Good morning, on this bright dawn…finally. It appears that the storms have moved away from Kaimoana and me, up here in the northern regions. Not without causing disaster on their way through-4 people were drowned when their fishing charter vessel foundered up the coast from here. Such a tragedy for the little seaside village of Mangonui.
Nfk your trip on the Broads sounds amazing, despite all the hiccups. Such lovely country around Walsham…such a beautiful county, all round. I hope you get the heater sorted – it would make such a difference to your comfort at this time of the year. I thought the same about the Dean’s chicken run! Why is it that my girls make such a mess of their residence? Your cormorant is lovely-very handsome, and I thought, showing his best side to the camera.
Doodle -Do you have your blinds up and running now?? Please send photos! I love the image of you talking to your artificial plants! I have a few Ikea plants with my real ones in the dining room, and left MrJ in charge of watering the real ones while I went to Australia to see the DGCs. He watered the lot. I agree with you about Welsh choirs, especially male voice ditto. MrJ always speaks of magical Sunday evenings with the Welsh uncles, with wonderful names such as Aneirin and Dai, all the men singing in perfect harmony. Then he discovers that he’s actually far more Scandi by DNA than Welsh…a crisis of identity!
Grammaretto It sounds as though you should be charging Sparky rent! He seems to have moved in as a permanent resident, after all these months. I’m sure it will all be worth it. Cushie continues to prove her worth as an Official National Treasure. She should be setting up her own agency, and training her employees in her own exacting standards. The continuing cheek of people in your garden! How tolerant you are. Great to have people enjoying the beauties of nature around your place, but smoking in your garden?? (shudder). Your barometer sounds very interesting. Do you know much about its history? You are brave to drive at night, especially in winter. Just suddenly, I’ve found the prospect very daunting, though until 2 years ago, I commuted from the Far North to Auckland every week to work, down on Sunday evening, back on Friday, arriving home at 10 pm after a 4-hour drive. Then I discovered the Intercity bus service – curled up in a comfortable seat, listening to podcasts…bliss.
Yesterday, I had my painting group and the history group, about Women and Medicine. Very interesting. It’s a pity that poor old Florence is still remembered as the lantern lady, soothing brows, doing what women allegedly do best, rather than as a feisty, highly intelligent mathematical genius, inventor of the pie graph, administrator and ordered mind par excellence. Today my French group, and it’s going to be a beautiful day, 25 deg, fine and sunny, so we’ll sit out in the garden with cups of thé, chatter and giggle.
I had a M&S delivery yesterday, in a rumpled, crumpled green bag, with DHL “repackaged” tape on it. Everything inside had been taken out of their plastic and screwed up in a heap. My lovely linen shirt that I’d been looking forward to looked like a dishrag, and was covered in black ink stains! Just why?? Also included in the parcel, mostly socks, tights and knickers for DCDs, was a really weird two-piece outfit, bright orange, shorts and a strange-looking top, not M&S, no labels, probably homemade. Just what??So disappointing about the shirt. Socks too small for Bigfoot Freddie, so Gubbins will receive a parcel very soon.
Dove and pals are perched on the guttering, where they can peer down at me, demanding breakfast, and Doreen has one eye glued to the dining room window, chattering something about food. I am summoned.
Have a lovely evening, everyone.
hope you are well and rested and looking forward to Spring-Summer. 
Problems in Harry and Meghan Marriage
