A green protest

It's just taken me half an hour to boot up & get to this site. I'm using the laptop for once. Our main computer has been reduced to wading in mud with half the programs not loading properly, so we've taken it to the shop to be cleaned up. We suspect we've caught a virus somehow. At the moment I'm not sure this computer is doing much better.

This was going to be a quick blog before our gardener arrives. Now I'm not sure I can really settle to write.

Still mentioning the garden gets me to the great controversy that rages hereabouts. Our local council is going to be charging us £30 per year per green bin for the emptying of the green bin. Needless to say people are up in arms about this. We already pay our council tax which includes the cost of emptying bins without this extra cost. What is more, the size of garden, and with it the amount of garden waste you have, is not necessarily reflective of how rich you are. 

We have a large garden, and therefore two green bins, not because we want a large garden, but because it comes attached to the house. Ideally we would have something far smaller & more manageable, but we like the house.

We suspect in future there will be far more fly tipping of garden waste, bonfires in gardens, abandoned overgrown gardens etc. There is also likely to be neighbour disputes as some people try to use other people's green bin rather than pay the extra for their own. Or do we fill up our grey bins for land fill with easily recycled garden waste? We've not decided what we're going to do. Pay for two? Or see if we can manage with just the one?

The official letter hasn't arrived. There's no indication of how they will claim the payment. But people around here are getting ready to protest.

Enough to make you laugh

Our two friends arrive at the golf club.

The wife is trying to remember the name of the new barmaid. “It’s Wendy isn’t it?”

Her husband replies, “No. It’s Tuesday today.”

They burst into fits of giggles, like a pair of teenagers, not the 70+ old married couple who celebrated their golden wedding last year.

Wendy asked what was up. When the wife finally managed to get into control of her giggles, she explained. From then on Wendy became Thursday or Friday as the mood took her.

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Here’s a conundrum for you. What’s the difference between an apple core from an apple I’ve eaten and a windfall apple I’ve picked up from the garden?

Answer: The first is food waste & so must be put in the grey bin. The second is garden waste & must be put in the green bin or in our own compost bin.

Personally I can’t see the difference, but that’s our local council for you!

Dull

I’m all of a dither today. I’ve come to the computer to write my blog. But what do I have to say? Life is quiet. I somehow seemed to have failed to spring forward my internal clock, along with all the other clocks in the house we altered Saturday evening. I’m late up & feel dull.

The one useful thing I’ve done is toast some flaked almonds for dinner. We’re having a pilaf accompanied by some butcher’s pork sausages. Apart from that I’ve been trying to finish my novel as it’s due back at the library tomorrow. I’m down to the last 50 pages or so so it should be possible. I don’t want to have to renew it. I’ve caught up on my freezer list so that’s up to date.

The rest of the day is going to pass in a daze unless I can get myself together a bit. Since it’s stopped raining maybe I will venture in to the garden. A bit of fresh air my spark some more wakefulness. I certainly need it. 

I'm just plain tired & drained.

Holiday fun

I was not the only one inspired by yesterday’s sunshine. After I’d done a little in the garden, we decided to go along to the golf club to meet up with friends for a bit.

As we drove along the promenade, I couldn’t help noticing the number of people out & enjoying themselves. The world & his family were out having a good time. As we crawled along – there were so much other traffic on the prom, not helped by frequent stops for pelican lights as pedestrians crossed – I found myself people watching.

At one point fairground rides have been set up for the summer season. The rides seem popular. Some are new, at least for Morecambe.  The fairground area is in a dip. Many people stood around the top, just watching the others having fun.  Legs dangled as rides soared into the air.

Then we came to a new children’s play area, just erected this year. Now there must have been a couple of dozen children at least, scampering up the artificial grass slopes, sliding down the aluminium poles, doing handstands on the flatter areas, exploring the possibilities of the new play area.  Clearly a hit.

A young teenager crossed the road, dressed in nothing but shorts & a short t-shirt, midriff bare to the world. I couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t that warm yet. Bright & sunny yes, but there was still a chilly wind of the Bay.

It’s good to see so many people around. Morecambe depends on its tourists. Hopefully this is a sign of a good bank holiday, and maybe summer to come.