Oak

That's the decking treated for at least a year LOL.

Alliums

It's hard work watching the Bees work hard.

Two Hundredth

If ever there was proof items manufactured today do not last anywhere near as long as they used to, I have receipts.

I finally said goodbye today to my parents old upright freezer. For the past decade or so it had been running happily in my garage as a backup or additional space. This bad boy had been purchased from a store called Bejam, who were a frozen goods specialist, back in the mid 1980's. The branch in question (Woodley), according to Wikipedia, was the chains' 200th outlet. 

At the end of the 80's Bejam was purchased by rival Iceland and the Woodley branch is still trading from the same location, although now they only sell food.

It's possible the hot (for Britain) weather we've been enjoying all summer finally got to this freezer. However I think it's fair to say the family got its' money's worth from this item, despite quite a bit of food spoiling thanks to its sudden demise. I can confirm however this piece of chilly excellence weighed a ton to shift LOL.

Ramshead Manor

Nice to see the antipodean version of BBC's Ghosts has made it to these shores, joining the US version and of course the original on the BBC iplayer. The narrative is broadly the same but with tweaking of characters and local references. Establishing exterior shots, do naturally showcase the beauty of Australia, what's not to like?

Lots of fun.

Smug Much?

There must be a name (in unpredictable Britain) for that smug feeling when you wash all your bedding, dry it outside on the line and get it back on your bed in around 6 hours. I can't be the only one who feels a sense of achievement and ever so slightly smug about it LOL?

(Ordinarily my bedding would be completely changed for one of many sets I own but hey why go to that extra effort today?)

Perfect?

The weather in my little part of the UK is just right. Others may disagree but this is just fine in my opinion. Enjoy.

Ice Ice Baby

What could be better than spending some time in the company of a Iced Americano? Well, there are far worse ways to kill time LOL.

Study

YM has done really well for himself. Proud Dad moment.

Parallel

Evening out in darkest Surrey LOL.

Good times had by all.

 

Day Of...

The Triffid-like Fig is definitely trying to get inside LOL.

 

Official

It was posted by Horlicks, so it must be true!

Spangled

I recently acquired this nice little Half Dollar coin, in time for some sort of celebration the Americans are having. It's a big deal for our transatlantic cousins apparently LOL.

Rarity

It's not very often these days I willingly, or otherwise, get to visit Reading. 

The town has certainly changed these past few years. Some changes are positive, and sadly a great many not so. There's a lot of empty shop units, and those that are still occupied seem quite devoid of actual customers. 

Plus of course nearly at every turn there's people begging and also evidence of a lot of rough sleeping.

If this is what "success" looks like in 2026, I'll have none of it thank you very much.

Anyway, here's a selection of hopefully uplifting pictures. (Since the Bayeux Tapestry now on- temporary- display in London, I thought I'd take another look at the Victorian replica held at our local museum.)

200 And Fifty

Just a bit of fun for any visiting Transatlantic patriots LOL.

T-Time

From the official Yorkshire Tea (the best tea known to mankind LOL) Social Media team. Made me smile.

Blame Game

This chart is quite useful, showing which countries actually generate the most (harmful) Carbon emissions. 

It's interesting to see how little the UK contributes.  Particularly when we consider how this country is being punished by its own government via ridiculous and extreme Net Zero policies. If the UK ever reaches its target, does anyone believe it will make any difference to our planet?

Wave

Who says it doesn't get hot in the UK. Although it never really lasts. This morning authorities are warning of a "four day heat wave." Whilst uncomfortable for a country that as a rule doesn't have air-conditioning, I do hope we get more than a week of cracking weather LOL.

A Bit Toasty?

Think it might be a bit warm this week...

Count

Tomorrow there is a Parliamentary by-election in a place called Makerfield, that may determine the next leader of the Labour Party and therefore our Prime Minister. 

Thank goodness there are people like this guy to keep our democracy, at the very least, from not becoming boring. It is true: Count Binface (of the Count Binface Party) is standing as a candidate, alongside more run-of-the-mill* hopefuls LOL.

Happy Days.

*It should be noted Howling Laud Hope, leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, is also standing.

50 Years Of Amazing Adventures

I don't quite know what it is but to me there's something very special about the plasticine characters of Aardman Animations. 

I have fond memories of children's arts show Vison On, featuring the marvellous Tony Hart, and of course the ever so naughty Morph.

Needless to say the madcap exploits of cheese obsessed inventor Wallace and his ever faithful dog Gromit have to get a mention. They are the stuff of legend, at least to me. Who could possibly forget evil genius penguin Feathers McGraw, the dastardly robo-dog Preston or indeed the Were-Rabbit LOL?

Together with Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run plus a host of other creations, the wacky adventures have bridged television, cinema, books and (oddly) audio. 

It doesn't seen true the company celebrates half a century this year. After all this time they're still making stop motion animation, one frame at a time, when everyone else seems to have moved to computer generated output. It's rather charming and somehow very real.

Oh look: just in time there's a lovely celebration 50p coin from the Royal Mint.

This Is The Way

Nice trip out to the big screen.

Not So Special

At last the BBC have seen sense.

Today the BBC have announced the end of the woeful RTD2 era of Doctor Who. Not a moment too soon. 

The promised Christmas 2026 Special has been cancelled, with showrunner Russell T Davies and his enablers at Bad Wolf Studios departing the franchise. They must accept full responsibility for the abomination they offered the public since 2023; RTD chose to sacrifice compelling narrative and character development in favour of DEI talking points and lecturing the audience. And noone within the production company Bad Wolf stopped him. 

Is it any wonder British viewing figures for this once great sci-fi series dropped to a record breaking low?

Well done to the BBC for finally accepting what many have known for a good long while: the show was not working. Some have claimed it was no longer even watchable. The corporation have said they will now take time to seek a new production partner for the tv franchise, and by implication this could take a good while. A pause of a few years may not be a bad thing.

Buckinghamshire

"Bird watching." LOL 

Glorious

After an extremely wet Winter and lacklustre Spring, it looks very much like Summer has arrived with a bang. Definitely barbecue weather methinks.

Some interesting things are happening in my garden too.

Seriously?

I'm sure there aren't too many countries where the weather can be predicted to vary so much in under one week LOL.

Just what is going on?!?

Curly

Halloumi burgers on a bed of green and yellow peppers, with a healthy side of curly fries. 

I recall the first time (a good few years ago) I tried curly fries for the first time, what a revelation! Whoever invented them really should be given an award LOL.

New World

My Postie delivered something of a little surprise today, an item I had completely forgotten I had ordered. How foolish of me!

This year the Royal Mint is celebrating one of the ships to carry the name HMS Beagle, although likely the most famous one. Originally built as a gun ship for King George IV, it was repurposed as a survey vessel and undertook three important voyages of discovery. On the second journey, Charles Darwin joined Captain Robert FitzRoy on the expedition of the New World.

After the third voyage, in 1859, the Beagle was stationed in Essex as a static Watch Vessel to deter smugglers, before being auctioned and broken up.