musings n waffle

It can pay to ask...

2012-02-04T12:35:00.000+01:00

My latest in a long, long line of courses in my OU studies commences today. SXN390 Science in Society project.
Mid-January notification of tutor allocation; ought not to have been problematic but it was...why?
Reason being the said tutor lives in Galway, Ireland. Beautiful place and all that. but any phone-calls would be prohibitively expensive. Seeing as this course is more dependent than most on tutor contact this information was worrying.
Typically, I had to investigate further, well why else have access to the world-wide web.
Having honed my skills over the years, I soon found out that not only was the tutor in Ireland, but specialises in Chemistry and Education. Whoa! Not promising especially as tutor also has a Ph.D.

This knowledge set the alarm bells ringing. Okay, I have no axe to grind with folk being highly educated, but I'm not including any chemistry in my project. Last year's tutor was chemistry Ph.D. as I found to my cost we were not on the same wavelength. So, I phoned learning support over a period of a week and a half without reply. In desperation, I sent an email and a lovely lady called Sue worked her magic. Today, when I logged on I found my tutor is in the Lancaster area and has listed a phone number, cell phone number and email address.
So, it pays to ask...please might I have a tutor located on mainland UK instead of one in Ireland? Thank you ever so much Sue.

Happy now!

As the weatherman said...

2012-02-03T18:46:00.000+01:00

There's a large area of high pressure over Russia, Scandinavia and central Europe. It's so large and such a heavy airmass it could stay for a while.

So, Jack Frost is here to stay for a while. Not only nipping at fingers and toes, but jamming locks and making it treacherous underfoot. On a brighter note...tis a lovely, sunny day!

Dear Mr. Weatherman, I know you have forecast snow for overnight, please let it pass by and head further inland.

Dearest OU

2012-02-02T14:51:00.000+01:00

my old friend, my old bacteria (apols Charteris) the c*ourse has not begun yet and am already at screaming pitch.
"log format is not mandatory" but "I prefer portrait orientation" we'd prefer "not to waste time trying to understand a unique format."
Yes your log is personal to you...

Oh and by the way...you know my polite request, followed up a week later by phone-call...?
It is two days to the start of my Course and I still have no tutor...

at long last

2012-01-25T13:40:00.000+01:00

MJM got together for coffee, laughter and to 'put the world to rights'...

The charity has benefited from some unwanted Christmas presents which added another £300 to the funds.
One is a tea/breakfast collection from us which is to be raffled next month. Am still puzzling why we received it as our friends know we only keep tea for visitors; neither of us would drink it by choice.
M is busy knitting chicks and the other M is tasked with adding their beaks. M's friend in Orkney posted a parcel to her; and as both Ms were out it was left with us. Turns out is contained creme eggs, hundreds of them as fillers for the knitted chicks.

I really ought to pick up my knitting again soon...

Have been browsing the Lowry theatre website looking for musicals. Starlight Express returns in June; hope I can convince my theatre-going friend to see it again.

Eventful...

2012-01-22T11:36:00.000+01:00

My school friends and I are of a 'certain generation' and this year sees another milestone in our lives.
God-daughter is excellent at planning and organising. Knowing of the approaching milestone, she began planning last July and it all came to fruition on January 20th.

Her Dad is well-accustomed to public speaking and being Master of Ceremonies.

Between them they convinced my friend that she was being taken to Scotland to celebrate her birthday.

Standing on the left of this photo is my friend and focus of the celebrations.

H grandmother to my god-daughter who greeted me with 'You must join the family table'.

In any gathering there has to be one with the mulligrubs.

Too old to be with the younger children, but, not old enough to party with the older teens.

Time it was...

2012-01-14T22:05:00.000+01:00

I have a photograph from twenty years ago...

Grey showing in his beard has become white and so has his hair. I gave up perming my hair when I retired 10 years ago.
Wishing Happy Birthday to my bff who has her birthday on Monday...

This

2012-01-14T13:12:00.000+01:00

was going to be yet another forray into sadness, bitter-sweet times past. Then I ventured into Facebook to find one of my OU and click of the mouse friends had put up some photos.
Thanks to Susan England for giving me permission to borrow from her set of photos.

A long, long time ago before colour photography became commonplace, let alone the marvels of digital imagery, I visited Coventry cathedral as part of a youth group. I remember the awe in the truest sense of the word when I first set eyes upon the tapestry.

Graham Sutherland tapestry

The city of Coventry was blitzed in WWII. Amongst the devastation was the ancient cathedral. As with other blitzed cities a decision was made to incorporate the old with the new.

This year marks the cathedral's Golden Jubilee.

January

2012-01-12T22:16:00.001+01:00

Two-faced Janus
Harbinger of sorrows
Memories of departed friends and family.

Why must you haunt the year's beginnings?

Birthday month riddled with deaths.
One by one the days arrive,
Each with a death tag...

Birthday month for self and friends.
Why must death drown out all celebrations?

'Come, celebrate with us!'
Celebration?
Not for this traveller; locked in an enduring embrace with her ghosts.

@2012

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T11:50:00.000+01:00

One of my friends with grandson #2

Little Sweetie another friend's daughter

With her mother and brother.

Looking back...

2012-01-06T11:21:00.000+01:00

In the news today I came across a couple of health stories

Whooping cough cases increase
Rickets

I had whooping cough when I was young, but no idea at what age. Must have been pre-school and what a nasty illness it was. Lying in bed, under a sheet, blankets and eiderdown. Finding it difficult to breathe, no recollection of seeing the doctor, but house visits were no problem for doctors then. So, I must have been very young and no doubt was visited by the doctor.

"Cases increased from 421 in 2010 to 1,040 in 2011,"

This is not the place to go into details of the illness itself; suffice it to say that it was most unpleasant.
A comfortable memory of that time was when I was well enough to get out of bed. Sitting in the bedroom chair wrapped in the eiderdown in front of a coal fire. Then, of course there was the treat of eating semolina pudding as that was food for 'invalids'.

If rickets is on the increase then that is a worrying development. It's classified as a Dickensian illness; something 'cured' by the Victorians. Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin. Apparently, children are spending too much time indoors.

Cue nostalgia...I've been reading Paul Feeney's book "A 1950s Childhood". (Kindle e-reader). So, dear reader, if you are of similar 'vintage' to me...it's a must read.

First Monday 2012

2012-01-03T13:33:00.000+01:00

Sayre of Sayre smiles writes
"Christmas is over and now the process of changing over to a new year is in progress. It's a time for looking back and looking forward (hence the name January - for Janus, the God who looked to the past and the future). For this First Monday I'd like to hear about one accomplishment from the past year, and one thing you want to accomplish in 2012!"

Accomplishment...

"I am pleased to confirm that you have satisfied the requirements for the Diploma in Geosciences of the Open University"

In the future? tba

One of my friends is a talented artist who for the past few years has been working in stained glass.

I just had to share this with you...
It looks like banded agate...tho' it isn't...
So what is the pendant composed of? Stained glass, designed and made for me by my friend as a birthday present and to celebrate my diploma.

Gate of the Year

2011-12-31T10:23:00.001+01:00

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,

"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."

And he replied, "Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way."

May that Almighty Hand guide and uphold us all.

“He'll be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

Quotations from C.S.Lewis

“Safe?" said Mr. Beaver."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

Dark days dwindle into the past; taking with them friends who are no more...
Each year Christmas and birthday cards become fewer...tempus fugit. But I shall not turn this post into maudlin memories. Far better to concentrate on new beginnings...

That is what I wrote last year, and it's unfortunately even more appropriate now.
As the Christmas card list shortens and the memories (tristesse) are summoned by the turn of the year.
Farewell my dear friends, I cherish memories of times that can be no more.
How long will it be, I wonder, before the folk missing from the list exceed the list itself?

an homage to the season

2011-12-26T15:24:00.000+01:00

2011-12-26T14:17:00.000+01:00

Christmas Day has been and gone, lovely, peaceful just 'being'. With the warm weather the Lenten roses (hellebores) are coming into flower. So fragile looking yet promising of Spring.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T11:21:00.000+01:00

Autumn in December

2011-12-13T11:53:00.001+01:00

mixed

2011-12-10T21:56:00.000+01:00

Today was M(1)s birthday (65), so M(2) decided she must not spend it alone. She hatched a plan, getting M(1) to take her to the library before it closed at noon, and asking me to play chauffeur.
I collected them at 12.30 and we headed for a pub lunch. This was followed by a trip to a nearby garden centre for refreshments. We had a good look round and found a craft outlet. So yours truly purchased a crochet hook to do Tunisian crochet (something I've wanted to learn for a while).
Everyone was in typical silly mood as is out wont so much fun was had by all.
M(2) still does not like the Christmas fracas, and announced triumphantly that she'd bought stamps to send her cards and they were ordinary, not the special grumble-time ones. I bought a couple of calendars, one of the Snowdon area for Dutch friends who live in Belgium and another for our 'twitcher' neighbour.
Then I was berated (jokingly) for having a birthday on a Bank holiday, making celebration on that precise day problematic. As I said, I was well aware of it having got used to a birthday that is always a Bank holiday with no chance of anything arriving by post on the day. So, it was resolved we'd agree to go for a meal some time later next month.

the Gas man cometh

2011-12-07T12:37:00.000+01:00

Flanders and Swann sang comical ditties of their own composition and this is one of my favourites.

So, what has got me remembering this?
On one of his intermittent visits 'north' our neighbour arrived last weekend to find no power in the house. He arrived at our door, torch in hand to ask for help. OH dutifully went with him to see what could be done. Result? Power back on but no heating. Next day a shivering H was huddled by a log fire but his house remained cold.

OH suggested he:

head back south to his (warmer) other house
phone the gas people
arrange for them to visit
give them our details and OH would do the necessary when they arrived.

Neighbour has a repair.maintenance contract with them and emailed us the details.
So, this morning I want shopping for groceries whilst OH waited in for the gas man. What a pleasant surprise when I returned to find their van parked outside. OH soon returned with good news, gas supply checked and approved, boiler and pump inspected. Pump declared faulty and replaced. Central heating checked out and fully functioning once more. Success!

First Monday DECEMBER 5TH

2011-12-05T11:33:00.000+01:00

Sayre says "It seems like everyone celebrates something in December.

For the next FIRST MONDAY, tell me about what you celebrate, how you celebrate, and what your favorite tradition is during your holiday season."

"Lighten our darkness we beseech Thee oh Lord!"

Counting down not just to Christmas, but to the shortest day...and looking forward to days lengthening once more.

I'm looking forward to seeing M's nativity figures which will soon be on display. Note...the crib always remains empty until Christmas Day. Today, this is my favourite tradition, also seeing the Nativity scene that is on display in a nearby shopping centre.

Sadly, the Clitheroe Nativity scene I remember as a child and which was always a Christmas Delight has been targeted regularly since 2007 by mindless morons...figures have been stolen...It is doubtful whether the display will be put on in future...

On a brighter note...
Music!!!
Carols! Particularly Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols...

K9s

2011-12-04T14:23:00.000+01:00

Those were the days

2011-11-30T21:27:00.000+01:00

The media is alive with comment about strike action today. 'Public service workers' withdrew their labour. Just who are 'public service workers'?
Health service, customs n excise, border agency, toll booth operators at river crossings, not forgetting education staff...et al.
Yet, for whom is all the bad press and vilification reserved...the teachers.

Plus ca change...plus la meme chose...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T15:07:00.000+01:00

Loyal toast...the Queen, Duke of Lancaster!

2011-11-27T11:32:00.000+01:00

Lancashire Day allows us the opportunity to declare that we are proud to be Lancastrians.

The Lancashire Day proclamation will be read out by town criers throughout the county on 27th November.

Lancashire Day commemorates the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament by King Edward I of England to attend what later became known as The Model Parliament.

knitted toys...

2011-11-26T19:50:00.000+01:00

knitting Santa and the Frosties

2011-11-25T20:32:00.000+01:00

Santa close-up

Santa and his sack complete with toy soldier and his companions Mr n Mrs Frosty

The knitting is finished for 2011.

Next week these characters will go to be part of the fund raising at the hospital.

Happy Thanksgiving...

2011-11-24T17:29:00.000+01:00

∩ │◥███◣ ╱◥███◣
╱◥◣ ◥████◣▓∩▓│∩ ║
│╱◥█◣║∩∩∩ ║◥█▓ ▓█◣
││∩│ ▓ ║∩田│║▓ ▓ ▓∩ ║

•°*”˜˜”*°• From my house to your house •°*”˜˜”*°•
•°*”˜˜”*°•Happy Thanksgiving to All My American friends•°*”˜˜”*°• ♥ ♥

Borrowed from one of my click of the mouse friends...

Tis that time again...

2011-11-23T11:29:00.000+01:00

Three Paddingtons

One Santa and Mr n Mrs Frosty ready for raffling/sale for charity.

Santa has already been to the library and was much admired. One Paddington has already gone to be raffled.

Christmas 'ends' on Monday when the knitted toys are collected and we begin to plan for Easter. I've found a pattern for Little Bo-Peep to try out.

My friend's daughter

2011-11-20T11:58:00.001+01:00

lives an adventurous life...
I remember her a as little toddler...she's grown up to become a mountain skills instructor and member of a Mountain rescue team. The collies are SARD...search and rescue dogs.
Today there was a story about a rescue by the team. This sparked my curiosity. Last time I talked with her mother, she said her daughter had left teaching to go into outdoor pursuits full-time. So a quick search led me to seeing how her life has changed. I'm so proud of her.

Armistice day, Armistice day

2011-11-11T09:54:00.001+01:00

that's all I really wanted to say....
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country'.

words

2011-11-08T23:14:00.001+01:00

Until something happens it's all to easy to take reading for granted. How fortunate was I to grow up in a world of books and stories. Bedtime stories in particular were a rare treat. I heard folk tales such as 'why the sea is salt' and stories by the brothers Grimm. At Junior school we began with the now none pc Janet and John.
My favourite time of the school day was reading hour. Then came the day when I was so deep in a book that a board duster landed on my desk and broke my concentration! It was a teacher I liked, but somehow I could never forgive that rude awakening.
Moving on the grammar school when the head was our English teacher. Her oft repeated phrase..."First, we shall have bread and butter, then we shall have cake".
Meaning? Parsing nouns, pronouns adverbs and adjectives...English grammar...
That was the 'bread and butter.'
So, what was the 'cake'? Homer's Odyssey...And how old were we? 11
We had library time and I worked my way thro' legends of Greece and Rome. Then a friend mentioned some books by Tolkien and I was as they say 'hooked'. I saved up week after week. Went to a book-store miles away to purchase the books one after another.

Grammar school introduced me to Latin. I stood no chance with it as my mother decided it was 'useless'.
Then we got a new male teacher and my friend showed me how to write very, very tiny writing. Success! We noted the words for the spelling test on postage-stamp size pieces of paper. And, when asked our score loudly proclaimed 'SEX'. That being the Latin for six.

Moving on many years towards the end of my career... Stress and anxiety, such innocent sounding words. But, their toll lasted many years. How distressing to be unable to read and take in what you are reading... Reading phrases and sentences time after time without taking anything in. To a bibliophile that's a 'death knell'.

It's taken years, but reading is a skill I'm so happy to have regained once more. Having an e-reader is a delicious treat...

Thankful

2011-11-07T11:16:00.000+01:00

As Sayre says, "November is a month to recognize the things you are thankful for in your life - including the people who are serving our country. Tell us what you are thankful for!"

One of my favourite hymns from long ago...

"Thank you for every for every new good morning

Thank you for every fresh new day"

Sacrifice

November is the month to be thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Another verse says

"Thank you, oh Lord, I want to thank you, that I'm free to thank"

This resonates in these troubled times; having just read "The bookseller of Kabul" by Agne Seirstad and "My forbidden face" by Latifa.

Companionship
Canine companions say nothing, yet speak volumes...
OH drives me mad; yet keeps me sane...
The two Ms and our coffee afternoons...
God-daughter.
Long time friends from school days.
Not forgetting my click of the mouse friends.

Learning and education...particularly the Open University and the friends I have made thro' my studies and on-line meetings.

To read more please pop over to Sayre smiles...

borrowed

2011-11-06T13:14:00.000+01:00

A long-time friend has recently returned from holiday in China. Hoping she won't mind if I share some of her photos with you.

open wide

2011-11-01T12:06:00.000+01:00

Once every six months a visit to the dentist is scheduled. Today was the day. A short walk up the road, a signature on a form, wait to be called into the surgery. Our new dentist is from Romania, her name is Indian. She told OH she loves her job having spent lots of time in her dad's surgery since she was about four years old.
An x-ray later, the news is 'receding gums' and gel on a particular tooth with instructions not to eat/drink anything for half an hour.
Then memories stir as I think back to my experiences over the years.
1950s the one size fits all solution was extraction. It was commonplace for women to have all their teeth removed during pregnancy. My mother had dentures.
There was no notion of regular visits to the dentist. People went when in pain. One time I went and mother was told my front (milk) teeth were full of abscesses. So, no anaesthetic and I had them removed. Because I had been 'good' the dentist gave me sweets on the way out.

So for what seemed like forever I had speech problems, 's' in particular.
1950s - 1960s and the school dentist gave me nightmares! Extractions under gas and a rubber mask forced over nose and mouth; but I couldn't hold my breath long enough and the sickly gas rushed into my lungs. That's when I learnt to intercept the appointment card as it came thro' the letterbox and after a while they ceased.
1970s and at long last a good dentist recommended by a friend who had been at Leeds Uni with him. Mr Cross had come first in his year, his wife was nurse/receptionist. Both were gentle friendly souls. So now I visited the surgery regularly and the ravages of previous years were undone.
1970s away from home and still returned to visit Mr Cross.
1980s and another dentist this time in Woolton, another lovely person, so reassuring. But, without warning he sold up and retired. The guy that took over came as a nasty shock, rude and impersonal, he only wanted private patients. I lost patience with him and left.
So, no dentist...and I'd noticed a surgery a few minutes walk away. I've been with them ever since. But since the original partner left, there have been a series of other dentists one after another. African, Polish and now Indian/Romanian. It's gone from Mr W and Mr B to being part of another company. Mr B remains, but sees only private patients.

Roses

2011-10-29T11:11:00.000+02:00

One of the M's has been planning replacements for some of her rosebushes. She phoned local garden centres and was dismayed by the lack of variety coupled with high prices.
A web search later and I discovered a specialist rose grower in Cheshire.
Yesterday was wall-to-wall sunshine, so we took her to the rose-grower and their garden centre.

We sat in the café and discussed roses with the help of a catalogue. This time of year they supply bare rooted plants. Then we strolled round the garden centre, where OH found a variegated azalea M wanted. Next we went to the order department and put in two separate orders. We ought to be able to collect them mid to late November.
M and I love highly scented roses, M chose floribundas, a couple of hybrid teas and a climber. We went for Hybrid teas and a climber.

meandering

2011-10-26T22:35:00.002+02:00

I ought to have gone with B to see Top Hat, but OU studies got in the way. She phoned to say it had not been a memorable performance and could we have a day out together soon? I wanted to go to Culcheth to Black Sheep Wools to see what I could find. One way and another it meant Tuesday is the best day for B to go out.
Typically I got lost time and again and before you ask...no GPS and no navigation system apart from map reading.
As B said 'We have a tongue in our heads, let's ask someone' who did we find? the local postie, best route finder there is.
So we found and investigated the place, decided it was a one-off but at least I got a pattern I'd been seeking. Then we had lunch in a local pub...it was delicious and a bargain price.

sunny day but...

2011-10-22T19:01:00.000+02:00

One of the M's has been what we've dubbed 'Orkneyed' for the past fortnight. People she's known a long, long time who live in Orkney. They tend to stay in this area a couple of times a year and insist upon taking M with them for days out. It means she has little time to herself apart from continuing visits to hospital consultants, doctor and chemist. The 'Orkneys' have headed North, first to Durham and onwards from there.
However, no sooner had they gone than M was told to expect a visit from I'n'J (yesterday). Our phone rang earlier on too early for M, yet it was her. All the to-ing and fro-ing is taking its toll especially as I'n'J failed to turn up. So she's fit for nothing today.

routine

2011-10-21T11:22:00.000+02:00

Friday, bin day and this week it's all of them; red. blue and grey. So, one of the M's does her own and M next door. And, when our dogs remind us the bins have been emptied one or both OH and I return the emptied bins.
Today I went and met one of the M's so we had a nice chat. Another part of the routine and a most welcome one. She's tired out as visitors from Orkney have been staying locally and insisting on taking her hither and thither. They're northward-bound today and M was looking forward to her weekly visit by the hairdresser followed by peace, quiet and time to herself...
However, there's been a phone-call and two other people have 'promised' to descend on her!

As for me? The delivery man has dropped off sacks of dog food and a sack of sunflower seed hearts (bird food). I've settled back in my chair with a cappuccino waiting for the last of the bins to be emptied and to return them to their rightful properties.
Just one little niggle...shingles pain has returned as it does now and again. It was summer 2006 when shingles attacked yet the pain...post shingles neuralgia...has continued spasmodically ever since.

tasty

2011-10-18T19:33:00.000+02:00

On reading Diary of a teacher, I noted that she made soup from roasted tomatoes and onions, so I followed her example.
Out came the halogen oven, perfect for roasting veg when only doing a fairly small quantity. The result with addition of potatoes, water and Worcester sauce was very moreish. One to remember for the future.
Sadly, the tomato plants are coming to an end, even in the greenhouse.

Before the month ends, my friend has her three score years birthday! Problem...what to buy? The weather is dreadful, squalls of wind and rain, not the sort to venture out in, so I took recourse online...perused Debenhams and made my choice. Now it's fingers crossed it arrive in time.

In March

2011-10-17T16:06:00.001+02:00

I relaxed and enjoyed the craic in Dublin.
This last weekend my dearest friends spent a long weekend there.

They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary (a short while ago)...and now she has a new wedding ring.

it's all in the words

2011-10-16T11:54:00.000+02:00

I love crochet and knitting and have collected far more patterns than anyone could make up in a number of lifetimes! One of my click of the mouse friends in the US has posted a photo of her crochet and someone has asked her for the pattern.
So why my title 'it's all in the words'?
Let me attempt to explain...

When I knit I work right-handed as this was the way I was taught as a young child. I used to go across the 'backs' from our terraced house to the one opposite where a neighbour showed me how to knit and purl. The needles were short and the wool red. From then on I taught myself over the years, and by my teens was doing Aran patterns. Later I tried Fair Isle and Intarsia. Kaffe Fassett, Rowan patterns.

Crochet was something I discovered in my teens and as most do became good at making 'grannie squares'. However, this time I was self-taught and did everything left-handed. Working my way thro' the various stitches and combinations...

Now there are numerous patterns on the Internet, and this is where confusion arises... abbreviations are many and varied enough in English patterns, try some with US conventions and...??? Suddenly it's a new language especially in crochet...

This is when symbols mean more than words and are much clearer.

Sizing? UK modern is in mm, traditional UK is different and so too the US.
Size 3mm aka 11 aka? no not at all in the US.
Yarn? double knitting aka worsted; Aran aka fisherman/medium...

weekending

2011-10-10T18:48:00.000+02:00

weekend special

2011-10-07T09:31:00.000+02:00

This guy is the focus of the weekend...a truly special time

Notice, I didn't use the word 'little' as he's a hefty guy!

Here's his Daddy

Autumn favourite?

2011-10-06T12:58:00.000+02:00

for me it has to be my quirky photo

Man and dogs wandering into the blue across Autumn moorland...

2011-10-05T20:44:00.001+02:00

Sayre asked what do people crave when the weather gets cooler? I'm late joining in; but it's such a good topic, I didn't want to let it slip by.

Agreeing with Sayre, yes cooler weather is soup weather especially when there's a glut of tomatoes.

Tiny Vittoria tomatoes...goodness what a lot of them and they keep on coming

Home-grown onions

It's also time for casseroles...and

Not forgetting apples, eaters and baking varieties. Perfect for making crumble. Home-made crumble usually turned out more like shortcake biscuits...

Now with my halogen oven the crumble is just that, lovely and crumbly. Make the filling and crumble topping as usual; the only difference is to wrap it in foil before putting the dish on the low rack. Halogen ovens cook very quickly. It took a bit of trial and error, hence saying use the low rack. I added some pear to the apple, no need to add any sugar to the fruit.

Fall colours

2011-10-05T14:33:00.001+02:00

Apologies for not posting yesterday. At long last I've completed my course for this year, but it meant not doing anything else but focus on the final project yesterday.

A big Thank You to Faye at Summit Musings!

Pyracanthus - so many berries this year. Some say a hard winter is in prospect; I hope not.

Autumn sunlight?

2011-10-03T11:22:00.000+02:00

We've had much of it , more than usual, until today that is! Today is as they say 'overcast', time to borrow from my archives...

I love the colours in this sky...

No, your eyes are not deceiving you...I slanted the image deliberately.

continuing the meme - Nature close-ups

2011-10-02T18:51:00.000+02:00

October flowers and fruit

Sedum

Strawberry ripening in October

October rose

early Fall landscapes

2011-10-01T15:10:00.000+02:00

The latest challenge from the lovely Faye at Summit Musings...
As we're experiencing a 'little summer' rather than the first weeks of Autumn and as here in the UK we don't tend to go overboard on the changing seasons...

Ornamental grasses are growing well...
So, to get anything resembling a Fall landscape...

Here's an autumnal tree at sunset...

Fall fun?

2011-09-30T15:12:00.000+02:00

OH is busy gardening as tho' it were summer, yet is planting spring bulbs for neighbour. I know Joy is having fun as she's been very busy in her kitchen making all sorts of goodies from an assortment of garden produce.
So, what about my Fall Fun?

More apples? Still one or two zucchini?

Hoping the late sunshine and warm temperatures ripen the rest of the tomatoes.

Taking advantage of the weather to dry washing on the line in the sunshine!

summer?

2011-09-29T18:15:00.000+02:00

Summer in Autumn, an Indian Summer also known as St. Martin's summer. Typical of the last week in September and warmer than usual this year. Hence we have apples and apple blossom on some trees and I picked a few strawberries.
Warm balmy weather ...

And this is where a borrow a picture from a friend...

keeping up with Faye?

2011-09-27T16:40:00.000+02:00

Today's photo challenge is Fall decorations and this is where for a few days I'm going to come a cropper as the saying goes. Why? I'm across the pond and we don't tend to do much decoration at this time of year.
So apologies all round, but I'm going off on a tangent then at least I'm trying to keep up.

Mrs Blackbird had her nest inside the interwoven stems of our climbing roses. The roses have lost their leaves and so the nest is revealed. OH trained the roses horizontally along the workshop. From there other branches headed skywards so the whole area was full of blooms throughout the summer.

Weather for soup?

2011-09-26T19:58:00.000+02:00

Over the past week or so there's been so many ripe tomatoes that soup-making seemed a good idea. However, I learnt the hard way years ago that too much of a good thing can have side-effects. I now make vegetable soup with a high proportion os tomatoes in it rather than mostly tomatoes otherwise I might have an allergic reaction.

Home-grown tomatoes, onions and courgette make a good soup base.

topsy turvy

2011-09-25T18:55:00.000+02:00

Oops who posted fruits yesterday instead of today!
So here's some autumn flowers...

Autumn pansies - heart's ease

Fuchsias still in flower

I think this is pieris

Click into Autumn mf

2011-09-24T16:38:00.000+02:00

Bramley apple

Ballerina apples

Click into Autumn

2011-09-23T17:56:00.000+02:00

Here is the Challenge......from Faye of Summit Musings
September 23rd is the beginning of Autumn so, to celebrate this most gorgeous time of the year, I thought it would be fun to host the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge. Look around you as you go about your daily lives the next two weeks and see if you can capture the magic of autumn with your camera.

Safely gathered in...part of this year's onion crop

access versus inaccessibility

2011-09-22T16:36:00.000+02:00

One of my close friends and neighbours does remarkably well despite her 'visual handicap'. Or as she would prefer me to say Blindness. Hardly a day goes by without her encountering people who seem unable to cope with what being blind means. From the store assistant to public service worker all have a blind-spot where blindness is concerned.
The next round of tax assessments has a deadline for the end of the month...M contacted the DWP by phone to find out which form was needed. Okay, she now knew the form, but how to get one? Reply from the DWP 'we no longer publish print copies'. But you can get it from such n such website. M can no longer use a computer. Reply from the DWP go to an internet café or try your local library. The mind boggles at the stupidity of the DWP representative! Tax is vexing, it is also private data that no-one wants to have broadcast publicly.
Hence I've been on-line, downloaded and printed what she needed. One copy of the instructions and a loose copy of the form. Another friend does the form filling.
I can't help it...am seething at the institutionalised ignorance in everyday life.

Movies that make you think

2011-09-21T11:31:00.000+02:00

Jesus Christ Superstar - the early 70s when I saw more films than ever before! My room mate and I were in digs and a short bus ride away there was college; and also a fabulous cinema which is now a supermarket. JCS was an amazing film, like no other seen before with David Essex in starring role. The audience left afterwards in awed silence...
The Way We Were...a lovely weepy film with memorable music; starring the gorgeous Robert Redford.
Spool thro' the years, and it was not until the likes of Harry Potter and the LOTR trilogy that I began cinema going again. I enjoyed the Potty Harry films and adore LOTR; but then the latter has been part of my life in book form, followed by tape cassette, video cassette, DVD and now Kindle edition for many years.
Fantasy films, enchanting scenery and music ... what else? I viewed them in Dublin!

Many thanks to Sayre for rendering first aid and putting life back into Fun Monday.

Autumn

2011-09-15T13:58:00.000+02:00

or as friends in the US would say 'Fall'... Time to have to wipe the car windows before setting off as they drip with condensation. A beautiful day, foggy in some places, but as the sun climbs in the sky it clears away all traces. Then there's a slight chill to the air even in the sunshine. A time for memories...perhaps because for many years the beginning of September was also the start of the Autumn term. No more netball, but hockey instead. Running circuits of the hockey pitches to warm-up before the lesson began. Three pitches side-by-side and you have to go around the outside, no cutting corners. Boots caked in mud and a divil to clean...dashing thro' cold communal showers at the end of the game; no toiletries apart from talc and deodorant.
Remembering the long walk to school in the Autumn sunshine, viewing a temperature inversion shown by clouds as taught to us in a recent geography lesson. Looking ahead at the view of Pendle that dominates the area for miles around.
As Autumn progressed more and more leave dropped from the trees. So many copper beeches and tree-lined avenues. Oh what fun to kick your way thro' tumbled leaves!

Just an ordinary day?

2011-09-12T20:01:00.002+02:00

Awaken, get up and dressed then let the dogs out into the garden. Feed them. Yes, they have two meals per day. In fact quite a lot of the day revolves around them.
Guess who forgot something quite important! Tomatoes! In fact going to open the greenhouse door wide every morning, checking on the toms, feeding/watering them and harvesting the newly ripened ones!
I'm coming to the end of my studies for this year (February to October inclusive). Things are rather fraught as I have 2000 words to find for a report. Then there's a series of web pages to construct using an antiquated user unfriendly program with the unlikely name of Web Wizard. It's a course about the environment and my topic is Fracking (hydraulic fractioning). I've given myself till the end of the week to complete the report.
So, after breakfast I settle down to read, make notes and think thro' the project. After a couple of hours it's time to let the dogs out to as my friend M says 'make them comfortable. Settling back to my studies until about 2.30 pm... Now it's time for their 'constitutional' an old-fashioned term meaning to go for a walk. I put their leads and OH goes our with them. Suddenly there's peace and quiet...time to use the vacuum cleaner without being challenged by z-dog who seems to think it needs a 'seeing to'.
The threesome return...all noise and bustle.

Almost forgot to say "Thank you" to Sayre for posting the topic. She very kindly gave everyone another opportunity to take part in Fun Monday.

freshers

2011-09-04T10:39:00.001+02:00

B has gone to uni in Scotland and this week is Freshers Week. Time for stirring memories to the surface...
Spool back some 40 years and I left home for college.
What a contrast...B was chauffeured by her Dad from door to door.
I went by bus. No car only as Dad would say 'Shank's pony'.
The journey took 3 hours as the bus zig-zagged west and then south; one that these days is 40 mins door-to-door.
B has her cell phone and laptop and uni will have internet access as standard for students.
In my day correspondence was by letter and I wrote regularly to friends and family. No phone at home only at Dad's work so he'd phone once a week. How I treasured hearing his voice!
Contrast today's student in constant touch with her social networks.

interconnectivity

2011-09-02T19:21:00.001+02:00

Earlier in the year I received an email from someone trying to get in touch. Being rather wary of 'bolts from the blue' I mulled it over before replying. Months passed and no other contact so it went to the back of my mind as such things do.
August and another email this time with more detail - the daughter of a friend of my father, who'd been best man at his wedding. So now my curiousity piqued. Sent replies and received none, but the correspondent had set a deadline for the end of August.
Time to practise web searches and I found some details, address and phone number that seemed to fit the bill. Phoned the other week and no answer, so I determined to have one last go and then forget about it.
August 31st and I phoned the number...someone answered...but the connection kept failing. Tried by landline and 'success' she was who she said she was!
Yesterday evening she phoned and we spent over an hour chatting.
So now my very sparse personal history has fewer gaps...
And still her words resound in my consciousness...

hmm

2011-08-26T21:13:00.000+02:00

Schools no longer teach Home Economics nor Domestic Science but something called Food Technology. Supermarket shelves 'groan' with relatively cheap unhealthy foodstuffs. Few have the time or inclination to read labels. They home in on the latest adverts for easy ready this and fast that, urged on by the pester power of their offspring.
I knew one family whose Mother 'lived on' cigs and coffee. Their dad was away at sea for weeks on end. Okay so she 'cooked without salt' but...food prep began soon after the elder two went to school. Potatoes peeled, cut and left in a pan of water until the end of the school day. Her favourite foods for the kids was sausage rolls and crisps.
Then there's a neighbour (male) who exists on microwave meals from a 'top end' supermarket. Yet, his elder brother who moved to S. Africa some eight years ago is a chef.

I'm no health or diet fanatic (heaven forfend)! But, in recent weeks I have begun to read food labels to compare level and types of sugars, amount and types of fat content. Why? Because I have friends who are diabetic.

new term - new uniform

2011-08-24T11:36:00.000+02:00

As stores and TV stations rev up in the hope of increased sales, it's time for the annual expense known as school uniform.

How things change! Today, supermarkets vie with each other to offer value deals on uniforms. Harassed parents with truculent or excited offspring in tow scour the isles.

Yesteryear when I left Junior school and headed for Grammar school things were a lot different. A letter arrived detailing what had to be worn and where to buy from. No supermarkets in those days. Instead we crossed the threshold of one of the most expensive dress shops and headed up stairs.
Colours - navy and gold, not yellow. Navy blazer (wool) with school crest badge to be sewn on at home. White cotton blouses, navy v-neck jumper (wool) Knife-pleated skirt and gabardine raincoat.
Oh the effort that went into pressing those knife pleats to keep them 'just so'! How happy we were when in our second year they brought out Courtelle blouses in blue or gold. No need to starch them and far more comfortable to wear. They were warmer in winter than cotton.
Not forgetting sports wear - must have hockey boots and plimsolls (no training shoes in that era) and a wrap around games skirt. The letter even detailed undergarments. Shoes and socks too had to be regulation.
Girls in the Lower and Upper 3rd were only allowed to wear knee-socks or ankle-socks. Stockings and suspender belts were for Upper Fourth onwards.
We made our summer uniform skirts in needlework lessons. Pale blue poplin 3 yards of 36 inch wide material; to be made into a hand-gathered and mostly hand-sewn skirt with 3-inch waistband.
How we envied the sixth form whose skirts were made the same way but in delicious coral or marine blue.

What provoked this blast from the past? Two things Sayre of Sayre Smiles shared a photo of her son in his school uniform. How cool and casual his apparel looks.
Then this morning an article in a newspaper caught my eye. 'School skirt ban'

It seems that in order to focus more on studies and less on the rebellious nature of teenage girls the school skirt has been omitted from many uniform lists.

And to think that at one time, girls had skirts, dresses or shorts no trousers. That is until the advent of the trouser suit. My first was a three-piece - jacket, trousers and matching skirt. Hooray for designers like Mary Quant and their influence...but that's another story!

To think that there are prestigious schools today whose pupils still wear uniform – breeches, yellow socks like those worn 450 years ago!

all aboard the charabanc!

2011-08-22T21:00:00.000+02:00

charabanc [[shar]-rab-banɡ] a coach for sightseeing taken from the French meaning a wagon with seats
A word I came across long ago, sometimes used by my father. Now according to the Collins dictionary it's obsolete. Yet, to my father a charabanc was part of his childhood. A horse-drawn wagon with slatted sides and seats. Later, the word took on a similar meaning 'to go out for the day' this time by old-fashioned coach.
When there were far fewer vehicles on the roads and to have a car was unusual, days out were by coach. Sometimes we took a packed lunch, or hoped to find a café.
An early start and walk to the railway station, not to take the train but to board the charabanc.

second Thursday in August

2011-08-18T21:23:00.000+02:00

is 'results day' for 'A' level examinees. Similarly, the third Thursday in August is GCSE results. Every year there's the same hype. Results are always 'better than' previous years. News stories about the results follow a similar pattern. They focus on the 'achievers' with their great results, their A* and collections of high grades.

But what about the ones who do not achieve? If I dredge thro' the vaults of memory, I was never an 'achiever' but I have empathy which is a better skill than any results record can confer. Then there's patience and stickability.

As Lord Chesterfield said...
"Wear your learning like a watch and do not pull it out merely to show you have it. If you are asked for the time, tell it; but do not proclaim it hourly unasked."

going back in time

2011-08-14T11:50:00.002+02:00

Found out that one of my on-line friends used to be a librarian we contrasted today's libraries with times past.

1905 erected by Andrew Carnegie...so reads the inscription in stone on the front of the Clitheroe (Free) Library.

© Copyright John S Turner and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

I have no idea how old I was when I first crossed its threshold, but I went there numerous times. I dread to think what it has become! July 2011 marked the 21st year since the library was refurbished.
"Clitheroe Library was built in 1905, with money from the Carnegie Trust. The original gold key used for the opening is now in the Clitheroe Castle Museum. Previously a library had been run from the front room of a house in Parson Lane since 1838."

© Copyright Alexander P Kapp and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
I've cropped the image to focus on the upper storey which housed the Reading Room.

Oh the pleasurable hours spent in the Reading Room, first with my Dad and later on my own.

Eight O'clock by A. E. Houseman

He stood, and heard the steeple
Sprinkle the quarters on the morning town.
One, two, three, four, to market-place and people
It tossed them down.

She sat at a long oak reading desk, one of several spaced across the room from doorway to clock case.

On entering the room, she felt a
Silence so deep it held cobwebs of memories
She heard
The occasional flutter of a page turned carefully and quietly
She saw
Gleaming, lustrous carved woodwork
Magazines, each in their cases chained to the reading desks
Newspapers laid out carefully, to be perused, refolded and replaced as tho' no-one had touched them.

By one window, a glass-sided case containing an illuminated tome. Each day someone opened the case and turned to the next page. The passer-by could stop to read the illuminated script.

The quiet, steadily reassuring tick-tock from the Town Hall clock whose innards and workings stood revealed behind a huge glass case at the front of the room. Fascination as on each quarter and then on the hour...

The clock collected in the tower
Its strength, and struck.

where angels fear to tread

2011-08-13T11:30:00.000+02:00

Can't help thinking I ought to say my two penn'orth about recent events. My bent is towards Science... sociology and sociologists make me heave. I find their endless apologist ramblings nauseating to say the least.
In my early days of teaching (1970s) when the cane was in regular use, I thought 'if you can't get in thro' the head, get in thro' the hide'. Very Naive of me, but I was a lot younger then. With time comes experience, with experience growing maturity and hopefully some common sense.
When the cane was abolished from the classroom, people forecast anarchy in the classroom. Then I came to realise that talking was more important than issuing a threat. Here I must say that I never struck anyone, nor had any authority in the matter.
Time moved on (1980s) and another government rolled into Parliament. This one had a new agenda...'divide and conquer'...
Governments came and went and the EU brought out its 'Human rights Act'...they might as well have dubbed it 'human riot act'.

Did you notice Dear Reader that in Japan, after the tsunami, rioting and looting were conspicuous by their absence?

In Japanese culture it is 'the good of the many that is better than the good of the one'. Not the 'Devil take the hindmost'.

So where are my musings taking me? To Literacy and the idea of Talking and Communicating...of 'getting in thro' the mind instead of the hide'.

I'd like all those that appear in front of magistrates as a result of the disturbances to be tested for literacy and numeracy. To have their educational background investigated. To look for their shortfalls in learning and have them addressed.

As I heard Michael Morpurgo (children's author) say today 'Literacy is empowerment'.

MJM

2011-08-08T13:35:00.000+02:00

After our gallivanting by bus into 'town' the other week and M and I visiting the beautician; things have been rather quiet.
Then, this morning M rang to ask after OH and I seeing as no-one had met up for a while. She also invited us to go round and view her new bedroom.
When living in a bungalow it's a lot easier to re-designate rooms and their uses. M had been using the room in the rear as a bedroom because previous inhabitants had left built-in wardrobes. Then she realised that she was missing out on the lovely view of her garden. In the couple of years she's lived here, it has been transformed from patio, lawn wilderness into a productive garden. It'd take too long to list the things she is growing. Suffice it to say her shopping bills for fruit and veg have been whittled to almost nothing.
With help from OH one of her front rooms has become a pleasant, relaxing bedroom. In the next few months M intends to turn the former bedroom into a lounge to enjoy her garden vista.

not my words, but I had to borrow...

2011-08-07T13:18:00.000+02:00

When my page is blank, you don’t know that earlier I was full of ideas.

When my house is a tip, you don’t know that yesterday I cleaned all day and that it looked nice for ten minutes.

When I say something stupid, you don’t know that the last time I opened my mouth I spoke insightful wisdom.

When I am quiet all day, you don’t know how I love and long to sing.

When I cry, you don’t know that this morning I smiled.

When I write badly, you don’t know that last week I wrote brilliantly.

When I burn the dinner, you don’t know that yesterday’s meal was delicious perfection...

When I seem weak and easily controlled, you don’t know that I have had a long fight and am tired.

When I am shallow, you don’t know that I am really deep.

When I am grumpy, you don’t know how patient I have been for so long.

When I ask stupid questions, you don’t know that tomorrow I will have all the clever answers.

A Voice Released [blog]

By Rachel Carter

celebrations

2011-08-03T23:25:00.000+02:00

2nd August our younger GSD was 3 years old. Time flying again! Goddaughter's aunt and uncle have had another child...10lb 10oz...that family always have large babies. Fortunately Mother and baby are well and doing fine.

awol lol

2011-08-02T11:53:00.000+02:00

Taking a hint from a lovely friend...here be me!
The two Ms and I plus OH went carpet hunting...OH bought a carpet remnant 80% wool. The two Ms kept on looking. That was last Wednesday and the carpet arrived on Thursday. Looking at the 6m x 4m roll dominating the hallway I wondered what we'd let ourselves in for.
It must be 10-15 years since we last fitted a carpet and tempus fugit has taken it toll. Things do get harder as you get older...
Suffice it to say the carpet battle commenced on Friday with clearing as much of the room as practical. By the evening a couple of worn out people were finally able to view their completed efforts. I warned OH that if he has a similar scheme planned in the future...I will not be fitting any carpets; but will pay someone else to do it!

when

2011-07-22T15:54:00.001+02:00

someone has a driveway and front 'garden' and the road either side of their dwelling is empty of vehicles...
Why must they insist on parking on the pavement in front of the house across the road!

The people over there have been keeping the local builders merchants busy for months; ever since they moved in.

But they have also been dumping their large car outside our place when there's been lots of room on their side of the road.
OH opined that there's nothing to be done about it...but I wanted to do something.

So, when the vehicle reappeared this morning I took my camera and photographed it and the view of the opposite side of the road.

Later OH reported the vehicle was now parked on 'their' side of the road.

appt

2011-07-19T11:47:00.000+02:00

Andale Vets
This is today's 'must do' as elder K9 needs to see Michelle because she's been holding her head lob-sided and shaking it from time to time. I blame z-dog probably because he's been too boisterous and may have done some mischief.

Returned home from seeing Michelle, who greeted Lady like a long lost friend! She gave her a good check over and apart from an ear problem, a good bill of health.

Result, Lady has antibiotic tablets to take and some drops for her ear. She has an ear infection, but with antibiotic tabs and drops should be back to 100% soon.

As for z-dog it's no food for him after 8pm (Tuesday) and an appt at the vets on Wednesday morning!

best laid plans?

2011-07-15T19:10:00.000+02:00

oft go awry...
Phonecall this evening and I did not recognise the caller's voice...
After a while it became clear that it was my theatre going friend's son. No wonder I didn't recognise the voice!
Bad news; my friend is in hospital resting having fallen/blackedout and no-one knows if it's an on-going problem.
He gave me her mobile number and I had a brief chat with her. Typically, she was concerned that we can't go to Manchester this Tuesday to visit the museum.

All I want is for her to be on the mend and back to her usual self.

and a lovely time

2011-07-10T21:44:00.000+02:00

was had by all...

Goddaughter was technical manager for the performance and had reserved seats for us. So we had a good view of the performance.
The Kidz did a grand job...some were as young a 4 years old and a couple of them stole the show when they were on stage. Others were teenage/early twenties.
For an amateur set-up they did remarkably well.

Their aims include

to have fun,
grow in confidence,
stay out of trouble
enjoy learning new skills
form friendships
raise money for local young people's charities

I came home with 'Nemo' a large cuddly toy won in the raffle and now heading to raise more funds for another charity. I have no photos of the performances as it's not allowed in the theatre.

anticipation

2011-07-08T13:35:00.000+02:00

Saturday I'm heading north to Rishton and then to Preston whilst OH remains behind to dog sit.

Kidz 4 Kidz Community Theatre Company put on shows twice a year at the Charter Theatre in Preston.

Tomorrow night they celebrate their tenth anniversary...

Kidz 4 Kidz present 'Ten' a celebration of their ten-year anniversary.

"For a night of audience participation, fun, laughter, drinks and being merry... (and possible BBC interest) please join us for our big 10 year show Saturday 9th July @ 730pm. xx "

A theatre/dance group my goddaughter helps out with.

wordless Wednesday (July)

2011-07-06T16:11:00.001+02:00

OH idea of a note or list on whatever comes to hand!

We have roadworks with contra-flow and pipe-layers causing chaos

Kale fresh from the garden!

I love the way the colours change on hydrangeas

Tis variegated and pink but its name eludes me

At long last I too have them in flower

Campaign

2011-07-02T10:29:00.000+02:00

misc

2011-06-28T12:34:00.002+02:00

The past few days have seen me in grumpy mode; must be the weather!
Broadcasters have as the saying goes 'got my goat'.
How and why?
There was a news story from the area where I was brought up. The railway line crosses the valley on a majestic-looking viaduct.
In my youth I went over it by steam train. Later, after Mr. Marples had been an 'Ena Sharples' and closed the local stations my journey was by bus and I saw how impressive the viaduct looked.
(Ernest Marples was minister of Transport when the Beeching act closed railways).
Move on to another century, and it's in need of repair. The irritation came for me that several broadcasters couldn't pronounce the name 'Whalley' properly.
Okay, I know in Manchester they have an area called Whalley Range pronounced wally, and onother called Whaley Bridge, pronounced wail-ee.
But the one in Lancashire is pronounced wall-ee.

Earlier today on the radio, presenters did an item about rude/obscene language written on t-shirts worn by youngsters in Newquay.
The town becomes a 'hell-hole' this time of year as it's invaded by post exam students. Teenagers age 16+ going totally alcohol-fuelled dolally in sun, sea and surf...
To some, Newquay is the SW 'answer' to Blackpool; but to me it's a downmarket Blackpool, all slease.

Another summer of anti-social behaviour beckons in Newquay...

Pirate fm news (local radio)
"Lewd t-shirts are being banned too in the latest bid to clean up the resort."

The Independent...
"Newquay has tried to shed its image as the binge-drinking capital after two teenagers died as a result of drunken nights out two years ago. Around 20 drunk and incapable under-age holidaymakers were sent home last year and 1,000 cans and bottles of alcohol confiscated.

as Dylan Thomas once said...

2011-06-27T20:32:00.000+02:00

"The sun declared war on the butter, and the butter ran".
And OH is out doing gardening! Experience might come with age; not not commonsense!
24C indoors, goodness knows what it is outside...but out I went to crop raspberries, not my fave to pick but nice to eat.

how different

2011-06-25T19:04:00.001+02:00

today is from yesterday...
Yesterday I was volunteered by OH to go with neighbour H to help him buy ready-made, lined curtains and new curtain track. H is nearing 70 and as they'd say in the old days 'a confirmed batchelor'. This makes conversation difficult at the best of times. So trying to explain the ins and outs of curtains and window dressing didn't go down well. Eventually he agreed 72" drop and possibly 66" wide...
The only time I got anything approaching a conversation from him was when we saw Starlings in the car park. He then volunteered that sparrows were nesting under the eaves in his house. So, over an hour later I finally got him the buy some curtains.
On our travels I found out the hard way that he's a slow, methodical driver. He's had his secondhand car for 3 years and almost done 3000 miles! From time to time I had to ask hilm where he was going and even to tell him several times to change lanes so we could reach where we needed to go!

By contrast today MJM went shopping and what a laugh we had, taking the mickey out of each other and generally enjoying a good chat. We had sandwiches, coffee, tea and chocolate in the supermarket café. Browsing up and down the aisles of the various shops, stopping frequently to describe items to M so she could decide on what to purchase... Deciding whether to treat ourselves and what to buy.

wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T19:36:00.000+02:00

Apols to Sayre

2011-06-21T14:58:00.000+02:00

since the Blogger 'outage' I've become an intermittent blogger. That and the increasing pressures on my time thro' OU studies. 3 hours 'wasted' today attempting to do an online exercise that uses a programme from last century, a most temperamental programme to put it mildly.
Eventually, in a vain attempt to save my sanity and make some progress, I resorted to inputting random answers so I could access the 'feedback'.

I've hit the wtf time in my present course, 3 assignments submitted out of 6, so 3 more to do. Awaiting the result for assignment 3, but not hopeful as it turned into a 'publish and be damned' exercise. One where having reached the end of my tether, I hit send...regardless of what I think of my efforts.

and tomorrow is

2011-06-18T13:49:00.000+02:00

father's day...

how does your garden grow?

2011-06-17T18:05:00.000+02:00

Fun Monday cookery

2011-06-13T20:43:00.000+02:00

Sayre asks
What is your favorite cook-out food and/or recipe? OR What special dish are you known for at gatherings of family or friends?
First of all I needed to find out what a 'cook-out' might be! Then I realised it might be connected with what over here is known as a BBQ. Hm...haven't been near a BBQ for many a year. But...I do have a series of cookbooks from Australian Women's Weekly.
They are a 'mine' of useful inspirational recipes.
Better still, they can now be found online

Layered garden salad

1/2 lettuce
250g (2 cups) frozen peas
2 hard boiled eggs
250g mushrooms
125g tasty cheese
250ml (1 cup) mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons French mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 shallots, sliced
1 tomato
4 rashers bacon
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Place coarsely shredded lettuce in salad bowl.

Sprinkle uncooked frozen peas over lettuce

Sieve eggs, combine with finely sliced mushrooms spread over peas and top with grated cheese.

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and shallots, pour over cheese.

Cover, refrigerate several hours or overnight. Chop bacon finely, fry in pan until crisp, drain. Top with tomato wedges, bacon and parsley just before serving.

unavailable

2011-06-12T20:50:00.000+02:00

error messages telling the Blogger is inaccessable again!
At least I've had fewer distractions for a day or two.
Our 'Summer' weather is more like Autumn; cool temps with heavy persistent rain. In these conditions it's good to have a microfibre towel for the dogs.

The hedgehog has put in an appearance several times lately; the big problem is to prevent younger dog from finding it and marching round with a prickly ball in his mouth.

wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T19:33:00.000+02:00

changeable that's us

2011-06-07T11:18:00.000+02:00

Yesterday Fun Monday's topic was about prolonged sunny Summers...
That's something which occurs rarely over the UK.

The Met Office charts help understand our mixed weather patterns.
without going into details...Low pressure in 'in charge' of our weather just now. Low pressure weather systems have winds circulating and they bring scattered showers.
There's a lovely area of high pressure just off Greenland; if it were to travel our way and deplace the showers we'd have some fine weather. Better still would be if the Azores high grew and came north; then we'd have Summer weather!

Fun Monday

2011-06-06T17:04:00.000+02:00

The lovely Sayre has taken up the challenge of providing topics for June. She asks about coping with the heat!
Guess across the 'pond' the weather is a lot different...
Yes, here in England we had a couple of days of 'flaming June' weather...then as is often the case it changed.

It's true what they say about our changeable weather! Yes, we can appear to have all the seasons in one day; or in a week. We've gone from 70F to 61F in a few days; from glorious cloudless skies thro' overcast to sunny spells. Temperatures yo-yo from day to day.
Just occasionally, our fine weather 'sticks and stays' and then the good old pessimism begins again. Newspapers headline with stories about the weather. Guess that's what's good about here, we rarely get extremes.

To find out what others have to say, please visit Sayre smiles

toms are coming on

2011-06-04T15:02:00.000+02:00

wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T20:35:00.000+02:00

mid week

2011-05-25T13:19:00.001+02:00

and yet again we have been back to the quacks... OH received a phonecall asking him to come in to have a chat and BP check. So, we did our usual shopping, I left him at the surgery and went home put good away.
A short while later, I drove back to the surgery, parked up, got out a puzzle book and pen to pass the time.
Half an hour later OH joined me, none too happy with having been in 'there'. Now there's an acknowledged 'white coat syndrome' aka white coat hypertension... Both OH n I are prone to it...i.e. BP rises when in a white-coat environment.

If anything's guaranteed to raise BP it's this... Look at what neighbour was up to earlier!!!

Toms

2011-05-24T19:01:00.000+02:00

Today's the day for gardening in the greenhouse.

The tomato plants are in and on even has come into flower!

There was sunshine today...

so the mesembryanthemums opened their flowers (Livingstone daisies).

well it's Monday and

2011-05-23T13:32:00.000+02:00

there's another Fun Monday topic...but...
It's many, many, many years since I watched the TV series Perry Mason and I've no idea I've never heard of Denny Crane.
That was option one set by Roger
Option two mason or crane, would I prefer to be a bricky or crane driver?
Neither!
However, tweaking the topic slightly, I know someone who as they say 'eats, drinks and lives cranes'.
So much so that if you are in his company you soon realise how involved he is. On a recent trip to Dublin we admired the various cranes dominating the skyline and bemoaned their inactivity.
They were certainly an impressive site.

Bricky? A most definite No! No! Why? It's a skill I wouldn't even attempt, as it's much more difficult than it appears. We built an extension a few years ago so I saw bricklaying done at firsthand.

imagine...

2011-05-21T18:02:00.000+02:00

if you will the heady perfume of roses filling the air...
Both gardens are a delight with roses in bloom. Ramblers/climbers three in all wend their way along the side of the garage. Mrs blackbird has favoured us by nesting there.
Today and yesterday squabbling starlings arrived. I missed them yesterday but saw them today. They had discovered the mealworms (dried) and were vying with one another. There were four fledgelings adding their raucous calls to the din.

Now black clouds are overhead amd the wind is up. OH has left the greenhouse door ajar so robins can flit in and out. He had to take down the feeder that held the mealworms otherwise the starlings will guzzle them leaving nothing for the robins and blackbirds.

muddling thro'

2011-05-19T17:12:00.000+02:00

Hayfever season is in full swing and today there's bright sunshine... At least MJM got together for coffee this afternoon. Lots of laughter and banter to do us all a world of good.
On a more serious note, just because someone can answer thw phone does not make them sighted. One of the Ms dislikes it so much when menus tell you to press such and such a button. Then there are call centre staff who even when told the person they are talking to is blind; carry on blithly as tho' talking to a sighted person. Okay, I'm a lot more aware now I've got to know M. But, the other M dislikes it when told someone will fax, email or text her because... well that's a no brainer.

mizzle

2011-05-19T11:22:00.000+02:00

word made by putting together 'mist' and 'drizzle'. Locally, in Cornwall it's referred to as the 'Fret' which is such a good descriptive word for those weather conditions.
The air is still, cold and damp. Land's End airport cancels all flights, so too do BI helicopters. The Isles of Scilly loses all air transport links with the mainland.

What has set me musing?
News reports this morning from Land's End. Visibility restricted by mizzle and people standing and getting soaked whilst every so often the plaintive note of Longships lighthouse could be heard.

Then OH laughed at the presenter in the studio and I couldn't believe my ears cos the presenter talked about hearing bells in the background!!!

Another reason not to be in Cornwall now; especially as the days when the Fret is in can turn into weeks on end. More precisely, there have been times when it has stayed in for months...

A muppet Fun Monday

2011-05-16T19:50:00.001+02:00

Roger
from a screed in time asks about Muppet characters...
We're talking Muppets! Yes Muppets, those lovable furry creatures from Jim Henson's imagination, so what I'm looking for is which Muppet character is your favorite and why

Rowlf is one of my faves, but then I love canine companions. He's always cheerful and happy-go-lucky.
But with Muppets it's impossible to have only one 'like'.

Fozzie bear is another cutie...
I can see a theme here! Both characters are animations of some of my favourite animals.

Statler and Waldorf the two grumpy, funny curmugeons are my fave Muppet people.

stunned but in a good way

2011-05-15T12:58:00.001+02:00

In a moment of 'madness' you might, like me have signed up to a site making connections with folk you might have known.
Sometimes connections are made and friendships renewed. Often the whole thing is a flop so you ignore it.
Recently I had an email saying there was a message, but I didn't recognise the name. Eventually curiousity got the better of me...

Stunned, I needed to read the email several times before it made sense.

Then memories of long ago came flooding...
Sunday afternoon walks across town to have tea with friends of my father. A vague memory that they had two children much older than me. The daughter trained as a teacher and her college uniform was purple and white.

Many years later, I too went to that college, but by now the purple and white was no longer a uniform but optional sweatshirt and scarf. It was no longer girls only, but co-ed.
So, who's the mysterious email correpondent? The grandson of the couple I had Sunday afternoon teas with so long ago!!!