31st January 2016 - Just a thought

Thought for the day:"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable."

Early pictures from Element LRP ..
No time to sort them ..

Cheers !

30th January 2016 - Just a thought...

Thought for the day:"Growing old is compulsory – growing up is optional"

A couple of pictures from the Burn's night...    while away on the Element LRP event in Maidstone...

29th January 2016 - On the road again

Thought for the day :"Not many people know that I used to have a job as a mime, it's only now I can talk about it."

Of to darkest Kent to be the Black Bard - an evil creature who can only be redeemed by the spells of children it seems...   should be fun..

Back on Sunday

Cheers...

28th January 2016 - Burns Night at St Teilo

Thought for the day: "I am not ashamed to admit that I am ignorant of what I do not know"

So we are about ready to go with the Burn's Night festivities.
Found the Burns bag in the warehouse after all - under piles of material and costumes - sounds about par for the course..
Have learned about as well as I am going to - and getrting ready for a weekend away ..
"You lead a busy life Mr Beeblebrox"

 Cheers...

St Teilo Lodge no 4755

and another thought..

27th January 2016 - Lost Burn's Kit ...

Thought for the day :"I only drink on two occasions - when I am thirsty and when I am not"

Busy day today hunting for the Burns Night Bag..
Seriously.. there is an orange plasticky paper bag - from sainsbury's or some similar shop, which is crushed full of everything I need for the Burn's Night tomorrow .. Can I find it ?? Can I diddlysquat !!
Three hours int eh warehouse today and the place is a lot tidier than it has been since August when I broke my arm, but still no orange bag..  And a nagging doubt that it has been put somewhere - for some reason - best known to me at that time - Was Alcohol Involved ? I cannot remember ! Is that because of alcohol involvement .. I.. Do ... Not.. Know!!!

I thought it was in the basement - it is the most likely place - I know we had it last January - at Burns's Night ...   it stayed in the living room for a while - then cleared to the basement  - must have gone somewhere - has to be the warehouse....

But I cannot find it
Found many other things
Tidied a lot up

But no tartan tablecloth, bronzes, daggers, pins, candlesticks, candles ...   where are they ???

oh well - back to searching
maybe a glass while I think about it..

26th January 2016 - Rainy Day..

Thought for the day:" A skeleton walks into a bar and orders a beer and a mop"

Rotten weather today -
Saw a Farm
Liked It
Went to Aberystwyth in the Rain
Got back Safe
Bonus !!

Cheers

25th January 2016 - To Celebrate Burns

Thought for the day:"Little did I know that I was psychic."

So, Happy Burns Day ..
Just a few days until the Lodge evening ..
 

But in the meantime some little known facts about Mr Burns

1. Burns is a music legend
Countless singers, from Mariah Carey to Susan Boyle, have covered Robert’s poem, Auld Lang Syne.
It has also made an appearance in to the Guiness Worlds Records, for being one of the most popular songs of all time – alongside Happy Birthday and For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow.

2. How many statues? 
There are more statues of Robert Burns in the world than any other non-religious figure, after Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus.
In fact, you can’t go anywhere without bumping in to him, with statues in Australia, Canada, America, New Zealand and of course, the UK.

3. He was a womaniser
When he wasn’t busy writing astounding poems, he had a pretty busy schedule in the bedroom too. Burns fathered twelve children from four different mothers.
His last child, Maxwell, was born on the day of his funeral in 1796.

4. Long hair, don’t care
He was also a rebel teenager, growing his hair long and styling it in a ponytail.

5. No net-worth
Despite being widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, Burns died a very poor man, with approximately £1 to his name.
A net-worth of no more than the cost of two cans of Irn Bru.

6. He was very big headed
According to a plaster cast taken of his skull, Robert Burns had a larger head than the average man.
Now, nothing has been scientifically proven but perhaps that is why so much creative genius would flow from his noggin to paper.

7. Burns is Blowin’ in the Wind
Scotland’s National Bard has been the inspiration to many music legends, including Bob Dylan, who cited him as his greatest creative inspiration.

8. He inspired Thriller!
Even if you thought Mr Burns was just a character in The Simpsons, you have probably been listening to songs inspired by his writing.
It is said that Michael Jackson’s smash-hit ‘Thriller’ was inspired by Burn’s ‘Tam o’Shanter’ poem.

9. Michael Jackson loved Rabbie
Jacko’s obsession didn’t stop there; he even created a whole album based on Rabbie Burns’ poems.
He and David Guest collaborated to create a musical about the poet’s life.

10. Fans in high places
U.S president, Abraham Lincoln, could recite Burn’s work by heart. He would regularly break out in to sporadic verse to entertain guests at The White House.

11. Coca-Cola bottles
Rabbie’s still making history in the 21^st century, appearing on the first ever, commemorative Coca-Cola bottle in 2009.
A big fan of booze, we reckon Robert’s drink would be a whisky and coke if he were around today.

 

12. Tommy Hilfiger-Burns?
Robert Burn’s creative genius seems to have been passed down generations and even influences what’s on the catwalk today.
Fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger, claims that he is a direct descendent of Burns.

13. Burns goes all Barrowman on us
John Barrowman played Robert Burns in a musical about his life in Denmark in 1996.

14. Died young
Robert Burns died at the young age of 37. The cause was speculated to be his boozing, unhealthy way of life in his earlier years.

15. Planetary poetry
British born astronaut, Nick Patrick, took a book of Robert Burns’ poetry on a space mission in 2010.
Rabbie’s poems, quite literally out of this world, have travelled a staggering 5.7 million miles and 217 orbits of the Earth.

Address to a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit' hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis

or if you prefer..

 Address to a Haggis Translation

Fair and full is your honest, jolly face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.

The groaning trencher there you fill,
Your buttocks like a distant hill,
Your pin would help to mend a mill
In time of need,
While through your pores the dews distill
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
And cut you up with ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm steaming, rich!

Then spoon for spoon, the stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
Till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
Are bent like drums;
Then old head of the table, most like to burst,
'The grace!' hums.

Is there that over his French ragout,
Or olio that would sicken a sow,
Or fricassee would make her vomit
With perfect disgust,
Looks down with sneering, scornful view
On such a dinner?

Poor devil! see him over his trash,
As feeble as a withered rush,
His thin legs a good whip-lash,
His fist a nut;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his ample fist a blade,
He'll make it whistle;
And legs, and arms, and heads will cut off
Like the heads of thistles.

You powers, who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill of fare,
Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!

I'll drink to all of that ...

24th January 2016 - Rules ....

Thought for the day:"At my age, an affair of the heart is a bypass."

A grim day with a lught drizzle, and not the sort you get in a marmalade cake..  we have had incessant rain for a long time now ... I am sure that they will be announcing a hosepipe ban in the near future..

Random thoughts today ...I had not realised that the world of cartoons were so specific - but it makes sense. These are the 9 rules for the Road Runner and Wiley Coyote - makes perfect sense.

I also found another set of rules for life...

And security can be simple as well ..

Best get back to doing some photos...
Cheers...

And Oh dear !!!

23rd January 2016 - Wedding Photos ...

Thought for the day:" My mother is almost ninety and still doesn't need glasses… drinks right out of the bottle."

A good weekend among old friends and the opportunity to watch two young friends tie the knot and get married..

the flower girl

Start work on the main set tomorrow ... but in the meantime I shall have a look through and sample a glass of "41"

22nd January 2016 - Just a thought..

Thought for the day:"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."

Off at a wedding - just a thought today ..

Oh - and Cheers - if I can get some mortgage advice to pay for the bar bill ..

21st January 2016 - Buffy the Brit ?

Thought for the day :"Are we now so correct that when the zombie apocalypse comes - we will be faced with zombie rights activists?"

 1.  Buffy would be from Essex.
 2.  The Hellmouth would be somewhere around Basildon.
 3.  Buffy would be on the netball team.
 4.  Or the hockey team.
 5.  Or the football team, since woman aren’t sideline participants in male sports.
 6.  It would be a lot harder to tell vampires from the regular sickly looking pale people.
 7.  Especially since they’d all be using fake tan.
 8.  She’d still be sarcastic, but so would everyone else.
 9.  Including the vampires.
10. They’d be extra sarcastic, probably.
11. Sarky bastards.
12. The show would involve a lot more banter.
13. Buffy would be among the least violent teens at her high school.
14. She’d spend as much time fighting hooded youths as demons.
15. And football hooligans.
16. And demon hoodies/hooligans.
17. Giles would still be posher than everyone.
18. People would assume he’d got chucked out of Oxford/Cambridge for doing something dodgy.
19. And they’d laugh because he looked just like the guy from the Nescafé ads on telly.
20. Students would actually use the school library for study.
21. And they would all wear school uniforms.

22. Which would render Darla’s uniform angle useless.
23. Xander would be called Alex.
24. Except on MSN Messenger.
25. He’d be considered quite buff.
26. But still would not be mysterious enough for Buffy.
27. Willow would be the first person in school to be into Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
28. The book would pique her interest in magic.
29. And cosplay.
30. She’d play Harry, and she’d make Giles dress up as Dumbledore.
31. Willow and Alex/Xander would have grown up together on a local council estate.
32. They’d love Men Behaving Badly.
33. Which Willow would only pretend to love because Xander loves it.
34. Angel would be from Yorkshire.
35. No one would be surprised that he’s a bit moody.
36. Hearing him say “Buffy” in a Yorkshire accent would never get old.
37. He and Giles would bond over Yorkshire Tea.

38. A big part of Angel and Buffy’s relationship would have been taking the piss out of each other’s accents.
39. She’d find him mysterious because she’d never met an actual Northerner.
40. Buffy would not have been a virgin before she slept with Angel.
41. Xander wouldn’t have been a virgin before he slept with Faith.
42. Nor Willow before Oz.
43. Nobody in the show would be a virgin.
44. Xander would have left school at 16 and done a carpentry apprenticeship.
45. He’d have his own white van.
46. And would go on at least one lads holiday to Magaluf.
47. Cordelia would still be rich.
48. But she wouldn’t have lost her fortune until the banking crisis in 2008.
49. But she would have gone out partying in east London, pretending not to be rich.
50. She would have taken Buffy to a house party with The Libertines in Bethnal Green.
51. She’d have dated pre-fame Pete Doherty.
52. And would have complained about Kate Moss taking her leftovers.
53. Since she likes a bit of rough, no one would think it was odd that she was dating Xander.
54. Spike would be an actual Londoner.

55. He’d hang out in Camden, mostly.
56. Within 10 metres of Camden Lock.
57. Where punk rock is not yet dead.
58. In “Ted”, Ted would have been played by David Jason.
59. The episode “Bad Beer” would have been titled “Bad Cider”.
60. It would have featured White Lightning and park benches.
61. And it would have been an episode in Season 1, when they were 16, not Season 4.
62. In the first Halloween episode they’d all have turned into drunk teens, since they would not have been in fancy dress.
63. At night they would hang out in a pub, since youth clubs are for 14-year-olds.
64. The pub would only have live music on a Saturday night.
65. It would be a band that did shit Britpop covers.
66. The same band every week.
67. The same covers.
68. The band would have a comedy name like “No Way Sis”.
69. It would probably just be actual Britpop cover band No Way Sis.
70. Oz would be their bassist.
71. He’d hail from Manchester, and have a shit haircut and a Vespa.
72. He would drop more E’s than Gadsby.
73. When he wolfed out he’d just lay there, stroking his own fur.
74. A major plotline would have involved members of parliament as demons.
75. Probably the Hamiltons.
76. There would have definitely been a vampire-in-the-royal-family plot.
77. Probably Charles.
78. Joyce would get excellent medical care for free on the NHS.
79. Giles wouldn’t have to leave, therefore not ruining large chunks of the latter seasons with his absence.
80. After dropping out of uni, Buffy would have worked in a Nando’s.
81. Instead of involving actual university studies, Season 4 would have just been an extended freshers’ week of drink, drugs, and casual sex.
82. Basically just Skins with vampires.
83. And finally, each season would have been only six episodes long.

[copied from buzzfield]

Seems about right - Cheers!

20th January 2016 - Dothraki - Green Of Thrones

Thought for the day:"Old age is like everything else; to make a success of it, you've got to start young."

So - we finally get the Dothraki version of the Green one out ...

Quite like this one, as it started with only a sound bite..

Busy day...  had someone round to look at taking the tree down in the garden .. Scaffolding goingup soon - Houses are costly things - but the people who viewed last Saturday have not said that they are not interested...   which is one stage better than no-one interested ..

Off on the road tomorrow to the North for a wedding
So early to bed - Night ...
Cheers!

19th January 2016 - Whisky Galore .. or is that Whiskey?

Thought for the day:"I personally stay away from natural foods; at my age I need all the preservatives I can get."

I don't mind this article particularly except for the obvious thing that jumps out at me - the fact that it is talking about WHISKEY  - with an "E".. Not Scottish Whisky at all!!  Or is that true .. read on...

All the health benefits of whiskey you wish you knew earlier… you’re welcome:
Whiskey is one of the best alcohols you can drink. Not only is it the least likely to give you a hangover, but it’s also one of the healthiest around. You’ll find that having a few fingers of whiskey every week can help to:

6.  Avoid Weight Gain — Whiskey is a low-calorie alcohol, especially when compared to the many cocktails, beers, and wines you can find on supermarket shelves. You can drink a tumbler of whiskey without worrying about packing on the pounds thanks to its low sugar content.
7. Boost Heart Health — Did you know that drinking whiskey can actually make your heart healthier? Aside from wine and dark beer, what other alcohols can claim that? Not only will whiskey reduce the risk of blood clots, but it will lower your stroke and heart attack risk as well. The antioxidants in whiskey stop cholesterol from clogging your arteries, and it can even boost your good cholesterol.
8. Fight Cancer –– Whiskey is rich in antioxidants, particularly one known as ellagic acid. This antioxidant stops your body’s DNA from coming in contact with cancer-causing compounds, reducing the risk of carcinogens forming. It can also protect your body from chemotherapy, and will reduce oxidation in your body.
9. Improve Brain Health — A study conducted in 2003 discovered that drinking whiskey reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you’re worried that your brain is slowing down in your old age, it’s time to start drinking whiskey to protect your very important organ from damage.
10. Reduce Stroke Risk –– Whiskey not only helps to prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries, but it can actually help to get rid of any cholesterol present in your blood vessels at the moment. It will also help to relax the walls of your arteries, ensuring that your blood can flow without obstruction. One of the greatest health benefits of whiskey is the reduced stroke risk, and we can all drink to that..
11. Fight Stress — Stress can cause a wide range of health problems in the human body, but thankfully we’ve got whiskey to kick stress’ butt! Whiskey helps to reduce anxiety and stress, calming your nerves and helping to relax your body. It can increase circulation throughout your body, providing your organs with fresh, oxygenated blood. A serving or two of whiskey can help to calm stressed nerves effectively!
12. Boost Memory — The antioxidants in whiskey can help to improve the health of your brain, and the circulation-boosting effects of this alcohol will boost your memory at the same time. The same properties that help to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia will also keep your brain active and young.
13. Aid in Digestion –– Did you know that whiskey has long been drunk as a digestive aid? It was usually consumed after a meal, helping to relax the body after eating heavy food. It can also help to shut down your appetite, preventing you from overeating. Best of all, it will aid in digestion, reducing your risk of stomach ache or indigestion after a heavy meal.
14. Lengthen Lifespan –– Whiskey is loaded with healthy antioxidants, and these nutrients can help to increase your lifespan by reducing your risk of disease. By protecting your body against disease, you prevent the slow breakdown of important cells in your body–thereby helping you to live longer.
15. Great for Diabetics –– Whiskey is a zero-carb alcohol, so you can drink it without worrying about the effect it will have on your blood sugar levels. If you suffer from diabetes, a finger or two of whiskey will be the right choice for you!

 So - is it with or without an "E"?

(Previously reported by Nora Maynard)

Now that the days are getting shorter and chillier, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a good book and a nice warming glass of whisky - or should that be whiskey? Same thing, just different spelling, right? Well, that depends…

Before we get going, let’s define the liquor in general:
No matter how you spell it, whisky/ey is an umbrella term for a type of spirit distilled from a mash of fermented grains.
Now let’s look at some different types:
Within the broad category of whisky/ey are many sub-categories, including bourbon, rye, Tennessee, Scotch, Irish, and Canadian style whiskies. The manufacture of each of these types of whisky/ey is guided and regulated by the government of the spirit's country of origin. As a result, Canadian whisky, for example, is a whole different animal from Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, and American-style whiskeys such as Tennessee, bourbon, and straight rye.
(Okay, so far, so good. Maybe at this point, you’d be happy to enjoy a glass of the stuff no matter how it’s spelled. But if you've ever wondered why the word often appears different ways in different contexts, read on...)

Now things start to get tricky:
American and Irish liquor producers (and copy editors) tend to favor the spelling WHISKEY, while Canadian, Scottish, and Japanese producers (and copy editors) tend to favor (or should I say, favour) WHISKY.
The controversy:
So we have two things going on here: copy editing style and actual liquor style. The big question is: Are WHISKEY and WHISKY just two different spellings of the same word, or are they two slightly different words describing two separate groups of spirits? What do you do if you're a resident of Scotland writing about Irish whiskey or an American writing about Canadian whisky?
A solution:
Up until quite recently, The New York Times tackled the problem by spelling everything the American way (with an E), regardless of the spirit’s country of origin. From Kentucky bourbon to Islay malts, everything was “whiskey” to The NYTimes. But then, last February, the venerable newspaper made a decisive change.
After receiving a raft of complaints from some serious Scotch whisky drinkers, the paper re-tooled its approach to follow that of many specialized spirits publications, spelling each type of spirit according to the way favored by its country of origin. So, while American-produced varieties such as bourbon, rye, and Tennessee - as well as the Irish stuff - kept their previous NYTimes-styled "whiskey” spelling, the stuff from Scotland, Canada, and Japan now would be referred to as “whisky.” Makes a lot of sense, I think.
Whiskey/whisky nmemonics:
Here’s a quick way to remember how some of the world’s biggest producers spell their products:

• Countries that have E’s in their names (UnitEd StatEs and IrEland) tend to spell it whiskEy (plural whiskeys)
• Countries without E’s in their names (Canada, Scotland, and Japan) spell it whisky (plural whiskies)

Whew! Time for a drink.

But then again.....

18th January 2016 - Dothraki :Orada a dahaan akka

Thought for the day:" The secret of eternal youth is arrested development."

So, the rain keeps on pouring in and the builder tells me that the scaffolding will cost me £425 as a special rate  - no idea what the building work will cost until he gets up to the roof and has a look - oh well - that is the problem with having bricks and mortar.

On other news, I have been sent a sound bite of a version of the Green One in Dothraki - that is the language of Game of Thrones and the Khaleesi ...  I also managed to find some footage of the Game of Thrones which shows the first egg pulled out of the box is a .. wait for it...  yes  - a Green One ... Coincidence ?? I think not !!

There's a green one and a green one
And a green one and a green one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

Orada a dahaan akka, ve a dahaan akka, 
ve a dahaan akka, ve a dahaan akka!
toate realizate din ticky tacky,
ve hepsi sadece aynı görünüyor.
So - sometime today I have to put the two together - and get some guitar backing and maybe something from the Game of thrones to add to it...  In the meantime - enjoy the original shot
   

I happened to note in passing that the Youtube Totals for the Vollsanger Page have passed the 87,500 which is quite fun - have to keep the pressure on ...

Maybe add some more later in the day - if I get lucky ...
Cheers!

17th January 2016 - Not all decisions are good ...

Thought for the day: "Old age is when you know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions."

I have a number of friends and aquaintances, and after mentioning my own recollections of Bowie in the Roundhouse many moons ago, I picked up this little story about a friend, who is better known in the Llanelli area these days for his commetaries at the Scarlet's games, and for playing the old Master of Llanelly House and recanting the sad story of the suicide/murder of Mira Turner - the upper house house maid ... Eldon Phillips...   his story..

A VICAR has spoken of the time he turned down the chance for David Bowie to perform in Carmarthen — because the £100 price tag was too hefty.

Reverend Eldon Phillips recalled the decision after hearing today of the singer's death.

While training to become a teacher at Trinity College, Mr Phillips was involved in booking gigs for students, and was approached by Bowie's agent asking if he could perform at the college.
But as he was yet to release the album Hunky Dory - and was relatively unknown as an artist, Mr Phillips felt he had no choice but to turn the gig down.

He said: "It would have been around 1970/71 and I was booking bands to perform while doing my teacher training.

"The agents I dealt with in London rang me up and said he had this act — a singer songwriter with a small band. He had just changed his name from David Jones to David Bowie.
"He said it would cost around £100, but because he was unknown as such then I couldn't risk spending the college's money on it. I couldn't guarantee how many people would be there."
But he added that the decision quickly became a regret as Bowie shot to popularity.

"Literally a few weeks later Hunky Dory came out and I regretted it immediately," Mr Phillips said.
"It was such a seminal album, and I always say the three biggest influences on rock and roll since the Second World War are The Beatles, Elvis, and David Bowie.

"I wasn't a huge fan of his, but I thought his best album was Hunky Dory. I also have an album called David Bowie at the BBC, which is made up of tracks he recorded over a number of sessions - that is superb."

Well - it goes down with the other failures in history - such as the rejection of the Beatles, the thought that a photo-copier would nver catch on and the firm belief that there may be a small demand for computers - maybe one day there would be five or six...

I shall have a quiet day today ..

Cheers !!

16th January 2016 - One down - plenty to go

Thought for the day: "Breaking News - Explosion at a Cheese Factory De Brie everywhere!!"

An early start trying to get the heating working at the Llanelli Masonic Hall. The frost was thick upon the Bothy as I moved it out of the way for the house viewing today - first one in 9 months, and the hall was freezing. The timer had been set for 8am - and all the lights were on - but no heat was coming through anywhere. Switched all the buttons on and off - only to find that the rooms started to warm up about 10am. Not much good for a meeting starting at 10.30am.

Later, I discover that they have put an override switch on the boiler because people continual forgot to switch the heating off continuous - thus leaving heating on for days at a time - so the boiler cannot open between 10pm and 9am...  Of course - it is not intelligent enough to realise that there is a clock change in the winter and so the 9am startup is really 10am....

By the time we left the main hall it was almost warm enough to sit comfortably - I was int he Chair doing the installation - at least no-one was able to sleep !!!

So the installation of the St Elli Court of the order of Athelstan went well and a fine lunch at the hall, and a glass of wine or two...   At least I can now concentrate upon the next bit of learning - but maybe a day off tomorrow ..

Oh !  there is a bottle of port here - maybe just a glass with some cheese and biscuits..
Cheers

15th January 2016 - A bit of Nostalgia

Thought for the day :" A photographic memory takes years to develop."

Spent a little time yesterday updatying one of the old Wolves-Pictures websites from 2005.  It was for the Curious Pastimes renewal Event held over the August bank holiday - but being 10 years ago it is quite an eye opener. Seemed worthwhile setting the video wizard onto it to get a short video together as a little bit of froth for the forthcoming year ...

But of course the video is too lang with all the pictures so we end up with a second video - and possibly a htird to come ...

But there is also the link to the original pictures... At Wolves Pictures...

Back to the book ..
Cheers

14th January 2016 - The hole in my roof is letting in water

Thought for the day:"Do unemployed artists draw benefits?"

Hi Hum - after 9 months of waiting for soemone to come to the house to view, we have someone coming on Saturday - and the flashing has all come away from the roof between the houses and water is pouring into the top rooms - not the most inspiring of sights as you walk around the house. Roofer has called an looked through the top window but cannot reach anything without scaffolding - so we will have to have some scaffolding up over the house for a couple of weeks.

Oh well - has to be done - but the incessant rain seems to be having a bit of an impact on our poor old house...

Oh well - the sun is shining today - so better make the most of it ..

Cheers!

13th January 2016 - Sometimes I worry about the world...

Thought for the day:"My wife says I'm too skeptical... but I just don't believe her."

So the deadline gets closer for the Installation for the Order of Athelstan on Saturday - only 30 pages of ritual to learn or thereabout...  Rose Croix completed last night so can clear the memory decks and get on with the learning ...

Meanwhile the Bowie euphoria continues, attacks against Corbyn continue, the drop in the price of oil ceases to be about cheaper petrol in the pumps and starts to get reported as a threat to future economy, fears of Muslim infraction is fired by stories of rapes and sexual assault in Cologne over the New Year - and there are plenty of Youtube films to suggest that there are serious problems, Robert Black, a child murderer in prison since 1994 dies just days before he can be charged with the murder of a 13 year old in 1978, and the best we can get is that the Devon & Cornwall Police are devastated that they could not get the paperwork submitted in time....

Personally, I lose confidence in the Police, the politicians, the Criminal Justice System, current News systems - actually most of the modern world...   I shall stick to the Crimson Moon, my LARP and re-enactment friends and a book of ritual which at least sets standards of moral and social behaviour...

We may be busy - well if I am allowed to play..

So - back to the books
A glass of Chateau may help the brain cells