No floods this week, at least although we’ve still seen more than our share of wet and windy weather, I reckon, with more to come they say. And now, one of Penny’s boots has sprung a leak – quelle merde! So much fun! Muddy boots, muddy dog, cold bedraggled and windswept dog-walkers. Lovely.
We had to say goodbye to a good friend this week, which is always sad. In truth, though, we lost him some years ago as our sprightly, physically active, humorous, practical, energetic and funny friend began his descent into the prison of Alzheimer’s. A truly dreadful condition which is so very, very hard on those who love and care for him – consider a donation to your respective Alzheimer’s research organisation if you’re able.
Thursday evening we had the film Twisters as this month’s MP Film Night offering. It’s a film that does just what it says on the tin – a group of tornado chasers in Tornado Alley in Oklahoma chase tornados, oddly enough. Cue wind and rain and flying objects including cars, trucks, buses and people, and millions of dollars of special effects and CGI. The verdict of the Picayune film critics – don’t bother.
I went to the rugby yesterday afternoon with Nick. I’ve written before how his work with Raging Bull results in the occasional couple of tickets to a match at Northampton Saints. The weather forecast for the day was not too inspiring (i.e., dreadful) and it was indeed dreadful. Storm Darragh blew through bringing lashings and lashings of rain, freezing cold temperatures and gale-force winds. Great day for rugby! By the by, this is the fourth “named” storm this season which began in October. That’s about one named storm every fortnight – no wonder it feels as if it’s been raining forever and forever.
Thankfully, our seats were under cover and so, although it was bitingly cold, at least we didn’t have the rain full on in our face as some folks did. The high winds, in particular, brought some amusement. The first time the Saints fullback tried to loft a high kick for his team to chase, the ball ended up about five metres behind him. Hmm, I guess the kicking game is not likely to be very useful today!
Only my brother will understand and/or potentially care about this but . . .
Northampton have been languishing towards the bottom of the table in the English premiership after a slow start to the season. This match was the initial fixture in this year’s European Champions Cup competition which pits the best rugby clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales along with the French premiership, which always makes for some interesting matches. The visitors this time were the French team Castres Olympique and the match was mediocre, I suppose. Northampton were on top throughout and eventually ran out 38 – 8 winners. Not the best day for a rugby match but always fun – thank you Nick!
We’ve had a spate of sinkholes in the UK in recent weeks – the unrelenting rain has undermined footings and foundations. The Guardian recently had a picture essay on recent sinkholes around the world.
Imagine our surprise when we read on the BBC web site that the A361 from Banbury through Byfield and on to Daventry is closed between Wardington and Chipping Warden due to a sinkhole!
When we lived in Byfield this was the road that we used almost every day in getting into town. Now, the diversions add about half an hour to the journey. And, it’s going to take several weeks/months to repair. Quelle merde encore!
We’re out for lunch with some of our lovely neighbours this afternoon and then we are expecting two of our former lovely neighbours for an overnight visit tomorrow – what fun!
You Still Couldn’t Make It Up!
Bananagate rumbles on. The crypto-entrepreneur who paid $6.2 million for a piece of “art” consisting of a banana and a strip of duct tape has now been labelled a “dangerous criminal” in an article on Slate.
So, someone with more money than sense turns out to be a dangerous criminal, (allegedly). I wonder if there is any connection?
And finally, this from Shoe this week seemed about right.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg