Autumn already?

Pensioner On Motorway There must have been previous signs of the onset of senility and old age. Thinking about it the posts on Forgetful, about tactics to explain away forgetfulness in Did I Just Miss July?, and the strange interest in face furniture in In Praise of Interesting Facial Hair all seem to have a certain pension book status.

When you catch me weighing up the differing merits of various mobility scooters please take me out and shoot me. Not that I dislike them, I’m sure they give wonderful independence to those who might otherwise be stuck at home all day. I’m just worried I’ll end up like this pensioner who, having popped out to buy his daily newspaper, took a wrong turning and found himself on the motorway crawling along at 8 miles per hour. With me it would be everyone else’s fault.

What’s brought about this musing on old age? Well, I retired from work on Tuesday. Effectively I’ve entered the autumn period of my life… childhood being spring, early adulthood being summer, late adulthood being autumn and finally old age being winter. So I should be enjoying the fruits of my labour, having raised a family and worked non stop for over forty years. Don’t get me wrong, I’m lucky enough financially to retire at 59 yrs and able to enjoy the fascination of seeing my children as adults with all the interest in their activities that brings, and with the bonus of four grandchildren whose company I really enjoy and who are endlessly amazing. But did pensioner status have to come on so quickly?

I’d resolved some time ago on my first day of retirement to go on a really long country walk… from Paxton Pits up along The Ouse to Buckden Marina and then back across country, in the process taking pictures to add the walk to one of my other blogs, Cambridgeshire Walks. It’s about eight miles and three or more hours walk. Even had a practice on a very frosty  December morning by doing the Kings Ripton circular walk. So how come I found myself instead spitting feathers at Tesco Barhill?

The sunshine I’d ordered was out of stock and with wall to wall grey thought I’d go and have a look at the new Apple iPad2 to reassess my previous post on  Why I Won't Be Buying An Apple iPad... Yet. I’d emailed Tesco over the previous weekend to check when they’d have the item on display so I could have a fiddle… rather helpfully the previous model had been displayed including internet access so customers could have a good try. And the helpfulness theme continued when Tesco promptly left a voicemail message saying the iPad would be in stock on Wednesday 30-March.

Might be in stock, but will they have it out on display? I know, I’ll give the store a call and ask them! Four calls over a two hour period and I was no nearer an answer… couldn’t get me through to the electrical department, must be busy with customers (before 10:00 on a Wednesday???). Didn’t totally waste the time, got a fresh forty pint batch of home brew beer going.

Took a chance and drove the six miles to the store… to find the two staff in the electrical department having a chat some distance away from the service desk. Of course! No wonder they couldn’t answer the ‘phone, much more interesting things to do! And when they uttered the words ‘no, the iPad stock hasn’t arrived and we don’t know when it will’ I had to turn away from them quickly since words were spilling from my lips I wouldn’t want my children to hear. Noticed a security guard appeared shortly afterwards… hope it wasn’t to do with me!

So I’ve banged off an complaint email to Tesco (update… they responded offering a £5 money card to compensate for the wasted journey)… but see what I mean? Just reading what I’ve written above and the fact I now seem to have got into a routine of writing complaint emails shows definite Victor Meldrew tendencies.

And don’t ask me what day of the week of the week it is. It’s Wednesday, right? Thursday? Are you sure? What happened to Wednesday. For that matter what happened to last week???

Had a wonderful send off from all my workmates at the Call Centre and a lovely lunch with the managers and team leaders sitting out on the patio at The Dolphin Hotel. Great fun seeing the chocoholic frenzy as advisors searched for the treasure I’d hidden around the Call Centre room on the previous Saturday… here they are below desperately seeking a chocolate aero bar hidden under the desk.

Call Centre treasure hunt

My manager Michelle gave a nice speech part of which was reminiscing on my various faux pas over the previous six years. Here’s a little note she Handbrake warning from Michellegave me as a reminder against repeating the car handbrake incident described in Forgetful.

Got gifts of whisky and garden gift vouchers. Apparently the word had gone out via daughter Beth (who used to work at the Call Centre) to my wife asking what I might like… answer, an incinerator! Incinerator??? That more reflects Linda’s dislike of my passion for lighting fires. Comes from childhood when I’d arrive home to the immortal words from my mum ‘Come here and let me smell if you’ve been lighting fires again!’… closely followed by the words ‘Get up those stairs to bed’.

And because I have an urge to record everything for posterity, here’s what I replied to Michelle’s speech with…

I’ve been pretty relaxed over the weeks since I knew I was going to retire but must admit to getting a little wobbly as the day’s approached. I feel I should be completing a holiday request form, late as usual,  for Michelle to sign… start date tomorrow, end date blank. But I have been preparing for this date by reducing my working days from three down to two days a week. I’m grateful to Michelle for allowing me to do that.

I’ve got to warn you I might go a bit emotional on the next bit and shed a tear. You probably think that on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays I’m off enjoying myself. I’ve actually been spending hours sitting by the telephone waiting, nay, willing it to ring and to hear those magic words on the other end of the line

‘Hi John, it’s Ced. Can you help me with a problem on a spreadsheet?’

And how many times has Ced had to call? Not once! He’s more likely to call and ask what the weather was like yesterday. But it does make it easier to shuffle off into retirement knowing there’s someone so capable to take my place. Best of luck Ced!

I’ve worked without a break for over forty years and this has been my most enjoyable job. And how could it not be, with such a capable and professional management team to work with, such an understanding boss in Michelle, and a unique bunch of workmates, so bright, enthusiastic and funny. If speed was measured in smiles per hour this would be the fastest workplace in history.

Many thanks for the gifts. I hope I get an invite to the summer barbeque and whenever you’re short of a player for rounders.

I am going to miss them all greatly ~:0(

How to get an allotment

Digging2These are all troubling questions until you finally succeed… how do I get an allotment, how to choose an allotment plot and how do I get the council to provide more allotments?

With waiting lists longer than ever and budgets tight for town and parish councils it’s harder than ever to get your first allotment. So here are a few pointers on how to succeed.

The information below applies if you think you’ve identified your perfect allotment site. If there are no allotments in your area and you want your local council to provide some then jump to How to get your Council to provide allotments.

 

Getting that allotment

First thing to do is to apply for a plot, which generally means contacting your town or parish council. You may be fortunate and find they’ve got plots to spare… lucky you! If you’re given a choice of plots you might want to jump to How to choose the best allotment plot.

In most cases you’ll be added to a waiting list. Make sure you ask how many are on the list and how long it typically takes to get to the top… even though it’s likely to be quite dispiriting when you’re told you are number 110 and it’ll take 5 years before you get a plot, at least the clock’s started ticking! But don’t leave it at that. Here’s what else you can do to move things along more quickly.

Are there other allotment sites you can apply for? Don’t assume just because you’re on the list that makes you eligible for any site in the area. The council may keep separate lists for each site so get yourself on the lot! Yes, I know… your dream plot is on Leafy Meadows just down the road and that’s the one you want. But if you’re allocated a plot some distance away at least you’re off and running and you can still stay on the list for Leafy Meadows.

Some sites may not be owned or managed by the council. For example, a local farmer may diversify and allocate part of his land to allotments. The council should know about this so make sure you ask and find out where to apply.

Once you’re on the waiting list is there anything else you can do? Certainly is, but some involves pushing the council employees to take action. Make sure you don’t antagonise anyone otherwise your waiting time might mysteriously increase!

Shed If keen you’re probably already having an occasional wander around the allotment site to see who’s doing what, picking up ideas and enjoying the general ambiance. In the process you’ll get chatting with plot holders. Do they know of anyone who could do with some help? Often plots are held for many years and as the plot holder gets older they find it increasingly difficult to tend their plot… so they might welcome some help! And in return you can use part of the plot to grow your vegetables as well as benefit from someone close at hand with years of experience. Pretty obviously your ‘landlord’ needs to be someone you can get along with.

If the current tenant agrees, would you want to formally split the plot between the two of you? That’s possible and you could test the council out on this by asking them without giving any details… but you do run the risk of the plot being split and the spare portion going to the next person on the waiting list. After all, they have been waiting longer than you. So might be better to muddle along sharing until you come to the top of the list and can get your own plot.

On your perambulations you’ll probably notice some plots that don’t appear to be tended. Although the council should manage the site to minimise unused plots this Veg seedlingsometimes isn’t done very effectively. So take photos, note the plot numbers and ask the council why plots are unused. They should write to the plotholders giving them a deadline by when plots should be brought into use unless there’s a very good reason why not (such as illness). This probably isn’t going to immediately get you a plot since there’s a process to go through and the beneficiaries will be those at the top of the waiting list… but at least it gets you nearer the top.

Is there any unused land on the allotments? If there’s a big waiting list the council should have allocated all the land, but sometimes there’s an odd corner that’s been missed or doesn’t seem viable. Can you use that until you get a proper plot?

If there’s an allotment association get in touch with the chairman and ask for advice. He/she may be aware of developments that can help you… for example the association may already be pushing the council to make more land available for extra plots. Join the association so you can keep up to date with things. They may currently only accept those with allotments… if so, suggest allowing associate members.

If the waiting list is huge shouldn’t the council be looking for more land? Read the section How to get your Council to provide allotments.

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How to choose the best allotment plot

Before choosing the plot, have you made the right choice of allotment site? Yes, Leafy Meadows might be just down the road but if no water’s provided you’re going to have a tough time. Always have a chat with plot holders to get a feel for the good and not so good things about the site. Check on the following…

  • Is water provided and does it work (e.g. do the water tanks fill up quickly enough in summer when there’s heavy use, is there a part of the site at the end of the supply that runs out?)
  • What’s the ground like, is it heavy clay and therefore very hard work?
  • Is the site subject to flooding?
  • Are there restrictions such as no sheds or greenhouses?
  • Are there any problems with vandals?

Once you’ve come to the top of the waiting list and are offered a plot should you accept whatever you’re given? Best not to… the reason you’ve got an offer might be you’re being saddled with the plot everyone else has rejected. You shouldn’t have to accept the first offer, but make sure you don’t come across as too fussy and keep rejecting offers… they may dry up!

Always check things out with your potential neighbours to see if there are any problems. Assuming you’ve selected a good allotment site here’s a checklist of things to consider for your first plot…

  • How close is the water supply?
  • Where is the plot sited? Near a busy public access footpath will mean dogs relieving themselves nearby or on your plot…. nice! May be more chance of your best produce being stolen late at night, although a plot on the far side of the allotment site could give vandals plenty of undisturbed late night access.
  • Can you drive your car to the plot for delivery of heavy items?
  • Are there any drainage problems, does the plot get flooded?
  • Is there a problem with invasive weeds… don’t want to find after taking the plot that you’re battling against Japanese Knotweed.
  • Is the site too shady because of surrounding trees or buildings?
  • How about exposure to wind?
  • Any problems with pests such as rabbits, or disease such as clubroot?
  • Are the surrounding plots well developed? If not you’ll benefit from their weeds.
  • Is the plot size right for you? Although accepting a half sized plot may seem sufficient now if you’re really keen you’ll soon be wishing for more space. Equally is a full plot right for you? If it’s more work than you can handle you’ll spend a lot of time battling weeds and may not be flavour of the month with your neighbours.
  • Just how much work will be needed to get the plot under control, will the council help with this by rotavating for you?
  • How tidy was the previous occupant… particularly if children are going to visit the plot you’ll want to avoid finding shards of glass everywhere. A concrete pond hidden in the middle of the plot or miles of carpet buried under what appears to be grass can also be a bit of a problem.

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How to get your Council to provide allotments

This section applies equally if there are no allotments provided by the council, or if they don’t provide enough.

All councils in England & Wales (with the exception of inner London) by law have to provide allotments for residents. If there isn’t an allotment site in your area, or if there’s insufficient plots, any group of adults over the age of 18 and registered on the electoral roll can jointly request the council to make provision

The application needs to be from six or more local residents all of whom are council tax payers. Each of the six will need to write a formal letter to the council as follows:

To the clerk of ………………………………………… Parish/Town/District/Borough/County Council

I the undersigned hereby make application for an allotment. This application is made pursuant to the provisions of section 23 subsection (2) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908.

Name:     ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Period of residence at above address: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Signed: ………………………………………………………………………………….   Dated: …………………………….

Send a batch of six or more by recorded delivery. Also hand deliver copies with two or more witnesses present.

You then need to keep pressure on the council to fulfil their responsibilities. If they have land available you may be lucky and find things move quite quickly. If not prepare yourself for a battle… there are Veg seedling2powers for them to compulsorily purchase land for allotments but that assumes there’s spare money in the budget. Attend meetings of the Amenities Committee or equivalent to keep the issue on the agenda. You should be allowed to address the committee in a public forum at the start of the meeting… if so do use this.

Councillors may dispute their degree of responsibility, for instance arguing that they are only obliged to consider providing allotments. In spite of wording in the 1908 Act such as ‘may take into consideration’ they do have an obligation. You can access the full wording of the act at Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908.

Another approach may be to use the planning laws if a building development is going through planning permission applications. The council can impose a section 106 condition on the developer that they must provide open spaces or allotments, so this may be worth exploring with the council.

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National Shorts Day

Shorts 2Came early this year… yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day that I took a gamble and donned the shorts for a trip to the allotment. Is this the first appearance nationally of knees bared 2011?

I may have just about squeezed an airing in March previously, but it’s far more likely to be April before I start surveying the sorry state of my summer trouser apparel and wishing I’d put them in for washing when the legs went under cover in autumn.

In spite of last year’s nice tan the pins were looking particularly pale, like a couple of sticks of celery. But once we’re over the hump of cold mornings every day will be short day once I retire in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday was also notable for a very big moon, called a perigee moon, the biggest for nearly twenty years because of its close proximity to the earth. We’ll have to wait for over five years for the next one on 14-Nov-2016. It certainly was striking… enough for the grandchildren to notice a difference at the camp fire.

And that’s the third and final reason yesterday was notable. The biannual camp fire was held on the allotment, with sausages warmed over the fire and cakes for afters. Good one this year since all the grandchildren were there. Paige arrived a bit later with Beth from a party, dressed as a princess as usual.

Lined the allotment path with tea lights, had solar lights decorating the chicken pen and a good fire welcomed all. Connor and Sammy amused themselves lighting twigs and Izzy sunk a sausage and then went all sleepy. But as always great fun. Photos below, click to enlarge.

Visit to Cambridge

Cafe on the Round

Popped in to Cambridge yesterday, always wonderful. Here’s the view from our favourite meal stop at Cafe on the Round, where I had feta cheese, olives and salad in a wrap and Linda scoffed a tomato and basil soup with granary bread. Oh, almost forgot the apple cake and lemon drizzle cake followed up by strong tea. Seated upstairs is always a top spot to see life passing by.

We’d earlier wandered the couple of miles to Granchester Meadow, a spot I’d wanted to see for some time. Frankly it was a bit of a disappointment… the morning was still grey and so it looked a bit bleak. But may be that was apposite for the real reason I wanted to go there.

Rupert Brooke died at 16:46 on 23 April 1915 aged 28 years in a French hospital ship moored in a bay off the island of Skyros in the Aegean on his way to battle at Gallipoli. His friend William Denis Browne wrote…

...I sat with Rupert. At 4 o’clock he became weaker, and at 4.46 he died, with the sun shining all round his cabin and the cool sea-breeze blowing through the door and the shaded windows. No one could have wished for a quieter or a calmer end than in that lovely bay, shielded by the mountains and fragrant with sage and thyme.

His contribution to World War I poetry was important, probably the most emotional and well know being The Soldier. But it was his poem of The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, controversial for it’s description of occupants from surrounding villages and hamlets (including St Ives!) and which included the lines below, that I sought on the visit…

…Do hares come out about the corn?
Oh, is the water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, above the pool?
And laughs the immortal river still
Under the mill, under the mill?
Say, is there Beauty yet to find?
And Certainty? and Quiet kind?
Deep meadows yet, for to forget
The lies, and truths, and pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?



It’s always the last two lines that make me ponder. Very much someone dreaming of home from far away.



Then went shopping for skirts in Marks & Spencer. They didn’t have my size ~;o) so Linda got a few dresses while I had a ponder outside the changing rooms.

Waiting room



Had wandered along The Backs to look at Kings College Chapel in the morning…



The Backs, Cambridge 





… and viewed Kings College Chapel from the other side in the afternoon.



Kings College, Cambridge



Looking up the street…



Kings College, Cambridge 2



… and shortly afterwards viewing the fantastic market.



Cambridge Market



Lost to John at pitch and putt this afternoon, with David coming 3rd. Here’s David again playing out of his favourite tree on he first hole. I must have a few of these now, have to do a montage of them.






Here are swans doing a mating ritual on The Waits in St Ives.




 



And finally, the chickens enjoying a dust bath at the allotment.



Men v women

The difference between men and womenBeen pondering the fact that the two sexes really do seem to come from different planets. And despite years of hard effort trying to get it right I still forget those differences and fall flat on my face. You’ll gather the kitchen project didn’t quite get the enthusiastic welcome I was hoping for.

But hey, if you can’t smile and drag something funny out of the ashes of failure what’s it all about? So here are a few amusing thoughts on the differences between men and women… from a man’s viewpoint of course!

  • If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for the evening they call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out together they call each other fat boy, divot and haggis.

  • From a man’s viewpoint ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are perfectly acceptable answers to most questions. So is a grunt, but that’ll cause problems if overused. The answer to ‘what did I just say’ is not ‘something really interesting’. And if you really want trouble, answer ‘who was that on the ‘phone?’ with ‘nobody’.

  • Although fat boy, divot and haggis are always impressed when you speak of your cool car, discourse on football or display your physical prowess by hurdling over a parking barrier in a single bound, it would be a mistake to think your lady will think likewise.

  • From your viewpoint you and your mates get infinitely more attractive and witty when drunk… amazing how quickly that all changes as you pass over the doorstep.

  • Beer is as exciting for men as handbags are for women.

And the kitchen project? I’ll never learn, will I? That I’m a half pint full person and Linda’s the empty bit. So when I enthusiastically told her we were going to get a new kitchen fitted next week and got ready to show the preparatory work… plan, sample photos and detailed costing… I hit a brick wall. So it’s not going to happen.

I’ve managed people for years and year. I’ve studied things like team performance to establish a clear sense of purpose, well understood norms of behaviour, measurable success indicators, clear roles and responsibilities and operating rules. I recognise the importance of Belbin team roles and Tuckman's stages of group development. Even Maslow's hierarchy of needs to understand motivation.

Why then at home do I always go in like a bull at a gate full of enthusiasm and completely misread the situation?

Where’s it gone???

funny-cartoons-about-weight-loss Got a surprise last night on my daily weighing in. Twelve stone exactly! Wonder where that extra three pounds disappeared to?

I’ve been weighing in at 12st 3lbs for the last six months, ever since winter inactivity and Christmas chocolate took its toll. I know that’s not a bad weight for a six footer (OK, OK, six feet in my shoes… I used to be six feet in my stocking soles but … oops, there goes the alarm for the bread maker, excuse me…

… sorry about that, got some Italian peasant bread on the go. The dough is now sitting beside me for a half an hour or so while it rises before going in the oven. It has to sit beside me ‘cause I tend to forget about it and then find I’m baking it past midnight. If you haven’t tried this bread please please do… I now make four loaves a week, one of which goes to the grandchildren who scoff it with great haste. Oh, seem to have picked up a glass of red wine on the way back. Shame!

Where was I? Oh yes… I used to be six feet in my stocking soles but seem to have shrunken over the years). But I need to get back to about 11st 8lbs, what I consider my squash fighting weight. Got all excited a couple of nights go when the scales registered 11st 13lbs… then realised the edge of the scales was caught on a wash basket and wasn’t fully depressed. I certainly was when I realised!

Bit miffed I’ve just missed The Straight Story on Film4, one of my favourite films I wanted to tape and archive to DVD. In addition my Eraserhead VHS tape is no more… I’ll have to get some more David Lynch DVDs for next birthday.

The telephone has just rung and, according to convention in our household, I’ve just let it ring out and then checked if I recognise the number on 1471. It’s a bit like a scene from The Accidental Tourist sometimes… the scene where a visitor sits listening to the telephone ringing away while members of the household carry on their activities in oblivion.

Not much progress on kitchen installation yet… waiting for White Plumbing to call me back to say if they can fit the sink and do some electrical stuff next Monday. Think even if they can’t I’ll just buy the kitchen units and store it all in the garage until everyone can do their thing. So looks like tomorrow afternoon is D-Day (tell Linda it’s happening - day… sorry, can’t think of a suitable acronym for D… desperate? divulge? do it?). But it’s not looking hopeful ‘cause she’s upstairs with a stinking headache before I’ve even said the K word. Oh dear!

Quick, where's that glass of wine

Pond life…

Pond build … seems about the only life I have at present. That and the kitchen… read all about that below, or don’t if you’re of a nervous disposition!

Anyway back on to the pond, which you may remember on the last post was looking pretty bare in spite of the installation of frog spawn. What a difference a day (or two) makes!

The Hill Rise Allotment Association came up trumps following an email for help, with Mark and Jennifer providing free plants and pond mud writhing with all types of life. Added to with lots of plants from the damp border in our garden.

Then Linda had a brainwave about using the rockery from Becky’s garden… why not build a holding wall with earth piled behind as a backdrop on one side of the pond? Brilliant, ‘cause there’s loads of earth piled up there already and it would provide a great home for all sorts of wildlife.

So here’s progress so far (click to enlarge). Plants now around much of the area and the rockery wall half built. The pond now has various oxygenating plants installed as well as a lily, various irises and other stuff. And I noticed one of the new tenants darting in amongst the various bits of greenery in the water yesterday. Can’t wait for the tadpoles to arrive!

Now on to the kitchen. We’ve needed to generally update the house for a while and got started last year. First was new TV kit of course, in time for the world cup. Then replacement of the downstairs toilet suite. It’s the kitchen and bathroom next. What’s the problem? Well, all of this has got to be done without the prior knowledge of wife Linda. She gets a bit wobbly when it comes to workmen tramping about the house and the whole uncertainty of change.

All worked well last year… just told her as she disappeared off to playschool that she wasn’t coming back in the afternoon but going round to daughter Becky’s until it was all finished. Bit of a hiccough with the downstairs toilet suite when it dawned on me I’d arranged it during school half term… managed to survive that one (just).

But now we’re on to the difficult stuff, work that’ll take several days. Was intending to get both the kitchen and bathroom done while we were away for a week’s holiday in Hunstanton, but that’ll cost us £600 if I wait since the kitchen suppliers have a sale on until Saturday. So looks like I’ll buy the kitchen units and appliances by this weekend, but I’ve got no chance of storing them in the garage for two months without them being spotted, even though Linda never goes in the garage, read why in the Spooky Garage post.

Son in law Chris has time to fit the kitchen next week. Can I get White Plumbing to come and do the sink and some electrical bits and pieces? If they have someone spare should I get the bathroom done at the same time? Where can I get splash backs for the kitchen? What about light fittings? Are those fittings on the outside wall too overpowering? Oh dear! Think I can feel a headache coming on, and I NEVER get a headache!

If I’m going to get the work done next week I’ll have to tell Linda by tomorrow so she can have some influence on the final outcome before I order the kitchen stuff. I’ve been subtlety quizzing her for weeks now about what she’d like but despite my best efforts it’s not going to be quite right. Running out of time!!!

Plans etc below.

First inhabitants of the pond

FrogspawnArrived at the plot yesterday to a welcome sight… is there a better collective noun for frogspawn than a bunch? An group of frogs is an army, so how about a cadet of frogspawn? Anyway, there they were courtesy of Colin from the plot across from mine. So I’ll be eyeballing them on every visit to watch their development.

Unfortunately with the pond so bare they’re looking pretty forlorn. Got loads of rocks to install, the result of daughter Becky’s garden clearout. Linda had a great idea to create a bank wall just back from one end of the pond where there’s already a mound of earth. That would give a pleasing backdrop and anything making its home amongst the rocks would be clearly visible. There’s also a few logs to put along the pond edge… but no plants!

I’ve read how fulfilling it can be to allow the pond to develop naturally, but that sounds a really slow way to do things. So an email to the Hill Rise Allotment Association membership yesterday afternoon has already raised a couple of offers. I’m meeting Mark this evening to collect flag irises, various other plants including pond weed hopefully containing newt eggs, and a bucket of pond brew to introduce insect larva. Then Jennifer emailed me with a similar offer. Need Pond side printsquite a bit of help since the pond’s a decent size.

Interestingly there are already signs of wildlife using the pond. This image shows prints by the edge, repeated in several other spots on the same side. Wonder what they’re from.

The decision to go for a clay lining is working out well. Turning over nearby earth to beat back couch grass, the fact the pond water was higher than the surrounding water table with no evident leaking was a positive sign. Taking photos every fortnight to record the development of the pond, intending to make a high speed slide show some time in the future. More pond photos below.

Been reading ‘Fine Just the Way It Is’, one of Annie Proulx’s collection of Wyoming Stories. Not heard of Annie Proulx? How about the award winning film Brokeback Mountain? It’s subject matter may be controversial but it’s thoughtful and sad. Hard to believe such a film comes from a short story… all 55 pages of terse, wonderfully descriptive narrative like all her books. I’d recommend you read her… when I at last start writing that’s how I want the words to come out.

And it may not be long before I do (start writing that is). I’m retiring on Wednesday 30-March! It’s the second time I’ve taken early retirement so I’ve decided this time it’s for real. Enjoyed working in the local District Council call centre helping with change projects, forecasting work volumes and doing all the technical bits and pieces… but even though I’ve recently only been working two days a week it’s keeping me away from things I really want to do. The most time I’ve ever had off not working or going to school since the age of 4 is six weeks, and since I started work at 18 I’ve never had more than three weeks off work. Time to stop. So I’m handing over to a very capable young man called Ced.

Why I won’t be buying an Apple iPad 2… yet

iPad2



Having started the week on a high, it’s been a bit up and down since. The Satchel of Sorrow saga ended happily when I picked up the replacement yesterday… much better quality, much happier.



Now, having got myself all excited about the release of the Apple iPad 2, I’ve realised it’s not for me quite yet. Why? Well, a major part of my keyboard time is spent blogging… and surprisingly there’s no decent app to support that. That’s really disappointing given the iPad 1 has been out for best part of a year and a good proportion of those who buy it will have a blog.



What is available has limitations… poor placement of images, not allowing insertion of hyperlinks… all basic stuff. And although you can compile posts directly in Blogger the Compose tab is off limits. I can construct and edit in HTML but want to spend most of my time making the post interesting and attractive to look at, not tripling the typing time!



The other limitation is storage. Apple have failed to provide an SD card slot in the latest iPad, something that’s standard in every other device. To buy the iPad with an increased capacity of 16gb Apple are now charging £70 on the reduced price iPad 1. You can buy a speedy 16gb SDHC card for less than £20. Will the iPad work with Windows Live Skydrive, where you can have 25gb of free on-line storage? Who knows.



Final crunch point is a rumour that an iPad 3 isn’t that far away, possibly September, Apple iPad smart coverto include all the features Apple weren’t able to squeeze into version 2 in time for launch. So the iPad is not for me at the moment.



Which is a pity since I just love Apple’s designs and am eager to convert. Here’s a good example of their brilliance on something as simple as a cover for the iPad. Doesn’t just protect… it also cleans the screen, automatically and instantly switches the device on and off as you open the cover… oh, and it acts as a stand as well! I’d recommend you to watch the 30sec video clip part way down the Smart Cover page.



The risk is I never get an iPad. There’s hordes of competitors bringing their tablet PC wares to the market shortly, so looks like the decision won’t be put to bed yet… oh dear, more trawling of Internet rumours and gossip for a while I fear!

Update: I did buy an iPad 2, so you might be interested to read of my first iPad experiences, or how I feel about my iPad one year on.







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Satchel of sorrow

Satchel poem

Nevertheless it really is the business… a medium retro leather satchel. And to make sure there’s no confusion, that’s not me modelling the satchel ~:0)

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