2013:How was it for you?

The 226th and final blog of the year.

And here we are again, at the very end of the year. And what have we learned this year? Not much that we didn’t know at the end of last year if we’re being honest, other than the NSA reads my e mails better than I do I suppose.

On a personal level, I have had four different job titles, the last one being an unpaid promotion which then turned into a paid promotion. There are scary days ahead, and stress levels off the stress-o-meter, but for now, let me just take stock and say, its been a good year. I have travelled, mostly to Denmark, but did some unpaid beer and rib tasting. I am now a certified lead auditor in ISO 9001:2008.

In health news, I have suffered a major skin infection in my leg (now cleared) and suffered a minor bout of gout! I am watching what I drink more, just a bottle of beer each day, and no more than a couple of glasses of red wine. In fact since the trip to France a few weeks ago, I have had just the one bottle of red, spread out over three days. Not that it’ll do me any harms of course. Mum just survived a lung infection. In fact she is only here as Pat called the ambulance when she saw Mum was so blue due to lack of oxygen. Nan had two heart attacks in one morning, and only just survived, and is now in a nursing home: although she is improving and things look a little brighter than they did a week ago. She might get that telegram next year after all.













As usual, photography has taken more and more of my spare time as I really got into the projects this year: Kentish churches, Kentish pubs, butterflies and orchids. The orchids were a real highlight this year, especially the safari I went on at the beginning at June. A real treat to see some of the glories of the Kentish orchids. Then there was the finding of the Musk Orchids on the third attempt, and finally finding the Autumn Lady’s Tresses. As for butterflies, there was finally getting the Duke of Burgundy, seeing and snapping a few Adonis Blues, finding the Small Blues up on Western Heights, a friendly photographer showing me where the White Admiral could be seen ( and I did see it) and then finally seeing two Long Tailed Blues up on Kingsdown Leas. All real highlights. As for churches, we found some real obscure ones, but the highlight was the day in September zipping around the Hoo Peninsular snapping the fine churches there, some with very strong Dickens connections. Then there were the two trips behind steam locomotives to York and back, the one behind Bittern was a dream realised, of course. Open house was a joy, mostly, and I have some great shots from there, and many more churches in the City ticked off my list.









































As for music, we did not go to any gigs this year, I think. A first for us. And as last year, I can’t say I have any favourite singles or tracks, other than most of what Radcliffe and Maconie plays are all brilliant. Without doubt, the best track I heard this year was this one from Little Richard, which Chris Evans played back to back with Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin, which enlivened a morning drive to the Bluebell Railway.

I only bought a couple of albums this year; the new Arcade Fire on vinyl, which will take some listening to as it is spread over for sides of plastic. Must listen to it more. But without doubt the best thing we heard was the Public Service Broadcasting’s debut, which stands up to repeated plays and still sounds new and wonderful.





We went to the cinema just once, to see Gravity, which was OK, but not worth the extra to see it in 3D, most other releases we saw on demand from Sky. Must try harder next year: I mean we have not seen the new Hobbit film, and that is the first time I have missed out on one of them on its opening day.

On TV, I have watched mostly documentaries, with the two highlights being The Dark Ages: An Age of Light, which was just wonderful. So wonderful we watched it twice. And the other highlight was Tudor Monastery farm, which has only just finished, and we have a special episode tonight on BBC2.

On the radio, pretty much the same as last year: Radcliffe and Maconie, Steve Lamaq I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, The Infinite Monkey Cage all were unmissable.

In sport, it was a mostly disappointing year: in football, although Norwich finished in 11th place, it still felt like it was a disappointing season, with survival only obtained after two wins in the final two matches. Inbtween those two matches, City won the FA Youth Cup, which bodes well for the future. We hoped.

But, despite spending more on players during the summer than almost all managers have ever spent at the club, things have not really improved, and as the year closes we find ourselves in the middle of a relegation battle and doubts over the manager.

Football in general is obsessed with money as ever, with players on huge sums of money and ticket prices going up, yet TV money increasing by 60%. The owner of Hull City wants to change the name of the club to Hull Tigers, as City is crappy or something, the owners of Coventry have moved the club to Northampton in a dispute with the city council over the ground and finally Vincent Tan had already changed Cardiff City into playing in red and changing the badge from a bluebird to a dragon, now he wants to change the name too and sacked Malky as the owner thinks he has done no good. Its all so sad, as on none of these cases have the fans been asked, or taken into account. Thankfully, football is not a life or death matter, then.

Elsewhere, Andy Murray became the first Briton to win Wimbledon since before the war, Chris Froome won the 100th running of Le Tour de France and England won the Ashes. Again. However, England also lost the Ashes in Oz, in miserable fashion, currently having lost all four of the tests so far, and little hope of a different result in the final game. In the Prem, Manchester United won the title, but that tempered with the news that Sir Alex Ferguson announcing his retirement just before the end of the season, and David Moyes replacing him from Everton. Since then, all has not been well at Old Trafford, but things are picking up for them as they try to chase down Arsenal and Man Citeh at the top. Although money talks still, Swansea won the League Cup beating Bradford City and then Wigan won the FA Cup to enter European competition for the first time. I did not watch the Tour this year, just not enough time, but I did keep up to date via Twitter and the radio. A second Brit winning it in two years is really something to be celebrated. Neither did I watch any Wimbledon, a combination of work, orchids and butterflies was the reason, but he did well to cope with the pressure and a nation’s hopes to lift the trophy.

The government has continued the war against the sick, the disabled, the singe parents and the unemployed, whilst the Tory press urges them on to even more savage cuts. Sometime I wonder how we got ourselves into this mess with Tory boy and his cronies, and then I remember Bliar and Brown. Oh yes, you have a lot to answer to.

Tomorrow I will bring you my hopes and predictions for the new year…..

Monday 30th December 2013

Sunday.

And on the Lord's day the sun did shine and the winds did not blow!

In truth most days have felt like Sunday since I stopped work for the festivities on Monday. But, like most other days there were plenty of football to listen to in the afternoon. So, there was never nothing to do.



In the morning, after a late breakfast, we drove down to Dover Patrol for a walk along the cliffs. A walk along the cliffs is never a wasted one, as the views down onto the beach or crashing waves, or even over the Channel to france is always aweinspiring. We found a place to park and set off, and we were not the only ones to have these thoughts, although most seemed to be day visitors or tourists to the area. But we don't mind, there's plenty of room for all.



Just north of Dover Patrol we could see there has been yet another fresh cliff fall, just a small one, but the bleached-looked blocks of chalk reached out about 50m into the sea. The fallen section gives dramatic views down onto the beach and along the line of cliffs to Kingsdown.

We walked back to the via the path over the fields, and we meet no one else along the way. Once back at the car park we see that there are many more cars about, and one is waiting for us to leave so short are the parking spaces. We drive to B&Q to check out roof panels for the shed, only to find they sell only very large ones. So, we retreat home to check online, and for me to cook lunch.

Lunch turned out to be warmed up turkey and all the trimmings (cooked fresh) and in about an hour we had a very fine Sunday lunch indeed. We open a bottle of wine, and listen to a match on the radio as we eat.

Sunday 29th December 2013

Saturday.

Not it really was Saturday, with football and all that shit. And the shops were open! Yay, shopping!

We had been putting of food shopping for some days, but now we were out of cat food and a few other things, so better get it over with sooner rather than later. We rushed round, got our stuff and got out before it got too busy.

I say this only because we really needed a new lamp for the dining room table. The one we have had a wiring fault, which I fixed, but it really was a bodge. And then one of the shades cracked in half, caused by some other fault, and so we really needed to get rid of it. So, we looked online, expecting to find a local lighting shop, I mean most towns used to have them, right? But the nearest was in Canterbury, which at eleven could be an interesting experience with the traffic.

Instead of the one we got the last one from in Palace Street, we saw there was one out near Wincheap, which could mean missing the worst of the traffic and the crowds in the centre of town. Worth a try! So, we drove to Canterbury, found the shop and a free parking space right outside, which was a stroke of luck. And we both agreed on one heavily reduced lamp for under sixty quid, we checked it worked and paid for it.

Phew.

so instead of heading back down the A2 I took us down the Ashford road, alongside the flooded River Stour.



Where we going, Jools asked. Not that she was bothered, but when I said we were going to look for Eastwell, she kinda rolled her eyes, or I could have imagined it.

I thought I remembered the way fro the map, but it was clear that I was a little lost, I pulled over to check the map. There should be a turning just along here I said, more in hope.



And there was; and as soon as we turned down the lane, I could see the tower through the trees.

St Mary sits beside a lake, and is almost too perfect. As we crossed over a small bridge we could see a thin mist rising from the lake. The road was just about passable after the recent rain, so we made it to the gates of Eastwell Park and the church.



I snapped it from all angles, happy with what I got a promise to return when the surrounding area is not a swap to explore the surrounds and lake. At the end of the lane, I turned right and headed to Westwell, where there was another church.

And another St Mary's.

Situated in the centre of the village, it was an unusual church for Kent; a square tower with a short spire. But, as is the way for me, it was locked and no details of how to get the key. so I got shots all around the outside and went back to the car so we could head back to Dover for lunch.

And so to settle down on the sofa to listen to City take on Man You on the radio. And, well, after dominating play in the first half, as seems the way we slipped to be ever more defensive in the second until Utd scored the inevitable winner. CH spoke about commitment and passion, but Chris, they will only take you so far, and commitment along will not win football matches. Goals do.

So, another evening ruined and means I have to dodge MOTD again. Grrrr.

Saturday 28th December 2013

Friday.

One of those nondescript days between Christmas and New Year. I wish I could say something better about it than that, the kind of day you long for in the spring or summer when you have to go to work and there are churches/butterflies/orchids just crying out to be sought out. In a bid to stretch out the excitement, we postponed the trip to Tesco until Saturday as we had enough food....

The wind did blow again, not not as strongly as just before Christmas, so we watched as the raindrops ran down the window. As you do....

In the morning we did chores, then we both did a session on the cross-trainer. Oh yes we did! I stepped it up a bit and did half an hour, which was not too bad, and then I cooked bacon butties for lunch which undid all the good work that the cross-trainer has done. Or not.

In the afternoon Jools went out to see Nan and pick up more of her old paperwork from the house of silence. Nan was feeling better, issuing orders left, right and centre. That might be harsh, but as she has so much thinking time it is to be expected I suppose. We hope that these list of orders will get smaller as the days and weeks go by... The home is not perfect, despite the rates charged, there are staff shortages, and patients can be left for long periods. Its hard to know what to do as there really are no alternatives that have spaces. And the number of alternatives are so small, just three other such places in town.

Whilst Jools was out, I took to the sofa to take in the final Wittertainment of the year. A best/worst of, always good for a listen, even if I did struggle to keep my eyes open.

In the evening we watched Austin Powers, as jools had not seen it before. And I keep quoting lines from it. It wasn't as funny as I remember, but it raised a few smiles.

Friday 27th December 2013

Boxing Day

Or Christmas Day part 2 as it was in our house. And that is because we decided to go to Dad's for Christmas it meant that we had a turkey crown all to ourselves for Boxing day.



We did go and see Nan in the morning. She is holding her own, but she look pale and her body only sakes a slight bump in her bedclothes as she lays in bed. Her speech is difficult to understand at times, and she has been having very odd dreams thanks to her medication. The home has all sorts of residents, from those who can move about or are lucid, the the lady in the next room who shouts random noises all day. Even Nan without her aids can hear her.



Once we were back home, we headed out to see if there was any sign of the shed roof. I suppose we should have gone out before, But what with one thing and another, we didn't. Anyway, with the sun shining it was a great day for a walk. We found nothing, and the ground is saturated with rainwater. We walked for an hour then turned back so I could but the turkey in the oven.



We ate at two as the first game of the day reached it's climax. And once we had cleared up, there was more and yet more games on the radio. I snoozed on the sofa well into the second half of the three o'clock games; City conceded a goal in the last 5 minutes to slump to a 2-1 defeat to Fulham. As bad a result as it is possible to have, and what with Man Utd visiting just 48 hours later, they really will have to lift themselves.



In the evening we watched a film, Elysium, which was OK, with holes in the plat which did not make any sense, but it diverted us. Later we got the scrabble board out so Jools could beat me, which she did, just. It's just not my game, really, but I do do better. Maybe with practice and a dictionary I might just win.

And during the night the wind did indeed begin to blow again. Lots of weather about.....

Wednesday 25th December 2013

Christmas Day.

There is a reason as to why I am blogging at half four on Boxing Day morning. That reason is that I went to bed before seven yesterday evening, so I have had something like seven hours sleep now.

As to why I went to bed at such an early hour, that was down to two further factors: being up at five on Christmas Eve, then sitting up till nearly midnight watching tV and just five hours sleep. And four pints of wifebeater. Sorry, Stella. Stella used to be called Wifebeater when I was in the RAF, but then so did Tennant's too.

Let me say I have never beaten any of my wives, nor do I think such a thing is funny.

Anywho. It is still dark, there is no wind, for a change, there is a badger in the front garden hoovering up peanuts, England are on the verge of another collapse Down Under, and I have just had a cold sausage roll for a light snack before I try to get more shut-eye.

There is still no sign of the shed roof.

So, I got up at five yesterday, fed the cats and put on the Christmas tree lights. It still didn't feel like Christmas. Once Jools got up we had breakfast. I call it breakfast, in truth it was two mince pies,which was pretty darn good. At nine we got a call call from mum; she is not well again, as she is not looking after herself, back on the crap food and fags. So, I say the right things and we chat some.



At eleven, once the rain has stopped and the sun has broken through, we head out to the NT's lace on the cliffs to look at all the ferries berthed on the one day of the year there is no service. There were less than in previous years, but a good half dozen were tied up, and crew seemed busy doing stuff.



We sat on a bench to take in the scene, and Jools spotted a Kestrel hovering over some poor animal just a handful of yards away. Could I get the other camera out, change lenses so I could get a shot before it moved off or dived?



No.

A crow chased it off, and despite waiting half an hour, it did not return. We did a quick visit to St Martin's Battery up on Western heights to get the view from there, before we head to Dad's for the traditional family get-together and dinner.



We chat, we drink, we open gifts,and at half three dinner is served. Just as well as we are all very hungry, and so tear through what Tony has prepared.

Jools drops me off home while she does the taxi duties. I watch the end of Muppet Christmas Carol, and feel like crap. I try hard to keep awake, but it is useless. I head to bed before Dr Who, and go to sleep as the title music starts......

Tuesday 24th December 2013

Christmas Eve

I awoke at five when the alarm pulled me back into the world of the living, it sounded like there was a hurricane raging outside. Rain was lashing down at the back of the house. I laid for a while listening to the radio to hear the news on the damage to the country from the storm.

I went downstairs, fed the cats and made a cup of coffee. Feeling slightly more human after just the 5 hours sleep (damn you MOTD and beer!). I went out to the car and so began the exciting drive to Preston, kent. Now, it takes just half an hour tops, on a normal day to get to the butchers, but today I thought might be different. Having just gone six, the petrol station at the Duke of York's was open, so I filled up, whilst all around the wind and rain swirled. Under the Guston bridge, deep floodwater had gathered, but as it always does this i knew it was there so had slowed down.

I tootled along at 50mph, all the way to Sandwich, the wind still howled but little by little the rain eased. There was standing water in places, but none too bad. Once I took the Canterbury road the rain eased more, and so by the time i took the Nash turn it had almost stopped. There was a car in front of me,so I let them test how deep the regular floods along the road were. As he got through, i trusted that I could, and in the end none of the floods were deep enough for concern.

I got to the butchers to find three of them waiting and no customers; I suppose people thought it better to wait until the storm passed before going out. Maybe I should have done that, too? Anyway, we were all in good spirits, I picked up my order, paid and headed back out onto the pale light of dawn. At home i saw that one of the roof panels from the shed was missing; not much I could do about that, other than go upstairs to see if I could see it. No luck, it could be anywhere from in next door's garden to Deal or beyond. We shall have to go to B&Q to get a replacement after the festivities.



Despite knowing the road was OK, I took the longer one to Wingham before doubling back to Sandwich, just as it meant driving along better, more travelled roads, and the less chance of floods.

Once home I switched the computer on so I could let Jools know how things were as she was going to try to get a train back. London Underground was mostly unaffected, and there were just trains to Ashford from St Pancras. This I told Jools on the mobile and that I could go and pick her up from Ashford if needed.

I went back out to find a fruit and veg shop, as the two farm shops on the way home from Preston were still closed at seven. I headed to Cherrytree in town and found a parking space. So it was a short walk in the rain to the shop, and I managed to get the few things I needed to complete the meal.

And back home again for breakfast, and to wait news from Jools. She got to St Pancras and got on a crowded train to Ashford, and that was as far as it was going, as the line beyond to dover must have still been flooded or blocked. So I set off to pick her up.

I drove down Jubilee Way to see if there were queues for the ferries, but it seemed very quiet; one was just docking as another headed out into the Channel, and the A20 had a few lorries, but no the Operation Stack I was expecting. At least traffic was light up to Ashford, although it was still raining and there was plenty of spray about. That does not excuse the idiots driving around at 90mph and with no lights on.

I got to the station with a couple of minutes to spare, and I had hardly parked the car before Jools came out. Christmas could now begin.

We drove back at 50mph, as we were in no hurry; back to Dover and then up Jubilee Way along the Deal Road and home. It was a relief to know we were home and not needed to go out again.

What better than a cup of coffee, a generous slice of Christmas Cake and a sit down looking at the grim weather outside.

That day I made mince pies and sausage rolls, and it is these we had for dinner once it had gotten dark. If we were not ready for Christmas now, it was too late.....