Back from the land of Far Horizons.........................................................

-
Ok, have been back to Lincolnshire again this weekend after a 2 day stop off in Derbyshire to carry out my external examiner role at the University of Derby. It has been well documented on facebook - but suffice to say that my plebian tendencies were very much to the fore as I sat alone in the v. posh hotel dining room. Had hoped to be inconspicuous - but ended up being the ONLY person in a huge white, pristine dining room. Waiter couldn't have been any more "waiting" and was there to second guess my every whim. Apparently I now qualify for the term "madam" - hmm not sure too happy about that!
Sitting alone with my book (wish now that I had taken some classic or mighty tome - instead was the latest Maeve Binchy!) I was presented with a goat's cheese bonbon served on a china spoon and a bed of crushed tomato, "compliments of the house, madam" (hate goat's cheese but waiter was so pleased with himself and waited for my reaction so had to feign delight!). I ordered water which was presented for me to taste and then my glass filled almost with every mouthful (leave me alone!!!!). In the end the food was OK - if minimal/nouvelle cuisine - so quickly retired to me room, donned the trusty kaftan and ate biscuits!
Anyway, duty discharged I wended my way onto Grantham for a weekend with family.
Friday evening found me in Sleaford with my dad, my godmother and her husband, having been invited for fish and chips (never turn down good food!) and a good gossip. Imagine the conversation slowly moving on from ususal catching up news and then suddenly finding that you are in a room of 70 somethings and they are talking about their experiences of flashers - in graphic detail!! (1 as a seemingly perpetual victim of a variety of flashers and 2 as retired police -officers). Not what one might reasonably expect from an innocent friday teatime invitation. Some of the stories I could share with you if my modesty and online reputation were not a barrier!!!!
Saturday, caught up with a bit of shopping in Grantham - if you're reading this anyone from Grantham Council - what have you done to my home town??!! As someone who has a reputation for telling people how they should do their jobs I am close to writing an open letter to the Grantham Journal to point out where they are going wrong! Traffic, the market, cultural and historial landmarks - all are a complete shambles!!
Anyway - enough of my ranting - Saturday evening was spent with brother and family (overdosing on the usual chinese spare ribs I have to have whenever I visit)  - and a good hour's entertainment passed watching 3 teenage boys on turd patrol (clearning dog-poo from the lawn). The sounds and sights of shear disgust eminating from said boys was a delight - followed eventually by the inevitable competitions as to who had collected the most/ had the smelliest etc. All watched through the glass of a (very strong!!!) stawberry daiquiri.
After a spot of gardening on Sunday, Dad and I went out to lunch - very old restaurant called Catlins where Grantham gingerbread was first made, a quick look around the antique shop and then headed home leaving the land of the far horizons behind me for another time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's a strange thing......

-
It's a strange thing that happens when you try to expand and develop your horizons. From the seed of a good idea you strive to learn more about it (whatever "it" is) and begin to apply your learning to given situations/new developments etc. You gain a level of confidence with this new thing - and then you jump into a larger pool (I guess your horizon expands!) and you realise how little you actually know about it - and it starts all over again. I know this is not particularly earth shattering news to anyone - but it perhaps mirrors my current state of mind. What I'd like to know is: A)Where do you find the energy from to carry horizon scanning on and b) how do you get over the feeling that one day you'll get caught out and someone will find out what little substance lies behind the facade?? Just a thought for today!
Read more

The Secret in My Attic .........

-
Image
Well not so much a secret as a guilty pleasure. of course I'm talking about my model railway. Definitely a work in progress - and maybe it will never be finished - but I am hoping to spend more time with it than I have over the last two years. I always remember that one of my favourite things as a child was a Hornby engine and a small square hardboard with a circular track. I don't remember what happened to it - I think it burned out - but I loved it. A couple of xmases ago my husband surprised me with a Hornby model of the Flying Scotsman - only problem was we had nowhere to put it - so we had the attic converted (bit drastic I know!) and it lives up there. If we ever move it can't come out as the board that holds the track was put up before the stairs went in!! We have gradually put in the track and some buildings - and plan to do so much more- and eventually it will reflect a small taste of Norfolk in the '50's and '60's with a Broad and wherry, a church ...
Read more

BRUNO’s TALE

-
Image
    At the age of 14 years, our beloved Bruno Bear left us to go over the Rainbow Bridge. His heart became too big for this world, a heart stuffed full of love for all things, which finally gave out on 4 th August 2020.   Here is his story……..   After we lost our sweetpea, Pepe, on Valentine’s Day 2008, the dog shaped hole was much too hard to bear and we wanted to share her legacy with another rescue dog. We visited Leigh Dog’s home and whilst all around us dogs were barking and clamouring for attention, this one dog, very striking in appearance, was sitting quietly, gazing out of his cage. As we spoke with him he picked up his bowl and went into the back area of the cage and lay down. They knew very little about him other than he was a stray from Salford, was about 2 years old and had been at the shelter for just over 4 months. We took him out of the cage for a walk around and it was very clear that he was well liked and was used to receiving treats from the volun...
Read more