Pic of the week 22/5/16
This pic was taken on Tuesday 17th May and shows Sam nearly as tall as me!
He’s getting big, … and strong. I now have to use all my wiles and cunning to defeat him in a wrestling or pushing match, but defeat him I do!
All The Small Things – blink 182
Track of the week 15/5/16
This one’s due to the wonder that is YouTube.
Although a little frightening that it knows my tastes so well, I love the YouTube MyMix playlist – obviously it plays tracks you’ve watched before, but also throws in some vids that you haven’t watched, but thinks you might like.
And this is how I discovered this track. No idea of its discography, when it was released, genre etc., but I know I like it, so much so that it has made it onto my iPod as a purchased song and now elevated to the glory that is “Track of the Week.”
(A great running track, too. I like to have it kick in near the end of my run – about 2 k out.)
Shed Base
Pic of the week 15/5/16
So last week was removing the hedge, this week was laying the shed base.
I used the bag of sharp sand left by the builders in the front garden and mixed it in the ratio 8 parts sand to 1 part (white) cement – again left by the builders. This gave me a dry mix which I then spread on the area and added cheap paving slabs from B&Q on the top, tapping them down to get the level.
Gathered up some of the spare sand/cement mix and added some more cement which I brushed into the joints as pointing, Still have some of this mix in a bucket, should I need to add more pointing.
It’s all (pointing & base layer) not “gone off” – I’m presuming that the natural moisture in the grounds percolates through and causes it to set, although I don’t expect it to go rock hard. The area wont be subject to lots of traffic – just needs to provide a solid level base for the shed to go up (hopefully in half term) Plan is to get an 8×5 foot “pent” shed. Watch this space – I’m sure that that is a blog post waiting to happen!
(p.s. look at them Lilly-white legs! Don’t think they’ve ever been this white, certainly not in mid-May. Although its been warm & sunny for the last week, it has been a cool/cold spring and my legs only emerged a week ago. But the buns are looking firm and round!)
Leave a light on for me – Belinda Carlise
Track of the week 8/5/16
No back story, no particular reason why, just a great uplifting feel good song that you just have to sing along to, and that is enough to make the cut as this week’s track of the week.
Shed Hedge
Pic of the week 8/5/16
The sun has finally shone (shorts worn for the first time this year on Friday 6th May) and we decided to tackle the hedge along the fence, in preparation for the (new) shed to go there, allowing the removal of the summer house that sits in the prime sunshine spot.
There was quite a bit of hedge to get rid of – this pic doesn’t really do it justice, but it was big, overgrown and very, very prickly.
Chopped back, awaiting disposal.
Starting to look a lot tidier
… and the finished space. Didn’t have quite enough membrane so the corner will wait whilst I order some more. The it will be filled with sand (finally getting rid of the dumpy bag left by the builders at the front of the house) mixed with a bit of cement and topped with paving slabs, ready for a new shed (still to be ordered.)
I Will Always Love You – Sarah Washington
Track of the week 1/5/16
Whitney’s original was always a bit too schmaltzy and saccharine, but I do like this “danced” up version of “I Will Always Love You” by Sarah Washington. Takes me back to my time in Germany, when I’d only just met Becky. I knew then, as I still do now, that I would always love her.
I like the sentiment and the lyrics:
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this I wish you love
What more could you wish for for someone?
And that is why it makes the cut as a track of the week.
Becky & Me
Pic of the week 1/5/16
Taken on the evening of Friday 29th April 2016 before Becky & I went to the Prefects Dinner.
Garden
24 April 16 A garden update and a few pics for the record.
After a very mild winter before Christmas, it has been a cold Spring, but things are beginning to show signs of life.
Mowed the lawn for the first time last week (17th April).
The brown tree is beginning to bud and the first leaves are starting to form.
The big shasta daisies are greening up and putting on growth spurt.
Signs of life – hopefully will be able to compare some pics in a months time and the garden will be far further on (& I shall be sitting in it enjoying the sunshine …!)
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Track of the week 24/4/16
A sad week that saw the passing of Prince.
Always a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, I had the album “Purple Rain” on cassette tape and remember listening to it on loooooong train journeys – often from the furthest reaches of northern Scotland to the civilization that was London, whilst serving at some far-flung outpost (think RAF Kinloss, RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars – the latter of which was at least only 50 mins beyond Edinburgh, unlike the first two which really were at the ends of the earth.)
A couple of years ago, I bought the album on CD and was pleased to discover it has stood the test of time, and still worth a listen. Finding Prince’s work online is not easy – he protected his copyright vigorously (fair enough), so all the more important to own a physical copy.
He also wrote a lot of great music – I knew he wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” which was brilliantly performed by Sinead O’Connor, I didn’t know that he wrote “Manic Monday” by The Bangles, but he did, and that is enough to make it my track of the week
Kitchen!
Pic of the week 24/4/16
I think that we can now safely say that the build is “done” (although there is still a lot of decorating to do in the old build) and I think this picture encapsulates the kitchen.
If anything, the pic doesn’t do the vastness of the space justice, but it is a great space – I love it. Worth the disruption and empty bank account!