Archive for March, 2011
Flying, a kite
At risk of sounding like David Attenborough’s blog, I have to record my delight at seeing a red kite wheeling above Heathrow airport this evening. A red kite is a bird of prey, not on a string. This may be a natural visitor, there are many kites resident not far away down the motorway. But […]
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Sea view
It was a sunny morning. We went for a walk on a sandy Norfolk beach. It was not crowded. The sea lapped against the giant granite boulders of the offshore reefs. We saw one harbour porpoise, leaping out of the water as it chased shiny mackerel for lunch. We saw five seals in a lazy […]
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Common census
Friday was a beautiful spring day, like Thursday and Wednesday and preceding days. The sun shone, a light breeze blew, the birds sang, the bumblebees buzzed and the daffodils nodded affirmatively. I finished work early and decided that winter was over. I took the car to the garage to get the winter tyres swapped for […]
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Sax maniac
Some self-help gurus say that as you get older you should keep trying new things. They suggest that learning a new skill or stretching yourself to do something difficult can make you a better person. This may be nonsense. Last week I took my Grade 6 music exam on the tenor saxophone. I have not […]
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Flat pack to pack flat
I went to IKEA with my eldest and her friend. We had a simple aim: to furnish and equip an empty two bedroom flat. I expected this to be straightforward. My daughter and I had never been to IKEA before. Her friend gamely volunteered to be our guide, like Virgil leading Dante round the circles […]
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Still here
Sorry folks. I’m a bit busy this week with one thing and another. That is what happens when you have a portfolio career. After several weeks with not much meaningful employment I suddenly have 3 jobs at once for a short time. Normal service will be resumed soon.
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Brave faces
Like many other people I was grimly fascinated with the video footage of the unfolding disaster in Japan. The unreal scenes of the tsunami ploughing through houses, streets and factories were chilling. I noticed that most cars and vans seemed to float, but the boats didn’t. The most striking feature has been the calm dignity […]
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Insufficient gravity
Teenage Son was explaining to me the experiment he had done in his physics lesson. “So I measured my weight in Newtons…” “Hang on,” I interrupted. “Why don’t we always measure our weight in Newtons? Instead of Kilograms.” I like the sound of a Newton, a good traditional British measure, honouring our greatest physicist (so […]
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Carpe diem
Pancakes for tea. Very nice too. We used up all the eggs, milk and sugar before Lent. Apart from the eggs, milk and sugar for breakfast tomorrow. I’m not planning on giving up anything for Lent. Are you? This is a good time of year for taking on the challenge of self-denial. The weather is […]
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Out of character
Thanks for your help in choosing a character. In a burst of originality I decided to go as Harry Potter, with an old drumstick as a wand, my old school tie and my daughter’s crumpled gown from university. There were at least 7 other children dressed as Harry Potter, so I didn’t feel too obtrusive. […]
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Tea for two
I meant to share this with you a few weeks ago: the highlights of a Valentines Lovers Menu (sic), which I spotted pinned to the wall of the gent’s toilet in a pub in Lancaster… Upon Arrival: a glass of pink bubbly decorated with a Fresh Strawberry Starter Platter: Camembert wheel, served warm with blanched […]
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Character building
Today I’ve got loads to tell you about, but I haven’t got time because I need to ask you for help. I won’t be able to tell you that Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service is spending my taxes to rescue a deer. I won’t have time to reflect upon reading that a shop has been […]
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