"Pussycat. Pussycat, where have you been?"

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I know. I know.

Where have I been?

It started off with monitor problems.

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"Bugger it" I thought,

I can't be bothered, after all I've got so many

other things piling up in the background.

I expect it is because I use VISTA,

 a 'Visibly Inferior System To Apple's'?

I went back to painting the Organ front.

I needed some indoor jobbies as all it has done

for the last three or four weeks, is rain.

It has not been as bad here, 

as up in the 'Land of the wild and vicious Haggis'.

The weather maps clearly show us

where all the hosepipe bans are in force!

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RAIN MAP % of AVERAGE

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I did hear someone tell a joke the other day,

about Solar panels.

I can't remember how it went, but I did read about this Scottish farmer who woke up one freezing cold morning last week to find his entire herd of cows frozen in the field. Rushing outside, he tried everything he could to revive them without any success.

The farmer was distraught and he was wandering around in a daze when a familiar looking old lady walked past and asked if she could help.

The farmer explained the situation and the little old lady told him not to worry and she would see if she could help.

She proceeded to breathe lightly on each cow's nose and rub gently until the cow started to thaw.

Eventually, the entire herd had come back to life.

The farmer was so overjoyed he offered to reward to old lady but she refused saying she was pleased to have helped.

The old lady started to leave but the farmer called out "If you won't let me reward you, at least tell me your name"

"Thora Hird" replied the old lady.

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See! It's not only wet up there, but cold as well.

(only joking).

Which reminds me, I wonder how Ann is getting on

with keeping her hedgehogs warm & dry? 

I was planting up my tomatoes in the greenhouse the other day,

when I heard a rustling sound from under the bench.

Yes, Mrs Tiggywinkle had woken up.

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Not a very good pic I'm afraid,

but I didn't like to disturb her too much.

I am putting out Wesley's leftovers at night,

and it is all gone next morning.

What other news do I have?

Oh yes, do you remember how Hazel used to

spend hours sitting on her pot(ty)?

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Well I planted it up with Cowslips

which have all come up

and given a very good display. Bless her.

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And then of course at this time of the year, and with

all this rain everyone's had

the garden is going wild!

To be fair, this was last year.

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A sort of 'before' picture.

And this is last week.

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An 'after' picture.

Four rows of spuds, two of 'earlies'

and two of 'main crop'.

There are also carrots, parsnips and leeks in there somewhere.

I've put in chives, parsley and other herbs

down in this front bit.

Oh yes, and two rhubarb roots.

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Sometime back I remember someone asking -

"Do you remember those big 'Sweetie' jars?"

Well I remembered as I bought half a dozen

about forty years ago for a shilling each.

They are in my garden shed housing my

'Blood, Fish & Bone' and other Gardener's goodies!

So you see, I have been kept very busy.

Now as you were all very kind about

all my previous videos, I thought I would do

another for you based on efforts in the garden.

Wesley supervised the video shots 

and the 'songs' were performed by

Ronnie Ronalde in 1949.

Sit back and get a dose of this.

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Now wasn't that brilliant?

Fancy being able to whistle like a bird,

in tune and to music.

Fantastic.

And my veggies aren't bad either!

O well, 

now the sun's come out,

I suppose, 

I'd better,

get back to work.

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Take care everyone.

Especially those north of Adrian's Wall.

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When is a Parrot, a Parakeet?

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I have to admit that I don't really

know the difference between

a Cockatoo and a Parakeet.

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A little Mantovani number.

I do know that we have quite a lot of

these noisy, but colourful birds

in quite a number of areas,

including Bourne End.

I've been trying for years to get

photographs of them, but as soon as they spot you

they are off!

Just before Christmas I heard their

squawks very close indeed.

In fact they were next door, up in Norman's tree.

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I tried hard to zoom in on them,

but from inside my kitchen

was not the ideal location.

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Opened the back door carefully....

......and they were off like a shot.

Never mind, this below is what

they look like close up. 

(Not my photo)

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Monk Parakeets.

Wiki tells me they are also know as

the Quaker Parrots.

So now I have 'Parrots'

'Cockatoos'

&

'Parakeets'

to choose from!

The population in 2011 is believed to be around 150 in the Home Counties. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced plans to control them to counter the threat to infrastructure, crops and native British wildlife by trapping and re-homing, removing nests and shooting when necessary.

150? Is that all?

There are about 50, 

in the Cookham/Bourne End area alone.

I put bird seed out most days in the Winter months.

I scatter it on the ground,

away from the house in an open position.

(Just in case cats are hiding in the hedges.)

Wesley is not in the slightest interested.

He just likes a sit in the sun,

as he did this last Friday.  

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...until,

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Someone found my seed.

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"What are you doing in my patch?"

Wow!

What a difference a day makes!

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"Ah, good!"  "No ginger cat."

"But shucks! No seed either."

That's because Unc B. was not going to go out

any further than his back door.

I put it on the small table this weekend.

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I noticed all the papers are full of

all this cold and chaos, so for a change,

I have put up a wee video of the garden in Spring.

It serves two purposes.

Firstly, to cheer you all up and

secondly I wanted to remember my

next door neighbour who sadly passed away

in January, aged 80. 

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We had been neighbours for twenty years,

almost exactly to the day.

Over those years we used to swap cuttings and plants.

All those red tulips you see above, 

are always referred to as "Norman's Tulips".

He dug them up by the bucketful.

He is not forgotten here.

RIP

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Eyes are so Difficult.

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Just before Christmas, I did a post about some of my drawings that I did at school.

You all, very kindly, 

said nice things about them and even asked to see a few more.

Well, perhaps one day I’ll dig out a few of the better ones. 

Actually, all these years on, I don’t think they are all that good, but there again, I‘m not sure that I could do any better today as I now need specs. for doing anything and everything!

Among the many comments to that blog, Jane left this one (part of)…

 “Your scraperboard drawing brought back memories - 

I used to like having a go at that - 

mind you I was not as expert as you.”

And then Francien added:-

“Well sir...I am a bit disappointed......no cats!!”

“Uncle B., I would love to see a cat picture.”

And then a similar request from Marilyn:

"As Francien said - What, no cats? 

I'll wager you have some drawings or could do them now."

I did, in those days, draw many subjects, 

some turned out better than others. 

Being an engineering sort of chap, 

my drawings of buildings seemed to come out best. 

Indeed the only pictures I have ever had published, 

were Pub drawings for Local Good Beer Guides.  

They were similar to this ‘etching’ of The Green Man. (drawn circa 1975).

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The Green Man.

After a bit of searching I did find a picture to perhaps, 

keep Francien and Marilyn happy.

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I was not all that happy with it, as I don’t think the eyes are correct. 

But, with scraperboard - 

once you have scraped away the black surface - 

that’s it!

(Actually, you can make minor corrections with Indian Ink.)

Eliza kindly suggested that I get going again:

“Those drawings are fantastic. 

Perhaps you should get your sketch pad out again.”

And more encouragement from Jan too:

“I love all your pieces and I hope you'll do some new ones.”

At this stage, I didn’t know what Jan had included in the ‘Cookie’ parcel from California. 

It wasn‘t until Christmas Day that I opened that extra ‘pressy’.

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A set of Drawing Pencils! (see picture lower down).

Thanks Jan. 

It is true that after all these years, 

I would not have been able to find even one pencil, 

let alone, six different grades!

So, I thought “I better try my hand at a little sketching - 

something easy for starters.”

I bet I’ve lost the knack after forty years.  

So, as requested, 

I thought I would see if I could do a better cat drawing for you?

And what better cat is there to start with, 

than Wesley?

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Eyes are so difficult.

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Nearly done.

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"You can get down now!"

"It's finished."

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Well, it's better than that early scraper-board.

"What do you think, Little Wes?"

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"I think it's time for my Felix!"

and
Unc. Bernard needs a coffee!

Blogger has just told me this is -
my 500th blog post.

(You poor souls!)

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Christmas Dinner and Angels.

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Thank you all for your Seasonal good wishes and lovely comments (and ‘reacties‘) on last weeks blog. You are all very kind. Many times this year, I have often thought the comments to be more interesting than my posting!

At the moment, the weather here is very mild for the time of the year and yesterday morning, as I looked out up a very sad, drab and colourless garden, I noticed my Christmas dinner approaching to pick up the seeds I had put out as bait.

Three Red Legged Partridge…….but sadly, no Pear Tree!

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Only joking. I couldn't eat such lovely wild birds.

It’s turkey for me as usual.

By now you will have all had your ’fill’ of Christmas cheer. I certainly felt full to bursting at three o’clock yesterday. Everything was just too good to leave.

  

For many years now I have shared Christmas Day with a very good friend. Not only do we share company, but also the cooking. I cook the turkey here at my place and she does all the vegetables and trimmings. I load the hot cooked turkey into the car and drive the 163 miles over to her house.

No, no! I joke about the miles. It’s a five minute trip.

This scheme works well. Using two ovens is so much easier to get things right.

Get ready!

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Get steady!

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Go!

It doesn’t get cold and is in fact ideal, because I read the other day:-

“Do let the turkey rest. It’s a crucial part of the cooking time, so never, ever, carve a turkey straight out of the oven. It needs at least half an hour covered in foil and sitting on the side, (valuable time in which to make the gravy and finish the vegetables).” 

It arrived safely and a smashing meal was enjoyed by all.

The jokes in the crackers were unusually good this year.

I saved mine and thought I’d share it with you…… 

-+-

When four of Father Christmas’s Elves fell sick, the trainee Elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

The Elf 'n Safety directives from the eu, were also causing extra expense and long delays.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa that her Mother was coming to visit, and that stressed Santa even more.

Later that evening, when he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the sacks fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Father Christmas went in the house for a glass or two of mulled cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the Elves had drunk all the cider and taken the only bottle of rum. 

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the bristles off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and an very irritated Santa crunched his way to the front door, yanked it open, and there stood a sweet little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The little angel said very cheerfully, 

“Merry Christmas, Santa“. 

“Isn’t this a lovely day?” 

“I have a beautiful tree here for you – 

where would you like me to stick it?”

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And so started the age old tradition of putting......

.... an Angel on top of the Christmas Tree!

Poor old Wes, for the first time ever, on Christmas Day, he had been on his own.

Well, as I'd brought back home the turkey remains to make soup, I carved off a big plateful for him. That cheered him up no end and as I settled down with a big glass of Green Ginger Wine, he curled up on my feet to sleep it off.

(The turkey that is. Not the Ginger Wine!)

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Wired up for "Carols from Kings".

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"Hazel's World"

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Hazel was born on 27th April 1992.

She was one of four females born to her mother,

a 'British Cream'.

(Father not known!)

I have quite a few pictures of them when they

were only weeks old.

Here's one.

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Hazel is on the right, by her mothers left paw.

She has that little streak of ginger on her forehead.

Sadly, I'm afraid Hazel is no longer with us.

She passed away on Monday afternoon,

and finally left me,

after nineteen and a half, happy years together.

These last six months, however,

had been a rather uncomfortable time for her,

with many trips to the vets.

In a kind way, I am somewhat relieved that she is at rest,

she was, after all, the equivalent of 102 in our years.

I have laid her to rest exactly where she was sitting,

in that photo in the sun, on last Wednesdays blog.

I have made a small pictorial tribute and

posted it up on YouTube.

It's just a few pictures of Hazel,

and the only world she knew, my garden.

I had her as a kitten almost twenty years ago,

and although free to roam,

had never strayed from her beloved patch.

This was the whole world as she knew it.

She now rests here in peace, under her favourite Mulberry tree.

(It plays full screen, but not as sharp.)

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I can't think why YouTube,

out of the thirty pictures there,

had to choose this one of my garden roller!

There were loads better.

But there you go!

That's life, I can't change it.

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My friend.

27th April 1992.

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24th October 2011.

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The Lawn’s a dead loss.

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One of my brothers rang last night.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"As well as can be expected. Why?" I said.

"Well you haven't done a blog for over two weeks."

True, but there are other things in life.

Only the other day Jan, who has just retired (California) said -

"I've spent the past 30 years in front of a computer for 8 hours a day, and it's a difficult thing to change."

but, she tells me,

she is going to take up water-colour painting.

I too spent over 30 years, but since I've retired,

I have found a 'thousand & one' other things to do.

Foody also kindly enquired -

"Are you and the cats OK?"

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A song by Q. Cumber!

So, here they are yesterday watching 'yours truly',

doing a spot of garden re-design.

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My garden is essentially in two parts,

divided by a pergola walk up the centre.

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In Spring.

The lefthand side is all lawn, sorry moss!

The bit on the right is also lawn but much smaller,

as it is tucked away behind the shed and greenhouse.

I decided to convert this smaller patch of moss back into a vegetable garden as it was 30 odd years ago before I came here.

(I gleaned this from my neighbour, who has been on the other side of the fence for some forty odd years.)

So here we go.

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This is what the cats were watching me do.

I didn't want anything too big and too much work,

so opted for a small central patch with grass (moss) walkways round the four sides.

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I left the sundial in the centre and laid a couple of slabs for access.

I am going to plant herbs all around it.

No time for blogging you see.

---

The roses have faded,

They’re tired and jaded,

The garden is looking quite plain.

The lawn’s a dead loss,

Just all sphagnum moss.

Oh, I wish it was summer again.

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That was a hard days graft.

I think I'll just sit in here,

in the evening sun!

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"There's fleas and ticks and that."

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"Time for bed" said Zebedee!

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Now why would I be taking a stout pair

of leather gloves into the bedroom?

No.

It's nothing to do with leather boots I assure you!

Nor "fleas and ticks"!

It's to do with hedgehogs.

- + -

I am very fond of Hedgehogs

Which makes me want to say,

That I am struck with wonder,

How there’s any left today,

For each morning as I travel

And no short distance that,

All I see are Hedgehogs,

Squashed. And dead. And flat.

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But not on my back yard.

In the summer the cats like to be fed outside.

Hazel has just had a pick around,

and wandered off (on the left) to look at the stars,

and Mrs H moves in quick....

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And polishes off everything that is left.

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Now last week, Wesley came through the cat-flap in a bit of a hurry and broke the little door off. Of course the hole was still there and guess who decided to come in and snout around for food?

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Mrs H.

I heard this snorting in the bedroom and there she was.

Lost her bearings and couldn't navigate back to the conservatory.

This happened three nights 'on the trot',

hence the leather gloves..

- + -

A Hedgehog cannot make you laugh,

Whistle, dance or sing,

And she ain’t much to look at,

And she don’t make anything.

Except baby hedgehogs!

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This 'mother' hedgehog has been bringing her three babies round every evening to show them where to get a really good 'takeaway'.

I now scrape the leftovers into a plastic 'plant saucer',

They make less mess with it's higher sides.

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I couldn't get a picture of all four.

They are quite shy.

- + -

And in amongst their prickles,

There’s fleas and ticks and that,

But there ain’t no need to leave them,

Squashed. And dead. And flat.

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The wee bits of poetry are of course,

by the talented Pam Ayres.

And......I have fitted a nice nooooo flap,

and I no longer need to take gloves to bed!

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UPDATE: I did try a go at filming Mrs. H.

Not very good, I'm afraid, there was poor light.

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Banging my own Drum.

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Rain! Lovely rain!

Well, good for the garden, which was as dry as a bone,

but not so go for those who have just rushed off on holiday.

So, what have we all been up to on days like this?

Hazel has set up camp in the greenhouse. Having reached the 'ripe old' age of 102, she thought she might as well 'ripen off' with the tomatoes!

Wes, on the other hand, decided on the doormat.

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So two dry pussies, and where was I?

In the 'workshop'.

Actually, us engineers are not supposed to use the word 'workshop', it has to be referred to as a 'Hobby room'! A workshop implies 'work' and that would never do in a residential property.

Elf 'n Safety and worse!!!!!

(Heaven help us - please eu hurry up and collapse)

You see, I'm one, who has always fancied a nice bang,

on the drum!

And my wee organ doesn't have one.

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This fellow over in Holland does.

A nice little side drum.

Here's another tucked behind a curtain,

showing all 'the works'.

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Now, to get these to bang at the right time,

and in time with the music, they can be linked into

the Bass Notes.

(as in the Ump, of ump, pah, pah.)

But, they can also be driven by a puff of air

from the tracker-bar.

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This is my tracker-bar.

The organ has 26 notes - but the bar has 27 holes!

You see I planned ahead and added an extra hole

for percussion.

Many builders do this.

My friend Derek (in Australia) has a 27th hole and

uses it to power his moving bandsmen.

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Derek Deane's 27 note Organ.

Over the years, at car boots and in charity shops,

I have picked up all sorts of rubbish,

and I have a few old tambourines,

and even an old drum kicking about.

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All I need now, is to get the puff of air,

from the hole number 27,

down to a device to bang the drum in time with the music!

So now to the technical bit.

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This is what I have been up to

whilst the rain, rained,

the euro collapsed,

and

the cats slept through the whole thing!

Making a valve chest to 'Bang on my Drum'.

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I must admit, that that the thought

of the euro collapsing,

and

the whole eu thingie going belly up,

is a darn sight more exciting

than having a bang on my drum!

I feel like playing "Land of Hope & Glory".

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