The mice are eating the shed. Yes, the very same shed that – almost a year ago – we laboriously painted in blue and cream, kicking over the paint can in the process (Blog 37). As it contains garden implements, the shed falls under the purview of Mrs S: it is on her slop chit.Continue reading “Blog 83. Whatever Happened to the Little Wurlitzer?”
Tag Archives: LOCKDOWN
Blog 82. Splat.
Well, that’s it then: the road back to normality. Allegedly. Much to my surprise, after my diatribe in the last blog, the prime minister has set out a tentative plan for easing restrictions and he has not based it on unrealistic infection targets or other numeric data. Clearly, the prime minister and members of theContinue reading “Blog 82. Splat.”
Blog 80. Pull The Ladder Up, Jack…
“Someone seems to have got out of bed on the wrong side this morning”.So went the breakfast greeting from my dear wife earlier in the week as she bounced into the Garden Control Tower in her new plimsolls. I grunted in reply. I had woken at 0500 and tossed and turned, as you do, snuggledContinue reading “Blog 80. Pull The Ladder Up, Jack…”
Blog 79. Still in Isolation
Earlier in the week I fell foul of my own sage maxim outlined in Blog 75 namely, “never trust instruments alone”. For this, I blame the influence of that latter-day Eve, Jane, who had enchanted me with her siren song on health. It was Day 3 of my quarantine with CV19 infection and still noContinue reading “Blog 79. Still in Isolation”
Blog 78. “Unclean, Unclean…”
Well that’s a bit of a bummer. Apparently I have Covid 19. Yet, by some fluke, Jane is uninfected. There is, of course, nothing wrong with me or, rather, I have no symptoms whatsoever. It all started with Jane complaining yesterday that she had a headache, aching limbs and generally not feeling tip top. IContinue reading “Blog 78. “Unclean, Unclean…””
Blog 76. Picnic Anyone?
Another day in ‘solitary’. Well, sort of ‘solitary’: I still have Jane for company. I thought of scratching off the days on the walls of my cell, but thought better of it as I would undoubtedly be required to repair the marks with Polyfilla and re-emulsion them in the Spring. My, how January drags on.Continue reading “Blog 76. Picnic Anyone?”
Blog 75. Start Pumping That Iron.
Well, I never thought I would ever be reporting this: it is undoubtedly a tergiversation in Shacklepin behaviour, so marked that I am still reeling under the realisation that I have done it. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, better out than in: I have ordered an exercise bike. Those who know me,Continue reading “Blog 75. Start Pumping That Iron.”
Blog 74. Keep Taking the Tablets
Well, if you are reading this, then congratulations: you have survived Covid 19, a particularly unpleasant virus that has dominated the year 2020 and made it a thoroughly miserable one. The virus may still be with us, but I hope that – by this time next year – we will at last be free toContinue reading “Blog 74. Keep Taking the Tablets”
Blog 73. …For Mighty Dread Had Seized Their Troubled Minds…
Merry Christmas one and all. It is now Christmas Eve and, if our Christmas is not turning out quite as jolly as we are used to, then let us make the most of what we have. Reasons to be cheerful: vaccines against Covid 19 have been found and a programme of immunisation is under way;Continue reading “Blog 73. …For Mighty Dread Had Seized Their Troubled Minds…”
Blog 72. Keep Your Bottom Clean.
I knew I was getting old when I was in HMS NONSUCH and responding to one of the many machinery breakdowns that characterised my time onboard. I was sliding down one of the near-vertical ladders onboard, gripping just the side rails, with my feet off the treads like you see in those American films, whenContinue reading “Blog 72. Keep Your Bottom Clean.”
"A Very Vintage Chap..." 