Worms

It is my sincere hope that there are no worms inside my gastro-enteric system from the lovely fresh blackberries.

This morning (after industriously cycling to work), I found a tiny worm on my sweater at about 10.30. My first thought was that it came from the banana I had just had as a snack, which made the tummy rather turn on its side and the thought pass through my head never to eat another banana. Sickness was avoided by pure determination of will, and the fact that spreadsheets make one's brain go really quite blank.

Then this afternoon, after snacking on a few more blackberries, there was another little worm inching (or centimetre-ing) his tiny way across my desk. Have felt slightly queasy since. I don't think there were blackberry worms in Louisiana. Or maybe my constitution was just a little stronger due to being heathen wood spirit who didn't care about frivolous things like little ol' worms :)

If anyone knows of a way in which to rid berries of creeping invaders, it would be most appreciated, as I very much enjoyed my mango, yogurt, blackberries and country crisp cereal last night... Google has really fallen down on the job on this and makes no helpful suggestions other than 'How to get rid of Raccoons' and an article about berries being used in Russia to rid the body of parasites.

And then there is this helpful item.

Boo on bugs!
Well, bugs in one's food.

Here are some lovely bugs, however, that my newly-found fascination with macro function enabled me to capture:

Firstly, a fuzzy bee on a thistle.

Then a dragonfly from the bank of the River Wensum. I was quite disappointed not to get him with his wings out, but I really couldn't just lay there in the mud and nettles.

Then, a bee on a yarrow (I think) flower. His little wings are so pretty, although had the sun gone ever so slightly behind the cloud instead of all the way, it might have shown up better.

Lastly, these are thistles that grow in front of Norwich City Hall. They are about 5 times the size of normal thistles and are just gorgeous. This was taken at dusk, so the light isn't so good. The plants are about 5 feet tall and each bud is about the size of my fist!

Nettled

Perhaps one day, I will learn what nettles are in Britain and will manage not to get myself nettled. It just is slightly vexatious that the juiciest blackberries are in the deepest nettles.

This afternoon has been quite productive, as have gone for 3 mile bike ride; picked a pound of blackberries; had bike lock stolen when lost panniere bag raided after it accidentally fell off rack; recovered panniere bag and cloth shopping bag; recovered bike lock which had been discarded in tall grass while on way to purchase new expensive lock! Hoorah for trusting intuition...

Sermon this morning addressed issue of forgiveness, so I supposed it would be frowned upon to wish vengeance for stolen water bottle and glue stick... why the idiots took a glue stick instead of a panniere bag is quite beyond me (although I am pleased they are stupid). However, did learn interesting things in sermon which also included linguistic element. The use of the word priggishly is highly acceptable to me, especially in sermons.

Another lovely day today. Found a pedestrian bridge right around the corner and a pumping station where people fish in the fast water. Along this alley is a flood-level plaque which I noticed yesterday. Dates are, from top: 1912, 1570, 1514, 1646, 1752, and 177-something.

From my house, north along the River Wensum about a 10-minute ride (past quite an extensive crop of nettles), this bridge is right before the Sweet Briar Road (I think).

Then, went slightly off-road to get other perspective.

And to take photos of insects on flowers with new macro functionality discovered... (these will appear later)

On way back down (nettle-ridden) path, took a couple of side trails and found a gypsy wagon (well, not actually positive that is what it is, but is more exotic than just 'a wagon' where someone appears to be living rough... eek). Shall probably be scolded by mother and other parental-type persons with whom I am acquainted for straying into lonely field where all sorts of horrible things could have happened, but pshaw. The worst thing that happened was that my arm was bitten by a very small horse as a test of my edibility. Maybe it was my green sweater. He was tres cute and I shall visit him again! (If you cannot tell, he is very short, about to my hip).

Gypsies apparently just take their horses wherever there is grass and put a stake in the ground with a chain or rope and leave them there for a while. This is rather distressing. Little Horse here was not tied like the other 6 horses in the field but just wandering around (and biting things). Their hooves all need grooming.

*******
Saturday was a fun day as well. V. busy morning, what with getting ribbon to finish window screen, acquiring planting acoutrements and sitting outside front door at table being eccentric.

Then met Sally and Sumiko (from office) to go to Wroxham Barns, which is in Wroxham (funnily enough). Had relaxed stroll around with only a very few sensible purchases (flower pots are utilitarian and candles are good in an electricity outage...).

On road, passed signs to the Worstead Festival, which is apparently happening (or happened at this point) this weekend. Am kind of disappointed to have missed it as it claims to be the largest village festival in Norfolk. The village is the origin of 'worsted' wool in the 14th century! It also (from this link) appears that there was weaving and spinning. Now I shall go and feel sorry for self and plan for next year.

Sally met me at The Forum for Carmen. We arrived 40 minutes before the start and it was already crammed. Caroline from the knitting group joined as well and we knitted. We all had to sit on a very far side (hahaha) and peer through railings for most of it. They could still have done with a sound system, but as the voices were adult, more was audible. V. chilly; cold nose. Overall, still fun!

Actually, must clean flat so as to impress landlord tomorrow with quality of tenant and so he will happily replace demonic shower head. Pray it doesn't rain tomorrow as must ride bike to work so will not be evidence for landlord to boot me out. Hope the fish will be well-behaved so he won't call me on that, either...

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. -- Katharine Hepburn

Opera with kids, & spiritual kitties

Last evening, with a slight break in the massive rains, went to opera in the open air.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the result of an 8-day kids opera workshop and was staged in front of The Forum building in the city centre. To the right of the photo is the front of St. Peter Mancroft and to the left is City Hall, and The Forum (not pictured) is a glass-front building to the stage's face.

It was an okay production, but would have benefitted from some sound equipment :) Bless poor Mr. Tumnus, who whispered his little song (to L). He was much more effective when he played his little flute and the piano took over -- but he was precious anyway. Also, it was pretty funny how the trees just kind of gazed around all over the place, and turned to the sides to look for their parents :)

Sadly, the rain is supposed to be back tonight, which is slightly disappointing, as Carmen is tonight. I think I shall go earlier and knit so as to get a better spot on the steps and in front of the glass front, which amplifies the sound a bit. Not sure how long my dedication will last, though, if it is chucking it down...

Here is a lovely picture of the tower of St. Peter Mancroft taken last evening with the setting sun on its face. There is another good shot, which was unable to be coordinated last night due to crowd -- sunset tower reflected in glass front of Forum building which it faces, at many different angles all at once. The foundations of the church are Norman, but the major part of the church dates from the 1400s, when more money started to come into Norwich. I have not yet been inside (people who know me well should try not to become weak in shock at this point), but I think I will go to church there tomorrow a.m. Tried to go one time but got times mixed up and so was late. So I went for a coffee instead :)

*******
On another note, there was an interesting story on BBC1 yesterday morning, and then the same story was highlighted on the Brown University website if you scroll over the 'Academic Life' tab (I was doing work... looking for international officers) -- original story from New England Journal of Medicine (**Weeping Warning for readers of article). The newsreader (who is a pompous pomaded prat) said this item justified his dislike of cats, but I think it is fascinating and sweet:

Oscar is a cat who lives in a nursing home in Maine maybe, and he has become so accurate at predicting peoples' deaths, that when he curls up in a resident's bed, staff phone the families. Sally thinks that you would just freak out if the cat came and got in your bed, but I think that you would be happy that the kitty was there as you are probably pretty miserable and ready to get out of the nursing home. Also, he is in the advanced dementia unit, so I don't think a moggy is going to upset them too much at this point. Personally, I would like to have a kitty next to me for comfort if I were about to die. CATS ARE NOT EVIL!!!!!

And, nooooow... there was just a story on BBC1 news this morning about the vast over-population numbers of kittens without homes. There are people who are fostering kitties for the National Cat Centre until they can find homes.... hmmmm!!!!! (they showed a picture of a kitty nursing a tiny bottle just now. mew!)

------------

This morning's blog has been written in part sitting outside at the little cafe table which E brought from Cardiff a last weekend. The pavement in front of my door is 5 paving slabs wide between house and churchyard, or about 3 sidewalk widths, so there is plenty of room. Not that there are a whole lot of pedestrians down my alley, esp. early on a Saturday morning. So far, it is a gorgeous day -- I feel the blueness of my skin getting toasty -- and it is really nice to sit out here with tea and blog. It has not escaped my notice that I am still not caught up with blog, but shall make effort this weekend, as have had several things occupy me this week:
* talking to various lovely fambly members
* finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows before anybody ruined the ending for me
* going to knitting (which was very large this week!)
* kids' opera
* losing to E at online Scrabble yet again
* and this afternoon, going to Wroxham Barns on shopping outing with Sally and Sumiko

Saturday-week (cont.)

Since someone's creativity was so tragically hampered last week...

...I can no longer remember what brilliance was being forced upon readers.


Well, that is why we like cameras.



...so, we talked to Clem and Richard. And then I took some more pictures of trains and lanterns. The train window has the reflection of the Sheringham station sign.

And then we caught the 7.40 train back to Norwich. And Eamonn showed me the macro function on my camera (which was quite a nice surprise -- this camera hides things from me on purpose, I swear). So I took some pictures of a lovely flower, and was accused laughingly by some festival goers of trying to take a photo of a man's bum. How embarrassing!

Once we got back to Norwich, we went and sat on the balcony at the Ribs of Beef on the River Wensum and took photos of spiders and river reflections until six random people joined us and made friends. Eamonn can make friends with a post :) They were all about 60-70ish, one was a Scottish transplant, and they were a great laugh! (Unfortunately, the best picture was accidentally deleted, so we will just have to go back. This is the best I got.)

We made it onto the bridge just in time to see some of the Lord Mayor's Fireworks show from the Castle mount over the buildings.

And then the camera battery died for the day.

Oficina

Forgot to mention that during my absence from Floor 3 (aka, 4th floor in US-speak), the whole office was torn apart, painted, and reassembled in a much more efficient layout.
Oh, and a wall was knocked down.
And some new carpet was laid in the expanded area.
It is very nice and there seems to be so much more room!

Is it bad to like the smell of carpet glue?

(oooh! look at the colours!)

fotografia

There are now various photographs added to 'Friday the 13th to Tuesday' post (which actually only covers Friday and Saturday... but who is counting? Judith, that is who. hee hee)

More will be added later, but NOW i am going to read. I am sadly behind my fellow-geek friends who are finished with the new HP book. Being mocked by geeks is no fun.



P.S. Everyone also needs to say a prayer (or do a rain un-dance) that Helene will not wake up in a pool of the Thames tomorrow. Oxford is flooding, and we do not want her to lose any of her cute clothes! At least she still has water, unlike the poor people in Tewkesbury... it is quite sad. What a summer.

Oregon

Today is apparently Oregon Day.

This is to warn readers in the US, as you still have most of the day ahead of you... WATCH OUT FOR OREGON!

Evidence 1:
Sally was phoned first thing this morning by a student in our lobby wanting information on graduate programs at the University of Oregon. (HELLOOOOO! Ummm, our office does handle outgoing exchange, but we are not part of the marketing team for Oregon graduate recruitment.)

Evidence 2:
Sally was emailed by a student wanting information on our exchange with U of Oregon.

Evidence 3:
Clare read in an application from Hong Kong that the student spent quite a bit of time in Oregon.

Evidence 4:
On my way to the Post Office just a while ago, there was a man walking across the Quad with an OREGON DUCKS t-shirt.



[Note of interest: Wayne, the International Office Manager, is also from Oregon. Although he is in Nigeria for two weeks now.]

It is just rawther odd.

Quack.

Friday the 13th to Tuesday

Since am sans a certain cable to connect camera to computer for photo recovery, will go ahead and write and then insert pictures later. Notice shall be given when this happens. This does not affect your statutory rights as a reader.

Friday the 13th

Had day off! Hoorah!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the first HP film that I have liked on the first viewing. In my humble opinion, it does quite good justice to the book and was well-directed.

Companions seemed to enjoy and approve as well -- E thinks it blows HP4 out of water, Sarah was happy, and although a little bit of grumbling seemed to be emanating from the Mat section, I think he enjoyed it, too (although approval of things is generally not the image he likes to cultivate). There are no pictures from this outing.

Evening, E and I trooped out to Thetford for concert. This was more challenging than I had planned for and it was an adventure involving £30 worth of taxis (grrrr), although we had quite a good time. Headliners were M People -- this is an early 90s band, and I don't really think they made it big in the States as much as here, although I think I recognise some of their songs. People either love them or hate them. It was a fun outing. Concert venue was Thetford Forest (which is actually in Brandon, 8 miles away, hence the need for taxis) and is funding initiative for Forestry Commission. Crowd was over 4000 and was good fun being out of doors. However, as did not know exact nature of venue, was not exactly as prepared as I like to be -- next time, we will have chairs, blankets, and plastic cups to go with our picnic. Umbrellas were confiscated at the gate (well, actually, you could check them, but it was still dramatically stupid).

Saturday
Demonstrated inanely difficult journey to pet store to Eamonn. Bought filters. E brought to pet store attention lack of replacements for products they sell, so I should have some Biofoam soon.

Toodled by train to Sheringham for the North Norfolk Beer Festival on The Poppy Line. It was actually held on the platform of the train station and was cram-packed!

There were no souvenir glasses left, but we stalked the glass-seller guy until some were turned back in to be recycled and we bought those (hoorah for souvenir glasses!). There were probably 100 different beers from local and regional brewers.

There was a Skiffle band. This was highly entertaining

as: a) their name was the Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo, b) the bass was black and white checked, c) they played music that is at every Louisiana outdoor festival (e.g., Hank Williams songs and Creedence and such like), and d) they played Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight? by Lonnie Dunnegan-- this made me laugh out loud. How do I know this song?

This is the Station Master watching the skiffle band.


Toodled into town and got some fish from the fish vendor and sat on beach. Rocks hurt your feet. I was attacked by a wave whilst trying to wade in very civilised manner. Had to console self with ice cream before we met Clem and Richard back on the platform...


(...will have to finish this later, as the person who wanted writing done has now summoned Kneece and self from Glenroy Street into civil society... hmph.)

A Very Non-busy Tuesday

In contrast to last week's manic Tuesday, today is really rawther slow. But in a good way. I don't think there has been a slower day in quite a while, as I find myself rushing hither and thither far too much :) Some of us know how unbalanced Amrie can get when she is pushed and stressed, so not having to be anywhere has been lovely!

To ease the mama's mind, I have dressed myself (am not still in pajamas, as appealing as this notion is) and put on makeup about two hours ago. Kneece and I are sitting in the house on Glenroy Street not seeing Cardiff, and this is perfectly fine (Kneece is my friend from Shreveport, who after finishing her Master's at Centenary, moved to Cherbourg, France to teach English to primary school children. She had to renew her visa to a tourist visa last week and is looking for a job for next year...eek! We are quite hopeful that she will find a job and not be either deported or poor. She has come to Cardiff for my gradumatation!).

Things Kneece has done today:
* revised her French CV
* translated French cover letter into English
* translated French CV into English
* looked for jobs online
* posted CV online
* emailed re: several likely openings
* eaten a tomato sandwich

Things Amrie has done today:
* washed some dishes (from Mexican food we cooked last evening)
* sunk into depths of despair upon realising that she forgot her yarn to finish her tiny sweater for tomorrow
* pulled herself up by mental bootstraps and figured ingenious way of 'finishing' sleeves (this involved a fortuitously-brought piece of ribbon; Kneece approves and hysteria was avoided.)
* talked to the Greek
* talked to the Dawny
* made arrangements to meet the Gradumatation Crew at 8.30am tomorrow (ick)
* drunk three cups o' tea
* completed finishing on knitted purse for Steffi's birthday (which was in February)
* painted toenails
* watched some Jeeves and Wooster
* made tomato sandwiches

There does need to be some updating of events of the past weekend, as I have been reminded by someone who is in work and needs some entertaining reading... I shall do this now, although there will be no pictures. They are on camera. Connection for camera to upload pictures onto computer is in the same county as the aforementioned yarn... grrrrrr. Brain-dead Bruner. As my Daddy used to say, 'If your head wasn't attached to your shoulders,...' ...Oh look! A kitty!

A Very Busy Tuesday

For some insane reason, have been mostly awake since 2.54am. This is slightly annoying. And I am not tired. Although, if I should sit on my lovely new construction in the living room in a bit and eat my din-dinns, a coma may be induced.

Just for everyone's information, it is very very light at 4am. If one were so inclined one could go for a run and not need reflective clothing at all. Why one would be so inclined, I have no idea.

A mere few hours later, my front door was locked behind me at 7.08am and I arrived at 7.15 at The Maid's Head Hotel, which is in Tombland close to the cathedral, for Norwich Blackfriars Rotary breakfast meeting. The meeting was really a lot of fun and I now have a Bouncy Bug hand-puppet to make of a Swallowtail Butterfly.

Two weeks ago, I met a Rotarian at my UEA New Employee workshop, and she just happens to be the new President of the club :) It is a really lively club and everyone (as usual!) was fabulously friendly. It was my intention to meet local Rotarians much sooner, but life has been slightly busy :)

The speaker was from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and was absolutely fascinating for her unabashed adoration of the miracles of the wild. Her description of owl pellets caused quite a bit of tittering amongst the members, but it was really cool! She works with children who visit one of the Broads, therefore the Bouncy Bug Butterfly colouring activity. (Must go buy some crayons!) The Swallowtail Butterfly in Britain only lives in the Norfolk Broads, and I think this is because the reed plant it eats as a caterpillar is only found here. When it is a caterpillar it's disguise is as black and white bird poo. (tee hee, titter)

After work, rushed to Futon Co. to meet taxi! Taxi was late. Nice lady in shoppe very chatty :) If I had lots of money I would buy things from her just because she is so nice.

Then nice taxi driver helped me unload 40 kilos of frame. Then I built it! In less than an hour and with not a profanity to be heard. Hoorah!

And now, it shall be sat upon and dinner shall be consumed (this is especially needed as I forgot all of my fruit today and had no lunch. My general habit lately is to eat a banana about 11, an orange about 1 and another fruity item about 3. I am becoming predictable.).

Tip for today:
do not buy Balsamic vinegar at LIDL. The top is rubbish.

A Beating, a beating!

Someone needs to give the boys who have decided to repeatedly kick a soccer (oops, 'scuse me -- foot) ball at the church/science discovery centre wall a very large beating. It is annoying the experience of my dinner.

However, as there is a small herd of them huddled vulture-like on top of the tomb, I think it had best not be me.

It will be so nice when I have my IKEA table and chair and can go out with my tea and knitting and glare malevolently at them like the 83-year-old biddy I am inside.

Bells

This morning, mama and daddy heard the bells from St. Michael Coslany. Admittedly, this did require their phone to ring at approximately 5.10am Central Standard Time, but mama at least seemed to like it :) I was clever and managed to catch the last set with my call -- it might have been more traumatic had I rung at 4.30am CST.

St. Michael's is no longer a church as such, but is a science discovery centre. It is nice, though, that they let the bell ringers come in and practice (or whatever it is they are doing). Article linked above is quite interesting and links back to a site with information on 650 Norfolk churches! According to my neighbor, George, there is something special about these bells, but have not managed to find this out yet. Planning mission to historical section of library as George says there are lots of little old ladies with a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be asked :) (If have not mentioned it, have joined library and am quite pleased to have done so, esp. as in Cardiff was not allowed to join library as had not lived there for 3 years or something daft. Also, books on loan are for THREE weeks! Hoorah!)

Anyhoo, the Mama wants some pictures of St. Michael. And of the abode... Yes, I know. I have been negligent with the blog overall lately. So, after the sun went in for a little rest (as it is too bright for good pictures), complied with the Mama :)

From article linked above, it seems that St. Miles is a linguistic evolution of St. Michael's, hence the name of my alley. I have noticed that all the churches have alleys next to them with a matching name and could not figure out why mine was different from the church name. So, now we know!

This photo was taken from the doorway of my house. You may notice the 3-foot stump at the left of the picture. This was a lovely (and according to George, 100-year old) tree, which had the prettiest tiny pink flowers this spring. I think someone in the Council should be beaten.

Another pic looking from about the aspect of my front window and down the alley toward Oak Street.

My house is at the altar end of the church. Churches are historically built along an East-West axis. The reason for this being that Christ is to return as the sun rises (which is in the East) and also because Jerusalem is Eastward. Here is interesting article on the English Parish Church as well.

The Mama additionally wants proof that I am not living in penurious squalor (well, she didn't actually say that in so many words, but we all know how worried mamas get). So here is evidence that I am not living in squalor (although the dishes did get stowed in the dishwasher and the knitting was formed into one pile...).

Firstly, should say that I will only be sleeping on the floor for two nights (and the mattress is really comfy, so it is okay). This morning, a very nice couple came to see my futon and bought it! New (and posh) futon arrives at shop on Tuesday. And then I get to figure out how to get it home -- it is supposed it will fit into a taxi but I am dubious.

On left of top picture, mail slot in front door is seen. Green glowing life box in corner is Norfolk residence of Jasper and Carrot (and Forsythe, who will be introduced once an adequate portrait can be taken -- he has been behind the filter for about three hours now).

Now from other aspect. Doorway leads to one step down where is airing cupboard (my closet) and the shower room.

Lastly, view from bedside table corner. Sadly, the lovely curved brickwork of the fireplace going towards upstairs did not fit. Will take more pictures when new futon arrives.

And we move down a step and look into the shower room! How tidy!

And down another step into kitchen. This step down is a bit large and my poor toes got stubbed quite a few times in the first days here. Grrrr.... Kitchen looks kind of dim, but it is really not quite so. Paul -- Note cast iron skillet and muffin tin hanging on left above stove. Note Millie the Gerbera daisy in the sink. Back door is barely seen on right.

Finally, looking back toward living/bed room. It is a little less prettily fixed yet, but it is really quite fine.

[Table was obtained for me by my former neighbor, Brenda, who formed the person part of the parade of Mr. Brew (the fat Pom), and Mr. Diamond (the black cat with white socks) -- they used to toodle around the square, her on her motorised cart, and it was just the cutest thing. Mr. Brew snoofling along eating dirt and sniffing things, Mr. Diamond being flitty and cattish (and not letting you pet him if you made eye contact at all) and Brenda smoking her heart out :) They have since moved across Norwich and I owe her a note...].

And, then finally, finally... this is my screen which is almost finished for my front window. It is most unpleasant methinks to have curtains shut unless it is night-time. It is truly dark at 11.15 at night and is light at 4.30am. Not that my windows are open to the world after dusk, but you hate to be all cloistered and gloomy (after all, I haven't become a hermitess yet). So, I got a willow garden trellis and wove gossamer ribbon in black and white through it to make it a little more private to have window open in day. Need more ribbon and think maybe some little beads to tie at each of the junction spots, but overall, am quite pleased. This was one of yesterday's projects :)

Happy Impudence Day!

This is Eamonn's term.

And I like it. It is approved.
I oughtn't to have drunk tea probably, but coffee has too much acid lately :)

*******
Another independence note for the day is that Alan Johnston is free. It is just horrific to consider being held hostage for 16 weeks/114 days.

Although this is nothing compared to the story of the Oufkir family. Recommended reading in case I have failed to mention it earlier: La Prisonniere.

Must work now...

Terrorist doctors and Fin Rot

It is really not as horrible and panic-stricken as the American media might be portraying. There was a little bit of difference on yesterday's train journey, just in the presence of armed police guarding Cardiff Station entrances. It is just slightly more cautious everywhere, or at least that is what it feels like to me (maybe I am just not attuned by this point, as life in general has just become more carpe diem and fatalistic). This is not to say that I am not happy, though. Not at all!


However, the BBC does seem slightly concerned with people making sure they stay happy and British-stiff-upper-lip and strong during stressful times, as on the news this morning, they were suggesting ways and things that people can be happy about. In addition to the demon terrorism, flooding still continues in a lot of the UK, particularly the middle. No flooding close to my house; the river at St. Miles Bridge is only about 5 feet below the highest point marker from 1873, though.


*******
Other than police, train ride journey was much more mundane than Thursday's. Made train in Liverpool Street with 5 minutes to spare (train 12 minutes late and Tube slightly slow). The only entertainment other than reading my book was when a 16-year-old boy who got on in Ipswich tried to chat up this Scottish girl across the aisle from him for the last 20 minutes of the ride. It was so lame-oh :) She was 18 (but he said one would never know it) before asking how old she thought he was... He has his own place and everything; and he failed out of school; and he was born in Florida (isn't that so cool?); and he is going to move to America and be an actor; and what kind of music do you like? So, he asked how she liked Scotland -- he thinks it is pretty cool. And here was the fun part (in brief):


Boy: So, is your mom from Scotland?
Girl: No, from Liverpool.
Boy: How long has she been in Scotland?
Girl: For a long time.
Boy: (pause) So, she probably has her Scottish citizenship by now and everything, huh?


DEAR LORD.

*******
Things I/we did this weekend:
* packed up Gold Street
* E replaced kitchen door on hinges
* met Graham and James to give back Rotary dishes
* went to B's last-day-of-work-at-L&G parties
* visited IKEA (hoorah for finding discontinued table and chairs!)
* had coffee with Katharine at Shot in the Dark
* went to St. Martin's and saw my lovely friends!
* had ice cream in the rain on the way to Cold Knapp
* walked in rain at the beach at Cold Knapp on Saturday
* went to Sully Island beach on Sunday and watched tide come in
* hunted crabs




Took no pics at Cold Knapp, but it really wasn't conducive. It is just really interesting to note the rock surfaces on different beaches and also the variety on the same beach. These pictures are from Sully Island. The rock in this area is kind of softish and in some spots looks like petrified wood almost. You can break parts off in some spots. And there are layers built up. And this lets there be quite a lot of rock pools.

It took approximately 30 minutes to figure out the best method for crab hunting and then we were off!

If you look at this picture, it looks like the crab is saying 'Ooops!' There are voices for different rock pool creatures: crabs talk in Andy voices from Little Britain; shrimp have French accents; limpets have quick tiny voices. It is all quite fascinating!

Probably have written before about how Sully Island has one of the fastest rising tides. It can be quite dangerous. Here is an image when Eamonn was herding me back towards higher ground... on the left side on the island, you can just see the old ship that is preserved in the mud on Sully Island. Lindsey went with us out to the ship when she was here :) I want to go out for a day -- go over in the morning, let the tide come in and trap us over with the fisherpeople, then watch it go back out and toodle back across the rock pools to The Captain's Wife.

*******
In further news, I must find a remedy for fin rot, as it seems to have invaded the lives of Jasper and Carrot. This is very distressing.