Farewell '17

As the light dims on 2017, the New is just around the corner with I hope fresh aspirations and goals. May 2018 be filled with joy, success and all things good: happy New Year everybody.

Mmm..?

Weston

Had to share this lovely festive decoration from the shopping centre at Weston Favell. Awesome isn't it?

More Snow

Not quite in time for the big day and in this area it hadn't lasted more than an hour or so. Elsewhere in the UK it has been a different story, with reports of airports being closed, upsetting travel plans for many.

Lydiard Park

Happy Christmas.

St Mary's church.

Back In Blue

Overnight the UK government has announced the return of the British passport. Following our departure from the European Union, from 2019 all new passports will be issued in reasuring dark blue. Just like they used to be.

I wonder if the new model will resemble my old one below, shown with its inferior EU successor?

Winter Solstice

That magical marker in the year when the days start getting longer again. Unless you happen to live Downunder (or anywhere else in the southern hemisphere) where you now have the approach of winter to look forward to LOL.

In The Wars

Got a call Saturday morning to say that Dad had had a fall the evening before, hitting his head on his way down, and that the paramedics had been called out. He was admitted to A&E at 1am where a scan revealed he had a small clot. His nurse at the hospital told me she thought "he'd done a round with Mike Tyson" You get the idea.

Think he will be in hospital for a few days, the poor fella...

It's That Time Again

Happy Christmas to everyone!

Hopefully not the Reading turbine at Green Park LOL.

Chill

Cold enough yet LOL?

First Snow

Only a thin covering this morning but nevertheless wonderful to see. Had a quick walk out, before it all turns to slush later on, and caught this snap of one of my agapanthus plants with a light dusting...

Supporting Local Produce

Just don't keep it in the fridge if you want to spread it in a hurry LOL.

Zoo Loaf

After Tiger bread comes Giraffe, whatever next!

Euro Money Go-Round

Recent leaked reports have suggested the UK is prepared to pay a "divorce bill" of around 40-50 billion Euros to leave the EU. Just take a moment to consider how much that is.

I can't help but wonder about fairness of it all. The UK is a net contributor to the EU, while many countries are net recipients. Does that mean if one of these countries announced a desire to leave this undemocratic block, the EU commissioners would insist on dragging out talks and further insist on continuing payments to said country? I think not.

I know the arguement is that as a nation we made financial commitments for certain projects. But should that really extend to pension payments for EU officials for the next 30 or so years? Especially for the likes of Member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farrage, a man who has led for years the campaign for us to quit the EU?

Filmed In Supermarionation!

The retailers are doing their level best to get the public to part with their hard earned. Looks like one supermarket has found my weak spot* but I will remain strong and will not give in to temptation LOL.

* But you can keep Terrahawks, if it's all the same.

Reading Minster

Had to take a trip this afternoon into Reading to deal with some financial affairs.

I ended up very close to the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, or Reading Minster for short, or St Mary's Butts as it was known as I was growing up. Apparently there has been a Christian place of worship on this site since the seventh century, while the current structure dates from the eleventh. It is also believed that in the 1500's the church was heavily restored using material from the ruins of the nearby dissolved abbey. Inside there are some very fine examples of medieval ceramic floor tiles; next time I have the opportunity I will try to take some pictures of them.

Stunning Sky

I promise no filters were used, this is how the early morning sky appeared. Wonderful isn't it?

Splendid

I'd like to share this picture, taken on a recent walk. Superb colour for the time of year, don't you think?

St Laurence

Chris Lee has created this excellent image of St Laurence church, Friar Street, with the town hall to the left and Queen Victoria to the fore. The old picture dates to about 1904. To the right buildings were destroyed by bombing during the war and rather "unfortunate" structures put in their place. As you might be able to tell the modern building line is somewhat different to the original as a result.

Quick, Quick, Sloe

Sure beats standing in the cold picking the berries, pricking before adding to gin and waiting a number of weeks. But will it taste as good..?

Poppies

Ceramic remembrance poppies "planted" in 2014 at the Tower of London (credit: Historic Royal Palaces).

Agincourt

Found this little gem on a recent walk. I just need to research any possible Reading links...

Oracle

Some will know that Reading's Oracle shopping centre is built on the site of the former workhouse of the same name. You can read more about the Oracle workhouse here. Famously pioneer of photography William Henry Fox Talbot (who had a shop in Baker Street, Reading) captured an image of the Gunn Street-Minster Street gateway in around 1845.

I found the below version recently online, showing the workhouse imposed (by Mark Porridge) on the modern street scene and new Oracle. The white building to the right is I believe one of the few surviving remenants of the original Oracle.

I also found a lovely picture of the gates themselves, when they were reused at 48 Tilehurst Road. This picture appeared on a postcard by Walton Adams in around 1910. Those gates have since been relocated to the town museum where they remain on display.

Six Pence

Many will be aware of the tradition of putting a "lucky" silver six pence in the Christmas pudding. Somehow the person serving always made sure the youngest at the table was the recipient of the portion containing the coin. A very popular and fondly remembered part of British- and I suspect Commonwealth- festive traditions.

With the advent of decimal coinage, people were encouraged to exchange their old predecimal coins for "new pence" and no new 6p coins have been minted in the UK for a long time. Until this year. Feast your eyes on this legal tender silvery loveliness. You can bet this shiny thing isn't going anywhere near a pudding!

Linear

An awesome morning for a fine walk around the Holy Brook area.

How So?

We have a new priority status at work, see below. I don't mean to be picky but you can't actually have degrees of urgency, can you? A thing is either urgent or not.

Likewise a woman can't be "very pregnant," a person being described as "extremely gay" or an animal referred to as "very dangerous." You get the idea. Why do we add unnecessary words to our conversations?

Breakfast Is Served!

Healthy LOL..?

Is It Easter Yet?

Apparently it is perfectly acceptable to stock these nearly three whole months before Christmas.

What is the world coming to? Don't we have actual festive seasons anymore, or have we all thrown in the towel and surrendered to greedy consumerism?

Harvest Moon

Awesome moon this evening...

Bottled

Just look what I found in shop near the office: lovely Brooklyn Lager. Cheers!

There Goes A Tenner

It hardly seems true that a whole year has passed since the UK introduced it's first Polymer currency, the five pound note. Doesn't time fly? Now we have our second in the form of the Braille enhanced, Jane Austen, ten pound note. How lovely is that?

What No Cake?!?

Well done me LOL.

All Change

Amazing how different the old and new packaging of Anzac biscuits is and yet I didn't realise until I put them side by side! Time to revisit the Optician do you think LOL?

At Last...

... A chocolate bar I can relate to!

What Was I Thinking?

Some work colleagues persuaded me to join them last night playing badminton. I haven't been on a court for at least 20 years. What harm could it do, what might possibly go wrong? Except for the twisted knee, sore lower back and aggravating a near forgotten tennis elbow.

Same again next Thursday then LOL.

When Did This Happen?

When exactly did Doughnuts become Donuts?

Unpublished

I've been reading today that a hard drive containing unfinished novels by author Terry Pratchett has been destroyed, in accordance with his wishes. 

Isn't it lovely the desire for a fast or easy buck wasn't allowed to win out? Pratchett's long term assistant Rob Wilkins was able to carry out the instruction nearly two and a half years after the authors death. 

Nothing could be worse in my opinion than (perhaps a well intentioned) fellow author trying to second guess plot points and motivations or attempt to reproduce another's writing style. At least this way Pratchett's words remain untarnished and true in the minds of his fans.

In case anyone is interested, the Lord Jericho, a six and a half tonne steam roller at the Great Dorset Steam Fair was used. Wonderful.

Back To 30

Unusually for a public holiday we've enjoyed a lovely hot day with not a cloud in sight. Temperatures in this part of the UK touched 30 degrees Celsius or so. Fantastic. Most school children are enjoying their last full week of summer holiday before the new school year starts in September; make the most of the time off in this lovely weather, girls and boys! And don't forget to stay hydrated.

Next UK public holiday is Christmas Day. It's gonna be a long slog LOL.

Binge

Have binge watched the BBC production Top of the Lake, set in New Zealand. Looks to be a beautiful place despite all the violence and murder portrayed across the 6 episodes.

Currently half way through the sequel Top of the Lake: China Girl. This time the action has relocated to Sydney, but still with an equal share dubious characters and motives.

Gripping stuff.

Fab Fig?

Coming along nicely...

Recent image.

Confused

Back from visiting Dad. To say he was not very good today would be an understatement. He seems to have deteriorated since his birthday in June. Very confused and frail. He's missing SM this weekend, who is attending a family event, and clearly aware how much he struggles when she is not around.

Found!

Wasn't hard at all, seems he was hiding at the Sea Life Centre in Brighton LOL.

And what a lovely Victorian era building the centre is housed in.

Soggy

Some countries refer to the "rainy season." In the UK we call it "summer."

I'm not at all impressed and feel sorry for the school children who have just broken up for 6 weeks holiday.

Bucket List

Can't help but feel this needs rewording. I fear otherwise we might have a large section of the construction industry lacking a vital piece of equipment LOL.

Oops!

Am thinking maybe the Fennel is taking over!

Who knew it might grow so well LOL...

Agapanthus

Reminds me...