Yesterday I posted about our concern for our American blogging friend, Don Ostertag. Luckily, GP had an email address for him, so I contacted Don to ask how he was. Last night, I received this short reply. ‘Bad Covid and an accident has left me in bad shape, Pete.’ So, poor Don i … | Continue reading
This is the fifth part of a fiction serial, in 766 words. Colin was worn out and dirty. There was no time to wash the car this morning, as he still had lots to do. Digging out the large raised beds in the greenhouse had taken longer than expected. He had to carefully remove all … … | Continue reading
There has not been much happening lately, so this will be shorter than usual. Our Christmas tree and decorations were taken down and put away, so the Christmas season is officially over in our house. Some local houses still have exterior Christmas lights on at night though. ————— … | Continue reading
Some of us are concerned about our blogging friend, Don Ostertag. BELAFONTE (29) The last post on Don’s blog was in November 2023, and in one of the comments his son Erik expresses concern about his health. I do not have any personal contact details for Don, so I am asking everyo … | Continue reading
For many years now, consumers in this country have been obsessed by ‘expiry’ dates on everything in the shops. This has resulted in a monumental amount of food waste. Research tells me that the two main items discarded by people are milk and bread. This is followed by vegetables, … | Continue reading
This is the fourth part of a fiction serial, in 737 words. Alan answered the doorbell on Sunday morning. It was the young bloke from down the street, the one who had been fiddling with a motorbike. He was holding a new headlight bulb, and grinning. “I got the new bulb this mornin … | Continue reading
The river burst its banks yesterday. This area would normally be the riverside footpath where I walk every day with Ollie. We had twelve more hours of torrential rain, lasting until this morning. I anticipate an exceptionally muddy walk with Ollie soon. And there are ‘showers’ fo … | Continue reading
This is the third part of a fiction serial, in 736 words. Alan got some plastic sheeting from the back of his van and secured it over the shattered windscreen as best as he could. There was no more they could do that night, but he slept restlessly, angry and confused about why it … | Continue reading
As suspected, WordPress is now using A.I. for customer support. The Happiness Engineers have now become Happiness Bots. For confirmation, here is part of an email reply I received. Happy Bot (Automattic) Jan 3, 2024, 18:40 UTC Hello there! As an AI support for WordPress.com, I’m … | Continue reading
I had never seen a baby squirrel, then I found this photo of one online. | Continue reading
Here is the first batch of strange record covers for 2024. Just what you need in the mornings! When teenagers still looked the same as their parents. Peas and Honey is not a well-balanced diet! I’m betting those two women used the same hairdresser! His own hair? I’m guessing ‘wig … | Continue reading
This is the second part of a fiction serial, in 751 words. Dennis had been surprised when the SOLD sign had gone up outside old Maggie’s house. It had been on the market for well over a year, as her money-grabbing daughter had been asking for too much. That house needed so much w … | Continue reading
This is the first part of a fiction serial, in 781 words. They had found the house online. It looked like a nice place to live, just twelve houses in a residential close, so no through traffic. Six modest detached three-beds on either side of the street, two bungalows at the end, … | Continue reading
Something not so old, but still 37 years ago. So I am claiming ‘Retro’ for that. The Scottish pop band with the strange name (Wet Wet Wet) was never taken very seriously by the British music scene, despite having a string of hits with songs best described as ‘lightweight’. I boug … | Continue reading
I managed to survive another year without being forced onto the hated Block Editor, but I suspect WordPress has more changes and annoying glitches up its sleeve to welcome in the new year. Did anyone else notice that 2023 was a quiet blogging year? (Or was it just me?) Many of th … | Continue reading
My first retro music post for 2024 features one of my favourite recording artists of all time, David Bowie. When I first heard his album ‘Hunky Dory’ in 1971, (yes, 53 years ago!) I realised that he was so much more than someone who sung about space travel. That album remains one … | Continue reading
A week dominated by food consumption over Christmas, (and after) with so much more left to eat that I suspect will end up in the freezer soon. ————————————————————————————— Tonight we have been invited in by our neighbours and will be ordering a delivery of Chinese food so nobody … | Continue reading
I would like to wish everyone a happy new year. With an election in America to come, and probably one in the UK too, ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza, there is not that much to be happy about, I know. On the domestic front in Beetley, Julie is expecting to undergo major kn … | Continue reading
I was 20 years old in 1972, and firmly entrenched in Soul music and Tamla-Motown. Then this single came along, by a band I wouldn’t normally listen to. It was a very short song, but it got itself into my head, and it’s still there now. Marc Bolan was killed in a car crash in … Co … | Continue reading
It is quite rare for me to enjoy a ‘rock’ song, and even rarer to post one on here. But this is a bona-fide classic from 1973. Incredible to realise it was 50 years ago! Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, and the band on top form with a live performance on TV. The song was co-written … Co … | Continue reading
I was surprised that WordPress is once again sending out blog stats emails like they used to. The format is not as pleasing, nor as easy to share, but this is more or less what they sent me yesterday, copied and pasted. 2023 Your site In Review Page views. 85,510 A crowd of viewe … | Continue reading
Today is one of those very quiet days between the busy time of Christmas, and the celebration tomorrow night. A day to do as little as possible, eat up some of the remaining leftovers, and watch something mindless on TV. I popped out yesterday to get a few essential things from t … | Continue reading
A ‘House Centipede’ seen in Japan. I would be moving out! The goat that walks on two legs. The skeleton of a Caribou that fell into a crevasse. A large spider lurking in the door handle of a car. A hairless breed of cat. Someone actually made this as a doll for children! A bees … … | Continue reading
Would you like to have cocktails with Mats? Toilet music? Are you biting? Was their hair real? You decide. A.I. is nothing new, it would seem. Inspired by space travel, and incredibly authentic. Reminds me of a soiree in the kitchen at home. Those teens really knew how to have a … | Continue reading
A Chicago mail man at Christmas. 1929. A bear cub eating a bowl of honey in a diner. A teenage girl being tossed in a blanket. Her name was Norma Baker, and she would later be famous as Marilyn Monroe. This small girl is washing her toys. The Ice Bucket Challenge is not new. This … | Continue reading
Cross-Dressing Supergirl. Yes, he actually commissioned this portrait! Middle-aged swingers wait for the photographer to join them on the bed. They couldn’t have kids, so had monkeys instead. Those poor kids look terrified of granny. Is that girl scary, or is it just me? They met … | Continue reading
As a youngster in London, I didn’t have a rocking chair. But when I heard this song on my dad’s record player, I imagined myself sitting in one. Written in 1929 by Hoagy Carmichael, it has famously been covered by many other singers. But when I was in my teens, I was able to find … | Continue reading
Yesterday we carried on the Christmas festivities with a breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Julie decided to cook a home-made Indian curry for dinner last night, as a change from roast meat and vegetables. Her son has decided to stay on for a few more days, no doubt a … | Continue reading
I woke up to bright December sunshine today, so I decided this 1977 song from the wonderful British band ELO was appropriate. Sun is shinin’ in the sky There ain’t a cloud in sight It’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in the play And don’t you know It’s a beautiful new day? Hey Runn … | Continue reading
Here is something political for the 26th, known here as ‘Boxing Day’. It is called Boxing Day because that was the one time of year when domestic servants in the Victorian era were given ‘boxes’ containing pgifts from their rich employers, and allowed one day off to visit their o … | Continue reading
It is not yet 3pm in Beetley, and we have been on the go for over 8 hours. Ollie had a disturbed night with his throat problems. I heard him at 02:30 and got up to sit with him on his bed for a while until he setlled down and went back to sleep. Then … Continue reading Christmas … | Continue reading
After deciding against last minute shopping on Saturday, Julie hit the supermarkets at 1pm today, just three hours before they close on Sundays. She had no hassles, easy parking, no checkout queues, and got all the ‘extras’ on her list. I took Ollie for his walk in strong, gusty … | Continue reading
I might be busy tomorrow, so here is a seasonal wish to everyone on WordPress. (If you have seen the film, you will get it) “HEY, YOU BOY! WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?” | Continue reading
Well the big day is almost upon us. Tomorrow we will be visiting the grandchildren at breakfast-time to hand over presents and watch them opening them. Collecting my oldest stepson who will be staying until the 27th, and then back to dive into the cooking ready to eat in the even … | Continue reading
My thanks to Antony for sending me this link to Loren Berg’s blog. Worth a look to raise a chuckle. Day Brightener – Laughter Is The Best Medicine | Continue reading
My thanks to my friend Antony for sending me this short video. It is only 3.5 minutes long, and contains a great deal of truth about Britain. **Advance warning! Contains very bad language. If you are offended by swearing, do not watch it!** | Continue reading
Here is Ruby Keeler singing and tap-dancing her way through the song ’42nd Street’ from the musical film of the same name. Later joined by the rest of the cast for a grand finale. This film was released in 1933, and was a huge hit. I probably saw it 30 years after that, and loved … | Continue reading
I am not sure if they are seen in any other countries, but model villages are a common feature in some small towns and seaside resorts in the UK. Usually a tourist attraction with an entrance fee, they have existed here since the late Victorian era, and new ones continue to open … | Continue reading
When I first ventured out with Ollie when he was 3 months old, dog-walking was a joy. I met many other people with their dogs, made friends, and Ollie made lifelong canine friends too. Every day we would congregate on Beetley Meadows or Hoe Rough, and walk in a large group of up … | Continue reading
Not long ago, I posted about how the local Deer had ‘gone missing’, and I wondered what had happened to make them leave Beetley. So I was pleased to see a small Muntjac recently, walking around in the open on Beetley Meadows. Then entering the woodland area, I disturbed two more, … | Continue reading
The 21st of December is usually a dull and uninspiring day. It was still dark before 8:10am this morning, and will be dark again by 3:30pm. Today is also extremely windy, which is driving the occasional heavy showers. I had an early start to get into the nearby town of Dereham to … | Continue reading
I read something this week that made me think it was a spoof. So I read it again, and then Googled it to find other sources. Amazingly, it is true. The UK has a massive network of offshore and onshore wind farms, most of which are in the east of the country, in the North … Contin … | Continue reading
As many of you care about my dog, Ollie, I thought I would update you on his condition. He is currently acting like two different dogs. During the day he goes about his normal routine. Out on his walks, eating voraciously, and happy to see familiar people and his canine friends. … | Continue reading
I was going to post this on my other blog, but decided it should be seen here. The Conservative Party politician, Liz Truss, held the job of Prime Minister in the United Kingdom for just 45 days. During that time her policies caused financial catastrophe for this country, resulti … | Continue reading
I have recently had a lot of uncredited comments appearing as Anonymous. I know many of these are from regular followers, as I either recognise their ‘style’, or in some cases they have added their name. Yesterday alone, I received 11 such comments. The problem with this is that … | Continue reading
Ollie had his groomer appointment this week, which I have already posted photos of. To see him looking so old realy choked me up. Ollie At The Groomer We have had a couple of incidents where he has been unable to swallow things, so have to keep a very close eye on him when he … C … | Continue reading
Sea Of Love. Following my review of the film of the same name, here is the record that inspired part of the story. I remember it well from my childhood, and have always liked it. It was a one-hit wonder for singer Phil Phillips, who also co-wrote it. Released in 1959, it was numb … | Continue reading
**No Spoilers** I have had a mixed relationship with the acting of Al Pacino. Flawless in Serpico, the Godfather Trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, and Carlito’s Way. Then a descent into shouting and hysteria with Scarface and Scent Of A Woman, before the superb performance in Donnie Br … | Continue reading