Talk of lace and smuggling reminds me of Kipling's poem A Smuggler's Song, which has this refrain:
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark —
Brandy for the Parson,
Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling,
While the Gentlemen go by!
This Gentleman has had a busy day in Arkland the Parched, which is once again blessed with glorious Sun Shine (and much Dust...I went to Tess Coe earlier, and I swear mine was the dustiest vehicle to be seen ).
A good Job has been Jobbed - the foredeck of the Ark, which has been getting extremely scruffy, has been cleared of flaking paint, and is now ready for touching up with a fetching colour combination of Black Bitumen and Red Oxide. Just getting rid of the surface detritus has made it look rather less like something from Scrapyard Challenge, but the actual application of Paint will have to wait until tomorrow, if I live...
I realised somewhat wearily that I'd left various tools in situ, but the timely arrival of Neighbour T's 16-year old son B (known as The Boy™) meant that I was able to press-gang him into negotiating the various obstacles on deck to retrieve them for me.
Lunch is FISH PIE (because needing no work or preparation ) accompanied by BEER. I'm presently alternating between two very tasty Italian brews - Peroni and Moretti.
After finding half-washed dishes, plus cleaning out layers of gunk from the filter, I have Had It with the dishwasher. Also the soap dispenser has never worked. It was an emergency buy and not from the usual outlet.
Accordingly, out with the iPad and the plastic and its replacement arrives next Wednesday. I see a lot of models come with WiFi connectivity -'control your fridge from your smartphone!' burbles the spec. I don't want another blasted app! I want something I can walk up to, twiddle dials and press buttons. Bah humbug.
A hot sunny day here and we've had a lovely time visiting Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling who is doing more and saying more every time we see her . For a while "Grandma" sounded quite similar to "Mama", but now she can say it really clearly .
Not wishing to Interfere, I had nevertheless on a previous visit mentioned that the tubs on their patio Could Do With Watering and I think my advice had been acted on once after that . Today I took the bull by the horns (so to speak) and watered them myself. Several of the plants were beyond saving but as Nenlet1 insisted that "those two will sprout again" I dutifully watered the dry sticks and Didn't Say Another Word .
My mum used to quote that poem, @Bishops Finger . She was a great fan of Kipling (Do you like Kipling? I don't know, I've never kippled) and I recently purchased, in our local secondhand book emporium, a copy of Puck of Pook's Hill which was one of her favourites and had gone missing by the time we cleared her house.
We had lunch (quiche, new potatoes and salad, supplied by yours truly) with Nenlet1 and when Mr Nen inquired what my thoughts were about food for the rest of the day (ie, what are you cooking for tea?) and was told "something on toast" I don't think he was hugely impressed .
... I thought of you @Piglet, as we went to Aslockton where Thomas Cranmer was born and had lunch in the grounds of the Cranmer centre there. The warden was lovely and let us use their loo and top up our water bottles.
I'd forgotten he came from your neck of the woods!
It's yet another glorious day in West Lothian; it could really stay like this until October as far as I'm concerned! Predictably, the forecast for the week after next, when I'm off, says it's going to rain. (I've got the Bank Holiday and the rest of the week off, so I've a few days before we head off, during which it'll probably come down in stair-rods).
I've been a slightly naughty piglet and ordered a pair of red sandals and a red handbag from the interweb; I'm thinking my colour-palette for when I'm away is going to be based on red, black and white. I'm telling myself it's my treat from my year-end bonus.
Supper was chicken and mushroom risotto, which is as near as damn-it to being chickie frickie, because Wednesday.
I’ve seen an ophthalmic surgeon use blanket stitch to sew up after her lid surgery.
I was thinking of the Kipling poem too.
Today I did my admin and then went to an interesting online thanatology talk on research into Irish voluntary grave digging (villagers digging their deceased neighbours’ graves as an expression of community and remembrance). This afternoon was more marking (I should be finished tomorrow) and then this evening I did my last tutorial of the academic year.
Mr Heavenly has gone down the pub with the ‘dads’ (old friends met at the primary school gates) and I am listening to a Tom Holland book on the caesars.
A morning of admin and chores, then u3a Scrabble ( I won!) and choral society AGM and social evening. I’ve had both my arms twisted and gone on the committee, even though I vowed not to whilst the current Chair remains in post.
My daughter sent her husband and son to collect my patio table set which she is taking to her holiday let. Last year it never came out of the shed as it is too heavy for me. I might look for a lightweight set instead, but first my patio needs weeding. My son is coming tomorrow so I am hoping he can tackle the garden as everything has grown so much, despite the lack of rain.
There's a filk singer called Leslie Fish who has done several albums of adaptations of Kipling poems that I like very much - I sing several of them at open mic nights, especially The Pict Song. Strangely, though, I don't think she's done the Smugglers Song, but I'd have to check.
('filk' is science fiction folk music).
Or here ... Actually I quite enjoyed watering yesterday evening as it was quiet, still and nicely warm.
Today is sunny but also windy (good for drying the washing) and decidedly cool. I had to put the heating back on first thing. Even now it's only 15 degrees.
I have to add that, unlike others here, I don't feel warm until the temperature gets up to around 22 degrees. Of course that depends on wind, humidity and whether I'm sitting in the sun or not!
My father got to know a number of classical musicians quite well - I have no idea how! One of them was Benjamin Luxon; he loved locally and I remember going to dinner at his house. I think he was a PE teacher before he was a singer. He slipped into my father's funeral service (1974), at the back - afterwards people asked, "Who had that wonderful voice?" and we had to do a bit of detective work to find out!
He and Robert Tear had quite a line in Victoriana. I remember a totally bizarre concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in which the second half was the two of them plus pianist singing music hall songs (yes, including "Come into the garden, Maud" and "The lost chord"); the first half was the Tel Avid String Quartet playing Bartok! Whose programming idea was that?!!!
(Sideline to a tangent: on my birthday about 12 years ago we heard a superb quartet from Cluj-Napoja playing Bartok - absolutely stunning!)
I once went to a Messrs Luxon and Tear concert of Victorian/Edwardian ballads, and it was most enjoyable - even those songs which were meant to be very sad...
Here's Mr Luxon in a solo rendition of *Give me a ticket to Heaven*:
We sang "five and twenty ponies" at school (very many years ago), but I don't know who wrote the music. We enjoyed being allowed to sing the bad grammar!
Unfortunately, every time I hear the smugglers song, I think of Flanders and Swann’s bedstead men - “so watch the wall my darling when the bedstead men go by”.
Unfortunately, every time I hear the smugglers song, I think of Flanders and Swann’s bedstead men - “so watch the wall my darling when the bedstead men go by”.
So do I!
I've been to my aerobics class, had coffee with friends, had lunch and am now home for the afternoon doing domestics and fiddling about online. Out this evening as well, and a very busy sociable day tomorrow. In fact, it will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes as I'm seeing three different lots of friends in the morning, afternoon and evening and there was a time when that would have exhausted me almost beyond speaking. So I'll see how I feel by the end of tomorrow evening.
Sunny here today but with a chilly wind. Salmon and roast vegetables in parsley sauce for tea.
A dismally grey day in Arkland the Inhospitable, with an evil north wind.
Paint Ing has been deferred until happier times, but I couldn't have done much today in any case - the strenuous (for me) activity of Tuesday and Wednesday has wrung me out, and my pore Legs are aching summink crool. On top of that, I've had a dull headache, but that, thanks to some Pills, is now on the way out.
Grey and cool here. Yoga class followed by coffee with the ladies.
This afternoon was the slough of despond/marking, but I am now finished the last batch. I would be getting out the bunting and bubbly tonight but have to go to the bible study group instead.
Another sunny day here. Spent an hour or so working along the hedge and border. Whether in consequence, had an attack of gripe after lunch. Had a nap, but still feel a bit meh.
However, need to rally and make authentic Gong Bao chicken for dinner.
My son came and worked wonders in my garden, including weeding the patio, so, taking advantage of his large car, we went and bought a small, lightweight bistro table and two chairs to replace the previous heavy set. If necessary, eg when I have my French group here, I can bring the chairs through to the living room for extra seating as they are quite comfortable. I’m really pleased. Meanwhile the old set is going off to its new home at my daughter’s seaside holiday let.
As its Thursday it was lip reading in the morning and my book shop shift in the afternoon. This evening there was a council sub-committee meeting that I chair. Unfortunately only one other member turned up so we weren't quorate. However we had a good discussion about various bits and pieces with the clerk and another councillor who'd turned up to discuss possible funding for an event.
I'm now home much earlier than expected.
It's been jolly chilly here today.
Not chilly here, although there was just the merest sniff of a breeze; I picked up a sandwich from Tessie's at lunchtime and actually sat outdoors to eat it in the sunshine.
Am feeling rather sad though; I just heard of the death of one of the basses who was in the choir in Kirkwall when we were there. He was great fun, and if he got a bit wrong he would say he didn't like the way (insert composer of choice) wrote it, so he changed it. He always made a point of giving me a hug whenever we saw each other, and the last time was at David's memorial service. RIP Ian.
There was phone call from the hospital today offering me a date for my cataract operation.
I was beginning to be concerned as my sight has definitely deteriorated since my pre-op assessment in January, and especially in the bright sunlight of recent days.
Yes, best wishes @Roseofsharon - Our Place's Madam Sacristan had both cataracts successfully removed earlier this year, within a couple of months of each other. She was most careful to faithfully obey all the instructions and advice They gave her.
Sun Shine and North Wind again today in Arkland the Withered, where even the riverside plants are looking a bit faded. It's beginning to feel a bit like the fabled Plateau of Leng, with its mysterious Monastery in which dwelleth - all alone - The High Priest Not To Be Described.
Devotees of the works of H P Lovecraft will understand.
LAMB CHOPS today, a bit later on, when some Paint Ing has been done. Even a HPNTBD needs sustenance.
I managed to bag a place at Pilates this morning, so I was off early for that. It's a class I enjoy, but by the time I'd walked there, done the class and then come home via Waitrose to buy bits and pieces I was exhausted and had a rare afternoon nap.
Our kitchen is inching towards completion. We have a couple of things that need fixing, a missing cupboard, wrong door colour on a unit and a hole that needs patching, but we're more or less there. We still have a skip in our drive which is annoying as we're having to park our car with our neighbours, but we're off on holiday on Monday so so hope that will be gone before we return.
I have a new dress with which I am greatly chuffed. It's the same shape as another one of mine, which I love because it's the comfiest dress in the world. Recently I was looking at it and realised it's basically all constructed out of rectangles and would be quite easy to make a copy of. The only thing I had to work out was the triangular bit I had to cut out to fit the sleeve into the bodice. This involved using Pythagoras' theorem, which is the first time in my entire life it's ever come in useful for something.
I have a new dress with which I am greatly chuffed. It's the same shape as another one of mine, which I love because it's the comfiest dress in the world. Recently I was looking at it and realised it's basically all constructed out of rectangles and would be quite easy to make a copy of. The only thing I had to work out was the triangular bit I had to cut out to fit the sleeve into the bodice. This involved using Pythagoras' theorem, which is the first time in my entire life it's ever come in useful for something.
Blimey, I'm seriously impressed on both dress-making and mathematical fronts! 😍
It's another glorious day here; it got up to 21° today, at which point I was sitting in the shade of a tree eating my sandwich for lunch.
I decided to pootle out to Argos on the bus after work, to pick up the sheets and pillowcases I've bought for the new bed (which had to be picked up before next Tuesday). I asked about the missing wheels for the bed, but apparently they'll be delivered to my house (yeah, right).
However, on the way back I had to wait for about 45 minutes for the fecking bus, and when I finally got on it, didn't the silly bugger of a driver ignore my buzzing the "stop" button, so instead of being dropped just outside the flat, I ended up halfway along the High Street in the wrong direction. I (very politely) pointed the error out to the driver, who was suitably contrite.
F&C for supper, because Friday, and very nice too.
I used to get the bus home from Primary Skool, to a request stop almost opposite Our House. I always asked the conductor to halt the bus (a rear-entrance Bristol/ECW single-decker ) at the place, but it was not uncommon for him to forget to ring the bell...
Our buses were a slightly longer and later (1951) version of this: https://www.sct61.org.uk/index/operator/md/mdso43a
ION, another Sun-Shiny and Breezy day in Arkland the Balmy-but-Sere.
Some pottering around the wheelhouse has been done, sorting out my Paint Ing supplies (rollers, brushes etc.), ready for an assault on the foredeck next week. A small amount of titivating with a lovely Black Bitumen paint has been done around the aft deck, but I'm hoping for a visit from Family at some point, to put a nice thick coating of Black Tar Varnish (not the same as Black Bitumen, and incompatible with it) on the hull.
Yet another glorious day in West Lothian (and in Dunblane); we had an excellent rehearsal day for the Madrid jaunt, followed by a little libation in the Tappit Hen (the Dunblane Cathedral choir pub) afterwards.
As we bade farewell to our colleagues, saying "see you in Madrid"* it's all becoming more real!
* actually in some cases it was "see you at Edinburgh airport", as quite a few of us are going to be on the same plane ...
I really must get organised with things like travel insurance, European health insurance, Euros and suitable electricity/mobile arrangements.
As I couldn't be bothered to cook, supper was prawns with cashew nuts from the Bamboo Inn.
@Roseofsharon prayers ascending @la vie en rouge I had to use pythag to position my home recording setup monitor speakers in the optimum listening position back along. Cloning your favourite clothes seems very wise and clever.
We have a house guest this week - eldest twanglet went abroad for 6months with one of these missionary organisations one of her friends from this (a Canadian) is staying with us.
We are trying to give her as many English experiences as possible: we've spent all day on the Moor, had ice cream from a van, chippie tea and so on. Glorious sunny day in the end.
I managed to get to the barber 1st thing and had my Barnet tamed.
I've had cataracts in both eyes removed, and it made such a difference @Roseofsharon. Glad you've got a date.
I'm impressed by you actually making a dress @la vie en rouge let alone using Pythagoras to draft the pattern.
This morning I went to the launch of our Book Festival brochure, followed by the official opening of a newly revamped play park in town. There was a display from various BMX bikers etc on the new skate park plus competitions for the children. It all went off really well. A lazy afternoon as my husband was out for the day, though I did do some proper cooking with our new oven and hob. I think I'm getting to grips with how they work.
It s tricky to know what to wear. Yesterday started chilly, warm coat needed, but by mid afternoon it was gloriously sunny and warm at 20 degrees. In the evening I needed no extra layers at all over trousers and top.
It was a superb day of music in the local cathedral. In the morning I listened to a performance of choral music by Taverner, Victoria, and Shephard in the Chapter House. In the afternoon we rehearsed in the nave for an evening concert of music by Gabrieli, Lotti and Schütz. Yet another visiting choir is performing this evening but I have Choral Evensong at my home church.
I’m cooking chicken and veg in the airfryer for lunch, as I don’t want to start cooking after Evensong.
Physio tomorrow morning.
Sounds like a nice selection of music, Puzzler! Sixteenth-century Taverner or twentieth-century Taverner?*
Still no need for a coat (or even a cardigan) around these parts; although it's clouding over a wee bit, it's still dry and warm.
Lunch has been had (BUTTERIES with poached eggs, smoked salmon and an avocado), laundry is waiting for the tumble dryer to be free, and dishes are being looked after in the dishwasher.
Bit of snoozage now, I think.
* to quote David's description, when he came to something in Belfast cathedral: "you'll know him when you see him - he's about seven feet tall and looks like God".
Sounds like a nice selection of music, Puzzler! Sixteenth-century Taverner or twentieth-century Taverner?
The (late, lamented) twentieth-century one doesn't have the middle "r".
True.
I met the 20thC chap once (and have his autograph) at a special Evensong in our Cathedral. David was right - Tavener was indeed a very tall and impressive-looking man.
Headed off to church this morning which was slightly chaotic, as it was a special service for all the children who had received their first holy communion a couple of weeks ago. I was doing the introduction, which didn't mention the event and I felt slightly guilty afterwards for not departing from the script I'd been given and saying welcome to them and their families. I then said the first hymn will be number so and so to be interrupted by someone saying no its the one in the special service sheet. Not sure if the numbers were still up from last night or if no one had told the choir what they were singing. At least I managed to get hold of my copy of the new Sunday Missal that I should have picked up several weeks ago.
This afternoon is devoted to laziness, though we went to give some wine to our neighbours who have been allowing us to park our car in their drive while we had our kitchen sorted. We're off on holiday till Friday tomorrow so, even though we still have a skip in our drive, decided having the car outside the house is a useful thing.
It's cloudy and overcast here. I have high hopes of rain overnight. I have been watering the garden daily for the past week. One of our rainwater butts ran dry on Friday, and the second is 2/3 empty, so a decent soaking would be much appreciated by my garden and myself.
Comments
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark —
Brandy for the Parson,
Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling,
While the Gentlemen go by!
This Gentleman has had a busy day in Arkland the Parched, which is once again blessed with glorious Sun Shine (and much Dust...I went to Tess Coe earlier, and I swear mine was the dustiest vehicle to be seen
A good Job has been Jobbed - the foredeck of the Ark, which has been getting extremely scruffy, has been cleared of flaking paint, and is now ready for touching up with a fetching colour combination of Black Bitumen and Red Oxide. Just getting rid of the surface detritus has made it look rather less like something from Scrapyard Challenge, but the actual application of Paint will have to wait until tomorrow, if I live...
I realised somewhat wearily that I'd left various tools in situ, but the timely arrival of Neighbour T's 16-year old son B (known as The Boy™) meant that I was able to press-gang him into negotiating the various obstacles on deck to retrieve them for me.
Lunch is FISH PIE (because needing no work or preparation
Accordingly, out with the iPad and the plastic and its replacement arrives next Wednesday. I see a lot of models come with WiFi connectivity -'control your fridge from your smartphone!' burbles the spec. I don't want another blasted app! I want something I can walk up to, twiddle dials and press buttons. Bah humbug.
Not wishing to Interfere, I had nevertheless on a previous visit mentioned that the tubs on their patio Could Do With Watering and I think my advice had been acted on once after that
My mum used to quote that poem, @Bishops Finger . She was a great fan of Kipling (Do you like Kipling? I don't know, I've never kippled) and I recently purchased, in our local secondhand book emporium, a copy of Puck of Pook's Hill which was one of her favourites and had gone missing by the time we cleared her house.
We had lunch (quiche, new potatoes and salad, supplied by yours truly) with Nenlet1 and when Mr Nen inquired what my thoughts were about food for the rest of the day (ie, what are you cooking for tea?) and was told "something on toast" I don't think he was hugely impressed
It's yet another glorious day in West Lothian; it could really stay like this until October as far as I'm concerned! Predictably, the forecast for the week after next, when I'm off, says it's going to rain. (I've got the Bank Holiday and the rest of the week off, so I've a few days before we head off, during which it'll probably come down in stair-rods).
I've been a slightly naughty piglet and ordered a pair of red sandals and a red handbag from the interweb; I'm thinking my colour-palette for when I'm away is going to be based on red, black and white. I'm telling myself it's my treat from my year-end bonus.
Supper was chicken and mushroom risotto, which is as near as damn-it to being chickie frickie, because Wednesday.
I was thinking of the Kipling poem too.
Today I did my admin and then went to an interesting online thanatology talk on research into Irish voluntary grave digging (villagers digging their deceased neighbours’ graves as an expression of community and remembrance). This afternoon was more marking (I should be finished tomorrow) and then this evening I did my last tutorial of the academic year.
Mr Heavenly has gone down the pub with the ‘dads’ (old friends met at the primary school gates) and I am listening to a Tom Holland book on the caesars.
My daughter sent her husband and son to collect my patio table set which she is taking to her holiday let. Last year it never came out of the shed as it is too heavy for me. I might look for a lightweight set instead, but first my patio needs weeding. My son is coming tomorrow so I am hoping he can tackle the garden as everything has grown so much, despite the lack of rain.
('filk' is science fiction folk music).
Spoken like a non-gardener. Anytime you feel the need of a sore arm, I have a watering can here...
Today is sunny but also windy (good for drying the washing) and decidedly cool. I had to put the heating back on first thing. Even now it's only 15 degrees.
I have to add that, unlike others here, I don't feel warm until the temperature gets up to around 22 degrees. Of course that depends on wind, humidity and whether I'm sitting in the sun or not!
My father got to know a number of classical musicians quite well - I have no idea how! One of them was Benjamin Luxon; he loved locally and I remember going to dinner at his house. I think he was a PE teacher before he was a singer. He slipped into my father's funeral service (1974), at the back - afterwards people asked, "Who had that wonderful voice?" and we had to do a bit of detective work to find out!
He and Robert Tear had quite a line in Victoriana. I remember a totally bizarre concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in which the second half was the two of them plus pianist singing music hall songs (yes, including "Come into the garden, Maud" and "The lost chord"); the first half was the Tel Avid String Quartet playing Bartok! Whose programming idea was that?!!!
(Sideline to a tangent: on my birthday about 12 years ago we heard a superb quartet from Cluj-Napoja playing Bartok - absolutely stunning!)
Here's Mr Luxon in a solo rendition of *Give me a ticket to Heaven*:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx7YW6m48rE
So do I!
I've been to my aerobics class, had coffee with friends, had lunch and am now home for the afternoon doing domestics and fiddling about online. Out this evening as well, and a very busy sociable day tomorrow. In fact, it will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes as I'm seeing three different lots of friends in the morning, afternoon and evening and there was a time when that would have exhausted me almost beyond speaking. So I'll see how I feel by the end of tomorrow evening.
Sunny here today but with a chilly wind. Salmon and roast vegetables in parsley sauce for tea.
Paint Ing has been deferred until happier times, but I couldn't have done much today in any case - the strenuous (for me) activity of Tuesday and Wednesday has wrung me out, and my pore Legs are aching summink crool. On top of that, I've had a dull headache, but that, thanks to some Pills, is now on the way out.
KIPPERS for tea, so not all is Doom and Gloom...
This afternoon was the slough of despond/marking, but I am now finished the last batch. I would be getting out the bunting and bubbly tonight but have to go to the bible study group instead.
Another sunny day here. Spent an hour or so working along the hedge and border. Whether in consequence, had an attack of gripe after lunch. Had a nap, but still feel a bit meh.
However, need to rally and make authentic Gong Bao chicken for dinner.
Now I'm procrastinating as I must wash my hair. I'm off to meet an old Shipmate tomorrow. Anyone remember Phoenix?
I'm now home much earlier than expected.
It's been jolly chilly here today.
Am feeling rather sad though; I just heard of the death of one of the basses who was in the choir in Kirkwall when we were there. He was great fun, and if he got a bit wrong he would say he didn't like the way (insert composer of choice) wrote it, so he changed it. He always made a point of giving me a hug whenever we saw each other, and the last time was at David's memorial service. RIP Ian.
I was beginning to be concerned as my sight has definitely deteriorated since my pre-op assessment in January, and especially in the bright sunlight of recent days.
Sun Shine and North Wind again today in Arkland the Withered, where even the riverside plants are looking a bit faded. It's beginning to feel a bit like the fabled Plateau of Leng, with its mysterious Monastery in which dwelleth - all alone - The High Priest Not To Be Described.
Devotees of the works of H P Lovecraft will understand.
LAMB CHOPS today, a bit later on, when some Paint Ing has been done. Even a HPNTBD needs sustenance.
Our kitchen is inching towards completion. We have a couple of things that need fixing, a missing cupboard, wrong door colour on a unit and a hole that needs patching, but we're more or less there. We still have a skip in our drive which is annoying as we're having to park our car with our neighbours, but we're off on holiday on Monday so so hope that will be gone before we return.
Blimey, I'm seriously impressed on both dress-making and mathematical fronts! 😍
I decided to pootle out to Argos on the bus after work, to pick up the sheets and pillowcases I've bought for the new bed (which had to be picked up before next Tuesday). I asked about the missing wheels for the bed, but apparently they'll be delivered to my house (yeah, right).
However, on the way back I had to wait for about 45 minutes for the fecking bus, and when I finally got on it, didn't the silly bugger of a driver ignore my buzzing the "stop" button, so instead of being dropped just outside the flat, I ended up halfway along the High Street in the wrong direction. I (very politely) pointed the error out to the driver, who was suitably contrite.
F&C for supper, because Friday, and very nice too.
I used to get the bus home from Primary Skool, to a request stop almost opposite Our House. I always asked the conductor to halt the bus (a rear-entrance Bristol/ECW single-decker
Our buses were a slightly longer and later (1951) version of this:
https://www.sct61.org.uk/index/operator/md/mdso43a
ION, another Sun-Shiny and Breezy day in Arkland the Balmy-but-Sere.
Some pottering around the wheelhouse has been done, sorting out my Paint Ing supplies (rollers, brushes etc.), ready for an assault on the foredeck next week. A small amount of titivating with a lovely Black Bitumen paint has been done around the aft deck, but I'm hoping for a visit from Family at some point, to put a nice thick coating of Black Tar Varnish (not the same as Black Bitumen, and incompatible with it) on the hull.
PRAWNS n'CHIPS for Lunch.
As we bade farewell to our colleagues, saying "see you in Madrid"* it's all becoming more real!
* actually in some cases it was "see you at Edinburgh airport", as quite a few of us are going to be on the same plane ...
I really must get organised with things like travel insurance, European health insurance, Euros and suitable electricity/mobile arrangements.
As I couldn't be bothered to cook, supper was prawns with cashew nuts from the Bamboo Inn.
@la vie en rouge I had to use pythag to position my home recording setup monitor speakers in the optimum listening position back along. Cloning your favourite clothes seems very wise and clever.
We have a house guest this week - eldest twanglet went abroad for 6months with one of these missionary organisations one of her friends from this (a Canadian) is staying with us.
We are trying to give her as many English experiences as possible: we've spent all day on the Moor, had ice cream from a van, chippie tea and so on. Glorious sunny day in the end.
I managed to get to the barber 1st thing and had my Barnet tamed.
I'm impressed by you actually making a dress @la vie en rouge let alone using Pythagoras to draft the pattern.
This morning I went to the launch of our Book Festival brochure, followed by the official opening of a newly revamped play park in town. There was a display from various BMX bikers etc on the new skate park plus competitions for the children. It all went off really well. A lazy afternoon as my husband was out for the day, though I did do some proper cooking with our new oven and hob. I think I'm getting to grips with how they work.
It was a superb day of music in the local cathedral. In the morning I listened to a performance of choral music by Taverner, Victoria, and Shephard in the Chapter House. In the afternoon we rehearsed in the nave for an evening concert of music by Gabrieli, Lotti and Schütz. Yet another visiting choir is performing this evening but I have Choral Evensong at my home church.
I’m cooking chicken and veg in the airfryer for lunch, as I don’t want to start cooking after Evensong.
Physio tomorrow morning.
Still no need for a coat (or even a cardigan) around these parts; although it's clouding over a wee bit, it's still dry and warm.
Lunch has been had (BUTTERIES with poached eggs, smoked salmon and an avocado), laundry is waiting for the tumble dryer to be free, and dishes are being looked after in the dishwasher.
Bit of snoozage now, I think.
* to quote David's description, when he came to something in Belfast cathedral: "you'll know him when you see him - he's about seven feet tall and looks like God".
True.
I met the 20thC chap once (and have his autograph) at a special Evensong in our Cathedral. David was right - Tavener was indeed a very tall and impressive-looking man.
This afternoon is devoted to laziness, though we went to give some wine to our neighbours who have been allowing us to park our car in their drive while we had our kitchen sorted. We're off on holiday till Friday tomorrow so, even though we still have a skip in our drive, decided having the car outside the house is a useful thing.
A nice lazy afternoon has been had, and supper was Piglet's Pancetta Pasta, which was very decent.
Is it really nearly Monday already???
IIRC, you live quite a few floors above ground level...