DINNER
Veggie Pizza with added anchovies, capers n Olives

Mr A is away from today till wednesday, so I'm on my onio, so a pizza was great. Got an email from my beloved sister who lives in Oz, with all the family gossip, a great catch-up and lifting of the spirits.

Molly and Eve came for a visit and dinner on Saturday. We played a card game, called 'Stupid.'
Here's how you play it. You have to gamble, though you can use other things than money if you want.

Every body is dealt a card face down and can't see it. At the count of 3, all lift the card and slap it onto your forehead, facing out, so you can't see it but everybody else can. You then bet on your card, hoping it's the highest, you have to judge it by looking at the other cards and trying to read the others' reactions..
It leaves a memorable impression of everyone, with a card being held to their forehead, everybody looks stupid, hence the name!

I went to my weekly creative dance group. We are building a performance for the Women in Tune camp based on old stories. We each bring a fragment from a story to act out apparently. I'm sure it will make more sense nearer the time! It's good to do some dancing and exercising anyway and they are a bunch of delightful women to work with.

The cold is getting better but I had to miss someone's birthday party on saturday and am not in their good books..........oh well, can't please everybody.

DINNER

VEGGIES
Tomato and Basil Quorn Sausages

CARNIVORES
Lamb Chops

BOTH
Mashed Potatoes
Greens from the garden, Spinach, Brussels

Molly and Eve who are both vegetarians are coming for dinner and staying for the evening. These are my grandaughters, aged 14 and 11, both have birthdays coming up in the next few months. Thank goodness they are both still enjoying their childhood and haven't joined the ranks of adolescents who hang round on the streets, drink booze and look for trouble, spelt with a v for violence. I think that being home educated has protected them from those influences that pull children out of their childhoods and into potential violence and harm.
There's a lot written in the papers about the 'yob culture' and I find it really disturbing that so many 'lost' children feel they have to follow a trend that makes them unpopular with the rest of society. Quite often they are seen as a threat. If someone is just walking down the street and they have to pass a gang of a few kids, about 10 and older, then that person (especially a woman) would feel vulnerable and fearful of being accosted.
We can blame the government for a lot of things, like not providing funds to offer the 'street kids' somewhere to go, and things to do, but ultimately, the responsibility of a child's behaviour has to come from the parents.
Single parents especially have a hard time in trying to rein in their kids if the pull of the gang mentality is strong. I don't advocate physical punishment at all, as violence can beget violence and create a vicious circle of abuse. No, there has to be a way of nurturing children, making them feel wanted and safe so that they know what is right and what is wrong and act on it.
Why I've got into this trail of thought I don't know, but the question of children becoming a threat on the streets has raised its ugly head, and I'm going to run with this for a bit.
The environment in cities has a lot to answer for. I know I would find it depressing to live on a housing estate where there are boarded up windows and lack of greenery, a concrete jungle. The 'nicer' parts of cities are usually occupied by those with money, whose children probably wouldn't hunt in packs on the streets looking for trouble. The priviledged few have no idea what it is like for those kids brought up in bleak surroundings, where excitement equals violence.
I think that sports, and doing physical things would help channel energy and make kids feel good about themselves. Looking for alternatives to street life rather than just accepting it should be on the agenda for those in a position to effect change.
I'm not talking about joining the armed forces either, but providing facilities where kids could go - like a leisure centre with rock climbing and things that would challenge kids, occupy their ever growing need to experience different sensations.
So, there you have it. I can think of ways to help sort out the problem but it takes real commitment to effect change, well, commitment and a decent salary. Also, working and being with animals can be a real eye opener for a child, so that they would value animals and not see them as 'things' that they could inflict pain and suffering on.
To change the mind set from the ugly head of sadism into caring about living creatures is such a worthy goal, that there could only be benefit from it.
I enjoyed watching 'The House of Tiny Tearaways' where kids from ages 2-11 yrs (roughly) whose anti-social behaviour was driving their parents mad went. They had 2 child psychologists who specialised in aberrant behaviour and devised ways of helping those children change their behaviour from being a problem into 'normal' behaviour. Quite often it meant that the parents also had to change their behaviour.
From a viewers perspective it was easy to see where the parents were going wrong, especially if they shouted at their kids, which got them nowhere. The children copy the adults behaviour, so badly behaved adults shouldn't have been surprised if their kids turned out to be a problem. Easy peasy! Now, to put it into practice....

Time to get on with the day, shopping to do, presents to buy etc...Friday tomorrow, which means party frock time as Rhiannon is having a birthday party. I've said that I'll bring wood so that we can have an outside fire in her yard. She has a cauldron we can use for it. Let's hope it doesn't rain.

DINNER
Mashed Potato
Bacon
1 Sausage for Mr A
Fried Eggs
Serrano Ham
Salad a la Moi

Mash left from last night, so reheated and added some milk. Nice.

My 3 grandaughters came for a visit earlier. The youngest, 3yr old always plays up when the 3 of them are here and wants attention plus plus. It ends up with her getting told off by all the rest of us, in turn. Doesn't seem to put her off anyway. I've invited the older 2 to come down for dinner tomorrow evening and stay for a bit, they'll be going home in a couple of days. The eldest recently acted in a reduced Shakespeare evening, with 4 plays and is in love with acting. She has resigned from being in the puppet show that she did with her mum. It went something along the lines of, "I can't work under these conditions!"

With Mr A on drum kit and me on keyboards, we had a bit of a rehearsal this evening, doing songs that we used to do in our 'set.' 'Take 5', 'St Louis Blues' and a couple of my songs. It was good as we don't play so much music together these days as we are both in different bands.

Lots of seeds planted, in pots and in the ground so far. I've got loads of lettuces in pots in the greenhouse. It's getting a bit full in there now.

Well, back tomorrow, night x 2.

DINNER
Pork and Bramley Apple Sausages
Mash
Green Beans
Roasted Red Pepper
Baked Onion
Wholegrain Mustard
Nice Gravy

A very satisfying and tasty meal. Both feeling full and sated, it was another evening in front of the laptop watching 'Time Team' on 4OD. Time Team is one of Mr A's favourtie programmes, what with all that geo-phys and rocks......There's also 'Scrapheap Challenge' to catch up on.

I've been doing my meals on wheels rounds. Finally going out on my own last monday to deliver to 9 clients, and I didn't get lost! The place I'm working is unfamiliar to me, abpout 14 miles away from where I live, so it's all new and getting used to the area. Next round is friday.

Anna from Scarabella was delighted with her surprise party on saturday. We had told her that we had a gig and would meet at hers to rehearse a bit first. When other people started turning up, she said 'what's going on?' It was then explained that really, this was a party for her to compensate for the one that didn't happen on her birthday. She had invited people the day before, so no one turned up and she felt awful about it.
There was a lovely homemade cake and about 20 people came.
Got another birthday party this friday for another Scarabella.
In fact, 3 of us have birthdays in March, and 2 in April. So there you go, with 2 of the birthdays on the first of the month. Bit of boring info for you there.....

I find it puzzling that I seem to get more visitors when I don't blog, than when I do. I haven't been posting for a few days and have had more visitors than previously, when I was posting nearly every day.
There, another bit of boring info for you.
In fact, I could market this blog as a de-stressing programme.

'Read this post and feel your relax worries slip away as you drift into a pleasant dream, influenced by the inconsequential meanderings relax of the blogger with the knack of sending readers into a state of comaesque unsensational torpidity relax leading towards the emptying of previous stressful relax thoughts.
Feel yourself drifting, with any heavyness relax lifted, so that you feel as light as a feather, and almost as fluffy. Your eyelids begin to droop, and relax you blink to keep them open, whilst reading a post that seems to make no sense, the words escaping meaning, relax like attempting to catch a fast flying thing that keeps evading your outstretched grasping fingers. relax Somewhere, deep down inside a message is being relayed to your subconscious, though you would never think relax it possible by just reading this post. A chance to switch off any worries or thoughts that bring your relax mind into a state where you become anxious, no, that has all vanished, like a drop of water on a boiling relax radiator, the steam that arises from that image is like your worries, disappearing into a cloud of sweet relax leisurely driftingness that floats away any stresses so you are in a state of unhurried, pure relaxedness'.

DINNER
Vegetable Curry with Broccolli (where do I stop with the c's and l's?), Peas, Carrots, Spuds, Onion n Garlic
Basmati Rice with 3 Cardomoms
Side Salad of chopped Tomatoes, Red Onion and Cucumber
Naan Bread
Poppadoms
Lime Pickle, Mango Chutney

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

Mmmmmmm!! Just had a taste of the curry, it's delicious, even if I say so myself. I added Fenugreek, Mustard Seeds and half a Chilli along with the usual spices.

Mr A is suffering. Firstly from his cold, now he has had some vaccinations as he is going to Cambodia in about 3 weeks. The vaccinations have made his whole arm and shoulder ache. So, not a happy bunny...
Then I noticed in the tv guide that there is a Match of the Day Live - England v Czech Republic at 7pm.
Well, his face lit up like a condemned man given a reprieve! He did remark that he hadn't seen it advertised anywhere and was a bit puzzled, but delighted none the less.
Yes! You shall have football tonight Cinderella!

So, we switch over to BBC3 at 7. He is just outside, coming in from shutting the hens up in their beds for the night and I watch the start of the game.
It's womens' football.
'Er..I think I know why you hadn't heard about this match,' I say, grinning from ear to ear.
As he takes in the scene of women in knee length shorts, all is made clear.
He watches for a bit but gets frustrated.
'The strikers don't turn with the ball,' he says. I think ladies footie is too sedate for him and he soon departed for his office to play loud music and fire up his computer. His mood seems to have lifted, so my work is done on that front.
It seems to be part of the deal in long term relationships, that you try to lift the other's spirit if they are a bit down. Don't ask what happens if we are both depressed....

Sweeping out my car with dustpan and brush in readiness for a passenger tomorrow when I shall drive the meals on wheels route to see if I can do the job without getting lost. I seems to have accumulated someones pebble dash driveway in the well of my car....

We were to have a rehersal with Paul at our house tonight. Unfortunately, Paul dislocated his jaw whilst he was yawning earlier in the week. It's swollen up and he has bad earache. So, changed to monday night instead. Mr A dying to try out his new bass and snare drum. He got them second hand on ebay and is delighted with them. They are smaller than the ones he has used for all these years, more like a jazz drum kit.

Nowt on tv tonight, so I shall explore 4OD, where I've been catching up with Derren Brown's amazing programme, along with some comedy classics like Whose Line is it Anyway, Father Ted, Black Books and Kitchen Nightmares.

DINNER LAST NIGHT - C/O Mr A.

Welsh Lamb Cutlets with Green Peppers, n Red Onion
Fried Potatoes
Petit Pois (small peas)
Green Beans

The last 2 ingredients were frozen. I have to say it was really well cooked. The spuds were nicely crisp, the green peppers had bite, and the cutlets - perfect!
Well done Mr A.

DINNER ON WEDNESDAY
Whiting Fillets of Fish
Boiled Potatoes
Peas

My fish was overcooked and a bit too hard. Mr A's was fine. Don't know how that happened! After the previous night's disaster in the bottled sauce department, happy to say the food is back to par.

I have to go out soon, so meals on wheels update coming later....I've one more run with Amanda, then on monday I'm going solo...in and out of back streets all over a town that I haven't visited much at all. I've made copious notes, maps all in coloured pens, marking out right and left turns etc.

Last night's dinner didn't go down well with Mr A, in fact it didn't go down at all, cos he didn't eat it.
It was all delicious, up to the point where I used a bottled sauce, which he didn't know I'd used, but found out in the tasting. Ah well, I should have known by now that I can't get away with using bottled sauces, and ultimately he's right.

DINNER
Aubergine casserole with Sharwoods Sweet Chill and Red Pepper Sauce
Made in the usual way, except that instead of using a tin of tomatoes and my own herbs, I dunked in a jar of ready made sauce. It had quite a bit of sugar in, cos it went like jam does when it boiled on the stove!
Mr A doesn't really like aubergines, but usually eats it when I bake it and call it 'Paticlan.' This is a throwback to when we went to Turkey, and they made delicious meals of aubergines there, calling it Paticlan. I'd hoped the positive associations of the foreign word with the memories of tasty meals would overcome his dislike of the purple vegetable.
This time was a jar too far...

So, there have been a few meals eaten, digested and.....erm...shall we politely say 'exited' since my last posting. So:
Last friday, I went 'training' with Amanda on her meals on wheels round so that I can start to take over once a week when she has a day off. It's a busy round, with about 12 people. Oh. This is sounding a bit familiar, I may have written about this already, I can't remember.....duh!
Anyway, I'm going out with her tomorrow, then friday I will be let loose on the general public - doing the round on my own.
Every house has an unlocked back door that Amanda knocks at, opens, goes in and shouts out 'yoohoo!'
That really isn't my style, I shall shout out 'hello!' instead.
I've just got to try and remember where all these streets are, as I'm not familiar with this particular village, it's about 13 miles from where I live.

Yesterday I went to a 'Creative Dance' session at Maggies house. Let me tell you about Maggies house first.
She lives in an old mill. There is a water wheel at the side of the house and a river, well more like a stream, running past the house about 30 yards away. The second story of the house is one huge open-planned room, where she can accommodate about 50 people, and quite often does, as she has monthly musical gatherings. I've written previously about the gatherings in posts before I started tagging, so there's no tag for them. They are evenings of play really, all improvised and quite an experience.

So, I arrived a bit late and found 6 other middle-aged women standing in a circle. I apologised for being late (about 15 mins) and was told that they had just started anyway.
To be honest, I hadn't given this project much thought, it sounded like a good idea on paper, a pleasant afternoon of creative dancing with other women. It would be good exercise, and as I love dancing, a chance to strut my stuff in company.
What I didn't think about was what it was all for. It turns out that we will be performing at this year's Women In Tune (WIT) festival and we are meant to come every week for rehersals.
As Scarabella rehearse on mondays, in Swansea, it's going to be a bit of a push to find time for both on the same day. Still. I'm committed now. (and not before time I hear from the back of the stalls.........)

With warming up exercises that made a few bones audibly crack, we stretched, contracted, rotated and twisted most parts of our bodies so that we could then move on to the fun part. The dancing.
We had to find 4 poses that we could remember and hold for a few moments. Ok, fine. Done that.
Then we had to partner up, show our postures to our partners and learn theirs, turning the 8 postures into a sequence that we would learn, then all take turns into showing the sequence to the others.
After performing it once to the others, I felt it was a bit 'stilted', so we created other movements in between, to make it more flowing and pleasing to watch, and perform.
It was a very good exercise in how to choreograph a piece of dance. Well done that person who thought it up in the first place!

The idea being that the original postures would be building blocks in which to base our dance. If that wasn't enough already, I discover that there is another idea lurking behind the scenes which our very pleasant teacher lets us into.

"We will be using stories, taking fragments from them to use in the dance, and also use our voices to express ourselves." She said, as effortlessly as saying "after you."
She then talked about stories, e.g., Bluebeard. What was the story from the beheaded wives' point of view?
Well, I thought, not much, since they didn't have any facilities for thinking, yet alone making up their own story...
I'm sure it will all become clear as the weeks progress. Also, I'm gently taking the p out of it because if I take it too seriously, then it will be doomed. Doomed I tells you!
Besides, I'm sure all this stretching of muscles that usually remain dormant will be good for me.

Upon relating all this to Mr A, I could see the look of horror upon his face.
For him, to take part in a scenario like this would leave him a quivering wreck! His idea of hell on earth was one not unlike the scene that I was describing to him. I could almost picture him, as a young schoolboy, being told to 'be a tree' in a lesson that would leave all the boys red with embarassment and shame and the girls delighted to have a chance to 'dance like a fairy.'
I am fortunate in being able to see things from other peoples' perspectives, so I could understand how awful it would be for him to take part in something like that. Ha ha!
So, next monday it is then.

Mr A has a bloody awful cold at the mo. I don't seem to have caught it yet, hopefully I may find that it misses me altogether and goes on to seek the next batch of unfortunates ready to start reaching for the tissues and feeling shite.
Foodwise, we have had some good meals, bar the one last night. Actually, Mr A had to cook on saturday as I was baby-sitting at my son's house, just up the steps. It's not really 'next door' as it is above us, about 50 yards away. So, as there was just us 2 there from the afternoon, I couldn't leave to come down and cook, so I had my meal delivered to the door. It was Spag Bol, with salad, and very nice it was too.
Liberty's mum was away for the weekend, and her dad was going to see his other daughter, Molly, in a play, so nan comes to the rescue. Molly was acting in a 'reduced Shakespeare' evening where they acted a few Shakespear's plays in shortened versions. My son said she was really good, and was openely impressed.
So, everything was fine until Liberty's mum rang to find out if we were ok and to speak to her.
I could see her nodding as her mum chatted away. I couldn't hear what her mum was saying, but I could see the definite start of someone who was going to get upset and cry.
Her shoulders started to shake, her mouth turned down, she was trying so hard not to cry it was pitiful.
Then she let go and went into uncontrollable crying mode.

Ah! Poor wee girl! I felt so sorry for her, she was crying because she suddenly missed her mum.
It took a little while to get her to calm down. I sat her on my knee, feeling oddly like she was a ventriloquist's dummy and talked calmly to her. Then I made her laugh.
This isn't hard. She was trying to cry and laugh at the same time. Her sense of humour won out in the end thank goodness and it wasn't long before we were back to where we were before the phone call.
She went to bed spot on at 7, no problem at all, but I had to tell her a story when she was in bed just before she fell asleep.
She chose one with Princess Fiona in, as she had recently seen the Shrek dvd. Anyway, I made up something or other that seemed to do and she fell asleep really quickly.

Blimey! I've just noticed it's getting dark outside and I've written much more than I thought I would, it's all passed in a bit of a dream, rabbiting on and on in a meaningless way..... Nothing to do with avoiding household tasks I assure you!
Right! Time to shut up chickens, get wood in, start on dinner and become like a 50's housewife, dressed in a flouncy frock to greet her spouse upon his return from work.
Yeh, right!

THURSDAY'S DINNER
Welsh Lamb Curry. Bought some cutlets and cut off the meaty bits.
Basmati Rice
Coriander and Garlic Naan
Salad a la Moi
Organic Beetroot (no, Mr Frost, I haven't tried bacon n beet yet)
Firey Lim Pickle, Mango Chutney.

Mmmmmmmm!

FREYASDAY'S DINNER
Tortilla. Fried Potatoes, Peppers, Onion with beaten Egg (with Fenugreek) poured over in frying pan.
Salad a la Moi

A busy day for me, doing my meals on wheels round, then looking after Liberty after picking her up from school. I have started a new round, so went with the woman who does it every day, meeting the 'clients' and trying to remember where they all live, and how to get there. Making copious notes, there are roughly 12 people to deliver to. I told the kitchen where we pick up the food from that I have chickens, and would take any scraps of unwanted food. There was a big cheer! Those chickens are going to end up as Billy Bunter chickens (if anyone can remember Billy Bunter.)

The consequences of reading the story of Peter Pan to Liberty did not strike me at the time of reading it. However, for hours after reading it, we had to act it out.
'You be Captain Hook, the alligator and Wendy now', Liberty would say, so she could be Peter Pan.
So there I was, eating my own hand....it's very confusing being a goody and a baddy at the same time. I don't know how Jade manages it (heh heh).
Then she wouldn't stop acting out the characters, it was non-stop for about 2 hours, then I switched the tv on, hoping to distract her. No such luck. Even up at the chicken run she would be pretending to sword fight. I blame the chocolate. I gave her one choc from the box of Milk Tray I got for Mothers Day, after that she went hyper. I don't know if gherkins had an effect, as she had 3 baby ones. She absolutely loves gherkins....

Her dad came to fetch her as her mum is away for the weekend. I am baby-sitting tomorrow from 2pm so he can work, then go to watch his oldest daughter in her play. She is playing Shylock.

Mr A will be occupied with rugby.

American Idol again tonight, ho hum, let the warbling commence...........

Yes, in the style of Majory Dickens, staff writer for Bills and Moon, the romantic twaddle-trap book company. I accidentally left this on 'The Jasper Club' blog, so copied and pasted it back home. Here it is in all it's heliotroped knickerbocker glory.......now read on........

HIGH JINX - AN AIRPLANE STORY OF COURAGE, 200% SPIRITS AND A LYCRA HALTER-NECK CO-PILOTS SUIT

The sad eyes of Captain Lockwood gazed at a point into the mid-distance, beyond the cockpit window, where the blackness of the night surrounded them.

"I just can't do this anymore, Katrina. Just having you next to me is unbearable. In this confined space all I can see is you, all I can smell is you, all I can hear is you. Can't you see? You are driving me mad!"
Capt. Lockwood turned his soulful brown eyes onto the beautiful Katrina, who had draped herself seductively over the co-pilot's seat. She responded to his emotional outburst by playfully flicking her hair back over her shoulders, her lycra halterneck pilot suit glittering with thousands of sequins. She pursed her beautifully painted lips and breathed a sigh that could flatten mountains, if they were as suggestible as the lovelorn captain.

"Charles! Charles! Listen to me! You have to go on, not just for me, not just for the 108 passengers on this 707 airbus, but for little Jimmy, that kid who doesn't have a chance in hell if you don't land safely at Gatwick Airport!"

The atmosphere grew tense, like a roller-ball pen in a bowling alley.

"Oh my darling! Don't you know that I have adored you since I first saw you in the womens' changing room? When I watched you in the shower I felt something that I have never felt before!"

"What was that Charles?"

"Drips from the shower curtain. But never mind that, my beautiful co-pilot! It will take all my self control not to shout out from the wingtips of this plane that I love you! Do you hear me! I love you, Katrina Brown-Furcoat! Like no one has ever loved anybody before! My love is so big, that, well, it's like something that is very large."

As the captain spoke, he turned his handsome, sculptured head away from her, his declarations of love aimed at the altimeter on his right. He could not bear to look at her. Her volumputous gorgeousness had unnerved him to the point of bladder inconsistency.

As the loveliness that was Katrina spoke, her voice grew soft and alluring, as if she were praying to a God that had dwelt in her kitchen, watching her baking cakes in her polka-dot pinafore.

"Oh Charles! Our love can never be! If I had known that you would have fallen in love with me like this, I would have spurned you from the first time I ever saw you! That time, I will never forget, as our eyes met during the spin cycle in our local launderette. My undies in the machine next to your unmentionables, reaching out for each other!" She cried out in a torment of exclamations.
"Charles! Charles! Can you not see why we can't be together!!!!"

Charles turned his rugged, craggy features to pinpoint her mascarared eyelashes, a small frown burrowing its way along the creases in between his eyebrows, like a caterpillar coming home from a night out on the town at the local lettuce bar.

"Why? O dear God in heaven, why! I am tormented by the longing that I feel for you. My nerve endings cry out for your touch! My toes stretch and curl at the thought of you being there for me at the end of the day, a martini in one hand, my slippers in the other and a newspaper between your teeth. What a picture of domestic bliss I had envisioned for us both! My life would be as empty as this fuel gauge without you!"

As Charles turned to indicate the aforementioned gauge, his attention was drawn to the needle, which was inclined towards the red spot, indicating 'empty.'

"Katrina! Katrina! We are almost out of fuel! I had estimated that we had enough when I thought to take you on a slight detour from Rome to Gatwick via Istanbul, so I could try and win your heart. I have badly misjudged the amount left in the fuel tank. I am such a fool! Can you forgive an old retrobate for his little mistakes?"

Katrina tried to smooth out the frown lines that creased her porcelained features and employ an appropriate expression.
"Charles! Charles! We must do something to save this plane from crashing into the deep, dark, cruel sea! If we don't act promptly now, many lives will be lost. O yes, and I will miss the next episode of 'Torchwood' which I was hoping to catch when we disembarked."

There was a tense silence as both the captain and co-pilot put their respective heads in hands, in a thinkers' pose, a la Michaelangelo.

"I have it!!" Exclaimed Katrina, turning to retrieve her handbag from behind the seat.
"I know what to do, though it will be tricky."

"What, my darling! What!" Said the captain, his voice slightly muffled from being pressed against his chest, with his arms protectively wrapped around his head.

"I do have something that we can use as fuel. It may just be enough to get us to the nearest landing point, but you will have to go outside the plane and tip it into the tank. It will be dangerous, but it is our only hope." So saying, Katrina rummaged in her handbag and brought out several bottles containing a clear liquid.

"This is Stretzanetsoff, a 200% proof spirit that is a thousand times stronger than fuel, so a small amount of this would be equivalent to gallons of gas. I managed to bring back a few bottles, just for personal consumption. We will have to use it. Now, Charles! Do it now!"

"I will do it now, Katrina. Yes! I will do it now! I just need to....."
"No Charles! There is no time for you to clean your teeth!"

As Katrina wrapped her lucky headscarf around his superspy features, the captain grabbed 2 of the bottles and prepared to be a hero.

CATCH THE NEXT THRILLING EYE-CATCHING EPISODE. COMING TO THIS BLOG SHORTLY.
SNACKS AND DRINKS WILL BE SERVED IN THE FOYER DURING THIS INTERVAL.

DINNER - As suggested by Mr A after polite enquiry as to preference for dinner

Fried Potatoes
Selection of cold Cuts of Meat: Serrano Ham, Applewood Smoked Ham, Milano Salami.
Boiled Eggs with Anchovies
Salad a la Moi with Watercress
Organic Beetroot
Red Pepperdew Peppers stuffed with Olives
Chilli Green Peppers

.......and very nice it was too. As always, the ingredients were as fresh as could be and I chose good dried meat. It wasn't too expensive to make at home, but if this were eaten out it would cost quite a lot.

The hens are becoming a bit more familiar and used to their new home. The speckled hen is the shyest and goes into the hen house if anyone goes in the run, but today remained outside, though as far away as she could get from me. The others are a bit easier and came fairly close today when I held out a chunk of bread in my hand. The Black Rock hens are, well, black, with a luminescent green tinge to their feathers, like those Indian Rubber ducks, and peacocks. They also have a necklace of orange feathers that shine around their neck and are quite beautiful. They all look healthy girls. They haven't got their tail feathers yet, in human terms they would be pre-pubescent.

Been watching Derren Brown on 4OD. Some of the things he gets people do is amazing. In one programme called 'The Heist', he lures people into a 'motivational' course, secretely priming them to become armed robbers, then sets up a situation to see if they actually will rob a security van! Out of 4 people, 3 hold up the security man carrying bags of money which they nick. They all have toy guns which look real which they use to threaten the guard. This is probably old hat to those of you who have seen the show, but as we can't get C4, it's all new to me, hence the enthusiastic review.

Liberty (3) came for a visit today, and we acted out Cinderella with me as the ugly sisters and step-mother. She likes to have a routine, and that changes over time. It used to be bouncing on the bed with 4 toys, but she got banned when the electric blanket went on. Then it was Buckeroo, then Thomas the Tank, then marbles, now it's 'drama' acting out stories.
She likes to play the 'skivvy' as she calls it, so I get her to do the polishing whilst we are acting. Might as well be realistic! Our table looks gleaming!

Mr A finished his job early and surprised me by arriving home in the middle of the afternoon. Luckily I was cleaning the Rayburn when he walked in. I'd have felt guilty if I was watching tv, reading, or lazing around. It just so happened that I was in a cleaning mood.
Been playing loads of guitar, working out instrumental pieces so that the tips of my left hand fingers are really hard now.

Although it's been windy, everything has stayed in place. The cottage next door is up for sale and some people are coming around tomorrow to view. The owners use it as their second home but can't afford to anymore so have to sell. This could change our lives, especially if it's a noisy family with barking dogs. Let's hope not, because they are really close, but it hasn't been a problem with the present owners who like to watch tv and have a drink. Still, we shall see........they have a boat down in the village and live about 10 miles away, so it may even be a second home for them. It does seem unfair that some people have more than one home and some people have none.
This budget charges more tax to poorer people, like pensioners than those who are rich. That doesn't seem fair. I will get taxed on my pension, which is a tiny amount, yet they will take over £1000 pa off it.
Barstools!

Sorry to hear that Lindow has just gone as I used to enjoy reading his posts. Always interesting and humerous. There is now a 'Goodbye Blog.' now set up where bloggers wanting to say goodbye can do so without having to explain anything. I think it was La Spice who asked about having one when Lindow departed suddenly and the idea came up. Going Somewhere has also decided to stop blogging for a while, though she said she will return at some point in the future. I hope she doesn't leave for too long as her profile, that finds itself on so many different blogs will be missed for sure.

..........and finally, (as they say on the news), my lettuces are coming up a treat. I've potted loads of them into individual pots and bunged them in the greenhouse.

DINNER
Pork and Bramley Apple Sausages
Mash
Cauliflower
Gravy, which Mr A didn't like.

I made the gravy with potato water and added some garlic puree, which went lumpy in the jug. Mr A was put off by the white lumps, though I thought it tasted ok, not that brill though.

So, we now have some new additions to our family. 3 black Rock chickens, and one speckled hen. The speckled one is a silver grey with darker markings, she's a bit of a beaut.
They seemed to settle in ok and are roosting on the perches. Since they have only known a life inside a large barn, it must have been a bit freaky being out in the wind and seeing the rain pouring down. They aren't making many chickeny noises at the mo, still finding their voices I expect.

On monday we had a Scarabella rehersal and saw a video taken of us at the gig last week. The woman who took it is on a film making course at university, so it was well framed, though the sound was a bit tinny and boomy as it was recorded in a large hall. Still, at last we have some video footage we can use! Hurrah! We could record the songs in the studio and dub them over the track, or just let it be, as you can hear applause from the audience and the 'live' sound. Silva (the fab woman who shot it) will put it on a dvd and let us have it. We will make copies, then work out how to put some of it online. You lot will be one of the first to see it, then it will go onto utube, Facebook, and myspace, (which someone will have to join.)

Been watching 4 OD online, catching up with tv shows I've missed, like Derren Brown, Mind Control. Wow! Very interesting to see how he can seem to 'read' peoples minds. He is very charismatic and I imagine he has no problem in finding interested partners for a bit of romance and adventure! The thing that does stand out is how he knocks people over by pushing them with his hand which is not touching them. It looks like he is using his Chi energy. I am well impressed, and have to admit that I find him very attractive. (It maybe a subliminal message in his shows). Also watched 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' That old impro show hosted by Clive Anderson. Peter Cook was in one of the earlier ones. Alas, he came over as a bit drunk, but still was able to be funny but there was pathos within it. Josie Lawrence is very quick witted, I think she's great, she should be more popular as I don't see her in much else.

Just finished Iain M Bank's 'Look to Leeward.' Another Sci Fi epic book. He is such a clever writer, and deserves a second reading as it is a bit complicated but still very enjoyable read.
Now on a Christopher Brookmyre novel, 'Quite Ugly One Morning.'

The wind is getting up again, I can hear it roaring through the trees. We are quite well protected here, surrounded by trees, I can imagine it could be freaky if you were on top of a hill, exposed to it though.
Mr A is working, writing up a report from the field, listening to The Fall, a band he likes a lot.

Sending out healing vibes to the brother of a friend who has been admitted to a psychiatric ward. Last week he showed symptoms of becoming psychotic, saying weird things, doing odd postures and behaving very strangely. He comes from a large family and they are all really concerned about him. He is to be let out next weekend and they are nervous about how he will be on his own. I do think that sending out healing thoughts has a positive effect on the recipitent, so that is what I am doing, as well as lighting a candle for him.
It is so easy for us to take for granted our mental health. Some people can get broken if their sensitivity leads them over that line between stability and chaos in the mind. I guess the barriers that we erect to keep us sane are necessary to lead a 'normal' life. Get rid of those barriers and you are open to all sorts of influences that could sway you like a leaf in the wind.

DINNER
Margharita Pizza

Grandaughter Liberty (3) came for a visit. As her mum dropped her off she said that Liberty needed a poo.
So I said:
'Do you want a poo?' She said.
'My poo's gone to Iceland!'
I think she's been watching too many adverts.

After a great night on wednesday, we got booked for thursday night at a lovely wine bar in Swansea!
I arrived around 9pm, with Mr A and Taff, our neighbour and friend who is also a musician. Scarabella were due on around 10ish.
I found a back bar with a piano! It was supposed to be closed till the performance, but I shut the door and played my socks off for an hour! Lovely to play a real piano, so I was well up for some singing after that.

We started off singing 'Java Jive' a well know swing song, starting 'I love coffee, I love tea........'
That was in the front bar for a bit of a warm up. We sang 3 songs then had a break till half an hour later, when we led the audience through to the back room by singing as we went and beckoning. A lovely room, very cosy, nice ambience, candles, and nachos with dip.

Went down really well, we were all on top form and gave it that extra pizzazz. We had all dolled up with heels (most of us) make-up etc. I found that I couldn't fit into my really posh frock, so I wore another dress with a bit more 'give.'
Must be all that ice cream!

Lots of positive feedback, adding to the buzz and glow that we get from performing anyway.
So a very successful night.
I discovered a really nice beer. It's called Tomos Watkins and it's brewed in Swansea. There's no bitterness at all, a very creamy and smooth beer. As I was driving, I could only have sips, but I'll definitely be drinking that beer again!

Both my passengers fell into a drunken stupor/sleep on the way home. Mr A crashed into bed after divesting best (and only) suit inside out on the floor.
This morning he had quite a hangover and had to drive into Cardiff for work. I'm sure he will get lots of sympathy from his fellow workers!

So it's been quite a week with 2 gigs, both posh dressing up events which seem to have gone by in a bit of a blur.
I have to say that so far, it's all been splendid!

I got a call from the WRVS to ask if I can change my meals on wheels round to somewhere further away. Feeling like an 'International Woman of Mystery', I said 'of course.'
'Your next mission, should you decide to accept it....blah blah blah'

DINNER
Welsh Lamb Cutlets
Mashed Potato
Cauliflower
Organic Carrots
Wicked (as in good) Gravy
Horseradish Sauce (A Must with Meat)

Morrisons Walnut Dream Ice Cream (Watch that waistline grow)

Tomorrow is Chicken Day! The hen house and run is all set, the food is in, the feeders are in place. So all we need now is some chickens.....

oo it's been a while since my last post. Now, let's see what's been happening.
Well, there's been a few dinners' under the bridge since.
I've renewed my car tax for another year.
I got a box of chocs for Mothers' Day.
I've camoflaged the hen house and run in tree green, ready for this weekend when the residents will be arriving.

Last night though was the event of the week, actually there's also tonight to come....right. Let's start with last night.
So, it's quite a large gig for Scarabella, in aid of a few charities in Liberia, the African country with a female president who has actually done a lot of good things since she has been in office.
I'm doing a solo spot in the first half, only ten mins. 5 mins for poetry and 5 mins for a couple of my own songs on guitar.

Got to Brenda's house to change into posh frock and read the poems to her as a practice run through as I haven't read them in public before. All good.
Then I go to my car, leaving file containing poems on the roof as I put my rucksack in the boot.
Right. All set. The others' are coming along later.

I get to the venue, a large exhibition centre. The performance is upstairs in the main hall.
I open the boot to get out the file with my poems.
They aren't there.
I'd left them on the roof of the car just before driving away from Brenda's house.

I ring her frantically, she is just about to eat. I ask her to look outside to see if she can see my file.
Yes! It's there in the middle of the road! Hurrah!
So I just perform the songs and I tell the audience that I left the file on top of my car, so I will be performing them later. This caused some amusement.

Right. Time to plug in my guitar just before going on stage. I play a few chords just to get the level right. There is a horrible scratchy noise. The battery for the pick-up is low. I can't use my guitar....
'Emily! Can I borrow your guitar please?'
Yes I can! Phew!
2 songs later I am sitting down in the audience again. There is a 13year old girl singing 'Cry me a River', 'Over the Rainbow' and 'Stormy Weather.'
She has a fantastic voice, amazing! Very mature, jazzy voice with perfect control, sounding like a recording artist.
The audience gives a standing ovation.
I'm glad I was on before her and not after....

Anyway, the songs went ok. Then there was the interval and Scarabella was on straight afterwards.
We primped ourselves in the dressing room, sticking feathers' in our hair, putting on lipstick etc, pulling on long gloves. A general air of tarting up filled the room.

The set went really well, apart from a few glitches that we were aware of, but the audience hopefully didn't. We sang a storm and felt totally exhilerated. Yes!
Next up was 'Women in Jazz.' This is the first all female swing band in Swansea. There were 5 brass, saxaphones, clarinet, double bass, guitar and piano.
They were really good. The harmonies on the brass section were like Glen Miller's sound, sharp and blasting. The pianist was brilliant, played blues, boogie and jazz effortlessly. This is Jen, a white haired, spectacle wearing lady who can rock your socks off!
I felt very proud, though it had nothing to do with any effort on my part. I just felt proud of the fact that this was an excellent 8 piece band consisting of women ageing from teenagers to late 50's.

Anyhoo, I enjoyed some sushi that I ate in the dressing room when I could grab a chance so my energy level was up. If I don't eat then I wilt!
I'd printed out some leaflets trying to tout for business for Scarabella earlier. In fact I'd finally run out of ink and wasted lots of time sorting out glitches in the printing.
We are looking for paid work now.

So tonight we have another gig at an upmarket winebar. It's going to be a posh frock affair, though more informal than last night. Mr A and Taff are coming along with me. Hurrah!
It's starting late as 2 of Scarabella have samba committments first so we'll be on around 9.30, though we will be arriving earlier.
Who knows, I may even read some poetry...............

DINNER
Smoked Mackerel Salad
Rice

Funny isn't it how sometimes you end up watching a crap film till the early hours, then wonder why you bothered to watch it at all? That happened last night. Watched 'The Black Knight' a really silly film, acting shoddy etc, then wondered why we bothered.

I rang up to enquire about getting an ex battery hen and apparently there is a queue to get one, so that's on hold at the mo. The run is almost up, and it's just a matter of fixing the hen house back together again, then we can get the chickens in.

I've never lived on my own. I say this because I just looked at the last sentence, where I write 'we' and not 'I'. It's been a succession of different people, not loads you understand, but after leaving home, I've had 8 different house mates, 3 of them were partners. The one time I lived on my own in a house, I had my son to look after, so not really living on my own even then. Just a thought.

That 'Joox' web site has stopped using the DixV player, so I can't play any of the videos, neither can anyone else, so onto C4od instead to watch tv shows. Last night on tv it went downhill after Harry Hill..Mr A happy enough with the footie whilst I watched 'Kitchen Nightmares' online. In fact we had a nice evening, even though watching a crap film. So I'm not travelling, having new experiences, meeting new people, having adventures etc. In a parallel universe I am doing all that, so in this universe, I will be a bit of a lazy, easy-going, unadventerous sod who listens to the Archers,thank you.

Imagination. I'm realising is actually quite important to me. I do live in my mind quite a bit and I suppose you could say that I travel within those confines quite widely. If I meet someone else with no imagination I find them really dull. They probably find me baffling and a bit wacky as my thoughts go from what we are talking about to something else, usually connected by a pun or a memory of a story. Don't know why I'm going on about this, I've half an ear on the Archers. Sorry folks, but I'm not giving my full attention, so this blog 'aint going to be that interesting.

PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK
When being asked something, people who say,
'huh?'
Or
when being asked to confirm something say,
'uhuh.'