Busy Day.

Over four hundred kids plus mums came through the museum today, over 400!
One of the trails involves the younger ones seeking five different pictures each with a tray of sticky labels to attach to sheet. The stickies had disappeared!  This meant finding the sheets of new ones and cutting them up, but there were too few, someone had forgotten to order them.  Panic cutting while the crowds came in.  Mums pushing pushchairs, childminders with a tribe of tots, Grans and Granddads being hauled along by sweet angelic children, they said, all crowding in while I cut the sheets and attempted to fill the trays while the kids were cheerfully emptying them quicker than I could cut them.
The other trails required pencils, so mums took pencils for all kids, including those who could not write,meaning we had run out of them soon enough.  Someone sought pencils, sharpened others found in strange places (how do kids get them in there?) and one women began to moan in a manner that could have resulted in cynical remarks had she been near me, luckily she was not in my area.  
The exotic animals, snakes, frogs and things were on show but the crowd had to wait and the queue came back into the centre of the museum.  The kids did well while waiting, especially as I kept ploughing through them to fill wee trays with stickies while others went from one event to another.
Just after noon it began to quieten down.  Lunch helped lessen the flow.  
Another decent event, much fun with the kids, they were happy, the mums were happy and the staff exhausted.  Still that is what keeps us going...

Dear oh Dear...

After the meeting yesterday I was very tired, the bug fightng back again, and I was home and asleep by 7:30.  Even after I rose at seven, having been awake since six, I still felt the weariness upon me.  Just how weary was to show later.
Early morning talk discussed the meeting whereupon heads once again banged the desks mutterings thing not quite comprehensible.  A longing for the next one did not arise.  I decided tea was the answer and prepared in my usual manner the cups for myself and my colleague with a smile on my face and cheeriness in my heart.  I filled the kettle, switched it on and left to set up the day.  
Imagine my surprise then when I returned to our small cramped kitchen to find the two cleaners sniggering outside.  On entering the place was like a sauna and he had been mopping up the water from the walls.  Some fool had switched on the kettle, left the lid up, and hopped it.  Thus when boiled it continued to boil without ceasing as the lid was up and thus the water evaporated, or at
least tried to but in the small cramped kitchen it just drenched everything.
With a guilty face I denied everything....
Everyone blamed me.
The day continued well enough as little happened for a while except my easy way of upsetting a Ukipper.  For some reason Brexit was mentioned as we chatted to the cleaner, it stops him working, and she next to me gave out the 'Everything will be OK, trade deals will be good' chat that falls easily from such Brexiteers.  Her info is found in the pages of the 'Daily Express' and she, like many, wish it to be true.  I indicated trade deals will be difficult and even Liam Fox has admitted that.  So far he has tentative deal with the Faroes and Burundi or some such and does not wish to discuss the USA demand that we give them the NHS before any deal is struck.  She did not like this and went of and has not spoken to me since.  
This got me thinking.  So many intelligent, usually thoughtful decent people have swallowed the Brexit lie and they cannot and will not accept anything other than what they wish to believe.  This is worrying.  It is as if a great deception has warped the minds and no debate is possible, only one answer is right and all others are wrong, 'Brexit will work' is the mantra even though it has proven otherwise.  Several million decent people have this problem, what caused this?
I have mentioned before that this could be a judgement on the nation, how else could such a situation exist when the false 'liberal' attitude has allowed wrong to be seen as right?  We also have Trump in the White House, put there by evangelicals who wish to stop abortion (good) and same sex marriage (good) but who allow an adulterous liar with an aptitude that makes him unfit for office to rule the world.  God rules the world, how else but by demonic activity or judgement could this be allowed? 
The human side is clear, although 'clear' is not a word that can be used in the House of Commons at the moment.  We can see how people got into this mess but not how they can get out.  Sadly the situation defies simple explanations, I wonder what unexpected happening will occur soon?  
Anyway I finished my day by cutting out various parts of a body, no I don't know why either, and sauntered home via Sainsburys expensive prices to fall asleep for well over an hour.  I suggest 'brain work' is wearing me out but few appear to agree with me here.    
I look forward to hearing what tomorrow brings from my bed...

The Meeting

It started badly.
While I was there on time the main man was not.  A goodbye presentation at the same time reflecting his organisational powers.  The tables were surrounded by our lot, in my half asleep state (it was my siesta time after all) I hardly noticed some of them.  The top table was full of organised chaos awaiting those absurd questions that are not only out of place but sound as if they were replies from Theresa May.  
We waited.
People fiddled with pieces of paper, sipped drinks while the females had nothing to discussbut discussed it anyway.
We waited.
He began discussing local Mills, all gone bar one or two.  My eyes opened enough to acknowledge this point but failed to revive as Mills, flour mills that is, hold little interest for me.
We waited.
The one in charge glanced at the clock and she came to the conclusion we could get most things done and dusted quicker if we began now rather than wait any longer, otherwise he might join in.
She next to her began with comments re upcoming events she runs and the 'wonderful work of the volunteers without which nothing could be achieved.'  Meaning she wanted help with the events.
A few minutes past with the discussion which did not come across my path so I kept very quiet while they blethered on.  
Next Boss one gave a short mention to her ideas, none of which I remember for some reason.  The acoustics are poor and my hearing does not like them so I missed much of this so quietly slipped under the table unnoticed.  
Then a short discussion on upcoming events which I could not hear.  This was short and did not mention the big one nor me in any way, so I remained prone on the floor. 
We waited again.
She went to phone him and disappeared for a while.
We waited.
Convinced she had gone to cafe for coffee we waited.
Eventually she returned claiming he was on the way.
We waited.
I now had enough waiting and talk of mills, few spoke while I pondered on what one lass was scribbling down throughout the meeting.  Most of this did not involve her yet she has pages of notes, I merely had delirium tremors and began to see spiders on the ceiling.
He arrived and having sorted his paperwork began. 
The enlightening talk (he said) concerned the next five year plan.  For some reason I saw us all in Blue Military uniforms holding little red books in our hands, but that might have been just delirium again.
Page after page of the long term aims were presented all of which forgot one little thing, no money! On top of this there is the Brext effect and the dirty big hotel being built, probably from Autumn, opposite our site which will restrict visitors, hamper buses of schoolkids and merely line some councillors pockets, allegedly.  
The last redesign was magnificent but failed as George Osborn became Chancellor and brought in austerity for everyone bar himself.  Our money was cut then cut then cut, we now do it alone with a wee grant!
This plan may not arrive, if it does it will take five years to begin let alone finish.
Nevertheless the fact that none of this will happen in our lifetime did not stop questions being raised that may or may not be required in the distant future.
Sipping slowly on the quarter bottle of 'White horse' that I had brought for emergency I sat quietly muttering to myself as the discussion concerned what the Hall looked like 20 years ago or indeed what would happen if.....
I could take no more, I slipped into consciousness and slipped out the door and made my way to Tesco's where reality returned to me once more.
Tomorrow I have to go back to the museum and do it for real this time, I look forward to hearing peoples interesting comments re the meeting, I really do...

Tuesday Twaddle

It's been a gray day here in the land of fun and frolics.  The cloud has hung over us all day offering a bit of chill also and this has led me to seek out a sun filled photo from the past.  How lovely to be by the sea where the sun shines, the aid is filled with romantic aromas and people smile at you as they pass, sometimes.
Instead I sat in the museum cutting a yard length of wool and rolling it into a wee ball and adding it to the thousands already made for s project the schools now enjoy annually.  Thankfully people came in to annoy me as doing this drives one bonkers!   One lass brought her young toddlers and once again it amazed me how many arms a child has.  No matter what he did to him he always managed to get his mitts on something we wished he would avoid.  They at least enjoyed their day, this lass comes often, and indeed spent money, so I smiled a lot.  
I might have mentioned my virus, and today one lass from the church came looking for items to send to the USA.  She also made me aware why so many people didn't speak on Sunday, most ran off early as indeed did I.  So many if them have my bug, or are in hospital or some other condition which made them disappear quickly.  My prayer list is longer than I wish.  Add this to the others I already have there and this could be a full time work.  This virus has taken several out, others like me have gone through it, and I suspect others yet will suffer it, I hope none of the kids get it.  I suppose a church will lots of elder individuals will suffer this way when bugs are around.  
In between people offering donations, buying stuff or just coming in to chat I managed to return to my wool work and returned to seeing spiders crawl up the wall after doing this for a while.  My Lawyers 'Grabbit & Runn' will be notified.
Brexit we hear is to be postponed for three months, maybe two years, or not as the case may be.  I am not convinced this will cheer up the EU dignitaries who are already tired of Theresa's visits.  Maybe they will demand she fills out visa applications if she wishes to go again?  

Cold February

Standing at the museum door watching young women shove ice creams down their throats I pondered the freezing cold February weather. In some places it reached 70% today, at my computer this morning I considered it higher than this.  If Trump does not believe in global warming I am now all in favour, as I have been for some years.  This does not stop me from realising that we will however have snow, probably serious snow, in April as always.

The day went well.  I coughed less than I have done for weeks,the management ran away to a meeting and left me in charge (ha!) and those that came in were decent enough not to be trouble.
No kids today for me!
I taught one lass how to find what she required on ancestry, scanned briefly three large volumes of hand written history on a local company, very impressive I say, and then rushed through Tesco to finish the day.  Finish being the word as I fell asleep as soon as I got home.
How nice to have a near normal day.
Tomorrow it is back to reading about ancient church disputes...

Kids Day

I opened the doors at ten and fell under the crush of kids, mums, push chairs, dads, grans and granddads who were waiting outside.  We never stopped and by 11 am I had had to reprint all the paper 'trails' we were giving out, refill all the 'stickie' labels and still they kept coming!
My reckoning claims around a hundred thousand came in today but this might be inaccurate.  The fact that they were still coming in long after I left at 2 pm tells us that we touched on a popular subject this time.  
I was weary when I arrived, an hour short of sleep, and was posted giving out the trails and setting folks in the right direction.  My knees did not like standing all day but I really enjoyed today just the same.  Most of the kids were young ones, mostly under 9 years, a great many under 5 years and they were easy to please, few were unhappy and for most this did not last.
A magician was on hand with card tricks which proved popular, one lass aided the kids making cupcakes, she had to run back to Tesco for more six times but the first thing all kids liked was 'cupcakes!'  In the big hall many more made magic wands, each and every one in the hands of a three year old designed to 'take someone's eye out.'  
This I think was an excellent day even though the quiz was too difficult for most and I had no clue as to what it was about.  Still they all appeared happy, mums and dads, including the dad who was constantly chasing his 3 year old this way and that, all smiled and were determined like the kids to get a free sticker at the end of the day.  It is amazing how getting a sticker cheers a small child!
I am now attempting to find something nourishing for my hulk.  The kids will sleep well tonight, mum and dad will sleep well tonight but none will sleep as well as I will!
Wake me on Thursday!

 

Thursday Afternoon Work

 
Thursday, when attempting to sleep of my cough, I was dragged back into the museum to cover for the women, all the women, who had taken the day off to have their hair done!  Valentine's Day and they were on the make.  However much to their displeasure not all the women could skive as there was a meeting arranged for councillors in an attempt to get their attention on the museum.  The many great works in which they are participating affect us and two lassies and the manager, who did not require having his hair done, called the meeting to harangue the council.
So I was left on my own with all the work.

One couple on a day out and a local wasting time were all the visitors, at least once the councillors had decided to arrive.  These were an interesting bunch.  Some I knew, intelligent women with, shall we say 'drive,' who have been 'getting things done for thirty years,' others rather younger and much better looking who will be the same in thirty years time.   Council men came and went and one or two ought to 'went; as far as I am concerned.  Just how do these people get elected?  Some are capable and others make me look a genius, so that says much.  Almost all are Tories, and many look like it, but one appeared to be like Farmer Jones who had never moved out of the suburbs, most worrying.  
Will anything follow from this meeting?  Maybe...
Today I am resting my cough.  Why do these coughs not go away?

 

Private Eye

Weary Busy Tuesday

Tired and weary as I was I threw aside the ageing army blankets (what does 'WD' stand for?), clambered out of bed and headed to the museum.  Once there, when they eventually opened the door, I found I was to be confronted with 90 children in the shop (not all at once).  This usually requires two people but my friend and colleague was taken from me and replaced with another, a wrong other!  I was not pleased.  Some folks you find difficult, when tired, busy and not in the mood I was not best pleased to be lumbered today.  
Then of course when we tried to use the till it would not work!  Nothing moved it, nothing made it let us ring up items.  The first ten kids stood there somewhat confused but sort of content.  Good job they could not hear me when underneath the desk.  Eventually after scrambling abut underneath I pulled the plug out and then replaced it, a very old tactic which worked!  
By leave time I had seen off 60 kids with teachers most of whom were very good indeed.  One small group of 10 year old boys did look as if they were trouble and they did not have a proper teacher accompanying them just a 'helper.'  After they ran off to have lunch I found the taps in the boys loo left on running at full volume.  I wonder what else they managed before they left?  I suspect they nicked something also but not sure enough to mention it.
So irked I slept and now wish to sleep again while watching football again.
  

Saturday Whisky...

The wee bug that has hung around for weeks decided to hang around my throat last night and remove what energy I had from me.  This I counteracted with whisky to no effect, well except more drowsiness.  However in spite of remaining horizontal all morning the sapped energy did not return.  This was awkward as I had to be at the museum for one o'clock having promised to cover the Saturday man.  

 
Blearily I sauntered in wishing to be back in my bed.  It became obvious the girls thought in similar fashion, they wished me away again.  However I remained and took my place at the till where we welcomed the guests to the opening of the new exhibition.  The high heid yins were there, including the Member of Parliament, photo ops important at such a time when folks question his allegiance to the area, and all went swimmingly as far as I could see.
Crittalls the window people were very good to their staff.  A sports club, good conditions, good money and in the 20's one of them built the village of Silver End equipped for all requirements of the time for his employees.  It was obvious that a company that people were happy to work for, some for over fifty years, would bring a  decent few people to the museum and so it proved.  They came to see portraits of the workers!  
During the 20's someone decided to organise oil painting off those who had served the company well, usually those who had served many years.  Thus there were a collection of paintings of workers high and low on offer and today we gathered the majority of them together for the first time in 90 years.
Many were donated by the locals, their grandfather posing happily or not as the case may be, and naturally at the beginning there were queries as to whether the information was correct.  Being the people we at the till were we passed the buck to the curator and moved away.
Running home as soon as I could I have sat here watching football ever since longing for the final whistle so I can sleep.  Tomorrow I will also watch football and remain indoors out of the rain, wind and cold while I sup whisky for medicinal reasons.  I might require to do this also on Monday...

 

Morning, Noon and Night.

For the first time this week I rose without the heavy sleep hanging over me, a touch off that bug that has been going around here.  So just after seven a.m. I  trudged in the freezing weather up to Sainsburys.  It was colder than I anticipated, some frost lay in places in the park, and I was unable to open my eyes properly but that means nothing at that time in the morning.
High above the warning red sky offered a day of terrible weather even if the BBC site claims it will be chilly but none too bad around here.  Rarely does the red sky warning fail, somewhere today someone will feel the weather hurt them badly and I therefore must lay plans to stay in all day, once I have popped into the museum to pass on some info for one of the volunteers there.  I expect grumbling re the cold to be heard all around, but not from me as I never complain....

Wandering round to the museum just after ten with the weather colder than it was at seven I went to drop off the material for Keith.  He was busily involved in researching Braintree history back into the distant past.  What will come from this I know not but it looks good.  Judging by the size of he work he has done I am glad he is doing this and not me.
I am much happier than he, he is meeting with others to discuss that work, while I am watching the Scottish Cup on the BBC.  Much better than making my head spin with staring at long lines of aged information written in small and often undiscernible letters. 

My busy day is over, two football matches and reading my book has worn me out.  I had little time to spend arguing with Brexit lovers today, they must miss me?  Mind you Brexit has been pushed back by Prince Philip proving his manhood by crashing cars and then returning to the wheel without using a seat belt.  Vast acres after the accident spoke of his 'bravery' but almost none mentioned the people he crashed into.  They were of no importance I suppose.  I wonder who pays for the cars he crashes...?

Thursday Cogitation

The tenth of January twenty nineteen, yet another year has almost finished before I have got over Christmas, and that itself appears far in the past!   Staring out into the gloom does not cheer me early in my morning, neither does Radio 3 cheer as it ought this morning, the wrong choice of music for me.  I wish for something more cheery, ah, Brandenburg Concerto's, that's better, I need something cheery as in a minute the news will appear bringing tales of Brexit, squabbles in parliament and little encouraging me to go out and meet the world.  The world itself is gray and chilly, the people wrapped up, gloved and woolly hatted as if the Antarctic was on their minds rather than Tesco, only young girls heading to college dress skimpily to attract the strange creatures attending them, tardily attired males who consider themselves 'trendy' while looking, as all youths do in every generation, a mess.

My mood might be affected by the pile of paper lying beside me.  This contains information regarding the graves in the Bocking End Congregational Church graveyard.  This has been in use so long many of the tombs are now unreadable and others soon to be similar sadly.  However I checked up some of the names and was struck by how much many achieved, at least in child rearing, and how quickly their life had passed, life is much shorter than we realise, and only after fifty do we realise we are next!  The age span of the names is also great, one church minister was serving the church there for nigh on fifty years, greeting many when they entered the world and burying them around him when they left, while others failed to reach five years in their Victorian life.  Many women lie there dying in their twenties and thirties, childbirth often the cause.
Others appear to have been successful in business, a builder married the girl next door, began as a carpenter, became a builder, then a master builder and eventually died in what I presume to be a house he himself built in one of the more prestigious streets.  Today that house will cost well over half a million, possibly much more, it is an outstanding building!  His other buildings will stand all around probably for many years yet.
I sometimes wonder how people survived the physically tough eras in the past.  Walking was the most common form of travel until railways appeared, and then we would not venture far unless we sought a new life or had a public day off.  Medicine was rare, mostly old wives tales and experiments, until the mid Victorian days when ether arrived operations were rather drastic, germs were not discovered until much later and sickness was dangerous.  Hard labour, poor wages, poor prospects, even though life improved as the century came to an end, in comparison to today the opportunities had to be fought for and life was strewn with difficulties.  We have it so much easier and I am aware of many faults and difficulties we all face today. 

Our next exhibition reflects greatly on one of the large businesses that once employed thousands of townsfolks, Crittall Windows.  By the end of the 19th century Courtaulds Mills, Lake and Elliott and Crittall's employed thousands here, all were decent employers and workers happily remained employed at these companies for most of heir working days.  All paid decent wages, good working conditions and social clubs and events.  Crittalls had a large social club almost opposite their extensive factory, now all gone and replaced by housing, and paid good wages with excellent conditions for the time.  During the Great War they replaced men who had gone off to serve with women paying the same wages and prepared 18lb shells for the war.  One of the Crittalls built the small town of 'Silver End' around one of his factories for the workers, social clubs, parks, shops etc all available in a modernistic setting.  While few of the early settlers remain, most must have passed away by now, the village is still clearly well laid out although the benefactor 'feel' may now have long gone.  If only our millionaires today acted like this towards their people?  I suppose they have no contact with workers and therefore have no idea what the workers lives are like, politicians today mostly failing to have ever 'worked' having always been politically minded.  They are indeed far from us all.  The Crittalls however knew their people and this exhibition will show oil paintings made by the company of workers at all levels from shop floor to boardroom.  These were made in the 20's and at least one person I have met has a granddad who is among those portrayed by the artist (whoever he was).  This ought to being in the public, half the town worked there or knew some family member who did, and it will run on until the new year to allow schools a chance to bring the kids in and learn about the towns past.  
No-one paints portraits of their workers today.

 

Work

The sun was up, the sky was blue, and so was I as he sun shone but failed to heat.
Chilled and weary I entered the world of work once again and once again it smiled upon me, then left me to it all day.  How marvellous to have had nothing to do for two hours this morning!  They who must be obeyed were all in a meeting, that went on all day, I think one of them is still there talking away and has not noticed the rest have hopped it.  This left me with nothing to do but attend to visitors who did not show.  At least for most of the day that is then they all came at once, parcels being delivered, visitors, people asking for bus timetables, more visitors and then it as time to go home.
Naturally at this point I made a mess of the till and our one big customer of the day, until then our only one, suffered my incompetence.  Once sorted he smiled and left, feeding them chocolates while we sort the till helps ease people I find, especially women, and then reporting to boss who had sneaked out of meeting and being clouted with ledger book, I sailed home.
Marvellous this ability of mine to make mistakes no-one else ever makes.  I see this as a "cough" gift though the boss says otherwise.

Geordie taking over at the 'Mail' recently  offered a chance for the tabloid to improve the quality aspect, turn from Brexit and produce journalism once again.  Sadly this has not materialised.  Indeed it appears to have gone further in quality.  Instead of haranguing the EU or screaming about immigrants Geordie fills the paper with royal stories, mostly untrue, and mediocre celebs.  So we have tales of what she wears, what she said to him, and what ex-employee claims she said he said that week when she did or he didn't.  Hundreds comment each taking sides in this needless soap opera.  Geordie knows his audience and 'News' is not what they seek.  To this end David Beckham the mediocre footballer with pouting wife has reappeared constantly.  Oh joy, we need to know about him, her, the sales, the fashion, the money don't we?   Well no actually but the DM reader apparently does.  Brexit has been pushed carefully aside and Geordie is, like everyone else, unsure what will happen, so he hedges bets in case he needs someone in the future.  Dacre, the strange previous editor has departed who knows or cares where but Geordie must improve the quality or folks might be wanting the old man back again.  

Last Day for a While.

Last Tuesday at museum for a couple of weeks, well until next year of course, and this was my day, cutting and cutting again all morning.  Apart from a small school that arrived before we were open,  the phone ringing and people giving orders the day was to go well.
Chocolates were in abundant supply, as one young lady going in and put just to swipe one at every passing understood only too well.  I hope her teeth fall out.  Now I must find something to do next Tuesday instead of being here at the museum cutting my way round reindeer antlers.  No thin tape that requires cutting in half and then chopped up in lengths just for the kids to fiddle about with, no more attempting to read about Jose being sacked while people come in to spend cash, tsk, you would think they could wait until I had read the news.
Now I await the football and sleep, possibly both...

 

Museum Day

The plants in the museum garden were white with frost when I arrived at 9:30ish this morning and these sit in a sun trap.  I was glad the museums new heating system was working, it is now so hot even the women don't complain of the cold!  In fact one said it was too hot!  That makes a change. It was busy as browsers browsed and some even spent money.  It was a good day on the whole even though the 'Classic FM Christmas music I provided (50p in charity shop) was too highbrow even for me.  I listened to one tune attempting to know what it was and had to resort to the disc cover, this unknowable music was 'Away in a Manger!'  I changed it for something more appropriate.
I then was offered a job for a stranger finding info on V1 and V2 rockets by a man with a strange reason for his quest.  This I started today and then found Googlemail wanted my password, this is fine except I did not have it as it has changed!  So all I collected to send home for further views is still lying there and I will have to start again tomorrow.  Bah!

   
I did find this today.  It came from the old high school building and I was playing about with the names from there wondering what happened to the original memorial when I walked into it standing up in the museum lobby!  No-one had mentioned the things existence yet it appears it has been here for years.  Typical!  Unfortunately with a delightful small school in I could not get into the hall to set up so had to 'make do and mend' as it were.  The good news is the WW2 memorial, much lighter and strangely with more names upon it, was also in store.  I really must wander around in there one day but this is impossible with it being locked usually and the curator watching me with her beady eye.  She is scared I might find something....

Nov 30th

 

Being St Andrew's Day I expected to be woken for a breakfast of 'Neeps & Tatties' with whisky following.  Instead I found myself at work covering the two wimmin who ought to be there on Friday.  One has a husband and his wealth has enabled them to obtain a property of some sort in Portugal where they oft flee to when the mood is upon them, and that mood arises often it appears to me.  Off she went taken the other with her leaving me to suffer the burden of a Friday morning at work.

At least two women came in to browse, one came in to buy, a local collection who care for those not quite with it came in for an hour and the postman and one delivery arrived.  I found the pace telling!

At least with the new system now I can get on the computer and was given the task of searching for Victorian Christmas Crackers.  These as you know were begun when a chap who's name I forget noticed a French sweet wrapped in paper called a 'Bon-Bon.'  From this he decided wrapping things that way was a good idea and later he after watching the spark from the fire he added the 'bang' that enlivens many a Christmas party.  He added jokes later and it appears we are still using the same ones today!

This meant little time for St Andrew, however as he is also a saint in Romania, Russia and elsewhere it matters not as he will have lots to do over there tonight.  It is claimed he reached Scotland when a monk landed in St Andrews, conveniently, announcing he had Andrews bones in his bag.  This made them all wealthy religious and the town prospers today, mostly from students filling the pubs and foreign types using the golf course which Andrew never used I expect.

At least I had 'Neeps & Tatties tonight although the mince was not the same as a Haggis would have been.

Tomorrow rain will drench us again after today's bright blue sky and the cheery weatherman has informed us that is also the first day of the meteorological winter, so we can all rejoice about that!  I will sort the cards out, that is add stamps to them as they are all ready for posting, fix one or two small parcels for posting on Monday and inform the world my Xmas has been dealt with.  

That usually puts a smile on peoples faces.  

Life, it happens...

Having been returned home safely on Monday night I cogitated on the enjoyable time spent with friends, happy chatter, laughter, education and sharing.  By sharing I mean the generosity on show when only four people turn up is always a joy to experience.  Early on I remember that great man Ian slowly unwinding himself from the chair and grabbing the empty glasses around him, he is always first in, and asking for our orders.  This reluctantly we proffered in his direction while at the same time falsely indicating he ought not to spend money.  However we could not dissuade him thankfully so we continued our chatter.  
Time past as we debated points of importance, education today was one subject, Gordon one heading up a school for special needs, and as we finished he also rose to clear glasses and insisted against all our demands that he buy a round.  How could we refuse?  So we didn't.
Later we discussed the NHS and pointless bureaucracy, Stuart is a radiographer, and the problems that arise when one out of hundreds of thousands of people complain.  Something has gone wrong and office dwellers on higher pay scales (which they decided) are running scared of being sued.  So changes are demanded which hinder work and annoy patients.  At this point Stuart decided he would drink once more and gathering the glasses he wobbled to the, by now almost empty bar, Monday is a quiet night that's why we are allowed in, and insisted on getting the drinks in.  Forced into this situation we all concurred though we were not using long words by this time.  I had noticed the regulars had all gone once they had stopped giving us funny looks but I being used to this did not take it in, the others did not notice being married they are used to such looks.
After a while, and as the glasses were emptying and we were running out of discussion re the playing of guitars with bots of finger missing (don't ask) I decided it was time I took some action.
So I went home.
I had work in the morning.

   
In spite of waking several times for some reason during the night I was healthy and happy at work on Tuesday.  I was glared at for not doing what she indoors wanted but happy when she allowed me to do something easier for her.  Research of things I know about is easy, it is harder starting research when you have no idea where to look.  However this was done and I remained in post until the talk in the afternoon, struggling home for pizza and poor football at night.  It keeps me off the streets and out of the Liberal club.  There is an 'Idiots Club' nearby where the towns loonies meet but I can never get the door open, so I have not yet been inside.
Today I rose late, sat around much of the time and stared at the sunshine outside while allowing the British Gas bill to rise and give yet another bonus to some greedy man in a suit somewhere.  Now I have retreated to bed, here I am rested, warm and awaiting another poor football game.  In days of yore being in bed before eleven was rare, we used to be up as late as possible and in work by eight or nine the next day.  What happened?  I wish I knew...

Matisse...hmmm...

'Matisse, Drawing with scissors' exhibition is under way.
In 1939 Matisse was aged 70, a divorce was forcing his artwork into store while French lawyers argued, he was seriously ill and probably not very happy.  By 1943 with war all around sickness still serious and who knows if the lawyers had finished as yet he took scissors and paper and cut out a figure of a man.  Adding a red heart he called this the 'Fall of Icarus,' read into that what you will.
He then went on to develop his scissors, paper and paint work and instead of dying as doctors said he should continued his work until he died in 1954.
The museum has an array of his work to temp the art lovers of the town, though most appear to be coming from elsewhere, and I had four who travelled in on Tuesday just for the exhibition.  It made a change from dead soldiers anyway.
I am not sure what any of us think about this. I only had a short look yesterday while setting up my area and while the colours are pretty it is not something I would travel to see.  Not that I would travel for much this man produced, to much late 19th and early 20th century modernism in his work, 'modernism' being another word for 'meaningless' in my mind all too often.  It has not set the staffs heather on fire but as long as folks come and see we will be happy. 

Our lass has been going around the schools and the kids have produced these frames which I think are better, and more colourful, than the old man's work.  They mean as much and probably brought the kids more enjoyment than that achieved by Matisse in his workshop.

This has to do with Christmas...