Smellio!
For the second straight week we’ve had water problems. This time, exceedingly low water pressure meaning that, while we had a sufficient dribble of water to fill a kettle or a dog’s water bowl, there was no possibility of a shower – drip, drip, drip just won’t do it. So, Ms Playchute and I had to accept that we were going to be smelly for the next few days.
We received the message above from our friendly water board. Nice to know that we were a high priority but my immediate reaction was to send them a reply correcting their message. “No, this often happens when you neglect to maintain your infrastructure because you have (a) paid your shareholders increasingly outrageous dividends, (b) paid your CEOs eye-watering bonus payments on top of their already grossly inflated salaries, all paid for by (c) saddling the company with billions in debt.”
This all started on Saturday afternoon and, as you can see, their initial estimate for fixing the problem was by 1.00 pm on Monday. In fact, it took until 4.00 am on Tuesday. To be fair, the first few messages we received conceded that they had no idea where the fault was – it wasn’t showing above ground, as it were, so they were unable to give an estimate for fixing it. They spent many undoubtedly happy hours driving around the area searching for signs of a burst water main until they eventually found it just around the corner from us. That is when we had the 1.00 pm estimate to be followed shortly after by an 8.00 pm fix and then a 4.00 am fix. Tuesday morning’s shower felt fabulous!
We had our village “Wandering Supper” last night which was its usual great success. Various people volunteer to host a main course or dessert and those villagers who take part “wander” from one household to another. Couples are intentionally split up and you find that you meet folks you wouldn’t normally encounter. And, the food is generally pretty outstanding as everyone pulls out all the stops.
Last time we participated, Penny did a main course so this time she volunteered for a dessert course. We had eight brave souls (ten including us) turn up and make their way through a Strawberry Summer Cake, Mom’s own Pecan Pie (accompanied by Greg’s patented Liquorice Ice Cream), Lemon Curd & biscuit ramekins and a Bread Pudding. All of which were delicious, by the way. After dessert those that were still standing made their way over to the village hall for coffee and liqueurs. Always a fun evening.
I am currently reading The Ballpark and Beyond: An Illustrated Celebration of Baseball’s Rich History by Todd Radom. Radom does a weekly spot on the Baseball Tonight podcast which I listen to, generally as Daisy and I stroll around the neighbourhood, and he has some great stories he tells of interesting, sometimes quirky titbits of baseball history & lore. The other evening I was reading about the accomplishments of one of the founding fathers of modern baseball, Cornelius McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack. He was a player, manager and sometime owner. His playing career began in 1886 and he played ten seasons before becoming a manager and an owner and he eventually retired from baseball altogether at the age of 87! Not surprisingly, he holds all the records concerned with number of wins (and, the number of losses).
The reason for my interest in the career of Connie Mack? He shares a great birthday with someone near and dear to me – 22 December. He was born a mere 88 years before me.
From Rufus, the AI “assistant” on Amazon:
The Ballpark and Beyond: An Illustrated Celebration of Baseball’s Rich History is a comprehensive exploration of 150 years of baseball history by designer and historian Todd Radom.
The book blends meticulous research with visual storytelling, covering:
- Historical stadiums – Including ornate 19th-century ballparks that resembled castles
- Team origins – Stories behind iconic emblems and the evolution of baseball culture
- Legendary figures – From Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to Satchel Paige and Ken Griffey Jr.
- Unique anecdotes – Such as a baseball game played at the foot of the Sphinx and the development of quirky uniforms and mascots
The richly illustrated hardcover presents baseball as “a living chronicle of American history, culture, and imagination,” making it perfect for both dedicated fans and those interested in sports history.
I neglected last week to extend advance birthday greetings to my very fine friend Chip Boynton who sometimes dips his toes into the quagmire that is the Moreton Pinkney Picayune and whose birthday was yesterday. Many, many happy returns.
And, there are a plethora of birthdays coming up this week so a Happy, Happy Birthday to my nephew Gregory Durno whose birthday is today and an equally splendid birthday to my brother Sandy’s wife Pam for tomorrow. And, we mustn’t forget King Charles whose “official” birthday is this coming Saturday. (I know, who cares? And why does he have an official and unofficial birthday?)
We are looking forward to the arrival later today of our very good friends and former neighbours Lesley & Graham. They’re on their way from the Lake District to France for a bit of a summer interlude. They’re always great houseguests.
I had some help with this week’s Photos of Penny’s Garden – the Head Gardner took my phone and shot a few of these. It seems I neglect the ferns and the hostas in the border around the patio. They are lovely I must confess.
And finally, I know you’re all geared up and excited about the World Cup. Did you see the story about the England team’s boots being stolen? A fitting metaphor for a team which gets constantly hyped in the British press and then generally produces a dismally underwhelming performance. Their current odds of 8/1 sounds a bit generous – something more in the region of 100/1 might be more realistic.
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. And, hold your loved ones close.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg