Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the Air .... all the birds and squirrels are busy seeking out and fighting over food and mates. The badger has upturned and broken 3 of my pots. I'll have to buy new pots now to house the huge hostas which are just about budding above the surface. Shame the badger is a protected species... they are always digging up the lawn, my shrubs or breaking pots. I'd break their necks given the chance ...

A Laugh A Minute

Well to cheer myself up again I listened to Brian Johnson and Aggers giggling. Giggling is contagious.

It was interesting that so many listeners rang in to the BBC today requesting to hear once again Charlotte Green unable to speak for giggling. We all want more laughter in our lives.

Then I've just found this website that has many radio sporting 'bloomers' to listen to - enjoy..

A Moving Tale

Well in more ways than one my life is a moving tale. We have been busy de-cluttering. It is a mammoth task that can only be done in dribs and drabs owing to my spouse's ill health. It is traumatic and stressful for us both. We are thinking of where and when we should next move. There is still a part of me that wishes to move back to my old home county of Surrey. In fact when I was up there in December I did have a cast around looking at various locations. I even went as far as going into a few estate agents. In one I found them busy with a painter/decorator in the middle of refurbishing their office. When he heard where I lived (he himself commuted from Stockland near Honiton), he wondered whether I was 'taking leave of my senses' to want to move back to the mad hurly burly of the south east.

By the time we had finished talking and reminiscing about Devon I felt quite homesick. I'd only been away from home for 4 days! The pull of the south east is the family network. I would enjoy being near my sister, sister-in-law and the rest of the family for emotional support when things are tough at home. But having left Surrey over 37 years ago I have a feeling that I will find it difficult to settle there.

We had an uncle who emigrated to Australia in the 1960's. After 25 years he returned to Cornwall where he did nothing but moan about how cold and wet it was and what a beautiful life was his in Australia. Then he'd return to his daughter and grandchildren in Western Australia where he couldn't wait to get back to the lush green fields of Cornwall again. So he was forever discontented and unsettled in both locations.

I wonder whether those of us who have left our home counties are forever doomed to be footloose and rootless.

Heathers

Heather's site - no, not an article on gardening but a quick note about that rather strange woman Heather Mills. I am no Beatles fan. But if this woman cannot see that, every time she opens her mouth to voice her 'thoughts', we viewers can't see her lies, innuendo and delusional beliefs - then she is very obviously so far up her own a**s that she is more away with the fairies than I thought.

I couldn't resist having a peek at her official site but see that she has carefully avoided allowing anyone to leave comments. Perhaps that is the only wise thing she has ever done in her life. Well, after bagging a very wealthy grieving widower as a husband that is.....

I particularly like the Judge's comments that although she claimed to have been so very generous with her money to charities that no record of donations can be identified.

On the plant front though I reckon she's well named (Latin name calluna vulgaris) she is just as tough and woody as an old heather, a common pernicious weed.

Update 31/03/08: Re Mopsa's comment that this is the best article - I agree, it's worth reading.

Apologies

I just want to apologise to all who keep popping in to read any new postings. And there haven't been many at all. What there have been are invariably made up of whinges and a crosspatch moaning. I am sorry but this virus has been a bit of a b*****r to shake off. And being at home so much means I've been listening to the radio or watching TV news; surrounded by doom, gloom and the economy.
Many people are beginning to call it 'flu'. I don't know if this is flu or not. If it's a flu virus then I've got off lightly. But whatever it is it's taken a long time to clear and is still affecting my energy levels. I've only done a little bit of blogging here and there. I've popped in on blogging friends to cheer myself over the last few weeks. I've certainly hardly been out anywhere and feel as if I'm 'stir crazy' sometimes. I go to the chemist each week for essential supplies but otherwise have resorted to Internet grocery shopping to save energy.
My group of friends also have had the virus. 2 of them a month before I started it. 2 others a couple of weeks later. We keep comparing symptoms to see how long before we feel 'back to normal'. From a telephone conversation with a friend who yesterday claimed to be fully recovered I reckon I may have a couple more weeks to go.We keep on talking about arranging a get together. We've cancelled 3 lunch/dinner parties - so far. We just keep on talking about what we'll do when we all feel better.

More Power to the People

I am a perfectly ordinary person (POP) who is feeling very frustrated and annoyed beyond all bearing with what is happening to our country. If you feel the same way then consider joining this group and move to Scotland until we have proper representation for England in parliament.

Counsellor or Councillor

No I'm not going to talk politics again. I saw in the local paper when they are talking about counselling they spelt it incorrectly. It had been missed in the proof reading. I assume this is another example of people relying on a PC spell check.

However, my point is that in the advert along with the usual claim to help with depression, anxiety, bereavement and relationship problems it mentions 'LGBTQ issues'. I have no idea what this could be so I don't know if I have trouble with LGBTQ issues or not. If anyone can enlighten me or even make a mad stab [please, no blush making over vulgar suggestions] I would be interested to hear your comments. I'll look it up tomorrow and see if I can come up with an answer. I have a few ideas but I end up stumped by the 'Q' - apart from a non PC term that is.

Update: 15th March - Mark Wasdsworth is correct. LGBTQ the 'Q' from this site stands for Queer or Questioning youth. I am a little surprised 'queer' is still used but maybe in the USA they are more relaxed than us in UK who fear to use a word that may cause offence.

Power to the People

I hope that this blog will resurrect itself at a later date. I'm sorry that I didn't get to read it before it was taken off line. As Sirona Says the spooks will be looking for her. I just hope that it is only her job Civil Serf loses and she doesn't become an accidental death. I wouldn't put anything past this Govt.
Some links that you may find interesting:
http://www.britishblogs.co.uk/search/civil+serf/

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/mikeyp/march_2008/civil_serf.htm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3512007.ece

- what a shame that no-one has saved the blog entries to their PC so that those of us a bit slow off the mark could read it. Maybe this would have been a good excuse for whistle blowers to eschew copyright issues - offer their blog to be copied directly on to other bloggers pages. So would all future whistleblowers please note - get us to spread your words so that if your blog is shut down we can still spread the 'truth' for all to hear.

Tags and Meme

Way back when - so long ago now I expect she has forgotten all about it - teeni - tagged me to share 7 random or weird bits of information about myself with my readers/blurkers or virtual friends. Finally I have managed to put my mind to this engrossing task. Here are my confessional 7:

1. I have no ankles. By that I mean although I have shapely [according to my husband] legs my ankles are pudgy and weak. I wish I had boney ankles with a taut visible Achilles tendons. I have to wear sensible shoes when all I crave are high heel scrappy strappy expensive things.
2. My legs - shapely or not - take up more than half my height. I have a small squat body. I can't wear a dress I look far too funny with the waist up under my boobs - so tight around my ribs I can't breathe. I should have made my own dresses so that I could place the waist where it is rather than where dressmakers think it should be.
3. I am by nature an optimist and look at the world through rose tinted specs; believing the best of everyone I meet. However, having a met a lot of people, I do keep a healthy scepticism.
4. I will help anyone but will not allow anyone to 'take advantage'. I believe that God helps those who help themselves. I always try to see the best in people and make allowances for the fact that we all have our own selfish need to get through life the best way we can.
5. I am an imaginative dreamer. I could lose hours in my own thoughts and day dreams - given the chance.
6. I wish I had been a teacher. If we have a second life I will train to be a teacher - juniors 7 - 11 year olds - when they are full of curiosity and imagination.
7. I am opinionated and could run the world far better than any politician - other than the lovely amusing , Boris Johnson that is.

Now for the meme, here are the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

Unfortunately as I am still suffering from/ recovering from this flu type bug along with nursing my husband through it too (He claims he feels far worse than I did/do!) I do not have time to tag 7 people. If you would like to pick up the challenge and do this meme then please pick up the flame and carry it forth proudly. But do let me know via a comment so that I can come over to your place to blurk a look.

Gold Price's Soaring

The price of Gold is soaring and Gordon Brown has nothing in the bank to show for it.... HUH! No wonder all our taxes keep on going up and up...

I also cannot understand just how Tony Blair managed to get taken on as an adviser to J P Morgan. After all Tony Bliar sold his home in Islington just prior to a huge surge in property prices and then bought into property again at the top of the market just before a slump. Maybe J P Morgan is going to use him as a kind of reverse psychology pundit. Sound him out for his views and then take the opposite tack... even that could prove difficult what he believes one day will not necessarily be what he believes on another.

Update: 16:54
This last link on further exploration may or may not be part of BNP - I can't quite figure out if it is or not. However, it does strike a chord and I believe it illustrates just how far a great many of us, the 'general ordinary public', feel a real sense of disappointment and frustration over recent Govt decisions, particularly those made over the last 10-15 years.

Mothers Day

My mother died in 1965. I still think of her on Mothers Day. I envy all the other people who will be sending flowers or chocolates or gathering for a special Sunday lunch to celebrate the day together. In my mind's eye I can still see my mother - invariably laughing or with her head buried in a book. I know how much she missed her mother who also died at an early age. So I'm sure she wouldn't be surprised to know how I still treasure her memory and miss her presence in my life.

The Daily Telegraph have done a lovely article on celebrating Mothers and their role in our lives - do go and explore this link. And if you're still lucky enough to have your's, do be sure to tell her what she means to you while you have the chance. Don't miss the opportunity.

St Davids Day heroes

I see the Prince of Wales dropped a spring onion on his lapel at lunch. It was a shame that Camilla didn't attempt to check he was dressed properly before he rushed of to Brize Norton to welcome Harry home from the wars. Or perhaps do you think it was a princely nose gay? After all Harry has told us he's not had a bath for days and days ' and is now just like an ordinary person'. Now for myself I'd much rather wear a daffodil.

'

Brophy's Coffee Shop - Sad

I went again to Brophy's Coffee shop this morning. I had to go out to collect a prescription and to liberate some cash from my bank account. I thought I'd pop in to have a coffee for a treat. What a let down. What a disappointment. It was nowhere as nice as last year. The coffee was very thin, weak and watery. There was hardly a soul in there. I should have taken that as a 'warning sign'. If the locals haven't filled the place by 10 a.m. then it's not to be recommended. I didn't recognise the people working in there so it has obviously changed hands. If this morning was a yardstick of success then I guess it could well soon change hands again.

Birthday Treat

Today was my 59th birthday. Well yesterday to be precise. I see it is now 12.45 a.m.as I write so I should have said 'yesterday was my birthday'. But as I've not slept yet I still count it as today. so .....

Today was my 59th birthday. How did I celebrate? You may well ask. I had an extra dose of cough medicine and plenty of decongestants thoughout the day in an endeavour to maintain breathing function. Next to eating it is my favourite activity. I allowed myself a break from a sensible diet and purchased a jam doughnut from the village baker. The texture was interesting. I don't know if it had any flavour. The decongestants don't work that well.

I had several cards and gifts but felt too tired to open them till 4 p.m. A strange birthday. And stranger still to think that this time next year I'll be 60 and a pensioner with a bus pass.

I am very tired after a week of coughing more than sleeping most nights. I feel as if could sleep for a week. But the decongestants have me all wired up...

All We Are Saying ...

I just read in the paper today there is an online petition for those who wish to protest about the idea of Tony Blair's nomination for the President of the EC? For once I find myself in agreement. So I went to look for this petition:

"Petition [EN]: We, European citizens of all origins and of all political persuasions, wish to express our total opposition to the nomination of Tony Blair to the Presidency of the European Council. To sign the petition, please go to the bottom of this page "

Updated: 27th February Stinking Billy told me he couldn't find the link and i agree it was not very clear so here it is - i you don't want to read the pre amble click on this link to go directly to the petition: petition to stop Tony Blair nomination as EU president.

Iain Dale's Diary: More Money to Our Friends in the North?

Well - and what was I trying to say just now??

Iain Dale's Diary: More Money to Our Friends in the North?

Gordon Brown's Dignity and Respect for the Aged

Dear Gordon Brown,
What has happened in this country where dignity and respect for our older citizens is so appallingly lacking? Why does this old gentleman have to sell his home to get the money to pay for treatment to save his sight? Why should he have to go blind in one eye before the local PHT/NHS will try and save the sight in his second eye? Why is it the National Health Service is no longer national and it all depends on post code lottery whether you are lucky to get the best available treatment or not. I am beginning to think we should all up sticks and move to Scotland.

How short sighted of the local health service. Becoming monocular leads to trips, falls and other minor accidents like scalds. If you don't believe me [for those other than GB] then try wearing an eye patch over one eye for a month and log how many accidents you have. From trying to fill a mug with boiling water to negoitating steps - all become fraught with difficulty. The younger you are the more time you will have to adapt and the more likely the brain will be able to cope with the adjustment. But youth is not on the side of people with age related loss of vision.

Perhaps the health service doesn't care - if this gentleman needs help to live at home through loss of independence with failing sight then obviously that will be from a different budget - a local government social services budget - a council tax funded budget. Maybe all of us over 50's should rise up together and withhold our council taxes. We could always start up a U3A goup in the prisons where we may feel safer, warmer and better fed with excellent access to the Health Service.

Again yet another example of our non - Caring Government and Prime Minister.

Incredible and Unbelievable

It is incredible and unbelievable that a man serving a prison sentence for a violent rape is able to escape from hopital [for a second time] while he was undergoing treatment. Yet an elderly upright citizen of 76 years is led away in handcuffs to serve a prison sentence for non payment of Council Tax. I think this just about sums up the priorities of our government.

BAFTA Awards

I Present The BAFTA Awards or The Bloggers Are Funny Talented Artists Awards. And The winners are:

[1] Strife/Wife in the North [like the horse and carriage, you can't have one without the other]

[2] Merrydaze - short but sweet - [may be unable to attend in person to collect her award].

[3] Richard Madeley - just because he's a Clever Dick

[4] Ramblings - naturally interesting

[5] Three Beautiful Things for inspirational and uplifting posts

[6] Mark Wadsworth - Gordon Brown' s prudent hairshirt

[7] Winchester Whisperer - a classy classical intelligent writer

[8] Celebrityblogspot - a writer's guild - well known celebs confess their innermost thoughts

[9] Mutleythedog - most original mind - thinking man's dog/thinking dog's man

[10] Vaguetarian restaurant - like the restaurant at the end of the universe - diverse n different

They are all Excellent Bloggers and I hope they keep up their Good work and pick up their awards soon.

BAFTA Award Ceremony

Gosh what a week. First the BAFTA's on TV then I acquire an award of Excellence and I've now been sent another award from retiredandcrazy .

As is customary at all Award ceremonies I would like to start with a small unprepared, impromptu, ' off the cuff', extemporaneous speech. [wipes tear from eye]

I have to thank Retired and Crazy for her nomination. [hugs award closer to bosom]

I would also like to this opportunity to thank my Mother in the the Production Dept: my Father as Co-producer, Director and Finance Director. My sister in her role of best supporting sibling. My husband and lifelong partner, from the day we first met. I want to thank him for providing everything I need - well nearly all I need ... but not everything I want

and last but not least the thousands of blog lurkers from India, Canada, U.S.A, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Bischofswerda Sachsen, and last but not least Milton Keynes.

Thank you all from the bottom of my huge heart.

Excellent Awards

Margot of a 'Mother's Place .... ' has kindly called in today to offer me an Excellent Blogger Award. Not being prone to hiding my light under a bushel (whatever that saying may mean; a 'bushel' of what? I mean isn't a bushel some kind of measure; that being the case what sort of light could you hide under it?).

I rushed over to collect it.

I gleaned from her blog that she was awarded this prize by a Maggie May (who I thought was married to Rod Stewart) but no apparantly she is just GrannieMay of 'Nuts in May' .

I decided to take one further leap back into the dark depths and found that Nuttie Grannie May received this award from another mother. There seem to be a lot of them out there in the blogosphere. This mother masquerades as a supermarket waxed version of bread.

At this point I was tired and exhausted from going back through the past. I've done my best and hope you'll find some worthy new blogs from my research. If you do pop in on them be sure to leave a comment as a small reward. I'll be going back to take a longer look.

All I have to do now is ponder on the question of who I should pass this award on to next ....

Birdsong

If you want to relax and listen to Birdsong then tune in to DAB radio 's Oneword. No it isn't an audio book version of Seb Faulkes Birdsong. It is a lovely soothing peaceful rendition of bird song. Apparently, Oneword closed due to a lack of listeners. The few of us who listened were probably irritated by the fact that half a dozen plays/audio books were repeated several times during 24 hours. However, to have birds' songs playing in the back ground is a different matter. The station now has thousands of listeners tuning in. It is so soothing - especially if you want something to lull you to sleep.

Smutty MeMe

I don't know how many of you pop along to look at Mutley's blog (link's on the right under 'Some Amusing ... etc) but when I called in today I did find his latest post on a Smut Meme very funny. It made me laugh out loud. I recommend it.

For On-Line Friends

Hi friend - why don't you stop awhile here.

Guest Blog Spot February

I'm sorry that I've not had the opportunity to post properly the last few weeks. I've only had a few minutes snatched here and there. But I would just like to remind you all to check out the 'Guest Blog Spot' for February on the right hand column. They are all worth taking the time to visit.

Well What A Relief

Perhaps this makes up for my being only 2 thirds real:

People Definitely Like You

You are very well liked, and many people admire you. You are friendly, well mannered, and fun to be around. Of course, you're not perfect... but that's okay. Your friends are usually willing to accept you for who you are! What People Like About You: People like that you give them support and strength. Friends know that they can count on you to be there for them. People like that you're interesting and intriguing. You always have something interesting to say. People like that you truly take and interest in them. Everyone likes to be liked!

Do People Like You?

Personality Testing

You Should Be a Romance Novelist

You see the world as it should be, and this goes double for all matters of the heart.
You can find the romance in any situation, and you would make a talented romance story writer...
And while you may be a traditional romantic, you're just as likely to be drawn to quirky or dark love stories.
As long as it deals with infatuation, heartbreak, and soulmates - you could write it.

And also:




You Are 67% Real

You know who you are, and you're pretty darn comfortable with yourself.

Like everyone, you struggle with the parts of yourself that aren't so great...

But you're good at accepting who you are and not dwelling on your faults.

As a result, you're confident, optimistic, and very real.

How Real Are You?

A Few Household Tips

Well now Teeni, from over the water, sent this Good Household Tips meme my way. The idea is generally to pass along some household management tips .

1. Keep a small bottle of pure Lavender essentail oil in your kithcen. If you burn yourself ( e.g. on the oven shelf in that little gap where the oven gloves don't reach) just grab that little brown bottle and a drop of neat lavender oil on the burn will immediatley remove the sting. It will heal super fast without leaving a scar. Read up on using oils safely as it is not usual to use them neat. Lavender should be used sparingly if you have high blood pressure.I can thoroughly recommend a book for learning about how to use essentail oils for all kinds of household uses from the laundry room, for health and first aid, to pest control and to make your own air freshener.
2. A few drops of lavender oil in water will also take the sting out of sun burn - if you ever get caught out without sunscreen. Just lightly wring out a face cloth and pat on the burnt area.
3. A wee drop of washing-up liquid spread over a bathroom mirror and vigorously polished off will stop that mirror from steaming up for weeks - maybe months - bit of hard work and elbow grease but worth the effort.
4. For pet owners out there - to kill fleas that have been vacuumed up or to stop flea eggs sprouting (whatever the expression should be) place a cat flea collar in the dust collecting bag/bin of your vacuum cleaner. Renew the collar every 6 months.
5. Finally this tip is a famous quote from Quentin Crisp. I've never been able to hold my nerve long enough to check out if it is in fact correct! "Dust doesn't get any thicker after 4 years"

Handing the baton on now to : Mopsa, Flowerpot, Mark Wadsworth and the Winchester Whisperer. I've included Mark as I don't see why this should just be a woman's thing.

Instructions for this meme:
Write your tip(s) with a link to who sent the meme to you, along with the instructions. They are better if they are your own discovery, or not widely known. Still, tips that make a difference to you are all good. After your tips, you may want to tag some fellow bloggers.

Is It Art?

Is it Art? - an unmade bed, a pile of bricks or a wall of recycled rubbish? I am usually of the opinion that this is not art. Regardless of any prize awarded.

However, Carl Warner's 'Foodscapes' are amazing. Every part of this sunset idyllic scene is made up of food. The sky is made from salmon (I've heard of a mackerel sky before) the sea also is salmon. If you look carefully the 'boat' is a pea pod. The rocks and pebbles are made from bread or potatoes, the sand is sugar. It is well worth going over to the photographer's web site to explore further images. If you want to see more of his FoodScapes then you will need to visit his website. Once you have entered his website follow the links by clicking on the Orange coloured box then choose the 2nd folder for his Foodscapes. They are all fascinating. His other portfolios are of interest as well. Go and explore. Enjoy. This is Art.

Noisy Neighbours

Apart from the Rookery at the top of our garden we have quiet neighbours. But Rooks do make rather noisy neighbours. There is a small copse at the top of our rear garden. It contains a fair sized Rookery. It increases in numbers yearly. I've lived with Rooks for nearly 27 years - from Gloucestershire to Devon. I rarely notice their chatter. Visitors find them noisy and distracting. Especially when we are having a garden tea party. I love having them around. They are far less of a distraction than a passing plane or an air sea rescue helicopter clattering overhead. I'm glad to say there are not as many as was shown recently on a BBC television programme.

I can see the rookery from my kitchen window so am aware of thier daily goings on. I don't know what it is but something makes them suddenly swirl up in the air with a clamour of calls, wheel about for a while then settle back on the perches. I usually notice the movement first then I hear the sound. On reading this article I see it may predict weather patterns; I'll have to try and see if it does fit with this observation during this year.

The raucous calls, the arguments, disputes and gossiping chatter. No wonder the collective nouns for rooks are Parliament, Building or Clamour. The make fascinating neighbours. Always industrious they are invariably repairing or rebuilding their nests. Sometimes their chatter continues intermittently throughout the night. Less so in the cold depths of midwinter nights.

Now behind the copse of trees at the top of our garden there are many arable fields. These fields are always full of feeding rooks during the day. But not from 'our' rookery. No our rooks fly off each morning in a north easterly direction. They cross paths with rooks flying in from a north westerly direction to feed in the fields behind us. Rooks commute. Single rooks also have an odd way of flying. As we live almost at the top of a hill we get to see many individual birds flying towards us at eye level. Rooks have a strange sideways flight. They rarely seem to fly from A to B in a direct manner. They seem to flap their wings, looking left and right as they fly and travel at a drifting angle. It's very hard to predict exactly where they intend to go. In spring when they are carrying large twigs back to the nest they often drop them just short and our garden rapidly becomes littered with very large twigs.

Infamous/Famous Blogs

I'm not quite sure whether I agree with people who write blogs where they dish the dirt on people they've fallen out with. It's fine when it's anonymous. It can be cathartic to whinge when we feel someone has hurt us in some way. But then to allow the real person to be outed is very cruel. I think the whole idea is very distasteful.

Did you see in the media at the weekend that someone who claims to be a well known domestic actress ( lower levels) by the name of Jane Slavin has written a blog about her ex lover? If Lucia is in fact Slavin I find it most illuminating that she has listed her own book as her favourite read on her profile page.

I'm inclined to think that picking holes in some one's personality is not on. But she increases my irritation by being very unkind about his physical features. I think the fact she didn't have the 'courage' to address these issues to his face tells rather a lot about her too. Slavin was apparently unavailable for comments. I also find it interesting that there is no option to leave a comment on her blog either. Not surprising - this sounds as if she is one cowardly lady.

I also read that she is hoping for a publishing offer to come out of this blog. I do hope no publisher will take this writer on. Writers shouldn't be allowed to make financial gain from being unkind to others. I don't know what your views are but I think this is one sad story .....

Perhaps she thought that she would be the next Belle de Jour?

How Old?

Now for some of you bloggers out there this is a very interesting site where you can place your blog for increased exposure. Older bloggers in particular may be interested in the ageless project.

MeMe 2007

As I was saying:

8 things I wish for 2008:

1. Good health with no health scares for me, my spouse, my family and friends
2. Improved fitness levels (I intend to return to walking more)
3. A year free from anxiety and stress
4. A year full of laughter and funfilled activities
5. A year free from builders
6. That the Govt improve the state pension in readiness for my claim in 2009
7. The Govt bring in zero income tax and place all taxes on as a purchase tax
8. That we in the SW are able to find out exactly how much our new unelected , secret SW Regional Assembley is costing us on our local Council Tax and why exactly we need yet another layer of beaurocracy.

Last Meme for 2007

Mark Wadsworth posted me a tag a few days ago. I had to go and collect it from his place. It wasn't too onerous a task as I've been having a lazy few days. I wasn't sure what I had to do on this Meme and had to track back to Simon Clark to find out what it was all about. imagine then how exciting it was to find I was in some 'loose way' connected with Iain Dale's blog. I did try to track back via the links to confirm that I was only x links away from Iain's blog but didn't get beyond the Norfolk Blogger, Nich. This wasn't due to not having an interest in the blogs along the way - more that I'm in the middle of cooking a beef curry and have already had a few requests as to 'when exactly will it be ready?'.

Therefore the tag will have to wait until later.

Blogs As A Memorial

I found a lively interesting and diverse blog a few days ago. But I was so sad to see from the final entry the blogger had died. I'm grateful that her daughter had taken the time to post a final entry informing all her mother's blog readers what had happened to 'Daisy'. I'm still trawling through reading some of her earlier entries. She was a very prolific imaginative poster. Beautiful photographs, stories, country and personal facts. Well worth a visit.

There are so many abandoned blogs out there. I can't help wondering what happened to their once keen creators. Hopefully bloggers will think about leave some way of allowing thier exectors to post a final notice when that day does come.

And also thanks to the bloggers such as MerryDaze who leave a postnote if they suddenly stop posting. One final message saves all your readers or friends on the blogosphere from wondering what happened to you.

What a Muddle - a Modern Tall Story

This has all the elements of a tall story, a mystery. I was just wondering why Alistair Darwin became a cross dresser and went out to Panama City to live as Anne Darling with 'her' dead husband, John Darwin, an ex canoeist from the Seaton Crew. Some people will try anything for some extra money.