Wednesday 29th November 2023

Time to go home.

As I had managed to finish the audit on two days, rather than two and a half, I could leave from the hotel straight to Calais.

That was the plan.

I woke at half six, plenty of time to lollygag around online, make a brew, have a shower and then pack.

I went to breakfast just before eight, eat well and drink plenty of coffee. There is the usual mix of tourists and worked in hi-vis jackets, all milling around in groups.

One group is here for a conference in the room next to the reception desk, where the flip charts and whiteboards are already in use.

Good luck guys.

I go back to my room, clean my teeth and load the car, which stinks of cheese I had left in the boot all night. Stopping only to drop the swipe key off, I go to the end of the road, turn right, then left on the roundabout, and I am on the direct road to Calais.

It is light, or getting that way, and as I have all day to get home, I settle down at a medium cruising speed and just follow the traffic.

At the end of the road, some eight miles on, there is a roundabout, and off that the toll plaza. which requires me to bring the car to a stop, put the drive in park, apply the handbrake, leap out of the car, go round so to lick up the timed ticket, then scuttle back round, in the car, into drive, release the brake and off before the barrier drops.

The only turn off in 82 miles was the one for the Tunnel in 81 miles, so I set speed for cruising, and head north.

As this road is a toll, is is lightly used. Very lightly, so I make good time, even when a dark cloud passed over and drops half an inch of rain, but clear skies the other side.

The toll road ends at Boulogne, so I have to leap out again at the plaza to pay with a credit card, then off, with the road leaping from down to down via ever-larger bridges. At the top of the highest down, the view opens up north west, and the Channel can be seen, and in bright sunlight, fair Blighty beyond, so clear I could make out Langdon Cliff and Fan Bay, some 30 miles away.

Wow.

The view is quickly lost, then the road drops down from the chalk down of the two Capes, and just before Calais, I turn off to the Tunnel.

I check in, then drive to the terminal to claim tak back on the beer and wine bought, £19, so not to be sniffed at, then back in the car and to passport control, where I said through the French ones, and yet on the UK side there are queues of 15 minutes as only two lanes are open.

Welcome to Britain.

Through passport control, stopping at the Flexi lounge to pick up sandwich and crisps for lunch when I get home, and then drive to await boarding.

We are second to get on the train, stopping at the bottom of the slope to allow me to grab a shot, then onto the upper deck to await departure.

Phew.

I read as the safety announcements were made, then the train glides out, and into the tunnel to travel under the sea.

On the other side, I am second off, and take the left hand lane away from the motorway, so to go north to Dover.

I stop at the garage on Townwall Street to fill up, the on a hunch stop at the car hire place, so the manager drives me home and takes the car, meaning I have one less thing to do.

I was home.

I take my case and the booze and cheese inside, turn the heating up and put the kettle on. So, through the afternoon I sort tough my clothes, load the washer, fill up the racks with wine and beer, and make a fuss of the cats once they decide to make an appearance.

Waiting for me is yet more beer: Christmas beer from Norfolk, which I ordered at the weekend.

Chairs!

I realise I am bushed, and that its been a week since I had a quiet evening at home. I had been looking forward to be home.

I make hash for dinner, all ready for when Jools came back from her road trip.

For the evening there was Ipswich to watch on Sky, and they cruised to a 3-1 win against Millwall, and the derby is very close now, its just a matter how many they'll rattle past us.

Tuesday 28th November 2023

It is odd, that two countries with so much shared history over the centuries, should be so different in the 21st century.

We speak different languages, ones is a Monarchy while the other is a proud Republic, we drive on different sides of the road, our grasp of each other's languages is basic to say the least, even those who live in sight of the other country. Towns and villages look different, as do main roads.

I asked the question of a colleague, is France happy again. I mean after the riots.

No, not happy. The people were given a vote and the Government ignored it. Seems like there could be unfinished business.

Anyway, I like France. I like the country, the food, wine, beer and even the people. I have gotten over the bad experience my family had in Paris with one rude waiter, and I enjoy visits there now.

Anyway, where were we?

Tuesday.

I woke at six after a good night's sleep, and yet laid in bed another half an hour or more. Outside the car park that had been almost empty on Sunday night, now barely has any spaces, but it has been quiet in the evenings and at night.

But as I failed to have dinner the night before, I was hungry and thirsty, so got dressed and went over to the reception building for breakfast. Fruit, fresh crispy bread, cakes, bacon and eggs, and coffee. Dark, strong coffee.

I fill my boots, and am happy twenty minutes later after two rolls and two cups of coffee.

Back to my room, grab my bag and set off for the office to meet my guide for the day. Or for the morning. A slightly later start meant that it was half light on the journey, making it a lot less stressful.

At the office, it became clear that my French being almost non-existent and my guide's English just as bad, meant that after a long slow conversation through Google Translate, we agreed to bin the audit at the service site.

I have to audit against something, and if I can't understand the work instructions or ask questions of my guide or the technicians, well, what's the point?

Exactly.

So, how to kill four hours before the next audit at half one?

I would find ways.

I decide to drive the half hour to where the next audit was to take place, then have a wander around and see if I could find something to do.

After a short blast up the motorway, I turn off and through a large village, I come to a long straight road lined with trees. The sun had just broken through and the light was low but very golden.

There was a parking space, so I pull in and take shots, and take the scene in.

I check mails and reply to those I can, and make calls.

Half an hour killed.

I found the construction site, though a small picturesque village dominated by a fine church, but drive on to the next village, Bonneuil-les-Eaux, looking for a supermarket to finish my shopping for the trip.

I go to a mid-sized store, buy two packs of beers, some cheese, cookies and some cider for Jools, pay and find I still have three hours.

I do to McDonalnds up the road for a coffee and a small cake, which makes another half an hour pass buy, then drive to the village near the construction site, Esquennoy.

I park beside the main road and walk to the church, taking shots as I go, but sadly the church is locked, and so notices when it might be open, not that I would have been able to read them!

Back to the car, and in a few minutes I get a call saying that the audit can start when I was ready.

Great news.

So, I drive to the collection of cabins, where in the largest I find the management, and the only espresso machine I have ever seen on one of our construction sites.

Good coffee is non-negotiable, apparently.

A was done by half four, just time to say goodbye and drive back to the hotel before darkness fell. I was glad to get back in one piece with no damage done to me or the car.

I had two hours to kill before the reservation I made for the Belgian place next door to the hotel. So, listened to radio, watched videos and drink (poor) tea.

At seven I walked to the Belgian place and thought I ordered spicy burger. But when it came it was a lightly battered patty, of what may have been tuna.

It wasn't bad, but no beef burger.

But the La Chouffe was good. As was the Crème Brulee I had for dessert, and the two strong coffees.

I sat up to follow Norwich at Watford, and all went well at first, with City 2-0 up in twelve minutes, but things soon went badly, and no surprise that we lost 3-2.

Monday 27th November 2023

Living the dream.

I am in Amiens, north west France, for work. And staying here.

I could have stayed in the city centre, next to the main railway station and cathedral. But I have a car, and not good driving in a new city.

So, decided on this, beside the motorway, a short drive from the office each morning.

It has a bed, shower, TV and internet connection, and there are places a short walk away where to eat.

It'll do.

I wake early, but drift back off to sleep for forty minutes until I wake at twenty to seven with only 20 minutes before breakfast.

I quickly dress and am all ready at the door to reception at dead on seven, to find that there were just three guests, so there was no buffet, the guy on the desk would bring us what we wanted.

Only, I speak no French, he spoke no English, but I managed to get a bowl of fruit, which when I finished thought he asked if he could take my bowl away, to which I said yes, and in a flash he brought another bowl full of fruit.

And the coffee was good.

Always good.

It was an eight mile drive to the office, in the dark, but I had the address, even if the car's sat nav failed to recognise it, my phone did. So, holding the phone in one hand, I drive slowly along the motorway before turning off and into the trading estate.

The street was easy to find, but the numbers seemed to make no sense. Each street had four numbers, all even, pointing in four different directions. I found 24, but no sign of the office, then managed to get lost within 50m, the sat nav took me round the block, and on the second run I guess, correctly, that the number 24 was pointing down a drive round the back of the building, and sure enough, round the corner, there were several vans with the company logo on their sides.

I gird my loins, grab my work bag, and stride in like I knew what I was doing.

The day went well, and three o'clock quickly rolled round, and I was done for the day.

I decided to drive back to the hotel in the light, arriving back safe and sound in less than 10 minutes.

I think I should go for a walk, so go for a wander up the street past closed restaurants, shops and some open. I went for a walk because at the end of the street, on a roundabout, is a shunting locomotive, probably to mark what the area used to be used for.

It began to rain, so I hurried back to my room as dusk fell, and soon the rain began to fall as well.

I did not go out for dinner, instead had an early night.

More rock and roll.

Sunday 26th November 2023

Back on the road.

At the end of a hectic few days, more upheaval and the such as I had to drive to France by the end of the day.

Not that it would take me long to get to France, but I had to drive 100 miles beyond Calais and find a hotel somewhere near Amiens.

To get to France it is simply a case of driving to Folkestone on the a20, then turning off at Cheriton, going along to the back entrance of the Tunnel, checking in, getting through two sets of border controls and then wait for the next rain under the sea.

We woke at half six, messed around for sometime, drinking coffee before having breakfast. Then, for me, was a shower, shave and packing. Booking a place on the Le Shuttle.

Relax for an hour or so, have lunch of warmed up Chinese leftovers, and ready to go.

I did not want to go.

But I could combine this with a duty free run on the way back, and maybe getting more Christmas Belgian beers.

I load the car and say goodbye to Jools, and drive off towards Dover and the A20, up Shakespeare and along to Folkestone to the terminal. I check in, then go to the terminal to get a UK sticker for the back of the car, and light diffusers, then drive to the Flexi lounge to pick up supplies for supper, free of charge, then make the final call for the next train to France.

I drive round the one way system, then down onto the platform and onto the upper deck of the train, about halfway along and park behind a Dutch car.

We wait.

Listen to the safety announcement.

And we pull away.

So gentle you hardly notice.

35 minutes later we arrive in Calais, wait five minutes after the train stopped, and simply drive off one after another.

Straight round another one way system, onto the motorway and up one junction to where Calais Vin was still open.

I go in, buy two boxes of wine, a dozen bottles of Belgian beers, pay. And fill in the forms to get my €20 tax back, just about the only real bonus Brexit has brought.

Back into the car, onto the motorway, heading south this time, and as dusk darkened, the rain began to fall.

I only had to keep on the same road for 100 miles, so I kept at a steady pace, counting the miles down. And all was well until I reached the toll plaza.

I had to park the car in the lane, get out, get a ticket, and drive off, as the machine only was accessible from the left hand side.

It was the same when I finally reached Amiens and I had to pay, but not too difficult, I wave an apology to the French car waiting for me, and I drive off.

I turn off, and eight miles later come to a retail park, turn off, and there was the hotel. Motel really.

Only three guests in, so lots of parking.

I check in, walk to my room in a 60s style block, open the door.

Phew.

I had done it. I could relax.

I follow the remaining half an hour of the Man Utd game, eat my supper and mess around online, until it was time for bed at nine.

Rock and roll.

Saturday 25th November 2023

One week to Christmas: get those spouts on!

Saturday.

A sunny but cold day, maybe the first real wintery day of the season, if not rainy or snowy, bitterly cold and with a keen wind, that up on the cliffs cut through you.

Not much to report today, as it was a day of relaxation before travel on Sunday. So, a quick trip to Tesco where i spent only £50 on a few bits and pieces, mainly relating to a change in diet because of some videos on ultra processed foods we have been watching.

Back home for breakfast of bacon butties, then out to pick up the hire car for the trip, as the office would be closed on Sunday.

I get a Vauxhall Mokka fake-SUV thing, but seems OK. I go home via the cliffs to take some shots of the cliffs and channel.

I park near the monument and walk to the cliff edge, pausing to look for Early Spider rosettes, but find none, so take shots quickly as the wind was cutting through the thin material of my fleece.

Back in the car and down through the village to home for a warming brew.

Lunch was some party food, all warmed through before the big game of the weekend, Citeh v Liverpool, which ended 1-1, and was about right. Then, I follow Norwich's game v QPR via the radio and Twitter.

As City have dropped down the table, no reporter is now sent to the Carra, so just score updates, and just the one update as City win 1-0.

Finally, to Jen's for the family meal to celebrate Jools's birthday, a Chinese which we would go to pick up at six, after collecting John now he can't drive.

Sadly, Mike, George and Trinny could not come, but Jools's sister, Cath did. So we ate then had a long chat over a glass or two of wine, until just gone nine, we all head home and to bed.

Friday 24th November 2023

Friday.

And my last day working from home for a week, because France!

Anyway.

After the very late night on Thursday, we laid in bed to ten to seven on Friday, hence the DEFCON level 5 panic to get dressed, feed the cats, do the bins and make coffee so to be at work as soon after seven as possible.

Thursday night it was 12 degrees when I drove back, by dawn it was four, and breezy enough so the wind cut through.

Brr.

And work had four hours of meetings, including the monthly department one, where the news we had been dreading was announced, that our Manager, interim Manager was to leave as they have a permanent replacement from January 1st.

Change is not good.

This is the worse kind.

Since being back in the big company, I have had the worse manager I have ever had, and the joint best.

Sigh.

Double sigh.

I have the final details of my trip to sort out, so make calls and then send out invites for audits the week after.

And I was done.

For the week. Last job was to set the out of office message, and I was gone, buddy.

I had a shower, then waited for Jools to come home, no way was I going for a walk in the cold wind.

Brrrrr.

Jools came back, so I warmed up the smaller of the two apple crumbles made last weekend, warmed too the leftover custard I made, and in 20 minutes we were yamming it.

The six days the custard spent in the fridge allowed the vanilla pods to infuse and make it right tasty.

For the evening we were going back to the Lighthouse for the third evening in a row, as there was a Tom Waits act on, and that is Jools's favourite singer.

We left early, so we could go to the chippy just up The Strand for supper of large battered sausage and chips, before walking down to the bar and getting a table.

I know "of" Tom Waits, and I know some of his songs, a few, anyway. So this was going to be a trial.

Also a trial was the extra 45 minutes beyond the listed start time until the band sauntered on stage and began to tune up and sing.

The singer was backed by a jazz quartet, all of whom were excellent musicians, but the mix of Jazz and Waits-style raspy vocals were something of an acquired taste. In the end, Jools was nodding off during the quiet numbers, so we bailed at the interval and came home.

Thursday 23rd November 2023

60 years previously, the 23rd November 1962 witnessed two births:

1. A certain time travelling Time Lord.

2. Jools.

So, with the weekend being given over to Dr Who celebrations, Jools was to have something like four celebrations from Wednesday through to Saturday evening.

Thursday, her actual birthday, would see us going out for dinner with her brother and his girlfriend.

And then.

Well.

I would be going, alone, to a concert.

News came about four months ago of Ronnie Laine's old backing band, Slim Chance playing in Deal, so I got just a ticket for myself. Only when I was adding the date to the calendar did I realise the day was Jools's birthday.

In the end, a way round it was sorted, so all was set.

As it was, Jools has no more holiday time, so went to work as normal, though laden with party food for the office, though getting up at half six because of our late night previously.

So, there was work. Nothing changes.

But I got through it.

Jools came back home at half five, we had a brew, and she then got changed, before we drove to Deal near to the Turkish restaurant where we were to meet Mike and Helen.

It was all very nice, and the place has close to 50 tables and just four in use, so we took one and ordered the family special. And before that arrived, we talked about stuff.

The meal was a serving platter or kebabs, seasoned meats, roasted vegetables, flatbreads, rice and couscous, which we made most of disappear.

I left at quarter past eight, just in time to drive round to the Lighthouse to see the support.

And then Slim Chance:

I first heard Ooh La La sitting in the armoury at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Island in the "spring" of 1998, as Rod Stewart had just released an album of covers and a version of this was the lead off track.

The song had been on The Faces last album, named after the song, but soon after the writer, and guitarist, Ronnie Lane, left the band, before Rod did, apparrently.

I heard Rod didn't like the song, but it seems that the versions of the song were recorded, but the one with Ronnie Wood on vocals was deemed to be the best and released.

After leaving The Faces, Ronnie Lane formed Slim Chance, a sharp contrast to the mod looks of the Small Faces and then the Faces, was Ronnie wearing traveller garb, and deciding to take the band on tour with a circus big tent and arriving each day in a village, setting up to play with little or no advance publicity.

Didn't go well.

Ooh La La was taken by Ronnie into Slim Chance, with some rewording, was rerecorded and released.

Sadly, Ronnie died in 1997, but members of his band, Slim Chance, still record, tour and play gigs.

They appeared in Deal last night, and I went.

I stayed until the end so to hear Ooh La La which was always bound to be the encore, but worth doing so, as it is a wonderful, wonderful song.

As the last note faded, I left and walked along The Strand to the car and drove the ten minutes home, just in time for a bedtime brew.

Wednesday 22nd November 2023

The start of a four day birthday celebration for Jools.

Though we would be working normally each day, sadly.

I have an urgent audit to write the agenda and get approved, which will take my time for most of the week, other than that, just more of the same.

The winter months mean that the sun rises further south each day until the December solstice, then rises ever more eastward. What this means is that most mornings, out the back of the house, we have nature's firework display, sometime more impressive than others.

As I have learned how to do panos, here is one of Wednesday morning from the back door.

Jools heads to work and I knuckle down to more furious keyboard tip-tapping.

It is a cool, but sunny day outside, I should go out, but I have work to do.

The cats sleep, though Mulder does demand attention and/or food at lunchtime. Maybe its because I am eating he thinks he should too.

I have done my draft by the end of the day, and I decide I really should go out for a walk. I faff around getting the phone ready, it ear pods, put my coat and shoes on, and all ready to go in half an hour.

Or something.

After one of the wettest Octobers on record, and November little better, most paths and tracks off the paved roads are pretty much impassable due to mud and standing water.

I did venture down to the end of the street and along the lane before turning up to Collingwood instead of going across the fields.

I do a small detour to photograph the heliotropes at the end of Collingwood, none in flower yet, but lots of fresh leaves.

Then just up and down Nelson Park, Hardy and Collingwood before getting home at sunset.

Jools's birthday meal was to be on Wednesday: steak, chips, corn and mushrooms. The steak I got out of the freezer the night before, seasoned and lightly oiled it in the afternoon. The rest would take barely half an hour to prep.

At five I leap into action, and put the corn on to steam at half past, as I thought Jools was going shopping.

She didn't, and was home at twenty too, but that gave us time to talk before I cook the steak, and all is ready at six.

I did oven chips again, but I know I will have to get to grips with the air fryer at some point.

Just not tonight.

The meal was excellent, perfectly seasoned. And for me, washed down by the last of the President's XV.

We just had time to tidy up before we had to be out, going with Bev and Steve to the Lighthouse for the quiz.

And for once, it wasn't raining as I drove us down, and parking outside as most had yet to arrive.

We settled down, got a round in, and got chatting whilst all the other teams arrived.

We did OK, finished 4th, again, so no cash prize for us, but a long way ahead of the team who came last.

Jools drove us home, getting back at just gone eleven, and four cats were waiting as if to say where have you been to at this time of night?

Tuesday 21st November 2023

Tuesday.

And a day of audit preparation ahead.

Jools was going to have the day off from swimming, so turned the alarm off, which explained why we woke at twenty five to seven, and thus began the "panic".

I choose to work Danish time, starting at seven in the morning, so to align with office hours over there, which also allows me to finish at three here, and in theor, time to do other stuff, though I usually get sidetracked by something else other something productive, like going for a walk.

The day was uneventful as you might expect. Once Jools left for the office, I started work, on the agenda and prep I had been tasked with late the previous afternoon.

Only, as I were to find out later, I was briefed wrong, and the seven hours work and prep done was for nowt. I would have to redo it on Wednesday.

Sigh.

I finished just after four, I did go for a walk along the street to look at the sunset, or the colours in the sky and clouds.

And then back to prepare dinner.

Again, dark at five, and I was getting busy in the kitchen. No, that was a lie. Dinner was baked spuds, which involved remembering to put them in the oven, then getting the butter out and grating some cheese as Jools likes hers with said cheese.

We ate like Kings. Irish potato kings perhaps, then quickly tidied up, washed up and finally made a brew to go with the last of the short cakes.

There was some under 21 football on YouTube, which diverted my attention until just gone nine.

Bed time.

Monday 20th November 2023

Monday.

Back to work, again.

I actually quite like Mondays now. Being back office of a central function, there are usually no surprises when I start work, so I can look forward to a slow start to the week, and once looking through the inbox, decide what to fill my day with.

It was another day for most of which heavy rain was expected, and low winds, so the rain would linger rather than being blown through.

So I put the bins out, pick up the milk from the front door, and fill up the feeders before the low dark clouds delivered their rainy promise.

So, with it being dark enough to need the table light on again, I plough on trying to fill my days with stuff to do, or trying to fix problems that thus far have refused to be fixed.

The rain continued to fall into the afternoon, bringing something like dusk by about three. And then the clouds cleared, and just before sunset, the sun shone bright but low, so I went out to check on the garden, followed by Mulder and Scully.

I found the third orchid rosette, another Pyramidal, in the lawnmeadow, making three now, and maybe there could be more just waiting to be discovered.

Being Monday, Jools was off to aquafit, so for supper I made a half batch of Norfolk short cakes, which would be col when she came back at just gone eight.

By then, England had kicked off against North Macedonia, another dead rubber for England, one which never really caught fire, so ended 1-1, and so we fnish top of the group having qualified for next year's Euros.

Sunday 19th November 2023

With a trip to France coming up, this was the last chance for a trim for a couple of weeks. So, after breakfast we piled in the jalopy and hot-footed it to Folkestone, down Jubilee Way now that the latest accident on it had been cleared away.

There have been a spate of accidents in the last month, as well as the road being resurfaced. Not sure what the cause is, but this latest accident had it closed for nearly 20 hours.

Anyway, to Folkestone, down from Capel and into town, where I dropped Jools off at the harbour as she wanted to walk to Sandgate, where I would meet her later. I drove up to the car park, then ambled up the top part of the Old High Street and past the cinema to the barbers, where I waited ten minutes before the shop opened and I got shorn.

Once I paid, it was back down to the car and drove through the centre of town out along the old coast road to Sandgate to park up and wait for Jools.

Jools appeared,, much sooner than I expected. So we locked the car and went for a walk along the beach, which has been ploughed into longitudinal furrows, for some reason. Probably to try to stop erosion, however after 15 minutes, we decide to walk through an alley to the main road and look for breakfast.

The first café had empty tables, but these were reserved, ad the second only had seating on the street, and wind too cool and keen for that, so we decided what with having bacon back home, maybe we should have that for brunch instead.

Which is what we did, walked back to the car, then drove up the cliffs and up Horn Street, past St Martin's church then Tesco, back onto the motorway and to Dover and home.

It was quarter past eleven. Was sunny outside, but it seemed a lazy afternoon was planned, with Jools doing more crochet and me watching the cricket world cu final between India and Australia.

Made a change from football.

So we ate our bacon butties, then settled down to do our hobbies as the afternoon grew old, the sun moved behind next door and it grew cold.

Dinner of party food once the cricket was over, so breaded prawns and mini Indian foods washed down with beer was the order of the day.

Yay.

It was dark pretty much by five, so we closed the curtains, put on a podcast or two and did more of the same.

Saturday 18th November 2023

All week I waited for the weekend to roll round, stuck inside as I have been due to wind and rain. And so what did the weekend bring?

Wind and rain of course.

I could have found so church that "needed" a revisit, but the truth is I can now see the end of the project, or that it has entered a new phase.

Whatever, the upshot was there was to be n churchcrawling, orchid season is long over, so we would have to find something else to fill up the football-less void.

We were up at half six, and the rain was already falling, so after coffee, I went to Tesco for supplies, then down to Aldi for some beer.

I have been watching an online beer critic, and three new beers at the German discount supermarket sound good and interesting enough, so after leaving Tesco, down through the Buckland estate to Cherrytree where the store had just opened, I grabbed a few bottles and was back out in a few minutes.

By which time the rain was falling harder.

So back home for breakfast, and a morning spent cooking. Making a fresh batch of bolognese sauce to use up the celery and carrots left over. Jools made an apple crumble too, and as Tesco was out of custard, I made some fresh with single cream.

We had the crumble and custard for lunch, before we drove to Whitfield for an afternoon's cards.

When we arrived, John's car wasn't there, but John was. Turns out he has cataracts, and until he has the operation, can't drive.

But he was chipper. He knew this was the case, I suppose, hence the not driving at night.

Anyway, we played cards. Jen won the first game, Meld. Then I won heavily at Queenie, scooping several pounds in winnings.

Back home then before dark.

Just.

And as I finished the sauce, we had that for dinner, and as it smelt so damned delicious, I opened the last bottle of President's 15 to wash it down with.

Lovely.

Friday 17th November 2023

Friday.

We rose at dawn, and soon a burning ball of gas rose in the east, casting light and warmth on the land.

Apparently, it's called the Sun.

Or something.

Yes, the rain broke, meaning, for one day at least, there would be sunshine, no wind, no rain.

Lovely.

Its the usual Friday morning: Jools went to yoga, I put the bins out and filled up the feeders.

Scully meowed indicating that I should sit on the bench on the top patio. But it has several days dreich soaked into its timbers, so no sitting outside, for a while.

Anyway, I had work to do.

And I had the task I had been putting off for three days, booking my hotel in France for my trip at the end of next weekend.

I found a place, chose a room, and tried to book.

I was trying to use my company credit card, but the booking was hung up waiting on verification.

So, meanwhile, I went to the card's website, downloaded the app, entered in my details, requested, received and tapped in a code to show I wasn't a robot.

The booking went through.

Job's a good un.

In a turn up, I had a fine end to the working day, when I received a call, and during which I found a director who I had previously thought was useless, did in fact share my views on a number of issues, and it was altogether rather pleasant.

Not that we sorted anything, but I am not a lone knight wielding the bright sword of truth.

Gave me a nice warm feeling inside. As I said in the meeting, sometimes I sit here thinking I know nothing, then in meetings, words and ideas tumble out of my mouth.

Good ideas.

Sometimes, I don't know who's more surprised when it happens.

I finished for the day, and decided what with it being sunny, not windy, and quite warm, I would go out for a walk.

I had to find my ear pods first, then find something to listen to. So, I lined up an episode of Danny Baker's Treehouse, which made the walk fly by.

I have to subscribe to it now, which will mean I have three years of shows to catch up with. Well worth four quid a month, I think.

I have ended my subscription for the Rail magazine now. The entire editorial team has either retired or resigned, showing things not going well at Emap Towers.

Anyway, back to the walk: not far, just up and down the roads of our small estate, with a final stop to look on the Winter Heliotropes, the first of next year's flowers.

The walk zipped by. And the Heliotropes had put forth a fresh bed of hoof-shaped leaves.

There was chicken in a bun for supper, before clearing up and me settling down beside Scully on the sofa to watch the England game on the tellybox.

A pisspoor game that somehow England won, and another two hours of my life I will never get back.

Thursday 16th November 2023

Another day, one of the countless ones this autumn, when the rain was due to just fall and fall. Though, in the end, not as hard as expected, but heavy enough and fell for about nine hours, or from dawn to dusk, just about.

Jools left early to go swimming in the pool. I was just up, so sat around dazed, waiting for it to be seven and time for work.

I said earlier this week that we had not seen the fox for weeks, and so it seemed, but just at sunrise, I looked out and there was the fox, sniffing around the fird feeder looking for scraps to eat. So I took it out two handfuls of peanuts and two fat balls. It watched me from the far side of the garden, not quite trusting me, but knowing there would be food. I backed up, and as soon as I was ten feet from the feeder, it was in, eating away.

A nice start to the day.

So, ant then what?

Not much really.

Still up to date at work, but I keep on top of things, plan new meetings for next week, while outside the rain began, so I put the table lamp on, Scully lay on the windowsill behind the computer screen, enjoying the heat from the radiator.

We passed the day in own way, me working and Scully sleeping.

By the time the rain eased in the afternoon, it was too late for a walk. And too cold. I told myself. Tomorrow, I will go for a walk. He promised.

Maybe.

Anyway, the end of the working day. I listen to some old radio shows, that cheers me up before prepping fritters for dinner. Instead of curry spices, I used Morrocan, and added fruit and honey to the batter. Made it a bit too wet, which made cooking tricky, but were still pretty darn good.

Sadly, no football to watch in the evening, but time slips by any way.

Help me, Rwanda

It is helpful, I think, at this point to point out a couple of facts relating to the UK Government's Rwanda "policy".

1. The UK Government has paid the Rwanda Government £160 million, but signed no treaty, just a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

2. Only 200 migrants will be sent to Rwanda in total.

3. They would not be sent to Rwanda for processing for immigration to UK, but to Rwanda.

4. Two other Eureopean countries are planning processing in 3rd countries, but a sucessful claimant will be allowed back to either France or Gemany. So, not like the UK's.

5. At the end of 2022, there were 166,261 immigrants waiting to have their claim to stay processed. So, the Rwanda scheme would reduce the waiting list by just over 0.1%.

Its all theatre.

Cruel and heartless theatre, using the most desperate as pawns.

At its heart, the scheme is against UK law, the ECHR, and several UN Treaties.

The plan by Sunak now that the Supreme Court has found the scheme to be illegal, is the temporarily change UK law, to disapply the UK Human Rights Act, the ECHR and all appropriate UN treaties.

The UK Government could also pass legislation that declared the moon is made of cheese and repeal the laws of gravity, that won't make it so. And in the case of UN Treaties and international law, UK legislation does not change that, or the UK's long standing commitment to them.

At some point, maybe, the Conservative Party and its brightest minds might realise that complicated problems cannot be solved with a simpe three word slogan.

Tuesday 15th November 2023

Wednesday.

It will come as no surprise to hear that Wednesday was pretty much the same as Tuesday and Monday, but with less rain.

Which was nice.

The only additional task was to box up an old lap top and i phone, then take them to the post office.

Oh, and the window cleaner was coming round, so I'd go after he'd been as I needed to pay him.

Hey, rock n roll.

Other than that, not much to report.

There was work, of course, and I am pretty much all caught up, so just waiting on mails to come in and bat those away.

Jason the windowcleaner came at half ten, so I took him the money we owed, chatted about holidays, the weather and stuff before I went in, in case I was needed by work.

I wasn't, but I could get on with wrapping the laptop up, putting a label on, and at half eleven, set off for the post office.

I soured the hedges and verges for wild flowers, but found the same few species: Yarrow, Mexican fleabane, Bristly ox-tongue, and a surprising Viper's bugloss, so I snapped that.

No queue in the post office, and just £16 to send it up north, and would arrive before one tomorrow.

I skip going to the shop for an ice cream. No, seriously, walk back down the hill and up the other side to home.

Main job done for the day.

Back to work, and eating lunch whilst I do.

I finish at three again, tidy stuff away, do the washing up and feed Poppy because she is always hungry and too cute to refuse.

And that is it for the day. Just make nachos for dinner with the leftover salsa, pop it in the oven when Jools gets back, and we're eating ten minutes later.

So FA Cup action later, Cray Valley Paper Mills v local neighbours and league club Charlton. It ended 1-1 at The Valley two weeks back, no romance last night, though, as the Valliants romped home, 6-1.

Monday 14th November 2023

The sun shone, briefly, so made sure I snapped it in case there was nothing else to snap through the day.

After coffee, I filled the feeders after having cleaned them out, the birds making their displeasure known at having to wait for breakfast.

We have no foxes now, it just stopped coming one night last month, so we stopped putting food out. Mick and Kay, next door, told us they had dug up dozens of fat balls that the fox had hidden for later and forgotten about.

Feeding the birds is expense enough.

By mid-morning, the clouds had closed in and rain began to fall, turning the bright morning into dusk, so I put the table lamp back on.

For a change I have bagels for lunch, with cream cheese. I just needed the vanilla chai for that Dunkin Donuts experience from New England.

I was going nowhere after work, darkness came early as the rain continued to fall.

Again, Jools was off to aquafit, so we had a late dinner as she brought home Burger King this time, and the burgers looked nothing like the pictures online, nor the favours described be tasted.

One day down!

Monday 13th November 2023

Our house, in the middle of our street.

Monday morning, or afternoon when I took this, the heavy rain having cleared to the west, leaving a clear sky in which the sun sank to the horizon.

Although things are fine here, there is a COVID outbreak in Denmark, and my boss and a colleague are both off sick.

I had three weeks automated messages from the travel expense robot to work though, though I understood little of its problems.

That took up a morning.

And all the while the wind blew and the fell. Cats slept and I tried to get ahead with work.

Not much of any import to report.

I went round to next door just before sunset to confirm next week's quiz night, which means on successive nights I will be

1. The quiz. 2. Slim Chance 3. Tom Waits tribute 4. Jools's and Dr Who's 60th birthday, which will be celebrated by a Chinese feast and Jen's/ 5. Travel to France for audits.

Phew.

At the end of January, we are due to fly to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.

Maybe.

Only there's this volcano.

Underneath the hotel. And its gonna blow.

Maybe.

So, we wait on information from the Icelandic Government. We have paid the entire holiday, making the last payment last week.

Bugger.

We shall see.

Anyway. In the evening, Jools goes to aquafit, and I arse around doing next to nothing for two hours until she comes back with Burger King.

We eat, drink and go to bed.

Phew.

Sunday 12th November 2023

With rain due to sweep across the county in the afternoon, we were out before nine, heading up to Thanet for a walk round Margate.

Margate was once of the most popular seaside resorts, but suffered more than most due to the package holiday boom in the 1970s.

Since I moved down here 15 years ago, great effort has been put into making Margate shine and become a destination again.

Old Town is a maze of alleys full of retro and craft shops, and you'd be sure to find something worth buying.

The promenade stretches for miles, and the part around the harbour is looking very nice indeed, with small bars and eateries on the harbour arm, but thanks to Government incompetence and corruption, raw sewage is being pumped into our rivers, lakes and into the sea, so much so that the area near the Turner stunk of shit, and a scum was forming on the waterline.

Up at seven, or just a little past. It was getting light and there was even a hint of sunshine. Though that wouldn't last long.

So, after coffee, we got dressed and drove out of the village to the A2, then out along to Sandwich Road to Thanet before turning west along Thanet Way.

Its been a while since we have been through Birchington, and thoughts turn to another church revisit, maybe, before turning back east towards Margate.

We found a place to park on a sidestreet, walked up past rows of closed shops, where we find a Greek café at a junction. We go on and I have Turkish coffee and a cream cheese stuffed bread baton, which was very nice indeed.

Fortified, we march down through the old town, me snapping as we went, back to the promenade and over the road to the harbour arm, where all bars and restaurants were closed.

Rain was beginning to fall, so we scampered back to the car and were on our way back to Thanet Way when the heavens opened.

We retraced our journey back home, and once parked up and inside, I made a brew and we settled down for another afternoon of watching the raindrops run down the windows.

And then there was football, the second game being Chelsea v Citeh, which ended 4-4 and could have been double that. A mad but enjoyable game.

And again, the weekend was over. All so soon.