Fun in the sand

 There wasn't room for all of us inside!

It was fine until he pressed the Turbo button. We had to hang on then.

What did you do today?

I built a helicopter!

To be specific, I helped build a helicopter. Younger Son designed it and tied the rotors together but I was the one who remembered to take string with us!

A trip to one of Gower's beaches had been planned but GrandSon4 wanted to build a helicopter on Granny's beach so it was settled.

It was a Fire Rescue Helicopter so we spent quite a bit of time filling buckets with water and throwing them over sandy buildings on fire. That was until lunchtime when I replaced GrandDaughter3 as assistant to the Fireman and we had to look out for and avoid three-eyed monsters. Fortunately the helicopter had the ability to turn into a dragon at the press of a button. A fire-breathing dragon at that. So we were saved.

How to tell if you're valued

Or 'A Tale of Two Churches.'

Many years ago I had written, worked on, and practised a piece of writing for a Christmas show. On the night, just about halfway through the programme, the organiser came up to me and said, 'We're running late. Is it okay if we drop your piece?'

I could have said, 'It's only early evening; I don't think people will mind if we're a bit late,' or, 'Couldn't you drop one of the songs instead?'

What I said was, 'Yes, fine. No problem,' before I sat back down next to Husband and explained, with a forced smile on my face and a stomach doing somersaults, that I wasn't taking part after all.

Yesterday I asked Sean, who leads Zac's, if it was okay if I posted something on the Zac's FaceBook page. I'd been feeling a bit low and thought writing something encouraging might help others as well as me.

Sean said, 'Yes, of course. You don't need to ask. I trust you and value your skill in communication.'

See the difference?

A grumpy pair

The finished macaroons. I was baking to take to Zac's to go into the lunch bags for the vulnerable but in the end decided I wouldn't send these are they are a bit too crumbly and fally-aparty to put in bags. Husband and I will have to eat them. It's a tough job but someone's got to do it.

If you recall I also made a chocolate cake. Last night Husband asked for a piece to have with his cup of tea. I said no. He got grumpy so I cut him a piece.

Afterwards I asked if it was okay. He shrugged, 'It was chocolate cake,' he said. He's not even that fond of chocolate cake.

Then I was grumpy.

A busy but not entirely successful afternoon

 

Back right, chocolate cake. Successful

Back left, soul cakes. See below.

Front, coconut macaroons. Look good, don't they? They'll be even better with chocolate bottoms. Except - I can't get them off the paper ...

I only made the macaroons because I had egg whites left over from the soul cakes. If they crumble I will have to be creative with them.

Now the soul cakes. 

I mentioned yesterday that I was writing an article about Halloween. One of the things I discovered was that an old English tradition on All Hallows' Eve was to offer soul cakes to beggars who knocked at the door, in return for which the beggars agreed to pray for the dead of the household.

I wrote about this and decided to include a recipe and photo, so I made this batch. I will send the photo with the article but not the recipe. It's not that they're unpleasant, just not very exciting. I suppose the rich men thought beggars didn't deserve anything too good.

I'll let you know what progress I make with the macaroons.

Incidentally this morning we went to visit Younger Son and while we were having lunch the chickens tried to join in.

Hope you don't need the toilet

Trying to write an article about Halloween and why I don't like it for the next issue of The Bay and find myself learning things, as well as wrapping myself in knots. Time to leave it for a while I think and come back to it tomorrow.

Been a bit of a stationary day today. Husband has just taken George out. I declined to join them as the wind is ferocious. Apparently Mumbles made the national news this morning having already recorded very high wind speeds.

From the BBC website: As of 11:00 BST, gusts of 74mph (119km/h) had been recorded at the Needles, on the Isle of Wight, and 61mph (98km/h) at Mumbles, on the Gower Peninsula, according to BBC Weather.

Husband is under strict instructions to avoid walking under trees, commands he is unlikely to follow  - oh, here's my Sainsburys delivery. Back in a minute. (I knew I should have gone to the toilet beforehand.)

It's hard to avoid trees around here unless you go on the beach where you are likely to be blown out to sea. Take your pick.

P.S. Our outside toilet door has blown off and a branch has fallen next to our car - but not on it.

The best secret

Yesterday GrandDaughter2 said, 'Come and sit on the sofa, Granny. I want to tell you a secret.'

I sat down and she whispered in my ear, 'I love you and I always will.'

Absolutely the best sort of secret. And I'm sure it had nothing to do with the large ice cream I'd bought for her a little earlier.

Speaking of ice creams, unsurprisingly my weight hadn't changed this week. Or maybe that should be surprisingly after birthday celebration ice cream, pizza, and cake, chips on the beach, and a huge sundae on the Pier.

Sospan Fach

My national pride seems to have grown as I have aged. I've always loved Wales - and supported the Welsh rugby team - but some of our traditions I've looked down on, and felt that as a nation we've been outdone by the Irish and Scottish.

Not so any longer. I am finding pleasure in all things Welsh from the music to the history, not forgetting the language.

I started learning Welsh at the beginning of lockdown primarily so I could read books with the two grandchildren who will be in a Welsh medium school, but now I find I just want to learn to speak my language.

We learned a little in junior school and Welsh was compulsory for two years in senior school but it was so difficult - and seemed far less useful a skill than French or German - that I gave it up as soon as I could. No-one at home spoke Welsh, indeed, Mumbles itself is a little English enclave, so there was never the incentive to make an effort. Until now.

But as I say, my keenness to learn the language for its own sake has increased tenfold. I won't have anyone to talk to, of course ...

A turtley sort of weekend

 I forgot to mention that in between Wetlands and party tea GrandSon2 and I had a wrestling match on the trampoline.

He won - but only because he kept taking my feet away from under me.

Also, when we watched the turtle try to turn around on the ramp it almost fell off and when we left its legs were dangling precariously. GrandSon2 was concerned and wanted to tell someone. I said I would when we went to buy ice cream. But I forgot!

We didn't remember until we were well on the way home. I had to try and reassure GrandSon2 that the turtle would be okay.

And speaking of turtles here's the one we made on the beach yesterday.

GrandDaughter3 tottered back and for collecting a stone at a time.

My birthday boy

It was GrandSon4's fourth birthday yesterday. Do you like my card? Took me most of the day before! Mostly because I kept adding to it then not liking what I'd done so having to do more to cover it up ...

Anyway, he wanted to go to the local Wetlands Centre near Llanelli so I went along too taking the other three local grandchildren with me. The weather forecast wasn't the best and when we got there we found that several areas, including the playgrounds, were closed because of the high winds, so that was a bit disappointing but the children enjoyed themselves.

Then we all came home here for pizza made by Daughter followed by cake made by Younger Son.

We argued for ages about whether this tortoise/turtle was real or not - and then it moved. 

Then today it was a trip to a wild and windy - but very warm in the sun - Bracelet.

Followed by chips for lunch on the beach. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Like buses they all come at once

 Husband has had TWO hospital appointments this week.

Both were via video links, the first for his neck/shoulder pain, the second for his stomach problems. Simple remedies for both apparently. Hopefully.

Exercises for the neck and a list of Don'ts for the stomach. Don't drink tea, coffee, alcohol, fruit juice or fizzy drinks. It's caffeine and acids that make these problematic it seems. Add to the 'Already shouldn't' list of fatty foods, and really what is left to live for? 

Possibly chocolate. The doctor didn't mention it and Husband didn't ask. You have to have some fun in life.

Not that he's very careful about what he eats but I think we have a reasonably healthy diet, and he accepts that if he eats peanuts and drinks beer while watching rugby he is going to suffer.

But I wonder where will he get his vitamins if he gives up on fruit? Although that would be far more of a problem for me as it's a staple of my diet.

It's a wonderful year for blackberries. I don't know - and don't want to imagine - what was buried in the Tip over the years it was the town refuse dump but whatever it was it grows fabulous sweet juicy blackberries.

The wit of the woman

 Sitting in the car this morning I came up with an excellent retort to an argument. 

Sadly the argument took place about five years ago.

I am tempted to get back in touch with my opponent just to put him in his place. But of course he would come up with different points and I would be silenced again because I am so bad at debating. I don't think it's necessarily because other people are cleverer than me; they just convince me they are. Or they know a lot about one thing and aren't open to other ideas.

And because I tend to argue with my heart not my head. And my brain is slow.

Never mind. Here is a photo of a conglomeration of chocolate chip cookies.

I admit it

 My filing system is rubbish. 

It makes sense when I do it. It's only years later when I try to find an original document that I discover the flaws.

I'm currently planning to relaunch my first novel prior to the sequel and I want to make a couple of little adjustments but can I find the latest versions? Or remember how I created PDFs/embedded fonts/did any of the hundreds of other things that turn out to be necessary?

I would be so much more efficient if I took the time in the beginning to think ahead, plan, and file appropriately. 

But who can be bothered with that?

* * * * *

Left-over curry for lunch to accompany my daily Welsh lesson. Simple veggie curry is a shade better than left-over mash, chilli beetroot, and rhubarb that I had one day last week.

15 minutes later

And what's more, formatting books makes me very very ratty.

Yummy puri

Stu from Zac's recommended the Hairy Bikers' recipe for prawn puri so I made it for dinner tonight along with a vegetable curry. The puri needed three tomatoes and a chilli - fresh from the garden.

Delicious! Followed by home-grown raspberries (and ice cream).

Buzzards and bays

 A buzzard was circling overhead on our walk today. 

You have to look carefully to see him - he's just to the right of the left sticky-up branch. He was a lot bigger in real life. I said to George, 'Let's stick together then if the buzzard swoops we can cling on to each other.'

George looked up then said, 'You're on your own with that one.'

'Charming. Well, that's okay because I'm bigger than you so he'll choose you.'

George had a think. 'Hm. But you reckon if we stick together we'll be okay?'

'Yes, trust me,' I said.

'You just walked into a tree. Why should I trust you?'

'I know about these things! I have a degree.'

'Ah, but I have Life Experience,' George nodded sagely.

There's no point arguing with him: he has an answer for everything.

Before we got into the woods we walked along the beach. It was low tide. According to the local web site, at 10.2 m, Swansea has the second biggest tidal range in the world. I wouldn't take that for gospel though. I suspect a bit of local bias has crept in, although it's certainly one of the largest. And looking out to sea at low tide you can see why.

This Granny sends her regards

 

The Remains of the Day 

Kazuo Ishiguro

4*

Yorkshire Memoir has written a very detailed description and review over on his blog, and it was that that made me decide to read this classic. 

I very much enjoyed it, its style of prose, the little details, the historical background. It certainly wasn't, as I feared, a difficult book to read. It's not fast or thrilling and in fact most of the story is only hinted at, but four stars from me.

My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologises

Fredrik Backman

5* 

For some time I've been listing this as my favourite book. Re-reading it reminded me why. I would give it 10* if I could. 

It's about the relationship between a woman and her grand-daughter. 

When the grandmother dies she leaves a trail of letters for Sophie to find and deliver, and in so doing to find out the history of the occupants of the block of flats in which Sophie lives, how they're linked, and how each one has a story that has led to how they behave.

That sounds fairly average but this story and the characters are anything but. there is so much about it that I love. There were so many wonderful bits I was going to quote but I'll just leave you with this: Granny used to solve the problem by shouting at the road signs.

Where We Belong

Anstey Harris

4*

Following her husband's death, a woman and her son return to the museum that was home to her husband as a child. How the museum takes a hold on them both forms the basis for the novel. 

The 19-year-old son has Down's Syndrome. I don't think I've ever before read a book in which a main character has this, and it was really educational for me. 

I suppose I would have liked the ending to be slightly different but a lovely story that I enjoyed.

Rough and Deadly

Paula Williams

4*

The second in the Much Winchmoor Mysteries series. I think I gave the first one 3* but knowing the characters from the first book, and recognising references, made this that much better. I'm getting to know and like them better.

A cosy murder. As it says on the book, If you like Agatha Raisin you'll love this.' I detest Agatha Raisin - unpleasant character in badly-written books - but I can't stop reading them. That's not so in this case. Nicer characters and better written.

Is it me?

 Husband was in dire need of some new shorts to replace his fraying holey old ones so we took a trip into town this morning to go to M&S - sensible clothes for older people - and find him some.

We arrived in the car park and discovered Husband had forgotten his mask so first stop was Boots to buy one. There were in and out doors and some arrows on the floor to direct traffic but fortunately it wasn't too crowded. I say 'fortunately' because very few people - even among the staff - were wearing masks.

From there, now suitably masked up, it was off to M&S. For goodness sake! No entrance/exit doors, no arrows, and bare-faced people everywhere. I was getting so annoyed I was tempted to 'shoot' - in true Masked Man outlaw style - the offenders. But I would soon have run out of bullets: I would say there were fewer than one in thirty people masked.

I won't be going there again if I can possibly help it. 

The Welsh government hasn't yet made mask-wearing in shops compulsory. I know there are concerns about the efficacy of them but, along with keeping your distance, they do help provide a level of reassurance at least. 

I certainly didn't see anyone using the hand sanitisers - except me. And Husband when I reminded him.

Being appreciated

Referring back to a previous post: the coastguard hut at the end of Rhossili cliffs was hit twice by lightning during the storm we got caught in on Monday.

So I was wise to crouch as I walked.

Yesterday was probably the hottest day we've had in Swansea this year - it certainly felt like it - and last night the promised storm finally arrived. Noisy but did nothing to reduce the heat in the bedroom. We had to sleep with a fan on and that is a rare thing in this country.

Today it's grey but still very warm.

* * * * * *

I made cake to take to Zac's for their lunchtime meal service. I would have made two but I ran out of eggs - another thing that never happens - it must have been one of those days. 

When I dropped it off there were already people queuing and one of the women recognised me. She yelled out, 'Aw, lasagne! She makes wonderful lasagne.'

I felt bad to admit it was only cake today but the warm feeling of appreciation in the unlikeliest of places remains.

* * * * * *

Yesterday I had baked beans on lettuce for lunch. Please tell my husband that's perfectly normal behaviour.

Oo-er, what have they done to Blogger?

 Last night we had our first Zac's gathering since lockdown - in person as opposed to Zoom that is. The original plan to have a barbecue was deferred because thunder storms and bad weather were forecast. As it turned out it was a beautiful evening.

It was great to see people who for one reason or another haven't been joining us on Zoom.

Today I went back to the hairdresser's to have done what I'd wanted last visit but there hadn't been time for.

They're very subtle purple streaks. So subtle you can't see them at the front. The colourist said she wouldn't put too much in as it was my first time. Next time though ...

Sunflowers in the rain

The weather forecast said it would be dry until this afternoon, and I figured that early (ish) on a Monday morning would be a good time to visit a local beauty spot currently boasting fields of sunflowers.

How wrong can one person be?

First of all there were loads of people there. Probably not as many as a sunny Sunday afternoon but still filling the car park nicely.

As we got out of the car we felt the first drops of rain. 'It's going the other way,' says I, and, indeed, it stopped. At least until we were in the middle of the sunflower field.

'It's very atmospheric,' another visitor shouted across at me.
'Yes, nothing like lightning over the Worm to create an atmosphere.' I didn't add 'of terror'. I figured that if I were lower than everything else I'd be safe so I walked along crouched over, and that was fine until the lightning flashed and the thunder cracked right over our heads. I screamed.
'Okay, shall we go back now?'

By the time we got back to the car we were soaked through. I had to drive home in my knickers.

The photos don't do justice to the sunflowers or the conditions.

 You could barely see the Worm's Head through the mist.

This sunflower looks rather like we felt. 

A few rows of corn planted down the middle.

Up the Bwlch ... almost

Last August one of the God's Squad bikers and a leader at Zac's died. We were on holiday so we missed his funeral so this week Sean suggested I might like to join them to go to the cemetery to see the stone. The bikers were doing a memorial ride but I just drove up in Mini and joined them in the valley.

Martin lived in Ton Pentre so I put the address in Sat Nav and let her take me there. Talk about Indian country: I felt as if I'd crossed over the mountain and into a different land - a very beautiful land. There's a dinosaur film - I can't remember the title - where the heroes go through a cave and come out into  - oh wait - The Land That Time Forgot? It was a bit like that.

No-one warned me I'd be driving along the edges of mountains! My grip on the steering wheel was so tight I'd never have been prised off if I'd crashed. But wonderful views - what I could glimpse of them. I didn't want to stop on the way there because I didn't want to risk being late. I came back a different - much straighter - way where the view wasn't quite as sudden and unexpected.

If you've got to be buried there's a nice view from this cemetery.

These are members of the God's Squad Wales chapter at the grave after Sean had spoken a few words of reflection.

As Sean said, one benefit for me of going was I get to hang out with such a handsome group of men.

I also got to drive in the convoy from Martin's house to the cemetery. Yes, I was in Mini but I still felt should wave graciously to all the people who stopped to watch the bikes pass.

They must make them tough in the valleys because the vast majority of people buried there seemed to be in their 80s and 90s. On one recent grave, along with stones and flowers, someone had left a chocolate bar ...

I mean, what a waste of chocolate.

Things you can do with a Babybel wrapping

I spent the morning playing with grandchildren. It involved mud, stones, diggers, sand, and slugs.

I was shifting tiles so they could look for creepy crawlies and at one point GrandSon4 picked up and then dropped a slug. 'Can you pick him up, Granny?'
'Um, er, well, I'm holding the tile. Could you pick him up instead?'
'Okay.'

Sorry, slugs are just one step too far for this granny.

GrandDaughter3 is getting used to me again now. Lockdown was a very long time when you're only one and a bit. She spends a lot of time studying me. Younger Son says it's because I'm weird. At the time I had a Babybel red wax cover stuck on the end of my nose and GrandSon4 was beeping it. Nothing to see here. All perfectly normal.

The Dog Eunuch

I was talking to George about the book of Esther this morning. 'It's an incredibly well-written book,' I said. 'And so relevant to today's political situation. In fact if the author were writing today I expect she'd be working on something like Yes, Minister, or The Thick of It.'

'Mm,' George was munching on grass. He stopped and looked up. 'She?'
'What?'
'You said she'd be working.'
'Yes, I think she would because she captures the irony so perfectly.'
'No, I mean "she"?'
'Oh I see what you mean. Yes, I think the author could be a woman.'

George shrugged. 'Seems unlikely.'
'Well, I can't see a man writing or knowing so much about the beauty treatments required.'
'True but how likely is it that a woman would have been taught to read and write?'
'You make a good point, George.'

We walked on a bit further. 

'Perhaps it was a eunuch who wrote it,' I said.
'What's a eunuch?'
'Um, good question, George. I'll have to check for precise details but I think basically it's a man who had the same operation you had.'

George did an exaggerated eyebrow raise. 'I've had an operation?'
'Yes, when you were little.'
'You did it without asking me?'
'You were too little to understand.'
'Excuse me but I think I should have been told about this before. What exactly was this operation for?'
'Um, to stop you having babies.'
'I think you'll find it's bitches who have the babies not dogs.'
'Yes, but you have to play a part too.'
'I do?!' George's eyes are wide open and he looks alarmed now. 'What do I have to do?'
'Um...'

The conversation got ever more embarrassing while George got increasingly annoyed. 

End result: he stopped speaking to me.

Book Briefs

Huge number of books. I've fallen behind with my reviewing so this will be a quick run-through on the whole.

Starting with the best:

Transcription
Kate Atkinson
5*

I also read God in Ruins by the same author (4*). Ms Atkinson is the sort of writer that makes me think I should give up now. She is incredibly talented not least in her ability to skip back and for between time periods and not confuse her reader completely.

Both books have second world war backgrounds. The main character in God in Ruins is a fighter pilot and there is a lot of detail about the battles but it's primarily the story of his life. I'm finding I'm a lot more interested in history now I'm older and learning much.

The main character in Transcription is a young woman is recruited to work for MI5 primarily to transcribe recorded conversations but later becoming more involved in the fight against British Fascists. It's the ending that earn it its five stars from me. (Four star is very good while five star is exceptional.)

Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook
Celia Rees
4*

A new book I ordered because it sounded so good. And it is. A young woman is recruited to work in post-war Germany to supervise the re-building of the education system, but finds herself used by a number of different forces to locate a prominent Nazi scientist. One lot want him to be punished for the work he did; the other lot want to get him out of the country so he can work for them.

This book was a real education for me. I knew about concentration camps but not about the sort of experimentation that went on using Jews. It was so appalling - and unbelievable that our government - and the Americans and the Russians - wanted to use the skills of the evil scientists.

Sadly I didn't warm to the main character otherwise this would probably have had five stars. Some of the other women were great though.

Valentine Grey
Sandi Toksvig
4*

A story this time set in the Boer war and yet another history lesson for me. A young woman brought up with freedom in India is taken back to England to live with her stuffy aunt and uncle when her father dies. She longs to be able to do what she used to, and grans the opportunity to take her cousin's place when time comes for him to be recruited and sent to fight in South Africa.

The idea of a woman being able to fool people about her sex for as long as she did is a little unbelievable but again it's the horror of the history and the pointlessness of war that hits home.

The rest are all 3/4*, good for the type of book they are - and that's not a bad reflection.

Summer at the Art Cafe
Sue McDonagh
If you like motorbikes this is the one for you. Lots of details about taking the test but Ash is rather dishy so I'll excuse it.

The Authenticity Project
Clare Poole
Wasn't too keen at first but it really grew on me and it had the right ending.

Escape to the French Farmhouse
Jo Thomas
Everyone/thing is a bit too wonderful but at the moment, on a grey Welsh afternoon, it's what you need.

Murder Served Cold
Paula Williams

Springtime for Murder
Debbie Young

Erroneously

I tap-danced my way across the tip today. Of course I can't tap dance so what I mean is that I did a poor impression of Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor wrapping the elocution teacher in knots in Singing in the Rain.



It all began when I thought the word 'erroneously', which in itself is pretty impressive as my brain usually thinks in words of one or two syllables.

Incidentally I chose not to go grey gracefully.