Thursday 29th August 2019

My phone took this image today. I have absolutely no idea what it is meant to be, but do you know what? I quite like it. A surreal abstract on the day that applications for new PPI compensation claims closed. Unconnected, but so was my knowledge of this image and whatever my phone was upto.

Wednesday 28th August 2019

The madness of work. 

Today I'd helped set up a video conference meeting. Sounds simple. Well in a homage to the BBC comedy W1A, I have lived through a west country version, let's call it BS8. Aside from trying to source flip charts, brightly coloured pens, post-it pads and some index cards with snappy topic headings written on them, I booked a room, where 6 people can sit in a video booth and talk to other parts of the UK, also sitting in a video room. It's like being there. 

Except 2 hours before the meeting was due to begin, the person who had booked the London room found out it was not a video room and could only connect via audio. The only video room available in London (there is only one) was booked. "Let's do it on Skype". I booked a different room containing a TV and Skype facilities. Time was of the essence. We had an hour to go. Skype for business is absolutely hopeless. The meeting began. After 10 minutes of picture drop out and inaudible audio, this was dropped.  I booked another room and, following yet another crocodile procession of collages between rooms, the meeting between Manchester, Bristol and London took place on a conference (called a spider) phone.  Everyone was happy.

No record was made of what happened to the flip charts, brightly coloured pens, post-it pads and some index cards with snappy topic headings written on them, during the meeting, or during the maneuvers across the site between rooms, but they all returned to my office intact. Except the index cards with snappy topic headings written on them. They have disappeared completely. 

Maybe Manchester, Bristol and London have teamed up with Bermuda and squared the triangle of mystery.  “We don’t sell crab cakes in a sausage factory.”  - Thanks Anna.

Tuesday 27th August 2019

 

It got very dark, very early tonight. Mostly this was due to a day of heavy cloud and rain, but it struck me as we sat with the candles on that, although officially winter, autumn is knocking on the door. And that's no bad thing, as I like autumn, with spring my favourite seasons.  So nothing better, close the curtains, light the candles and hibernate a wee while.

Monday 26th August 2019

There is nothing like spending a lot of time doing absolutely nothing watching a game of village cricket. Behold - a long way off, seemed a lot closer in person, Winscombe 2nd 11 vs Frome Cricket Club 3rd 11. At the time I had no idea what was going on until I was joined by a most spritely aged gentlemen called Roger. The reason I found myself watching the cricket was twofold. Firstly I waited for Julie to emerge from a garden and arrive in Winscombe and secondly, I like watching cricket but haven't done it for years. My learned new best mate Roger lived 6 miles away and would pop over to do a spot of shopping and then, and only if, the cricket was in play he'd sit and watch it for a while, if they were not playing he's walk around the ground for exercise.  

Hard to know how old Roger was but he was a child in the Second World War, so at least 80. It's always a bittersweet moment meeting people for the first time, strangers, who after half an hour you feel their friendship is developing, only for a parting to bring about a permanent ending. I'll never see Roger again I should imagine, but know he played batsman and bowler in his younger days, and squash, was in the army (a funny story about a dropped bayonet on parade), lived in Dorset and the south east and wondered why there were not female umpires (Winscombe 2nd's it turned out is a mixed team, the long hair was a give away - turns out she is called Olivia Hayes) and why there's no good spin bowlers in the test team now. Dapperly dressed in tweed flat cap, smart slacks and a blue lambswool jumper. I was roasting in my sleeveless shirt as I said goodbye and that was that. A lovely old gentleman I spent part of my day with looking at this view.

I looked it up just now - we saw someone run out at 2 runs ( given in the results as Joshua Cantrell) and the result was a win to Windscombe 119-4 (revised score - skulduggery then?) against Frome 118 all out in 38.5 overs. Frome won the toss and elected to play first. Possibly an error there Frome. Well done Winscombe.

Temperature - 26oC..... much warmer watching the game.

Sunday 25th August 2019

Making grass cutting into an artform. Or a mess, depending on your point of view. 

Anyway this is an experiment, the results of which we'll not see until the spring. Unless a lawn is used as a playgrounds, in most small gardens they need to work for their money. So here is the plan. Having cut the lawn but leaving two longer circles, the inner circle has now been planted with daffodils, of all manner of shapes and sizes (we had 5 large pots of mixed narcissi from last spring which were getting in the way). Better to get them in the ground. The outer circle - so far unplanted - will be of tulips - I like the thought of bronze-red colour, though the exact variety has still to be purchased. Sadly the blog will have ended by the time they reveal themselves, but herewith, I'm recording their creation and gestation on a hot Sunday in August. 

Later, as a reward for all this planting, we did pop down to Dorset and consumed a hearty super of vegetable curry for the lady of the house and a burger of quarter pound regime for himself. Great being back on Eggardon Hill too after over a year. And the first tawny owl call of the season as the dusk settled was a bonus.

Saturday 24th August 2019

Despite having planned to head off to Dorset this Bank Holiday weekend to an Oak Fair, in the end with 28 degree temperatures we decided to en vacances à la maison as the French would say. Very nice it was too just sitting and relaxing, watching the insects that flood into our garden, mostly thanks to Julie who has filled every available space with insect friendly plants. I spent a goodly part of the afternoon trying to photograph both myself and the numerous butterflies, with limited success. My attention then wavered towards the dragonflies which buzz and fizz across our airspace. This most obliging female common darter spent at least half an hour on top of this bamboo cane. Even coming closer to get a good view, it remained on station. So there you have it, man and beast as one. 

Friday 23rd August 2019

I popped over to Portishead tip this morning before work, but think I was being watched. Spending a lot more time in the tip, sorry recycling centre, than a man of my height should it gave me a bit of a start seeing this bunch in the understory. Are these covert-gnomes, assessing how many green bags of garden rubbish I surreptitiously unloaded? Or maybe they're spies for jackdaws and peregrines which live in this old quarry turned refugia? Either way I shall watch my step the next time I off load my 4 green bags and a purple trug of twiggy-bits.