30th November 2012 - Friday - That's all...

Friday. That's all!!
It is an important day for many, signifying the end of the week and the commencement of a weekend.
Somehow you lose the magic of a Friday when you are retired. It is another day in the week and only the check of the diary showing that there are no appointments makes it easier to decide that the inside of the house is preferable to wandering outside in the cold...
Of course, the dogs do not always feel the same way. Popping out this morning, they sat in the back of the car convinced that they were going to get a walk - but by the time we got to the fields it was raining and lack of waterproofs and lack of incentive meant that we turned around and came back home.
Sorry dogs - it's Friday - that's all !!!

A delivery of mulled wine via pallet reminded me that we are off to Caerphilly Castle next weekend to brave the cold and the rain and the snow ( if the last few years have been anything to go by !!) selling hot mulled wine to visitors to the castle. Hopefully a goodly number will call as there is a thousand pounds worth of mulled wine in boxes, with a few bottle for sale, sitting in the living room. That will be a lot of cups of wine!
But preparation for that can wait until next week.. it involves sorting out wall hangings and decorations and suchlike which involves getting up from the chair here, which sounds like a job for another day...
It's Friday - that's all.

Start of a video is in place for the Christmas special. Only the trailer of course. But a taster of what is to come if I get the next section photographed and compiled. 50 shades of Green seems a good working title.

.
Buying wine for the NSPCC at home this weekend. How many bottles of wine will 80 guests drink?? At lunchtime??  We will find out - 6 glasses to a bottle suggests 13 bottles of wine if not everyone has more than one glass. So a dozen Red, and 6 each of White and Rose may do...   Decisions decisions... Not good at those on a Friday....
Better get on with a video -
It is Friday
That's all...

29th November 2012 - Grammar Challenge.

And so it has come to this at last. For many years the rule of grammar has been clear that conjunctions should never start a sentence. Or so I thought, until receiving a rant from a friendly Americymru guru Ceri who laid the challenge at my door. But, what would I write about I thought if I were to take up this challenge? Or should I just let a stream of conciousness run like drivel form my brain? Yet, a challenge is a challenge and should not be ignored. Nor should the opportunity to post a blog go unchecked...  So, that brought me to this opening paragraph. And so we may list the FANBOYS acronym of words that should not be used to start a sentence "For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so"


After starting in this fashion,it is desirable to continue onto the coordinating conjunctions. Although there are a number of them!! As much as I would like to list them, as long as they are contained in the sentence I suppose that is sufficient. As thought I care !! Because, if we were to just list them, by the time I got to the end I would have a number of bored people. Before that happens, I will try to keep this humorous, even though it is breaking all the rules. If I was to use "in order that" or "in case" I may be breaking more rules, and that I must avoid. Lest I be called a purist, provided that you have read this far,since the purpose was to identify some conjunctions,so that we knew what to avoid, when, whenever, where and wherever they appear. Unless, and until you see these rules, while they have their place in Grammar, it seems that Ceri Shaw does not like them.


Both Ceri and I agree on one thing. Either use conjunctions or not. Neither opinion nor rule should take precedence. Not only is the text important but also the meaning behind it. Whether you agree or not - I think I have lived up to the challenge.
Thank you 


and so we have them :

Coordinating Conjunctions

There are only seven of these!

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Subordinating Conjunctions

A after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though

B because, before, by the time

E even if, even though

I if, in order that, in case

L lest

O once, only if

P provided that

S since, so that

T than, that, though, till

U unless, until

W when, whenever, where, wherever, while

Correlative Conjunctions

both... and

either... or

neither... nor

not only... but also

whether... or

Grammar Explained - Conjunctions

28th November 2012 - on Writing Skills

I rarely think in terms of lists.But occasionally a list will strike the imagination. Particularly when it refers to the art of writing, and so it was with a deal of interest that I read the following list which is pretty definitive with regard to things a prospective writer or blogger should attempt.

1. AVOID ALLITERATION ALWAYS
   
2. PREPOSITIONS ARE NOT WORDS TO END SENTENCES WITH
   
3. THE PASSIVE VOICE IS TO BE AVOIDED
   
4. VOID CLICHES LIKE THE PLAGUE - THEY ARE OLD HAT
   
5. IT IS WRONG TO EVER SPLIT AN INFINITIVE
   
6. WRITERS SHOULD NEVER GENERALISE
   
   seven:  BE CONSISTENT
   

     8.   DON'T USE MORE WORDS THAN NECESSARY, IT'S HIGHLY SUPERFLOUS

     9.   BE MORE OR LESS SPECIFIC

    10.  EXAGGERATION IS A BILLION TIMES WORSE THAN UNDERSTATEMENT

Maybe I should take these points on board ....

   

27th November 2012 - On leeks and Leaks

After the country has suffered some of the heaviest rains and storms, and flooding warnings reaching the highest level-life threatening storms, it was perhaps understandable that as I lay in bed yesterday morning, I got the distinct impression of dampness...... Now, before the mind goes wandering off into inappropriate directions, and to be fair my mind wandered a little in the immediate aftermath, after all I had not been imbibing of noxious alcoholic beverages the night before, and have no history of any lack of responsibility in the nether regions, but it was clearly wet in the bed. Looking to the ceiling, there was no sign of any drops of water cascading down onto the coverlets, which was also not surprising as there are no water pipes above the bedroom, and there is another bedroom between the roof and the ceiling...

Worse still, it seemed to be wet only where I was sleeping... Now this may seem to have taken a few minutes, but the reality was that all these thoughts went through my mind in that brief moment that you have where you transform from a heavy sleep into total awake - and also levitate from the bed and stand looking at the silhouette outlined upon the bed - like a chalk print at a murder scene.

I suppose it is best to mention at this stage that I sleep upon a water bed - and have done so for countless years. No, not one of those bright sixties water filled li-lo's that used to appear in tame B scene romps, but rather a state of the art ( well 25 years ago) frame contained, floatation chambered, heated water bed. And it seemed it had sprung a leak!!!

Of course, one of the finest things about a water bed is that it contours automatically, and if there is more than one person in the bed, it equalises nicely to fit the individual weights of the sleepers. Thus,being the heavier of the sleepers, the mattress sinks just that small amount lower around my torso, allowing a slow trickle to form in the impression.

Well I can't complain really, spending the next few hours looking through the house for the repair kit, one always arrives with a waterbed, we worked out that the last replacement mattress had been bought back in 2005, giving us 8 years undisturbed rest, but no sign of the repair kit....  Also no sign of the leak!! It had to be a small leak, as it required two people to be on the bed  to push a drop of water out, and it took 8 hours of steady drip to dampen only one indentation in the bed...  A needle in a haystack if you wish to mix your metaphors...

So, where do you find a good repairer for water beds in Wales???   We originally bought the bed from Leeks at Crosshands, when they decided to specialise in such things, and the sales pitch of "Your normal mattress starts failing the day you put it on the bed - and needs replacing after only a couple of years as the supports inside start to breakdown - but your water bed mattress will go on for ever (less leaks of course)...
Your normal mattress gets filled with all the detritus of  the sleepers, whereas the water bed is impervious....."
So we went for the Leek Special, and bought . Strangely for all those years we have never had a leak!

Of course in 2005, the flotation chambers were beginning to rot inside, and the bed was losing its firmness, and when we moved the bed into another bedroom, it did not really make the journey well, so we splashed out ( no pun intended) on the 2005 replacement ...  I have the bill, it was £179 plus carriage...

So not being able to find the leak we decided to research a replacement mattress - and interestingly found that the cost was the same - but with free carriage!!!  A sign of the times that this one area of lifestyle has not increased in price over the years....  So with a credit card payment we can look forward to a replacement without Leaks ... and then we found the hole in the mattress!!!

But still no repair kit...   A good excuse to turn over the bedroom, and in the drawers I found my medals from the Police, some cufflinks I forgot I had, and ££2.27p in loose change..  but no repair outfit....
But in the living room, in amongst all the accumulated "Stuff" that finds its way into various drawers and shelves, there was a pristine, unopened, universal bicycle repair outfit!!!!  Well, it was not a water bed repair kit, but there are some similarities in the form of rubber tube/lining,  both require a little roughening around the are of repair, apply some of the solvent glue, add a rubber match and grate the chalk over the top to take away all extra glue......  Yup - seemed to be the same process......

So, I did not write the blog yesterday, we spent most of the time running around searching the house.. and then with some trepidation, attempted another night of sleep......
I am pleased to report that the bed stayed dry... I know I sound like a proud parent of a child who has managed to go the night without pampers - but if the repair holds then when the new mattress arrives we can store it for our move to the next house - we know from the past that moving a water bed is not easy!!!

So while the weather remains poor across Wales, at last in one part of Llanelli it is dry....
Also - if your waterbed has problems....   I know of a good repair service - we also do bikes!!
 

25th November 2012 - 3 Happence a foot...

"Sam asked Noah what was 'is business,
And t'ould chap went on to remark
That, not liking the look of the weather,
'E were thinking of building an Ark."

Noah builds an ark...

It is always claimed that British have little conversation skills other than to chat about the weather, too hot , too cold, too wet, too dry, too humid, too arid, too cloudy, too sunny, the hole in the ozone layer, the level of pollen, too cold for snow, too chilly for a storm.

There is a theory that the varied type of weather in the UK lends itself to becoming the central point of all discourse, and the great myth of British "reserve" has been compounded by the ability to talk inanely for hours without ever breaching a personal issue..... Well, I have just put that theory and therefore the statement "there is a theory" is 100% true....  

It may not be a good theory, but as I wake this bright November morning and look at the rain pouring down the bedroom window, snuggle under the bedclothes as I recall switching off the central heating last night in a vain attempt to reduce the forthcoming horrific fuel bills (and thank you Mr Cameron for deciding that we should all pay an additional £95 per household to help the energy companies invest in more green resources!!) my thoughts dwell upon my colleagues in the re-enactment and Live Roleplay & Fantasy Trading circles who are out this weekend trying to ply their trades. 

Ludlow Christmas Fayre is on this weekend, just over the border from Wales, many still hold that it belongs to us, after all it still says "Croeso i Loegr" as you enter England, "Welcome to the Lost Lands". 

Many friends are there and by all accounts the rain did not let up at all yesterday and the winds were horrific. Martin, of Martin's Jerked Meat lamented that the "Trade has gone cold" and from his ramblings I don't think that was all that was cold !!! Suddenly, finishing trading at the end of October all seemed to make a little more sense, even if the money was not coming in!! Still, Caerphilly Castle at Christmas to look forward to on 8th December - I will give them that long to get the weather sorted out again - I am not an unreasonable person.   [ Link to Caerphilly Fayre ]

So, it may not be Hurricane Sandy, or even Hurricane Dai, but the weather reports show a record number of  weather warnings including 4 "death threatening" levels.

Though in some senses I prefer this version which has a hint of simplicity about it ...

As I look out of my bay window in Llanelli, it is currently sunny here -  I hear that my Granddaughter is holding a memorial service this afternoon for Goldie the Goldfish who sadly passed away after consistent over eating - no flowers please...  monetary donations only .... and I wonder whether I should wish that it be dry for the mourners, or wet in memory of poor Goldie......

Never an easy decision for the Barkeep .....

24th November 2012 - Of little known Facts

Fact for the day... the word "Trigger" used for all our guns originated from the word TREKKER from the Dutch. [Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker, from trecken, to pull.]

This may not seem to be a very important fact, but I was more interested that I learned it in the middle of the night while sitting at my computer, on a pop up message from a very nice and attractive young lady who had possibly imbibed a little too much of the Mead, and who decided that the early hours of the morning was a good time to contact her favourite Barkeep and discuss early century firearms. Granted that the last time I met the young lady was at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross when she pointed a very large, and unloaded I hasten to add, blunderbuss sized weapon at me - and smiled with a rather demonical look in her eye .....
It seems that it was not a blunderbuss - her weapon, which she knew with anatomical knowledge predated such a piece of mechanical engineering by a laughable number of years, and though the communication was through the little box called "Chat" upon a Facebook page, with an annoying little "Ping" sound after every T was dotted and I was crossed, it was quite clear that the tone of the missives contained an air of "You don't know even the basics !!!   what kind of imbecile would make that sort of mistake !""

"blunderbusses are much later

I'm even pre matchlock

you can call it a hangoone or a handcannon

or arquebus"     

I suppose that if you are the Barkeep to a Re-enactment and Live Action Roleplay Historical and Fantasy Tavern, then you just have to expect being delighted by the rich tapestry of people that you meet across the country - even if it also involves having the occasional weapon pointed at you.

I am sure that my friends and associated in the USA will support the principle that every young lady in medieval gown should have the right to bear arms.   I certainly support that it makes for a more varied lifestyle - life does not get boring when surrounded by people who are involved in their hobby, and though this is the "down" season here in the UK, well for me at any case as I have no intention of putting up canvass and camping out in the rain and snow at the moment - (though arguably I did last year!!) it is a delight to still have access to the varied characters that have been our customers and friends over the last 10 years.

Oh, she also shared another interesting fact - it is the sort of thing that you do in the early hours of the morning - apparently a snail's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.....   

Well that was sort of a conversation stopper!!!...

23rd November 2012 - A Doctor a day...

So on this day in 1963, Dr Who first appeared on BBC 1 - a step forward in TV history that would change generations. There have been many Doctors and, like James Bond, everyone seems to have their favourite and though I am an old traditionalist and loved the original story line of a Grandfather trying to get his granddaughter a decent education in a local Earth School who kidnaps two of the teachers.

I can think of a number of teachers today who would gladly up sticks and jump into a floating Police Box and it may be that the original concept was inspired by the desire to escape the classroom.

Indeed - it has inspired the escapist fantasies of generations since that time.

Though I have watched most Doctors from the original back in 1963, the nearest we have come to the TARDIS is Caerphilly Castle a couple of years ago when we took the Crimson Moon Mead Emporium to the Inner Bailey and looked up at the main tower to see a Blue Box shining in the most unlikely position!!.

It may have been a publicity stunt - but staying in the old Castle overnight - with the TARDIS as a Beacon shining down upon us was and interesting experience.

The TARDIS on the main tower at Caerphilly Castle and the view up through the arch at the Crimson Moon Mead Emporium and the North Tower.

So back to the present and we spent a night in the UK being battered by seriously strong winds. As one correspondent upon the Book of Faces commented - "We have been hit by Hurricane Dai!!" 

But this morning the sun is trying to break through and thought I would not call it warm - we are not subjected to the wind whistling through the dog flap - and stealing all the heat out of the house.

A breakfast of home made bread, with home made cream cheese and home made apricot jam - may not be the most healthy in the "less fattening" style but I can be assured of no additives, and it certainly tastes better. A cup of coffee may not be the most healthy either, and is fairness it is not my normal drink - tea being the preference for most days, however - it seemed to be right to go with the breakfast.

So plans for the day?

22nd November - 2012 - Thanksgiving in the Colonies

Thursday in bleak and miserable Wales - but on the plus side I don't have to go out and it gives me a good opportunity to monitor whether the bathroom wall is still leaking. Don't get me wrong, I have no desire for it to be leaking but it is always important to ensure that there is a logical and positive reason for remaining in the house, that is other than keeping warm, and dry, and it is possible that by positive thought and the power of the Force the leak will stop, or perhaps was never really there, like a crack in the wall of Amy Pond's bedroom...

So it is Thanksgiving in the Colonies, a great day for everyone, except a few million Turkeys one surmises.

Happy Thanksgiving

Decided to celebrate the day with a change of image on the Crimson Moon Facebook site. Thought the image idea worked quite well.

Been quite  a productive day really, managed to edit the last of the rehearsal sound check videos from the Solstice Cinema practice day - and put the "Race you to Valhalla" song onto Youtube.

Slowly adding the Youtube hits as they sit on 22276 Hits - though they do seem to sit on one number for about a week at a time and then jump up.

Started having a think about the Christmas Special for the Drunken Monks Teddies and the Crimson Moon as my Swan Song for my management of the Crimson Moon Tavern.  I think that the "Evil Baddie" (No-one will ever know who he is !! )  needs to return one last time  - I think that he may steal the colour out of the World leaving it in Black and White for Christmas  - best I can think of at the moment - Work in Progress.....

Susie still researching houses and finding a few more that may have some potential - should really be starting on clearing the house ... will start by planning I think....

 

21st November 2012 - Getting back to Normal - whatever that may be ....

Well, it is Wednesday and the black bags have been put out and the food waste has been taken and the ground is damp and the sky is grey... The Blog has been neglected for a few weeks and the stomach bug has taken its toll.
But a good night sleep and a positive attitude can work wonders... well until Susie came in and told me that the wall in the Bathroom is damp again! Thought we had fixed that problem by changing the broken coping stone, cleaning the gutters and removing the Triffid that was boring down the gap between the walls. Have to look for another cause now !!

So a day yesterday trying to stop the nausea while driving around the Welsh Countryside looking at two smallholdings. One in Cynwyl Elfed which had a lot of potential - mainly because it was quirky and had lots of accommodation and barns and a second building / granny flat and was a good price and the other up near Rhydlewis, which had better pasture, a nice little bungalow ( oh the thought of no more stairs !! ) and was more secluded - but more expensive.
First was actually two houses and there was room to knock through the dividing doors that had been blocked up. Could put a wardrobe there and walk through it - that would be novel !!
But they both were practical - just have to start looking at our house and seeing what needs to be done...
Maybe a cup of tea first !

So :
Sale of House  - not started yet!!
Purchase of Smallholding -  Starting to look at potential Properties
However on the up-side Susie has bought a Chicken Hutch - Flat Pack which is sitting in the living room awaiting the future. She is also perusing Incubators on E-bay.
Sale of Business - Sadly on Hold at the moment - last buyers dropped out, after the money man decided that the numbers did not crunch.
Looking at Plan B options - which may mean realising financial return over a longer period - but better than the alternative.
Vollsanger -  Well, the Solstice at the Cinema seems to be progressing in the right direction.
Managed to repair my guitar as far as I can tell - the amplifier socket came out of the Guitar Sound Box and had to find a sneaky method of pulling it back into place with wires as my hands were too large to get into the sound box to push it back. Need to check that it works properly.
A couple of Sound checks have been posted onto Youtube and are linked here :
Tapestry is turning into quite a nice song I think and "Dance for me" is simple but effective.
  

Tapestry

Lilie's Song

Apparently - we are going to have another sound check on Sunday ...

Will have to get back practicing ...

I See there is a write up in the Carmarthen Journal for the Solstice:

A CHRISTMAS concert with a difference is set to light up the winter solstice next month.

An array of performers from a group of 14-year-old girls, a bardic Viking singing about green goblins to Ed Shearan collaborator Amy Wadge, will unite to celebrate original, live music.

1. ​

Music teacher Ron Savory is behind the idea and says he hopes to get as many people as possible on stage for a grand finale with Vollsanger — a former police chief turned entertainer.

Ron's Plank Promotions is putting on the event in the Cross Hands Cinema after starting out holding gigs in a Carmarthen cafe.

"We started out at Caffi Iechyd Da and it was just a wonderful event," he said.

"Then I took my son to the cinema and just thought it was an incredible building.

"It's a theatre, a beautiful art deco building with an incredible feel, so I wanted to put on a show there."

Headliner Amy Wadge has worked with double Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran.

Together they co-wrote the EP, Songs I Wrote with Amy and a number of other songs including, Gold Rush, which features on the Deluxe Edition of Ed's million-selling debut +. The four-and-a-half hour show, which starts at 7pm on December 21, will feature more than 13 acts, but Ron says it is not about the performers.

"This is about making an event that is positive, organic and inclusive.

"It's not about people playing to an audience, it's about the audience and the artists feeding off each other."

Ron added the gig is not for profit.

"This is not about making money — it's about enjoyment," he said.

"We're providing a manned bar on the night, but people will need to bring their own refreshments.

"We're trying to do it as cheaply as possible so everyone can enjoy."

Tickets for the event are available from Alun Rees at Cadno Music, Llanelli, Caffi Iechyd Da Carmarthen, Tangled Parrot Carmarthen, Sticks & Picks, Music Tuition, Cross Hands and Cross Hands Cinema.

Nice...

19th November 2012 - D Day ??

Well, after meetings last Thursday, and a weekend up in Aylesbury and London, and a rush back to Llanelli for the Sunday Dinner - which seemed to be excellent- but was sadly interrupted with a case of 24 Hour Lurgy....

So Sunday Afternoon and night disappeared into a extended bathroom sit - while the body exhibited no sense of responsibility at either end !!!

Sadly - Susie succumbed by about 2am and so it was queues for the loo ...

Not necessarily the best thing to write in the blog - but it is the most vivid thing that has happened in the last few days - so I suppose it had to be down here.

Don't think I shall be sitting here long...

10th November 2012 - Quiet times

A daily blog is more unlikely while we are based at home and officially "Ceased Trading".
However a couple of days where the weather really has not prompted anyone to venture out into the real world, with a continuous drizzle and chilly temperature, so whenever we can persuade ourselves that there is no real urgent need to venture out - seems good reason to stay in !!!

Update on the Van ....  not good, changed the fuel pipe but the leak is still there so will have to change the fuel pump - garage looking to try and get the cheapest version - so letting them do the searches rather than pay Mercedes full prices...

Roof was better news - fantastic local resource who painted the front of the house managed to monkey up the back roof, change the coping stones, change the loose tiles and pull a triffid out that was growing down in the cavity of the bathroom wall - and was probably the main cause of all our damp!!!  A day later and despite rain - the wall is pretty well dry !!!

Managed to finish the outline accounts of the business for the last 5 years and hoping for an early and favourable response - would be nice to finalise any handover - and of course at the moment there is the option on a new purchaser starting income generation at the Caerphilly Xmas Fayre - we have ordered mulled wine for the event but are not intending to sell meads or country wines.

Also put together a set of stock options for a local public house should they wish to use some of our supplies. Basically - closing down the last areas of business with  a view to starting our new options.

Latest Poster for the Solstice at the Cinema put together - sadly missed the deadline for the printers - so will have to just use it ourselves..

Will be heading to the cinema tomorrow to see what is happening and take my camera to get the feel of the event.

So the US election has finished and was about as exciting as the forthcoming Police Commissioner election here in the UK which no-one knows about, no-one cares about and has to be one of the greatest waste of public and personal money lately. Two weeks ago I could not even find out who the candidates were ... and now they are electioneering with a week to go and seem to be only party political candidates...  I think that the bottom line is that anyone who decides that they will stand for election on the unsupported statement that they will put "more bobbies on the beat"  have really no idea about policing realities in this country.  And there you see the two candidates for Dyfed Powys - one Labour and one Conservative and both - you guessed it !!

So - site visits and singing tomorrow -  maybe some more recording when I get a chance ...   and really must look at the basement sometime soon !!

hmm finest "knights of the North - Bernicia 1000"  seems to be a little known malt .....  very tasty

Night - or should I say - Morning !!!

6th November 2012 - Weekly blog now it seems

Well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there is an old saying that says - "Lead me not into Temptation ... Who am I kidding !! I know a short cut !!"
So I thought I had better add a short note to the daily grind...
Update

• Van still in the Van Hospital while they try to work out whether they need to change the fuel pump or not...   seems to be only a pipe that is leaking - and the that is the better solution as far as I am concerned.
• Living Room - yes we can see the floor and some of the walls. Down to checking the canvass now and packing away
• Caerphilly Christmas Fayre -  decided that we should do the mulled wine and organisers would prefer us outside so we are going to borrow Roger Morgan (Barber Surgeon and Father Christmas) tent and add some ivy for Christmas - but just set up the boiler and sell the mulled wine. Still an option for a buyer to ell the wines and meads - but not heard anything in the last week - so will go for the license just for ourselves.
• Roof leaking at the back of the house - seems a coping tile is broken - how did that happen ??? up on the top of the roof like that ?  Very heavy Sea Gull ??  Also the gutters are blocked again and water pouring into the bathroom. Hoping to get it done without expensive scaffolding - but will see what our tame painters/roofers can do....
• Accounts all in the books form the events - just need to start the tax returns
• Domestic Accounts up to date and a meeting with the Bank Manager - but she won't lend me a quarter of a million for a smallholding - so will have to go back to the drawing board and get on with selling the business.
• Started looking at some old songs - and putting together a "Vollsanger Love Songs" collection. 
• had a while trying out various sound amplifications with the guitar and Stick's n Picks Ron Savory to help  - so will start playing with some new ideas.
• 4pm and it is getting dark already ...
• Maybe time for a nap ...

Well -- Guy Fawkes s over so the dogs can stop quivering now ....

1st November 2012 - Start of another month

And so we move into November. The witches and skeletons of Walpurgisnacht have departed and we find  that we are still alive in our beds and, sadly for many friends, the zombie apocalypse is not actually with us yet. As one friend said recently, once the zombie apocalypse is with us we will at last know what to do with ourselves - life becomes simpler when you just have stop your brain being eaten!!.

Other friends are jumping on the MO-vember - the charity drive to grow a moustache during the 30 days of November - with daily photos, and sponsorship for charity - I think it is mainly a cancer charity...
Don't think I will join in with this plan - as I get irritable when I don't shave for a couple of days.

Down in Barton on Sea again this morning, the sun is shining though the forecast was for heavy rain, and it is very bright. Forgot to pack any extra contact lenses, so wearing for a second day (daily disposables!),  so after a short period of bleary irritation, we are back to normalcy...

Central heating is a fine thing, but we really are not used to heat at this level throughout the house. The charm of our own house is that there are arm spots - but also cool areas as you pass around. Only real drawback these days is the amount of stairs - which precludes the need for an exercise bicycle if nothing less.
A day with the in-laws, need to get father in laws car to an MOT for lunchtime, and hoping to get away about 4pm.

Went for a carvery last night - the Wheatsheaf just up the road. Oodles of food, lovely meat - but having done the unusual for me - adding some of the lovely looking deep brown gravy all over the food..  and sat down with a huge plate to find that there was a very strange taste!!   Thought the cauliflower cheese was off so tried to isolate it for a nibble - no joy....  Seemed to be all over the plate. Decided int he end that it may be the gravy and went back up to the carvery. Asked for a spoon and said " I think you have something very wrong with the gravy!"
I took a small taste on the spoon and  it was definitely inedible.
I gave the spoon the Chef and asked him to try...  As he took it I began to identify the taste. It was Tarragon, and thyme and sage, but so strong as to completely cover the taste of meat - and turn it from gravy into a herb sauce!!!
So the chef tastes and looks at me saying - " yes ??   what is wrong with that?? " seems that was what he was aiming at - I think he dropped the pot of herbs into the the pot and decided to cover his mistake up.
As far as I was concerned, I asked for another plate and tipped all of the veg onto the other plate. Went up and replaced the veg - but rather spoiled the meal.  Had a chocolate fudge and ice-cream for afters - something else that I do not normally do - but was useful to take the taste away.
But it was an evening out - and that was nice.

A good nights sleep - and batteries a little charged so will be able to face the packing of the Crimson Moon when we get back. Susie has had a clean bill of health for her hernia - turns out to be a pulled muscle - so we can start sorting and packing the canvass and getting it put away for sale.

And then I can start thinking about looking at the garage and the store sheds....  Ho Hum...
Maybe another cup of tea .......