When I wasn’t doing that I took a look around Hackney and it looked absolutely lovely in the sunshine. A last gasp of Summer in the City. The yoghurt came off the ceiling without a problem, it was put there by my twin grandchildren but neither of them is owning up. Continue reading Can you clean the yoghurt off the ceiling, please?

I’m very proud of my home-grown sunflowers which are still flowering and look spectacular in the September sun, don’t try saying that without your teeth in. I was less pleased with the dahlia ( singular ) bulb that I had bought early in the season, at some expense. But then yesterday, there it was in all its glory. Not a mark on it. It obviously likes to bloom in private. Hope you like it too and that it cheers your Monday like it cheered my Sunday.           Continue reading September sun and the secret dahlia…

I’m a big fan of both and a keen Guardian reader, especially the Saturday version. Off to the Supermarket to get my copy and don’t quite know where to look. So I ask a helpful young man. I thought I said “Can you tell me where to find the newspapers please” and he just responds with the word: “Beetroot?” Now I know I’ve had a cold, a stinker, and my wife tells me I mumble, but how did I make newspaper sound like beetroot? Perhaps if I eat more beetroot I’ll see off the cold and my speech will improve. I asked the … Continue reading Newspapers or beetroot?

Joe and Jolien with Eleanor, after the ceremony and before the napkin waving!   Massive enthusiasm to party and a big appetite is a good start. That’s my handsome boy on the left looking ultra cool in his wedding suit. His beautiful bride and his sister complete the picture. So there we were in Leuven for the big event and discovering the Belgium is crammed full of cars and bikes. Some of these bikes can carry a small load, some a very large one. The cars are generally looking for somewhere to park when not filling the massive road going … Continue reading What to take to a Belgian Wedding…

I’m going to be doing a series of these for Cotswold Life magazine, which will be fun. This is the first. I’m sure you will know similar breeds in your area, but this particular one is very prevalent around the Kingsholm area of Gloucester and will soon be arriving in large numbers after their summer break.   For those of an interested nature here’s the rough version: Continue reading First of a new series…