Blog 93. The Blue Poop Challenge

Whatever happened to Wonderloaf? Or Mothers Pride? Or thick sliced white bread? I posed this question to Jane as I gazed, disappointingly, at the rough lumpen toast with bits in it that rested on my plate at breakfast time. The previous night we had pondered on the important issue of what to have for breakfastContinue reading “Blog 93. The Blue Poop Challenge”

Blog 92. Hurrah For The Life Of A Sailor!

The heads ceased working at 0715.  I know this because I had just finished using the facility and I was now (literally) faced with the ghastly residue.  The heads, as you seasoned sea dogs will know by now, is the nautical equivalent of the lavatory.  As there is only one lavatory onboard I suppose theContinue reading “Blog 92. Hurrah For The Life Of A Sailor!”

Blog 88. Come back dressed like an officer.

The first signs of a crumbling civilisation are beginning to show.  I refer not to the continuing open arrest of British citizens in their own country, nor to the compulsory wearing of face nappies on boats in Force 8 gales; not even to the riots in Bristol and Northern Ireland.  No, I refer to theContinue reading “Blog 88. Come back dressed like an officer.”

Blog 87. “Oh, to be in England now that April’s there…”

There cannot be many people who get up at 0500 just to visit a boat, but – heh – we have had no real excitement for five months, so this was a special occasion.  In its magnanimity, HM Government has permitted us to leave our local area as part of its relaxation of Covid regulations;Continue reading “Blog 87. “Oh, to be in England now that April’s there…””

Blog 85. “Hi Tweety; So Long Jerry”.

Spring is trying to arrive in Melbury though, because of a storm last week, I had to lash down our newly painted garden furniture (Blog 83) and secure the entire outfit to the house using a large ring bolt and a double sheet bend. The narcissi are up and blooming, primroses and celandine decorate theContinue reading “Blog 85. “Hi Tweety; So Long Jerry”.”

Blog 84. Still On The Naughty Step

It is census year in England (I think Scotland does its thing next year) and I have just completed the form online. Yes, yes I know the census date is actually 21 March and I was jumping the gun a bit but, let’s face it, under the present situation we won’t be anywhere else butContinue reading “Blog 84. Still On The Naughty Step”

Blog 83. Whatever Happened to the Little Wurlitzer?

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?”

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”