Well, this year I only grew one tomato plant called gardener's delight which is a small, sweet cherry type tomato. The elderly man round the corner decided that he wanted three plants again this year, a beefsteak, a standard and a cherry.
Last year's crop wasn't very good because we had some srong winds which damaged the stems of his plants and he didn't water them as often as I had instructed, but mine did alright although the crop was quite small. This year, I kept nagging him to feed twice a week and water at least once a day because this was something he could manage easily and I certainly wasn't going to go round every day to do it!
So this year, he has an excellent crop even though some of them are badly cracked because he was erratic with the watering despite my instructions! The trouble is, he doesn't eat as many tomatoes as I do and he certainly doesn't cook. His cooking is heating up ready made meals! The beefsteak tomatoes are really big and he didn't know what to do with them because quite a few others ripened at the same time, so he gave them to me.
As they are quite badly cracked, I skinned and de-seeded them and made them into a tomato paste for pizza topping with onions, garlic and herbs and put it in the freezer. As there are still a lot to come I am sure I will be creating other tomato dishes in order to use them up.
Next year he has said he will have three of the cherry ones because he likes them the best but he still won't use the crops from three plants!
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
The things you see........
Despite it being a bank holiday I woke up at 5:30am this morning but it was still dark. I was going to make a cup of tea but decided to wait and put the radio on to listen to the news and the farming programme. Before getting back into bed, I looked out of the window because I could hear voices.
I saw what I can only describe as two 'new age' travellers with back packs and a scruffy looking dog trotting along beside them. They seemed to be in a hurry because they were striding out as they went up the road. When I see people at that time of the morning, I often wonder where they've been and where they are going. Normally anyone going past at that time of the morning is on the way to work but I didn't think these two were. Anyway I got back into bed and dozed on and off.
Eventually, I got up about 6:30am and came down to make a cup of tea. As usual. I opened the curtains at the back then went out to put some seed on the bird table for the sparrows' breakfast and change the water in the bird bath. I noticed two strawberry plants a friend had given me looked a bit limp so I watered them too. Then I came through to the front room to open the blinds enough for me to see out but no-one can see in and that's when I saw a little old man pushing a bicycle with four large cane chairs tied on. They towered above him and that made me wonder where he was going too.
It's at times like this that my imagination runs riot and I come up with half a dozen scenarios, every one of them should be in a crime novel! Perhaps I should start writing.
I saw what I can only describe as two 'new age' travellers with back packs and a scruffy looking dog trotting along beside them. They seemed to be in a hurry because they were striding out as they went up the road. When I see people at that time of the morning, I often wonder where they've been and where they are going. Normally anyone going past at that time of the morning is on the way to work but I didn't think these two were. Anyway I got back into bed and dozed on and off.
Eventually, I got up about 6:30am and came down to make a cup of tea. As usual. I opened the curtains at the back then went out to put some seed on the bird table for the sparrows' breakfast and change the water in the bird bath. I noticed two strawberry plants a friend had given me looked a bit limp so I watered them too. Then I came through to the front room to open the blinds enough for me to see out but no-one can see in and that's when I saw a little old man pushing a bicycle with four large cane chairs tied on. They towered above him and that made me wonder where he was going too.
It's at times like this that my imagination runs riot and I come up with half a dozen scenarios, every one of them should be in a crime novel! Perhaps I should start writing.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
One of those days!
It started at 6am this morning. I was woken abruptly by my neighbours banging about outside loading cardboard and other rubbish onto the large van he owns. Sadly, I knew they weren't moving because they weren't putting any furniture on the van. I still can't work out how they could get up at that time because they are usually both 'wasted' when they come home on a Saturday night (or should I say early Sunday morning) and normally she is incapable of standing unaided (and not just on a Saturday)!
Well, after discovering what the banging was, I thought I would doze a while before getting up but just as I started to drift off, I was brought back to reality when they started banging the doors of the van and the front door, then after stalling the van a couple of times, they were gone.
Of course, I couldn't get back off to sleep and as Eden was awake too, I came down and made some tea.
When we were up I started on breakfast and all was going well until the toast started to turn a little too dark around the egdes. That led us both to a mad rush to get the kitchen door shut before the fire alarm started screeching as it is far too sensitive.
Disaster averted, the rest of the day continued with various little mishaps until the spectacular finale late this afternoon while I was making dinner. Sarah was coming with Harley to pick up Eden and take her home so I always cook a dinner and today we were going to have roast beef with all the trimmings..........that is until I dropped the tin of yorkshire puddings just as I was putting the tray onto the oven shelf. Eden gave me a hand to clear it up and I quickly made another one then we all had dinner when they arrived.
After they had gone home, I washed the dishes and cleaned the mess out of the oven which by this time had baked on.
I have decided to do nothing else today so I shall sit here until bedtime!
Well, after discovering what the banging was, I thought I would doze a while before getting up but just as I started to drift off, I was brought back to reality when they started banging the doors of the van and the front door, then after stalling the van a couple of times, they were gone.
Of course, I couldn't get back off to sleep and as Eden was awake too, I came down and made some tea.
When we were up I started on breakfast and all was going well until the toast started to turn a little too dark around the egdes. That led us both to a mad rush to get the kitchen door shut before the fire alarm started screeching as it is far too sensitive.
Disaster averted, the rest of the day continued with various little mishaps until the spectacular finale late this afternoon while I was making dinner. Sarah was coming with Harley to pick up Eden and take her home so I always cook a dinner and today we were going to have roast beef with all the trimmings..........that is until I dropped the tin of yorkshire puddings just as I was putting the tray onto the oven shelf. Eden gave me a hand to clear it up and I quickly made another one then we all had dinner when they arrived.
After they had gone home, I washed the dishes and cleaned the mess out of the oven which by this time had baked on.
I have decided to do nothing else today so I shall sit here until bedtime!
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Childhood memories again
Yesterday as I drove back after picking up Eden I was telling her what we were going to have for dinner and said that I hade made some orange jelly with mandarin segments in as I know orange jelly is one of her favourites. We were going to have this with some creme fraiche and then I remembered some of my childhood favourites.
Because I had two brothers and two sisters and money was tight we had some quite different 'treats' as children. Of course there wasn't the choice of foods that we have today but despite this, we ate a very healthy diet. Sometimes as a special treat for dessert we would have evaporated milk instead of custard on home made pies or on jellies. This to us was as good as cream. Eden has never had this so I have said that I will get some one day so that she can try it too.
I can also remember giving this to my two when they were small too, tinned peaches with evaporated milk was special and they also had things like Angel delight which you can still get today! There was also another dessert that I used to make with evaporated milk and a packet of jelly and that was a cross between a milk jelly and a mousse. I used to make a packet of jelly to half the quantity and leave until just beginning to set. Then I would whip a small tin of evaporated milk until it was very thick and frothy then fold it into the setting jelly. This was put in the fridge for a few hours until set and always finished off in one sitting!
Perhaps I should revisit some of my favourite childhood recipes and try them out on Eden from time to time.
Because I had two brothers and two sisters and money was tight we had some quite different 'treats' as children. Of course there wasn't the choice of foods that we have today but despite this, we ate a very healthy diet. Sometimes as a special treat for dessert we would have evaporated milk instead of custard on home made pies or on jellies. This to us was as good as cream. Eden has never had this so I have said that I will get some one day so that she can try it too.
I can also remember giving this to my two when they were small too, tinned peaches with evaporated milk was special and they also had things like Angel delight which you can still get today! There was also another dessert that I used to make with evaporated milk and a packet of jelly and that was a cross between a milk jelly and a mousse. I used to make a packet of jelly to half the quantity and leave until just beginning to set. Then I would whip a small tin of evaporated milk until it was very thick and frothy then fold it into the setting jelly. This was put in the fridge for a few hours until set and always finished off in one sitting!
Perhaps I should revisit some of my favourite childhood recipes and try them out on Eden from time to time.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Who wants one of those?
Watching bits of a property programme yesterday, I was rather surprised when the presenter showed the couple that the 'mystery' aspect of the particular house that they were viewing was a hot tub!
This thing was stuck outside and had a lid over it but I have never been able to see the point in these things anyway. Who in their right mind would want to take a bath outside, especially in the winter? What is even more disturbing is that I have heard that people invite their friends round to join them in the darned thing!
Even on the Archers they had a hot tub which the whole village were keen to try at one time but I haven't heard any more about it for a while. I can't think of anything more disturbing than getting in a large bath of bubbling hot water, outside, in the middle of winter with other people. Even if they are wearing their swimwear!
When I go to pick Eden up, I pass a showroom that sells these hot tubs in Bath and they have just moved to bigger premises so despite the recession, business must be looking up.
As for me, I think I will stick to bathing or showering alone in the privacy of my own home and that way, I won't scare the horses (or children)!
This thing was stuck outside and had a lid over it but I have never been able to see the point in these things anyway. Who in their right mind would want to take a bath outside, especially in the winter? What is even more disturbing is that I have heard that people invite their friends round to join them in the darned thing!
Even on the Archers they had a hot tub which the whole village were keen to try at one time but I haven't heard any more about it for a while. I can't think of anything more disturbing than getting in a large bath of bubbling hot water, outside, in the middle of winter with other people. Even if they are wearing their swimwear!
When I go to pick Eden up, I pass a showroom that sells these hot tubs in Bath and they have just moved to bigger premises so despite the recession, business must be looking up.
As for me, I think I will stick to bathing or showering alone in the privacy of my own home and that way, I won't scare the horses (or children)!
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Unbelievable!
Last night I watched an excellent programme on BBC1 about the amount of food that is wasted in the home, the supermarket and on the farm. The four chefs who were a little sceptical at first about redeeming food that had been thrown out for various reasons, such as reaching the 'sell by date' or the fact that it didn't look very 'pretty', did a superb job of creating a banquet solely from food that would normally have been wasted.
I have never been able to understand why the supermarkets dictate to food producers that everything must be a certain size, shape or colour and anything that does not conform is not acceptable. We are all quite different from one another so why should lettuces for example, all be identical and what is wrong with a tomato or an apple with a small blemish? As for little eggs laid by young hens, they have absolutely nothing wrong with them and I am sure people would buy them if they had the opportunity.
In this day and age it is crazy to be throwing away good food, we might as well throw away money. If we were able to buy the food that is currently being discarded for whatever reason we could all save a considerable amount of money on food bills every year. Living on my own, I for one would love to be able to buy some of the small fish that the fishermen caught last night but said nobody wanted. The trouble is, we are not given the chance because sadly, the fishmongers and supermarkets want us to buy the expnsive stuff. On the continent, especially around the Mediterranean, the housewives buy all the little fish from the fishing boats and they make the most wonderful fish stews as well.
Most of the problem in this country is that a lot of women will tell you that they don't have the time to cook because they work, when the real truth is that they don't have a clue how to cook, especially the cheaper cuts of meat or offal. I would bet my pension that any Asian family living in this country does not go out to a takeaway for an Indian or Chinese meal because they all make their own and most of them have large families too.
We have to put our food waste in a special bin which is collected every week, but the only things that go into mine are eggshells, apple cores, onion peelings and the occasional chicken bone. Most of my vegetable trimmings go to the lad round the corner for his guinea pigs and everything else is eaten!
I have never been able to understand why the supermarkets dictate to food producers that everything must be a certain size, shape or colour and anything that does not conform is not acceptable. We are all quite different from one another so why should lettuces for example, all be identical and what is wrong with a tomato or an apple with a small blemish? As for little eggs laid by young hens, they have absolutely nothing wrong with them and I am sure people would buy them if they had the opportunity.
In this day and age it is crazy to be throwing away good food, we might as well throw away money. If we were able to buy the food that is currently being discarded for whatever reason we could all save a considerable amount of money on food bills every year. Living on my own, I for one would love to be able to buy some of the small fish that the fishermen caught last night but said nobody wanted. The trouble is, we are not given the chance because sadly, the fishmongers and supermarkets want us to buy the expnsive stuff. On the continent, especially around the Mediterranean, the housewives buy all the little fish from the fishing boats and they make the most wonderful fish stews as well.
Most of the problem in this country is that a lot of women will tell you that they don't have the time to cook because they work, when the real truth is that they don't have a clue how to cook, especially the cheaper cuts of meat or offal. I would bet my pension that any Asian family living in this country does not go out to a takeaway for an Indian or Chinese meal because they all make their own and most of them have large families too.
We have to put our food waste in a special bin which is collected every week, but the only things that go into mine are eggshells, apple cores, onion peelings and the occasional chicken bone. Most of my vegetable trimmings go to the lad round the corner for his guinea pigs and everything else is eaten!
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Bird Brains of Britain
I always get quite angry when people think that birds don't have brains and can't think for themselves. OK, so they don't have the same kind of thought process as we do but they are certainly not stupid by any means. Scientists have shown that birds can solve problems and many people in the past have trained various types of birds.
Wild birds can often die of shock if they have been caught by a cat, which just goes to show that they experience some form of emotional reaction such as fright. They may not have any visible injuries but the shock kills within the first twenty four hours, so that is why the RSPCA will advise you to keep the bird in a quiet, dark place for a day and if they are still alive after that, they can be released.
In my garden I have fed successive flocks of house sparrows for the last twenty five years. Just a few weeks ago there was a sparrow hawk sitting up on the roof of a house across the road watching the flight corridor the sparrows use to get to my garden from the park, but they could see him there and didn't come to feed for about a week.
Then I noticed one morning that they all came in a flock, ate their seed very quickly without any chirping and left all within ten minutes. The same thing happened in the evening too. All the time there was a lookout perched in the honeysuckle where he couldn't be seen. Usually when they come to feed they are a noisy bunch and they will often spend the whole afternoon 'pinging' about the garden, having a bit of seed, then a drink and a bath, then some more seed. Then they will all sit about preening themselves in the honeysuckle or on the fence and they cheep constantly. I have often called them the 'chip chip' gang because of the constant cheeping noise that they make!
This behaviour has been repeated every day for a couple of weeks but I have also noticed that they don't always come at the same time and frequently use different routes. So, I can only assume that the sparrowhawks are still around the area and these little birds are clever enough to use tactics to outwit them in order not to be the dinner menu for a sparrowhawk.
Obviously there is safety in numbers!
Wild birds can often die of shock if they have been caught by a cat, which just goes to show that they experience some form of emotional reaction such as fright. They may not have any visible injuries but the shock kills within the first twenty four hours, so that is why the RSPCA will advise you to keep the bird in a quiet, dark place for a day and if they are still alive after that, they can be released.
In my garden I have fed successive flocks of house sparrows for the last twenty five years. Just a few weeks ago there was a sparrow hawk sitting up on the roof of a house across the road watching the flight corridor the sparrows use to get to my garden from the park, but they could see him there and didn't come to feed for about a week.
Then I noticed one morning that they all came in a flock, ate their seed very quickly without any chirping and left all within ten minutes. The same thing happened in the evening too. All the time there was a lookout perched in the honeysuckle where he couldn't be seen. Usually when they come to feed they are a noisy bunch and they will often spend the whole afternoon 'pinging' about the garden, having a bit of seed, then a drink and a bath, then some more seed. Then they will all sit about preening themselves in the honeysuckle or on the fence and they cheep constantly. I have often called them the 'chip chip' gang because of the constant cheeping noise that they make!
This behaviour has been repeated every day for a couple of weeks but I have also noticed that they don't always come at the same time and frequently use different routes. So, I can only assume that the sparrowhawks are still around the area and these little birds are clever enough to use tactics to outwit them in order not to be the dinner menu for a sparrowhawk.
Obviously there is safety in numbers!
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Things your mother never told you...............
I wish my Mum had been able to warn me what things were in store for me as I got older but unfortunately she died at 55 so didn't get old herself. Well, I've had to learn it from experience so here goes!
We all know that things start to slide south and spread out once we get past the mid forties, but with the wonders of modern underwear we are able to 'hold things up' so that the people we come into contact with are not aware of our little problems. This is also when you start to avoid standing in front of a mirror when you have no clothes on too because you really can't face all those flabby bits and baggy bits! Most women have them too so don't worry you are not alone.
Wrinkles start appearing everywhere, yes, I mean everywhere. Some of us are lucky and the wrinkle and crinkles don't arrive very fast because we have good genes and have stuck to a strict cleansing and moisturising routine since we were teenagers, which does only seem like yesterday! Now listen up girls, real women don't need botox or fillers because these lines are a map of our life and character so wear them and be proud.
Another thing you need to know is that things start to get a little bit stiffer and you notice that everything starts to take longer to do which can lead to frustration, especially when you start aching in places you didn't know you had, but never mind, keep going and tell yourself it's just a temporary glitch!
Then there's your hair which starts to get thinner and in some places it falls out altogether. How many times did we cut our legs with a razor when we were younger? Years ago, Emma gave me one of those epilator thingys which rips it out by the roots, uncomfortable to start with but it gets less painful the more you use it. Now, I only have one hair on my shin but the trouble is, it's very fine and about two inches long and even with contact lenses, spectacles and a magnifying glass, I can never find the ruddy thing to tweeze out! Then one day as I'm sitting talking to someone and cross my legs it starts to wave at everyone and you just can't miss it. I might as well hang the Union Jack on it! By the way, this is also the time when, if you have never had a Brazillian, you find you don't need one because this is another place hair mysteriously disappears from! Even my eyebrows are falling out and now I have to use a soft pencil to draw them in again, and I never had any to pluck when I was younger anyway.
At least I still have my own teeth, even if they are crooked with a few crowns and fillings!
Finally, there's the mental bit! To help maintain your sanity, just get rid of things you don't need or use. I've always been very good at putting things in a safe place but then forget where the safe place is! If you don't have so many 'safe places' to put things, you're less likely to lose them and less likely to think you're losing your marbles!
For any man that reads this, all these things will happen to you too! You'll get wrinkly and crinkly everywhere, your skin will get saggy and baggy and even if you have a lot of body hair now, as you get older you will find that yours will fall out in patches! That, together with any wrinkly, flabby tattoos looks really funny!
We all know that things start to slide south and spread out once we get past the mid forties, but with the wonders of modern underwear we are able to 'hold things up' so that the people we come into contact with are not aware of our little problems. This is also when you start to avoid standing in front of a mirror when you have no clothes on too because you really can't face all those flabby bits and baggy bits! Most women have them too so don't worry you are not alone.
Wrinkles start appearing everywhere, yes, I mean everywhere. Some of us are lucky and the wrinkle and crinkles don't arrive very fast because we have good genes and have stuck to a strict cleansing and moisturising routine since we were teenagers, which does only seem like yesterday! Now listen up girls, real women don't need botox or fillers because these lines are a map of our life and character so wear them and be proud.
Another thing you need to know is that things start to get a little bit stiffer and you notice that everything starts to take longer to do which can lead to frustration, especially when you start aching in places you didn't know you had, but never mind, keep going and tell yourself it's just a temporary glitch!
Then there's your hair which starts to get thinner and in some places it falls out altogether. How many times did we cut our legs with a razor when we were younger? Years ago, Emma gave me one of those epilator thingys which rips it out by the roots, uncomfortable to start with but it gets less painful the more you use it. Now, I only have one hair on my shin but the trouble is, it's very fine and about two inches long and even with contact lenses, spectacles and a magnifying glass, I can never find the ruddy thing to tweeze out! Then one day as I'm sitting talking to someone and cross my legs it starts to wave at everyone and you just can't miss it. I might as well hang the Union Jack on it! By the way, this is also the time when, if you have never had a Brazillian, you find you don't need one because this is another place hair mysteriously disappears from! Even my eyebrows are falling out and now I have to use a soft pencil to draw them in again, and I never had any to pluck when I was younger anyway.
At least I still have my own teeth, even if they are crooked with a few crowns and fillings!
Finally, there's the mental bit! To help maintain your sanity, just get rid of things you don't need or use. I've always been very good at putting things in a safe place but then forget where the safe place is! If you don't have so many 'safe places' to put things, you're less likely to lose them and less likely to think you're losing your marbles!
For any man that reads this, all these things will happen to you too! You'll get wrinkly and crinkly everywhere, your skin will get saggy and baggy and even if you have a lot of body hair now, as you get older you will find that yours will fall out in patches! That, together with any wrinkly, flabby tattoos looks really funny!
Monday, 23 August 2010
The birthday cake
Last week when I took some shopping from the farmer's market round to the elderly man round the corner, he asked me if I would do him a favour. When I asked what it was, he said that it would be his birthday today if he stayed alive for that long, so could I make him a nice sponge with some strawberry jam and cream in the middle!
I had made a Victoria sponge a few weeks ago and took some round to him because he's always saying how much he misses his mother's cooking. She died over twenty years ago and she must have waited on him hand, foot and finger. He's never married and he hasn't been out since her funeral because I was told that he thinks he will die if he leaves the house. He would probably die of shock if he did anyway! He retired early and isn't short of money and he pays a personal carer who does his main shopping every week and also does a little cleaning for him.
Last year he had asked me if I could do his garden which is quite small so I planted some roses, lavender, perennial fuschias and some other perennials. There's just dead heading that needs doing so I go round on a Monday afternoon for a half hour or so to do this and also get his list of things he would like from the farmer's market.
Anyway, yesterday I made the sponge and when I got back from the shops today I put in the jam and cream filling and wrote him a birthday card then took them both round this afternoon.
He was really pleased and I told him that the cream would be OK until Friday if he kept the cake in the fridge. He said that it wouldn't last that long and he was looking forward to having some after his dinner tonight.
I know it will be alright but if there is anything that is different from his mother's cooking he will soon let me know, as he has done before if I've cooked anything and taken some round for him. I know I'm a very good cook and baker and he certainly won't get any better around here. All I have to do is to be very careful and make sure he doesn't take advantage of my good nature because he is very good at dropping hints, so I will have to make sure I exercise selective deafness and not become his unpaid helper!
I had made a Victoria sponge a few weeks ago and took some round to him because he's always saying how much he misses his mother's cooking. She died over twenty years ago and she must have waited on him hand, foot and finger. He's never married and he hasn't been out since her funeral because I was told that he thinks he will die if he leaves the house. He would probably die of shock if he did anyway! He retired early and isn't short of money and he pays a personal carer who does his main shopping every week and also does a little cleaning for him.
Last year he had asked me if I could do his garden which is quite small so I planted some roses, lavender, perennial fuschias and some other perennials. There's just dead heading that needs doing so I go round on a Monday afternoon for a half hour or so to do this and also get his list of things he would like from the farmer's market.
Anyway, yesterday I made the sponge and when I got back from the shops today I put in the jam and cream filling and wrote him a birthday card then took them both round this afternoon.
He was really pleased and I told him that the cream would be OK until Friday if he kept the cake in the fridge. He said that it wouldn't last that long and he was looking forward to having some after his dinner tonight.
I know it will be alright but if there is anything that is different from his mother's cooking he will soon let me know, as he has done before if I've cooked anything and taken some round for him. I know I'm a very good cook and baker and he certainly won't get any better around here. All I have to do is to be very careful and make sure he doesn't take advantage of my good nature because he is very good at dropping hints, so I will have to make sure I exercise selective deafness and not become his unpaid helper!
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Slumming it!
As I was going to be spending the day alone and wasn't expecting any visitors, I decided to leave the alarm and get up when I woke up instead of being ruled by the clock. So last night I stayed up until 11pm and managed to keep my eyes open too because I was watching CSI on television.
After another restless night, I woke about 7:45am and took my time having a shower and getting up and didn't bother to put much make-up on, then I spent the morning pottering in the kitchen and made some bread.
After lunch I thought I would take the opportunity to get out into the garden and do some weeding and pruning back. It's amazing how much everything has grown in the last week because of all the rain we've had and some things had been damaged by the wind too.
So I got to work and as it was very humid the work soon made my hair wet and stick to my neck. When I had filled the first bag with rubbish, I took it out the front to the dustbin and one of my neighbours came around the corner. Taking one look at me, she asked if I was alright because she said my face looked quite different. I told her I was OK and had to explain that I hadn't bothered to put on much make-up today and that the work in the garden was making me sweat!
She went on her way and I got back to the task in hand and when I had filled the second bag I went out the front again to put it in the dustbin. This time I frightened another neighbour who looked quite alarmed and asked if I was OK. Again I had to explain to him that I was fine and that I didn't expect to be seeing anyone so had not bothered to with make-up.
Next time I decide to slum it, I will put on all my make-up, use tongs on my hair, wear my best clothes and some high heeled shoes. I'll also put on my jewellery, then, if I do happen to see someone I'm not expecting to see, I won't frighten them!
After another restless night, I woke about 7:45am and took my time having a shower and getting up and didn't bother to put much make-up on, then I spent the morning pottering in the kitchen and made some bread.
After lunch I thought I would take the opportunity to get out into the garden and do some weeding and pruning back. It's amazing how much everything has grown in the last week because of all the rain we've had and some things had been damaged by the wind too.
So I got to work and as it was very humid the work soon made my hair wet and stick to my neck. When I had filled the first bag with rubbish, I took it out the front to the dustbin and one of my neighbours came around the corner. Taking one look at me, she asked if I was alright because she said my face looked quite different. I told her I was OK and had to explain that I hadn't bothered to put on much make-up today and that the work in the garden was making me sweat!
She went on her way and I got back to the task in hand and when I had filled the second bag I went out the front again to put it in the dustbin. This time I frightened another neighbour who looked quite alarmed and asked if I was OK. Again I had to explain to him that I was fine and that I didn't expect to be seeing anyone so had not bothered to with make-up.
Next time I decide to slum it, I will put on all my make-up, use tongs on my hair, wear my best clothes and some high heeled shoes. I'll also put on my jewellery, then, if I do happen to see someone I'm not expecting to see, I won't frighten them!
Saturday, 21 August 2010
What's wrong with everyone?
I was listening to 'Farming this week' on BBC Radio 4 this morning and part of the programme was about working farms that families and schools could visit. The health and safety regulations are now very strict on farms especially when the public have access and most farms try to ensure that the public are very aware of the perils and dangers that can occur if people fail to wash their hands after touching animals.
The farmers that were interviewed said that in light of the e.coli outbreak on a couple of farms last year, they had put up even more signs reminding people to wash their hands and one said that there was also a special area away from animals where people could picnic but many still chose to ignore these notices. This means that the public are deliberately putting themselves at risk.
What has happened to 'common sense'? I wonder if these people actually wash their hands after going to the toilet, or before meals, or after petting the family dog, especially if he has just given them a big sloppy lick after licking his b***s on the carpet. The answer is probably 'no' and yet some of the people that were affected by the e.coli are now going to sue the farms for compensation when in all probability they themselves were at fault, particularly if the parents did not supervise their children's handwashing.
It seems to be all about trying to get a lot of money for nothing and nobody seems to want to take responsibilities for their own actions anymore. Sadly, I think there are an awful lot of people in this country that need to grow up, stop blaming other people for their own shortfalls and come into the real world.
The farmers that were interviewed said that in light of the e.coli outbreak on a couple of farms last year, they had put up even more signs reminding people to wash their hands and one said that there was also a special area away from animals where people could picnic but many still chose to ignore these notices. This means that the public are deliberately putting themselves at risk.
What has happened to 'common sense'? I wonder if these people actually wash their hands after going to the toilet, or before meals, or after petting the family dog, especially if he has just given them a big sloppy lick after licking his b***s on the carpet. The answer is probably 'no' and yet some of the people that were affected by the e.coli are now going to sue the farms for compensation when in all probability they themselves were at fault, particularly if the parents did not supervise their children's handwashing.
It seems to be all about trying to get a lot of money for nothing and nobody seems to want to take responsibilities for their own actions anymore. Sadly, I think there are an awful lot of people in this country that need to grow up, stop blaming other people for their own shortfalls and come into the real world.
Friday, 20 August 2010
Watching pharmacy life!
I knew I had picked the wrong day but it had to be done. My prescription medicines last me two months and then I just have to take the slip into the surgery and I can collect the new one the following afternoon after 3:30pm so as I had left the request yesterday, I went over this afternoon to collect the new one.
There is a small pharmacy attached to the surgery so I normally take the prescription in there and wait while they put it up which takes about five to ten minutes. That is unless it's Friday afternoon. There always seems to be a large number of people visiting the doctors on a Friday and most of them end up in the pharmacy waiting for their prescriptions so if I collect mine on a Friday afternoon, I know I will have a long wait of about half an hour or so.
Today there were about ten people waiting when I went in there so the place was pretty crowded, however, one of the two chairs became vacant so I was lucky enough to be able to sit down while I was waiting. It soon became apparent that at least half of those waiting were the addicts who have to attend the pharmacy on a daily basis to take their methadone and Friday afternoon there always seem to be more of them. I suppose the pharmacist finds it easier to almost line them up and give them their 'scripts one by one but while they wait, you can see them becoming more and more agitated as well as louder and louder.
While I was sitting there 'observing' I became aware of a small child about two years old who was with her mother, but while mum was engaged in conversation with another lady, the child was busily putting small items into a little bag she was holding. When her mum realised what she was doing she was horrified and had to put everything back while the little girl screamed at the top of her voice! This, together with the addicts who were getting louder by the minute, was a recipe to give anyone a headache. Luckily the pharmacist soon dispensed and despatched the addicts and the next one to get her presciption was the mum with screaming child in tow.
Everything became quite peaceful then and I didn't have to wait much longer for my prescription, but my ears were still ringing until I got halfway home. Next time, I think I'll get everything at the start of the week.
There is a small pharmacy attached to the surgery so I normally take the prescription in there and wait while they put it up which takes about five to ten minutes. That is unless it's Friday afternoon. There always seems to be a large number of people visiting the doctors on a Friday and most of them end up in the pharmacy waiting for their prescriptions so if I collect mine on a Friday afternoon, I know I will have a long wait of about half an hour or so.
Today there were about ten people waiting when I went in there so the place was pretty crowded, however, one of the two chairs became vacant so I was lucky enough to be able to sit down while I was waiting. It soon became apparent that at least half of those waiting were the addicts who have to attend the pharmacy on a daily basis to take their methadone and Friday afternoon there always seem to be more of them. I suppose the pharmacist finds it easier to almost line them up and give them their 'scripts one by one but while they wait, you can see them becoming more and more agitated as well as louder and louder.
While I was sitting there 'observing' I became aware of a small child about two years old who was with her mother, but while mum was engaged in conversation with another lady, the child was busily putting small items into a little bag she was holding. When her mum realised what she was doing she was horrified and had to put everything back while the little girl screamed at the top of her voice! This, together with the addicts who were getting louder by the minute, was a recipe to give anyone a headache. Luckily the pharmacist soon dispensed and despatched the addicts and the next one to get her presciption was the mum with screaming child in tow.
Everything became quite peaceful then and I didn't have to wait much longer for my prescription, but my ears were still ringing until I got halfway home. Next time, I think I'll get everything at the start of the week.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Why bother with university?
As we know, the A level results are out today but there are limited university places to go around especially for those who don't get the grades they wanted. These days anyone even thinking about going to university really needs to think very hard before going down this route because at the end of it, most students will leave with debts up to £20,000 or even more.
This is just one heck of a stone around anyone's neck to face a future with and will have repercussions on the rest of their lives. Once they earn a certain amount they will have to start paying it back and it will also mean that they will be unlikely to afford their own home unless they are earning megabucks.
When I worked in the Jobcentre we would get the graduates in about July because they hadn't been able to find a job once they had finished their degrees. The problem with most of them was that they were not at all realistic about their prospects. They expected to get a job with massive wages but they had no work experience at all, not even from a part time job or voluntary work, had a degree in a subject that no employers were interested in and generally had no idea of what they actually wanted to do anyway!
I remember one young man in particular who couldn't get up in the morning to keep a 9am interview appointment with me to make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance, and when he did arrive late, he looked as though he had fallen out of bed and into the Jobcentre. He wasn't articulate at all and had a degree in history. When I asked him what he wanted to do with the rest of his life he told me he had no idea. Then I asked him if he was interested in using his degree and knowledge of history in his future employment, perhaps teaching or maybe even a curator of a museum, but he said he didn't want to do anything like that.
By this time I was beginning to lose the will to live so I asked him why on earth he had gone to university to read history in the first place. He told me he thought it was a good idea and it pleased his parents. He told me they had paid for everything while he was at university and they were supporting him now and he didn't really want to go to work!
This is where I really had to put my foot down. I pointed out that if he was claiming Jobseeker's Allowance he was expected to look for a minimum of three jobs every week and provide us with the details of the employers as we didn't pay people 'pocket money'. He thought for a few minutes then decided to withdraw his claim saying he didn't want to work and his parents would support him, then he left.
I certainly know what I would have done if he'd been my offspring and supporting him in a life of idleness wouldn't have come into it! All I can say is, he took up a university place that someone who could have really used the opportunity to the advantage of others but didn't quite get the grades, could have taken instead of him.
This is just one heck of a stone around anyone's neck to face a future with and will have repercussions on the rest of their lives. Once they earn a certain amount they will have to start paying it back and it will also mean that they will be unlikely to afford their own home unless they are earning megabucks.
When I worked in the Jobcentre we would get the graduates in about July because they hadn't been able to find a job once they had finished their degrees. The problem with most of them was that they were not at all realistic about their prospects. They expected to get a job with massive wages but they had no work experience at all, not even from a part time job or voluntary work, had a degree in a subject that no employers were interested in and generally had no idea of what they actually wanted to do anyway!
I remember one young man in particular who couldn't get up in the morning to keep a 9am interview appointment with me to make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance, and when he did arrive late, he looked as though he had fallen out of bed and into the Jobcentre. He wasn't articulate at all and had a degree in history. When I asked him what he wanted to do with the rest of his life he told me he had no idea. Then I asked him if he was interested in using his degree and knowledge of history in his future employment, perhaps teaching or maybe even a curator of a museum, but he said he didn't want to do anything like that.
By this time I was beginning to lose the will to live so I asked him why on earth he had gone to university to read history in the first place. He told me he thought it was a good idea and it pleased his parents. He told me they had paid for everything while he was at university and they were supporting him now and he didn't really want to go to work!
This is where I really had to put my foot down. I pointed out that if he was claiming Jobseeker's Allowance he was expected to look for a minimum of three jobs every week and provide us with the details of the employers as we didn't pay people 'pocket money'. He thought for a few minutes then decided to withdraw his claim saying he didn't want to work and his parents would support him, then he left.
I certainly know what I would have done if he'd been my offspring and supporting him in a life of idleness wouldn't have come into it! All I can say is, he took up a university place that someone who could have really used the opportunity to the advantage of others but didn't quite get the grades, could have taken instead of him.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Three cheers for the council workers!
On my way to the farmer's market this morning I could hear the sound of chainsaws and chippers (not something normally heard in the city) and as I approached the school, there were council workmen busy clearing everything that was spreading over the footpath.
I first complained about this in June and the lady from the council rang me back a week or so later to say that an inspector had been out and a letter had been sent to the school giving them fourteen days to clear it. Well they hadn't done so by the time school broke up for the holidays and the caretaker, who is supposed to maintain the grounds, was only watering the gardens that had been made for the children (who are on holiday!).
So I rang the council again and spoke to the same lady who said she would escalate the job and they would probably do it then charge the school. So this morning there was a team of council workers busily sawing, chipping and tidying up.
On my way back, I stopped and spoke to a couple of them to thank them for clearing the footpath so that the older people and mums with buggys could walk safely without getting caught up in brambles and vegetation, or stepping into the road which was nigh on impossible because of commuter parking.
At last I think I've got some value from all the council tax I pay and I think it's always polite to say 'thank you' when people do a good job.
I first complained about this in June and the lady from the council rang me back a week or so later to say that an inspector had been out and a letter had been sent to the school giving them fourteen days to clear it. Well they hadn't done so by the time school broke up for the holidays and the caretaker, who is supposed to maintain the grounds, was only watering the gardens that had been made for the children (who are on holiday!).
So I rang the council again and spoke to the same lady who said she would escalate the job and they would probably do it then charge the school. So this morning there was a team of council workers busily sawing, chipping and tidying up.
On my way back, I stopped and spoke to a couple of them to thank them for clearing the footpath so that the older people and mums with buggys could walk safely without getting caught up in brambles and vegetation, or stepping into the road which was nigh on impossible because of commuter parking.
At last I think I've got some value from all the council tax I pay and I think it's always polite to say 'thank you' when people do a good job.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Jungle fever!
For the past couple of weeks we have had quite a lot rain which has made not only the plants in the garden shoot up but the weeds as well. The trouble is that while the unsettled weather continues, I can't really get outside to do very much so I have had to leave everything to it's own devices.
The sunflowers now have faces that are as big as dinner plates and I haven't got a clue what to do with so many or how best to ripen them. I can leave them on the plants for the time being but they will have to be cut down by the end of September because they are crowding some of my perennials that will need attention.
The climbing roses were cut back very hard after they flowered in June and this year I had a spectacular display but they have put on at least four feet of growth and most of that has been over the last two weeks! I will still have to prune and shape them by October and then prune again in February next year.
I hope the weather dries up soon so that I can get out there to do some work otherwise I won't need gardening tools but a machete!
The sunflowers now have faces that are as big as dinner plates and I haven't got a clue what to do with so many or how best to ripen them. I can leave them on the plants for the time being but they will have to be cut down by the end of September because they are crowding some of my perennials that will need attention.
The climbing roses were cut back very hard after they flowered in June and this year I had a spectacular display but they have put on at least four feet of growth and most of that has been over the last two weeks! I will still have to prune and shape them by October and then prune again in February next year.
I hope the weather dries up soon so that I can get out there to do some work otherwise I won't need gardening tools but a machete!
Monday, 16 August 2010
Signs of a change
Over the last few days I've noticed that everything is slowly starting to change so autumn is not really too far away.
It isn't only the trees whose leaves are looking tired and beginning to turn brown round the edges, or the rowan berries turning bright red, the elderberries turning black and the brambles giving up their sweet autumn harvest of delicious blackberries. Nor is it the tomatoes ripening on the vine in the garden or the sunflower heads whose petals have served their purpose and attracted the bees to pollinate them ensuring plenty of seed for the birds for winter.
It isn't the sun slowly getting lower in the sky each day or the plants in the garden putting on a final spurt of growth before it's too late, nor is it the spider's webs that suddenly cross the doorway in the night so that they stick to your face in the morning when you venture outside.
It isn't the dew that is reappearing on the leaves in the early morning, or the slight chill that is just becoming perceptible in the late evening. Nor is it the shrill 'tick, tick, tick' call of the robin as he marks the boundaries of his winter territory.
It isn't any of these things but all of them together........along with the calendar which is rapidly running out of August!
It isn't only the trees whose leaves are looking tired and beginning to turn brown round the edges, or the rowan berries turning bright red, the elderberries turning black and the brambles giving up their sweet autumn harvest of delicious blackberries. Nor is it the tomatoes ripening on the vine in the garden or the sunflower heads whose petals have served their purpose and attracted the bees to pollinate them ensuring plenty of seed for the birds for winter.
It isn't the sun slowly getting lower in the sky each day or the plants in the garden putting on a final spurt of growth before it's too late, nor is it the spider's webs that suddenly cross the doorway in the night so that they stick to your face in the morning when you venture outside.
It isn't the dew that is reappearing on the leaves in the early morning, or the slight chill that is just becoming perceptible in the late evening. Nor is it the shrill 'tick, tick, tick' call of the robin as he marks the boundaries of his winter territory.
It isn't any of these things but all of them together........along with the calendar which is rapidly running out of August!
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Missing from home
All my little songbirds disappeared from the garden for a week or so because there was a sparrow hawk around in the area but they have now come back. However, I have noticed that they don't chirp as much when they come over to feed and neither do they spend most of the day in the garden as they used to. Perhaps they know that the noise also attracts him especially when they are enjoying their baths and feeding because they often have little scraps between themselves.
Now Squidge and Squish the squirrels have gone missing too. They haven't been over to feed for a few days, neither in the early morning or in the evening. This is most unusual because they have sometimes missed a day but they have never stayed away for this long so I hope that noting has happened to them.
It seems strange that none of the squirrels have been into the garden because they have been coming for several years and I think I have also had successive generations. They have had to find their way around various road and building works in the past so I don't think that's the problem this time. My biggest fear is that someone has put poison down or trapped them and disposed of them so I hope this isn't the case.
All I can do is wait to see if they return and I really don't think squirrels go on holiday either.
Now Squidge and Squish the squirrels have gone missing too. They haven't been over to feed for a few days, neither in the early morning or in the evening. This is most unusual because they have sometimes missed a day but they have never stayed away for this long so I hope that noting has happened to them.
It seems strange that none of the squirrels have been into the garden because they have been coming for several years and I think I have also had successive generations. They have had to find their way around various road and building works in the past so I don't think that's the problem this time. My biggest fear is that someone has put poison down or trapped them and disposed of them so I hope this isn't the case.
All I can do is wait to see if they return and I really don't think squirrels go on holiday either.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Trying to solve the puzzle
It's been a very wet day today and Eden is with me this weekend. I deliberately got everything done so that we didn't have to go out which meant we could spend time together doing whatever we liked.
Eden has brought over Amber's Rubiks Cube and we have spent the entire afternoon (as well as yesterday evening) trying to complete it. At one stage she had managed to complete one side and quite a lot on a couple of the other sides but then it got mixed up again.
I didn't mention that she also has some printed sheets on how to solve the puzzle but the instructions aren't very clear so we tried several things before we finally got the hang of it.
By the time we had dinner, she had almost solved it and only had one more side to complete and then something went very wrong so we are now almost back to square one with it.
Perhaps if we give it a rest and then get our heads together tomorrow we may get it finished before she goes home. Neither of us can let it go though because we're both determined to win!
Eden has brought over Amber's Rubiks Cube and we have spent the entire afternoon (as well as yesterday evening) trying to complete it. At one stage she had managed to complete one side and quite a lot on a couple of the other sides but then it got mixed up again.
I didn't mention that she also has some printed sheets on how to solve the puzzle but the instructions aren't very clear so we tried several things before we finally got the hang of it.
By the time we had dinner, she had almost solved it and only had one more side to complete and then something went very wrong so we are now almost back to square one with it.
Perhaps if we give it a rest and then get our heads together tomorrow we may get it finished before she goes home. Neither of us can let it go though because we're both determined to win!
Friday, 13 August 2010
To get it right
Very often I try to create a new recipe and most times the result is very good, but not always. Yesterday while I was baking bread I decided to use up a couple of lemons and some root ginger that I had in the fridge. It took me about five minutes to decide that I would like to try a lemon and ginger drizzle cake, after all, I do like lemon drizzle cake and lemon and ginger go well together so why not?
So I grated the ginger and the lemon zest then squeezed the juice from the lemons. The cake recipe is easy anyway as they are all pretty much standard and I decided to use the ginger as it was even though it is quite fibrous. I find that the powdered ginger is not always as strong as I would like, so some of both would probably work.
The cake was made and cooked and looked very good so then I decided to make the syrup to pour over when it came out of the oven. So using just lemon juice and sugar as I normally do, I put it on a low heat and stirred until the sugar was disolved then I left it while I did something else. When I came back the mixture was boiling so I took it off the heat and took the cake out of the oven.
This is the bit that wasn't quite right because I made deep cuts into the cake with a knife when I would normally puncture it all over with a skewer, then poured over the syrup. When the cake was cold and I cut it, the syrup wasn't distributed evenly throughout the cake and I think the syrup had boiled too long because it was a bit like lemon toffee through the cake but it tasted really good!
When I have perfected the recipe I will let you know.
So I grated the ginger and the lemon zest then squeezed the juice from the lemons. The cake recipe is easy anyway as they are all pretty much standard and I decided to use the ginger as it was even though it is quite fibrous. I find that the powdered ginger is not always as strong as I would like, so some of both would probably work.
The cake was made and cooked and looked very good so then I decided to make the syrup to pour over when it came out of the oven. So using just lemon juice and sugar as I normally do, I put it on a low heat and stirred until the sugar was disolved then I left it while I did something else. When I came back the mixture was boiling so I took it off the heat and took the cake out of the oven.
This is the bit that wasn't quite right because I made deep cuts into the cake with a knife when I would normally puncture it all over with a skewer, then poured over the syrup. When the cake was cold and I cut it, the syrup wasn't distributed evenly throughout the cake and I think the syrup had boiled too long because it was a bit like lemon toffee through the cake but it tasted really good!
When I have perfected the recipe I will let you know.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
There's a perfectly good explanation!
Every two weeks on a Thursday just before lunch, the window cleaner comes and I get him to clean the front windows for me. Today, I didn't hear him until he knocked at the door when he had finished.
I came through from the kitchen, a bit breathless and opened the door then handed him the money. He said he thought I was out because I usually hear him and we have a chat so he asked if I was alright. I told him that I was fine and asked him if he wanted to see something special!
Then I led him through to the kitchen where he got on his hands and knees on the floor looking out the backdoor. Now this is where Emma has a fit wondering what the hell I'm doing with the window cleaner (in his shorts) on his hands and knees in my kithchen!
The answer is quite simple. I had been cooking and Whizzy's kids had been outside zooming backwards and forwards because I had put a teaspoon of the bird's seed outside and they had been eating it so I had been trying to get some pictures. There are two raised pots outside, one with rosemary in and the other the opposite side with my bay tree and these two little dots were going back, one under each pot, to eat the seed. That's why the window cleaner was on his hands and knees in my kitchen this lunchtime!
I did try to get a picture of both of them together but they move so quickly that I wasn't able to. One of them is slightly larger and quicker than the other and the pictures below are of the smaller one. It is a little over an inch long but even the window cleaner agreed that these are the cutest little things he's seen for a long time!
I came through from the kitchen, a bit breathless and opened the door then handed him the money. He said he thought I was out because I usually hear him and we have a chat so he asked if I was alright. I told him that I was fine and asked him if he wanted to see something special!
Then I led him through to the kitchen where he got on his hands and knees on the floor looking out the backdoor. Now this is where Emma has a fit wondering what the hell I'm doing with the window cleaner (in his shorts) on his hands and knees in my kithchen!
The answer is quite simple. I had been cooking and Whizzy's kids had been outside zooming backwards and forwards because I had put a teaspoon of the bird's seed outside and they had been eating it so I had been trying to get some pictures. There are two raised pots outside, one with rosemary in and the other the opposite side with my bay tree and these two little dots were going back, one under each pot, to eat the seed. That's why the window cleaner was on his hands and knees in my kitchen this lunchtime!
I did try to get a picture of both of them together but they move so quickly that I wasn't able to. One of them is slightly larger and quicker than the other and the pictures below are of the smaller one. It is a little over an inch long but even the window cleaner agreed that these are the cutest little things he's seen for a long time!
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
No palm oil power for me
Over the last few days there has been a lot of discussion about a company that wants to build a power station at Avonmouth. Nothing wrong with that really because it's already a highly industrialised area and provides a lot of jobs especially with the work in the docks.
The real problem is that they will be producing power from palm oil which means that even more of the rain forest will be spoiled in places such as Borneo destroying the natural habitat of the orang utan and also the natives. The planning committee of the city council were against this and there have also been numerous protests from everyone including Greenpeace.
BUT, the chief planning officer (or some other overpaid puppet) has said something along the lines of what happens the other side of the world is nothing to do with us so has agreed for the project to go ahead.
I would beg to disagree with this numpty, whoever he may be. It is the responsibility of everyone on this earth to preserve what we have, even if it isn't directly on our doorstep. The human race is solely responsible for destroying much of our planet and it's atmosphere, ruining habitats and causing the extinction of thousands upon thousands of species, many that haven't even been discovered.
If we don't protect what we have now, then future generations will be left wanting. We and our ancestors have pillaged the earth for the treasures it holds to within an inch of it's life, so it's now up to us to make amends and find some other way of creating what we want without destroying anything else.
Fortunately, the battle for this power station is not over as I believe there are a few more hurdles to clear, so let's hope that everyone concerned sees sense.
The real problem is that they will be producing power from palm oil which means that even more of the rain forest will be spoiled in places such as Borneo destroying the natural habitat of the orang utan and also the natives. The planning committee of the city council were against this and there have also been numerous protests from everyone including Greenpeace.
BUT, the chief planning officer (or some other overpaid puppet) has said something along the lines of what happens the other side of the world is nothing to do with us so has agreed for the project to go ahead.
I would beg to disagree with this numpty, whoever he may be. It is the responsibility of everyone on this earth to preserve what we have, even if it isn't directly on our doorstep. The human race is solely responsible for destroying much of our planet and it's atmosphere, ruining habitats and causing the extinction of thousands upon thousands of species, many that haven't even been discovered.
If we don't protect what we have now, then future generations will be left wanting. We and our ancestors have pillaged the earth for the treasures it holds to within an inch of it's life, so it's now up to us to make amends and find some other way of creating what we want without destroying anything else.
Fortunately, the battle for this power station is not over as I believe there are a few more hurdles to clear, so let's hope that everyone concerned sees sense.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Driving me crazy
We have always had problems with commuter parking here where I live and since the area was made a 'home zone' five or six years ago the problems have got far worse. A home zone is where cars and pedestrians share the same surface so there are not many pavements with kerbs and parking bays are in a different coloured brickwork because there are also no yellow lines or road signs on poles, except at the entrances to the area.
A lot of the commuters work in the new offices that have been built on the re-development sites close by and some even park here and travel away on the train because the railway station is also very near.
So they all start arriving from 7am to try to get somewhere to park and most of them cannot park properly anyway. Every day while I'm having a cup of tea I can hear them revving up and taking ages just to get their cars into a space. Sometimes, I look out of the window and watch them while they struggle because there are times when any normal person with a blindfold on could park a double decker bus in the space they are aiming for while they can't even get their tiny cars in the same space.
It can quite often be hilarious watching, especially when I hear a 'souped' up small car trying to sound like a formula one racing car with the driver struggling to get it into a space three times as long. Then when the driver emerges, it's some young lad who swaggers off looking really pleased with himself because he managed to park!
Some of the older drivers have difficulty too. I watched one yesterday stuggling to squeeze his small car into a space that was nowhere near big enough but he didn't give up, he parked the front half in the space and left the back end up on the pavement in front of a planter!
Some are so badly parked that they cause an obstruction and that's when the statutory fines are stuck on the windscreens by the local Police Community Support Officers, or towed away if they can get the lorry down here. Sometimes I wonder if these people ever passed a driving test!
A lot of the commuters work in the new offices that have been built on the re-development sites close by and some even park here and travel away on the train because the railway station is also very near.
So they all start arriving from 7am to try to get somewhere to park and most of them cannot park properly anyway. Every day while I'm having a cup of tea I can hear them revving up and taking ages just to get their cars into a space. Sometimes, I look out of the window and watch them while they struggle because there are times when any normal person with a blindfold on could park a double decker bus in the space they are aiming for while they can't even get their tiny cars in the same space.
It can quite often be hilarious watching, especially when I hear a 'souped' up small car trying to sound like a formula one racing car with the driver struggling to get it into a space three times as long. Then when the driver emerges, it's some young lad who swaggers off looking really pleased with himself because he managed to park!
Some of the older drivers have difficulty too. I watched one yesterday stuggling to squeeze his small car into a space that was nowhere near big enough but he didn't give up, he parked the front half in the space and left the back end up on the pavement in front of a planter!
Some are so badly parked that they cause an obstruction and that's when the statutory fines are stuck on the windscreens by the local Police Community Support Officers, or towed away if they can get the lorry down here. Sometimes I wonder if these people ever passed a driving test!
Monday, 9 August 2010
It pays to complain
Throughout my life I have been scolded by my children and now Eden has started to do the same. Why do I find myself in trouble with them? It's easy. I complain if something is wrong! It doesn't matter whether it's branches overhanging pavements that nearly poke my eyes out, bad service in a shop or something that falls to pieces the first time it is used or worn.
This morning was a bit different though because I really didn't expect the outcome that I got.
When I retired last July I bought myself a leather shoulder bag from Clarks, the shoe shop when I was buying Eden a pair of shoes for school. It was the most expensive bag that I have ever bought and it's absolutely perfect. Nothing has fallen to pieces or broken on it so I expect you are wondering why I complained.
Well, I didn't exactly complain, I just wanted to find out what I could do about the problem. When Eden was with me last week she pointed out that the front of the bag looked olive green. At first we thought it might be the light but it was the same in any light. Not too much of a problem but as I had paid a lot for the bag, I decided to go into Clarks and show them.
The lady that I saw was as puzzled as I was and she tried a little cream polish on the flap but it made no difference. So she said they would replace it and asked me to take a seat while she removed the packaging from a brand new one which she then gave to me so that I could take my things out of the one I bought last year and change it over.
Three cheers for Clarks! I never expected that and I think that's just about the very best of customer service, especially as I didn't have the original receipt.
NEWS FLASH: Whizzy the woodmouse must have had babies because when I went out to pick some mint this afternoon, I frightened this tiny wee thing the size of a small cotton wool ball and it tried to hide behind a flower pot!
This morning was a bit different though because I really didn't expect the outcome that I got.
When I retired last July I bought myself a leather shoulder bag from Clarks, the shoe shop when I was buying Eden a pair of shoes for school. It was the most expensive bag that I have ever bought and it's absolutely perfect. Nothing has fallen to pieces or broken on it so I expect you are wondering why I complained.
Well, I didn't exactly complain, I just wanted to find out what I could do about the problem. When Eden was with me last week she pointed out that the front of the bag looked olive green. At first we thought it might be the light but it was the same in any light. Not too much of a problem but as I had paid a lot for the bag, I decided to go into Clarks and show them.
The lady that I saw was as puzzled as I was and she tried a little cream polish on the flap but it made no difference. So she said they would replace it and asked me to take a seat while she removed the packaging from a brand new one which she then gave to me so that I could take my things out of the one I bought last year and change it over.
Three cheers for Clarks! I never expected that and I think that's just about the very best of customer service, especially as I didn't have the original receipt.
NEWS FLASH: Whizzy the woodmouse must have had babies because when I went out to pick some mint this afternoon, I frightened this tiny wee thing the size of a small cotton wool ball and it tried to hide behind a flower pot!
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Free for all
As it was the last day of Eden's 'holiday' today, we decided to take Tinkerbell for a walk down to the floating harbour to feed the swans after lunch. Besides, as none of the birds have been seen for a few days I had plenty of bread that I had bought for them so I thought it would get rid of that too. The sparrow hawks must still be around because I have noticed that the larger birds such as the collared doves, wood pigeons and magpies are also absent from the area as well as the garden birds and song birds.
Anyway, I pulled the bread into small pieces and we set off. It was a pleasant walk across Castle green following the river and eventually we arrived at the spot where we have fed the swans before. At first there were only four but we could see across the river on the pontoons there were quite a lot more and I knew that once they realised someone was feeding the others, they too would come across.
So I threw the first handful of bread to the swans knowing full well what would happen. Suddenly, all hell broke loose as a large number of herring gulls and their offspring screeched, flapped and fought their way to try to get the bread from the swans. The commotion took Tinkerbell by surprise especially when the ferile pigeons arrived and tried to catch any crumbs that fell from the bag right under her nose!
The swans that had been preening themselves on the pontoons soon arrived like the cavalry and luckily I was able to throw the bread so that it fell amongst them and not the gulls. I think the swans have 'wised up' to the behaviour of the gulls because they appear to get into a tight formation, almost like a tight circle, which means the gulls have got less chance of getting a free meal at their expense.
When all the bread was gone, the adolescent seagulls went back to the middle of the river just leaving the swans near the wharf looking for anything they may have missed, the pigeons waddled about on the ground looking for anything they might have missed, while the adult gulls circled around with their evil beady eyes on the footpath looking out for any more suspect bags of food that might be being carried!
Anyway, I pulled the bread into small pieces and we set off. It was a pleasant walk across Castle green following the river and eventually we arrived at the spot where we have fed the swans before. At first there were only four but we could see across the river on the pontoons there were quite a lot more and I knew that once they realised someone was feeding the others, they too would come across.
So I threw the first handful of bread to the swans knowing full well what would happen. Suddenly, all hell broke loose as a large number of herring gulls and their offspring screeched, flapped and fought their way to try to get the bread from the swans. The commotion took Tinkerbell by surprise especially when the ferile pigeons arrived and tried to catch any crumbs that fell from the bag right under her nose!
The swans that had been preening themselves on the pontoons soon arrived like the cavalry and luckily I was able to throw the bread so that it fell amongst them and not the gulls. I think the swans have 'wised up' to the behaviour of the gulls because they appear to get into a tight formation, almost like a tight circle, which means the gulls have got less chance of getting a free meal at their expense.
When all the bread was gone, the adolescent seagulls went back to the middle of the river just leaving the swans near the wharf looking for anything they may have missed, the pigeons waddled about on the ground looking for anything they might have missed, while the adult gulls circled around with their evil beady eyes on the footpath looking out for any more suspect bags of food that might be being carried!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Tasty memories!
Isn't it strange the way that a certain smell or taste can instantly revive memories of a day or event way back in childhood when something that wasn't necessarily memorable suddenly takes centre stage in your mind. It was like that this evening when Eden and I had our dessert. I had made a blackberry and apple crumble from the berries that we picked yesterday and although it was a simple dish, it took me back to when I was about nine years old.
In those days, we used to have to wear our 'Sunday best' clothes and I had to take my sister to mass in the morning. When we got home, we could go out to play but we had to keep our clothes pristine so Sundays were limited to skipping and games where we didn't get grubby or untidy.
After a Sunday roast for lunch, about this time of year, we would all be made to change into our scruffiest clothes and a pair of wellies, even if the weather was scorching. Then we were given a stick and a basket and all of us, Mum and Dad and five children would traipse off to a hill where brambles grew all along the lower hedges around the bottom of the hill and some further up. The farmer used to graze his cows here and that was the reason for the wellies.
Mum and Dad would pick the berries from the higher branches and we were all given a patch to pick according to age and height. My youngest sister was about three and my older brother was fifteen so I think you could say we had everything covered! At the end of the afternoon, we would all go home and have tea then Mum would weigh everyone's basket to see who had picked the most.
During the next couple of days Mum would pick over and wash the berries then make a large blackberry and apple crumble which we would have mid-week and the rest would be made into jam or bramble jelly. As we were a large family, Mum would buy the ten pound sweet jars from the sweet shop for a few shillings and all our jams and marmalades were stored in these.
We used to go blackberrying every weekend when the weather allowed and sometimes I used to go with Dad on a Saturday just to get enough for a pudding on Sunday and to let Mum know if it would be worth us all going on a trip the following day to gather the free harvest.
In the depths of winter, (in those days we used to get really cold winters and we had no central heating,) we could enjoy the taste of autumn sunshine when we had that wonderful rich, dark fruity jam on our toast or home-made scones, mmmmmmm!
The taste of that crumble tonight brought all this back to me. I think it's sad that today families don't enjoy these simple pleasures together anymore. They dispense with church and make do with a quick trip to the supermarket for a ready made pudding which is invariably full of additives and too much fat and sugar then they sit in front of the television to eat. They don't know what they're missing.
In those days, we used to have to wear our 'Sunday best' clothes and I had to take my sister to mass in the morning. When we got home, we could go out to play but we had to keep our clothes pristine so Sundays were limited to skipping and games where we didn't get grubby or untidy.
After a Sunday roast for lunch, about this time of year, we would all be made to change into our scruffiest clothes and a pair of wellies, even if the weather was scorching. Then we were given a stick and a basket and all of us, Mum and Dad and five children would traipse off to a hill where brambles grew all along the lower hedges around the bottom of the hill and some further up. The farmer used to graze his cows here and that was the reason for the wellies.
Mum and Dad would pick the berries from the higher branches and we were all given a patch to pick according to age and height. My youngest sister was about three and my older brother was fifteen so I think you could say we had everything covered! At the end of the afternoon, we would all go home and have tea then Mum would weigh everyone's basket to see who had picked the most.
During the next couple of days Mum would pick over and wash the berries then make a large blackberry and apple crumble which we would have mid-week and the rest would be made into jam or bramble jelly. As we were a large family, Mum would buy the ten pound sweet jars from the sweet shop for a few shillings and all our jams and marmalades were stored in these.
We used to go blackberrying every weekend when the weather allowed and sometimes I used to go with Dad on a Saturday just to get enough for a pudding on Sunday and to let Mum know if it would be worth us all going on a trip the following day to gather the free harvest.
In the depths of winter, (in those days we used to get really cold winters and we had no central heating,) we could enjoy the taste of autumn sunshine when we had that wonderful rich, dark fruity jam on our toast or home-made scones, mmmmmmm!
The taste of that crumble tonight brought all this back to me. I think it's sad that today families don't enjoy these simple pleasures together anymore. They dispense with church and make do with a quick trip to the supermarket for a ready made pudding which is invariably full of additives and too much fat and sugar then they sit in front of the television to eat. They don't know what they're missing.
Friday, 6 August 2010
Faggots, blackberries and bathing the dog!
This morning I had a good rummage around in the freezer because I knew I had some faggots in there somewhere and I did find them eventually. I had to remove a drawer and found the two faggots hidden at the back where they couldn't be seen because of the tray on the top. The fridge freezer is one that you don't have to defrost but I do like to take everything out and wipe the drawers from time to time. It wasn't only the faggots that I discovered but also a rather large duckbreast which I had completely forgotten about. As it's been in there for a long time it is destined to be dinner next weekend when Eden and I will have a chinese style meal.
She is coming to the end of her week's holiday and will go home on Sunday evening but until then we also have the dog, Tinkerbell, who arrived at lunchtime. Sarah dropped her off on her way to the North for a couple of days and when she returns on Sunday she will collect the pair of them.
So after we had lunch we took the dog for a walk up the cycle track which is nearby and discovered quite a lot of blackberries which made us return home to get a basin. Dog walked and basin full of blackberries we returned home and gave the berries a really good wash so that I can make a crumble tomorrow when I do some baking.
I had been asked to help Eden bath the dog as she was a bit smelly, so we dumped her in the bath and gave her a good shampoo. After drying and brushing her I had to trim her hair around her face so that she could see properly. Now I can add 'dog groomer' to my cv along with all the other things I have done in my lifetime.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Killer in waiting
For a couple of weeks now the flock of sparrows that had been coming into the garden regularly throughout the day seem to have deserted me. It isn't only them but also the small blue tits and hedge sparrows. Even when I go outside and listen it is very difficult to hear any birdsong in the local area apart from the wretched seagulls that wake me at 4am and continue their manic squawking throughout the day because they have their young around.
Yesterday evening I spotted the real reason for the silence and lack of hungry feathered friends to the bird table. On the roof across the road, in the bright evening sunshine sat that blessed sparrow hawk. It did look a splendid sight but unfortunately I think this is a particularly stupid member of this species because no little bird in it's right mind is going to fly anywhere near the vicinity of these houses where it is likely to end up as dinner for the sparrow hawk.
I don't think it realises that when it sits right on the top of the roof it's like a beacon and every little bird within a half mile distance can spot it for the predator it is so they are not likely to take any risks because they are smarter than that!
Perhaps someone could point it in the direction of the city centre where it will find a plentiful supply of ferile pigeons that will make a better meal than my little sparrows. It's just a pity that it isn't big enough to tackle the blessed seagulls because there are more than enough of them. They are messy, as I know only too well, and noisy and they should all be chased back out to sea. Not only that, I don't trust the blighters when they are on the ground as they give you the 'evil eye' as you walk past and look as though they are going to peck your eyes out.
Yesterday evening I spotted the real reason for the silence and lack of hungry feathered friends to the bird table. On the roof across the road, in the bright evening sunshine sat that blessed sparrow hawk. It did look a splendid sight but unfortunately I think this is a particularly stupid member of this species because no little bird in it's right mind is going to fly anywhere near the vicinity of these houses where it is likely to end up as dinner for the sparrow hawk.
I don't think it realises that when it sits right on the top of the roof it's like a beacon and every little bird within a half mile distance can spot it for the predator it is so they are not likely to take any risks because they are smarter than that!
Perhaps someone could point it in the direction of the city centre where it will find a plentiful supply of ferile pigeons that will make a better meal than my little sparrows. It's just a pity that it isn't big enough to tackle the blessed seagulls because there are more than enough of them. They are messy, as I know only too well, and noisy and they should all be chased back out to sea. Not only that, I don't trust the blighters when they are on the ground as they give you the 'evil eye' as you walk past and look as though they are going to peck your eyes out.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
The biggest con of all
Well, we all buy washing powder, tablets or liquid for the washing machine but what I didn't realise is these products are not designed to get the washing clean. My experience also tells me that today's washing products don't work as well as those of thirty to forty years ago because they don't remove any stains or marks regardless of how light or heavy they are.
No! You now have to buy a separate product as well to remove stains! The advert says 'trust pink, forget stains', but I have tried it and it doesn't work. If you want your whites to stay white, then you need another additional product for that too.
So there you are with the washing powder ( heaven knows what it's purpose is), the stain remover powder to get off the tomato ketchup that you spilled down your best shirt last night, and the stuff that keeps your whites white. You put it all in the washing machine together with the fabric softener, oh! and the stuff to stop your washing machine scaling up and leaking all over the floor, then start the machine. By the time you've put in all the products that are supposed to help you get the whitest, cleanest wash ever, you can't get anything else in the machine so washing becomes a slow, expensive process!
What many people don't realise is all these products are manufactured by the same company, so it's money in their shareholder's pockets and out of ours. I think we should all complain to Trading Standards about products that do not perform the way we are led to believe on all the advertising. If every women went down this road, the manufacturers would soon come up with something that works.
Now I'm of to the local river to bash my spaghetti covered shirt on a stone....much cheaper!
Oh! If you have a dishwasher, you can now buy special tablets to clean the dishwasher.....WHAT?!
No! You now have to buy a separate product as well to remove stains! The advert says 'trust pink, forget stains', but I have tried it and it doesn't work. If you want your whites to stay white, then you need another additional product for that too.
So there you are with the washing powder ( heaven knows what it's purpose is), the stain remover powder to get off the tomato ketchup that you spilled down your best shirt last night, and the stuff that keeps your whites white. You put it all in the washing machine together with the fabric softener, oh! and the stuff to stop your washing machine scaling up and leaking all over the floor, then start the machine. By the time you've put in all the products that are supposed to help you get the whitest, cleanest wash ever, you can't get anything else in the machine so washing becomes a slow, expensive process!
What many people don't realise is all these products are manufactured by the same company, so it's money in their shareholder's pockets and out of ours. I think we should all complain to Trading Standards about products that do not perform the way we are led to believe on all the advertising. If every women went down this road, the manufacturers would soon come up with something that works.
Now I'm of to the local river to bash my spaghetti covered shirt on a stone....much cheaper!
Oh! If you have a dishwasher, you can now buy special tablets to clean the dishwasher.....WHAT?!
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Retail therapy and posh cakes
Today we went out to the shops because Eden wanted to look for something to wear to a party that she is going to in a week or so. We had a little list of what she needed and decided which order to visit the shops we wanted to look in so that we didn't walk too far or cover the ground too many times.
As I usually only ever go shopping for necessary items, I never bother to look in most shops and I have certainly not been to the new ultra posh and extremely expensive shopping centre that was opened two years ago. That is, until today. We were looking for New Look clothes shop and it is in the middle of the shopping centre but the biggest problem with this is that we had to go past the poshest cake shop I have ever seen!
I know that Emma is particularly fond of cakes and this would 'blow her mind', so if she wants to come down and stay with me for a few days I could take her there and treat her to tea. BUT she would need to let me know well in advance because I kid you not, these cakes are not only beautiful but they are very, very expensive. Eden and I stood looking in the window at the glorious array which knock Greg's into a cocked hat! Finally we tore ourselves away with a promise that if we both lost a lot of weight, we would go back and treat ourselves.
We eventually got into New Look and looked around their sale items but it looked like a lot of very expensive rubbish. I don't think that any of the junk they had in the sale had ever been on sale in the store, if it had been they would have closed down because no-one in their right mind would ever buy that tat.
Eden did eventually get what she wanted but not in the posh shopping centre, it was in one of the more modestly priced stores. It just goes to show that if you look around you can usually find a bargain that doesn't cost a fortune.
As I usually only ever go shopping for necessary items, I never bother to look in most shops and I have certainly not been to the new ultra posh and extremely expensive shopping centre that was opened two years ago. That is, until today. We were looking for New Look clothes shop and it is in the middle of the shopping centre but the biggest problem with this is that we had to go past the poshest cake shop I have ever seen!
I know that Emma is particularly fond of cakes and this would 'blow her mind', so if she wants to come down and stay with me for a few days I could take her there and treat her to tea. BUT she would need to let me know well in advance because I kid you not, these cakes are not only beautiful but they are very, very expensive. Eden and I stood looking in the window at the glorious array which knock Greg's into a cocked hat! Finally we tore ourselves away with a promise that if we both lost a lot of weight, we would go back and treat ourselves.
We eventually got into New Look and looked around their sale items but it looked like a lot of very expensive rubbish. I don't think that any of the junk they had in the sale had ever been on sale in the store, if it had been they would have closed down because no-one in their right mind would ever buy that tat.
Eden did eventually get what she wanted but not in the posh shopping centre, it was in one of the more modestly priced stores. It just goes to show that if you look around you can usually find a bargain that doesn't cost a fortune.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Stocking up
Since I retired I keep my eyes open for things that I use regularly being on offer. This is a good way to save a few pounds but I've discovered that you need quite a lot of room especially if you are buying bulky items.
Cleaning and washing products have been the most popular buys just lately because some had been on offer for quite a long time. I haven't had to buy any washing up liquid for a couple of months and probably won't need to until somewhen around about Christmas time because in one shop I found they had it on offer for a month. Every time I went in I bought another bottle because I was getting twice as much for the same price I was paying in Tesco.
Today I bought an enormous box of washing powder and two bottles of fabric softener for half the price so I won't need to get more for a few months but it just takes up quite a bit of room under the stairs though!
Shampoo and hair conditioner are other things that I buy when they have BOGOF's and I think it must be time for someone to have those on offer again quite soon because I have nearly used up the last lot!
A few weeks ago I also found a good offer on canned tuna and am slowly eating my way through that, I had eight tins! Baked beans are another item that often come up on a good deal.
It does pay to keep your eyes open when you are out shopping to see who has the best deal but I draw the line at going to areas where I don't normally shop just to get a bargain.
Cleaning and washing products have been the most popular buys just lately because some had been on offer for quite a long time. I haven't had to buy any washing up liquid for a couple of months and probably won't need to until somewhen around about Christmas time because in one shop I found they had it on offer for a month. Every time I went in I bought another bottle because I was getting twice as much for the same price I was paying in Tesco.
Today I bought an enormous box of washing powder and two bottles of fabric softener for half the price so I won't need to get more for a few months but it just takes up quite a bit of room under the stairs though!
Shampoo and hair conditioner are other things that I buy when they have BOGOF's and I think it must be time for someone to have those on offer again quite soon because I have nearly used up the last lot!
A few weeks ago I also found a good offer on canned tuna and am slowly eating my way through that, I had eight tins! Baked beans are another item that often come up on a good deal.
It does pay to keep your eyes open when you are out shopping to see who has the best deal but I draw the line at going to areas where I don't normally shop just to get a bargain.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
The phantom snorer!
Over the last two days the harbour festival has been in full swing not too far from here and is usually attended by several thousand people. It does go on until 10pm when they end the day's events with a big fireworks display which we have seen so many times from my bedroom window, but since the new development has been built across the road we can only hear them now.
Last night it ended as usual and I think a lot of people then move on to the various bars (if they still have capacity) or clubs. Very often I hear them coming home worse for wear and singing, shouting or talking very loud.
However, last night it was fairly quiet because I wasn't woken until 5:30am this morning and then it was because I could hear someone having a really good cough. It sounded as though he had something sticking in his throat but when I looked out of the window I couldn't see where the noise was coming from.
I went to the bathroom and when I got back into bed the coughing has stopped and everything was quiet. I started to drop off and then I heard another unfamiliar noise. It was snoring, very loud snoring! I listened for a moment and got out of bed again and went to Eden's bedroom door and looked in as she was the only other person in the house and I knew it wasn't me! Eden was sleeping quietly so it wasn't her either.
Again I looked out but couldn't see anyone so I got back into bed and tried to go back to sleep. But you know how it is when your mind starts saying 'What if it's someone who's been taken very ill? Should I ring the police? Perhaps I should go downstairs and look out of the front door to see if I can see anyone and then ring the police'. While this was going over and over in my mind the snoring stopped as suddenly as it had started then you get more nagging doubts 'Is he alright? What if he's unconscious! Should I really call the police?'.
Eventually I thought 'Oh what the hell! If someone's got that drunk that he lies down in the street to sleep it off it's his problem and not mine!'.
Then I went back to sleep and the mystery will remain!
Last night it ended as usual and I think a lot of people then move on to the various bars (if they still have capacity) or clubs. Very often I hear them coming home worse for wear and singing, shouting or talking very loud.
However, last night it was fairly quiet because I wasn't woken until 5:30am this morning and then it was because I could hear someone having a really good cough. It sounded as though he had something sticking in his throat but when I looked out of the window I couldn't see where the noise was coming from.
I went to the bathroom and when I got back into bed the coughing has stopped and everything was quiet. I started to drop off and then I heard another unfamiliar noise. It was snoring, very loud snoring! I listened for a moment and got out of bed again and went to Eden's bedroom door and looked in as she was the only other person in the house and I knew it wasn't me! Eden was sleeping quietly so it wasn't her either.
Again I looked out but couldn't see anyone so I got back into bed and tried to go back to sleep. But you know how it is when your mind starts saying 'What if it's someone who's been taken very ill? Should I ring the police? Perhaps I should go downstairs and look out of the front door to see if I can see anyone and then ring the police'. While this was going over and over in my mind the snoring stopped as suddenly as it had started then you get more nagging doubts 'Is he alright? What if he's unconscious! Should I really call the police?'.
Eventually I thought 'Oh what the hell! If someone's got that drunk that he lies down in the street to sleep it off it's his problem and not mine!'.
Then I went back to sleep and the mystery will remain!
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