Tag Archives: busy day

False Positive

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Today feels like I have done a lot of work, but if I sit and list it all, I’m not sure what I’ve actually done, hence the title.

I’ve read and replied to comments on WP. I haven’t written anything yet (it’s now past midnight) and have only read a couple of blogs – which have been about the Birdwatch, rather than my regular beat.

I’ve researched mealworm farming, which is a lot like worm farming. The main feature is that they do better when the temperatures are warmer. Our worms never prospered, though when we move the equipment I am going to keep them in the garage for a bit of extra warmth and see if we can do better.  The mealworms will be next to them. I also looked at the practicalities of keeping them going through the winter, but decided it is too much trouble, as it needs a pump, a fish tank heater, piping and insulation. I’ll let the worms go dormant over winter and will buy dried mealworms for the birds. That was 2-3 hours for very little result.

Breakfast was toast and marmalade. We watched the birds on the feeders, I tried to write poetry, Julia went for a walk and we had a full English breakfast for lunch (including the black pudding Julia bought from a local butcher. It was good, but the price seems to suggest it is in the luxury bracket these days rather than the peasant food I always thought.

Teasel – breaking into flower

In the evening we finished off the cauliflower soup and had a sandwich. Having weighed myself this morning, I find I am back to my pre-Christmas weight. It’s far too heavy, but at least it’s not an increase.

I also did a number of emails this morning and researched a couple of articles. Didn’t write any though. Struggle with poetry again this afternoon, had cup of tea and freshly baked banana bread (Julia has had a busy day too, though hers was more productive than mine).

I also found the camera battery chargers and spare batteries – they had gone missing during the move. Also sorted my files and stationery drawers (mostly) and cleared my desk (by shoving the files and stationery into the aforementioned drawers. then I made a  mess of the desk again.

Watched some TV. Watched some more. Sat down to finish some submissions – failed.

As I say, a busy but unproductive day.

I note that according to a treaty of 1917 the UK has first refusal on Greenland if the Danes decide to sell it. That could be subject for a political farce. The only trouble is that it’s too hard to make things up that are madder than real life. My main worry, apart from WW3, is that Boris, inspired by Trump, makes another bid for party leadership.

Teasel at Rufford Abbey

I really must look at where to plant some teasel for the wildlife. So much to do, so little time.

 

The Longest Day

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It was an active start to the day, with both of us needing to do things today, in contrast to our normal relaxed Wednesday starts. Let’s face it, all my starts are relaxed these days, even the ones where I take Julia to work – even on those I amble down, eat the breakfast she has prepared and do a bit of cardio by shouting at other drivers on the road. This experience has recently been enhanced by a number of road closures, which gives me a lot more scope for vocal exercises.

Julia had to go to Southwell Minster with one of the neighbours. I had to go to the garage.

Julia’s day involved a queue to get into the Minster, followed by a slow semi-queue as she went round an exhibition, and another queue on the way back when they were stuck in a jam waiting for the emergency services to clear cars from a collision. They were stuck for an hour, but the driver made up time and they were only have an hour late getting back to town, though slightly scared by the driving.

On arriving home late, and finding me still out, she texted twice and rang once to see where i was. When she texted the first time I was just pulling out of the garage in my newly fixed car. When she rang, I was in a queue at roadworks with a police car behind me. Neither are good places to answer phone messages.

The story with the car (I think I told you about the neighbour knocking the housing off my wing mirror) is that they were able to use the original parts (last time someone hit it a following car ran the bits over before I could get back to them), reconnect the electrics, stick on a new mirror glass (£30 for a small bit of mirror glass!) and get me through the MOT. You can pass the MOT without a nearside mirror, but if the mirror is designed to hold your repeater indicator, you can’t. Madness in both logic and design, as I had a perfectly good indicator in each corner. I don’t know why you need side repeaters.

Julia, meanwhile, had enjoyed most of her day. It is the 140th Anniversary of Southwell Minster being declared a cathedral. They also have a visiting exhibition – 80 scenes from D-Day to celebrate the 80th Anniversary. So far, I hear you say, so good. But what made it worth queuing for. Well, it’s an international cooperation between knitters. Yes, all 80 scenes are constructed by knitting. However, I suppose you can tell that from the pictures.

The pictures are, of course, a knitted homage to D-Day 6th June 1944. The lighting wasn’t great, the cases were reflective, and the processional nature of the exhibit prevented too much stopping or any going back, so she is apologetic about the images. They are better than I could have managed in the circumstances, so I am happy with them. There will be more tomorrow.

Ups and Downs

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It was another day of manic activity as we kept getting orders from the new sales initiative. I quite like the active days, though it would be nice to have a little variation in pace.

The day started off with my second failed blood test in two weeks. I am consistently coming in too high and actually climbing as they seek to adjust the dose downwards. I’m not sure why this is happening but I suspect it might b because I started making an effort to do things properly. Instead of drifting on and forgetting to take my pills or taking them late, I am establishing a routine and I wonder if this means I have effectively increased the does without meaning too. I’m not taking supplements, I haven’t changed any medication and I haven’t ben eating huge amounts of green vegetables, which can all affect it. Whatever has caused it, the slow reduction by one tablet a week, as they have done this week, isn’t going to see it corrected any time soon.

Yesterday, I had an email headed “Congratulations”. Normally I’m wary of them because they usually contain details of how lucky I am to have been chosen to launder the estate of a deceased African politician. Presumably, the way things have been going, they will soon be inviting me to launder the estates of corrupt Tory supporters who have amassed illicit millions by making PPE for the NHS.

This one was from the British Haiku Society. I entered their annual competition and the results are out. According to the results there were 587 haiku, 164 tanka and 71 haibun entered. I am one of the top five haibun. I wasn’t 1st or 2nd but I did get an Honourable Mention which means I have a certificate and a free book.

The strange thing is that  the one I did all the work on made no impact but the successful one was one which had only been returned by an editor the week before. I tweaked it a bit, in line with his comments, and sent it off to the competition. It just goes to show, as I have said before, that I am not a good judge of my own writing.

 

The Chimes of Midday

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I’ve just heard the sound of the Council House clock striking. I always feel it’s a good day when air conditions and the wind direction carry the sound. You can, of course, get too much of a good thing, which is why the chimes stop at 10.30. This was done many years ago when hoteliers complained that the bell was keeping guests awake. In the 1970s I spent a night in Durham. The cathedral clock chimes all through the night. All through. Loudly. Never again.

Anyway, apart from that I’ve had an unremarkable day.

Dropped Julia at work. Filled the car (the fuel gauge lit up and pinged). Came home. Did some more of the OU course I started yesterday (it’s a 12 hour course on poetry, nothing heavy), did comments on WP, did a bit of editing, read a couple of internet articles, washed up and realised that it’s midday and I need to get some work done. Also realised I didn’t know how to spell midday so had to look it up.

I had the same problem last week with the plural of roof. I pronounce it rooves, but I’m sure it is correctly, though inaccurately, spelt roofs. Seems I’m wrong and rooves is still acceptable in the UK, even though Doctor Johnson declared it to be obsolete in 1755. It’s always irritated me that it’s spelt differently to way I say it, particularly when wife and calf both go to a v in the plural.

I am so glad I’m not a lexicographer or a scholar of the English language. So many details, so much tedium.

I thought I’d write a post to make sure it’s done (Final of the Great British Bake Off tonight so I won’t be writing much). Laura is my favourite contestant, though not the greatest baker. She’s very clumsy and often drops cakes in the final stages. Then, the next week, when you thing she’d slow down and use both hands she’s back at it, talking, rushing, moving cake one-handed and spilling it again.

It is finished. I’m now going to make a sandwich and move some stuff round so Julia thinks I’ve been tidying up.

 

An Excellent Evening

I wrote this post last night after returning from Julia’s birthday meal  At 11.30 I thought I posted it with time to spare but as I sat down to write now, just over 12 hours later, it seems I merely saved it as a draft. I was tired. All the conviviality was too much for me. I’m getting old. Apply whichever excuse seems most likely.

Whatever the reason, I failed to post it. This means that “today” means “yesterday”.

We had a busy day in the shop today, as if to compensate for a serious lack of customers during the week. This was helped by a cessation of rain. It has been a cold, wet week.

Several customers who have been absent for a week or two put in an appearance, and another one returned after an absence of two years.

At the end of the day, as we turned the final key in the lock, I realised I’d left the camera in the back room again. As I had to cut my hair, trim my beard, wash, change and pick Number One Son up and get to the restaurant for 7.00 I decided just to go home. I have other cameras for the weekend and the photos on the card will have to wait.

We had a good meal, caught up with family gossip and launched Julia into her sixty first year in grand style. Judging from the presents her family think she’s an alcoholic with dry skin and a lack of shopping bags.

I think this may be what happens as women reach a certain age. Maybe a lady reader could enlighten me on the etiquette of buying skin care products for the more mature woman.

If I bought Julia body lotion would I be seen as thoughtful, or would it look like I was hinting she had the skin of a wrinkly lizard?

We are home now and I’m writing this sitting in front of the fire. We have just eaten a couple of chocolates and all is well, though when we turn 70 we will have to tone things down. A week of celebrations is a bit much for us now.

The picture is a phoenix rising from the flames, though you may remember it from this post.