It is the last day of October in the year of our Lord (if you are that way inclined) twenty twenty four. The first and last time this will ever be the case. If it is a good one we may fondly look back on it, smiling quietly to ourselves whilst nodding our heads. We were there. The likelihood is it will be another unremarkable day remembered only because I’ve written this post 🙂.
Unremarkable is not a fair way to put it. In the great scheme of things they are all unremarkable. When, as seems inevitable, our civilization gets buried under the jungle canopy the day will not be remembered.
…
The lawn is now mostly invisible. The only green bit left is under the kitchen window. Otherwise the yellow and gold sycamore cast offs are sitting there motionless awaiting the inevitable attention of the leaf blower. The blower operator is away. It will be next week before blowing operations commence, unless the wind gets up.
In the meantime, THG being away, I am having an even lazier than normal start to the day. The ingredients for a full English lie on the butcher’s block in front of me and the cast iron frying pan is ready in position on the stove. I am however consuming the first cup of tea of the day and have decided that breakfast can wait until the drink is drunk. In the words of the prophet, there is no hurry. No rush. No deadline to meet. No print run beckoning. No worries.
Well there is always something to worry about isn’t there. Nothing specifically springs to mind but I daresay that given time something will float to the surface, so to speak. I’ve probably just forgotten something v important.
Breakfast will be more of a brunch today by the looks of it. I guess sometimes people change the mix of the food when it starts being called a brunch. In my case it is just a late breakfast. I’ve even found a tin of beans that may be opened although not totes made my mind up on that one. Probs will
The problem is I have some chicken in the fridge that needs to be consumed and the lateness of the quite large breakfast will mean that I won’t really want lunch.
Once I’ve finished breakfast and showered I have a bit of packing to do. Off to London tomorrow and got a bit of a night out with the golfers tonight so it makes sense for me to be mostly packed today. Also have a bit of plaster to clear up in the ‘play room’. Part of the wall is being replastered and yesterday I hacked away at some of it to assess the scope of works.
New 1st world problem for you. Bread slices are often too big to fit into a toaster so as to toast evenly all in one go. I find myself having to turn them upside down once toasted to part toast the top of the slice.
Now some of you I know will say just cut the bread in half and fit it all in the toaster. Well I don’t want to do that. Simples. Today I found the answer. Once the toast has popped up just cut the untoasted bits off and put back in the toaster. Don’t leave them for the full toasting cycle (or whatever it is called) as they will already be partly toasted. You end up with two large square bits of toast and two smaller rectangular pieces. It also avoids over toasting the middle bit of the slice. Simples.
…
Just had a couple of Jehovas Witnesses at the door. The older one had a leaflet sized handbag and her hand was poised ready to whip one out for distribution. The younger one made the opening remarks. I asked if she was selling religion. ‘Not selling as such’ she said. I politely declined and they went on their way. I think next door might be a hindu. Doubt they will get anywhere there.
…
Have moved one of the black bins into the kitchen. First step of the act of getting it into the play room for filling with old plaster. Why not stick it straight in the play room I hear you say. Well only because I think I have some large thick bin liners in the shed that would be right for this job so I’ve detoured to the bottom of the garden. Yet to look for the bin liners mind you. I think they are under the spare desk.
…
Chicken sandwich with a glass of red before heading out. Seemed like the right thing to do. Bottle needed finishing off. I realise beer after wine is not supposed to be good but let’s see shall we. I dunno. I didn’t want a beer with my sandwich and as I said the bottle needed finishing off. Rarely drink a whole bottle in one sitting nowadays.
I have fifteen minutes before the taxi is due. Sat in the snug with the curtains shut in case any trick or treaters wander by. Sdark out. Dark very early. Racing headlong towards midwinter. Deep midwinter. Frosty winds. Moan.
Don’t particularly want the taxi to arrive early. Don’t want to rush the glass of vino. What’s the hurry, man.
Actually watch Disney+ this pm. Afternoon telly! National Geographic channel. A documentary about living in Alaska. Was interesting. I like documentaries about Alaska. Survival. Wilderness. Stuff like that.
Gone…