Musings of an aging fan

On Friday evening, we went over to Toddington to dinner - after all, we've got to check out the pubs before next weekend ;-) Creatrix had chicken with chorizo, and I had an absolutely huge beef and vegetable pie - I left about a third of it, and couldn't face a pudding, which shows how big it was!

On Saturday, up late, and the usual round of chores. Then a fry-up brunch, and to Leicester for the rugby. The weather was glorious - we had both dressed too warmly - and we saw Tigers put in a convincing display to beat Worcester 28 - 20. Tigger enjoyed it too, and mostly managed to curb his bouncing ;-) We were lucky with the trains on the way back, and were home by quarter past six.

Then dinner - lamb steaks, potatoes and onions cooked in lamb stock, and rice pudding :-) And the other rugby - disappointing that England couldn't win, but there's no shame in losing to the Springboks in the final, and at least we didn't let South Africa put any tries past us this time.

Today, we really should tidy the house up a bit, and I've a few more things to list on eBay if I can get round to it. What would be really helpful is if I could go to the post office today - I shall just have to be organised tomorrow, I suppose.

I'm still chuffed about the Vulcan :-) I wonder how many airshows I can persuade Creatrix to come to next year ... ? ;-)

Did I get round to booking Oxonmoot before the closing date for early registrations? Nah. Did I get round to sending in my tax return before the end-September deadline? Nah. Will I manage to book Eastercon? What do you think ;-) (Do you reckon Tigger would like to go?)

Seen on the train a few days ago: a guy wearing what I can only describe as a chainmail tie.

Now, I think I have a date with a kettle, a tea-pot and some Assam ...

We've had quite a busy weekend.

( Friday )

( Saturday )

( Sunday )

Creatrix and I both spent yesterday at home, with colds. Hers is a bit better today, and she has gone off to London to watch the ballet with her mother. Mine ... isn't. Thank you for everyone's good wishes yesterday - they are appreciated!

From today's "Independent":
"So bright and cheerful, this canvas tote from River Island could turn a wet Isle of Wight into a tropical paradise." So that's where we were going wrong last weekend.

From Wikipedia:
- the T-34 tank was in use by 27 countries as late as 1996
- some (Napoleonic-era) Baker rifles were released from the stores of the Royal Nepalese Army in 2004 - Wikipedia does report that many had deteriorated beyond recovery, although this implies that some had not.

And from "Spitfire: The Biography":
- a Syrian spitfire was destroyed by the Israeli Air Force in 1967 (although the book notes that this may have been a mascot or gate guard).

ETA: Did you know that TV aerials can be used as trampolines? I didn't either, but two collared doves seem to think that's what ours is for.

I'm in Preston for an audit / risk meeting, while Creatrix is in Stockton on Tees for a conference.

Tomorrow to the doctor for my elbow; Friday to the dentist for a clean.

That's it really.

... as soon as it gets cold, I lose both pairs of gloves?*
... the lightbulbs to blow are always the really specialised ones that you can't buy at the corner shop or supermarket?
... the day you want to leave work early, you get a phone call just as you're about to go?
... the compost you think will make a nice warm home for your seeds turns out to be a nice warm home for something else - something with a long tail?**
... the Magnus Magnusson tribute programme seems to include clips of every Mastermind champion bar one - the one you're related to?***
... the general feeling of under-the-weather-ness arrives just a few days before what will be, without a doubt, the social highlight of the year?

EDIT:
*which then turn up as soon as I've bought a new pair; oh well, at least now I've got one pair to leave at home, one pair to leave at the office, and one pair to leave on the train.
**and the Council's pest control service now charge £39.50 to deal with these things; and I'm going to have to be at home to sign for the poisons.
***although he says he caught a glimpse of himself.

My day off on Friday did me the world of good. On Saturday, I decided I was well enough to partake of the activities we had planned.

( The Tower of London )

( Alice in Pantoland )

And so the day ended; I was tired, but not unduly so. Still, we managed to sleep late this morning, waking around 8.30. Today, we will be catching up with the chores, writing a couple of letters, going to church (Christingle service this afternoon), swimming, &c.

After going to a friend's baby's christening and a cousin's wedding a few weeks ago, today it was time for a funeral. She and her partner had been a very good friend of my parents for several years. I wasn't sure until today whether I would be able to go, but I'm glad I did, even though it was at the cost of an early trip into work today, probably the same tomorrow, and another on Saturday.

I got to the church a few minutes before the service was due to start, to take one of the last available seats - later-comers weren't so lucky. Looking round, I saw my mother in the congregation, and several other familiar faces; my father was one of the pall-bearers.

The service was extremely moving - I cried a little on a couple of occasions, which I don't normally do at funerals. Several people were involved - her partner read a eulogy; the priest read some words of the deceased's mother, as well as her own address; there was guitar music and readings from friends, as well as a recording from her brother in Australia. At the end, the bells were rung with muffled clappers. And their springer spaniel came into the church for the service.

Then over to the churchyard (actually a little way away, past the allotments and across a road) for the interment. I don't envy the Sexton, as the graveyard is sited on the local ironstone; not the toughtest rock in the world, but there are easier things to dig through! And then to the village hall for tea, and many sandwiches and cakes. Another friend then gave me a lift into town to get the train back; I've been too drained to do much, and certainly to go into work, so have occupied my time with LJ etc.

Washing machine on
Dishwasher on
Fruit soaking
Bread machine on (and I even managed to avoid bleeding into it; d*mn sharp foil edges on imperfectly-opened tub of skimmed milk powder)

ETA: Okay, now the washing machine is on; I thought it was taking a long time ...

I have also tidied the bedrooms. Well, I've tidied them as much as I can on my own. Unfortunately, this means that the bed in the front bedroom is still covered with stuff; but now it's all stuff that Creatrix needs to find homes for.

I've just been occupying a dull Sunday afternoon with sorting out some photos, in both hard and soft copy. Sometime, I'll get round to putting some of the best up on a website somewhere; but in the meantime, if anyone wants to see any of Evora, Lisbon, foradan's wedding, the Northern Isles, various bits of England, or some old planes, say so and I'll either stick a few up here or email them to you.

I've also been sorting out my few MP3s - nothing too exciting there.

And we've got too many Tolkien books! Not that I need any offers to take any of them off my hands, thank you very much!

I also find I've got too many audio cassettes. Some are more-or-less duplicated on CD; some I have rather grown out of, or am no longer into; some are still important to me. So there's a sorting out job to be done there, too.

Off for a swim soon.