Ad Infinitum

The clocks have sprung forward, the water, in the vases, is cloudy and it’s time to throw the faded flowers on the compost. The daffodils are papery and crinkled. The hyacinths are drooping and the roses and iris’s have dried out. The cottage was full of flowers for my birthday. It was heartwarming that I … Read more

On this day, 127 years ago, my grandmother was born. When I knew her she lived in a tenement block in Aldgate, near Gardeners corner. She was called Sophie Taylor, her original name Schneider having been anglicised, foreigners were not wanted especially the Jews. Hmmmm, similar me thinks to BrexiBritin. Sophie had dyed blonde hair … Read more

Dear All, what a palaver. The snow is as high as an elephants thigh. My little red car is no longer, she is decreased. On the scrap heap. boo-bloody-hoo. The dawter’s car is stuck in the garage, burnt out clutch. The old git’s car is on the blink. 10.000 steps ain’t possible what with ice, … Read more

It’s cold, but then you know that. I found a pair of leather gloves with faux fur cuffs in the basket next to the boiler. They had been given to me for Christmas years ago. I slipped them on over my freezing fingers, and set off on my 10.000 step trek to the village to … Read more

At 12.00 a big car transporter turned up at the cottage. I was packing my bag after doing a mid morning show for Radio Sussex, so I couldn’t wave goodbye to my little red car of fifteen years. Some geezer tweeted I was ‘about as entertaining as mumps, all jolly hocky sticks’….if he had any … Read more

And so I’m stocking up on sachets of all-in-one powdered smoothies, in preparation for my assault on Type 2 Diabetes. I begin the course on January 15th. Starving myself to reverse the offending numbers. The dietary way of combating blood sugar issues has been in the news a lot so I am, if anything, extremely … Read more

Outside looks inviting, but inside has won out. Yes, yes I know I should be smelling the damp earth, digging up the weeds, I know I should be kicking over the leaves and planting snow drops for the spring BUT I cannot be arsed. Why can’t I be bothered? Because I have had a long … Read more

The comment from ‘Grancangirl’, for just a nano second, upset me. My initial reaction to nasty posts always has the same affect on me. I read it once, then again, then wonder what I did to make ‘Grancangirl’, and the likes of her, be so hurtful. And then I remember that I am in favour … Read more

Sometimes, just sometimes, I think my cottage may be the cause of my ill health. That the North/North West facing aspect is lousy Feng Shui. Then I remember that being ill and getting better takes time when you are three score years and eight. When so many folk die in their late 60’s I am … Read more

In 1589 a botanical garden was opened in Basle, a Chestnut tree was planted in Duddleswell, East Sussex, whilst over in Somerset John Harrington was busy inventing the first flushing water closet at his house at Keelson in Bath. He called it ‘Ajax’ a pun on an Elizabethan slang word for privy – ‘Jakes’ – … Read more