Tag Archives: tidying

A Day of Eggs and Chores

A leaf in Arnott Hill park

This morning I rose shortly before 7am and started my day. I do not have a great deal to do today, but it feels virtuous to start with “This morning I rose shortly before 7qm . . .”

It was 6.48, so it wasn’t that long before. This may be the opening line I need for my memoirs. Getting up before 7.00 and blogging makes me look reasonably industrious without necessarily promising too much. This is about right, I am industrious in patches, and have achieved very little. That’s probably why I never actually get beyond the stage of thinking “today I will write my memoirs”. You really need something to write about and a memoir from someone who has done less with his life than most of his readers is about as much use as a novel where nothing happens.

The view from Tebay Services

I wonder if you can make a book out of blog posts – The Collected Blog Posts of a Nobody. It would be a true title, but runs into the same old problem. The fact that I woke up, wrote, made coffee for my wife, who spent yesterday morning wood turning, and had high fibre cereal for breakfast is interesting only to me, and even then, I felt my interest waning towards the end. Julia enjoyed the wood turning. We now have a small Christmas tree in oak and something that could be the end of a pull cord, if we drill a hole for it. It’s not bad for a first lesson.

We had soup for lunch. She is, in case I haven’t mentioned it, half pack rat, and had been storing half-used vegetables at the back of the fridge. This is an area where we differ. I tend to use all the vegetable, and if I don’t, I leave it at the front so it doesn’t get old and wrinkly. I have just checked up pack rat in Wiki to make that link. She wants to know what I am laughing at.

They are particularly fond of shiny objects. A peculiar characteristic is that if they find something they want, they will drop what they are currently carrying—for example, a piece of cactus—and “trade” it for the new item.

And that, dear reader, explains the decor of our home.

Sunlit oak leaves at Clumber

After breakfast, we tidied kitchen cupboards to check for duplication and find out what we needed to order for Christmas. We don’t need to order stuffing. I ordered four cheap packets last week as we seemed to have run out whilst making turkey sandwiches last week. At least half the fun of eating turkey sandwiches is in the trimmings, rather than the turkey. I could order a better quality turkey but the cost of a good one always makes me think I should be living in it rather than eating it. I see I can get a free range bronze turkey from Marks for £150. In my youth I used to pay less than that for cars.

After that I made two jars of pickled eggs, then heated up yesterday’s soup and made egg sandwiches to accompany it. The eggs I use are a bit larger than the average pickled egg and I can only get five eggs into a jar. That meant I had several more eggs left over than I planned. Guess what tomorrow’s sandwiches are going to be.

We watched a bit of TV as we ate then Julia started work again and I watched more TV. Then I washed up the mess I had made before remembering I had a blog post to finish.

Rufford Abbey Lake

False Positive

10 Replies

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.

Some thoughts on Rammle

11 Replies

I just had to edit a post from a few days ago. I’d written 2012 instead of 2021. I know I leave typos in, but I now wonder if I’ve put some wrong dates in. If I have, nobody has mentioned it.

A couple of months ago, I had a move round in the dining room. In looking for some things I disturbed a neat pile of boxes on my table (and a few others that were carefully stacked next to my typing table. They were tidy, I promise you. I churned things round, as I was in a hurry, and made a promise to myself I would tidy it next day. I didn’t get round to it. But I have noticed that the mess has grown and spread. It now looks like a subterranean volcano of rammle has built up under the house before venting itself in my dining room. It’s like Narnia in reverse.

I had to look rammle up. I use it in speech but you rarely see it in writing as it’s a dialect word and not much used by the university educated prats who write most of our news. Look up rammel and you get a German page followed by a British politician, then Erwin Rommel. Look up rammle and it asks you if you meant ramble. I didn’t.

Working on the knife sharpening theory I am now going to work on the rubbish pile and sort it out over the rest of the week (interspersing it with my similarly paced writing of my presentation for next Monday).

Service records show that the recipient of these medals (known as a 1914-15 trio and Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valour didn’t go to Italy during the war, just France. This wasn’t uncommon, as the alllies used to send batches of medals to each other for award to troops, almost as a superior sort of souvenir. I’m not sure what he did to merit a medal, but his records also show that he was admitted to hospital with VD just days after reaching France. I suspect his embarkation leave had been spent in the traditional way and had come home to roost.

The medals in the header photo belonged to Superintendent Tacey of the City of Nottingham police. His service records indicate rapid promotion and a mention in despatches for his hard work during the war. He did go to Italy for a while. They will both be featured in my presentation on Monday. Not long now . . .

So Much to Do

7 Replies

Now that the ideas are coming, I can’t stop them. Unfortunately I can’ remember them either, so I’m not making he best use of them. This morning I had three ideas coming downstairs. Only one of them was useful. The other two were about gravity and accidental death in the home, but I often think of them whilst making my way downstairs. The other was forgotten before I set foot on solid ground. I know it was a good idea, because I distinctly remember thinking “That’s a good idea.” as I came downstairs. And “I must remember that.” But I didn’t.

It’s the Numismatic Society Auction on Monday night – not the best time for it, being Bank Holiday Monday, but we will have to see.. I have to sort out what I’m bidding on. Fortunately I don’t collect coins so there aren’t many lots to interest me. This could be the recipe for a cheap but exciting night out – all the anticipation of an auction followed by a night buying a few cheap lots. Or even buying nothing . . .

Watch this space.

It’s been a cold day again. The weather is very changeable at the moment -one day Spring then a day or two of Winter. I can put up with the cold (I’m wearing a blanket like a shawl as I type) but the disappointment is harder to bear. A day of daffodils and blue skies followed by a couple of cold days with grey skies and a sprinkle of cold rain is depressing.

Meanwhile, I’ve actually done a little tidying. I won’t be hanging out any flags just yet as it’s not made a noticeable difference. However, if I do bit each day (as I often say when making excuses for lack of results) the results will eventually become significant.

I’m now going to make a list of things to do this evening and tomorrow in the hope that I might get something done before I go to the auction. (I’m not neglecting Julia, by the way, I asked if she’d like to go out for a romantic evening tomorrow (coin society auction followed by pizza on the way home) but she said she’d rather stay at home and watch her courgette seedlings grow.

Close to the Edge…

14 Replies

I did some of my WP stuff on Julia’s netbook last night. For those of you too young to remember them netbooks were low in power and small in size. You could use them to access the internet and nobody has produced them since 2013. I’m pretty sure the average modern phone is more powerful than a netbook and think they have been replaced by tablets. The sad thing is that my computer seems to be even less powerful than the netbook – the netbook, for instance, can show the pictures on my blog posts, but the computer cannot. It occasionally showsd one, just to tempt me into thinking everything is working, but next time it is back to a blank space and frustration.

Yesterday after noon I accomplished about 15% of what I meant to do, which was annoying, so today I have set myself a target of 100%. In addition, I want to attend to the blog and check emails.

It has just taken me eight attempts to access the emails. Why? I don’t know.Probably just that technology hates me and is trying to drive me over the edge. It is getting close to success.

I’m trying to check on an email I sent a few weeks ago, and not succeeding. I’m just getting a rotating circle and and no action. I have logged out and am now preparing to struggle to get back in.

Still waiting…

I may do something else.

Still circling…

There must be something wrong at their end. I will close down in a moment and try to log in afresh.

Ah! Action!

It’s decided to tell me it can’t perform the action I requested. I requested it to open a file to check on a sent email. You’d think I’d asked for the secret of life judging by the time it’s taking and the secrecy surrounding it.

Believe it or not, since BT launched their “new and improved” email service it hasn’t been as good or reliable as it used to be. A suspicious man may try to link the two things.

I once had my car serviced. Next day I drove about sixty miles down the motorway and sixty miles back up (I have found this is generally a good way of getting home). On the way back.we stopped at a service area for toilets then drove the remaining 20 miles home. On the ring road we noticed a peculiar smell, and when we stopped at lights we found ourselves surrounded by a cloud of white smoke. The brakes were seized on and were smoking.

On Monday I went to the garage and explained what had happened.

“Ah yes,” said the man, “when people have trouble with cars just after servicing they often blame it on us.”

I wonder why…

I’m putting a picture on, but without enthusiasm. What’s the point when I can’t see it? It’s not even the picture I wanted, because the screen moved after I pressed the button. You will have to imagine me rolling my eyes and emitting a great “tut!”

Later addition – I just went back to try the email again. There’s a great red stripe on the page now, announcing they have a problem and are working on it. I’d guessed.

What’s Five Foot Four and Scares the Life out of Me?

28 Replies

After a day that alternated tedium with periods where I feared for my life, I am not quite sure what to write about.

I did think of a witty piece on the perils of being married but she’s been tidying all day, with regular pauses to snarl like a rabid badger, so I’m not going to risk that. I too have been tidying all day, but at a less frenetic pace. I have just put the vegetables in for tea and taken my chance to sneak to the computer while Julia is upstairs beating some poor junk into submission.

I am seriously thinking of making up one of those bundles on a stick that you used to see illustrated in kids’ books and running away to sea. My other choice, joining the French Foreign Legion under an assumed name, is not really a viable proposition for a man approaching his sell by date.

You have to be under 39½ on joining, and I don’t think hair dye and a cunningly doctored birth certificate are going to help me much with that. Apart from that I am amazingly eligible to join one of the toughest military units in the world. Their list of disqualifying medical conditions misses most of mine out and as long as I can meet the requirements of the BMI I only have the sports tests to do. Unfortunately, at the moment, I would need to be about fourteen feet tall for the BMI calculation to work.

This is probably too tall for a long and successful military career – it is usually felt to be a good thing if the soldier is shorter than the generally available cover.

Looks like I might just have to do what I’m told and offer her chocolate.

I saved two books on photography from the pile she gave me to throw out, so as from tomorrow you can expect better photos. For now I’m just going to chuck in a few old ones before returning to my roasting vegetables.

Don’t be fooled by the smile…

A married man and a day off

15 Replies

We’re having a day off today, the first we’ve managed for while. Naturally my thoughts turned to a lie in, leisurely breakfast and some light shopping. Julia is working this evening, so the trip to Stoke on Trent will have to wait until we can organise a full day. That’s Julia’s annual treat – touring factory shops. It’s an annual event for me too, though I find it falls short of treat status.

Hopefully we will have several more days off before Christmas because it’s been busy recently, and with Julia working weekends it’s easy to let the week slip by without taking time off. My workload is such that Julia says it will be difficult to tell the difference when I retire. I dispute this, but am willing to admit that I’m not going to win any prizes for industry.

Anyway, my plans all came to nothing. I woke early by accident, and as I was wondering what to do about this undesirable state of affairs, I was hit by the jobs list. Seems she’s been planning it for a while. Mostly standard stuff, and I did my normal nodding dog routine until…

“Your books in the living room need sorting out, and taking to the charity shop.”

She’s always had this unreasonable prejudice about me stacking books on the floor. To her, it’s an eyesore. To me it’s a logical place to put books, and it doesn’t involve a trip to IKEA for a bookcase calle Billy. ( I’m in total agreement with the Lancashire Hotpots on the subject of IKEA. Follow this link to find out what they think).

This quickly turned nasty.

“But me no buts, you pusillanimous worm. If you don’t have shelf space you can’t keep them.”

(She didn’t actually use those words, but you could tell she was thinking them).

So I’m working slowly and stacking carefully. With any luck I’ll get away with a few dozen books, particularly if I cook a large lunch.

I do so love these rare days off…

It all ended well

13 Replies

Another Monday, and just when you think you are immune to surprises we walked into several.

Number One, a note asking me to clean up the desk and trays.

After biting back several terse and witty retorts I have cleared the desk and trays by putting every bit of paperwork that isn’t mine and filing it in a bin bag. It’s a lot tidier now, I’ve done as I have been asked, and I’ve now made it someone else’s problem.

Number Two, a continuation of the tidying theme. I walked into the kitchen and found all my ingredients had been tidied away. Again, I thought we’d moved beyond this obsessive tidying behaviour. It isn’t cleaning, it’s just a compulsion to move things. So, as I got ready for the visitors I had to re-stack the shelves so that my ingredients were all to hand, just as they had been on Saturday night.

And finally, Three. Vicki was walking past the chicken coop in the barn (the one where we’d previously found the keets) when she heard cheeping. This time it seems to seven chicks. Seems like someone else decided to lay eggs on the top again. During the rescue mission two of the chicks fell to the floor and were promptly set upon by the chickens who live there. Fortunately they weren’t injured and all seven are now under a heat lamp.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Yes, it’s been a day of unexpected happenings…

After all that the visit from the Guides, the pizza, the Butterfly Count and the climate measuring all proceeded according to plan.