AN OLD Fella's Rambling.

WHAT the young call a BLOG WE CALL A NATTER  AND  WHAT  YEARS  AGO THEY CALLED A JOURNAL

April 8th.2007

I must say when my door bell went on a Sunday morning earlier this year I wasn’t expecting it to be a new neighbour. It appears Chris and Lesley had moved in across the road from me Friday last. As Friday is our Sainsbury day I hadn’t noticed the activity that accompanied such goings on. Chris stood there as wide as barn door and proceeded to tell me all about himself, and how his wife had developed Multiple Sclerosis after they’d both worked twenty nine years for the TSB banking establishment, and how he’d had to apply for early retirement so as he could to be there for her in her hour or need. Now this is of course the right procedure to take, and possibly the best thing any good husband would do, but go one stage further and imagine what a guy who has Cerebral Palsy is trying to cope with, and you have a whole new ball game. Chris went on to explain the bank were not completely helpful when he told them he had to take early retirement, but I won’t dwell on such matters as it won’t alter things, but I thought I should say. After making ourselves know, and assuring each other we’d help should help be needed, Chris left and I carried on preparing the Sunday dinner.

April 16th.

Just over a week had passed and apart for the odd wave across the void I didn’t speak to Chris until he crossed the road while I was planting some second year dwarf dahlias seedlings in the front garden. I stopped what I was doing and listened to what he had to say, and was surprised to find out that evidently he was more or less certain he knew me from when I worked for George & Harding some forty odd years ago. As he explained how we’d met previously so my mind cleared and the years rolled back to when I was in my early thirties. “You remember Ken you asked me where the toilets where” and sure enough that day and the whole incident came to life. Mind you he was only a young lad back then, and half the size he is now. He went on to talk about our front garden, and how he’d enjoy the spring display he’d seen for the past weeks or so, and the colour the Wallflowers, Violas, Pansies, and coloured Primroses had produced. Soon I found myself telling him that we’d opened our gardens both here and at the bottom of the hill at number 104 for over twenty years, but due to Irene troubles I’d suggested we give it a rest this year. Not that the garden will be any different whether we open it or not because I shall still put the same amount of effort in to it.

April 29th.

Since telling Chris we probably wouldn’t open the garden this year Irene has begged me to carry on as usual, but this time split what we get between Tenovus and another charity, you can guess what the other charity will be can’t you. When I told Chris he said you can put me down to manage the Tombola. I’d like to tell you something that Chris said to me on our second meeting. He started by saying “D`you know Ken when I was a kid I used to think as I lay in bed, when I wake up in the morning perhaps I’ll be normal” Well you can bet how I reacted. “Normal” I said. “Normal, Chris you’re more normal than half the people in this road, don’t ever think you’re anything less than normal” To think this guy, who has made a life for himself and his wife Lesley, despite being dealt a really rough hand, still feels he’s not one of us, after all what’s normal. I can see my life is going to be a whole lot better now that Chris has moved in across the road.

Mother’s Day Sunday May 13th.

Fridays seem to come round more frequently than they did a few years ago, and like wise the week-ends which used to be so very busy when I was working. Since packing up work altogether I wonder how I ever did what I used to when I was working full time. Over the road at Chris’s has been as busy as a bee hive from about Thursday, what with Ken the gardener tidying up the shrubs, and a couple of self employed fellows replacing two of the front windows, which immediately changed the appearance of the bungalow it’s been as lively as a Church Bazaar. Of course Chris was busy too organising tea and cakes, and taking the occasional glance at his newly fitted windows. I shouted across “Looks great Chris, big improvement” with this, over he comes as please as Punch & Judy on a good day. “D`you like`em Ken?” I told him I did, and said I thought they’d done a good job, and seemed very competent. He assured me they were, and if I wanted anything in that line the main man whose name was Jed would always give me a quote. I thought about the two windows I had in the conservative that had gone misty on me because the seals had gone, and asked him if he’d get Jed to pop over when he had time because the last quote I had for the two skinny top lights was £150 for the two. With that my eldest daughter Pam arrived to do her mum’s hair, but before disappearing inside she‘d asked if he was pleased with the move. He of course said he was delighted, and told her the only thing that had stopped him in the past was that they were living in house that his granddad had built. After Pam left he went on to say that because his grandfather had been wounded in World War one, the Bournemouth council had given the heroes a piece of land on their return, and Chris’s grandfather built, or had built this detached house. I found this very touching, and was pleased to have found out something about the area I’d made my home for the past fifty years that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t renewed my acquaintance with Chris. By the way Jed came over to take the measurements, and two days later I got his quote, take a guess? You’re nowhere near, £65 for both to be made and fitted, anyone in the Bournemouth area wants a good fair man just send me an email, and I’ll send you his.

May 19th.

Today Chris told me how he took after his grandfather regards liking a little flutter. Gambling was frowned on in those days after the first war, but as Chris’s granddad was a Milkman he was ideally placed because as well as delivering the milk he could put on a bet or two for his grateful customers, sort of Bookies runner. Oh I hadn’t told you about the little win Chris picked up soon after he’d moved had I. Evidently he does what is know in racing circles as an `Accumulator’ I think some call it a `Yankee’ but can’t be sure. This is the gist of the idea, you pick four different races and place your bet on the first, and if you win, that money goes on what you picked in the next race and so on. I shouldn’t entice you to have ago, and I was assured by Chris never exceeds nine pound on the first bet. They’ve only been moved in a couple of months and he’s had two very good pay outs so far, Chris puts it down to a brilliant tipster in the Daily Mirror, and of course some one up stairs who’s on his side. I’ll give you an example of his luck, last week his wife Lesley took their car to a large shopping centre called Castlepoint, it was a very windy day and unbeknown to Lesley as she shut the door her disable badge was blown onto the floor. On her return sure enough she’d got a ticket for not displaying it where it could be seen on the dashboard, and the fine believe it or not was £80. Chris was furious, and although he phoned straight away the person he phoned who wasn’t the person responsible for the ticket, only the car park warden, he said it was possible they would still have to pay the £80, or at best the administration fee of £8-50 for sending him the fine. The very next day he picked up a cool £200 odd from one of those special type bets.

May 30th.

Chris hasn’t had a very good day today, Misty their cat had to be taken to the emergency vet yet again it appear the swelling had increased to such an extent Chris feared she would have to be put to sleep. As this is the first time I have mentioned Misty perhaps I should explain they have had her from a kitten and she is just over twenty years old which is well over a hundred in cat terms unfortunately she hasn’t been very well since before the move. Chris said they’d waited up the vets for well over an hour and he was getting anxious for her. However when their turn came the vet told them she was not in pain, but she was retaining fluid which could be reduced by administering water tablets, but the decision was theirs if they’d rather let her go. Chris wasn’t having any of it and he paid for the tablets and they made their way back home with her in a cat basket. As he backed his car up his drive and got out I shouted “How’s the neck” He has pain on and off due to the cart ledge between his vertebras being very thin, but due to his condition it is inoperable, and it had been extremely painful yesterday. Chris answered “I’ll see you in a minute Ken”

I stayed out side although finished for the night but still finding jobs to do, and true to his word Chris came bounding up our drive to tell me the latest. I could see he was upset, and seemed to have enough emotions for at least three people. “She’s retaining fluid Ken and not in pain” I told him if she was I think she’d have made a lot more noise, and he went on to tell me he’d had to take his dad’s cat to the vet last year. Chris’s dad had not been well, but knew their cat was in a bad way so he phone his boy who immediately went round and took it to the vet. As you know last year was unbearably hot, and all the time they waited Chris repeatedly went to the door to allow the cat to have more air. He was so distressed with the cat’s plight he told his wife Lesley to ring the bell which she did, and they eventually saw a vet. I won’t go into the details but eventually they arrived home with the cat in a box, and before they could tell his father the sad news his father said “Take me to the hospital son I’m bleeding” Three months later Chris lost his dad to cancer. Although most of what I’ve told you so far is quite sad it is so comforting to have this extraordinary normal guy living within shouting distance from us you know.

June 1st.

I had to laugh we’d just finished lunch, and all the shopping was put into the appropriate boxes, and I’d just finished washing up the utensils etc after our lunch, but couldn’t find the tea cloth. I asked Irene had she put it in the wash and she replied after what seemed a life time “It’s on the hot thing in the hall” I knew what she meant was the radiator, but at the same time conquered up this vision of a Swedish Au Pair who lived in. Prior to getting the lunch and during sorting the shopping the door bell went and it was ol’ Chris, he looked pleased with himself and having one of my empty seed trays in his hand I knew he’d been over the cemetery, and had placed the box of mixed begonias I’d given him on both his dad’s and uncle’s graves, “Jobs done Ken and they look splendid I managed to do them both between the showers” I told him I was pleased, and now he can have a well earned rest “Got to take mum to the doctor’s first Ken, see you tomorrow” I watched as he disappeared down the drive, and thought once again how lucky I was to know him.

Getting really peeved that my Internet connection won’t be ready until June 15th I hope they don’t start my payments until I’m connected or I won’t gain the benefit of the first month at £9:99. The crows are still pulling out the labels on the seedlings, I think the only thing I can do is to make a Scare Crow, but knowing my luck they’ll probably sit on it. I did buy some cable straps to attach the label to the plant, but I think the stems are to tender to use them yet.

June 2nd.

I’ve thought long and hard at where the layout of the back garden is going. Since I abandoned the traditional English garden look I’ve been continually told “I liked it how you used to do it” So next year it’ll be back to the drawing board in an attempt to please family and friends, and create that English garden look, but you can bet dahlias will take pride of place over other species. My trouble is where to plant the seedlings because they make everything worth while. Just after mid-day today Jed the window man turned up to fix the new sealed unites. Afterwards he used something called PVC solvent that really bought the plastic up as good as new.

June 9th.

I gave Chris a wave this morning as I pushed the new lawn mower out to cut the front lawn, and I knew something was up as Chris made a move across the road shouting as he came “I won’t keep you” I thought he could keep me as long as he liked because talking to this guy was quite a interesting event. I could see he was upset. “Misty’s gone Ken” he could hardly hold back the tears. “I had to take her to the vet’s because she was in a very distressed state” You could see he was moved by what he’d had to do. “Another month and we’d have had her twenty one years” I tried to console him explaining just under twenty one years is a magnificent age for a cat, but it didn’t help. I explained he had to get it in perspective just think of how a mother would feel who’d lost a young son in Iraq, but some how this guys cat was all important, and I knew his circumstances were helping to multiply the loss. Chris left explaining they were due to go out that evening but somehow he didn’t think it was now appropriate, I felt for the guy, but knew eventually he'd come to terms with this new sadness in his life.

June 12th.

Chris was more himself today, Ken the gardener turned up and Chris managed to knock the Mercedes badge off of his car, it’s an old car but they seem to go forever. Ken was making the most of ribbing him about it. It’s un-caning how Chris seems to attract the right sort of people around him. Yesterday Lenny the guy next door to me asked if I wanted some rockery stone, it was the real thing Purbeck’s best. I said I didn’t have any use for it and the best thing he could do was to advertise it in the local paper. He did better than that he contacted Chris’s gardener Ken, who jumped at the chance of obtaining this popular local stone, and like any good business man he said the cost of clearing it had to be taken into account, everyone was delighted with the resultant outcome.

Just seen Lenny off for one of those “Evenings with the boys nights” I was watering the plants I’d used to brighten up his newly constructed block paving layout, and he didn’t miss the opportunity of telling his mate, who was picking him up in the taxi, that I was his gardener.

Talking of block paving, which is all the rage here in Bournemouth since our summers have been so dry that lawns have resembled that of Wimbledon’s centre court after every match had been played on them. I’ve been trying to contact a guy called a Mike Snowden, known as Snowy to his friends who did the job next door single handed. He’d given me a pamphlet with the firm he used to supply the paving stones, and typical of me I’ve gone and mislaid it. I’d tried to contact him yesterday without success, but to day I managed to reach him. He explained if I ordered it through him I’d get the slabs I need to pave my dahlia rows delivery free, and not only that I wouldn’t have to pay until the end of the month. I told him there’d be a drink in it for him.

June 16th.

Still no joy regards my Internet connection, it seems to me this Internet lark is un-monitored, and they can do as they darn well like. BT have moved the goal posts and will revue the situation on the eighteenth of June now, just as well it’s not life threatening. Bob Hendley came over yesterday, you remember my distributor. He was thoroughly dejected on his own admission because the rabbits have beaten him, there are hundreds of them, and they not only ate the dahlias on top of the ground, but dig certain varieties up to savour the roots. I felt sorry as you can’t fault the guy for work output, they are moving to France as soon as the house is sold, and this is a guy that done more than his share in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. It leaves me in a quandary, and between the devil and the deep you might say. Bob recons the best thing to do is create a show garden in France next year, and show the European’s what he has for sale. It’s a big market, but it has many established nurserymen including the skilful Dutch so I wish him all the luck in the world. He ended up saying I’m not done yet, and build up a stock of Toreador? Now that’s got you thinking?

The trouble with all this is I’m not getting any younger, and a couple of years of breeding have gone down the drain. I’ll have to take a leaf out of my mate Jack Gott’s book, and if I get a possible money spinner similar to Toreador I must sit on it until the world and his wife is begging me to release it.

June 18th.

Did I mention while I was potting on cuttings and earlier seedlings I found seeds that where only just emerging in the compost. They could have only been from the box I didn’t leave long enough to germinate, that’s right the GIANTS. God knows how many of these unfortunate seeds I buried still full of life, but let’s look on the bright side, the ten seedlings I’ve just potted on into five inch pots which have a G followed by a question mark on the label are magnificent, and have every chance of being a few of the lost giant crosses of 2006 such is their stature. Only time will tell, and I promise photo good, bad, or indifferent will be displayed on the web site. Never did get down to showing these did I? I wonder why? Because two were single, five were not worthy of the compost they were growing in, and the rest were, bar  a charity dahlia called Larraine Claire, very light of petal.

Time to get the verdict on my Internet connection, first I’ll see if I have a dialling tone, and then phone Freeola, I’ve rang them so many times I’ve memorized the number. Still no joy, Freeola support which is the best in the world, and I mean that, tell me that usually BT get stuff like this finished about 4 o’clock so I’ll ring them back just after then. This done and still nothing, one of the guys on Freeola says his college has my situation monitored. Now that’s what I call looking after the customer, pity BT can’t be as useful, but then they are their old lines aren’t they? I wonder when they’ll wear out? Then we’ll all be in trouble, except for those with cable firms and wireless connections. Just had a copy of a magazine called Compass delivered, it’s one of those freebies. A very interesting article inside denying there is such a thing as global warming, it seems this group believe most of our climate is controlled by the Sun, and also cosmic forces in Space and it’s all beyond our control.

June 23rd.

Just checked on my Internet connection, and when I asked how long such things went on for I was told by Freeola support that it’s never much longer than three weeks, strewth that’s almost an armful. The nice man from Freeola said when he comes in on Monday afternoon he’d try and get more details about what’s going on. Meanwhile I’ve just had a brain wave, what if I go `Wire free’ could I get hooked up to the Internet without using anyone? Obviously I’d have to have a server, but then they would be responsible for sorting out BT. Mind you there is talk that `Wire free’ has it’s own problems in that it sends harmful signals to it’s users. Talking of bad practices, Irene is very concerned about my neck, it seems it resembles that of someone from Nigeria such is my involvement with the outside world, and dahlias in particular.  It is as black as Negates Knocker with being in the sun so long.

Sunday June 24th.

Just come back from the Wellington boot club for the second time today, I’d left my brolly behind. It hasn’t stopped raining since I got up, and not the light stuff this stuff hurts the top of your head, well when you’re in your seventy sixth year the ol’ thatch isn’t what it used to be. As I was coming out of the newly erected building I bumped into Mushroom Mick. “I’ve Nearly finished your seed box dibber Ken” I must confess I’d forgotten he was making life easy for boxing up the begonias etc with a hand crafted measuring device. “Thank mate, that’ll be magic, by the way I’ve completed the drawing for the pedestal you want to make for our front garden” Ol’ Mick is an engineer and capable of making anything in metal, and when I mentioned I’d like a planter for the front garden he’d instantly volunteered to make it. “Now I don’t want any favours” I said at the time, but it appears he insists there’s no charge. Now I won’t hear of this so suggested he makes it, and he accesses how much it costs to make, plus profit then I give him half of the total, and by planting it in my front garden, when asked where I got it I’ll pass the customers over to Mick, and he’ll start to get in the black. “Come round for a coffee Ken” Mick almost begged me. I thought of Irene and declined his offer. “Mick mate I’d love to but Irene will wonder where I’ve got to, she worries where I am since getting older” I left him to get in his large white car as the heavens opened once more.

June 24th.

True to his word Brian Madders the current Chairman of the New Forest & District Dahlia & Chrysanthemum Society phone me this morning, saying he’d be round to collect thirty six dahlia plants in three and a half inch square pots, you know the ones that you can fit fifteen into a standard size seed tray. They were some of last year’s seedlings, and he offered to give them a home until they’re lifted sometime in the autumn. There’s about two hundred more sitting in my side way either destined for the bin, or a life making miniature tubers, I hate rabbits.

June 26th.

The rain eased enough for me to get the first ten eighteen inch square slabs down that’s the beauty of slabs as long as you bed them down you can go back and fill in the gap between them any time. I was just cleaning up and Mushroom Mick came round bringing the seed tray dibber he’d promised. Once you’re trained as an engineer you can more or less tackle anything in many different materials. This seed tray spacing device is made of plastic and meant for a half tray, but of course all you do is use it twice on a full tray. It’s perfect for getting the seedlings equally spaced.

Hang on some one at the door . . . . . . it was Chris he come over because he and Lesley were having trouble opening the new child proof cap on Levington liquid tomato feed, you know the type with the push down and turn lid, tell you what it was not only child proof it was Ken proof as well, I’d have loved to have opened it, but try as I might he still went away with it in tacked, and is going to take it back in the morning.

Blow me down Chris has just phoned to say Lesley has managed to open, I thought I heard a click when I was trying so obviously I did something to help the situation. Chris is a lad, having mentioned I would probable have to ditch the remaining dahlias in our side way he rang Ken the gardener explaining my plight, who told him to tell me to put a five pounds worth by, and he’ll pay me when he comes over to do the garden this Thursday. I’ll see he gets a garden full.

June 28th.

True to his word Ken came over with his money and took away another couple of boxes to see if he could entice some of his customers to become dahlia growers. Meanwhile Chris reckoned the sign advertising these dahlias should be bolder, and promptly walked it across the road for Lesley to improve it. I was in the middle of mixing sixteen shovelful of washed grit by two of cement when Chris returned with the improved sign. “Now then” he said, “What we need is to get the boxes up near the sign so as the punters can see what they’re buying” Having done what he’d suggested I couldn’t help seeing the difference a little organizing can do. I thanked Chris for his help and returned to the pile of unmixed aggregate in the garage which was the only place I had with a concrete floor. Oh in case anyone is thinking 16 to 2 is a very weak mix I can assure you being the wash grit consists mainly of grit, the strength is adequate for the job in hand which was laying eighteen inch square paving stones.

I’d know sooner started laying them when I was called upon to sell the much attended dahlias. I took the ladies money and wondered if it was worth the effort, and vowed never again to do 2,500 dahlias in one season, because the extra work hadn’t done anything to pay for the cost of the electricity involved producing them. Eventually finishing the long path adjoining the fence to my neighbour on my left, thoughts turned to a cup of tea., which took longer than I’d anticipated because the lady who’d had the previous box of plants came back for another for her mother of eighty four. Lunch time came and went and I was starting to get in my stride when Irene called out “It’s that nice man from Freeola” I hurried from the back fence where I was paving. “Tell him I won’t be a second I'm just removing my boots” Out of breath I was hoping for good news about my Internet connection “Sorry to keep you waiting” I said, and he started to explain his annoyance at BT’s decision to cancel the order I’d made with Freeola without telling either them or myself, but the good news was they assured him I would have an Internet connection by July the 4th I think they’re having a laugh because that’s American Independence Day. Let’s face it I could have waited for ever for a connection if hadn’t badgered him, and he hadn’t badgered them. I ended the conversation by thanking him and saying I’d make sure there was a dahlia named Freeola, and I was certain he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.

By the end of the day at about twenty passed seven I was worn out, but pleased with my considerable effort and pretending this was a job I’d been doing all my life. The only thing left to do now was smaller slabs to lay, pointing all the stones both in the back and front, and concrete small areas that couldn’t be completed with slabs. Now to clean off the trowel and spade, and get our meal prepared. Oh and in between pour a large Sherry and make a cup of tea for the pair of us. No sooner had I put the kettle on than the phone went, it was Chris “Don’t forget the sign and to move the plants back Ken” Bless his heart ever vigilant he was thinking of thieves, and I’d already forgot the dahlias which by now were just in the way. “And don’t forget Saturday Kings Park nursery are selling off their surplus plants so there could be plenty of people about” I thanked him and put the phone down knowing he was doing his best to help me, and proceeded to place my weary legs into my size nine Wellington boots. Returning I poured the tea and another Sherry, and turned up the heat on the potatoes.

June 30th.

Today is Irene’s birthday I’d had her card for ages, but so far hadn’t managed to find a suitable present, so as soon as I opened my eyes I wished her a happy birthday and reached over for the money I’d earned from those dahlias. After shaving I opened the curtains, and to my surprise the sun was shining, but by the time we’d had breakfast it was tipping down, bang goes my chance of laying the remaining four large slabs, but I thank God I have a greenhouse and jobs to do. The tomatoes are just getting their ninth truss having grown up to the sides of the greenhouse I’m training them up to the ridge, and feeding them at every watering. My idea of growing Coleus for cancer has worked well with over one hundred and fifty potted, and a further fifty late ones pricked out into a seed box to do later. Now all I’ve got to do is sell them when fully grown for a pound each, I thought I’d do a sign reading “Buy a Coleus Fight Cancer” surely that alone will induce them to buy.

Sunday July1st.

It’s supposed to be a good day today regards the weather so I thought long and hard of how to convince Irene how it was far better to have our meal in the evening instead of mid-day, the scam worked, but I was sure Irene saw through my cunning plan to make Sunday a day of work instead of rest. By six o’clock I’d finished laying all the one foot paving stones in the back, and will only have the front small stones to do. Mushroom Mick rang and explained he’d placed all the dahlias he’d taken, and did I have any more as some neighbours could do with some. I told him I’d put the remainder in a safe place for him, Oh it seems he’s cut out all the sheet metal needed to make the triple pedestal for the front garden and only has to roll it, what ever that entails.

Monday December 10th.

Big jump from July the 1st, and I’ve no excuse I’ve just been plain lazy. Lots have happened though and I’m sure you’ve been catching up on different pages. If you have you’ll know I’ve been to Wisley twice, the TV programme was finished that I was involved with, and it’s been aired on National television. I was amazed just how much they kept in. Oh the Charity dahlia pages has gone in, and I expect every last one of you to buy at least one variety, (only kidding) but it would be a great gesture. Irene and I have both topped up our immune system by first me catching Chris’s cold, and then me passing it on to her. Chris caught it in the first place through the air conditioning on the plane that bought them back from Spain. They’d been away for a week courtesy of a lady who knows Chris’s Mum, and has a flat out there. As soon as the guy saw I’d picked up his cold he commented “You’ve got my cold?” I told him I certainly hadn’t, it was indeed my own. Trouble was they were going over to America to see the autumn colours, what the Yanks call "Maple colors in the fall" No that’s not a spelling mistake I can assure you, that’s how they spell it over there, they are great people, but their spelling's atrocious, and sure not the Queen’s English. Chris and Lesley surprised us by bring back a fancy bottle Maple syrup, it was the first time I’d tasted it. The taste was like ordinary syrup with a twist of Rye Whiskey added. I suppose it one of those flavours you get used to if you come from those parts. Before I added this blog to my web site, I of course had to ask Chris, so I rang him about half an hour ago, the phone kept ringing until the answer phone cut in, Bugga another call wasted. I hate answer phone facilities. BT the people who run the company we use, are on to a good thing, but while I was annoyed I was also worried that I’d disturbed their meal, especially as I sat down on my computer chair and the phone went. It appears Chris was talking to Brian his neighbour on the right who had not long had a triple bi-pass I apologised for disturbing Chris, and after we’d exchanged niceties regards family members I found out he’d got a bit of bother. Not only was Lesley in bed with what he described as flue like symptoms, but after asking her earlier if she’d spilt something by the door leading to the kitchen, and finding out she hadn’t, there was every possibility that one of the sweated joint of the heating system was weeping enough to make a damp patch under the carpet in the hall. You see all the floors are concrete and the heating pipes are encased in them. He knew I'd found out prior to me buying my place, that his property had experienced a similar mishap two owners ago. Oh dear that’s all they needed, and right on top of Xmas, mind you he was quick to add he’d leave well alone until this much commercialised event had passed. I put the phone down and thought to myself, what next? These two could do with a good fairy to wave her magic wand over their abode.

Just finished washing up the evening meals crockery, and intended to close down for the night after answering a few late emails, but can't resist mentioning Junior Master Mind, it was incredible the amount of knowledge these youngsters absorb. One even said, when asked what he'd like to do when he grows up." I'd like to become Prime Minster, or failing that a famous film producer" I thought to myself what ever of these jobs he ended up with he would still be able to tell a good tale.

December 16th:

Since Chris telling me about his latest trouble I've learnt more, it appears he was mistaken about the cause of the damp patch on the carpet in the hall just outside the kitchen door. Fortunately I think, it was brought about by a leak on the washing machine connection. He recons it has been leaking from some time, but had taken until now to show it's self by the door from the hall. He contacted the insurance people right away, and they'd sent a firm round to assess the damage, and before placing a humidifier in place they took the vinyl up to expose cork tiles and a soggy mess. By the time I took their Christmas card over the firms representative had left, and Chris had removed a good half of the tiles to expose the concrete floor. "Good idea I said" as he explained the more damp cork tiles he removed the quicker he could turn this infernal de-humidifier off.

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