sollers

Got back from Sidmouth to find that the DDOS on lj was really something.

First week there was a bit of a non event as I had the squitters till Saturday and didn't do much except doze and drink rehydration liquid - having driven down from Manchester over two days while suffering. I missed the Acker Bilk concert, but that was all, and the rest was great: lots of singing, lots of stories and I am learning to play the melodeon. The torchlight parade on the last Friday night had an extra star: our Loathly Wyrm, who stole the show. miapatrick says she's looking for suitable shots of it online and I will pass on what she finds.

Had a pleasant journey back but after unpacking the minibus I am now shattered. More later.

Is it just me or are other people also undable to get into lj?

As soon as I post this I shall change into my Morris kit to go and dance on Hartshead Pike, the highest really local hill: blue and white striped frock, dark blue tights, clogs with dark blue lace-up uppers, straw hat with artificail flowers all round it. I have done this before, so I shall also be wearing the sweatshirt that goes with it and the fleece that goes with it on top of that. And I shall also take a large blue and white umbrella. And I have checked that the elastic that keeps my hat on is in good condition.

I very much doubt that we will actually see the sun go down.

Current Mood: determined
Current Music: There's That Bloody Tune Again (Speed the Plough)

Aimed particularly at north of England, copied and pasted from miapatrick at her request:

"Does anyone on here know anyone who might like to take in a four year old german spitz. He was badly physically abused in his old home, and although he isn't at all vicous, at the moment you can't just go up to him and pick him up- he has to get used to you, and needs a home with lots of love and understanding. When he is comfortable and relaxed he is an absolutly lovely dog, probably not suitable for a home where there are small children. Sable coloured, very beautiful, but if we can't find him a home soon he will have to be put down. Any help would be appreciated, mark has become very fond of him but we can't give him a stable enviroment in a home which already has nine dogs."

I spent the mega long weekend at the Upton Folk Festival, this time warm and dry - last year we had a tent, the torrential rain got in, and we went home on Sunday afternoon. This year we had the minibus, ambulance type, with all but three pairs of seats removed and one pair reversed so we could put a table in the middle (unofficially known as "Priscilla Princess of t'Moss" though nobody who has used her to date is gay which spoils the joke a bit).

We were able to avoid almost all of the Wedding, though the television was on in one of the pubs we frequented. We didn't actually frequent all the pubs in the centre, though, as we took a liking to the Swan, or rather the Swan's collection of Real Ales, and I found the music sessions in the evenings very congenial. We did all the proper things, singing, playing and dancing.

The glitches were as follows:

1. Coffee got spilt on my Kindle. When it first arrived there was a note to the effect that the cover was unavailable and would be forwarded as soon as it was in stock. That was two months ago. I had kept the little plastic sheet on the front until Friday when it finally ceased to adhere and the coffee happened on Saturday morning. It temporarily stopped working, and I was thankful I had taken out the insurance (which specifically includes spill damage) but it seems to be all right now.

2. I lost my debit card. The likeliest place was in The Map Shop, where the last payment on it was made, on the Saturday, but unfortunately the shop was shut on Sunday and Monday, so I haven't been able to check. Card cancelled and new one ordered, and in the meantime I'm reduced to using cheque book and passport to get at my money. Temporary panic because I had previously been unable to lay hands on my cheque book but I found it this morning, whee it should have been, but underneath things it shouldn't have been.

3. Phone battery dead. This should not have happened; the phone appears to have turned itself on, which it should not have done. Had to borrow someoen else's to report card loss.

4. Monday morniing: bus battery flat. Had to use site organiser's mobile to ring AA. Didn't leave sit till 2.45.

So no long term problems, not like the other person waiting for the AA on Monday: he got to the site, parked, someone asked him to move up a couple of feet, and the engine wrecked itself.

Apart from that, all good. My bodhran technique is now good enough that I can play for three hours almost non-stop without even any discomfort, I looked pleasingly spectacular in my Border Morris kit and I bought a very nice reversable warm jacket with a dragon on the back.

Current Mood: content
Current Music: There's That Bloody Tune Again

All dogs I have owned since moving up North have landed up in the canal, so it was only a matter of time for Zoe.

G came with me today, so I decided to go a bit further than usual, and let them off the lead. Toby can be a pain, but it turns out that Zoe doesn't want to go too far from Mummy, so I don't have to worry about her. Not in that way, anyway.

She didn't actually fall in, she stepped in. The other bodies of water she has encountered looked quite different; the canal does look more like a path, so that was what she thought she was stepping down onto.

Next scene: me lying down beside the canal fishing Zoe out of the water. I got fairly soaked in the process, but not as wet as she was.

At least she picked a nice hot day to do it; she rolled in the grass, ad ran around a lot, and she was nearly dry by the time we started for home.

Slow off the mark (it's a work day) but I think I've still managed the right day.

I have spent the day sorting the books in my bedroom - the fiction library, so to speak.

I have dealth with ten double-parked shelves and six single-parked ones, which is about 2/3 of the total number of books in the room.

I have got six big bags of books to take down to various charity shops.

I feel shattered.

Current Mood: exhausted

Going away for one night was a really good idea.

Lessons learned: more bedding. We had layers under us because we had been warned that cold creeps up from the floor. It didn't. It crept down from the air above. In future: two sleeping bags, the heavy-duty one I used plus my big double sleeping bag, one inside the other,

We need plastic boxes with lids to stow things in., labelled.

Taking Zoe's cage is a good idea because it distresses her so much to even try to put her travel harness on.

The table between the seats works perfectly.

At present we cannot have two airbeds on the floor and have the heating on.

The trip itself:

Perfect weather on Saturday. We sat outsde and drank beer (as soon as I had switched off the engine, chairs out and beer bottles opened).

Sunday morning initially spent thawing out. Scrambled eggs make an easy and substantial breakfast.

Later we went sightseeing along the Dove. We didn't cross the Stepping Stones because of problems carrying the dogs; when we turned back, originally thinking of going back to the bridge and up the other side, the sky looked threatening so we cut it short. Just as well; we only got five minutes of being hailed on, which was quite enough. We made a cup of coffee while waiting for the "shower" to subside, then found that everybody was having trouble getting off the parking field. Cars being towed and pushed and sent round another way; motor caravans being towed off, or attempted to. I tried a long sweep up a shallow slope, but still ground to a halt; reversed; tried again; still failure. Switched off. Eventually the chap in charge came along; we discussed things like the wide wheels, very low first gear and light body; he took over, reversed a very long way and took a path nobody else had done so there was no churned up mud and got me out. Note: no hint of "stupid woman driver, move over and let a MAN do it", more an air of "Cool! Can I have a go?"

We then went to Tissington in pursuit of a pub. I am now good at driving through narrow gateways and over cattle grids. We couldn't find anywhere suitable to park, so went back out and found a very good pub, doing very reasonable food, very cosy with a wood fire.

Got home less tired from stressful driving than I expected. The bus really is comfortable to drive, and from Manchester to beyond Buxton and back, with substantial side trips, we used less than half a tank of diesel. Very gratifying.

Today we're off to try out "Prscilla, Princess of t'Moss" (of whom more anon when I have piccies) for an overnight camping stay so this morning I've been buzzing round locating everything I need and getting slightly stressed because I was beginning to run out of morning.

Then I decided on a break, made a cup of coffee and put the television on. Then the penny dropped.

I had been a bit lackadaisical about updating the clocks - for several days it was "it's actually an hour later than it looks" - but I had clean forgotten that I had in fact updated them. It wasn't just gone 10, it was just gone 9.

*relaxes and really enjoys coffee*

Current Mood: ecstatic
Current Music: Too many to choose from

Anybody else having problems with it?

ETA Thurs: Ho hum, here we go again. This time I am getting a Guru Meditation.

Everybody seems to be doing it, so...

In 201 I am living alone (except for dogs) in a classic two-up-two-down house between Manchester and the Pennines.

In 2001 I was living alone (except for dog) in a classic two-up-two-down house between Manchester and the Pennines.

In 1991 I was living in a small house in South London with my two daughters,

In 1981 I was living in a small house in South London with my husband and two daughters.

In 1971 I was living in a set of rooms in my parents' house near the river in Hammersmith with my husband.

In 1961 I was living in my parents' house near the river in Hammersmith with them.

In 1951 I was living in my parents' house near the river in Hammersmith with them.

...That's all, folks!

Wonderful weekend in London. I was taken to see Parsifal - for the first time. Very difficult and thought provoking but glorious music. Sunday I went to the BM and managed not to buy too many books. Back by train to ecstatic welcome from doggies. I suspect I shall have an early night tonight to make up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Current Mood: ecstatic
Current Music: Parsifal - Good Friday music

It has simply been the case that for the last week it has been a case of BROADBAND HAZ NOT GOT. It vanished at about 7.30 Tuesday evening, followed by numerous calls to BT that kept them busy looking for a fault on the line. On Saturday they said they'd send an engineer on Sunday morning. Nobody turned up. Apparently the request for an engineer never got through. By now they were getting apologetic and talking about compensation.

When I rang last night things changed somewhat. Instead of going through the same rigmarole every time, when I called I didn't get the usual message. I got one to the effect of "it appears that you have rung a number of times recently If you are calling in connection with the same problem please press 1". I had a long wait but finally got through to someone who seemed a lot more senior. e said 1) the situation was clearly unacceptable and 2) from here on he would be taking personal charge. I said I thought it possible that the hub itself was faulty. He said that seemed most likely now, and when would I like an engineer to come round? He would see to it that the message got through this time; there were slots available all this week. I said Tuesday am would be best. He said he'd make the appointment and call me back afte 2 pm to check that all was well.

At 8.15 the engineer arrived. By 8.30 he had finished and was gone and all was well again. At least they got things right eventually. And yes, it was the hub. I'd only had it for a few weeks, and the engineer said he thought it was probably faulty from the start; he said it was extremely hot to the touch, and it had probably heated up over the weeks till it reached the point when a component was damaged. The new one certainly feels a lot cooler than the old one ever did.

Current Mood: relieved

I have spent a lot of time recently is a state of quasi-siege: my front door is barricaded off from Zoe because if anything comes through the letterbox she first kills and then shreds it. If I pick it up she jumps up and nips me on the thigh - she doesn't draw blood but I currently have half a dozen bruises. So far everything has been unsuccessful: I tried putting on a letter cage, but the only one I could get at the time fastened only at the top and the front opened down so a good bash from her made everything disgorge. I have escalated the barries until the area is barred off with a staircase guard, an old fireguard and a spare Ladderax ladder, but she still gets through.

On Thursday I decided that enough was enough. I went on line; located exactly what I wanted (four screw points that could be placed where I wanted them, opening top), and ordered it, paying extra for next day delivery. Yesterday it arrived. This morning - unfortunately after the post came - I installed it. I shall wait and see.

The truoble is that she is small, lithe and agile, more like a cat than any self-respecting dog should be. Yesterday evening I heard the high-pitched bark of a Zoe in distress, and rushed out the kitchen. It turned out to translate as "MUMMY! I'm STUCK!" She had jumped onto my Henry vacuum cleaner, from that onto the vegetable rack in order to reach the shelves behind where I keep chews and other doggy treats, and couldn't get down. After I had rescued her for the second time I moved Henry.

More barks. There was Zoe on top of Henry again. "MUMMY! I can't reach the vegetable rack!"

Current Mood: frustrated

THE TRIBUTE BEARERS

<cut>

"( Read more... )

Current Mood: contemplative

Bristol, in the aftermath of the murder of the landscape architect:

"Women should avoid going home alone after dark"

For crying out loud, it's dark before most people leave work! What else are they saying? "Women should avoid living on their own." "Women living on their own should not go to work". "Women living with someone else should chase around after work to meet up with their partner/flatmate etc, who quite possibly works different hours, before going home". "Women should tell their employers that until further notice they will be leaving work at about 3 pm" - oh, yes, I can see that one flying.

I'm assuming here that the murderer is male, but how about "Men should keep off the streets after dark. Any found out at that time will be taken in for questioning"?

Current Mood: annoyed

And happy birthday to Andy!

I think I'd better leave it at that: Long Island Iced Tea before dinner + cava with dinner + brandy in the carrot puree and the chestnut stuffing + a lot of brandy on the Christmas pud + Courvoisier brandy butter + port = an extremely merry Christmas.

Current Mood: drunk

...and the best of all wishes

The origins of it have been niggling at me all week. Then I had an inspiration: look for what other countries traditionally do it. It came out as a very short list - one, the Netherlands, with a different style: stakes aren't used, but instead every third or fourth standard is cut higher up.

My current theory: the Anglo-Saxons borught it, and other people (including the Welsh) thought "What a great idea!"

Current Mood: geeky

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sollers

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