Friday, September 30, 2005

She sash-ayed off to the ball ....

Here's the newly arrived sash and here's yours truly, Julie, wearing it ... I should have remembered to pull my tummy in! Darn.
I'm only taking pix in it, not staying for the do ... like Cinders, I'll before home before midnight. Well, probably before nine o'clock, actually!!!!
Zooooooooooommmmmmmm


Thursday, September 29, 2005

I'm being serviced

Well, not me personally, you understand - my bicycle! I confessed to the Bike Shop man ... I've renamed him the Bike Doctor ... that I bought second hand while I'm getting used to being back on the road and that a. I've broken my front reflector, b. I want mudguards (yeah, I'm a wimp) and c. I want a comfortable seat!
He found all the appropriate accessories for me then I had the bright idea of asking if he serviced bike. Yes, of course he does. I'm taking it in on Sunday and he's going to put all the bells and whistles on it (do I need a bell or could I just shout "OY, SHIFT" ) The Bike Doctor's going make sure the handle bars are at the correct height (maybe that'll fix my wobbling?) and fit the 'lady seat' and make sure it's at the correct height and angle. It's got a hole in for air flow - through, not out! and channeled 'for comfort of your soft tissue' - I just said 'my bits got numbed' .. he seemed to understand that well enough!
Went to do pix of the Community Volunteer Car Service Inagural Charity Golf Match presentation of awards at Sandilands Golf Club. Very kind, they were, I was invited to help myself to dinner from the buffet and had pudding brought through to me too!
Friendly guys - I got kisses goodbye! One was so nice I said "do it again!" (joking) and he did! He turned around to wave goodbye as we went in our separate directions when driving away. Hmmm.
I was asked if I'd consider giving 'my talk' to some elderly people by Derek, who is a member of the Sutton on Sea Gentleman's Club, The Old Fossils, to whom I gave my very first talk. Well, truth be told I've only given it twice .. the second time to the Louth Rotary Club!
Mind you, they did all stay awake. At least if the next audience falls asleep it may not necessarily be my talk which is to blame!

Exercise

"If you're lacking a regular exercise routine in your life, dear Aquarius, today's a great day to turn that around." Russell Grant

I've just read this as the opener for my horoscope today. In fact I'm just back from cycling to (and from!) the leisure centre where I swam 40 lengths.

Looks like great minds think alike!

Had to jiggle around on the saddle a little .. definite bruising from my first little foray on the bike. I shall be investigating the 'lady saddles' later today!

Hell!

I absolutely refute the bad bits! But maybe they're right on the lustful bit. Thanks to GW where I found this quiz.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
LevelScore
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)Moderate
Level 2 (Lustful)High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)High
Level 7 (Violent)High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)Moderate

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test


Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Where now?

This lovely lady is called Grayson Perry . He is a Turner prizewinning artist. Sculpture is his main media but he also uses embroidery and photography to express himself .. and some ironwork. He has an exhibition at The Collection, in Lincoln, next February.
He was wearing a simply lovely dress with a beautiful white petticoat. It just coincidentally matched the MG, well, blended at the very least.
He was really cool. I asked if he was still a size 14 ... pushing it a bit but he is.
I was really nervous about this shoot.
The Usher Gallery in Lincoln ... now called The Collection, had organised the cars. The car owners had been told their cars were to feature on the front page of the magazine. Nobody actually mentioned why or who with. I gently explained there was more than just the cars ... that a Turner prize Winner was to be featured, too. And he would be wearing a dress and oh, by the way,he's here. cough.
Grayson's female, umm, ego? is Claire. She's very nice. I rather liked his response to what his wife thinks about his obsession (in a TV interview) .... "Obsession? Well, as far as it goes, it's better than football."
I was really bouyant having done this job today. I'd been nervous, did a little homework before I left, refreshing myself on Grayson, hoping to help him feel comfortable with me ... he's cool anyway, I needn't have worried .... then I got back to Louth to find this week's edition of the paper was totally shitty!
9 pictures of mine this week. That's no more than £76 for a week. OK, the commissioned other pix will be invoiced anyway but what a bummer it is to NOT see the work you've knocked yourself out to produce?
Good job I have the magazines, too and the occasional private job!
I may see fit to delete all this tomorrow when I'm not gurgling still with wine (girlfriend came around tonight) but at the moment I'm pretty pissed off and wondering whether I should do yet another change of career, or go back to the old one ..... nooooooooooooooooooo.

The charity calendar will be delivered on Friday and it's sorta odd that at this point when, if the media picks up on female photographer doing naked guy calendar, that I may just get some exposure (scuse me) that I'm thinking maybe I should go back to being a secretary when my heart and defective technical skills lie in taking pictures.
Oh piffle.
If you know anyone who wants 'a me' - do tell ... them or me! Ta.





Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Un - Thwarted

Yayyyyyyyyy, I've managed to get the saddle lower on Cecily.
I was going for a swim but I have a mail drop to do and am going to jump on my bike and deliver the mail on it. Oh drat ... I wonder if there's a route I can avoid coming back up this danged hill I live on??
Other good news, a potential trip back to Spain for a week. Yayyyyyyyyyy
Had a lovely email from Tora today: "Thanks for putting me on the planet, I like it very much." Well, it was one of those jobs, which once started you can't stop .... but I'm awfa glad I did [with a little help ;) ]
OK, just got the calendar press release to write then I'm done until this evening's fashion show for Childline at The Lawn, in Lincoln.
Hey, what a great day. Isn't is wonderful when you get things done?

BRILLIANT!

See, every day can be exciting.

I've just been invisible!

Yup. For some reason drivers don't see you when you're on a bicycle. There I was, coming down the hill at 40mph (oooohhhh, at the very least) and a big white van just pulled out a few feet in front of me to turn right. Then when other traffic had to stop I was overtaking and a car coming toward me, which had decided to wait, changed its mind and we dang near had a collision.

Do drivers realise that cyclists are not protected by 'tin' walls? That we are flesh (hey, I sound like a newly stopped smoker!!!), that when we get knocked off that it damn well hurts??

Despite the wonderfully windswept look my hair has assumed, I think a helmet might be a good idea.

I'm having to learn not to wobble when making hand signals. The handle bars don't seem as steady as the old 'tourer' bikes.

The cycle lane in the middle of town was full of parked cars and traffic overtaking doesn't seem to realised that a cyclist has to pull out or lose her front teeth. I've also discovered that the guys who mend the highway are not cyclists cos there's a million bumps in the road. Which ties in with the fact that my 'bits' have been numbed and I think I might look more seriously for the 'ladies' seat'.

It's also interesting looking for things to lock your bike to. I couldn't remember where the key was for my old lock so took the bike into the shop today to buy a new one.

Oh, and of course, the chain came off. ERK. Fortunately it chose to do this at Cordeaux School and as I bewailed my fate a nice lad and the school handyman came out to tip the bike up and put the chain back on for me. OK, I've seen how it's done now so I can do it myself next time - for I suppose there WILL be a next time. (mental note, put baby wipes in back pack).

The best bit was that coming up Church Street I didn't have to get off. Yes, yes, I very probably was in the lowest gear known to man and could have walked faster but I did stay on the bike!

Well, that was a fun/interesting hour. Y'know, I don't think I was actually pedaling that much. Once you pick up speed there's little effort involved and by the time I got going up the hill there was a downhill.

Oh, it rained and got awfully windy, too. Maybe I'll try something a little further afield next time, or cycle up to swimming.

Satisfied little smile.



When I lay me down to sleep

I do it here ... sleep, that is. Went to visit a friend who has a shop with linens and shades and curtains, etc a couple of days ago and while waiting I had a little mooch and was overcome with the urge to change the look of my bedroom a little. Previously the curtains were cream and the duvet sets in terracotta. I seem to have a thing about terracotta. Two years after decorating the bedroom I re-decorated the sitting room and didn't realise until it was finished that it was ... terracotta and cream. Well, I never did! I obviously like the earthy colours.
The window drape and cushions and duvet are in the new colours and make the room much brighter. Of course I won't desert my terracotta and on laundry days will ring the changes but tonight I shall be sleeping in 'Lenor'ed' fresh linen, all newly ironed, amidst downy pillows and duvet, like a likkle chick in a nest!
Awwwww.
This is the easiest way to show my daughter my pix since her hotmail isn't very happy about the size of files.
So, Tor, here it is!

Calendar Boys

Well, about time too! I tried for a whole hour, this afternoon to upload this picture, time and again and I've done nothing different! Hmph.
OK ... from left to right: Lee G, Nick, Dave, Jim and Lee W.
This is one of the pix which WON'T be in the calendar but it's due to come back from the printers in days and I've just to 'newspeak' the press release.
Yours truly was the photographer ... I usually pride myself on making people smile, though I suppose there is a crack of a grin here!
There are 12 photographs of the lads, each month having been sponsored by a local company and, for the most part, taken on company premises.
We decided to make the pictures amusing. Two of the companies actually provided them own members, I mean personnel, for the shot.
Nigel, the butcher, looks a bobby dazzler with his chopper held, quite menancing, I thought. A car going by, with a lady driver, almost crashed into the Kwiksave window as she saw Nige's bare bot peeking through his pinafore.
Y'know, there's perhaps something to be said for an all over tan when you see Jim's white derriere!
When I told the guys to run they seemed quite happy to do a 100yard dash ... it could have been something to do with the chill in the air.
As we were walking down to the beach, a couple, walking their dog were leaving. They bade us good evening, as we Brits do, but did look a little puzzled at 5 guys and a gal with a big bag going ON to the beach on a chilly evening at 7.30pm.
Lee G gushed: "It's not what it looks like!" And proceeded to tell them all ... almost his life history in his embarrassment, I think, except maybe when his first milk tooth fell out and how much the tooth fairy gave him.
Oh, the calendar is for charity .. the Louth Hospital CT Scanner Appeal. It's going to go on sale locally for a fiver.
I hope the media pick up on it .. maybe having a lady naturist photographer might help stir their prurient interest?
Well done guys!!!

Monday, September 26, 2005

Thwarted

Sigh ... so much for trying to be independent. I'm being thwarted. I've got two sets of bike spanners and simply don't have the physical strength to undo the bolts to lower the saddle on my bike.
Looks like I'll have to eat humble pie and take it to the bike shop. I'll promise the owner that if I decide to buy a new one I'll go to him.
I haven't quite made the bolts round but if I make any more attempts there's a strong possibility that I will.
Maybe a squirt of WD40 might help loosen things up.
I can't let it beat me of course. I've got through things far more important in life than letting a too high saddle on a blooming bike beat me!
Think I might look-see what last minute holidays are around.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Why?

When one is in a hurry, does the computer decide to take forever to boot up and then plays silly devil when trying to upload???? Lor, that's frustrating. OK.

The fruits of my labours - the tomatoes ripened and almost ripened and there are still green ones on the vine but since it's now got cold some of them are splitting so I've had to have a harvest.

I found a recipe for chutney which requires a variet of herbs, which I do have but it occurred to me that I have some mulled wine sachets and I think they very probably contain similar herbs and spices to those required in the recipe and using one of the sachets will save me having to cut up a handkerchief (brand new, I should add) to make a bag to hold the herbs. I still have to go buy the vinegar and Lord knows what I'm going to put the finished chutney in but no doubt I'll figure that out, too. Think I'll see if I can find a bike spanner today, I'm impatient to get on my bicycle and my neighbour has gone away for the weekend.

Mind you, it's raining today and I still don't want spray up my back! I decided to ring the changes in bed linen and bought a new duvet set, cushion covers and curtains so that's another jobette. I tend to think I can do everything instantly, which is a mistake since things always take longer than expected anyway and I have a job in 30 mins which no doubt I'll burn rubber to get to on time and come to a skidding halt, when I run in and arrive! It's in St James's Church so I'd better try to skid with dignity! Here we go ..... whoooooooooooooooshhhhhhhhhhh .............



Drat, I wish editing wouldn't create huge gaps ........ 4 hrs later, got to church on time, one of the Curates to the Team Parish was exhorting me to take the picture of the Rev with his photograph and I was trying to tell her it was upside down!
Nipped into Yorkshire trading and multipurpose bike spanner, lights and puncture kit to have a go at Cecily AND a mallet for the tent (still pristine in it's wrappers).
Also bought a £1.99 radio with earphones since I can't use my car one thanks to little tykes who stole the aerial making it a £200 jobbie to fix. I've been missing Radio 4 and managed to plug in on the way to Mablethorpe to catch the Archers. Haven't heard that for ages!

We've got one of the cast Members - Christine - living locally. She's a super patchworker, makes them by hand and sews while she's waiting her turn when broadcasting.

At Mablethorpe there was a cheque presentation to the RNLI and was waylaid by a couple, Pat and Frank Flint, who run an art group to do a little piece about an exhibition they personally and their art group are holding. I said I'd take a pic of one of Pat's paintings I have at hanging at home for an illustration.

Then Phil and Malk from The Dunes caught me as I was about to zoom off to say the Tennyson players have a show there this afternoon.

Promised I'd return but also had a call from Patrick one of my reporters to grab a piccie on my way through Alford of the Manor House, a sneak preview now the re-thatching has been completed.

Took the opportunity of a quick coffee with a friend to hear how his romance is going. It isn't.

Back for a 30 lap swim, put the washing out cos it's sunny now.Taken a piece of chicken out to defrost for dinner and now zooming off to at St Michael's - it's the church's patronal festival, then back to Mablethorpe.

Have to write a couple of pieces later, deal with the pix and have had a text asking if I'll be going over to the pub quiz tonight.

I'd like to but want to get the work out of the way for the subs for Monday and then there'll be some ironing.

Zoom zoom. Wonder if I can fit in a short ride later???

Drat, better see if I can get the remainder of the chutney ingredients.

Whooooooooooooooo sssssssssshhhhhhhhhh ............

Friday, September 23, 2005

Sometimes I'm a bit slow .....

Sometimes I'm a little bit slow ... I know that if you click on a photograph is opens in a separate browser, larger. Because I'm impatient I usually click 'back' fairly swiftly ... after all, I've seen the pix before.
However, I've just discovered that if you wait a little while, a box appears in the bottom right hand corner and you can enlarge the photograph!
Hmmm, I probably shouldn't have mentioned that for this particular photo, blush.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Lincolnshire Life Wedding Fair


To view all the photographs (low resolution and with watermarks) taken at the Lincolnshire Life Wedding Fair, click on the link.

It's pix of all the pretty frocks and some of the people who were buying at the Fair.


Hah! Experimenting again!


Click on Lincolnshire Life Wedding Album

My New Bike!

Yayyyy, I've got me a new bicycle!


I popped into the Post Office this morning and waiting in line read a few notices, thinking I might pick up a couple of jobs from upcoming events, when I spotted an ad for a 'Girls Mountain Bike'. At £30 this sounded like a snip so I rang immediately and the bike was still for sale. Only two minutes away, when I arrived the cycle had been trundled out for my inspection. The front tyre needed pumping and one side of the front brakes was sticking a bit, front tyre showing signs of wear and the odd spot of rust starting to show thro, not badly though. So I offered £25, figuring it'll need a little money spent on it.
I cycled around the square - bit wobbly cos the seat was a bit too high for my little leggies but it felt good! It's 18 gears, lord knows how many of those I'll use but I'm rearing to go!
I've asked a friend if he'll look at the brake and lower the seat. I don't have the tools to lower the seat, else I could at least do that bit! I did have a go at it with a spanner but it kept slipping and I figured I might damage the bolt and end up making it round instead of however many sides it has!
Oh, I did break something on it already -but have superglued it back on - the front reflector! We managed to get it in the back of my car but the reflector broke when I was dragging it back out again.
Watch this spot for cycling news!!!!

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Dumb dumb dumb dumb (hum along)

!
Awwww, nice frock! I want a wedding frock. I don't have to have the wedding, just the frock. I could flounce around cleaning the bathroom, putting out the washing. I could run up and down the street in it if I wanted.

I was taking piccies at a Wedding Fayre organised by Lincolnshire Life magazine today and the dresses were soooo pretty.

Also took some shots of people looking at the various stands, including one couple who'd organised their entire wedding in a week and they're getting married on October 29 ... Amazing that some people take years in the planning.

My word though it's expensive to get married. Mind you, it's even more expensive to get divorced!


Aw Shucks

A lady in her 70's, last night said to me: "Hello, Julie, how are you? You are looking well. You know, you get prettier and prettier each time I see you."

I figure her eyesight must be going!!!

I smell chocolate

And it's Cadbury's. I wonder where it's coming from??

Saturday, September 17, 2005

The Acme Band



A wonderful evening at Fotherby Church which featured The Acme Band playing Bluegrass and Gospel music. Their Acapella pieces (if that's what I mean) were hair raising.

I can't describe the band's sound half so well as the reviewers on their web site (click above to read 'em) but I believe that the the guys have played together only annually (and at this venue) but they are so cohesive after many years of playing together, one wouldn't realise that they don't practice together regularly

They're funny, too!
.
Left to right: Bob Armstrong, Ron Stevens, Bill Forster, John Allen and Brian Curtis.

Bob Armstrong sings and plays a squareneck resonator guitar, also known as a dobro or sometimes a Hawaiian guitar - which gives away the sound it can make - no hula skirts were in evidence though!

Bob's also an award winning professional artist who paints mostly landscapes. I'm amazed that local companies aren't snapping up his works for their boardroom walls. (I did once make that suggestion in an art review I wrote ... ) I've got a local landscape by Bob on MY wall. It's called Sea Buckthorn.
I had recently visited RIMAC a National Nature Reserve, part of the Lincolnshire, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes when I popped along to Fotherby's Art and Music Weekend at St Mary's Church and there displayed was Bob's painting, the exact view that had beguiled me in one of my 'at one with nature' moments (I do have'em occasionally).
Bob and his wife, Ann, also have a beautiful mature woodland garden which the public is able to visit (by appointment). Actually, I think the address contact for Bob on the Acme website needs updating and if anyone would like a copy of the Band's CD's they could just as well contact him through annbobarmstrong@tesco.net.
Ron Stevens plays mandolin, also vocals, Bill, as well as vocals plays a mean banjo and guitar,John Allen is on Double Bass & Vocals, and Brian plays guitar and vocals.

Read the review, a talented bunch of guys.



Only a rose

You Are a Rose

You are a total alpha female who tends to be a leader.
Your friends depend on you to hold things together and make decisions.
Men are drawn to your feminine powers and strength.
While you are the center of attention, you are secretly introverted and a bit shy.
See, I'm shy!!!

Dogs

I'm not a doggie person.

We had dogs at home, when I was little. OK, stop laughing. When I was young.

They were fine, but other people's dogs, hmmm.

My first doggy encounter (don't even crack a smile) was when I was four and a puppy chased me in the street, turning around to see if it had gone I ran into a lamp post and while swaying on the spot, seeing stars, the puppy peed up my leg.

When I was about 10, mum asked me to take her pools coupon around to Mrs Whoever and to use the back door. Which was through a gate into their back yard. So I went into the darkened yard and out of the blackness a German Shepherd flew at me and pinned me to a wall with its paws on my shoulder and its face in my face and I wasn't a happy bunny.

The following year my parents went to visit some friends who owned pub and next door a garage/sweetie shop, with their flat over the premises. They thought it would be a great idea to leave me with the dog to look after me while they went to the pub, saying I could have as many sweets from downstairs as I wanted.

So downstairs I trotted, when they'd been gone about 5 mins, in the darkness- I didn't put a light on just in case they came back and saw me and hadn't really meant it, -I helped myself to a goodie bag full of sweeties. However, when I attempted to open the door of the shop to go back upstairs the spotty dog, ahhh, Dalmatian, decided I was a prowler and growled and barked and left me quivering, snotty nosed, crying and imprisoned in that room for the next two hours.

Of course the bright sparks that had left me, had also expected me to let them in again. On their eventual return, finally understanding what had happened, they had to entice the dog to the door while someone hooked a finger under it's collar, through the letter box, so I could open the door.

Then, the first time my husband had to have a night away from home on business, which unnerved me, a friend loaned me her dog ... to keep me company. I sat there with the Westie beside me and every bloody little noise it heard it barked at. I petted it to keep it quiet and then when I stopped petting it it barked and growled at me! At 1am I was on friend's doorstep with dog and basket pleading with them to take it back.

Visiting the Oxford Naturist Club one day, which is in a wood, via a farmers field with a sign 'beware of dog', Hubby, driving, asked me to get out and open the gate to the field. As I stood waiting for him to drive through one of those big black dogs with pointy ears and tan bit on it (Dobermann), raced at me out of the blue, cannoning down on me. I did notice at the last minute that it was muzzled but that made the experience no less frightening. The farmer's wife was yelling something unintelligble at the dog (or me?) but since it was in Dutch, it transpired, I had no idea what she was saying. I turned away as the dog hit me and spun me around, scratching my thigh (through trousers!). She said I should have shouted at it. I don't speak Dutch though. I might have said Kill unwittingly!

Then (are you still awake .. Bill????) walking through a twitchell one day (a narrow passage), coming down some steps, toward me, was a man with a Great Dane running ahead of him. It ran toward me and the guy shouted at it "Kill, Kill" which was worrying, to say the least, then "Kiltie, come here."

Stupid bloody name for a dog.

I was telling this story to a couple who had a Great Dane (I thought it appropriate), which was a rescue dog, and in the room at the same. When I shouted KILL it jumped up and ran at me.

I've decided not to tell that story again when there are any dogs around.

At the home of one person I worked for, he had a bull dog and a westie and there was also a Rottweiler. I always steered clear of the bulldog anyway but going into the back yard one morning, carrying a bag, the rottweiler came bounding toward me and decided to be playful (apparently that's what it was) and gripped the bag I was carrying between it's teeth. Naturally, since it was my bag, I tugged back. Big mistake.

I didn't realise there are so many breeds of dog .. I've just been having a shuftie at this site, PetPlanet. It's very interesting.

Have you ever seen a Labradoodle???

Bicyle bicyle ... I like to ride my bicycle - fat bottomed girls they make the rocking world go round

Well, thank goodness for gals with a derriere! Is all I can say.

This mini petrol crises, that wasn't one, it did make me think (not for long, I've a short attention span as well as a low boredom threshold).

I could very probably get to local jobs on a bike. Mind you, if I wobble and fall off then that's one HECK of a lot of camera equipment that stands to be smashed and I'm not sure that my insurers want to hear from me again, any too soon. I could have a little basket on the front, well, it'd need to be a big one. But would carrying a stone (NB 14 lbs ) at the front, basket attached to the handle bars make the bike go wobbly and in the wrong direction??

Does anyone follow my thought processes??? Bill??? You still with me???

So, I DO have a little bike which I bought in Portugal and rode about 5 times. That was the flasher's fault. Remember him? I decided if I rode past quickly, it wouldn't be worth his while flashing at me, cos I'd be going too fast to see anything.

All that happened was that dogs chased me instead. Why don't dogs like bikes?? One dog even went for my car the other week. I just think he knew that I was in it

Now, shall I continue about bicycles or meander on to 'dogs that have attacked me'?

I've started, so I'll fnish.

This little bike, it's a kiddy one, of course, and it's only got 4 gears and the last time I rode it, it was blooming exhausting.

So I went into the bike shop today and had a look see at mountain bikes (well, we DO have the Wolds, but I wasn't thinking of biking in that direction). Of course they brought out a kiddy one. I said "Look, I'm a growed up! I want a growed up's bike!" So they brought out the smallest growed up bike they had in the shop to satisfy my ego. On tippy toes I could actually just reach the ground. (but in doing so it reminded me that I should look through the accessories and find a comfy 'lady seat')

However, I don't want mud and rain sprayed up my back so want a wimpy rear mudguard (not forgetting the basket on the front) which means that I have to go a frame down in size cos that attaches to the seat post, which will have to be raised.

End of story, that one's boring now. (I've got a brochure and going to ponder on alloy v. steel and front suspension thingies or not)

AND why have all the ladies bikes got purple or pink on them????? I want a nice one tone silver one! Spose I could spray paint it?

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Time for a picture



This was the job I was late for. What a cheeky lady, poking 'er tongue out at me! These two ladies, Mary, left, and Vera helped in the rescue of a couple of youngsters who drifted out to sea at Mablethorpe, recently.

Vera was a good sport sitting in the boat!

Tora and Danny received their anniversary pressie, a set of Morse videos. Since we used to live just outside Oxford I thought that the scenes in Morse might help any homesick pangs Tora might have (they live in Alaska), while providing entertainment for them both. Tora was pretty chuffed saying in her email that she was "irrationally excited about them" and an uncountable number of !!!!!!s ... wonder where she gets that from ???????

Slack-ish time at the moment.

I had a hair cut. I took a picture of people panic-buying petrol then nipped home and joined the end of the queue! The weekend will be busy and I decided I needed a full tank to make sure I'm mobile. No pictures = no money. Of course the panic's died down now .. but I still topped it up tonight!

Got a wedding fayre at the weekend. I do hope it's fine weather.

I made a suggestion that the magazine, Lincolnshire Life, aquire a sash for me to wear at evening functions (why stop at evening?) Though I do tell people which publication I'm taking pictures for, I thought it might encourage more people to buy the magazine in case they're pictured in it! I suggested black with, say, gold lettering (to go with my evening garb) and blow me down if they didn't think it was a good idea and they should be here in about 10 days time. They? I can pretend I'm (Miss) Ms World wearing it!!!

Chatting with a crime prevention volunteer at Alford Youth Advice Centre (multi-user provision), I showed him mine and he showed me his ... camera, whatever are you thinking of? ... and on his were ... a couple of pictures of me! I've asked him to email me one since it's not often I get caught by the lens! Well, he said it was me. I think it was someone with much larger thighs!

Ok, bed time! Night night.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Texting

I suddenly realised today that I had a job in 10 mins time, half an hour away and I was still in pj's so made a call to ask if the people involved could still be around in 40 mins time. However, having only managed to announce who I was (am) the line went dead. Since the call was to an RNLI guy I thought he might have been tossing .. on t'north sea and lost the signal, so I sent him a text instead.
"Will the ladies still be around for a picture in half an hour?"
Reply
"Wyers"
I wondered if he was telling me there was a problem with his line.
"I don't understand wyers, sorry. Shall I come over to take a picture?"
"Wyes"
Which isn't quite Wyers, is it?
In the end I just sent back "OK" having figured the guy was trying to say "Yes"
Have to remember that some people still use mobiles for telephoning and don't really do texting.
I've just opened my 02 bill. I think I should give up texting! I could have paid one third of a month's mortgage on the texts over and above 300 this month!
Maybe I should change providers and find one that gives me 500 texts free per month?
Ok, spam me, spam me, fight for my business!

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Willpower

Who breaks their Atkins diet before the second meal?

The trouble with visiting seaside towns is that you can smell the chips on the air! I only wanted a 'taste', they almost refused to sell me so few chips.
Why is it when I say I only want a half of their smallest portion yet will pay for the whole portion, they look at me strangely? Wouldn't you think they'd say, ahhh, go on, have it for 50p?
Just to be almost normal for once, wanting just a few chips, I asked for a chip butty without the butty, which is £1.20 rather than £1.50 for a portion of chips. I just assumed there would be fewer chips.
The young guy serving commented to his colleague, "Humph, they're all catching on to this, getting cheap chips cos they get as many on a butty as a small portion." So why don't they give fewer chips??
Then I was in a garden centre which had a pick and mix sweetie counter and they had some banana foamy things which I couldn't resist. I've eaten sufficient to make a class full of 4 yr olds super hyper - except they have a soporific effect on me.
Oh, I forgot about the Snicker bar - large one. I think that was my pudding after the chips.
Ok, maybe I'll start the diet tomorrow?

Happy Wedding Anniversary Tora and Danny

Victoria (my daughter) and Danny celebrate their second wedding anniversary tomorrow. They began their married life together in Alaska a year ago May and a couple of months back moved into their very own house in five acres, a beautiful wholly wood property which looks a little like a tall chapel with huge cathedral windows, on one wall and in the roof a 'look out' - the view from which is forest and snow-capped mountains.
Last night they had an anniversary dinner in Anchorage, then drove back the hour to their home in Palmer.
From Victoria: I was tired and went to bed - and opened my eyes and there were the Northern Lights! I called Danny and scrambled up into the lookout to see them and they surrounded us. Wonderful, a perfect occasion.
That sounds a bit special!!!! Who needs fireworks to celebrate when you have a natural phenomenum.

(These big spaces that appear in the posts - they really annoy me but I can't get rid of 'em! grrr)

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Spontaneity

I received, just a couple of days ago, the latest edition of BN, the UK naturist organisation's quarterly magazine. I thumbed through to look at naturist clubs closest to me.
The nearest club I had actually visited (in winter) a couple of years ago but thought I'd like to go a little further afield so I gave Yorkshire Sun Society a call.
A very pleasant club secretary said to just call when I wanted to visit and he'd be around to let me in.
I had suggested maybe next week (dependent upon weather) but I had a little think to myself. The sun was shining, it was 25 deg, I had one job to do and the rest of the day/evening free (glory be, what bloody change). So I grabbed a towel (essential equipment for naturists to park your botty on) and a book and off I drove into the wild blue yonder. Yayyyyyyyy
An hour and 10 mins later I rang the Club Sec and said "I'm 5 mins away, you gonna let me in??"
He was very nice and showed me around the club facilties - to such an extent that by the time we'd finished the sun had gone in!!!
However, he suggested that the Club visitors' caravan might be free - and it was. I had my swim bag in the car with shower stuff, someone found me clean bedding, another lady gave me a meal and I was provided with the makings for a cuppa. I drove the car up to the van and had to flash a bunny rabbit 5 times to make it shift! Installed in the van I made a cuppa and sat back reading my book. ahhhhhhhhh Later, members arrived for their weekend visit, the bar opened up and a complete strange among about 30+ people I was chatting with them like I'd known them since for ever. Naked people, half naked people, dressed people.
Now some would think this strange and yet it was entirely comfortable and so very friendly.
It was drizzly this morning so I put my likkle ankle wellie boots on and a short jacket (yep, that's all) and had a little walk around the site's 26 acres. Not all of them, mind.
I had a lovely visit.
Y'know, i think I might visit a few more clubs.
Maybe my visits could be the subject of a book ... the reception of single ladies visiting naturist clubs in the UK. Why stop there??? The worlds' my oyster!
I've been on the beach at Cap d'Agde, "Naked City" but not yet into the town. Maybe it deserves a visit?

Happens in 3's

In a 51 mile drive today I saw

1. a Reliant Robin that had just been set on fire (I presume) in full flame.
2. a two car accident which, had I been 5 mins earlier leaving .....
3. A car on its side in the ditch with Police car nearby, recently happened.

That's a lot of accidents for one person to see in one day, innit?

Some newsperson I am ... didn't take one picture.

Does glass superglue?

I don't remember plonking anything on my refrigertor bottom shelf with sufficient vigour to break it. But dang me, it's broke! (n) just one chunk out of it. I thought I'd buy a new piece of glass but it's occured to me that it may superglue?

What you think??

Friday, September 09, 2005

Bondage Bear

Just in case fellow blogger 'Newly Single' stops by (you can read his blog, it's listed over to the right) I suggested that my bear should meet his bear. I think they'd make a good bear pair.

Weird? Me?

You Are 60% Weird

You're so weird, you think you're *totally* normal. Right?
But you wig out even the biggest of circus freaks!
See, I always said I was normal!

Little Britain


How to Be a Lady Candace Simpson-Giles

Maybe this little gem would be useful for the 'lady'?? It was a recommended reading for me. I was puzzled for a moment or two as to why Amazon thought I needed this book - then I recalled buying a book on modern etiquette a couple of years ago.

Sniff, sniff, wipes nose on sleeve of cardi ... dunno why they fink I need the bleeding thing!

Angels

I was given some Angel cards by a friend, for my birthday. I've been talking with them occasionally and they sure do make for interesting conversations.

The accompanying booklets says the Angels can be playful. It's a deck of 44 cards and yesterday I was shuffling them and Daniel fell out of the pack, which amused me. I grinned at him and popped him back.

Reshuffled and once again Daniel jumped out of the pack. Even more amused I told him he was being cheeky and popped him back in again.

Reshuffled and Daniel once again fell out of the pack. I told him he certainly was playful today and once more, back he went.

Another shuffle and .... yes, I know this is repetitive .... Daniel once again literally fell out of the pack. This time I told him he really was taking the wee wee! But laughed like a drain, gave him a kiss, told him to behave and put him back.

One more time and this time it was Omega who fell on to my lap.

Of course, you don't know what those particular cards are, so you can't understand why I laughed so much. I'll let know if Daniel was right though! Naturally if a card comes out multiple times it is to be 'strongly heeded'

The previous day I had a chat and twice two cards came out, the same two.

I think someone's trying to tell me something!

I've bought a couple of packs of cards, from Amazon, as gifts for friends. I do hope they derive as much pleasure from them as I do occasionally.

Biter Bit


Oh, the biter was definitely bitten here! Bank Holiday weekend with the Morris Men (and women) I got caught, here, tootling on me whistle, by Anthea.

Since I'm sure I was well out of tune I resorted in the end to using the whistle to 'smack' the castanets together. Ack, there's more than one way of skinning a pussy cat, ya know!

Now don't I look cheerful? Goshk, I must have been having fun.

Looking at my biceps I now see why my MP exclaimed "Now look at the biceps on this girl." I made a muscle, so's he could see I can pack a punch!


Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Don't know how the hell to tag ....

But I understand I've been 'tagged' and I'm to copy this list of questions and give my replies and it was Bluefluff's fault!
Nothing erudite here!

1. Number of books I have owned
Lots and lots, shelves and boxes full of 'em. When we moved house in '87 most of the books stayed in their boxes. I learned to use the library instead. Was getting through about 10 books a week at one point and that would have been far too expensive a hobby. Mainly fiction 'rubbish' but I apparently needed them at the time to live my life vicariously through others.
Then I went and got my own life.
However, that life turned a bit shite for a while, which resulted in my not being able to read at all. For two years I had one book, A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George and I couldn't get beyond page 5.

2. Last book I bought:
I bought two, at the aiport on way to Spain, Michael Connelly - The Closers and Stephen Clarke - Merde actually.

3. Last book I completed:
Merde actually!
I've got one half-written - though looking through it, it needs re-writing so badly that I think I should just start again!

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:
Elizabeth George's Traitor to Memory I finally managed to read this all the way through after my hysterectomy to remove cancer. I was suppose to rest for three months and though I was climbing chairs on the 3rd week after the op, to take a photograph and set myself back two weeks, I eventually heeded the dr's advice and took to my bed occasionally. It didn't matter that I nodded off whilst reading the book and eventually I was able to read more and more until I finally finished it and even trotted off to buy another.

203 Ways to Drive a Man Wild in Bed This was a fun and interesting read and made me realise that there were only a few that I didn't know anyway ;) (ps, there were lots of repeats!)

Writers Handbook A couple of times I've looked in this book to send a photograph to a newspaper or magazine on spec and it's been accepted. Them as don't try, don't get!

To Mum - A gift book written by children for mothers everywhere, edited by Richard and Helen Exley for my birthday about 9 years ago, signed by my son, Charles "Thanks for everything over the past 18 years 9 months, all my love, chas x AND Great Thoughts on the Grand Game of Golf, from Victoria, with xx's. When I had to pack all my worldly goods into three suitcases, these were the first two items.

Yellowhead I've no idea who wrote the bok but I read it when I was about 9. I can't even remember what it was about, apart from a blondy curly haired little boy, but it made me cry.

I love travel books and dictionaries and maps (if they count).

5. Which five bloggers are you gonna tag?
I think this means who am I going to nominate to answer the questions above. Since I've no idea how to tag, I'll just say feel free to answer them, to anyone, in comments below!

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Pots of Plants



Just a little journey through time
Et Voila!

I think my plants are probably at the best they'll ever be at the moment. Some of the plants have started to 'go over' even so I reckoned this was about as good as they're going to get. Lots of cherry tomahtoes ;) at the moment. I'll have to get eating or sharing them, and the large ones are coming along nicely though may be destined for chutney or relish if I can pull my finger out.
I probably could have got the flowers to look bushier if I had stood taller but wanted to capture the tomatoes in the hanging which are, naturally, hanging!

Words

Following Wendy's query as to the definition of chit, I looked in the Merriam Webster online dictionary but it only had two results.

I searched further and used the Webster online Dictionary - I've always liked the Webster one, well, the book you can hold and flick through, and I came across www.starware.com.

This provides the facility to search for words on the toolbar, key in a word and get a definition without having to open another browser, since a box opens within the current browser.

You can even have it pronounced in an American accent, which may, I suppose, be pronounced differently in English!

Aha, let me try 'tomato'.

Chortle, sure enough ... a rather deep voiced guy just said, "to-may-to".

It gives a word history too. Apparently the tomato originally came from Central America and was imported to Spain. S'funny, I thought I read once that it came from the East? Hmmm, methinks it's back to the drawing board on that thought, Jules.

I think I'm going to enjoy this facility, I do so like words - even if I do get them wrong occasionally but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Friday, September 02, 2005

Trust me, I'm a lorry driver

Had a good start to the morning with an assignment (sounds good, huh?) to photograph the author and photographer Simon Marsden. His work in black and white specialises in the fantastic and supernatural. Hey, have a look see:
Simon Marsden

He's awfa tall and I forget to take my little aliminium ladder in - well, never thought he was going to be so big - but he had one and when I'd finished trying to demolish his house (swung around and my bag swiped the ladder and it went went crashing down) we found a piccie or two we both liked. The first one had a couple of small statues on a top shelf over his head which I thought looked a bit like devilish horns and given the subject matter of his work was quite interesting.

Almost like one of those pictures one should avoid taking, where people have plant pots growing out of the top of their heads. Finally settled on lighting a couple of candles, one statuette and some books on a shelf.

I'd been asked for nice but a bit spooky, so did my best. He's VERY good at posing. Great. Then went outside and tried to avoid wrecking his wife's garden. He's usually asked to go over to the close by church but I settled on the garden and a wall hung stone figurine in the background.

Only took 20mins and he said it was quite painless really.

I was on a dealine and Friday, being one of our market days, I expected to have to hunt around for a parking space but managed, pretty quickly, to find one I thought I could squeeze into. Reversing in I bumped the kerb a little too soon and was just about to pull out a little forward when an unshaven guy started hammering on my passenger window. He was shouting at me and gesticulating. OH OH, nutter!

"Go Back, Go Back." he shouted, windmilling his arms.

"Where to???" I yelled back. "I'm hitting the kerb." I missed out my ejaculation there, being unsuitable for those of a sensitive nature.

"Trust me, I'm a lorry driver," he said.

Well, I know my little car and I know it's none too keen on reversing (maybe it's cos my legs are short?) and it has a tendency to stall, especially when I'm trying to make it mount a kerb with one wheel. It stalled.

"You've stalled it!" The unshaven gnome said.

"I know I've (ejaculation) stalled it." I said under my breath but gave him a sweet Julie smile.

"Back, back, back!!!" he yelled at me.

Jeez, it has been such a pleasant morning.

Anyway we, me and my car, mounted the pavement, I pulled forward a little and the wheel bumped back down in the gutter and mission completed.

He now came around to the driver's side and I pondered on whether it was safe to open my door. Well, I couldn't take my pictures even with the telescopic lens so out I got.

"Look, you could park a bloody bus in there!" He yelled at me. I was beginnng to wish I could find a volume button on him.

Then he invaded my personal space sufficient that I could smell alcohol, jutted his chin out at me and said, "You take care."

Phewwwwwwwww.

I was on a deadline but managed to get a quick piccie in of a Seniors Forum, held at the library, attended by local MP, Sir Peter Tapsell.

Then I went shoppping, forgetting I was on deadline!

There's a sale on at Millets
This is my tent!! It's a bit bigger than it looks here! Gaily, who works over at the Newmarket a couple of nights a week, too, helped me pick it.I went scrambling inside to test it out and laid me down among the tents stored in there. Very nice, Gaily!

It's a two person tent so there should be plenty of room for me and my rubbish!

I did ponder on getting a sleeping bag too. The big ones seemed SO large. Well, I suppose if they're designed to accomodate a tall man (like Simon??) then it would be large for me! We found a kiddies mummy sleeping bag and kicking off my shoes I climbed inside, put the hood on my head and Gaily zipped me in and twizzled me around for the other sales staff to have a giggle.

Cor it was hot in there and I though there's a zip opening from the bottom, too, it was on the right hand (leg) side so there's no way I could have got my left leg out (for those of you who remember my sleeping habits) NOTE TO NEW READERS ... there was an earlier post about me needing to put my left leg out, that's ALL I mean :) )

I was on a roll by now so dashed about looking at this and this and this but managed to limit myself cos I've once owned TONS of camping equpiment (including 'mummy's portable toilet' cos I didn't like walking to the loos on the French campsite once someone had pointed out to me that there were snakes on the site!) and if you have to spend half a day packing the car for just one person then the fun starts to go out of it, yes?

I bought a kiddies camp chair - have you SEEN how tall I am?? The seat is about 9" off the ground, which is just the right height to sit and watch your little camp stove kettle (which I also bought) boiling or cooking your fry up. Then a torch which converts to a lamp. Neat! Probably only need to carry about 3 lbs of batteries!

Whoops, deadline!!! Whooosh. Good, no parking ticket and zoomed home to upload piccies.

Lovely sunny afternoon so decided to catch some rays while sorting chitties for account. There was a little breeze so I used the clothes pegs to keep the piles from flying away. I'm sure it would have been far less trouble doing the task indoors but topless chitty sorting is sorta different ;)


Thursday, September 01, 2005

More Bank Holiday Pix

HM Coastguard Mablethorpe ... Paul Newman lookalike, Dean.
Patsy the drag artist with friend.

"Den and Paul" cooking a fine breakfast!




John Lill, Lincolnshire Poacher.

Dawn with her handmade soap.











Phil Davies, Alvingham Watermill




The Storm

OK, nothing on the scale that’s hit the US but we’ve just had an almighty lightning storm. It went away and came back with a vengeance I was pulling wires out of the computer fast as my little fingers could go.
I heard voices outside and thought I’d be brave and have a look, though that maybe Anna was watching it but it was a teenager on her mobile looking bedraggled and asked if she could stand in the doorway until the storm had passed. Of course I brought her in, she was tearful, poor lass, frightened. I would have been, too. I said I’d drive her home. She rolled a ciggie to calm her nerves, and smoked it then I dropped her off home. She said I might find a big bunch of flowers on the doorstep tomorrow – I told her to save her money!
I’d told her, while she calmed about Tora’s exploits one day after a storm. She’d decided to do a cross country run and set out with a map. At some point though the way was blocked and she’d had to set off across fields. She’d got stuck in mud and her shoe came off so she ripped off her shirt sleeve and bound her foot. She got caught in brambles and had scratched arms and legs and finally came to a small village and tried to call home. Couldn’t get through … we didn’t realise it but the storm the previous night had hit our line and fizzled the ansaphone so no phone at all. We were wondering where she’d got to when a car pulled up outside. A very distressed-looking Tora (probably thought she’d be told off) and an even MORE distressed car driver, guy, got out. He explained he’d seen her running along the road looking somewhat dishevelled – and she looked ALL of that – and stopped to give her a lift.
Poor man probably thought we’d think he’d attacked her! She’d gone off without any money and just didn’t know what to do when she couldn’t get through to us so just set off running again. We’re probably talking at least a 10 mile run she’d gone on.
Told her in future if anything similar happened to call the police. I mean, aren’t they there to rescue us?All was well that ended well but I was never so grateful to that stranger.

Pool rage

I thought I’d take me off for some underwater thinking tonight. Haven’t been for a swim for a couple of months and decided I wanted, nay, needed the exercise. To begin with there were 4 people swimming up and down and I squeezed in trying not to disturb anyone’s line but I was jolly close to the pool edge and wary of kicking the wall. Then two people got out but the guy ploughing up and down his lane next to me just didn’t seem to want to budge over, when half the pool was empty! Then two more arrived filling the empty side and by then I’d swum 19 lanes and firmly established MY lane when another guy got in and squeezed into the very tiny gap between me and dick’ead and the rage began to build this guy just went for it and the wall and I became good acquaintances. The two recently arrived got out, they’d just been dipping but still matey was up close and personal in my space. I thought, having swum 19 lengths, I certainly wasn’t going to give way … nor was he … not my fault I was doing breaststroke and he got a kick and a scratch a couple of times. I was trying to make myself as small as possible but even my little leggies when extended full froggy fashion have to go SOMEWHERE! I finally gave up at 28 lengths, blood boiling and went into the steam room to cool down. In a manner of speaking!

Bank Holiday Weekend











As you can imagine this is one of the busiest weekends in the calendar, photographically speaking for the newspaper, with fetes and suchalike and from Friday to Sunday I was working flat out. I’d been invited to a party on Friday night and also to camp with the Morris Men at Alford where they were performing over the weekend, 5 sides and to camp with them at Well Cricket Club. Unfortunately I couldn’t take the weekend off with so much to do, so tried to (and did) fit it ALL in.
Friday wasn’t so bad, only 4 jobs in the afternoon but I left it to the last minute to pack my camping gear (a tent and lilo was provided for me – thanks Den x) but I went to the party to show my face and had to leave just as the food was appearing at 9, just grabbed a piece of tortilla before disappearing.
It was a fun night and rediscovered the joys of camping, LOVE sleeping in the fresh air. I had a big duvet to roll up in, plus a two sided blanked, fleece one side, furry the other, plus my brushed cotton pyjams and bedsocks. Snug as a bug in a rug, I was!


On Saturday I dashed off at 10 for the first job, then to a big fayre for a little chappy, Harvey Phillips, 10 months old who contracted meningitis in June and lost both legs, his right arm below the elbow and the fingers on his left hand. www.meningitis.org Almost £8,500 was raised at the fayre and I was fair pooped going around taking pix for two papers. Next on to the draw of a raffle for a Morris Minor (by the official Lincolnshire Poacher, John Lill) and that was in aid of the CT Scanner Appeal, then zoomed to the annual Fuchsia show and finally skittered back home and zombie-like got changed into ‘lady clothes’ to zoom over to Market Rasen for the Ladies Night. I had thought about putting on my pale blue cropped trousers …. SO glad I didn’t .. the dress rules as I entered stated ‘no cropped trousers’.
There were five races but I didn’t really get to see any, except the last couple of hundred yards of the last race, cos I was busy searching out nicely dressed ladies and trying to get pics to give the feel of the occasion.
One ‘lady’ was lucky to get into the Members Enclosure with it’s strict dress code .. she had a really short skirt and stocking tops showing! Fortuntely she was a he (Patsy) and raising money for the Scanner and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance!
Zipped back home, grabbed my computer, filled my coffee flask and dashed over to the cricket ground where I sat with computer on my lap until 11pm, working on pix of the day and of the Morris ‘men’ enjoying themselves from previous night and ran a slide show on the laptop for them.
Sunday took craft market pix of various stalls in the morning, including the dancing Morris. A lovely lady, Dawn Blakely gave me some of her handmade soap. It was really interesting talking to her about the process and the products she uses, all natural. I did write that up for a longer article, in fact.
Next on to Mablethorpe to get some ‘seaside’ pix … kids on donkeys and THEN there was a simulated rescue involving the Mablethorpe RNLI and Coastguard and the Humber Lifeboat.
Hundreds of people were up on the prom, watching from a distance. Up I trotted to one of ‘my boys’ … can I go down there??? Yes, mind out for the lifeboat when it’s launched though! So I trot off down to the beach and get pix of the guys coming down to the sea, then being launched and zooming out to the ship with the engine fire and then the Coastguards put the ‘victims’ on stretchers, one of whom they carried up the beach to safety - asking me to see if I could get a good shot or two. My pleasure! One of them, Dean, I love it when I see him. My leggies go to jelly – he’s the nearest thing I’ve seen to Paul Newman in real life!
Next, on to Alvingham Watermill which was opened for the weekend for charity for the Scanner again. The couple who run it, Phil and Ann, last year raised £500 for the Eating Disorders Association. An organisation dear to their heart since they lost their daughter last year to the illness. They are a lovely couple. Ann is such a kind and gentle lady. She remembered my name and made me feel so special and welcome. I’d seen her the previous week and she’d stopped to chat with me then, too. How come some people just have the knack of making one feel special?
I then went home to do 3 hrs work on the pix then suddenly realised I was going to be late for the massed evening dance which was to start at 8pm and drove like a person demented to get there only 10 mins late!
Back at the club, once again, computer on lap I sat in the corner, humming along til around 11 and produced another Slide show.
This one included some of the day’s dances, including Kelvin with his skirt flying up showing his knickers! You’ll recognise him in the picture. The side is called the Bunnies from Hell. Their motley outfits are vivid pink!
Around 2 some of us were sitting outside my tent with wine and coffee, and finally retiring my legs were sooooo cold I couldn’t sleep. 3 am went by, 3.30 and two trips to the portaloo, 4.30 and then I remembered my fleecy bottoms I’d put in the bag for such an emergency (I’m a bit slow in emergencies) and finally I drifted off warmed up around 5am for a 9am awakening!
On Monday there was some more dancing and a final ‘award ceremony’. Some Plaster of Paris bears had been painted by various of the Alford Morris and handed out for achievements such as the most pennies collected, youngest dancer, best family man, best caller (for evening dancing at the celdih (however it’s spelled) etc and your’s truly got one for being an embedded journalist. I trust that only meant cos I slept over! Got a nice pic of people laughing as I tucked my teddy between my legs so I had hands free to take a final piccie of them gathered.
I produced about two weeks worth of piccies in those 3 days and it was exhausting but I really enjoyed the Morris company.
Thanks you guys!

Bubble bath

Had to get up early on Thursday for pix for the GCSE results. Ran a bath and when I got in sorta wondered (had had a late night previously, working) why the water was already bubbly – then remembered I’d squirted Oxyjif (whatever) around the bath to clean it the night before and had forgotten (it wasn’t that mucky, ya see) that I’d decided to clean it I the morning. So I got an extra special cleansing THAT morning!