Tuesday 30th January 2024

Tuesday.

And a day of action, travel and tasks.

And first up, was to round up the cats. With one cat its hard, but with four, once have caught the first, the rest know what's coming, so hide under beds and behind sofas.

We have a plan now, and it works, mostly. Get up late, and one by one lock each cat in a single room, then pop each one in turn in a carrier.

We had that done by six twenty, with just enough time for a coffee before I took Jools down into town to meet Sean so he could drive them to work.

Then back home to start work and get writing my report. Something I like to take two days at least to do, but I had just eight hours.

So I typed away, all to the soundtrack of four meowing unhappy kitty cats, until nine when I loaded them in the car to take them to Whitfield to the cattery, close enough so that Mulder's bowels are not a worry.

I helped put them in their pens, added blankets and beds, then bid them farewell, and drove back home for a rushed breakfast and more typing.

One meeting at half twelve, and the big one at quarter to four, having got the report done, though it was rough.

Presenting a positive report is very much more pleasant than one with dozens of findings, so that went well and quickly, even still it was twenty past four.

I was to collect Jools at five, so time for a quick shower and climb into some clean clothes, and down to the Prom, where we had agreed to have supper in Cullin's Yard before driving to the hotel.

Sadly, the steak and ale pie special was off, so I had fish and chips and a pint of broadside, which did just fine.

Back home to finish packing, load the car and adjust the heating and water, then:

Hit the road.

The roads were quiet, with just some minor roadworks, so we made good time, all to the commentary of the Prem games being played, which I don't think Jools was thrilled with.

Round the M25, no delays, to the M4, and turning back east to the airport, then along the old A4 to the large Premier Inn.

Sadly, I have knacked my knee again. Jools dropped her case on the stairs and I tried to catch it. Jarred my knee and back to being like a cripple again.

I limped into the hotel behind Jools, she checked us in, paid for the parking, then up the room where as is normal, no windows opened, so was warm and dry. I listened to some footy, then bed at ten, with just six hours until we would be up to go to catch the flight.

Monday 29th January 2023

Monday.

And back to work for a two day week, though my Monday would be filled with an eight hour audit I was conducting.

Jools working too, and the day would be long and hard for her, too hard to have the energy for aquafit in the evening, so she came home straight from work for supper of cheese and crackers.

My knee was a little better, but I put the brace on, somewhat over-tightening it to the point of it hurting, though I would bear it as a mark of penance until the early evening.

I was hopeful that the holiday would be fine.

Before going to work, Jools did more preparation for the trip, including getting the kitty baskets in place, ready for the round up on Tuesday.

She went to work early, to get ahead, so I was able to set up the office and be ready to go.

I won't bore you with the details, other than to say it went well, and I finished before time at quarter to three, but was pooped.

I made a fresh coffee and relaxed, while thinking what to do with the rest of the day.

Beer sounded good.

Then came the message that Jools was coming straight home, and the question of chips or something else, with cheese and crackers winning out.

And beer.

And wine.

Jools finished packing, I would do mine through Tuesday, once I had taken the cats to the cattery, after we have rounded them up and written my report.

There was some more football to watch in the evening, which I had on, though wasn't good enough to stop me getting distracted.

So it goes.

Bed at nine.

Last night at home for a while.

Sunday 28th January 2024

Sunday.

And the second day of the gammy knee.

My gammy knee.

I had a knee brace and time to rest and brief periods between to see if it was all working and we could go north as planned on Wednesday.

I did at least sleep well, so go up and put on the brace, got dressed and worked out what to do.

There's usually a plan, and that had been to go to the prom in town for a walk, but the expected progress and lessening of pain in the knee had failed to materialised, so I decided to sit and rest at home.

The day was clear, cool but bright, with little wind, a day perfect for being out, but I would stay inside.

Jools did go out for the walk I bailed on, then went shopping to get some last minute things, while I stayed home and cleared up after breakfast, washed up and put the bird seed out.

Time for a shower and shave before the football began at quarter to midday.

Yes, you read that right.

The Black Country Derby, in which Derby did not play, but WBA and Wolves did, but the match was marred with bad feelings from the start, and boiled over near the end when Wolves took a 2-0 lead.

The match was suspended for 38 minutes while the police calmed the crowd down, and once that ended, it was time for the national humiliation: Liverpool v Norwich.

This was our reward for beating Bristol Rovers, life on ITV, a match against the recent European champions. And whose manager, beloved manager, announced he was stepping down in the summer.

The team that makes the fewest mistakes wins, so with that in mind, Norwich deserved to have lost 10-0. Playing out for the back, City lost possession over and over again, and yet never changed tactics.

Soon 1-0 down, but then an equaliser. But back down to trailing by a single goal, 2-1, before half time.

But City gave the ball away over and over again, and a combination of good luck, bad finishing and amazing goalkeeping kept the score decent.

3-1 down soon after the restart, then a worldy from City made it 3-2. But then usual service resumed, and the game ended up 5-2 to Liverpool, and the dream over for another year.

So it goes.

Somehow the weekend had slipped by, time for supper and then ready for the two working days of next week.

It won't be dull this week, that's for sure.

Saturday 27th January 2024

A slightly different Saturday to usual, when we would have gone to Tesco, and maybe then some churchcrawling or go to Stodmarsh.

As readers of my words will know, that on Friday I knacked my knee, and what with my gammy shoulder, sleep was pretty hard to come by, and then actual movement was painful too.

Jools was going to go shopping, while I stayed home and did what I could to prepare breakfast and out the bird seed out.

The five steps down to the lawnmeadow were something like The Stairs of Cirith Ungol, steep and with each step the pain jarring.

I did it though, made it back inside and after a breather, finished breakfast so when Jools came back, we could eat.

Later, she went out and going via Boots in Deal to pick my up a knee brace.

So, once she returned, we put the brace on and then i just lolled around the house waiting for things to improve.

Just as well it was FA Cup 4th round weekend, and for the afternoon there was Ipswich v Maidstone, two teams some 98 places apart in the pyramid of football.

Couldn't happen, could it?

In the first ten minutes, Town hit the post twice and forced at least two good saves from the Stone's keeper.

And then it was all pretty one way traffic, until ten minutes before halftime, a ball over the top meant Maidstone's forward ran on and chipped the Ipswich keeper with his weaker left foot into the back of the net.

Well.

Second half, Town levelled, and that was that. We thought.

But, Maidstone had other thoughts and created a second counter-attack scored their second goal with only their second shot.

Could they hang on for 20 minutes?

Yes. Yes they could, though it was tense, but they held on, as Town brought more of their first choice players on, to no effect, other than to give the Maidstone keeper endless chances to show how great he was.

Well.

Being a Norwich fan, you'd expect me to make fun of this, but as we go to Liverpool on Sunday for our own televised hell, at a club whose beloved manager has just announced he's going to step down at the end of the season.

Its not going to be pretty.

That over, I sat with Scully again to follow the other games from three, just about staying awake for the afternoon.

Pizza for supper, which was to make it easy for me, and then the evening game.

In the meantime, my knee had eased and the pain reduced. A lot better than I dared dream, but long way to go before we fly north on Wednesday.

Brexity all over again

Some new rules for inspections of foodstuffs coming into the UK will come in on ist February.

What is clear is that it will cause delays and delays will increase costs, and costs will be passed on to consumers.

Just how much is the issue.

And how well prepared is the country and it's logistics sector prepared? We shall see on Thursday.

More are planned for later in the year, and then at the end of October biometric testing will come into use for people crossing into the EU.

This is something the UK agreed to as an EU member state.

Which comes a week after a legal challenge in the French courts relating to EU regulations, as UK immigrants there are being forced either to undergo naturalisation and /or citizenship tests or be restricted to staying only three months out of any six month period in any EU state.

This appeal was thrown out by the highest French court.

The UK wanted to end free movement, so the EU followed suit by ending the free movement of UK citizens. The UK Government even tweeted triumphantly about the ending of free movement.

Of course, UK immigrants in the EU, called "expats" by places like the Express, were told Brexit would not affect their status. But the form of Brexit chosen by May and confirmed by Johnson was hard and the rejection of the four free movements.

This is what happens when the dog catches the speeding car, it has no idea what to do next.

One of the things Johnson would give the Uk was the ability to negotiate a "Canada style FTA" with countries round the world. This week, the UK failed to negotiate a Canada-style FTA with, you've guessed it: Canada, with food safety being the sticking point, in that the UK would not allow stuff like hormone injected beef into the UK.

Friday 26th January 2024

A day of extremes. As you will see.

Friday is yoga day for Jools, and again I am getting up as she leaves to go to class. We say goodbye, then I drink my coffee before putting the bins out then getting ready for work.

I have a few loose ends to tie up, so work through the morning, making presentations and writing the notes from Thursday into a report.

What an efficient little chap I am when I want to be.

After lunch, and just gone two, I pack up and go for a walk, putting on my boots and grabbing a couple of cameras.

For some time I have had a sore knee, but kind of ignored it, and after a few steps would fade away.

Usually.

Friday it developed into something a lot more painful. I think I strained or tore a ligament, but pressed on anyway past Fleet House, past the farm and then back along the lower lane past Waters Meet.

Which is when I got into real trouble.

The pain was so bad I could hardly walk for two minutes before having to pause. In the end I sat on a ban and texted Jools to let her know.

Should she come and fetch me?

The lanes are ankle deep with mud in places, so wasn't really an option, but the rest had made it easier, so I did my best and made for home, back up the slope to Collingwood and back home the shortest way.

I could hardly move once back. Jools made a brew while I took my boots off, and then slumped into the office chair.

I was fine. Only, any movement of the leg hurt, and the first step after standing up was like a knife had been driven into my knee.

To make matters worse, we were going out for a meal in the evening, as we're away next week, and Jen and Sylv are heading back up to Bury on Monday, so a chance to say goodbye.

I drove us up to the village, parking beside the church, then I hobbled back to the main road and along to the Smugglers while Jools helped Cath with her Invalid buggy.

Mike brought Jen, Sylv and John, so just before seven we met in the back room of the pub at a large table, and had drinks while checking out the menu.

Beer and gin flowed, as the good food was brought out for us. Jools, Mike and I had their speciality, tournedos rossini, which I had with what was called ribs of corn. Or, in reality, cobs cut in four cooked in spices.

Good though.

We were full, so near to nine, we all left, walking back to the car park, and I driving us back home, where there was time to watch some football and have a nightcap.

My knee was killing me still. And with us supposed to go away on Wednesday to Iceland, with a lot of walking planned.

Oh dear

Blueskies

Since the manchild took over Twitter, it became clear how toxic, either deliberate or by accident, the site was becomming.

That accelerated through 2022 and into 2023, so I decided to try an alternative.

At the time, that was Mastodon. It was, and still is, a federated social media, where lots of common servers share the site. And in theory should have been great.

But wasn't.

I tried to post lots of images to brighten people's feeds, but almost no feedback.

Which is the point really of social media.

I grew disheartened and used it less and less.

Last year, the tech guy behind Twitter rolled out his new platform: Bluesky.

Its feels pretty much like Twitter did early on, though it was in beta stage, and lacked much functionality.

At the end of October, I received an invite code from an existing member, at the time the only real way one could join. And still is, though the allocation of invite codes to memebers to share seems to have stopped, but I digress.

Initially, the botanical group I interacted with on Twotter moved to Bluesky pretty much at the same time, as did some other friends, but the churchcrawlers seemed very reluctant. Still few have joined.

On my first day on Bluesky I received more interaction than in 6 months on Mastodon, so I said on there I was leaving. Only at that point did one guy say he really liked my daily train pictures I posted. I had received no feedback from him before then.

I have not posted on Twitter since October, but still use it for news and sports coverage, as media companies can't migrate until they recieve code or the site is opened up.

There is a little politics on Bluesky, mostly from American botanists I have linked up with. I can live with that, not having domestic politics on Bluesky has been good, though I see plenty still on Twitter, even if I have culled contacts.

I like Bluesky, its like Twitter and new/familiar functions are being rolled out weekly. Its not for everyone, you really need to post to get interactions, just sitting there doing it will be like a desert. Its still so small, sometimes my contacts don't post for hours, mid-mornings and evenings seem to be the busiest, and for me, #wildflowerhour is there too.

I still have codes if you would like one, just message me.

Thursday 25th January 2024

Time to get serious.

Thursday morning dawned with fog. Lots of fog.

And as I said before, not sure when mist gets thick enough to become fog. I'm sure its all about how far you can see and all that. But, anyway, foggy or thick mist, shrouded the house, hiding us from the rest of the village and world.

But work waits for no one, and Jools had a presentation to finish, so was off early to work, about quarter past six, just as I was getting up.

So we passed very fast, like ships in the car or cars in a contraflow system.

I was to give a presentation at midday to process owners, where I was to tell them, in effect, they had screwed up and not done their job. It was also my chance to really expand an issue some three years old and get it noticed.

And all down to me.

I wound myself up into a bundle of nervous energy, and I think when the time came, spoke at 100mph, but did the job. And all agreed the problem is indeed a problem.

I have an audit to do before we go away, and the first part was to be Thursday afternoon. I thought it was going to be more of the same, but to my amazement, all was pretty much under control.

And that was that.

Dinner was Carbonara, as we had over half a loaf of focaccia left over. So I beat eggs and cooked pasta before rendering the pork cheek and combining.

It was magnificent. As always, as was the St Feuillien Grand Cru which I had instead of wine. And at 9.5%, almost as good as a wine!

And that was your, or rather, my Thursday

Wednesday 24th January 2024

Half past week, and another day of wind, rain showers and, oddly, lots of work.

The days drag and yet fly by, so it is Wednesday now, and I am catching up at work once again.

If I'm not careful, I'll catch my tail.

We lay in until gone six again, but this time Jools is back up first, feeding the cats and making drinks. While I try to work out how to put my trousers on.

We have received the final documentation and information regarding the holiday next week, so all set to go. Just keeping an eye on a video channel from Iceland and any news on more eruptions.

Nothing so far.

As well as work, the day is filled with making a fresh batch of ragu and a bowl of focaccia dough. Once the preparation work was done first ting, it was two of three minutes each hour to either stir or fold and turn.

Sometime, good food just takes time, and while working from home. The fine smells filling the house.

For the bolognese sauce, I made it with tomato puree and passata, which game the finished dish a dark red colour and deeper flavour.

The additional time allowed the focaccia dough a couple, at least, fold and turns, and using strong white flour meant a smoother, lighter finished dough, and once cooked full of air bubbles with a satisfying crunchy crust.

Once Jools came home, I boiled the pasta and served, and it was glorious, although with delicious fresh bread, the temptation was to eat more than was needed.

When cooking still, I wet my whistle with another new Belgian beer, but this was weak and lacking in flavour at "only" 5.5%.

For the evening, I followed Norwich away at Dirty Leeds, an altogether different team from previous years, and managed by dear Daniel now too. We lost by the single goal, but the lack of shots and touches in the opponent's box is still a concern.

Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Red sky in the morning, and all that.

Today, or yesterday is it is now, or as I shall call it, Tuesday, was my best day at work for over four years.

I can't say too much, but after four years beating my head against the corporate brick wall, they listened.

Or someone did, and we have a way forward.

I have used the very processes they designed to battle for forces of sloth and ignorance.

So there.

But it didn't start off so well. No, there was the usual of sloping shoulders and passing the buck.

So, angry, I called a colleague to vent.

And just after lunch, it all changed. People talked to each other, offered solutions, and so it was that the day suddenly got better.

This is not the end by a long way, but the end of the beginning, that first step to improvement is to admit there is a problem in the first place.

Outside, the fine start clouded over and the wind began to build, then by midday the rain had begun to fall, getting harder hour by hour, and driven in from the west by ever stronger winds of storm Jocelyn.

Then I had my big win, and everything was better after that.

Once work was done, I made a huge bowl of Boston beans and some creamed spinach, to go with the hasselback potatoes and breaded chicken. I even chilled a bottle of fizz to go with dinner, so flush with success did I feel.

The evening was filled with football, down at heel Chelsea seeing if they could overcome the might of Middlesbrough, who lead 1-0 from the first leg. Chelsea cruised to a 6-1 win on the night, and Boro fans can dream about next season.

Monday 22nd January 2024

A full month since the winter solstice, just before Christmas, and the amount of daylight seems to have changed little. And yet we are one sixth towards the longest day of the year.

At least this day, this Monday, the sun did shine, and although the wind didn't drop much, it was bearable out, enough to check the beds and lawnmeadow for anything new.

A friend elsewhere in the county saw a Brimstone on the wing. I have yet to see a butterfly this year, but there's always a chance on a warmer sunny day.

We sleep in again, hardly seems any point in setting the alarm just so we can go back to sleep. Even still it was a shock to wake at ten past six and it already showing light outside, at least on the horizon. Due south, Venus shone, untwinkling.

I get up, feed the cats and make coffee. Its not often I'm up first, but I do know the recipe for coffee and where the cat food is. Jools gets ready for work, and I do the usual, all ready to start work at, or just after, seven.

Deep breath, we're going in.

Sometimes, its hard to even have the strength to start work, but once logged on, work just tumbles out of Outlook, so I have a day of tasks ahead.

Outside the tail of Storm Isha passes over and the wind calms down. Don't fret, there's another storm a coming on Tuesday into Wednesday with more wind and rain.

There was cold mashed potato and sausages left in the fridge, I fry both in butter, an fried mash is even better than mashed. Sausages are fine hot, reheated or cold.

Life with the cats has settled down. Sometimes it takes a real quiet day with them to realise. Poppy now sleeps on the footstool in front of the TV, unworried by the other cats, and apparently wanting to be around us. Or me during the day.

I'll take that as a win.

As you know now, Jools goes aquafitting of a Monday evening. So we have a chat when she comes home, then she is gone, so I feast on crackers and cheese and two bottles of new beer. I was going to have one, but why not two?

Why not indeed.

Finally, there is Leicester v Ipswich on the telly, and a fine game it was too, and although it pains me to say, Town deserved their late equaliser.

Sunday 21t January 2024

Thing about climate change and an ever-warming planet, is the warmer oceans that will superheat and turbocharge the weather.

Extremes are more likely and more frequent. So it is this week that we are to get two monster storms: Isha and Jocelyn within three days of each other.

So with stupidly strong winds and sideways rain expected for the afternoon, we go out in the morning after breakfast, firs to St Martin's Battery and then to the Warren to do some wave-gazing.

At St Martin's, there was just one other car, so I went and took a few general shots as the waves were not breaking over Admiralty Pier, though would get stronger later.

We then drove a few miles up the coast to Capel, and stood on the edge of the cliffs looking down into the Warren, and the railways that swept onwards to Folkestone.

The wind was incredible, and after ten minutes we had had more than enough fresh air, so went to look for breakfast.

I thought the least popular would be Little Farthingloe, but upon arrival, the car park was full, so we turned round and went into town to frequent Chaplins, that had spare tables and also good food.

Two breakfasts were ordered, which came quickly, and we wolfed them down.

The reason for a big breakfast at eleven was that in the afternoon I was to give an online lecture on orchids, so little time to cook. So, with that box ticked, we went home via Jen's, where we caught up on her and Sylv, and news of John's cataract operations.

Then back home for a brew and ready for the lecture at Chinese Dentist: two thirty.

That last 70 minutes, and I think went well. By which time it was brew and chocolate time, and settle down for the late afternoon game on Sky: Bournemouth v Liverpool, which Liverpool scraped to a 4-0 win.

And by the time that finished, it was half six and the weekend nearly having all gone.

Hello Brexit, my old friend

After five delays, the UK is due to finally bring in import controls on goods enetering the UK from the end of January 2024.

This will be axactly four years since economic Brexit, and such controls could and should have been in place from day one.

But the UK wasn't ready, and through last year the Government said such controls with hbad effect on inflation.

So, all systems go for the end of the month?

There is a deafening silence from the Government on what the checks will be, what systems will be sued, if at all, and so importers have no idea, and have to gamble do they plan for the changes or not, each time they plan for changes that are scrapped, it costs money.

If Brexit was about taking back control, then Brexit has been a failure thus far as it has either been too difficult or expensive to implement that control so fraudulently won.

Saturday 20th January 2024

How many wings does an Angel have?

This was a question on QI a few years back, and the answer isn't necessarily two.

"Archangels have two wings , Cherubim, Have 4 wings, Seraphim have 6 wings"

But that depends on your theology.

Michael the archangel is likely the head of all the holy angels, and his name means "who is like unto God"

So, here is Michael, one pair of wings folded at his sides, and the second (and maybe third) partially unfolded over his head.

It is the weekend, and thoughts turn to what to do with our spare time.

It is warmer, slightly, but the wind is stronger, so feels colder. So, as I said, aimless wandering round shops and such in Whitstable might not be a good idea.

And the back up plan of going to Walmer Castle was also out as it is closed due to major repairs to its roof about to begin.

We are not short of castles round here, so there is another in Deal, so we'll go there, and on the way we can stop at Ringwould for the church.

So, after coffee and shopping at Tesco, and then breakfast, load the car with camera and lenses and make the short drive to Ringwould.

Two wardens inside, made us welcome as they cleaned and hoovered the church.

I was only here really for close ups of the windows, so got snapping once I had answered all their questions.

The plan, as I said, had been to go to Deal Castle, which is what we did.

Deal Castle is fabulous, and a place we have only visited once, but upon arriving we found the car park, while not quite full, but due to bad parking, no room for our car.

We decided, instead, to go home via Dover so Jools could get some wool for her blanket, and once home feat of bacon butties.

Which is what we did.

I waited outside the wool shop while she got two balls of yarn, then back home up Jubilee Way to home, and an early lunch or brunch.

Wind is building, gradually, through Saturday and Sunday to another named storm, our 8th of the winter, on Sunday night, with a high risk of damage to property possible.

So, we went inside, locked the door and didn't go out again.

Over the afternoon, I followed Norwich as usual, this time playing WBA, and despite not having much of the ball, we created lots of chances and ran out 2-0 winners, so there is hope. And in sport it is hope that hurts

We shall see.

Pizza for supper, and the evening game while we listen to funk and soul. While outside the wind howled, and will get only worse.

Friday 19th January 2024

We made it to Friday.

And soon the weather is going to change, warming up and getting very windy and wet.

But for now, Friday at least, it would remain bright, cold and windless.

The usual stuff for Friday: bins, coffee and Jools leaving early to do yoga.

I have a day of meetings, so I waste little time in logging on with a fresh brew and getting down to work.

Not much to report, really, just the department meeting and two new faces to be introduced, though managers rather than those who actually do work on the coalface.

We smile and clap at the news that tractor production is up again.

Jools was going to go swimming after work, so at two once I have done with work for the week, I go for a shave and a shower, and once dressed again, I wait for Jools to come back.

I have an idea, so put the kettle on to boil, and before it does boil, she's back, so we can sit down together for a brew and a chat.

It was the weekend.

Jools had called in on the way home to pick up some cash for our holiday, so we have 40,000kr, which might buy us a coffee.

Maybe two.

Bangers and mash for dinner, quick and easy. So, we could clean things away, wash up and relax for the rest of the day.

I fail in the music quiz so lose my top placing, and am down to 4th with just one round this month left to go.

Thursday 18th January 2024

Not only did the first full week of the year drag, so did the second, and its only Thursday.

The cloud of the previous day was gone, and replaced by clear skies which meant temperatures plummeted overnight and there was a very sharp frost.

And as we got back late the night before, Jools had left the car on the street, and it was heavily frosted.

Of course, Jools has to commute, I just change seats at the dining room table, and only have to go outside to top up the feeders. So, I watch Jools clear the windows of the car before she leaves for Hythe.

Would I go for a walk?

Maybe.

Though as the day pressed on it seemed less likely. However, when I thought I could combine the walk with shots of the sunset, I decided to go, leaving home at half three to walk along the track, then up to Collingwood before cutting up to Nelson Park and then along to Station Road where the sun was just above the horizon.

It was might chilly. Although no wind to speak of, so OK as long as you kept moving. I don't move fast, but do keep going.

Gardens are asleep, but along the lanes and hedgerows, Alexanders are getting bushy, though I've seen none in flower here, I have seen pictures of some which were on wildflowerhour.

I rush back home to get inside and get warm. The sun sets and a cold darkness falls. The cats fed and I make dinner of hash, and try one of the new bottles of beer I received on Monday.

9.4%, which is strong stuff, and yet didn't taste that strong, but was full of flavour.

No football to watch, so we head to bed to read

Wednesday 17th January 2024

Middle of the week, and weatherwise, supposed to be the worst, with a snow storm moving eastwards across northern France, which was due to miss us, but the wind could change.

Instead of snow, we were to get some sleet, maybe rain. Whilst still being grey and cold.

It was that.

Again, Jools didn't go swimming first thing, so we failed to set the alarm and so slept in until gone six.

This gave me an hour to get my shit together and be ready for work. But as no one really checks, not stressed about it to be honest.

There is the resumed argument regarding an audit agenda, this has been going on and off for a good two years, if not more.

And I am a little bit fed up with it.

So there was that to deal with, and the beginning of the year admin for the department, though this time with our new boss. Or manager.

Three back to back meetings and somehow it was ten already, I had nothing for lunch, so raided the fridge for some Tesco breaded chicken, and to go with it I made some cheesy white sauce and a home made naan bread.

Was much better than it has the right to be to be honest.

And there was plenty of sauce and dough for both our dinners on Thursday.

Eating so well did mean I was pretty snoozy, and once work ended and I looked outside, some kind of weather was falling from the low, dark clouds.

No walking for me, then.

I listen to the radio, and have no dinner to prepare as we were going out.

Out in the sense that Jools was going to the Lighthouse for her first book club meeting, and I was going to go to the Freed Man for some beer and to read.

That planned changed after we inched past the bar and I saw the manager wasn't on duty, so instead Jools dropped me off at the Berry in Walmer, which would have more space and good light for reading.

And they would have Harvey's Old on draught.

Which they did.

Over the course of just over an hour I made three more disappear, before Jools came back to rescue me and take us to the chippy for our supper of chips and battered sausage, which we brought home to eat.

And so we ate whilst listening to the radio as Norwich replayed against Bristol Rovers in the cup, running out 3-1 winners in the end to set up a 4th round game at Anfield next week against that Liverpool.

Tuesday 16th January 2024

I took other shots this day, but all came out blurry.

Sadly.

So, this is a shot of the lawnmeadow, white, encrusted with frost, and deep sleep in the depth of midwinter.

It was colder, brighter than on Monday, but not enticing enough for me to go for a walk.

I went out to fill the feeders, but by heck, it were cold.

So, I stayed inside.

Looking out.

It was another quiet day at work, our new boss is on a steep learning curve, and so we try not to bother her with issues until it can't wait any longer.

In the garden, a white Hellebore was in flower, and I took shots of the wide open flower in bright sunshine, but all were blurry, and this was the only other shot taken.

So, here it is.

Not much else to say, really. Outside was bright and crisp and cold. Meanwhile my back complained about, well, being achey.

There was little point in going out until it decides not to ache.

There is a glorious sun set, the day fades. And that was that.

I looked in the freezers for something to eat, and the easiest was to have carbonara again, so I get the pork out and prepare the ingredients, combining them just as Jools parks the car on the drive

. We have some wine, toast and tuck in with the last of the focaccia now made into garlic bread.

Lovely.

And FA Cup action to close the day out, as Bristol City beat West Ham, 1-0.

Monday 15th January 2024

A bitterly cold day, but sunny and not windy. So, no real excuse not to go out for a walk?

Well, it was cold, so cold the boots I struggled to pull on were not needed, as the ground was almost still frozen solid at half three in the afternoon.

I only walked over the field, and not all the way to Fleet House before turning back.

Yes, it was cold, but the colours of the late afternoon sunshine was stunning, so worth it.

No new flowers seen blooming, but seeing them in the warm light was worth it. And able to tell an old lady I met that despite being cold, spring was coming and told her where to see some of the plants in flower already.

Before then there was work. Always work.

Its so chilly that we have left the heating on low overninght, so its not so cold when we get up. Which worked.

And so this is the first day with our new boss having taken over the department. So, exciting stuff.

Kinda. Jools headed to work just after seven, and even with clear skies I can't say I really noticed it being lighter earlier in the mornings yet.

I make a second coffee and fill up the feeders, and already a brazen Blue Tit sits in the branches, squawking at me to hurry up and let him at the peanuts.

Which I do.

And so to work, and two Windows update to install and reboot the laptop before I can actually do anything productive this week.

So it goes.

The day progresses; there is the formal handover meeting, we will miss the old boss for sure.

And we move on.

Cats sleep all day.

All cats sleep all day.

So long I forget we have them. Then Mulder meows for dinner, when I come back from my walk I says.

I take ten minutes to get my fight boot on, then am ready.

Off I go.

And back I come, having taken 50 shots, or so.

And with Jools doing aquafit, no cooking to be done. I do have a coffee waiting for her when she gets back, and once she has changed and gone, I tuck into cheese and crackers.

But here's the truth: crackers and butter is better than almost any cheese.

Aint that the truth.

And then the big match that was Derby v Burton, a real local derby that actually features Derby.

Rwanda: more thoughts

Tonight, the Government presents its Rwanda Bill to the Commons for its 3rd reading.

It will then go to the Lords.

Remember this:

1. Whatever happens in the Lords, what ammemendments are added, the Government cannot use the Government Act to force the policy through in the same Parliament, if the policy was not in the manifesto.

2. Under international law, there is no requirement for a refugee to claim alylum in the first "safe" country they come to.

3. Therefore, under international law there is no illegal immigration.

4. UK Law only reaches out to the extent of UK territorial waters, 12 miles, at which point its either international law or French/Belgian law.

5. Therefore, passing a law in UK Parliament will not have any effect on any authorities outside the UK.

6. The UN has declared that the revised Bill is not compatable with international law.

7. National Governments, including the UK, have to obey domestic and international law.

8. Under this Government, processing of asylum claims has collapsed, so the backlog is the faul of the Government and Home Office, not an actual rise in numbers of immigrants, which over the last decade has dropped.

9. The UK Government is paying Rwanda not to process asylum claims, but to take the refugees. Different from any other country who are paying a 3rd country to process claims. There is no return to the UK.

10. Numbers proposed to be sent, are tiny, about 1,000 migrants. There is 160,000 waiting for processing.

11. Rwanda has said it will not be party to breaking international law. Any strengthening of what is proposed would therefore be unacceptable for Rwanda.

12. This is politics as performative dance, with no point.

13. The UK has accepted refugees from Rwanda.

14. But the UK is legislating that Rwanda is a safe country.

15. Both can't be true.

16. Despite the real threat of death in crossing the Chanel, they still come. THe threat of being sent to Rwanda, even if they hear of it, won't change anything.

17. There are no legal routes to claim asylum before refugees arrive in the UK.

As a policy, it won't work, costs upwards of £300m, breaks international law, puts the most desperate people in danger.

Iceland update

Two weeks today, we are due to fly to Iceland for a week's vacation, and hopefully some Northern Lights spotting.

Last week, however, the long-awaited re-eruption of the volcanic fissures in and around the Blue Lagoon, and the town of Grindavik, which resulted in one opening up on the edge of town and destroying at least one house before stopping a few hours later.

We have heard nothing from the organisers regarding the trip's status, but as things stand, I guess we're still going, though the Blae Lagood and Norther Lights Hotel are closed, perhaps forever.

If there isn't another major eruption, then we shall go, but it seems there is an expectation of something happening at the end of this mornth, or early next month. When we should be there.

Let us see what the volcanic Gods have planned for the next few weeks.

Sunday 14th January 2024

Sunday.

We laid in late and long, getting up just before eight, in time for RadMac and coffee. Cats were fed, while outside it was so dull, grey and still.

No wind.

But cold.

Too cold and grey for a walk. I know I should, and I have told myself there will be no excuse next week, but as next week begins on Monday, not Sunday, so I could wimp out.

We do need peanuts for the bird feeders, so I say I'll go out to Jollies, where I find there is a nationwide peanut shortage. I get the last bag of any size of peanuts, and remark to the lady on the tills and she tells me there's a shortage.

So now you know.

I had dropped Jools off on the way in a layby so she could get the What3Words of some builders rubble that had been fly-tipped, so she could report it to the council to pick up.

I hope you're keeping up.

Anyway, on the way back, she was back at the lay by, so I pick her up and back home we go, and once back it was brew o'clock.

I walk to the post box to drop a letter off, and that was it.

For the day.

There was football.

Lots of football.

So, I settle down on the sofa with Scully to watch the two and a half games.

Which took us to half six and near the end of the weekend.

So, that was your weekend, all done and dusted. So, to bed early to read some more of WSC and to sleep before nine.

Saturday 13th January 2024

Being a Saturday, first job of the day, after coffee, was hunter-gathering in Tesco.

Was not surprised to find half an aisle already full of Easter eggs and stuff.

Elsewhere there was lots of Valentine's Day cards and more stuff to spend your money on.

Back home for a quick breakfast, before going out again and heading north for Thanet.

On the north coast there are two large churches that I wanted to revisit: St Nicholas at Wade and All Saints in Birchington.

Thanks to the Sandwich Road and Thanet Way round Ramsgate, we got to Birchington at half nine, but found the church did not open until ten, so we went in search of the sea.

Though the sea was not lost.

Through a large 1950s housing estate, there it was.

There are three of us, trying to photograph Kent churches . I met one a few years back on Heritage Weekend, and there is Rob, an online friend who is trying to record all churches, irrespective of denomination, in the county.

And so, thanks to Rob and his love for Victorian and 20th century churches, I got to know some newer churches, maybe once chapels of ease, but some now parish churches in their own right.

Minnis Bay is one, set among mid-war development, a 1920s construction, bankrolled by the local Freemason's lodge, St Thomas sits on the main road, opposite a micropub and convenience store.

I got out to take a shot of the front and side, then a car pulled up: do you want to see inside, I'll only be here ten minutes, the warden told me.

Win! So, I grabbed the big camera and got busy, though in truth not much other than the building itself, but it was pleasant enough. Though there are rumours that it might be closing.

Grenham Bay, Birchington, Kent.

Bleak.

Bleak and bracing. Bleak, bracing and quiet.

At low tide.

This morning, we found ourselves here, and having parked, we found low chalk cliffs, concrete flood defences and lots of sea birds and fowl feeding among the chalk rockpools at low ride.

We didn't stay long, long enough to get some shots, before moving on.

Here, Jools walks down the concrete ramp to the "promenade, wide enough to run a grand prix, just the occasional jogger or dog walker were the only others around.

Back in the car at ten for the short drive through the town centre, parking outside the village hall, and walking through the large churchyard where the porch door was open.

All Saints is open between ten and midday each Sunday, and inside there were at least four wardens, each of whom gave us a warm welcome.

A heavily restored church, but the jewel is the Quex Chapel, for the Crispe family that owns, or used to own, Quex Park nearby.

Wall full of tablets, memorials and tombs.

The next parish southwards is St Nicholas at Wade, now better known as a roundabout on Thanet way where the driver can turn either for Ramsgate or Margate. There is also a village, named after the parish and the parish church, which towers over the narrow streets of the village, that we had to weave through to reach the church.

At the west end of the village, around the church, are some wonderfully old buildings, whose brickies had a novel attitude to laying, with bricks at all angles.

The church is entered through a double-decked porch, something more seen in East Anglia, and the priest would live in a small room above the entrance, and accessed by what must be the oldest set of steps in Kent, if not England.

It took half an hour to get all the shots, but having done so we went back outside to head home.

Instead of turning round and going through the village, shall we go straight on and see where that takes us?

An adventure?

So we did.

Where it did take us was along some fields and over a bridge spanning Thanet Way, where there was a junction to head east back towards Ramsgate and home.

So, that was easy.

And back in time for a brew before lunch, and bacon butties too as we were both hungry, and I could sit beside Scully watching the Coventry v Leicester game, which Cov won 3-1.

Most of the afternoon was a battle to stay awake whilst listening to the radio. Jools went to the gym to have a sauna, so came back full of beans.

Dinner was Caprese with warmed through focaccia drizzled with chilli-infused olive oil to crisp it up.

It all went well with the remainder of the bottle of wine, but having emptied that, I needed just a little something more, so went for the barrel aged Delerium.

It poured a reddy-brown colour, had a full nose of fruits and spices, and was a flavour explosion on the tongue. At 11.5%, not to be messed about with, but glorious.