where art collides philosoperontap

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Friday. A perfect day to leave the Isle of Man for pastures fresh. Here the weather is back to normal. We, windy and a miserable ten degrees. London is showing cloudy but dry reaching the giddy heights of sixteen degrees. 

Lovely breakfast round at the Fletchers to finish off the trip then off to the Aeroporto which is where we are now. It must be said that the check-in process was pure joy compared with the experience on the mainland, LHR T5 First wing excepted.

Sat here now in the departure lounge looking across to King Bills. A bleak and windswept spot for a school, chosen no doubt to toughen up the boys and prepare them for life in the Indian Civil Service, or wherever their chosen life destination took them.

Noticed also a jet terminal with words like Dubai on display giving us a clue as to the type of destination for private charters. The Isle of Man is after all a tax haven and financial centre. I do have a Manx social security number fwiw.

Travel update. 45 min delay due to crew rotation. After they started boarding! Waiting for a crew from an incoming flight. They must have known before boarding began, surelement. Three quarters of an hour is bearable. We need to be at Sophies restaurant in Soho for five thirty which means hotel for 4pm ish latest. Elizabeth Line to Farringdon then either bus, tube or taxi. See how it goze.

Ironically I think the original time for this flight was 12.05. At least that’s what I had in my calendar. I think I must have clicked to accept the time change to the earlier slot without updating the calendar entry. Now it’s back to more or less what it originally was.

Overheard conversation about instagram followers. Don’t really use it although I do have an account. Worradinosaur.

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Finally boarded t’plane. Looking forward to my cup of tea and Cramel wafer bar (if it is the will of Allah). Who knows, Loganair being a Scottish airline we might get some neeps and tatties or a spot of haggis. I’d settlke for the ham sandwich THG made me. She is however several rows back in the Emergency Exit back row.

Girl sat next to me playing kandy krush on her device – not sure if that is the right spelling but woteva. I know I sbeld woteva rite. I have with me as entertainment on this flight my copy of Dick Winters’ autobiography “Beyond Band of Brothers”. I’ve read it a few times but it is the archetypal boys own story. Adventure, excitement where the goodies win. I only ready books where the goodies win. Life is too short…

Looks a bit grey out there. Forecast is nice though. A day in Peel. Whenever we come to the island we always stay in Peel. When mam and dad were alive it was a no brainer but the tradition continues. You can spend all you time in Peel when visiting the Isle of Man. We do like to mix it up: Port Erin, the Sound, Niarbyl, Laxey etc but Peel is the kid. 

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Went out for breakfast. Effin cold out there. Saw THG at the end of her run and joined her for a cuppa at the Peel Beach Kiosk. Also had a bacon roll which was quite good fair play. Did the job anyway. Spilled brown sauce on my clean out of the suitcase trousers. Sigh.

Saw a gull on the beach with a dodgy leg. Looked broken. I wonder whether these birds recover from such injuries. Back in the cottage now. We’ve used Island Escapes on a number of occasions and can thoroughly recommend them.

Bit of chill time before heading to the pool at around eleven.

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Bit of drama this afternoon at the breakwater. Had meandered there via Fenella Beach for a drink date with THG on her return from her ascent of Peel Hill. Whilst I was waiting a fishing boat came in and began to offload its catch of crabs and prawns. I was filming the crane action when a bag full of crabs and prawns caught the edge of the quay and fell back down.

Could have been a disaster but adjusting my viewing position showed that most of the catch had fortunately been rescued. Only half a dozen or so plastic crates were to be seen floating in the harbour. After a short while a lorry with a large crane rocked up and lifted the errant bag out of the water and onto the quayside. Phew.

Had a hot choc with THG before we made our own ways home, she via her fave shop and meself via Fenella Beach again.

Out with the gang in Doolish last night. Two single bus fares in from Peel @ 2.30 each or simlar for a ten mile trip. Left the return trip open as we figured we might grab a cab, the buses only going once an hour. Fortunately Paul offered a lift. Result. It wasn’t long before we hit the hay. The sea air tires you out for the first couple of days. Beer probably contributed to the fatigue.

Today we are off out on a bit of a jaunt. Laxey, The Victory Cafe at the Bungalow, bit of retail therapy in Douglas (Doolish) and a visit to the Knox exhibition at the Manx Museum. Pics will follow. Otherwise it is a gentle start. Bacon sarnie, glass of milk. THG has gone for a run. Up Peel Hill and back or somewhere like that. Worrawoman.

The other news is that I worked out how to put the washing machine on. Had to stare at the manual. This is after doing a bit of troubleshooting on the dryer yesterday. Ie shut the machine door. I have enough togs to last the trip but we figured we might as well make use of the facilities while we are here.

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Sat in the “front room” of the cottage in Charles Street watching the occasional passer by stroll by. Weather has been great yet again. Bloke just came out of his house opposite with a dog in tow. Didn’t bother locking the door. This is the Isle of Man. I guess there could still be someone in the house.

Will the flying fishes ever play again? Where the dawn rode up like thunder outer China ‘crost the bay. The news, which I don’t like listening to at the best of times, is not good from Mandalay. The romantic image of the place has been shattered by an earthquake. Shaken out of a dream. A dream that almost certainly never matched reality anyway.

This morning I had gran o’la and berries with yo and a whole grapefruit which needed eating as Joe and I bought it last weekend on our walk to Tesco. Well Joe did the actual shopping while I finished a pot of tea in the caff.

This weekend I have determined that the walk should take me to Lincoln’s Historic Bailgate area where there are other cafes frequented by locals and tourists alike. THG has said she will meet me there after church tomorrow. I don’t have a favourite cafe so not sure where we will end up. Perhaps the one in the cathedral. 

The Cathedral Visitor Centre is a click from our place so two km there and back, the return leg being very gradually downhill. Doable especially with a break for a cuppa at the halfway stage. Will find out soon enough. Tomorrow.

Some of you will have noticed that I’ve just joined a Facebook group for brick lovers. Fans of the baked clay. This feels very complementary to my growing collection of books that include Wood Recognition (or something like that), the History of Railway Signalling and The Adjustable Spanner.  I must have a clear out of the bookcase in the shed so that I can keep all these worthy tomes in one place. “The Religious Census of 1851” will sit well in the collection as will “The Methodist Church in West Wales between 1737 and 1754” or similar.

It is quite exciting to see that the AGM of The Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society happens to be on the weekend that I am in Llanllwni in April. How cool is that? Perfect timing. I just joined the society this month. They are also putting on a lecture “The Rise and Fall of  A Gentry Family: The Lewis Family of Pantyrhaidd, Conwil”. Conwil Elfed is on my list of places to visit, or more precisely Cwm Duad, which is just up the road. We lived in a farmhouse called Tir Shimau before Benjamin Davies moved on to own a woollen mill. Another objective in that part of the shire is to find out in which church our Ben was a preacher. Plenty to be getting on with.

Today’s news is that the woolly socks have been consigned to the back of the cupboard until next autumn. We are now into cotton socks plus a few bamboo ones thrown in for good measure. I have noticed that the pair I have on today, a black and burgundy design, has a hole in the left sock. This could be a hole in the right sock as they are interchangeable but a hole it definitely is. Shame really but in our throwaway society this pair of socks will no longer be on my list of socks to wear when the weather warms up. I daresay THG will repurpose them. 

This morning I’m doing some finishing off work for next week’s event in Antwerp. I had occasion to call the local printer but their voice messages are in Flemish and despite being a man of the world didn’t really get it. Pressed #1 and got put through to music on hold. Have emailed the guy. Waited a reasonable amount of time for a response and rang again. This time I pressed #2 and someone answered. The bloke I’m trying to get hold of isn’t in today! I got his mobile number and have now called and messaged.

Excited to report that the memory stick with all the scanned in editions of The Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society publications since T0 on it arrived whilst I was in London. Unfortunately the Maesnoni stuff I want is in earlier as yet unscanned editions.

Sign in Antonio’s Barbers shop. No public toilets. Sorry for the inconvenience.

1.2km 32 min round trip including stopping at the lights in each direction and for a chat with neighbour Dale. Paused the clock when I was in getting my hairdo 🙂 Nice and short now. Couldn’t do a thing with it before.

Photos include a blue tit calling out other blue tits across the back gardens, the early emergence of apple blossom and a bloke running whilst juggling three clubs across the road from the barbers.

Mildly frustrated waiting for the lift this morning. I noticed one of the LEDs that indicate which floor the lift is at occasionally displays lots of writing. The second time I saw this I whipped out my phone to take a pic but wasn’t quick enough. The lift came and I went.

On my way back to the room I hung around for a short while in case the photo opportunity reappeared. Gave up in the end. I only have this morning to take the pic and I suspect it isn’t going to happen. Ah well. Worse things happen at sea. I suppose.

In other news the roof opposite my hotel window has a couple of loose slates. Doubt anyone has noticed. Looking elsewhere I notice that one slate is missing right at the top. I won’t mention it although there is a massively remote chance that the owner of the building will read this and jump into action. I’m on the 5th floor of the Doubletree in Pepys Street for reference. Glad to have been of help. Update: it’s the Crutched Friars building. The second and third floors do not appear to be in use.

I now have the whole morning to kill before the CCUK council meeting at 2pm. We are nobbut a stone’s throw/cannon shot from the Tower of London here but tbh I don’t want to spend the morning walking around. I’m not quite at that stage of recovery yet. The hips took a bit of a hammering being on my feet for much of yesterday. Left one mostly. No point in pushing it too hard at this stage of the game.

Have moved operations to the exec lounge. Some knobhead is on a conference call on his laptop without using headphones. I really can’t be arsed to transcribe the meeting for your benefit. It sounds v boring.

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Sat down at the table for four but soon realised that the single seat opposite was going to be far more comfortable. The old guy who was sat next to me has put his coat on my vacated seat. Huh. Looks a bit of a boring scrote. Glad I’m not sat next to him. Biggest issue was legroom. Didn’t really want to play footsie with the guy sat opposite. I note his “golf” diamond pattern socks look a bit synthetic. Huh.

Everyone seems to be ordering soft drinks. I have a double gin and slimline tonic. One can of tonic. No messin. Got to finish my can of neck oil first though. Bag of ready salted crisps. Listening to “tref’s faves” on spotify. Everyone’s a Winner, baby.

Today I applied for a reader’s ticket in the Carmarthenshire Archives. I have the exciting prospect of a morning in April looking through leases and mortgage documents from the early nineteenth century. Living the dream. I am also a reader at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. This I like. 

After Newark the carriage is slightly emptier. The bloke with the socks has stretched his legs out into the aisle. My god they are long legs. Good job I moved. His shoes look a bit plasticky.

My God he’s just stood up. Having to bow his head inside the carriage he is that tall.

Looking out of the fifth floor window at the end of the corridor by the lift I noticed five TV aerials. Odd I thought. A sixth aerial sat a few yards away.  They were all pointed in the same direction through a gap in the surrounding tall buildings. This is the City of London.

Breakfast was taken by a window. Outside, mostly suited city workers hobbled unenthusiastically to their places of work. Smokers, vapers, backpacks, slim and stylish laptop bags. Tourists in trainers make their way towards the Tower. Deeply engrossed lovers, woman with greying bushy curly hair held down by headphones, expressionless bald slim bloke with Lenin moustache and beard ambles by in blue shirt and pink sweater under a green jacket. Blue shirt and jacket with cream kecks and a mackintosh slung over his forearm looks down as he walks. Blue jeans with hole, dark blue fleece with pink zip worn by sullen looking Mexican holding a bright red phone.

BUNZLl Catering Supplies, The Sausage Man (Always Delivers), Fresh Direct We’re the Plum, Reeves Butchers, Brakes Bros. It’s all apnin. Feeding the business world.

Hotel lobby. Loud background buzz of voices. Suits on the mezzanine. Outside the revolving doors is a taxi rank. 

Friday. A perfect day to leave the Isle of Man for pastures fresh. Here the weather is back to normal. We, windy and a miserable ten degrees. London is showing cloudy but dry reaching the giddy heights of sixteen degrees. 

Lovely breakfast round at the Fletchers to finish off the trip then off to the Aeroporto which is where we are now. It must be said that the check-in process was pure joy compared with the experience on the mainland, LHR T5 First wing excepted.

Sat here now in the departure lounge looking across to King Bills. A bleak and windswept spot for a school, chosen no doubt to toughen up the boys and prepare them for life in the Indian Civil Service, or wherever their chosen life destination took them.

Noticed also a jet terminal with words like Dubai on display giving us a clue as to the type of destination for private charters. The Isle of Man is after all a tax haven and financial centre. I do have a Manx social security number fwiw.

Travel update. 45 min delay due to crew rotation. After they started boarding! Waiting for a crew from an incoming flight. They must have known before boarding began, surelement. Three quarters of an hour is bearable. We need to be at Sophies restaurant in Soho for five thirty which means hotel for 4pm ish latest. Elizabeth Line to Farringdon then either bus, tube or taxi. See how it goze.

Ironically I think the original time for this flight was 12.05. At least that’s what I had in my calendar. I think I must have clicked to accept the time change to the earlier slot without updating the calendar entry. Now it’s back to more or less what it originally was.

Overheard conversation about instagram followers. Don’t really use it although I do have an account. Worradinosaur.

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Finally boarded t’plane. Looking forward to my cup of tea and Cramel wafer bar (if it is the will of Allah). Who knows, Loganair being a Scottish airline we might get some neeps and tatties or a spot of haggis. I’d settlke for the ham sandwich THG made me. She is however several rows back in the Emergency Exit back row.

Girl sat next to me playing kandy krush on her device – not sure if that is the right spelling but woteva. I know I sbeld woteva rite. I have with me as entertainment on this flight my copy of Dick Winters’ autobiography “Beyond Band of Brothers”. I’ve read it a few times but it is the archetypal boys own story. Adventure, excitement where the goodies win. I only ready books where the goodies win. Life is too short…

On your farm today was all about legalized cannabis growing. I dozed off, totally relaxed. Then before I knew it the wireless was spouting war and destruction in the middle east. This woke me up so I switched off the news and will switch on again when the religious programming comes on. This is not a totally reliable stratagem as the religious reporters amongst us like to veer onto political topics that involve people of religion. Religious wars as well.

Strangely enough I’m OK with gory wars such as the crusades where Christian knights and Saracens clashed under the hot desert sun leaving blood and guts everywhere, helmeted  heads rolling loose left right and centre. Just not the modern stuff where people clearly haven’t learned from the mistakes of the past.

Switched on again by request. All about the old Pope who is not v well right now. Well he is the current Pope but he is old. Definitely. Everything medical science has to offer is being thrown at him. Metaphorically obvs. Nobody is picking up bits of kit and chucking it. It’s a saying. Obviously things that are not relevant to his ailment are not being used. One would assume.

Movin on. Online worship is now a thing apaz. Since lockdown. Anything to avoid chucking money in the collection plate. Covid has apparently reduced churchgoing in some denominations by up to 25%. Died off probably. It was ever thus. The debate has been raging for hundreds of years. Since Henry VIII upset the equilibrium. 

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An element of the artistic in today’s Sunday Service. I’m ok with it. Quite relaxing. I left to go downstairs to the strains of  “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”, I am reliably informed by the household hymn expert and of which I approve.

A fine bowl of gran o’la for breakfast with a couple of slices of wholemeal toast, President butter and orange marmalade. I like President butter. Has more flavour to it than most of the stuff you see in the supermarket.

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Another big milestone passed. Managed to get my right sock on this morning for the first time in nearly six weeks, ie before the hip hop. I can now officially dress myself. Don’t laugh. It might be you one day 🙂 . Put the left sock on as well obvs, for balance. Would have been odd walking down the road with only one sock on. One foot would have been colder than the other for one thing. Plus the height imbalance might have resulted in me walking in circles ending up in the same spot. Our house.

Big news. Made the tea this morning. Uhuh Tref, I hear you say, what’s news about that? Well making the tea involves going downstairs,  assembling the tea tray and then carrying it upstairs. This I did using both legs and without holding on to the bannister. I’ve not been able to do that for months. Maybe six months or more. Probably August or September. That, in my book, is big news. A visible sign of progress. Improvement. Wow.

Not quite running the London Marathon yet but headed in the right direction. Truth be told I have no ambition to tun the London Marathon. Never have. For one thing the training is a hugely lengthy process. You have little time for anything else. 

Also I’d need a new pair of trainers. I imagine you have to have a specific type of trainers for long runs. When it comes to running marathons, go fast stripes are not needed. It’s all about go longer stripes. The pair I have at the moment are fluorescent green and almost certainly need a wash. No idea what sort of stripes they have, if any. It’s been a while since I wore them.

Now downstairs having half listened to Farming Today. They carried the same hare coursing story that I’d heard in the week on the earlier programme. Clearly the expected audience on a Saturday morning is different to the early risers in the week. Mind you the milking needs doing whatever the day of the week it is. Saturday mornings probably attract weekend wannabe farmers and people like me who just like to hear about cows, sheep and carrot crops. Why not eh?

They don’t always cover cows, sheep and carrot crops so tuning in can be a bit hit and miss. Other farming subjects are available. It’s a risk you have to take. Does anyone else have a favourite farming subject? 

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The robins and wrens were v vociferous as I walked, cup of tea in hand, to the shed this morning. They were joined by a starling just as I arrived at my destination.

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16 mins round trip to the traffic lights on the corner of Wragby Road and Ruskin Avenue. 640m ish. Google says a fit person should take 8 mins so that ain’t bad in my book. When I can do it in 8 then we will all know things are back to normal. Mind you not sure I’ve ever walked at Google’s expected pace.

650m or so seems to be the range at the moment. The obvious next target is a km. The Morning Star is around 800m one way so pretty doable I’d say. With a lift home obvs. A round trip to the Star, at 1,600m feels still beyond what is sensible unless the stop for a rest with an accompanying drink would set me up for the return leg.

I’m away for most of April, one way or another, so I think a walk to the Star is a reasonable objective for when I get home. After all I‘ll have had a few walks along the prom in Peel under my belt together with a stroll from the Witehouse to the Royal to the Miller’s T’Ale to the Central to the Marine to the Peveril to the Creek. Fortunately we are staying in Charles Street near the prom. It’s also near to Davison’s Ice Cream Parlour. What’s not to like?

Almost tropical in the back garden. So much so the heater in the shed is switched off, the doors are wide open and the tropical trefbash sign has been switched on.

Quite refreshing to wake up to the news that LHR has been closed because of a fire in an electrical substation. I realise it’s a pain in the arse for everyone affected but it doesn’t offend my senses in the way that any reporting on the dangerous orange coloured buffoon does. 

I knew someone who was on their way to a Gartner jolly in Miami when the plane was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. He was wearing attire appropriate to Florida in February he he he. I didn’t like said individual. 

It is somewhat surprising that Heathrow doesn’t have resilient power feeds, being critical national infrastructure and all. 

Gale warnings all over the northern bit of the map btw. Batten down those hatches. THG sez it’s cold out ere.

It will interest you to know that sea conditions for shipping in Trafalgar have improved overnight. The 00.48 Shipping forecast had a warning of gales in the area. Indeed Trafalgar had been the only bit of sea with said warning for at least the previous 24 hours. At 05.20 the warning had disappeared. All is well. Funny how the weather can change just like that innit. No chaotic scientific descriptions as to why this is the case please. We all understand really.

Other than the winds remaining mostly easterly and bringing with them the cold across from the Siberian steppes there was nothing else that stood out in this morning’s forecast. I did observe that Channel Light Vessel Automatic rolls off the tongue. V poetic. You may not have considered it in that light, so to speak. The whole bulletin is pure poetry. They are my capitalisations but it feels as if that is right even though they don’t contribute anything to the artistic value of the name.

After the Shipping Forecast I killed the news briefing as being of no interest to be but in the act of doing this noted that it was to be followed by  Prayer For The Day and Farming Today or similar.

The prayer slot was most relaxing, speaking as it was about tornadoes. Fitted in perfectly as a follow on from the Shipping Forecast I thought. The actual prayer bit was a single sentence right at the end and went something like “may you stay safe from tornadoes”. V good fair play.

Farming Today broke through the slumber with an introduction that focussed on the violence associated with illegal hare coursers. The rest of it seemed to be some inconclusive article on whether plants absorbed microplastics and which made me nod off again.

Finally woke up when the totally gorgeous THG brought the tea tray upstairs. You should know my admiration of her is not solely down to her having brought me a cup of tea in bed. There isn’t room on the page for me to cover all her good points 🙂 

We are up now and have breakfasted well on (THG’s) homemade gran o’la and I am presently sat in the corner of the snug nursing my third cup of tea of the day. The furniture in the snug was rearranged on Saturday morning in preparation for a houseful of rugby fans but we ended up not using the room with everyone preferring the cosy atmosphere of the shed.

The upshot is that my armchair, which is only a temporary resident of the snug, is right next to the TV rendering that appliance effectively unwatchable for anyone (ie me) sat in it. This wasn’t particularly a big deal for last night’s University Challenge as you don’t actually have to be able to see the TV to enjoy the programme. I may have got one answer right btw. I’ve concluded that I’m not really bothered whether I can see the telly in here anyway as there is rarely anything on I want to watch, UC being one of the exceptions.

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Another joyful morning to walk to the shed. Showered and shaved etc and feeling fresh. My only issue is that THG left for the gym before I was ready to put my socks on so that pleasure has had to wait until lunchtime. Not a biggie. I spend much of the spring and summer in sandals with no socks,

Finally fixed the printer. Worra palaver. I had to generate a new certificate for it then reboot printer then “forget” printer and add it back.

Today’s walk in the beeotiful lincoln sunshine was 19 mins 22 secs. Same route as yesterday but a bit further on past the Smiths’, past the lamppost and up to the silver birch tree. Passed a postman in his van smiling to himself whilst doing something on his phone. He was either smiling or his face was a little screwed up with the sun in his eyes. We shall never find out.

An ambulance came past going the other way and chose that moment to switch on its siren. Almost made me jump out of my skin. You wonder whether they do it for a bit of fun. Didn’t jump out of my skin as I would appear to have made it home safely. Left hip still giving gyp.

When I got back I set to preparing a mozzarella and tomayto salad for lunch but found that the cheese was still somewhat frozen. Nae botha. It will wait until after my 1 o’clock conf call.

In the shed for eight twenty this morning having finished breakfast. We were out of granola so I substituted it with oats. I am more active spending time in the shed than I was in the snug. I tend to get up and do more moving around plus there is always a reason to nip back to the house for something. Already done one of my exercises, the standing on one leg, whilst brushing my teeth. Efficient or what?

Eight or so camping chairs still in the shed awaiting putting back in their bags. At least I finally managed to trip the wire suspending the Tropical Trefbash sign from the ceiling. Had to order a pair of industrial strength wire cutters as nothing I had did the job. Ditto the ones Coops lent me. Got a great pair now that I’m sure will come in v handy next time I need some wire cutting. There is something very satisfying about having good tools.

Listened to both Shipping Forecasts last night plus a David Attenborough programme on fireflies. Living the dream. Didn’t make it to the end of the SF at 1am or whatever time it was. How do you expect me to remember at that time of day?

My cowd in da dose continues this morning so I have plentiful supplies of liquid to hand plus one of those large blue rolls of paper towels. Nose tends to get a bit sore with all the blowing. Not sure there is much that can be done other than to sit it out. Blow it out.

Meanwhile I have some work to do today. Getting some graphics done. Off to London next week and decided to head down the night before. I could have caught the seven thirty and just about made the meeting/conference but that early a start is just a step too far at the moment. A ten o’clock meeting in the shed would be alright 🙂 

Will be setting off for a walk in around thirty mins. Going to cross the pedestrian crossing, turn right down Lee Road, past Auden Close and on a bit further. Must make sure I am well wrapped up as it is cold out there. The northerly has swung round to become an easterly which ain’t any warmer. No gales forecast though other than in Trafalgar which is a long way away. Not talking Trafalgar Square ere.

…

Made sure I remembered to put a coat on for this morning’s walk. Crossed at the pedestrian crossing although I didn’t bother pushing the button as there was no traffic. Said hello to the vicar’s wife going the other way, past the bus stop and turned right at Lee Road and past the vicarage, past the house on the corner of Auden Close that we nearly bought after brexshit but our buyer pulled out. Dodged a bullet there as their heating bills would be ginormous in winter. Built the shed instead. Past the house we also looked at but decided not to go for and which had its roof missing for a year because the builder went bust. Past the Wheatleys and on to the Smiths’ whereupon I turned around and started back.

At that point Mandy Wheatley came out of their house and set off towards me wielding a card for someone. Stopped for a brief chat and continued my journey home. Eighteen minutes forty seconds. Slow going but Rome wasn’t built in a day. My goal for Thursday is to make it to the end of Lee Road whereupon I have a date with a cup of tea at the Whitbreads. Perfectly doable innit.