This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 850 words. After two years in the cottage, Hettie used a little of her savings to have a bathroom built on the back. Other people in the street had done the same, and losing most of the outside space was compensated by being able to … | Continue reading
Obviously the weather is going to feature. The weather lady on TV told me that temperatures had been ‘above average’ for May. Well I think she was having a laugh, as earlier this week I was wearing three layers of clothing in the house and seriously considering turning on the cen … | Continue reading
The sun is trying to shine in Beetley, so smiles seem appropriate. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-ninth part of a fiction serial, in 757 words. It seemed the questioning by the SIS people was a formality. Had Alison been her friend? Did she have many conversations with her? Was she aware what work Alison had been doing? It followed some kind of format, and … | Continue reading
Lots of subjects to think about today. The test will be on Monday afternoon. | Continue reading
Almost a year ago, Julie suggested it might be a good idea to get a pressure washer. We could wash the cars with it, and clean the patio slabs too. I went online, and bought the best size and type for us, which was delivered by Amazon the next day. My neighbour has the same … Con … | Continue reading
More laughs from history for the weekend. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-eighth part of a fiction serial, in 744 words. As the end of March approached, Hettie thought she would lose her mind. She hadn’t been eating properly, and was not concentrating at work. Not a word from George, so she became convinced he was dead. Then one morn … | Continue reading
Back to the old days again this morning. | Continue reading
I woke up to complete darkness at 7am today, caused by cloud so low it seemed to be covering the house. It is raining heavily, feels cold at only 12C, and it’s dark enough inside the house to require lights on at 9:44am. It was necessary to check the calendar to confirm it was th … | Continue reading
Guitarist Carlos Santana was known for some great (mainly) instrumental recordings from 1969 and into the 1970s, with his band Santana. His performance at the Woodstock Festival gave him the wider exposure he needed to get widespread popularity and acclaim. I had a couple of his … | Continue reading
Judd and Westen, please see me after class. CLASS DISMISSED. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-seventh part of a fiction serial, in 747 words. The time with George in Berlin was the best that Hettie could remember. Walks in the parks, small cafes for coffee and cake, even an afternoon in a rowing boat on the river. Each date they had was memorised, from … | Continue reading
It’s Wednesday, it’s pouring with rain outside, so let’s get chuckling! | Continue reading
I’m in the mood for a funky song with nice harmonies, good memories, and getting my feet tapping. “A Night to Remember” is a song by American R&B group Shalamar. It was released in 1982, when I was 30 years old. As I recall, this was their biggest hit in the UK, with the group … … | Continue reading
1979 was a good year. I was 27 years old, had moved into a nice house in the Wimbledon Park district of London, and I had been accepted for training as an EMT. I played a lot of music at home back then, in a variety of genres. But this one was a favourite, combining … Continue re … | Continue reading
The rain has finally returned. No doubt people will be walking around saying things like “It’s good for the garden”, or “The farmers need it”. But I was enjoying the sunshine, so need something to cheer me up as I listen to the rain hitting the windows. | Continue reading
Atheists are people who believe that god or gods (or other supernatural beings) are man-made constructs, myths and legends or who believe that these concepts are not meaningful. CLASS DISMISSED. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-sixth part of a fiction serial, in 879 words. Berlin was worse than she had expected. Large areas were still rubble, though some reconstruction was going on. There were a lot of women and children walking on the streets, but not so many men, other than old men. … | Continue reading
This is another song that was famously ‘hijacked’ by a later version. Long before Whitney Huston convinced so many people it was her song, the wonderful Chaka Khan released this original in 1978, written by Ashford and Simpson. You just know I prefer Chaka. (Yes, all five women i … | Continue reading
The end of a good week. A trip to Suffolk, which I have already posted about, and an easygoing time with nothing too dramatic happening. ————————————————————————————— The weather was the star of the show, with sunny skies and high temperatures most days, followed by first-time si … | Continue reading
From Wednesday, when we went to meet up with friends in Suffolk. The photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. By the vilage green at Pin Mill I am standing at the back with Kate. Julie is sitting, with Kate’s husband Tony, and Roland. Roland’s wife Christine is taking the phot … | Continue reading
Julie has been very busy in the kitchen today! Bread Pudding. (Top left) Victoria Sponge Cake with fresh cream and lemon curd. (Those are both gifts, not for us) Two Chicken and Mushroom pies with Tarragon. (For the freezer) | Continue reading
Unusual solar flares gave many parts of the world a treat last night, a rare viewing of the Northern Lights in the sky south of Scandinavia. We didn’t expect them to get as far south as Beetley, but they did! Close to midnight, Julie ventured outside with her phone to take photos … | Continue reading
It’s a sunny and warm day, so let’s have some laughs to celebrate. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-fifth part of a fiction serial, in 758 words. Miss Taylor was smiling when Hettie came into the room, and after listening to Hettie telling her about the divorce proceedings and her wish to transfer to Berlin, she was still smiling. “We have known about, -shall … | Continue reading
Last lesson of the week, so please concentrate! CLASS DISMISSED. | Continue reading
I have been fortunate enough to have seen the Bayeux tapestry twice in my life. Such is the detail, that even after two relatively long viewings, I could still happily view it many more times. It is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres (230 feet) long and 50 centimetres (20 inch … | Continue reading
We left Beetley just after 10am yesterday to make the 70 mile drive to visit friends in Suffolk. Some other friends who live on the Isle of Wight were over too, so it was a chance for us to all meet up. Fortunately, the weather was very nice, and after cups of tea and catching … … | Continue reading
Pen and paper ready please! | Continue reading
I won’t be blogging today, as we are off on a trip to visit friends for lunch. Depending on when when get home, I will try to look at some of your blog posts. Failing that, see you on Thursday! | Continue reading
We all know that we have to tolerate a degree of advertising online. Free email accounts, being able to read articles and some newspapers, and even blogging if you don’t pay to upgrade. The ads appear; sometimes relevant, usually not. However, I am nominating two champions of ann … | Continue reading
Turn off your phones please, no cheating! CLASS DISMISSED. | Continue reading
Projected loss of land caused by rising sea levels around the British Isles by the year 2100. Europe in 1000 AD. | Continue reading
Let’s get the week off to a good start with a few chuckles! | Continue reading
Our blogging friend and writer from America, David Miller, has an insect intrusion problem. Here is his guest post about that. His blog can be found using this link. https://millerswindmill.wordpress.com/about/ GO TO THE VINEGAR! Over the years, I’ve had to battle crickets, roach … | Continue reading
Julie was busy in the kitchen yesterday! Victoria sandwich cake with strawberry jam and custard buttercream. White farmhouse loaf and brown seeded loaf, plus a chicken curry cooking on the stove. YUM! | Continue reading
This is the thirty-fourth part of a fiction serial, in 772 words. That Monday morning when he was told the story of the conversation with Edward, George could hardly contain his delight. “Does that mean you are free to move in with me until I go to Berlin? Does Edward know about … | Continue reading
The weather finally decided it was Spring earlier this week, and I was wearing shorts walking around in a balmy 21C with lovely blue skies. It actually felt like Summer on my walks, with real heat in the sun. Then on Friday I was reminded that I live in England, when there was an … | Continue reading
An extra class for those dropping behind in their studies. | Continue reading
There will be a test on Monday. | Continue reading
The counties and county towns of England. You may have heard of all of them, but now you can place their location in the country. Beetley is in Norfolk, on the right hand side of the map. Real and unusual place names in Britain. (I live quite close to Great Snoring) An uninformed … | Continue reading
This is the thirty-third part of a fiction serial, in 750 words. Realising they just couldn’t shut themselves away in her office every day, Hettie gave George some homework to keep him busy in the mornings. He had to memorise the contact details of numerous agents and friendly Ge … | Continue reading
Settle down, no talking. | Continue reading
In 1989, British electro pop duo The Pet Shop Boys met Hollywood star Liza Minnelli. Add a ‘theatrical’ song from Stephen Sondheim, and I give you ‘Losing My Mind’. I shouldn’t really like it, but I love it! The sun comes up, I think about you The coffee cup, I think about you I … | Continue reading