Ta-ra 2021

Surely 2022 will be superior to the last two..?

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year.

Mack The Knife

A musical classic to cheer the soul, on the last Thursday of the year.

Night Before

 

Two Ronnie's

Fans of this classic comedy show from way-back-when will appreciate this. However to everyone best wishes for Christmas.

Boost

Covid jab number three (the so-called booster) done. Meaning by the government's current definition I am fully vaccinated. For the third round the NHS is using the Moderna and Pfizer offerings. Pot luck which one you get I suppose.

Sprout

Nothing better than Brussels Sprouts, cut from their stork. Except maybe roasting them with a little helping of a well known yeast extract. Mmmm, just right for Christmas!

Pud

What's not to like LOL?

Land Grab

Hard to believe five years ago, my garden expanded. Where has the time gone LOL? To be fair my property is no bigger but the fence has moved, such that there is much less open to the public and (obviously) then more that is private and secure.

Images show the old fence line, and the new.

It's (Nearly) Christmas!

To all my friends and family on the interweb: please don't be offended you don't receive a card from me this Christmas. Instead I am giving the equivalent I would have spent on cards and postage stamps to two worthy causes close to my heart, Alzheimers Society and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

I have supported both for a number of years and I am sure most understand why. Thanks to Covid we are seeing an increase in late diagnosis of a number of conditions, which in turn puts additional pressure on the charities supporting patients and their families.

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful festive period.

A Puppini Christmas

 

 

Quarter

Sometimes the things that bring pleasure are not the expensive or large items but the simple ones. Like this lovely new tea towel LOL. Yes I am proud of the working class town I grew up in but it is steeped in history that can go back hundreds of years.

Star Trekkin'

Being forced to watch season 4 of Star Trek: Discovery live, as it is "broadcast," so to speak seems quite quaint by today's standards. Some might even describe it as Old School. Why it was pulled at the last minute from Netflix, only to put it on free to view Pluto TV is beyond me LOL.

Slow

Used to be I'd spend the time picking my own sloes and making this delicious, delightful drink myself. This lovely bottle I picked up tonight from Aldi. Sadly no festive Penguins to be found LOL.

Crisps

Or Chips if you prefer. Either way it seems quite incredible that in the UK we are currently experiencing a national shortage. Walkers (owned by PepsiCo dontchaknow) one of our leading brands seems to be affected the most. Bit of a tragedy for some but it might be suggested this will do the nation's waistline a world of good LOL.

Bold

Sometimes you realise that for your own sanity you have to be brave and simply say, "Enough is enough."

11 November

 

And Tigger Too

What better way to celebrate the most bouncy of all the animals from the Hundred Acre Wood? Feast your eyes on this beautiful coloured coin from the Royal Mint! Tigger in all his glory, as originally depicted. It is legal tender but who in their right mind would want to spend this..?

Reading Bomb

Found this elsewhere on the Interweb and thought it worth sharing...

Mini Golf

This rather lovely pic came up in my cloud memories, from a couple of years ago. You know when we were all allowed to travel overseas LOL. 

This mini golf course was constructed on the 5th floor of the hotel. Awesome fun!

Balloon

My GP has today decided Statins do not suit me. I've tried two different types. Given on both occasions my legs from knees to ankles rapidly filled with fluid and became very sore and painfull, I'm not at all surprised she reached this conclusion LOL.

Back to the drawing board, as they say. She's going to try me on something else in a month's time, after my legs have recovered, for a trial period. Finger's (and toes) crossed.

Fake News

Out two night's in a row, whatever next LOL! Spoof reporter Jonathan Pie has been in town. Well Basingstoke to be precise. Radical, definitely on the Left politically but absolutely spot on with his observations. Oh and did I mention extremely funny?

All The Time In The World

Fantastic swansong for Daniel Craig as James Bond, British agent 007. Great venue and brilliant company. Pity the motorway junction on my way home was closed without notice, for maintenance, putting around an hour and a half onto my journey.

Body Count

In the first series, the death toll was high. Part way into the first episode of the second series of this Netflix show and already three are dead LOL. They must have a near limitless supply in suspended animation LOL...

Northcourt Bush

Lisa-Marie Walters and Moments of Pleasure: the Music of Kate Bush. Postponed from last year, due to Covid. What a fantastic night out in Abingdon near Oxford! A totally authentic sound, it's almost is if it were Ms Bush herself. I'm still buzzing!

Broad Street Chapel

Paid a rare visit into Reading today and called into the Waterstones book shop in the heart of town. The shop has been here years but many don't realise (or bother to find out) the reason for its unique interior style. The building used to be a place of worship. Upstairs, on the first floor (second for American readers) you can still see the beautiful stained glass windows. Kind makes the place feel special, even if you are just browsing the book shelves LOL.

Chocs

Chococo: quite possibly the best handmade chocolates on the planet!

Uni

Something of a landmark day: took ll to Winchester University for their open day, to meet staff and students to hear about what might be on offer. I am so proud that going to uni is actually an option for him, something I frankly wasn't good enough for. He obviously still needs to apply (soon) and then get the right grades in his A Level exams next summer. Nevertheless a big moment.

Christmas Is Stocked

Some will be aware of feelings with regard the premature sale of festive goods. To be clear I don't believe the shops should be stocking Christmas items before we've had the joys of Halloween and Guy Fawkes. Besides if you were to take a look at the expiry dates on some of these foods, you'll note they won't last more than a couple of weeks, let alone to the end of the year!

Postmarked

Nice one, Royal Mail!

Great Choice

What better to go with Marmite beer LOL?

Crisps or Potato Chips, if you're from accross the pond.

Going Nuclear

In today's drama of PM Boris Johnson reshuffling his ministerial cabinet, quite an important announcement was kind of lost in the noise. 

Australia, USA and UK have signed an important military alliance. To keep those sneaky Chinese in check no doubt. Amongst other things, Britain and America will help the Aussies build their own nuclear powered submarines. This is something of a first for nuclear free Australia. The good news is this has really upset the French, who somehow felt they were entitled to build them lol. 

The highlight of the press conference announcement for me was President Biden not being able to remember the name of the Prime Minister he had just signed the deal with. Should we be extremely worried? He does control a great deal of nuclear weapons...

(It's Scott Morrison by the way)

Love It Or Hate It?

Most people are aware the best yeast extract in the world (sorry Vegemite it's not you), is traditionally made from used brewer's yeast. It was therefore about time a beer was launched, flavoured with yummy Marmite. I've purchased 8 cans so by the time I've made my way through them, either I will be addicted or...

So British!

What could be more British than a cup of tea? How about a cuppa that has a hint of biscuit flavour? I kid not. Those lovely people at Yorkshire Tea claim to have cracked it.

Kind of excited to try these out.

A Bit Warm Now

What's going on? It's officially Autumn in the UK and as you can see, at gone 10.15 at night, the outside temperature is still nearly twenty degrees Celsius. Thanks to the design of lovely British homes, to hold the heat in, the other displayed temperature is that of inside, with doors and windows open I might add. Sometimes I do wish proper air conditioning was a viable option LOL.

Second

Huge congratulations to Team GB at the Tokyo Paralympics. A massive medal haul (in line with their target) means they finish second overall in the awards table, behind China. Well done to our amazing competitors!

Lizzie!

Just in time for the final few days of the Paralympics, I've received this lovely (but miniscule) Aussie coloured $2 coin. For some reason the UK hasn't issued a coin or set of coins for the Paralympic games. Anyway, enjoy this one...