Lots to tell.

 

Be warned, parts of this post read like one of the Saga's in Old Norse, so convoluted is the story.

 Where do I begin?

You may remember that I appealed my recent parking ticket on the grounds that it had fallen off the windscreen. Well I got a letter back from the council, upholding my appeal (Good), but two things in it annoyed me slightly.

First, they said that the scanned ticket I had sent them matched the details supplied by the warden, in other words, THEY COULD READ MY TICKET FROM WHERE IT HAD FALLEN ONTO THE DASHBOARD. Therefore my “Crime” was to let it fall off the windscreen. So they knew that I had a ticket, but were still prepared to chance their luck at getting me to pay. I wonder how many people just shrug and pay up.

Second I was told not to do it again. Really, so must I now carry adhesive tape with me in case the glue on the ticket is not strong enough to hold it in place? It’s just like being back at school. Next time I might not be so lucky? Perhaps the glue is made deliberately weak, to increase revenue. (Now I’m getting paranoid---- or?)

Those in the know will have been aware that HMS Illustrious came up the Thames to Greenwich last Wednesday. Well my good friend and colleague Dave was assigned to pilot the vessel up river. As the steering position is on one side, a second pilot is required to advise of distances on the other side at crucial points, such as the Thames Barrier. Yes that was me, a thoroughly enjoyable experience, particularly as my father had served on its predecessor during WWII.

I got a couple of good pictures on transit.

Approaching the Barrier

Past and Clear

At the Dome

Manoeuvering at Greenwich

All Done!

 

 

When I got home from work on Thursday, Yvonne announced that she was craving Viennese finger biscuits, the chocolate dipped type. I made some Friday morning, unfortunately I didn’t have enough chocolate to dip so had to slap it on the top. (Neat finishing is not my speciality)

I also used up the veg we had (1 each pepper and carrot and 2 onions) to make a sausage casserole with veg stock and chopped tomatoes.

 

To accompany we had potato chunks, par boiled and tossed in Olive Oil and Mixed herbs.

 

All this goes in the oven for an hour or so.

With the onset of good weather, I ordered a new garden table and chairs from a well-known retailer, as it was half price and free delivery. They sent me a text message to arrange delivery, so we went out the day before. Imagine my reaction when they then cheerfully told me that they would be delivering a day early! Thank you next door.

When I unpacked the table, the mosaic top was cracked, so I called them for a replacement, and an exchange was arranged with minimal fuss. Although they did want to replace the chairs as well, but as they were perfect I declined, fearing that I could get a good table and broken chairs next time.

That’s when the fun started.

The boxed table weighs 46 kilo’s (99LB) and was about a metre square, so was a two man lift.

The first time, one man turned up without the replacement and refused to lift the broken one – Quite right.

The second time, two men appeared with the replacement and lugged it into my garden, “Just check it before we take the old one” said one of them, at which point I was unwrapped and found to be the wrong colour. So that one went back, leaving me with the broken one in the hall.

The third time, the same man as in the first time turned up, alone again, and we went through the same conversation. He departed empty handed, but without back problems.

During all this I was almost permanently on the phone to the lovely Karen, who I think was getting fed up with the incompetence on display. In the end a fourth visit was arranged, and all was guaranteed to be correct this time.

The day before, I got a call from the by now clearly embarrassed Karen, who told me the exchange would not take place.

“How bad is the damage?” was her question, I could see what was coming. To be honest, although the mosaic was cracked, the table bed was undamaged, and a bit of silicone sealer and a file to remove rough edges could have fixed it. But it was new and had cost me a lot of money.

“How about if we give you a full refund and you keep and repair it?” was her final offer, and I took it. I already had silicone sealer from when I decorated the bathroom, so for about a tenner in phone calls, and three wasted days I have a new table.

Freefall

Calling all my Sci-fi loving readers, my first novel is now available in the Kindle store, if you want an intorduction to the World of Dave Travise, check out this link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freefall-ebook/dp/B00CMTBZ5G

Publish and be Damned!

I have done the deed; I pushed the button this morning at 10am. There is no going back now, I only hope that I caught all the typo’s, I’m sure that someone will be kind enough to point them out to me though. In less than 24 hours I will be a published author!

OK OK it’s only on the Kindle, but it still feels good. It will feel even better if I actually sell any apart from to my family.

Peter next door gave me this log burner,

 

 

now we must use it, there are a pile of logs that the last owner of the house left me, it’s just a case of getting out there in the evening and lighting up, glass of wine etc.

My tulips are looking good this year,

 after last years washout everything seems to be making a special effort, there is the constant buzzing of bees in the garden, and it’s starting to look nice.

I actually picked some salad leaves for our supper yesterday,

now that I have planted every week, we should have a continuous supply through the year.

And the fruit trees are blossoming, better than last year before the torrential rain in May washed it all off.

I said last time we were going to Tavistock, well we had a good day, got stuck behind a lorry at Vennford Reservoir, but it gave us a chance to get out and look across the water.

 

Also, at Hexworthy we wandered down to the river bank, it was so quiet and peaceful.

A magical place.

A bit of gardening, and Elderflower Cordial.

 I had a load of dried elderflower, and with this years crop already starting to form,

 thought that it was about time to use it up.
I weighed it out, and there was 150g of the stuff, now 5g of dried is the same as 6 flower heads, so I could make about 1.5 litres of cordial, that should last me a while.

Anyhow, I made a sugar syrup and infused the flowers.

 You have to leave it for 48 hours in the fridge to soak, before straining and bottling.

My veg are growing wellnow, I took pictures about a week ago and yesterday, you can see the difference. I now have runner beans,

carrots, salad leaves,

peas, broad beans and potatoes all doing well.

Also I potted on my tomato plants,

 

it's hard to beleive that they will soon be 4 feet tall and groaning with the weight of fruit.
Last Jan I ordered some new Strawberry plants, they are supposed to "Climb" and produce fruit on runners that can be trained up a trellis. Being a sucker for anything thats a bit quirky, I sent for some. They arrived yesterday and I potted them on.

 

when they are a bit more grown, I have a frame for them to climb up.

And after last years washout, my fruit trees have blossom!

Pear

Apple

Peach

More Apple

High hopes there.

Off to Tavistock today, to see some friends and a sopt of lunch/retail therapy. Also the drive across Dartmoor, which always provides some glorious scenery, and makes me realise why I chose to live here.

Visitors

George and Tom came down for a couple of days, and it was actually nice weather.

They are heading back to Oz shortly, so it was good to see them, but a bit sad as well, they will be gone now till Christmas. George left me her car to look after again, I’ll have to try and keep the battery charged up this time!

We went out for a meal to Bistro 46, www.bistro46.com as usual Chris surpassed himself, except for running out of Bays Gold, we had to drink Topsail instead; which was no real hardship.

Next day, I cooked a fry-up, including the excellent Pork and Marmite sausages from Totnes Good Food market, and local Organic bacon From Well Hung Meat. www.wellhungmeat.com

 

 

 

and then we went to Paignton, where we played Crazy Golf (George’s request)

 

and wandered along the beach eating chips, watching people being dive bombed by hungry seagulls. I then brought them back to Kent on my way to work. We let Tom win; (Honest!) but hopefully we will restore English pride with the Cricket this summer.

With some trepidation, at Naomi’s wedding I asked Tom to proof read my book, and tell me if he found any major grammar or plot issues, before I published it. I told him to be totally honest about it, (I WAS a bit happy at the time) before I made a fool of myself by publishing rubbish.

He said that he was going to start a couple of times, but actually started in the car on the way to Kent. It went very quiet as he was reading, and I felt myself getting more and more worried.

Eventually (and I do like the Aussie honesty) he said to me “I thought I was going to have to tell you it was S**t, but it’s actually pretty good.”  That was a relief, because even though I know that not everyone will like it, it’s still my baby! And coming from an Aussie; that’s next to high praise. George even read it, and she’s no fan of fiction, preferring biography.

Work was quiet, only three jobs, but I did get a good picture of a front coming through, spot the impending rain!

 

I have orders for about twenty jars of Marmalade, there is no Seville orange left, but I will be making Ruby Grapefruit later in May. Tracy also wants sourdough next time we are on shift together, and I’ve also been asked for mint sauce. Busy Busy.

It’s a bit colder today (Sunday) but a very nice sunrise over St Mary’s Graveyard as I took the dogs round.

 

My second batch of dandelion wine is now under way, and I racked the Rhubarb into bottles this morning. It has cleared beautifully, and has a rose tint, I can’t wait for Christmas!

 

I also made fruit compote (Blackberries and Rhubarb) for dessert tonight with Yogurt

 

 And I have fruit blossom as well

Sorry; they are a bit blurred.