Wednesday
It is funny, that how after a long period of business, work just drops off and you sit staring at your inbox wondering where all the mails went. I am sure in months to come I will long for another day like this, but for now, just revel in how quiet it is. Yes, still holiday time in Denmark, all is quiet, just a few mails floating around, nothing major to deal with. So, I make myself a strong cup of coffee, sit down at the table to find that the i player has failed, so no Radcliffe and Maconie show for me that day. I make do with the Sean Keavney show, not as good, and Dr Brian Cox did not seem to show up either.
The final part of the travel expenses chore is to stuff the large envelope with the smaller envelopes which in turn were stuffed with travel receipts and the claim forms. At half nine I take a walk down the hill and up the other side to the post office to send it on its way to Warrington. You have to do this now as post is charged not just by weight, but by size and thickness too. Just under three quid to send the paperwork, but its done,a nd I have just one receipt on my card now. I walk to the village shop, looking for something to put in a sandwich: I buy some ham and cooked crispy bacon. Its the darned Danes have me hooked on crispy streaky bacon I tell you. I was going to buy a cake or something, to have as a fine mid-afternoon snack, but nothing really grabbed me, so I passed on that, paid for the purchases and set off for home.
Its another fine day, but due to cloud over by mid afternoon. The cool breeze is still there, but climbing Station Road gets my blood pumping and it feels warm. Alongside the pavement crocuses are out and other spring bulbs are not far behind. I hope the sunshine keeps them warm.
Once home I make lunch, ham and bacon butties and a huge brew. Lovely. Still on the chair beside my computer is the cushion Jools' Dad sat on when they came over for dinner nearly two weeks back, Molly has taken to sitting on it when I work. Only Mulder now has eyes for it too, so the cats are playing budge, and whoever is first on sleeps while the other looks on with green eyes. So, I work away with the radio burbling and one of the cats beside me, sleeping away, quietly half purring half snoring.
Its good to be a cat.
we have the warmed up paprika pasta thing for dinner, which tastes even better on the 2nd day. Will make that again at some point I think.
That night we watch a documentary on the renaissance, which is presented by Waldemar Januszczak, who did the program on the dark ages. And Gothic art, and is so darned enthusiastic about, well, everything.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Wednesday 17th February 2016
Tuesday
A lot of what happened on Tuesday, I cannot talk about. Not until it is confirmed. However, a lot of what happened was good, although I cannot say in what way it was good, but there was an air of goodness about it, and caused me to feel all warm inside. Or was that the celebration whisky I had in the evening? Talking of whisky, I just have the dregs of the £200 bottle left, all very well sipping on that wee dram, but I had better get back to some every day sipping whisky or a new bottle could be expensive.
On top of the good stuff that happened, I also cleared six weeks of travel expenses, scanned the receipts and sent them to my boss to spot through. That'll keep him busy. I bought lots of little envelopes to keep the receipts from each trip in, but realised that all the little envelopes needed to go in a larger envelope to be posted to head office where I am told they will be filed, but I am sure they are filked in either a big skip outside or put through the shredder first before being put into the skip. But I could be wrong. But what else could they be doing with hundreds and hundreds of credit card receipts and hotel bills? I know, building a nest. That must be it.
Doing travel expenses takes two days; one day, or part of a day anyway, assigning receipts to a claim, then getting the report. Sending the report and receipts to Jools to print out. And then the second day scanning the report and receipts then sending them to my boss. For him to compare my scans, report and the digital report taken from my credit card bill. Must be something a lot of people do I suppose. It keeps the wheels of the company going I suppose, and gives us all something to do when there is no actual work to do. Ha.
Anyway, good work completed, expense reports done, scanned and sent, and a meeting held (arranged by me) clearing a log jam, oh, what a clever and busy manager I have been. Better take the afternoon off then!
Well, the weather has been shit recently. That's a technical meteorological term I heard Michael Fish use once. I did, its true. Anyway, yesterday was even better than Monday, clear blue skies, but chilly with a north wind. Why not walk to the cliffs and back, calling in at the post office for a huge envelope to send the receipts and reports up to Warrington. Yes, that would be the reason I was going out, but going the cross-country way, via the dip, the downs, the cliffs and coming in the wrong end of the village. Perfect.
Across the fields, now alive with vibrant spring growth, passed the empty pig's copse, then down the track leading down the dip.
Down that track I had an audience as, apparently, the horses remembered me from the previous day carrot disposing walk. Not today, chaps. Sorry.
On down the dip, dodging the mud at the bottom and then the long slog up the other side, pausing a regular intervals to take photos and/or rests!
Along the national cycle path, where I tempted to say hello to a couple of lonely horses, the brown one was a bully not letting the grey have any fresh grass I offered to feed them. PLenty to go round, so I left them to their field.
Taking the path over the top of the down, the National Trust have taken the shattered gate fragments away and replaced it with a flimsy looking fence, no real challenge for a off road motorbike I guess. I expect to see it destroyed next time I walk that way.
And onto the top of the down, with fresh green fields in all direction, and the light played on them. And in the distance I could see ships out in the Channel. Nearly at the cliffs.
It was low tide down on what we call the beach at the foot of the cliffs, but there is no sand, just more chalk really. Anyway, impressive stuff with the beach and cliffs stretching off towards Kingsdown. I sit on the old bench, resting my sore back; it had been complaining since we left home, but I told it it was mostly downhill to home. Apart from the uphill bits.
I walk back through the village, past the doctor's, past the school to the post office where a large padded envelope cost me 89p. I mean I could claim this all back on another expense report, but I can't be arsed with it all to be honest. Anyway, over the road to the local shop to buy some carrots, then back down Station Road to home to see if all was still well with work before doing some cooking.
Jools was going out for a meal with an old friend, so I was home alone and cooking for myself. I cooked paprika mince with carrots and vegetables (peas and sweetcorn) then boiled some pasta when it was ready. And it was bloody marvelous. So good that Jools said we had to have it the next day seeing as she had none to eat that day!
I spend the evening watching a couple of DVDs of Norwich's promotion season in 2005. Wonderful to relive all the moments as I went to most of the games, although I did not see myself in the stands, I did seem to remember each game by the pub we visited before hand, or after. Or both. The season review ended at half ten. Jools was back home and the cats we sitting on the stairs waiting for us to go bed, so they could take their assigned places on the bed or around the room. Just like it should be.
A lot of what happened on Tuesday, I cannot talk about. Not until it is confirmed. However, a lot of what happened was good, although I cannot say in what way it was good, but there was an air of goodness about it, and caused me to feel all warm inside. Or was that the celebration whisky I had in the evening? Talking of whisky, I just have the dregs of the £200 bottle left, all very well sipping on that wee dram, but I had better get back to some every day sipping whisky or a new bottle could be expensive.
On top of the good stuff that happened, I also cleared six weeks of travel expenses, scanned the receipts and sent them to my boss to spot through. That'll keep him busy. I bought lots of little envelopes to keep the receipts from each trip in, but realised that all the little envelopes needed to go in a larger envelope to be posted to head office where I am told they will be filed, but I am sure they are filked in either a big skip outside or put through the shredder first before being put into the skip. But I could be wrong. But what else could they be doing with hundreds and hundreds of credit card receipts and hotel bills? I know, building a nest. That must be it.
Doing travel expenses takes two days; one day, or part of a day anyway, assigning receipts to a claim, then getting the report. Sending the report and receipts to Jools to print out. And then the second day scanning the report and receipts then sending them to my boss. For him to compare my scans, report and the digital report taken from my credit card bill. Must be something a lot of people do I suppose. It keeps the wheels of the company going I suppose, and gives us all something to do when there is no actual work to do. Ha.
Anyway, good work completed, expense reports done, scanned and sent, and a meeting held (arranged by me) clearing a log jam, oh, what a clever and busy manager I have been. Better take the afternoon off then!Well, the weather has been shit recently. That's a technical meteorological term I heard Michael Fish use once. I did, its true. Anyway, yesterday was even better than Monday, clear blue skies, but chilly with a north wind. Why not walk to the cliffs and back, calling in at the post office for a huge envelope to send the receipts and reports up to Warrington. Yes, that would be the reason I was going out, but going the cross-country way, via the dip, the downs, the cliffs and coming in the wrong end of the village. Perfect.
Across the fields, now alive with vibrant spring growth, passed the empty pig's copse, then down the track leading down the dip. Down that track I had an audience as, apparently, the horses remembered me from the previous day carrot disposing walk. Not today, chaps. Sorry.
On down the dip, dodging the mud at the bottom and then the long slog up the other side, pausing a regular intervals to take photos and/or rests!Along the national cycle path, where I tempted to say hello to a couple of lonely horses, the brown one was a bully not letting the grey have any fresh grass I offered to feed them. PLenty to go round, so I left them to their field.
Taking the path over the top of the down, the National Trust have taken the shattered gate fragments away and replaced it with a flimsy looking fence, no real challenge for a off road motorbike I guess. I expect to see it destroyed next time I walk that way.And onto the top of the down, with fresh green fields in all direction, and the light played on them. And in the distance I could see ships out in the Channel. Nearly at the cliffs.
It was low tide down on what we call the beach at the foot of the cliffs, but there is no sand, just more chalk really. Anyway, impressive stuff with the beach and cliffs stretching off towards Kingsdown. I sit on the old bench, resting my sore back; it had been complaining since we left home, but I told it it was mostly downhill to home. Apart from the uphill bits.
I walk back through the village, past the doctor's, past the school to the post office where a large padded envelope cost me 89p. I mean I could claim this all back on another expense report, but I can't be arsed with it all to be honest. Anyway, over the road to the local shop to buy some carrots, then back down Station Road to home to see if all was still well with work before doing some cooking.Jools was going out for a meal with an old friend, so I was home alone and cooking for myself. I cooked paprika mince with carrots and vegetables (peas and sweetcorn) then boiled some pasta when it was ready. And it was bloody marvelous. So good that Jools said we had to have it the next day seeing as she had none to eat that day!
I spend the evening watching a couple of DVDs of Norwich's promotion season in 2005. Wonderful to relive all the moments as I went to most of the games, although I did not see myself in the stands, I did seem to remember each game by the pub we visited before hand, or after. Or both. The season review ended at half ten. Jools was back home and the cats we sitting on the stairs waiting for us to go bed, so they could take their assigned places on the bed or around the room. Just like it should be.
15 years
On a cold and wet weekend some 15 years ago, I signed up with AOL and went online. Here is what I said back in February 2011 about the first decade:
It is February 2011; nothing odd about that.
Well, it was a decade ago that I joined the digital revolution, or at least the online version.
A decade ago, after a week of gate guard, I went home with an AOL disc in my hand, powered the mighty computer on and loaded the disc and waited. And waited.
But of course that waiting was nothing compared to the waiting ahead.
Once loaded, all these wonderful icons on the desktop, I double clicked on the AOL one and listened to the soon to familiar sound of the modem dialling.
And wait.
And wait.
And in time, I got the welcome to AOL page.
I looked at the screen expecting the tidal wave on information to swamp me at any moment. I looked and the screen looked back. I saw there was an e mail in box, and I had a mail. Welcome to AOL it said. Thanks.
Now, thanks to an aborted college course 18 months previous, and so was aware of search engines. I saw a box in which to enter a word to search. So, I typed
Pen pals.
Yes, I decided I needed a full inbox and that digital friends was the way to ensure this happened. So, I clicked on a link, waited, waited. The page loaded. I clicked on the link to the ads section. And begin to scroll down.
After a while I selected people to respond to I wrote initial letters. And, I did get many replies, and with some of them I did make real friends. I say friends, because that is what I made. I had not met any of them yet, but it turns out that I would meet some in the future. So, my weekends began to be filled with writing letters to and from people all over the world. I guess some of us learned how each other lived, and how that despite our distances, our lives are pretty similar.
That was 5 years ago, and my pool of online friends, in the sense I talked about above is now just two. Two with whom I write to on a fairly irregular basis. One is in Oregon and the other is in Colorado. We write maybe once every three months each, swap news, views and what we are reading, watching or feeling. In that time I have seen them and their families grow, get older, and for the most part their children have grown into adults, and I am so lucky to have shared that journey, if from a distance.
I am now back on Facebook, but I have a love/hate relationship with it. On the plus side it does keep me in touch with distant friends and former colleagues. On the negative side it does also cast a light into some of their darker sides with what they share and post. Twitter I used to love, and is still wonderful for keeping in touch with news and following tweets during Norwich's matches and the re-run of TOTPs, feels like being in a party of friends or fans. But the hate mob is called put way too often, and seems like almost anything said can offend someone, somewhere. At least here, I can voice my thoughts without offending anyone, as so few read it.
And then there is Flickr: 35,000 shots posted, ongoing projects include: orchids, Kent churches, Kent pubs, City of London churches, trains and so on. I have met some wonderful people through photography, visited some wonderful places, seen some rare and remarkable things in the pursuit of a shot or two. Photography and my interaction with others through that will continue. This year I hope to arrange a few get-togethers involving orchids here in Kent, arranged around the Japan trip which also coincides with the peak orchid season!
Something my friend from Oregon said this week, about losing touch with people online. I had so many friends when I was down on my luck, we would offer each other support and that. But as I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, they dropped off quickly. So, those of you, wherever you are in the world, no matter how we got to know each either. I treasure each and every one of you, and you have enriched my life with either your words, your outlook or maybe your art. I thank you all.
In the next week we will reach blog # 1500, and for that I will list, in no particular order, my top ten films, and maybe my top ten songs as well. We shall see. I have done the films, but comparing a science fiction against a comedy is impossible.
A decade ago, after a week of gate guard, I went home with an AOL disc in my hand, powered the mighty computer on and loaded the disc and waited. And waited.
But of course that waiting was nothing compared to the waiting ahead.
Once loaded, all these wonderful icons on the desktop, I double clicked on the AOL one and listened to the soon to familiar sound of the modem dialling.
And wait.
And wait.
And in time, I got the welcome to AOL page.
I looked at the screen expecting the tidal wave on information to swamp me at any moment. I looked and the screen looked back. I saw there was an e mail in box, and I had a mail. Welcome to AOL it said. Thanks.
Now, thanks to an aborted college course 18 months previous, and so was aware of search engines. I saw a box in which to enter a word to search. So, I typed
Pen pals.
Yes, I decided I needed a full inbox and that digital friends was the way to ensure this happened. So, I clicked on a link, waited, waited. The page loaded. I clicked on the link to the ads section. And begin to scroll down.
After a while I selected people to respond to I wrote initial letters. And, I did get many replies, and with some of them I did make real friends. I say friends, because that is what I made. I had not met any of them yet, but it turns out that I would meet some in the future. So, my weekends began to be filled with writing letters to and from people all over the world. I guess some of us learned how each other lived, and how that despite our distances, our lives are pretty similar.
That was 5 years ago, and my pool of online friends, in the sense I talked about above is now just two. Two with whom I write to on a fairly irregular basis. One is in Oregon and the other is in Colorado. We write maybe once every three months each, swap news, views and what we are reading, watching or feeling. In that time I have seen them and their families grow, get older, and for the most part their children have grown into adults, and I am so lucky to have shared that journey, if from a distance.
I am now back on Facebook, but I have a love/hate relationship with it. On the plus side it does keep me in touch with distant friends and former colleagues. On the negative side it does also cast a light into some of their darker sides with what they share and post. Twitter I used to love, and is still wonderful for keeping in touch with news and following tweets during Norwich's matches and the re-run of TOTPs, feels like being in a party of friends or fans. But the hate mob is called put way too often, and seems like almost anything said can offend someone, somewhere. At least here, I can voice my thoughts without offending anyone, as so few read it.
And then there is Flickr: 35,000 shots posted, ongoing projects include: orchids, Kent churches, Kent pubs, City of London churches, trains and so on. I have met some wonderful people through photography, visited some wonderful places, seen some rare and remarkable things in the pursuit of a shot or two. Photography and my interaction with others through that will continue. This year I hope to arrange a few get-togethers involving orchids here in Kent, arranged around the Japan trip which also coincides with the peak orchid season!
Something my friend from Oregon said this week, about losing touch with people online. I had so many friends when I was down on my luck, we would offer each other support and that. But as I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, they dropped off quickly. So, those of you, wherever you are in the world, no matter how we got to know each either. I treasure each and every one of you, and you have enriched my life with either your words, your outlook or maybe your art. I thank you all.
In the next week we will reach blog # 1500, and for that I will list, in no particular order, my top ten films, and maybe my top ten songs as well. We shall see. I have done the films, but comparing a science fiction against a comedy is impossible.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Tuesday 16th February 2016
Monday
Back in the 80s, when I was a QC inspector at the chicken factory, Sunday evenings were a time of anxiety as I fretted about the upcoming week. Once I left the RAF, that continued as I had a series of temporary jobs, delivering beer or horrible chemicals. Even up to about 18 months ago, I would worry about what Monday would bring when I would open my mail box. It seems that those days are behind me, for now at least. So, I wake Monday morning, all revved up and raring to go, sure there would be no burning issues for me, mainly because I had my phone all weekend and was dealing with the issues there and then. Won't happen often, but hey.
I have breakfast once Jools has left, while outside a steady rain falls, with the BBC putting out a yellow warning for snow and sleet for the evening commute, I told Jools to be careful.
This week is another holiday weekend in Denmark, so things promised to be quiet all week. Which coupled with my first week at home all year, all sounded like music to my ears. Anyway, after the burst of excitement of the new mails, dealing with those, things settled down. I put the radio on, and whiled away the day away, working, stroking the cats and making and drinking coffee and tea. Its a lifestyle choice I guess.
At the end of the day, there was a few breaks in the clouds, so I decided to go for a quick walk to try to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. The wind was in the north, and the next bank of dark clouds were building, but for now, there was sunshine. And mud. Lots of mud.
Horses are taken for walks, is that what you do with horses; walk them? Anyway, many horses feet had churned up the path over the fields, meaning to be able to keep moving, the path is spreading onto the fields either side, where the ground is firmer. The pig's copse is still empty, and as I stood at Fleet House the last of the afternoon sun was eclipsed by more dark clouds. In my pocket I had half a dozen carrots; I walked down the path leading to the dip to feed the two sad looking horses. They ignored me at first, but then saw my carrots!
They came over and were very happy to be fed. Their owner was there, and she said it was OK, but don't feed them too much! So, the final few I took to the sorrowful group of horses and ponies in the next field, then with the carrots all gone, I turned for home.
As I walked inside the back door, the heavens opened and large hailstones hammered down. Just in time.
Monday night is now X Files night, so we wait in anticipation. Or I do at least, as the clock ticks round to nine and Mulder and Scully time.
Back in the 80s, when I was a QC inspector at the chicken factory, Sunday evenings were a time of anxiety as I fretted about the upcoming week. Once I left the RAF, that continued as I had a series of temporary jobs, delivering beer or horrible chemicals. Even up to about 18 months ago, I would worry about what Monday would bring when I would open my mail box. It seems that those days are behind me, for now at least. So, I wake Monday morning, all revved up and raring to go, sure there would be no burning issues for me, mainly because I had my phone all weekend and was dealing with the issues there and then. Won't happen often, but hey.
I have breakfast once Jools has left, while outside a steady rain falls, with the BBC putting out a yellow warning for snow and sleet for the evening commute, I told Jools to be careful.
This week is another holiday weekend in Denmark, so things promised to be quiet all week. Which coupled with my first week at home all year, all sounded like music to my ears. Anyway, after the burst of excitement of the new mails, dealing with those, things settled down. I put the radio on, and whiled away the day away, working, stroking the cats and making and drinking coffee and tea. Its a lifestyle choice I guess.
At the end of the day, there was a few breaks in the clouds, so I decided to go for a quick walk to try to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. The wind was in the north, and the next bank of dark clouds were building, but for now, there was sunshine. And mud. Lots of mud.Horses are taken for walks, is that what you do with horses; walk them? Anyway, many horses feet had churned up the path over the fields, meaning to be able to keep moving, the path is spreading onto the fields either side, where the ground is firmer. The pig's copse is still empty, and as I stood at Fleet House the last of the afternoon sun was eclipsed by more dark clouds. In my pocket I had half a dozen carrots; I walked down the path leading to the dip to feed the two sad looking horses. They ignored me at first, but then saw my carrots!
They came over and were very happy to be fed. Their owner was there, and she said it was OK, but don't feed them too much! So, the final few I took to the sorrowful group of horses and ponies in the next field, then with the carrots all gone, I turned for home.As I walked inside the back door, the heavens opened and large hailstones hammered down. Just in time.
Monday night is now X Files night, so we wait in anticipation. Or I do at least, as the clock ticks round to nine and Mulder and Scully time.
Monday, 15 February 2016
Monday 15th February 2016
Sunday
Valentine's Day
We sleep in until half seven, after the cats learn to play the trumpet to wake us up.
Looking at the weather forecast, it seems we were set for rain until three in the afternoon at least, and heavy rain too. But looking outside, it seemed quite bright with just a light drizzle in the air. However, we decided to wait until after lunch to go out and do something, with Jools going to visit Nan and the old folks in the morning, and me watching football, as someone has to. Apparently.
So, with Molly sat beside me, and keeping one eye on the birds feeding outside, I watch the football whilst eating a fresh bacon butty, it makes the morning pass in a pleasant way.
Jools comes back at just before midday; Nan is not happy, she is really clinically depressed, but there is nothing we can really do for her. She is too frail to move, and she cannot hear much nor see either. It might be easier for us all if her mind had gone too, but that is still sharp as a tack.
The plan had been to go down to Dungeness in the afternoon, but with the football on the radio, and the thought that is was going out for the sake of it really, I decided that we should stay home and do chires. Well, I would do chores once the Arse v Leicester game finished. That ended in a 2-1 win for the Gooners, which was a little harsh on The Foxes. But, as promised, I went outside to help Jools in the garden, pruning and weeding before I lost interest and returned inside to watch the second half of the Italy v England egg-chasing game.
That done there was a short pause before the Cituh v Spurs game on the radio. We ate cheese and crackers towards the end, instead of a meal. Mmmm, cheesey.
We round up the day watching documentaries on black holes and a possible 9th planet orbiting the su. High brow stuff, Jools fell asleep, but it made me think. Think it was time for bed.
Anyway, a week at home, at least, so no packing for me.
Valentine's Day
We sleep in until half seven, after the cats learn to play the trumpet to wake us up.
Looking at the weather forecast, it seems we were set for rain until three in the afternoon at least, and heavy rain too. But looking outside, it seemed quite bright with just a light drizzle in the air. However, we decided to wait until after lunch to go out and do something, with Jools going to visit Nan and the old folks in the morning, and me watching football, as someone has to. Apparently.
So, with Molly sat beside me, and keeping one eye on the birds feeding outside, I watch the football whilst eating a fresh bacon butty, it makes the morning pass in a pleasant way.
Jools comes back at just before midday; Nan is not happy, she is really clinically depressed, but there is nothing we can really do for her. She is too frail to move, and she cannot hear much nor see either. It might be easier for us all if her mind had gone too, but that is still sharp as a tack.
The plan had been to go down to Dungeness in the afternoon, but with the football on the radio, and the thought that is was going out for the sake of it really, I decided that we should stay home and do chires. Well, I would do chores once the Arse v Leicester game finished. That ended in a 2-1 win for the Gooners, which was a little harsh on The Foxes. But, as promised, I went outside to help Jools in the garden, pruning and weeding before I lost interest and returned inside to watch the second half of the Italy v England egg-chasing game.
That done there was a short pause before the Cituh v Spurs game on the radio. We ate cheese and crackers towards the end, instead of a meal. Mmmm, cheesey.
We round up the day watching documentaries on black holes and a possible 9th planet orbiting the su. High brow stuff, Jools fell asleep, but it made me think. Think it was time for bed.
Anyway, a week at home, at least, so no packing for me.
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Sunday 14th February 2016
Today is Valentine's Day. Someone who may or may not have existed. But almost certainly, did not visit a petrol station to buy some limp roses for that significant other. Or others.
But that is today, yesterday was Saturday, and here's what happened.
Saturday
I wish I could say that we did a huge amount of stuff on the first day of the weekend. But the weather had other times, and a look at the BBC weather revealed the best part of 36 straight hours of heavy rain. I know we could have gone out anyway, my friend Sam suggested some mono work, but in the end, we decided to stay in. Sta in and look out of the window with rain drops running down the outside. The wind was set in the north, it was cold, wet and grim. Welcome to February.
Jools went to see Nan first thing, then went into Canterbury to look for a few things. Most of which seemed to be ice cream, but hey. I stayed home to listen to Danny Baker and make bread rolls. As I do. The house had three sleeping cats, upset that they could not go out, and so showed their displeasure by sleeping even longer. Occasionally coming down to the kitchen to meow at their full food bowl, indicating, well, who know.
We ate the rolls for lunch, still warm and filled with cold ginger sausages I cooked the day before, just for this very meal. And they were wonderful.
The afternoon was filled with football. Football on the wireless. Man Utd lost at Sunderland, then Norwich played West Ham, throwing away a 2-0 lead to hang on to a 2-2 draw. Not good enough and falling to 19th, next to bottom in the table. Thanks to Chelski thrashing The Toon 5-1, somehow we end the day in 17th place, and out of the bottom three. On goals scored. The only bright spot on a grim day really.
Nan's niece came to visit from the heart of deepest Surrey. After calling in to see Nan, Mary came to ours to swap news, drink coffee. This is part of Jools' extended family I have heard about, but not met before. All the cats were very unhappy with their house being filled by two people they did not know, so went outside into the rain to show their disapproval.
By six Mary had left, and so Jools and I had a party. Or party food anyway. Seems like a good idea, fill baking sheets with ready made nibbles, and 15 minutes later, sit on the sofa surrounded by tasty food, sipping cider or ale. Lovely.
The day ended up with the latest Nordic Noir series, Trapped, filmed in Iceland, and very Nordic and very noir. Hit the spot really.
But that is today, yesterday was Saturday, and here's what happened.
Saturday
I wish I could say that we did a huge amount of stuff on the first day of the weekend. But the weather had other times, and a look at the BBC weather revealed the best part of 36 straight hours of heavy rain. I know we could have gone out anyway, my friend Sam suggested some mono work, but in the end, we decided to stay in. Sta in and look out of the window with rain drops running down the outside. The wind was set in the north, it was cold, wet and grim. Welcome to February.
Jools went to see Nan first thing, then went into Canterbury to look for a few things. Most of which seemed to be ice cream, but hey. I stayed home to listen to Danny Baker and make bread rolls. As I do. The house had three sleeping cats, upset that they could not go out, and so showed their displeasure by sleeping even longer. Occasionally coming down to the kitchen to meow at their full food bowl, indicating, well, who know.
We ate the rolls for lunch, still warm and filled with cold ginger sausages I cooked the day before, just for this very meal. And they were wonderful.
The afternoon was filled with football. Football on the wireless. Man Utd lost at Sunderland, then Norwich played West Ham, throwing away a 2-0 lead to hang on to a 2-2 draw. Not good enough and falling to 19th, next to bottom in the table. Thanks to Chelski thrashing The Toon 5-1, somehow we end the day in 17th place, and out of the bottom three. On goals scored. The only bright spot on a grim day really.
Nan's niece came to visit from the heart of deepest Surrey. After calling in to see Nan, Mary came to ours to swap news, drink coffee. This is part of Jools' extended family I have heard about, but not met before. All the cats were very unhappy with their house being filled by two people they did not know, so went outside into the rain to show their disapproval.
By six Mary had left, and so Jools and I had a party. Or party food anyway. Seems like a good idea, fill baking sheets with ready made nibbles, and 15 minutes later, sit on the sofa surrounded by tasty food, sipping cider or ale. Lovely.
The day ended up with the latest Nordic Noir series, Trapped, filmed in Iceland, and very Nordic and very noir. Hit the spot really.
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Saturday 13th February 2016
Friday
I have been known to complain about the amount of traveling that I do. Some weeks, by the time the weekend rolls round, I am shattered, and it is that rather than the traveling I don't like. Saying that, this week, four days at home and a day trip to Brussels, even if it meant traveling most of the way to London before picking up my train to Belgium. Even more frustrating is that we live about 5 miles from where the tunnel passes beneath Shakespeare Cliff, so to have to travel up to Ebssfleet just to travel all the way back en route is frustrating, but then to have to do the same thing in reverse is plain silly. But there were services stopping at Ashford that allowed me to see the end of the meeting.
Saying that, the thought of a nice day working from home did fill me joy; less so as I watched my mail inbox fill up during Thursday, which meant that either a later finish on Thursday, or up with the lark on Friday to toss those grenades back over the wall. As ever, the volume of work wasn't quite as bad as feared, and by mid-morning I had caught up, and now it was waiting to see if what I had done was sufficient. I have cheese and beans on toast for a mid-morning brunch, feeling much more human now.
I sat at the table working, Molly slept away on the chair beside me, apparently happy just to be there.
The bright sunrise had given way to low and heavy clouds, and so there seemed little point in going for a walk. I really should have taken the chance, but in fact, my enthusiasm of the morning faded in the afternoon, and with a migraine building, I took to the sofa to close my eyes. I wake up just before four, Denmark seems to have finished for the weekend, as all my colleagues are offline. I fire two last mails off, and I am done too.
I am to cook chorizo hash for dinner, but on her way home Jools is going to Tesco, so I wait to cook as the day fades outside. Once home, Jools puts the shopping away and I get cooking. Soon the house is filled with the smell of cooking paprika. I open a bottle of wine, and soon the meal is ready. We toast each other and congratulate the fact that we both have survived it again.
In the evening, we watch old TOTPs, a compilation of 70s music before our eyes begin to droop. Outside a frost has formed already, better to be tucked up in bed.
I have been known to complain about the amount of traveling that I do. Some weeks, by the time the weekend rolls round, I am shattered, and it is that rather than the traveling I don't like. Saying that, this week, four days at home and a day trip to Brussels, even if it meant traveling most of the way to London before picking up my train to Belgium. Even more frustrating is that we live about 5 miles from where the tunnel passes beneath Shakespeare Cliff, so to have to travel up to Ebssfleet just to travel all the way back en route is frustrating, but then to have to do the same thing in reverse is plain silly. But there were services stopping at Ashford that allowed me to see the end of the meeting.
Saying that, the thought of a nice day working from home did fill me joy; less so as I watched my mail inbox fill up during Thursday, which meant that either a later finish on Thursday, or up with the lark on Friday to toss those grenades back over the wall. As ever, the volume of work wasn't quite as bad as feared, and by mid-morning I had caught up, and now it was waiting to see if what I had done was sufficient. I have cheese and beans on toast for a mid-morning brunch, feeling much more human now. I sat at the table working, Molly slept away on the chair beside me, apparently happy just to be there.
The bright sunrise had given way to low and heavy clouds, and so there seemed little point in going for a walk. I really should have taken the chance, but in fact, my enthusiasm of the morning faded in the afternoon, and with a migraine building, I took to the sofa to close my eyes. I wake up just before four, Denmark seems to have finished for the weekend, as all my colleagues are offline. I fire two last mails off, and I am done too.
I am to cook chorizo hash for dinner, but on her way home Jools is going to Tesco, so I wait to cook as the day fades outside. Once home, Jools puts the shopping away and I get cooking. Soon the house is filled with the smell of cooking paprika. I open a bottle of wine, and soon the meal is ready. We toast each other and congratulate the fact that we both have survived it again.
In the evening, we watch old TOTPs, a compilation of 70s music before our eyes begin to droop. Outside a frost has formed already, better to be tucked up in bed.
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