Category Archives: amusements

amusements, memes, personal

Unblogged September

Thirty things what happened during the month but which I didn’t write about elsewhere.

Fri 1 At last. The insurance has decided they’re going to cough up for Boy’s expensive vet visits. Of course, that’s all except the £140 excess. I have to admit to being surprised: we changed insurers earlier this year from PetPlan (ouchily expensive) to John Lewis (acceptably cheaper) for apparently the same cover. I thought they’d look at Boy’s history and decide what he had was a pre-existing condition and not covered; but clearly not. Now we just need the money in the bank account.
Sat 2 The blue tits are back. I’ve not seen a (feathered) tit in weeks and weeks. But lunchtime today there was one pecking industriously at the peanut feeder outside the dining room window; and another flitting about.
Sun 3 ‘Twas the day to retrieve the wasp traps from season 2 of Big Wasp Survey. And we have … a null result. I do wonder if this season is actually too early; wasps are still around but still seem to be hunting prey rather than sugar. Suggested to Big Wasp Survey that we maybe need to run session 2 a couple of weeks later. So, in part as a test, I put out another 2 traps for this week, which will still count for the survey.
Mon 4 Why does mouthwash have to taste so vile?
Tue 5 Woke up with a cracking headache having had a bad night. Why always before a busy day? So rearranged this morning’s optician’s apointment for next week. Went back to bed for a couple of hours dozing and felt much better.
Wed 6 Bloody hell it’s hot. I’ve been sitting here all day, with the windows wide open, absolutely dripping wet – might as well have been in a sauna. Actually it’s not the heat that’s the problem, it’s the humidity making everything close and sticky. We need a good thunderstorm, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to get one.
Thu 7 Harvested the first of this year’s chilli crop. So far just one small red scotch bonnet from the one remaining of last year’s plants. But something over a dozen yellow ones. There are a few more coming – maybe another 10 – but I don’t think we’re going to have a bumper harvest this year. Not that this matters as we still have a large bag of last year’s chillies in the freezer.Chillies
Fri 8 44 years ago today it was a lovely bright, sunny, warm late summer day; just glorious as early September usually is … and just right for our wedding at St Peter’s, Acton Green. That day was so nice we both walked the 400m round the corner to church. Today we’re melting because for the fifth day in a row the temperature has topped 30°C. How did any of that happen? We still don’t know how we got here!
Sat 9 We’re melting – again! For the sixth day in a row the temperature has topped 30°C despite the fact that autumn must be here. The lovely Gleditsia tree outside our house has it’s first autumn coloured leaves. It’s always the first to change colour: to a glorious golden yellow. Within a week or two it will be completely golden. It’s amazing how it does so well as it is one of the last trees into leaf and the first to change in autumn. But well it does; it grows 30-50cm a year!
Sun 10 Another disappointing null result from the wasp traps this week. There are still wasps around, but I guess it is too hot for them to be winding down yet.
In fact it’s so hot one feels dopy in the head, incapable of movement and not needing much to eat. The seventh day of getting to 30°C, although it did cool a bit during the afternoon and there was a bit of drizzle.
Mon 11 What’s happened? What day is it? I’ve totally lost track. I’m completely in limbo. Turning into a zombie. Totally disengaged. Completely anaesthetised. Probably a combination of stress and depression.
Tue 12 This morning, Tilly cat decided it was time to keep the printer in its place. Who would ever think she was 10 earlier in the summer.Cat on printer
Wed 13 This morning happened my much delayed repeat eye test, with the head guy at my opticians. We’re both slightly puzzled but he could see some possible explanations for the aberration of the new left lens which is totally out of focus. After a very detailed test he’s tweaked my prescription, including reinstating the removed astigmatism correction, and is remaking the glasses (thankfully at their cost!). What I’d never realised before is the extent to which eyes can vary even during a test (as mine clearly were), and the possible slight variation of test results between different optometrists. The former must in part be due to the extent to which one’s eyes are watering etc.; and I guess the latter is partly down to the subjective way in which they do the tests and the dependence on the patient’s responses. Fingers crossed that it’s all OK this time.
Thu 14 Trip to the hospital for an audiology appointment this morning. In and out before my appointment time. Waiting outside afterwards to be picked up, I stopped to photograph a couple of pretty flowers.Hospital FlowersHospital girl
Fri 15 Feeling stressed. Too much happening. Not looking forward to tomorrow. Not my monkey but too much to go wrong.
Sat 16 Bugger. We both got up feeling Meh! N worse than me and queasy. Neither of us felt up to travelling, so sadly we had to miss the unveiling of the plaque to AP on his house in Chester Gate (report here). Not pleased. And continued to feel rubbish all day; if no better tomorrow we’ll have to test for the plague.
Sun 17 Rain! Right on cue at 13:30. And dear God it was dark – it could have been a December afternoon.
Mon 18 Thunder and lightening, not very frightening – to paraphrase Queen. Even though it was at 01:00. Again as predicted. But it was a fitting opening to a very crap Monday, although we did get our Covid jabs booked for later in the week.
Tue 19 In a few days over 6 months I’ve now passed 50 Postcrossing cards received as well as 50 sent and arrived – with another eight still travelling. In round numbers that’s two in and two out a week. The quality of the cards received and the messages on them is very variable, but that isn’t the point – it’s more about communication and enjoyment. Most cards have been to or from Germany, followed by the US – but only one sent and one received from the Southern Hemisphere (Indonesia and Australia respectively). Otherwise a spread across Europe, Asia (including China & Russia) and North America. So far complete blanks for Africa and South America. Here are cards 1-50 on our corkboard.Postcrossing cards 1 to 50
Wed 20 Off to see the wizard … well to get a Covid jab. Bookings opened on Monday and, having been tipped off by our neighbour over the road, we were able to book our jabs (and she hers) at the same time and the same pharmacy. So we all went together in the same minicab. The other two also had their flu jabs, but I declined as it always knocks me out for a day or two and I can’t afford that this week. All very efficient and quick (which is why we chose that pharmacy a couple of miles away); we were all 3 in and out in under 20 minutes. I subsequently booked my flu jab at the doctors for next week.
Thu 21 It’s an ill wind … The boiler man cometh. Oh no, the boiler man cometh not. Apparently he’s managed to hurt his head this morning so has had to cancel. Luckily all we need is the annual service. At least it took the pressure off the day.
Fri 22 Another small crop of chillies today. Two small red scotch bonnets, a couple of large yellow Jalapeno-like, and three slender hot lemon. Some will be used right soon; the others will go in the freezer. Only another 3 or 4 obviously on the way, but there may be some small ones; and also not a lot of flower now. Mind the plants screen about half the study window; they’re a good curtain!Chillies
Sat 23 It’s all right innit when the cat gets a 3 course meal and you only have 2 courses! All three cats had cod for their tea (an occasional treat) followed by some titbits of lamb from our roast. Tilly then had a third course of half a teaspoon of cream – she’s a grazer and eats only small amounts at a time, but wants a regular supply; the other two just eat. We had roast lamb with jacket potatoes and steamed mixed veg; followed by some nectarines.
Sun 24 I still do not understand why things are so knackering. Spent a good chunk of the day sitting at the desk doing mailing etc. for the literary society. And a couple of hours writing blog material, plus keeping an eye on the gardener, and trying to catch up on things which weren’t done during the week and should have been because more urgent stuff intervened. Exhausted by dinner time.
Mon 25 Collected my new glasses, and they’re fine. Everything is just that little bit sharper, and I’d adjusted to them even before I left the opticians. Result – at last.
Outside the opticians there’s this crazy 2 foot length of double yellow lines.Silly double yellow lines
Tue 26 Today in 1969 (when I was just about to go to university) saw the release of one of the great albums of all time: The Beatles, Abbey Road. The studios and “that zebra crossing” in Abbey Road, NW1 still draw crowds of tourists despite being nothing special.
Wed 27 Flu jab day. Lovely nurse at the doctors as efficient as ever. Why do they put a silly little round plasters over the injection site? There and back in under 30 minutes. I await the after effects.
Thu 28 Not a lot got done today ‘cos I felt “meh” and out of sorts yesterday afternoon and today; beginning to clear a bit by teatime. Probably the effect of the flu jab, which has otherwise just given me a slightly sore arm. Hopeful that with a decent night’s sleep I’ll be OK tomorrow.
Fri 29 Oh FFS! It’s the depression again! Unable to do anything useful, let alone think. It’s well past time for a new head and a new body.
Sat 30 Cometh the gardener, and it’s apple picking day. Just a dozen from the small Falstaff tree but nothing from Pinova – although we’ve already had a couple from each. So only a small crop, but worthwhile nonetheless.Apple crop
amusements, words

September Quiz Answers

Here are the answers to this month’s five quiz questions. If in doubt, all should be able to be easily verified online.

September Quiz Questions: Famous Quotations

Who said …

  1. “And malt does more than Milton can / To justify God’s ways to man.” AE Housman; Terrence, this is Stupid Stuff
  2. “I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.” Charles de Gaulle
  3. “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” Galileo Galilei
  4. “We have no plans therefore nothing can go wrong.” Spike Milligan
  5. “The taboo against nakedness is an obstacle to a decent attitude on the subject of sex.” Bertrand Russell

Answers were correct when questions were compiled in late 2022.

amusements, words

September Quiz Questions

Again this year we’re beginning each month with five pub quiz style questions, with a different subject each month. They’re not difficult, but it is unlikely everyone will know all the answers, so hopefully you’ll learn something new, as well as have a bit of fun.

September Quiz Questions: Famous Quotations

Who said …

  1. “And malt does more than Milton can / To justify God’s ways to man.”
  2. “I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”
  3. “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”
  4. “We have no plans therefore nothing can go wrong.”
  5. “The taboo against nakedness is an obstacle to a decent attitude on the subject of sex.”

Answers will be posted in 2 weeks time.

amusements, beliefs

August Quiz Answers

Here are the answers to this month’s five quiz questions. If in doubt, all should be able to be easily verified online.

August Quiz Questions: Mythology & Religion

  1. According to 1 Samuel 17:4, what figure stood six cubits and a span tall? Goliath
  2. What is considered the oldest Japanese religion? Shinto
  3. What is the name of the imaginary city built in the air in The Birds, the comedy written by the Greek playwright Aristophanes in 414 BC? Cloud-Cuckoo-Land – or Nephelococcygia in Greek.
  4. Which legendary king was the father of King Arthur? Uther Pendragon
  5. Guru Nanak was the founder of which religion? Sikhism

Answers were correct when questions were compiled in late 2022.

amusements, beliefs

August Quiz Questions

Again this year we’re beginning each month with five pub quiz style questions, with a different subject each month. They’re not difficult, but it is unlikely everyone will know all the answers, so hopefully you’ll learn something new, as well as have a bit of fun.

August Quiz Questions: Mythology & Religion

  1. According to 1 Samuel 17:4, what figure stood six cubits and a span tall?
  2. What is considered the oldest Japanese religion?
  3. What is the name of the imaginary city built in the air in The Birds, the comedy written by the Greek playwright Aristophanes in 414 BC?
  4. Which legendary king was the father of King Arthur?
  5. Guru Nanak was the founder of which religion?

Answers will be posted in 2 weeks time.

amusements, personal

Unblogged July

Sat 1 If you’re like me you find whole roast duck a bit of a pain to carve. So why not joint it before cooking? Remove the legs and wings; cut down the sides to remove the spine, and then cut the crown (breasts plus) down the middle. Roast as normal, but it doesn’t take as long. And you have ready portioned pieces.
Sun 2 No cooking needed today because cold duck salad with ciabatta rolls, and summer pudding. I made the latter on Friday and we started it last night; and there’s still a piece for breakfast tomorrow. God bless whoever invented summer pudding (it seems probably a Victorian).
Mon 3 Decadence: Eating the end of the summer pudding for breakfast; with cream of course.
Tue 4 Last night’s full moon: invisible as usual due to cloud cover. It was a supermoon – appearing extra large due to the moon being at perigee. Known variously as a Buck Moon or Hay Moon (other names also apply) depending on which pagan beliefs you follow. I prefer Hay Moon as it resonates with old farming practice: haymaking in July and grain harvest in August. Modern farming has however moved things by breeding earlier ripening corn, so grain harvest is often now over by mid-July.
Wed 5 Well at long last we got some rain overnight.
Thu 6 You open a can of beer and it goes everywhere. But it was all of a piece with the day. Bah! Humbug!
Fri 7 OK, so it’s expensive, but there’s currently an abundance of summer fruit in the supermarket; and I cannot refrain from partaking. Strawberries; raspberries; nectarines; peaches; gooseberries (two varieties: green and red); blackberries; blackcurrants; cherries. So lots of (alcoholic) fruit salad and delicacies like gooseberry & strawberry crumble. What’s not to like?
Sat 8 Today was what one of my Irish friends would call a nice soft day: warm, but grey, damp in the air, some intermittent light rain. Actually not at all unpleasant.
Sun 9 A good butterfly day; the Buddleia is paying its way. Over lunch we had Comma, Red Admiral, Large White and a small very bright brown/orange something which declined to sit down and be identified but was probably either Meadow Brown or Hedge Brown. Sadly only one of each, but better than nothing. What was interesting was that the red admiral alighted on my (bare) knee of a few seconds; and although it tickled a bit you could feel the extra pressure as it took off. It’s surprising that something that small exerts enough force taking off that one can (just) feel it.
Mon 10 Tea was rather redolent of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. But instead of five loaves and two fishes, we had five buns and twelve sausages; and only two of us. No, we didn’t eat all the sausages; half will be devoured cold tomorrow.
Tue 11 So they do exist! Finally today I saw two swifts in the distance; the first this year and they’re about to leave for Africa again. We had dozens when we came here; now we have effectively none; that’s habitat destruction in action.
And also this afternoon something flew like a bullet across the garden: from the calls before and after it was sparrowhawk.
Wed 12 A day of meetings. Just like being at work.
Thu 13 Morning phone call with dentist-ette. Senior guy thinks my crown should be redone as there’s a large gap; but has stitched her up with doing it, at no charge (as it is new). She and I know there’s little tooth left to fix the crown to; so any work may have undesired consequences. In my world it’s not broken, so don’t fix it. She reluctantly agreed. My risk as if it goes tits up, it’ll cost me. So I get Monday back, and she gets at least 90 minutes to see people who really need it and are paying.
Fri 14 Rain!
Sat 15 What a day!
(1) The Boy Cat is in hospital. The vets don’t know what’s wrong with him, so they’re keeping him in. Why is this always on a weekend or public holiday when you have to go to the 24 hour emergency vets 10 miles away?
(2) Later in the day I hosted an excellent literary society talk.
(3) And the wind has been blowing hard all day: at least force 6, gusting gale force 8.
Sun 16 More rain this evening, but much less wind.
Mon 17 Breezy, but a lovely day – and another excellent butterfly day. Sitting outside for an hour after lunch we had: three Red Admirals, a Peacock, a Comma, a Meadow Brown (I think), two Large Whites, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and at least one other I didn’t get to look at closely enough to identify. Plus what I think was a Blackcap singing in the bushes.
Tue 18 The Boy Cat is home. N fetched him this afternoon. He’s much better, but still a bit wobbly. From the x-rays they think there’s some area of problem on his lung; not clear if bacterial, viral or parasite. So he’s on loads of meds and if x-ray isn’t clear in a couple of weeks he has to have further scans. Already major ouch of the credit card so hoping the insurance coughs up.
Wed 19 Oh joy! Yet more meds for the Boy Cat.
Thu 20 Comes the gardener. He cut the hayfield so we now have something approaching a lawn again. And I harvested the couple of dozen stalks of wheat (and 2 or 3 of barley); it’s now hanging up to dry before being threshed.
Fri 21 The gardener when he was here yesterday lifted our potatoes. Nothing startling: we’d just stuck a handful of shooting spuds in a spare space and ignored them knowing anything we got was a bonus. Well we didn’t get a lot, but enough for a meal tonight and a few left to go in curry during the week. But how nice to have real fresh potatoes, with mud on them!
Sat 22 It’s that time of the month again … Last evening: a tiny sliver of crescent moon bright in the sky at sunset. Today: persistent fine rain all day.
Sun 23 Quite a reasonable photo of one of our foxes on the trail camera this week. It’s clearly still moulting, but otherwise looks in good condition – and as inquisitive as ever!Fox
Mon 24 Leftovers risotto for tea: a small piece of cooked steak, cooked peas & beans, cooked onion and tomato, some salad (mostly tomato), and some chicken stock. Essentially all it cost was the Arborio rice, a few flakes of Parmesan and some gas. A considerably more than acceptable free tea.
Tue 25 Boy Cat has his repeat X-rays booked for the middle of next week at our usual vets (the joys of a group practice). This prompted the senior vet to ring up to see how he was. Judging by the noise of altercation with the local alpha male 10 minutes earlier he’s fighting fit – I reckon he’s about 90%.
Wed 26 The weather people need some new, better quality, seaweed because, yet again, there was no rain. There was supposed to be rain for the last few days. Instead of which we’ve had a couple of really nice days with the buddleia awash with bees and butterflies – six red admirals at one time.
Update. No sooner had I written this that the rains came!
Thu 27 I do not understand. Yesterday we were both fine until after late lunch when No got back from the hospital. By mid-afternoon we were both feeling grumpy and out of sorts. Today I woke with a headache and feeling totally wrung out – just as if I’d had only 3 hours sleep; when actually I’d had about 7 hours. N it turned out felt much the same. And it persisted all day; sufficient that, having done nothing all day, I retired to bed early. Why I do not know; such are the mysteries of the cosmos.
Fri 28 Wonderful. You go to do a simple update (like type this entry) only to find that your site won’t load! And there are no clues; it’s guesswork to find the cause.
Sat 29 Something must have happened today, but whatever it was didn’t impinge on my consciousness.
Sun 30 Why is it that a perfectly working, good quality, biro suddenly decides to stop writing on a particular area of the piece of paper? It’ll write OK elsewhere on the page, but not here! And neither will any other biro. If the paper is coated, then it’s coated all over, so that can’t be the explanation. Sometimes it is on ordinary copier/printer paper (on which it works OK 99% of the time); sometimes on postcards or the like. The only logical explanation I can find is that there are tiny, invisible, grease marks (fingerprints?) on the surface.
Mon 31 One of the problems of getting old is that the medical stuff becomes relentless. Today I accompanied N to an appointment with her nephrologist. Last week N had a different appointment at a different hospital. Later this week we both go to the optician; then next week I have an audiology appointment. And that’s without the Boy Cat’s escapades; he has to go to the vet on Wednesday for his repeat x-rays. Rinse and repeat ad nauseam.