Beginning a brand-new adventure still going strong half a century later

We all have those times when we make a decision and then suddenly realise we have made a commitment which requires a great number of actions in a very limited time. The first time Marion and I faced such a situation was in the first half of 1977. I had been offered a reporter’s jobContinue reading “Beginning a brand-new adventure still going strong half a century later”

A year of delight at home again in my beloved country

I left you all dangling in the first half of last year after I quit the glamorous (on the surface) life of a London cinema manager and moved our little family from the South East of England to the North West of Wales. I was back not only in Wales but in the job IContinue reading “A year of delight at home again in my beloved country”

The longest loaf of my life but only in the proving

For the first time ever I have managed to produce an edible loaf of bread despite having to let it rise for almost 24 hours. As I mentioned yesterday I had not baked my own bread for months because major crises had driven out normal life for over three years. I made the bread yesterdayContinue reading “The longest loaf of my life but only in the proving”

My jokes aren’t enough to get a rise out of my bread dough.

Well we got through Day One without any major mishaps and I actually managed to get something done. Not a lot. The first thing I did was to make some jellies, which I should have done three days ago. Up a few pegs from that I did make my first batch of bread dough. NotContinue reading “My jokes aren’t enough to get a rise out of my bread dough.”

Time is mine and that tricky thief of time will not steal it

I am going in to the New Year with so many things lying ahead of me. Not just jobs but things I want to do for myself. These “tasks” or “jobs” cover a wide range from tidying the garden to reading books; from tiling the kitchen walls to doing jigsaws; from redecorating the living roomContinue reading “Time is mine and that tricky thief of time will not steal it”

Let’s start at the very beginning

Which, as Julie Andrews told us all, is a very good place to start. We might spend a lot of time with our ABC, but, in consideration of my followers, there will be no tonic solfa. This is the start of a brand new year, the first day of the first month of the 25thContinue reading “Let’s start at the very beginning”

Undercover in the 19th century to up front and in your face in the 21st

How many T-shirts have you got? Have you got any T-shirts at all? Personally I have about 40, all have a nice soft cotton feeling which gets softer every time they are washed. Not a single one is plain white and all of them have some form of logo on them. My oldest was addedContinue reading “Undercover in the 19th century to up front and in your face in the 21st”

Counting the milestones from cards, cake and jelly to hitting 74

Warning: may contain politics Sorry it’s been such a long, long time but let’s hope I can do better than I have done in the first half of the year. It has been an odd six months during which I marked my 74th birthday. I know it’s not a landmark birthday (that’s next year atContinue reading “Counting the milestones from cards, cake and jelly to hitting 74”

A touch of Arthur Askey as my wildlife garden is set to bloom

They say it never rains but it pours, whereas in the last two or three days the rain has been waiting until late afternoon before bursting out of the heavens, which meant I could get some time out in the front garden. I had to clear all the gravel away a couple of years agoContinue reading “A touch of Arthur Askey as my wildlife garden is set to bloom”

Pilgrim’s progress beyond Slough

I haven’t been around much for the last couple of weeks. In fact my last post was on my birthday and concerned the Six Nations final games (men) which resulted in Wales being awarded the Wooden Spoon having failed to win a single game. Now some people, mainly those who don’t really know me, mightContinue reading “Pilgrim’s progress beyond Slough”