Well at least you didn’t have to do it all.
Here I gardened this morning and then just back from a walk with Mrs AFB.
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Here I gardened this morning and then just back from a walk with Mrs AFB.
Headed into the city, where a number of errands awaited me:
The library: Books (that I had requested) had arrived while I was away, and I had asked them to extend the period of time for me to collect them. Actually, I had to request this twice, but was able to show up - in person - today.
The lights for the over-head fan extractor had decided to commit suicide shortly before my departure abroad; replacements have been bought.
Earlier today, I had phoned the French bakery (they didn't answer their phone, presumably, they were busy).
Okay, I called in to them during the afternoon, - not surprisingly, their produce was sold out - and placed an order for Saturday - which I paid for - and, to my surprise, one of the staff offered me the bread that she had put aside for herself, and insisted that I take it. Bliss.
I bought oranges - loads of oranges - from a stall that (to my surprise) was open in the market. And also devoured some freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice (pineapple, orange, apple, cucumber, mint, the gods know what else, but it was delicious).
The cheesemonger: Some cheeses were bought.
And, I ran into an old academic friend while paying a visit to an atm; subsequently, we met for a few (most agreeable) glasses of wine.
The library: Books (that I had requested) had arrived while I was away, and I had asked them to extend the period of time for me to collect them. Actually, I had to request this twice, but was able to show up - in person - today.
The lights for the over-head fan extractor had decided to commit suicide shortly before my departure abroad; replacements have been bought.
Earlier today, I had phoned the French bakery (they didn't answer their phone, presumably, they were busy).
Okay, I called in to them during the afternoon, - not surprisingly, their produce was sold out - and placed an order for Saturday - which I paid for - and, to my surprise, one of the staff offered me the bread that she had put aside for herself, and insisted that I take it. Bliss.
I bought oranges - loads of oranges - from a stall that (to my surprise) was open in the market. And also devoured some freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice (pineapple, orange, apple, cucumber, mint, the gods know what else, but it was delicious).
The cheesemonger: Some cheeses were bought.
And, I ran into an old academic friend while paying a visit to an atm; subsequently, we met for a few (most agreeable) glasses of wine.
When I was a kid, I used to devour all those stories of the pioneers of aviation, - and, awed, amazed, stupefied with curiosity - used to wonder about the worlds they saw and explored.
More recently - and yes, I love to travel - I still retain that awe, and retain that wonder when I travel.
Anyway, I am that person who (always) sets my onflight TV screen to "my flight" (who cares about movies when there are the wonders of the world to explore and marvel at?) while simultaneously gazing - silent and rapt - out of the oval window of the plane to confirm that what the TV screen shows is in accordance with what is unfolding before my bespectacled eyes.
Awesome.
Who knew that what you can see from such a height is so similar to what the atlas you pored over as a kid and as a student (well, the atlas that I pored over, and still pore over) depicted?
I remember - vividly - my mother drawing me close and patiently - and, with obvious fascination and interest - for (I now know) she shared my love of travellers' tales, travel, history, culture, exploration and discovery - showing me a map of Europe when I was around five or six years old. I was entranced.
She was seated comfortably in an armchair, and I, unusually, was standing pressed beside that armchair, close to the armrest - where the atlas rested - unable to pull away, because what was unfolding was of such absorbing and compelling interest to me.
There was Italy - the strange shape of that boot - this was pointed out, then, there was the peculiar name of 'Hungary' - "no", explained my mother, smothering the laughter in her voice, "it is not "hungry", and she proceeded to guide me around that coloured page awakening an absorbed and enduring fascination with maps, travel, history that remains yet with me, decades later.
It is a privilege and an extraordinary pleasure to be allowed to see - and wonder at - such marvels in your life; at least, I think so.
More recently - and yes, I love to travel - I still retain that awe, and retain that wonder when I travel.
Anyway, I am that person who (always) sets my onflight TV screen to "my flight" (who cares about movies when there are the wonders of the world to explore and marvel at?) while simultaneously gazing - silent and rapt - out of the oval window of the plane to confirm that what the TV screen shows is in accordance with what is unfolding before my bespectacled eyes.
Awesome.
Who knew that what you can see from such a height is so similar to what the atlas you pored over as a kid and as a student (well, the atlas that I pored over, and still pore over) depicted?
I remember - vividly - my mother drawing me close and patiently - and, with obvious fascination and interest - for (I now know) she shared my love of travellers' tales, travel, history, culture, exploration and discovery - showing me a map of Europe when I was around five or six years old. I was entranced.
She was seated comfortably in an armchair, and I, unusually, was standing pressed beside that armchair, close to the armrest - where the atlas rested - unable to pull away, because what was unfolding was of such absorbing and compelling interest to me.
There was Italy - the strange shape of that boot - this was pointed out, then, there was the peculiar name of 'Hungary' - "no", explained my mother, smothering the laughter in her voice, "it is not "hungry", and she proceeded to guide me around that coloured page awakening an absorbed and enduring fascination with maps, travel, history that remains yet with me, decades later.
It is a privilege and an extraordinary pleasure to be allowed to see - and wonder at - such marvels in your life; at least, I think so.
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My first memory of a flight was on a Catalina (ex-WWII, bought and re-purposed by Qantas) from Buin (southern tip of Bougainville) to Rabaul (northern end of New Britain). As the plane taxied(is that the right word for a take off from water?) the bow wave rose up and covered the window.
The forward gun turret was removed and the space modified for mooring (and if there was no buoy as in the picture, it also held an anchor).
The navigator/radio operator worked in the pillar attaching the wings to the fuselage. He pulled himself up into the space, and sat there with his legs dangling down into the cabin.
AirCon was basic. If it got too hot in the cabin, one, or both, of the bubbles at the back was opened to let in some fresh air (something you can only do if the cruising speed was 80 knots).
I think there is a place for the Commonwealth, as it is now mainly a trading organisation.
The Games? not so sure. The fact that only one state put their hand up last time around probably speaks to its relevance.
The Monarchy? I am a descendant of Irish slaves, sent across the other side of the world, to be used in colonising a country. You can guess my opinion on that.
Wow.
Remember those extraordinarily evocative ads featuring bronzed but lantern jawed individuals attired in pressed white shirts and fetching epaulettes about to leap into turboprop planes in rubicond rust-red and arid settings set against a pellucid cerulean sky?
In recent years, on a number of occasions, I have flown in such things: In central Asia, in eastern Africa - and I remain gobsmacked, awed, and humbled that my life has allowed me to pursue such paths.
Ordered some organic meat (shin on the bone) which I shall collect at Saturday's farmers' market.
Also ordered some fruit and vegetables which will be delivered on Saturday.
Some fruit has just been delivered (I love summer): Strawberries, black grapes, mangoes, passion fruit, lemons, oranges and grapefruit.
Also ordered some fruit and vegetables which will be delivered on Saturday.
Some fruit has just been delivered (I love summer): Strawberries, black grapes, mangoes, passion fruit, lemons, oranges and grapefruit.
One of the reasons I stopped going to the cinema. I prefer to control the volume and the pause button.
Plus I really don’t want to sit in a room with a bunch of strangers watching a film.
Tomorrow is the last day of my week’s holiday. Obviously I have the weekend as well, but already dreading the workload that will be waiting for me.
Well, today is the first day of my holiday. Back on the 31st. First off I am watching the Open Golf from Royal Liverpool Hoylake. Then, I am off to Glasgow for the week. On my own, which I don't mind at all. Looking forward to a nice break. I have had to leave my deputy in charge at work and am already wondering how they are getting on!
Enjoy today and tomorrow (and the week-end, obviously).
Enjoy.
I hope that you have a lovely time.
Thank you. I plan on visiting coffee shops, restaurants, book shops, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Pollok Country Park. All at a very leisurely pace. Bliss..
Sounds like a wonderful break; these are exactly the sort of things that I like to do, myself, when taking a relaxing break in a city.
Enjoy. I'm impressed and envious.
Went to a friend's house this afternoon to help him with his audio interface (and to show him how to hook up his keyboard to Logic)—at least that's what I thought was going to happen. He's kinda new to MIDI sequencing/production, so I offered to help him out a bit. Neither of us knew that the interface drivers required 10.15 Catalina or later, and he had High Sierra, so we spent the whole time upgrading the OS. Can't exactly say it was what either of us wanted to do, but we had a good time together nonetheless - talked about our favorite records, music theory stuff, etc. Anyway, I'm going back up there on Monday to actually help him with his interface!
The Catalina was a superb reconnaissance plane in the Pacific in WWII. Though on rare occasion, it could carry torpedoes and used for attacks. But it wasn't too successful at that.
It was a bit slow truthfully, mind you torpedo planes were too vulnerable and became obsolete - guided weapons like what the Germans used to sink the battleship Roma after Italy's surrender were the future.
My artisan (handmade) sausages - as a package - were delivered this afternoon:
This comprised: Sausages (two packets of their wonderful Italian sausages), one of their wonderful pork, apple and leek sausages, plus their standard breakfast sausages (no preservatives or additives), plus their delicious dry cured bacon rashers - no added nitrates or phosphates (for breakfast).
I also phoned the best of the organic stalls in the farmers' market to keep their own eggs (free range, organic, etc) for me, plus some (of their own) tomatoes, broccoli, and herbs.
And I expect to receive a fruit and vegetable delivery tomorrow morning.
This comprised: Sausages (two packets of their wonderful Italian sausages), one of their wonderful pork, apple and leek sausages, plus their standard breakfast sausages (no preservatives or additives), plus their delicious dry cured bacon rashers - no added nitrates or phosphates (for breakfast).
I also phoned the best of the organic stalls in the farmers' market to keep their own eggs (free range, organic, etc) for me, plus some (of their own) tomatoes, broccoli, and herbs.
And I expect to receive a fruit and vegetable delivery tomorrow morning.
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Sounds delicious. I’ll be having half a chicken breast with rice noodles and vegetables later.
Here the tree stump I’ve been working on for months finally succumbed to my advances. Unfortunately I did manage to hit my finger with my club hammer. Hurts like hell now and turning a loverly colour.
So between that and my back, I expect it to be a quiet rest of the day.
Headed out to replenish my coffee supplies, (yes, the carer had also dropped in coffee from the Philippines this week) in a local, excellent, small coffee shop, and treat myself to a coffee.
Also picked up my jacket (which was ready) from the dry cleaners, and walked home between showers of rain.
Also picked up my jacket (which was ready) from the dry cleaners, and walked home between showers of rain.
AFB, Congratulations on getting that darned tree stump finally extricated!!!! YAY!!!! Unfortunate that you bashed a finger during the process, though -- ouch!!! Hope the finger heals quickly and doesn't hamper you too much. Ouch.....
Yes, these sausages are amazing; it is the sort of business where, when you phone, the owner, who herself makes the (award-winng) sausages, answers the phone, (and remembers you) and you chat about your order.
I haven't had bacon, sausages and eggs (and organic tomatoes) - the classic "British" or "Irish" breakfast - for ages and ages and ages.
Some morning soon, that deficiency shall be remedied for that treat awaits me.
Enjoy.
Very good.
Ouch.
My mother was the green-fingered genius, although even she used to get the gardener in twice a year to handle the heavy stuff; for my part, I am content to leave all of that to the gardener - whom I have phoned and who has promised to show up when it stops raining.
I have just received a message (by text) informing me that my fruit and vegetables shall be delivered around 7.30 tomorrow morning; well, at least, it will be light...