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longer off topic comments" - Episode 45 Life Outside Ambridge
longer off topic comments" - Episode 45 Life Outside Ambridge
Ruby throated hummingbird
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
Hummingbirds! I'd kill for! (Well not literally!) Instead I'll settle for our colourful Woodpeckers. They swing into the feeders and other birds are sprung off said feeder. The Nuthatch, like Zorro, with their ''go faster stripe" make me laugh. Always ready for 'a rumble', like the blackbirds. I love the way all the other 'brown birds', tits and finches sneak in between the raucous! Even the Robins know how to play the game, or keep one company when digging the borders. Birds make the world go round I say! 😊
ReplyDeleteRuthy - have Your hummingbirds returned?
ReplyDeleteI don't like Pointless + last nights episode showed me why.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy The Chase and Impossible. As to University Challenge - although I watch it, it is a Challenge to me, as to how many questions I actually understand and then can answer!
I have just opened my latest investment report, from my FA's. The last period was awful, as I had a large loss of capital, which paniced me.
ReplyDeleteThe latest one, Jan 1st - March 31st, has showed even after my regular monthly income, my final capital value has actually increased.
I feel relieved, esp as I don't get my SSP until Sept. 2020.
I can understand that a loss of investment for you Miriam must be very worrying, you are your own provider and your financial future is down to you! However, in the scheme of things all experiences are relative! Dare I say, enjoy all the very positive things you appear to have, your close family, an imminent cataract operation and your positive outlook. 🙂
DeleteThe thing is not to panic, Miriam. The core value will go up and down relative to the market. My sister in law did panic and sold her investments when the market was low putting the money into savings which we all know yield very little nowadays. What you need is income and if that is steady it’s the main thing.
ReplyDeleteI use a fantastic financial company, who I trust. I have had a 5.8% yield lately, which I am very happy about. 😀
DeleteSo you won’t need me to bale you out ,Miriam with part of the £20,000+ Interest the Inland Revenue thought I had from one Account.
ReplyDeleteI am my own financial advisor and as you might gather I have been on to the Inland Revenue to tell them that they have made a mistake.
Surpringly they agreed.!
Way back the Revenue presented my husband with a tax bill following. his 65th and it turned out they had reckoned he had state pension for a full year when in fact his birthday was in August so 4 months of income was wrongly reckoned. You have to watch them! It’s a good job you saw they had made this huge mistake, Lan Jan. You can imagine the panic otherwise!
ReplyDeleteI too am wondering what has happened to Bootgums.
ReplyDeleteI do hope all is well.
I still miss Hamburg Gardener, and do wish she were still with us.
I wish Janice gives us all an update - as to how she is recovering + progressing, after her health scare.
DeleteWrote one reply and then somehow lost it! I am making slow but steady progress thanks Miriam, and will know more after my return visit to the hospital on 8th May. I am lucky in family and friends. One is bringing her spinning wheel here on Wednesday afternoons and chatting as she spins. The wheel makes a nice soothing whirring sound. It is strange being so weak after being strong. Have just read an interesting book called " The hidden life of trees", and have ordered some of the suggestions made here by you nice people, thank you, from Ebay. Am listening to relaxing classical music and also to Mike Rowland, a New Age (or is it Old Age now?!) musician that I have always found restful.
DeleteI am glad your cataract operation went well Miriam, and wish you good luck with your next one, and the same to anyone else waiting for surgery or experiencing ill health.
Storm Hannah over the weekend was certainly Wild, Wet + Windy, for 2 days.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly my grass has grown in a big way.
Tomorrow is grass cutting + garden maintenance, and the washed bedding, will be out drying in the fresh air + sunshine, well hopefully.
Am relaxing as Katy and Buddy have gone to training class! He did well last week but it does depend on how he feels on the night! The other day he chewed the fringe of my Persian rug I bought in Hong Kong 40 years ago and slightly went into the rug itself. It is going off to specialists in London tomorrow by courier for repair. To be fair the fringes have worn away over the years and need replacing but it will cost an arm and a leg. However I love the rug and it has sentimental value so will be worth every penny. When it comes back he will be strictly segregated from it! Generally he isn’t too bad now for chewing but does seem fascinated by fringes on rugs!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can get him a cheap fringed rug from Wilko or somewhere similar Ev. Then give it to him for his exclusive use, but barr from your precious favourite rug.
DeleteWas the address to the restorer in Fulham by any chance ?
I used to go and sit with him and loved to watch him work.
I remember a very old Arabian man in Knightsbridge many decades ago too.
Used to sit in the window working and on fine days sit at the open door.
Lots of columbines blooming in my garden now. A big fat bee was inside one yesterday, making it shake. The bee was invisible from outside so the flower resembled a bell moving while chiming. Buzzing noise was magnified inside the flower.
ReplyDeleteThe storm removed all petals from tulips.
There was a hummingbird-hawkmoth in my garden last summer.
Love them, we see them every year, not yet though, too cold..
ReplyDeleteI was planning on potting on around 150 plants this morning, but cycled from Glasgow to Edinburgh yesterday & foolishly didn't wear any sunblock. I am in agony today! I am honestly the colour of an angry tomato. Instead of a nice day in the garden I shall be slathered in aftersun & sitting moaning quietly to myself. Idiot.... 🌞🍅☢
ReplyDeleteOh dear, hope you feel better tomorrow and can then attend to your potting on Gary.
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DeleteGG 🚴♂️ ☀️ 😎 ohhh (painful) lesson learned - take it easy and hope pain subsides soon..
ReplyDeleteThanks! But the (really) stupid thing is I burned the top of my little bald napper only last week whilst in the garden Lady R. You would have thunked I would have learned then...😲
DeleteMe too Gary, me too !
DeleteFirstly congratulations on being able to do such a ride,Gary.
DeleteSecondly just take it easy for the next few days.
You deserve it.
I made a comment to GG but posted it on the wrong site.
DeleteNaughty Step beckons.
For you cycling efforts to be rewarded with a nasty dose of sunburn is so unfair. Question is will you learn?
DeleteWell if it is a minute for every year Miriam, you might be sitting on it for quite a while !!!!
ReplyDeleteI have just realised that I have missed the new Ed Reardon programme. I love it. Will have to listen via a download.
ReplyDeleteOh my Gary - you do have a lot of work ahead of you - 150 plants!
ReplyDeleteOh Ruthy! You don't know the half of it. In addition to those that need potting on, there are another 60 seedlings, around 30 plants to go in the ground and there are 50 phlox arriving at the end of the week. Add to that approximately 50 pots and troughs to be done. Go big or go home is our motto!
DeleteMr GG installed a little fountain in our pond last week and I must say the noise is incredibly relaxing whilst we are toiling away...
Janice how lovely to have a friend with a spinning wheel..
ReplyDeleteI would love one.
I love natural fibres.
Acrylic is a swear word in this house.
We can see a herd of Highland cattle from our back garden! It is the "holiday home" for some of the cows that live in Pollok Park, a huge park in the south of the city where there is the Burrell Collection & also Pollok House which is run by the NT. A truly stunning part of Glasgow...
ReplyDeletePollock Park is very significant in my memory Gary.
DeleteA sad story, but not for telling here.
We have Highland Cattle here on the commons in the summer and when I was renting for about ten months there winter Home was in the paddock adjacent to my cottage.
The Belted Galloways that I saw at Woodchester were a small herd, but one mum had a calf no more than a few hours old when I saw them.
Lan Jan - many spinning wheels here in Stroud and the Scarlett Red of Guards uniforms was made here and Snooker Green cloth still is produced here.
The textile industry writ large in this town with many many mills and a fast river to work those mills.
Janice - a friend gave me the ' hidden life of trees ' last year, telling me I would love it. But I didn't get very far with it I'm afraid.
Did you hear the author on ' Start the week' a few months back talking about the subject ?
No I didn't Mrs P. but I will see if it's on the iplayer. I think I found the book interesting because last summer I was planting some old varieties of apple trees, and it made me look at them in a different way. The ones still in pots will have to stay there for a while now, or maybe I could send them up to Gary as he seems to like planting things!😉
DeleteHave just read "Never cry wolf" by Farley Mowat, a lovely story of a study he did of wolves in the far north and the way he wrote it was amusing.
Spicycushion, the first of my Ebay packages arrived today. This one had three Susanna Gregory Matthew Bartholomew books in it, and from a quick look I am sure I am going to enjoy them. I often read the end of a book first but with these I think I had better not!
Good to have updates now that you are progressing Janice.
DeleteKeep on keeping on. Your doing well.
GG - the fountain sound lovely - now we will definitely have to visit!
ReplyDeleteRuthy, you would be more than welcome! It is a tiny fountain tho' - about 2 feet high at best. But it does us... Got some of that potting on done this morning. My glowing redness has now subsided to a lovely violent pink...😀
ReplyDeleteMrsP - sorry if my mention of that park brought back not so nice memories.
Janice - glad you are on the mend! Fingers crossed for even better news on the 8th.
Not enough to be concerned Gary, and I do have good memories of the Museum.
DeleteUnfortunately because of the Pollok Park event we never did get to Edinburgh.
One of these days ............
I am so pleased Janice, that you are doing so well. It must be difficult, but just think to youself, on each day, "I am progressing + getting stronger". A positive attitude, which you obviously have, is so important and helps, whilst still following medical advice + taking the pills!
ReplyDeleteLet us all know the outcome of your May 8th appoint. 🤗🤗🤗
Will do😊
DeleteTo add. I was diagnosed with very high BP 5 years ago, so much so my GP wanted to send me directly to the hosp. I refused, as I knew I would just panic so making things worse, so allowed home with many conditions. In the following few months, meds. were altered, basically due to side-effects and soon all became normal. I now just swallow 3 pills each morning and all is under control. One is a beta blocker to keep heart rate low, which I love! 💗
DeleteWhen I am a old lady I plan to buy a week’s 1st class Rover ticket on the railway.
ReplyDeleteI will get an Uber to my nearest station and just take off .
I may plan in advance or may not.
All my meals will be on the train so won’t need to worry about them.
I definitely want to go to Scotland to remind myself of wonderful holidays we spent there.
but this time I won’t use motor rail because I won’t want to do any driving..
I think I will try to book it for this time of year or possibly slightly later when it doesn’t get dark in Thurso until very very late at night.
I definitely want to spend a night in Edinburgh -and Glasgow..
Something to look forward to.......
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DeleteI also would love another trip to Scotland, but I will drive. There are so many places I want to visit again, which are far too many to mention. My problem is my 15 yr old pusscat, how long can I afford to pay for the cattery, and how long would she be OK in cattery. She pines for me and is classed as a nervous, unhappy resident - very often refusing to eat!
DeleteOur animals certainly rule our lives. 😸
Come one, come all!!!! 😉
DeleteWe knew a couple with a camper van and they had a little compartment for the cat who went everywhere with them! I know cats like their own territory but maybe your puss cat, Miriam will go whither thou goest!!
DeleteI will give you much notice Gary before I descend on my mother’s birthplace .
ReplyDeleteAs I said it is something to look forward to for when I am an old lady so it won’t be for a while yet
🤣
DeleteWhere is your mothers birthplace -it sounds so interesting. Did you live in Scotland yourself.
DeleteOff to continue cooking my evening meal. It is an authentic Italian Ragu recipe - in other words Spag. Bol.
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DeleteI am serving it with wholemeal pasta - which is so tasty, and healthy.
DeleteToday, I have seen "on-line" an interesting article about Ian Fleming, James Bond and a WW11 situation.
ReplyDeleteThis was Operation Mincemeat - what a strange name.
It means a lot to me though, as my departed Grandfather, was involved in it, as a Naval Intelligance Officer at that time. He did a lot of secretive work, earning him an OBE.
How wonderful Miriam 👏
ReplyDeleteRe Seasiders extra charges when away from home.
ReplyDeleteI do not and have not had any extra charges. I am with BT and on an all in package.
However, I have noticed on occasion that my blog name - Mrs P ........of Ambridge has appeared as my name when I access SOME other services.
I also have another 'name' for some other stuff that I look at daily, and that name too is sometimes coming up when it has nothing to do with the online activity I am accessing.
Conclusion: yes it is all linked.
We know that the internet can monitor all that we do, so I am not surprised.
Since I do not indulge in anything illegal, I do not worry about it, whilst being aware.
Seasider. Always have mobile data switched off, other wise Pay as you go smart phones consume a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm away I access the wifi of the establishment I'm visiting, I listen via either the Iplayer radio app, and use a gmail if I want to make a comment. It doesn't cost me anything and am confident with the process. WhatsApp is also useful if you can get wifi, then making phone/video calls doesn't cost anything.
I have had the same £30 pounds on my phone for at least a year.
Good luck.
Exactly what I do, and does not cost a single penny (apart from the normal monthly cost).
DeleteI have a simple sim only deal for £13 a month, and it is money well spent.
To add, I am on Wattsapp every day, catching up with family. So many videos, photos, messages etc.which I love seeing, esp. those from OZ and always add my comments
Delete...Be these my many family groups + individuals, or just those from friends.
Thanks for the comments on this. Until last month I had found a £20 voucher lasted me a year, which was why I was surprised at the sharp cost increase. I think you are right, Stasia, I didn’t have my mobile data switched on previously and used WiFi access in places I was staying. This time I was in my own place without WiFi, and I think in order to receive emails I would have to switch on my mobile data? As I am not there all the time I thought it would be more cost effective to carry on with pay as you go rather than installing WiFi and pay for something every month when some months I am not there. Now I am not sure.
DeleteI don’t know what What’s App(?) is. You can probably tell I am not very computer literate. I don’t know if the way I access TA or the blog is different from what you’re describing but if it doesn’t charge you then it must be.
Thanks again and I won’t bang on about it as it evidently isn’t causing problems for anyone else.
Lovely to see David Troughton ("Tony") on ITV 3, in Heartbeat tonight. I recognised his voice immediatly.
ReplyDeleteJanice - I do hope you like the Matthew Batholomew mysteries. I love them but they do have a lot of characters in them and because my memory is not what it was I have to check "Who is that?" sometimes.🤔
ReplyDeleteDuring the winter I have re-read them all after about three years and I only remembered 'Who dunnit' twice! I have pre-ordered Gregory's latest book from Amazon which I think is a Batholomew adventure but maybe a Thomas Chaloner one.(1665 at the moment and lots of talk about plague)
I want to finish the series in the next two weeks as I start marking GCSEs. Only one training day in Cambridge for the new paper. In addition I am marking the iGCSE Eng Lang which I have done since 2014. So about 500 scripts to complete in four weeks!😳😱😵
The new paper I am marking is Eng Lit and I am really hoping that the school budgets have been too stretched to get the latest additions to the 'Set' books. I'm okay with Jane Eyre, Inspector Calls, Mocking Bird, Jekyll & Hyde and Great Expectations and nearly all the rest. But the new C20th novels are so gloomy! I really hope no-one has 'done' 'Never Let Me Go' as I really do not want to read it but will have to if I get a set of papers on it!
One of my granddaughters is doing Eng Lit this year and she hasn't mentioned 'Never let me go' Spiceycushio. She did talk a great deal about ' inspector '.
DeleteIt's a terrific novel & Ishiguro is an impressive writer but I doubt he'd be set for GCSE. Maybe A level these days.
DeleteOh, you said it was set, Spicy ! I guess because there was a film version some years ago
DeleteCarolyn - There are three 'unpleasant' (imho )set texts; the Ishiguro; 'My Mother said I should never' and 'DNA.' All very bleak but I admit it is only my opinion on unread texts. I suppose I'll have read them at some time! The rest (about nine other plays and novels) all of which I know well enough or indeed very well!
DeleteI have been teaching/tutoring two pupils 'An Inspector Calls,' this year, one of my favourite texts. However teaching one pupil in particular wasn't made easier by her school teacher having shown them the fairly recent film made by ITV which substantially changed the presentation as laid down by Priestley. I do wish modern day directors and screenwriters would stop thinking they can better absolutely brilliant classics!
My very, very good friend actually wrote the 'Study Notes' and Teachers pack for 'Never Let Me Go.' They were published about four years ago so it's been on the syllabuses for a time now.
Ishiguro: I did 'let it go' and don't intend to resume.
DeleteThis mornings laugh.
DeleteThank you Basia.
Pleasure, but that book scared the living daylights out of me, so I gave up.
DeleteHave just read the synopsis on Wikipedia. What are they thinking putting this on the syllabus? It’s the stuff of nightmares! I don’t think young people should be shielded from reality but why introduce fresh horror?
ReplyDeleteTomorrow will find me off to the Neilston Agricultural Show 2019. It's been going for nearly 200 years and is a celebration of all things farm & food! As a child it heralded the start of summer... There's everything from show-jumping to best scarecrow, prize pigs to tug-o'-war, flower arrangement battles to duck herding. Even as an adult I'm still in awe at the size of some of the bulls in show! AND they have a massive beer tent... I shall be wandering about happy as Larry pretending that I am in Ambridge!!! 🐮🐎🐏🐷🍰🍺
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so wonderful, and far better than the latest Ambridge attempts.
DeleteI miss the excessive competative nature, even suggestions of spying + cheating, among the Ambridge residents.
Wishing you sunny weather and not too cold.
Enjoy. 😀😀
When I was teaching in Lancashire there was a school visit each year to The Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate (I think P tb Y,Seasider and Cowgirl)
ReplyDeleteThe headmaster went every year and chose which members of staff would accompany the pupils.
Pupils will go anywhere to get out of school so there were several coaches of pupils.
I felt the same way and the year I was chosen I handed out a sheet of newspaper to each pupil on the coach for which I was responsible for him or her to sit on to prevent travel sickness.
It worked as I remember.
Loved the Show too.
My good friend, mentioned above who writes educational text books and other stuff, always did that on school trips! She swore that she never has a pupil be coach sick too!
DeleteI have to apologise in Emily Pankurst's memory. I did something for the first time ever yesterday. I did not fulfill my right to vote.
ReplyDeleteAt no time did I receive any leaflets, communication, canvessers about these elections. I had no idea who was up for election, any policy/pledges/ideas. I decided that to vote would have been in total ignorance, and that is not how I do things.
Whilst standing in the queue in a busy supermarket this morn. and chatting to the lady (of similar age) in front of me, it was interesting for her to tell me, the same (and she was from a different village quite a few miles away). At least I was not alone.
My Parish Council is still asking for volunteers to be co-opted.There should be 9, but there are still only 4 -
DeleteI am not tempted btw. 🤣🤣
May the fourth be with you, every last one of you!!! 😆😉🤭
ReplyDelete🤣🤣
DeleteSometimes it takes a lifetime for a wish to be fulfilled.
ReplyDeleteOver fifty years ago, my junior office assistant told me how her little dog jumped on to her bed in the morning and woke her with a lick to her face.
I was enchanted, and it was the beginning of a wish to have a dog.
In the ensuing years, none of my dogs has ever jumped on to my bed and woken me with a lick.
Until THIS MORNING !
Lady refuses to get onto the bed when I am in it, though will lie on the top with me if I am fully clothed during the day.
She will also jump into the unmade bed when I go to the bathroom and then looks at me with eyes that say ' I know I am being naughty '
But this morning she put her front legs onto the side of the bed and licked my face.
And it woke me up.
JOY !!!
How lovely Mrs P can understand your joy 🤗
DeleteShe loves you! Yeh! Yeh! Yeh!
DeleteMrs P ,Will you please take Lady to have a word with Percy.....
ReplyDeleteUntil he was informed he was now our cat he never set foot inside the bedroom.
Now he thinks he is an alarm clock who has to wake me up at whatever time he thinks fit by pulling my hair !
Job done,he departs.
No, no, Lanjan, all Percy Cats should be allowed to do as they please 😍😉
DeleteWell, Gypsy dogs do! We have a plaque which says “ Welcome to our home where the humans pay the bills but the Shih Tsu is in charge!”
Delete😀😀😀
ReplyDeletePuss frequently spends the time towards the end of the night - in other words, early morning - lying lengthwise across the top of the pillows, all three feet of him.
ReplyDeleteA touch of the paw on my head or face would be most welcome.
But alas, no !
When he got older Griff my father's sheepdog found it difficult to last the night without going to the loo. I kept my bedroom door open so he would place his head over the edge of the bed and breathe into my face until I woke up to let him out.
DeleteI am having an extremely lazy day.
ReplyDeleteBreakfast at about ten, a croissant with my tea.
Then ages on my IPad.
Then coffee and croissant and listening to the radio.
Then hung some washing on the line.
Reading !
I need to take dog for walk and lack motivation.
I want the sun, which is shining, but I don't want the wind, which is also in evidence.
I’m having the same sort of day. Do a job then a telly programme. Then a job and a coffee break.
DeleteKeeps raining here and blowing a gale. Even put heating on. Dogs keep looking at me every now and again but decided they are not getting a walk today in this wind. Supposed to be better tomoz so a walk up the woods in the morning.
I shall just enjoy my lazy day and not feel guilty.
Good for you both 👏🏻 and so right not to feel guilty!
DeleteI bought a new washing machine today. My present one was inherited with the house and has done good but not spinning well each time and it must be about 15 years old as a machine engineer reckoned it was 11 a few years back. Before it gives up the ghost will replace. The new machine is A+++ rating and uses 40 % less water than other similarly rated machines. This is important on the island where water is expensive. Will be delivered on Friday so hoping water and lec bills will reduce a bit! Other than that, yes lazy and tonight had Chinese takeaway with champagne! I don’t feel guilty either ptby!!
DeleteI should add the champagne was a birthday present. I don’t usually indulge in such luxury! It was a nice one but we normally have prosecco. We have found bubbly goes really well with Chinese!
DeleteHow I wish I could join you, Mrs P and P tob Y
ReplyDeleteI have my Cousin staying, enough said, haven't seen her for 8 years wish it could have been another 8, counting the hours till Monday morning.
Oh what a great deal expressed in so few lines C G.
DeleteI feel for you !
😂🤣😄 better not let her see this blog!
DeleteI'm feeling your pain CowGirl! Hang in there...☺
DeleteThanks cowgirl for the good laugh. I feel for you.
DeleteOh cowgirl I was not expecting that comment- at first it made me laugh but now I really feel for you, what a disappointment or have you never got on? ( if not too personal a question 🤭)
DeleteGood for you for being so honest.
DeleteI will think of you on Monday afternoon.
You will be the one with a grin from ear to ear.
You certainly can’t choose your relatives! Hang on in there CG!
DeleteI too have had a lazy day, as although sunny it is so cold with a very strong westerly wind.
ReplyDeleteMy pusscat always sleeps on my feet at night, after her nightly prowl. As I awake, she moves, sits beside me, and gently pats my face with a paw.
This was not good many years ago, when I ended up in A+E on a Sunday morning, for 4 hours with an agonising scratched cornea. She got an eye with a claw - as I ignored her. Luckily, this event has never re-occured.
I lost my one remaining contact lens this morning on the bathroom floor. I gave it up for lost, after an hour of searching.
I suddenly thought that it can't just disappear. I eventually did find it - stuck where the carpet is fitted around the basin pedestal. I am bemused how it landed there ...but all is well again.
Miriam, Your sleuthing skills are obviously forensic, not sure I would have spotted a contact lens on the floor. I do hope you were wearing your sleuthing hat.🧢👒🕵🏻♀️
DeleteWe are off to a 🌶 festival tomorrow at Eastnor castle, lots of street food, and of course competitions to see who can eat the hottest 🌶 🌶🌶🌶. I love them and grow lots of varieties, but won’t be entering.
How I envy those of you having a lazy day. We've just decorated our bedroom and had to empty the built in wardrobes as they have no backs in them so had to be painted inside. We've spent today cleaning, putting everything back and having a good sort out in the process, will be glad to put my feet up with a glass of wine this evening!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a job well done, so relax and enjoy your well earned glass of wine or two. 🍷🍷
DeleteI wonder how GG got on today on his visit to the show.
ReplyDeleteOn looking at the BBC weather this morning, it showed a lovely photo of snow in Scotland, which had fallen overnight, but that was further east than GG. Bet it was cold though.
No snow Miriam! Brilliant sunshine for most of the day, but on the odd occasions when it clouded over it WAS a teensy bit chilly. Had a fantastic time! Played with lambs, alpacas, piglets, donkeys and every other farmyard animal you can think of. "The Drakes of Hazard" duck herding was a particular highlight, as was the produce competition tent. Anyone for homemade toffee rum? It's amazing to think that this is the third century that a member of my mother's family had attended the show!!
DeleteI am so envious as to your brilliant day out...esp. with the duck herding. I can only compare it with pig racing, which I witnessed last year.
DeleteToffee Rum - recipe please.😀😀
What a lovely thought though, with your memorable family links to 3 generations attending the same event. It must have meant so much to you.
If the third CENTURY GG then surely, Miriam, far more than three generations ?
DeleteExplanations and truth please !
My day has/will be a little bit tense.
DeleteLancashire only just lost a one day game in a match which would have taken them into the next Round of the Cup and in a short while ,Liverpool need to beat Newcastle away from home to stand any chance really of winning the Premier League.
It hasn’t been a good week for Liverpool but by gum what an exciting Season we have had .
The lads done good.
Mrs. P. It seems I am wrong yet again. I was thinking, 3 centuries so 3 generations. I obviously can't count. GG will let us know and am looking forward to hearing his family history about it.
DeleteMrsP & Miriam - My Grandfather attended the show as a child in the 1800's, me & the entire family in the 1900's & my husband & I in the 2000's! It's entirely possible that my great grandfather went too. I still find it nuts that ALL of my grandparents were born in the 1800's - I'm only 48 for crying out loud!!!!
ReplyDeleteThree of my grandparents were born in 1890 and one in 1888 but I am 71, Gary!
DeleteMiriam, you were right.
DeleteI stand corrected.
My father was born in 1898!
DeleteI have to say he was not as young as most of my friends dads were and I felt quite embarassed ,though proud ,when I was growing up about the fact that the fathers of my friends fought in the second WW whilst mine fought in the first -aged 16.Going back some weeks or months to the Ian /Adam / baby situation I imagine if Lexi does return with her baby ,the child may well feel a little bit like I did.
“Is that your grandad who picked you up from school?”
Talking of babies,(not that I am that interested) -has Megan had her baby/babies yet?
Don’t they have to bond as a family before the rest of us can be informed?
The Royal watchers who are camped out in the Park may have a long wait.
Although I imagine GG’s grandfather attended the show with his parents rather than alone, so probably 4 generations if you think about it..
DeleteI saw Timothy Weston aka Rob, at Chichester last night, playing an unpleasant misogynistic don in Shadowlands, excellent production thoroughly recommend.
Lanjan - I can beat you there - my Dad was born in 1895 and was therefore 50 when I came along. It didn’t particularly bother me that he was so much older than my friends fathers, except on our school Garden Party day (when parents came to see our work, dancing & marching displays, singing & acting etc.). There he was in his tweed suit with braces, grey hair and smoking a pipe, when all the other Dads were much younger looking and wearing smart suits and slicked back hair!
DeleteThe main problem started when I became a teenager and it was his very Victorian attitude to girls education, (not necessary to go to University, I was only going to get married!) and to girls freedom generally, which was very limited, along with the Religion thing. So, I was only allowed to go out with Jewish boys, well vetted beforehand and accompanied by my much older brother for the first few dates. As a child I was never allowed out to play in the lane or village on my own (too dangerous) and I was not allowed to cut my very long hair because I could ‘put it up’ when I was 18. First thing I did when I got married was have it cut into a fashionable Mary Quant bob!
My father was older too, though not as old as either LJs or Archerphile.
DeleteThirty five when I was born.
However I have no memories whatsoever regarding my dad and school. I only remember my mother being the person to do any attending required.
I don't remember either ever feeling that he was different to other fathers.
All of our social life revolved around the Salvation Army, with a wide generational mix, so perhaps it was less noticeable.
Re. Meghan and Harry’s baby I think it’s a bit weird if they delay announcing the birth. She said she felt sorry for Kate being in the spotlight so soon after giving birth but it was only for a short time between leaving the hospital and getting into the car and she did look good and happy. Marrying into the Royal family does mean exposure to the press and she should accept that or should have steered clear. You cannot have it all! I think Meghan has hidden depths that might not be too pleasant.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the big deal about seeing a woman holding a well wrapped up new born standing outside a door for less than a minute ? I found it laughable - get a life, people ! Megan's done plenty of public prancing around & is destined to do lots more, as is only right, but surely new parents are entitled to some private time, acclimatising to the situation.
ReplyDeleteJust heard my first Cuckoo this year!! As loud as you like! Wonderful.😀
ReplyDeleteHave heard the woodpecker and had a few sightings of squirrels which scamper along my fence before climbing up the oak tree in neighbour’s garden. They are red squirrels on the island, still a good population as greys are not allowed on the ferries!!
DeleteWow! Red squirrels that's impressive. The Woodpeckers at our peanut feeder monopolise it. No one else gets a look in while they are there. Survival of the fittest I guess. 🤔
DeleteThank you all for your support. I lost it this morning and told her not to be so bloody objectionable !
ReplyDeleteMy earliest memories of her was as a very small child when we were staying at her house with my grandmother, we had a chamber pot in the bedroom as the bathroom was miles away and she wouldn't let my sister use it and she wet the bed.
She was ordained late in life into the American Anglican church, but is so unchristian, talks of chavs , rif raf and inbreds . 2 x she has been dismissed from parishes, but of course never her fault, the last time it was that evil woman! When my brother and I went to her induction the priest in charge told us she had a terrible reference, but no one could be that bad. Held back my thoughts, and she was proved wrong.
Of course she does have some good points, but...…
Her land lady ,perhaps a bit more than that, , is up with her havent met her before, but she is delightful, but she treats her like a servant and as she says She is always right and I have to do as I am told. I find her behaviour towards her embarrassing to say the least.
They have gone out for the afternoon, so only a few hours left..Roll on tomorrow.
Thanks for letting me off load I shall now be able to keep it together.
Well done, Cow Girl! Someone has to tell her but she will probably turn the tables on you and say you weren’t nice to her. At least she will go tomorrow and hope she will put a considerable distance between you. If she wants to visit again be sure to have prior engagements!
DeleteOh, CowGirl, just looked back at your earlier post, missed it before. The cousin from hell, indeed. Glad you told her off, even if she's the sort who takes noitice ( I guess she'll write it all differently to herself, as with everything else?) A woman of the cloth & all...once knew who vicar, clever chap, but ghastly as a person, husband & father. I rather thought he wasn't a man of Faith either, but liked the sound of his own voice.
DeleteNot much longer to go - celebrate with something stong tomorrow afternoon, & anything else that gives pleasure !
'who takes no notice' grrr...
DeleteCowGirl. Is the dog collar studded with pointy metal sharp prongs? A Rottweiler masquerading as a woman of faith. 🧟♀️Enjoy the departing and open a bottle if fizz.
ReplyDeleteCG.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve applauding for providing hospitality.
At least tomorrow, you can sit back, breathe and think "duty done" and forget about it all.
PS My father had a cousin, who was a C of E vicar. He was nearly "defrocked" as he had an affair with a parishioner. He did divorce his wife, and married the parishioner, but was put out to grass, in a quiet backwater parish. This suited him until he retired.
DeleteWell you've done your family duty CowGirl and I hope you won't need to repeat for at least a year or two ( three, four, five maybe ).
DeleteTomorrow you will be able to breathe again and return to your solo routine.
We will all be rooting for you tomorrow.
You were very brave to speak up to someone who sounds so objectionable.
I wonder what the ' other' woman gets out of the relationship ?
Finally roused myself today and took Lady out to visit the Purton Hulks.
ReplyDeleteThe tide was completely out and the river bed looked magnificent, the massive sweep of the Severn north and south as far as the eye could see.
Went with Misty to the sea with cousins dog, she had a whale of a time chasing him in and out of the water, she has always refused to go in before.
DeleteSo glad that you too had a good visit to the river.
CowGirl - aaaaaand breathe...☺
ReplyDeletePhew now I can relax, thanks for all your support.
DeleteThe one positive from the visit was I was able to help her Landlady see the reality of her situation, although her Sons had spoken to her, she wasn't able to see it for herself. So hopefully she will be able to tackle thing now. It is better to be lonely than abused.
Quite a weekend. Enjoy your return to equilibrium. Good that Misty had fun.
DeleteI never realised a cousin could be so awful, and I am sure knowing that you took your cousin to task will have given her friend courage.🍰☕
ReplyDeleteHer brother was just as bad, they were both held up by my father as wonderful, got scholarships to grammar school, good jobs plenty of money, the reality somewhat different.He was an alcoholic I refused to have him visit after he asked if I was his whore for the night !
DeleteHope you are still making steady progress, you must feel it hard as like me you were very active. Just take one day at a time and you will get there.
Well done C G !
ReplyDeleteAs Janice said, witnessing you speaking up to your cousin, following up with counselling her, will hopefully give her the courage to, at the very least, begin to stand up for herself.
You are so right. Better to be alone than abused, but so many fear loneliness that they will stay to be abused.
And Misty went into the water by playing with another dog. Great news.
Lady will get there one day !
We went to Appley Beach for breakfast with the dogs. Gypsy ran down the hill from the car park as despite being blind she seems to know where she is and the dash was because she always gets a sausage at the cafe! Buddy does too but he is more casual about food! It was nice and sunny, a clear day so that we could see over to Portsmouth and the Spinnaker tower. At this time of year part of the beach is banned to dogs. Fair enough when you look at some behaviour. There was a dog deposit not cleared up on the grass. Inexcusable as there are plenty of dog poo bins down there. We had a good walk along the front and after a reluctant start, Gypsy enjoyed it too! We now have her pram and on the second try she did settle down in it but haven’t tried it out out of the house yet!
ReplyDeleteJust watched James Martin program with him on the Isle of Wight. Looked lovely.
DeleteReckons the best best sausage rolls in the world come from a butchers in Ben-something or other. On the east coast.
I love James Martin, both as a chef and aa a warm, genuine person.
DeleteCos he’s Yorkshire Miriam, Yorkshire!!!!
DeletePtby we think the butcher is in Bembridge. Very expensive according to my daughter! We did have a good butcher in the village but it’s now an Italian restaurant!
DeleteYes it's in Bembridge. My son in law bought all his meat there, and he's a real foodie.
DeleteThis is certainly "off topic".
ReplyDeleteAt last today, the weather was just perfect for work in the garden - lawns mowed, edges done, flower beds weeded + are looking good. I should be able to re-plant in the next 2 weeks.
On collapsing on my wonderful chair, with a very late lunch + a pot of Earl Grey tea, I watched Classic Coronation Street (from 1992).
How I laughed.
Curly Watts was just about to sign a mortgage agreement for 25yrs. He + his house-mate Angie, talked in The Rovers, about how things would be in 2017, the mortgage end date.
I wish I could tell them, after all, we all have experienced it, and wasn't too bad.
The big changes would be, how much everything costs and the technology which is now taken as granted/normal.
So it's a boy!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to HRH Prince Harry + his wife Meghan.
Another great grandson for HM The Queen.
I just hope the babe is given a suitable name.
DeleteI really, really hope it isn't....😀
DeleteGG He is 7nth in line to the british throne, after all. His name should reflect this, in some way but not perhaps fully, so that was why I suggested a "suitable" name.
DeleteGG. The penny has just dropped! Scotland wants independance, so I understand your thought.
DeleteI am not even prepared, to post nor discuss devolution.
This is not the right site for politics of any kind.
Sorry! I still 😍 you.
miriam! All I was suggesting was that it would be amusing for them to give their child a ridiculous name! Nothing more, nothing less. Scottish independence was as much on my mind when writing that as Russian teapots or the moon landings!!!!
DeleteMiriam, Gary - how about Canute for a baby name ? He was a royal, he tried to turn back the waves, just like baby was trying to be born in privacy...( both ventures doomed...)
DeleteHaving researched popular American boys names, which would be suitable, I have come up with:-
DeleteOwen, Benjamin, Oliver, James and Robert.
Just a bit of fun and nothing more.
I love Owen though.
Erm, Miriam? Have you forgotten something? Not to put too fine a point on it - are you going to acknowledge that you were incorrect in what you posted earlier? I'm not angry, just would like the record set straight. We surely cannot just arbitrarily attribute political opinions to each other...
DeleteGG I don’t think Miriam was attributing a political opinion to you. I must confess I was not sure what you meant in your post! We now think he will be Benjamin Arthur Charles!
DeleteEv - I fail to see how me jokingly wishing a funny name on a baby can be possibly, in any way, in a million years, misunderstood by someone so completely! No mention of politics from me EVER and yet I am told that I support Scottish independence and then am warned off mentioning something that I never mentioned in the first place!!!! I don't even give a damn about the baby either - that's the truly comedy thing....😀
DeleteSorry, GG. Please don’t take offence. Agree this was a complete misunderstanding. I am not really interested in the baby either although I wish him well and can speculate on the name. I think I am Scottish as was born in Glasgow and had a Scottish father but I do hope we Britishers will stick together and will say no more! All the best and Lang may yer lum reek - think I have that right!!
DeleteI would never take offence over a genuine mistake Ev! (And Miriam of course!) You got the lum phrasing perfect...☺
DeleteBirth one of the great levellers, you can be Royal - (probably ) a millionaire with no real worries etc but that is still no guarantee to the the safe arrival of your baby and it was lovely to witness Harry’s sheer relief, delight and total exuberance at this being so for him, and of course Meghan today.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Dad, Mum and 👶 🎈 🧸
Betting it’ll be some stupid gender neutral hippy dippy claptrap name.
ReplyDeleteDid it pop out with an orange affro?
Don’t need any rantings to my politically incorrect humour thanks!!😉
🤣🤣 Had me laughing & snorting, PtbY ( very far from ranting..)
DeleteMy daughter said exactly the same re the hair do ptby!
DeleteI think most of the suitable names for royals have been used! This one will probably partly reflect he is half American! Katy suggests Barack! Or maybe Abraham Lincoln!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHad the name not already been in use he may well have been called George after Mr Clooney.
How about Ethelred.?
Turned the news off
Won’t bother reading about it in tomorrow’s paper.
Not at all interested.
Harry is the second child of a future monarch.
Princess Anne was born the second child of a future monarch.
I can’t see Harry following the same path as his aunt in the way she decided her children were to be brought up.
Pity.
Since he is seventh in line to the throne he could be called Septimus.
DeleteLanjan, that is ALMOST as good as my utterly ignored Canute ( sniff, head toss) &, to bring in TA, Jim would surely approve of Septimus.
DeleteHey I love septimus. Can you imagine the kids at school......they’d have a field day.
ReplyDeleteYes, Septimus! Who is going to tell Harry?!
ReplyDeleteEndless discussing the Royals is just as tedious as talking politics. 👑she is just another woman with a baby. I personally would leave all that naming to the Americans! 🥵👶 I need to take a break and grow vegetables. Apologies.
ReplyDeleteMost things are “binge” these days - brexit, drinking and now the Royal baby 👶 😉
ReplyDelete24 hr tv and radio news progs to fill and of course good old social (😱) media - a can of worms truly opened!
Spicycushion May 2nd . Yes indeed I do like the Mathew Bartholomew mysteries. I am now on my fourth one, having started on the earliest ones in the series that I could find on Ebay. I am hoping that eventually he marries Matthilde, but don't tell me!📚
ReplyDeleteParsley, I have also just read "The little white horse" and thought it was lovely. I had never heard of Elizabeth Goudge before.📖🦄
I have two Elizabeth Gouge books,Janice which I haven’t read in years.One of them is called’Gentian Hill’ which my mum recommended to a school friend of mine who told me recently that she really loved it.
ReplyDeleteI have Howard Spring,Rachel Field, MargerySharpe ,HE Bates AJ Cronin and Norman Collins ,etc books .
I get them from EBay because our local Charity Shops throw out “old” books rather than clogging up shelves.
If I were a lot younger I would collect all those unwanted books from the Charity Shops and sell them cheaply to older people who want to read a good book by an author who hasn’t got a degree in .Creative Writing
Janice, so pleased you loved The Little White Horse, one of my great favorites from childhood - recently reread it, in tears at the end...
DeleteJanice.
ReplyDeleteIs tomorrow your hosp. check up? I might have got the date wrong.
If it is - I hope it goes really well and please let us virtual friends and
aquaitences know, how it went. Sorry, if my spelling is wrong, a weak point of mine. 🤣
Hi Bloggers. I've been very busy lately and have not any time to read the blog or even listen to TA. I will load 2 new posts this evening - ready for everyone tomorrow :)
ReplyDeleteSo good of you Ruthy with so much going on and much appreciated.
DeleteHope your busy time levels off soon in the meantime take care 😊
Ruthy - you do us so proud. Thank-you once again.
DeleteThere is no need to load new posts, as the current ones are just going along nicely + friendly, as normal. 😆
Don't put yourself under pressure, which is not needed.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteLiverpool!
4-0 against Barcelona.
Who would have believed it.
Wonderful
I did watch it Lanjan! And it WAS amazing! You must still be up in the clouds...
DeleteGary I am drinking an Arran malt way past my bedtime.
ReplyDeleteI will be honest.
I never gave them a chance especially with there being no Salah nor Firming.
What a comeback.
Even Utd supporters thought “the lads done good”.
Looking forward to reading about it in the morning.