Eccentric Amblings and Ramblings From Gnat Bottomed Towers

I housesparkle for a dear chum every other week. She has four gorgeous hounds for whom she leaves the radio on so that they have company whilst she's at work. Normally her channel of choice is Radio 4 but today she had it tuned to Planet Rock. Hand on heart this is a station I would not naturally gravitate to but I am grateful I listened to it today because I discovered this track by Nickelback. I enjoyed the song but the lyrics really touched me. If you have time do take a peek- they are very sensible and a timely reminder for all of us. Arilx

I met a rather smashing little fellow today at the surgery called Jamie. He toddled over to show me Jess, his toy black and white cat. However, it was the type of highly original introduction that only a small person could give- he lifted the cat's tail and informed me that it was the "cat's bottom". Anatomically correct! It put me in mind of my own small person when he was 2 not the 16 year old version of today. On one occasion we were sitting on a bench in our high street taking a breather when a man built like a giant haystack sat down next to us to have a fag. Now we're non smokers so this was new territory to be explored. "What dat man doin' mummy?" was the first rather plaintive request from the pushchair. I tried fobbing him off but he was on to me so he repeated his request only several decibels louder in case I and the rest of the town hadn't heard him. Once again I attempted to distract him but he was having none of it....a few moment

I joined the book of the face at the beginning of last year primarily because that was one of the main ways that Mythago communicates. I find it a good and easy way to keep in touch but I keep my settings private. It can be the most fantastic time waster so since coming back from holiday I've cut back on the amount of time I'm on there. I enjoy the repartee but what I don't do is share anything of a private nature [same as here]. I think this image serves as a good reminder From time to time I encounter information or quotes that really resonate with me. Today has been one of those days and so I record and share them here and hope you enjoy them too. Arilx

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside. Oh I do like to be beside the sea...... Oh I do like to walk along the prom prom prom..... Where the scary drummers play tiddly pom pom pom... The annual Lammas event at Eastbourne which raises funds for the RNLI. We were dancing again but I shall spare you endless piccies of us all as I covered it last year here http://gnatbottomedtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/lammas-fest-2013.html However, it is the law that I include this year's picture of the fabulous John Barleycorn! And this rather scrummy lady who was here with her owner once again. She is the soppiest hound and gives a lovely cuddle.Most of the day she was to be seen stretched out in the shade whilst everyone tickled her tummy. She's a Siberian husky I believe. Just look at those ice blue eyes. Arilx

I regret we are talking nothing more thrilling than the floral variety...it's far too warm to even dwell on any topic verging on the 50 shades of grey variety! Some of the stunners seen on recent meanderings. Summer in full bloom. Arilx

In the small pocket of West Sussex where I live people are up in arms about many issues. I pass placards that say "Frack Off" and "No To The Gatwick Runway" along with various more localised protests against all the new house building going on. Folks try various methods to get their voices heard- marches, public meetings, social media and there have been some successes and some failures. I have oft said and will no doubt say again intrinsically people don't change that much...even back in the middle ages people were concerned about similar issues. I love the way the residents of Gotham went about deterring King John from building a hunting lodge near Nottingham in 1200 when they realised that this would result in them having to pay new taxes because he would pass through the village en route and this would then make it a king's highway. "The entire village pretended to be mad. It is said that the villagers built a fence around a cuckoo bush to prevent

This horn fair is a rare survival on an ancient custom. It was revived in the small West Sussex village of Ebernoe in 1864 and nowadays comprises of a cricket match played on the village green between the villagers and another local team. The highest scorer receives the horns from the sheep which has been roasting all day. It is always held on St James's day ie 25th July. Various bits of folklore are attached to the fair. The horns are believed to represent cuckoldry [derived from the idea of the cuckoo laying its eggs in another's nest] and it was believed that if there was a storm on the day that was a sign of a good harvest. It was also a reminder for gardeners to sow their cabbages. There is no doubt in its original form it would have been some what more ribald with much singing and dancing. This traditional horn fair song is performed by Spiers and Boden. Arilx

Yesterday I shed a few tears but I am happy in the knowledge that I gave the naughty tortie a good life in the time she was with me [she was a rescue cat and not in a good way when she came here] and a good death. She leaves behind a cat shaped hole which I will fill again once the summer holidays are over with another adult cat needing love and a new home. Last night we needed to drop the small person off in Falmer for the last part of his National Citizenship Service induction [he starts next week ....exciting times!] so Mr GBT suggested a quick whizz over to Rottingdean which is not far whilst we were down there. Normally I go dancing on Wednesday night but had decided to cancel. It was the right thing to do...the sound of the waves breaking was amazingly calming and helped me to regain some emotional balance. We stopped for a quick jar and raised a glass to the little furry lady. The only time I had to catch my breath was when I saw this road sign. Twitten is a Sussex name for an

...the following two books which are gloriously eccentric yet full of pathos and comic moments. The first I think may be familiar to many. The second one is a very recent chance discovery. Arilx

This wasn't the post I had planned for today but I am sad to say that Twitten aka Psychocat has now crossed the rainbow bridge. No doubt she will live up to her reputation and wreak havoc there. I meanwhile will miss her terribly. Arilx

Aha yes the Tintern surprise....having toddled around in the heat Mr GBT had nipped off to look at a waterwheel whilst I patiently waited having highbrow thoughts such as "where's my next icecream coming from?!" when he beckoned me over. I anticipated 150 "fun facts about waterwheels" [snore] but what I got was this... and this.... Absolutely not my cup of tea you understand which is why this has come home with me whoop, whoop and thrice times whoop! To stem the flow of unbridled shopping I assuaged my guilt by buying dear chums a purple and silver pagan wall plaque [not my thing but very much them]. These are the friends with whom I celebrate the wheel of the year. It was rather jolly watching them open it last night and then A [he of the handmade pottery hare fame] immediately hang it up. They tell me they absolutely "love it" For those who are interested this is the lady's website  http://www.spiritofthegreenman.co.uk/ Since

A final smug holiday post! This walk takes you along Tintern's Angidy Trail. Usually you say the name "Tintern" and most people would think of this: We broke with tradition though and didn't visit the abbey. Instead we followed a path that showed us various ruins associated with the area's famous wire working industry which started in the 17th century and ended in the 19th. This is one of the furnaces. The men would heat iron ore and charcoal and then be left with cast iron once it had cooled. Many of the processes were powered by water and various workings remain. However, as we climbed up and down the valley I was as enchanted with the wild flowers we discovered. Shown here are the orange hawkweed, green alkantet and comfrey. The church ruin is called St Mary's and is Victorian. It was the wireworkers' church but was sadly destroyed by fire in 1977. The shapes of these gravestones rather tickled my fancy- the wi

Today my stout little hobbit legs have served me well and I have managed to slog for 5k without stopping and raised funds for a local children's hospice into the bargain. Mr GBT and the small person achieved the same except the latter was Speedy Gonzales and lapped us. Throughout my "training" these past few weeks by our local river I have got up to all sorts of antics.....initially the naughty little imp on my shoulder had no problem in persuading me to go home early because I was bored then I tried music but got grumpy with that...eventually repeating the mantra "running is forward dancing" got me through. I've had the support of a running morris dancing chum and Mr GBT to trot along with sometimes- somehow being able to have a natter which distracts me makes it so much better. Am I in love with running....nope will I continue yes. My legs are stronger which in turn have helped my dancing, it's free [after the initial outlay for the shoes and the

What's one to do when you've got one trendy teen and two wrinkly parents stuck in the dark ages and you're all away together. After a bit of huffing and puffing from all parties concerned the final solution seemed to be that we all chose a couple of things to do during the week. The small person chose shopping in Cardiff with the added frisson of seeing the football stadium. I was overly delighted at the prospect with low expectations of both.....I anticipated that the bay might be deadly like Gunwharf Keys [I really don't like conventional shopping...apologies to all those who are fans of the place] but this grumpy old baggage was proved gloriously wrong. Cardiff Bay is inspirational showing how fabulous modern architecture and art work can be...there was something different to see at every turn and no I'm not going to put up any pictures of the stadium despite having photos of said son posing next to it! This quilt I came across by chance when looking for the &