Hi there again, Dearest Reader. Dramatic events which occurred shortly after my last Diary Blog was published are featured in my earlier update <Two Hospitals on a Day Off and a Stolen Car ?> 9 February - A "Non-Birthday" meal at my Mum's Feb hit the spot! Happy 86th to the Duchess on 12 February. This was rapidly followed on by a Sunday gathering to celebrate grandson Theo's first birthday on Monday 11 February. With St. Valentine’s Day falling on a “school night”, Jenny and I spent a quiet evening in. Remember, Good People that loving someone is every day, not just one random one. One gushing outpouring of sentiment over the Social Media on 14 February is nothing against showing love for someone each day. Schools locally broke up for half term on Friday 15 February. Jenny (who caters in a school) and Layla were obviously off, but I followed suite and took 3 days holiday during the week. We had a very enjoyable and busy time : <16 Feb - Bushy Park> <18 Feb - Petworth Park> <20 Feb - Scotney Castle and Hastings> <21 Feb - Whipsnade Zoo> Layla was at her Dad’s for the next weekend, but Jenny and I carried on : <23 Feb - Herne Bay and North Kent> <24 Feb - Great Lego Safari at Wisley> Click on any of the above links to see more details. "The Rattys Do The Great Lego Safari" A nice photo by Jenny As a side issue, on Friday 22 February, I managed to achieve validated membership at Costco on the basis of being a Banking Pensioner ! Not much to brag about, I know - but I have tried to get one of those cards for years ! This last month has been a little harder at work.
Not because of increased work loads, rather staff being out of position from necessity and staff sickness and holiday. This is being addressed, so should resolve soon. I can’t think of too much else, so for now that is about it until next time. Good luck, take care and... Pip, pip !!!
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This one will be a little word heavy and is just a pointer as to how even what should really be a quiet weekend went slightly wayward. Last Saturday (26 January) was billed as a nice respite from the weekly trawl up to London to do my filial duties, visiting my Mum and checking that things that should have been done were done. We had run on a skeleton staff on the Friday, so I was a wee bit tired, but a nice steady weekend would do wonders. Layla was with her Dad, so a few precious hours chilling-out with Jenny was on the cards and looked forward to --- Nice. Layla did have an eye check up at the East Surrey Hospital booked for Saturday morning, and Jenny and I went up to Worcester Park to collect her from her Dad, but we got to the Eye Clinic in the in ample time. The appointment went well and we headed back to drop Layla back to her Dad before returning to Reigate via the supermarket at Burgh Heath and some shopping in Redhill. When we got back to Jenny's we unpacked our purchases, did a few domestic chores and were beginning to formulate our dinner plans when my mobile phone rang at 17:12. It was a carer with my Mum, saying that she was worried about her as she was in bed and struggling with her breathing, and that the although the heating boiler was on the radiators were cold. This sounded alarm bells with me, so I told the carer to call 999 and let me know the outcome. I must have looked anxious as Jenny asked me if we were going up to London. After sorting out a rail station car park ticket via the phone app, we set off. I only had a fleece with me, but Jenny sensibly donned her waterproof jacket and headed for Redhill Station. A little excited that the Victoria train would be departing from Platform 0, I called the carer to tell them that we were on the way. The paramedic had arrived, she said and was taking care of Mum. A short while later, she called back and I spoke to the paramedic. Mum's lungs were clear, her Upper Respiratory Tract was very noisy and he was currently sorting out an in-situ ECG to check her heart rhythms. He hoped that Mum would be able to stay at home, but needed to discuss findings with an out of hours doctor. A while later he called back to tell me that the doctors wanted to err on the safe side, so an ambulance had been called, and my Mum would be taken to St Thomas's Hospital, on the Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament. We got to Victoria at about 6:30 from memory and headed to the Circle and District Underground Line and went the couple of stops to Westminster. When we got out of the tube station we saw that the heavens had opened. We would have been drowned if we had tried to walk across Westminster Bridge, and no taxis were evident so we jumped on a 211 bus to take us to the south side of the bridge. We crossed the road and finally made it to Accident & Emergency after a convoluted route through other hospital departments, via doorways which should have been open but were locked and several retraces of our steps. Very wet after the final dash outside the building, I asked where my Mum was to be told that no one of her name had been admitted yet, but we could wait somewhere else where the ambulances come in. After a few moments waiting I called the care people to confirm we were in the right hospital and before I had finished the call, Mum's bed appeared with the ambulance attendants. The 10 minute journey had taken over 50 minutes due to traffic and weather ! My Mum seemed in fairly good spirits even though her breathing was laboured, and she was eventually signed in and we settled into Cubical 14 at about 7:45pm. Doctors and nurses came and went, questions were asked of my Mum and me. A hastily purchased baguette was partially eaten when Mum was taken off for a chest x-ray. The same questions were asked of my Mum and me, and re-asked by some else, before someone else came asked them again. Nothing specific was found, but a nebuliser given to open Mum's airways. Consideration was given to a couple of dropped beats in her heart rhythm. We waited for the verdict, and eventually at about 00:30, we were told that Mum would ber in overnight "for observation". At about 01:45, Mum was wheeled to the next ward to rest. Jenny and I said our goodbyes and headed out of the hospital with more route confusion and picked up the Saturday 24 hour Northern Line tube from Waterloo to Leicester Square. A short cold and wet walk and we were in Mum's flat for the rest of the short night at about 02:30, after booking another ticket for Sunday parking at Redhill Station. An swift investigation of the heating boiler confirmed that it was not firing up to heat the radiators, but that hot water was fine. Jenny and I got to bed at about 03:00. It had been a very long day. I woke at about 7 a.m. - a Covent Garden flat has a cool address, but is noisy. I retried the heating and still got no joy, so I called the Council Emergency Number to tell them that the heating was out of action. The guy just told me that unless the tenant was there, it would not be classed as an emergency ! "Call when she gets back from the hospital, and we should get someone to look at the problem in 4 hours". So hard luck, she might get home but the flat will be cold !! While I was ordering breakfast at McDonalds (please don't judge) , I received a call from the hospital. It was good news, Mum would be home later that day. The same questions that had been asked last night were asked again so that she could progress via the "Frailty Unit" to the homeward transport waiting room. I called the heating people again, but this time the call was logged. Someone would be there in the next 4 hours. We did a few chores and waited at the flat, and about an hour later the boiler was fixed by by-passing a faulty clock mechanism and thermostat. The real fix would be on Monday or Tuesday. The confirmation was finally made that they would be arranging transport for my Mum's return - "which would probably take at least 90 minutes or 2 hours". Jenny and I went out locally to see what was going on but had to high-tail back to the flat after less than 30 minutes as Mum was on the way home. After my calming a "where is the lift to the floor" debacle - there is none - with the driver and his mate, Mum was back. She seemed okay, and had eaten a Roast Beef lunch at the hospital. When she had settled (by about 3 pm or so), Jenny and I left the flat for Victoria, and the trip back to Redhill. Tired but happy with the outcome, we had a steady trip to Redhill on a suprisingly full train.
We got out and followed a lot of people to the station exit at Redhill, and deduced that there were no trains from Redhill to Gatwick, so a Replacement Bus Service had been laid on to link the stations. I glanced up at the Car Park and saw probably 25 buses waiting in the car park to take passengers on their way. I thought that it might be an interesting navigation around the buses to the exit. We walked into the very busy car park to where the car had been left the previous evening, and found absolutely nothing ! The car had disappeared. I didn't really react as I was very tired with anything but surprise, but Jenny asked a hi-viz jacketed official about where the cars might be and he replied that because of the bus service any cars still in the park early this morning had been lifted and put into the rear station car park. Hoping that this was the case, we cut through the station and eventually found my VW Golf parked neatly about a third of the way up the parking area. I was relieved, but as the evening went on I was annoyed that no advice had been given before the car had been moved. I sent a pithy Tweet to Southern Rail, who to their credit have come back with an apology and offer of refunds to salve my emotional roller coaster. I guess that what we can take from this is the happy endings on all parts of this long tale. It was an eventful 24 hours. Hi there Dear Reader, First up, I hope that your holiday break for Christmas and the New Year was a brilliant one. Despite colds and coughs, ours was very enjoyable and it was hard to return to the normal working routine on January 2. More of which later. My last diary blog was on 30 November, so there is a little catching up to do, just what have we been up to ? For the first weekend in December, Jenny and I had a flying trip up to Staffordshire (as has become "tradition"). The trip north to Stoke was uneventful except for a wobble by my Sat Nav which took us off the M6 Toll Road and into Lichfield because of traffic delays and then took us straight back towards the motorway. Knowing a little of the folly of getting back onto the M6 Toll, I headed up the A51 and then the A34 towards Stoke. On Saturday, we popped to the family graves in Alton after a steady few hours at The Ranch store, a garden centre and huge B&M store in Stoke. Respects being paid and flowers laid, we were free to visit Trentham Gardens on Sunday before heading south to Reigate. Trentham is definitely on our warmer weather "to do" list, it is lovely. <more detail here> Which reminds me that the Elf On The Shelf was back from December 1 until Christmas Day. Elfie stashed himself unannounced into the car and found his way to Staffordshire with Jenny and I. He had a quiet break away from the trouble that he was encountering back at Reigate with the other 5 elves and a pixie at Jenny's. New Furniture at Ratters Towers. My big old leather three piece suite had become essentially too large for the living room - it was essentially fine for one man and a cat, but with Jenny and Layla staying at mine more often, space is of the essence. The suite was about 20 years old and owed me nothing, but there was a lot of use left in it, so I was a little sad that it could not be passed on to charity or easily sold because of a lack of Fire Resistant labelling. The council took it away for £43. A replacement corner unit was sourced and came from the eternal sale at DFS. It arrived at about 5:15 p.m. on Friday 15 December, and it is very comfortable and handled 7 people on Christmas Day. We "just" need to streamline the storage units and clear my years of accumulated "stuff" and we will be set ! Immediately after the delivery guys drove up the road, we headed south to Bognor. The weather was to be frank awful, but it didn't mar our enjoying the stay at Butlins for the Christmas Weekend. < more here > 21 December was my last day at work for 2018 and coincided with our first trip to Wisley to see their Christmas Glow. It was lovely as always. Jenny and I visited again on 31 December. < more here > Christmas was spent in Merstham at Ratters Towers. Although cold-ridden, on Christmas Eve we went up to the Bloomsbury Theatre to see the stage version of David Walliams book "Awful Aunty". James and Tara were away in Las Vegas for the festivities, and we decided to street clear of Chris, Charlotte and their family because of our colds, but Christmas Day was spent in Merstham with Jenny's family (mother, sister and partner, niece for lunch). We were spoiled with presents and stuffed with a slightly amended Christmas Lunch (no starter or fish starters, straight Brussels Sprouts rather than Brussels Tops due to individual taste), and it all left us a little sleepy. A lovely time. On Boxing Day, 26 December we went to Redhill to take in the pantomime Snow White at the Harlequin Theatre. Ex-MP Ann Widdicombe was the Wicked Queen and was surprising good in a very enjoyable show. On a bright-ish 28 December, we pottered west to Newlands Corner. I haven't been for a good 20 years. It was very chilly, but we did like what we saw and earmarked it for warm weather investigation. <more here> Jenny and I popped to the Dorking Halls to sample the long awaited Mary Poppins sequel, Mary Poppins Returns. Enjoyed it very much - very reminiscent to the original from 1964. Personally I felt the songs we not as strong or immediately appealing, but I genuinely thought it was a very enjoyable movie. Cough and Cold Report Christmas was looking in doubt as Layla and Jenny were both down with what seemed like a very flu-like nasty in the week and weekend before Christmas. I had been suffering and having to work through a bad cold since a couple of weeks before the holiday. Perseverance and bloody mindedness got us all through the main part of the Christmas celebrations. Jenny and Layla's symptoms faded, but my cough lingered until December 31 when I was finally able to think that it was passing. The sickness on the lead up and over Christmas meant that we didn't see any of the Ratcliffe Clan, but we will remedy that in the New Year. A couple of odd things have come my way this past month. Upcoming in 2019...
Lego at Wisley (late January / February) Jenny's 30th (August) Disneyland Paris (August) Butlins (October) ... and those are just the things I know about and can now !! That must be enough for this helping. Be careful out there, my friends. Adieu... until next time. Pip pip!! So Dear Reader, Here we are again with what will very possibly be my last diary blog of 2018 - December is already shaping up as busy but I promise that any shenanigans will be included in the January extravaganza. Once again, I have been writing this throughout the month, so I will apologise up- front for any tenses which go astray. With colds but an unhappy memory, we were able to do a few things. After a normal Saturday visit for mother care, Jenny and I popped down to a very cold Brighton for the evening of 17 November <more here>. For my birthday in April, the boys and their other halves gave me a Lego London Bus which has been slowly taking shape during the past few weeks. It is a big kit of 1600+ pieces , but I do love a bit of Lego. <More here> Jenny and I will be having a lightning trip to Staffordshire on November 30 - it is a while since I visited the family grave. We'll probably do some oddments of Christmas shopping while we are up there. Winter seems to have landed with a very sudden bump. We have gone from warm, balmy sunny weather to cold, wet and to be frank, a little nasty in just over a week. With no seasonal slow shift, the change has hit me hard. Until next time.
Adieu... Pip pip !!! and let's be careful out there Hello Dear Reader, I realised during an evening-time chat the other day with Jenny that we haven’t done much by our usual standards during September. We haven’t been idle, anti-social or boring, but there are reasons... The school summer break is now over and done, so it is back to order on that. Jenny has changed jobs and now works as a Cook/Manager in a Primary School in Esher. Her old job had become a little too familiar and with personnel changes more intense, so after some soul searching she took the step to pastures new. Her new role also has the serious bonus of being school term working only, so she will enjoy all school holidays and will be able to spend more time with daughter, Layla. Very steep learning curves, but I see a good fit for her. First Layla, then Jenny and then I have succumbed to an increasing intensity cold. Layla and Jenny are all but over theirs, but as always seems to happen these days, mine is lingering and has given me an incessant cough. This keeps the me and the whole world awake and leaves me drained and with headaches. I am about three weeks in, and finally < Touch Wood > it seems to be easing, although it does come back at least once a day to remind me what sort of evil bacterial warfare is going on. ‘Temporary’ (hopefully) staffing changes within the two Postrooms supported by my firm have meant that my supervisor has been side-swiped to the Canon Europe office for at least a six week stint. This brings it’s own pressures at the Woodhatch office as obviously his day-to-day workload needs taking up which keeps me pretty busy from 07:00 to 16:30. The office dynamic changes drastically as Allan does a lot of tasks free form and I feel that I am having to juggle many balls and keep them in the air to keep up to date. My downtime when I normally write this blog up has all but disappeared, but blog and website maintenance is not what I am paid to do. So really we have just been taking a slight breather and necessary step back while things get back to normality (whatever that means). However... I bit the bullet and the crumbling front wall has been removed and a replacement fence erected in it’s place. Christmas shopping has started... Layla has stayed in her newly decorated room at mine for a couple of weekends and loves it... (Phew 😊) Yesterday (30 September) we had a trip to Virginia Water and enjoyed a breakfast roll, a couple of lattes and a very enjoyable scoot around most of the lake. <more here> All of which brings you pretty much up to date with goings-on around Planet Ratters.
Pip pip... Let’s be careful out there. Until next time ... A Very Warm Welcome Dear Reader. August has shaped up as being busy. I am once again writing this as the month progresses, so need to apologise in advance for my possible tense inconsistencies. Life in Planet Blog is not so easy ... Starting at the beginning, on Saturday 4 August, we (that is Jenny, Layla and myself) ventured to London to visit the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace which are open to the public for the summer. The rooms were beautiful and a great time was had by us all on a very warm day. Photo opportunities were limited, but we later ventured to Green Park for a picnic and on to M&M World. <more here> Sunday 5 August, and off to Wisley. Very warm and sunny again. This time for some Birds and Dinosaurs. We had a bit of a picnic in the shade with Sarah, Matt and Molly. < more here > 11 August means "Happy Birthday Jenny". A birthday picnic at the same spot as the previous week at Wisley, same people plus Wendy, Hayley and Scarlett. Not so warm, but another lovely day. < more here > More birthday shenanigans the following weekend, this time to celebrate Layla's 9th. Another picnic on Saturday 18 August, this time at Bushy Park. <More here> On Sunday 19 August, we headed to Legoland near Windsor for two days at the park and a surprise stopover at the resort hotel. Layla's birthday included cake, rides, Lego models and bricks. <More here> After Layla's birthday, I was on leave trying to decorate a bedroom at mine for Layla to stay more easily at weekends. I had cleared it a short while ago, so it should have been an easy patch, paint and paper. I don't think that it turned out too badly ! We had a busy Bank Holiday weekend in Somerset, staying near Weston-Super-Mare. The weather mix was dry/warm, then very wet alternating. Saturday was warm and dry. On the way back, we went to the Safari Park ant Longleat. <More here> All of which brings us up to date.
Take care, Good People. Pip pip !! Another eventful month almost done. I am having a few days holiday away from the office so this diary update is a little early. Pull up a cuppa, get comfy and I can tell you what has gone on... It turns out that all of my old school pals class at Westminster City School are turning 60 this year. We are very lazy and see each other infrequently, but Nick's 60th Birthday Bash in Brighton on 3 March gave us an excuse to get into the same room once more. Jenny and I took the opportunity to stay overnight in Brighton with her daughter, Layla. I ventured out to the Merkaba club / bar at the allotted time and tried to chat with three old friends while music blared out. Enough said that we all struggled to make ourselves heard over the not so mellow mixes being played. It is always good to catch up with the boys of WCS, although in truth I think that when we were there, we never thought we would still be around at 60 years old, let alone still meeting occasionally ! Perhaps wisely, I have seen no photographic evidence of the evening (!), but here are some photos of our <the Sunday morning stroll>. As Mothering Day falls on a Sunday and train travel is broadly rubbish on that day, on 10 March I gave my Mum a "Mothering Saturday" at her flat. We had a nice, enjoyable, easy day with a few presents and a Home Cooked Meal rather than her normal Meals on Wheels fayre. <more photos here> Unrelated I am sure, but later at about nine thirty that evening, I was laying on the bed watching TV when my nose started bleeding gently. *** Warning *** What follows may be a bit too graphic for some While I pinched the soft part of my nose, I realised that no blood was coming down my nose, and that the blood was actually going down my throat. This seemed strange as I have never in my lifetime of nosebleeds encountered it before. We decided that a call to the National Health Service Non-Urgent Helpline was in order. After hanging on for what seemed like an hour (actually about 15 minutes), Jenny spoke to them and then passed the phone to me as the bleed was stopping. As I was speaking to them, it suddenly started again with some vengeance, so they told me to go straight to A&E. After changing into outdoor clothes, things were looking bad - after I pinched my nose for a while, I thought my eyes were watering, so asked if I could have my glasses. When she got downstairs to me, Jenny calmly told me that she would put my glasses in her bag and we would get to the hospital as quickly as possible as "you are bleeding from your eye". It turned out that my sinus cavities were full of blood and the easiest exit route for the fluid was through the gland in the corner of my eye. Long story short, after being at A&E for 3 and a half hours, of pinching, damming and ice packs, my bleed "self-extinguished", so I was free to go at about 02:00. I was only released on the understanding that I make an appointment to see my GP regarding my Blood Pressure which was very high at 172/105 when I left. Needless to say, I am monitoring my BP at home and with my GP. Daily checks at home have shown between 135/85 and 158/107. At the doctor's surgery it rose to 195/117 so I deduce that I suffer a bit from "White Coat Syndrome". I went to have blood work, pressure taken and also an ECG on 21 March, and I will be going to review the results next week on 29 March. I should thank Jenny for all her help during this trauma. There have been no reoccurance of the bleeds, but my pressure is still a bit high. On Mothering Sunday, 11 March we went for a stroll at Bushy Park which was looking lovely. <more here> The following Sunday 18 March, snow had fallen so we tried a breakfast in Weybridge and a stroll around the old favourite Wisley Gardens. It was stunning. <more here> Earlier in the month, snow fell in Redhill and Reigate. Before the office was cleared, I took a walk around the office grounds and snapped a few photos. <more here> We received a small package for someone at work. Could the sender have used more stamps ? So that is about it for this month.
I have a few days R&R from now until after Easter, then a 4 day week before having a week long break with Jenny and Layla in the Isle of Wight. Watch this space, and "Let's Be Careful Out There" Pip pip !! 29/11/2017 0 Comments Whizz bang !!! There goes November
Wow !!!
It's the end of November already and there is so much to do before Christmas - but that is another story which will no doubt be told in a future blog. As is the way, the last month has flown by. Highlights include fireworks, seaside and cities.
On 5th November, with a slight wanderlust tugging at me, my friend and I had a leisurely lunch while visiting Wisley Gardens. For the record very good (if pricey) Roast Chicken and accompanying vegetables and a piece of cake.
Later in the day, we moved up towards Weybridge to call at Jenny's sister and family and then we all strolled down to Cleves School for their annual firework display. It was very, very spectacular and hopefully a good fundraiser for them. At £10 a head, it seemed excellent value. <photos and more here>. I wrote a little about the background behind the 5th November tradition of celebrating Guy Fawkes failed terrorist act in a blog a couple years ago - if you are interested, follow this link: <Remember Remember the Fifth of November - Gunpowder Treason and Plot>
A week later, a cold but dry weather forecast meant an ideal opportunity to go to the coast with Jenny and her daughter.
We chose Hastings this time and after taking the funicular railway pottered around the cliff top and played Crazy Golf on the front. Drinking Chocolate was most welcome. Another very enjoyable day in the lovely company of my two favourite friends. <photos and more here>
After some leave to do a few odd jobs at home and close to home, on Saturday 18th November, we braved "updated" rail services and went up to London to do some shopping - both Jenny and I are busy at work and weekends away between now and Christmas, so the available "windows" were closing.
After a McDonald's Sausage Muffin Breakfast and Toffee Latte, we went around the West End and pottered about in Holborn, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly and Oxford Street. The decorations around Covent Garden are beautiful and also special mention should be made of the Burlington Arcade. <photos and more here>. Upcoming, we are away this coming weekend The following one we are staying at Butlins in Bognor for a long Christmas-themed weekend with Layla, Jenny's daughter. Then comes the main event and New Year.
For the first time in what seems an age, I have covered a few times at the Canon Europe office at Stockley Park, near Heathrow. I just hate the commute - it is a fairly consistent 50-55 minutes getting there (arrive by 07:00), but the return trip (leaving at 16:00) is very unpredictable and can range from 1 hour up to 3 hours or longer on a very bad day !
How is it going ? Well, my Christmas Card writing is behind schedule, but my present buying is pretty much done. My Christmas Cake was baked a couple of Sundays ago.
I have been breakfasting at my desk for a while now. While I enjoy the healthy Porridge and Fruit option, it is lucky for my waistline that the "7 items for £2" option only crops up on Fridays.
I am spoilt for choice, but I know which I secretly prefer !!
On which bombshell, it is time for me to let you get back to your labours. Until next time - pip pip!! Let's be careful out there.
Hi there Pop Pickers...
For once, here is a timely diary update for your consideration as Autumn is definitely taking hold.
In the South East of England, we seem to have gone from a strangely warm start of the month to very autumnal feeling at the end of October.
I have taken a few days leave, and done a few things.
On 9 October, I ventured to Painshill with my best friend and her sister. It gave me the opportunity to give my recently fixed Canon Powershot SX60HS a workout.
A nice day with good company in nice surroundings - <more photos here>.
The following day, we went to Hampton Court to see Henry VIII's old place. The history is very interesting, and again the camera was given a workout. <more here>
Over the next few days, we made a birthday cake and then I spent a couple of days cutting my grass and visiting my Mum. During the following week, day turned to night as the remnants of Storm Brian moved across Surrey. At about 15:15, the sky turned a little yellow, but by 15:30 it was dusk like and the Sun and sky turned an incredible red, before the sun seemed to go out as it was obscured by thick cloud.
The Met Office declared that sand and dust from the Sahara and smoke from fires in Iberia were the cause.
Either way, it seemed a bit spooky and as Eclipse-like as I have ever witnessed.
I have had a couple of problems with my mid-2002 VW Golf recently.
First, I had a screw work it's deflating magic in one of my rear tyres, but couldn't get the wheel off at the roadside. A friend with more relevant came out and gave it a kick and off she popped. Thanks, Trevor. Next, during the Wisley trip mentioned earlier, I noticed that the steering was intermittently skippy, light and drifting. I took the car to the mechanic and he looked, dismantled and found nothing of importance out of place, so put the bits back together. Oddly, the drive was fine after that. I took his advice and had the tracking checked out, and it was out of alignment - after adjustment, the car seems fine.
Odd things that have caught my eye are that Battersea Power Station is almost back to it's former glory with four restored chimneys.
Other oddments are the brilliant "Cars 3" inspired cake made for my pal's neice's 4th birthday - Happy 4th Birthday, Molly.
And finally in this department, the fake owl which has been placed as a pigeon deterrent at the office. I am not as convinced about this as I might be, because there are owls in the trees in the grounds at the office so I would have thought that the pigeons would have been deterred already. We shall see.
But absolutely finally, here is a dump from Facebook of an incident which happened to me the other day - a first for me. You can tell who your friends are ...
And on that bombshell, I wish you good day.
Take care folks... let's be careful out there. 4/10/2017 0 Comments Better dig out my jacket...
I can't believe that another month has flown by.
Autumn has kicked in and nights are darker and colder. Something my Dad used to say comes to mind the "Autumn tints are lovely". Here comes the catchup...
On 9 September, my best friend and I ventured to somewhere we had never been before. Painshill Park is to my mind, really beautiful.
In the mid 1700s, Charles Hamilton developed and landscaped the site after being inspired by a Grand Tour. I marvel that none of it's splendour was there before his intervention. I think it is a special place - <more about our Painshill visit here>
On Sunday 10 September, we popped up to Wisley Gardens for a couple of hours to take in the Flower Show.
<more about Wisley Flower Show here>
The following weekend we went up to Wisley again, and had a nice few hours <more details here>
A week later, we went back to Painshill again, and walked the historic circuit, but weirdly I forgot to pick up my camera, so the memories were not recorded.
Talking of cameras, my trusty Canon Powershot SX60HS had a short adventure and had a bit of a service this last couple of weeks.
A couple of months ago, after the "Scorched Earth" Glastonbury Festival and the very warm weekend in the Isle of Wight, I felt a knocking as the zoom lens extended or retracted. I asked people "in the know" but the prognosis was not good. At some point the dirt or muck in the lens would stop it working, so it would need replacing as it is a sealed unit. Any how, long story short I sent the camera to the Canon Service Centre and it has just come back and seems absolutely fine once more.
The window in my driver's door stopped working when we visited Painshill for the last time, so I had to try and weatherproof it before the glass people came to replace the glass. They came and told me that the glass was intact but the winding mechanism had broken, so the car would need a trip to the garage.
That was finally sorted out yesterday but not before I had realised just what that single piece of door glass does - without it, the car was very noisy and drafty, and the noise whenever I shut the car door when the temporary cover was in place was plain annoying.
As I said earlier, Autumn is definitely kicking in, and I took a few photos around the Canon office grounds.
Lastly, my beloved Arsenal have started their visits to Middle Earth in the Europa League. I have a loathing of this bloated competition, but the squad players are doing a fair job thus far.
Their form is the Premier League has improved and they are currently in 5th place, but are two wins behind the leaders.
Congratulations to Arsene Wenger who has now won against 45 different teams in the Premier League - a record for a manager in the top-flight.
Enough for now... until next time
Let's be careful out there. Pip, pip! |
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