Good luck to all you nominees tonight. I have put in my vote, at the 11th hour as per usual and watching the results later..

We are back to rehersing our singing on Wednesdays again, now that Brenda is back from a 6 week holiday in Cuba. So, if I leave earlier than I need to I can catch the very tasty 'Potato Wedges with Chilli and Cheese' for $2.75. A great big plateful of what they laughingly call starters.
We shall hear about Brenda' adventures in Cuba, being a Salsa fan, she would have gone to dance classes and caught lots of music. As requested, she has brought back a present for Mr A - the famed Cuban cigar!
We have a performance on Saturday, and not rehersed for, well, 6 weeks, so we should be knuckling down to hard graft, going through the set. I know what will happen though, there will be lots of catching up and chatting, breaks for tea and munchies (I'm bringing garlic and cheese flakey bread things) and the singing will get condensed in to the last 45 minutes! Still, it will be good to meet up again after such a long break. We've all passed a lot of water since we last met.

I couldn't sleep last night and got up at 3.30 and read a book, drinking a cup of hot chocolate and listened to the wild storm raging outside. There was distant thunder, loads of it. This house appears to be alive, responding to the wind with noises of its own where they both meet. Today is also very windy, so no gardening today then.
The roses are still waiting to get planted out, it's been too wet
to put them out since I got them a few days ago.
So now, I feel knackered. I might have a quick siesta before my bath. The meditteranean peoples have got it spot on when they have their siestas'. It can really help to keep going later to catch a nap. Mind you, the shops and businesses open much later in those warm countries.
Ah, I must be getting older, talking longingly about taking naps!

I want a leather skirt! I've decided that it's a hassel deciding what to wear, and also my wardrobe has gone and locked itself, and there's no key. One side of it is locked, so I have to fish around and find what I want by feeling. Anyway, a knee length black leather skirt would be the new image I'm adopting, along with a haircut. At the moment, my hair has grown so fast, I look like Gilbert O'Sullivan. Who? Many of you ask. Or Alan Davies when he was in that programme where he was an illusionist. Another sign of getting older, I can't remember the blooming name of the show.
Saw 'Forest Gump' last night on tv. A good film and great acting from Tom Hanks. It certainly deserved the Oscar that it got for Best Film.
So, I shall pay a quick visit to some blog friends and grab a siesta.

DINNER
Smoky Bacon Spicy Tomato Sauce with Peppers
Organic Pasta
Salad a la Moi

I'm looking forward to tonights feast, I thought about it at lunchtime, and fancied it then. Made do with toasted Hot Cross Buns. I know, it's not Easter yet, but they were freshly baked - I could smell them in Morrisons, and had to get some.

Right, now about the 007 of the Squirrel world. We have a telephone wire draped across the road, a considerable length of it, which attracts a certain squirrel to tight rope across it. Background dramatic music would go well with the cheeky scamperer - they are absolutely fearless! This one squirrel comes around each afternoon, does some acrobatics, then disappears till the next day.
Across the road are a couple of giant beech trees and sometimes squirrels scamper up, down and around it, chasing each other.

They leap from one tree to another with the greatest of ease,
those pesky, frisky squirrels of the woodland trapeze!

I am reminded yet again by my oldest grandaughter that I said I'd get a kitten ages ago. She really wants me to get one so she can pet and fuss over it. Looked up the local animal shelters on the net and will contact them. (Yes, that's all well and good, but when?)

Dusk is drawing in and through the window I can see the still bare branches of the giant beech trees over the road waving in the wind. They are really magnificent. Beech trees, with their light grey colour and wrinkled bark remind me of elephants. They seem to exude a very gentle feeling, if they were human, they would be caring people who you could go to with any problems, I'm sure! I also react to Silver Birch trees, they are usually quite small and slim, I think the human equivalent of them would be charasmatic people, who are energetic and fun.

Dog Borstal is taking the mickey now. I tuned in last night and found that they were showing a programme that I had seen twice before! I enjoyed it the first time, saw a bit of it the second time, but I couldn't justify to myself watching it for the third time! So, any BBC3 people reading this - it's about time to film a new series of Dog Borstal!

Whisper, the remaining lonely hamster has gone now. I may even miss the sound of her exercise wheel going round through the night, as she ran on it in the dark. It wasn't a disturbing noise at all, a gentle lulling that helped sleep to come.

Just listening to 'Canyons of your Mind' on the album "I'm the Urban Spaceman', by the Bonzo's.
They are, and always will be, the supreme when it comes to mixing comedy with music. Viv Stanshall - a legend in his own lunchtime.
Kids these days who have never heard of the band have missed out on something really special.
If you ever have a chance to listen to the Bonzo's - take it, you won't regret it.

DINNER
Cold chicken left over from Sunday roast
Boiled potatoes
Salad a la Moi with homemade pickled beetroot

The salad was delicious. I put in also, sliced pickled gherkin, grapes, tomatoes, diced Bellini Peppers. The chicken went down a treat with my spicy Tomato Chutney.

I have found this site very slow recently, or it might be my computer. I am getting a new computer - hurray! It's actually Mr A's laptop as he is getting an upgrade.

Been hamster sitting over the weekend. One of the Russian Dwarf Hamsters died, so just one is left. Poor thing! Where it used to cuddle up to it's friend, it now lies in a single huddle. However, whereas before, they both used to ignore all human greetings, this one responds and sticks her face up to the bars to say hello. Her name is Whisper, and I think she's lonely.

We have had rats in the lean to. It's easy to get in there, lots of holes, so Mr A is going to tear it down and build another one soon. Something has died in there, because there is an awful smell coming from underneath the shelves, on the ground. I am not going to investigate as it's hard to reach, and, well, I just don't want to do it! Luckily the smell doesn't reach into the house.

I've said before that I enjoy 'Dog Borstal' on tv. Now though, they are showing repeats, bit of a bummer that and I would be too desperate to watch the same shows again...So, it's back to the Archers at 7pm again.

The in-laws are having a great holiday with regular emails sent to all the family. The latest one is sent from Turkey. They go to all the ancient sites and meet very friendly people and seem to be having a great time. I am getting a bit 'holiday sick' as opposed to home sick, it must be time for me have a holiday! The last one was when we went to Tunisia, about 3 years ago. That was great! We spent New Year there, and they sang 'Happy Birthday' at midnight on New Years Eve! We went camel riding in the desert and looked at the place where they filmed Starwars, natural caves made of sandstone.

I have potted 2 Clematis, one red and one purple, and a Passion Flower. It's been so wet that I still haven't put the Roses in, the grounds is too claggy. I have put in tulips and stocks and added some nice big stones into the garden. It's looking more like a cottage garden now as it's not 'regular' but a bit higgledy piggledy, as I like it. I'm really looking forward to when the flowers come up.

I noticed yesterday that the bird feeder was empty and thought I would fill it up later in the day. I then heard a banging and tapping sound. I couldn't work out what it was. Then I went to the window where the sound was coming from and there was a blue tit knocking on the window and flew away when I stuck my head there! Cheeky thing was letting me know that they want their food! It does attract lots of birds and one got a bit impatient and thought it would let me know it was feeding time.

Mr A is playing Alabama 3 next door while he is on his (soon to be mine) computer. They are a great band, one of my favourites. If I knew how, then I would put a video of one of their songs on here for you all to enjoy. Sigh....

Every action I do on this site takes ages to complete. The bar with the green squares is taking too long, so I'm going to come back later and visit my blog mates then. Anyone else been experiencing ultra slowness on this site today?

This embarrasing story was when I was at primary school, must have been about 6. I'd gone to the toilet and closed the door. I noticed there was a little gap on the side of the door away from the bolt. A friend came in the outer part and I shouted 'hello' and stuck my little finger in the gap to wiggle at her. Actually, it may have been someone I didn't know and I was being friendly, because when I closed the door - I couldn't see who was out there!

Anyhoo. I discovered I couldn't pull my little finger out of the gap. Now, if I was a Dutch boy and it was plugging a gap in a dam, then it may have been useful. In this instance, it wasn't.
The problem was that if the door opened, the gap my finger was stuck in would get smaller. So I couldn't open the door.

Eventually someone senior was called and told me how silly I had been and asked me to pull my finger out. I tried and tried, but couldn't.
Next I knew, there were firemen there, and they took the door off the hinges to free my little finger! There was also quite an audience. News must have travelled fast.....

Anyone else have embarrasing moments they want to share?

Every action I do on this site takes ages to complete. The bar with the green squares is taking too long, so I'm going to come back later and visit my blog mates then. Anyone else been experiencing ultra slowness on this site today?

This embarrasing story was when I was at primary school, must have been about 6. I'd gone to the toilet and closed the door. I noticed there was a little gap on the side of the door away from the bolt. A friend came in the outer part and I shouted 'hello' and stuck my little finger in the gap to wiggle at her. Actually, it may have been someone I didn't know and I was being friendly, because when I closed the door - I couldn't see who was out there!

Anyhoo. I discovered I couldn't pull my little finger out of the gap. Now, if I was a Dutch boy and it was plugging a gap in a dam, then it may have been useful. In this instance, it wasn't.
The problem was that if the door opened, the gap my finger was stuck in would get smaller. So I couldn't open the door.

Eventually someone senior was called and told me how silly I had been and asked me to pull my finger out. I tried and tried, but couldn't.
Next I knew, there were firemen there, and they took the door off the hinges to free my little finger! There was also quite an audience. News must have travelled fast.....

Anyone else have embarrasing moments they want to share?

DINNER
Frozen Wild Pink Salmon from The Alaskan Sea
King Edward Potatoes
Salad a la Moi

My friend Mary suggested trying frozen wild salmon when I was saying that I found fish farmed salmon tasteless. So, gave it a go, and it is much tastier.

Talking about Mary, she is a friend who has just moved from Southern Ireland, with her partner, Mr M. They have brought over 2 huge carthorses, which, indeed, used to pull a cart. About half a dozen rare breed sheep, with a huge ram. He is so big and woolly, that he looks like he has been inflated like a balloon. Also brought with them, 6 ducks, numerous chickens, and 3 dogs.

It was a mammoth move, and they needed 3 arctic lorries, as they brought 2 barrel top wagons and a huge showmans wagon. They used to renovate horse drawn vehicles and paint them, hence bringing them with them, as they are not just carriages but also works of art with beautiful painting on them. Mr M is also a farrier, he shoes horses as well as make the wheels for the wagons. These trades are a dying art these days, very much a country occupation, as space is needed to work on the wagons. Anyway, I feel very proud of my friends, and the lovely work they have done on these wagons. It is great that they are now within easy travelling distance.
I have known Mary for 30 years. We have always swopped christmas cards each year, even when we haven't seen each other for years. We just kept in touch, once a year and that kept the friendship going.

I have bought 3 rose bushes, well, they are just twigs in a pot at the moment. I haven't grown roses before, so let's hope they survive with beginners luck. I love the smell of roses, I chose these ones because they mention that they have a fragrence. Lots of roses may look nice, but have little or no smell.

I signed the petition against taxing the mileage of cars and got a reply from Tony Blair. Yes, Mr Blair sent me an email. It went something like this:

Dear Ms Avrilo, thank you for signing the petition, your enclosed email gave me a laugh. These days, as Prime Minister, I don't have occasion to laugh much, so thank you. Your joke about the Irish man, the Iranian man and the Israeli man in the pub had me and Cheri in
stitches!
Yours Sincerely, Tony Blair.

DINNER
Roasted, Stuffed Long Sweet Red Peppers with Basmati Rice in Spicy Chorizo & Tomato Sauce
Salad a la Moi

I love those sweet red peppers, they really are sweet and gorgeous when baked in the oven.
I've just missed rescuing the rice which boiled over while I was blogging.
The rice is cooked first, then saute onions and add some veg, then a tin of tomatoes with a chilli and seasoning. Mix with the rice and stuff into the peppers. Pop in the oven, ready when you can smell it.

Mr A has a band rehersal this evening. They are using a large room of a neighbour as there is a brass section for a change. Usually there's just drums, piano, guitar and bass, but for the next gig they have added some brass instruments, not sure how many, but it'll be a big sound.

Saw on tv last night a soul concert with famous singers who were in the charts about 20 years ago! There was Eric Burdon, from the animals, now with grey hair, but still got it when it came to belting out fine soul vocals. Eddie Floyd (Knock on Wood), Geno Washington (and the Ram Jam Band), Madeline Bell (backing with Dusty Springfield) and Dave, of Sam and Dave. Now they are getting on, in their 60's I guess, but still gave really sound performances.

What struck me though was just how good the songs were. 'Don't Let me Be Misunderstood', 'Knock on Wood', and one from The Blues Brothers film, can't remember the name of it. The bands had a brass section and the riffs so memorable, that Mr A and I could sing along, note for note, all these songs even though we hadn't heard them for years. Such good songs that they stick in the mind.'In the Midnight Hour' was another one.

Any more takers on 'Prized Possesions' from previous post? Come on, I would love to learn what people cherish, and why. So far, it's been partners, offspring and animals.

My most prized possession is a table.
It is made of yew wood and is very heavy.
My dad bought it just after the war from Libertys (the posh shop.)
Apparently, at that time prices were regulated and lots of tables were at the same price, however they were made. That's quite bonkers, but true.

Anyways, this is a coffee table and is an irregular shape. There are nooks and crannies within it, and little nobbles. As a child it was my job to polish it and I loved to see it shine up with some elbow grease.
It takes 3 different cloths to polish it. The first one puts on the furniture wax, the second to rub the polish in, and the third to bring it up to a shine.

After a polish it gleams, and all the little marks that have been made over the years show up, somehow, enhancing it.
It is a thing of real beauty.
All visitors know not to put a cup straight on it but to use a mat. I can be bossy to anyone when it comes to treating my table right. Even if Tony Blair and Cheri came to my house, I would tell them. 'Use the coasters please,' I wouldn't even explain about the stains that water or heat would leave.

If there was an Antiques Roadshow on nearby then I would take it along. My face would be impassive right up to the moment the presenter says 'and this table, I would expect to fetch $50,000 at auction as it is so unique.' Then my face would light up and I would tell them that I would never sell it as it was priceless to me. (Thinking about a world cruise....)

It is a rich dark brown colour, but so many shades of brown within it, including reds. There is one little pit shaped like a keyhole, there is a little nub on the side shaped like a walnut. It does not make a straight line but curves in and out, sinuously. This is one sexy table.
I know it so well, and in the family it will stay.
I just now gave it a polish, so that spurred me on to write about it.

So, anyone reading this, how about telling me what your prized possession is? Anything from a teddy, a cricket bat, a moth eaten blanket - anything!

DINNER
Scampi n Oven Chips
Salad a la Mr A

As I was saying to Mr A 'what shall we have for dinner so I can blog it. Scampi and chips or pizza?'
'Scampi and chips,' he said, 'I'll cook if you like.'

So, I can spend more time blogging and visiting blog friends. There are some friends who I haven't caught up with for quite a while. However, one friend I am delighted to catch up with - Lauren6, or Wensum. He has been really ill, having numerous operations on his spine and coping with a heart condition. He has not been blogging since November last year and is now back! His blog is always a delight to read, for however hard it has been for him, and it has been very, very hard, he looks for the positive angle.

Mr A went to a workshop on reed bed management today near Milford Haven. It sounded really interesting. One thing to do with them is to make garden fencing. Yes, apparently they are selling really well. Reeds, in a wood frame can be used to make fencing that cannot be seen through, and look good.
He has always been interested in using the land, gardening, woodland management, stuff like that, so it's good to see him branch out into another aspect of it. One of the things I respect him for is his love of the countryside, and knowing the names of trees (no, not Arthur etc) the names of birds (no, not Jeremy) and being able to 'read' the lie of the land.
When I look around me, I see what is in front of my eyes When he looks, he can tell how old the rocks are and what the scenery looked like millions of years ago. I am getting better at recognising trees, but find it hard when the leaves have gone. I can always tell silver birch, beech, and usually oak.

This bloody cold is still dragging on, worse at night and first thing. I really want to get back to having more energy and feeling enthusiastic about what I am doing. I've been feeling like just curling up and reading recently and just doing the basics to live comfortably, cooking, shopping, getting wood in, stuff like that. Oh yes, and a bit of light housework. Duvets are a marvellous invention, you just pull them up and lo! The bed is made.

So, wingeing over and onto being sociable and visiting others on this site.

LAST NIGHTS DINNER
Chicken Curry with Pataks Paste, Lemon and Coriander
Basmati Rice

No Salad!

We usually have salad nearly every day, minimum of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes. Often I add onion, capers, olives, pinenuts and anything else I can think of.

A sign of the tiredness of late is that I just couldn't be arsed to do a salad with dinner. Still, as Mr A says, most people don't have salad every day so we are doing well.

TONIGHTS DINNER
Lamb Casserole, no dumplings

Mr A cut down a huge tree in the back garden yesterday. I was in the house and felt a huge THUD! I ran out, and the tree had hit the roof. He was standing there, chainsaw in hand saying "it was meant to land here," indicating a space well away from the house. A couple of cracked tiles which he fixed and no harm done except embarassment at making such a blunder.
He is staying off the fags and keeping busy. He is building a trailer as I type. A trailer that gets pulled along by a car I might add, not a caravan trailer to live in.

Hope y'all had a good valentines day. My mate Carol and her partner don't like the commerciality of days like that but still gave each other cards saying stuff like 'I love you anyway, not because of any special manufactured day.'
I got a nice big bunch of flowers from Mr A and got him a card in return.

T.v. favourites at the mo...Dog Borstal. 3 trainers take on deliquent dogs that can't be controlled and teach their owners techniques to handle them. I don't know why I like it but I do.
Million Pound Giveaway. Where people give their pitch to 5 millionaires for money. The worthy causes (cancer sufferers etc) usually get what they ask for. A gran who asked for money to take the greyhound around America got her money as did a couple of grandaughters who asked for money to give their nans' parties. I think the more tears shed by the applicants, the more likely they were to get it. The guy who wanted money to make a giant toilet that he could dive into as an entertainment didn't get anything.
Mr A has got into Dog Borstal but not Million pound give away. Our tastes in viewing clash at time.....

Last night was an Arsenal game - I left him to it and read a book. I could hear him punching the air and yelling whenever his team scored. I was on the phone at one point, and my friend could hear him shouting from the next room. I explained, it's football.

There's a really cold, fierce wind today, so I've been inside mostly. Planted a rose bush - it's called 'Falstaff' in the garden. Supposed to give off an 'old fashioned rose smell.' I'll get another rose bush to put in soon.

DINNER
Monkfish casserole
Baby New Potatoes
Salad a la Moi

I planted some cowslips just before the snow and they have disappeared! Not a trace. Everything else survived, so I guess that's part of the reason they are fast disappearing in the countryside, as well as being picked almost to the point of extinction.
The front garden is starting to look good after some brutal weeding and planting out pansies and some white flowers that look a bit like snowdrops but are bigger. (Forgot the name.)

Mr A felled a big limb of a tree overlooking the back garden yesterday. Now that's job I know I'll never do, saw the limb of a tree whilst about 20 ft above the ground. He actually enjoys that sort of thing, I call it dangerous fun. I can't think of any women friends of mine who would also consider climbing up a tree and sawing a limb off (tree limb that is) and enjoying it. No, it pootling around the garden, doing a bit of delicate weeding, wearing gardening gloves for safety, that fills up my time.

Mr A is still on the patches and being very good about not smoking. Whereas - I am still having the odd puff now and again. Drastically cut down the amount, but not quite cut it out totally yet.

FRIDAY DINNER
Spaghetti Bolognese, with celery, onions, garlic and added chilli
Salad a la Moi

Try using organic spaghetti if you dont already, guaranteed that you'll notice flavour rather than the usual cardboard taste of nothing.
I put a chilli pepper, without seeds in which gave it quite a hit of hot. The celery helped to give it a great taste and I always use steak mince it costs $1 for enough for 2.

I shall divulge the ingredients of this particular Salad a la Moi. Hot house lettuce, vine ripened tomatoes, cucumber, shallots, green olives, 5 capers, baby clams in an olive oil and lemon juice dressing.
The baby clams taste like cockles, okish but they won't be a regular addition.

TONIGHTS DINNER
Baked Potatoes with butter and cheese
Mackeral Salad with olives, anchovies, boiled eggs and pinenuts

I use tinned mackeral and add it to the salad with olive oil dressing. The hard boiled eggs help to mop up some of the oiliness of the fish.

The snow has mostly melted away today, so much for the big panic about getting snowed in! When I went to the supermarket today there were really long queues - much longer than usual, I can only think that people thought that more snow may be on the way and they had better get lots more food in just in case they were housebound for weeks!

'LOCAL WOMAN IN LOST RECEIPTS DRAMA'
I nearly caused a riot of impatience at the counter where they sell tobacco and lotto. I bought 2 vodaphone top ups for my 2 grandaughters, a good way of keeping in touch with them.
They ran out of paper to print the second voucher up, and the guy serving me didn't know how to change it, so he got a manager.
As she was sorting it out, I noticed that I'd been charged twice for the same item, plus the guy had not given me another item that I had asked for. I'd handed over my recipts to show I'd been charged twice for the same item and was told I would get the money back.

I then asked for the receipts back. The guy said he'd given them back to me. I know he hadn't. I could hear tutting and shuffling of feet in the ever growing queue behind me. It got louder as there was now 3 people assisting me, the original guy, the manager, and a young girl called in to sort out paying me back for the item I was charged for twice. The guy was also serving other customers in between telling me that I'd taken the receipts back.

Eventually they looked in the bin for my receipts, with the guy saying 'I gave them back to you I'm sure' well I was sure he hadn't and I checked my bag as well.
By now, I thought I could hear the click of automatic machine guns as some of the queue had definitely lost patience and were considering their next, probably violent move.
In the end I walked away, not happy with having no receipts, but in the face of lack of interest and the growing turbulence in the queue behind me, I backed down and went to finish shopping.

As I was perusing the hot house lettuces I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Oh, there you are!" A woman shopper I'd never seen before had news for me.
"They found your receipts and are searching the store for you" she said.

'Yes!' Fully vindicated and triumphant I returned to the counter, suppressing the urge to jump up and punch the air. The 2 assistants were there, still trying to process the extraordinary long queue which had formed during 'Receiptgate'.

I had to wait for a lull in the proceedings to get the attention of, by now, the familiar member of staff who had served me previously. I was not going to go to the end of the queue for sure!
"I was told that you had found my receipts." I said, forcing myself not to stick out my tongue and say 'I told you so!'
I was handed over my straightened out, crumpled receipts, which had obviously been chucked in the bin.
It was the young girl who handed them over, unfortunately, not the guy who insisted that he gave them back to me.

This was the moment to give my speech to the assembled ranks of the queue. Should I tell them that justice had been served? Even though it had been hard on them, and their families in having to wait. I had hoped that the mumblers and tutterers would hang their heads in shame at belittling my battle with the giant corporation known as Morrisons.

Could I tell them that this busy Saturday morning may well go down in history as the time when cheeky counter assistants met their comeupance? I daresay a plinth may be installed with etched words to the effect that Saturday, 10th February 2007 was the day when The Customer Was Right!

In the end I left with head held high, dignity in tact and resumed my shopping. Was it my imagination, or did I heard the words 'there goes a consumer hero,' follow me down the aisles.

A carpet of white envelopes all that I can see, settling on tree branches and on the ground. A magical winter wonderland!
I've put more food out for the birds, they are clamouring on the bird feeder tree. Lots of tits, blue, great and coal. Chaffinches, male and female (the male are much more brightly coloured, dusky pinks. Nuthatch with it's lovely rosy breast and, of course robins, who always seem to be looking back at me when I watch them.

The flakes are really thick now and there's about 4 inches on the top of the wooden rail for the deck. Cars are still going around though but much slower. I threw a few snowballs at Mr A, but missed!

We are now going for a walk down to the village - a mile away to get some beers for tonight. Our friends are having a birthday party and we are invited, so it's out with the sequined wellies tonight!
See you later for Menu of the Day.

The story so far: My name is Vincent, I work as a geologist and live in Spain. I am on a walking weekend away in a remote area of Northern Spain, when I go to look at a disused quarry about 3 miles from where my walking partner, Gavin, is setting up camp for the night.
It is mid afternoon and a heavy mist descends, obscuring all details in the landscape - making me effectively blind.

The all enveloping mist surrounded me and I was standing still, just turning my body, trying to get bearings on which direction was where. I had been heading in a south easterly direction to the quarry, and though there had been no path, the walking was relatively easy. When I could see around me it was easy, now, it was like being in a darkened room with no idea where the light switch was. My senses had sharpened though and I noticed a low pitched humming sound. I don't know if it had been there a while or if I had just noticed it. Now I was aware of it, it seemed to increase in volume. Shining my torch on my compass, I could see that the sound came from the direction I had been headed in, towards the disused quarry.

With arms outstretched, walking like an escapee from a horror film about Egyptian mummies that went amok, I made very slow progress. At one point I walked into a tree, my fingers encountered the rough bark and I was encouraged that I hadn't hurt myself banging into something hard. As long as I took it slowly, I reasoned, I should be ok. Luckily the route I'd taken hadn't been over any large hills with drops over the side to be negotiated.

Heading towards the sound, I could just make out a light shining dimly through the fog. It was hardly a light, more like a soft glow beckoning me towards it. The mist was still so thick that it was like looking through layers of grey gauze, I kept rubbing my eyes as if the mist was eminating from me. By now, the sound became clearer, it was human voices that I heard, humming in a low tone. I could start to identify individual tones within the sound, there were a few voices, all male.

For some reason, my curiosity overcame any fear I might have. I just couldn't believe there was any menace in that sound, as it had a meditative quality to it, like monks chanting, there was no threat in it at all.

The soft glow grew larger and I could just start to make out shapes. I was walking toward a large, natural amphitheatre. This must be the disused quarry that I had been seeking in the first place! The glow seemed to come from niches in the walls, the mist still obscured much, but I didn't think the glow was fire. Like veils being removed slowly, my vision got clearer until I could distinguish about 10 people, all dressed in grey. They were sitting in a circle and humming, they seemed quite oblivious of my oncoming presence, though I was still quite a distance from them.

The humming stopped and the circle changed into a semi-circle in an instant. Although I could see this, the remaining mist made it seem like I was looking through material at the event. I sat down.

The sound of a musical instrument started, like a flamenco guitar. It began slowly, each note sounding exquisite in its tone and vibration. It brought a longing for something that I couldn't put a name to.
The guitar increased as a figure emerged from behind one of the large standing rocks.
I was sure it was female, as it moved sinuously to the music, swaying and holding out the material, which draped the body, to extend and then wrap in time to the music. A drumbeat was there, as if it had always been there as I couldn't imagine this guitar music without it. Had the drum been there when the guitar began? I couldn't remember.

Although I was still sitting down, my body itched to move in time with the music. The dancing figure then became three dancing figures, then four, then a crowd, moving to the rythmn of the music. Again, I had not noticed when that had happened, as it happened so organically and naturally. All the events I was witnessing and hearing sounded like a product of nature, so easy on the ears and eyes. The word 'Sacred' was applicable here. There was a palpable intensity of purpose eminating from the amphitheatre. The fact that all the people were wearing grey cloth over their heads and bodies helped to concentrate on the music, as if all the colour were in the sound and movement from the dance.

I became aware that I had moved nearer and was moving my body in time to the music. I must be noticed by now! No one gave any indication that I had been noticed, so I assumed and felt, that as long as my motives were pure, then I could join in the celebration. No other thoughts, other than becoming one with the music entered my head. I was aware my body being taken over and the music was dancing me, I had no inhibitions and I had never felt so comfortable.

I must have danced for hours, or so it seemed. The dancers kept their distance from each other, but there was acknowledgement with movements. An arm extended to wave another a safe passage. A head bowed in recognition of a fellow traveller. We moved as planets orbiting a central sun. The sun being the guitarist and drummer who sat in the centre.

Very slowly, I noticed that the mist was starting to lighten as the figures that were wearing the grey cloth started to get lighter too. Their robes became almost a dazzling white as the particles that had grouped together to become them gently flew apart - till there was nothing there. All that was left was the haunting sound of the guitar, fading now, but I noticed it had slowed as it had at the start. Now, there were some long, drawn out notes with much vibrato. When each note finished it left a ringing in the air and a tingling in my ears.

I felt so tired from the dancing that I lay down on the ground. I put my head to the earth and fell into a deep sleep.

"Vincent! Vincent!"
I awoke to a bright sun fading into the west and the sound of a voice calling my name.
"Vincent! There you are! I came to look for you as it was nearly dusk and time for you to come back. I know what you are like when you are looking at rocks, so I though I'd come and get you." Gavin had a big smile and there was no mist anymore. In fact everything seemed to be larger than life, and clearer.

"I must have fallen asleep," I said, "I had the strangest dream. There was dancing here and music, the details are faint now though, I can hardly remember it. I thought I had joined in and danced for hours."
"It must have been the sun that sent you to sleep. There is nothing here, just a disused quarry." Said Gavin as he looked around the empty space.

I thought that I must remember something important, but I couldn't remember what it was. It had all seemed like a dream, but a very lifelike one.

I gathered myself together to walk back with Gavin and took one last look around and saw something by the large standing stone. I went to get a closer look.
It was a belt in a grey cotton material. Finding this sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn't remember why. What had I done here? It was all fading, the more I tried to remember it. Something about music? Were there people dancing? I dismissed the thought with a shrug.

The belt that I had in my hand told me that I had a lot to remember though, and remember I would. In time.

DINNER
Cauliflower Curry
Basmati Rice
Salad a la Moi - with baby clams and avocado

I didn't want to put Menu of the Day onto the short story - see below if you want to read the first part of 'The Mist.' It could turn out to be, science fiction, a thriller, a horror story, or an adventure story. Any suggestions at this point in the process may help to keep it going in an interesting direction. It's been a slow build up and is at the point of something happening!

Started on anti-biotics yesterday as it is definitely a chest infection and not just a cold. So, self pity has been justified!
Despite a severe weather warning, I planted out some plants since I have been working on the front garden. Pansies are tough little bleeders aren't they? I bought some lovely little iris's to put in but keeping them in the lean to till frost has passed.

Congratulations to all those nominated for Bloscars. I can guess that a certain red tinged profile photo will be appearing a lot when the winners are announced......

The dreamlike quality of the mist ultimately helped to prevent me from losing it. But then again, I wouldn't be completely helpless if it wasn't for the fog, which obscured everything.

It had seemed a lifetime ago that Gavin and I were chatting away, occasionally breathless with the steeper grades of the hills. Our spirits were kept high by the panoramic views. The vista was also breathtaking - small mountains, hills and valleys with a shining glitter from a stream where it caught the sun. We were both glad to be away from the city, happy in each other's company, without a problem in the world. Ah, if I could have encapsulated those carefree moments in that reality and bring it out right now!

My name is Vincent, I live and work in Leon, Spain, as a geologist at the university. Gavin is an old friend and another 'blow in', like me. He moved to Spain to marry the woman of his dreams and work in her father's company. They made tiles, not just any ordinary tiles anymore, since Gavin's arrival. He used his art college experiences to help the firm specialise in 'designer' tiles, many with a strong 'Gaudi' influence. So, he was happy, healthy and a proud father to 2 year old Carlos.

We had decided on a weekend of walking in the hills of Galicia, a remote area in Northern Spain which was half a day's drive away. The area contained the occasional deserted village. Many of the villages that we had passed were in ruins, as if the land had taken back itself to reclaim its heritage.

'A weekend away walking' sounded so good, and this time of the year, April, it wasn't too hot. We both had some experience of walking, though in recent years we had hardly brought our rucksacks out of the cupboards. We had brought camping and cooking gear as we knew our route would be isolated from shops and - thank God! - people. We knew our mobile phones wouldn't work on our route as there wouldn't be any masts nearby. How ideal it had all seemed, and an opportunity to 'get back to nature.' Now, it seemed that nature was getting back at us!

I had shouted myself hoarse, hoping someone would hear my distressed yelling. I guess if there was someone to blame, then I should hold up my hand. There was a disused quarry that I wanted to look at while we were in the area. It had been marked on the map, and was roughly 3 miles from our walking path. Gavin said he'd rather stay around and build a camp up, ready for the night, so we went our separate ways. Or rather Gavin stayed put and I wandered off in a south easterly direction, headed toward the quarry, with rock hammer and some sample bags in a small rucksack. Thank goodness I'd had the foresight to pack some warm clothes - just in case, a torch, some snacks and a bottle of water.

It was now late afternoon. The mist was so heavy that when I shone the torch, it just showed a uniform grey curtain, with no distinguishing features at all. I should imagine that Gavin was getting concerned, though I had no idea how far this mist had reached. As far as I knew, he was still in sunshine! If the mist had reached where he was, then he would be aware of my predicament. I couldn't see the path back at all. The only way I could possibly do it would be to crawl, and feel the stony gravel with my hands to guide me along.

DINNER
Sirloin Steak fried with shallots, mushrooms and garlic
Baby New Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts

SUNDAY'S DINNER - Courtesy of Mr A
Home made Lamb soup with loads of veg.
This was, seriously, the best soup I have ever, ever, ever had, and I said so. There were fresh herbs, there was carrots, onions, lots of veg boiled to mush but oh so tasty. I used the last cupful to make gravy for tonights dinner. MMmmmmmm.

I have been feeling quite ill the last few days, and yesterday was quite out of it, sleeping loads throughout the day. Mr A made dinner which so nutritious and tasty, that I'm sure it contributed to me feeling somewhat better.
I think I've got a chest infection. Without going into nauseating details of why I think that is, I can just say that I opened my 4th box of Kleenex Ultra Balm tissues today - that's about a week and a half of nose blowing.

I'm writing a short story about someone lost in a mist whilst hill walking with a friend. It's a fine day, and I (it's written in the first person), go off to look at a disused quarry, about 3 miles from the path, leaving my friend to get the camp together for the night. Suddenly, while I am away, an all enveloping mist descends, leaving nil visibility. I've written the here and now part, where I just describe the mist coming down, then go into details about how we got to go on a weekend walking in rural, remote countryside. This story is growing as I write it. I'm quite excited to see where it leads me. There may be some supernatural goings on, there may not be. It might all be description of the state of a mind when under pressure from external forces. The helplessness that nature can bring to those who encounter those extreme conditions.
Who knows? There may even be a dog to come and rescue me! As it is so remote, mobile phones don't work, so it's all back to basics.
I was telling Mr A about the title 'Mist' when he said 'someone has written a story already about fog. It's called 'Fog.' Apparently James Herbert has written a horror story about fog, which I was completely unaware of.
I may well post the first part tomorrow. Form an orderly queue please....

DINNER

Baked spuds
Seafood Medley (I left my heart, in San...no. Not that sort of medley)
Salad a la Moi

The spuds are done. I must away to the kitchen on silvered crystal moccasins.....

Celeste Tyalskye and Macy Pacy, partners in their dectective agency were in the middle of a new case. Glamorous blonde, Ms Sharon Stonk, had come to them with a strange tale of someone stealing her bin bags when she put them out for the rubbish men on a tuesday night.

The plan was to watch the wheelie bin and take photographs of whoever did the stealing. They had to use Macy's little hatchback, as Celeste's sports car was too obvious and would stand out as an undercover vehicle.

Celeste was tying her Doris Day scarf on and checking with Macy that they had everything. Macy seemed uninterested in it all.
"You sure the battery in the camera is fully recharged?" Said Celeste.
"Yes." A bored sounding Macy was refreshing her lipstick in her compact mirror.
"Are you ok? You seem a bit off tonight." Celeste enquired.

"Well, I've been thinking about being pregnant and what to do about it all."
Celeste realised that she had hardly given this issue any thought at all since Macy announced it yesterday. She felt a bit ashamed.
"Look, I know it's hard, but try and keep focussed on the job, and think about personal stuff afterwards," said a placated Celeste.

"Oh, I solved the case yesterday. It just took a phonecall. I thought we should carry on with this undercover business to earn a decent wage from the client."
"Macy!" Said an incredulous Celeste. "Are you going to tell me?"
"Not yet," said Macy, "I'll present all the evidence along with the identity and motive when it all comes together."
Celeste knew from her tone that there was no way to persuade her different, so she would have to go along with it and wait for answers.

The client's house was in a cul de sac and they parked within sight of the wheelie bin. The camera they used was good for night shots, they should get a good photo.

A Ford Fiesta came down the street and parked at the next house to the client's. A man got out wearing a black leather jacket, dark jeans and trainers. Luckily there was a street lamp right by the wheelie bin so they got a good shot of him as he stood there, looking from side to side. He lifted the lid and took out 2 bags of rubbish and put them in the boot of his car. They managed to get about 4 good shots of him in all. He drove off quickly, it was all done.

They rang the bell at Ms Stonks house. Sipping fresh coffee, they told her about getting the photographs.
"We will be in contact tomorrow, and it should all be sorted by then." Said Macy.
"That's quick!" Said Ms Stonk.
"We'd better be going now. Goodbye."
Celeste and Macy drove back, mostly in silence. There didn't seem to be a lot to say.
"I'll print up the photos from the computer at home tonight and bring them in tomorrow and tell you who he is and why he is doing it." Said Macy as she dropped Celeste outside her house.

The next day, at the office, Celeste was early, waiting for Macy in keen anticipation.
Macy turned up at 9.30 with a large brown envelope under her arm.
She proceeded to lay out the photographs, which showed the man they had seen last night as he stood under the streetlight. It was a clear shot.
"You going to tell me all about it now?" Said Celeste, sipping her coffee. No Orange Zinger for her today, she needed the caffeine after a sleepless night.

"Ok. Yesterday, after I had an idea about the case, I went onto a certain website, the website of Sharon Stone, the famous actress.
I was looking for information about English stalkers, or over-devoted fans and I found out something interesting.

Sharon Stone has been in this country for the last 4 weeks.
The man who stole the rubbish bags of Sharon Stonk is a dyslexic, and a bit unhinged when it comes to Sharon Stone. He thought he had found out where Sharon Stone was staying and stole her rubbish, so he could look through it and examine her life more closely. It gave him a perverted pleasure, almost voyeristic to think he was getting intimate details of his idol, Sharon Stone.

I phoned a friend who happens to work as a detective in the police force and told him about it and said I would pass on the photos and name of the man, today. So they should be picking him up later when I've passed them on with all the information.
He will feel really pissed off that he was looking through the rubbish of someone else completely, and not Sharon Stone, as he thought. I don't know how he got her address, but he couldn't have checked it out that thoroughly. Since he is dyslexic, he misread the name Stonk for Stone. That's it!"

"Wow, Macy, you never cease to amaze me! Congratulations. I would have never tied in the names Sharon Stonk to Sharon Stone."
"There you go!" Said a brightened Macy.
"It's your turn to buy lunch."

DINNER
Wild Mushroom and Tomato Sauce
Fried Scallops
Organic Spaghetti

I have the mother of a cold, it's been building up for a couple of days and today I spent mostly sleeping, sweating, coughing, groaning and blowing my nose. Seems things get worse before they get better with this giving up smoking lark. It has been hard but I'm determined to kick the habit.

Confession time, the wild mushroom and tomato sauce is a Loyd Grossman bottled sauce. I have to say it is good, I've used it before when I can't be arsed to the whole thing myself.
Scallops aren't a regular feature, they are expensive and I'm not used to cooking them. So, I think I'll just lightly coat them in flour and fry them.

I've just signed an email petition against this tracking device in our cars. It is proposed that we have to buy them, install them so our whereabouts are known at any time, if we go over the speed limit it will be known and we will be prosecuted. A monthly bill will have to be paid, they worked it out that a mum just taking her kids to school could have to pay something like $85 a month. Bugger that!
Below is a link to register your objection.

HYPERLINK "http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/"
> \nhttp://petitions.PM.gov.UK/traveltax/
>

This is the website page where you can register your petition. They need 750 signatures to stop this proposed bill being implemented.

Part 2 of the latest T&P story coming up later......