Category Archives: Buckinghamshire

The weekend without Rosemary

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Rosemary was away for the weekend. She went away on some girly get together with her mates from school. This left me to my own devices. Alas the sun did not shine much, and there was definite rain during the days, the net result was no lawn mowing and much time spent on the PC upstairs. I turned all my CDs into MP3s. Yes yet again. There had been some problems with the previous rips of the Rammstein albums. Must check the new rips are better.

Had a cup of Cappuccino on Sunday morning, was slightly impressed by the solidness of the froth I produced. It was almost the constituency of expanded polystyrene when it floated on the coffee. Next coffee I approached the milk with a little more trepidation. Decided the milk was off, put it back in the fridge as it was a long way before its expiry date. I was sure Rosemary would want to take in back to Tesco and claim her refund.

Saturday evening was in the pub with George and Annie. Sunday late evening was in the pub on my own with the fabulous staff. The Georgian girl was finding it hard, stuck out in the sticks, no transport, living on the premises.

The first grass cut of the year

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Today was fabulous. Dry, and the temperature rose to 21C. The hottest day of the year. What was more remarkable the day was a Saturday. Alas the forecast for Sunday is rain, can’t be having too much of a good thing can we?

 There was quite a drying breeze, so out with the lawn mower and I performed the first cut of the year. Also did a little bit of strimming, cutting down the butterfly habitat, otherwise know as stinging nettles. Took a look at the graveyard, will have to put the brush cutter on. Seems some 60 little saplings have grown up over winter, and they are already too tough for a nylon cord strimmer.

The six sheep in the field were unhappy with me. I built a lovely big fire from all the small bits of wood from the willow trees I cut down earlier in the year. The sheep migrated to the furthest corner of the field where they have stayed all afternoon.

Now the evening has started, it’s a well earned Gin and Tonic after the day’s hard labours. While drinking my G&T and with the aid of Google I reckon I have the solution to my mobile phone problem. I have a Nokia 6151, it’s a 3G handset. Alas it always tries to locate a 3G transmitter in preference to stronger 2G transmitters. It often can at home connect to a 3G transmitter, but the signal is so weak, I can’t make sensible phone calls. When it connects to a 2G transmitter there is no problem with the phone call. So I had this ridiculous problem that phone calls upstairs never worked when it connects to 3G, but down tairs they work when it cannot find the weak 3G signal, so has to use the strong 2G signal. Friday was a trial, I would receive a call when I was working at home. I would answer, the call would break up and disconnect. Downstairs I would go, place the phone on the floor to hasten the switch over to 2G, once in 2G mode I would pick the phone up and make the call hoping it would not go back to 3G.

There was not option to force the phone to use 2G in the settings. You can force 3G, or select a setting where it will use with 3G or 2G. It always though prefers to use 3G.

The solution I read on a search of Google and implemented was to turn off automatic connection to the the service provider, and to use manual connection. With manual connection you can then select the 2G service, ignoring the 3G service. I wonder if I will get problems when I go to other areas of the country. Only time will tell. What worries me slightly is my phone is from 3, and don’t they have some roaming agreements with other services providers where they have not got their own transmitters. Maybe I will end up selecting the 2G service at home, and then re-enable automatic selection when I leave home.

Moorhen

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Rosemary has reported that my weeding of the pond has caused disruption in Moorhen World. The weeding from the pond is still on the bank, (allowing the pond life which was removed to wander back into the water at their leisure). Alas they are too near the bank, and the increase in height compounded by the slippery mud has made it difficult for the moorhen to get out of the pond. Rosemary was attracted to this plight by considerable squawking and splashing as the moorhen tried to surmount the bank side. Why it didn’t try an easier route is anyone’s guess.

Pond weeding

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Did a bit of weeding of the pond on Sunday. Removed the floating island of waterlily and various other plants including a bramble. Trimmed back the shallow water plants which were creating their own rafts.

Had to do some wading to achieve this. Remembered to remove my mobile phone from my jeans before I started, but alas left my credit cards and notes in my pocket. Ah well, they dried out and the cards, of course, still work.

Replanted a bit of the waterlily back into the depths, so hopefully it will live and show as some nice flowers this year.

Now looking forward to the storm predicted to break during the night.

Stowe Landscape Gardens

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Another sunny by cool day saw us going to Stowe Landscape Gardens in the hope of seeing snowdrops. Stowe is a posh private school set in some wonderful gardens and park land. The school though does not maintain the gardens, which is done by the National Trust, so the poor lads and lasses have to put up with us plebs wondering around.

We did see some snowdrops (and winter aconites), though no way as good as the masses we had seen in the Cotswolds a few years ago

Snow drops at Stowe park

There are some lovely lakes at the park and trees with wonderful structure.  Here’s a tree and a lake to feast your eyes on:

A lake at Stow groundsTree in Stowe grounds

After a quick morning tour, we rushed back home for Sunday lunch at The P&A, courtesy of Ladymead Joinery. Must have been a good occasion, we were there for four hours.

The Plough and Anchor or the P&A

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I have been in the office the last few days.  Now working on some development projects concerned with Single Signon.  Very odd not being out on customer sites, and alas not chargeable, so no bonus from this work.  Hopefully will get up to speed on the project, and then will work from home to complete the work.

Went to the local pub last night to have one of their cheap meals. First had a drink with George and Annie who were surpised to see us on a week day.   Afterwards Rosemary and I dined in the resturant.

I am pleased to say that the meal was actually very good, and not outrageously expensive.  We went for the mid week value meal, and had three courses.  The amount of food was just right, and each dish was well presented.  The French waiter, Cyril, was very helpful with the wine selection and offered excellent alternatives to our original selections.

For starters Rosemary selected Ceasar Salad, while I had Salmon Terrine.  The Terrine was lovely, and was served with a sauce and topped with a salady/pickle made of strips of cucumber.

Both of us ate the Sea Bream on couscous.  We both were very happy with this.

For the finals, chocolate for me and creme brule for Rosemary.  My chocolate pudding was delish.  A dark chocolate on a white chocolate moose. 

Tug of War

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The postponed tug of war between Wotton and Kingswood was held this Bank Holiday Monday.  Weather not so hot, but sun did show and it never rained.  Good food as usual, and a few beers.  Fifty or so attended, not many though from Kingswood.  Will have to expend a bit more effort in getting people out to the event.

Wotton won the mens and womens  tug of war, while the children from Kingswood were victorious.  Pictures in due course.

After the BBQ, had a drive in a Honda go cart-on George and Annie’s field.  Time trials, alas I was last, but then I don’t have the practice and I was only a couple of seconds behind. [Editor’s note: Steve had about 40+ years on his opponent, G&A’s eldest grandson, during these trials.]

Ate at the pub in Ludgershall with George and Annie.  Pretty good value and very well presented.  Well worth a visit.

BBQ at home, and back home for Mother In Law

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Selina and Graham attended our BBQ this weekend.  Unlike John and Carol, we were able to call on the weather Gods and arranged a sunny day.  They excelled themselves and provided us with several days of warmth.

Our BBQ was lamb shoulder.  Now where have I had that recently!  Mum in law, Winnie, was present having stayed most of the week.  She was taken back to her home complete with Freeview Box, which I set up.  Drive down was bad with all the traffic going to Bournemouth.  Drive back was good, except for the 45 minute hold-up while someone was air-lifted from the road after an accident, but it wasn’t us, so we should feel thankful.

Back at home I strimmed down the thistles on the field. Hopefully last time this year.

Footpath

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Today the gate on the footpath between us and our neighbours was installed.  The neighbours over the weekend also dug a large pond in their garden.

The local pub is part way through installing a conservatory, and building a sitting out area around the back.  They’ve also started landscaping at the front – some good hanging baskets to attract the punters, perhaps.