Tuesday, 3 October 2017

3rd October 2017 - Swansea Jack

Thought for the day:"I got 99 problems and being upside down ain't one … ok wait I got 66 problems"

And from Yesterday...

Swansea Jack.
Swansea Jack was a black retriever from the North Dock area of Swansea, who regularly responded to cries of help from anyone in difficulty in the water of the docks and riverbanks of the city, bringing them in the safety of the dockside.


It is documented that his first rescue was in June 1931 when he saved the life of a young boy and a few weeks later, in front of a crowd of people Swansea Jack rescued the life of a swimmer from the docks. Over his lifetime he then went on to save the lives of 27 people and in 2000, he was named ‘Dog of the Century’.


Swansea Jack died on 2nd October 1937 after eating rat poison and his burial is now situated on the Swansea to Mumbles promenade by St. Helens Rugby ground paid for by public funds.




RIP Swansea Jack...

Why is Gaffa tape like the Force ?? It has a Dark Side and a Light Side and it binds the universe together ...

Cheers!!

Monday, 2 October 2017

2nd OCtober 2017 - Name you car day

Thought for the day :"Intelligence is like an underwear. It is important that you have it, but not necessary that you show it off"

After an evening of winds - the day starts well with the sun shining down here in Barton on Sea. Managed to cancel a Drains insurance for vic that was about to jump in price - 50p a month for the first year jumping to £6 a month !!  Also chased Southern Water who confirm that there is no outstanding debt ready for collection with Moorhouse Debt Collection group - who really look shady in their practice accordingly to some googles.....
So - a good morning so far ...

Waiting upon a new care service to start this afternoon to provide transport and supervision for father in law while visiting the BUPA care home - costly but will reduce the need to come down to the South as often as we have been doing.

I was reminded of the statement about the husband and wife in the Pub when the husband says - "look at that couple over there - in ten years we will look like that" to which she replies "That is a mirror you idiot!!!


There have been some issues with holiday firms - Ryan Air are cancelling flights left right and center and yesterday Monarch failed to get the industry to continue their license which led to this amusing tweet ...

Prince Charles saw the headline "monarch ceases trading" and got very excited. 
Sorry, dear. Mummy is still reigning 

Today is "name your Car day" - well Susie's is 'Barbossa'  the Black Pirate and I have 'the Bothy' of course, and my mother's car was always known as Victim as the Reg was VCM...

Back home this evening and back to our own bed ....

Cheers




Sunday, 1 October 2017

1st October 2017 - Grey Day and a model T

Thought for the day:"Smoking will kill you... Bacon will kill you... But smoking bacon will cure it."

And so we start another month - and the question"Where is the year going?" creeps up on you again.
But a grey day with a mizzy rain and not much visibility. Can't see the Church form my mother's balcony. The doves seem to have flown for the moment - but the crows are enjoying the bird seed.

Another trip down to Barton-on-Sea to visit family. Hopefully, we finally have worked out a short term solution to the visiting problems for my father-in-law and Helping Hands have finally managed to get sufficient staff to fill the contract, and hopefully tomorrow will be the start of some paid care.

So, on the day that Karl Marx published "Das Kapital" and Louisa May Alcott published "Little Women" and the Model T Ford was launched in 1908


I lift a glass and wish you well



Saturday, 30 September 2017

30th September 2017 - and breathe

Thought for the day:"I was hooked on auctions after only going once ...going twice"

End of a busy week ... Chapter installation (Organ), Craft Installation (Songs), Craft Installation (my own, Organist, IPM, installing officer), Court Instruction - Macclesfield (Dep PGM) and Secret Monitor Conclave - Chair and lecture...   - and breathe...

Not going to say much today ..
Glass of Chateau 41 ... and some cheese and Biscuits...

Cheers










Friday, 29 September 2017

September 29th 2017 - Another Busy Day

Thought for the day:"I just found out I'm colorblind. The diagnosis came completely out of the purple."

A trip across Wales to Macclesfield - but a worthwhile trip. Instruction in the Court of Athelwin (Athelstan) and the last meeting of the Court as a member of Magonsaeton...    A nice meeting, and good fellowship - next meeting of the Court in March - will be after the re consecration of the province .. but a great welcome was received.

Not much time for other musing - other than to congratulate Kerys in the Invictus Games on her Gold Medal and bronze team medal - what a star !!!


I am pleased to be able to say that I am acquainted with some very special people ..

Lots of driving today
Secret Monitor tomorrow - and need to finalise my talk
so

Cheers !



Thursday, 28 September 2017

28th September 2017 - National Poetry Day - Dydd Barddoniaeth Hapus

Thought for the day:"Anything is a boomerang if you throw it straight up."

Another busy day today - this time St Teilo Installation - and up until about 8pm last night I thought I would be entering a Masonic Year in the Craft without an office - for the first time in my Masonic Career of 34 years - and at eight o clock I was told that our honorary Organist had asked for a sabbatical for a year while he moved house and settled in - which leave me back at the Organ again !

Well - I didn't want to be sitting on my backside really !
However - it will be difficult to try to sing the Master's Song and Visitor's Song and play the piano at the same time - hoping that there will be some keyboard player available at the festive Board - I can wing the rest of it ...

And happy National Poetry Day...  and the theme for 2017 is Freedom - Dydd Barddoniaeth Hapus

The six foot duck
Very few have seen
This distinctive breed of bird;
It was reared on royal farms
When required by George the third.
But what the king desired
When he made the regal wish
Was a duck with four more legs
For his next majestic dish.
For when the chance arose
He ate drumsticks by the score
And the six foot duck he meant
Would produce an extra four.
So now the end result
Of this misconstructed request
Is a lanky useless bird
That can build a six foot nest.

A Road Less traveled
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost


Wednesday, 27 September 2017

27th September 2017 - Tyler's Song

Thought for the day:"Once you start making Freudian slips it is just one after a mother"

So, a trip up to Aberaeron last night as guest of the incoming Master - a previous colleague from the Forensic Service in Dyfed-Powys Police and now retired.
I took a speaker and microphone up and sang the Tyler's Song or Tyler's Toast - of course looked up my paperwork this morning and found that I had the words and music already in my Music Folder - but neglected to look for it in my own resources...

Of course that has a lot of black notes in it so I did it in A and changed the tune a bit - 'cos I can !!

The version I found was from 1852 and it went down quite well ...

Tyler's Song

Cheers