31 March 2011

A Birthday Treat

I was treated to a day out in Falmouth, a trip to Trago mills got me some seeds for the garden, and some tools for thinning out seedlings.

Lunch was a pasty, and a glass of Cornish Orchards Press Gang. Nice but a little sweet for me.

Dinner last night was a starter of duck with pancakes and hoisin sauce, followed by Char Sui Pork and Sweet and Sour chicken with some wontons. I struggled to finish it all, but it was a lovely meal and the duck was a special treat as I love it but it is so expensive.

A lovely birthday, despite the weather, so much fun when you don't have to drive yourself lol xx

30 March 2011

Weather Forecast

Typical, this is what I got for my birthday... doh!

Somehow, I don't think I will be doing much sunbathing today! Nor will the boys and I be going to Gwithian beach.... lovely as it is, I can't say I fancy getting drenched unless it is with sea water..

Which leaves me the delightful choice, of either the planned tidy up, or start the painting... my, my, how the joys of home owning seem to take over the days away from work..

Now unless the sun god blesses me with a few rays, I will be either busy trying to sort out things to sell, from the excess stuff brought down from the Back of Beyond, or painting the downstairs toilet a fetching shade of lilac.

Unless someone has a better offer of course, but apparently my texts to Sean Bean have met with complete indifference as has Coach Trip's host Brendan; either of whom I could willingly spend the day with.

29 March 2011

Introducing the two boys

I have mentioned our new dog, Jasper, and many of you hinted... well a couple mentioned that you would like to see the pictures.. and some of Murphy as well.

Well they have relaxed, which is good, and some sunny days has allowed a couple of pictures to be taken so here they are in the garden last Wednesday.

They had just finished a playful session in the garden, over a chew toy which actually belongs to Jasper but Murphy has it in the background.

Jasper is as thin as a rake, and is on extra rations to try and put some weight on him. He has twice the amount of food as Murphy but he tends still to bolt it down as we think he might have had to eat faster to stop his brother taking it from him. Currently we are feeding them separately, to try and get him more relaxed over eating his dinner. You can see him here, lying down in the garden chilling out in the sunshine.

Murphy bless him, has been an absolute star, he has accomodated Jasper with grace, sharing us and the house and garden with no bad manners at all. Even his favourite toy, the football, as shown below is a shared item, with them both taking turns at trying to pick it up and carry it back.

Jasper is currently restricted to exercise on a lead, although we have a long line for him and he is already showing signs of bonding with Murphy, a blessing as apparently him and his brother used to roam from their old house and it is important that we get him confidently coming back to us before he is let off the lead.

28 March 2011

New Week and bright sunshine

I have a holiday this week, my first break since Christmas and well overdue.

Lots of things to do this week, but today is a good and sunny day so spending the day enjoying the sunshine in the garden. I have planted out my viola's and pansies. The marigolds will be going out shortly.

I have some weeding to do in the front garden, and some heads of dandelions to pick off before they mature into more malevolent seed heads lol.

But most of all, this is a relaxation day... sit back and feel the warmth of the sunshine..

27 March 2011

April Plans

Coming towards the end of March, with April looming fast, I have been wondering about a challenge and came across the following one






The more I thought about it, the more I thought about how I could make it more unique and came up with the Cornish language... so my A to Z will be on Cornish words, showing in some cases the links between the Cornish and Welsh languages therefore having common roots hopefully will entertain as well as be interesting.

My Saturday Satires will remain in place as there are 30 days in April and only 26 letters of the alphabet...

26 March 2011

Saturday Satire : The Devil and the Old Man

One day the devil is bored and goes out looking for something to do. As he's storming through the earth he notices a big church.

So the devil storms in, the double doors fly off the hinges, flames shoot from his nostrils as he marches straight to the preacher at the altar.

Everyone runs from the church screaming except for the preacher and one old man sitting in the middle pew.

The devil points a long bony finger at the preacher and snarles, "I know why you're still here!"

The devil then turns and glares at the old man and snarles "Why are you still here?"

The old man looks at the devil and replies. "I figured you'd recognize me. I've been married to your sister for 40 years!"

25 March 2011

A Sore Sight

I heard yesterday on the news, when driving home from Penzance, about the Pandora Inn which was on fire. A sad day for a lovely building as the roof collapsed onto the main building and the cob walls were suffering from the water poured onto the fire.

Last year I visited the Pandora Inn, along with my work colleagues as a team building experience, we parked at Mylor Bridge and then walked along the creek to the Inn. A lovely walk and I had hoped to do that again this year but with the dogs (as they are allowed into the lower bar area of the Inn).

The staff of the Pandora Inn were not harmed by the fire, but the Manager and his family were living above the Inn and had to be accomodated last night elsewhere. St Austell Brewery have announced that they will rebuild, and I am glad even though it will not be quite the same old Pandora, it will at least be hopefully the same lovely thatched pub.

PS. the food was lovely too, although the weather meant we had to eat inside on the day we went.

24 March 2011

Carn Brea on Fire

Last night, about 7.3pm, I went upstairs to close the windows and noticed the flames on Carn Brea; it was the first time I had seen such a sight, but apparently it is quite common.

Unfortunately it is not down to natural causes, as usually it involves arson. Moreover it is not possible to get water to the fire so the firemen attending have to use beaters to put it out.

Personally, I would like the arsonist to be made to attend such fires, to have to put it out and to explain to residents who were concerned for their houses why he/she would even do such a thing.

23 March 2011

Beautiful Sunshine

A bit of a lazy morning, I managed to persuade both Murphy and Jasper to have a lie in until 8.30 and then we stirred ourselves into having breakfast before starting on some chores.

Washing up done, washing on the line, and we head out for our first walk of the day. Jasper has an acute fear of drains, large or small, it makes no difference; something in his history has made him very scared to go near them.

We had a coffee on our return and put the second lot of washing out on the line. I then stripped the bed, and remade it with clean sheets and linen, and put this washing in the machine.

Lunchtime saw us take another walk, this time over the fields, Murphy can run free as the livestock is far enough away from the footpath, but one style was blocked up that any dogs would need to be carried across it and Murphy is too heavy for me. So we returned. Jasper has a 5 metre long line attached to his harness as he is still in the early days of learning to come back to us.

We have had a request to let the previous owner know how he is getting on, and he is getting on well with Murphy although some of their play fighting leaves a lot to be desired. As I write this, he is in his bed, quiet and asleep even though the door is not locked.. still he will be awake soon enough as it is nearly dinnertime.

22 March 2011

Hamster Look

I woke up yesterday morning with a face like a hamster with two full pouches, I had been suffering a little from being under the weather and had a sore throat for a few days; on Saturday it felt as though I had a mouth full of cotton wool.

I hoped it was just viral, no problems, just keep up the fluid intake, and all would be well.  So college last night was painful as I felt like crap, and concentration was at an altime low. Luckily, we have covered most of the aspects of the course, and attendance now for the next three lessons is not mandatory. On my way home I dropped into the Docs and I came out with a prescription for some Penicillin to get rid of the nasty puss covered tonsils..

Then just to add to the general misery, somehow I have backache; haven't had it for a few months and even putting on socks is so very painful. By evening it will be a bit better, but hopefully it will go away shortly. Walking the boys this morning was on the whole a bit of a pain lol.

Jasper is gradually calming down, he has a few bad habits, but on the whole he has taken to the change very well. He has given Murphy a bit of a hard time on occasion and vice versa, as I type he is lying here on the floor calm and relaxed while Murphy is lying on my feet.

You do have to be careful giving him food as he is used to fighting for his treats with his brother and it is taking a while for him to realise that here there is no competition. However, we are both realistic that his snapping is an issue and needs to be addressed, we are hoping that Murphy's more relaxed attitude (practically horizontal at times) will rub off on him.

21 March 2011

Happy New (astrological) Year?

March 21st is the common date of the March equinox (although astronomically the equinox is more likely to fall on March 20 in all but the most easterly longitudes). In astrology, the day of the equinox is the first full day of the sign of Aries.

It is also the traditional first day of the astrological year.

March 21 is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 285 days remaining until the end of the year. Yippee only another 279 Days until Christmas.. lol

20 March 2011

First Night

So far so good.

We had the choice of the two brothers : Bobbie and Jack, however Jack was the more dominant and so we chose Bobbie.

He seemed to be more playful and less aggressive than Jack, but he doesn't really seem to know his name so we have decided on a new start, new name.. so henceforward he will be known as Jasper.

He has a few bad habits, snapping for food being one of them, and greedy for food; we think he may have had to compete with Jack and so we have a regime of feeding Murphy and him separately in order that they both eat slowly rather than bolt their food down.

Last night Jasper slept in his cage, and Murphy upstairs as per normal. As late into the evening they were still playing with each other..

Early days but so far so good.

19 March 2011

Saturday Satire : Paddy's Memorial Stone

When Paddy died, his will provided £40,000 for an elaborate funeral. As the last guests departed the affair, his wife Colleen turned to her oldest and dearest friend. 
"Ah well, to be sure Paddy would be pleased," she said.
"To be sure you're right," replied Mary, who lowered her voice and leaned in close.
"So go on, how much did this really cost?'"
"All of it," said Colleen. "Forty thousand."
"Aw No!" Mary exclaimed. "I mean, it was very grand, but £40,000?!!!"
Colleen answered, "The funeral was £6,500. I donated £500 to church. The whiskey, wine and snacks were another £500. The rest went for the Memorial Stone."
Mary computed quickly. "For the love of God Colleen, £32,500 for a Memorial Stone? How big is it?" 

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See below

18 March 2011

TGIF

A long week, and for the past couple of days I have been feeling a little off colour with shivery symptoms as well as a dodgy stomach..

Today I have a throat full of fluff, or that is what it feels like and on looking inside I can see enlarged tonsils covered in white stuff.. yeuch..

Today, would have been a comfort day, with a nice bar of chocolate to make me feel better but no such luck as I don't get any until Easter Sunday and I have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to taste far too sweet for me then.

So no crunchy for me tonight :-) still good job it is Friday as I can have as much of a lie in tomorrow well as much as Murphy will allow.

Tomorrow, we are hoping to meet up with a nice lady from Labrador Rescue who may have an 18th month old foster brother for Murphy to meet.. we will see what the outcome is.

17 March 2011

To My Dad on your 80th Birthday

A Long Story

This is a picture of Great Grampy Lovesey, he is the fine old gentleman on the far left sporting a lovely beard. As far as I remember it was his daughter who married my Grampy Parker who is shown at his wedding in the picture to your right. I love these old pictures and the stories they tell.

Grampy Parker was a real bedfordshire man, who must have thought his son's children (Zeltus and Me) were complete idiots as we didn't understand his strong bedfordshire accent when we returned to the UK after many years abroad.
Dad was one of four siblings and was the oldest boy, born on 17th March 1931. This picture is only one of two I have where they are all together and I can't remember when it was taken but Dad (second from left) looks fairly youthful.

Left to Right, David, Dad, Lil and Sheila.

The other picture of the four of them was taken at Sheila's 70th birthday a few years before Dad died in 2002.

For Dad's 70th birthday, Zeltus and I, clubbed together and brought a trial flight for Dad. He had long held an ambition to fly above Cranfield and take some aerial photos.

He went up on a lovely sunny day, 3rd September 2001, I remember the day well as it was a short year later that he passed away peacefully while sleeping; we were on holiday in Cornwall at the time.

Back to the day of the flight : Dad booked in and was given the regulation safety tour of the plane and what was going to happen during the flight. Dad had his camera ready, but never took any photo's as he was too busy flying the plane and had the time of his life. He even had the controls on landing, though I am sure the qualified pilot probably had the major part in doing the landing.

For weeks afterwards, Dad would talk about that day, and how much he had enjoyed it. I would like to have thought that for his 80th we would have been able to persuade him to repeat the experience.

Happy Birthday Dad, lots of love on your 80th, you may not be here in person but here in spirit xx


16 March 2011

New Tyres

Kind thanks to SOH for insisting I had two new front tyres on the car, regularly doing 300+ miles for work each month they were on their last legs and probably long overdue being replaced.

Hopefully the financial situation will be sorted soon, as being short of money and therefore dependant on others is humbling.. I have always been independent but at the moment that isn't possible.

Kernowflex have had two days of free time from me for training and another two to go before I can get work with them.. I have some dates for the follow up training but am booked for meetings that I don't want to have to move. Still a phone call should see that rebooked for the near future.

Ideally I need a job of about 12-15 hours a week, I am quite good at administration and experienced in IT so if anyone knows of anything or have any suggestions please get in touch.

15 March 2011

Midway through March

and nearly a quarter of the way through the year.. the days are going ever faster with hours flying by faster than I would like.

No doubt for the Japanese peope affected by the earthquake and following Tsunami, hours are going slowly and news is even slower of lost ones.

On Jeremy Vine today, there was more support for Japan than for the African states who despite being poor and in need of help but riddled with corruption. I don't have a lot of spare cash, but in this case if there is an appeal for money I will willingly give it to Japan to help in which ever way will assist them to rebuild.

Japan asked the UK for help, and despite our history and in some cases long memories of atrocities are still held. However to balance that, it was two generations ago, and we have moved on as have they.

My thoughts are with those who don't know where their loved ones are, and hold on to the hope of being reunited as well as those who have lost loved ones in the disaster along with homes and posessions.

14 March 2011

Thoughts on Lent 2011

I am not what you might call a religious person. I have my beliefs but they are founded more in nature than someone I might put a name to.

So all in all, why participate in Lent?

I started not long after Dad died, as a means of testing my resolve and believe me it does truly test your ability to not give in to some craving at the first hurdle.

My first years involved cheese, cakes, wine etc... the latter not that successful as I don't drink enough of it to have noticed not drinking it. The cheese really took a challenge to achieve, I love cheese, in all different forms: sandwiches, in toast, grated on jacket potatoes.. it was incredibly difficult to not eat it, checking the ingredients for the hidden cheese factor. The outcome was that I now eat a lot less cheese than I used to and that surely has got to be a good thing.

Chocolate this year is my first attempt, and I am a self confessed chocaholic. I love it to drink, to eat and smell. A week into the challenge and I have already been tempted, on a pretty much daily basic you know the sort of conversations "Go on, no-one will know" to which my answer is "I would know" or "that would be cheating". To make matters more difficult, there is lots of chocolate left over from Christmas still here at Tre Agan so it isn't as if I don't have access to it.

What will I get from it, well a sense of achievement at beating my temptations and sticking to my word.. and I think anyone who does the same thing deserves to be proud of themselves...

13 March 2011

Yesterday was cold and grey

with rain in the afternoon..

Today, we have wall to wall blue skies and sunshine.. it is lovely sitting in the sunshine and Murphy is enjoying himself after a roudy session at Gwythian beach.. he went in for a paddle in the sea fetching his tennis ball and then into the lake area to wash the saltwater off.

His first visit there was fun, but hard work. He has grown and matured since then and apart from one moment when he went over to see another dog despite being told not too he is behaving himself well.

He is a pleasure to own and is loving with him enjoying his cuddles and time on the sofa... it helps that SOH likes sitting on the floor as there isn't room for the three of us lol

12 March 2011

Saturday Satire : The Lawyer

Enzo is a Sicilian deaf mute employed as a bookeeper by Don Carliani, a Mafia godfather. He was employed, because, being deaf he could not hear anything said by Don Carliani and therefore, could not testify against him in court.
One day, Don Carliani suspects that Enzo had cheated him out of $10 million. He gets his lawyer, who could converse in sign language, to confront Enzo about the missing cash.
Don Carliani tells the lawyer,"Ask him what he did with the $10 million embezzled from me?"
The lawyer, using sign language, asks Enzo what he did with the money.
Enzo signs back, "I don't know what you are talking about."
The lawyer says to Don Carliani,"He doesn't know what you are talking about."
Don Carliani pulls out a gun, puts it to Enzo's temple and says,"Ask him again."
The lawyer signs to Enzo,"He'll kill you if you don't tell him."
Enzo signs back,"OK, I'll tell you, The money is in a brown suitcase buried behind my cousin Bruno's backyard."
Don Carliani shouts,"What did he say?"
The lawyer replies," He says you haven't got the guts to pull that trigger."

11 March 2011

Ever Wondered about the expression : Brass Monkeys?

It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. The problems was how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The storage method devised was to tack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.

Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey.

If this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of brass -hence, Brass Monkeys.

Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.

Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, folks thought that was just a vulgar expression?

10 March 2011

National Kidney Day

Apparently today is National Kidney Day so here is my contribution...

Ingredients

    1 tbsp butter
    4 lambs' kidneys, trimmed and cut into chunks
    1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    2 tsp tomato purée
    2 tsp lemon juice
    1 tsp English mustard powder
     pinch cayenne pepper
     salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

     2 slices white bread, toasted
     1 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley

Preparation method

Heat a frying pan until hot, then add the butter and kidneys and fry for 2-3 minutes, until golden-brown all over.

Place the Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, lemon juice, mustard powder and cayenne powder into a bowl and whisk together well.

Pour the dressing onto the kidneys and stir well to combine. Cook for a further minute or two, until the kidneys are completely cooked through. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

To serve, place the toast onto two plates and top each slice with the kidneys and pan juices. Garnish with flatleaf parsley.

On a more serious note, it really is world Kidney Day and you can find out more information here. Their aim is to raise awareness of the importance of healthy kidneys.

09 March 2011

Lots to think about

We have the offer of another dog to go with Murphy, however, it is a 3 year old lab cross mastiff and although described as a lovely nature he is a lot bigger than Murphy. I had a look online yesterday at pictures of what it might look like and I don't know that I am that enthusiastic. We can go and see him, but it is a 200 mile round trip to do so.

I would like to have a dog as a companion for Murphy, but like this morning he was curled up on my lap (well he pretended to be mostly in my lap rather than on the sofa lol) and enjoys his cuddles. Big Softy! I hear you say, well he is and I love him more for it. He is beginning to enjoy living with us, or appears to be, even being playful when we go to bed and play biting although if he gets a little hard we are already saying ouch which makes him release and look ashamed of himself.

So, my dilemma is, do we see the dog or say that we are looking for something else? I want to give a dog another good home, but I am concerned at the potential size of a mastiff cross dog and have to admit they are not my favourite sort of dog but the labrador part could be the making of him..

Any thoughts welcomed..

08 March 2011

Shrove Tuesday

The beginning of Lent, the time to give something up or to do something good until Easter.

For many people, it is just seen as Pancake Tuesday, the pancake race in Olney. But the more historic reasons are that in days gone by, now was when fresh foodstuffs were getting scarce and the time when new growing foodstuffs has yet to happen. So today the last of the good things were used up in one last good meal before the people had more meagre rations to last them for a few weeks.

Many people today especially with the cutbacks, and with foodstuffs costing more, don't have a choice. Having to have less than they would choose and yet needing to make it go further. Bread, fuel, milk is all costing more and wages are not increasing to match the increased food prices. There is an increase in purchasing cheaper food stuffs, the value labels and cheaper cuts of meat, even less meat than normal.

This of course hits on the food producers too as they face increasing costs for foodstuffs for their animals but the big supermarkets are keeping prices down for the meat.. no easy answers then.

Perhaps we can learn from history, adapt and survive on less.. use more vegetables to bulk out the meals.. and be creative about recipes.. I am going to dig out my recipe books including the war-time ones to see if these help out with the food costs.

I know I am baking more cakes, bars etc.. as it is cheaper than buying from a shop and contains less preservatives but for Lent this year, I am giving up chocolate, I have done it before and it is incredibly difficult but not impossible.

07 March 2011

New Week

Already we are 7 days into the month of March and the year is fast flying by it seems.. the days are getting longer and the sun has a real warmth to it. The walk with Murphy in the mornings no longer require his cissy jacket (ok flourescent one then!) and we even see some sunshine.

This year is special to me, as three people I love will be or would have been 80 this year, SOH Dad will be 80 in July, my Dad would have been 80 on March 17th this year but sadly died 9 years ago at the early age of 71 while my Mum would have been 80 also in July, sadly she too died very early 19 years ago at the age of 61 and I miss them both very much but plan to commemorate their birthdays on the appropriate dates in a suitable fashion when I think about how.

06 March 2011

Update : Post Surgery

Dear Friends,

Most of you know I went in for a surgical procedure for a Bum Lift.  I didn't have the most pleasant experience.  I should've left well enough alone.

I wanted to show you how it turned out.  I hope this keeps YOU from having this done.

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE . . . don't get a Bum Lift.  You will most certainly regret it !!!

05 March 2011

Lowen dydh sen Pyran

For those who may have forgotten the meaning of St Piran's Day.. click here for last year's post..

Redruth is putting on a big St Piran's Day celebration, including a rugby match and if we can get there before 1pm it will be free always a good incentive. If you are around and about the local area the timetable is here.

To celebrate, we will be singing a rousing chorus from the Cornish Anthem.



Trelawny
Lyrics by Robert Stephen Hawker (1804–1875)

A good sword and a trusty hand,
A merry heart and true!
King James's men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do.
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!

And shall Trelawney live?
Or shall Trelawney die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!

Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
"If London Tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawney free!
We'll cross the Tamar, land to land,
The Severn is no stay:
With 'one and all', and hand in hand,
And who shall bid us nay?"

And shall Trelawney live?
Or shall Trelawney die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!

"And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasent sight to view,
Come forth! come forth ye cowards all,
Here's men as good as you!
Trelawney he's in keep and hold:
Trelawney he may die:
But twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why!"

And shall Trelawney live?
Or shall Trelawney die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!

This time last year, we were in the process of selling the house. Thankfully it is all done and dusted and this year we are currently settling in and enjoying ourselves.

Saturday Satire : Snips

    • Did you hear about the fat, alcoholic transvestite - All he wanted to do was eat, drink and be Mary
    • Got an e-mail today from a bored local housewife, 43, who was looking for some hot action!. So I sent her my ironing. That'll keep the cow busy.
    • I got invited to a party and was told to dress to kill. Apparently a turban, beard and a backpack wasn't what they had in mind.
    • After a night of drink, drugs and wild sex Bill woke up to find himself next to a really ugly woman.  That's when he realised he had made it home safely.
    • Paddy says to Mick, "Christmas is on Friday this year". Mick said, "Let's hope it's not the 13th then."
    • My mate just hired an Eastern European cleaner, took her 5 hours to hoover the house. Turns out she was a Slovak
    • Since the snow came all the wife has done is look through the window. If it gets any worse, I'll have to let her in.
    • Came home today to find all my doors and windows smashed in and everything gone. What sort of sick person does that to someone's Advent calendar.
    • I've been charged with murder for killing a man with sandpaper. To be honest I only intended to rough him up a bit.
    • After years of research, scientists have discovered what makes women happy. Nothing.
    • A lad comes home from school and excitedly tells his dad that he had a part in the school play and he was playing a man who had been married for 25 years. The dad says, "Never mind son, maybe next year you'll get a speaking part."
    • Just had my water bill of £175 drop on my mat. That's a lot. Oxfam can supply a whole African village for just £2 a month: time to change supplier I think.
    • Two women called at my door and asked what bread I ate, when I said white they gave me a lecture on the benefits of brown bread for 30 minutes.. I think they were just Hovis Witnesses.

04 March 2011

When to have the May Bank Holiday

Choice

St Georges Day or October

It appeals to me to have a bank holiday in October as after the August Bank holiday we don't have a break (except for schools who have half-term) until Christmas.

But it would be nice to celebrate something so british as St Georges Day, especially as the Welsh have St Davids Day, the Irish St Patricks and the Scots St Andrews.. even nicer is the Cornish celebrating St Pirans Day but we English don't actually celebrate our Saints day which I find quite sad.

Additionally the May Day bank holiday is a recent innovation, if you can call post 1971 recent lol. Its originations are synonymous with international workers day or labour day a day of political demonstrations and celebrations organised by the unions, communists, anarchists, and socialist groups so not having it wouldn't cause me any personal issues.

Also we have a glut of holidays with Easter sometimes being quite close to the May holidays and if you celebrate St George's day it might also clash occasionally.

So all in all, I think I prefer the October date, or even better let's have both!

03 March 2011

Busy Day

Today I was up at the crack of dawn, well as dawn is getting later these days, it was actually light when Murphy and I went for our morning walk.

Remembered to put the bins out,  before heading out to Camborne to see a client, subject literacy, then having done that had to drive to Stithians which would have seen me arriving very early, so I took advantage (forgot the camera bad move) and detoured to Stithians Lake (or reservoir as it should be correctly called) to enjoy a brief break with a cup of coffee while watching the coots grazing the grass with the sun shining into the water behind.. curse for forgetting the camera.

Then onto the village to meet my candidate to discuss both numeracy and literacy and then change of course to Truro centre to meet up with a client there and do an intensive 2 hour session on ICT prior to him taking a test which I won't know how well he did for a few days yet.

While he was taking his test, I was on my way back to Redruth to see my last client of the day... change gear back to numeracy for this client and engage brain into dealing with ratios, proportions and measuring scales before heading back home and giving Murphy a run in the park and then it was time to make tea which was omelettes, nice and browned on one side and full of cheese, onion, ham and mushrooms.. mmmm

Long day but wouldn't have it any other way.

02 March 2011

Shivering March

Brrr it is chilly out there, no sunshine to warm me up and just grey skies overhead.

Murphy had a visitor from the Labrador rescue society yesterday, in our hunt for a companion for him we are exploring all avenues and having a rescue dog meets all the needs of not buying a puppy for exorbitant costs.

We passed the home test, and the personality test (well Murphy did, he loved the visitor) and she has said she will be in touch as and when something comes  up. We have asked for either male or female and age ranges from 6 months-3 years so that the two dogs are not too age distant from each other. We want them to play together and to bond so an older dog in this case is not appropriate.

Murphy was well behaved, as he often is, being quite relaxed and loving. He clearly loves being here with us and his welfare is very important to us so introducing another dog will have to be handled carefully to make sure that he feels just as important as he is now.

01 March 2011

St Davids Day

Saint David, or Dewi Sant, as he is known in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life, he was the archbishop of Wales, and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain. 

It is claimed that Dewi lived for over 100 years, and it is generally accepted that he died in 589. His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhigyfarch transcribes these as 'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.' 'Do the little things' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain') is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh, and has proved an inspiration to many. On a Tuesday, the first of March, in the year 589, the monastery is said to have been 'filled with angels as Christ received his soul'.