A Day Out

 

A Day Out

                 

          We had a rare day out together on Thursday, as we travelled across country from Berkshire to Somerset. 

The skies were full of clouds, some white and billowy, others grey and heavy, and yet others high and wispy.

 There were a few very brief showers, and we were aware that the road surface might be slippery after so many weeks without rain.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Every so often we came across signs that advised drivers to maintain two chevrons distance. White chevrons are painted on the road approximately 40 metres apart as a guide to maintaining a safe stopping distance from the car ahead. It is a way of attempting to prevent rear-end collisions. In poor weather, four chevrons distance is required.

I found this comment: ‘I was once on a road that had this sign. I had to do 110 mph to catch up to be two chevrons apart from the car in front of me.’  

It was followed by ‘Have you ever seen what happens when 2 chevrons get together?’

The answers were:

‘Citroens are born,’ and ‘They turn into a Corporal.’

It took us about two and a half hours to reach our destination, where we picked up the item we were collecting, and then we drove home again. 

It wasn’t an exciting day, on the busy motorways, but it made a change. We didn’t talk much, apart from commenting on the areas we were travelling through and discussing the names of the hills (Quantocks) and what National Highways traffic officers do.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
We also noticed a bevy of Bakers Dolphin coaches on the road, ten of them in about twenty miles. We concluded they were on their way to a coach convention. 😉

Bakers Dolphin is a coach operator in the south-west of England. It has been in existence since 1889 and has won awards for its services. It is one of the largest operators around. I’ve never seen them before!

We were able to go out for the day because Susannah had come home earlier than anticipated. Although she was ‘working from home,’ she was also on hand to serve Jellicoe and Herschel their meals and provide company and chews to Gilbert and Roxy.

Petrichor

 

Petrichor

This word was unknown to me until I saw it twice in one day, courtesy first of Steve and then of Meike. It is a simple word to describe the almost indefinable scent that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell.

Petrichor is a word that was created in 1964 by two Australian scientists to replace ‘argillaceous odour’ as a description for the wonderful, earthy smell that follows rain. The word derives from a combination of the Greek words petra for stone and ichor, the golden blood of the immortals in Greek mythology. (In medicine, ichor was an archaic word for a thin, sometimes foul-smelling discharge from a wound.)

Bacteria in the soil create a chemical called geosmin, which accumulates in dry weather. At the same time, in the same conditions, soil absorbs chemicals secreted by plants. When rain falls, air in the soil forms small bubbles that rise to the surface and discharge fine vapours or aerosols.

 Humans are highly sensitive to geosmin and detect it even in small amounts. Scientists believe it is possible that ancient humans used this smell to find water and living plants during extreme dry weather, and that geosmin slowed the germination of seeds and subsequent plant growth.

Another word I discovered was ‘pluviophile,’ meaning a lover of rain and someone who experiences delight and serenity on rainy days. There must surely be another word to describe those who eventually tire of endless rain. I found there are two (at least!) – ombrophobia and pluviophobia, but I think there will be a short hiatus before any of us in UK fall prey to that condition.                                                                                                                   

                                                                               

Gilbert the Good – my weekend

 

Gilbert the Good – my weekend

                        We had a busy day on Saturday and it was fun.

We went out early as usual as it was going to be hot later on and it’s not good for us dogs to be out in the heat, even in the woods.

 We couldn't go in the ponds, though, as there are signs up warning of DANGER from blue-green algae. The humans found out more from AI:

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is extremely toxic to dogs. It grows in stagnant lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers during warm weather. Ingesting or swimming in contaminated water can cause rapid liver failure, neurological damage, and death within minutes to hours. There is no antidote.

My humans have spoken to some people whose dogs died because of this, and they were very sad.

When we’d been home for a couple of hours, we had visitors! Bethan came to see us with Charlie and Jack. Robert stayed at home because he had banged his head and felt a bit dizzy. Anyway, he was company for Lolly.

It was Charlie’s birthday earlier in the week - he was eleven years old. That’s the same age as Roxy. He had a birthday party before the end of the school summer term. He’s a keen cricketer so the venue for his party, Lord’s Cricket Ground, was perfect. I don’t understand cricket, but I’m just a dog, so that’s understandable. I like ball games, though.  Roxy and I have a ball each and we chase them for a little at the beginning of our walk and then carry them the rest of the time. 

Jack made lots of fuss of Roxy and me, while Charlie played with Herschel and Jellicoe. Everyone in our house was tired the next day, and we didn’t go out. Bethan and Charlie went to Lord’s again for the finals of ‘the Hundred.’ That was cricket, too, and my humans sat and watched it on the television. They wanted to see if they could see Bethan and Charlie in the crowd. They didn’t!

The women’s match wasn’t very exciting, but the men’s final was gripping – well, that’s what the humans said, anyway.

 We didn’t go out as early on Monday, but we still weren’t allowed anywhere near the ponds.

In the afternoon, Roxy managed to find her way past the fence into the garden pond. There’s no blue-green algae in there, just lots and lots of duck weed. The humans were thinking of removing the fence, but they're thinking again now . . .

She only paddled, but her fur soaked up a lot of water which then dribbled all over the house.

On Friday, Susannah and Frankie and Arthur are coming back from their holiday in Devon. They’re going to stay on Friday night and go back to London on Saturday. It will be nice to see them again. I like playing with Arthur – he’s fun.

TTFN

Gilbert

Simple tastes

 

Simple tastes

Occasionally, when the worms bite, simple food is the most desirable.

My father would sometimes sit down with a piece of bread, salt, and pepper, and thoroughly enjoy his simple snack.

I never add salt to my meals, and rarely to my cooking, but yesterday I had a hankering for salt, so I cut a tomato in half and added a pinch of salt. It was delicious.

Recently, I bought some bananas. I like them firm and underripe, but the ones I hadn’t eaten had started to ripen. I didn’t want to waste them, so made a banana sandwich, something I hadn’t eaten for years. I could have mashed them with milk, for that was another childhood treat.

Another simple taste is a bread and butter sandwich. There’s little more satisfying when a snack is called for.

I'm not entering my second childhood. I haven't emerged from my first, yet.

At other times, fruit makes a quick bite.

What are your favourite snacks?

 

 

Brambles Cricket Match

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Each year in August members of two yacht clubs sail into the middle  of the Solent to the sandbank known as the Bramble Bank, or more usually simply ‘the Brambles.’ When the bank emerges from the waves, during low *spring tides, a cricket match takes place.

Of necessity, it is a short match, for the relentless tides turn and the bank returns to its usual status of navigational hazard.

Boats carrying players and spectators from the Island Sailing Club of Cowes and the Royal Southern Yacht Club of Hamble-le-Rice gather and wait for the water levels to fall. As soon as it is viable, everyone scrambles ‘ashore’ onto the puddled sand, the players in their traditional cricket whites. The boundary shrinks at the command of the tide until eventually play becomes impossible, stumps are drawn, and everyone packs up and goes home. The match may last 30 minutes, but on occasions an hour of play has been possible.

The victors are decided beforehand, the two clubs taking it in turns to ‘win.’ The victors then host the post-match meal.

First-class cricketers have taken part on occasion; the fast bowler Stuart Broad played in 2018 and described it as ‘the most unique game of cricket’ he had ever played. Ebony Rainford-Brent took part in 2025, when the ‘pitch’ was so water-logged that she was playing in water up to her knees.

The idea of a Brambles cricket match is believed to have been the idea of the well-known Isle of Wight yacht designer Uffa Fox. However, the modern fixture between the two yacht clubs dates from 1984.

Time to call stumps, I think!

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Saturday, 15^th August was the occasion in 2026 for this match.

*spring tides have nothing to do with the season. The word comes from an Old English word meaning ‘to spring forth’ or ‘swell.’ Spring tides are exceptionally high or low tides governed by the alignment of the earth, moon and sun. They occur twice a month during the new moon and the full moon. The sun’s gravitational pull reinforces the moon’s pull and the two combine to create the greatest swell.

 

Sudden

A welcome drop in temperature has left us feeling sleepy!

15th August

 

15^th August

It is possible to hold different beliefs and honour others who do not share them. It is called respect.

  Vallabhdas Suchak was a Hindu, and one of 2.5 million South Asian troops who served in the Second World War. He found a young comrade dying on a dusty road and offered him water to ease his pain. The young man refused it, saying that it was Ramadan and he did not want to break his fast. The Hindu man tried to persuade him and eventually promised that he would fast in his stead, so the dying Muslim soldier took the water. For the rest of his life, Vallabhdas Suchak honoured his promise to the young man, and observed Ramadan every year.

As a security guard, working in Shepherds Bush, London, after fleeing Idi Amin’s genocidal regime in Uganda, he never spoke of his military service. Offered benefits at Immigration, he refused them. When the officer interviewing him read his papers and realised the man he was, he went across to shake his hand and thank him for his service.

Mohammed Sharif was born in what is now Pakistan. During the war he was speared with a poison arrow while fighting the Japanese. Subedar Dost Mohammad served in the Indian Army Medical Corps and was captured by Japanese soldiers. He and five fellow soldiers were lined up to be executed. Subedar Dost Mohammad fell at the fifth shot, but did not die, managing to feign death.

These are just some of the many stories that the ‘Forgotten Army’ exhibition has been designed to draw attention to, to emphasise the immense support given by South Asian troops to the war effort. It has been organised by the Royal British Legion, whose spokesman said, ‘Victory in the Second World War would not have been possible without the courage and sacrifice of Allied forces from across the Commonwealth and beyond, whose service helped shape modern Britain.’

Saturday 15^th August is VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. On 15th August 1945 Emperor Hirohito of Japan broadcast on the radio to announce acceptance of Allied surrender terms. Since then, the day has been marked by a two-minute silence at noon to remember all those who served in the Far East during the Second World War.

South Asian troops were a vital part of the Allied army and deserve their honours. Their descendants have earned their place in our land and our thanks.

As expected

 

As expected

As expected, and gloomily predicted, the previous incumbent of the Clacton constituency has once again been voted into power. Count Binface came a creditable second, winning 26% of the total vote and retaining his deposit.

Nigel Farage refused to attend the count, claiming that there was a credible threat of violence against him and that the police had advised him to stay away. The police deny that allegation.

It seems at least probable that he did not wish to face the humiliation of sharing the platform with so many people keen to prick the balloon of pomposity that often surrounds such occasions. Regardless, the Parliamentary inquiry into his affairs will recommence, with the possibility that he will be found in breach of parliamentary standards and be suspended from parliament. That could trigger another by-election!

The political cartoon by Morten Morland shows the Returning Officer (the person who announces the results) saying, ‘The People of Clacton have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the standards commissioner completing the investigation into Nigel Paul Farage.’

The day before this farcical by-election, Ann Widdecombe, who was murdered in July, was laid to rest. Like her or loathe her views, she was as straight as a die, a woman of profound faith who worked hard for her constituents. 

What a contrast!

A-level results

 

A-level results

A-level results were published today. A-level examinations are taken by 17 and 18-year-olds in the UK. Congratulations to all who were successful.

Once again, more students achieved top grades – A and A*, almost one in ten were A* - and boys pulled ahead of girls. More than 78% of students receive A* to C grades. The most examined subjects were mathematics, followed by psychology and biology, while political studies, law, and economics increased their candidate numbers.

Most university applicants received offers of places from their first-choice institutions. That is laudable, and hopefully the courses applied for will involve a degree of academic rigour, and be taught by competent, coherent, articulate lecturers. There are no guarantees, of course.

University degrees are not the end of the learning process, but the beginning of a progression into the adult world, where the prizes must be actively, sometimes aggressively pursued. Further degrees are commonly undertaken, and it is not unusual for graduates with higher degrees to make upward of seventy applications before a job offer is made.

It is time more rigour was applied to examinations. The country has drifted into a culture of rewarding all efforts, however feeble, with praise and acclaim. Encouragement is necessary at all stages of life, but somewhere the realisation that triumph is not always guaranteed has been lost, with the subsequent expectation that success is inevitable. Young people are not given any favours with such an attitude.

Many young people should never be encouraged to apply for university. Many drop out after the first year. There are other means of furthering one’s experience and would be more, if the money and effort expended on urging students to attend university had been used instead on apprenticeships.

Perhaps the pendulum will swing away from university education being perceived as the gold standard ambition of a young person’s life.

Oily

It’s another bright sunny August day, spoilt only by an unpleasant oily smell in the air. No doubt it will dissipate. There have not been aircraft in a holding pattern. In fact, there have been very few aircraft flying over today.

One of life’s little mysteries – well, there’s nothing else going on today.  

Clacton

 

Clacton

                                                       Count Binface    

                                                                Image source

There is to be a by-election in Clacton on Thursday 13^th August, brought about by the resignation of its member of Parliament, Nigel Farage. It is alleged that he has wrongly accepted monetary gifts and gifts in kind from dubious sources. He denied all allegations and claimed that he was resigning his seat to put an end to press intrusion into his affairs. He announced that he would be standing as a candidate in the election, in order to test the will of Clacton voters to decide whether he should continue as their MP.

By resigning, he brought to a halt all investigations into his behaviour. Investigations will resume if he is re-elected.

A registered political party may stand more than one candidate if it wishes, provided each candidate has been nominated and authorised by the party. Each candidate must make a deposit of £500 as validation, which is only refunded to them if they gain at least 5% of the total vote.

None of the major political parties have put forward a candidate in the by-election, but there are 34 names on the ballot paper, the largest number in British electoral history, including three established political party candidates. Fourteen more somewhat less conventional contenders include Count Binface who has stood in six previous elections, once under his previous name of Lord Buckethead. He has contested four Parliamentary seats and two elections for London mayor. He lost his deposit each time.

Three candidates representing the Official Monster Raving Loony Party are on the ballot paper. They are Baron Von Thunderclap, (attempted 6 previous seats, lost all 6 and his deposit) Howling Laud Hope (contested 37, lost 37, and failed to get back his deposit) and Nick the Incredible Flying Brick (contested 13, lost 13, and his deposit).

I suspect that many people were hoping that Count Binface would be Nigel Farage’s only opponent, and the eventual victor, but more candidates have jumped on the bandwagon, and the vote is likely to be split several ways.

When all the votes have been cast and counted, the stage in Clacton will be shared by 34 candidates awaiting the declaration in the early hours of Friday morning.

Some may argue that the Clacton by-election is making a mockery of the democratic process by permitting candidates who do not appear to be serious to put themselves forward for election. I believe that we must hear the smaller voices – the man in the fox costume (though I think he may not be standing this time), the Inter-galactic warrior, the people we may abhor but who have a voice for at least some of the populace, those who campaign on just one issue, like having a local dentist in Clacton. We may not support them, but they have a right to be heard.

One thing is certain – all the contestants will claim victory, for that is the way of modern politics.

                                            Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Well!

 

Well!

I bought a book recently. There’s nothing unusual in that except that I keep telling myself not to buy any more books. Actually, I’ve bought several in recent days. One, ‘Remember’ by Lisa Genova, I bought after reading another blogger’s review of it.  Unfortunately, I can’t remember who recommended it (should make a note of these details) but thank you, anyway. I read it in one sitting.

I also bought ‘The wild bee handbook’ by Sarah Wyndham Lewis. This has some nice drawings of bees in it, but the photographs are disappointingly blurry.

‘The Importance of Being Interested’ by Robin Ince is rather harder going than ‘Remember,’ and Rosy Thornton’s ‘Sandlands’ was another blogger recommendation (again, my apologies as I cannot recall who it was.) I suggested it to my youngest daughter who is compiling a collection of short stories she has written, hopefully to be published some time next year. It’s always good to know what the competition is presenting.

During 'From My Mental Librarys's visit to Ripon this summer, Meike mentioned ‘Topping and Company’ in York, where she and her sister tarried a while. She included a link to the website, so of course I had to have a look. 

I discovered a book that looked interesting, ‘A Year with Gilbert White’ by Jenny Uglow.  He is considered the first great nature writer and he lived in Seldon, not far from my home, so a ‘local,’ much like Jane Austen.

I noticed that a signed first edition of the book was available at no extra cost, so I ordered one. I’ve always liked the idea of signed first editions. When I was teaching in Reading, the staff were invited to buy a signed first edition of David Attenborough’s book ‘The Living Planet.’ We were greatly disappointed when the print run of the first edition was exhausted and we had to be content with a signed second edition. Even so, it was something to be treasured.

The book by Jenny Uglow arrived, beautifully packaged, and it was several days before I could bear to remove the inner wrapping. New books are so special, with a wonderful smell and feel of their own, and I felt almost reverential as I opened the cover.

Well!

I couldn’t find the signature! I looked everywhere, knowing it ought to be on the title page, but searching every end page, front and back, I could find it nowhere.

I ‘phoned the company, expressing my disappointment, and they offered to send me another if I returned my copy. I demurred, not wanting to go to the trouble of parcelling and packing it. I suggested that it was unfortunate that a company should make such an error, as it would not be good for their reputation. 

After a short discussion between the person who had been dealing with me and her supervisor, they decided to send me another copy, free of charge, which I was not expecting, but for which I was most grateful. Now I have two copies, one signed, one unsigned. (Maybe it’s saved a Christmas present problem!)

I really must stop buying books! 

Achillea millefolium

 

Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium, more commonly known as yarrow, is a UK native perennial wildflower with umbels of small flowers providing a convenient landing pad for insects. It is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) It is a valuable source of nectar for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and flies, and has a long flowering period, from June to October, and sometimes into November.

Gardeners regard it as a companion plant to their vegetable or flower crops because some of the insects it attracts feed on pests. Ladybirds eat aphids, just as the larvae of hoverflies do. Lacewings eat mites, aphids and whiteflies, while parasitic wasps lay eggs inside garden pests.

The foliage remains green and ferny even in drought. The plant can also withstand wet conditions, but it needs to grow in full sun and will not thrive in shade. It gives shelter and food to the larvae of several moths, notably pug moths, though its natural oils are said to repel mosquitoes. The closely divided leaves are a folk remedy for treating cuts and stopping bleeding.

Yarrow spreads through seeds, and rhizomes will produce new shoots up to 30 cms from the original plant.

It has been cultivated as a garden plant with colours ranging from white and pastel yellow to bright orange and red. It is resistant to rabbit and deer.