where art collides philosoperontap

News idea. No repeats of news items on the wireless in the morning. I predominantly listen to the wireless whilst lying in bed in the mornings. I’ve developed the knack of filtering out a lot of it but it is noticeable that each bulletin mostly repeats everything from earlier ones. I get to the point of thinking to myself “yes I know this, you already told me”. Ok in all fairness to the beeb they very much have to assume that people are tuning in at staggered times. Not everyone gets up at five thirty to go for their morning run.

Perhaps the old broadcast method of distributing news is coming to the end of its natural life and we are all about to move to an app based approach where we can specify exactly what we want to hear. In my case I could say I only want to hear that we didn’t win the cricket once and I don’t want to hear anything that involves politics, religion or bad things generally. Maybe I just have to stop listening full stop.

On the positive front we had another great evening at the Morning Star celebrating the mid winter solstice. The Guinness flowed freely, we sang heartily and Ness the landlady had ritually slaughtered a pig earlier in the day and turned it into sausage rolls which were consumed during the half time break. She also distributed a wonderful concoction of dried fruits wrapped in pastry that are commonly known as mince pies.

Got home to find THG, Tom and John in the shed watching Luke the Nuke steamroller his opponent to cruise into the third round of the world darts championship, or whatever it’s called. Is it possible to cruise in a steamroller? All down to your definition of cruise I guess. I wouldn’t bet against Luke winning the tourney again this year.

Got a few errands to run today including picking THG and Tom up from their downtown shopping spree. Been actually thinking I might nip downtown meself. I haven’t totally made my mind up on this as ordinarily it baffles me as to why anyone would want to go there. However my new found mobility has brought with it a self confidence and a sense of curiosity. Where would the world be without curiosity? More cats obvs. Parking might be an issue. See how it goze.

We normally at this time of year go on our annual expedition to the Cheese Society where we buy far too much cheese and spend a lot more dosh than might considered to be sensible (not by me of course). When I say “we” it is usually me and one of the kids. Joe probs. However Joe ain’t here this year and I’m thinking I might cut down on the amount of cheese I buy. Maybe even get it from Waitrose. We don’t need it until the 28th which is when the Davieses are having our Christmas dinner this year. Every year I lament the non availability of Bel Paese cream cheese on the shelves. A seasonal delight stemming from my childhood. That and tubes of Austrian smoked processed cheese. We used to fight for the round end bits. You can still get these but not the Bel Paese. Huh. Christmas is also the only time of year I buy TUC crackers. Man can live on cheese and TUC alone. And crispy duck and cheese and onion crisp sandwiches etc. 

Anyway, gotta go. A cup of tea and a bit of toast await.

The fox btw came at 04:27.

Yuk. When I say yuk I mean yuk. It’s orrible out there. Foggy. Or is it mist? Not sure I know the difference. The lake cam is misted up, or fogged. We had two sightings overnight: 03:02 and 07:53. Fox. THG would have been in the kitchen at the time. Might even have been looking out the window at the time. Didn’t see owt but there again it’s v misty, as you know.

Today is a v busy day. THG is off park running and when she gets back I have some shopping to do: Gruyere, strong cheddar, steaks, 250g pork, bacon and soresedges. Amazing how quickly the bacon goes down when the kids come home. Steak and chips monday night. What’s not to like?

Then it’s the over thirties disco at Home night club from 3pm. Be there or be square 🙂 Meeting beforehand for “pre’s”. Yanow the score. Get loaded up before hitting the expensive night club scene. Have decided to wear my tropical trefbash shirt. It will be its third outing. Second since the bash itself. Like I said. Busy day. Busy busy busy. No commas needed there just to emphasise the business of the sentence. I’m hoping that the night club will have laid on some extra seating. It is the over thirties afternoon after all.

Blast. Rain is forecast today and I was going to prune the apple trees and grapevine. Blast Blast Blast Blast Blast. Yesterday was too wet. It was forecast to be nice today but now it is not. As I already said, Blast. 

Ah well. I might go swimming instead. That’s an indoor activity unaffected by the weather. Many of this afternoon’s sessions are showing the maximum availability. I’m hopeful that this means there will hardly be anyone else in the pool.

I can hear the rain beating on the bedroom window. I wouldn’t say it was loud enough to drown out Radio 4 on the wireless but it is definitely noticeable. I might need to wear a coat on my journey. Hat as well. When you are a glasses wearer a wide brimmed hat does a good job of keeping rain off your specs. Saves you having to dry them when you reach the shelter of the shed and avoids the risk of knocking in to anything due to blurry vision caused by raindrops on the lenses. Today’s top tip. 

I mentioned the shed but the same rule applies wherever your ultimate destination might be. I try to make these laws of physics as general as possible as it increases the chance of them being accepted by the global academic community. The experts. Those in the know. 

It is dark and dismal out there. Dark and stormy. No sun in sight. I daresay most birds are sheltering in their nests. Shelters. Places of safety. 

The winter solstice is this coming Sunday. Same day as the Morning Star carol session. Something quite apt about that. This feasting (Ness usually lays on some mince pies for the singers) at this time of year dates back millenia. Our singing of the Christmas carols is merely a modern way of celebrating the end of another natural cycle. Another lap of this planet of ours around that blazing (sometimes) ball of fire in the sky. 

Lunch on Sunday is pork. This is quite apt as pigs were, as you probably know, on the menu for these solstice celebrations of old. We won’t be gnawing at bones whilst sat around the blazing fire. Twill be a more refined, modern version. A pork casserole, perhaps flavoured with a splash of calvados and a swirl of mustard and served with a selection of nutritious vegetables. Might light the fire though.

Breakfast is something that the ancients might well have similarly partaken. A mix of grains, seeds and dried berries with a dollop of fermented milk (is yoghurt fermented?) topped with some preserved berries picked by THG and I during this year’s harvest. We are surely in tune with the planet. Raise your hands, palms facing upwards and repeat after me. Ommmmmm. I am now going to consume a hot drink made by infusing boiling water with some dried leaves, picked at dawn from the upper slopes of a hillside in northern India and purchased from a merchant recently returned from a long and hazardous journey to those exotic climes.

Coincidentally, and whilst I remember, I have my annual eye test tomorrow at Clearview opticians. I suspect I will need a slightly changed prescription of lens. I’ll have to sell a pig to pay for it, unless Clearview will accept one directly in exchange for the new lenses. Suspect they don’t work like that otherwise they would have had a picture of a pig in the window next to the VISA and Mastercard signs. I can but ask. Probably easier for me to use my card though especially as I don’t actually have a pig to sell. That was me being creative with words, metaphorically speaking.

Did you know that in 18th century Carmarthenshire only one farm in eight had a boar. Neighbouring farmers would have to take their sows next door to be serviced to ensure the continuity of their bacon supply for the following year. In return for the “service” the owner of the sow would do a day’s work helping with the harvest the following year. I do like a bit of bacon and now know where to go to get some in.

My grandparents used to keep a pig in a sty at the bottom of their garden and our house in Greetwell Gate also had one. The deeds specifically mentioned our right to keep a pig which we used to do but in the fridge or freezer, already slaughtered and then not a whole one. It was only when they passed a law making people take such animals to an abattoir to be slaughtered that people stopped keeping them at home. Abattoirs were either too far away or too expensive. The disappearing customs of old. I’m sure I’ve told you this before. The good old days…

No fox news.

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Fox news update. I spotted him in the garden at 14:17hrs. Plain daylight. Now I know where he exits and goes into next doors’.

What use is sitting alone in your room? Go for a walk to Tesco. Actually I don’t like going to Tesco. It’s not my thang. Waitrose is currently out of walking range although that state of affairs won’t last long. The issue is likely to me more down to whether I can carry my purchases home. Don’t need to make an expedition of it although I do have a very good rucksack I bought for the coast to coast walk. German job. Can’t remember the make but if it comes back to me I’ll let you know. It’s a red one and was used as my day pack. Deuter, that’s it. Looked it up.

This is a somewhat convoluted way of saying I’m off to Waitrose this morning. I also told meself I’d do some tree and vine pruning but it is looking a bit wet out there and I suspect tomorrow will be drier. Why do something today when… Manãna. I like using that word because I like the ã with the twiddly thing on top of it. Dunno what it’s called though I daresay someone will tell me.

My other job today is to put up a mirror in our bedroom. There are two aspects to this job: the positioning of the mirror and its physical affixing to the wall. The latter is the easy bit. The former involves agreeing to where it goes. More’s to the point its height above ground. THG chooses the perfect position for someone her height. This means when I stand in front of the mirror I see my chest and not my face. 

Ok there is a school of thought that says “how often do you actually use a mirror Tref” and adherents to that perspective are to a large extent right. I certainly don’t need a mirror to brush my hair. The only time I ever really need one is when I put on a bow tie and need to check the angle of the dangle, so to speak. Nevertheless it would be nice if it was at the right height.

I have been reassured that this will be the case when siting the new mirror but I know darn well that said piece of glass is not big enough to cover both our needs. Probably isn’t anyway. These things aren’t chosen for their practicality but for their appearance. Woteva 🙂 

Went to the carol service at THG’s church last night. She was singing in the quire so figured it was the right thing to do. Not been for perhaps twenty five years. Not since the time when half the carols were happy clappy modern rubbish. Bland was an understatement. This one kept to my vision of what a carol service should be like. Robbie the vicar did slip in the occasional religious pitch but that is his prerogative. It’s his ball. I let it go. We all know that carol services have nothing to do with religion really. That’s why I do the Morning Star carol session every year (coming up this Sunday 6.30 for 7 – get there early if you want a seat and wrap up warm as it is in the beer garden to accommodate the crowds). It even got a mention in church last night. This thing is bigger than both of us 🙂 

Fox news: appearances at 01:17 and 03:13. That is all.

btw walked to the church, then on to the Morning Star and then home – one giant leap for Trefkind

First relaxing morning at home for a few days and some lake cam action to catch up on. Reynard appeared each night since my last report and the deer once.

The weather today is sunny which is in marked contrast to yesterday where it chucked it down all day. In fact the whole time we were on the golf course. They shouldn’t really have let us have the buggies because it was too wet. We wouldn’t have played without the buggies. Certainly not me. Home and showered and then off to the Strugs followed by the new Cathedral View curry house in the Bail. We had a nice enough meal after which THG came to pick me up whilst the rest of the fourball went to the Castle Hill Club to finish off the evening.

Today’s main job is to cook a casserole ready for tomorrow’s lunch. Mary Berry’s beef cheeks with horseradish or some such similar concoction.Contains a spoonful of curry powder I note. I just need to nip to Waitrose to source some celery plus I have a voucher for a free jar of Bonne Maman jam. Qu’y a-t-il à ne pas aimer? Might even stop off for a cawfee if anyone is around.

It has to be lunch tomorrow as THG is performing in the church choir and needs to be there for five pm to tune up. I might light the fire, cmon baby. We only usually do Sunday lunch if we have visitors but this week it is just the two of us. I’m thinking this will be my first time at a church service, weddings apart, for maybe twenty years. It must be love.

Tree is up btw.

Lake cam timings:
Wednesday: fox 21:21
Thursday: fox  01:34 
Friday: fox 05:00, deer 16:35 and 04:10

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Just back from Waitrose. I should have bought a lottery ticket really as I got the scanner right. When I scan my waitrose barcode I like to try and guess which scanner lights up and this time I got it right. Result eh?

Dazzling low sun shining through the kitchen window over breakfast. We are slip sliding headlong towards the shortest day of the year. It’s only when you look at a globe that you understand how far north we are. Lucky we get any light at all at this time of year.

Winter. Autumn eases us gradually out of summer into winter. You only realise we are there when one day you look up, the rain is beating against the window, trees swaying in the gale and you say to yourself, ah this is winter. I have a plentiful supply of kindling and firewood to keep us going through the coldest of the winter months that lie ahead.

Today am off with @Wayne to the smoke for a spot of dinner. Thirteen twenty four direct express. Read in the news that they are rebranding LNER to Great British Railways with Union Jack based graphic design. Not sure it does it for me. I quite liked LNER. A classic brand. GBR instantly makes me think of curled up British Rail sandwiches. The good old days?! I did like the logo. Iconic.

All is quiet in the house. THG has returned from her pool training. Said it was getting quite busy. I am officially back in the pool meself as of yesterday though I haven’t actually been for a swim yet. Got the official goahead from the surgeon to drive, sleep on my side, walk, swim, bike, row etc and that I could ditch the compression stockings. Didn’t tell him I’d done that a week ago. So today will be my first trip to London without a crutch for some time. Wow.

Am staying at the Waldorf so as to be reasonably close to the restaurant – Ivy Market Grill. Got a private room downstairs that I use fairly regularly for these dinners. The point is I am not sure how far I can walk yet. About to find out innit. It’s looking promising.

Re swimming I suspect I’m not going to renew my membership at total fitness until after Christmas. Got so much going on there seems no point. I can always squeeze in the occasional dip at Yarborough Leisure Centre.

Fox news: Single muntjac 12.55 am, fox 1.45 am

A dark and dismal morning in the shire. Not nice out there but warm and cosy in the kitch and there is bacon a sizzling in the pan. Through the now lightening window the branches of trees are buffeted by the winter wind.

The herd came through at four minutes to midnight last night. Stayed lakeside for five mins or so before naturally continuing on their regular migration route. Presumably. Fox came briefly at twelve minutes to five. The twain have hitherto not met.

THG has left for the gym on her bike. Two weights classes this morning. Hardcore.

Advent. First Sunday of. I do have an advent calendar to open but I rarely eat chocolate these days and haven’t yet made my mind up whether to start on it. Still mulling it over. In the meantime the great jar of marmalade hunt has started in the kitchen. We definitely have some as THG used it yesterday but blowed if either of us can find it in the fridge. Fortunately, this being a storecupboard item, we happen to have a backup in said storecupboard. In case of nuclear winter etc. It is not helped by the fact that we have two jars of apricot jam (I don’t know either) and a marmalade jar containing pickled cucumber (yup) in said fridge. You might already have guessed I’m having toast for breakfast. The simple things in life.

Booked a trip to Liverpool whilst lying in bed this morning. £27.25 return. Nine pence a mile. To Liverpool. Not first class for that money but there ain’t a first class option so couldn’t do that anyway. The drive to Liverpool is v tedious and the parking would have cost that much. I’ll be able to do useful things on the train innit. Look at the scenery. It’s almost a four hour journey. Let’s hope that travel isn’t disrupted by snow. Don’t mind being disrupted once we’ve made it to Liverpool and have to stay over a few extra nights.

Fox News: visitations at five to midnight, half past four and twenty five past five suggests he was a busy lad.

2 fox newses. Wednesday night at quarter to midnight and last night/this morning at twenty past midnight.

Nice hard frost out there. I like a nice hard frost. Tis as it should be. Hard winters, the wind screaming down from the north, freezing the ground and driving honest folk indoors to their hearths. Make sure that window seal is sorted. Newspaper will do the job. If you don’t get a paper just nip to Waitrose for their free weekend job.

One of the nice things about the cold is that I can start wearing my chunky black yak Himalayan sweater. Green. It’s very cosy. Today I’m going to see how I get on with putting on a pair of jeans. I’ve been wearing loose tracksuit bottoms for the last month but they aren’t warm enough for this weather, especially as I’m hoping to walk to the barbers, finally. Desperate for a haircut especially as tomorrow I’m off to London for the CCUK Christmas lunch. Tracksuit bottoms would not be appropriate for that. Also need to see how I get on with my physio exercises wearing the jeans. Might need to change back for that. Seehowitgoze. shudbeok.

After yesterday’s success with the grapefruit the story is different this morning. I had enough confidence to keep my specs on but on this occasion a squirt of grapefruit juice spurted up, squeezing through the gap between face and specs to catch me straight in the eye. Hey, one of life’s experiences eh? Oh how we laughed. Rich tapestry and all that.

This morning I have the joy of having to fix my mac mini. Developed a software glitch yesterday pm and now won’t progress more than a millimetre on the progress bar when moving on from the login screen. This is not without its challenges as the mac mini is on a rack screwed to the underneath of the desk and the screens on the desktop face the other way to where the power button sits. I need to be able to see the screen to boot it in recovery mode. I’ll work it out. Might be able to swing the Apple Studio Display around sufficiently. 

Not bothered renewing the mac mini support and it is unlikely that anything will go wrong with the hardware and if the worst comes to the worst they aren’t as expensive to replace as the Macbook Pro. Maintenance on the macbook renewed today. That is real value for money if you have a habit of knocking a glass of red wine all over it.

Successful scout group meeting last night. Moved a few things forward and got a lift home afterwards from Steve Quinn. Was dog tired and went straight to bed. Reynard came twice in the night. Twenty to eleven and twenty to five. Managed to do his round twice obvs. Still looking for food on this cold night. Second physio session this pm.

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Lake frozen over btw. Totes in keeping with the conditions.

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Walked to Antonio’s. Furthest I’ve walked in a looong time. Over a km fwiw. Things are on the up. Nice crisp walk for which I was well wrapped up. Passed the Number 151 National Express going the other way. Birmingham. On it’s way from somewhere on the coast by the looks of it as the names Louth, Wragby and Lincoln scrolled by as interim stops. Not many people on it but I guess it might pick up a load in Leicester if the final port of call is Brum.

No sign of Antonio. Just his son in law Alfio who is very quiet. This isn’t the New York barbershop social experience. Hey, he does the job. Couple of old geezers in there including one whose parting comment was “see you in a couple of weeks”. Gotta stay on top of it I guess 🙂 

My main job for this afternoon, apart from a trip to the physio, is to choose the menu and wine for the next dinner I’m hosting in London. TBH when it comes to the menu I usually just run my finger down the right hand side and choose the most expensive but in this case the wines get quite pricey and considering we usually get through at least fifteen bottles I have to choose a mid, ish ground. Well slightly higher than mid ish. Life is short, eat good food and drink good wine.

I also need to decide what to wear for tomorrow’s Christmas lunch. I do have a very nice bright red silk jacket that might do the job and a v shiny party bow tie. Trouble is it’s effin cold out though tomorrow does look as if it’s going to warm up a bit. Take the edge off at least.

It is noted that Melvyn Bragg will be a guest editor on Radio 4’s Today programme over the Christmas break. I’ve been listening to his “In Our Time” podcasts in the wee small hours to try and get back to sleep. Last night was v successful. The subject was “hypnosis”. Didn’t make it to the end of the programme 🙂 I like Melvyn Bragg. Had to filter out most of the news on the wireless. It’s all bad, including the sporting results. For some time I’ve tried to shut out the news and just look at the sport. Can’t even do that now! Maybe I should just listen to the back episodes of In Our Time. There are 1,700 of them.

It’s a grey day out there. Hiphop2 +27. I’ve decided to ditch crutch 2 a day early. Did the same thing last time as I recall. Life is a lot easier on just one crutch. Just imagine what it could be like with no crutches. That will be Hiphop2 +42 if I stick to instructions. 42 sounds like a lot. It’s odd to think that the term Hiphop2 will shortly be retired when it has been such a big part of my recent life. What comes next? Christmas. In six days, ie December,  I will officially allow myself to talk about Christmas.

Just got meself dressed, as usual. Socks apart. Uhuh you say. Valid. Where I’m going here though is tshirts. I usually take the tshirt on top of the pile in my wardrobe. This means I tend to always wear the same few shirts as the washed and ironed ones just get put back at the top of the same pile. I wonder which ones are at the bottom. Chucked a load this year and at least the shelf is a bit tidier, more manageable. My sock selection process has also been streamlined as all my winter socks are now in the same drawer, second one down from the top.

THG has gone weight training. I need to get out of the house meself. Hair cut. See how it goze.

Fox strolled by at 01:35

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15 min walk to the traffic lights at Ruskin Avenue and back. 0.4 miles. Couldn’t be bothered to go as far as the Tesco caff but could have made it physically. Google suggests my route is an 8 minute walk so half speed. Not too bad at this stage. 

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Pitch black out there. Came in from the shed at around four thirty. There were no lights on at the back of the house and the floodlight was switched off so I felt my way there in the dark. Bit of artistic license being employed here 🙂 Watched “the great mountain sheep gather” again. A timeless classic. It’s available on YouTube.

Tonight’s tea, currently in the oven, is an aubergine parmentier bake. The parmentier bit refers to the use of parmigiano apaz. We are having asparagus to start. I like a bit of asparagus. I’ll let you know about the bake. THG is off to choir practice ce soir so we are eating a little earlier than the usual six thirty. Tomorrow it’s fish finger sandwich and wednesday it’s burger. Thursday I am in London for the CCUK Christmas Lunch and won’t want an evening meal. Probs. Maybs.

Was listening to the cricket when THG came in with the tea tray and had to switch to the news cos she likes the news. It was coming up to tea at the first test anyway so I acquiesced. Would have done anyway. I have a technique of filtering out the news nowadays. I have a bucket of sand next to the bed and I stick my head in it. Metaphorically obvs. Better kip despite the cricket score. Early days yet.

Frost on the car, I am informed. There is a metoffice yellow warning of ice. Beware of yellow ice. Should be a nice crisp walk to the shed. Whilst, at hiphop2 +24, I am still three days away from being allowed to put my full weight on the new hip it already feels as if I’ll be back to walking properly. No soreness in either joint. It’s a miracle I tell you, a miracle. The biggest test will be walking to the pub, whenever that may be. 

Up now and note the frost on the kitchen roof. Pantiles. Greenhouse too. Good job THG moved her delicate plants into the greenhouse the other day. We’ve stuck the low level background heater on in there.

I have a meeting arranged today. 3pm. Not an onerous one. My meetings never are. I’ve managed to avoid doing anything onerous. Life is too short. Avoid the onerous.

Switched the telly on my laptop in response to an exclamation from a son on the Davies Lads whatsapp group. He wasn’t particularly specific but having tuned I find the aussies are thirty one for four. Test match cricket is emotionally exhausting.

So a gentle enough start to the day. THG has set off on her bike to the gym and I’ve breakfasted well on sourdough toast, bacon and crushed avocado as one does. She put my socks on for me before going. Now in the snug with tv coverage on mute and TMS providing the commentary. There is a bit of a lag for the vid. I could delay TMS but really can’t be bothered. Just popped to the kitchen to check on whether we have the ingredients for an aloo gobi (bit left field I know) and whilst I was gone we took another wicket. Was only away for a minute. Must do that more often.

I am reminded that it is a Friday. Weekend in front of us yay. Eighty three for six.

Fox action at 04:27 and 06:04.

Storm Claudia is still doing her thing. Feels as if she’s been around for some time. My records suggest we are at day 4. One of those people who come to stay without telling you when they are going home and you have to start dropping hints. Claudia has quite an icy attitude towards some parts of the country. Giving them the cold shoulder. No snow here though, just rain.

Another restless night partly spent listening to Claudia knocking on the window. Did sit in on a 2 hour TMS podcast but it was too much. I think you can overdose on cricket pre match build up. I suspect I’ll be listening to the start of the first test on Friday morning. A beneficial side effect of post operative sleepless nights. As long as we are doing ok 🙂

Used some of my time awake to delete facebook posts on American politics. Not friends’ posts. Those that facebook deems worthy of pushing my way. I’m hoping fb will get the hint. I spend much of my time avoiding political stuff. There is an element of my also avoiding religion but I do find some artistic aspects of it appealing. Nice architecture and hymns for example. I also find the history of religion interesting. All these different sects/groups who argue over slight differences of interpretation.

Anyway thought for the day is on. Très boring. I’ve switched the wireless off.

Up now and ready to head to Waitrose for a bacon roll and a cuppa with my pal Nagy Ervin the Hungarian concert pianist. It’s not even nine o’clock. Gosh. On Hiphop2 +22 the lakecam revealed a vulpine visit shortly before six. The return of the fox. He mosied around the back of the greenhouse for a bit looking for some breakfast, checked out the lake and then moved on.

THG has already headed out for the gym. Good night on the sporting front last night as Scotland scraped through to the World Cup Finals with two last minute goals and the mighty Wales walloped North Macedonia seven one making light work of the tough opposition (I should have been a sports reporter). Doubt I’ll watch much of the world cup tbh. Might watch the mighty Wales if they make it through the playoffs. If they play like they did last night, I don’t see why they shouldn’t.

Traffic has quietened down on the road outside. Kids already delivered to their place of continuing educayshun and parents moved on, either to chain themselves to their desks or to a supermarket of their choice to stock up on provisions.

Weather is nice out. Claudia must have moved on.

HipHop2 +15. Recovery, phase 2. Sounds v clinical doesn’t it? Well it is v clinical 🙂 Today I feel like taking on the walking to Tesco challenge. 0.4 mile across flat pavemented terrain with no hills to climb or rivers to cross. It’s all weather dependent. Forecast is rain. Just looked. See how it goze. If I don’t go today I will tomorrow. Weather looks better tomorrow. It’s all relative innit.

It’s a dirty autumn day out there. A few leaves still cling to the apple tree at the bottom of the garden. Lots of them are on the lawn, again. A pink rose clinging to the arch above the path between the house and the greenhouse stands out, the only bit of colour against the glum grey green backdrop. You almost feel it is time to do final preparations for hibernation.

Now upstairs, showered and partially dressed. The partial bit refers to my surgical stocking and socks which I can’t put on meself and have to rely on my chosen life partner for assistance. I’ve decided that this is quite a nice time of day, laid back on the bed, phone in hand, waiting for the arrival of THG. A calm time :).

The deck is practically invisible under the leaves. Take care when visiting. I daresay they will get brushed away in due course. All is quiet.

Last night’s fox action was at around 02:12. He mooched around the back of the greenhouse for a while.

Feels a bit more comfortable now that the sutures have been removed, btw. I think it was the same last time. Mr M has done another great job with his needle fair play.

HipHop2 +14. Stitches removal day. Fox appeared in the front garden at 02:28. Lake cam caught him at 00:23. Separate visits. Off to Waitrose with THG. Her running club meets in the carpark, pounds the streets for an hour or so and ends up in the caff for a coffee and a natter. I’m headed straight to the caff for a cup of tea and a bacon roll followed by a short shop. THG has given me a list which I typed into my “Tref’s Shopping List 2025” doc. I keep it online so that I can easily refer to it when at Waitrose. The last entry was August! That’s long gap between shopping trips.

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09:35 the Pink Ladies running club set off from Waitrose carpark. I’ve just finished my bacon roll. Should have taken more time over it. Quiet in the caff. Woman sat in a booth opposite waited until her pal came back, saving the seats. Pal returned with two packets of socks. First woman went to get the coffees whilst the pal studied the socks packaging. She returns with drinks and ironmongery and female talk ensues. 2 x scrambled eggs and toast arrive. Not big on scrambled eggs meself.

Did me shopping and bumped into old uni mate Phil Davies at the checkout so went back to the caff with him to await the return of the Pink Ladies. The sock woman and pal hadn’t moved. Home now. Forgot to buy lime juice!