What a wonderful day. Eldest son and bass player par excellence, George, came over to see us with his new girlfriend. Going for a walk had been on the agenda, but continuing inclemency in the weather made that option seem strangely unappealing. So we decided to drive out to Grosmont and give Gentle Jane the [...]
“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Tony.” “Tony who?” “That’s politics for you . . .” Well, that’s the political jokes out of the way, so let’s get on with real life. No doubt there are those of you out there who think that real life for us is peering down old mouseholes looking for bees. But [...]
I fear for Bombus L, what with the dreadful weather we have been having lately. However, as I said last week, if he survived the Great Storm of last Tuesday he should be okay now. Nevertheless, when one is asleep but aware that the roar of another downpour fills the night, and when one awakes [...]
In my preoccupation with book writing and keeping my eye on the activities of Bombus L, I forgot to tell you about Sally’s hubcaps or, to give them the distinctly trans-Atlantic description more usually applied, wheel embellishers. Does the American psyche possess such a degree of insecurity and lack of confidence that it has to [...]
I’m shocked. Nine days gone since the last diary entry. What can I say? I can say that I have been somewhat busy, distracted even. For those of you who haven’t actually given up reading the diary, you may be aware that I am writing a book. Well, I’m pleased to say that I have [...]
My Grandpa, as I have no doubt mentioned before, was a wonderful character, a true son of the soil intuitively in tune with nature. Not for him the pronouncements of weather forecasters – he had a countryman’s instinct for what the weather was likely to do at any one time. But I wonder what he [...]
Had a chat with Martin, our grower of organic fruit and veg in the next village. On his 40-odd acres, he keeps chickens and a few Oxford & Sandy Black pigs. Just to remind you, these pampered porkers get fed on leftover vegetables and fruit, especially strawberries in the summer and apples in the autumn. [...]
Well, it just had to be done. We had to go back to Gentle Jane’s in Grosmont to sample the cream tea. But only because it was Sal’s Dad’s birthday on Friday, you understand. Not because we have an insatiable desire for home made cakes, or anything like that. All our guests this weekend are [...]