30th June 2019 - Hanging Baskets, Ferries and Glastonbury

Thought for the day: "It’s hot tonight so I think I will leave the window open – (102 mosquitoes like your post)"

A friend posted today that Summer had finally arrived in Llanelli - the Hanging Baskets were out..

But the temperature went down a little and there was a pleasant breeze - not that  was out much - spent most of the day at the machine.

But if I had gone out I might have headed down toward Ferryside where it appears that they have started up the Ferry again 

 Sort of thought it was going to be bigger when they were talking about it, but apparently they are thinking of doing trips to Laugharne and Kidwelly as well ..
Shall have to investigate. Apparently £3 a trip

No idea who these people are - just some random photos posted today ..

Link here Camarthen Bay Ferries

apparently it has been there fore  a year - Who would have known?
I note that today is the last day for the off season tickets - they go yup to £5 per trip per adult from tomorrow ...

Never mind - a day trip some time :)

Last day of Glastonbury today - best quote I heard was "Kylie Minogue is looking really great - had to watch with the sound off though - nauseating music!"

also saw David Baddiel tweeting ....

Who would have guessed??

2008 we were there last -

Maybe one day again  :)

Cheers.

29th June 2019 - A Cornish Problem

Thought for the day:"Killing chickens, geese, and ducks. A murder most fowl."

And the age old controversy...

Scarlet Cord Provincial Meeting in Pontyclun...  A nice day out - but very warm...


Cheers!

28th June 2019 - Frowns and A ticket to Mythodea

Thought for the day :"Some mean looking sailors just stole all my mountain climbing equipment. I think they were the Pirates of the Carabiner..."

apparently this is a slightly frowning face

FROWNS

Lynne Murphy is an American linguist who has been living in the UK for 21 years. For 10 of them she has been writing the blog Separated by a Common Language, detailing the many ways, both subtle and obvious, American and British English part ways. No one is more of an expert on the UK/North America differences, so you can imagine her shock when she realized that all this time, the people around her had a completely different understanding of the word frown. For her, the locus of the frown was the mouth. For the Brits around her, it was not the mouth, but the brow that made the frown.

She discovered this fact through an old blog post by Michael Wagner, a linguistics professor at McGill University, where he tells the story of how he found out that frown meant something different to him (he is from Germany and has European English) than to his Canadian friend. They were looking at a piece of abstract art at a museum when his friend asked, "Do you think this is a frown or a moustache?" Wagner was confused because,

Whatever 'this' was, it was clearly below the eyes, and also, the facial expression was sad—so how could it be a frown? My understanding of frown was what I later found in Webster's online dictionary:

1 : an expression of displeasure
2 : a wrinkling of the brow in displeasure or concentration

When I expressed my puzzlement, I learned that frown, in fact, also means the opposite of smile: a downward facing mouth expressing sadness, and that this is in fact the most common/salient meaning of the word, at least to some.

What is a frown? A look of displeasure, made with the eyebrows? Or a sad face, made with downturned mouth? Informal surveys performed by Wagner at the time and then six years later by Murphy both revealed the same result, which can be summed up as "Wait! OMG! THAT’S what you think it means? I had no idea!" And "Oooohhh, so that’s why Americans say ‘turn that frown upside down'!"

So another Americanism - The opposite of a smile or a furrowed forehead of concern?


In other news - my ticket for Mythodea arrived today ..

A step nearer

Cheers !

27th June 2019 - Just a thought

Thought for the day:"I couldn’t get around to joining the Flat Earth Society"

It is very hot here today. Not sure of the temperature but it is hot...  Not as hot as across Europe, they are up in the high 30's and into the 40's apparently - but still warm for us poor Brits....
I am not one to be xenophobic but....

I have today posted an additional blog regarding the sad death of a friend Erik D'Aes.

So this will just be a thought..  

I lift a glass

27th June 2019 - Goodbye to the Chairman

Today was a day for some sad news from over the border... 

Last year at Mythodea I found myself adopted by a crazy band of LARPers known as the Flaming Eagles - or the De Vlammende Adelaars. But the key link to that group was another group whose purpose in the game was to "provide" for anyone who paid - but at the time the Adelaars. These were known only as "the Company".

Now, this Company fitted nicely into my existing LARP contacts for songs as the similarity, (as well as the name) between the Black Company and THE Company was excellent for a Bard like me.

However, it must be stated that the kingpin, the mover and shaker of this group was the one who first dragged me across several camps to play for the Eagles, the "Chairman" - Erik D'aes.

His English was excellent - which is important for me as a Stranger in a Strange Land and his manner and enthusiasm for the Game, his role and it seemed for life in general. He made my trip to Germany last year a very memorable one. I made many new friends and found an additional role as Vollsanger - now Bard for the Vlammende Eagles and the Company as well as my other friends in Mythodea.

Sadly, the news came last night that Erik has taken his own life. I do not know the details. I probably never will. It seems from the storm of messages upon the various media, that most of his friends were unaware, and were taken surprise in the same manner that I was. There may be those out there that knew more. I do not know. I did not know him well enough to be a confidant. 

I do not understand why or how people can get themselves into a mindset that will lead to such action, though of course I  have to accept that it happens. 

But today I think that the world is a slightly sadder place. A great character has absented himself from this wider Game called Life. May he rest in peace, perfect peace and may light perpetual shine upon him.

Of all the money that e'er I spent

I've spent it in good company

And all the harm that ever I did

Alas it was to none but me

And all I've done for want of wit

To memory now I can't recall 

So fill to me the parting glass 

Good night and joy be with you all 

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had 

They're sorry for my going away 

And all the sweethearts that e'er I had 

They'd wish me one more day to stay 

But since it falls unto my lot 

That I should rise and you should not 

I'll gently rise and softly call 

Good night and joy be with you all

My memorial to Erik D'Aes - The Chairman of the Company 

Goodnight Friend...

26th June 2019 - Profile Change and a few accounts

Thought for the day : "I stopped putting loads of bunting up once I realised I was flagging"

Change of Profile day.. well a little late but better late than never..

Another day checking accounts I think
And then Dyfed Conclave this afternoon at Fishguard...

Cheers "

25th June 2019 - A few thoughts and an early night

Thought for the day :" I wear my glasses doing math because it improves division"

Operatives in Newport this evening and a busy day competing the financial reports for the last year 

Only have to do this year now !!!

In other news - 

They found who it was who was the neighbour ... 

and in other other news ..

It is a long day 

G'night!

24th June 2019 - Real Life ? Don't talk to me about Real Life

Thought for the day :" I was rehearsing for a play, and kept falling through the trapdoor. My doctor said not to worry - it is just a stage I am going through"

South Wales Provincial Craft Meeting today and guested as Deputy PGM of the Masonic Order of Athelstan. A good day out - though it was a little warm. Lots of good friends being rewarded by appointment and promotion - a good day out.

In other news, the leadership contest goes on - Boris does not need / want to appear in Sky television ion a head to head so doesn't, won't answer questions about police being called to his house because his (anti-Tory) neighbours decided to put a microphone to the wall and call the police when he spilled a bottle of red wine over the sofa and sent the tape to the Guardian... Hunt won't answer questions on Abortion, Tories state that they will bring the Government down if they try to come out without a deal, the Euro side say that they will not negotiate any more, parliament states they will not come out without a deal, no-one want st he deal that is on the table, everyone claims that the end of the world is looming, while unemployment reaches lowest stage for ages, I notice that the cost of fuel is today 12p less than two weeks ago but no one mentions it, investment is apparently booming, the FTSI index is as high as it has been in ages, and Trump decided not to bomb Iran as it may kill some Iranians and that would not be proportionate for shooting down an un-manned drone - so goes for the money and seizes assets...

I think that about sums the day up - oh and we are heading for the worst heat wave for "ever!!" and Trump still denies global warming.  I am glad that the earth is flat - that is all I can say!!

and so - I shall watch the Umbrella Corporation because it makes more sense than Real Life ..

Cheers

23rd June 2019 - Remember Bannockburn

Thought for the day:"That’s a strange day – first I find a hat full of money – then get chased by an angry man with a guitar"

Battle of Bannockburn

On this day 1314, 1,000 Welsh longbowmen were part of the defeated force at The Battle of Bannockburn.

Following Edward I's subjugation of Wales after the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282 and the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, Wales was annexed to the kingdom of England. This left Welsh military forces redundant, they were a large group of men used to regular pay and a soldier's way of life. They were ideal mercenaries for Edward as they included the much respected Welsh Longbowmen that had been used to such good effect against the English during the preceding conflicts, so it stood to reason that the English were keen to utilise them. .Many Welshmen fought in Edward I's campaigns in Scotland, forming 10,000 of the 12,000 foot soldiers led by Edward to defeat William Wallace at Falkirk in 1298. But they were disobedient and riotous, on one occasion almost killing Edward I himself in a camp dispute, although the gradual rehabilitation of the Welsh gentry, where the Welsh were again allowed to hold positions as Sheriffs and in government, helped restore their discipline, as the Welsh soldiers only really obeyed their own native officers. Later, Edward II (1307-27) had reason to fear a union between his Scots, Irish and Welsh enemies, so he was keen to keep the Welsh soldiers in his employment. In his total force of 15,000 foot soldiers at The Battle of Bannockburn 5,000 were Welsh including 1,000 longbowmen, dressed in their distinctive white and green.

The Battle of Bannockburn opened with one of the most celebrated individual contests in history. Sighting Robert Bruce isolated, Sir Henry de Bohun, charged him, lowered his lance and bared down on the king. Bruce met the charge, dodging the lance at the last minute, stood up in his stirrups and brought his battle axe down on de Bohun's helmet, splitting his head in two. The following battle was an unremitted disaster for the English, suffered heavy casualties, thousands of infantry, 100 knights and one earl lay dead on the field. Those fleeing caused chaos in the massed infantry behind them. In the rout that followed hundreds of men and horses were drowned in the burn desperately trying to escape. Some however managed to escape the confusion, the Earl of Pembroke and his Welsh infantry made a safe retreat to Carlisle.

Down on the South Coast again ...

Cheers..

22nd June 2019 - Communication

Thought for the day:"A lot of conflict in the Wild West could have been solved if the architects had just made the town big enough for both of them"

Off to the South Coast so just a couple of thoughts

It is all a matter of communication ...

Scottish Air Traffic

Cheers

21st June 2019 - Longest Day and the sun is shining

Thought for the day:"Your nipples are older than your teeth"

That got you thinking !!

Longest Day and the sun is shining - that is nice....

In British politics
Down to two - had to laugh at this

Time for profile changes

In other news I find this a very healthy trend...

Books are making a come back


Cheers !

20th June 2019 - Thursday - Clean Morning room Windows

Thought for the day:"I just saw an idiot at the gym put a water bottle into the Pringles holder on the treadmill!!"

So, there is actually an orange ball in the sky - but I thought I would post the rain image anyway. They are digging up in front of the house to put in Virgin cables, so started early but I haven't seen any progress for the last hour. Wonder if that means that other companies can give higher speed broadband?

Aberystwyth this afternoon for the Court of Hywel Dda - Order of Athelstan. Making some progress now on getting everything done for the banner. Now I need to find someone to do the wooden banner holders.

Time for a daily Trump... though we have nothing to be proud of in this country at the moment.

Cheers !

19th June 2019 - More Leadership

 Thought for the day: "Friend was on holiday and said he couldn’t get down from an elephant. I told him that most people get it from ducks."

And so another day of leadership challenges

DUD: Pete?
PETE: Yes Dud?
DUD: When do we get our vote for the new Prime Minister?
PETE: I beg your pardon?
DUD: You know, Boris and that…
PETE: Dud, I've got some very bad news.
DUD: Bad news Pete?
PETE: Yes bad news. You can't vote, Dud.
DUD: Is it something I said?
PETE: Nothing personal Dud. Hardly anyone can. I can, though…
DUD: Is that because you are cleverer than me?
PETE: Given that I am indeed a bit more how can I put it, intellectual than your otherwise good self, that's not the prima fascae reason.
DUD: Oh? Why can you vote for someone who will be arguably the person who makes the most momentous decision in our history, and I cant?
PETE: Because I am a member, Dud, of that august body, the Conservative and Unionist Party. I am one of that tiny elite, of only 0.22 percent of the entire country that has the privilege permanently to shape our destiny by choosing our new national leader from what is admittedly a load of gobshite gits.
DUD: Just them then. So no one else's opinion counts, is that it?
PETE: Correct. While I personally value your opinion, no one else in a position of power wants to hear it. Or mine, if truth be known.
DUD: Do I understand then, that all those other sixty four million eight hundred and seventy six thousand...
PETE: Approximately..
DUD: Approximately people , don't get a say?
PETE: That's correct Dud. Only a few privileged people. Its very interesting Dud. If you laid all these very privileged people end to end…
DUD: Yes, Pete?
PETE: They would be much more comfortable.
DUD: Is that because they are all old and tired?
PETE: Largely Dud yes. Two thirds of them are quite old, nearly all of them white, male and nearly all of them living in the south east.
DUD: And whoever gets the small, old, white middle class vote gets to decide that "shit" thing?
PETE: "Brexit", Dud, or "British Exit" to give it‘s full respectful title, That which was voted for in a semiocratic manner by 17 million people.
DUD: Now I'm not good at numbers… but um…
PETE: You have put your finger on it, Dud as usual. That means that forty five million of us didn't vote for it.
DUD: Is that what they call democracy?
PETE: That's it Dud. Good night…

240,000 People can vote for our next prime minister.
64,876,000 people cannot .
Two thirds of them exactly are over 56.
97% are white
70% are male
58% live in the south east
48% work in the private sector,
25% Self employed
86% are ABC1

sad to say I wasn't sure so 

and ....

or.... 

Looks good ...

Cheers!

18th June 2019 - Banquets and Brexit

Thought for the day:"My wife had stood by me for 46 years. Maybe it is time I bought her a chair."

So- down to five...

and the five are....

However - work in progress for the Saxon Banquet ..

So, Rose Croix this evening in Aberaeron 

Think I will call it a day ..

Cheers !