Pension day - phew!
Braved the floods and potholes on the way to court, so chose more major routes home and got stuck in queues. You pays your money and you takes your choice. New car thoughts are hovering between svelte coupé and robust 4x4, with the latter, despite my utter contempt for Chelsea Tractors, currently holding the balance in our thinking. The rains and strong winds of the last few days scarcely contribute to the Weltanschauung, but my babies out in the cold frames seem to be coping with it. But the grass, on which we were able to walk for a few days without benefit of wellies, has reverted to quagmire. Let's hope that the third anniversary of our moving here will be followed by as good a spell of warm, dry weather as we had in 2007!
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Monday 29 March 2010
29 March
At an hour the indecency of which was emphasised by the clock change, we found the kitchen floor mildly awash. Good news: it's cleaner than it was. Bad news: none yet, and I hope that removal of two 2p pieces from the washing machine filter may have resolved the problem. Don't really feel ready to cough up for a new machine right now: the proceeds of our money-laundering efforts are not that impressive so far.
The eponymous Mr Waterman came round this afternoon to see if he could find out why the central heating has been playing tricks on us. He couldn't find anything wrong, but must have kicked it in a suitably sensitive spot, and it is now behaving as it should. And he reacted maturely to our decision that we can't justify spending what it would cost to replace the boiler so long as it's working, government scrappage voucher notwithstanding.
Been having one of those episodes of thinking of buying a new car, on the 'can't take it with you' principle. Dropped therefore in on a local Vorsprung durch Technik shop this morning. First errand was to buy a litre of oil. Since no oil sales body appeared within 5 minutes, the second errand of interviewing suitable vehicles evaporated upon the huffy stumping out of yr. obed. servt. There are days when I can take an equable view of crappy customer service. Today was not one such. (And I bought the oil, doubtless much cheaper, from the knowledgeable and instantly helpful Lenco.)
Friend and colleague Celia dropped in this morning with a clump of snowdrops for the garden, and left with a little pan of rudbeckia seedlings. The hostas she gave us last year are starting to sprout. I keep banging on about how lovely it is to share bits from the garden, and will make no apology for continuing to do so. The seedlings are now outside in cold frames, placed along the west side of the conservatory where they shouldn't get too scorched. Keep your green fingers crossed.
The eponymous Mr Waterman came round this afternoon to see if he could find out why the central heating has been playing tricks on us. He couldn't find anything wrong, but must have kicked it in a suitably sensitive spot, and it is now behaving as it should. And he reacted maturely to our decision that we can't justify spending what it would cost to replace the boiler so long as it's working, government scrappage voucher notwithstanding.
Been having one of those episodes of thinking of buying a new car, on the 'can't take it with you' principle. Dropped therefore in on a local Vorsprung durch Technik shop this morning. First errand was to buy a litre of oil. Since no oil sales body appeared within 5 minutes, the second errand of interviewing suitable vehicles evaporated upon the huffy stumping out of yr. obed. servt. There are days when I can take an equable view of crappy customer service. Today was not one such. (And I bought the oil, doubtless much cheaper, from the knowledgeable and instantly helpful Lenco.)
Friend and colleague Celia dropped in this morning with a clump of snowdrops for the garden, and left with a little pan of rudbeckia seedlings. The hostas she gave us last year are starting to sprout. I keep banging on about how lovely it is to share bits from the garden, and will make no apology for continuing to do so. The seedlings are now outside in cold frames, placed along the west side of the conservatory where they shouldn't get too scorched. Keep your green fingers crossed.
Friday 26 March 2010
26 March
Fine breezy day, hence dry washing, but it was a bit chilly out there when I was pricking out seedlings: about 70 rudbeckias are now set to grow on in bigger trays. With an eye to giving the seedlings some protection without roasting them in the conservatory, I went out looking for a baby greenhouse that our local garden shop had been plugging. Sold out, alas, but I picked up a couple of cold frames instead, so they ought to do the trick, and they'll be easier to accommodate. Elsewhere in the garden, a couple of Celia's hostas are starting into growth, and will need planting out soon. Lupins bought the year before last are sprouting vigorously, and last year's seedlings aren't looking too bad - even those over-wintered in pots outside. It'll be interesting to see whether we get any echinaceas. I grew a lot from seed last year, and their performance was pretty feeble. Penstemon cuttings have survived - just as well, since I think we have lost one of the parent plants we brought with us from Smith Towers as cuttings in 2007. The moribund plant is in a place where it conflicts with the clothes line, so a replacement in another place was on the cards anyway. The seedling penstemons and achilleas are looking healthy, and the bidens continue their sporadic germination on the kitchen window ledge. And I think we have enough oriental poppy seedlings for us seriously to contemplate a cash crop to rival Afghanistan's!
My new desk chair arrived today, and is now assembled. It's very comfortable, and seems robust. Given the amount of time I spend at the computer, I decided to spend some money and get a professional chair, designed to be used for up to 8 hours a day. I've had so many cheap chairs, from the likes of IKEA, Staples, Ryman and Argos, and none of them stood up to the incredible bulk for long. I took the Ryman one (bought in January) back on Wednesday and got a refund without quibble. I shall take the floppy Argos job (bought on Wednesday!) back tomorrow and see what they have to say.
I came out today with my secret project. For a few weeks at art class I've been working on a copy of a print of which Martyn is fond, but which has faded badly. I noticed this morning that I hadn't hidden my copy away last night when I turned in, so on the (mistaken) assumption that he'd seen it, I thought I'd better come clean. There are a few bits of fiddling I need to do, but I'm hoping to send it off for framing after next Thursday's class. Haven't decided what to tackle next, but a couple of weeks in the Languedoc next month ought to provide inspiration.
My new desk chair arrived today, and is now assembled. It's very comfortable, and seems robust. Given the amount of time I spend at the computer, I decided to spend some money and get a professional chair, designed to be used for up to 8 hours a day. I've had so many cheap chairs, from the likes of IKEA, Staples, Ryman and Argos, and none of them stood up to the incredible bulk for long. I took the Ryman one (bought in January) back on Wednesday and got a refund without quibble. I shall take the floppy Argos job (bought on Wednesday!) back tomorrow and see what they have to say.
I came out today with my secret project. For a few weeks at art class I've been working on a copy of a print of which Martyn is fond, but which has faded badly. I noticed this morning that I hadn't hidden my copy away last night when I turned in, so on the (mistaken) assumption that he'd seen it, I thought I'd better come clean. There are a few bits of fiddling I need to do, but I'm hoping to send it off for framing after next Thursday's class. Haven't decided what to tackle next, but a couple of weeks in the Languedoc next month ought to provide inspiration.
Thursday 25 March 2010
25 March
Another brush with Jokers Я Us Home Improvements. I noticed the other day that the seal on one of the kitchen windows had failed, so rang JЯU to arrange an appointment. As usual, having said who I was, I was asked for my name again within 15 seconds, and was subsequently addressed by the name of the previous owner of the house. As usual a helpful and competent techy came round as promised, verified the problem, and went away again. We had a letter today, offering an appointment a couple of weeks hence, when we shall be in France. Fine so far (even if the letter was addressed to ‘MR M SMITH AND BISHOP’). Rang to rearrange appointment. Gave my name, was asked for it again 10 seconds later, was told they had no record of the guarantee transfer (for which we’d had to pay £45). Was then addressed by the name of the previous owner. Blew top. Apologised for blowing top. Rearranged appointment. Have taken tablets and am going to lie down for a while.
Something tells me I need a holiday. That's handy, eh?
Something tells me I need a holiday. That's handy, eh?
Wednesday 24 March 2010
24 March: of mice and merde
Drove across to one of the county's cathedral cities today, to hand over a couple of laptops and a projector to colleagues who give talks on us beaks' unsung efforts to suitably appreciative audiences. Seemed a good idea to fire up the laptops before I left - glad I did! One, like my computer chair, had gone flop-bot, but sorted itself out while I was fixing my lunchtime sandwich. Trying to run them on the built-in touch pads was not easy, so I was glad to arrive in said Cathedral city in time to visit one of its outer dwellings and buy a brace of the cheapest possible mice. What a difference an inorganic murine makes!
The 100+ mile drive has me ready to turn into a vigilante. Shit-headed disregard for speed limits (even as adjusted - see last post). Beer cans and sandwich wrappings thrown out of muddy white vans ahead of me on the motorway. Person in red 206 trying to take me out while I was overtaking (I had to use the horn, dammit!). Vast 4x4s barging in front at regular intervals. OK: I'm adding to my Bünzli credentials. But where the devil are civic pride and community spirit? Completely subordinated to Thatcherian 'I'm all right, Jack!'. Discuss.
We set to and cleared a lot of junk out of the big garage yesterday. Countless cans of paint that the previous administration had left behind, plus some tired garden furniture that we haven't used for years. Oh, and the fridge that we'd planned to take south. It was already rather tired, and the light switch had broken. The extent of the corrosion on the drip catcher was enough to persuade us that, if we really need a wine cooler on the top floor, maybe we could just buy one. But I did remember to recover the fridge light bulb - old habits die hard, particularly in those of us who espouse the parsimonious persuasion. Meanwhile, out in the garage, the infrequently-used tumble dryer now stands on top of the long-term freezer, and we have far less rubbish lying about on the floor.
Our property-porn day-time TV shows talk of 'magnificent magnolia', a sort of pale-vomit, pinkish off-white paint that has no place in the civilised world. We bought a 2.5 litre can thereof when we'd polyfilla'd after taking down the hideous pelmet in the dining room, but never got round to painting over the scars. Said room having been somewhat more radically altered in the meantime (and painted in a colour of our choosing), the unopened can had to go. Posted on Freecycle at teatime, there were eight potential takers by bedtime, and a few more today. And muckle guid may it dae the lucky taker.
The 100+ mile drive has me ready to turn into a vigilante. Shit-headed disregard for speed limits (even as adjusted - see last post). Beer cans and sandwich wrappings thrown out of muddy white vans ahead of me on the motorway. Person in red 206 trying to take me out while I was overtaking (I had to use the horn, dammit!). Vast 4x4s barging in front at regular intervals. OK: I'm adding to my Bünzli credentials. But where the devil are civic pride and community spirit? Completely subordinated to Thatcherian 'I'm all right, Jack!'. Discuss.
We set to and cleared a lot of junk out of the big garage yesterday. Countless cans of paint that the previous administration had left behind, plus some tired garden furniture that we haven't used for years. Oh, and the fridge that we'd planned to take south. It was already rather tired, and the light switch had broken. The extent of the corrosion on the drip catcher was enough to persuade us that, if we really need a wine cooler on the top floor, maybe we could just buy one. But I did remember to recover the fridge light bulb - old habits die hard, particularly in those of us who espouse the parsimonious persuasion. Meanwhile, out in the garage, the infrequently-used tumble dryer now stands on top of the long-term freezer, and we have far less rubbish lying about on the floor.
Our property-porn day-time TV shows talk of 'magnificent magnolia', a sort of pale-vomit, pinkish off-white paint that has no place in the civilised world. We bought a 2.5 litre can thereof when we'd polyfilla'd after taking down the hideous pelmet in the dining room, but never got round to painting over the scars. Said room having been somewhat more radically altered in the meantime (and painted in a colour of our choosing), the unopened can had to go. Posted on Freecycle at teatime, there were eight potential takers by bedtime, and a few more today. And muckle guid may it dae the lucky taker.
Monday 22 March 2010
22 March
OK, I'm overweight, but two office chairs have gone flop-bot on me in the past 3 months. One had lasted a few years, so freecycled down the hill when it was starting to go a bit shooglie. The replacement was barely 2 months old, so has been converted into a credit to my Mastercard. I got a cheap and nasty stopgap today from Argos, and will keep an eye on better definitive models meanwhile.
A bench colleague commented the other day that the way to spot a drunk driver in Namibia is that he/she drives in a straight line. Same is true here with the countless potholes: I'm not of a mind to ruin the tyres and suspension, so currently tend to jitter erratically from place to place - even more so than usual, some would say.
Seemed like a good idea at the time. The toon cooncil, or whoever, has put up a speed-monitoring sign on the road past an estate hereabouts that figures frequently in court lists. With my speedo needle regulated on 30 the other day, said sign flashed '28 Thank you' at me. I eased the regulator up to 32 today, and it flashed '29 Thank you'. So, the speed reduction initiative has succeeded in my raising my speed through the area. Those who'd have gone through it at 50 anyway will doubtless continue to do so till they get nicked by our hard-pressed peelers. And in the meantime, the Council tax, from which no doubt wasteful spending of this kind is funded, has gone up 5%. Wish the same could be said of my pension.
A bench colleague commented the other day that the way to spot a drunk driver in Namibia is that he/she drives in a straight line. Same is true here with the countless potholes: I'm not of a mind to ruin the tyres and suspension, so currently tend to jitter erratically from place to place - even more so than usual, some would say.
Seemed like a good idea at the time. The toon cooncil, or whoever, has put up a speed-monitoring sign on the road past an estate hereabouts that figures frequently in court lists. With my speedo needle regulated on 30 the other day, said sign flashed '28 Thank you' at me. I eased the regulator up to 32 today, and it flashed '29 Thank you'. So, the speed reduction initiative has succeeded in my raising my speed through the area. Those who'd have gone through it at 50 anyway will doubtless continue to do so till they get nicked by our hard-pressed peelers. And in the meantime, the Council tax, from which no doubt wasteful spending of this kind is funded, has gone up 5%. Wish the same could be said of my pension.
Saturday 20 March 2010
20 March
Our spell of fine weather has broken, alas - it poured with rain today while I was at court for the mock trials heat. The kids were fantastic, and a school that hasn't taken part for some years stormed home to win the heat, displacing one that has won it every year I've been involved. It's such a joy to see so many eager, innocent faces in court. Yesterday was somewhat lacklustre - I chaired a couple of short trials and we did a bit of sentencing etc to help another court out.
Meanwhile, seedlings are waking up - some of the recalcitrant germinators are starting into growth. and I'll have to move some others on to bigger trays tomorrow or Monday. The first daffodils are at last in flower in the garden, and one fine day in the week I did some rose pruning and feeding. So if it's a desert later in the year, it won't be for the want of effort in the spring.
Meanwhile, seedlings are waking up - some of the recalcitrant germinators are starting into growth. and I'll have to move some others on to bigger trays tomorrow or Monday. The first daffodils are at last in flower in the garden, and one fine day in the week I did some rose pruning and feeding. So if it's a desert later in the year, it won't be for the want of effort in the spring.
Tuesday 16 March 2010
16 March
A sociable few days! After a characteristically depressing yewf court on Thursday, I met the neighbours from early Smith Towers days at our familiar pub and Indian restaurant. Not all the old crew, however: we had arranged to meet so we could raise a glass in the direction of Chris, who is no longer with us, having died last year of metastatic liver cancer. His widow Jane is presumably still ensconced in Kincardineshire. Imogen was also not in the party, since she was spending the night at a London hospital where her mother was touch-and-go after heart surgery. But despite the unhappy surround, we had a great time, and enjoyed each other's company - well, I did, at least...
On Friday, we met Barbara in Rye, where she hadn't been before. We are great Rye fans, as regular readers know, and need little persuading to go down there. Lunch was a bit underwhelming - we went to a pub we've used before, but probably won't use again, then after a stroll, dropped in at Simon the Pieman for tea and scones (largely to dodge a shower). A better experience than the pub, it has to be said.
Back home, we had a visit from Margaret and John on Saturday for lunch, bearing the welcome news of Anna and Richard's engagement. Richard has beaten his paternal grandfather's record (Dad was six weeks short of 38 when he and Mum married); unless Richard gets the finger out, he'll be contemplating a wedding breakfast combined with a big four-oh party! M&J brought with them hellebores and genealogy: the former are planted, and I've been correcting and adding to the latter.
Yesterday was a fine day, so I spent a good while in the garden, planting the hellebores aforesaid and dealing with some seedlings. I sowed some blue pansies last back end, and moved the seedlings into slightly roomier quarters a good while ago. Well, I have at last potted them up, so hope to have them ready for hanging baskets etc when the time comes. I've potted up a surprisingly good germination of gerberas, so shall probably be looking for homes for them ere long. The rudbeckias have been very mixed in their germination. Of the red ones, not a sausage, and the red and yellow ones have fared scarcely better. On the other hand, seed saved from the orange ones last year has done very well, and a bought packet of 'Marmalade' ditto. Of the bidens seeds, three have germinated so far, and the petunias are almost as shy. There is one lobelia seedling, but I see from the packet that they require indirect light. Starts again.
I looped round via the framer's place on the way to court, to collect a couple of SmithDs. One I'm relatively happy with; the framing of the other rather emphasises what I dislike about it. I wish I could get it righter more of the time. More of a problem was that the framer's chocolate labrador was in the garden when I arrived. Definitely of the love-you-to-death persuasion, she decorated my suit and shirt with numerous muddy pawprints before I could get her by the collar. Fortunately, Mr Framer had a brush at the ready, so I was able to deal with the worst of it. Hardens my resolve to resist lobbying for livestock - goldfish aside.
On Friday, we met Barbara in Rye, where she hadn't been before. We are great Rye fans, as regular readers know, and need little persuading to go down there. Lunch was a bit underwhelming - we went to a pub we've used before, but probably won't use again, then after a stroll, dropped in at Simon the Pieman for tea and scones (largely to dodge a shower). A better experience than the pub, it has to be said.
Back home, we had a visit from Margaret and John on Saturday for lunch, bearing the welcome news of Anna and Richard's engagement. Richard has beaten his paternal grandfather's record (Dad was six weeks short of 38 when he and Mum married); unless Richard gets the finger out, he'll be contemplating a wedding breakfast combined with a big four-oh party! M&J brought with them hellebores and genealogy: the former are planted, and I've been correcting and adding to the latter.
Yesterday was a fine day, so I spent a good while in the garden, planting the hellebores aforesaid and dealing with some seedlings. I sowed some blue pansies last back end, and moved the seedlings into slightly roomier quarters a good while ago. Well, I have at last potted them up, so hope to have them ready for hanging baskets etc when the time comes. I've potted up a surprisingly good germination of gerberas, so shall probably be looking for homes for them ere long. The rudbeckias have been very mixed in their germination. Of the red ones, not a sausage, and the red and yellow ones have fared scarcely better. On the other hand, seed saved from the orange ones last year has done very well, and a bought packet of 'Marmalade' ditto. Of the bidens seeds, three have germinated so far, and the petunias are almost as shy. There is one lobelia seedling, but I see from the packet that they require indirect light. Starts again.
I looped round via the framer's place on the way to court, to collect a couple of SmithDs. One I'm relatively happy with; the framing of the other rather emphasises what I dislike about it. I wish I could get it righter more of the time. More of a problem was that the framer's chocolate labrador was in the garden when I arrived. Definitely of the love-you-to-death persuasion, she decorated my suit and shirt with numerous muddy pawprints before I could get her by the collar. Fortunately, Mr Framer had a brush at the ready, so I was able to deal with the worst of it. Hardens my resolve to resist lobbying for livestock - goldfish aside.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
10 March
I think my 5 year-old laptop must have heard me toying with buying a replacement. It has taken to crashing when I run it on the batteries, which was a little alarming on Monday when I was writing some minutes on the train. It crashed no fewer than three times, so when it was working, I'd for ever to be pressing the save button. (Mind you, I wasn't in the finest of moods either as I hacked my way home on four trains, two of them standing-room ony, and not a lot of it. Why is it that the nice little secondary lines have no direct service at peak hours?) The lid/screen housing has a crack in it too, so I should perhaps bite the bullet. Good excuse for a detour through Switzerland in July (I much prefer the Swiss keyboard layout).
The minutes were those of a Historia trustees' meeting, and it's the tradition that I get a first draft out for comments on the day of the meeting itself. I still managed to do so, but wondered a few times whether I'd have to start again from scratch. That might have made for welcome brevity, I suppose. Anyway, it's back on duty this afternoon for the county branch of the Magistrates' Association, so keep fingers crossed.
The cold, bright weather seems to have put a brake on progress in the garden: the daffodils are still not in bloom around here, though there is a good show of crocuses and snowdrops along the roadside. As for colour in the garden, we have yellow crocuses and a few dogged pansies and polyanthus in flower, but precious little else. A few of the seedlings will be ready to plant on into trays in a week or so, including the perennial penstemon and achillea seedlings.
I'm a bit shocked (well, on reflection, depressingly unsurprised) at the reactions to the news that a certain murderer has been recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions. The tabloids are clamouring to be told wot he dun, and what his new identity is. Three problems with this. (1) If he's been recalled, it will presumably be for a matter that will in due course come to trial. In that case, unless the charge against him is one of murder, and it can be shown that he has a propensity to murder people repeatedly, a jury or a bench should not know his antecedents, else any guilty verdict will be unfair, and sooner or later he'll get away with it. (2) It's a sad fact that, despite having served his sentence according to law, if he is 'outed', he'll be meat within hours. (3) His original (and dreadful) crime was committed when he was below the age of criminal responsibility in normal, civilised jurisdictions. Not a lot of point telling that to the red-tops and the lynch mob that makes up so much of their readership.
The minutes were those of a Historia trustees' meeting, and it's the tradition that I get a first draft out for comments on the day of the meeting itself. I still managed to do so, but wondered a few times whether I'd have to start again from scratch. That might have made for welcome brevity, I suppose. Anyway, it's back on duty this afternoon for the county branch of the Magistrates' Association, so keep fingers crossed.
The cold, bright weather seems to have put a brake on progress in the garden: the daffodils are still not in bloom around here, though there is a good show of crocuses and snowdrops along the roadside. As for colour in the garden, we have yellow crocuses and a few dogged pansies and polyanthus in flower, but precious little else. A few of the seedlings will be ready to plant on into trays in a week or so, including the perennial penstemon and achillea seedlings.
I'm a bit shocked (well, on reflection, depressingly unsurprised) at the reactions to the news that a certain murderer has been recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions. The tabloids are clamouring to be told wot he dun, and what his new identity is. Three problems with this. (1) If he's been recalled, it will presumably be for a matter that will in due course come to trial. In that case, unless the charge against him is one of murder, and it can be shown that he has a propensity to murder people repeatedly, a jury or a bench should not know his antecedents, else any guilty verdict will be unfair, and sooner or later he'll get away with it. (2) It's a sad fact that, despite having served his sentence according to law, if he is 'outed', he'll be meat within hours. (3) His original (and dreadful) crime was committed when he was below the age of criminal responsibility in normal, civilised jurisdictions. Not a lot of point telling that to the red-tops and the lynch mob that makes up so much of their readership.
Thursday 4 March 2010
4 March
My word! Days when we can sit in the conservatory without electric heating! Such a pleasure to see the world returning to life after the worst winter for 30 years. I think the twin olives Ginny gave us, Popeye and Olive, are surviving. If so, I promise to fleece them up next winter. I think they suffered more from the weight of snow - twice - than from the low temperatures. The hellebore, a gift from Derry and Colin, is in flower, perhaps encouraged by the yellow crocuses round about it. On the way to court yesterday (in Egg1 - v. infra), I passed a garden that was busting with snowdrops and aconites, neither of which our garden boasts (heavy hint...). The seedlings are coming along nicely, and I had an unexpected present from Miss at class today - a split of a sedum from her garden, and now in a pot of compost on the outside staging. Elizabeth and Peter's sedums are starting into strong growth, so I'll put out Miss's nearby in due course.
Martyn's remote car lock zapper was misbehaving yesterday, and to avoid further depredations to my best kitchen knife, I headed out to the garage to find a screwdriver. On the way, I found that the offside front tyre on Egg1 was flat. Since he had to leave for work, essentials were rapidly switched between Egg1 and Egg2, and I repaired indoors to get some clothes on while he went to work on an unfamiliar Egg2. I got enough air into the punctured tyre to back the car out without wrecking the rim (having remembered at the last minute to get the electric pump out of Egg2). It's nice to know that one is still capable at 59 and a bit of changing a 5-stud gorilla-fitted wheel on a frosty morning, though one was grateful to be able to do so on one's front drive. I had to apply 95kg pedal force to the wheelbrace. Unfortunately, the puncture - a small Phillips screw - was so close to the sidewall that the tyre couldn't be repaired. My usual fettlers had a replacement tyre in stock, so I got it dealt with on the way home from court. One of the old team was still there, but the former boss man is now running a burger van, and Sam, the old (young) tyre fitter, has moved to the Costa Geriatrica. Anyway, the remaining chap and I talked about bird-watching while the Sam-replacement fitted the new tyre - evidently he sees kingfishers on the stretch of the river behind their workshop; I recall him telling me once before that he'd seen a shag there as well. With supreme self-control, I restrained myself from saying 'I don't suppose it's every day that you get a shag behind the workshop'. Honi soit qui mal y pense.
Martyn's remote car lock zapper was misbehaving yesterday, and to avoid further depredations to my best kitchen knife, I headed out to the garage to find a screwdriver. On the way, I found that the offside front tyre on Egg1 was flat. Since he had to leave for work, essentials were rapidly switched between Egg1 and Egg2, and I repaired indoors to get some clothes on while he went to work on an unfamiliar Egg2. I got enough air into the punctured tyre to back the car out without wrecking the rim (having remembered at the last minute to get the electric pump out of Egg2). It's nice to know that one is still capable at 59 and a bit of changing a 5-stud gorilla-fitted wheel on a frosty morning, though one was grateful to be able to do so on one's front drive. I had to apply 95kg pedal force to the wheelbrace. Unfortunately, the puncture - a small Phillips screw - was so close to the sidewall that the tyre couldn't be repaired. My usual fettlers had a replacement tyre in stock, so I got it dealt with on the way home from court. One of the old team was still there, but the former boss man is now running a burger van, and Sam, the old (young) tyre fitter, has moved to the Costa Geriatrica. Anyway, the remaining chap and I talked about bird-watching while the Sam-replacement fitted the new tyre - evidently he sees kingfishers on the stretch of the river behind their workshop; I recall him telling me once before that he'd seen a shag there as well. With supreme self-control, I restrained myself from saying 'I don't suppose it's every day that you get a shag behind the workshop'. Honi soit qui mal y pense.
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