30th September 2014 - Demise of Delft

Thought for the day : " Chinese scientists have discovered the rare rock n roll panda, it will only eat A wop bop a loo lop a wop Bamboo "

The end of an era really... After almost 18 months of getting weaker, Delft the Cambrian Blue Collie passed away last night...  She had managed a good age for an old collie, almost 16 years old, and had a bad heart problem for the last year and a half. To be frank we had been totally surprised by the fact that she had hung on as long as she had, with her daily heart tablets, and hacking cough, and fluid upon her lungs....

But she still did her little happy dance when she saw her food - though the last few days she seemed to lose her appetite... You could see her acting as a prim old lady watching the youngster, 'Thena the bouncy black labrador, with a tired expression, occasionally wishing that she could still chase a stick or ball and deciding that a nap may be the better answer!!!  Can't say that I disagree with her really!

I think her last few weeks have been good for her though. I am sure that she was spoiled rotten with Sam and Simon while we were in Crete... and the last weekend at Bex and Benji's wedding she had a nice time wandering around the field....   Was the nicest time for her to go....

So, I think that we will wait for the smallholding before we get our next pup....  We will be a one dog family for a while - let's be fair - 'Thena is enough of a handful as it is!!! But for now - a reflection of happier days..

Cefn Sidan

Delft and Rusty

Goodbye Delft ....  Happy hunting !!!

-o0o-

Place of the day

29th September 2014 - Of Moaning and MOT's

Thought for the day: "A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.' "

Monday and a day after a wedding weekend - should be a day for sorting photos and recovering - but first thing this morning I had to get up and unload the Bothy and get all the weight out of her - so that she could go in for her MOT ... There is a little bit of pressure on as the TAX runs out on the 1st October and the system will not allow the renewal as the MOT runs out on the 30th September..


So, that allowed an examination of its state of readiness - though it was the end of the day before we had the bad news! In the meantime, it was a trip up to Carmarthen to the Eye Doctor for Mum - to see whether her cataracts were as bad as we thought and whether there was a tear in the retina..  Sadly. after a couple of hours in the hospital - it seems that it is still very difficult to see past the cataracts, and we are returning on Thursday for a second opinion....


A quick run up to the shops to refurbish the Scotch for her and collect some of the various furnishings that the "Colonials" used, and the day seems to have departed....

Decided to invest my earnings from Herstmonceaux in an active speaker to work with the mixer and microphones - so a trip to Maplins ...   a new project in hand I think!!  Of course, the payment from Herstmonceaux has not actually arrived yet  - seems to be story of my life - waiting for payment!!! but it is on the Tesco Card  so will add a few points towards the fuel...

Intention was to head down to the South Coast on Friday and onto the Penine Walk Re-union in Surrey  for the weekend.. sadly there are a couple of items required for the MOT to pass..
Firstly - the hand brake is dead!!  I mean it has no connection at all - It was fine when I took it into the garage so I have no idea what they did to it!! then some brake pipes, and D brushes whatever they are and some joints which sound very expensive and a long list of other stuff !!!!   All sound very expensive - but she drives so well at the moment and I spent so much on the Engine at the beginning of the year - I will have to bite the bullet...

But the sad thing is that they cannot start the job till Thursday which is making the weekend look a little more dubious!!!

We shall see what can be done though...

So back to the wedding - only a couple of shots at the moment - but we had a great weekend watching Benji and Bex get hitched among family and friends..

It was fun to see the Crimson Moon still in force, and to hear some good reflections upon how it still looks..  Certainly Mazz and Mick did a good job and they had a good trade for the weekend..

There was of course the Bride and Groom - Benji

and Bex...

and of the Best men and witness - there was Drew

and as the other witness and bridesmaid - Beth..

There were the interesting buttonholes (I understand this was a Batman comic - allbeit a German Version)

And of course the posies - also from books ..

Somehow I did not manage to get both Bride and Groom together - I left that to the other photographers at the campsite...  but I got the rest of the gathering...

Waiting for the vows.. Hopefully, I also got the "wedding" ceremony on Video - but that will be a task to search for on another day ...  Today - it is enough to be home and sitting at the machine ...

A glass of Chateau 41 will do me ......

Cheers!!

-o0o-

Place of the day.

'nuff said...

28th September 2014 - Just a thought .... More to come

Thought for the day: "I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me."

Had a great weekend at Bex and Benji's Wedding - but taking Bertha the tent down and a 6 hour journey hom leaves me wanting to open a bottle of Chateau 41  and a glass of Scotch.

Photos tomorrow I think !!!!

Congratulations to the happy couple ...

-o0o-

Place of the Day 

27th September 2014 - Just a thought

Thought for the day : "Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie."

Up near Leeds for a wonderful wedding  (not a unique experience I hasten to add!! As I know someone reading the blog!! Love you Bex !!)

Looking forward to the Champagne ... Cheers!!

-o0o-

Place of the Day

26th September 2014 - Just a thought....

Thought for the day: " Two can live as cheaply as one, for half as long "

Packing the Bothy and off to a wedding up North with no Tinterteweb...
So just a thought..

and a Place of the day
Cheers!

-o0o-

Place of the Day

25th September 2014 - Is it a lttle Chilly in here ???

Thought for the day: "Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?"

A pleasant flight back from Crete in the middle of the night, a bit of tail wind and, as the first officer described it "if we take a couple of shortcuts we can cut a quarter of an hour of the flight time.."  well he did !
Not quite so hot in Crete yesterday after the blistering 40 degree Tuesday - and a refreshingly cool UK as we got off the plane....

After a week of roasting, it was a great pleasure to be back in our own bed, and the dogs were delighted, if a little surprised to be awakened in the middle of the night, to find us back home..

A humungous thank you to Sam and Simon for House, Dog and Chicken sitting for the week - allowing us a worry free time ....

Dry and overcast here in Wales.. Hmm - may need to put some socks on as the feet are getting a little chilly..

Installation of St Teilo Lodge No 4755 this afternoon - so little time to unpack and sort anything out, as I head into the Senior Warden position for the third time... Probably have a toast to write - nah - reckon I can wing it ...  just a couple of matchsticks to keep the eyes open....

Couple of shots from the last day in Crete.
Had a quiet enough day for a bit of Grandchild hugging...

Oh well, she will be 5 months old next time we get out to Crete ..

But a nice week in the sun, a wedding, seeing the new house, and Maria Scarlett..

Just a short blog today...  Hmm - may need another T shirt on -  Is it a little Chilly in here?

May have to finish the night off with a glass or two ...  unless I have too much at the festive board...

Cheers!!

-o0o-

Place of the day

24th September 2014 - Day Last in Crete - A gentle Breeze

Thought for the day : "My Mum said 'Follow your dreams'   so I went back to bed...."

Last day in Crete and though the expected high was to be as hot as yesterday - a blistering 40 degrees!! it seems that there is a little breeze and it all seems a lot cooler.

Barbecue on the balcony last night was good in the cool of the later evening - with plenty of meat and 'Tatas and some salad and wine after a good couple of Gin and Tonics... and a short collection of my best Greek tunes playing on the laptop......

But today will be a day for packing and getting ready to return. Hopefully we will be able to get the Murial fixed onto the wall before we go. Scarlett is having a "loud" morning - not wanting to settle and has apparently been up most of the night - she seems to be having a growth spurt and needing a lot of food - but she is having a right "paddy" at the moment - I think too tired to go to sleep and getting into a right little tizz.......

Poor old Mike is walking miles around the kitchen with a babe draped over his arm - seemingly the best position to keep her settled...

The week has gone very quickly - put 30 euros of fuel into the hire car - and we will be giving it back with a quarter tank over the requirement - not really having done much but lounge around - and what better way for a few days holiday!!  It all gets a little hectic again when we get back - a day at home, installation, load the Bothy and off for a wedding up North......

All gone quiet again for a while - but do not think that little Scarlett wants to lie down ...

So managed to get some galleries done - caught up on Faye's Tavern Party photos from Caldicot at the beginning of September...

 That of course was also the weekend for the Caldicot Early Medieval Alliance last event of the year

Which sort  of brings me up to date other than the 30th Birthday Party for Vickie Pilgrim back at the end of July which I also have not processed yet...  That was a reasonable excuse as I was on my way to Germany when I stopped off for her party...   But they are still on the disk and have to be done ...

I fear there are still a number of videos from Herstmonceaux to be done as well - but many of those may well be duplicates.....  They will have to wait till after the weekend I think - and of course by that time there will be another wedding to process....

But all is quiet again in the house, and though warm - the temperature is not excessive - well not in the house at any rate .....  Should be leaving about 6pm local time - check in at 7.30 or so - Flight at 9.30 so with a 4 hour journey should be back in Blightie by midnight British Time and in our own bed by 2-3am....

Reckon the dogs may have forgotten us !!  They will have to go back to being generally ignored rather than spoiled I think....

Heard from the Colonials - apparently they managed to fall on their feet - a busy plane and a volunteer to give up their seat has given them a hefty discount voucher for a next flight and three days paid in the hotel - so they have extended their holiday a bit ....  Don't think they offer such stuff for a flight from Crete - but would not be able to take it up anyway as the house sitters need to get home - a pity cos we could have enjoyed a couple of days to say thank you ..

So, back to the strain of checking Facebook and the email on line...

Its a hard life - but looking forward to a glass of Chateau 41 tonight.....

Cheers!

-o0o-

Place of the day

23rd September 2014 - Of mounting Temperatures and Murials

Thought for the day: "You can't have everything, where would you put it?"

Well, last night we finally got the wood together and put the frame back for the picture that Susie has painted for little Scarlett over here in Crete. We had a lot of concern when we folded the canvas up and put it into the suitcase, but it turned out not to have creased, and there is no real sign of the paint chipping away.

We got it out as soon as we arrived and rolled the painting up so the creases could fall out a little, but until it was properly stretched over the new frame we could not be sure...

But as it happened - it worked well. Of course the other side of the coin was that this was a three meter wide mural and a meter and half high !!  Enough to take over most rooms of any size. We could not be 100% sure of its reception - particularly since Winnie the Pooh is not a child's regular story out here in Crete...  But, either they are being very polite - or they actually like it !!!

But it seems that it stretched out well and was soon in pride of place on the balcony - where it goes after that is still a matter of conjecture...

But it all started with a simple piece of canvas...

and some printouts of the subject matter - that is Winnie and friends...

I have previously mentioned the saga of trying to get an overhead projector that works...  (just search "overhead" on the blog or follow this link  but we managed it alright and it worked well...

Tracing around the images gave the outlines required...

and the image begins to take shape.....

The background is designed to look like a Welsh background full of the greens that represent that country.. The Hill in the center is based upon the hill in Pwll that can be seen from the bedroom.
The trees at this stage are still Disney style cartoon trees - that will change in due time...

Of course there are always helpful supporters in every task...

The artist at work......

And filling in the characters as they start to take more shape.....

And late into the summer evenings ...

Getting closer to the finish now - with the characters really beginning to have their own particular and unique personalities...  But the plants also need to represent the welsh Countryside....

Daffodils - the Welsh symbol (apart from the dragon and the leek)

Primroses.....    and scarlet pimpernel for Scarlett herself...

And so - the completed venture - I don't know why I was in the picture!!  I just made the tea...

For the full collection  - look at facebook Gallery Scarlett's Murial

Meanwhile int he USA today is the first day of FALL or Autumn in proper English. Google has celebrated this by putting a nice animation of the leaves falling off the trees to leave the word GOOGLE in branches - quite neat....

However - that should reflect a cooling off with the weather. In Crete today the temperature has risen to 40 degrees Celcius - which for those of us who still think in Old Money is 104 Fahrenheit..  We were going to repeat our swimming exploits from yesterday - but not sure that we can put our heads  out of the door !!  Barbeque later tonight when it gets cooler - but in the meantime - there is this nice bottle of Gin that is calling to me !!! Nice Cold Gin and Tonic - Don't mind if I do!!!
(have to think about drinking it - we have a reputation to preserve - and it turns out that we didn't drink the bottle we brought last time we were here!!!  Heaven Forfend !!!)

So Yamas ... Chin Chin... Cheerio and let's drink to the Murial ....

-o0o-

Place of the day

22nd September 2014 - Day 5 Crete - Hot enough for Swimming or floating ....

Thought for the day: "I want a job cleaning mirrors - I don't know why - its just a job I could see myself doing..."

The two hour difference in time between UK and Crete makes getting up at mid day feel very decadent while in reality only being a lie in until 10am. But it is very hot today !!  I am sure that the locals will still want to put jumpers on and the old ladies will still worry about putting another blanket on the baby, but it is hot !!

So hot that we have decided that we need to go swimming. Now out here in Crete this does not necessarily make a huge amount of sense as there is no shade anywhere near the beaches, and apart from the time that you are in the water - we are likely to cook. I am sure that it is sensible for those who like lying on a beach (read set of stones and rocks) and toast. Shades of St Lawrence the Martyr who was roasted on a griddle for torture and allegedly look at his captors and said" You fools, can't you see? I am done this side - you should turn me over!"

I shall not be shouting to the older Gods of Crete and risking the outcome!

But in other news I saw today that the next stage of dirigible airships has been developed. It makes sense to have machines that will float from place to place with minimum fuel costs, and I can see an excellent tourist attraction for a leisurely, and spacious, cruise over the Grand Canyon, or the Serengetty scaring the animals....

Goodyear have of course done it in the traditional way - allowing a good deal of advertising and looking like a standard Blimp.. But on the other hand - Aeros have gone the stage further...

Apparently, they have learned from earlier problems like only filling with Hydrogen and allowing smoking on board... They have fixed structures and have the gas bags separated..  Also they can, it seems, either carry their load in the holds or  sling it below where new technology allows gymbols to make sure that it does not swing and upset the flight path....

The Aeroscraft can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, so it can visit destinations which do not have an airport.

This means that even though its 115mph average speed is much slower than a jet aeroplane at 500mph plus, the overall travel time could be lower because it can travel directly from where goods are produced to where they are needed.

Worldwide Aeros hope that this will make it useful to the military and aid charities operating in parts of the world with poorly developed infrastructure on the ground.
It may seem flimsy compared to a metal jet, but the Aeroscraft has bulletproof skin, and even if its exterior is breached it does not deflate like a balloon.

The firm claims that its first airships will be available to customers in mid-2015, when they will be rented out for a year at a time.


But more important - though it's average speed is to be 115mph rather than the estimates 2000 mph of its predecessor - have you noticed the influence, or foresight of good old Mr Anderson....

My Childhood is certainly coming back to haunt me ....  Now all I need is a floating scooter!  This item I understand from the Wiki was developed as Mr Anderson realised that they would never be able to make the marionettes walk realistically - so they needed another means of getting them from place to place. Started in Fireball XL5 and finished being developed by Brains...

But back to the heat - just as the hot air rises to lift the new airships, the hot air here is pushing me to get off my backside and try some floating in the water - never really was a good swimmer - an enthusiastic splasher really. Most of my life I have been told that swimming is the ideal exercise and tomes up every muscle in the body - but I always reflect - "If swimming s so good for you... why are whales that shape ???"

Maybe I will deserve a beer afterwards...

Yamas

-o0o-

Place of the Day

21st September 2014 - Day 4 of Crete - No guns so far

Thought for the day : "Don't you hate it when you think you are buying organic vegetables - but when you get home you find that they are just regular doughnuts??"

Sitting in a fine establishment called the "Galley" at Agios Nikolais. We tend to call it the "George" which is wrong as it is run by Georgio and his fiance Jackie, but somehow it ended up as the "George".
It is set up as a ship - with the bar following the port side with the front bending into the prow, and there are nets and shells and all the accouterments of the sea surrounding us... Oh ! and football! It is the national pastime here in Crete it seems and there are three large screens blaring out a Manchester City v Chelsea match ...

Georgio at the "George"  The Galley really !!

But is is local and they serve a fine Alpha beer which is going down nicely as Mike (Vlassis) sets up his darts teams for the ensuing quiet months..  It is a time of technical innovation - one of the big LCD screens is devoted to an automated Darts countdown system - so you don't even need to do the math as you play..... 


There are other high points however...  in this area of Creta Cuisine - it was quite a delight to see Jackie come to the bar with baked beans on toast with an egg on top !!!  "Breakfast and lunch in one " she said... I pointed to my large Alpha Beer and said "Same here!!"

LInk to Trip advisor should you ever be coming here

Seems the darts players are down to double one each again - always a good sign for the quality of player....  Though I have seen some fine darts as well as I sit here updating the Blog.... Had a closer look at the software and cannot believe that it does not give the options for a three dart finish - will check nearer the end ..  Yes - I am right - it gives the options for finish eg - 17 double top !!
There is obviously no need to have any maths or application these days !!!   Maybe I should go back to Clock Darts!!!!

Well the first beer has gone down, and there is time for another!!!.....
Mike is playing darts and the rest of the family was asleep as I left them...  Susie, following an interesting Creta wedding night ( which I am reliably informed by Mike was NOT  a  REAL  Creta wedding )  I am not sure if this was just because there was no sign of any guns and firing into the air!!!

But a Creta wedding for all that...   Nikos  ( I now understand the Greek thing - it is Nikos when talking about him and Niko when talking to him!!! ) Nikos is Mike's brother and is marrying Susanne who comes from Norway.. So the evening was bound to be mixed in any case!!!

Oops !! Sitting here with my glass empty and Gergio has just filled it - drink on the house ... You know I was coming back here anyway - but he reminds me of Me as a barkeep!!!

But - back to the wedding...  They tend to have the weddings in the evening here and what a good idea that is!!  It was warm to the point of discomfort (which means that the locals were putting on coats and jumpers!) but the skies were clear and the evening a delight for a wedding... Weddings here are held outside - and a good job as even with a small wedding of 40 people we would never have got into the chapel!!

But the Groom was dressed in Creta Style - we discovered later that the white lace shirt cover doubles as a headband later on in the night...

Nikos Vlassis

Meanwhile the bride arrives and makes her way up a set of steps that would make samurai training for "Kill Bill" seem like a walk in the park... I understand the Welsh habit of Chapels making their seats so uncomfortable that you cannot fall asleep in a two hour sermon, but the Creta habit of putting  their Church at the top of so many stairs that you are panting for breath does slightly confuse me....

But then I saw the Priest and the altar boy - who incidentally had an excellent voice ( the whole ceremony was not only sung throughout - but the Bride and Groom had NOTHING to say at all!!! )

Having recently presided at weddings where the Groom was reticent to say much in the ceremony - this option is one I will work on for the future!!!

Doing the Paperwork!!

The entire ceremony was sung however - and though I am assured that it was word for word - the general concensus was that it was done in "Fast "mode .. It appears that these weddings can go on for hours on occasion - certainly the congregation seemed quite happy to wander about taking photographs, chatting - answering phones (don't start me on it!!)  and generally ignoring the main proceedings - but I was impressed !

So, after the ceremony it was a drive up to the mountains to a lovely restaurant and bar for a lot of Greek dancing with a fine live group with Lyre - Greek style with a bow! Bazouki and keyboard... and drinks and food over the next few hours...

More interesting convention differences..   the Cake was cut at the beginning of the celebrations - with Bride and Groom feeding each other from the cut cake...   and a drink of Champagne (I hope it was better than the Champagne they buy for the dancers in the evening !!)...

No speeches - except here we had a Norwegian Bride so some Scandinavian influence meant that a few words were said... And the equivalent of the British Best Man's Speech with the Bride's daughter and sister producing all the embarrassing pictures from the past - in a very humorous set of advice for the Groom....

Beer and wine was consumed !!! I am sure this is traditional so we did our best to support!!!

So on a side note I saw this piece of research today ... Wine is better than going to the Gymn!

Whoever said no news is good news was wrong. Turns out drinking red wine is better for you than going to the gym! How’s that for good news? Jason Dyck and other science researchers in the University of Alberta in Canada found that red wine, nuts and grapes have a complex called resveratrol which improves heart, muscle and bone functions; the same way they’re improved when one goes to the gym. Resveratrol proved to be an effective antioxidant when tested on rodents which is why scientists are planning on testing it with diabetics. If results are positive for the benefits of the complex, patient’s heart health could be improved just as much as it does when they work out vigorously.
While scientists and wine lovers are rejoicing over this news, doctors are still unlikely to recommend their patients to start drinking any type of alcohol as it can have harmful effects on your body. People should keep in mind that these benefits can be enjoyed only when having one glass of wine with your evening meal, at the most. Resveratrol is specifically found in red wine as are some of the beneficial antioxidants referred to when talking about heart health. Red wine is also known to reduce ‘bad cholesterol’ and prevent blood clots.

Other benefits red wine is known for (when consumed in moderation, constantly) are: promoting longevity, cutting risk of cataracts and colon cancer, reducing risk of Type 2 Diabetes and slowing down brain decline (which beer is known for, too.) We think these are good excuses to kick back and relax with a glass of vino every single night. Bottoms up!

But back to the wedding...
More dancing - a plate smashed on the floor (traditional), Greek dancing - the simple type for us foreigners led by Mike who did a great job of bringing people up onto the floor (traditional), the various individual dances - around the candle and with everyone crouching around the dancer (traditional - and strange for me - not female ! )  , Throwing paper towels into the air at the dancer (traditional I understand!)

and no guns !!!  (Hmpphhh!!)

He said it was a quiet wedding by local standards... But we wish Nikos and Susanne every happiness for their future....
I raise my glass to them and say "Yamas!!"

And what can be better at the end of the day but to switch on the computer and find Radio West Wales playing Yanni on request and dedicating songs to those here in Crete - I lift my glass of Raki to you Alan Evans..  Yamas!!!

Goodnight!

-o0o-

Place of the day

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