Back again

Just received an e-mail from Chris of perhapslivingthegoodlife and it jogged my memory that I started a blog, it's almost 3 years since last post.

Nothing much has changed except we're now 3 years older but not necessarily a lot wiser.

Biggest change was my 65th birthday last year when I qualified for a State pension at the new rate of 155 per week, which I don't get as I don't have enough class 1 NI contributions, a combination of contracting out of SERPS, who actually understood the implications? and self-employment, so a reduced amount of 136 is paid. But I now qualify for a bus pass and pensioners special fish and chips in the local sit-down chippy, so not all bad.

Cumbrian weather continues as its erratic self, been a few weeks of cold, dull, damp and generally miserable days but the thermometer tells me it's getting warmer even if it doesn't feel like it. And the snow-drops are out in profusion with daffodils not far behind, fields full of sheep looking heavily pregnant so lambing will soon be here. My wife, a city person, loves to see the lambs cavorting in spring but struggles with the idea that they're destined to turn up on her dinner plate later in the year.

Wildlife seems to be thriving in the back garden as well, saw our resident squirrel yesterday, rabbits appear occasionally, and the very occasional hedgehog. Birds of all sizes also plentiful, they're getting very voluble, wonder if that means they're thinking about starting nest-building?

Raining today, some really heavy showers, cool and quite windy,probably the back end of the Big Bertha just arrived up here.

Trip into town this morning, to purchase some of the small easy-peel oranges I like, they vary from 15 to 20 for £1, I eat them like sweets, tell myself they're good for me and not too over-loaded with calories.
Basis greengrocers, middle of town on the pedestrian street, the shop has a mixed history, been all sorts of things over the last 50 years but none of them lasted long. This young chap opened about 2 years ago, sells most things by the price not weight, a lot of little basins full of various produce, usually £1 per basin, or fruits at 6 for £1. His prices compare very well with the superstores, he seems very busy most days and has at least 2 full-time assistants. No packaging, everything on display to pick your own, people seem to like that, I know I do. A bag of my small oranges by his pay-point (no till here) and he asked me if I wanted them for £1, to be eaten soon. OK, I'll have them, there was 33 in the bag.

Cat been inside all today, probably doesn't like the rain any more than we do.

A grim morning, after a mixed day yesterday, this morning is cool. overcast and raining, not a bit of blue sky in sight.

Got a library book to read though, visited the village library yesterday. They threatened it with closure a couple of years ago, but after the villagers displayed a united front against this, and organised a massive petition signed by just about everybody in the village (population approx 5,000) the powers that be relented and allowed it to remain.  So I think it's only fair that we use it regularly, they probably monitor it, looking for a reason (excuse) to close it due to lack of interest in the next round of cost-cutting.
The main town library, incorporating a cafe, several helpful librarians and many more books, involves either a 20 minute bus ride there and another back or a swearing session trying to find somewhere to park.
Our village library, not full-time, no cafe and a single helpful librarian, is walkable for most but has a few parking spaces as well, safe for old and young (not on a main road), and although not having the same selection of reading material, any book can be ordered and collected when available (usually a few days) for the small charge of 50p. Cheaper than bus fare or fuel.

A victory for people power over bureaucracy. And common sense.

Friday again, how fast they come round.

Mrs decreed this morning that I needed a haircut, so off I went dutifully to my barbers shop in Maryport, a chap called George Bell.
Old-fashioned barber shop, not the modern hairdressers style, reminiscent of my memories of how barbers shops were in my youthful days but without the ashtrays and smoke-laden atmosphere, just a sign saying "No Smoking"
One chair, one mirror, and the imitation leather benches on each side seating perhaps 10 men, lino on the floor, all of which haven't changed in 12 years that I know of and didn't look remotely new then. Don't know his age, possibly above recognised retirement, never speeds up or slows down, just a steady pace that seems entirely in keeping with the place.
Hugely popular with the local middle-aged population, and the younger boys for their short cropped all over styles, always a good crack as we say here, one of the few remaining male bastions (except for the occasional young mother presenting her usually protesting off-spring for a trim)

Long may it last.

Another fine morning here, blue sky with white clouds, not as warm, just nice and bearable, it was too hot for us locals, we're much more used to cold, wind and rain than tropical temperatures.

Friday's here again, they seem to come round alarmingly quickly, I've noticed the older I get the faster time seems to run, the long days of my younger years now seem to disappear so quickly.
Visit to grandson today, I've got him a coconut, something a bit different from the usual banana, it sounds full of milk as well.

Noticed the comment regarding Raggy cat, it was named because of its ears being distinctly raggy in appearance, we thought it was a tom, but difficult to tell as it wouldn't let us near enough to establish that. When it became sick, Mrs decided I had to take it to the vet, a project on its own, it finally travelled in a suitcase. The nice young lady vet examined it, shoved a thermometer up its rectum (don't know how she got away with that) and gave me her considered opinion. It's actually female, about 2-3 years old, probably neutered, ears raggy from fighting, healthy except for some tummy bug for which she gave it a pill. And me a bill for £35.
It continues to enjoy robust good health, is quite happy to live outside when we go away on holiday, and has established its routine, came in the back door this morning, bounded across the grass from the jungle bit, ate a bit of tongue and now preening itself on the bed with Mrs.
Yes, it's a lucky little animal.

Another warm sunny day after a cooler and wetter Sunday, amazing how quickly the grass recovers with just one days rain.

Had a walk on Maryport pier this morning, two chaps fishing, a pleasant half hour discussion about the lack of fish to catch, but we still keep trying.

Then home to make dinner, steak slices by Morrisons, bake 30 mins @ 180. Pastry was OK, a puff pastry type, very flakey; don't know about the alleged steak, there didn't seem to be any, just a smidgen of beef-flavoured gravy running through the middle.
Don't know if anybody still makes pies that are full of what they're supposed to be..

Another warm day, but the clouds came in this afternoon and a shower of rain. Feels thundery but none so far.

Feeling too hot to eat, so dinner today was a corned beef sandwich, too hot to cook as well. Won't do me any harm, I could do with being a few stones lighter.

Raggy cat continuing to live outside, visited twice to cadge slices of ham and a drink of water; if there's no milk in the bowl, it jumps onto the bathroom sink and mioaws plaintively until I turn on the tap slowly, takes the water before it goes down the plug-hole. Then goes out again, I think it likes summer.