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Calmer and Kama – How about that?
No sooner had the ‘ink’ dried on the page as it were, than the phone rang. It was a call from a chap from an Energy Company. He was clear. I heard his first words. I listened and I replied and thanked him for his call. The operation was painless. Not a Swahili word anywhere. Did my words of yesterday really inspire this sudden about turn in my ability to hear? Is this another instance of ‘what goes around, comes around’? I am mildly superstitious and I believe in all sorts of things that you probably don’t want to hear about, including ghosts. Why? One day I’ll tell you. I…
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“I heard that – Pardon?” *
This post is inspired by what I now see as selfish behaviour on my part. Yesterday, the telephone didn’t stop ringing. As well as calls from family, there were many from British Gas, BT and a variety of sales people not to mention those irritating automated calls that begin by telling you it is an important public announcement (it never is). Having spent most of the day answering the phone and part of the evening, I began to think Alexander Graham Bell was perhaps my least favourite person. I even stated on ‘linked-in’ this morning that I was ‘out’ to callers. How wrong could I be? Where would I be…
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Fowey Royal Regatta – celebrity or not celebrity?
“Excuse me please,” I say sweetly. The man jumps aside and that’s when I step into the street and realise the camera is on me. Everyone else has moved to the side of the street
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Biscuits and kind words …
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‘Help For Heroes’ BBQ
The Barker Summer BBQ has been around for some time and is a well known feature of summer in these parts. Previous years have seen us basking in sunshine beneath blue skies, our guests scrabbling for a place in the shade. On only one occasion have we been virtually ‘washed out.’ That was a challenge! With Dave manning the barbeque outside, beneath a hurriedly erected gazebo, the rest of us huddled indoors. At least, most of us did. The children still insisted on running through the rain to play on the bouncy castle and some intrepid teenagers managed to join them. The guest list had dwindled somewhat as some people…
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Catch that pigeon!
Funny how sometimes luck just seems to be on your side isn’t it? It is downright scary just how often chance plays a part in our lives. If we could watch from somewhere on high and see the paths life takes us, how amazing would that be? The film, “Sliding Doors” dealt with just this subject. If we could change a single event how would it affect our lives? What different scenarios would face us? The other day, Flossie, yes, she who writes regularly on this blog, proved her status as a retriever by retrieving a pigeon. Flossie has tried catching pigeons before. Her great puppy paws pound the turf,…
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Vendredi 13e frappe encore (Friday 13th strikes again)
There is something intriguing about watching people come and go in A&E on a Wednesday evening. Not too many drunks tonight. I have been here before, on a Saturday night, and the entire place seemed to teem with drunken youths and their older counterparts, falling in gangways, swearing at one another. Tonight it is different. How did I come to be here and why? Well, for one thing, there is nothing wrong with me. I was packed and ready to have an early night before leaving for Marseille and a long weekend in the sun. It is my friend who has fallen foul of Friday thirteenth, a full two days…
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Flossie, THE JUICER and some ‘uncommon’ friends
The day started like so many other days as far as I was aware. The family began to emerge from those places where they spend their sleeping times, one by one. The Dave man arrived first. He made a fuss of me (always nice) and a fuss of Keano (essential or that chap may sulk for hours!) before going to the cupboard. I like it when the humans ‘go to the cupboard’. Any cupboard will do, if it is in the kitchen. The thing is, you can always guarantee to get a tasty morsel to eat when there is a cupboard involved. This morning, I crept close to the Dave…
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Paddy Power
The above photographs are of a particularly fine looking Spanador (Labrador/Spaniel) called Paddy. Apparently, had things turned out differently, I may never have found my home here. What a sobering thought! This then is the story of Paddy… Some time before my existence was known about, by either the Boss or any of her fast expanding family, the Boss took in a young stray. This young stray, apparently found lost and alone, close to the Boss’s office, caused her colleagues to drool and coo over him. To cut a shaggy dog story short, he spent a couple of weeks at the Dog Warden’s Quarters, during which time he remained unclaimed. Hearing this,…
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Lamenting Lambert
Perusing my old files, I came across this little verse that I had been inspired to write and send to the Council Parking Officer, back in 1998. Our local car park had changed its policy over the Christmas period and was now offering a free half hour of parking, with every minute over that being chargeable. Having not seen the small print saying one had to take a ticket regardless of whether paying or not, I found that my five minute stop attracted a fine of £30.00. Despite the fact that the car park attendant saw me pull up and read the sign from a distance, he did not think…
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Material Girl
The deceptively large fabric shop, in Shepherds Bush, is bursting with colour and contrast. A typical London building, the shop spans three floors and is as deep as it is narrow. Its walls are lined with rolls of fabric that spill out onto the floor, in a rainbow of colours, meeting the toes of awe inspired customers as they tread, carefully, across the boards. Why am I here? More importantly, why am I here on a gloriously sunny, English summer’s day, instead of relaxing in my Hampshire garden among the flowerpots and wheel barrows? Therein lies a tale. I had planned my day quite well at breakfast. I would take…
