Eccentric Amblings and Ramblings From Gnat Bottomed Towers

Last week the small person decided that his poor Mother needed dragging into the 21st century- thereby passed a torturous few minutes of him playing various tracks by Skrillex and Deadmau5 and then cackling wildly as his Mother recoiled in horror. I can tell you that sent me scuttling off as fast as my fat little legs would carry me in search of my trusty Steeleye Span collection. Aah peace restored! This week he has come up with a musical offering far more to my liking. Now even I, old fossil that I am, cannot have failed to have heard of Lady Gaga- she does, after all, have all the subtlety of a badger in a pink bikini but I would have been quite convinced that I didn't know a single track by her. Nobody is more surprised than me to find that I do actually recognise one...this version is done by the Bottle Boys. Arilx

Michaelmas daisies A favourite of mine, although the ones in my garden are still huffing and puffing about having been moved a few weeks ago so are sulkily refusing to bloom right now! The Michaelmas Daisies among dede wedes, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds. And seems the last of the flowers that stood Till the feast of St Simon and St Jude [28th October] I stumbled across a lovely sounding menu to celebrate Michaelmas today Stuffed Michaelmas Goose with Roast Apples Fragrant Spiced Red Cabbage Goose Fat Roasties Hot Baked Wardens [baked pears] Michaelmas Dumplings Further details are here http://www.karenbooth.co.uk/articles/15-michaelmas-goose-day-or-devil-spits-day.html I myself will not be eating goose nor will I be eating blackberries [not if the rumours are to be believed that the devil has spat on them or even worse....!] I shall however, be wearing a birthday suit- the origin of this is from the time when courtiers had to wear special clothes to mark

If you don't like spiders I think it's probably best to look away now. For that reason I'll include the photo at the end! Mr GBT has been watching the hive of activity over the last few days as the spider has spun her web [from the size I think it is a she as they are bigger than the males and she is probably full of eggs right now] but either she has has been hidden under the eave of the shed or when she has come out it has been too dark! Today though he was in luck. This is one of our most common spiders- imaginatively called the Garden Spider. It's also known as the Cross Spider.  It weaves orb webs which are the spiral ones familiar to most of us and when it is in view it will always be on the underside of its web. It is harmless to humans. Colour varies from pale to very dark but all have the distinctive cross formed by white dots on its back. Arilx

..most definitely not granted. Well honest to goodness just look at it- a testament to bad taste. And her "choice" of colours- absolutely humongous. They've been giving me a blinding headache for months! A complete CATastrophe. I hear rumours via the Naughty Tortie club membership [most specifically from Scruffy who owns Frugaldom Towers] that other staff members are considering making such monstrosities for themselves- indeed if the tails are to be believed poor Scruffy is already suffering. Those blessed pointy things competing for my heatpad just skimming across the top of my head clacking away irritatingly and disturbing my peace. It's small wonder how she's missed my eye on occasion- it's been a close shave at times I can tell you! I have, however, discovered that if you embed your claws in the yarn and tug sneakily you can get some quite pretty loopy effects- talking of loopy effects it was worth it just to see her running up and down on the spot, steam

As I've oft said I am delighted by the little details that make up our everyday lives- yes I love the highs and loathe the lows [yes and I know which one I learn from groan!] but I, for one, would be totally exhausted if it were like that all the time. I prefer things to be on an even keel thank ye. Today I had the greatest pleasure watching a couple of these going about their business whilst I sat in the car eating my lunch unobserved. They are of course nuthatches and I always experience a little frisson of excitement when I glimpse one because I rarely see them and they are such stunning little fellows. When food is scarce they venture into the garden and hang upside down on the feeder but for the first time today I was able to see why they've earned their name. Both birds were industriously tucking hazelnuts into the crevices in the bark of the oak tree, using it to hold them in place and then hammering at them madly with their beaks from every which way to break off

Today I am a little startled to find that I have been married for twenty years- I am not quite sure how two decades have passed by quite that quickly. A quick look in the mirror at the natural grey highlights and the ridges and furrows on my forehead confirm that it must be true though. As ever I bounded in enthusiastically from work demanding to know whether my long service medal had arrived- it appears that I have longer to wait before I am rewarded for my contribution to the institution of marriage. Naturally it has been a day of romantic celebrations.....not. I'm afraid that I was in the queue for an alcoholic tipple and a savoury snack when they were handing out romance. I suspect Mr GBT would have been a more romantic soul if he hadn't met me and had it knocked out of him! I did make him a card though and I have just gone wild and paid out for him to have a doughnut! Intensive research [called that a quick flit around google] reveals that this is our China anniversar

The guide on Saturday spoke at length about the importance of our local cemetery being a relatively undisturbed green space within a built up area. I had heard about how graveyards provide a sanctuary  for wildlife but I suppose I had never really given it much thought in connection to the sites near me. Normally I, as would many others, associate churches and places of rest with evergreen trees. Certainly they have got the familiar range of those planted but more unusually these sit along side less expected specimens. This is a Manna Ash- the patterns on the trunk are due to its grafting Fabulous copper beeches. A cork tree The team have great plans to expand their wildlife friendly policy but need volunteers to do so as not unexpectedly there are no funds available for such projects. They currently work with the probation service but hope to set up a Friends association to take it further. At the current time they have a multitude of bird and bat boxes mounted on the

Now Mr GBT has kindly replaced the elastic band in the pc we are up and running again! Saturday morning and I espy a free tour of our local cemetery- huzzah I thought right up my street and so it proved to be. The cemetery is still in use and was built in the 1890s after its predecessor became full. Originally it had two chapels- one for C of E and the other for Catholic burials. Thankfully such a setup is no longer necessary and the differing Christian outlooks sit side by side. The site really does reflect the multicultural society we live in as there is a separate area for Muslim burials which allow for the bodies to be buried facing Mecca nor is it just restricted burials now. The internment or scattering of ashes is also welcomed- the latter is in a designated area within the memorial garden and families are able to buy a plaque and a rose bush in remembrance of their loved ones if they so wish. The tour really was quite fascinating. Historically as we moved around the gr

You will simply have to indulge me on this Merrie Monday for this track is the first one I can remember from my childhood- it sparks memories of spinning like a whirling dervish around my parents's front room when I was a wee nipper. I cared not for the rather sad subject matter of the song and to this day it remains my all time favourite. I should like this to be played at my passing out parade! Arilx

This was not quite the post I had in mind for today but our darling pc decided to throw a hissy fit the moment Mr GBT went away this weekend for work. I am unclear at this precise moment [precise instructions from Mr GBT have been do not fiddle with it!] whether it is a temporary affair or whether she really has turned up her toes. The upshot is the same though- no photos of the cemetery tour I went on yesterday. Don't worry [as if you were!!!] I shall be back with the evidence at a later date. So for now something entirely different..... On the matter of opinions I totally in total agreement with Voltaire: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." I would not say that generally I am  a stridently opinionated person, certainly not one who will shout their views from the rooftops in order to make them heard above all others but nor do I automatically agree with what others have to say. I enjoy hearing others ide

A very happy Alban Elfed to all who celebrate- I shall mark the turning of the wheel quietly with close chums tonight. Bright blessings Arilx

At about the same time as the square wheel went out of fashion I was studying for my degree. My secondary subject was American Studies which I preferred by a long chalk to the English- it covered lots of different subjects and one of my discoveries along the way was The Fall in New England. Once I'd seen photos of the stunning foliage I was completely smitten and pledged that one day I would see it for myself....and I did. We went and spent a fortnight on our honeymoon and it exceeded all expectations. Sights like this greeted us every day when we were up in Vermont. Day after day I drank in one glorious vista after another- I never tired of it nor the charming white clapboard buildings set against it. We took countless photos but sadly they couldn't capture the sheer luminosity of the colours. That was 20 years ago and even now I still wish I was back there at this time of year as I just completely fell in love with the area. Alongside the sheer beauty of the  region I a

A couple of my friends have had or are having their children leave home imminently to start a new phase of their young lives at university. The small person's turn will come all too quickly in 3 years time. For my dear chums this is for you and anyone else facing the roller coaster of emotions that crashes in with such a massive sea change. Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the hours of tomorrow, Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, But seek not to make them like you. For life goes not back nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer s

Rarely do I get an afternoon off these days now that I am self employed so when the opportunity arises I'm not going to turn down the chance to go out on an outing irrespective of what the weather is proposing! Today dear chum E joined me for a sortie to Henfield. One of the places on my hit list to visit was The Cat House, which is one of the village's famous landmarks. It was owned by George or Robert [my research shows both names] Ward who had a canary. Unfortunately the little bird met an ignominious end when it was killed by the Canon, Nathaniel Woodard's, cat. Ward did not take the news well it could be said- instead he sought revenge by decorating his house with cats holding birds to remind Woodard of his feline's misdemeanour. He also strung up strings of sea shells to rattle and a black figure would appear at the zulu hole when the Canon was seen approaching [I have no idea what a zulu hole is either! Later on I discovered that Ward used to blow a horn out o

...fill in as appropriate. Some choices that you might like to consider are listed below :-) You may of course have some perfectly good suggestions of your own! Balderdash The origin of this wonderful word is unknown but it was certainly in use by the time of Shakespeare. At the time it meant froth or a frothy liquid or even a jumble of liquids e.g. milk and beer. Only in the latter part of the 17th century did it become known for its current meaning. Baloney This is an Americanism from the early 20th century and comes from baloney the sausage. The implication that this food type of possibly iffy origins was junk had came to mean a generalised term for junk by the 1930s- a bit like we use spam in connection with junk emails today. Claptrap The first use of the word was as theatre slang in the 18th century when a line or speech in a play was designed to elicit ["trap"] applause ["claps"] from the audience. Our usage of it comes from the 19th century.

This high energy track gets my carcase moving from sloth speed to wallaby in roughly 3 minutes on a Monday morning. It is, of course, the rather splendid Mr Paul Weller and his Style Council Arilx

I want some of these and I WANT THEM NOW! The stunningly beautiful glass gem corn Arilx

Huzzah the Morris Dancing outfit is now complete! I did not paint the mask- someone else on the side very kindly did that for me. This is the standard outfit we have- the ladies wear red and silver to represent the moon and the men wear yellow for the sun. When telling the myths there are a whole host of additional costumes eg the greenman and then we also have our own kit and mask that can be any colour or design. As far as I can tell that is a fairly random affair as to when we wear those- I could be wrong on that point though. I have an idea for mine in mind but think I might take a tatters break for a few weeks before starting that one. I am not the fastest stitcher in the world! Arilx

" The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat." Lily Tomlin "Normal is getting dressed in the clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you're still paying for in order to get to the job you need so you can pay for the clothes, cars and the house that you leave empty all day in order to afford to live in it. Ellen Goodman No doubt the sentiments expressed in the second quote are familiar to many of us. Some people face this dilemma straight on and take action to change it. Mark Boyle, the moneyless man is one such individual. He has gone off at a tangent to live the life he wants.  He is  undoubtedly a trail blazer and I admire him for it but I am simply not that radical a person- I like my home comforts. Additionally, as far as I can fathom, others of us still have to earn money and buy things in order for him to make his lifestyle choice viable. I borrowed his first book from the library

Yesterday was let's just say a "challenging" sort of day with events currently going in real life but I felt in in the circumstances I dealt with those with a modicum of dignity....that however, was not to last. I really should have put myself to bed with a mug of cocoa and a packet of hobnobs when I got in at 4pm then all would have been well in my gnat bottomed world. Unfortunately it was not to be..... I hate cooking and I especially hate cooking if it involves the rolling out of any sort of pastry- there it sat on the side looking accusingly at me, the bleeding packet of puff pastry [I cannot for the life of me make any kind of pastry other than suet] and the crosser I am the more the damned stuff plays up. Now I had girded my loins for the effort involved in creating last night's delicacy of curried tuna puffs only to find that we had Run Out Of Onions. I am the one who does the bulk of the shopping but obviously I was not to blame in any way...I managed to con

Possibly n ot quite what you were expecting...... Why Dorothy Wordsworth is not as famous as her brother " I wandered lonely as a... They're in the top drawer, William Under your socks - I wandered lonely as a - No not that drawer. The top one. I wandered by myself- Well wear the ones you can find. No dear don't get overwrought my dear, I'm coming. "I wandered lonely as a - Lonely as a cloud when- Soft boiled egg, yes my dear, As usual, three minutes- As a cloud which floats- Look I said, I'll cook it, Just hold on will you- All right, I'm coming. "One day I was out for a walk When I saw this flock- It can't be too hard, it had three minutes, Well put some butter in it- This host of golden daffodils As I was out for a stroll one- "Oh you fancy a stroll do you? Yes all right, William, I'm coming It's on the peg. Under your hat. I'll bring my pad, shall I, in case You want to jot something down?"

It's harvest time- it's all right to join in [I know you know the words] I won't tell if you don't- I shall most certainly be yowling along tunelessly! And to quench your thirst I hope you have a flagon of scrumpy in your paw so you feel the part when joining in with  yet another offering from the same chaps!  This will resume it's normal Merrie Monday spot next week! Arilx

This event takes place today and is first recorded at the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226 so is our longest surviving English folk dance. It always occurs on Wakes Monday[between 6 and 12 September depending on when Wakes Sunday which is first Sunday after 4th September falls] although it was originally held over 3 days. The Horns are actually a set of 6 reindeer antlers which have been carbon dated to the 11th century but there seems to be some debate as to how long they have actually been in this country. The White Horns are known as Whites with the leader of the dancers carrying the biggest set and the Brown Horns are called Blues. The side itself comprises of 6 deer men, a fool, a Hobby Horse, Bowman and Maid Marian all in medieval costume and they are accompanied by a melodian player as they perform at different stands around the village during the day. The day starts with a short service at St Nicholas's where the Horns are stored during the year and then they are returne

She's only bleedin' well gone and finished her rainbow knitten. Evidence below- it is not meant to be a thing of beauty but a rustic item for our domestic use only. All the wool has either come from the charity shop, freecycle, friends [this type of project can use up all those part balls people have left over] and from cheapie shops like Wilkos and Pound shops. It has been a good exercise for me- no rules other than each length has 42 stitches and it is all garter stitch. I have simply knitted scarves and changed colour whenever the fancy has taken me. I shall blanket stitch them together but not until I have finished my Morris mask.  Predictably Psychocat sat in the middle of it and then showed her low opinion of it by stomping off! This is the second one I have done- the first one, again being sat upon by Psychocat in disgust, was for the small person. My friend has asked me to do an all blue one for her which should keep me out of mischief over the winter! Arilx

Mr GBT and I sallied forth today into town for a cuppa and a cheese scone. Everywhere is glorious right now so thought you might like a peek at the gorgeous berries we saw en route. Arilx

I am a perfectionist- I mistakenly thought up until recently that it was a good trait to have because it meant I drove myself hard and tried to be the best I could be at everything I tried. I now understand that it's a classic characteristic of people, like me, who have had very low self esteem and in reality this meant that I never thought anything I did was good enough. I will always have a tendency towards it but it is a bad habit I am trying to leave behind as I start to cut myself a little slack. However, I do still need an outlet for my perfectionism and for me personally that is my dollshouse- ridiculous though it may seem to some it is my little kingdom over which I have total control. Only I decide what goes in there and where it is put and when very anxious I can tinker about in there to my heart's content. Mr GBT built it for me from scratch in 1994 and it is still very much a work in progress although not so much progress these days as working, having a family etc h