February rain has arrived. A bit late but pleasing to some. Not that I cared as I was trapped indoors again today. Yesterday I felt better than I have for a while and trooped of in the chilly air to the museum. While I sat awaiting Microsoft updating my slow work computer (one hour and twenty minutes it took) I watched as two men attempted to fit the electric door opener. This, part of the fire defence, is complicated and therefore the door was wide ajar all morning. I froze and could not get away from my seat. Once the door was closed, round about the same time Microsoft let me back on the computer, the place instantly warmed up as the heaters work well. Today the cough is worse than ever, I hate men who fix doors and next
week I will take a hot water bottle to work with me just on case. Grrr.
Not sure if you have noticed but there has been a lot made about knife crime in recent days. Quite whether this has been exaggerated by the media to detract from Brexit I am not sure but we are heading for trouble if someone does not do something soon. This is an English problem as such activities were dealt with in Glasgow by their own operations and there is a slow take up in London or elsewhere of the Scots success stories in this. One point frequently made concerns the PM. While Home secretary she reduced the numbers of police, reduced their money and as PM continues to justify this today. The fact that 20,000 police have gone from our streets and a 90% rise in knife crime and other criminal activities has resulted she will claim has nothing to do with her. I suppose if she passed this on to 'Failing Grayling' we might believe her. This miserly government has reduced public cash to such an extent no public service works. Probation, Jails, police, trains, Brexit,care homes, benefits, immigration and everything they touch has to be done on the cheap even if it does not work. The ERG, Rees-Moggs mob, are getting richer whatever happens, the public just get conned and indeed stabbed. We are all being knifed in the back by the Tories.
In several streets locals have paraded their infatuation with large electric bills by hanging millions of coloured lights over the front of their houses. Some people think this sweet, puritanical types,e.g. me, think what a waste of time and money. While decorations and twinkling lights do brighten the dingiest of streets none of the streets involved are in need of such brightening. If I dare to ask what plastic snowmen or even more plastic trees have to do with Christmas I get funny looks and/or blank stares. Worse still are those desperate to be the first to erect hundreds of such idol worshipping lights and also the ones with the greatest electric bills. These happen to be the usual 'Daily Express' reading little englanders who sped their time worrying about immigrants living off the country. Wandering around the other night I passed this lamppost with the towns lights twinkling upon it, to me it looked somewhat cheap and nasty, which it is as there is little money to spend in the towns Christmas fund and cheap lights satisfy or you do without.
As you can see I am full of the Christmas spirit! This is partly because I have just eaten a rotten cheap dinner and exhausted my weary bulk by looking out for one decent Christmas card for someone forgotten, spending £13 on cards and still not being sure if this one will do, it will have to now! At least I have several good cheap ones for next year. The idea of imposing the nativity on the mid winter festival may have appeared clever at the time but there was no St Nicolas stories then and the commercial pap that surrounds us alongside all this Santa nonsense, snowmen and plastic trees does little to convey the real story. Arguing with people on forums reveals how little people, even those in their 40's, understand of the Christmas story. The populace is not only unchurched it is ignorant of what churches do, except maybe marry or bury people. This makes discussion difficult when you have to explain as you go along basic things people once took for granted. The mind set has changed and not for the better. Living in a world of rain does not help the mood either. Much better here than in the west of course, but farmers and ducks are apparently happy with things as they are and would like it to continue well past the Brexit debacle. I would be pleased if my shoes hold out and water does not come through them again.
Lazing about this morning wasting my life away. The rain fell continually and while not heavy dampened everything outside. In the afternoon I strolled through the masses noting the food stalls unhappy about the lack of custom. I was quite late and many were heading off but I think the rain has cut their joy tonight.
Selling a box marked 'Junk?' Hmmm some would claim a touch of irony in there. I dashed about in the small area called 'the town' and bought bread and cheese and hobbled home. The Xmas cards are sorted, stamps added to most, three wee packets to wrap and post, possibly on Monday, and apart from local cards, no stamp needed, I am done for the Christmas year! I do have to find food of course but a touch of custard and a tin of Spam and that will do me again. My life is one long joy, does anyone wish to exchange?
On Friday I sauntered out because the BBC Weather forecast was for gray clouds. I took this picture from underneath one of the wonderful trees planted in the 1800's for one of the Courtauld's. The public gardens were then part of his garden donated to the town amidst much celebration, fireworks plus bonfire and drinking I suspect. The trees planted were many and various and the result was something the gardener responsible never saw which is a pity as they are marvellous. They also keep the big black cloud that drops gallons of water on people at bay. Interesting how the man driving the grass cutter went faster as the rain got heavier.
This morning, minus rain, I went to the main parish church where a war exhibition was on. One interesting aspect was putting these notes, each of a name from the war memorial, on the pews. This brings home to people the cost of war and how it affected the town. An excellent idea. Another good idea was the show of pictures and letters from relatives of those who attend the church being put on display. Many survived, one in five remember died during 14-18, and the letters give an insight concerning those who were there. The stiff upper lip is rare today as is the normal practice of the terms 'Mother' or 'Father' for parents, we are more informal today.
I thought it a wonderful display with a wide variety of items covering all sides in the war. The rat sniffing at the tins of 'Bully beef' was a nice touch and I was glad no lice were running free at the time, if there were I suspect tomorrows service will be interesting.
This I found interesting, it is a field kitchen. A Frenchman invented this during the Crimean war (that's 1854 to you) and it has been in use ever since. This one was made in the early 50's and they were used until recently when other means are employed. The MOD keeps a store of them in reserve still. A simple yet effective means of heating a large amount of stew/soup or whatever is lying around. The wood goes in the hole at the side, the soup in the top where a large removable pot contains the goods and the smoke goes up the chimney, simple and effective, all great inventions are always simple. This belongs to one of the church goers at this church, he has a Nissen hut, a trench and a wide variety of other war material at home. I must visit one day! Good job his lovely wife shares his enthusiasm!
As expected there is a window given to commemorate the men who fell, donated by a local worthy who spent much of his money on the town and worked hard as a councillor, and he was a powerful one, to improve things. These days rich people keep their money to themselves.
Rushing home slowly through the centre I found the British Legion stand was still there from yesterday. This time a lass sang, and sang very well, songs from the 40's to accompany the people ignoring her, not counting the mother dancing with a toddler. I chatted with one of our 'heroes' for a while and with another who was there yesterday. These ex-army men, who fought no war, just army bureaucracy and senior officers, were a delight to talk to. A great many people of all ages were interested.
One of the men had created these models, you cannot see the legs sticking out from under the tank unfortunately, but I thought them a wonderful piece of work.
A wonderful collection. Mind you I sometimes wonder about those that collect weapons. These men understand them, they have personal meaning to them but there are others who one sometimes regards as somewhat barmy and it may be best they don't have weapons on them, even broken ones. Back home to discover more people asking info on their great uncle or whatever. There is a joy in discovering a connection to a name on a memorial, a strange joy but I understand this. There may be more in days to come. Tomorrow it is St Paul's remembrance service, I have supplied some info, and then the town gathering at the memorial in the afternoon. You might read about that tomorrow...
OK! OK! We wanted rain but you can stop now! Passing showers they said, they did not say how slowly they would pass. Still this will soak into the ground and ease the grass around us. It also keeps kids at home out of the shops and that is always a good thing.
It has been one of those weeks when it was difficult to read. The mind found Calvin's 'Genesis' a bit hard, similar readings made the brain work to much and nothing else was easy reading to my mind. This comes from the heat of recent days leading to unsettled sleep patterns, doing too much (Ha!), and the knees being very troublesome this week making things difficult. All in I found little to hold onto either on TV or in books. This is annoying as little can be done when in such moods. I have done things of course, some cleaning has to be done whatever, yet the desire to move has been lacking. Now the weather has become normal I hope this will die away. Funny how I can stand in front of a bookcase and not find a book. None fit the mood, are easy enough to read or interest me at the time. Yet all have played a part, some were marvellous and will not be found again in a charity shop, others were dipped into as required and may be read properly one day. Saying that it does appear a shame that so many words just lie about, this leaves me wishing I knew someone who could make use of them, yet retain them in my bookcase! Consider how many words lie on the shelves, not all good ones of course, some pretty rotten, but the vast output from someone's mind that has played a part in my, and others, lives. Our thoughts put in print to change the world. Hmm, I wonder how changed it has been since I started scribbling...?
This was the view this afternoon. A fine view I say after several weeks of too hot sunshine. The truth is we were all rather glad the weather had cooled. 90% is fine for a day or two but after a few weeks it has a debilitating effect on those not used to it. Sleep is disturbed, irritation arises, mistakes become common and the difficulty of cooling down yet always being either too hot or two perspiring to be comfortable. Today we have normality and the rain has fallen all day. I avoided this by visiting Tesco before the crowds woke up and after I returned home the heavens released the rain. It has not stopped since just after eight this morning. This is the summer weather we are more used to and capable of dealing with. People in Aberdeen had to go to evening classes to learn how to operate sun tan lotion, never having had a need for this before. In nations in which high temperatures are constant folks deal with it better, rise early, midday you hide, sleep and if required work once again in the evening, Spanish football for instance often begins much later than ours because of this. 'Mad dogs and Englishmen' go out in the midday sun indeed, I noticed photos of such taken just before the Great War where men in three piece tweed suits walk around Greece visiting monuments, all the while smoking pipes and being English. No wonder they are all dead.
In desperation for something interesting on TV I came across reruns of this quiz. It was one of the better ones, I think revived with Jeremy Clarkson insulting people, and I always found the first five, easy, questions the hardest. This was because they always featured at least two or three on present day 'culture' of which I know nothing. Today there featured one chap who did not know what nation made use of TASS as a press agency. This was not a surprise as he was under 30 years of age and probably knew nothing of the Cold War. He eventually did not answer took his money and ran, however the answer he would have given was correct. It amazes me how little we know about things that happened before we were born. Actually I know a great deal but only because the major event was a world war and it was always in folks minds then but prosperity and peace do not encourage folks to look at much of what has gone before. Also we did not spend time living in fear during the Cold War and most time was spent in indulging ourselves if we could. Those under 30 have little requirement to look back over the previous 40 years as in their minds I suspect little happened and it would not be possible for them to understand the outlook of the times. I do Like 'Eggheads' when it is on, the questions are slow enough for me to consider an answer, while 'The Chase' has too many questions on 'TV culture' and is asked too quickly for my mind to answer these days. Today I need time to ponder a question these days before I get it wrong.
Weather normal today, rain most of the morning, no sun, and occasional dry spots, dank and dreich but warm, a normal Summer in Edinburgh that. I dealt with this in the manner I grew accustomed to while in Edinburgh - I remained indoors. Here indoors with the aid of a newly obtained cheap bookcase I cleared lots of videos from the floor, the floor they have been lying on for about 18 months since I painted the room. Of course my delight at my bargain (huh!?) was somewhat dimmed as the videos are about an eighth of an inch (ask your dad) too tall for the immovable shelves. However it cleared a space, bar the dust, and soon I will be sorting other items that have lain around for too long without being attended to. Well I may leave that until my exercise kicks in again. You see I keep starting this exercise business and find it does me good, however there is always a problem interfering and I end up missing out and have to start again. So tomorrow while the washing is churning around the machine, while I watch something interesting on TV or laptop, I will once again stretch, moan, lift and moan, stretch and follow the old order once again. If successful I may become strong enough to lift Calvin's commentary on Genesis and begin reading the thing.
While awaiting the football this afternoon, the Heart of Midlothian won by five goals to nil as you may expect, I indulged an old habit, no not that one, I went looking for portraits. I have not taken such photos for a long time, there are no girls around here, and I found myself in the mood to do just this while the rain fell outside. So I perused the web stealing poses in which to imagine I may one day find someone daft enough to let me practice this art. I have taken many attempted portraits over the past hundred years and three have been worth it, I think I need practice. At least it gave me many ideas, some above my station, and one day I will have a model and maybe actually get the camera set properly, we wait in hope.
At last a wee break in the weather. For what appears to be months the temperature has kept itself very high, the winds from the Sahara bringing their heat to us and that part of the world on the receiving end of higher than usual temperatures as far as I can see. Global warming, mostly man made, is hurting us. In Essex yesterday and possibly today 35% has been seen, my front room, which faces north, reached to just over 90%! It was unusual to move about and feel the air in the room warm as you walked through it. I suppose all these naked and near naked bodies sweating away have actually done themselves some good by allowing the skin to breathe, however for those looking in this could have been an unpleasant sight, shall I offer a photo of me perhaps..what?...oh!
Tuesday was a very busy day and finished a tiring week for me. Running around to seek items for the opening of the exhibition wore me out and on the day I failed to eat properly, as you do. For the next three days I have been almost dead, lie not helped by making a mess of the photos I took of the kids. At least one woman hates me, one more than usual I mean. It is a funny thing but if you eat and sleep properly your mind works better, if you are lax in such things life degenerates somewhat and problems occur. Maybe Donald Trump needs a new cook? My mind is almost normal now, what's that you said...?
The curate and I got around to discussing Calvin's commentary on Genesis as you do and in the end we both bought a second hand copy to investigate. I had found a translation from 1847 by the Rev John King online and considered it somewhat difficult to read, the form of language being Victorian. Therefore I found the book on Amazon to aid the tax dodging billionaire's profits while paying just over £9 for the privilege. Today I sauntered early down to the sorting office for the book the postman did not wake me up to deliver yesterday. I sauntered back clutching my prize and cheerfully opened it up to discover this version was a 1975 print of the Rev John King's 1847 translation that was free online! Sometimes I wonder about my stupidity!
This passing shower took ages to pass, cleaning the streets and overflowing the gutters. Jolly good I say as the streets needed a wash (remember the days when a lorry would spray water on the streets?) and while I saw no lightning and thunder was minimal over me it did show up elsewhere. This part of the land often has thunder after a few days heat. When in London I sat in a pub on the Thames called the 'Mayflower.' This pub claims to be the oldest in London and also that the 'Mayflower' parked itself here to avoid taxes nearer London before heading out into the wild of the Atlantic Ocean. Such things can never be proved but it had to dock somewhere nearby. As we sat there a storm blew above. Brave soul stood at the door leading to the jetty while lightning flashed across London easily seen from the view over the wide expanse of the Thames caused by the bend in the river at this point. I sat by the bar. Soon however the heavy downpour poured in through the door and the barman was to be found fighting the incoming tide of rainwater as it sloshed its way under the door. Cries of "Man overboard etc" were to be heard. I sat by the bar.
The sun strives to break through this afternoon following on from a delightful pink sunrise observed from the edge of my bed as I woke this morning. Pink mornings are of course a shepherds warning though nobody knows who this shepherd actually is, he was however right. The dull clouds turn to light but persistent rain forcing me to remain indoors watching football. English football and I soon fell asleep. That sums up the day. I hope yours was more exciting.
The warmest January day for two years they say. Indeed as I struggled against the southern wind on the way to the sorting office I noted how mild it was that early in the day. Shortly afterwards the rain came in torrents and I happily ignored it while I perused the laptop messages. That sums up the day.
Tuesday was a busy work day. I never got peace to read my book as the phone rang, people came in and I had things to do they would not let me ignore. This is not fair! The 'Cold War' is the next thing on the agenda at the museum. While the recent history 60s to 80's continues we also will offer some things regarding the nearby airbase used by the Yanks during the Cold War. Vast numbers married local women, many moving overseas some remaining here, and a great many local people having known of the Americans since 1942 when they first arrived are keen to remember them, some wishing they would come back! This begins on Saturday so all being well I will be there also for the opening of the museum and the talk that follows. So many men flew from near here, many not returning during WW2, and many flew unknown operations until the aircraft moved on around 1970. Then the base was operated by the men who repair airfields so many men continued to enjoy the various delights of the town and district. Hopefully one or two might join us at the weekend.
For those of us who lived during the Cold War it is difficult sometimes to consider that things have changed. For years the 'Iron Curtain' hid life behind the 'wall' and since it fell in 1989 we now must note that the wall has been down longer than it stood across Europe! For many years I used to listen to the shortwave broadcasts from Eastern Europe on my little radio. This was very enjoyable, the variety of radio stations reflecting the economic power of the various states. Radio Berlin International from East Germany was highly efficient and professional, however the short hour or so from Romania very poor indeed, especially as there was little power to enable them to broadcast for longer. Thankfully all these places are stronger and most are better of in every way, even allowing for Putin's attempt to create his own version of Soviet power. Shortwave radio is sparse these days.
After
a year of almost constant bugs bugging me I now find myself somewhat
free from them for a moment. This is great as I am able to write drivel
on here and research dead men with a degree of enthusiasm that had long
since departed. I even began tidying the house, replacing things on
shelves they have missed for months and putting away dust covered items
that ought not to have dust anywhere near them. I am even contemplating
cleaning the oven! Now that doesn't happen every year. Of
course I still have the fridge to do, paint the bedroom, fix the tiles,
and a thousand other items that required work months ago but they will
be done, if the weather warms up and there is no football to watch. How
lovely to be almost fit. Indeed I have done more exercise in the last
two weeks than done in months before this, I am almost beginning to feel
better about it. Naturally much of it is not helping my knees get me
up the stairs, that requires different exercises that I must add, later I
think...
Stumbling
through Sainsburys ignorant and cretinous customer base today, I had to
go there for items only they stock, I remembered the coffee had run
out. So the choice was which of the £3 bags to buy, I am now hooked on
real coffee for a while, and there could only be one choice, Costa Rica! Grown
in the 'Tarrazu' region it is claimed by 'connoisseurs to be one of the
best coffee growing areas in the world.' Doesn't it say that on all
the packs? Just asking... Whether it contains 'Milk chocolate and
floral notes' I am not yet sure but it is smoother and less bitter than
the Italian and Ethiopian coffees I had before. This will bring me into
the world tomorrow morning and if it doesn't work I will send it back
to the Tarrazu mountains.
Something
exciting is happening, a French bloke is seen taking the salute
alongside Mrs May, has she gone over to the other side? Did I miss
something in the news? If she joined the anti-Brexit mob it is likely
it would not be printed in the right wing press, they like to keep that
sort of thing secret. Maybe we are going to war with Trump? I must check twitter...
Trapped indoors by the rain that has fallen continually since late this morning I can tell you truthfully nothing has happened. Wullie the wood pigeon sits on the aerial also enduring the rain and does not look too happy about it. Surely he is old enough to know this is 'summer' and this is how 'summer' is every year. Nothing on the news today as politicians are either on holiday sunning themselves in foreign climes or on 'fact finding trips' at the public's expense. I wonder if any 'fact' they find comes to fruition somewhere in the nation? Some consider Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, retiring from his duties worthy of comment. To me the benefit scroungers of the royal family possibly all ought to retire or find themselves something useful to do all day. At least this man, born on a kitchen table to a deaf and dumb mother somewhere in Greece, did at least keep up a good record of the 'public duties' he undertook. He opened events, named railway engines and paraded around factories asking all the right questions and feigning interest as he ought. The fact that he called Chinese folks 'slitty eyed' and questioned Scots workers drinking abilities at work is of course not relevant. He often said what others wished to say and we must respect a man who endured many a 'Variety Command Performance' without once producing a shotgun and ending all of the tat that appeared on stage to the benefit of all of us. Some women are heard grumbling about the changes to their pension and whine about the struggle they endure. They appear in the paper, they are on TV and radio constantly grumbling that they are losing out. I note none of them grumbled about men working until 65 while women retired at 60! This went on from the early 50's until recently and not one objection was made then, possibly this was neither 'sexist' or did not upset 'equality' not that men ever get any of that.
Searching the cupboards I think I have found something that might help us cope with the kids and mums at the museum. Either make use of it early and smile your way through the day or wait until home and then indulge for a while as the cares and bruises of the day slink away into the past. However after six weeks of this I suspect some folks might become addicted so possibly this is not really a long term answer after all. I might try it later and see if it works.
So the Heart of Midlothian reach another historic moment. The departing Ian Cathro brought a breath of fresh air to the stilted Scots football world, received abuse from jealous failures and in the end failed to get his message across and obtain the results his style deserved. Either he or the players failed, it is difficult to know which. We now await the new man, whoever he is, and hopefully he will be attack minded and capable of leading from the front. We await with trembling nerves.
We have missed the worst of the summer storms around here. The other night I noticed, around four in the morning, lightning flashing in the distance, no thunder was heard but some claim it was noted elsewhere in town. I suggest they were just light sleepers. Today there was no lightning, no thunder just a long shower lashing rain on the unfortunates who, dressed for summer, were caught out walking in the open when it arrived. I didn't laugh at the drookit men waking past heading for a pub to dry off. Now, shortly afterwards, the sun shines brightly, the day is very warm though a bit humid and I am once again inside. No reason to go outside, no money to spend and nothing I need buy until tomorrow. So I just sit here joining in the newspaper online columns grumbling about things and offering my twopence worth. Already by nine this morning I had one enemy for life! Good going I say.
Is it just me or are blogs being used less these days? True it is that I have done little in recent days. I have not got out and about as I would like and there has been little to see in this little town. Indeed the only nearby event I missed because I was asleep all day! I know others have been sick, some have changed circumstances and life moves on but it appears from here that there are fewer to read these days and like me they are less regular in their production. However from this end I am making a start in doing something about my health, something about life in general and hoping to save cash at the same time. I may even get out and about and see some of the summer activities that occur. The trouble with these is the belief that everyone has a car and can reach out of the way places where train and bus do not run! These often occur on a Sunday also, the day public transport in out of the way places does not run! Grrrrr! Being stuck inside in a small town does not offer a lot of variety even though there are events occurring. Anyway I want to get out and see things that I have missed or did not know about, this area has many hidden away and I need to find an attractive (and not too bright) woman to drive me about so I can see them.
But good news, there is football on telly tonight! What...? The same to you!
