What It says on the Tin

For the makers of this beer, they have been through hell. Lots of roadworks means delays in getting vital supplies at crucial moments when they need their logistics to be on track to make and distribute their products. There’s been road closures and the pavements turned into trenches as people try to pass through. There are literal cracks in the earth fenced off by traffic cones, orange barriers and metal fencing. Unfortunately the brewery is no longer with us. The brewery haven’t been able to relocate, though I hope that their skills are put to good use elsewhere. The moon has risen to shine over hell which has turned the sociable pint glass into a can. At least the roadworks have now been canned. But it’s not really the moon, it’s just my flash reflected over the can and onto the window beyond. Either that or it’s a gigantic ball of froth erupting from within.

Musical Games

The app opens with a nice simple jazzy theme tune followed by a round of cheers that somehow gets me excited. Then I’m invited to choose from musical statues, musical chairs, or musical bumps. I’m then asked if I’m ready to start. I wonder what the tunes will be. I’m wished good luck and I’m asked to dance to what seems like a seafarer paying an accordion. Then it cuts short and asks everyone to freeze. It thanks me for my dancing and asks who the last person was to be still. Strangely enough, it doesn’t ask for the number of people who are playing or their names. It just asks you to tell it when there’s a winner but there’s no congratulations. The music is a random selection of traditional children’s tunes, mixes. Sometimes it asks to tell you to dance in a particular amusing behaviour like a chicken. It seems like a lazy parent’s way to entertain a group of children, though they would still have to be there to be a judge. I’ve got inkling to try the other two games unless I’m entertaining a group of children.

Give and You Shall Receive

It’s nice when small actions come back at you. When someone’s nice to me, I always try to repay the favour, though I’d prefer to return it directly to them rather than pass it on. I still owe a man in a coastal sweetshop 20p, though I doubt he’s there any longer or will ever remember me. I do return the favour in kind to children as they’re often unable to contribute themselves. But when it comes to giving to strangers, where do you draw the line? Sometimes you feel that you receive too much from others, but you’d like to think this because they believe that you are worthy. How can a stranger prove their worth by asking? If they’ve already performed a good deed for you then that’s fair enough, but you shouldn’t give in to demand. At other times there may be an opportunity to impress others with you that might win favour. So choose carefully.

Down but Not Out

Here’s to all the merry gang. We’re confined to our homes for this year so we’re doing our best to raise a glass to promote good beer despite not being able to drink any in good company. We might not be able to seek out new favourites or reunite ourselves with old ones. Instead, we’re mostly confined to bottles and cans. Occasionally, someone will offer to deliver to our door. But at least we’ve got the great outdoors to absorb in our own backyard and we can create our own atmosphere to suit our tastes rather than develop one atmosphere to suit everyone. It’s also a chance to investigate what glassware we have. Some of us have too many and the collection needs sorting or at least rotating. Some will realise that we’re missing certain items from our collection. But whatever we do, we know we’ll be back up and running when we’re allowed to be. Cheers!

Bitch Boss or Boss Bitch?

A natural tall blonde that would be at home on the back of a motorbike, with a small pimple on her fair face and shoulder-length hair that’s sometimes tucked into a bun. When she’s not at work she prefers to opt in for a formal business suit and trousers and jeans rather than any kind of dress. She can be loud and a bit boisterous in her opinions and isn’t afraid to tell you like it is. While not married, she’s still managed to be a family woman and has produced both children and grandchildren, and isn’t afraid to tell her friends and colleagues of their antics. She’s also fortunate enough to still have both parents, though they are both declining and she’s had to seek extra care for them recently. Workwise, she likes to seek out things that make it easier for her, but it doesn’t necessarily help you in any way. She likes people to be independent.

From Boats to Bridges #eckington 11

It’s peaceful out here. The traffic passing over the bridge is infrequent enough not to be noticeable. Perhaps the width of the bridge, its high walls and the traffic light control has something to do with it. From the docks it looks like the first arch is crumbling away. It’s almost as if the ramp has been built to support it. The next arch has branches growing underneath it like an old tree root reattempting to grow where it once was. Either that or someone’s built a blockade on one side of it. It’s almost as if someone’s trying to make a dam. It’s not to stop someone from entering the arch as they could probably do so from the other side. They must be trying to block the water. At least the arches for the boaters are clearly labelled. I wonder if it’s a one-way system. It’s a shame that you can’t see the other side.

Paddington

This was a lovely film for an introduction to a well-loved character, if a bit far-fetched in places. I loved the novelty of the bathroom scene and Mr. Brown’s occupation as well as the bears assumptions of everything in comparison to their visitors. There’s a lot of characters that seem to accept the impossible and carry on with their lives as if things have no consequence such as Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Bird. But there’s also a spark of innocence as a beloved character explores a world that we take for granted. The all-star cast is executed as much as the script allows, but I feel that a different story could have involved more characters. There’s some great chaotic action scenes that children will adore, as well as a lot of small jokes that people can identity with. But if a Home For Retired Bears exists, surely there must be a part of bear society to accompany orphaned bears?

We Will Remember Them #eckington 10

It’s nice to be able to commemorate the villagers that stepped forward to risk their lives on our planet’s terrible conflicts. It’s good to see that the neighbourhood keeps these memorials in good condition. They’ve even roped off the green to discourage people from using it as a thoroughfare to cross the road or give drivers an excuse to use it as a roundabout. It looks like the flowers are tended to regularly, though occasionally there has been changes in the flowerbed patterns. I like the idea that the names are entombed within a rock. It somehow seems less morbid than a simple tombstone. Occasionally the shrubbery has been over trimmed. In this picture it looks like a bush that’s flown out of someone’s garden. But amazingly, whatever the weather, the lion is always its purist white. Surely someone gives it a fresh coat of paint at the start of every season?

"Invention is by it's very nature disruptive. If you want to be understood at all times, don't try anything new."

-Jeff Bezos.

Inventors are creating things that don’t exist before. There’s suddenly a new idea. But how do you handle it? What is it trying to achieve? Will it change other things for the better? Is it a completely new product or is it changing the way that things are currently done? Some people don’t like change and they’ll want to witness how the innovation might make things easier for them. They may not understand the benefits which will be why they want things left as they are. It might mean extra work or it may even be a process that won’t require their presence anymore. Alternatively, it could create more labour which results in extra revenue, growth and a larger workforce for the company. Or it could be a process which makes others unnecessary which would be welcomed. Someone might even find a fault with your idea and help to develop it further.

Getting to the Church on Time #eckington 9

Churches aren’t really equipped for modern-day life. After all, they were built hundreds of years ago in the heart of the community so they didn’t really account for people driving to and from their services. They would focus on the people around them, and envisioned that most people would be able to propel themselves from their homes to the church. Other countries have planned communities for these buildings so are able to incorporate a car park into their construction plans. But here, if there’s a big event then it can be a real scramble to find a spot outside. You best get there early unless you’re still walking or you may find that you still have a bit of a walk even if you’re driving. It could be a great opportunity to make friends with the local pub landlord or the neighbours who might have a space on their land. 

Bags of Trouble #dreamdiary 168

A middle-aged couple are returning a grey Reebok sports satchel to the store that I work in. The woman is short with curly hair and wears glasses and a large winter overcoat while the man is bit taller and skinnier and he’s bald and wearing a cardigan. There’s nothing wrong the bag and it’s still in its cellophane wrapper. I wander off with it down a corridor at a slow pace. It’s fairly busy, and its wooden floor is raised over a beach separated by a wooden barrier. I file the bag away on the shelf for another customer to purchase. I suddenly realise that I have no idea what the couple want instead other than they’re expecting a different product. They may be assuming that I’m bringing it out for them but I haven’t even made an enquiry as to what they want. I decide that I’d better go and have a look at their receipt to make sure that it’s all valid and that they haven’t just pulled a bag off the shelves.

Every Rattle Helps #eckington 8

How long have these houses been divided up by the railway? Judging by the brickwork, it looks like the railway was there before the village started expanding, though there may have been a station present at some point. I’m guessing that this right in the centre of the village where the newer houses stand. It’s a shame that there’s no former landmark to recognise the village’s history. Perhaps an accident occurred that they’d rather forget. At least the embarkment’s looking nice with all the wildflowers growing from beyond the resident’s gardens. I hope they have enough privacy from the trains and that it’s not too noisy out there. Perhaps there’s restrictions in the evenings. It does look like a scenic place to stop if anything goes wrong, but you can’t pick your accident spots. If it was me I’d put something interesting in the window each week. It could a political poster or even just a QR code, but it would have to be something different each time to encourage people to keep scanning.

 

Independent

It’s nice to able to support independent businesses. If you’ve never been before, it’s their chance to impress you. The only thing is that if they get it wrong, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be lured back. You’d expect them to pay attention to detail and discuss your visit with them to make it more memorable and to encourage you to visit again. If things don’t work, it’s quick and easy to turn things around. But with a chain, once you’ve been there, you know what to expect more or less. You might even get a bit extra for less if the staff sides with you rather than the company as it’s not them that’s footing the bill. With an independent, you’d have to make an effort to get on well with the owner to be in favour, or be prepared to pay a bit more. But at least the owner looks for every opportunity to market their business.

Tracking your Order #eckington 7

It’s not often that you get to stand and see a train pass up close. They’re usually fenced off away from people, and in stations they’re mostly stationary or travelling at reduced speeds. The fact that it was a freight train made it even rarer. We were safe and high enough on a footbridge to see and wave to the driver as he passed below, and he responded by giving the horn a friendly toot. I wonder how much produce was loaded up on these tracks. Were the containers going to be sorted or were they all prepped to be loaded onto trailers when they reached its destination? It was certainly a long load, yet there wasn’t anything to stop us from jumping onto it like we were in an action film if we wanted. And then it vanished out of sight leaving nothing but empty space and a rattle in the distance.

Cable Conundrum

My mother managed to somehow break her charging cable for her smart watch. Because these cables aren’t usually long enough and most plug sockets are nearer to the floor rather than at table height, things that charging are usually left on the floor which becomes a bit inconvenient if you’re sitting down in the space at the same time and inadvertently step on the cables. So the wire was OK apart from the connection between the metallic points. The smartwatch wasn’t a branded one so we had to order it direct from the retailer, but when it arrived it didn’t conduct any electricity into the watch. The metallic connectors were the same size and distance, but it was the magnetic clamps that were slightly smaller which didn’t provide us with any action. Looking at the reviews, a lot of people had the same problem, and when I requested a refund the seller didn’t even bother asking for it back.

Fluttering Around #eckington 6

Small and delicate, these creatures exits only to pollinate the fruit in our fields. They were one thought to be extinct, but perhaps that’s only in urban areas. So it’s a delight to see them out in the wild, even if it’s on a roadside hedge. They’re also a decent size so they’re easy to spot, though sometimes hard to follow as they flutter around. They never seem to fly in a straight line. It’s almost as if there’s a drunken pilot at the helm. I wonder if it’s because of their size and delicate wings that they find it harder to navigate through the air. Or perhaps they’re trying to fade in and out of sight of the time continuum as a means to avoid their predators which makes them harder to spot and accounts for their short lifespan, at least on our plane. It makes you think what their lives were as caterpillars.

 

Open your Spice Cabinet

I wish I had a spice cabinet. It seems quite exotic, all those exciting flavours stored in a dedicated place with its own little wooden door. It's the aroma to a gateway to another land of Arabian Nights and simpler times. The wood itself would have been quite an aroma. I wish that there would be little ceramic pots, each labelled with their own spoons sticking out for detached measures. But the smells would just rot away on exposure to oxygen and it would be carried away by the fresh air. Instead, I'd have to settle for little jars or plastic pots to make do with the spices that I can afford, each with screw-on lids. And they’d be put unceremoniously in one shelf of the cupboard rather than having their own dedicated cabinet. Who knows, one day I might stretch to a spice rack but I’d have to ensure that the jar size would never change. And it’ll probably expire before I use it all. Then just when I think I've got a particular spice, I'll never be able to find it when I need it.

Farm Tycoon

I’m guessing this is going to be one of those annoying games that you use a voice to earn coins, but I’ve got no idea how it’s going to work without seeing it on a screen. Maybe I’ll get an audio description every time. Hopefully I won’t have to ask it to repeat every instruction. The narrator has a slow and annoying voice like a drab Richard O’Brien. My first question is a simple yes or no answer. My wealth has increased, but I have no idea what that means. In five minutes I have exposed a conspiracy to expose the farm, denied any allegiance to the war, and lost a supply of ox fur that I never knew that I had. Occasionally there are interesting sound effects. The decisions don’t seem to take into account what has transpired the question before apart from the statistics. It seems to be a fast and furious round of decisions, and I assume the game ends when I run out of money or get bored.

Water's Calling #eckington 5

It’s frustrating when you’ve been out for the day and you’ve left your car in a perfectly legal spot to find that you’ve been boxed in, simply because the car park has become too full. It wasn’t like that when I left it. We noticed it as soon as we returned to the car, but luckily we weren’t going to leave straight away. We’d brought a picnic, and as it was a lovely day the whole village and its neighbours had come over to the river for a dip. Some had even bought boats. But because they’d parked behind me, they’d left very little room for me to reverse out. The only way to achieve it was to keep pulling back and forward making little S-turns while brassed off until I had enough room to pass. I thought about leaving a note on the windscreen but typically I hadn’t got a pen. 

The Hairtrap #empress 18

Pieces of dirt flew everywhere. A head the size of a house emerged followed by long flowing blonde hair which just kept rising up like a waterfall to block out the sun. Behind the waterfall were two huge fleshy orbs stretching out like beachballs casting a shadow over the land below. The empress leaned forward and rested her breasts next to a barn which were the same height in comparison. She pushed into the ground with all her might to push her ass through the hole which she had created and rolled onto her breasts to get her smooth legs through. She’d just about managed to rest her feet on the other side, then the network of tunnels below her crashed into the ground, and the lower halves of her disappeared, leaving only a wave of golden hair like a field in its place. The tremors could be felt across the land.

The Last Stretch #eckington 4

With The Bell on your left, continue north along the road towards the church. The guide states that it’s worth taking a look inside and exploring the backstreets if you’re interested in period buildings, though we weren’t able to do this because of the COVID restrictions in place. Further on, you’ll pass the village’s war memorial and its book exchange inside the red phone box. You’ll then pass the town’s cemetery followed by a road of newer housing. As you pass the Scout Hut you’ll notice that the footpath continues past a kissing gate and follows the road safely on the other side of the hedge. This will rejoin the road at the bottom of the hill just before the caravan park. The entrance to the picnic car park is just round the next bend before you reach the traffic lights. Hopefully the car park won’t be overflowing and that you’ll have an easy exit unlike us.

The Sarah Jane Adventures

This was great family viewing to attract a new generation of viewers to a franchise. The plot wasn’t predictable at all, and the only thing that let it down was that the characters were overconfident at times and they didn’t seem to embrace fear when battling monsters as well as everyday issues, though most of the activities are planned in the attic and we rarely get to see the rest of the house. That said, it was a very enjoyable drama of extra-terrestrial  activity spurned on by someone who had done it all before and knew the cost of what is to be done. There’s some original characters as well as some old favourites and the series is well on point with its continuity. I love it when aliens turn into gunk when they decompose and the expressions the actors use when they brace themselves for it. There’s also some great guest stars in its villainous cast. It’s a shame that the series had to cease so abruptly.

Back to Reality #eckington 3

 The road back is quite a long path that winds into the distance on a slow incline. Unfortunately, it’s also a minor road so watch out for traffic. The only nice views you’ll have are of the surrounding hillsides. You’ll know that you’re going the right way as you follow the telegraph wires. Eventually you’ll start to enter civilisation as a few farmyard cottages will spring up alongside the road. Keep following the road passed a walled cottage painted in the style of a traditional Merchant’s house, and a T-Junction will come into view. Bear right towards another road, and as it continues around a left-hand bend head straight ahead onto a set of steps leading over the railway line. If needs must you can avoid the steps by following the road along to the high street, but you’ll miss the pub and church! From the other side of the steps, you’ll find The Bell on the left or you may prefer The Anchor which is a short walk opposite (signposted!).

Brotherly Duel #dreamdiary 167

I’m on holiday with my brother. I challenge him to a duel in the middle of town. I take the white glove and slap him in the face to make it official. I state that we should meet at the town square at noon. He just smiles at me. As the time approaches, I make my way to the meeting point. The square is filled out as a huge swimming pool. There’s shops on a balcony all around it, and there’s a statue in the centre, but other than that, it’s a huge pool. It looks a bit choppy, but the sun is shining down on it, and it’s crystal clear. You could see the sandstone floor beneath, but there was no sign of any filters which would explain why there’s no-one swimming in it though. Nevertheless, I pictured thousands of people taking a dip on a hot summer’s day.

Valley View #eckington 2

Once you’ve passed underneath the bridge, the Malverns will come into view. Turn south and the land here is that flat that you’ll even get a view of Bredon Hill and its beacon. But if you continue on the trail alongside the river, you’ll pass the local marina followed by a view of a church as you begin to turn south. The river gets quite wide and it’s a great place for spotting ducks. As you exit a kissing gate onto a road, you’ll notice a river lock to your right which is a great place to rest and there’s even some benches. If you’re lucky you might get an opportunity to see a narrowboat pass through. The main footpath continues south on the other side of the river towards the motorway, but you’ll need to follow the road north-east to return to your starting point. It’s a bit of an uphill climb.

Mother Goose

We have so much to learn from nature. You’d think that two different species with different attributes would constantly be at war with other. Yet a little feelgood story of a goose sheltering a puppy during a winter storm creates hope for us all. Perhaps the mother felt her maternal instincts kick in. Maybe she’d lost her family or lacked the opportunity to become a mother. She probably used the pole as a reference point so that help could be sort. It makes you wonder how the puppy got there in the first place. It would be hopeful to think that it was lost, but there’s always a chance that it could have been abandoned. I wonder what the puppy remember from the experience. It might be too young to have any sight or memory. There’s definitely an interesting story of how this tale originates but it may something that we can only guess at.

Eckington Wharf #eckington 1

This is a lovely, picturesque walk that’s easy to do by some nice riverside scenery on the border of the Cotswolds. It begins just outside the small village of Eckington where the road crosses the Avon over an old historic bridge. There’s a convenient picnic site with free car parking and benches with a lovely view of the bridge and river. There’s a lovely patch where the lily pads have clustered on the corner of the river. Cross the road directly opposite the entrance to the car park and head towards the bridge. Just before the stone walls you’ll see a footpath sign and a kissing gate. Follow the trail north-west through the hedge and it’ll become a dirt track alongside the river. Continue through the kissing gates and you’ll pass a bend and walk underneath the railway bridge. Time it right and you might see a train passing through.

Stinky Windows

He’s a quiet man with a van. He’s fairly tall and a little bit of a hunk without being too buff. He likes to be well groomed. He always has just the right amount of hair length both on top and in front. He’s never afraid to wear shorts whatever the weather, though sometimes he does wear a grey hoody in the winter. You get the impression that he’s usually a quiet and mild-mannered kind of person, but always looks happy and friendly despite being world-weary when executing his tasks. I suppose he’s got to if he wants to keep his customers. Sometimes he’s on his own and at other times he has a different assistant. You get the impression that his associates aren’t around to help him too much depending on what they’ve got going on with their lives. You wonder if it’s a different crew each time and whether it’s down to his style of employee management.

Tableside

Having a marble table may be a bit rich. It’s nice to have a heavy-duty worktop that’s smooth and looks as if it’s deep because it’s got veins in it and it’s very hardwearing. And at least the yellow beats can disguise any turmeric stains. The shade nearly matches the right page of the meu, even though the table’s older. I’m surprised the menu has survived given the number of pinholes in it. It’s certainly served its purpose. It’s almost as if the whole thing is placed on a Peshwari naan. It’s like a bad attempt with Photoshop. At one point we did have matching stools but we gave them a coat of paint to give them a new lease of live but they came out too dark. Our new worktop looks like granite, but because it’s not as bright I wonder if the scratches will be less disguised. Only time will tell.

"At the end of our lives' she said, 'we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in."

 -Mother Teresa.

It’s nice to earn a qualification. It feels like you’ve achieved something. It’s a plan set by someone else to show that they believe you understand a certain skillset. Whether that knowledge remains with you is another thing. But a more important question is whether that knowledge will help someone else as well. Is it there just to benefit and enrich your life, or are you able to reap the rewards and share it with someone else freely rather than for personal gain? Will it create a reputation for you? How will others tell? Is it because you’ve done a great deed for them? Have you sacrificed something to assist and enrich their lives? Will they be grateful for the time that you’ve spent with them? Will they remember and appreciate your actions? Will others? How have you cared for your environment? How have others cared for you? Are you thankful?

Too Much Choice?

There’s a difference between creating quality dishes and something that’s to suit everyone’s tastes. But amazingly, there aren’t too many hot dishes (unless of course you request them), but to need to state that this is so, especially when you’re an Indian restaurant. And it’s so easy to get an order wrong when you get a lot of the popular dishes. You might just cook for convenience and add the other ingredients at the end. But it always results in an interesting and colourful array of sauces, even if presented a little too thickly. Just hope that you don’t spill any on any fabrics or surfaces and pray that the stain comes out if it does. I usually have one of the traditional dishes when I’m having a takeaway, but if I’m eating inhouse then I’ll go for one of the specials or the chef’s recommendations as they’re best consumed when it’s all just come out of the oven.

Top Ten

So how is a chart decided for the year? It’s not even finished yet. Has everyone had the opportunity to cast a vote? Is everyone aware of how the voting process works? Why was it hidden from you and was there an attempt to keep this secret? Why wasn’t your entry considered and who are the people that voted? What are the nominations that didn’t make it and close were they to making the cut? Is there a criterion? How can they improve upon their ranking? It doesn’t necessarily seem right. Many will try out the nominations and compare it to their own findings. It’s all a bit biased, especially when you look at who’s declared the winner. You have to ask yourself how high you rank that person or organisation. It might even be based on sales rather than opinions. Still, if you’re not sure of a favourite or want something to try then it’s good to look around.

Done and Gone

This Dunlop satchel was quite smart and fashionable when I had it. I’d like to think that it was made of tyres but it was a nice mixture of brown leather with a smart strap and golden lettering on the front. It was very comfortable to wear. It had a zip able inside for keeping documents in and it looked very business-like. The whole thing was fastened by a push-in button. However, I would have liked for it to have lasted a little longer. Over time it did begin to develop some holes. Objects would get lost in the lining and occasionally I’d hunt for a pen only to find it on the floor. The easiest way to get round that was to put a bag inside the bag, but that would defeat the object. I don’t know if I was using it too much or was overfilling it, but eventually it had to go.

Sunset for a White Van Man

It’s not what you expect to see when you’re out delivering at night. It’s nice that you can take the time to enjoy these moments. I found this while driving a route out of Banbury towards some villages. Sometimes it’s nice to take the scenic route back, especially when you’re ahead of your schedule. I spotted it as I turned a corner and there was a small dirt layby, so I parked up and rolled down the window. Just below me through the wire fence was a drop onto a hill. It was nice to see just fields and hills, even though there was a motorway down there somewhere and a farm building in the immediate vicinity. It was like watching an evil eye move down behind the horizon. I did send the picture to a few people but I didn’t hear back, either because it was late or that they were jealous that I was allowed out.

Sitting in a Lawn Chair with your eyes closed

It’d be nice to hear birds chirping, maybe a sheep communication with its companions in the distance followed by a hearty moo. Sadly, I’m more likely to hear engines overrevving as they tear down the distant road, echoing some drum and bass if they’re nearby. I do get to hear some wildlife though. There’s overstuffed pigeons cooing as they approach the garden to consider venturing in to scavenge for food. There’s angry dogs defending their territory and cats mewing loudly trying to attract the attention of someone to let them into the house. Occasionally you’ll hear an owl howling at the confusion of all this noise going on as they’re trying to get some kip. There’s the sound of neighbours closing their car doors where they’re sealed off from the outside world in an environment better protected than in a house, and you might catch a snippet of conversation first. Sometimes you can hear a train echoing through the valley as it approaches the station. Welcome to the sounds of suburbia.

Upon Reflection #clent 8

This is quite a mysterious thing to find on the top of a hill, though it’s not that uncommon. There’s quite a few stone circles set up on crests of hills, and I’ve even seen druids undergo rituals at some of them, and we might even have interrupted the process. But here there’s just picnickers and a drone in the background. I wonder if they’ve come to film my own ritual amongst the sandstone? I could just be doing my daily exercises. It’s certainly an inspiring spot. I wonder if the stones were originally bigger or greater in number and that they’ve been weathered away by the wind over time. Will they still be the same height and width in a hundred years? There’s more likely to be nicked. It looks like my left pocket is being targeted. Maybe the droid is coming down for a snatch of the contents. Still, at least there’s a dog nearby to try and chase it for me.

E.T Phone Home

I’m not asking for a command, I just want a reaction to a comment. Instead I’m told what can’t be done or when I can expect for it to be done, but it could be a feature for the future. We just need to find some life in other galaxies first. But it could least have asked where home is rather than make an assumption that it’s on another planet. I could just be lost and abbreviating my name to Edward Terence. So we can’t make intergalactic calls yet, but we can make calls to people that we know. But at least they can’t ring us back unless they have our number. It’d be nice if there was a random chatroom that you could call and have interesting conversations with people from other countries on a variety of topics. But you can only call the people in your contact list and the emergency services.

Mapping it Out #clent 7

I love maps. They’re not just a plan of where everything is, they help you to discover interesting places; especially if you see a footpath or sign as you’re passing as it helps you to decide if these areas are worth your time exploring and where the best parts are. They generally try to be to scale but you often have to orientate yourself and find landmarks to ensure that you’re heading in the right direction. Ordnance Survey may cover everything but often in too much detail and it’s hard to see everything on the same spot so a compass or GPS device is ideal when you have a choice of different paths. Sometimes it’s hard to determine if a trail has a right of way so you’ve got to know how to use this equipment. Handing a map to someone who hasn’t got a clue of where they started isn’t going to be much help.

Drawing the Line #dreamdiary 166

I’m on a coach to a wedding party. We’re all dressed up in grey waistcoats and shiny shoes. The church is in the middle of the countryside. I’m the first on the coach and I can beg myself a backseat where I can stretch out. Because of this, I’m the last one off the coach. As we file in, I hear a scream coming from an adjacent field. I head out to investigate and see a woman standing in a cornfield dressed in funeral attire. Some of her face is in the form of a skull and flashes from grey to colour. A fine line is being drawn as she tells me that she’s trying to decide whether her alliance is to good or to evil. As she steps closer to me, the world around me seems to grow brighter, but it also seems more unreal as if everything is being drawn around me.

Garden Girl #clent6

There’s something about this shade of pink that makes people want to pose. These were foxgloves that we spotted near the ridge of the hill as we descended back to the car. From a distance, they look like pink grapes, but as you get closer you can see a bell shape. It’s interesting how there’s none at the front of the bush and they’re all lined up in the back. They’re all pointed up as if they’re erect and trying to stretch to the light as they’re behind the hedge or it’s a hidden silo and they’re ready to launch to spread their seed. Is it a line of defence that they’ve made to push the greenery in front of them to stop them from being picked, or has someone already raided the front row? I wonder if the maker is getting ready to jump out of the greenery behind her.

Earthshakers #vampress 17

One night, as the moon was rising rapidly into the sky, loud rumbles could be heard from beneath the ground as it started to shake. Cracks started to appear in the paved roads and the ground in the surrounding fields. Shutters began to shake themselves loose and tiles began to tumble. Something began to rise through the ground, a strange white silky-smooth substance like a balloon. As soon as the source was spotted, the town raced to cover it up. Blankets were brought over until large gazebos were erected to cover them. These weren’t just bare wooden pillars, each plank had ornate carvings etched onto them, and some were made of iron. As the rumbling continued, the gazebos toppled over so more blankets had to be sought out. As each spot was identified, the townsfolk worked hard to ensure that every spot was covered. As the sun began to rise, the rumbling stopped but a faint gasping could be heard.

Trees are Life #clent 5

Every tree represents an ecosystem. The more of them there are, the more wildlife you’re going to find and in greater sizes too. In winter there’s less cover so the interesting animals are more likely to hide in evergreen areas. They might even have two homes. But animals tend to live in areas where they’re less likely to be disturbed and they can hear danger coming. In urban areas they’ll gradually learn the distance of the level of noise and they’ll grow accustomed between danger and things that are just passing by. They may have to venture out to gather food where they become bold in desperation. But if you find them in the countryside they’d be startled. They’ll either flee at the smell of you or become curious and stare at you while they work out what to do next and decide whether you’re a threat to them or food.

The Simpsons

While times have changed slightly since the airing of the first episode, this family hasn’t (apart from the unrealistic strangling). A huge variety of topics have been covered alongside an unrealistic approach which conveniently all seems to reset for the following week. It’s a show that’s not afraid to address the issues, even its own ownership and origin stories to keep its characters contemporary. There’s even been some odd predictions which have come true. Some themes have been repeated, albeit with different characters. Often there have been too many flashback clip episodes, though this format has been used less in recent years. It’s a shame that the show didn’t address the worldwide lockdown, though it did go through one lockdown of its own. But there have been some startling character developments, some of which are permanent and some we’re not so sure about since it ruins the demeanour of the original character. But it’s always good for a short situational laugh where nothing changes.

Garden Throne #clent 4

Imagine living with a garden like this. It’s a thing of beauty in this season. With its ornaments, it could be a miniature Aztec temple to an ancient deity. You could even picture someone bathing in it in the shelter of the tree if it wasn’t for the fact that it was so close to a public footpath. At least they’d be sheltered from the neighbours. It must take a lot of work to maintain it. I wonder if they do it themselves or whether they hire someone and how long it takes. I also wonder how long it’ll stay that way with the changing seasons. If it was me , I wouldn’t have the timer to commit to it so I’d have to hire someone. And would I have much of a say in the final outcome or would be the gardener’s vision or a designer with a kit?

Have you ever applauded an act of vigilante justice?

Yes. While it might not be the right way to solve things, our authorities aren’t always there especially when we want them to, but it’s good to see that’s someone’s standing up for justice. There’s often very little that the authorities can do to ensure that justice is served anyway nowadays. There’s too many laws that protect people when they commit offences. And if you do get involved, there’s a good chance that you could also be prosecuted despite doing the right thing. The key is not to take it too far. You need to make a point that someone has been wronged and that the offender needs to be corrected in return. But you might have to take it to a level where the offender becomes offended, and this could be taking things too far. You need to have the courage to end the situation safely or not let things escalate until the authorities arrive.

A Sense of Achievement #clent 3

 It’s nice to have a change of scenery. And when you’re at the top of something, it feels like you’re at your best as everything is underneath you, even though you’ve still got a challenge to get yourself back down again. But take the time in your achievement and enjoy it while you’re there. You might get a reality check that there’s a higher place in sight, and it may put how much work you have to do into perspective. But the achievement feels greater if there’s fewer people around you. They’re waiting to congratulate you as you come back down as they can’t get there themselves. Or maybe they’re awaiting your safe return. But if you’re looking at a road with a bus stop the achievement is somehow ruined, especially if people can see how easy it is to get there. They want to see the journey to put things into perspective.

A Marginal Appearance

He’s someone to be seen but never heard. Tall, silent and handsome, he just likes being in the right places so that he’s seen with the right people as if he has influence and knows the people he mixes with. He also alters his looks depending on who’s he’s accommodating. His neat and tidy approach is spiked hair with a bit of stubble, but if he’s feeling hippy enough he’ll allow a full beard to grow with uncombed curly hair. Half-moon glasses are balanced on a large nose with a few freckles to one side. He’ll usually wear a flannel shirt with trainers and jeans. He never has the capacity to adapt his attire to his style. He’ll try and drink designer if he can, but does what he must to keep in with his crowd. He just likes to have the connections, but doesn’t want to open himself up to everybody.

Personal Priorities

Sometimes you have to put yourself first. There’s things that you should be doing but if the pressure’s felt, you’ll do anything to stop yourself from achieving it. It might be something you do need to sort out but could probably do later, or it could be something that you shouldn’t be doing at all. Eventually, you’ll have to get round to doing it. Others are probably waiting for you. But your journey is important too, especially if you have to take the time to prepare for the task. If you do it straight away, they’ll expect that every time. But it’s equally important not to leave it too late so that they don’t feel forgotten as it might put them off acquiring your services again. But if you don’t want to do the task, it’s important to let them know, even if there’s no way that you can’t get out of it.

The Ascent #clent 2

We continued climbing the hill. On the right of us was a field of cows who seemed to follow us until an unknown event caused them to stampede back down again. Maybe it was feeding time. We continued north until the woods reached up into a valley, then turned west to follow the trail into a car park. We followed the road left until it met a junction, then turned left and entered the next car park. Here, we travelled east, and after a steep ascent climbing through more woodland, we arrived at the summit of the four stones. This is an excellent lookout point of Birmingham and Worcestershire, and it’s worth bringing your binoculars to spot the landmarks. On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of the Malverns. Once we’d finished admiring the view, we continued west on the ridge until we sighted the pub on the left. All we had to do was climb down the hill past the pub to arrive back at our starting point. 

Poster Boys

You can now celebrate the arrival of a new film by looking at posters. And there’s eight, yes, eight different designs! There’s no links to an online shop and there’s just one picture supplied. It’s not even that exciting. It’s two actors and I’ve no idea who they are or the characters that they represent. There’s not even  a hint of the plot. They could just be fashion models in spandex costumes. Presumably you have to do the hard work and go out there to find the others posters yourself. They could be in different countries. Once you’ve found them, you might just learn something about the film. Personally, I’d rather just go and see the movie. If it was decent, I might buy a poster to advertise it to my friends. But what would I do with eight of them? I’d only seek the posters out beforehand if I owned a cinema and wanted to sell seats.

Climbing Through Clent #clent 1

We were determined not to climb the giant hill that took us directly to the Trig Pillar and we wanted to see a side of the hills that we hadn’t visited before, so we decided to take the less direct route. We headed south-east down a very narrow lane which went past a very large white building which was big enough to be a hotel but looked like a block of flats. This brought us out onto a very narrow and covered country road with a very slim pavement. Upon arrival to the village, we walked upstream alongside a small freshwater stepped waterfall with some lovely plants growing over the neighbouring fences. At the crossroads we proceeded directly over and followed the church wall on the left until the road reached around a house to cross a style at the end. After crossing a narrow footpath, we proceeded east across two fields to enter the woods.

Giving her Butterflies

Mum had a new phone so it was time to find a case to match. It took a while to come as the seller had despatched the wrong one so we had to send it back for an exchange, but at least they arranged for the postage. When it was fitted, she loved it. It had a printed design with a magnetic folding lid and a silicone frame that required you to push the phone into place. It was purple with a blue butterfly background that ad a spark of silver glitter to give it a bit of a shine and add a touch of magic to it since it’s a night scene. She’s also got herself a tablet case to match. I wonder if someone’s tried to make an animated case or would that cost too much with a power source. You might also need a protective case for your case.

Pull the Other One

It’s a dark road. It’s not easy to get to. There’s a line of cars parked either side, with room for just one vehicle to squeeze through the middle. Everyone’s at home and there’s no driveways to park on. Amazingly, this street isn’t a one-way one. It wasn’t a big item that was being delivered so it was easier to park up and walk down with it rather than run the risk. But was it really needed in the first place? Who knows. All I know is that they’ve paid for a man in a van to deliver it. I’m not sure what was in the package, and there was a chance that no-one in the household knew what it was either. You’d expect a light to be on and someone looking out for you. But then again, the technology was down at our end. They might not have had an idea that I was coming, or that today was the day.

 

Book Brothers #dreamdiary 165

My brother wants to get into the Harry Potter books. The only problem is that he can’t find the time to do it. I suggest a weekend away where we can just plough through them in a variety of backgrounds. We book up a hotel and we discover that the block that we’re staying in has an upstairs communal kitchen with a balcony that looks onto the grounds. We decide to grab some food to microwave. My brother has bought toad-in-the-hole but he’s eaten most of the yorkshire pudding. I’ve bought a family-sized one along with extra sausages and a tin of baked beans. We head to the kitchen. I just hope that there’s more than one microwave. The following day, we’re back at school and everyone’s amazed that there’s been a festival on school grounds. Everyone’s fascinated by the different beer cans that are lying around. We lie back in deckchairs and examine each can before passing it on. 

Farming Essentials

The last thing you want to be without in a rural household is a kettle. If the heat fails, then at least you’ve got a quick source of warmth for comfort, soups, teas and hot chocolate. You’re also going to need a boost for those early starts, especially in the winter months. Ironically, the address isn’t as rural as I thought. There’s plenty of neighbouring houses if you need a hand, though in these times it’s not such a good idea to share. But there’s still a community atmosphere and people have set up small stations on their driveways to share baked goods and to observe a big clap for the National Health Service. I pull the van over to join in, though I’m not seen in greater esteem here even though I’m an essential worker. Still, I recognise the fact that I’m still allowed to be in full-time employment while others are struggling and are forced to shelter.

What was it like to be a young calvary soldier chasing Chief Joseph?

It’s the thrill of the chase. You’re all buttoned up in a shiny new uniform being big and tough as you’ve been allocated the task of perusing the enemy. You may feel grown up on your horse while you’re serving your country. You’re full of energy and you’re eager to prove yourself to create a reputation and establish your future. There’s high-speed chases and ambushes to thwart as well as the duty of keeping civilians safe. You may object to the reasons for the chase but you must also fulfil your duty. You might be away for months before you complete the task and the desert may exhaust you first. You’ll be dealing with situations that you haven’t faced before. There’ll be endless landscapes of mountains and cacti without any sign of civilisation. You’ll have to learn to adapt with your group and have to respect your elders to learn some experience. You’ll have to do away with luxuries that you once took for granted, and you’ll ned to conserve your resources.

Ornament Shopping

 Mum loves collecting ornaments for her garden. It’s close to having gnomes, but she will only accept animals and not dressed-up ones, no matter what they’re wearing. We have a squirrel with a hole in its tail, an owl with reflective eyes that no longer work, possible because of the lack of sunlight that they’re getting. There’s a stone tortoise,  hedgehog, a mole, and a hare. A snail sits atop what was once our barbecue, and there’s a duck there too. While I was at a garden superstore, I though I’d add to the collection but couldn’t remember which animals we’d already got. The only way to resolve this was to take a picture so that she could see what was for sale. She did have her eye on the painted snail, but unfortunately it was only the damaged ones that were reduced, and she felt the others were much too dear. At least I have an idea of what to get her for Christmas now.

Are you Friends with the Queen?

Knowing royalty comes with its perks and duties. You may get invited to fancy soiree events but you’ll also be expected to keep secrets to earn their trust. You’ll be invited to exclusive locations with the most elegant food and extravagant entertainment. You may even be sworn to a conspiracy or two depending on the events that occur. You’ll be asked not to spread any gossip and maybe deny the presence of their company to others, but it’s all worth it for the invite to the next black-tie gig. Or you might merely correspond with her for business. You’ll deal with the administrative team and receive the stationary with barely a whiffle of one’s knowledge of you. If you’re lucky, you might receive a Christmas card signed with a rubber stamp. But you might use this arrangement to persuade others to do business with you so long as you keep the correspondence.

Curtailed Court

I hope that this building will be put to good use. It’s hard to say what it might have been in previous years other than for storage, but there’s little practical use for it now. It’s a shame to see it fenced off. I know it’s for safety but hopefully it will be restored and put to good use rather than be demolished. The building seems sturdy enough; it’s just the tower that seems to have suffered. Hopefully it’s just a case of the weather. It might be well restored inside, and it’s just the roof that’s suffering. It could make a great focal point, though you might not have any great views and you’ll probably have to knock a hole into it to create a window. The adjacent building could also make an interesting space but it also needs some windows. Perhaps the traditional design of the building isn’t up to today’s standards.

Shake and Bake #titannabell 17

His hearing was a bit muffled, and he couldn’t see much, but he could make out some girlish laughter followed by his colleague laughing nervously. Titannabell scooped up the other guard in one hand. Her red nails hovered over the guard’s cuisse then began to dig into the armour. It didn’t take long for the nails to make a hole, then she peeled off the entire lower suit as if it was a banana. She then lowered the guard over her vagina.

‘Hold on tight boys’ she said. She slowly rolled over and used her huge weight to pound the guard into the floor. With each thrust, the whole room began to shake, and more dust descended from the ceiling, followed by a few extra cracks. On and on it went, and the guard couldn’t hear anything of his colleague because of all the noise of metal on concrete. ‘How isn’t anyone else hearing this?’ he thought.

Bridging the Gap

It might seem nice when you bring a bunch of friends together at a spur of the moment encounter, but you also need to read the situation. It might not be polite to keep everyone hanging, especially if you’re on your way to another destination. Something’s not right when you’re not offered any refreshment either. It’s almost as if you’ve invaded the moment, especially when all the host wants to do is to sit outside in the fresh air with a spot of lunch. And you’ll forever be seen as an invader desperate to make a connection to see what you can extract from them, even if it’s just a glimpse around the premises. It wasn’t anything special, just a plain cottage in the countryside that was newly built. There wasn’t even a garden, just a large drive and a lawn. But at least you can demonstrate that you’re not afraid of anything. 

Island of Fire

Despite the film featuring a main leading actor, his actual role in the plot of this film is quite significant. There’s also some confusion about the motif for the plot in the first place. I was under the impression that they were undercover cops but they seemed to have very little support. There’s some great comic appearances from the other characters who just seem to love doing what they do. And there’s a couple of bullying habits as well to add to the corruption. It was also hard to keep up with what was happening when. I didn’t understand the logic of going undercover to investigate someone who was already dead only to become a product of that system. The final scene has very little odds of them succeeding, and makes the whole journey unrealistic. The title doesn’t really reflect the film, and a lot has been lost in translation.  

Taking you off the table

There’s something missing in this story. How did the seller know that the caller was a black man. Was it a video call? Or was it an overaction on the part of the caller making an assumption? The seller could have had their own preference of seller and was only required to advertise the sale for legal reasons. Or perhaps the buyer wanted to emphasise his own traits. Some may see this as the end but it’s really up to you to keep these issues in the limelight, and you might persuade them to give you a second chance or find someone at a different table who will want to make a similar or better offer. There are many ways to achieve your goals, and if one path closes there’s no reason as to why you can’t build your own. But beware of using cliches, especially if there’s no explanation as others may take them to be literal.

A not so elegant evening #Sherduck 12

Sure enough, Sherduck headed straight for the bar. He didn’t even take his coat off. The barman sighed as he ordered his usual bottle of absinth over ice. All this guy did was talk down to people. At least his sidekick had already put some money down for the evening. He wondered if that included a tip.

‘So it may be nothing’ said Sherduck, but I think that our perpetrator has a nicotine addiction. A little like mine, but in poorer taste.’

‘How so?’ said Buttons.

‘Well, I found a few discarded ends by the church door. We might get a DNA match if it’s a known offender.’

‘And if it’s not a known offender then it’ll be a complete waste of time’ said Buttons.

‘Not necessarily’ said Sherduck. We can ask any suspect to take a DNA test to prove whether they were in the vicinity.’

‘But surely it’d be easier to check the body’ said Buttons.

King of the Hippies

He’s going for that hippy Jesus look. He has his hair long and curly if he’s going for the casual look, or straight tied back into a ponytail if he’s being more formal. His clothing is always threadbare, plain, and minimal. Expect shorts and sandals at most times. A perfect beard surrounds his pointy chin. He’s open to a pint and an odd strong puff or two if he can get it and he’s only representing himself. He’s in a position of power, maybe because he’s studied philosophy, but he doesn’t have that natural loud voice to be a leader. He prefers to listen rather than take part. But at least he’s honest and likes to ask others for their opinions before expressing his own, so he has the advantage of knowing when there’s conflict and can steer the conversation accordingly. He’s not afraid to express that something amuses him.

Who Lives in a House like This? #hadzor

On the righthand side of the road is a triangular entrance to a wood. At the end of the drive is a rather large house, the kind of house you’d expect to find in a Western with prostitutes lounging on the balconies. The footpath will take you right past the entrance and into the field beyond. Bear northeast until you reach the road, and you’ll see the golf course opposite. Follow the road north past a cluster of cottages and the memorial hall on your left until you come to the entrance of a cul-de-sac. Continue directly north passing the remains of the tower, and pass the farm buildings. Before you reach the next farm cottage, you’ll see a sign for a footpath on your right. Follow the footpath east and it’ll link you up with a track road. After passing a wood on your left, take the north track which will take you across a series of fields to reach the main road. Once you’ve crossed the road there should be a gap which will allow you to access the towpath next to the canal, follow this west to return to the car park.

 

Water Park #dreamdiary 164

I’ve returned to the water park. It’s at a holiday resort that we’ve stayed in before. The adventure playground is amazing. Last time I spent ages looking for a specific waterslide section and it took me ages to find it. It didn’t take me long this time though. The tiled tunnels were a little small, but you could still scoot through on your bum and legs. At the end was a regular swimming pool for normal exercising. On the following day, I decide to get up for a walk and explore the treetop area. I remember that there used to be an amazing zipline. I find the bottom of the hill, but I discover that the zipline itself is no more. There’s a long ladder lying on the grass, but it’s broken into two pieces. It's a shame that no-one has made an attempt to fix it. At the top of the hill is a Taj Mahal which overlooks the cliffs of the sea. From there I can see the town. 

Haznot It Ain't #hadzor

Nestled on the east side of Droitwich on the country road out of town is a gateway park. It’s a space created to explore the local countryside to encourage people to drive out and take walks. As well as the local marina and the canal, there’s also the site of the local rugby club. There’s also a small play area in the car park which is quite built up around a roundabout to make a centrepiece while giving it a small feel. Head east along the canal and you’ll climb a flight of locks to reach the interchange for Worcester and Birmingham. You’ll need to head up to the main road by the pub to cross it and follow the canal south to continue on the towpath, passing a smaller marina on the opposite side. Follow the canal south until you approach the fourth bridge, then rejoin the road and turn right onto Hay Lane.

"My goal now is to remember every place I've been, only do things I love and not say yes when I don't mean it."

This is a delicate balance between treasuring everything you’ve experienced and the ultimate quote of the self. It may seem like a dementia patient trying to recall what they’ve done throughout their lives, or it could be someone that wants to recall their experiences in life no matter how exciting or unpleasant they are. But to only do things that you love is a bit of dictatorship. How do the people that share your life feel, or has it become empty? What about the things that you have to you like pay your bills, eat sensibly and doing basic maintenance? It must be great to have someone do all these things for you, but it’s hardly inspirational to the common person that you’ve got someone else to undertake these tasks. Perhaps the goal is to remember your journey so that others can aspire to be a lazy item like you. At least you’re being honest with everyone about it.

Hoppy Beer Day

 

This is a phrase that I should have copyrighted a long time ago to put on greeting cards. It’s the standard message that I send to my beer-drinking friends on that special occasion. Rather than wishing you a nice beginning to another year like everyone else, I like to focus on the celebration itself and be sure that they take the time to enjoy something that they like. But it’s not so rewarding if you don’t like tasting hops in your beer. On this particular occasion we couldn’t go out to celebrate owing to the lockdown, so my friend’s son asked for as many of us as possible to send him video birthday greetings. It’s a shame that my hair was so short and that I didn’t pick a more suitable background other than my bedroom. He probably thought that I was undergoing a Buddhist monk regime when I sent this.

Beer in the Clouds

It’s quite nice to be able to have a beer up in the clouds. Apparently the effects of drinking alcohol while on a flight are different to that on the ground, but I don’t see how. Perhaps it’s stewardess talk to try and persuade people to drink less. Which is odd considering they’re coming round with the trolley as often as they can when it’s not complimentary and try to hook you into multibuy schemes when you don’t really want to. Maybe it’s secretly because you’re the entertainment. There’s quite a range out there as well, which explains why you’ve hardly got any room in your seat. You’ve also got the fun of pouring your drink into tiny plastic glasses and raising them to your lips while hoping that you’re not going to experience any turbulence. It might be a while before you get an opportunity to clean up any mishaps.

Something Fishy's going on

The takeaways have finally been permitted to open. Everybody’s scrambling for the phone. It’s been three months since the restaurants have closed which means that everyone’s had to cook for themselves. Suddenly the phones are buzzing and the queue is at least a quarter of a mile long. You’d think they’d offer an online pick-up but then they’d need a separate kitchen to keep up with demand, especially if they offer a delivery service. At least with phone calls to collect from a window with timed pickup slots, they can focus on what they have and if they’re busy and can’t answer the phone then people will get the message. All they’ve then got to worry about is people who turn up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just wondered how long the wait was and whether everyone got what they came for or how good the communication was if supplies ran out.

 

The Lottery

You’d like to think of it as the local raffle. You don’t expect to win anything but you’re contributing to the local economy. But this thing’s on a bigger scale. It’s the ultimate get out of free card. You’re probably already fantasising about how you’ll quit your job; watch your boss’s jaw drop and walk out to begin your dream spending spree, whatever that might be. But it’s all about the odds. You might get a small win while helping local causes regardless of your opinion of them. But there’s nothing to say that you won’t win the big one, but at the same time the odds are against you. There’s a lot of people out there who say that it’s all a big risk and that you’re better off staying away from it altogether rather than throwing your money down the drain. But you also run the risk of losing out.

The Bribe #Sherduck 11

Buttons sighed. While he was perfectly happy tucking himself in for the night, he knew that Sherduck would spend a late evening propping up the bar making deductions to any and all sundry; and after creating an audience Buttons would need to apologise for any outburst in case they’d need to take advantage of that particular team member’s services later. Buttons was sure that there was a retirement do for one of the office workers that evening so things could get rowdy if Sherduck didn’t get his way. He wondered if Sherduck was going to push them to work overtime; and after witnessing a lot of arguing and a packet being pushed in front of one of the technicians, he decided to open a tab. Little did he know that Sherduck had already told them that it was Buttons who would be sorting out a few drinks for them at the bar when they had finished the investigation.

 

What was it like to be a Native American on the Trail of Tears?

Devastating. You’ve just been kicked out of the place you call home. You may be able to take your hone with you, but your camp, your familiar surroundings and your comfort have all gone alongside the landscape that you’re used to. Everything is going to become new and unfamiliar. You’ve also got a long way to travel before you’ve got any hope of setting up that familiarity again. Each morning you wake with a sense of loss as you try to remember your situation each time. The only comfort that you can take are those that are with you; and you all grow weak with weary of the journey. Some of you may not survive. They’ll be buried or left behind, and you’ll either have to start recording your surroundings in more detail to memorise the grave or take the burden with you for burial upon arrival of your destination. You’ll also need to seek out supplies so the most direct route won’t be possible; and you may even have to go back on yourself to travel in a different direction as you’ll need to be re-supplied which will make your journey even longer.

Onwards?

There was a footpath through the fields, but it wasn’t particularly glamourous and it only led to the main road and we’d have to follow it back to the village to get back to our starting point. It would be the long way round. Instead, we headed to the fishing ponds where there were a few vehicles scattered around. We were tempted to do a circuit around the ponds but there were private property signs dotted about and there quite a few fishermen exhibiting their territory. We moved down one side of the road to see if there was anything interesting and we were beginning to get the stare. The only thing we could do was walk back the way we came, but when we got back to the castle it was easier to follow the road back. We were treated to some nice refreshments afterwards in my uncle’s garden with a bit of cake.

Help me get Fit

This could be a regular morning routine. It could learn about my attributes and offer me a tailor-made program after asking a few questions. It could give me a small exercise program to complete each day, maybe to music. It could alternate in difficulty as the weeks go by. Or it could just give me directions to the nearest gym. My first attempt ended up with a five-step program giving me advice as if I was having a fit. Maybe it misheard me. I’m not panicking, I’m just confused. If I was panicking, I’d struggle to remember all these steps in quick succession. It asks me to understand that I will be tired (which I probably will be after exercise), and to get some rest as soon as I can. It’s an interesting regime. In summary, there’s very little that I do need to do to get fit. But this is coming from a device that just wants me to sit there and buy stuff from it.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed Bryson’s explanations of these scientific processes. I’d heard of some of the terms before but I wasn’t exactly sure of what they represented. He seems to humanise them all by placing it all in a context of scale that we can understand. As well as discussing the discoverers of the principals involved, he also focuses on their private lives of how they came to be and looks at some amusing anecdotes of their lives. I did find that my attention began to fade somewhat when I was reading particular chapters but I guess it depends on which fields you’re interested in. Bryson discusses subjects from the simplest cell to the theories of how we came to be and it’s interesting to learn the scientific thinking about these theories, but it’s a shame that he doesn’t offer an opinion on where we go from here. I’m now interested to find out whether any progress has been made in these fields since the book has been published.

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