Darling John

 “ Darling John! “ was all I needed to hear, I never even had my mobile on speaker phone, but “darling” resonated through the air like birdcall and I knew who it was before the phone went to my ear.

Chic Eleanor was excited and you could almost make out the wild sweep of her pashmina as she called down the phone “ Darling John, dinner is booked for Friday 7.30 ! Sara and Pask are coming too so it will quite the reunion” 

I smiled. The last time we all met up was last summer where we had an Italian dinner party in our friends’ garden. 

“ I will be there “ I told her and she burst into happy laughter

“How joyous , friends , good food and lots of wine ........” she sang out

Oh I wish I could bottle Eleanor’s positive nature. She has the enviable ability to be able to see the world in a wholly good and efficacious way.

She is charming without ever being false 

So that’s Friday booked . Thursday I am meeting my friend Colin for supper and cinema.

We are going to see A Quiet Place 2 which has got rave reviews, a rarity for a movie sequel. I shall be back writing proper film reviews , a thing I have sorely missed .

The rest of the time I’m on night shifts

On Saturday I’m catching up with another old friend Nigel, but not before I go to the first of the village Coffee mornings which will be back in the Memorial Hall. I had an idea that the villagers could organise an “ impromptu “ get together soon on the green with people bringing their own food and drink.

We will see if it gets off the ground....

I’ve very good at giving my ideas to everyone else to run with.

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Broadbottom

Please don't get me wrong. This blogpost's title does not refer to the wide posteriors of some "Yorkshire Pudding " visitors. No way. I would not be so rude. Broadbottom is a village in  Greater Manchester right next to the Derbyshire border.

I was there earlier today. Taking a long hike in the lovely June weather. No need for a jacket. My FDNY T shirt would suffice. I parked Clint near the church in Mottram-in-Longdendale, smeared any exposed skin with sun cream  and then set off.

The Hague - near Broadbottom

After eight miles I felt weary in the sunshine. Mottram church was just ahead. I would go over a stile and descend into a wooded valley where a stream ran. Up the other side and then through the cemetery to the old church.

But just one problem. Cattle! They were milling around near the stile . A motley crew of around thirty - including a few calves. They had broad bottoms. There was no way that I was  going to panic them. They seemed very interested  in me - as if I  was a pop star getting off an aeroplane. A diversion was in order.

Through long grass. Half a mile to the  top of the sloping ground and then right past a pond. Over a couple of barbed wire fences and then up to the blackened church on a hill. Was the artist L.S.Lowry buried here? I don't know but he lived the last years of his life in this village.

I changed my footwear and put my hairy broad bottom  into  Clint's cockpit, ready for the hour long drive back to Sheffield via Glossop and The  Snake Pass. Yet another "Grand Day Out". I could say more, much more, but on this occasion I won't.

The parish church in  Mottram - dedicated to St Michael and All Angels

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1.38

A lovely day 

Enjoy my gardens

 

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Smile

 Smile child

It’s alright 

To be

Human

After all

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The Underpants Hammock

My friend Ruth enjoyed her time at the cottage.

The dogs were well behaved, polite and even helpful  ( smart arse bum lickers! ) and suddenly Albert presented himself as  her new best friend.....turncoats every one of them! 

 But It was busier than I expected she admitted yesterday much busier

I asked her to explain 

It turned out that the toing and froing of villagers caught her somewhat by surprise.

Village Elder Islwyn popped round for a few chats , Trendy Carol too, and Hattie popped around to collect Mary for a gentle walk seeing that shes pregnant.

Old Trev got a bit tongue tied after he had knocked on the kitchen window and found Ruth smiling at him and Mrs Trellis found the presence of a new lady at Bwthyn y llan  rather “intriguing” 

I await that fallout 

“ Will you be coming back to house sit again.?” I asked hopefully

“ Of course “ Ruth laughed “ I loved it ! “ 

Big sigh......

The last of my birthday gifts arrived yesterday too

My nephew sent me a photo of himself and his dog 

I love candid shots where you can almost hear the person photographed laughing and talking

And this photo captured just that 

A great gift.

Tonight I’m just pottering as I’m back on nights tomorrow

I know I’ve been  missed as Dorothy is shadowing me a little more than usual.

As , when I Sat on the loo for a very satisfying number two

Her head rested, quite neatly in the between knee hammock left by my underpants

Her eyes never leaving mine 

I will leave you with some more “ views from my window” competition

Please send more if you have them, they are a delight to view 

jgsheffield @hotmail.com 

 

And my favourite which I suspect is a fake 

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Lucidity

Beau and Peep were bathed in the light of a gorgeous summer's morning on Saturday. It was 5am and with camera in hand,  I padded out upon our lawn in my bare feet. They have been out there for a long time now. The mother - Beau arrived from Nottingham in October 2011 and the lamb, Peep arrived at Christmastime in the same year. 

They have been no trouble and have often given momentary delight to visitors and tradespeople alike. "Oh! I thought they were real!" is a remark we have often heard which is something of an insult to Beau and Peep because they are real! I overheard them...

PEEP Mummy? What's a pandemic?

BEAU Shut up and keep eating the grass!

 

Soon after snapping these pictures, the sun arched higher and the shadows of houses and trees swept across the lawn till Beau and Peep were no longer bathed in that lucid morning light. The moment was gone.

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Scrambled Eggs In Bloomsbury

 I've walked over 35 thousand steps in three days, subsequently I slept like a log in my lovely hotel bed. 

Keeping up the health thing I've just had a nice walk from Covent Garden through Bloomsbury and have just had scrambled eggs on ONE toast at the Tropea Cafe in Russell Square.

my next stop is Euston and home.

But I will sit here in the sun, sip my coffee and watch the dogs play in the park a little while longer

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