit and went in search of the boat I had booked us on to. </div><div><br /></div><div>We ended up at the wrong quay, but in some quite miraculous way the littlest boy led us through a couple of marinas, past fancy boats and fancy restaurants in a most unpromising direction and, presto, we were at the right one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then after the boat, we walked for about three hours without stopping. The middle boy, whose legs are very long, strode off, directing us here, there and all over the shop. The littlest boy and I stomped along behind with me weakly suggesting coffee or a cake or AT LEAST A SIT DOWN FOR TWO MINUTES. The middle boy said that he had sat down all the way there and would sit down all the way back and he most certainly did not need to sit down while he was there.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end I forced him to sit down on a bench type thing (maybe a planter...) outside of the Ivy Market Grill in Covent Garden. There was lovely violin music drifting over from the market and we had sandwiches and it was almost like we were actually in the Ivy for the three and a half minutes we were there.</div><div><br /></div><div>My best bit was when we popped into the National Gallery to use the loos and one of their staff asked us if we were looking for a particular painting. I said in fact, we were just looking for the exit. He pointed us in the right direction but said that as we were there, we could just look at a particularly wonderful painting. He described where it was, and then (maybe saw me looking a bit vague, I honestly can't find things, ever) he said he would take us himself. </div><div><br /></div><div>He proceeded to show us Leonardo da Vinci's <a href="https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/leonardo-da-vinci-the-virgin-of-the-rocks" target="_blank">the Virgin of the Rocks</a> and talked about it with such knowledge and passion. It honestly made my day and I'll remember it for a very long time. </div><div><br /></div><div>The littlest boy's best bit was the hot dog I bought him right at the end when I realised that I had actually managed to go the whole day without buying him a tacky souvenir. To be honest, I think he had just lost the energy to campaign for one.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the coach home in the dark, two women and a man, probably in their sixties, sat at the back rather loudly gossiping the whole way home. It was utterly fascinating and completely impossible not to listen, with nothing to look at and no energy for conversation of my own. Later on, the littlest boy said to me, 'There was a woman on the coach who said such and such.' It made me laugh that he had listened to it all as well. I said, 'I <i>know.</i> And what was Desmond thinking???' I suspect half the coach was wondering that too. Made all the more delicious because everyone was local. </div><div><br /></div><div>How are tricks at your end? All good I hope. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-63739065230160991632022-09-26T15:16:00.001+01:002022-09-26T15:16:34.159+01:00Out with the old<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr4uXiSl6oJiFyPVOT8v8SOcpXH38O_Cxd1KSGpbj5zgtaAfZh_i-v460lNOY7dqk4I_kQ4ZiZyl42Lh5_Usfu2qFb1eYVt7vvfZ1YmHcpJ7XlU6so5tT73wFO2uTCbbcfSvjjEVllw1EmRnlLpQmAnssooHMAF_-zDfKX__yxbNVtCoO2H0C98Jp/s1600/ao.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr4uXiSl6oJiFyPVOT8v8SOcpXH38O_Cxd1KSGpbj5zgtaAfZh_i-v460lNOY7dqk4I_kQ4ZiZyl42Lh5_Usfu2qFb1eYVt7vvfZ1YmHcpJ7XlU6so5tT73wFO2uTCbbcfSvjjEVllw1EmRnlLpQmAnssooHMAF_-zDfKX__yxbNVtCoO2H0C98Jp/w640-h426/ao.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjs3yxpBlabr7cfvNHRiTzzHOUwsWuu3dmMdylx576211Kz9C2Ncx9rHA78G8rRq6GxZ7Wr4LZMABAwb2KpY5HFfMqRiOFe_e_qbNx-yw5Kw7YxeThBrEpkeGLrdxQeXtQ9dmiZpmYI-9tJnJrGNcodS2Hy9RJejFk6XDi5YCmEFYpyBAoJX6ZlKz/w640-h426/ap.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS25JZd4rS8kb7oNrWzCUiP5eOwmGvG2vIVby86MgsBvj24PBSuJKYIxgs275o-3V_LmGquYKSQdo6b8UqLOE6GJlXWcV5ABiKn200qtBDC9ohH7hmcOPBQcYdjn6yF2qDWx5iNyCE11ukC_KpWoeVgmu6XE0aNl3vAaeEEigFaTZxnH9Z_Co3MixL/s1600/af.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS25JZd4rS8kb7oNrWzCUiP5eOwmGvG2vIVby86MgsBvj24PBSuJKYIxgs275o-3V_LmGquYKSQdo6b8UqLOE6GJlXWcV5ABiKn200qtBDC9ohH7hmcOPBQcYdjn6yF2qDWx5iNyCE11ukC_KpWoeVgmu6XE0aNl3vAaeEEigFaTZxnH9Z_Co3MixL/w640-h426/af.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Well, after a mad few weeks the biggest boy is installed at university and the other two are back at school and I am breathing deep, cleansing, uninterrupted breaths. The eldest has managed some laundry and all seems well so far. The littlest boy is missing him, having handily forgotten all the torture and scuffles before he went away.</div><div><br /></div><div>No opportunity was wasted to increase my anxiety about the whole thing. Conversations went like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: Which bathrobe do you want to take?</div><div><br /></div><div>Biggest boy: The thin one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: The thin one??? You'll be freezing. You need the thick one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Biggest boy: I'll be getting dressed straight away in the mornings, the thin one will be fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Middle boy: He'll be sleeping in his clothes. In the street.</div><div><br /></div><div>I looked into insurance before he went. Some insurance companies were offering cover for theft of shopping on the way home, as if he might be attacked and his groceries stolen after leaving the supermarket, as in some sort of dystopian nightmare.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a few minor disagreements over what he actually needed to have. He felt that £100 jeans and £170 speaker were basic necessities. I spent about three weeks going, '<b>You're a STUDENT</b>'. He has £28 jeans and a £30 speaker which I am counting as a victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>His group in the student halls had the opportunity to chat online before they met, so in theory they could have arranged kitchen equipment so that they didn't end up with twenty saucepans. Instead, they created a playlist and organised some cool lighting. I did see someone with a bread machine going past when I arrived though, which felt promising.</div><div><br /></div><div>The university has literally dozens of exciting things going on, I was quite green with envy. Hedgehog preservations groups and gardening and exploring the countryside and trips here there and everywhere. It sounds brilliant, although of course he will probably mostly be going to the bar and not growing his own food. It would all be just right for me though. Except the shared kitchen. He said it is 'not quite as bad as I thought it might be, but you would still be horrified.' I think I am probably more robust than he gives me credit for, it's just that I am overly dramatic when someone makes a kitchen mess at home. I channel Monica from Friends a lot of the time, just to keep people in line as much as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>I decluttered his room on Saturday and the littlest boy and I went plant shopping, then on Saturday evening he moved in, as it's much bigger than his room and has a view of fields and cows. Although his own room has a big tree outside right outside his window with resident pigeons which he is rather attached to. I did deep cleaning and it is all dust-free and sparkling. The littlest boy is on his best behaviour and temporarily committed to keeping it all lovely in there. </div><div><br /></div><div>And that feels like all the news I have for now. How is everything at your end?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-43547843598831388952022-08-14T16:39:00.001+01:002022-08-14T16:39:19.265+01:00Still waiting for a hedgehog<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl_XN7iZWAFCz_HzkhWzxVYs1AZqecmXZwqr-gg3rxGA6ERkaeumti5fZZfdlD5yRhXDolYjyj5bnN2Q_oX2zj2Ak3wopUnKuhOgWBuZKEP6f90vhbVGT918QYzPelO0wKD9BIknFedZg2Ocu8nvd5mfDw4fiBBuv5DNmPm5Rx31vSnGUjFlMzkWj/s1600/ao.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl_XN7iZWAFCz_HzkhWzxVYs1AZqecmXZwqr-gg3rxGA6ERkaeumti5fZZfdlD5yRhXDolYjyj5bnN2Q_oX2zj2Ak3wopUnKuhOgWBuZKEP6f90vhbVGT918QYzPelO0wKD9BIknFedZg2Ocu8nvd5mfDw4fiBBuv5DNmPm5Rx31vSnGUjFlMzkWj/w640-h426/ao.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPVpSAi3QMV5jTlJFqf05vFl4ZJ4x6353yhs_WpmFuKxAF1JmcHWHdF3jOfZCNG9ON9rRJcVGV7pECDojG9tqca_FKX7rVJp2_N7V49byJ440OcXzXwrd9qXUji1-wCiM_QKIaFCV_pAFVlxyrAuhlfVWBB4QmV3CHu8s7-6GqUftCPRFxjyqTHat/w640-h426/am.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo8K6fpzOevRf6YXajaIfqfko6_LdvguRUo0L79fpAdpXvgosmfxuBjkZJMwu_LJwuWq9AAmk4qbhiXtT4t5Hfptom9ocCU6tX3CrSHkHvSru6j4X4x2aYN-pz2MFviH_mrg6zGMhlsAZ7Qqb2il25rVAWJ95Ln87QyWFM2OVD6_q8be_LI6rX1oo/s1600/ay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo8K6fpzOevRf6YXajaIfqfko6_LdvguRUo0L79fpAdpXvgosmfxuBjkZJMwu_LJwuWq9AAmk4qbhiXtT4t5Hfptom9ocCU6tX3CrSHkHvSru6j4X4x2aYN-pz2MFviH_mrg6zGMhlsAZ7Qqb2il25rVAWJ95Ln87QyWFM2OVD6_q8be_LI6rX1oo/w640-h426/ay.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>More holiday snaps, if you can stand it. I remember when I was little you'd come back from holiday and invite the neighbours round for the evening to share your holiday photos, often via a projector. There was usually wine and people got a bit pink and giggly, even if it was only the Isle of Wight. </div><div><br /></div><div>The dog and I climbed half a mountain, then I decided that the rest of it would be far too difficult for him (lots of big jagged boulders) so we sat on a tussock to wait for the urchins to return. To be fair, it was a beast of a climb, and everyone said the dog wouldn't have managed it. Some people said I wouldn't have managed it too, but of course I would, I was just thinking of the dog. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ate all of my sandwiches and said hello to the other walkers who went past on their way up. An eight year old girl and a three year old boy included. A young couple came past, him striding out, being all leader-of-the-expedition, her trailing slightly and interrogating me quite hard about how far I felt it was to the top. I said I hadn't been and I wasn't going, I was sitting and waiting and enjoying the view. She said longingly that that sounded like an excellent idea. He laughed loudly and on they went. </div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently the biggest boy told the other two several times that they were almost at the top. It was one of those mountains that looks like you're almost there, but you're not. But they did it, and managed not to fall out. I've noticed that when the chips are down, they do manage not to be too dreadful to each other. Unlike other times, for example, when they are all in the (small) kitchen together trying to make lunch and cricket teas all at the same time. Oh my, did that turn ugly. I found a falafel stuffed inside the oven glove afterwards. Least said about it all the better.</div><div><br /></div><div>At home, my wildlife encouragement plans hit a slight snag when a rat wandered into the kitchen. You may recall we have already had a cat strolling round the living room, bold as brass. The middle boy and I were eating breakfast in blissful peace and quiet when there was a mad scrabbling in the kitchen from the dog. He had the rat cornered behind the bin. The middle boy escorted the dog away and I shut the rat in the kitchen temporarily while I scoured the house for things to block the escape route. It was fairly easy to shoo it back outside, where I think it is probably living under next door's decking. This is the mouse-poisoner and herbicide fanatic, so I fear things may not look good for the rat if he is discovered. The dog is rather pleased to have been upgraded from <i>purely decorative</i> to <i>chief rat warden</i>. All of a sudden he is a working dog! And we all know they have special food.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the first rat I've ever seen since living here, more than ten years now, and the day before I saw the first squirrel I've ever seen in the garden. I wonder if things are being dislodged by the drought. Did I ever tell you about the squirrel on the wires at the front of the house? It was tightrope walking all along the street. At first glance it was intriguing, so I notified the littlest boy, who adores all animals. After a while it became obvious that the poor thing couldn't get down though, and it was all horribly dangerous and after about half an hour I was really wishing I'd never pointed it out. In the end it did manage to get all the way up to the end of the street and round the corner, where the wires slope down to the ground, so we convinced ourselves that there was happy ending.</div><div><br /></div><div>I must just say thank you for all of your brilliant suggestions for entertaining older urchins over the summer. I particularly liked <a href="http://joeveryday19.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jo's</a> tip of making a list of things everyone wants to do at the start. I am definitely guilty of thinking that we'll get dozens of trips in and then realising the whole six weeks has flown by and we've barely done anything. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right now I am waiting for cooler weather and fingers crossed some heavy rain, as no doubt lots of you are too. The children have been playing cricket all weekend, which seems like madness. As I type this, a few clouds are gathering in the sky though, so I am eternally hopeful. </div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-4112361312468835282022-08-07T21:41:00.000+01:002022-08-07T21:41:03.201+01:00Green and grey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvzXqfstDMD3PrvuicUbnOv-o0FShx8L_gCHoIrMaYMXZvycvq_s_S7GIOUZWjQTYT0ecNOwg8my72hTD6IJY5UuTaX_8rHkMQtgfQCD4l_CSK1aMKsTWP7AvgWyoFTyjoB6bR3Z2vobqkxZU8XAR_GBQQscJee41SSfMSNt_4h-cHkAnKxncW8uf/s1600/ag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvzXqfstDMD3PrvuicUbnOv-o0FShx8L_gCHoIrMaYMXZvycvq_s_S7GIOUZWjQTYT0ecNOwg8my72hTD6IJY5UuTaX_8rHkMQtgfQCD4l_CSK1aMKsTWP7AvgWyoFTyjoB6bR3Z2vobqkxZU8XAR_GBQQscJee41SSfMSNt_4h-cHkAnKxncW8uf/w640-h426/ag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB547f3TGH3_oSdaw7sLVc9zZpIp0-QKVSB48hD4xedMYbaVlHW88RnY1qZYHKWJxbdqNIkjWyWP_G6gzN3iNfQY0JU9AUIZCnofUOaw1FeOseQdTPfYlROiWYMVhYAftIf4wJwjzT2cf1DmsjJ_za2ZOvywSniELQKGbbc8b31IerHzj9vNYz3-F/s1600/ak.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB547f3TGH3_oSdaw7sLVc9zZpIp0-QKVSB48hD4xedMYbaVlHW88RnY1qZYHKWJxbdqNIkjWyWP_G6gzN3iNfQY0JU9AUIZCnofUOaw1FeOseQdTPfYlROiWYMVhYAftIf4wJwjzT2cf1DmsjJ_za2ZOvywSniELQKGbbc8b31IerHzj9vNYz3-F/w640-h426/ak.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>We loaded up the dog and headed up the road to Wales last week. It was beautiful there as ever. There was even some rain. Glorious. There were ferns tucked into slate walls, sea ducks out on the estuary, mountains topped with clouds, mullet feeding in the bay in the evening, mist on the lakes in the early mornings and sheep and rabbits all over the shop.</div><div><br /></div><div>The eldest boy likes to climb mountains at sunrise and sunset, while the littlest boy likes to dig holes in sand and jump into the sea. The middle boy is easy going and likes all of it, and coffee and good food and funny conversations. Well, okay, maybe he's not a huge fan of digging holes, but he did shin up a mountain and swim in the sea. I climbed up half a mountain and looked at the sea. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the evening they played football together and I read my book and lightly policed it when it threatened to turn bickery. It was all rather blissful. And now we're back home and the garden is of course parched and the work has piled up. Not complaining though, not at all, it's all good. Well, not the climate change obviously, but I am putting out water for wildlife and doing what I can to be part of the solution etc. etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>I need to up my game and entertain the urchins a bit I think. It's very easy to think, oh, I'll work this week and do something next week, and then the weeks slip by and I realise I haven't done anything. The littlest boy has a new-to-him bike which he is loving, so we did do a bike ride today. It's hard to think of things that teenagers would all like to do together though. With their mother in tow. That doesn't involve me handing out wads of cash. Ideas gratefully received.</div><div><br /></div><div>How are things at your end? Back soon with the sorry tale of my garden bench, which I was going to tell you this time, but I couldn't bring myself to quite yet, it needs to settle a bit first. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-80663019821748088592022-07-20T16:29:00.001+01:002022-07-20T16:29:48.148+01:00Mr Beaky<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleDnMBQCF4GVu3M78xjpTV3HcErO3HM3gFGMAqTScjkt-dtKhkVm6L3G7PDokylra2-7nrrM5ads9CNMk8bYsHjUJfBRSMF_Yzr2b_bWtIGgIT-Q8uxWUaIxpII3vyODuIcH_KAroch4skeyxePnL5cbSF6O2kNLh9dCux3IJseZlB71ECEjXLGpI/s1600/aj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleDnMBQCF4GVu3M78xjpTV3HcErO3HM3gFGMAqTScjkt-dtKhkVm6L3G7PDokylra2-7nrrM5ads9CNMk8bYsHjUJfBRSMF_Yzr2b_bWtIGgIT-Q8uxWUaIxpII3vyODuIcH_KAroch4skeyxePnL5cbSF6O2kNLh9dCux3IJseZlB71ECEjXLGpI/w640-h426/aj.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdii_ms0STbzx_1-xwe-URcbodNs1nhOjzdAqEk1NMUmKaFfxKpVRCMaVI4IBd4AOcY4fbS7YwSUVk-d0OIz5cBO1riPAH5L7oZDuzPf888b2-FyXKPu18y36k9vfml9deTHGimNje0Y5eiANcRN1h677epf4vP07k0ZPzxGE2lrHyPST7JHr3Kseg/w640-h426/al.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k4umfFVNZDfVB0huSCKdzvBjhcMQN3GN8wupetWr0yTnRLZH1U_Tu4lxXxIUyudKL8i6zfEZK_PruNPyRr6wIptA3pb9IEc01CzutCjASOonlW_D31iBCX5nbL8aj7-RMfDwRWsaV18HAI-OOn7jVL6GHyKhnn6md_qIUZXpfgA0hB5PywkABwVU/s1600/am.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k4umfFVNZDfVB0huSCKdzvBjhcMQN3GN8wupetWr0yTnRLZH1U_Tu4lxXxIUyudKL8i6zfEZK_PruNPyRr6wIptA3pb9IEc01CzutCjASOonlW_D31iBCX5nbL8aj7-RMfDwRWsaV18HAI-OOn7jVL6GHyKhnn6md_qIUZXpfgA0hB5PywkABwVU/w640-h426/am.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Scenes from the garden. It's so dry out there, although by some miracle next-door's grass is a deep green and growing beautifully. I am compiling a list of environmental crimes. Complete destruction of the back lane habitat. Mouse poisoning. Unreasonable grass. He is rather opposed to anything wild or living I fear. It is very much an empty shoebox garden with just grass, not a single other plant. I am working up to having a polite conversation about it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Around the neighbourhood we are losing at least a dozen big ash trees to ash die back. The felling notices say that although there will be replanting, it will be done somewhere else. Disappointing, because some of the trees are in big open green spaces, which will then be big empty green spaces. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean to be all doom and gloom though. On this side of the garden fence there are all sorts of bees and butterflies and birds and in the other next door garden it is delightfully wild.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have had the back door open a lot. I was eating my breakfast the other day while reading and something wandered into the room, strolled around and disappeared off again. I saw it out of the corner of my eye while I was engrossed and it took a good thirty seconds for me to realise that it wasn't the dog (he was out on a walk). By the time I'd leapt up and gone to investigate, it had disappeared. I finally spotted it - a cat, sashaying back up the garden path, cool as you please. Very good job the dog wasn't at home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today has felt expensive. Food, petrol, locksmith (dodgy garage door), clothes for urchins and a head torch for the eldest who is going away and says that he thinks he will have to be active after dark. One of those days when outgoings far exceed incomings. Plus, someone is making very free with my organic cacao, which to my mind is a little luxury, to be had sparingly. </div><div><br /></div><div>I sent the middle boy out to pick the cherries, like in the olden days when time off of school was so that urchins could help with the harvest. I asked him if he felt a huge amount of homesteader satisfaction in putting provisions by for the winter. I think he was struggling to feel it to be honest. Supermarkets have ruined that sort of thing I fear.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been decluttering a little. I took an old hand puppet toy called Mr Beaky (think Emu, only with a shorter neck) to the recycling centre shop when the littlest boy wasn't around - most of this sort of toy removal has to be conducted stealthily or it will all be 'rescued' back again. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the recycling centre they have a portacabin where they hang out and all around it they have decorated with garden ornaments such as gnomes and pigs and things. Just as you drive up the slope to arrive, there is a big pole. When I went with the biggest boy, the first thing we saw was Mr Beaky perched right on top of the pole. I really must remember no to go there with the littlest boy for the foreseeable future or I shall be in all manner of trouble. I shall probably have to buy him back as well. Sigh. I had been <i>so</i> surreptitious in sneaking him out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone is cool and calm and collected out there. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-72092553509683919572022-07-10T21:25:00.003+01:002022-07-10T21:25:45.643+01:00Flying ant day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvowugGgtRZWg3kDKtH_O3cXegrUbPtBxG9-Jh7s6jirwFn2XNuvk1wfg5RlAPJYHUXJEhSoMtpSS_YS0xDVfl8fBSGvR9gcc8upZmgh8SmCi_mQlwRUeW6ENISEXFG2OP0b_xpE5TOAur1oSilL6_C6Uqy57Sc0mat2IP0s2HCVOOcoyk_8i6Rcg/s1600/ad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvowugGgtRZWg3kDKtH_O3cXegrUbPtBxG9-Jh7s6jirwFn2XNuvk1wfg5RlAPJYHUXJEhSoMtpSS_YS0xDVfl8fBSGvR9gcc8upZmgh8SmCi_mQlwRUeW6ENISEXFG2OP0b_xpE5TOAur1oSilL6_C6Uqy57Sc0mat2IP0s2HCVOOcoyk_8i6Rcg/w640-h480/ad.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O0JuC8o8kWjmMSh8TZWXdSBmbyO4jQUilwNPlNylg76A8Tm-eU97jQo6lWA7mjTuCtdPeN18nMOzFRRN1L8I0djlVnK9qtIG2M-r2xTOVzJW9wNLhEMoeBmnB9S1FROE2zlmNGIXG6UOY0pUxtLqLnx_zzdBf8Jkq4xurj3YtDHc_l3Og5hmmMJZ/s1600/ae.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O0JuC8o8kWjmMSh8TZWXdSBmbyO4jQUilwNPlNylg76A8Tm-eU97jQo6lWA7mjTuCtdPeN18nMOzFRRN1L8I0djlVnK9qtIG2M-r2xTOVzJW9wNLhEMoeBmnB9S1FROE2zlmNGIXG6UOY0pUxtLqLnx_zzdBf8Jkq4xurj3YtDHc_l3Og5hmmMJZ/w640-h426/ae.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHLmH6_nqqbvqi4UuDVFlvfHtb5fyB2yKboGAc7R84cmacFm2IJxXoOJmlgu4B7SCKGre0ZauzbVaCW7eop0ZtL1KpTB7pJS65LBIR7WQhH3mlCIjqWkv-6GXnILEQPh3JWi4xGJkPUkCi07TzJ4xiUEClywG834ixM0ed8TV4A6tr9g32MOI1YN9/s5184/af.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dog and frog" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHLmH6_nqqbvqi4UuDVFlvfHtb5fyB2yKboGAc7R84cmacFm2IJxXoOJmlgu4B7SCKGre0ZauzbVaCW7eop0ZtL1KpTB7pJS65LBIR7WQhH3mlCIjqWkv-6GXnILEQPh3JWi4xGJkPUkCi07TzJ4xiUEClywG834ixM0ed8TV4A6tr9g32MOI1YN9/w640-h426/af.JPG" title="Dog and frog" width="640" /></a></div><div> Dog and frog</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap1O0n9HVWN-GopS92t6tJZqzhO2So2DSkPmYxXYBNPNmBGRxluPvOrwkoJPIQd5h53TpSBUton6bHmkMwDPgVTYnmqLH7rtAqDpCTI55d1WQ8XOhHdpZyr3J631gYLltXWO8m1hgrade4cUn2rF9ott8THVTWn8W3YPGxQy8KVtU_q3lSLUmjlRb/s1600/ag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap1O0n9HVWN-GopS92t6tJZqzhO2So2DSkPmYxXYBNPNmBGRxluPvOrwkoJPIQd5h53TpSBUton6bHmkMwDPgVTYnmqLH7rtAqDpCTI55d1WQ8XOhHdpZyr3J631gYLltXWO8m1hgrade4cUn2rF9ott8THVTWn8W3YPGxQy8KVtU_q3lSLUmjlRb/w640-h426/ag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfbJ2wSseF4XAqosQK9I5pc9funDDI3OhiXoVM4CfZZP20MXGqS7RAT4PR7XtNLZ0Ljq_mDWAy32pS6XrH9XAQF7fkCeEV114PWsQsgn-ljl31-8jcD0YpXLIweVNYUCV_kWbxptmO6ezNnRf3xlidxwwutaHHFMZgUKPwMUO8Rf2FZGNyHmFmDj4/s1600/ai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfbJ2wSseF4XAqosQK9I5pc9funDDI3OhiXoVM4CfZZP20MXGqS7RAT4PR7XtNLZ0Ljq_mDWAy32pS6XrH9XAQF7fkCeEV114PWsQsgn-ljl31-8jcD0YpXLIweVNYUCV_kWbxptmO6ezNnRf3xlidxwwutaHHFMZgUKPwMUO8Rf2FZGNyHmFmDj4/w640-h426/ai.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZNEicfnHHNAbLjqQ32QSKAF5hoeLg6qw1TI1Mwg_te3MEMU-RYdQ3z91JgoKEBjP_tN-n7z3h1d6k7yqwG7I4YjN7Rpdb93Se3bDjGGKv0B8a_0imaUPtq2Ayi3ix7XCTNEk52zqnkdm5hNj1RY7biCO7E33KCjfnbxwoQsq37aqwEijBR9UvdB6/s1600/ah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZNEicfnHHNAbLjqQ32QSKAF5hoeLg6qw1TI1Mwg_te3MEMU-RYdQ3z91JgoKEBjP_tN-n7z3h1d6k7yqwG7I4YjN7Rpdb93Se3bDjGGKv0B8a_0imaUPtq2Ayi3ix7XCTNEk52zqnkdm5hNj1RY7biCO7E33KCjfnbxwoQsq37aqwEijBR9UvdB6/w640-h426/ah.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It was Flying Ant Day today. That hot, dry day in midsummer when suddenly all of the flying ants appear. I rescued several from the fox/hedgehog/dog water bowls that I have about the place. Also a woodlouse from the pond, which was very satisfying. The pond level is a bit low at the moment, so it must be feeling a bit more crowded in there than usual. I also need to remove some of the weed, which is growing really well. In fact, a tiny strand of it has grown to fill the whole pond, and the water lily also needs to be smaller. Or maybe I just need a bigger pond. The littlest boy is all for digging a new, bigger one, but there is a layer of rock just below the soil surface here and I haven't forgotten how hard it was to chisel out even the small pond that we have now.</div><div><br /></div><div>The garden is nicely messy and full of flying things, especially the grass which is still thick with clover and probably at least eight other flowers. The blackbirds are stuffing themselves with blueberries and the pigeons are still gorging themselves with cherries from the three trees dotted around. Still no sign of an actual hedgehog, but all in good time.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is wall-to-wall cricket here at the moment, but at least the whites are drying nicely on the line and of course it does keep the urchins mostly out of trouble for many hours. Although apparently the littlest boy knocked off the biggest boy's hat at tea yesterday, so the biggest boy took a bite out of the littlest boy's apple in retaliation and I feel that may have turned slightly ugly. I imagine they might try and tone it down a bit when I'm not there though, do you think? The middle boy has taken himself off to a different cricket club where he can be nicely distanced from the rabble that is the rest of the family.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am very aware that in less than three months the biggest boy will have gone to university (all being well). There is a list of things that need to be purchased that promises to be expensive. I am going to have to rein him in a bit I fear. He has researched the local wholefood shop near his chosen uni very thoroughly, and is also aware that he will only be able to buy anything there the day that his student loan is paid and never thereafter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I need to teach him to cook some nice cheap vegan things. I am thinking lentil things, veggie mince things, scrambled tofu and maybe something around pasta. Feeding him has always been a serious and substantial undertaking. </div><div><br /></div><div>He found an actual student kitchen in a video the other day. Apparently it was utterly horrific. I wonder if he will appreciate me more when he is knee deep in uncooked chicken, burned oven gloves and last week's lightly furred washing up. Do let me know if you have any cheap and easy vegan recipes that would do for an optimistic student. CJ xx</div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-47022916034363634222022-06-21T22:02:00.001+01:002022-06-21T22:02:53.998+01:00Summer solstice in the garden<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX6SjAyVy9yW-hti-NDVWRicZdf8-VrdCBkVrpqsA5WcVgSIUglWuqbVVpxWwGQV4Fo_Qzh8SDjGdmBM0HeLe4khb3sQ94GAEivmzjTxV7jENM2yT3no7OPB0VQeH-Ea413hYSXhAuLzqs-7WM7BJBkx3wbktuqOhVr7LX6nkIg3dH7-C_k4y3ubt/s1600/ai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX6SjAyVy9yW-hti-NDVWRicZdf8-VrdCBkVrpqsA5WcVgSIUglWuqbVVpxWwGQV4Fo_Qzh8SDjGdmBM0HeLe4khb3sQ94GAEivmzjTxV7jENM2yT3no7OPB0VQeH-Ea413hYSXhAuLzqs-7WM7BJBkx3wbktuqOhVr7LX6nkIg3dH7-C_k4y3ubt/w640-h426/ai.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXYmab4pHWJwF3gUt6RSU_FNW8ps0QZ8g9Qm5wtRed0xi7jbj45xHRF3sBCOiDbXsZvlEqp7LE2_h6VQ0B43VDfLadzX3zNo16bz1ItdN8-w5pEPAv5nT6Cg9sKBvnoX5x4SfYJHHQtYAk89uXjte9svE4B3gmovll5D-f6sgxKXVG9Frpm5PfSSZ/s1600/ap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXYmab4pHWJwF3gUt6RSU_FNW8ps0QZ8g9Qm5wtRed0xi7jbj45xHRF3sBCOiDbXsZvlEqp7LE2_h6VQ0B43VDfLadzX3zNo16bz1ItdN8-w5pEPAv5nT6Cg9sKBvnoX5x4SfYJHHQtYAk89uXjte9svE4B3gmovll5D-f6sgxKXVG9Frpm5PfSSZ/w640-h426/ap.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5Eht4JtZ_T9eE2O3xW4fR-WmdosITm02Y8akk-isFDY_AY_R5NzaDVagG-eCqO-ROC88Bz1AwWQznwUk67p7Y1d9k4_jyh38sDdHXoEu4kuSsHRynJGTcWa62-vLzmL3HxhKic2Uz2heop4Rts3jP1dp5wyvGGm7O32AkAaTWgSGu8AI5qWjLZLL/s1600/aq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5Eht4JtZ_T9eE2O3xW4fR-WmdosITm02Y8akk-isFDY_AY_R5NzaDVagG-eCqO-ROC88Bz1AwWQznwUk67p7Y1d9k4_jyh38sDdHXoEu4kuSsHRynJGTcWa62-vLzmL3HxhKic2Uz2heop4Rts3jP1dp5wyvGGm7O32AkAaTWgSGu8AI5qWjLZLL/w640-h426/aq.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I just love this time of year, love, love, love it. And yes, I know I say that every time. </div><div><br /></div><div>I pootled round the garden earlier with the dog, taking a moment to enjoy it all. I love how still it often is out there. I stood at the door in the rain at the weekend and it was magical. Summer rain is fantastic, making everything green, green, green.</div><div><br /></div><div>The clover in the grass is doing beautifully and there are bees there all day long. The wildlife pond is full of frogs and newts, it's fascinating to watch them. It really needs to be bigger. Ten times the size. Twenty! And every garden should have one. Which is also something I say all the time. But they should! </div><div><br /></div><div>I picked some yellow and white solstice flowers and lit a scented candle, just to mark the occasion. The littlest boy and I watched the sun setting behind the distant hills on the other side of the river. That was magical too. All magical! All the exclamation marks! The sun literally disappeared as we watched. Well, of course it did, but the last bit was fast. You know what I mean.</div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise today involved a bit of overwhelm. Loads of phone calls and emails and trying to get plumbers and movers and decorators and so on to do small jobs and really, not being hugely successful and trying to shoehorn work in around it all and laundry and food and garden and dog and on, as life does. I am hoping to feel a little calmer tomorrow. Or at least more organised.</div><div><br /></div><div>The toilet cistern has taken to pouring water constantly down into the toilet, which apart from being un-environmentally-friendly is a bit noisy. I am trying to view it like one of those indoor water features you can get (which actually I would probably quite like)(until it went green and had to be scrubbed). Maybe I will put some crystals about the place to add to the spiritual ambience. </div><div><br /></div><div>A plumber has said that he will come. At some stage. Maybe one afternoon. That was as much pinning down as I managed to do. I am hoping that he doesn't forget me and wondering how many afternoons need to go by before I can politely ask if he will be fitting me in soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought the fridge seemed a bit warm earlier, but I am ignoring that for now. If the worst comes to the worst I shall eat all of the ice-cream and try to formulate a plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leaving you with an outtake from the solstice flowers shot and hoping that it was a good day with you. Enjoy the summer my friends!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_V_pBhu-pBCtBulXkFnKoONMCrKchVdM6kHHvxi1kj7UXTuT7JZ0PLGpzGf8j7nhiZXKpM20pbbr-TD245eDAVlJ9cZpFRsJ13W8Jf2DrLFsynd6V5dBG8bGU8IpACi4hm-x05d91OF1CRLt8lC-lbQA1Z2-3gfoGQ_P5AdpS49jg3nyD5-h9x7R/s1600/an.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_V_pBhu-pBCtBulXkFnKoONMCrKchVdM6kHHvxi1kj7UXTuT7JZ0PLGpzGf8j7nhiZXKpM20pbbr-TD245eDAVlJ9cZpFRsJ13W8Jf2DrLFsynd6V5dBG8bGU8IpACi4hm-x05d91OF1CRLt8lC-lbQA1Z2-3gfoGQ_P5AdpS49jg3nyD5-h9x7R/w640-h426/an.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.com11