Busy Days

It's all been a little tense.  

Full Governing Body meeting last evening and we're in lock-down.  So we needed to 'meet' online and as the clerk to the governors I set up the meeting.  My IT talents are almost NIL and the very idea was enough to send me screaming for the hills.  (I'm kidding  it was nowhere near as bad as that but I wasn't looking forward to it).  

I seemed to spend days worrying and checking and re-checking the site but in the end it was fine.  The start was a bit hairy ~ I was thrown out of the internet and I had to log back in quick-sticks ~ but everyone 'attended' and the meeting was good.   

Mind you, I'm certainly hoping we are back to 'normal' by the next meeting!    

In other news:
I've just finished our Book Club ZOOM meeting.  We read 'The Legacy of Mr Jarvis' (Jude Hyland) which we all felt was very well written.  It is goes back and forth in time between the late sixties and now and and the sixties were described very much as we remembered it from our youth and school days.  All but one of us enjoyed it ~ the only dissenter found the times she described somewhat depressing. 
Next time:   Mill on the Floss 

Frankie and the Pips came round this afternoon.  We stayed in the garden and Frankie, Lu and I socially distanced ourselves and relaxed in the garden chairs while the boys and Kpip hared around letting off steam.  

No photos today as my camera needs charging. But hopefully a few flower photos tomorrow.

Stay safe

Po xx 

In the Right Garden

I spent time in the garden today ~ gardening ~ which I am really not very keen on!  My garden is always very green.  That's it!  Green!  I'm not sure whether I buy the wrong plants, or I don't plant them properly or I don't talk to them sufficiently.  But I never seem capable of growing flowers in my garden.  

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the lupins grow in their bed, the geranium in its pot and the night scented stocks and the nasturtium seeds thrive.  I'll keep you posted!

I am, however, happier about the south side of the garden.  It was always a mess:  an old chain link fence which I hadn't the strength to pull out and large trees almost all with ivy thicker than most people's legs entwined around them.

The triangle of land at the back of my garden doesn't appear to belong to anyone (it's not mine ~ I checked) and has always been a dumping ground (not by me I hasten to add!) for weeds, tree branches and various other sorts of debris ~ fortunately mostly biodegradable ~ but unsightly nonetheless.  

Late last autumn I had Ricky, a very helpful neighbour, come round, get rid of all the weeds and uproot the trees.  It was a huge job ~ and the bonfire we had was legendary!  

Then a new fence went up. 
I was delighted.  
I painted it earlier this year and I'm pleased with that too.  

But the thing I am most happy about is this . . . from my side of the fence I can imagine I'm living on the edge of a wood.  I'm not of course.  And I can't go in there.  But it really is a far more pleasant prospect than the one I had before.  



You can just see the top of the fence in this photo and I plan to have shrubs ~ ones that like shade and clay soil.  Research required!

And now time to relax . . . current book is 'The Legacy of Mr Jarvis' by Jude Hayland.  I'm enjoying it and it is the one that Book Club will be discussing on Zoom on Wednesday evening.   I'll post the general feeling from the group after our 'meeting'.

Stay Safe

Po xx

New Name for Blog

Blog Name:
I feel it is time to change the name of this blog. That's mainly because life is different for me now from how it was 15 years ago when I started.  
I had a job, I changed to a different one although still within the Council. I retired (yay!).  
I had a daughter: married and living in Yorkshire.  With two small children.   Now there are three delightful teens and two little ones and they all live about 3 miles away.  
Other daughter was single, a student, now a teacher, with one teen, one almost 11 (and about to move on to secondary school) and one of eight.  They live two miles away. 
The  advent of Covid-19 has made a huge change for everyone.  For me the realisation has come that I'm not really comfortable with all the 'out and about' I do.  The enforced 'Stay Home' has made me see that I'd like to spend more time here.  So the blog will probably focus more on Home.  

And . . . 'Ticklepenny' . . . I call my house Ticklepenny Corner after a field in 'Cold Comfort Farm' (Stella Gibbons).  A very funny book and the video, staring Kate Beckinsale, Ian McKellen, Eileen Atkins, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Rufus Sewell . . . has a very special niche in the family's heart.  Oh and my house actually sits at a corner of the road.  

Frankie made this sign for me one Christmas from reclaimed wood.  It hangs in my sitting room and I love it.



Walk:
Many more people are walking these days as part of their daily exercise.  Mine was fairly short today.  There is a field about a quarter of a mile from home which we always call The Gypsy Field.  Not that gypsies manage to get in now as the gate has been well and truly blocked by the landowner.  Still, it's a public right of way and it was mainly used by dog walkers until the lock-down. 

I'll be honest and admit that I have cropped this and cut out the pylon and the massive Porcelanosa warehouse  (!!) but it is peaceful enough to be able to hear the birds sing and still has a rural feel to it. 

  
Path through a little woody area on one side.








More than I thought I would write . . .

Back soon 

Po xx

Clapping for the NHS

It's ten past eight and I'm just in from the Eighth Thursday Clapping-on-your-Doorstep session.  Hard to believe we have been in Lock-down for over seven weeks already.  

I don't know who thought up the clapping idea but it's certainly a good'un. Clearly the medical staff deserve our appreciation and keeping them in our thoughts can only be a good reminder of what they are doing and the support we need to show.

But in addition it is a lovely way for communities to 'come together' albeit socially distant.  I love that in our road neighbours come out clapping, banging saucepans, blowing horns, shouting, cheering and ~ on a couple of occasions ~ singing 'Happy Birthday' to those who would otherwise be celebrating rather more festively.

Soon after lock-down began, a neighbour from the 'northend' started a Whats App group mainly so that we could ask for help and support if needed.  Most of us joined up and it has become one of the joys (there are a few!) of this trying time.   Everyone has been very kind and friendly with funny messages and photos going back and forth and, on VE Day, we had a grand 'Stay at Home Street Party' where we decorated our homes and sat in our own front gardens eating scones and drinking tea (and probably something stronger!) and chatting and laughing at an acceptable distance.  I loved it and despite having lived here for 27 years 'met' a number of people whom I hadn't known before.  

I'm not really finding this time too difficult as I rather enjoy the peace and quiet and a chance to 'catch-up'.  The news,  however, is very worrying for all sorts of reasons and naturally I am concerned for those who have the virus.  The situation regarding schools is dire ~ children going back to school will inevitably result in a spike in cases of Covid-19 ~ I heard today that a classroom assistant (who had been in her school in order to look after the children of key workers) has died ~ not surprising when one considers the duties associated with very little children.  

A grim note on which to end, perhaps.  But these are grim times.

Stay Safe and Take Care

Po xx

AWOL

Yup! AWOL for ages I'm afraid.  
And looking at fave blogs but not commenting.
And mostly my emails are in a parlous state although I have done quite a lot of 'catch-up' on the Governor front.  
Walking! More than I have for years ~ which is great. And rediscovering local rural spots I had virtually forgotten about.  Plug the podcast in and off I go . . . 
The pandemic is worrying for many reasons ~ although so far for family and friends all is well.  
I am enjoying the peace and calm ~ and I shall continue much of what has been good into the future (hopefully).
I've updated the Good Old Reading list and with a bit of luck by the end of the week will even post a little of what I have been up to.
Best Wishes to anyone who still visits.
Carpe Diem!
Po xx

Art at Hertford

I am delighted to be able to take Jago to his Friday morning Art class in Hertford.  Jago is great company on the journey there and back and I get to wander around Hertford for the two hours he is in class, calling in at the Oxfam Bookstore and sometimes having coffee in a nice little cafe. 

Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire and much smaller than Watford ~ but much more of a country town and more attractive ~ with its own castle (!!), rivers and pretty houses and back streets.  It is also the administrative centre of Hertfordshire County Council and the headquarters of the Education Department.  Like Watford (because of the rivers) it was a brewery town.  In fact it still is.  Although Watford's last brewery closed in the 1970s (I think). 

I remembered my camera today but it was only when I was back at the art centre that I realised my photos were over exposed as I had the camera on the wrong setting (pah!) but here are ones I took back at the centre:

Art Centre

Garden at the side

I'm not totally sure what these are! 
Made of metal anyway and look like pods?

The totem pole

I love this one ~ I generally sit on the bench for the last few minutes while waiting for the end of class
~ and it is so peaceful in this little corner.

Today I bought a couple of books at Oxfam ~ 'The 50 people who buggered up Britain' (very funny!) and '101 Tray Bakes' ~ I'm a rotten cook but always optimistic!  

I also wandered into the castle grounds which are also very peaceful.  Photos of the castle next time ~ if it's not pouring with rain!

I need to get out in my garden to tidy and plant a few bulbs!  Hopefully over the weekend.

Back soon

Po xx

Another week gone by . . .

Crumbs ~ how swiftly Time flies!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were good : 

a trip to Hertford with Jago, lunch with Stella, Jago, Rpie and Npie

helping get ready for Scouts' Jumble Sale (NOT my fave job!)

clearing up after the Jumble Sale (marginally better)

quick walk around Cassiobury Park

visit to St Andrews Church, Nascot, for Heritage Open Days

loads ~ I mean really LOADS! ~ of work on the computer 

and then it was Monday again . . .

so the plumber came and finished off the work on the shower and the bath

I went to Three Rivers Museum and helped Pa set up a display on a very old (18th century) Bible which has been lent to us for a while.  The display also showcases the diary of John White who was part of the family who owned the Bible.  I forgot to take a photo of the display but I will do so next time ~ although that's probably not for a week or two.  

In the meantime, however, here is a photo of the museum itself which is in Rickmansworth High Street.  It is also called Basing House and was at one time the home of William Penn of Pennsylvania fame and has a number of items associated with him.  Our other 'famous' former resident was George Eliot who actually lived in our school ~ or at least part of it.  When I was there that part was the convent and the school was to the side.  With expansion, however, the convent has been absorbed into the school and is now the admin area.   

This is the former convent ~ with St Joan standing there on her plinth!  

Women's group in the evening.  At So's house where we had pancakes.  Yay!  So is French and the 2018 Summer Supper was held at her house.  It happened that that Saturday was also Bastille Day so we all brought as near French cuisine as we could rustle up and dressed in stripey t-shirts and berets.  Unbeknownst to us a video had been made of us all sitting round the table so we had quite a chuckle at that! 

Tuesday was Poetry Group and we looked at Rupert Brooke's poems.  I love that we have to do a little research each time.  Although he is known as a war poet and I knew he died during the war I hadn't realised that he died as early as April 1915 and consequently never knew the dreadful trench warfare that Owen and Sassoon, for example, had to endure later on. Which is why his poems are of a much more optimistic and patriotic nature.  I had chosen 'One Day' and 'Pine-Trees and the Sky: Evening' to read.

Then in the evening to the Scouts' Book Browse.  Where ~ of all things ~ I picked up Marcel Pagnol's 'My Father's Glory'.   This was one of our French 'A' level texts and I had forgotten all about it.  Thankfully this book is a translation ~ I've forgotten French as well! 

Wednesday ~ Book Club here at Ticklepenny

We had been reading 'Brick Lane' by Monica Ali (haven't yet posted in the 'reading section' ~ ummm!).  We had all enjoyed it and it lead to a very enjoyable discussion.  We felt that the characters were well drawn and believable (mostly) and the plot engaging.  We talked about how difficult it must be to come to a foreign land with no knowledge of the language, no friends and missing homeland and family.   Brick Lane is in the East End of London so we talked about the fact that it had been home to so many immigrants over the years (including one of  our member's family) and how the clothing industry settled in that area.  We laughed a lot too ~ which is always good!

Today:  Stella popped round with Npie (all the others at school or doing assignments) and asked if I would like to go for a walk.  So we did.  Into Watford to Specsavers to get Rpie's glasses fixed and then back again.  Because I am always in too much haste I never seem to make the time to walk in ~ just get in the car and go ~ but it's really a lovely walk and most of it through parkland and by the river.   It took not much more than an hour so there was time for coffee (for Stella and me) and playtime for Npie before they nipped off to get Rpie  from Nursery school.  

This afternoon: finishing minutes and 'seeing to' other school stuff.  

The nights are certainly drawing in now~ only eight o'clock and already dark.

Back soon

Po xx

Busy Days . . .

Tuesday
Plumber  came, 60% of jobs done and coming again on Monday to, hopefully complete.
CWL in evening.  Ja had asked a speaker to talk about how to research one's family and fore-bears.   The talk was illustrated by  the speaker showing how, with input from Ja, she had traced several members of Ja's family on the website, 'Find My Past' and started to build a family tree.  It was really fascinating and made me keen to get on with our tree.  And the speaker was brilliant.  And she was Stella!  😊

Yesterday
Met MaM and JoS at the Cha Cafe in Cassiobury Park.  It's a lovely little cafe with a good choice of comestibles.  We spent a pleasant couple of hours, had a good chat and a jolly decent pot of tea between us.  I go there fairly often and will try to remember to take a photo next time.  

Book Club in evening at Ni's house.  We had been reading Maggie O'Farrell's 'This must be the Place'.  All had enjoyed it.  Very well plotted  and the writing was excellent and drew us all in.  But we really needed to keep our brains on alert as characters, places and timeline jumped around quite alarmingly!

Today
Afternoon: Talk at the Museum about alms houses in Watford.  We have eight, built in 1580,  that are very well known but there are also a number 'hidden' around the town ~ some which have now become private homes. Below are the oldest (1580) almshouses ~ know as the Bedford  (and also, apparently, Essex) Almshouses.  

There are still residents in situ today.   And then, because it was the event starting 'Heritage Open Days' , we had tea, coffee and Special Cake! 

Evening:
The Museum held a 'Viewing' of photographs and art work of  Watford views past and present.  It was interesting trying to decide from which spot exactly the views were taken. 

I was pleased to have worked out where in Watford this is!  Sutton Road with St John's Church just right of centre and the Orphanage in the background.

This is one of the courts off the High Street (we think!).  I am always intrigued by old views of the High Street as I know my great-great-grandparents lived in the High Street.  One of those figures could be one of my relations haha

 
I love this.  It is called 'Unknown part of Watford'.  So for history it's not much use but it's a lovely little painting!

More busy days ahead!  Yay!

Back soon

Po xx

The Ninth of the Ninth

Brrrh!  Autumn is almost here.  It is certainly turning chilly but for all that it's my favourite season.  And another thing: little Npie was born at the end of September last year and her second name is 'Autumn'.  (Her first name is fairly conventional and I will reveal it one day . . . just not yet.)

So today I had a quiet morning catching up on reading and jobs ~ mainly jobs!  

A couple of hours this afternoon at Three Rivers Museum in Ricky where I volunteer.  Getting ready for an exhibition ~ pics and story when it is completed.  

This evening I shall be out at Sixth Ricky Scouts' meeting and then on to our 'local' to catch up with Pa after the long summer break.  

Today, the Ninth of the Ninth, is the anniversary of our wedding day ~ 47 years.  And, since we married at Our Lady's in Rickmansworth which is the church to which the Scouts group is attached and where I shall be tonight, I am posting a photo of us as we exited the church after the service. 

That's Eric on the right and the reason he is laughing is that Boogs was holding my train so high that my 'underpinnings' were unexpectedly on view and Janey and Frances (my bridesmaids) were desperately trying to 'cover me up'.  
That's the church to the side. It hasn't altered at all!

Back soon

Po xx

Moreton Show

Yay! Moreton Show!

My lovely friends, Ge and He, live in Moreton in Marsh in the Cotswolds where the town holds a show every year on the first Saturday in September.  

Set off really early and arrived at Ge and He's before 8.30 for 'breakfast' of tea and bacon butties.  We were a jolly crew: Janey and Eric came, other friends An and Ri, as well as Ge and He's daughter Me and wife Em and their friend Je.  

Cattle parade 

The show is wonderful: a real 'country' event with 30,000 animals (apparently) to be seen and  an equal number of visitors.  Dogs are more than welcome so it was nice to see many trotting around with their people ~ and all so well behaved.  

Deciding where to go!

All manner of items associated with the country were on show.  Vintage tractors ~ oh the nostalgia!

 

Next stop: animal tent:

alpaca

 

 piglets

ducks

Onward to outside pens and judging areas:

 getting in line for judging

winner!

 I LOVE goats! ~ the black one with the horns was my fave ~ but he didn't win

 I'm scared of cows let alone bulls ~ 

but what a magnificent chap he is!

Then off to the craft and produce tent . . .

The competitors display with admirable precision!

And beautiful flower arrangements:

I particularly liked this arrangement ~ and so did the judges!   ~ but sadly my photo just doesn't do it justice

gorgeous dahlias

I really liked this idea: competitors collected their items on Friday night then had to use all of them to make their arrangement ~ then get them back to the tent by early morning Saturday

        

There were so many different ideas ~ but I've inadvertently deleted at least three of them ~ doh!

Handicrafts:

 

And . . . most important of all . . . Ge's entries in the baking . . .

Third prize for his savoury scones

Second prize for quiche

and Second prize for carrot cake

Yay!!!

We had all walked a fair bit by then so stopped off for eats and drinks.  Fair weather, no rain and nothing so good as eating outside and watching the world and his wife and his dog stroll by.  

Then a little retail was called for ~ stalls of speciality foods, niche drinks, clothing of all types, jewellery, tools, home items, outdoor furniture and toys for children and pets. Probably more but I can't remember.  

It is only a short stroll back to Ge and He's home where we sat around chatting and laughing and then tucking in to lasagne, salad and garlic bread around the big table.  Lots of laughs, good food and friendship.  

What a great day!  Home before ten.  Tired but very happy.

Back soon

Po xx