Rambles from my Chair

Monday's musings

2012-01-30T08:39:00.002Z

The toilet seat in the downstairs cloakroom has just broken. (I'll spare you a picture!) We have had to buy a new one. Why? Because a washer – hardly bigger than this letter O – has broken and the screw which holds it on has corroded too much to be removable. So an otherwise perfect wooden toilet seat is consigned to the scrapheap. This is the third item in recent weeks that has had to be scrapped because of the failure of some tiny part or other. I do wish manufacturers would put as much effort into making the little bits as they do into the prettiness and complexity of their products.

Here's another creation with a design fault. It's a wonderful thing – a striker that creates a spark and can start a fire in any circumstances. But the handle is too small and holding it is made even more awkward by the positioning of the chain through the middle. Such a little thing and so easy to have got it right.

(Photo from the web - no copyright details known)

Having commented on books versus films the other day I did something most unusual and watched the start of a TV series of the book 'Birdsong' (ranked 10/10 in my book blog). I was curious to see if they could make it half as excellent as the book and to my surprise it was very good, not least because of the presence of Clémence Poésy as Isabelle. I appreciate beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder but in my view she is extremely attractive.

I am not sure how lucky we are to have fruit and vegetables all year round nowadays. It makes recipe planning a lot easier but I miss the anticipation of things coming into season. As children we used to look forward to the days of early July when the first West Country strawberries would arrive here on Merseyside. Mum's birthday in mid-July would often be celebrated with Scottish strawberries or those from the local Lydiate fields. Nowadays we can have strawberries all year round and they have lost a lot of their excitement and exotic feel.

And finally, a question. Why do we blokes get asked questions to which there is no sensible answer? After making a very weird statement the other day Partner-who-drinks-tea asked “Does that sound stupid?” Can anyone tell me what the appropriate acceptable answer might be?

Saturday Speculations...

2012-01-28T21:16:00.000Z

Our local library was eventually rescued after attempts to close it in December 2008. Now it's under threat again. Wirral Council is proposing to turn it into a One-stop-shop for Council services. Out will go librarians and in will come customer service personnel. Out will go folk to receive your books and stamp them out and in will come machines. This will undoubtedly lead to a drop in usage. This will then give THEM the excuse to close it... One should know better than to fight the inevitable but I shall.

A lovely moment on the BBC Children's programme Newsround. One of the presenters said “When you think of extinction your mind might go to do-dos”. Oops. She pronounced it doo-doos as opposed to doh-dohs. My mind doesn't often go to doo-doos though it sounds like a good children’s word for a trip to the toilet!

Football again dominated my day - this time it was Liverpool knocking Manchester United (our arch rivals) out of the F.A. Cup. What a marvellous week for the club and its fans.

I haven't won the lottery this week but I did win in December – a total of £8.10p. Not quite the fortune I was hoping for. Partner-who-drinks-tea often contemplates what she would do with a large win but I rarely bother. It did occur to me the other day that one thing I would do (after I had hired an odd job man to save me all the horrible D-I-Y tasks) was buy a house with a large enough room for my library. I would then try to find a copy of every book I have ever read – at least, those that I can remember. (I've been reading Audrey Niffenegger's 'The Night Bookmobile').

There would be two complete sets of paperback Agatha Christies (the Pan and Fontana ones), hardback Billy Bunter books, Alistair MacLeans (in the leather-backed Heron series), beautiful Beatrix Potters, hardback Nigel Tranters and paperback P G Wodehouse sets, Black Beauty (in a red binding) and Man Booker Prize winners. What fun it would be collecting them and trying to find editions with the same covers or bindings.

One wall would be devoted to those books I haven't read but which are either an integral part of my library at the moment (like the New Naturalist series which, in all honesty, I am unlikely ever to read in full)or are on my To Be Read list.

In the middle of the room would be a series of waist high stands with my favourite books open at some suitable place or displaying their covers It might be a favourite illustration or a beloved piece of text. I would change these display books once a week. If you want to visit, entrance will be free. Alternatively, you might like to create your own in your mind – which is about as real as mine is ever likely to get!

A Thursday Toddle around Scriptor's Mind

2012-01-26T17:35:00.000Z

Irrespective of whether it's a frosty, placid morning or a wet one with a battering gale our resident Robin sings his little heart out before dawn each morning. He parks himself inside the hedge adjacent to the conservatory window and burbles and chirps contentedly. Since we have our first cup(s) of tea in the conservatory it's a lovely sound and almost makes up for getting up in the dark.

The BBC have decided, as part of their cuts, to axe the best programmes they have - “Something for the Weekend” and some of their Formula One coverage. “Something for the Weekend” finishes in March and I'm very sad. Simon Rimmer's recipes are among the best, easiest and most cleverly explained on TV and I shall miss the Sunday morning banter between Louise Redknapp, Tim Lovejoy and him. I shall also miss their gadget round-up in which they look at some of the latest gadgets on the market – from the wonderful to the truly wacky. This week's included a cookie catcher. That's both wonderful and wacky.

If you dunk your biscuits the cookie catcher will ensure you don't end up with biscuity tea if you leave it in too long. It can also be used to retrieve tea bags – a great little idea. I like dunking ginger nuts but some people allegedly like dunking digestive biscuits and hobnobs. If you are one of those folk I have to be honest and say the one word that comes to my mind - weird!! Who would dunk a digestive?

What I hadn't realised until I looked for a cookie-catcher image was that those paper fortune-tellers that we made as children – or were subjected to by our girl friends – were also called cookie catchers. I know we didn't call them that as children because the word cookie didn't enter my vocabulary until the 80s when my girls started watching television and one of them asked me what a 'girl scout cookie' was. We didn't have Google in those days so I had to ask their mother. To me a biscuit was a biscuit and it will always remain so!

Talking of biscuits, I have managed to acquire some coconut rings. What happened to them? They were once the most popular and cheapest of the biscuits in our UK supermarkets and then all of a sudden they disappeared. It's been about eighteen months since that happened but now they are back. Hooray. (And P.S. I don't dunk coconut rings either).

The third issue of We Love This Book has just arrived (not long after the second one, which was decidedly late – teething troubles, I presume). I can strongly recommend it. Anyone who doesn't get a TLS weekly or a regular Sunday paper with book reviews can catch up with what is going on in the book world as well as enjoying some good articles at the same time. I have now acquired another long list of books I want to read. That's really the last thing I needed. I don't normally bother with short stories in a magazine but Sophie Hannah's 'Something Untoward' was brilliant.

P.S. I haven't been paid to advertise We Love This Book (or the cookie catcher). I thought I'd mention that since so many blogs nowadays are just an excuse for advertising. Not that I blame folk for trying to make money however they can in these hard times. Good luck to them, I say.

Roy of the Rovers - aka Steven Gerrard

Son-who-watches-films and I were delighted to see King Kenny (aka manager Kenny Dalgleish),Captain Fantastic (aka Steven Gerrard) and the tireless Craig Bellamy pull Liverpool F.C. through to the Final of the Carling Cup.

They will meet Cardiff at Wembley on February 29th. Craig is from Cardiff but I don't think that will stop him celebrating if he scores again.

Apart from a slight but momentarily worrying health crisis in the family – not me for a change – which seems to be over for the moment there hasn't been much else to report.

I'm still without my laptop so I blogged this using mind power - are you impressed??

My Films

2012-01-24T21:47:00.000Z

One of the series I am reading at the moment is the Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini. It began with the novel 'Eragon'. It's at times like this I'm glad I don't watch films – with the occasional rare exception (I watched 'Breakfast at Tiffany’s' and 'You've got Mail' again at Christmas!) . There was a film of 'Eragon' in 2006 and I think that people who read a book after seeing a film must have their view of the book quite slanted by the characters and plot of the film. Not only are the characters often different from how one might have imagined them on one's own but also the plot is often varied by the screenwriters.

These are the exceptions – the films I have watched and, in some cases, would happily watch again and again:

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Dead Poets' Society
Easy Rider
Forrest Gump
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Good Morning, Vietnam
Grand Prix
The Graduate
Groundhog Day
The Hours
Lord of the Rings (after I'd read the books twice)

Love Actually
My Fair Lady
Pretty Woman
Shakespeare in Love

What Women Want
You've Got Mail

Chinese proverbs and other wisdom

2012-01-24T00:54:00.024Z

(Written on Jo's laptop)

A bridge never crossed is a life never lived. Traditional

He who asks is a fool for five minutes. But he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Traditional

Do not forget to take your wife when you move house. Traditional

There is no greater happiness than freedom from worry,and there is no greater wealth than contentment. Lao Zi, Spring and Autumn Period

A man has only one death. Sima Qian, Han Dynasty

During his lifetime, an individual should devote his efforts to create happiness and to enjoy it, and also to keep it in store in society so that individuals of the future may also enjoy it, one generation doing the same for next and so on unto infinity. - Chen Duxiu, Republican Period

Life is but a smile on the lips of death. Li Zhinfa, People's Republic

Once a word is spoken four horses cannot drag it back. Ouyang Xiu, Song Dynasty

By using bronze as a mirror, you can adjust your clothes and hat. By using history as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall of empires. By using man as a mirror, you can know your virtues and errors. Tai Cong, Tang Dynasty

How do you know what the fish think? You're not a fish. Hui Zi, Warring States period

One night I was a butterfly, fluttering happily around. Then I awoke, and I found that I was a man. But what am I in truth? A man who dreams he is a butterfly, or a butterfly who dreams he is a man? Zhuang Zi, Warring States Period

Whilst the last one is my favourite it is closely followed by 'Do not forget to take your wife when you move house'.

Happy Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T00:49:00.029Z

(Written on Jo's laptop)

Chinese New Year begins according to the Chinese calendar which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. Because the track of the new moon changes from year to year, Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February.

New Year 2012 is January 23^rd and the animal for the year is the Dragon.

龙

To learn all about the Dragon personality go to this page.

The Chinese Dragon is a mythological symbol that represents fertility, immortality and happiness. What’s more, it’s also know to symbolize procreation and activity. Dating as far back as 3000 BC, many looked to Chinese Dragons to keep evil spirits at bay. When you are visiting any Chinese city, you’ll come face-to-face with mystical, powerful dragons who are proudly displayed on ancient monuments, and stone pillars of Chinese temples.

All over the city, you’ll find Chinese Dragons depicted as playing with a thunder ball or a pearl in addition to be embroidered on gorgeous gold and silk tapestries. And that’s not all. Chinese generals wear these dragons on their uniforms and they were the once the imperial emblem of Chinese Emperors. During ancient times, the dragon was considered the most sacred of all animals. The Chinese Dragon meaning is also one of divine ruler of the sea, the river and the lakes. The Chinese refer to themselves as Descendents of the Dragon”Long De Chuan Ren.”

The Year of the Dragon is considered the year of luck because a part of the Chinese Dragon meaning is good fortune in the areas of health, wealth and living a long, prosperous life. It is believed that anyone who holds an emblem of this divine mythical animal will be protected and safe. This all important ancient symbol is respected and beloved by the Chinese people

If you want to know what animal sign you are see the chart below.

The Ox is sometimes also known as the Buffalo, the Rabbit as the Cat and the Sheep as the Goat.

I’m a boring Buffalo or Ox. What are you?

Cannot (never mind 'Do Not') Resuscitate

2012-01-21T12:49:00.002Z

(Written on the laptop of Partner-who-loves-tea)

O.K., smile everyone. Laugh if you will. Or “Tut, tut,” at how my article about the great God DataTransfer was blasphemous. I don't mind how you react. I won't be able to read your comments yet awhile. My laptop has stopped working. It won't produce a boot signal at all. It's dead. Kaput. Mort. Strongly resembles an ER ward in a power cut. Not a single light or bleep. Cannot (never mind 'Do Not') Resuscitate.

Partner-who-loves-tea thinks that it's hilarious in the light of my diatribe against DataTransfer. I think she should be struck off her therapy registers. Where is the empathy? What happened to 'So how do you feel about this?' It's all she can do to stop the tears of hilarity from streaming down her cheeks.

It probably doesn't help that I've just finished reading Sarah Winman's wonderful novel “When God was a Rabbit”.

Anyone want a twelve month old laptop with no signs of life? And an ex-partner, ditto, which is what will happen if she doesn't stop saying, 'Sorry,' hiccup, giggle, 'can't help it!'

I know. I broke the Seventh Commandment and took “the name of the Lord thy God in vain”. Sorry to both Him and HIM but I suppose it's too late for that....

Help!

2012-01-20T12:49:00.004Z

I am reading a number of books on my Kindle. As a result I no longer have page numbers and, more importantly, I have no total number of pages. The ability to vary the size of the font (and, in my case, use a big one to make it easier on my double vision problem) means the number of 'pages' can vary enormously - even if one could count them. I wanted to add up my number of pages read in 2012 and future years but how to do it. Any suggestions?

Bummer

2012-01-19T11:39:00.001Z

I knew He would get His own back as soon as I posted my rant against DataTransfer! Look what happened when I went to see who had posted anything lately...

He is obviously omniscient - and it didn't take him long to respond!

DataTransfer

2012-01-19T11:35:00.001Z

GB managed to leave two comments on someone's blog the other day and then asked how that happened! "GB," I wrote, "it's a computer - that's how it happened! Never question the workings of the God 'DataTransfer'." Similarly, when a blog post of mine was three days in the arriving on my blog DataTransfer had been meddling again. He had changed my scheduled blog posting to a 'draft'. This is something He has a habit of doing just to annoy me. I check that a posting is scheduled - and it is - and when it doesn't appear I find He turned it back into a 'draft'.

GB being a bit of an atheist may not believe in DataTransfer but I’m sure He exists. Of course, He could be a She depending upon which sex you consider to be the more devious.

Another of His latest tricks is to take you to the bottom of the page of comments when you visit certain blogs (Adrian’s and Phil’s for example). I say ‘take you’ but needless to say what He does to one visitor He may not do to another. He is quite choosy who He picks on at times. And He sure as Hell picks on me! If I knew of a way of killing a God I’d give it a go. I understand Baldur was killed by a dart made of mistletoe but that presupposes you can find the God in the first place. These immortals tend to hide on tops of mountains and my climbing days are over. Similarly, giving DataTransfer a mortal-turning drink would require finding Him.

I tried Yahoo Answers to see if they could help and came up with this by Earthtojoe (with acknowledgements to Philip Pullman).

Step 1: Create a knife which can cut through the fabric of the universe at the subatomic level.

Step 2: Use the knife to make openings in the aether through which you can enter parallel earths. Scour all possible worlds for the physical manifestation of the deity who is your quarry. He/She has to be somewhere. Look for a clouded mountain - they'll probably be found at the summit, relaxing atop a gilded throne, surrounded by angel-servants waving palm leaves and bearing grapes.

Step 3: Get close. Stab frantically. When the God/Goddess has fallen, turn the blade on His or Her minions - let them know who's boss before they try to take advantage of the resulting power vacuum.

Step 4: Usurp throne, commence autocratic rule of Heaven and earth.

That seems a bit drastic but I may be forced to do it if He doesn't lay off me.

At the top of the posting I showed an image of DataTransfer as many people might picture Him. A sort of Michaelangelo creation who meddles in things.

Alternatively He could be a Thor-like figure who brings His hammer or lightning down on random particles of information as they spin through the universe.

A further alternative came up when I put ‘Image of God’ into Google:-

If you were to dig a hole 300 feet straight down from the charming French village of Crozet you’d come upon a ‘garishly lit tunnel ten feet in diameter which curves away into the distance, interrupted every few miles by lofty chambers crammed with heavy steel structures, cables, pipes, wires, magnets, tubes, shafts, catwalks, and enigmatic gizmos.’ (Joel Achenbach) This is the Large Hadron Collider which aims to solve the mystery of how the Universe was formed and whodunit. A bit like a mechanical Miss Marple. Now this is far more like how I envisage DataTransfer.

In medieval times anyone who upset the Gods needed to do something to avert the Evil Eye. In case my having this go at DataTransfer causes Him to worsen his attacks on me I shall put this apotropaic symbol on my laptop lid.

It’s a Gorgoneion – the Head of Medusa - used to ward off evil. You are welcome to use it and see if it works but I’m not offering any money-back guarantees…

(Written on Thursday 19th January 2012 but if it doesn’t appear on my Blog until 2013 you’ll know I really have upset Him.)

What I read in 2011

2012-01-15T11:43:00.003Z

If you want to know what I read in 2011 and which books received the Scriptor Senex Awards please visit my Book Blog. I'd love to know what the best book you read in 2011 was.

What I’m reading

2012-01-14T15:18:00.001Z

Normally I would post this on my Book Blog but I thought it might be of general interest as well so I put it here.

I’m never just reading one book at a time. I usually have half a dozen on the go – partly so that there is a different one for each mood and partly because each time I get a new book I can’t resist dipping into it. At the moment I have a lot more than half a dozen - I blame the Kindle for that! Here is what I am exploring at the moment.

Firstly there are some on the Kindle:-

The Bed-Book of Happiness, Being a Colligation or Assemblage of Cheerful Writings brought together from many quarters into this one compass for the diversion, distraction, and delight of those who lie abed, - a friend to the invalid, a companion to the sleepless, an excuse to the tired, by Harold Begbie, 1914.

“It is worth,” said Dr Johnson, “ a thousand pounds a year to have the habit of looking on the bright side of things.” And Harold Begbie explores English literature to provide diverting little stories and extracts. It’s a real ‘dip-into’ book and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Death by Darjeeling (A Tea Mystery) by Laura Childs. I always have to have at least one cosy crime on the go!

The Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth. I came across this when I heard an extract on Radio 4. It’s a hilarious look at etymology of a wide variety of words. An essential read for anyone who loves the English language.

Blandings Castle and Elsewhere by P G Wodehouse. My easy-reading when I can’t get to sleep and need something that doesn’t need any great thought to enjoy. The usual Wodehouse humour.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I am only just starting this. I recently read ‘The Moonstone’ and ‘No Name’.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Another that I’m only just beginning.

‘Real’ Books (i.e., paperbacks and hardbacks)

Eldest by, Christopher Paolini. I’m thoroughly enjoying this fantasy novel – the follow up to Eragon in The Inheritance Cycle which I’ve just finished..

The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. I started this months ago and lost interest but I’m sure I’ll get around to finishing it one day. What I read I did enjoy so I’m not sure why I put it down. It’s a sort of 19^th century version of a Bill Bryson travel book. Very funny but, needless to say, not politically correct by modern day standards.

Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong. Another one that I started but put down and my bookmark is stuck in page 154. It’s a great story of a Chinese girl being brought up in a Chinese household in the USA and her attempts to reconcile the two very different cultures.

The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon. Written a thousand years ago by a lady at the Japanese court it’s a fun book to dip into on sleepless nights.

The Victorians by Jeremy Paxman. Britain through the paintings of the age.

Green men and White Swans by Jacqueline Simpson. The folklore of British Pub names.

Engleby by Sebastian Faulks. I had just started this when Eragon came along so it got put to one side.

The Oxford Concise Companion to English Literature by Margaret Drabble and Jenny Stringer. See my blog entry from Wednesday.

Victorian London Street Life in Historic Photos by John Thomson, 1877. Thid better than most similar books as it delves quite deeply into the background of each of the photos, describing London street life as it was in the 1870s.

Lost for Words by John Humphreys. A look at the English language and how it has been mangled in recent times. I picked up this book by the famous BBC presenter in a charity shop the other day. A real gem.

Do you read a load of books at the same time? And what are you reading now (yes, Monica, listening to audio-books counts!).

A few funnies for your Friday –

2012-01-13T00:55:00.016Z

Firstly, thanks to Canadian Chickadee for a quote of the day and the ultimate computing question:-

Quote for the day: "I don't believe in astrology. I'm a Sagittarius. We're sceptical."-- Arthur C. Clarke

If I'm supposed to back up my discs, how do I put my computer in reverse???

Then there’s one of the best lines from an episode of ‘Bargain Hunt’. At the beginning of the programme Tim Wonnacott asks the members of each couple what they collect. On this episode the woman mentioned what she collected and when the husband was asked he responded “The receipts from what she collects!” Oh, how I can identify with that!

Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories.

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

A child can go only so far in life without potty training. It is not mere coincidence that six of the last seven Prime Ministers were potty trained….

After a year in therapy, my psychiatrist said to me, 'Maybe life isn't for everyone.' -- Larry Brown

I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

My wife said I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she said.

I don't do drugs anymore 'cause I find I get the same effect just by standing up really fast.

I intend to live forever -- so far, so good.

And some questions with no sensible answer:-

Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

How many weeks are there in a light year?

If Barbie's so popular, why do you have to buy all her friends?

If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags?

If swimming is good for your shape, then why do the whales look the way they do?

If tin whistles are made out of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?

If white wine goes with fish, do white grapes go with sushi?

and a really corny one for my librarian friends -
Did Noah keep his bees in archives?

A Haiku for the inhabitants of Frog End

2012-01-12T00:06:00.021Z

Here's a Haiku for Daughter-who-takes-photos (author of Rambles from Frog End which is the name of their home) and Son-in-law-and-friend-who-loves-otters which I found on Ruby's blog:-

Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto

The old pond;
a frog jumps in —
the sound of the water.

This Haiku was written by Matsuo Bashô (1644-1694) and this page has 31 translations of it. It is probably the most famous poem in Japan, and after three hundred and more years of repetition, it has, understandably, become a little stale for Japanese people. But the scope for some brilliant translations continues here in English. Many more versions can be found in Hiroaki Sato’s One Hundred Frogs (Weatherhill, 1995), which includes over 100 translations plus a number of adaptations and parodies.

My favourites are:-

The ancient pond
A frog leaps in
The sound of the water.

The old pond,
A frog jumps in:
Plop!

Old pond
leap — splash
a frog.

old pond
a frog in-leaping
water-note

pond
frog
plop!

A lengthy ramble through my life...

2012-01-11T00:56:00.027Z

So what is happening in the Scriptor household at the moment?

Partner-sho-loves-tea has been consuming large quantites of the stuff as she has worked every day of the Christmas 'break' - marking essays, creating student handbooks, seeing clients, etc. The only time she hasn't been working is when she's been cooking. She and Son-who-watches-films cooked the Christmas dinner and an excellent job they made of it. And now the students and clients are back at the Centre and life is back to normal for her.

My health has gradually improved over the Christmas period and I feel quite reasonable at the moment.

Needless to say I've been catching up on my reading and am thoroughly enjoying four volume Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini which I can recomment to any fantasy adventure fans. I am reading that in 'real books' but the Kindle is becoming ever more popular with me. Apart from the advantage of being able to use a larger font when my eyes are bad it is so convenient to have so many books to choose from at any one time according to my mood. I've always been one to read quite a few books at the same time but with the Kindle that has increased. My favourite on the Kindle at the moment is the Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth. Anyone who loves delving into the English language will enjoy that.

The other book I'm reading is a Christmas present from Helen and Ian. It will take me about four years to complete! Perhaps I should explain the reason for that... The history of it goes back to 1970/2 when I read the Oxford Concise Dictionary of English Literature. I read all 600 pages aznd it took me nearly two years to complete because my objective was to learn its contents as I went along. I had to put fablon on the covers because I was wearing it out.

Now I'm reading the 5,000 entries in the Oxford Companion to English Literature. entries for this guide to all aspects of English Literature have been carefully selected from Margaret Drabble's renowned Oxford Companion to English Literature. It includes character entries and plot summaries, literary movements, critics, and critical theories, literary societies, periodicals, libraries, copyright, censorship, coffee houses, actors and actresses, printers, publishers, booksellers, and private presses. Author biographies are provided covering novelists, dramatists, poets, historians, philosophers, scholars, critics, editors and journalists. This edition covers topics once regarded as non-literary such as detective stories, science fiction, children's stories, and comic strips, as well as important movements and critical theories. It encompasses English and American literature and commonwealth, African, Caribbean, and Indian literature written in English.

At the same time I have gone back to the Concise Dictionary (which was published in 1939) because it has lots of classical stuff that the new Concise Companion lacks. I reckon that devoting proper attention to them will take me about four years but it should be good for training my memory and keeping Alzheimer's at bay.

The final act of loft sorting took place this week as we dropped off three boxes of books, a couple of bin bags of clothing and another box of odds and ends at one of the local charity shops. To celebrate I called in at the library and looked at the books on the sale table there - I was very restrained and only bought three.

Son-who-watches-films is in the process of clearing out his den with a view to putting down a new carpet and (if we can persuade him) re-decorating it.

Food-loving-Daughter and Son-in-law-who-cooks called in on Boxing Day and great fun was had as she assembled and coaxed a tune out of her present - a shehnai. The shehnai, shahnai, shenai or mangal vadya, is an aerophonic (wind) instrument, a double reed conical oboe, common in North India, West India and Pakistan, made out of wood, with a metal flare bell at the end. Its sound is thought to create and maintain a sense of auspiciousness and sanctity and, as a result, is widely used during marriages, processions, and in temples of West India, although it is also played in concerts. This tube-like instrument gradually broadens towards the lower end. It usually has between six and nine holes. It employs two sets of double reeds, making it a quadruple reed woodwind. So now you know!

Daughter-who-takes-photos and Son-in-law-and-friend-who-loves-otters came for a couple of days after New Year and it was good to catch up with their news though blogs and regular e-mails mean I generally know what's happening in their lives. Tomorrow I'll be blogging a Haiku for them.

A Mallard feather

2012-01-10T00:12:00.000Z

Eugene Grasset - Librairie Romantique

2012-01-09T00:09:00.000Z

When I was at college I had posters on my flat wall. This was my favourite and until recently we also had a small version of it on the kitchen wall.

It was designed in 1887 by Eugene Grasset (1845 –1917), a Swiss decorative artist who worked in Paris in a variety of creative design fields during the Belle Époque. Grasset is considered a pioneer in Art Nouveau design.

Eugène Samuel Grasset was born in Lausanne around 1841. He was raised in an artistic environment as the son of a cabinet designer/maker and sculptor. He studied drawing and architecture and after completing his education in Zurich he visited Egypt, an experience that would later be reflected in a number of his poster designs. He became an admirer of Japanese art which also influenced some of his creative designs.

Between 1869 and 1870, Grasset worked as a painter and sculptor in Lausanne but moved to Paris in 1871 where he designed furniture fabrics and tapestries as well as ceramics and jewellery. His fine art decorative pieces were crafted from ivory, gold and other precious materials in unique combinations and his creations are considered a cornerstone of Art Nouveau motifs and patterns.

In 1877 Eugène Grasset turned to graphic design, producing income-generating products such as postcards and eventually postage stamps for both France and Switzerland.

However, it was poster art that quickly became his forté. Some of his works became part of the Maîtres de l'Affiche including his lithograph, "Jeanne d'Arc Sarah Bernhardt."

In 1890, he designed the "Semeuse who spreads seeds of dandelion" logo used by the dictionary publishers, Éditions Larousse.

With the growing popularity of French posters in the United States, Grasset was soon contacted by several American companies. In the 1880s, he did his first American commission and more success led to his cover design for the 1892 Christmas issue of Harper's Magazine. Grasset's work for U.S. institutions helped pave the way for Art Nouveau to dominate American art.

Thoughtful Sunday - Viktor Frankl

2012-01-08T00:16:00.000Z

Viktor Emil Frankl M.D., Ph.D. Is one of my favourite writers. He was born in Vienna in 1905 and died in the same city in 1997. An Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor, Frankl was the founder of logotherapy, which is a form of Existential Analysis. In September 1942 he and his new bride (with whom he was very much in love), his mother, father, and brother were all arrested in Vienna and taken to a concentration camp in Bohemia. It was events that occurred there and at three other camps that led the young doctor - prisoner 119,104 - to realize the significance of meaningfulness in life.

His best-selling book, 'Man's Search for Meaning', chronicles his experiences as a concentration camp inmate based on his psychotherapeutic method of finding meaning in all forms of existence, even the most sordid ones, and thus a reason to continue living. Frankl was one of the key figures in existential therapy and a prominent source of inspiration for humanistic psychologists.

Here are some of my favourite extracts from his books:

"The salvation of man is through love and in love. I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of his beloved."

“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.'”

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

"Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it."

"Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time."

“Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.”

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
"Success like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself."

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

And a similar quotation in different circumstances:

“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one's freedoms is to choose ones attitude in any given circumstance.”

I first came across Viktor Frankl just a few weeks after David died in infancy nearly 25 years ago and these quotations from 'The Doctor and The Soul' were particularly apt at the time.

“We cannot, after all, judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in it, we must judge by the richness of the contents.”

“... Sometimes the unfinisheds are among the most beautiful symphonies.”

A wooden Indian

2012-01-07T00:10:00.000Z

This Indian chief lived on the wall of our bedroom when GB and I were young and now helps to keep Brother-who-blogs safe on the Isle of Lewis. (I'm sure his influence extends across the world to NZ to keep him safe there as well.)

He looks very much like this photograph of Chief Wooden Leg.

Absinthe posters

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000Z

I have a great liking for poster art - particularly that of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. One theme that shows off some of the best of the Art Nouveau posters is absinthe drinking.

Absinthe was first created in 1792 by Pierre Ordinaire, a French doctor living in Switzerland. His intention was to deliver the extract of the wormwood plant (which had long been known to have powerful healing effects) in a handy form.

At the end of the nineteenth century, absinthe was embraced by the literary bohemian crowd who gathered in European cafes and claimed the Green Fairy (La Fee Verte) as their muse and inspiration.

One of the most iconic art nouveau images of all, this 1896 image for Absinthe Robette by the Belgian posterist Privat-Livemont has spawned a million reproductions.

An unrecorded lithographic poster for Rosinette, Absinthe Rosé Oxygénée, printed by Camis around 1900.

Absinthe extra superior - J Edouard Pernot by Leonett Cappiello

Absinthe Parisienne poster by P.Gelis-Didot and Louis Malteste

Absinthe Vichet poster from 1896 - a quintessential Art Nouveau poster.

Leonetto Cappiello's famous poster for Absinthe Ducros Fils.

Two posters for La Fee Verte - I don't know who they were by.

This Absinthe bourgeois poster by the Mourgue brothers shows an Absinthe loving black cat enjoying a glass of the company's product. Nicknamed the'Chat Noir', it has became one of the best-loved Absinthe images.

All this publicity and the great growth of absinthe drinking caused a backlash and a large number of healthy, non-alcoholic alternatives appeared. They too had their posters both advertising their virtues and equating absinthe drinking with an early death. I shall blog about them another day.

I'm also still missing...

2012-01-05T00:31:00.001Z

Florentines at the Woodlands while doing crosswords with GB.

This represents the remains of my last Florentine with Jo, last August. I didn't quite lick the plate but not far off it. (Helen and Ian gave me some biscuit-sized Florentines for Christmas. I have yet to try them but I suspect once opened they won't last long!)

Occasionally, very occasionally, GB went wild and gave up his Tunnock's teacakes for something weird...

... a mint Kit-Kat !

I'm still missing...

2012-01-04T00:25:00.000Z

the sunrises and sunsets from GB's house in Eagleton on the Isle of Lewis.

Hopefully I'll be back again this year.

William Curtis

2012-01-03T18:53:00.003Z

William Curtis (1746-1799) is one of a number of botanical artists and engravers I much admire.

These plates are from William Curtis' classic Flora Londinensis : Or plates and Descriptions of Such Plants as Grow Wild in the Environs of London: With their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering; Their Several Names according to Linnaeus and Other Authors.

A brilliant and indefatigable botanist, Curtis, at the age of 26, was appointed Praefectus Horti and Demonstrator to the Society of Apothecaries at the Physic Garden in Chelsea. Chiefly interested in British flora, Curtis set out to record and describe all the plants growing within a ten-mile radius of London.

In 1777, Curtis brought out the first volume of the Flora Londinesis, of which some 300 copies were printed. When the sixth and final volume came out, the work contained descriptions of 435 species, illustrated on 432 hand-coloured engraved plates. Curtis was forced to abandon his project when it proved financially disastrous. Patrons were simply not interested in the unassuming flora of southern England. In 1787, Curtis turned his attention to the Botanical Magazine and the illustration of exotic foreign species.

Although Flora Londinensis was not a financial success, the work contains some the largest and most spectacular plates in the history of English botanical art. The full-page engravings were prepared from drawings by William Kilburn, James Sowerby, and Sydenham Edwards, all of whom went on to achieve artistic fame. The majority of the figures, according to Salisbury, "represent the most successful portrayals of British wild flowers that have ever been achieved". The copper-plate engravings were printed on fine water marked, chain-linked paper and hand-colored at the time of publication.

New Year Resolutions

2012-01-02T00:15:00.003Z

I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second. ~ Helen Fielding, 'Bridget Jones's Diary'

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference

2012-01-01T00:01:00.012Z

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. ~ Charles Lamb

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~ Bill Vaughan

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~ Unknown

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. ~ Mark Twain

The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears. ~ W.H. Auden

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~ Bill Vaughan

What Christmas means....

2011-12-29T12:20:00.002Z

This is Christmas -

Unwrapping presents.

Family visits.

Christmas cake and Christmas pudding.

'Exotic' drinks.

Silly clothing (Oops - those are Jo's normal socks on the left!).

Satsumas and dates, nuts and chestnuts.

Playing games - old and new.

Too many sweets.

Christmas cards - home-made, full of memories, funny and beautiful.

Christmas crackers.

The smell of candles and incense.

Getting out the old family crockery.

Christmas dinner.

Decorations.

The Tree.

Serious presents.

Lots of new books.

Silly presents (the one on the right is a steel and striker for lighting camp fires).

Little piles of opened presents in odd corners.

Robins on the bird table.

What does Christmas mean to you?

It's Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T00:19:00.007Z

Happy Christmas

2011-12-20T21:36:00.002Z

Firstly may I thank everyone for their good wishes after my recent yucky spell. Apart from my eyes I am much better now and really looking forward to Christmas.

Because of the hiatus we haven’t bought a proper Christmas tree this year – we lashed out £15 on an artificial tree. It’s excellent quality for the price. Six feet tall and with plenty of realistic branches- only the scent and irregularity of the branches are missing.

It even dropped some ‘needles’ while being erected!

We decided to spare Emma Gertrude for another year and are having lamb and chicken for Christmas Day. Richard is making the gravy and he had a practice run yesterday – it’s excellent stuff.

We have yet to do the shopping and Jo is still working until Thursday but at least we are getting into the Christmas spirit.

I hope you all have a super time and our very best wishes to you all.

Happy Holiday Season

2011-12-19T00:37:00.001Z

Wishing you a holiday season filled with stress, cold, and angry shopping episodes. Okay, so that isn't pretty. But at least it's pretty realistic.

And if you are looking for the ideal present - at the end of the day don't forget a hug is the perfect gift; one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it.

Happy Monday

2011-12-12T16:13:00.002Z

TOP 10 SIGNS THAT YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO JOIN E-MAILERS ANONYMOUS

10, You wake up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom, and check your email on the way back to bed.
9. Your firstborn is named dot com.
S. You turn off your modem and are suddenly filled with a feeling of emptiness, as if you just pulled the plug on a loved one.
7. You spend half of a plane trip with your laptop on your hip... and your child in the overhead compartment,
6. You decide to stay in college for an additional year or two, just for the free Internet access. 5. You find yourself typing "com" after every full stop.com
4. You refer to going to the bathroom as downloading.
3. You move into a new home and decide to netscape before you landscape.
2. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)
DRUM ROLL PLEASE
AND THE NO. 1 SIGN THAT YOU KNOW ITS TIME TO JOIN E-MAILERS ANON.
1. Immediately after reading this list, you email it to someone.

Who are you looking at?

2011-12-10T00:18:00.001Z

Are you looking for a fight?

At the moment I'm still feeling as if I'd been butted by one of these but the main reason I'm not blogging much is beacuse one of the horns poked my eye out and I can't see properly. I have eight sets of spectacles, one of which, according to how my eyes are focussing / double-visioning, usually works. None are working at the moment so I'm managing without any. If you can manage without any why do you bother, I hear you ask? The answer is because I have to have my eyes two inches from the screen / keyboard. Looks a bit weird to put it mildly. Back when all my bits are working better....

The Loft

2011-12-08T10:20:00.000Z

I still have a few boxes to put back in the loft but I thought it was about time I told you of a success story so here it is. With illustrations.

After a few months of lugging boxes down from the loft, sorting them, cataloguing their contents and heaving them back up again we have a tidy loft with accessible contents whose whereabouts are known. How wonderful is that? The result may not look much tidier than the original photos but I assure you it is.

And there are nine boxes less than there were. I still worry a bit about the weight that’s being put on the loft flooring but at the moment I’m more worried about the 80 mph gales that have just ripped out a piece of fencing and sent it across the car park of the Doctors’ surgery next door. Plant pots are skidding around the patio, spilling their contents and colliding with patio furniture and a host of other objects only half of which I recognise – suggesting the other half have made it over the fence from a neighbour’s. If anyone thinks I’m mad enough to go and investigate in this wind/rain/hail they’ve got another think coming, especially since the local traffic reports are full of blocked roads as trees come down all over the place.

But back to the loft…

This, believe it or not, is the most important part of the loft – a six foot by four foot space next to the access hatch. At long last I can climb in and out without having to negotiate loads of rubbish stored items.

I haven’t been well enough to check that the roof is still on but, assuming it is, the loft is FINISHED for a few months at least. What I need now is the discipline to make sure that when I change the location of anything in there I make a note of it on the catalogue of contents.

Tired

2011-12-06T08:32:00.000Z

I had decided not to bore you with my health issues but then I thought – blow it, I’ve suffered, why shouldn’t you!

I’ve been in bed for the last two weeks – with the occasional exception of an hour or so - as a result of a fourteen day non-stop migraine (a record even for me) of which ten days were excruciating. Just to ice the cake I had a facial infection and the doctor has now identified that I’ve also got Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). I’m sure that there is as board-room – or a bored-room - somewhere to which a group of medics retire after a boozy lunch to dream up this week’s new names for medical disorders. Yesterday I had my first migraine free day (it having eased off at 3 a.m.) for two weeks but sadly it’s back this morning though, thankfully, at a lower pain level. It remains to be seen how I get on over the next few days. If it all gradually goes away I shall be back blogging again. If not, please cancel Christmas and check back in the New Year….

I’m tired and I want to go to bed. That would make a good song, wouldn’t it…

Just about

2011-12-01T08:58:00.000Z

Just abiut well enought to check my comments before |i go to the Dotcor's again this morning and find that I seem to have been around for a couple of days now - the miracles of scheduled postings...

Hopefully I'll be better aqian soon and will bore you all with the gory details. (Inclusing why I can'r see to type properly - remond me to tell you abnout the wonder's of Kinde and increasing font size when you can't see...)

That old Christmas card list

2011-12-01T00:42:00.008Z

Do you ever find an old Christmas card list – the one you wrote out in order to write your cards and make sure you didn’t forget Auntie Marje? Occasionally I come across one as I throw out more rubbish that has accumulated over the years and I’m horrified to realise that the list can be about equally divided into:-

Those who have since died;
those who have changed partner;
those who I’ve lost touch with;
those who I still send a card to; and
those whose names mean absolutely nothing to me nowadays.

Who were Michelle and Eddie????

Alphabet Wednesday - T is for Tiger

2011-11-30T00:25:00.032Z

T is for Tiger. Sadly they are becoming ever more rare.

Siberian Tiger -

Amur Tiger -

Bengal Tiger -

Sumatran Tigers -

For a lot more interpretations of the letter T please visit the ABC linksite.

You've got to laugh - though I don't know why!

2011-11-27T03:40:00.002Z

Thanks for all the sympathetic comments the other day - much appreciated. But body's neurological fault continues. Currently screaming with pain and frustration but otherwise fine.

i.e. Still sick as a dog, parrot, cat - whatever....

Normal service (whatever that is) will be resumed as soon as possible...

Poorly

2011-11-24T07:13:00.000Z

Been very yuck. Still yuck (but not very). Hopefully will blog when no longer yuck...

Alphabet Wednesday - Some Spindles

2011-11-22T17:47:00.000Z

I'd never heard the term Spindles for Dragonflies until I came across this book from 1813 -

I rather like the name Spindles so I thought I'd use it for my Alphabet Wednesday post. Since my name is Scriptor Senex I guess I could really post what I liked for today!

And Dragonflies are (or have been) also known in various British dialects as - Silver-pins; Snake-arrows; Spinners; Spinning Jennies; and Stinging Adders.

Broad-bodied Chaser

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Keeled Skimmer

Southern Hawker

For a lot more interpretations of the letter S please visit the ABC linksite.

Quote - Unquote

2011-11-22T00:19:00.000Z

No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets.
-- Edward Abbey

Maybe the fish goes home and brags about the size of the bait he stole.
-- Anon

Doing nothing is very hard to do ... you never know when you're finished.
-- Leslie Nielsen

There are two types of people--those who come into a room and say, 'Well, here I am!' and those who come in and say, 'Ah, there you are.'
-- Frederick L Collins

I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them.
-- Jane Austen

It's the good girls who keep diaries; the bad girls never have the time.
-- Tallulah Bankhead

The surprising thing about young fools is how many survive to become old fools.
-- Doug Larson

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.
-- George Burns

Every man serves a useful purpose: A miser, for example, makes a wonderful ancestor.
-- Laurence J. Peter

People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news.
-- A. J. Liebling

We are here on Earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don't know.
-- W. H. Auden

Indecision may or may not be my problem.
-- Jimmy Buffett

Happy Monday - The Miracle of Toilet Paper

2011-11-21T00:20:00.007Z

Fresh from my shower, I stand in front of the mirror complaining to my husband that my breasts are too small.

Instead of characteristically telling me it's not so, he uncharacteristically comes up with a suggestion.

'If you want your breasts to grow, then every day take a piece of toilet paper and rub it between them for a few seconds' he says.

Willing to try anything, I fetch a piece of toilet paper and stand in front of the mirror, rubbing it between my breasts.

'How long will this take?' I ask.

'They will grow larger over a period of years' my husband replies.

I stop. 'Do you really think rubbing a piece of toilet paper between my breasts every day will make my breasts larger over the years?' I say.

Without missing a beat he says, "Worked for your bum, didn't it?"

He's still alive and with a great deal of therapy he may even walk again - although he will probably continue to take his meals through a straw.

Stupid, stupid man

Thoughtful Sunday - Butterflies galore

2011-11-20T00:56:00.061Z

I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man. ~ Chuang Tzu

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~ Author Unknown

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever. ~ Carl Sagan

Butterflies are self propelled flowers. ~ Robert Heinlein

The butterfly is a flying flower, The flower a tethered butterfly. ~ Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun

The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity. ~ Attributed to George Carlin

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

The least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because of the uproar of butterflies in the adjoining meadows. ~ P.G. Wodehouse

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. ~ Richard Buckminster Fuller

I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. ~ Charles Dickens

The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet. ~ Paul Erlich

And what's a butterfly? At best, He's but a caterpillar, drest. ~ John Grey

(The above are all British butterflies with the exception of the black and yellow cocoon which is a moth - the Magpie moth.)

A P.S. added after Librarian's comment. I should really have named the butterflies but I was afraid of distracting from the quotations. So here they are - in order from the top:-
Comma
Magpie Moth chrysalis
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Small Copper
Orange Tip
Caterpillar of Large White (Cabbage White)
Common Blue
Mating Sliver-studded Blues
Comma caterpillar
Peacock
Small Copper
Red Admiral

Another Ramble

2011-11-19T00:04:00.001Z

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle

will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Buddha

Having sorted ornaments, Partner-who-loves-tea and I are now starting on the hundreds of candle / tea light holders and candles that are around the house.

One of the first we came across was the Wee Willy Winkie one that belonged to my parents.

The original text of 1841 was written in Scots but by 1844 there was an English version:-

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
Are the children in their bed, for it's past ten o'clock?

I’ve just been purchasing a DVD recorder. The main reasons are to transfer stuff that is clogging up Rich’s Sky’s hard drive because he wants to keep it, family videos and Rich’s camera tapes onto DVD. Having settled on what seemed , by the Idiot’s Guide description, to fit the bill I turned to the more technical data. The first sentence read “By interpolating video data using proprietary algorithms, SD format data is up-converted to 1080 x 1920p HD format video data.” Duh! I’m just hoping the Idiot’s Guide was adequate to take the decision.

While sorting the loft I investigated all the pictures that were up there. One of them got brought down to be displayed - Picasso's Sleeping Woman. It needed cleaning up so I took it out of the frame and behind it I found a picture I'd been seeking for ages. I thought we must have got rid if it and yet I knew I wouldn't have done so intentionally.

It was done by a student at one of the Liverpool colleges or schools and Jo bought it from them for charity. The artist was Sarah Jones and I think it's fantastic. We had it on the wall when we lived in a big Victorian house with tons of wall space for pictures but somehow it then got hidden behind Picasso. For the moment it has gone back there but I aim to have it out soon.

We are not fans of Tesco but I called in there the other morning because I fancied a cake and I wondered what they had.

I found they had doughnuts. Much as I dislike extolling the virtues of They’re-Taking-Over-the-World-Tesco, the doughnut was wonderful. It reminded me of the doughnuts that used to be made by the Doughnut Shop at the end of my parents’ road. The only difference being that those from the Doughnut Shop were freshly made and still warm.

And if that hasn't made your mouth water how about this (with apologies to Helen and Ian and other veggies).

Rich sometimes makes me a dinner. This one was worthy of any Michelin star restaurtant. The sauce was made with saffron, chillies, leeks and all sorts of exotic ingredients. It infiltrated the chicken skin and was so delicate yet tasty. The roasted garlic was super and the roast potatoes were to die for. I think the carrot and swede was one I made earlier taken out of the freezer so I can take a tiny bit of credit for it... Just looking at that photo makes me want it again. Where are you, Rich?

A Ramble - or maybe a Rumble...

2011-11-18T00:27:00.001Z

I would have done a Friday My Town Shoot-out post today but for two reasons – Firstly, I’m on strike, and secondly I couldn’t think of anything symmetrical apart from the doors of the Fire Brigade house and I ain’t up to travelling into Heswall today. So I’m doing this as a scheduled post on Thursday.

It’s been a week of sitting at the computer and going up the loft ladder. Alternately. I’ve visited lots of blogs and done some blogging myself but most of my computer time has been spent uploading programs to the new laptop of Partner-who-loves-tea. Nearly a week was spent trying to sort out why it couldn’t connect to the Internet first time of starting. In the process of working on it I managed to make it even worse at one stage and am pleased to have at least got it back to where it was. It’s frustrating having to start it twice but at least it always works second time around. Weird.

Going up the loft came to an abrupt end on Wednesday when I was foolish enough to open the door of the sideboard cupboard. Yes, you did read that correctly. I was looking to insert a new battery in a lock so I turned round to open the door of the sideboard cupboard where the batteries are kept. In the process I went dizzzzy. I know there aren’t really four ‘z’s in dizzy but it seemed like there were at the time. Somehow I managed to fall over, bang my knee (the bad one, of course) bang my head on something very hard – I’m assuming it was the sideboard – twist my left knee and put my back out. I already had a headache so I thought ‘B*****r it’ and went to bed for the rest of the day. For those whose first reaction was the same as Partner-who-loves-tea – the sideboard was not damaged in the process. In fairness she didn’t say anything like that but she did take a quick glance at it as I was telling the story.

The boxes that were on the landing waiting to go in the loft will now stay there for a while (it takes both Rich and I to get them in there so I can’t even rely on him to do it on his own). And the loft was so near being completed. I had even taken the camera upstairs ready to photograph it. Not that you could tell much difference but at least I now have a twenty page Word Doc. listing where everything is in there.

So, on Thursday morning, aching like I hadn’t done since I last climbed a Lakeland Fell, I decided it was time to have a few days off. I am, after all, supposed to be retired on ill health grounds so it’s about time I put my feet up and read a book or two. Madame Bovary, here I come…

Helen's wish

2011-11-17T00:55:00.003Z

I doubt Helen's wishes have changed that much since she was six...

R is for Red

2011-11-16T00:46:00.041Z

Retaining my Regular animal theme I have chosen some Red Rodents and other Red creatures for my Readers today as part of my Routine Ration for Alphabet Wednesday’s letter of the week – the letter R.

This Red Fox was very friendly and I got to know it quite well when I wandered on Ainsdale Nature Reserve in 1984.

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia.

Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammal and bird populations. Because of these factors, it is listed as Least Concern for extinction by the IUCN. It is listed among the "world's 100 worst invasive species".

The species has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for centuries, as well as being prominently represented in human folklore and mythology.

The Romans were hunting foxes by 80 AD. During the Dark Ages in Europe, foxes were considered secondary quarries, but gradually grew in importance. Cnut the Great reclassed foxes as Beasts of the Chase, a lower category of quarry than Beasts of Venery. Foxes were gradually hunted less as vermin and more as Beasts of the Chase, to the point that by the late 13th century, Edward I had a royal pack of foxhounds and a specialised fox huntsman.

Traditional foxhunting with its red coats and stirrup cups - whilst very pretty to look at - was (controversially) recognised as being out of keeping with the way modern man should approach wildlife. As result it was banned in Scotland in 2002 and in England and Wales in 2004.

Red-necked wallabies are the only species of marsupial known to be at large in the British countryside. They are not native to Britain but were introduced from Australia in about 1940. Red-necked wallabies have greyish-brown fur and, as their name suggests, they have red patches on their shoulders.

The red-necked wallaby has a patchy distribution in the UK. Small colonies are found in the Peak District in England and near Loch Lomond in Scotland, and a large colony roams freely at Whipsnade Zoo. I took these Wallaby photos in zoos.

The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) or shining-cat, is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is not found in the UK except in zoos where it usually hides away by day but I was fortunate to see this one early in the day at Chester Zoo. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It feeds mainly on bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals.

The Red Squirrel is native to Britain, but its future is increasingly uncertain as the introduced American grey squirrel expands its range across the mainland. There are estimated to be only 140,000 red squirrels left in Britain, with over 2.5 million greys. The Forestry Commission is working with partners in projects across Britain to develop a long-term conservation strategy that deters greys and encourages reds. These photos were all taken in the wild but at spots where they were known to come for peanuts given by humans.

The Red SquirrelSurvival Trust is a national body established to ensure the conservation and protection of the red squirrel in the UK.

In Norse mythology, Ratatosk is a red squirrel who runs up and down with messages in the world tree, Yggdrasill, and spreads gossip. In particular, he ferried insults between the eagle Veðrfölnir at the top of Yggdrasill and the dragon Níðhöggr beneath its roots.

I hope I am Right in Recognising my Recurrent Reference to wildlife is Regarded as Reasonable. I Rely on you to Reveal to me in the Remarks if it is not.

For a lot more interpretations of the letter R please visit the ABC linksite.

Glencoe in July

2011-11-15T00:55:00.000Z

Happy Monday - Why Men don't write advice columns...

2011-11-14T05:15:00.000Z

Dear Walter,

I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't driven more than a mile down the road when the engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help.

When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbours daughter. I am 32, my husband is 34, and the neighbours daughter is 22. We have been married for ten years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months.

I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was sacked from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counselling and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore.

Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila

Dear Sheila:

A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no dirt in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.

I hope this helps.

Walter.

Many Happy Returns

2011-11-13T00:46:00.007Z

There is still no cure for the common birthday. ~ John Glenn

This young lady, Bryony Elizabeth, has a birthday today. She's now thirty three but my Mum would have described her as "twenty-one plus" - her standard answer to questions about women's ages which were a no-go area.

If you should meet a Crocodile...

2011-11-12T00:29:00.000Z

If you should meet a crocodile,
Ignore the welcome in his smile.
For as he sleeps upon the Nile,
He thinner gets and thinner;
And whene'er you meet a crocodile
He's ready for his dinner.

Unknown

Friday My Town Shoot-out - The Letter A

2011-11-11T00:05:00.022Z

A is for

These are three Amphibians that live in my town - the frog and newt are commonly found in my garden but the toad has yet to show its face there.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)
Possibly our most familiar amphibian, the Common Frog is distributed throughout Britain and Ireland and can be found in almost any habitat where suitable breeding ponds can be found. Garden ponds are now extremely important for Common Frogs and many populations in suburban areas depend on them. Adults can grow to almost 8cm and are generally some shade of brown or olive brown in colour with a dark patch behind the eye and bands of darker colour on the back legs.

The Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

The Common Toad is a widespread amphibian found throughout Britain although absent from Ireland. It can grow to 8cm, and is generally brown or olive brown and young specimens are often brick coloured. The skin is warty and often appears dry. Glands in the skin contain powerful toxins and would-be predators quickly learn not to attempt to eat toads.

The Smooth Newt - Lissotriton vulgaris (formerly Triturus vulgaris)
Our most widespread newt, the Smooth Newt, is found throughout Britain and is the only newt species to be found in Ireland. It can grow to 10cm and is most often found in ponds during the breeding season between February and June. The Smooth Newt is brown, the female being relatively plain whilst the male is spotty and develops a continuous wavy crest along its back in the breeding season. The belly of both sexes is yellow to orange with black spots and the spots on the throat provide a good way of telling this species apart from Palmate Newts (which have no spots on their throat).

To see what other folk have found to illustrate the letter A in their towns please click on this link.

Reminiscing

2011-11-10T00:52:00.011Z

On Tuesday morning I entered a real time warp. George and Chris, a school friend and his wife who I see for a couple of hours every couple of years called in on their way home from seeing Chris’s sister who is very poorly. (Thinking of you, Margaret.) Add to that a joint schoolfriend, Paul, who (apart from funerals) I haven’t seen for nearly twenty years. I’m not sure if our parents’ funerals count since they were hardly times for swopping fun stories.

But his morning the three of us – much to the amusement of Chris and Partner-who-loves-tea – took ourselves back forty to fifty years to some of the mischief we got up to in the 1960s. I won’t detail too much of that here – I wouldn’t like to be blackmailed by my children or any future grandchildren!

We reminisced about football matches we’d been to together (all Liverpool supporters, of course) including the wonderful foggy match when we won 9-0 but half the goals were scored at the other end and we couldn’t see them. The banter between the Kop and the Anfield Road end was hilarious – “Tell us who scored?” was responded to by the name of the scorer which then generated a round of “Thank you very much for the information” to the tune of “Thank you very much for the Aintree Iron”.

I wonder if any of us could have foreseen our futures when we held this mock seance in 1967 - with me taking advantage of my new camera with a ten second timer.

One little gem raised a real laugh on Tuesday - a clockwork mouse. We used to send one down the counter in the chemistry lab until one day the teacher turned just as it had left one person and before the next could hide it. It was confiscated. A few years later I met the teacher and mentioned he still had my clockwork mouse. “Perk of the job”, he laughed. When I saw this one in a shop I couldn’t resist buying it as a memento of good, if mischievous, times.

It was good to see Paul and George and I don’t for one moment believe the two girls when they said they never got up to any mischief? Would you?

Alphabet Wednesday - Letter Q

2011-11-08T18:01:00.000Z

Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away.

This anonymous Quotation starts off my letter Q.

There’ll be nothing about Quantum mechanics or Quarrelling on this blog posting. And hopefully it won’t leave you with any Questions and you won’t Quite Quit before the end..

Being a moth enthusiast I’ll use a moth for my first Q – a Common Quaker.

And a Powdered Quaker.

This is a Quail.

And this Q is a Quartz crystal.

And a pendant of rose Quartz.

Q is for Quarry – this is a slate Quarry in the Lake District.

The Scottish mountain Quinag across the Minch from the Isle of Lewis.

Queenswood Country Park is the only designated Country Park in Herefordshire.

This is a Queen Elizabeth Rose.

And another.

My last Q is a Queen of Bavaria Conure.

For a lot more interpretations of the letter Q please visit the ABC linksite.

At Barravullin in Northern Argyll

2011-11-08T00:48:00.001Z

Large-flowered Hemp-nettle

And one for Adrian...

Happy Monday - except for Goldfish

2011-11-07T00:42:00.007Z

A ten year old piece of news but it may have escaped your notice...

LONDON (Reuters) - June 15, 2001 7:24 am EST - Firefighters on Friday blamed a goldfish bowl for sending 26 people to hospital in Britain. They believe the bowl may have acted as a magnifying glass which concentrated the sun's rays and set light to a garden shed containing a rat-catcher's potentially noxious chemicals. The sun's rays are believed to have entered one shed where the goldfish were kept and then passed through to another where chemicals were stored. The tablets of aluminium phosphide gave off fumes when firemen tried to dampen them down and 18 firefighters, four paramedics and four neighbors were taken to an Oxford hospital suffering from vomiting, nausea and burning chest sensations. Assistant chief fire officer Lawrie Booth told Friday's Times: "It is an extremely unusual cause of fire — a million-to-one chance." Sadly, the goldfish did not survive the conflagration.

Thoughtful Sunday - A post for Heather

2011-11-06T00:17:00.019Z

I am not overly religious but when I wander around cemeteries I love some of the old gravestones - which I must post another day - and some of the marvellous sculptures.

This one of Jesus reminded me of a certain girl in Vermont, one of those bloglong friends to whom he is a great and constant companion.

And, of course, she is an angel! (She must be to run a household of four 'men' - three little and one big.)

Kalulu and the Little Match-seller

2011-11-05T00:29:00.000Z

In the 1870s it was common to encourage British children to attend church and take part in religious studies. Among the ways this was done were religious tracts and weekly 'newspapers' with stories of children who worshipped God and did good deeds. Colour photography (enhanced by Photoshop) had yet to come along so they were illustrated with line drawings and engravings like the novels of the day. The quality of many of these drawings was excellent both in terms of composition and execution.

Here is 'The Organ Man' from one such periodical.

This close up gives you an idea of the quality.

And this shows the typical perception of Henry Morton Stanley – the hero of the day for having found the missing medical missionary Dr Livingstone. Sir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands (28 January 1841 – 10 May 1904), was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" His legacy of death and destruction in the Congo region is considered an inspiration for Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Stanley's history was a most strange one - he was born out of wedlock and there was even doubt as to his parentage though he took the name Rowlands - that of his alleged father. Until the age of five his grandfather was his guardian and when he died John Rowlands was put in St Asaph workhouse where he spent the next ten years. When he was ten, his mother and two siblings stayed for a short while in this workhouse, without Stanley realising who they were.

In 1859, at the age of 18, Rowlands made his passage to the United States in search of a new life. Upon arriving in New Orleans, he absconded from his boat. According to his own account he became friendly with a wealthy trader named Henry Hope Stanley, his enquiry as to whether the man wanted a boy (i.e. did he have a job for a boy) leading not only to a job but to adoption as well. After fighting for both sides in the American Civil War, Stanley became a journalist and succeeded as a foreign correspondent. Although he claimed the New York Herald was desperate to be the first to find the missing Livingstone it was as a result of his lobbying that the expedition took place.

While in Africa Stanley adopted a child called Kalulu (or Ndugu M'Hall) and it is he who is portrayed handing Stanley his cup (of tea presumably?) Kalulu died young but in his short life he visited Europe, America and the Seychelles, had a book dedicated to him, a model in Madame Tussauds, and was a guest at Dr. Livingstone's funeral.

My favourite of all the line drawings I have come across in 'The Children's Friend' is this little match-seller on the streets of London. It wasn't only African children like Kalulu who went barefoot in the decade my grandmother was born.

A Sentimental Journey

2011-11-04T18:11:00.000Z

Jo and I went to a funeral yesterday. Some thoughts on the subject...

She and her husband made their home ever-welcoming to everyone.

She and I shared a love of cosy crime novels.

She was deeply religious but never threw it in your face – she acted out her Christianity through her way of living.

Her scones were ever-present and ever-delightful.

The cosy appearance of her little body hid a lively and intelligent mind.

She loved her husband and sons and they in turn loved her which gave their house a lovely homely atmosphere.

There was always a tin of Kit-kats on her shelf waiting for a visitor.

She lost her Mum at the age of 17 and her second child, Ian, died in infancy. Neither of these events were known to most people – she never advertised her hardships but they undoubtedly helped to shape her caring personality.

When our son David died she was most helpful and supportive – quietly showing how people can survive the death of their infant and go on to live a normal life.

She wasn’t famous and there won’t be any obituaries in 'The Times' but when they dust her photo her sons, Les and Paul, will always have loving, caring thoughts of her - as will Jo and I when we think of her.

She made the best cheese and onion pie in the world.

Farewell Olive.

Olive Richardson 1922-2011.

The Three Wise Monkeys - an educational post!

2011-11-03T00:16:00.001Z

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.

This brass casting of the three wise monkeys is GB’s – they were our grandmother’s and probably date back to the late 19th century. I have an identical brass casting that was Mum’s.

The three wise monkeys are a pictorial maxim. Together they embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil. Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted with the three others; the last one, Shizaru, symbolizes the principle of "do no evil". He may be shown crossing his arms.

The source that popularized this pictorial maxim is a carving over a door of the famous Tōshō-gū shrine built in 1635-1636 in Nikkō, Japan. The carvings at Toshogu Shrine were carved by Hidari Jingoro, and are believed to have incorporated Confucius’s Code of Conduct, using the monkey as a way to depict man’s life cycle. The philosophy, however, probably originally came to Japan with a Tendai-Buddhist legend, from China in the 8th century (Nara Period).

There are differing explanations of the meaning of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." In Japan the proverb is simply regarded as a Japanese Golden Rule. Some simply take the proverb as a reminder not to be snoopy, nosy and gossipy. Today "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" is commonly used to describe someone who doesn't want to be involved in a situation, or someone willfully turning a blind eye to the immorality of an act in which they are involved. In the Western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by looking the other way, refusing to acknowledge it, or feigning ignorance.

But generally, in most interpretations the monkeys can be seen as a way to avoid spreading evil. Do not listen to evil things so they do not influence you. Do not read things that are evil or look upon evil things so they do not influence you, and lastly do not repeat verbally evil things so they cannot be spread about.

Worldwide there are many collectors of three wise monkey statuettes and a lot more can be found out on the website http://www.three-monkeys.info/1/BLOGENG.htm

I came across this lovely three wise ducks clock recently! Has anyone seen any other animals portrayed in this way?

Alphabet Wednesday – P is for Pisces

2011-11-02T00:26:00.067Z

Pisces is the Latin plural for fish which gives me the excuse to post some fishy photos but I have taken the letter P a stage further and my fish begin with P (though I've sort of cheated by using both scientific names and English names to show some of the more interesting ones). Most of the photos were taken in Chester Zoo or Liverpool Museum (where they have some great aquaria of live fish - not just stuffed specimens)..

Many fish have a number of common names. This Green White-spotted Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus), for example, is also known as the Stars and Stripes Puffer, Hispid Puffer, Whitespotted Puffer, Spiny Balloon Fish, and Fugu. Or, if you are in Hawaii it's the Oopuhue or Makimaki. In Japan it is referred to as Sazanamifugu. The flesh contains the toxin tetrodotoxin and human poisoning from tetrodotoxin is a major public health concern in Japan, where "fugu" is a traditional delicacy.

The European Plaice is commonly on the table in English restaurants. It qualifies for the letter P three times over being Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).

A common fish in small home aquaria is the Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). These are from the days when I kept tropical fish at home.

This is the Regal Tang or Blue Surgeonfish whose scientific name is Paracanthurus hepatus

Another attractive species – the Emperor Angelfish (Pomocanthus imperator)

Definitely unattractive is the vicious Pike (Esox lucius) which can gobble up a lot of other fish in our English rivers.

Some Lionfish species (also known as Dragonfishes) are in the genus Pterois. This is the Red Lionfish or Peacock Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

This chap is the Porcupine Pufferfish (Diodon histrix).

And while we are around the sea bed there are a few other Ps like this Peacock Fan-worm

A Protoplaythoa species of coral.

And a Purple Sunstar (Solaster endeca) which isn't necessarily purple!

But my favourite has to be the Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus).

Let me know if you are a Pisces! And for a lot more interpretations of the letter P please visit the ABC linksite.

Le Moulin

2011-11-01T00:11:00.002Z

Le moulin tourne au fond du soir, tres lentement,
Sur un ciel de tristesse et de melancolie,
II tourne et tourne, et sa voile, couleur de lie,
Est triste et faible, et lourde, et lasse, infiniment…..

Emile Verhaeren

You don't have to understand French to appreciate the beauty of the flow of words in Verhaeren's verse.

Happy Monday - The ten most pointless things in the world

2011-10-31T00:09:00.000Z

The ten most pointless things in the world
From Journolists (12th January 1992) -

Gazing out of the window on the tube
Saying 'Come on, come on' to a red traffic-light
Urging your horse on while watching the Grand National on the television
Writing 'I hope I've got your address right' in a letter
Looking at the stereo when listening to a CD
Saying 'And this is the bathroom' when showing prospective buyers round your house
Changing queues at the supermarket check-out
Sending a stamped addressed envelope to America
Gesticulating while on the telephone
Returning the 'No' envelope expecting to win the prize draw

Can you suggest another one?

Clocks for Jo

2011-10-30T00:20:00.000+01:00

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.
~ John Archibald Wheeler

When I looked through my blog postings I found that I had quite frequently made reference to Partner-who-loves-tea and her views on time. In particular this post showed how she lives in a world with its own time zone which often bears little or no relation to GMT.

A year later I found a clock in Spesh's house that would suit Partner-who-loves-tea very well.

Now I've come across another one (thanks to Monica who pointed me at Ginny's blog where there a number of humorous clocks).

This is most decidedly a Jo sort of clock...

And a similar one is this...

And this ....

Nowadays she tends not to be so late as she was when I first started going out with her nearly twenty five years ago. So I have achieved something but even then Partner-who-loves-tea was...

But, of all the clocks I've seen this one has to be the most appropriate for Jo...

I love this clock.

It uses the famous poster art of Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen. Le Chat Noir poster was created for what is claimed to be the first ever cabaret club which was opened by impresario Rodolphe Salis in 1881 in the bohemian Montmartre district of Paris.

And here is a clock that really suits me down to the ground!

(If you want to buy any of these clocks, most of them - or similar - are available at Cafe Press ).

A Thursday Toddle – on Saturday!

2011-10-29T00:52:00.023+01:00

Most people think of toddling as being those first staggering steps that a toddler takes but the dictionary definition is not only to walk with short, unsteady steps but also to walk leisurely; to stroll. In other words I'm going to be rambling again, in fact this post is so leisurely that it was begun on Thursday and I only got around to publishing it on Saturday...

The week has been spent working on Jo's business (mostly helping to advise on things rather than any actual work!) and sorting the loft (an unending task when every trip up the ladder is an effort). I also lost a couple of days being poorly (and sorry for myself). Another doctors appointment was deferred because I was too ill to attend – there has to be a funny comment there but I can't think of it.

At least a lot of the loft contents are now sorted and – thanks to Richard – back up the ladder. The result so far is about thirty photo albums downstairs waiting to be scanned into the computer; one box of books for the charity shop; ditto a box of miscellaneous stuff; five boxes of books (mainly obscure natural history ones) for Daughter-who-takes-photos to sort through to see if she wants any; one (large) box of books for Daughter-who-loves-food to do likewise. Any that the daughters and sons-in-law don't want will be off to the charity shop. By my reckoning that makes about 150 books have cleared out. A brave effort and the rafters will be relieved.

Back into the loft have gone nine boxes of diaries/autobiographies/journals ranging from Victorian rectors to Swiss philosophers. Many of these I have read but their prime purpose is as research material for a couple of books I hope to write at some stage.

A further eight boxes of books – general non-fiction and fiction – have also gone back up. I just hope the loft flooring I put in a few years ago is adequate....

What else have I done? Well, I've blogged, of course, And I've enlarged the font on my blog. A comment made by Sandra on another blog made me look at mine and I realised how small it was. Hopefully it will now be easier to read.

And it is nearly November. On November 1st I had intended to start writing my next book but the comments I have received on my last one have made me realise it still needs a fair bit of work. So it will be back to Victorian England for a while until I've ironed out the glitches. Then it will be off to the publishers again though they are going through such a bad patch that finding one willing to take on my work will not be easy. Perseverance will be the name of the game. Terry Pratchett didn't become a household name overnight. Well actually he did but never mind...

Which reminds me. In between other things I've read a few books. I must review them for my blog. One of them was a re-read of Terry Pratchett's 'Once More* *with Footnotes'. Even if you are not a Discworld fan it's a really instructive and humorous read. (Why does the spillchurcker reject the word 'Discworld'. Surely that should be part of the English language by now.)

Believe it or not this post was intended to be about the book marks I've found in all the books in the loft but I reckon I've toddled along enough for now so I'll leave those for another time.

Toodle-oo (or should that be Toddle-oo?)

Friday My Town Shoot-out – Creepy-Crawlies

2011-10-28T00:19:00.053+01:00

It was a brave soul who suggested creepy-crawlies as a topic for this week's FMTSO. Even the professional entomologists I know have an aversion to at least one type of creepy-crawly. I love most insects and invertebrates but earwigs send a shiver up my spine. My daughter is fascinated by dragonflies and many other insects but has a real aversion to spiders...

Here, I hope, is s selection of creepy-crawlies that will not upset anyone too much...

Even snails have a love life (and a complicated one it is, too).

Ants will save their larvae and pupae from harm if the nest is disturbed.

And they farm aphids – tickling them to extract honeydew.

Here are some bugs that I think are attractive...

Orthops campestris

Rhododendron Leafhopper

Corizus hyoscami

And some beetles - Seven-spot Ladybirds making more Seven-spot Ladybirds...

Green Tiger Bettle

Cardinal Beetle

Fourteen-spot Ladybird

A very pregnant Gastrophysa virida.

Strangalia maculata - one of the longhorn beetles.

Keeled Skimmer dragonfly

Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly

As you will have gathered I am mad about creepy-crawlies! To see what other creepy-crawlies have been chosen this week please visit this link.

And may I take this opportunity to thank Rebecca, Sarah and Doreen - the organisers of FMTSO for all the effort they put in to maintaining it. I know it's not easy committing yourself to doing something every week - posting assignments, keeping the link going and selecting ones for the FMTSO main site. So a big thank you to you all.

Postcards from Abroad

2011-10-27T00:24:00.002+01:00

Well, not quite abroad....

These were a few postcards I came across in the loft recently...

Addressed to Mrs F Body with a 3d stamp and postmarked Ambleside 21st August 1963
Dear Nana,
We got to the cottage at 4.30 on Sat, after a very uneventful day. All that happened was we got a flat tyre in town. We were stuck in a traffic jam and the rain was so hard we had to stop the car because the driver couldn’t see. It’s a lovely cottage. We went to Wast Water on Sunday.
(That was the wettest holiday we ever had and which I referred to in the Ambleside Bridge House posting.)

22nd October 1967 Dear All,
The weather has been overcast but it has not rained. Derwentwater is a couple of feet higher than I have seen it before and one or two of the footpaths are 6" deep streams. So far I have remained dry and cheerful, and have used up a fair bit of film on everything I could see. Hardly seen a soul on the tops but there were plenty of folk at Ashness on Saturday and Keswick is pretty crowded.
Love

Postmark illegible but sent during my August 1968 youth hostelling trip
Tuesday Dear All
It has been very wet though there was fine spell from 1pm -3pm. I went up to Stickle Tarn which was hidden in mist and down again then over Silver Howe to Grasmere. Boy I'm tired.
Yours

Whilst I don't remember the exact date that the above card was sent I remember the day like it was yesterday. Actually at my age I recall 1968 somewhat better than yesterday! The card is a masterpiece of telling half a story. I not only went up to Stickle Tarn but I carried on to Blea Rigg in thick mist. (The above ohoto on the shore of Stickle Tarn shows the 'view'.) For the first, and only time in my life I got lost in the mist notwithstanding a few years experience of walking the fells and having done this path twice before on my own. Even though there was no distinct path I was reasonably confident about my route and was heading down a stream that would join Sour Milk Gill and take me to Easedale Tarn. I was both surprised and a little horrified to find myself coming down the Langdale side of Blea Rigg. Exactly 180 degrees from my anticipated route. I made my way down into the valley and then headed up over the ridge again by Silver Howe. Near the summit my left leg (injured less than the right one but nonetheless injured in an accident in 1966) started to have muscle spasms and bleed internally. The last couple of miles into Grasmere and up to the youth hostel were agony but it gradually eased. Certainly a memorable day but 'Boy I'm tired' ranks as a masterpiece of understatement.

Grasmere in the mist.

(You may have noticed I have increased the size of my font and emboldened it. Hopefully those who were finding it hard to read will now find it easier.)

Alphabet Wednesday - O is for Oak Eggar

2011-10-26T00:04:00.037+01:00

Once more I'm Outdoors for my letter O and if you are not Over-joyed at seeing a moth I hope you'll be Open-minded because I'm Obsessed about them.

Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus

The Oak Eggar is one of the UK's larger resident moths with a wingspan of 58 to 85mm. The darker, smaller male flies by day in sunshine and the paler female at night, sometimes coming to light as did the one above.

The Oak Eggar is single-brooded, flying in woods, hedgerows, dunes, downs, commons, and sea cliffs. The normal flight period in lowland southern Britain is July to August, and in the north from late May to early July. It is found only in Europe and the British Isles but is locally widespread throughout S England and as far North as Durham and Lancashire.

The Oak Eggar, despite its name, does not feed on Oak, but is so-called because the shape of its cocoon is acorn-like. The hairs of the caterpillar can cause a violent itching skin allergy in some people. The Oak Eggar overwinters as a larva which feeds from September to June on heather (Calluna) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), but also include bramble (Rubus), Sallows (Salix), broom (Cytisus scoparius), sloe (Prunus spinosa), hawthorn (Crataegus), hazel (Corylus) and Sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).

The Oak Eggar got a mention in Charles Darwin's 'The Descent of Man' when he commented “The British moths which differ sexually in colour are all brown, or of various dull yellow tints, or nearly white. In several species the males are much darken then the females. I observe in my son's cabinet that the males are darker than the females in Lasiocampa quercus...”

R.I.P. Marco Simoncelli (1987-2011)

2011-10-25T00:03:00.015+01:00

It’s been a bad month for motor sport - it can be such a cruel sport at times. On 16th October Dan Wheldon, a British IndyCar driver died from injuries sustained in a horrific multi-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dan was the 2005 IndyCar World Champion and won the Indy 500 that year and again this year. He was 33 years old.

Then on Sunday 23rd October I sat working on my computer with the television on, aiming to watch and enjoy the MotoGP at Sepang in Malaysia. After four minutes the race was red flagged. I’d watched but like any sports fan I had not enjoyed. Marco Simoncelli – my favourite rider after Valentino Rossi – had been involved in the most unpleasant motorcycling crash I have ever seen. It was apparent from the second it happened that this was the sort of accident of which nightmares are made. The re-start of the race was delayed and then further delayed and finally cancelled as the news came through that Marco had died of his injuries. It was the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan's Daijiro Kato crashed at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix.

Simoncelli, from Emilia-Romagna in central Italy, rode motorbikes from the age of seven, taking the Italian Minimoto title at 12. In 2008 he won the 250cc world championship with Gilera before finishing eighth in his debut MotoGP season with Honda last year. Last week in Australia he finished second and he was sixth in the championship.

Popular with fans thanks to his good looks, Jimi Hendrix T-shirts and wild hair, Simoncelli's enthusiasm for motorsport – he once said he would race for free or even pay to do to it – won him friends including his fellow Italian rider Rossi, who was in tears at the track in the long minutes before the announcement of his compatriot's death. Marco loved racing and the fans loved him. It was bad day.

Nothing will console his family but in the long run it may be possible to look back and say that he died doing something he loved and his name will live on with the fans.

Happy Monday - With apologies

2011-10-24T00:09:00.013+01:00

With apologies to those who are visually challenged I couldn't resist blogging about Windows helpful page for those with eyesight difficulties....

If you are blind tick this tiny box. Duh!!

Thoughtful Sunday - In Pensive Mood

2011-10-23T00:58:00.001+01:00

I cut this photo out of a magazine many years ago (don't know which or when so my apologies to the photographer that I cannot acknowledge it or ask his permission) My notes tell me tha the girl was in a makeshift classroom in Pokrovskoye near Lake Baikal but I think she typifies children in classrooms the world over - such a marvellously pensive look.

A SylvaC Bunny that watched me being born…

2011-10-22T00:37:00.014+01:00

This SylvaC bunny sat on the mantelshelf of the fireplace in Mum and Dad’s bedroom. Having had enough of hospital hospitality when GB was born Mum decided to have me at home – despite dire warnings from the health professionals about all the risks involved. Once she set her mind on something Mum would not easily be shifted!

I don’t know if bunny was turned to face the wall or whether she watched the whole grisly process but she was certainly there!

SylvaC bunnies were produced from the 1930s to the 1970s and fakes continue to be introduced to the market to this day.

The original bunnies were produced in a variety of colours and sizes. The catalogue shows Mum’s to have been the smallest of those produced and it sold (wholesale) for three shillings a dozen – i.e. three old pence each.

(Thanks to Wendy for permission to use this picture of some of her collection).

Friday My Town Shoot-out

2011-10-21T13:00:00.034+01:00

I nearly didn't do this week's FMTSO post but in the end I couldn't resist the challenge.

The theme is 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' and was set by Mark.

For something old I chose this 150 year old wall at Arrowe Park near where I live on the Wirral in Cheshire, UK.

But when you look a bit closer it is rather older than a century and a half. This sandstone itself was laid down somewhere in the Permian (280 million years ago) or the beginning of the Triassic (240 million years ago) Periods.

For something new I couldn’t resist using lambs. This is a little Balwen Sheep lamb with its mum.

And these are Lleyn Sheep that have escaped from their mums to have a play.

Here is something borrowed. This is where I get philosophical (as Mark has done). The wood and iron that form this wheel have been borrowed from the earth. Eventually they will crumble back into the earth. It is as well if we remember that everything we take from the earth is only borrowed and it is to be hoped we don't damage it too much on its route back there.

Initially I thought I might cheat for something blue and show a cow - they often look so sad with their downturned mouths.

Instead, for something blue I have turned to one of my favourite themes, pillar boxes. In 1930 special blue-liveried Air-Mail boxes appeared but they only lasted until 1938 after which they reverted to red or disappeared. This one in Windsor is no longer in use but survives as a piece of street furniture in that heritage conscious town.

I hope you enjoyed my response to Mark's challenge and to see what else folk have found for FMTSO this week visit the link here.

Keep every cog and wheel...

2011-10-21T00:20:00.016+01:00

This wonderful sign is on Stone Mountain in Georgis, USA.

I came across it on Kay's blog 'Georgia Girl with an English heart' and she kindly gave me permission to use it. Why not visit her blog and take a trip up Stone Mountain with her.

The Giggling Goose

2011-10-20T00:54:00.001+01:00

This is one of those weird posts that suffers from déjà vu. Sometimes, like GB, I think I’ve done a post and find I haven’t (or do a post and find I’ve already done it!) I was sure I’d posted about the Giggling Goose but find I hadn’t – so here it is.

The Giggling Goose is a café / restaurant in Ambleside, based in an old mill on the Stock Ghyll. It’s a beautiful setting, a beautiful building and their Cakes and service are top class. We didn't have a meal but I bet that would have been good too.

The young men who were running the place made everything themselves and Jo and I had three of their cakes between us. Far too much goodness…

The outside tables were nearly all full so we sat inside, by the counter and enjoyed the banter and jocularity of the young men – the chef, the server (or were there two?) and the young man behind the counter. Polite, helpful, always good humoured with both customers and each other, despite the pressure of a full café.

Good luck for the future, all you gigglers.

ABC Wednesday- N is for Nuthatch

2011-10-18T20:20:00.000+01:00

N is for Nuthatch
This small but beautiful tree-climbing bird is never seen far from the large, mature trees that provide it with food and accommodation throughout the year.

The nuthatch is a plump bird about the size of a great tit that resembles a small woodpecker. It is blue-grey above and whitish below, with chestnut on its sides and under its tail. It has a black stripe on its head, a long black pointed bill, and short legs. It breeds in central and southern England and in Wales, and is resident, with birds seldom travelling far from the woods where they hatch.

Nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs. Nuthatches have a wide range of calls. The commonest is a loud ringing "chit chit chit-chit".

Best looked for in mature woods and established parkland in central and southern England and Wales, on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches. Occasional sightings in Scotland. They are residents of the UK and can be found all year round.

They eat insects, hazel nuts, acorns, beechmast and other nuts and seed.

I hope you liked my N -
the natty, neat, noisy and nifty little Nuthatch.

Why not visit the link to other people's imaginative posts for the letter M by clicking on this link?

Flowers

2011-10-18T00:09:00.003+01:00

I love to receive flowers. A couple of friends of mine (both girls) when they come around for supper invariably bring a gooey cake (or two) and some flowers. Receiving flowers from a girl is OK. But what if a bloke gave me them? The answer, it seems, lies in a story about Allen Tate, the American poet told by Peter Levi:-

I recall that once, in Oxford, where he was a guest of All Souls, Allen rang up his great friend David Cecil for social advice,
'David, it's my birthday.'
'Oh good, happy birthday,’ and David put the phone down. It rang again.
'David? It's Allen again. I've had some flowers for my birthday.'
'Oh, how charming.'
‘Yes, but they're kind of worrying. They're from a man. Is that all right in England? Or should I send them back?
'Ah, I see. Cut flowers or in a pot"?'
'In a pot'
'Oh - quite all right!’

Happy Monday - Journolists

2011-10-17T00:51:00.005+01:00

The Daily Mail used at one time to run a column called 'Journolists' in which it would give a list of ten things. The following is an example:

The World's ten smallest measurable quantities:

The area described by estate agents as the 'fourth bedroom'
The amount of butter on a motorway cafeteria scone
The change from a £20 note in a London pub
The movement between ice-cold and super-heated steam on a shower control knob
The legroom in the back of a Renault 5
The number of laughs in a British sitcom
The size of the small print on privatisation commercials
The space on a motor insurance claim form for a crash diagram
The distance between passengers on a charter flight
The time between a boardroom vote of confidence and a soccer manager being sacked