11th February 2021 - Just a thought

Thought for the day :"Nothing tops a plain Pizza"

Just a thought today 

Curled up in front of TV 

Bed early - anti viral tablets and now eye ointment

Beginning to rattle 

cheers !

10th February 2021 - Shingles

Thought for the day :"I saw two octopuses that looked the same. They were itenticle."

So it seems I have shingles !!

Going to bed 

Goodnight

Cheers (and I am not drinking) 

 

9th February 2021 - Lazy day (Cold)

Thought for the day :"Water is heavier than Butane – because Butane is a lighter fluid"

Saw that the tractor had cut our hedges yesterday - only go the chance to take the photo today ..

A clear view to the Kites ...

A lazy day - still got eye problems and headache - though the jaw seems a little better - still on antibiotics.. Back to Llanelli tomorrow for eye examination and to get the car serviced...

New Profiles - a blast form the past - Agna the Healer

No other news really today - taking it easy...

Cheers !

8th February 2021 - Llanelli Trip & Dentist

Thought for the day :"My mate Simon has moved away to Ho Chi Minh City... That's Si gone..."

Had headaches and a sore eye. Think the headaches may be associated with a filling that fell out  last JUne - but hasn't really been bothering me up until now.

Made some phone calls this morning and got an emergence Dental appointment for the afternoon. Gave me reason for an essential journey to Llanelli and allowed me to check up on the house. Also called Specsavers for the sore eye and will have an appointment for Wednesday when I take the car for its service.

Filling done and x-ray shows possible dead tooth - may need root canal work - but it seems to have some sensitivity to cold - so he has given me antibiotics and a return appointment next week. 

Farmer cut our hedge opposite the kitchen so we have a tidy view again.

No opportunity for photos today - 'Thena still passing blood with her stools so back to the Vet tomorrow.

Bit sore so will call it a day 

Cheers !

 

7th February 2021 - Painting it Black

Thought for the day :"The wife and I are hosting a Jamaican theme Zoom party. She told me she wants her hair braided... I'm dreading it."

Sunday and the weather is mild.

Dog a little better - needed to go out three times overnight on the lead but came back quickly after doing the necessary.

So today Susie did some more of the bramble clearing over the septic tank to try to free the snow-drops which are under the undergrowth. 

I finished the first section of Fencing that I have been trying to sort for a while. The climbibg rose is a pain and I am cut to pieces trying to get to the fencing behind it. 

Also did some of the front of the house some sections that needed blackening and Idris' Churn. 

working on the fencing

The first Snowdrop

And the ladder is removed 
Have reset the gutter and cleared the drop pipe 

Painted the Side section of the wood shed

Idris and his Churn

Painted the edging on the water flow 

More painting...

Change of Profile Picture - Agna popped up in the images...

Watching rugby in the afternoon ...  Wales v Ireland  - not really finding it particularly rivetting

Oh well !

Cheers !

(always read the small print!)

6th February 2021 - A Day in the Garden

Thought for the day :"My wife asked me if I could clear the kitchen table... I had to get a running start but I made it!"

Was meant to be a wet and windy day - but in fact it was fairly mild allowing me to get out to do a few jobs ...

But a walk around with a poorly 'Thena (now beginning to eat again but still having toilet troubles) and I saw that the crocus are sprouting on the mermaid mound... 

a closer look

With the Honda caterpillar truck, the mulcher and the chain saw away for service/ repair I had the opportunity to get into the garden machinery shed and finish the job of hanging the tools...  Fairly happy with this task thought will need to be buying some more screws soon I think 

View from the other end

So - continued with the job of painting the shed walls - not easy as there is a lot of chicken wire meaning it is hard to reach a lot of the panels  - but we are getting there - a bit every day will get us to the end of the list ..

Also need to trim the bushes - so that I could get behind them - photo to follow later, forgot to take the "after" picture this time - normally it is the other way round - forgetting to get the "before" picture.

Down in the Peacock enclosure Zsa Zsa (or is it Marlene - can't tell them apart) has started displaying...

Meanwhile - back at the strawberry beds - Susie's Christmas Present from me - the Apricot Tree has finally been planted and stretched along the framework.

In other news - the water level ion the Troll Pond had dropped for some reason. Investigation showed that there was a crack in the one of the slates in the corner and after clearing the mud it makes a natural drain hole. Will have to cement some rocks in but may consider some form of sluice...

   

all in all a reasonable day in the Garden ...

Only a few days I think until the daffodils start flowering - there are snow drops coming on the banks. Tomorrow we may clear some more of the brambles at the back of the house as the bank is covered in bulbs under the growth ...   Really could do with that mulcher!!

Decided to try using paper for the Chickens in the laying boxes, found my mother's old shredder and was clearing paper to make paper bricks - but decided that we could use the paper as an alternative to straw or hay...  We seem to have a few laying again so we need somewhere for them to go ...

Cheers !

5th February 2021 - Some Observations about Brits - from USA

Thought for the day :"I’ve just joined an online internet forum about bridges. It’s full of trolls..."

I saw this Twitter feed today and thought of my sister in the USA.....

People here put fish fingers (yes they mean fish sticks but I’m fine with the name part) in sandwiches which is just...why.

Britishes pronounce “patronise” pat-row-nize but pronounce “patron” in the expected way and this divergence distresses me.

Britishes call their fanciest private schools public schools which is weird and confusing, likely by design.

British beaches are often just banks of sharp stones by the water and people here excitedly go to them on purpose. When you get there you can buy disappointing candy sticks called rock and seagulls will fight you.

They have proms here but they mean outdoor classic music things, not a school dance. Except now sometimes they have school dances called proms. I give up.

Signing “sincerely” in an email means “f888 off”.

Saying “f*** off” in a pub means “I appreciate our friendship” 98% the time and 2% of the time it is a precursor to violence.

There is a mistake at a coffee shop or restaurant British people will complain to everyone but the people who could fix the issue and if asked by those people will report that everything is fine.

On getting off a bus saying thank you to the driver is optional until the person leaving in front of you says thank you. Then you are legally required to say it. So is everyone behind you.

90% of all public conflicts here are queue related. The other more serious 10% are about football or having the right shoes to get into a club.

People get full on arguing mad about the order you assemble breakfast items (when you put milk in when making tea or what you put first on a scone) and it does not matter at all.

If you mention swans to a British person they’ll tell you swans will break your arm and nod knowingly. No other information will be forthcoming on the topic.

Old fashioned candy shops here sell sweets with actively threatening names. Troach drops. Acid drops. Army and Navy tablets. They all taste like sugared houseplants.

Bathroom sink faucets in the UK often have two separate taps for the hot and cold water.

Why?

If you mention a weird dream or nightmare, Britishes will ask if you ate a lot of cheese before going to bed.

Oh god, I almost forgot the round system for drinks.

On its surface, it's a commonly used system where everyone takes turns buying drinks for everyone else in their group but there are a million complex subtleties that make it confusing and delightful.

If you and another person are waiting to be served at a bar, you must each claim that the other person was next in line to be served when approached by staff.

This process may involve several rounds of "No, you"s and is resolved via unknown means.

I know I have lived in Britain for too long as I can now enjoy a room temperature can of soft drink. However, I will never understand coronation chicken as a sandwich filling (curried chicken with sultanas)

May I add for your consideration: washing up bowls in the sink. Like, does your sink not hold water? Why do you need a separate plastic tub in there?

Why is Dog's Dinner a mess and Dog's Bollocks so great ?

British people have rising intonation when they say “bye” on the phone so it’s a bouncy “byYEEE” and why do you people do that?

Please why beans on toast there are so many other lazy foods that are actually good why is this a thing?

Link is to Jessica Rose...  @jesslynnrose

'Thena not well today - not eaten yesterday or today and is taking to crawling into a nest above the veg beds. Strangely the Vet has put her on the same medication that Susie takes for reflux!

Hoping for an improvement soon...  

Susie taking her for a short walk up the lane - I skipped it yesterday as 'Thena did nto seem to have any enthusiasm for anything...

Rained today so we lit the fire and stayed in ...

Oh well - 

Cheers !