Rocket. Man.

Further to yesterday's posting, I dug my first crop of spuds. A modest bowlful of Rocket variety yes but not bad from only four seeds potatoes. Can't wait to give them a scrub, cook and eat with a little butter mmm.

The next batch won't be ready for digging until August/September time.

Let's Talk About...

One of the things us British are famous/notorious* for is our obsession with the weather and that we seem to devote a disproportionate amount of time talking about it.

Is there, you might ask, any reason for this state of affairs? Let's consider the following: This past week vast areas of the east of England have been placed under a severe drought warning, with farmers being told to expect restrictions on the amount of water they can use to irrigate crops. At the same time here in the Thames Valley we've had rain for probably 24 hours (putting a halt on my plans to dig some of my potato crop today) with daytime temperatures down at around 12 degrees Celsius, a marked contrast on a few weeks ago. Oh and over in Wales they had snow on Thursday.

We're only a small country- in fact the British Isles will fit into most US or Australian states several times over- yet our weather conditions can vary so wildly. This is meant to be summertime; is it any wonder we're obsessed LOL?

* Delete as applicable.

Buzz-off!

So I had to go into the attic the other day and noticed about four wasps harassing the strip light in a rather demented manner. I didn't think anything of it, merely treated them to a good dose of aerosol wasp and fly killer and left it at that.

Today there were many more and I don't think they were too happy to be honest. They're entering via gaps in the exterior wall tiles up high on the side of the house and have built themselves a cosy home between the roof tiles and insulation (I can hear them buzzing around under the insulation).

A British wasp nest in a Sussex roof space. My visitors may have constructed something similar.














The good news is the wasps won't reuse the nest next summer but I can't wait that long and I have to admit to being unsure quite how to deal with it. Answers on a postcard or back of a sealed down envelope to the usual competition address. Or you could just email your suggestions.

Poppy

Thought I would share this picture I took in my front garden around 8 this morning. For some reason my poppies seem to be a little behind those in the surrounding area but it's good to see the first couple flowering.





















It's been said poppies only really grow on former battlefield sites; something to do with corpses making for good manure. Well I'm not sure about that and although Reading has seen it's share over the years, I'm not convinced any skirmishes were held at my exact location. Maybe there's just a body down there somewhere following a grisly murder LOL?

Spoilers!*

How much do I love the cover of the new addition of Radio Times, the BBC's weekly listing magazine?

Enough to publish a cropped, spoiler free, version of the Doctor Who themed cover, that's for sure.

Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan) and some sword wielding fellows.









This coming Saturday the BBC broadcasts episode 7 of the current excellent series and with it a mid-season finale. Viewers are promised a spectacular episode (extended to 50 minutes) and cliffhanger to ensure we all tune in for the next episode.

Those wishing to see the entire Radio Times spoiler filled front cover can click here to view, together with a collection of past Doctor Who covers dating back to 1964.
 
The sixth series returns in the Autumn. Can it come back soon enough?



*As Alex Kingston's character might say LOL.

Outplayed

A thrilling match at Wembly stadium today saw Reading FC make a valiant attempt but in the end Swansea were the better team on the day. The final score of Reading 2 - 4 Swansea sees the Welsh team promoted to play Premiership football next season.

Maybe next year.

Torch

Further to my last posting where I mentioned the Olympic torch would be visiting Reading.

Dad told me recently some interesting things about the 1948 games (he was 10 at the time). Not only was the marathon held round what is now the Reading University campus but his brother D, being slightly older, got to carry the torch (as part of a group from Boy's Brigade) as it made it's way through the town towards London.

How cool is that?

Ten Pound Challenge

I've been set of the task today of trying to get my weekly shopping for under £10 (about US $16,  AU $15).















You can't get much but here's how I got on:

• 2.27 l (4 pints) fresh semi-skimmed milk, £1.25
• 500 g butter, £2.00
• 925 g apples, £1.61
• 1.02 g bananas, £0.80
• 140 g sliced corned beef, £1.75
• large wholemeal loaf (sliced), £0.47
• 750 g cornflakes, £1.28

The total comes to £9.16, well done me. Dad and SM are due for a visit next week, I may therefore find my larder, freezer and fridge gets depleted but I intend to give this a go again next week.

And elsewhere...

I've had quite a lot of interest in my CV this week, you never know it might lead to a job!

Reading has been announced as one of the venues to be visited by the Olympic torch next year on it's way to the games in "that London." Might have to take LL along for a look-see.

Wembley

The Royals dominated their away leg in Wales with a 3 - 0 win against Cardiff. Next up they will play (former Reading manager) Brendan Rodgers' Swansea at the end of the month, for the right next year to play in the Premiership.

Well done.

Curly Fries And Other Thoughts

• Have you noticed the current trend of saying "Up Coming"? If we mean "Future" why not use it? It takes fewer letters after all.
• I got asked yesterday by the lady living across from LL to help apply some eye drops to her poorly cat. Those beasties have sharp claws- I very nearly lost my left raspberry*. No really.
• I now have three different varieties of potato growing in my garden: Rocket, Vales Emerald and Maris Piper. These are due to crop June, Aug/Sept and Aug/Oct respectively.
• Ever heard someone say "I've not heard from you in ages"? If they were that concerned, why weren't they the first to pick up the phone or write an email? It works both ways don't you think?
• Heard today that my great aunt (on Mum's side) died on Friday. She was the last living sibling of my Grandad.
• As requested I returned to the Surgery for another Asthma check. This time I saw someone different and apparently "lung age" is a load of rubbish. Go figure.
• The Royals need a win away at Cardiff on Tuesday if they are to proceed to the play-off final at Wembly. The no score draw at home last Friday in the first leg wasn't a good start.
• Whoever dreamt up curly fries should be given an award. Oh so tasty and brings to mind some very fond memories.

King of the road (or path)? 















* Rhyming slang for... you can work it out, think about ice cream LOL.

5th

The Royals finished the championship season proper with a mixed bag of results. Possibly having worked their way into the play-off zone, they rested on their laurels just a little too much...

22 Apr Leeds 0 - 0 Reading
25 Apr Reading 2 - 3 Sheffield United
30 Apr Coventry 0 - 0 Reading
7 May Reading 2 - 1 Derby

Reading will take on fourth placed Cardiff for the chance to play the winner of Swansea and Nottingham Forest in the play-off final. The winner will be awarded promotion to the Premiership along with Queens Park Rangers and Norwich.

Npower Championship table

		P	GD	PTS
1	QPR	46	39	88
2	Norwich	46	25	84
3	Swansea	46	27	80
4	Cardiff	46	22	80
5	Reading	46	26	77
6	Nott'm Forest	46	19	75
7	Leeds	46	11	72
8	Burnley	46	4	68
9	Millwall	46	14	67
10	Leicester	46	5	67
11	Hull	46	1	65
12	Middlesbrough	46	0	62
13	Ipswich	46	-6	62
14	Watford	46	6	61
15	Bristol City	46	-3	60
16	Portsmouth	46	-7	58
17	Barnsley	46	-11	56
18	Coventry	46	-4	55
19	Derby	46	-13	49
20	Crystal Palace	46	-25	48
21	Doncaster	46	-26	48
22	Preston	46	-25	42
23	Sheffield Utd	46	-35	42
24	Scunthorpe	46	-44	42

Book Worm

Now I don't usually do this but may I just recommend a thoroughly good book?

It's "Empty Cradles," Margaret Humphreys 1994 account of her work uncovering the scandal of the Home Children scheme. You may recall I mentioned it here after I had seen the film based on this book.

A compelling read that tells how Margaret first became aware that over several years children had been removed from this country without parental consent. She details how they lost their identities, were split from brothers or sisters and often ended up living in worse conditions than those the so-called "orphans" had left behind in the mother country. Many told of abuse at the hands of the individuals entrusted to look after them.