We brought Alice home from veterinary hospital this morning for they were very pleased with her condition after her huge operation; it was a hysterectomy and lump removal, and they put her on a drip until this morning, because of her age and the type of operation.
She was so very pleased to see us and we her. She has to wear her head collar to prevent her bothering her wounds and stitches and I'm keeping it on her for the the time being, but the dear SO wants me to release its hold on her for a while, so I probably will in a moment.
We have kept Alice very quiet today and will do the same over the weekend. She has antibiotics to take, plus pain killers and anti-inflammatory pills, and I'll make sure she takes all her medicine as detailed. Of course, she hates pill taking so we'll have to be very ingenious with her feeding ritual tonight.
Alice has wagged her tail encouragingly throughout the day and we've stayed close by her side all the time, and I'm sure she will make a good recovery.
We return to the hospital tomorrow morning for a post-operation check-up and then her stitches will be removed in ten day's time.
Thank goodness Alice is very healthy for her age; her coat is very shiny and she loves to run everywhere, when we go out for walks. She's a smashing dog whom everybody loves.
We've had to redress her wounds this evening but she's OK and ate well at supper time,
including the dratted pills, so I do earnestly believe she will make a good recovery.
And tonight the drama of our day continued with the second part of Parade's End with Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch. Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's four-part novel written between 1924 and 1926 is excellent but I simply can't wait to get my hands on the original novels.
Hurry up Christmas time.
Daisy
Friday, 31 August 2012
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Dear old Alice...?
We'd decided to take our lovely dog, Alice, to the vet this morning for a blood test, because she's been rather down lately and I thought this condition was due to some lumps which we'd recently noticed and which to us, were rather alarming.
We saw a smashing vet who told us that her present condition was due to something else altogether, and that she should have an operation straightway, this morning, to clear the problem away; and they would remove the offending lumps at the same time, provided it wouldn't mean she'd be anaesthetised for too long.
Late this afternoon, the vet telephoned to say Alice's operation had gone well and she was recovering, although still very much under sedation, because of the drip they have put her on because of her age - she is eleven years old - and that they are keeping her in overnight. They will call us tomorrow morning, after their morning inspection, and she's been fed and they deem that she's OK, and then we'll go and collect her and bring her home. Phew......an emotional day, hey?
Home for a late breakfast, after our early morning walk and taking Alice to the Vet. and back to my family history work; and I've heard from the daughter of friends of my late Aunt, with details for my further research, which is brilliant, filling in the gaps left by a sad lack of communication of earlier days.
After lunch, I had to dash into town to sort out a small complication with a funds transfer of mine but I resisted the urge to go shopping, thank goodness; and then I heard that Alice was recovering so I decided to pop in to see her on my way home, and oh goodness me, was she delighted to see me, the dear doggie!
So lots of TLC. tomorrow for Alice, and over the weekend, and staying at home to keep her company and we'll have to make sure her "lampshade" collar remains in place, for we're not to let her get to her wound and start licking the stitches - oh dear! Luckily, we'll not be straying away from home this weekend because of the Grand Prix in Belgium, as the dear Significant Other is obsessed with F1 racing and will be glued to the TV screen to watch his favourite, Jensen Button, notch up the laps. I am always cheering on Lewis Hamilton for he's my man, and I do hope he does well!
It was my turn to do supper and I chose to cook chicken and mushroom risotto and we ate garden grown runner beans; and we have the best ever bean tool for stringing and removing the tough outer edge.
An article in yesterday's Daily Telegraph which caught my eye contained an angry diatribe against the over-noisy film production's music which drowns out the spoken word, thus losing the delicate nuance and subtlety of the scriptwriters craft and intelligence. Hurrah for that man.
I think it's time to bring these proceedings to a close, as they say, but lots more to come, byeeeee
Daisy
We saw a smashing vet who told us that her present condition was due to something else altogether, and that she should have an operation straightway, this morning, to clear the problem away; and they would remove the offending lumps at the same time, provided it wouldn't mean she'd be anaesthetised for too long.
Late this afternoon, the vet telephoned to say Alice's operation had gone well and she was recovering, although still very much under sedation, because of the drip they have put her on because of her age - she is eleven years old - and that they are keeping her in overnight. They will call us tomorrow morning, after their morning inspection, and she's been fed and they deem that she's OK, and then we'll go and collect her and bring her home. Phew......an emotional day, hey?
Home for a late breakfast, after our early morning walk and taking Alice to the Vet. and back to my family history work; and I've heard from the daughter of friends of my late Aunt, with details for my further research, which is brilliant, filling in the gaps left by a sad lack of communication of earlier days.
After lunch, I had to dash into town to sort out a small complication with a funds transfer of mine but I resisted the urge to go shopping, thank goodness; and then I heard that Alice was recovering so I decided to pop in to see her on my way home, and oh goodness me, was she delighted to see me, the dear doggie!
So lots of TLC. tomorrow for Alice, and over the weekend, and staying at home to keep her company and we'll have to make sure her "lampshade" collar remains in place, for we're not to let her get to her wound and start licking the stitches - oh dear! Luckily, we'll not be straying away from home this weekend because of the Grand Prix in Belgium, as the dear Significant Other is obsessed with F1 racing and will be glued to the TV screen to watch his favourite, Jensen Button, notch up the laps. I am always cheering on Lewis Hamilton for he's my man, and I do hope he does well!
It was my turn to do supper and I chose to cook chicken and mushroom risotto and we ate garden grown runner beans; and we have the best ever bean tool for stringing and removing the tough outer edge.
An article in yesterday's Daily Telegraph which caught my eye contained an angry diatribe against the over-noisy film production's music which drowns out the spoken word, thus losing the delicate nuance and subtlety of the scriptwriters craft and intelligence. Hurrah for that man.
I think it's time to bring these proceedings to a close, as they say, but lots more to come, byeeeee
Daisy
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
And what of yesterday?
At home doing chores and dhobi-ing, after the secretarial and accounting and emailing...phew a busy morning. And so busy walking the dogs I completely missed out on breakfast!
"What, no breakfast, I hear you say?!" It was one of this mornings, the morning after a Bank Holiday when you're off and out as soon as possible, after the doggies walk if you can't take them with you, so of course, there were things to do.
So, back home from our walk, hang out the washing and tidy up and finally, have lunch at about 2pm. Then it's back up to the office and finish off letters begun this morning.
So now I have my family historian hat on, for I'm writing to organisations which just might be able to assist me with my quest for info on my mother and aunt, both SRN's. If only I'd asked beforehand, what they'd done and where they'd worked. But, and I guess this is a universal truth, one generally doesn't get to know ones parents as people in their own right, until you get to an age to ask about their lives, and often by that time they are no longer alive or have begun to forget, or don't want to remember.
That's not always the case, of course, and I know of some very fortunate people whose aged P's are more than alive and well; they're sprightly, lively and full of chatter about their lives, and of their children too, when very young.
With my letters there is a more than definite probability that no researchable answers will be forthcoming, for time waits for no-one, not even ardent family historians. But it's my view that one needs to keep asking questions, keep probing away at memories of what has been, because this gives one a tremendous sense of achievement and of involvement.
"You've become involved with your ancestor's lives, which is very fulfilling! And the sideways research can be just so enlivening, too?"
Time centred and relevant living details, filling in the gaps with info on the wider place issues; historical factors, happenings which engrossed all persons at a relevant time, town and country-wide; and worldwide events to break your heart and mourn the dear and lost loved ones.
The luxury of having something compelling and interesting to do simply cannot be under-estimated, and doing it at a time and place to suit, simply fabulous. You cannot afford to be complacent, however, and you really must keep alert to the possibility of change and alteration to your present state, for life is full of change and disarray, and it all might happen to you, sometime or other?
"Life happens when you're not looking, so do keep looking down that long road ahead, just in case?!!"
I was gearing up to cook supper, having walked the dogs again when posting my letters, and was
cosily sitting down with a mug of tea, when one of our company announced we were eating out for supper. Their day had not gone as planned and they needed their spirits lifted, so let off the hook, I was able to ring my sister and catch up with her news. It was her daughter's birthday and she was looking forward to a nice chat with her; and it's a nieces birthday today, too. Life becomes awfully busy sometimes, don't you find?
Today, it's buns day, just like in The Railway Children, you know, when the lovely Mother can buy fruit buns for her children because she's managed to sell one of her stories, giving her children's lives a little lift, at a very difficult period for all of them. Well, it's our turn for buns today, and I'm keeping mine until this afternoon's tea break, which will be smashing!!
It's a dull, dreary rainy day here and we were drenched this morning out for our walk. Tonight, it's my Zumba class, then supper and some favourite television programmes to watch.
Speak to you later........Daisy
PS I do hope the weather is better where you are?
"What, no breakfast, I hear you say?!" It was one of this mornings, the morning after a Bank Holiday when you're off and out as soon as possible, after the doggies walk if you can't take them with you, so of course, there were things to do.
So, back home from our walk, hang out the washing and tidy up and finally, have lunch at about 2pm. Then it's back up to the office and finish off letters begun this morning.
So now I have my family historian hat on, for I'm writing to organisations which just might be able to assist me with my quest for info on my mother and aunt, both SRN's. If only I'd asked beforehand, what they'd done and where they'd worked. But, and I guess this is a universal truth, one generally doesn't get to know ones parents as people in their own right, until you get to an age to ask about their lives, and often by that time they are no longer alive or have begun to forget, or don't want to remember.
That's not always the case, of course, and I know of some very fortunate people whose aged P's are more than alive and well; they're sprightly, lively and full of chatter about their lives, and of their children too, when very young.
With my letters there is a more than definite probability that no researchable answers will be forthcoming, for time waits for no-one, not even ardent family historians. But it's my view that one needs to keep asking questions, keep probing away at memories of what has been, because this gives one a tremendous sense of achievement and of involvement.
"You've become involved with your ancestor's lives, which is very fulfilling! And the sideways research can be just so enlivening, too?"
Time centred and relevant living details, filling in the gaps with info on the wider place issues; historical factors, happenings which engrossed all persons at a relevant time, town and country-wide; and worldwide events to break your heart and mourn the dear and lost loved ones.
The luxury of having something compelling and interesting to do simply cannot be under-estimated, and doing it at a time and place to suit, simply fabulous. You cannot afford to be complacent, however, and you really must keep alert to the possibility of change and alteration to your present state, for life is full of change and disarray, and it all might happen to you, sometime or other?
"Life happens when you're not looking, so do keep looking down that long road ahead, just in case?!!"
I was gearing up to cook supper, having walked the dogs again when posting my letters, and was
cosily sitting down with a mug of tea, when one of our company announced we were eating out for supper. Their day had not gone as planned and they needed their spirits lifted, so let off the hook, I was able to ring my sister and catch up with her news. It was her daughter's birthday and she was looking forward to a nice chat with her; and it's a nieces birthday today, too. Life becomes awfully busy sometimes, don't you find?
Today, it's buns day, just like in The Railway Children, you know, when the lovely Mother can buy fruit buns for her children because she's managed to sell one of her stories, giving her children's lives a little lift, at a very difficult period for all of them. Well, it's our turn for buns today, and I'm keeping mine until this afternoon's tea break, which will be smashing!!
It's a dull, dreary rainy day here and we were drenched this morning out for our walk. Tonight, it's my Zumba class, then supper and some favourite television programmes to watch.
Speak to you later........Daisy
PS I do hope the weather is better where you are?
Travel....the art of forward propulsion!
And don't we just love to go forwards, from our earliest beginnings, as a baby loves to move around in a self-propelled seat on wheels to our fastest jets, rocketing themselves far beyond our atmosphere, into other dimensions.
One of our greatest ever travellers, according to a friend of mine, Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on to the moon's surface, July 1969, with Buzz Aldrin and with Michael Collins holding the fort in the Command Module.
From earliest Caveman, with his wheel around the time 3500 BC, to the earliest recorded type of a wheel made from wood, known to have existed over 5,350 years ago, to our modern light and speedy Mountain bike, mankind has been transfixed by the idea of self-motion. And the very notion of self-motion delighted with the concept of speed, overtaking ourselves, going forward and faster with the passing years and decades.
The bicycle brought about huge economic and social change, for our gene pool, for wealth, health and exercise, female emancipation for independence, mobility and personal freedom; the Safety Bicycle introduced the idea of "rational dress" and sounded the death knell for outlandish fashion.
A whole industry for design, economic opportunity, fashion, self-propulsion, self-expression and liberty changed the world and our vision of the possibilities available to all.
Our great grandparents would be astonished by our way of life today and our grandparents too. What vast changes they saw in their lives.
I imagine they would be overwhelmed by the changes brought about by inventions and industry of the late 19th century and the entirety of the 20th century?
Daisy
One of our greatest ever travellers, according to a friend of mine, Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on to the moon's surface, July 1969, with Buzz Aldrin and with Michael Collins holding the fort in the Command Module.
From earliest Caveman, with his wheel around the time 3500 BC, to the earliest recorded type of a wheel made from wood, known to have existed over 5,350 years ago, to our modern light and speedy Mountain bike, mankind has been transfixed by the idea of self-motion. And the very notion of self-motion delighted with the concept of speed, overtaking ourselves, going forward and faster with the passing years and decades.
The bicycle brought about huge economic and social change, for our gene pool, for wealth, health and exercise, female emancipation for independence, mobility and personal freedom; the Safety Bicycle introduced the idea of "rational dress" and sounded the death knell for outlandish fashion.
A whole industry for design, economic opportunity, fashion, self-propulsion, self-expression and liberty changed the world and our vision of the possibilities available to all.
Our great grandparents would be astonished by our way of life today and our grandparents too. What vast changes they saw in their lives.
I imagine they would be overwhelmed by the changes brought about by inventions and industry of the late 19th century and the entirety of the 20th century?
Daisy
Monday, 27 August 2012
Another wet and dull August Bank Holiday!!!
And we went to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton and despite the rain, and the cold and the morning's lack of sunshine, we had a very jolly time.
It helps if you're keen on old railways and like riding about on shabbily-romantic steam trains; and luckily we do. I even remember travelling on them at a rather earlier stage of things We trained to Aylesbury on a Special heritage diesel train and then came back, and the returning coaches were packed solid with ardent enthusiasts, young and old, and the frankly curious. And one of our party exclaimed that he'd not visited the station for some fifty-odd years, so he took some photos for the album and nearly lost his seat in the process.
Back at Quainton and lunch in a building that had originally graced Oxford Rewley station, which somehow had become transferred to its present position, and been saved for posterity into the bargain.
The day's attractions also included vintage cars, ancient bicycles and their fans dressed to kill in period costume, and a Penny-farthing model which somebody was having great fun riding. They also had a velocipede, a very early type of bicycle, which the rider propel forwards with his feet firmly scooting along on the ground, and his body prone against its middle structure. It looked fun but not a machine for me, and I bet it wasn't ridden by females of any sort when it was introduced to the world at large. It must have caused quite a stir?
Then the museum attractions, fun and games in the engine shed with signals and talking boxes highlighting the work and voice of early railway workers and a passing moment listening to the huge organ playing a very well-known tune, the name of which we could not recall?
By this time the sun was brightly shining, the skies had cleared and we were leaving to visit the local church to inspect the ancient gravestones and the graves of some folks known to friends of ours. The churchyard has a wonderful scenic view of the surrounding countryside which two elderly villagers were ardently enjoying, despite the cool breeze that was just beginning to bite.
We left them to gather themselves together for their walk home as we went to see the church's interior, before we too made ready to go home.
It was a very good day, which even the rainy journey home, could not spoil.
I do so love our Bank Holiday outings!!
Cheerio,
Daisy
It helps if you're keen on old railways and like riding about on shabbily-romantic steam trains; and luckily we do. I even remember travelling on them at a rather earlier stage of things We trained to Aylesbury on a Special heritage diesel train and then came back, and the returning coaches were packed solid with ardent enthusiasts, young and old, and the frankly curious. And one of our party exclaimed that he'd not visited the station for some fifty-odd years, so he took some photos for the album and nearly lost his seat in the process.
Back at Quainton and lunch in a building that had originally graced Oxford Rewley station, which somehow had become transferred to its present position, and been saved for posterity into the bargain.
The day's attractions also included vintage cars, ancient bicycles and their fans dressed to kill in period costume, and a Penny-farthing model which somebody was having great fun riding. They also had a velocipede, a very early type of bicycle, which the rider propel forwards with his feet firmly scooting along on the ground, and his body prone against its middle structure. It looked fun but not a machine for me, and I bet it wasn't ridden by females of any sort when it was introduced to the world at large. It must have caused quite a stir?
Then the museum attractions, fun and games in the engine shed with signals and talking boxes highlighting the work and voice of early railway workers and a passing moment listening to the huge organ playing a very well-known tune, the name of which we could not recall?
By this time the sun was brightly shining, the skies had cleared and we were leaving to visit the local church to inspect the ancient gravestones and the graves of some folks known to friends of ours. The churchyard has a wonderful scenic view of the surrounding countryside which two elderly villagers were ardently enjoying, despite the cool breeze that was just beginning to bite.
We left them to gather themselves together for their walk home as we went to see the church's interior, before we too made ready to go home.
It was a very good day, which even the rainy journey home, could not spoil.
I do so love our Bank Holiday outings!!
Cheerio,
Daisy
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Sunday tea time
And lemon sponge cake with chocolate icing to eat. And only a very little slice because I've eaten very well this weekend, and there's still supper ahead of us, a full roast dinner, too.
The weekend actually began for me on Friday morning with drinks and nibbles away from home after looking at some old buildings in a nearby town. Then we wandered along and gazed in at the pretty shops, you know the ones, surely, with their pastel shades, pretty "things" to ponder over, or the vintage gowns to love. The beauty parlours all willing and able to smooth and massage, wax and preen to your heart's content and sophisticated hair salons to pamper ones glorious locks. We managed to avoid a purchase but a friend could not resist popping into her favourite smoothie bar for a favourite concoction, and we too, followed suite. It was good fun for all.
We were all out for dinner on Friday evening, dining on steaks, pies and lasagna, yet still managed to get home in time for the new period drama on BBC 2 Television, Parade's End. This is Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's four-part serial tale of Edwardian England coming to terms with future events, notably WW1, women's suffrage and the end of an era, It's brilliant and I'm eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on the novels.
Out early on Saturday morning, we had breakfast at Frankie and Benny's as a treat, which for me was a pile of pancakes, bacon and maple syrup! Now that's a choice dish I've not had for a very long time but, oh goodness me, it was de-lic-ious. Quite by chance we had a small milestone to celebrate on Saturday evening and a family friend staying for the weekend, so it was off and out to dinner again, which was very enjoyable with nice food and pleasant company.
This morning I discovered my keys were missing, and they still are at tea time, and I cannot think where they are, although I'm sure they're in the house somewhere. The weekend paper had an article on how our tidy gardens are unhelpful for our natural flora and fauna, for we're not growing enough indigenous plants for the insects and birds to feed upon and thrive. With global warming endangering habit, we need our gardens to provide the necessary haven for our wildlife to exist in and survive. We are in great danger of losing our bird life, which is already disappearing.
I read with interest The Daily Telegraph's obituary on Ruth Mott, television cook for The Victorian Kitchen on BBC television back in the 1980's. Her working career had taken her to some very grand households and her many anecdotes of those days gave a very witty edge to her stories. The Victorian Kitchen was televised when my two children were very young, and when there was very little time for much viewing, but I remember her straightforward, no-nonsense style. From pre- husband and baby days, I remember Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, and the American born Robert Carrier, for his superb recipe for lemon meringue pie - it was a firm family favourite. My father always used to say that Graham Kerr was just a "showman" but I've learnt since that he was a brilliant chef, television personality and all-round foodie. He has had a very long career with food production.
I also remember watching Fanny and Johnny Craddock on television and think I still have copies of their Daily Telegraph recipe pages; just brilliant.
Well...it's dog walking time and they're very intently looking my way, so here I must end. It's a good evening for a walk and hopefully I'll get an appetite for supper?
Byeeeee for now,
from me........Daisy
Friday, 24 August 2012
TGIF!!!!
"Ah golly gosh, it's Friday afternoon and the weekend beckons, what fun?!"
And the newspapers, well, at least The Daily Telegraph, is full of nice stories as well as the daily quota of real news, of which I mostly refrain from writing about; at least for the present future.
It seems, as if we didn't already know it, that singing, cucumber sandwiches and friends are good for all of us. Not necessarily in that particular order, or in any order for that matter, but one could easily imagine a scenario where all three articles could conjoin in a most singular occasion and provide everyone with an enormous amount of pleasure!
Just imagine the scene, an empty village or church hall, where a slightly nervous looking chap stands by himself, twiddling a thin wooden stick in his hands, as he paces to and fro, anxiously glancing at his wristwatch with a nonchalant regularity. He sighs noisily and at that very moment, the door swings open as a rush of people chatter into the hall. Our waiting chap swivels round to face the group, he raises his arms in a wide arc of welcome and a smile chases away the deep furrows that had so creased his forehead, a moment earlier.
"Ah ha, so you're here at last. Now quickly take your places, and..... I do hope you've all got your sheets, yes, so please turn to page 4, and we'll begin?" The conductor raises his baton, smiles and...
"Hey, wait for me, and.....oh gosh I'm late, forgive me, but I lost my car keys, but I'm here now. Oh hello, Jenny, may I squeeze in next to you? Hello Anne!" Sally smiles enthusiastically at everyone, fiddles with her music sheet to find her place then looks up expectantly, grinning at Sam their leader.
Sam whipped his group into a musical obedience and they sang their hearts out for him for about an hour, or so. They were never too exhausted to carry on but Sam always stopped about the same time, telling them they all needed a cup of tea, and perhaps something to nibble on; and of course, they all agreed.
Theirs was a happy group, if perhaps not always perfectly in tune, and they enjoyed their singing very much They also enjoyed each others company, for they were friends, some new, a few of long standing, and some had actually known each other since their school days. Their group cohesion was instantly obvious.
And because of this Susan, Sam's cheerful wife, always fed his group with a platter of thin, crustless, cucumber sandwiches, nicely spread with butter and oh so succulent and cooling to the fevered singers; plus, of course, a mug of fragrant afternoon tea.
Delicious!
Daisy.
ps enjoy your weekend
And the newspapers, well, at least The Daily Telegraph, is full of nice stories as well as the daily quota of real news, of which I mostly refrain from writing about; at least for the present future.
It seems, as if we didn't already know it, that singing, cucumber sandwiches and friends are good for all of us. Not necessarily in that particular order, or in any order for that matter, but one could easily imagine a scenario where all three articles could conjoin in a most singular occasion and provide everyone with an enormous amount of pleasure!
Just imagine the scene, an empty village or church hall, where a slightly nervous looking chap stands by himself, twiddling a thin wooden stick in his hands, as he paces to and fro, anxiously glancing at his wristwatch with a nonchalant regularity. He sighs noisily and at that very moment, the door swings open as a rush of people chatter into the hall. Our waiting chap swivels round to face the group, he raises his arms in a wide arc of welcome and a smile chases away the deep furrows that had so creased his forehead, a moment earlier.
"Ah ha, so you're here at last. Now quickly take your places, and..... I do hope you've all got your sheets, yes, so please turn to page 4, and we'll begin?" The conductor raises his baton, smiles and...
"Hey, wait for me, and.....oh gosh I'm late, forgive me, but I lost my car keys, but I'm here now. Oh hello, Jenny, may I squeeze in next to you? Hello Anne!" Sally smiles enthusiastically at everyone, fiddles with her music sheet to find her place then looks up expectantly, grinning at Sam their leader.
Sam whipped his group into a musical obedience and they sang their hearts out for him for about an hour, or so. They were never too exhausted to carry on but Sam always stopped about the same time, telling them they all needed a cup of tea, and perhaps something to nibble on; and of course, they all agreed.
Theirs was a happy group, if perhaps not always perfectly in tune, and they enjoyed their singing very much They also enjoyed each others company, for they were friends, some new, a few of long standing, and some had actually known each other since their school days. Their group cohesion was instantly obvious.
And because of this Susan, Sam's cheerful wife, always fed his group with a platter of thin, crustless, cucumber sandwiches, nicely spread with butter and oh so succulent and cooling to the fevered singers; plus, of course, a mug of fragrant afternoon tea.
Delicious!
Daisy.
ps enjoy your weekend
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Grab a plot grow an allotment!
Ah ha. Today we're being told by The Daily Telegraph - 23/8/112 - that our Government may be about to make a huge amount of new allotments available.
"Wow, I mean, really wow. That's just great, don't you think?"
With this year's deplorably wet and cold summer, we're being told already about more expensive veggies, depleted stocks in our shops and a general lack of availability of fresh produce.
So let's get to it and grow and then we'll be ok, right, well, think again. Growing things need space, time, tools and manure and a garden or allotment. And then some sunshine, a little rain, and a growing season for your baby vegetables to sprout and grow.
Now if these new allotments are going to be coming our way, that's fine, but when? I mean if not until next year, how are we going to grow the veg we need to grow for this year, to alleviate the lack that's been forecast for this year, if we are without good friable earth to dig ? Where's the space to come from, if you've not a large garden, or family with ground to spare or a very large window box for your baby seedlings, hey?
I've looked into this very question and came up with the idea of growing my veg in those huge, canvas sacks used by builders' firms and supply merchants to deliver sand and such like, and these could certainly provide a sizeable growing plot for your green fingers to explore. And I don't think they are too costly; and they certainly don't take up so very much space on which to sit!
So perhaps that's what we should all use until such time as these new allotments come our way?
On another green thought, have you heard of the Guerrilla Gardeners who go about cultivating plots here and there, growing herbs and sunflowers, and then gathering other people about them, organising the everything into a whole, and then a blog and a website?
Well, they're out there somewhere. I don't know if they're into growing vegs, but they're pages look interesting and they encourage feedback, so check them out and see what's growing, beyond your own garden space.
"Dig that earth, man!"
Byeeeeee .....from me, Daisy.
"Wow, I mean, really wow. That's just great, don't you think?"
With this year's deplorably wet and cold summer, we're being told already about more expensive veggies, depleted stocks in our shops and a general lack of availability of fresh produce.
So let's get to it and grow and then we'll be ok, right, well, think again. Growing things need space, time, tools and manure and a garden or allotment. And then some sunshine, a little rain, and a growing season for your baby vegetables to sprout and grow.
Now if these new allotments are going to be coming our way, that's fine, but when? I mean if not until next year, how are we going to grow the veg we need to grow for this year, to alleviate the lack that's been forecast for this year, if we are without good friable earth to dig ? Where's the space to come from, if you've not a large garden, or family with ground to spare or a very large window box for your baby seedlings, hey?
I've looked into this very question and came up with the idea of growing my veg in those huge, canvas sacks used by builders' firms and supply merchants to deliver sand and such like, and these could certainly provide a sizeable growing plot for your green fingers to explore. And I don't think they are too costly; and they certainly don't take up so very much space on which to sit!
So perhaps that's what we should all use until such time as these new allotments come our way?
On another green thought, have you heard of the Guerrilla Gardeners who go about cultivating plots here and there, growing herbs and sunflowers, and then gathering other people about them, organising the everything into a whole, and then a blog and a website?
Well, they're out there somewhere. I don't know if they're into growing vegs, but they're pages look interesting and they encourage feedback, so check them out and see what's growing, beyond your own garden space.
"Dig that earth, man!"
Byeeeeee .....from me, Daisy.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
A nice dish of green tay.....
"the new green tea health-fix cocktail?"
I have a nice cup of tea when I wake up
And a nice mug of tea post-lunch-nap
But the best drink by far
Is a nice green tea cha
Served with ice and lemon at the spa!
"with apologies to artists and production company alike", says I.
The Daily Telegraph today, 22nd August 2012, carries a report "Green tea: the new weapon against cancer" and reports on new research into the healing quality of a newly concentrated extract of green tea which has been shown to have positive effects for shrinking cancerous skin tumours. Hitherto, research has failed to prove the positive and curative effects of green tea, so lets now hope that this new research will lead to the production of an effective "green tea medicine" for the good of everyone. And hopefully the finance will be there to support the research?
We all, unfortunately, know of family and friends who are struggling to cope with cancer and wouldn't it be splendid to know that, at some future date, a green pill could significantly help our suffering loved ones?
All well and good, but, some green tea is not very palatable, while other varieties are just too awful to contemplate, let alone drink. Too lemony, too harsh, too thin, or just a matter of taste and experimentation? There are certainly many varieties on sale and sufficient advice from family and friends as to their favourite brew, so I guess it's just a matter of sampling and making one's own personal choice.
"So, why don't we, and confer, and see what choice we come up with, it could be fun?"
Also in today's Daily Telegraph, on page 11, an article - "Modern mothers too busy to bake" based on research commissioned by the oven brand, Neff. Their argument that "traditional household skills such as baking, making pastry and sewing buttons are dying out because modern mothers are too busy to learn them; and also knitting, cake baking, jam making plus altering clothes.
Don't you believe it, is what I say. Young mothers have a very busy time, just like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Their goal-posts have been moved, more expectations are heaped onto their heads and they are called upon to perform their duties to the best of their ability, and bring up their children, look after their husbands and themselves and do all the little things that make life so enjoyable. The baking, the sewing, gardening, jam making and knitting.
For knitting replace crochet, which is a little easier to pick up and learn. Making pastry is so easy in a Magimix machine, takes less time and allows a mother to paint with her young children. And altering clothes; now that's done to enhance an old garment by giving it a new lease of life and upgrading its fashion status. Such renovation is now a fashionable business about which numerous books are published, sewing classes are set-up by enterprising folk, and quickly filled up by eager young women wanting to know how its done.
The world has changed, yet it remains the same. The young are doing exactly what we had to do in our time, and our grandmothers before us. Working hours are a big commitment in our lives, our families are terribly important to us and we all crave a little time for ourselves, to develop our talents for our kith and kin.
And young families often live far removed from their parents and siblings, so are without the family support previous generations took for granted. And their own mothers, often still working, or doing things they had no time for, before.
Yet still they cope and bake and sew and make jam, and remain cheerful and optimistic.
Well done modern mothers ......keep on with the good work; you're doing just fine. Daisy.
I have a nice cup of tea when I wake up
And a nice mug of tea post-lunch-nap
But the best drink by far
Is a nice green tea cha
Served with ice and lemon at the spa!
"with apologies to artists and production company alike", says I.
The Daily Telegraph today, 22nd August 2012, carries a report "Green tea: the new weapon against cancer" and reports on new research into the healing quality of a newly concentrated extract of green tea which has been shown to have positive effects for shrinking cancerous skin tumours. Hitherto, research has failed to prove the positive and curative effects of green tea, so lets now hope that this new research will lead to the production of an effective "green tea medicine" for the good of everyone. And hopefully the finance will be there to support the research?
We all, unfortunately, know of family and friends who are struggling to cope with cancer and wouldn't it be splendid to know that, at some future date, a green pill could significantly help our suffering loved ones?
All well and good, but, some green tea is not very palatable, while other varieties are just too awful to contemplate, let alone drink. Too lemony, too harsh, too thin, or just a matter of taste and experimentation? There are certainly many varieties on sale and sufficient advice from family and friends as to their favourite brew, so I guess it's just a matter of sampling and making one's own personal choice.
"So, why don't we, and confer, and see what choice we come up with, it could be fun?"
Also in today's Daily Telegraph, on page 11, an article - "Modern mothers too busy to bake" based on research commissioned by the oven brand, Neff. Their argument that "traditional household skills such as baking, making pastry and sewing buttons are dying out because modern mothers are too busy to learn them; and also knitting, cake baking, jam making plus altering clothes.
Don't you believe it, is what I say. Young mothers have a very busy time, just like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Their goal-posts have been moved, more expectations are heaped onto their heads and they are called upon to perform their duties to the best of their ability, and bring up their children, look after their husbands and themselves and do all the little things that make life so enjoyable. The baking, the sewing, gardening, jam making and knitting.
For knitting replace crochet, which is a little easier to pick up and learn. Making pastry is so easy in a Magimix machine, takes less time and allows a mother to paint with her young children. And altering clothes; now that's done to enhance an old garment by giving it a new lease of life and upgrading its fashion status. Such renovation is now a fashionable business about which numerous books are published, sewing classes are set-up by enterprising folk, and quickly filled up by eager young women wanting to know how its done.
The world has changed, yet it remains the same. The young are doing exactly what we had to do in our time, and our grandmothers before us. Working hours are a big commitment in our lives, our families are terribly important to us and we all crave a little time for ourselves, to develop our talents for our kith and kin.
And young families often live far removed from their parents and siblings, so are without the family support previous generations took for granted. And their own mothers, often still working, or doing things they had no time for, before.
Yet still they cope and bake and sew and make jam, and remain cheerful and optimistic.
Well done modern mothers ......keep on with the good work; you're doing just fine. Daisy.
Olympic Medals for Athletes.
Should our 2012 Olympic champions be given more of the awards to be given in The New Year's Honours List for their service to the Country this year?
"Well, probably, yes, and surely, even our senior civil servants just might accept that our sports men and women have done, and been seen to have done, an enormous amount of good for our Nation this summer. Therefore, isn't it only fitting that their achievements should be heralded before those of others?"
We shall not host another Olympic Games for some considerable time. We've now held three Summer Olympic Games in the 1900's, the first in London in 1908, at the White City Stadium. This was followed by the 1948 Austerity Games, so called because of the difficult post-war economic times and the continuation of the programme of food rationing. Now in this year of 2012, the Happy Games, producing so many wonderful sporting moments and a not inconsiderable collection of medals; surely, we cannot hope for a further opportunity to organise the Games for some
unimaginable time? We have not the slightest inkling of how long a period this may end up being?
Therefore, in honour of our best ever Olympic medal tally, our Olympic Champions should surely and certainly, be in line for the major share of the awards to be granted in the next New Year's honour's list.
As a Nation, we should now give, and be seen to give, our best efforts towards achieving this end game; namely, of applauding our best Olympic sports people, for their best efforts this year.
"They've done us proud, haven 't they, and their success should not be overlooked in favour of other, possibly less timely necessary but still glorious, achievements in other spheres?" and it's me, Daisy, who's saying this.
2012 is, without doubt, a year of outstanding brilliance, wouldn't you agree? HM The Queen has celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, which was a national-fest of monumental proportion, Royalty,
regalia and terrific people-participation delight.
Andy Murray won Wimbledon......and then the thrill of the Olympic Games.
Surely, not since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977, during HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee year, have we felt such a swell of triumphant and overwhelming enthusiasm for our sporting heroes?
Of course, there have been other memorable sporting moments but Virginia Wade's Wimbledon moment, in 1977, resonates madly with me; my second baby was born that year too, making it a very special time for me.
Daisy
Monday, 20 August 2012
Daisy's been a-dowsing....
In deep rural England at an ancient and historic site, we stopped off at a much visited place of interest and found others before us terribly excited by their use of divining rods and a discovery of an unknown source of energy.
So of course, we too, had to try our hand at this method of finding various items and metals and water, of course, and apparently, once even dead bodies.
"But I didn't know about finding sources of energy, so that made it even more interesting!" said Daisy "and, of course, our activity encouraged others too, which for me is the best aspect of the afternoon's entertainment!"
Perhaps I'd better find a book on the subject, and soon?
One of our party had the rods madly whizzing about and was much enthused by their movement.
We had a boiling hot weekend, sports day fun and games, a first birthday party and a jaunt to The National Archives at Kew for a spot of family history. Thank goodness their air-con. was working perfectly, allowing me to tackle most of my day's research activity .
Emerging into the afternoon's heat was like walking into a furnace. Let's hope the hot weather remains for a while longer?
Daisy
So of course, we too, had to try our hand at this method of finding various items and metals and water, of course, and apparently, once even dead bodies.
"But I didn't know about finding sources of energy, so that made it even more interesting!" said Daisy "and, of course, our activity encouraged others too, which for me is the best aspect of the afternoon's entertainment!"
Perhaps I'd better find a book on the subject, and soon?
One of our party had the rods madly whizzing about and was much enthused by their movement.
We had a boiling hot weekend, sports day fun and games, a first birthday party and a jaunt to The National Archives at Kew for a spot of family history. Thank goodness their air-con. was working perfectly, allowing me to tackle most of my day's research activity .
Emerging into the afternoon's heat was like walking into a furnace. Let's hope the hot weather remains for a while longer?
Daisy
Friday, 17 August 2012
Remember rounders?
Daisy does, because it was the sport she loved playing most of all, and probably because it was such great fun.
Thwacking that hard ball just as much as you possibly could with a round stick and then, if you did manage an actual hit, sending it flying somewhere, well, anywhere, then running off as fast as you could, hoping to get back to base before some clever girl spiritedly threw the ball at one of the base posts, and caught you out.
The point of the game was to hit the ball as far away as you could,complete a full circuit of the four base posts, and get back to your home base, before one of the fielding team knocked you out.
A very lively game and great fun. Of course, it was much more fun to be batting than fielding, always, and if you were caught out while doing your circuit, or not a good batter, you did spend a great deal of time sitting on the side and watching all the other girls play. Which was no fun at all.
And why these memories today? In today's Daily Telegraph, Thursday, August 16th, with its continuing coverage of post Olympic Games Britain, three people give accounts of their school days' sporting activities; their enjoyment, their participation and the great fun to be had just joining-in and taking part.
Once in the gym hall, each of us doing our own movement " thing", Daisy was picked to show off her move. She froze on the spot, because she couldn't for the life of her, remember what it was she'd done. When she did remember, she couldn't imagine why her move had so invigorated her teacher so as to pick on her, just to show-off that move. Of course, she was yelled at for hesitating and not getting on with her repeat performance; was it really so original. And what had she done, well only roll over and over along a low-level narrow wooden floor beam or bar, from end to end.
Daisy supposes now it showed some sort of enterprise, some inspiration or free-spirit individuality, which got her noticed; instead she just felt silly but, later on, glad she'd done something.
That's the thing, isn't it? The taking part, the involvement, being part of a team and working together, which is what sport is all about. Winning medals is splendid, of course it is, it's what makes it all so worthwhile; for what follows is such an increase in feelings of self-worth, personal happiness and a total lack of "poor little me"syndrome, that one simply cannot believe it or credit it, until you've actually experienced it for yourself?
Daisy used to love taking part in relay racing too, only she really wasn't cut-out for it...but it did make her laugh!
That opportunity of taking part in team competitive sports, at your own level, is what it's all about.
We should never allow ourselves to give up on physical activity, whatever the standard we achieve, for the effort and time spent on our chosen sporting activity, more than compensates for the effort used.
And movement makes me feel good! "What about you? Daisy
Thwacking that hard ball just as much as you possibly could with a round stick and then, if you did manage an actual hit, sending it flying somewhere, well, anywhere, then running off as fast as you could, hoping to get back to base before some clever girl spiritedly threw the ball at one of the base posts, and caught you out.
The point of the game was to hit the ball as far away as you could,complete a full circuit of the four base posts, and get back to your home base, before one of the fielding team knocked you out.
A very lively game and great fun. Of course, it was much more fun to be batting than fielding, always, and if you were caught out while doing your circuit, or not a good batter, you did spend a great deal of time sitting on the side and watching all the other girls play. Which was no fun at all.
And why these memories today? In today's Daily Telegraph, Thursday, August 16th, with its continuing coverage of post Olympic Games Britain, three people give accounts of their school days' sporting activities; their enjoyment, their participation and the great fun to be had just joining-in and taking part.
Once in the gym hall, each of us doing our own movement " thing", Daisy was picked to show off her move. She froze on the spot, because she couldn't for the life of her, remember what it was she'd done. When she did remember, she couldn't imagine why her move had so invigorated her teacher so as to pick on her, just to show-off that move. Of course, she was yelled at for hesitating and not getting on with her repeat performance; was it really so original. And what had she done, well only roll over and over along a low-level narrow wooden floor beam or bar, from end to end.
Daisy supposes now it showed some sort of enterprise, some inspiration or free-spirit individuality, which got her noticed; instead she just felt silly but, later on, glad she'd done something.
That's the thing, isn't it? The taking part, the involvement, being part of a team and working together, which is what sport is all about. Winning medals is splendid, of course it is, it's what makes it all so worthwhile; for what follows is such an increase in feelings of self-worth, personal happiness and a total lack of "poor little me"syndrome, that one simply cannot believe it or credit it, until you've actually experienced it for yourself?
Daisy used to love taking part in relay racing too, only she really wasn't cut-out for it...but it did make her laugh!
That opportunity of taking part in team competitive sports, at your own level, is what it's all about.
We should never allow ourselves to give up on physical activity, whatever the standard we achieve, for the effort and time spent on our chosen sporting activity, more than compensates for the effort used.
And movement makes me feel good! "What about you? Daisy
Thursday, 16 August 2012
A boy and his beetle!
Significant other spotted and photographed a lady Stag Beetle on the garden wall today...and came rushing in to tell Daisy. She had to admit it had been quite some while since she'd seen such a beastie as this one!
Apparently, they are now quite rare. I wonder why? Probably we, mankind and our doings, are largely to blame, with variable weather conditions and happenings, being the other major factor involved with their decline. However, Daisy has discovered today that, as we other endangered
natural living bodies, helpful organisations are on hand and doing research; apparently, the People's Trust for Endangered Species have taken the lead on stag beetle research, and their work is included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
Now there was a picture from this morning's find, but Daisy doesn't have it, yet. If it does turn up on her computer, she will provide a viewing as and when possible!
Daisy is off to see her grandchildren tomorrow and making sure her camera is properly charged and ready to go...its just so good to have lots of family photos, "don't you think?" says Daisy.
We read of another hospital visit for the Duke of Edinburgh and Daisy and Co. would like to wish The Duke a very speedy recovery.
Now Daisy is always being teased for saying she is hoovering, when cleaning the floors and carpets; but that is what it's always been called. So OK, that is the manufacturing name, or company name, of a large company which makes many different types of domestic appliances. The Hoover vacuum cleaner has been around for a very long time, Daisy imagines, and it has always been the case of hoovering the house; that's what we have always said, ever since Daisy can remember.
So what about you, you out there? Do you hoover or vacuum clean,, it simply has to be one or the other?
"don't you think?" queries Daisy.
She does hope somebody will get back to her on this subject??
The London Olympic Games are still getting a lot of coverage in the Press, which is brilliant, so lets hope our schools will keep up their good work, encouraging their pupils to get involved with sport and PE. It was smashing doing so well this summer, and it's only four year's away to the next Games!
Ah well, we shall see, I hope..........Daisy.
Good night.
.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Zumba Time!
It's 10.30 pm and Daisy and Co have just watched the international space station race overhead before becoming lost in a head of cloud, so we turned the binoculars around and focused on Mars, the red planet, who's colour was so visibly obvious, even to the naked eye.
So Curiosity landed beautifully on Mars, in spite of immense difficulties, and there it will stay until its work is done, whenever that may be?
Daisy's reaction "wow, that's fantastic!".
Before the sky's panoramic performance, we watched the first programme of a new series of "Who Do You Think You Are?", the family history show which brings to life a person's unknown historical background and genealogical roots. Some know much of their family while, for others, its a path into almost totally unknown territory, and Daisy just loves the twists and turns which accompany the chosen person, down their own path to family enlightenment.
"Fantastic!" she opines.
Earlier in the evening, Daisy took part in a Zumba class for she finds it hugely enjoyable to be involved with the differently choreographed musical styles and settings, from salsa to flamenco, the chachacha to samba, belly dancing, hip hop and tango.
No wonder it's so warming and, presently, rather too hot for Daisy, who's not taken a regular class for several years!
"But it's brilliant, and so good for so many, and old and young to boot!" she adds.
The day itself was dull and drizzly before the promised storm clouds unleashed their torrent of rain upon our roof tops, gardens and mad dogs and English folk, who just must go abroad on a thunderingly moistened day.
Daisy and the dogs took their early morning walk before the clouds had gathered their full measure which meant only a very little drizzly rain fallin' on our heads, as we beetled around the field and back home; Daisy was not about to get her freshly washed and styled hair-do get ruined by troublesome rain clouds!
So off she raced home to tackle a basket of ironing, waiting to ambush her the moment she stepped inside the back door.
Daisy xxx
So Curiosity landed beautifully on Mars, in spite of immense difficulties, and there it will stay until its work is done, whenever that may be?
Daisy's reaction "wow, that's fantastic!".
Before the sky's panoramic performance, we watched the first programme of a new series of "Who Do You Think You Are?", the family history show which brings to life a person's unknown historical background and genealogical roots. Some know much of their family while, for others, its a path into almost totally unknown territory, and Daisy just loves the twists and turns which accompany the chosen person, down their own path to family enlightenment.
"Fantastic!" she opines.
Earlier in the evening, Daisy took part in a Zumba class for she finds it hugely enjoyable to be involved with the differently choreographed musical styles and settings, from salsa to flamenco, the chachacha to samba, belly dancing, hip hop and tango.
No wonder it's so warming and, presently, rather too hot for Daisy, who's not taken a regular class for several years!
"But it's brilliant, and so good for so many, and old and young to boot!" she adds.
The day itself was dull and drizzly before the promised storm clouds unleashed their torrent of rain upon our roof tops, gardens and mad dogs and English folk, who just must go abroad on a thunderingly moistened day.
Daisy and the dogs took their early morning walk before the clouds had gathered their full measure which meant only a very little drizzly rain fallin' on our heads, as we beetled around the field and back home; Daisy was not about to get her freshly washed and styled hair-do get ruined by troublesome rain clouds!
So off she raced home to tackle a basket of ironing, waiting to ambush her the moment she stepped inside the back door.
Daisy xxx
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
"Don't stop me now, for I'm having a good time!
"Thanks, Freddie Mercury, and so are we!" says Daisy, reading from her growing pile of recent newspapers; and, she's thinking, how to prevent our not having good times for future Olympic Games, must surely be uppermost in the Nation's collective consciousness right now?
"Good Timin" was good for Jimmy Jones at the beginning of the 1960's with the production of his song of that title, and also with "Handy Man" too, when both songs featured well in the British Top 10 Charts; both written and sung by him in his "sweet falsetto singing style" as reported in The Daily Telegraph of Wednesday, 8th August. Sadly, Jimmy Jones died on 2nd August 2012 and it was with much interest that Daisy read his Obituary; wondering how could it have been so long ago that these two songs were favourites with her?
Is it good timing now for the Coalition to stop insisting that state schools provide weekly, two hours of PE and sports, for our school children. If they are to be sufficiently encouraged and enthused with the very idea of long-term sporting goals and achievements, how will this happen, if they are not given the time and facilities to explore the world of sport, engage with its variety and application, when there is going to be no compunction for them to have the time and hands-on experience of competing with fellow school-mates?
And might it now be "good timin" for the "rail motor car" of India's Himalayan Kalka-Shimla Line, recently suspended and, maybe, about to be permanently retired, for somebody, somehow and somewhere, to provide a long term solution for the saving and reconfigured use of this train line. Produced in 1927, the train was designed to cut the travel time for the British summer seeker's escape from the heat of India's northern lands to the summer capital Shimla, 5,000ft higher up. The train has been a Bollywood star and has also featured in a starring role on television with Michael Palin's Himalaya programme series, so maybe it does deserve a better fate than being consigned to the breaker's yard? Couldn't it become a museum, perhaps, or restaurant?
Daisy and Co were watching a toddler grandchild jumping into a swimming pool on the day of the Brother's Brownlow winning Triathlon championship. As we stood up to applaud their splendid achievement, we did wonder if perhaps, some day, this same grandchild might possibly be reaching for an own medal at some future time?
"And wouldn't that be just great" suggests Daisy.
That's all for now folks, Daisy.
"Good Timin" was good for Jimmy Jones at the beginning of the 1960's with the production of his song of that title, and also with "Handy Man" too, when both songs featured well in the British Top 10 Charts; both written and sung by him in his "sweet falsetto singing style" as reported in The Daily Telegraph of Wednesday, 8th August. Sadly, Jimmy Jones died on 2nd August 2012 and it was with much interest that Daisy read his Obituary; wondering how could it have been so long ago that these two songs were favourites with her?
Is it good timing now for the Coalition to stop insisting that state schools provide weekly, two hours of PE and sports, for our school children. If they are to be sufficiently encouraged and enthused with the very idea of long-term sporting goals and achievements, how will this happen, if they are not given the time and facilities to explore the world of sport, engage with its variety and application, when there is going to be no compunction for them to have the time and hands-on experience of competing with fellow school-mates?
And might it now be "good timin" for the "rail motor car" of India's Himalayan Kalka-Shimla Line, recently suspended and, maybe, about to be permanently retired, for somebody, somehow and somewhere, to provide a long term solution for the saving and reconfigured use of this train line. Produced in 1927, the train was designed to cut the travel time for the British summer seeker's escape from the heat of India's northern lands to the summer capital Shimla, 5,000ft higher up. The train has been a Bollywood star and has also featured in a starring role on television with Michael Palin's Himalaya programme series, so maybe it does deserve a better fate than being consigned to the breaker's yard? Couldn't it become a museum, perhaps, or restaurant?
Daisy and Co were watching a toddler grandchild jumping into a swimming pool on the day of the Brother's Brownlow winning Triathlon championship. As we stood up to applaud their splendid achievement, we did wonder if perhaps, some day, this same grandchild might possibly be reaching for an own medal at some future time?
"And wouldn't that be just great" suggests Daisy.
That's all for now folks, Daisy.
Monday, 13 August 2012
Howzat folks!
Daisy asks, "and haven't we done well?"
The world has done terribly well too, and we've all had a lovely time; a brilliant sparkling two weeks of great excitement, tension and great leaps of exuberant laughter.
So now what do we do, hey?
Well, tonight, Daisy and Co. are watching Out of Africa, that gorgeous film and the story of Karen Blixen, the Danish heiress, married to a Swedish Baron; and of their life in Africa. Such hauntingly beautiful music too. A feast for all the senses, if ever there was one such an entity, all green and brown-golden sky-wide-blue encircled with fine mist, like a string of pearls, about the throat of a beautiful woman.
"Ah, what stuff are dreams are made of!" passions Daisy.
Such pink grey peach gold skies!!
On Saturday evening Daisy was Skyping with her son in Australia and he was watching Tom Daley, diving, which was so exciting, and fun too, discussing the highs and lows of high-board diving. How he, or anyone else for that matter, can bear to jump/dive into an open void and plunge/dive, willingly,; twist and turn and roll and gyrate, is totally and utterly and completely beyond me.
"Each to his own, I guess!!" quips Daisy.
The dogs enjoyed their walks today. The second was just a quick jaunt to get the newspapers and the dogs looked longingly back as we walked off for, today, we did not take the long dusty road home.
"we'll go that way another day, and the dogs will forgive me, I know. All will be well, you'll see!".
Well, that's another day gone. Bedtime calls. The dogs are lounging by the door, patiently
waiting for us but longing for a last romp about the garden!
!Ah well, again, and goodnight".
Daisy
The world has done terribly well too, and we've all had a lovely time; a brilliant sparkling two weeks of great excitement, tension and great leaps of exuberant laughter.
So now what do we do, hey?
Well, tonight, Daisy and Co. are watching Out of Africa, that gorgeous film and the story of Karen Blixen, the Danish heiress, married to a Swedish Baron; and of their life in Africa. Such hauntingly beautiful music too. A feast for all the senses, if ever there was one such an entity, all green and brown-golden sky-wide-blue encircled with fine mist, like a string of pearls, about the throat of a beautiful woman.
"Ah, what stuff are dreams are made of!" passions Daisy.
Such pink grey peach gold skies!!
On Saturday evening Daisy was Skyping with her son in Australia and he was watching Tom Daley, diving, which was so exciting, and fun too, discussing the highs and lows of high-board diving. How he, or anyone else for that matter, can bear to jump/dive into an open void and plunge/dive, willingly,; twist and turn and roll and gyrate, is totally and utterly and completely beyond me.
"Each to his own, I guess!!" quips Daisy.
The dogs enjoyed their walks today. The second was just a quick jaunt to get the newspapers and the dogs looked longingly back as we walked off for, today, we did not take the long dusty road home.
"we'll go that way another day, and the dogs will forgive me, I know. All will be well, you'll see!".
Well, that's another day gone. Bedtime calls. The dogs are lounging by the door, patiently
waiting for us but longing for a last romp about the garden!
!Ah well, again, and goodnight".
Daisy
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Some weekend, hey??
Glorious weather, good friends, Great London 2012 Olympic Games and medal winning Olympians and good food!
"Now it's Sunday evening and we're watching the Closing Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympic Games which, as Daisy writes, it bouncing through its steps and paces, saluting all the competing Nations and their athletes, in a feast of colour and sound" says Daisy.
Daisy's had a pleasant weekend with a nice mix of work, play, fun and good food; and the dogs went on several walks. Alice the dog even managed a swim in the lake on our walk tonight and loved it for she was so very hot.
"Mind you", says Daisy "the ducks weren't too happy to see her swimming vigorously towards them! But they hold the trump card, don't they, for they can always rise up and fly away from troublesome pooches, which is exactly what they did!!"
Alice had to be sluiced down at home with fresh water, towel rubbed, and finished off with a gently-blowing hairdryer "which she hated!" quipped Daisy.
For supper last night, Daisy made a Rhubarb Brown Betty, her version of the American pudding, Apple Brown Betty which comprises layers of soft, soft apple and fine brown breadcrumbs, brown sugar and cinnamon and melted butter. Delicious. Daisy used lovely home grown rhubarb, from a
particular local home-produced speciality, known for its great growing quality and enormous size.
"We also ate corn beef hash with homegrown runner beans from the garden and", says Daisy, "we went out for lunch on both Friday and Saturday too!"
So, it's a new week tomorrow; we're already half-way through August, and we're only just getting the warm weather we should have been enjoying since May..
"We all hope this good weather is now here to stay and we would certainly welcome it. The crops need a spell of hot weather, if we are to have a good harvest this coming September; and a long hot month or two of good weather would set everybody up for the coming winter?"
"Well, we'll see, hey?" says Daisy.
Daisy hopes you too have enjoyed your weekend.
Byeeee!
Daisy
"Now it's Sunday evening and we're watching the Closing Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympic Games which, as Daisy writes, it bouncing through its steps and paces, saluting all the competing Nations and their athletes, in a feast of colour and sound" says Daisy.
Daisy's had a pleasant weekend with a nice mix of work, play, fun and good food; and the dogs went on several walks. Alice the dog even managed a swim in the lake on our walk tonight and loved it for she was so very hot.
"Mind you", says Daisy "the ducks weren't too happy to see her swimming vigorously towards them! But they hold the trump card, don't they, for they can always rise up and fly away from troublesome pooches, which is exactly what they did!!"
Alice had to be sluiced down at home with fresh water, towel rubbed, and finished off with a gently-blowing hairdryer "which she hated!" quipped Daisy.
For supper last night, Daisy made a Rhubarb Brown Betty, her version of the American pudding, Apple Brown Betty which comprises layers of soft, soft apple and fine brown breadcrumbs, brown sugar and cinnamon and melted butter. Delicious. Daisy used lovely home grown rhubarb, from a
particular local home-produced speciality, known for its great growing quality and enormous size.
"We also ate corn beef hash with homegrown runner beans from the garden and", says Daisy, "we went out for lunch on both Friday and Saturday too!"
So, it's a new week tomorrow; we're already half-way through August, and we're only just getting the warm weather we should have been enjoying since May..
"We all hope this good weather is now here to stay and we would certainly welcome it. The crops need a spell of hot weather, if we are to have a good harvest this coming September; and a long hot month or two of good weather would set everybody up for the coming winter?"
"Well, we'll see, hey?" says Daisy.
Daisy hopes you too have enjoyed your weekend.
Byeeee!
Daisy
Friday, 10 August 2012
Still getting medals....
Daisy has been terribly busy all day on her computer , watching television, tidying up, doing her historical research and having lunch at a new eatery.
And the weather today has been absolutely glorious; hot and sunny and very warm. So warm, the dogs became very hot and bothered over their walk this morning. So, now we're going again and though the sun is still shining very brightly, it is a little cooler, which the dogs will enjoy.
The Olympic Games today have been excellent with lots of medals for all, not just us, of course, which is very good for all would-be Olympians and their supporters, and hopefully giving everybody lots of good reasons to be happy and contented.
What we will do after Sunday's Closing Ceremony, Daisy just cannot imagine...well, there's always her family research, and the dogs to walk and the every day chores which simply will not do themselves; for of course, they are always there, just waiting to be done!
Well, I guess September/October will bring Downtown Abbey onto our television screens again..."brilliant!!!" says Daisy and "can't wait????"
Well, we're off - cheerio!
Daisy
And the weather today has been absolutely glorious; hot and sunny and very warm. So warm, the dogs became very hot and bothered over their walk this morning. So, now we're going again and though the sun is still shining very brightly, it is a little cooler, which the dogs will enjoy.
The Olympic Games today have been excellent with lots of medals for all, not just us, of course, which is very good for all would-be Olympians and their supporters, and hopefully giving everybody lots of good reasons to be happy and contented.
What we will do after Sunday's Closing Ceremony, Daisy just cannot imagine...well, there's always her family research, and the dogs to walk and the every day chores which simply will not do themselves; for of course, they are always there, just waiting to be done!
Well, I guess September/October will bring Downtown Abbey onto our television screens again..."brilliant!!!" says Daisy and "can't wait????"
Well, we're off - cheerio!
Daisy
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Don't we all just love.....
"To hoard?!"
"All those scraps of our lives, denoting this or that event, a party, an examination, Passing-Out Parade or Graduation, and all the rest!"
To Daisy, these things are the stuff of life, and her life. The treasured memories gathered over the years, are reminders of the special things you've done or experienced. They're signposts to your life for others to pick up on and hold onto...one day when.
Dates and details are signposts but the little scraps, the programmes, the dance cards, invitations and school time-tables are the stuff of legend. Your legend and you have every right to hold on to them. Fill up the scrapbooks, the photo albums, the discs, the memory sticks and the external hard drive. Your future needs them and your grandchildren, and children, will one day lovingly look back on them and be thankful for your hoarding instinct.
How can you decide between different events, different details? Well, Daisy doesn't think you can, and why should you? It's your life and your decision as to what to keep.
"Keep everything!" says Daisy "or rue the day somebody encouraged you to discard your hoarded possessions".
Of course, intelligent storage is required for we all have such little space these days, and there are so many people who need to retain possession of their treasured belongings. And there are books and tapes and DVD and videos and books....aah books; surely they're old friends? How can you part with these? The answer is, of course, with the greatest of difficulty, as with anything else you love to cherish and possess.
But there is hope for all of us hoarders for, according to Christopher Middleton of The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday, 8th August 2012, whose article cites researchers' claims that hoarders are affected by "abnormal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex" when asked to affect a clear-out session. According to "scientists at the Institute of Living, in Hartford, Connecticut", hoarders have an "inbuilt disability when it comes to decision-making and categorisation issues".
"Ah ha, we just can't decide what to discard, so we keep everything!" quips Daisy.
Daisy recommends dating every document, naming and dating every photographically captured face, place, landscape and view, and holding on to as many family letters, birthday cards and holiday postcards as time and ability allows.
"It's your life and your right to hold onto what ever connects you to your past".
We all possess old and undated and nameless photographs and wonder why our family members omitted to add the necessary details; and isn't it sad to see such memorabilia discarded because of that lack.
Daisy is the self-appointed family historian and her children are always eager to hear of some fascinating detail she has unearthed through her researches.
Happy hoarding!!!
Daisy
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
A spot of science for you!
Daisy's just home from walking the dogs and, if you'll excuse the personal remark, her lip gloss was very sticky, even to the extent of getting stray strands of hair sticking to her face - because of the lip gloss???
Now, Daisy is no science-buff, but this action made her wonder, is her lip gloss just old i.e. past its best use-by-date, or is it the actual properties of the item which encourages this state of "stickiness"?
"I mean, should I just have given the little tube a good shake and squeeze before using it?" she queries, "and yes, I do know it's meant to be a little sticky!"
Daisy posed this problem to the home folks, when she and the dogs returned from their amble, and was introduced to the theory of thixotropic liquids; liquids which are thick, but which can and do become thin, when they are shaken or agitated. Then there are false thixotropic liquids, known as pseudoplastic fluids, which require very little agitation to render them thin and pourable; and ketchup is such a fluid.
Daisy remembers once when somebody she was working with wanted to add some liquid to a bottle of ketchup, just so that it would pour more easily, but she was prevented from doing so, because this action would have altered the texture of the sauce. If only we'd known back then that it just needed a good shake to get it moving!
Of course, let's face it we probably did, but not for the right reason?
Thank goodness somebody at home was able to give Daisy a science lesson!
"Gosh, didn't Team GB have a golden day?!"
Daisy loved the Dressage event at Greenwich, thinking both rider and horse moved together with the beauty of a ballet dancer. Wonderful. And then our Dressage team won Gold for their performance.
Our first Dressage Gold Medal for sixty years. Stupendous.
Then Alistair Brownlee won Gold for the men's final of the Triathlon and his brother, Jonathan, won the Bronze medal.
Sir Chris Hoy won his 6th Gold medal for his Kierin performance, becoming the first British athlete to win six gold medals. If this is to be his last Olympic Games, we shall miss watching him perform.
For Laura Trott, who won the Omnium Gold medal, this was her second gold medal for these Games, and a splendid achievement.
For Victoria Pendleton, on her Silver Medal award for her cycling individual sprint, many congratulations on all her achievements. She retires from track racing today and we will certainly miss seeing her in future competitions.
And Nick Dempsey's Silver medal for sailing at Weymouth. What a glorious tally for this Eleventh Day of the London Olympics.
"Whatever shall we do when the Games end?" sighs Daisy.
Daisy
Now, Daisy is no science-buff, but this action made her wonder, is her lip gloss just old i.e. past its best use-by-date, or is it the actual properties of the item which encourages this state of "stickiness"?
"I mean, should I just have given the little tube a good shake and squeeze before using it?" she queries, "and yes, I do know it's meant to be a little sticky!"
Daisy posed this problem to the home folks, when she and the dogs returned from their amble, and was introduced to the theory of thixotropic liquids; liquids which are thick, but which can and do become thin, when they are shaken or agitated. Then there are false thixotropic liquids, known as pseudoplastic fluids, which require very little agitation to render them thin and pourable; and ketchup is such a fluid.
Daisy remembers once when somebody she was working with wanted to add some liquid to a bottle of ketchup, just so that it would pour more easily, but she was prevented from doing so, because this action would have altered the texture of the sauce. If only we'd known back then that it just needed a good shake to get it moving!
Of course, let's face it we probably did, but not for the right reason?
Thank goodness somebody at home was able to give Daisy a science lesson!
"Gosh, didn't Team GB have a golden day?!"
Daisy loved the Dressage event at Greenwich, thinking both rider and horse moved together with the beauty of a ballet dancer. Wonderful. And then our Dressage team won Gold for their performance.
Our first Dressage Gold Medal for sixty years. Stupendous.
Then Alistair Brownlee won Gold for the men's final of the Triathlon and his brother, Jonathan, won the Bronze medal.
Sir Chris Hoy won his 6th Gold medal for his Kierin performance, becoming the first British athlete to win six gold medals. If this is to be his last Olympic Games, we shall miss watching him perform.
For Laura Trott, who won the Omnium Gold medal, this was her second gold medal for these Games, and a splendid achievement.
For Victoria Pendleton, on her Silver Medal award for her cycling individual sprint, many congratulations on all her achievements. She retires from track racing today and we will certainly miss seeing her in future competitions.
And Nick Dempsey's Silver medal for sailing at Weymouth. What a glorious tally for this Eleventh Day of the London Olympics.
"Whatever shall we do when the Games end?" sighs Daisy.
Daisy
"What a day this has been.....?"
"Winning Gold for our Olympic Show Jumping team...wow, how good can it get??" Daisy says, and it was truly wonderful watching Team GB competing against our competitors, and managing to win so well, and so convincingly"
Daisy, like everyone else watching television this afternoon, was transfixed by our riders doing so well.
And congratulations to our competitors, the teams from the Netherlands and from Saudia Arabia
for their wonderful efforts, too.
Well done to all.
And Victoria Pendleton going through to the semi-finals for the track cycling race.
For Beth Tweddle for her Bronze winning performance for her third and final Olympic Games on the uneven bars. "My goodness, one feels giddy just thinking about these activities!" muses Daisy.
Also to our sailing teams for their achievements today.
To All - well done and hearty congratulations.
And for me, the usual round of dog walking; and we weren't drenched today, thank goodness! A spot of Hoovering and some tidying-up, followed by lunch in the garden. After all of that, Daisy was able to get back to her family history work, which as usual, was very thirsty work, so she had quite a few cups of hot tea to keep her going.
For our evening delight, an impromptu family dinner party, which was jolly nice, for it lasted the whole evening long. So..........if you'll excuse her, Daisy is going to sign off now, and print and publish this little blog tomorrow.
Sweet dreams and good night,
Daisy
Daisy, like everyone else watching television this afternoon, was transfixed by our riders doing so well.
And congratulations to our competitors, the teams from the Netherlands and from Saudia Arabia
for their wonderful efforts, too.
Well done to all.
And Victoria Pendleton going through to the semi-finals for the track cycling race.
For Beth Tweddle for her Bronze winning performance for her third and final Olympic Games on the uneven bars. "My goodness, one feels giddy just thinking about these activities!" muses Daisy.
Also to our sailing teams for their achievements today.
To All - well done and hearty congratulations.
And for me, the usual round of dog walking; and we weren't drenched today, thank goodness! A spot of Hoovering and some tidying-up, followed by lunch in the garden. After all of that, Daisy was able to get back to her family history work, which as usual, was very thirsty work, so she had quite a few cups of hot tea to keep her going.
For our evening delight, an impromptu family dinner party, which was jolly nice, for it lasted the whole evening long. So..........if you'll excuse her, Daisy is going to sign off now, and print and publish this little blog tomorrow.
Sweet dreams and good night,
Daisy
Monday, 6 August 2012
"What a Sunday...."
Daisy reports
"We were all so excited by the tennis, rowing and running today. so exciting! And then my computer refused to work, isn't that just such a nuisance?"
Andy Murray becoming men's singles Olympic Champion against Roger Federer; what an absolute delight to watch Andy play so brilliantly. Deep commiserations to Roger, who is such a wonderful tennis star and first-class sportsman; the player we've all loved to watch win so many Wimbledon championships. Congratulations on your Silver medal. For Juan del Potro, a Bronze medal for this great tennis player, who played so extremely well against Roger Federer.
For the Mixed Doubles match with Andy Murray and Laura Robson against Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarussia, who played so well to win; we were delighted to see Laura Robson playing so well. We applaud Andy Murray's and Laura Robson's Silver medal achievement.
Ben Ainslie's fourth successive Gold medal for his very exciting race at Weymouth.
For Serena and Venus Williams' third Olympic Double Gold win.
For Usain Bolt's 100m win.
"Wow, and wow again, for a marvellous day of Olympic sporting events!"
Apart from avidly watching the television, Daisy got thoroughly soaked taking the dogs out for their morning walk, when of course, they did too; so the walk was followed up by much towel rubbing and hairdryer usage! Then, when all was calm again, after the denching, she spent time on her family history work; and in the evening watched Dudley Moore in his 1981 film Arthur, which we all love to watch.
"Just love to hear him play that jazz!"
"It's a good thing we women can multi-task, isn't it? sighs Daisy.
Byeeeee!
Daisy.
"We were all so excited by the tennis, rowing and running today. so exciting! And then my computer refused to work, isn't that just such a nuisance?"
Andy Murray becoming men's singles Olympic Champion against Roger Federer; what an absolute delight to watch Andy play so brilliantly. Deep commiserations to Roger, who is such a wonderful tennis star and first-class sportsman; the player we've all loved to watch win so many Wimbledon championships. Congratulations on your Silver medal. For Juan del Potro, a Bronze medal for this great tennis player, who played so extremely well against Roger Federer.
For the Mixed Doubles match with Andy Murray and Laura Robson against Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarussia, who played so well to win; we were delighted to see Laura Robson playing so well. We applaud Andy Murray's and Laura Robson's Silver medal achievement.
Ben Ainslie's fourth successive Gold medal for his very exciting race at Weymouth.
For Serena and Venus Williams' third Olympic Double Gold win.
For Usain Bolt's 100m win.
"Wow, and wow again, for a marvellous day of Olympic sporting events!"
Apart from avidly watching the television, Daisy got thoroughly soaked taking the dogs out for their morning walk, when of course, they did too; so the walk was followed up by much towel rubbing and hairdryer usage! Then, when all was calm again, after the denching, she spent time on her family history work; and in the evening watched Dudley Moore in his 1981 film Arthur, which we all love to watch.
"Just love to hear him play that jazz!"
"It's a good thing we women can multi-task, isn't it? sighs Daisy.
Byeeeee!
Daisy.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
8 Gold and 1 silver medal for Team GB Olympics Day 8....
"Wow!" says Daisy. "This is fantastic, isn't it?"
Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford, the men's 4 rowing team, the women's light weight double sculls team, the men's silver medal rowing team and our cycling trio of Laura Trott, Dani King and Jo Rowsell - 9 medals for this 8th day of the 2012 London Olympics - simply brilliant. Well done to all of you.
We are having a simply fantastic day for the 2012 Olympics and we are all terribly pleased for our Olympians and wish them many hearty congratulations on their winning achievements.
"And good wishes for those winning Olympians from everywhere else, well done to all of you and especially to Michael Phelps!!" Daisy is pleased to say.
Daisy says she hopes all these winning performances will, indeed, encourage our younger sporting youngsters and those still at school, to get into sports in a big way, and work for the dream of winning at future Olympic Games.
Enthusiasm, drive, determination, effort and hard work, trainer support, family support and self-confidence, all go to produce a winning performance, and so too the right training conditions, good equipment and financial backing.
Long may all these qualities combine to give our present, and future, Olympians the very best possible opportunity of achieving their gold winning dreams?
Sweet dreams
Daisy
Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford, the men's 4 rowing team, the women's light weight double sculls team, the men's silver medal rowing team and our cycling trio of Laura Trott, Dani King and Jo Rowsell - 9 medals for this 8th day of the 2012 London Olympics - simply brilliant. Well done to all of you.
We are having a simply fantastic day for the 2012 Olympics and we are all terribly pleased for our Olympians and wish them many hearty congratulations on their winning achievements.
"And good wishes for those winning Olympians from everywhere else, well done to all of you and especially to Michael Phelps!!" Daisy is pleased to say.
Daisy says she hopes all these winning performances will, indeed, encourage our younger sporting youngsters and those still at school, to get into sports in a big way, and work for the dream of winning at future Olympic Games.
Enthusiasm, drive, determination, effort and hard work, trainer support, family support and self-confidence, all go to produce a winning performance, and so too the right training conditions, good equipment and financial backing.
Long may all these qualities combine to give our present, and future, Olympians the very best possible opportunity of achieving their gold winning dreams?
Sweet dreams
Daisy
An interesting obituary is an good read, don't you think?
Daisy has just read the Daily Telegraph's Obituary for Gore Vidal, American novelist, essayist, playwright and journalist, 1925 - 2012; (The Daily Telegraph, Thursday, 2nd August, 2012), which she found both illuminating and highly informative.
This most famous American writer's name has long been known to her, yet she has never read any of his works, nor researched the man behind the public name; she means to rectify this as soon as possible.
A recognised name, and well-known to our collective-consciousness. Similarly, Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist with Queen, a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer; their personalities have each blazed a significant trail across the 20th century.
Perhaps we mostly know more of their public persona's, than of the individual behind the glittering facade, although undoubtedly, their devoted fans will have made themselves more than well-aware of their idol's background history.
Daisy remembers the news headlines at the time of Freddie Mercury's death, in November 1991, when she was startled to read that his prominent life coincided with the entirety of her young daughter's life at that time; yet of the man, all she was mainly aware of was his public performance.
And, perhaps, on the whole, this is right and proper. A brilliant star has the right to a private life, whatever his performance on our worldwide stage. But, isn't it enlightening to read of their background, family and legend, upon their demise?
Knowledge is a wonderful fact of life and............
"don't we all just love to know about our fellow human beings; their lives, loves and success stories?!" concludes Daisy.
Also, at this time of writing, Daisy has to record her thrill at watching Roger Federer play and win against Juan del Potro. They both deserved to win....but Daisy was overjoyed by Federer's win. Del Potro's capabilities are already winning other medals elsewhere.
"And, Andy Murray, beating Novak Djokovic last night was just absolutely wonderful" enthuses Daisy.
She was attending a family birthday dinner and Murray's performance provided an exciting climax to their evening.
Daisy
This most famous American writer's name has long been known to her, yet she has never read any of his works, nor researched the man behind the public name; she means to rectify this as soon as possible.
A recognised name, and well-known to our collective-consciousness. Similarly, Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist with Queen, a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer; their personalities have each blazed a significant trail across the 20th century.
Perhaps we mostly know more of their public persona's, than of the individual behind the glittering facade, although undoubtedly, their devoted fans will have made themselves more than well-aware of their idol's background history.
Daisy remembers the news headlines at the time of Freddie Mercury's death, in November 1991, when she was startled to read that his prominent life coincided with the entirety of her young daughter's life at that time; yet of the man, all she was mainly aware of was his public performance.
And, perhaps, on the whole, this is right and proper. A brilliant star has the right to a private life, whatever his performance on our worldwide stage. But, isn't it enlightening to read of their background, family and legend, upon their demise?
Knowledge is a wonderful fact of life and............
"don't we all just love to know about our fellow human beings; their lives, loves and success stories?!" concludes Daisy.
Also, at this time of writing, Daisy has to record her thrill at watching Roger Federer play and win against Juan del Potro. They both deserved to win....but Daisy was overjoyed by Federer's win. Del Potro's capabilities are already winning other medals elsewhere.
"And, Andy Murray, beating Novak Djokovic last night was just absolutely wonderful" enthuses Daisy.
She was attending a family birthday dinner and Murray's performance provided an exciting climax to their evening.
Daisy
Friday, 3 August 2012
Tactical gamesmanship.....
"So, how far can we take it, this idea of tactical gamesmanship?" queries Daisy.
"The competitive spirit is alive and well. It's part of the human psyche, part of who and what we are, and necessary for our very existence, isn't it?" poses Daisy.
"But....!" says Daisy, "what about the simple idea of participation, of taking part in something bigger than our individual selves? A combination of different identities and different talents for the enrichment of all those taking part, and for those watching??" asks Daisy.
"You have to play to win, display your best endeavour? Play up and give of your best? If you win, that's great. If somebody else wins, well, that's great too. Why shouldn't another person win?" suggests Daisy.
We can all rehearse and practise, but for the actual performance of whatever talent we possess, the actuality of the event can, and does, throw up all kinds of emotions, both within and without, and, unfortunately, human beings are not always in control of themselves; and certainly not of things beyond themselves!
But, surely that's all part of life, that rich tapestry of existence we all experience every day of our life, right here and now. All we can ever do is to give of our very best, whatever and whenever, and accept the consequences of our actions?
"Rules are rules; you have to play by the rules, as written by the rule makers! Isn't that what "they" say?" queries Daisy.
"OK, rules can be broken, if you have mastered them, but that depends on how well you play!" says Daisy "which means playing to the very best of your ability?" suggests Daisy.
"You must show total mastery of your game, if you are to break its rules, I think!" says Daisy.
"But, what if the thinking behind the rules is at fault, what then? If following rules, affects your game, how do you play then? Who queries the thought process, hey?", suggests Daisy.
Daisy was affected by the debacle of the Badminton championship and saddened for the players involved. Badminton, an international game that began in Asia sometime in the 5th c., was played in India as the game of Poona, and brought home to England by returning British army officers; introduced to Royalty and given its modern name, Badminton, after the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire country estate. Given a new status, and rules which laid the foundation for today's game, Badminton flourished world-wide, paved the way for the International Badminton Federation (IBF) of 1934, and provided the world with new championship games to play and win; and the world has played up and played well, ever since.
And the children's game of battledore and shuttlecock..........another version, played similarly, with much fun and enthusiasm by all who encountered it.
Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992 and long may it remain as such. Open to all players and countries' participation, to play with enthusiasm, zeal and the proper ambition to win by fair play and honest participation.
Daisy is a keen observer of the sporting process and is enjoying the 2012 Olympic Games, and particularly the Equestrian Championship at Greenwich at the beginning of this week. The competitors were just brilliant, but what of the horses, weren't they simply splendid? A horse won't perform if it's not handled with sufficient care and attention, or fond enthusiasm for its own being.
Enjoy the Games....
Daisy.
"The competitive spirit is alive and well. It's part of the human psyche, part of who and what we are, and necessary for our very existence, isn't it?" poses Daisy.
"But....!" says Daisy, "what about the simple idea of participation, of taking part in something bigger than our individual selves? A combination of different identities and different talents for the enrichment of all those taking part, and for those watching??" asks Daisy.
"You have to play to win, display your best endeavour? Play up and give of your best? If you win, that's great. If somebody else wins, well, that's great too. Why shouldn't another person win?" suggests Daisy.
We can all rehearse and practise, but for the actual performance of whatever talent we possess, the actuality of the event can, and does, throw up all kinds of emotions, both within and without, and, unfortunately, human beings are not always in control of themselves; and certainly not of things beyond themselves!
But, surely that's all part of life, that rich tapestry of existence we all experience every day of our life, right here and now. All we can ever do is to give of our very best, whatever and whenever, and accept the consequences of our actions?
"Rules are rules; you have to play by the rules, as written by the rule makers! Isn't that what "they" say?" queries Daisy.
"OK, rules can be broken, if you have mastered them, but that depends on how well you play!" says Daisy "which means playing to the very best of your ability?" suggests Daisy.
"You must show total mastery of your game, if you are to break its rules, I think!" says Daisy.
"But, what if the thinking behind the rules is at fault, what then? If following rules, affects your game, how do you play then? Who queries the thought process, hey?", suggests Daisy.
Daisy was affected by the debacle of the Badminton championship and saddened for the players involved. Badminton, an international game that began in Asia sometime in the 5th c., was played in India as the game of Poona, and brought home to England by returning British army officers; introduced to Royalty and given its modern name, Badminton, after the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire country estate. Given a new status, and rules which laid the foundation for today's game, Badminton flourished world-wide, paved the way for the International Badminton Federation (IBF) of 1934, and provided the world with new championship games to play and win; and the world has played up and played well, ever since.
And the children's game of battledore and shuttlecock..........another version, played similarly, with much fun and enthusiasm by all who encountered it.
Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992 and long may it remain as such. Open to all players and countries' participation, to play with enthusiasm, zeal and the proper ambition to win by fair play and honest participation.
Daisy is a keen observer of the sporting process and is enjoying the 2012 Olympic Games, and particularly the Equestrian Championship at Greenwich at the beginning of this week. The competitors were just brilliant, but what of the horses, weren't they simply splendid? A horse won't perform if it's not handled with sufficient care and attention, or fond enthusiasm for its own being.
Enjoy the Games....
Daisy.
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Now, what about car boot sales...?
Ah, car boot sales are useful, boring............. and fun!" quips Daisy "but can be very rewarding, if your sale items are what folks are looking for!!"
Of course, you cannot tell beforehand what buyers will be looking for and it's all a matter for conjecture and inspiration; depending on your treasure trove of unwanted possessions.
Interesting items of an "antique" nature, boxes crammed full of bits and pieces (cobwebbed and dusty best of all), china pieces or figurines, tools and antiquated work devices, commemorative tinware, records, stamps and coins all sell well. People just love to rummage through an odd selection, hoping for a brilliant find and a happy-ending price wrangle!
Comestibles and hot coffee and tea always meet with enthusiasm, as do bacon rolls, burgers and sausages.
Such sales came to the UK from Canada as a happy holiday maker's experience of his time in that country and probably, very quickly, found an enthusiastic welcome from the folks at home. For home clutter-clearing schemes and fund-raiser objectives, a car boot sale must have seemed a divine-given opportunity, and all you needed, apart from your car boot or van, were collapsible tables, table clothes and the ability to be up with the lark on the appointed day.
Such was the case with Daisy's last sale! They were, indeed, very organised and up and out early and already selling by 8am on a rather clouded and cool summer day. Daisy's sale items were a mixture of rather dull and humdrum things which she just needed to clear. Despite a rather lacklustre audience, Daisy realised a small income but a good redistribution of no-longer-needed items and what remained unsold, found its way to various charity shops; a good all-round outcome!!
First customers are always the Buyers, looking for bargains of unrecognised "known" objects, pictures, porcelain and oddities, for which they have a keen "eye" and a knowledge of where such pieces should go to realise their fullest economic value and price. They pounce on a likely looking stall as it's owner is preoccupied with organising his sale items, hoping to procure their "find" for the lowest possible price. It's all part of the scheme of things and, if you're selling, you just have to know exactly what it is you're hoping to sell that day.
The sales day ends as quickly as it began, with people stowing unsold goods away, but you can still make a late sale, if somebody spots an item of yours that is just what they've been looking for!!
"You scurry home to sort out what's unsold, clear out your car boot for a future sale, and count your earnings, over a hot mug of tea?" smiles Daisy "and reach for the calender to remind yourself of the next car boot sale date!!!"
"Now, where is my calender??? says Daisy!
Byeeee for now
Daisy
Of course, you cannot tell beforehand what buyers will be looking for and it's all a matter for conjecture and inspiration; depending on your treasure trove of unwanted possessions.
Interesting items of an "antique" nature, boxes crammed full of bits and pieces (cobwebbed and dusty best of all), china pieces or figurines, tools and antiquated work devices, commemorative tinware, records, stamps and coins all sell well. People just love to rummage through an odd selection, hoping for a brilliant find and a happy-ending price wrangle!
Comestibles and hot coffee and tea always meet with enthusiasm, as do bacon rolls, burgers and sausages.
Such sales came to the UK from Canada as a happy holiday maker's experience of his time in that country and probably, very quickly, found an enthusiastic welcome from the folks at home. For home clutter-clearing schemes and fund-raiser objectives, a car boot sale must have seemed a divine-given opportunity, and all you needed, apart from your car boot or van, were collapsible tables, table clothes and the ability to be up with the lark on the appointed day.
Such was the case with Daisy's last sale! They were, indeed, very organised and up and out early and already selling by 8am on a rather clouded and cool summer day. Daisy's sale items were a mixture of rather dull and humdrum things which she just needed to clear. Despite a rather lacklustre audience, Daisy realised a small income but a good redistribution of no-longer-needed items and what remained unsold, found its way to various charity shops; a good all-round outcome!!
First customers are always the Buyers, looking for bargains of unrecognised "known" objects, pictures, porcelain and oddities, for which they have a keen "eye" and a knowledge of where such pieces should go to realise their fullest economic value and price. They pounce on a likely looking stall as it's owner is preoccupied with organising his sale items, hoping to procure their "find" for the lowest possible price. It's all part of the scheme of things and, if you're selling, you just have to know exactly what it is you're hoping to sell that day.
The sales day ends as quickly as it began, with people stowing unsold goods away, but you can still make a late sale, if somebody spots an item of yours that is just what they've been looking for!!
"You scurry home to sort out what's unsold, clear out your car boot for a future sale, and count your earnings, over a hot mug of tea?" smiles Daisy "and reach for the calender to remind yourself of the next car boot sale date!!!"
"Now, where is my calender??? says Daisy!
Byeeee for now
Daisy
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