Monday 25th October 2010

As I have said before, weekends are great. You can lay in bed and do nothing all day. Or would be able to if the kittens were not trying to claw the bedroom door down from about four in the morning. We kid ourselves that all will be better when all cats can get along and there will be no fighting, hissing and spitting, and the kittens no longer see everything, toes included, as a giant plaything just for them.

Until then, we must barricade ourselves into our bedroom, so no cats can get in, but at the same time a flow of air can pass through. This does mean we can hear every utterance by each cat and kitten, but heck, what can you do? We do get a good night’s sleep, though, which is what is important after all.

I left work at around four on Friday, and called in at the family butcher we sometimes use out in the country, as we fancied steak for dinner one day. And so I bought half a cow’s buttock for us, some pork pies, six thick rashers of bacon and pork, ginger and leek sausages. Oh, and a huge chorizo so I could make hash that night for dinner.

Chorizo hash uses up all the old vegetables and other stuff from the fridge, and is well tasty. And so once Jools was back home from work, I prepared everything and threw it in several pans, and in about half an hour it was ready. It was very nice with a drop of rouge vin. After that we sat down to watch The Ghost, which was not bad, but I did read the book last year, and my concentration did wane during the film. But it was OK.



Saturday, we headed down to the bay in the village once the rain stopped. This coincided with high tide, and so we walked along the sea wall dodging the waves crashing over, and marvelling at the wonderful light and clouds. Needless to say I snapped the scene, and then the pub down there, the Coastguard, beckoned, and so although we only intended to have a drink, the fresh fish and chips looked wonderful, and so we ordered that and sat down to listen to the group of old blokes on the next table talking about modern life.
The fish and chips was wonderful, and worth the wait, and the price almost worth it. We drove back for an afternoon of snoozing and listening to football and beading. But for a hint of mystery, I won’t say who did what. Although whoever listened to the football found he had two kittens to sleep on his lap for the duration, which was nice.



I made pumpkin and carrot soup for supper; and rather good that was too. And we listened to the radio as night fell.

Sunday was a glorious autumnal day; and so we decided to join the ramble and so trample over the country talking about middle class things. It is lazy to say that most ramblers fall into a certain demographic; but it is also true. But it gets us exercise, and sadly, although we are by some 15 years, the youngest members, we are the un-fittest and so struggle, but we do plod on, and as it’s an easy pace, I get to hang back and take shots.



We rambled through the woods surrounding Challock, and area Jools and I know quite well, but it was enjoyable, and the light was stunning and the colours of autumn were wonderful. After two hours we had done our six miles, and time to head to the pub for (liquid) refreshment. And then back home for lunch, those pork pies I bought on Friday, and more snoozing and football. And kittens asleep on lap.



And for dinner it was steak and chips. But that really does not do the repast justice. It was quite the best steak I have cooked, and maybe eaten. In all honesty, I could not be a vegetarian. That, and bacon. Because the smell of bacon cooking is irresistible. Of course.

And now it is time to head back to work, and this week I have meetings; which mean I have to fly to wonderful, wonderful Copenagen and then drive to an island in the Baltic to visit a blade factory. It is going to be something very different.

So, tune in next time for news of Scandinavia , and pickled herring. Until then, Mr Conway Twitty.