Bills Posts

I didn’t want to get up this morning, but I managed it. Still shorts weather, although I did put on a cardigan to keep out the slight breeze. I’ve been walking past this block of flats for quite a while now. This morning, there was a quality of light that really brought these to life.

I must admit that I wouldn’t like to live in them whilst it’s like this.

There was a bit of a cat convention as I walked along North street, one bolted, the other two looked at me probably wondering what I was doing there. At the same time, the seagulls were really letting rip. I’ve said before that I’m slightly thankful that we don’t live that close to the waterfront.

Yet another trolly thrown in the cockle ponds, it really is utterly mindless and so annoying. I had a look in Richard Martins’ gallery. No books of interest, he’s had a nice globe in the shop for quite a while, I’d get it, but it’s a bit smaller than what I want.

Today, Elayne and I cycled down to Stokes Bay to visit the classic car show. I don’t count myself as a massive car buff, but there’s no denying that there were some lovely cars there. Particularly cars that had been imported from the USA, one a classic Buick, it was huge, and in immaculate condition.

For me, an enjoyable part of the day was the show that was put on by the Gosport Samba Band. They are always entertaining and I managed to take this picture of their master of ceremonies.

I took the picture with my Nikon, I like the way the background is partially blurred, and I’ve caught his hair flying. It would have been more difficult I think to get this with my mobile. We deliberately took our big cameras with us to get used to using them.

We had a nice lunch of Texan pulled beef on a brioche bun, which actually lasted us for the rest of the day. It was a very pleasant couple of hours, and we enjoyed the cycle ride.

The cat woke me up at around quarter to five this morning, I reached to give her a stroke, to find that she was beyond wet, absolutely drenched. I did the usual stroke her dry thing. Which meant a wet hand.

When we eventually managed to get up, it was still chucking it down. It was supposed to end at three. It didn’t. I spent a bit of time on the computer, and started to think about the train layout. I’m going to have to do the baseboard at sometime in the near future.

I have been meaning to get the dremel out. I’m sure this will be useful, but we also have another battery hand drill that may be more useful. I’ll have to see.

Well, kind of. Our cat usually wakes us up in the morning, normally around a quarter to five. She’ll jump up onto the bed miaowing, I’ll reach out and give her a stroke and then go back to sleep.

This morning, when I stroked her, she was wet. When that happens, I know I might be heading for an easy choice. Do I go for a morning walk or not? It all depends on whether or not it is still raining at around 6AM. As it happens, when I looked out the window it was chucking it down. Easy decision, to walk, or go back to bed? Bed beckoned.

Fridays is normally fish and chips day, normally, I don’t have fish, but today I fancied it and our favourite chippy does do a nice cod, completely skinless in a nice batter.

We went and stopped on one of the car parks on Stokes Bay. As we arrived we could see a cruise ship turns out it was Disney Dream. Not sure if a Disney cruise would appeal to me.

Droxford Station Signal Box. A very pleasant couple of days.

It has taken quite a few weeks for me to finish this 600-page book, working my way through it last thing at night trying to read usually between 5 – 10 pages before having to put the book down because of falling asleep. I think I even strained my right thumb through the way I was holding the book.

This is the first history book that I have read in a very long time, I recall the point roughly around 1974 where, at college, my interest in history was severely damaged by what iI considered to be a really bad tutor. But, I have never really lost my interest in the subject, but I have been very aware of my woeful level of knowledge on the topic.

I decided to start with the Plantagenets as I have a perception that it is around this time that the recording of history became more factually accurate, being less influenced by other factors. There probably is a little bit of poetic licence about some of the conversations, and acts, all of which can be reasonably inferred from the outcomes of the events to which they relate.

The book is extremley readable, it really pulled me in and it was fascinating to follow the rise and fall of this amazing ruling family, their trials, tribulations and successes.

Of course their time does come to an end, and culminates in the Wars of the Roses. Luckily, Dan Jonnes has written a book about the Wars of the Roses. I’ve ordered it, and it’ll take a week or so to arrive. In the meantime, I’ve started reading the Diary of a Nobody.

We saw this mum and her lovely foal as we were walking yesterday morning. It was our last full day at Droxford, the morning was lovely and relaxing, we spent the afternoon having a look around the shops at Wickham.

Elayne bought a couple of compacts, I was toying with an idea, but Elayne scotched when she told me that charity shops aren’t allowed to sell the particular item for safety reasons.

In the evening, we had a meal in the Bakers Arms in Droxford, very nice it was as well. I had chicken & mushroom pie, mash & veg followed by apple crumble and custard. Very nice it was as well.

It has been a lovely, calming couple of days.

For a long time, I have wanted to walk part of the Meon Valley. OK, we didn’t do a massive amount but it certainly gave me a feeling that I wanted to do more.

The thing was, that walking along a disused railways line is delightful. It’s just so calm and peaceful, and even when you do encounter someone, everyone is happy to be there, and friendly. You don’t have to stop, just exchange pleasantries and you’re are on your way.

Alternatively, like we did, we spoke to one young chap about his rather cute dog, which turned out to be a short haired dachshund.

You’d think that walking along a fairly flat, straight (almost) path would be boring – far from it, it was an absolute delight. I want more.

I’ve been out today. We are at Droxford Railway Station. Droxford ceased operating as a railway station in Feb 1955. The original was demolished. This has been rebuilt and it can now be booked for breaks. But that is not the topic of today’s post.

We saw a flock of birds, comprising; Geese, Ducks and chickens. What was making me chuckle was how they behaved.

The ducks started panicking as soon they saw and would start running away. At one point they all ran to their little pool and started drinking, but the main thing was running away.

The Geese make an awful lot of honking noises, and come running towards us, beaks agape and wings flapping, you think that you are going be subject to a serious pecking, but actually, they stop in the last foot or so. I’m told that having some bread in your pocket ready to distribute will make them friendly.

The chickens? They really couldn’t give a monkey’s. No reaction at all, except perhaps slight looks of “Are you going to take our food away” or possibly “Are you bringing us more food”? Admittedly, the Cockerels were a bit “Do you want to fight? Then just try”

All very entertaining.

There’s no doubt that one of my favourite meals is the carvery. I went through a phase quite a few years ago where I was working on a contract that meant I spent Monday to Thursday away from home, that went on for just over a year.

During my time away, I always stayed in the same hotel. I think it was a Day’s Inn. The main thing though, was that it was right next to a Toby Carvery. So, for those four nights a week, I had a Toby Carvery. I worked it out that I’d had somewhere around 240 carvery’s. I never got tired of them.

We’ve had family visiting this weekend. Circumstances meant that it was easier to eat out a couple of times. As it happens the Friday and Sunday meals were both Carveries. I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m quite satisfied.

After today’s meal (Sunday), we went to Lee on Solent and sat in the car, on the waterfront for about an hour. We watched the Arvia, one of the P&O cruise ships for part of her departure from Southampton. It was one of the most relaxing hours of the whole weekend.

Having said that makes it sound like the weekend was stressful. It was not. Just a bit busy. After which, it was nice to relax.

My apologies, I have been dropping off. Just to tired to write tonight.