More Posting Please

This Sunday, 22/8/2011

I've been having a think. I need to begin using this blog as an aide-memoire and if I only post a few times a month then that's not going to be very helpful. I'll start with today, a Sunday - it started dull and has finished pleasantly sunny, blue-skyed and mild. Very nice. We'll have more of that if you don't mind.

Mick and Linda have been staying with us since Friday but they're not here right now. They've spent the day at Mount Stewart with the Haribos and I hope the weather is as pleasant in Down as it is in Antrim because Miss Evie forgot her coat. Yes. Martha and Evie have been staying too.

A while back when I told Martha that her Granda would be staying here this time instead of at her house she was taken aback. But not for long.

I know Granny! Evie and I can stay with you too!

Well - we do have two spare rooms and the Haribos have none since Martha got a room of her own. So I agreed, for two of the four nights.

The first night (Friday) was hectic. The girls were very excited and stayed up way past their bedtime.  We did have a lot of fun though and we were all quizzed on what it's like being so old and then made to play a thankfully tame game of Truth or Dare.

Yesterday they went out with the Norfolk Grands and Hannah and got very spoiled. I had a plan for the evening as everyone was tired. We watched a movie,  Martha's choice, Mr Peabody and Sherman which was thoroughly enjoyed by both the children and three of the adults. Granda Mick took the opportunity to take a nap.

For my archive

On this day a week ago* I was delighted to receive a message from an old friend who lives in Devon. I hadn't seen her for about 12 years and before that another 20 or so. We made plans to meet on Tuesday for such are the joys of social media. To be continued...

*15th August 2021.

    

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Quiet Sunday

I woke up this morning to four extra people in the house and two extra dogs. It was raining heavily and I still hadn't finished trampling down the wildflower meadow area that Rachael and I started yesterday so I put on wellies and a waterproof, fed the hens and started trampling down. A roller would have been good but we don't have a roller.

Eventually, the house cleared. I watered in the polytunnel and made a third and last batch of chilli jam for this year. The first batch was from Lorraine's chillis, the second from Les' donation and the third a mixture with a few green tomatoes thrown in. I don't think my own chillis are ever going to come on.

When I went to check my email I found that my DNA results from MyHeritage had come through. I am 93.2% Celt and 6.8% East European. A peasant through and through. The East European has to have come from a great-great-grandparent and the only one that I know of whose forebears might have come from East Europe (via Scotland) is a Steen, from Sallagh in Carncastle. I've been told by a local genealogist that my father's grandfather John Steen was the son of Jacob Steen from Carncastle. Bert's results are still to come. Perhaps they will be more exciting but I suspect he's a peasant too.

Sallagh Braes

What I Did On My Recent Four Days Off Work

Tuesday evening: Watched BB nominations and had a shower. Tuesday early evening: Done up like a kipper during home visit from our financial advisor Mr GFK. Dogs return from scunging. Tuesday midday: Zoë and I visited Matty and Leitrim Sister and saw highlights of the video from her birthday in Kerry. Best bit for me was Matty mistaking video camera for a still camera and grabbing hold of the nearest grandchild to pose rigidly for photograph. Tuesday morning: Visitors all use Nellybert shower (not at once) after hearing that it was tourist attraction comparable to Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge only cheaper. Dogs escape and go scunging. Monday evening: Musical evening and supper at Nellybert’s. 9 out of 10 people agree that Tor is best guitarist ever to play Nellybert smoking room. Sorry other guitarists who may read this but he is. Monday afternoon: Cooking marathon. Monday midday: Shopping marathon. Sunday evening: Delightful evening with the Stray Toasters at Galgorm Manor Hotel followed by dreadful breach of etiquette by self. (Top secret – need to know basis only) Sunday afternoon: Hanging about reading the papers sort of thing. Sunday morning: Bed mostly. Saturday evening: Swisser visits, eats all the chocolate and tells tall tales as usual. Harry murders rabbit. Saturday afternoon: Delightful afternoon spent in company of Marc, Ed, The Broom, Hannah & Jamie. Also met Jaffs for unfortunately far too brief a time. I sat beside Ed but treated him with utmost respect the whole time. Beowulf was unable to make it and was sadly missed especially by the ladies of the company. Self included. Of course. Saturday morning: Drinking lots of tea, eating nothing, recovering from…. Very early Saturday morning: Delayed allergic reaction to Tinkerton. Very poorly indeed.