The right Pipe #ralphcourtgardens 7

What a shame that the pipe’s in full view. If it was in disguise, the water could be spouting out of its tail. I suppose you could argue that it’s a pole that she’s dropped. In front of her, a fish is spewing out a fountain, though it’s not nearly in as much detail as the mermaid. I love how the pebbles are clear on the one side but not on the other. Other than that, there’s just a hedge in view. I wonder what it’s hiding. Judging by the darker shade of green on the right, there must be a building nearby blocking some of its light unless the mermaid’s created her own aurora. Just underneath is a lovely row of pebbles, though on the right side it could be a branch or even something reptilian. On the left side, they’re a bit fuzzy. Perhaps these are ones that the mermaid hasn’t washed yet.

Growing Expectations #vampress 22

They would have to be big and thick since she was a lot of woman. Huge biceps with calves and energy to match so she could be squeezed and held in all the right places. Getting them at their optimal level wouldn’t be a problem but they’d have to be trained to stay that way. They’d have to be willing to climb in without hesitation. She wanted to dominate but be swarmed by them at the same time so that she could dispose of them at their will. But she wanted the best of the best so they’d have to be good looking too. They’d need slightly more build and less of the gorm that was usually available in the town. Because of their size, they might even need specialist clothes. They’d have to grow into them, but at least she’d save a fortune on bedding. She wondered how long it would take…

Getting Annoyed at Trees #ralphcourtgardens 6

This was the storytelling tree. Don’t get too close or you’ll get a bit wet. It’s a shame that I started the video at the wrong time. The little ones are getting a bit impatient for something to happen, and they’re keen to continue exploring. They’re conscious of their surroundings and we might be blocking the way, but we have a right to be there too. Or they might be a bit afraid of the people coming since we should be trying to isolate. We have to wait for the tree to start telling the story again. One adult is trying to be compassionate with the children and teach patience while the other is trying to teach self-awareness but there’s a bit of self-involvement too. Considering it was a beautiful sunny day; I can’t believe how much wind the phone picked up when we visited. It was either that or my ears were still really blocked. 

Why is English the official language of the European Union when Great Britain isn't even a member?

I’m wondering if the person who’s asking this question thinks that Great Britain and the United Kingdom are two separate countries. One used to be in the European Union and one has never been in. But it’s the same with air traffic. English rules the skies. It’s because of our empire. Britain were the original international traders since their explorers went everywhere, mainly because they were keen to get off the isle. Perhaps it’s the easiest language to learn rather than it’s done as a convenience. Our population may be greater than we realise since we have absorbed so many cultures. And once other countries began to trade with us, it would probably be easier to communicate with others rather than having to learn an entire third language. It is a bit weird since other countries would be bus disputing their borders whereas all the Brits had to do was to build a boat to tell them that they were there. It’s nice when things work out that way.

Unseen Players #ralphcourtgardens 5

Is this her own pool? Is the statue trying to disturb it? The little boy’s not that bothered by a giant duck. Either he hasn’t seen it or he’s pretending not to see it. His gaze is firmly committed to keeping the water going through the pipe. Is it a rock that he’s climbing or is he playing a guitar? Maybe the goose will leave him alone if he continues to do so. The height of the water will certainly dissuade the goose to keep away from him, but the goose could always get him from behind. There could certainly be some treasure directly beneath where the water hits the pond. It’s up to the goose to take the plunge and find out. I wonder if the branch she’s on is in the water or if it acts as a barrier to stop her from wandering in unawares. Is that a shadow of a giraffe overlooking the both of them?

Little Guy calling Big Guy

 Hello. How are you? I hope you're doing well. Today, I started my day with breakfast and then went to school. We had a math class, and for lunch, I had ham salad sandwiches. I always strive to work hard so that you can enjoy yourself, but I also want to enjoy myself. I often find myself worrying about the future and spending too much time thinking instead of taking action to make things go my way. This makes it difficult for me to talk about things, and I end up hiding away and distracting myself instead of making things happen for the better. This puts me out of sync because I spend too much time worrying, which leads to feeling overwhelmed and appearing as if I don't care. I need to break through this barrier and tackle my tasks to stay on top of things. People give me time to complete tasks, but I often don't use it wisely, which causes me to panic. I hope to overcome these challenges to improve myself and make things better for you.a panic. I hope that I am is overcome these things to make you better.

Paddle or a Waddle #ralphcourtgardens 4

He doesn’t look happy. I’m assuming it’s a he but I could be wrong. It’s a lot harder to  tell when it’s a different species with a completely different reproduction system. It’s the feathers which makes me think it’s a she, albeit a very old she. It’s like I’ve caught her with her pants down. She’s got the proper expression of a wrinkly old crone as if she’s not amused. Maybe it’s the temperature of the water and she thinks that I’m to blame for it somehow. The water doesn’t look too deep. You can see the bottom and the statue doesn’t look that big. But it could be deceiving us by being placed on a pillar. And there’s an unnatural shade of light between the two trees. It’s almost as if it’s a mirror on a post or a picture if it wasn’t for the torse above it. Perhaps I’m blocking the light for the goose which is causing the scowl.

Last Orders #dreamdiary 191

It’s a lovely summer’s day and we’re enjoying a meal at a local taverna. It’s quiet but the staff are very attentive and friendly. We’re sat in a small whitewashed room with room for a few small square tables. At the back is a pair of ornate brown doors and beyond this the view looks down onto the sea. It’s run by a lovely old mother wearing a traditional black widow’s dress and a white apron. We’ve had a lovely homecooked meal and we’ve just ordered dessert while we finish our drinks. The owner smiles at us as she slowly crosses the tiled floor to the doors. She looks at her watch then slams them. Quick as a flash, she bolts the door into the frame. Then without a word, she looks at us again and walks off. It appears that local hospitality ends the minute it hits closing time.

Tailing Off #ralphcourtgardens 3

It’s difficult to get a good shot of this peacock without getting in the wires in as well. I could try and use a bot to remove the wires or try to airbrush them into the background so that no-one knows that they’re there, but I’d just be using my camera to lie to you. It does like he’s got his feathers down next to him rather than having them on. I wonder if they’re on charge and that’s what’s the cable for? Maybe it’s a camera waiting to capture the plumage as it unfolds. Or it could be a microphone. You never know, it could be a performing peacock. Meanwhile, there’s a ramp propped up against a post. Perhaps that lets the peacock out while the fence keeps us out? But how does he get back in again? Perhaps he’s figuring that out himself in case he doesn’t want to get too fat away from his food source.

Play the Queen's Christmas Day Message

Well, she’s gone. So I’ll be surprised if it’ll be there any more. It might be replaced by the King’s Christmas message, though it’ll probably prompt me for it. Nope, I’m told that the content isn’t available. There’s no alternative for it either, just an apology. So I’ll ask for the King’s instead. You’d think that it’d have the intelligence to suggest an alternative though. But when I ask for a King, I can’t get that either. I suppose that the Queen was a bit more fun-loving whereas the King could be a bit anxious of AI replacing jobs that a human could do, though in this case it is probably an advantage since it’s another medium to broadcast his message. I suppose seeing it is a lot different to hearing it, and perhaps some context could be lost if it’s only heard. But we didn’t even get a welcome this year, just a backlog of his engagements.

"You Can't Go Back"

It’s just a fact. The whole point in life is to move forward and make progress. Even if you’re a time-traveller, you’re aware of something you’ve previously experienced, and it’s possible that you’ve journeyed to stop a mistake from being repeated. You might have made mistakes in the past, but you need to learn from them and if you can’t correct them, use the knowledge to stop yourself from repeating them again. Sometimes you can’t undo the things that you’ve done, so you need to think very carefully about your actions. There’ll be some that you regret doing and there’ll be others that you’ve wished you had done. The past cannot be changed. Your intentions might be noble, but they’re also going to have an effect on others who may not benefit or believe your actions will be correct. And if you keep changing your mind, others may not want to cooperate with you any more.

Just Visiting #ralphcourtgardens 2

It’s a place that has a sense of humour, right from when you see the thatched ironwork of a horses’ hindlegs protruding from a wall outside. There’s a bit of a garden centre element, but there’s also a sense of landscaping as well with themes to amuse all. There’s plenty of things to wonder around and pose in front of. And you wouldn’t expect to see creatures locked in in pens, but here we are. I’ve got no idea what this little fellow is, though of course he could be visiting the compound. The only clue is that he may be a type of duck, though he doesn’t look the type. The woodchips thrown onto the ground suggests that he’s been there a while. Perhaps he’s injured and he’ s being nursed back to health. He might even be permitted to tour the grounds under supervision for the delight of the visitors.

Tipsters

It’s a handy number to have. You never know when you might need it. There might be something happening that you’re already involved with. Sometimes you don’t want to interfere, especially if you want a comfortable journey and don’t want to cause a delay. But if you need assistance, it’s there…in theory. Will they delay the train or will they simply get on and keep the peace? Will they be in disguise or in full uniform? Will they need you to provide evidence? Are they going to be focused on who has tickets or who is disturbing the peace? Is the number still in use? Let’s hope that I won’t have to use them, though there’s times when it’s been close. And once they’ve dealt with the problem, how do they get back? Do they have to wait for a passing train in the opposite direction? Do they have a car to follow them? Or is it just chance depending on the procedure?

Ralph Court Gardens #ralphcourtgardens 1

We’re on our way for a family day out with the girls. Their mum is also off work for the day so she wants to come too. As she’s got the bigger vehicle, we all pile in. It’s about an hour’s drive. We’ve bought a picnic since we’ve got no idea if the café will be open. And the sat-nav has taken us down the back roads to get there, but we arrive in a field that’s been retarmacked for parking. There’s entertainment opposite in the form of farm animals to watch. We head down the track and into the main entrance where there’s a gift shop and a man operating a till. We made use of the toilets in the foyer then off to explore we went. The  girls were keen to see what was inside. One was keen but the other was cautious, especially when a statue of an animal outside was growling at her.

The Father

This was a powerful film that kept viewers guessing at the ending. Although simple since it involved the use of three or four actors and a small set, it certainly raised some issues. Initially, it’s hard to say where the mix-up is or where the film set, and it’s hindered by different actresses who all wear the same clothes and hairstyles. It’s not sure where the film’s set owing to the different locations and partners portrayed. The music is simple but sometimes silence works best to convey the confusion. It’s not a tearjerker but it makes you think about how to deal with these situations and wonder if people are asking out of love or are taking advantage of them. But it’s a feeling that lots of people face every day. The truth is difficult to determine. There’s sympathy and frustration as the characters try to work out the events that are being put to them.

Milestone Loxley Ale at Alestones, Tardebigge

The outside of this micropub can be very pleasant in the summer. While it’s just a tarmacked courtyard, it’s also a bit of a suntrap. The tables are just small enough to keep the pub available for social distancing, and there’s picnic tables prepared for when and if restrictions are lifted. You can get table service including crisps, and if you need a stool then all you need to do is find a barrel and the owner will place a cushion on top. There’s a café nearby, and there’s also a barber’s and an antique shop should you feel the need for a trim or a browse to keep you waiting. And of course the glasses convey an excellent logo. It’s a shame that they’re only in one colour, but I suppose if he has a bulk batch of them, he has to encourage people to keep them in the pub and walk off with them.

Pints Beats Pills

It’s a nice headline. And there are social benefits. You’re contributing to someone’s income, and someone checks over you every day that you visit. You’ll be invited to stay and go as you like providing that the licensee’s always happy to see you and knows that you won’t cause any trouble. But it’s not free like our drugs are. And the effects might not be the same for everybody. It could be deadly to some. It might numb the pain like paracetamol, but it may also cause the user to stop caring. It might also cause them to become aggressive and they may lose control of their actions. Drunk in moderation, it might help, and it’s even recommended by the government. It’s all about finding the right dosage. With careful measurements, you could combine both and take them at the same time. You’d have to know what the effects would be though.

Canal Chaos #stratford 8

There’s boats everywhere. How do they get around? They’re all in their shorts wearing baseball caps and thy all seem to be on their mobile phones. It’s as if they don’t care about their surroundings. They could be crashing into something but they don’t seem to be too bothered so long as they can publish  good story on Instagram. And just look at the rubbish on the embankment as each boat passes. Who’s going to pick it up? I guess it’s down to the Canal Trust. I don’t know if it’s a gathering or if they’re all waiting for docking clearance. They could be lining up for a race or preparing for a blockade. But there’s no interest in anywhere other than what’s in front of them. They don’t even want to communicate with the people next to them. Why should you be out at all? It’s almost as if it’s just work and nothing else.

Home Padded Faux Leather Folding Office Chair -Grey

If it’s lasting comfort that you’re looking for, then jog on. But if you want a quick chair that’s easy to move around a small room while providing a bit of support when you do need to sit, then this is for you. There’s a small space on the backrest that’s small enough to put a hand in should you need to pick it up and carry it somewhere else. The colour matches the carpet for the room that we have in mind. Rather than legs, it has a frame so you shouldn’t get too many holes in the carpet. In the office, it’s light and practical and the colours blend well with the light furnishings. The black bits on the frame offer grip to stop the chair from gliding across the carpet, and these can be removed if you’re using it on a hard surface. I’m not sure it’s the ideal for a dining chair though.

Clopping Around Clopton #stratford 7

I believe this is a country hotel. It all looks very antique. From this distance, the towers even seem like ruins with their rugged edges. There’s even a stream drifting down the hills. . You wouldn’t think that it’d be in England owing to the lack of green. It just goes to show how much sun we’ve had this year. You can tell the difference in maintenance between the two fields. It’s hard to believe that there’s a main road hidden behind the tall trees. Perhaps it’s because of the height of the hill. Close up, it looks like a very dull bricked building. It’s the surroundings and well-trimmed trees that make it so appealing. There’s also a cheeky chimney protruding to the left of the main building. That could be a private cottage or a maintenance building or a bit of both I wonder if the beacon casts a shadow over it or if the hotel was purposefully built to avoid it or vice versa?

Water bills to rise by around 20% in April

It’s not good news for those who like brews, especially home brewers. Obviously, most brewers get their water from the tap, which will see a big rise in the production of the cost of beer. Some brewers are lucky enough to have a spring for their source, but even so this still needs to be treated when the brewing process begins. Hopefully those who operate on a commercial basis will be able to strike a deal. The other worrying thing is wastage, as a pint can take up to ten pints of water to make owing to the brewing and cleaning processes used. Modern technology has helped to reduce this wastage, but not everyone has the funds to invest in this technology. So I’ll be going at work more often than not to cut down on costs, and I’ll be using the water fountain to fill up my flask more often as well.

Ill Groomed #stratford 6

I need to look at myself in the mirror more. My hair looks good but my face doesn’t. There’s a bit too much stubble. Perhaps I’d run out of razors or foam at the time. It could have been blunt. At this particular time, I could have gotten away with it if the hair matched the face since there weren’t many barbers operating at the time, but I’d clearly paid attention to something. It looks as though I was in a bit of a rush heading out the door. It sounds like my usual method of operation. It would be easier if people were franker with me, even if it sounds a bit undermining. I’d rather be told that something was wrong and that I could have a chance to correct it rather than being told about it afterwards. But I’d still need the time to do it. Somehow, it does match the current terrain though.

Burrowing Away #titanabell 22

The servants sprang into action. They didn’t know every inch of the castle, but they certainly knew the fastest and stealthiest routes to get about without being detected by other members of the household. If there was a siege, the castle wouldn’t hold up at all owing to the number of hollow tunnels carved in between each wall. Everyone would want breakfast which would be served in the dining room, but each bedroom would require morning refreshment, especially the guests. With the guards not being around it would make things easier but they were still behind. They wondered what the cause was and what kind of punishment would be in store for those responsible. But the priority was to complete the investigation before reporting to the guests. In the meantime, a runner was sent to inform the royal party to apologise for the delay and to remain in their quarters for their own safety while the castle was being investigated.

YMCA #stratford 5

She might be getting ready to celebrate. But there’s something lurking just behind the beacon. It’s disguised as foliage. Its trunk is reaching out around the corner trying to smell the partygoers, or at least entrance to the beacon where it can make its escape from this universe. There’s a leg protruding from its body which allows it to crawl around like a quadruped. Because it’s disguised as a clump of trees, it moves silently  people just believe that it’s the wind rustling the branches. But it’s attracted to movement. It senses the vibrations and thinks that is what makes the portal open, however small the movement is. The clouds are also drawn to the spire where the energy is attracted to open the portal. It just takes a certain set of movement for the magic to happen. Clapping your hands just heightens the sounds required. And if you stomp your feet…

Boarding Bribe #dreamdiary 190

We’re on a holiday tour of Asia. This leg of our trip requires us to board a ferry for a short trip on the sea to our next destination. We’re given a boarding time and an assembly point so that we have a bit of leisure time at the port, and all we have to do in the meantime is get our passports  stamped as we pass through. We head through the security post, and everyone looks like they’re occupied with someone but there’s nothing to simply stop us from walking through. But we wait to get our passports stamped as we are told and we spot other people queuing in front of us in our party. There’s a bit of confusion as I present my passport as on my Visa page there’s a picture of my mother which is the process that they require. However, my mother is travelling with me so there’s a bit of confusion. I present the correct page and the officer tells me that’s not right. Then I present my UK driving license as further proof that it’s me and it’s still not right. Then she decides I have to pay a fine so I place a silver coin on the counter and walk away. I’m not sure if the coin was even a euro or if was just a scam to try and get money out of me, but I collect my documents without the required stamp. This is the first time that my travel documents have been examined inland. I wonder if this is going to occur every time.

Why do British people spell "program" as "programme"?

There’s actually different definitions for the terms. A program is something that you’d use to complete a task on your computer. It’s a professional dictating a computer how the memory or ram should behave. Or at least it used to be, it’s more commonly known as an app now, even on a desktop computer. A programme is something that you’d have to describe a plan for an event. Pop into a theatre and pick up a copy of Playbill (if it’s still going) and you’re looking directly at a programme. It’s a series of events rammed into a piece of paper telling you what is going to happen. It might tell you where to find things or it could just be a list of the acts with information about the performers and when to expect an interval. Some are even uniquely numbered and are sold as part of a prize draw. And of course, the British have been holding fetes and performances a lot longer than other countries…

On the Bench #stratford 4

You may not notice her at first. Her yellow is an attempt to camouflage into the monument from behind. It makes her look like the keeper of the tomb, and that you may only pass by with permission. Though the edges of the spire are faded, she could have fallen from the top of the spire, as it’s almost a portal. Her shorts even match the brown blotches. She’s just dusting herself off. Though I suppose the bench could have fallen out of a flap behind the shield. She’s a modern gnome. She’s forgone the fishing rod since there’s no water nearby and swapped the hat for sunglasses to make herself look cooler. She’s even posing to look like a young spring chicken, though she might have been caught unawares as she’s preparing herself for a better pose. I wonder if anything younger will fall out of the spire as the crack travels further up?

From the Future to the Present

Right. I'm disappointed in you. I think of all the times that you've been sitting on your own when you could have been doing something a bit more productive. It explains the mess that I’m now in. It could have been prevented, yet you’ve done nothing. You had plenty of opportunities to get things done and it’s just made me very annoyed. You might have been living in the moment, but you could have spent a little bit of time to help me out. It's such a downer. You're not normal, but you need to make the time to do normal things so that you can cope with everyday tasks. You need to use every minute effectively. Rest when you're tired, not all the time. That way, you’ll wear yourself out, but you’ll also recover faster. Take some action that others can be proud of. And it wouldn't hurt to get ahead of yourself occasionally so that you can use your downtime to your advantage. Hopefully, by following these steps, you'll be in a better position than I am.

Ogling the Obelisk #stratford 3

There wasn’t that much else to see. There were footpaths heading to the main road but it wouldn’t make much of a walk since it be so busy so we headed back the way we came all the way down to the canal. Once we’d reached it, we turned right which took us underneath the main road and past the pub garden of the Red Lion. Walking in, we were treated to a great-value meal while relaxing in the beer garden. We even got a discount in the government’s scheme to encourage people to help support local businesses. We took a small stroll around the Avon then headed back up the canal to the car. It’s a shame that the pub is now closed as they only wish to cater to the hotel trade. This seems to be a grave error as there’s the opportunity to cater to so many passing people.