Rained most of the day, has stopped now, at least we didn't get the thunder storms that they forecast for this afternoon. Haven't done much today. Received some phone calls from family and a couple of friends. Golf course was closed because of weather. But son and nephew still met up for meal and chat. Trying to find something on TV to watch, there's not much on tonight. @Ladybird4 it always amazes me how wonderful the old buildings are, when they didn't have the equipment and tools there are now. I can't see many modern buildings still standing in many many years to come. Especially as builders buy one property, knock it down and build at least 4 in its place. So sad.
Thank you @star gaze lily . I’m just so relieved that the news was good. I agree with you about how wonderful all our old buildings are, and how they have withstood the test of time. It amazes me, too, how on earth they were built without todays modern equipment, and how they still stand. So many buildings today will wither into nothingness, but I suppose that is true of many buildings built then, too - ordinary buildings, that is, not built to last.
I collected 6 crates of letters for delivery on Friday morning. As that meant I was 3/4 of the way to the location of my rounds and the weather was set fair, I started straight away. Haven't tallied up yet but think I did over half during the afternoon. Remarkably, I managed to avoid any confrontations with angry householders or their dogs (the literature the council gives out with the letters suggests that this is quite common) but did fail to deliver to 2 properties. One had two large canines roaming around the front garden with warnings on the gate. No answer from ringing the bell on the gate or shouting "Helloooooooo!". Not going in there The other non-delivery was because they didn't have a letterbox - one of 3 on the same street. It's not a particularly well-to-do area, so I do wonder why folk choose not to have a letterbox. Must've been something being put through that was undesirable to them. The mind boggles
I did have one (fairly one-way) conversation with a householder, who came out as soon as I put the letter through. The local council mark on the envelope obviously empowered him to start with, "I'm not a racist, but all the illegal immigrants aren't coming from war-torn places." I pointed out that Ukraine was at war, listened politely to his views on Putin, etc. and went on my way as quickly as possible.
I'll probably try and finish the rest on Thursday/Friday this week (if the weather forecast is correct) so brace yourself for further tales
Just look what I forgot to post last night - I must have been more tired than I thought.
A very good morning @Biglad, one and all. Biglad it must make you appreciate what posties have to go through after your experiences.
I heard yesterday - out of the blue - (Ante = without warning) that my Australian nephew and his wife have arrived in the UK for a flying visit. I have no idea of their plans so will just have to wait for things to evolve.
Signing out now. See you all tomorrow. Fingers crossed that its drier. I do hope Ante hasn't had any severe thunderstorms.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Morning all from sunny Keele. Bit of a mare of a drive up here yesterday in the torrential rain. Should have taken about 3 hrs - actually took 5. Three long delays en route including the remains of what looked like a bad accident - central reservation was completely squished and debris everywhere. Just as well I didn't leave earlier as originally planned - I might have been in the middle of it.
Met some of my fellow Latin palaeographers last night. They all seem like a nice bunch and good to see a few younger people too. They are probably attending to facilitate research, professional development, or educational qualifications. The rest of us are here for fun and to stretch our brains.
Hazel - thank you for posting the pics from Durham. Beautiful architecture in the cathedral. Did a course on medieval architecture a few years ago. All those designs and windows were planned using just a ruler, a set square and a pair of compasses - the main tools of a mason. It is truly amazing the incredibly intricate designs (think the rose window in York) that can be conjured up using those 3 basic tools.
One of the cathedrals(can't remember which) still has the original medieval sand floor where the mason would work out his design in the sand and then rub it out when he ran out of space and needed to start a new drawing.
Right - best get up and start the day. Amo, amas, amat.....
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Amamus, amatis, amant T'Bird. Sounds like you will be having a very instructive time and I'm certain you will enjoy it. Glad you got safely through that nightmare of a journey. Seems so strange you can fly to the south of France in under 2 hours yet it took you 5 hours to get to your destination.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Good morning Biglad, LB, T'bird and all to follow.
LB, that's quite a surprise. Hope they will have time to visit you.
Grey and chilly Sunday morning. It rained whole night, but now is dry. If stays like now, I'll go to cottage. Can't let courgettes to grow too big after so much rain. I helped my neighbor to get rid of jimson weed from her garden. Seeds probably came with compost, and this plant is quite poisonous. Now is time for tea and breakfast.
Posts
Haven't done much today. Received some phone calls from family and a couple of friends.
Golf course was closed because of weather. But son and nephew still met up for meal and chat.
Trying to find something on TV to watch, there's not much on tonight.
@Ladybird4 it always amazes me how wonderful the old buildings are, when they didn't have the equipment and tools there are now.
I can't see many modern buildings still standing in many many years to come.
Especially as builders buy one property, knock it down and build at least 4 in its place. So sad.
I agree with you about how wonderful all our old buildings are, and how they have withstood the test of time. It amazes me, too, how on earth they were built without todays modern equipment, and how they still stand. So many buildings today will wither into nothingness, but I suppose that is true of many buildings built then, too - ordinary buildings, that is, not built to last.
I collected 6 crates of letters for delivery on Friday morning. As that meant I was 3/4 of the way to the location of my rounds and the weather was set fair, I started straight away. Haven't tallied up yet but think I did over half during the afternoon. Remarkably, I managed to avoid any confrontations with angry householders or their dogs (the literature the council gives out with the letters suggests that this is quite common) but did fail to deliver to 2 properties. One had two large canines roaming around the front garden with warnings on the gate. No answer from ringing the bell on the gate or shouting "Helloooooooo!". Not going in there
I did have one (fairly one-way) conversation with a householder, who came out as soon as I put the letter through. The local council mark on the envelope obviously empowered him to start with, "I'm not a racist, but all the illegal immigrants aren't coming from war-torn places." I pointed out that Ukraine was at war, listened politely to his views on Putin, etc. and went on my way as quickly as possible.
I'll probably try and finish the rest on Thursday/Friday this week (if the weather forecast is correct) so brace yourself for further tales
Met some of my fellow Latin palaeographers last night. They all seem like a nice bunch and good to see a few younger people too. They are probably attending to facilitate research, professional development, or educational qualifications. The rest of us are here for fun and to stretch our brains.
Hazel - thank you for posting the pics from Durham. Beautiful architecture in the cathedral. Did a course on medieval architecture a few years ago. All those designs and windows were planned using just a ruler, a set square and a pair of compasses - the main tools of a mason. It is truly amazing the incredibly intricate designs (think the rose window in York) that can be conjured up using those 3 basic tools.
One of the cathedrals(can't remember which) still has the original medieval sand floor where the mason would work out his design in the sand and then rub it out when he ran out of space and needed to start a new drawing.
Right - best get up and start the day. Amo, amas, amat.....
LB, that's quite a surprise. Hope they will have time to visit you.
Grey and chilly Sunday morning. It rained whole night, but now is dry. If stays like now, I'll go to cottage. Can't let courgettes to grow too big after so much rain. I helped my neighbor to get rid of jimson weed from her garden. Seeds probably came with compost, and this plant is quite poisonous. Now is time for tea and breakfast.
Wish you all lovely Sunday.