where art collides philosoperontap

We had a power glitch last time we were away. Usually we know this because the clock on the cooker needs resetting to the right time. It’s an old cooker. Didn’t really think anything of it. This morning I checked to see whether my photos had backed up to NAS and whaddaya know there were over a thousand that had not. I set the back up in motion but “host not found”. The NAS did not reboot when the power came back on.

Snorrabiggie. I can sort it out. The index finger is king. Did surprise me though. There might be a setting as my other, older NAS did boot up. I’m not going to the extreme of putting in a UPS though the idea has occasionally crossed my mind. The NAS is one of the three photo backup storage platforms I use fwiw.

Outside a blackbird sings. It is not the dead of night. I’ve never heard a blackbird sing in the dead of night. I did see one being attacked by a magpie in our garden last year. The magpies are still around but I don’t see them as much so maybe they have shifted nests. We have a lot of blackbirds and robins plus a few others. Wren, dunnock, blue tits. The usual suspects.

…

Sorted the NAS btw. Was a tickbox.

It raineth. Surely a good thing in the empire of THG. No watering required today except perhaps for the parts of the greenhouse not covered by the irrigation system. The late to the party pots that were not there when I set up the drippers. Mind you, being solar powered, I doubt there will be much irrigation action inside the greenhouse today.

THG is off out running and upon her return I shall head to the pool to splash off a few lengths. The running starts in the Waitrose car park and the pool is five miles away in North Hykeham, around the back of where I used to work at Marconi Electronic Devices/GEC Plessey Semiconductor/Mitel Semiconductor. Pick a brand. I started my working life in the chip business. There is in theory a scenario whereby I could go with THG and nip in to Waitrose to do some shopping followed by grabbing a cawfee in the caffee. However THG will be longer on her run than I will need in the store so I doubt it would work.

It is quite comforting looking out at the rain. Also a bit blustery out there. Typical British spring/summer weather really. The squashes (I think) planted outside the kitchen window by THG that were looking a bit forlorn have picked up and seem to be establishing themselves quite well. They might be cucumbers. I could ask.

THG has headed out for the day. Weight training, bit of shopping then off somewhere for lunch with the girls. I have just finished some gran o’la with yo’g and home grown strawberries and will shortly be getting to grips with some admin. Gotta get stuff over to the accountant n other quite tedious number crunching related things.

Forecast says might rain this pm. Sokay I got the lawn mowed yesterday. Phew eh? It isn’t much of a lawn right now tbh. Needs a lot of tlc. Aerating, scarifying, moss removal, reseeding, the works really. Water, though we have been getting some rain.

Made some progress with the family history. V slow but headed in the right direction. It is totally absorbing. Detective work. Good job I have the time. I’m now generally trawling through wills looking for farm names. Found one the other day under the name of David James whose will I might previously have ignored.  Closer inspection revealed it was actually a David Jones which is right on the button. I won’t bore you with any more detail.

The other thing to report is that I have now used my Meater meat thermometer three times with spectacular results each time. Yesterday’s chicken came out perfect. It’s made even better by the fact that I can sit doing stuff in the shed whilst the bbq cooks the joint. It’s going to get a lot more use before the summer is out.

The walk to the shed is very pleasant at this time of year. The blackbirds and robins are in full voice and when I get there the shed doors remain wide open. Was sat at my desk yesterday when a cat thought it might be a good idea to come in.  It didn’t. A clap sent it running. Cats are clearly comfortable with going into buildings. No idea where it came from. We do get a fairly regular early morning visit from a ginger cat and also from a fox. Not at the same time.

This pm I’m off to try out the Total Fitness gym. It has a pool. Ours, Yarborough, closed just as I started using it again. They are planning to reopen sometime in July but I suspect that TF will be emptier and although it is further to drive than Yarborough might well stick. I did enquire at David Lloyd but they were twice the price of TF and all I really want to do, mostly, is use the pool. I’m not bothered about paying extra just because of the brand.

Good morning fellow citizens. Earthlings. Is it not a beeeoootiful day out there? THG has gone out for a run and, believe it or not I’ve already done three jobs to get the day going and prepared for a fourth. The latter simply involved plugging in the lawn mower batteries to charge up. That fourth job, of mowing the lawn, will happen this afternoon. I have also assembled some dry rub ingredients in preparation for application of a rub to the chichen before roasting it on the bbq this evening.

There is news from the wildflower meadow. We have our first bloom of the season. Exciting you will of course agree. I also took delivery of my new book, Tir yr Abad which turns out to be an excellent read. I had ordered this from a USA based seller on Amazon for a hefty £30 or so inc postage but the so and so cancelled the order on me. Whilst trawling the bookshops in Hay of Wye last weekend I got chatting to a member of staff in one emporium who found several copies on Abebooks. When I got home I ordered one for £3.15 inc delivery and it arrived whilst we were away in London. Result.

Watering the wildflower meadow. Breakfast has been taken and I am accompanying THG in her tour of the garden. I’m off to London for one night only and figured I’d give the ground a bit of a soaking before heading out. Not leaving the house until eleven anyway and it is not yet eight thirty. Only a little bit of packing to do, it being a one nighter.

I do need to be “smart casual” for this trip which poses small challenges as I normally only wear shorts and t shirt. Not insurmountable and not nearly as challenging as next week’s dress code, of which I daresay you will find out more in due course.

We are planning to meet a customer for dinner tonight but said person has pulled out at the last minute due to having to go on an overseas trip so it is being reorganised. I’m still going to town as I prepaid the hotel room and have a fixed advanced ticket for the train down. I rarely prepay for hotel rooms because of this very eventuality but on this occasion the dinner was set up at short notice and hotel rooms in London were exorbitant so I figured I was on safe ground.

Usually I book a fixed train down and a flexible one coming back which is the case on this occasion. I can decide in the morning whether to catch an earlyish train or take in an art gallery or two before heading back nowf.

Early morning slot in the conservatory for the first time this year. A ginger cat was sitting on the table outside for a while until distracted by something in the garden. It looked at me but showed no fear. Used to people. The birds are chirping away happily. The lawn needs a cut. Need to be up early today anyway as taking THG to the Boultham Park Run and then nipping to B&Q before picking her up again. On the way home we will stop at Fosters to buy a chichen.

In the conservatory window there is a tallish white lantern containing a white candle perhaps three inches in diameter, two and a half maybe. The candle is very much leaning to one side. Where it stands it gets the full glare of the sun so over time it has softened and drooped. It does appear to have been lit in the past though I can’t for the life of me remember us doing that. Must have been stood there for some time.

Slooking like a lovely day ahead. Sun, sun, sun. Swat we like. Not always but today is good. Will need to water the garden which I might go out and do before taking THG a cuppa a bit later. Does need to warm up a little first.

It a was Tuesday felt like a Monday. Doesn’t seem quite right that does it? Being punished for having a bank holiday on the Monday by making Tuesday feel like a Monday. Not that Mondays feel any different to Tuesdays really 🙂 Some people don’t like Mondays.

Saw a large herd of cows crossing the road yesterday. Traffic must have been stopped for between five and ten minutes. Then I got to the Park Hospital. Just before the turning there was a long queue of traffic backing up from some distant lights at a junction. When I eventually turned into the drive leading to the hospital there was a long queue of cars going the other way. Workers heading home. Must have been a factory emptying out at 4pm.

The doc said the other hip needed sorting out but he is waiting for the first to finish mending. Bone growth to cement the titanium job that now sits atop my femur.

En route the screenwash ran out. I’ve refilled it this morning from two separate containers, one of which is now empty but the other still has some in. THG’s car needs a wash. It is covered in the sticky crap that falls from the trees at this time of year. 

I am now in the shed. I’ve watered some of the garden, especially the wildflower meadow in front of the deck, and the hosepipe remains in place for me to finish the job this evening.

Today I’m going to empty some of the drawers I haven’t looked in for perhaps years to sort some clothing out. I am loth to chuck things 🙂 However I have two full under the bed drawers that are going to be chucked almost in their entirety. Old conference tshirts, jumpers I haven’t worn in donkeys, shirts that are two sizes too small. Some of the stuff is being kept. I’ve realised that under the bed is where I’ve been stuffing shorts at the end of the summer to keep them out of  the way over the winter. Also got rid of a box full of ties I haven’t worn in decades.

Sbeen a good bank holiday weekend. Today is the actual holiday so I plan on taking life easy. That isn’t to say I’m not going to do any jobs. Today is the day the irrigation system is set up. Probably 🙂 

Sat now, alone in da kitch, waiting for our house guests to appear. I’ve had a shower and am dressed and ready for the day. THG brought the first cup of tea at six thirty ish, it being her turn, but there is a cafetiere of cawfee in front of me and I think I’ll avail myself of a small cupfull.

I am minded to just have toast for breakfast. We’ve eaten and drunk a lot this weekend. There is a nice multigrain sourdough for me to slice and pop into my new long slot toaster. After a couple of adjustments I am optimistic that today the setting will finally be just right for my favoured level of browning.

…

Later, guests gone, strolled to survey the shed. It is cold this morning so have the panel heater on a low level. THG has headed out into the city to run a few errands. These include the purchase of dishwasher tablets as our machine is full but the box where we keep the tablets is empty. The alternative would be to remove all the dishes and wash them by hand. That point of desperation has not yet been reached. We still have some clean plates in the cupboard anyway.

Didn’t make it to Doddington Hall gardens yesterday. The weather wasn’t particularly nice. I was going to say shite but it wasn’t that bad. Just cold with the occasional raindrop falling on my head. Certainly not conducive to a pleasant walk around the gardens. Instead went to the International Bomber Command Memorial. I am now a “friend” of said memorial. I like the idea of dropping by every now and again to peruse the exhibits. Twas very full. A constant stream of people queueing at the desk to pay their entry charge. The caff was also rammed. No spare tables so we went elsewhere.

Did you know that Lincoln Cathedral is actually in the parish of St Mary Magdalene which is the church just through the arches between Minster Yard and Castle Hill. Nipped in yesterday and had a nice chat with the folks in there. They typically get 15 to 20 worshippers in for Sunday Service. It isn’t the most accessible of churches as the Bail is often closed off for events.

When we lived in Greetwell Gate we were notionally within the parish of the cathedral but now we know it was St Mary Magdalene. Extends as far as the Peacock at the end of Greetwell Gate I believe.

They didn’t have a hymn list on the board as a printed order of service is handily provided. They do also hand out hymn books which is a practice abandoned at St Peter’s since covid times.

There is however a list of incumbents that I herewith provide for your information and interest.

ST MARY MAGDALENE LINCOLN INCUMBENTS

VICAR

? Geoffrey de Whicham – Chaplain
1250 Godred- [previously chaplain]
RECTOR
1275 John de North Leverton
1293 William de Blighburgh
1305 William de Harpeswelle
capalanus
? John de Bolun alias Bohun
1322 Richard de Hilletoft
1340 Ranulfus de Harrington
? John Branspath – qui obit 1376
? John de Searle
1384 Walter de Windesore
1403 Robert de Hoggesthorpe
1406 William Skaytt
1422 Robert Gylman
1453 John Walpole
1456 William Kirksgarth
1461 John Sharpe
1468 John Waltham
1484 William Skelton
1492 Henry Farley
1520 Thomas Willson
1522 Nicholas Bayte
1527 John Cook, Walter Ireland, Robert Kelsey
1529 Christopher Massinberd
1551 Robert Arnold
1552 Bartholomew Warde
1558 Robert Taylor
1560 Edward Parker
1564 Richard Halliwell
1565 William Mann
1570 Jeremias Loveday
1583 Christopher Diggles
1608 Peter Walter
1623 John Crispe
1665 Walter Powell
1712 Anthony Reid – qui obit 1714
1714 Johannes Crisp
1721 Nathan Drake – qui obit 1752
1753 Thomas Sympson – qui obit 1786
1792 George Jepso
1797 William Gray
1826 S. Martin
1829 Richard Garvey, Snr
1862 Henry Woollaston Hutton
1876 William Barber Lightfoot
1878 Peter Llewellyn
1879 George Tyson Harvey
1894 William Neville Usher
1901 Henry Leigh Bennett
1904 Arthur Roland Maddison
1907 Cecil Edward Bolam
1926 Charles Harold Scott
1940 Euclid Curry Butterworth
1945 Cyril Theodore Henry Dams
1952 Hugh Frank Riches
1967 David Nigel Griffiths
1973 Victor Read
[Priest-in-Charge: St Mary Magdalene w. St Paul-in-the-Bail]
1973 John Benson Bayley
[Priest-in-Charge 1973-75]
1975 The Benefice of The Lincoln Minster Group is created [Rector: Lincoln Minster Group 1975]
2003 Edward Michael Crispin Bowes-Smith [Priest-in-Charge: Lincoln Minster Group]
2012 The Benefice of The Lincoln Minster Group is dissolved
VICAR
2014 Matthew Alexander Whitehead
2018 Adrian Paul Smith
2021 Hugh William Fawcett Jones [Priest-in-Charge]

We are sat quietly in the kitchen. The shopping list has been compiled and mention has been made of the upcoming Lincoln Jazz Festival at Lincoln Cathedral on 4 – 6 July. Feels strange that the jazz is not being played in dimly lit nightclubs but hey… Also I am concerned about the acoustics at the Cathedral but am prepared to give it a go (again) because of the nature of the entertainment. If anyone else is going/thinking about it lemme now.

Outside it has cooled down a bit from the searing and unseasonal temperatures of yesterday (when all my troubles seemed so far away) although it is still set to reach twenty degrees which should be considered to be very pleasant.

In my mind I do have an outside job to do which is to sort out the log pile. Lots of kindling to be chopped and logs to be split ready for winter. Not that we use the open fire much. In order to properly do this job I have decided to purchayse a splitting axe.  The felling axe we currently have doesn’t cut it, so to speak. Probably needs sharpening. The real plan is to have all the kit ready for when our John comes home for a few days in the summer. Nowt like a good log pile.

The irrigation system for the greenhouse will also be put in place today together with a Waitrose shop and a birthday cake needs baking for that special person’s birthday. All is in hand.

Although it is a Friday (I’m told) it feels like a Saturday. The absence of the park run provides the clue here. I do have a conference call to do this pm. I only do calls that I like nowadays so no dramas there. Probs take a look at how my upcoming dinner signups are doing. I throw a dinner in London every now and then for industry pals. They are great nights. If you’ve never been invited, sorry 🙂

Ok thassitfornow. Going on a garden inspection with THG. Ciao bebes.

…

Gonna try to avoid looking at the family tree stuff for much of today. You get sucked in. It is a real modern day detective story trying to piece together the parts.

Another stunner of a day in prospect. Early to the shed with a cup of tea and the doors are open wide allowing the empire of The Head Gardener to permeate its innermost cervices. For crevices there are in this shed. Whilst the basic design is rectangular the shed has many nooks and crannies occasioned by the disorderly positioning of the furniture.

A busy day ahead. Ordinarily I’d suggest that it was going to be too hot to play golf but I have booked a buggy, in particular as this is my first outing of the season post hip hop. That and the other hip is still giving me gyp. I will therefore be golfing at a level of comfort that will allow me to focus completely on my game. Apart from the fact that I can’t easily bend down enough to insert a tee into the ground and my swing will be v restricted. I expect it will improve the golf 🙂 

There are other “chores” to be done. Meat to buy from Fosters. Leg of lamb, or shoulder, for the bbq rotisserie on Sunday. Also need to see if Morrisons garage has been resupplied with propane, just in case, and drop some HP laserjet cartridges off at the Post Office for recycling. My printer had been throwing a few software wobbles but seems to have settled down which is good because I’d have been cross if I’d have had to throw a set of nearly full ink cartridges. They ain’t cheap.

I am also tempted to finally buy a toaster. Been dithering over this one for months. Kind of settled on a Dualit long slot job on the basis that they are a quality brand. The ability to take sourdough is importante to me.

Last night I finished booking most of the travel for our jaunt to Italy next March. Haven’t booked the return flight from Naples yet as I baulked at the evening takeoff. However most  the airlines flying from Napoli to the UK seem to have the same issue so I’m just going to have to crack on. Might get a car to pick us up from LHR Friday evening rather than spend another night in London.

You might have noticed a short pause there whilst I booked the flights. Used Avios as I want to be able to easily cancel/amend the trip seeing as the rugby dates haven’t yet been confirmed. We are basing our dates on what the travel companies are assuming. Presumably they are in the know.

Don’t normally bother flying business class in Europe but seeing as it is a Friday evening I figured we might as well enjoy a drop of fine Amarone or whatever plonk BA dish out on these flights.

The beef stock turned out ok btw. I think. Won’t really find out until it is used in culinary anger. Does make a difference using home made stock compared with the stuff you buy in shops. Got to figure out where to store it now. A good few litres. Some in garage fridge and some in freezer.

Another stunner of a day in prospect. Early to the shed with a cup of tea and the doors are open wide allowing the empire of The Head Gardener to permeate its innermost cervices. For crevices there are in this shed. Whist the basic design is rectangular the shed has many nooks and crannies occasioned by the disorderly position of the furniture.

A busy day ahead. Ordinarily I’d suggest that it was going to be too hot to play golf but I have booked a buggy, in particular as this is my first outing of the season post hip hop. That and the other hip is still giving me gyp. I will therefore be golfing at a level of comfort that will allow me to focus completely on my game. Apart from the fact that I can’t easily bend down enough to insert a tee into the ground and my swing will be v restricted. I expect it will improve the golf 🙂 

There are other “chores” to be done. Meat to buy from Fosters. Leg of lamb, or shoulder, for the bbq rotisserie on Sunday. Also need to see if Morrisons garage has been resupplied with propane, just in case, and drop some HP laserjet cartridges off at the Post Office for recycling. My printer had been throwing a few software wobbles but seems to have settled down which is good because I’d have been cross if I’d have had to throw a set of nearly full ink cartridges. They ain’t cheap.

I am also tempted to finally buy a toaster. Been dithering over this one for months. Kind of settled on a Dualit long slot job on the basis that they are a quality brand. The ability to take sourdough is importante to me.

Last night I finished booking most of the travel for our jaunt to Italy next March. Haven’t booked the return flight from Naples yet as I baulked at the evening takeoff. However most  the airlines flying from Napoli to the UK seem to have the same issue so I’m just going to have to crack on. Might get a car to pick us up from LHR Friday evening rather than spend another night in London.

You might have noticed a short pause there whilst I booked the flights. Used Avios as I want to be able to easily cancel/amend the trip seeing as the rugby dates haven’t yet been confirmed. We are basing our dates on what the travel companies are assuming. Presumably they are in the know.

Don’t normally bother flying business class in Europe but seeing as it is a Friday evening I figured we might as well enjoy a drop of fine Amarone or whatever plonk BA dish out on these flights.

The beef stock turned out ok btw. I think. Won’t really find out until it is used in culinary anger. Does make a difference using home made stock compared with the stuff you buy in shops. Got to figure out where to store it now. A good few litres. Some in garage fridge and some in freezer.

Great to wake up in the shire. A window is open and the sound of birdsong fills the kitchen. All is good. Sgonna be a warmun. Perfect spring day.

The plan is to get some admin done and settle back in to a routine. One or two jobs including fixing the toilet roll holder in the shower room. Also need to catchup posting to philosopherontap. Must be a good month since I’ve done so. Not looked.

2,404 pics and vids backed up to NAS in no time whatsoever really. I’ll then back up to my tertiary backup online which will probs take a bit longer. Rewind, backup to Amazon has been ongoing so only 150 or so files to do which has happened almost in the time it’s taken me to write this.

For reference, today is a Tuesday. I know that this info is of use to some people. Some info is more useful than others. For example Thursday is when the lads play golf and this week I am going to see how I get on with a few holes. Will be a hotun.

This morning we leave the confines of the hotel and set the navigation computer on a bearing north. Not that we’ve particularly kept to said confines although a couple early nights after long days on the tourist trail have been had.

It must be said I am looking forward to getting home after essentially a month away with occasional visits to the shire to do the laundry and power nap. We are very much coming to the best part of the year. Spring is in full flow. What changes will there be to see in the garden?

Some of the sycamores will be becoming more established and need removing. The wildflower meadow had shown no signs of renewed life before we left home but there may be some green shoots there when we get home. Lots of leaves still though. We also want to plant a couple of rows of peachy and pink dahlias for reasons that will become apparent.

Our lawn is gradually being consumed by non grass planting. THG is talking about a new veg plot in front of the kitchen. Makes sense doesn’t it? “I’ll just nip out for some runner beans. Back in ten seconds.” This doesn’t mean to say we won’t have a lawn. Just one of a shrinking variety. The bugs have helped here. The lawn was somewhat devastated over the winter. Problem is you need ot work on a lawn.

…

Just been down for breakfast. Didn’t quite hobble quickly enough to the lift before the door closed and I guess the woman in the white top didn’t notice me as she was staring into her phone. So I called the lift and when it opened a very similar looking woman in a white top came out saying “third floor, yes this is what I want”. I thought they were the same woman. Odd I thought. Hey…

Then when I was getting some orange juice a member of staff showed a  woman the location of the vegan section at the buffet. The women in the white top! Funny what you notice innit.

In the car park a joiner was shaving a piece of two be two with what looked to be an electric plane. Then he carefully picked up the shavings and put them in the back of his van. V tidy I thought. He walked into the hotel carrying the slightly smaller two be two. Couple of minutes later he came back out with the same bit of wood. No idea what’s going on ere. Then back into the hotel he went, with the wood.

After that, out he came and picked out a piece of flat plywood from his van which he proceeded to cut to size on a workbench. That’s where I left him. The van had “Crown” written on the side.

Checking out shortly. More in due course I daresay.

…

Karen, KAREN. The whole crowd joined in. One of the marathon runners had arranged to meet Karen just where we were standing. Karen did not show. Poor man. He had just run 12 miles to get to her and there she was not.

Think of the disappointment. What’s the back story? Did Karen choose the moment to leave him? Was she held up? Was she involved in an accident on her way there and there is no way of getting the message to him.

It was a moment of drama that passed by and has now disappeared into the aether, forever. We will never find out how the story ended. Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen.

…

Bridge ECML-10, Holloway. Passed under it to get back to the hotel from Highgate Cemetery. We were waiting in a queue of traffic. Funny what you notice innit. Just googled it whilst sat on the train waiting to depart. Blow me down we are about to go over Bridge ECML-10. It’s on the East Coast Main Line. How cool is that? Obvious when you think about it. Had originally got it down as ECMI not ECML.

Meanwhile, sat as I am in seat E8 on the 10.06, a train has just pulled in next to us on platform 8. The door marked “CREW USE ONLY” Has a symbol beneath it: Golden Spanner 2023 IC225 Fleet. I asked a member of staff but she had no idea and suggested I googled it which I did.

Another result. The Golden Spanner is awarded by “Modern Railways”. The 2023 awards had a record 450 attendees. Wots not to like. Was a hot ticket with after-lunch speaker John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight, sharing his reflections on train maintenance.

I unashamedly suggest you check it out here https://www.modernrailways.com/…/record-attendance-2023…

My actual reserved seat is E6 btw but we’ve spread out onto the table for 4 and am in an unreserved seat. If the carriage fills up I’ll go back to my originally allocated place obvs.

You can google Bridge ECMI-10, Holloway if you want more deets.

This year btw is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the railways in the UK but I guess you already knew that.

Another snippet of information gleaned on the train is that the old diesel stock pictured is destined for use in the main timetable as of December 2025. They are slower and less efficient than the new Azumas and haul nine carriages instead of the now standard five. They are being reduced to seven carriages for the December timetable change in order to make them more economical to run.

Wonderful what you can find on tinterweb innit.

…

Back in the shire. Sycamores had invaded the wildflower meadow so I took the mower to them. None of the flowers are coming through yet. Just sycamore and the odd weed. Don’t mind the odd weed. I may scatter some more seed just to “add body”. Got a load left in the box and been thinking about where I might sow it anyway. I also have a spot in the corner in mind.

Also mowed the lawn, fwiw.