THG and I listened to the shipping forecast this morning. I’d like to say it’s one of the things we ”do together” but twould not be the case. We are rarely both awake for it and I have not tuned in since the heady days of my convalescence from the hip op when I was often awake at night due to having to kip on my back.
The shipping forecast came immediately after the weather forecast. A several things stuck in my mind. First of all there were gale warnings, despite it being high summer. There always seems to be a gale somewhere. Then the wind direction almost everywhere was sou’westerly. The prevailing wind around these shores. We are in for another scorcher and I guess this is ably assisted by a southerly oriented wind, blowing, no doubt, in from the Azores.
Made me think I need to get booking another trip. Got tons of Avios and a premium cabin companion voucher that want using.
The final observation from the shipping forecast was the absence of a mention of temperatures. The SF is all about wind with observations on the likelihood of rain thrown in for good measure. After the SF it was prayer for the day which was definitely the cue for me to get up.
I’m now in the shed. It has rained overnight in the garden which is good but I don’t think it was all that much of a downpour. Still, we’ll take it innit.
Today I’m off on a bit of a jolly to town. The annual Summer Forum of the Comms Council UK. A goodly crowd and this year and a get together in celebration of our 20th Anniversary as an industry trade association. I remember the first meeting!!! These occasions are v good networking events and a chance to catch up with pals.
Some of us are off to Danny Prieskel’s Summer Party which is on the Middle Temple Main Lawn. Danny also has a Christmas bash. I get invited to both every year but have never been able to go. The Christmas one is always the week after trefbash. Takes too long to recover from a trefbash and another trip to London so soon after doesn’t work.
Anyway, should be a good day ahead. With soaring temperatures in prospect everyone will need to keep their fluid intakes up. My normal business attire of Hawaiian shirt and shorts should also work to my advantage. I recall that one year the Summer Forum was held in the conservatory at the Barbican. It was the hottest day of the year and everyone was wearing suits except me. I felt v superior stood there in my shorts and Hawaiian shirt. I was even able to crack open a beer before the talkie bits had finished.
Anyway, gotta go. The tea tray doesn’t carry itself upstairs yanow.
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Sat opposite my booked seat on the London train. There is method here. The seat next to mine is booked from Newark but the one next to where I am now sat only has a booking from Peterborough to Stevenage which is only a 25 mins or so leg of the journey. This means I will have most of the table to myself for most of the journey and the peterborough to Stevenage person might decide it is easier to sit in the empty single seat across the aisle. The little games we play eh? I often sit in E2 which is never reserved because it has no window but is a snug little spot at the front of the train. It’s too nice a day today not to have a window.
Someone has come on who was booked from Newark to London in E4. E4 was also booked by some scruffy oik from Lincoln to Newark. There was method in his madness. He happily accepted the ploughmans lunch, crisps and the chocolate pud before getting off the train at Newark.
Listening to my faves playlist set to random. Very much in a holiday spirit. All work and no play and all that. I try not to do any work at all though yesterday I spent half an hour chopping kindling in preparation for the winter that lies ahead. Preparation is everything. Not work work anyway.
During our tidying session last night I came across a load of maps which now just about fit in the shed map box. An old Eley Ammunition box I picked up from an antique warehouse in Stamford last year. We must go back to Stamford. We stayed at The George and had a nice time. Also found some books and there is a map shop though I’m not really in the market for an more maps unless they were very specific to the commote of Mabudrud in Sir Gâr. I still like to have paper maps even though everything is now available in digital format.