Charles Dickens 200th Birthday

Charles Dickens was a contemporary with Brunel and Darwin. His densely plotted doorstops are occasionally condensed into triple limericks.

An heir fakes his death; Noddy Boffin

Inherits the dung. He's a toff in

A world that's uncheering

(Think Podsnap, Veneering)

And as wooden as dolls or a coffin.

Fledgeby a vicious young dreg.

And a peg-leg peculiar called Wegg.

And others scroung gems

In the yellow-phlegm Thames.

Although paupers like Betty won't beg.

The heir reappears, comes to life,

And with Noddy he cuts through the strife.

There are villains who quarrel,

Down in ooze (that's the moral).

But the good guys , hurrah, find a wife.

Help in the Garden

God, in His infinite mercy, has sent me some of His little creations to help me with my gardening. Bless them. They are doing their best but it's the veg plot that needs digging over and not my front lawn.

Winter's almost gone. Summers coming on!

This is the view from my spare bedroom window a few minutes ago. Hester and Moo-Moo will be here in a little over 3 weeks. I imagined us having tea on the lawn, lunch in the summer-house and Moo collecting the afternoon eggs. They will be coming here fresh from an Indian spring. Hey Ho!!!

Water Butts

So now all my blue water-butts are linked together. So when the top one is full and we get further rain it then over-flows into the next one and so on down the line. A 200 gallon tank would cost a fortune while this system does the job perfectly.

Whatahoot!!!!

I'm sorry but I've just got to Blog this picture of my granddaughter at Socatots which Hester put on facebook today. Just visually it's stunning; with the cobalt blue and fire-engine red lines. The lemon yellow ball and bib. But put all that to one side and see the little expression on her face, underneath those two little white top-knots!! It's hilarious. Crouching down, teeing up the ball with the goal-mouth as if just about to take a free kick. Her two stout little legs and right arm on the ball making a perfectly balance tripod. It's proper football kit as well. Look at those blue shorts. And look at the long socks. I swear I imagine shin-pads in them. On facebook Hester says that all is not so sweet as the picture suggests. She did a lot of whinging and then vomited. Well for Heaven's Sake that makes her even more like the real thing. That's exactly what you'd expect from a true football hooligan (sorry) fan (sorry) player!!! Send this photo to the agents quick. Surely both Manchester clubs would fight for her signature!! Go Moo!!!