Eccentric Amblings and Ramblings From Gnat Bottomed Towers

I am a Michaelmas baby and am off up into the big smoke for birthday adventures today. In the meantime let me leave you with a poem which shares my namesake this 29th September.  Hail the Michaelmas daisy's Softly glowing purple haze. Lit by the sun's wistful gaze Bringing cooler mellow days. Festooned with spiders weaving. Dripping with dew drops gleaming. Through the misty morning light Ghostly blooms loom into sight. Our perennial swan song's Been waiting all summer long. And now a flower fanfare Heralding Autumnal air! Maureen Pickford. Arilx

No we're not talking bees here, but an artist that comes into his own especially in the Autumn as the trees shed their leaves. Lorenzo Manuelduran's work can only be described as sheer magic. A couple of examples below will give you a small taste but do check out his site here if you wish to see more  http://www.lorenzomanuelduran.es/english/work/chapter-ii/ As ever I am in awe. Arilx

Can anyone explain this one to me please? How is it when my son was genuinely a small boy hot water and he didn't mix. Trying to get him to not be a soap dodger and then when he had reluctantly succumbed keeping him clean was an art form in itself. Nowadays I can't keep him out of the bleeding shower...if he had his way he'd have three long [and I mean reservoir draining type length] showers. Let me stress that I have absolutely no objection to him maintaining high standards of cleanliness. However, I am not convinced that a shower just before you run is necessary [having already had one in the morning] ...afterwards obviously yes. Recently I have had to Have A Word about water meters, saving electricity and certain costs involved as I am getting bored of competing with his music in the bathroom whilst banging on the door and yelling. This week he has come up with his own teenage inspired solution...he now showers to a couple of tracks on his phone that he knows the leng

One of the advantages of being behind the counter so to speak at dollshouse shows these days is that I am able to get really close to people's work before the doors open and enjoy their beauty all on my own. Last weekend the work of these two ladies caught my eye.....I shall be forever saying this but I am always amazed at what people are able to create. My job is to admire and drool....although the latter is figuratively as I'm not entirely sure that the stand holder would appreciate me dribbling! Firstly Gale Bantock  http://www.galebantock.co.uk/ Not surprisingly they were all sold out! Secondly Penny Thomson. She makes the most stunning automata- bear in mind that most of them are only 2" high. http://www.penny-thomson.co.uk/#!automata/c1lgn Arilx

I judge how much I like a track on the radio by whether I dance in my seat whilst driving...yes I know mad old bat but then we knew that anyway. This is a case in point "Bohemian Like You" by the Dandy Warhols. Talking of mad old bats I might as well throw this in the mix for your further amusement. Never say you don't get good entertainment value when you drop in or one hell of a shock if you've googled something and this blog has come up in your hits! To be perfectly frank I probably need a sign such as this hung round my neck next time I escape the clutches of my carer and make a bid for freedom! Arilx

This is an exquisite porcelain plate made by Sevres. This is an exquisite plate woven from gossamer threads by a garden spider. The first plate is fit for purpose- you can eat your dinner off it. The spider's web is fit for purpose- you can eat your dinner off it but additionally you can catch your dinner in it and then store it. I personally don't know of any other dinner plates that also act as supermarket cum larder. I know which one impresses me more. Arilx PS This mass of webs appeared in our garden over the weekend.

Apologies I am a little late to the party with this but hope you have gloriously tinted Autumn moments in the next few weeks. Arilx

Or Daddy Longlegs to you and me. Eww they give me the heebie-jeebies- I loathe the way you can never be quite sure which way their flight path will take them yet I know that I am quite irrational about them because they are totally harmless. They are neither a mosquito nor a spider [there is an arachnid of the same name] but a fly and no, tempting though it may be, I don't kill them. I just try to avoid them during this month when they are everywhere. In a vain attempt to improve my perception of them I decided to do a little online googling to find out a bit more about them and there's not a lot going for them really. They start out life as an obese maggoty type bug called a leatherjacket which spends its time eating decaying material. It is useful if it is doing its munching in the right environment but several thousand signed their own death warrants in 1935 when they chewed their way through the grass roots on the wicket at the Lords Cricket Ground. They were collected up

"Monday Monday" by the Mamas and Papas. Funny seeing those skinny jeans- my 16 year old wears exactly the same. Fashion really does just go round and round these days. You have a weary blogger today. A very early start on Saturday morning, lots of travelling, working all weekend and then a long journey to get back to GBT at 8pm which is earlier than some years. Yes I have been wearing another of my hats- our mini business hat and here is our "Empire" in all its glory. I've spent the last two days nattering to the show's visitors, Janet and John knitting [another garter stitch blanket for a friend], completing crosswords with Mr GBT during the lulls and finishing Oliver Postgate's autobiography. An interesting read- he recognised himself as a misfit and a maverick. A very driven individual he was an inventor in addition to the many other skills he acquired during his colourful patchwork life. I gather he was charming- would you Adam and Eve it,

Why today is National Speak Like A Pirate Day don't ya know! To get you in the right frame of mind might I daringly suggest that you take a listen to this: Followed by a close inspection of this: Taken with a hearty slug of this: Before you attempt this! http://www.talklikeapirate.com/howto.html Arilx

....the talent of others. Chum, E and I, popped into a small local art gallery on Tuesday to look at some jewellery made by a lady she knows and who is currently teaching her. Well what can I say.....I am challenged craftwise but I really appreciate the incredible work of others. Here's a small taster. "Just dropping by" by Michael Topham. This is made of wire and produces amazing silhouettes. More of his whimsical work can be viewed here  http://www.miketopham.co.uk/index.html "In an English Country Garden" by Nancy Shafee. All made from felt. Conker made by Fleur Grenier.  http://www.fleurgrenier.co.uk/ Udaipuir by Lois Bellew. This piece had gold threads running through it and came alive when the sunlight caught it.  http://loisbellewtextiles.weebly.com/gallery.html Harpy by Mavis Walker. This quirky piece was amongst my favourites. All these artists are members of the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen. More of their work can be seen here

I think every generation of children growing up has someone to thank for a wonderful creative gift and legacy. For the current one J.K.Rowling would be the obvious one to spring to mind as one of many. For me its Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate. The "simplicity" of its format and reliance on timeless story lines meant that it hasn't dated and fallen by the wayside like many programmes that came before it and since. Instead its charm and appeal continues to hold its own. When my son was genuinely a small person: I borrowed a Bagpuss video from the library. In those days he rarely sat and watched TV for more than a nanosecond before he was off chasing elephants but on this occasion he sat, completely rapt for two hours. When it finished he looked at me and sobbed. I think he was too little at the time to have really fully understood it but his reaction was priceless. So for those of us of a certain vintage here's a small trip down memory lane. Firstly Ivor The

Back in the summer I went to a traditional village fete complete with a dog show and welly throwing with my chum E who lives there. It's been years since I went to one but it proved to be a fun afternoon out. One stall that caught my eye was the book stall. I am incapable of resisting books- as fast as I declutter them they creep back in but I am very disciplined and hardly ever keep fiction ones after I've read them. This time there was a thrifty offer of three paperbacks for a pound...well I thought it would have been rude of me to refuse and this was one of the ones that came home with me. Naturally my choice was based upon the stonkingly good reviews plastered all over the covers.....erm I am of course lying. Confession time...it had red pages. How shallow is that...n'er mind I do shallow so well...it's a bit like when I choose wine. Once I've narrowed down the thriftier priced ones then I go for the one with the prettiest label or bottle! Having only jus

Following our loss of Psychocat a few weeks ago I am now ready for a new furry feline owner. After an initial enquiry a few weeks ago via the Book of the Face someone kindly recommended a locally run animal rescue place which I had no idea even existed. I've been in touch and passed the home check so everything is now in place for us to go ahead and offer a forever home to a suitable mog. Today we popped over to view the cats available for rehoming but it wasn't to be today. The owner had an adorable little female with her equally adorable kitten but the Mum was still incredibly young and quite rightly she didn't want them to be separated at this stage in the game. Much as I would have loved to have scooped them up and brought them back with me I've thought about it carefully and I can really only take one and my preference is for an adult of 2+. No matter though she has some more coming in later this week and it sounds quite promising. Those two were cute as a button

"Happiness depends upon ourselves." Aristotle Arilx

The small person turned 16 mid way through his GCSEs this year. When I was his age I'd already been working in a shop for a year but now the employment laws have changed to make it older. To earn a little money he's had a paper round and done odd jobs for family here and there whilst he's been treading water. Off his own bat he set up a couple of hours working in Oxfam to give himself relevant experience on his CV. Having finished his National Citizenship Service at the end of August he has just been in a position to apply for a job. He drafted his CV and asked me to look over it. Helping people set up CVs and fill in application forms was part of my previous job as a tutor. I made sure that it was his work not mine but pointed out a few extra skills he'd missed. Last week he announced that he was going to go flat out to find a job. Having spent the best part of two days twonking about with an online application and then choosing a couple of lie ins over putting in a

Confession time.....deep breath...here goes...I am a time wasting addict. If you ever meet me I shall give you a thousand reasons as to why such and such hasn't been done. Usually the main one I trot out is "I don't have enough time". I'd be lying if I was to give the impression that I never do anything- I often try my hand at making new things, read a fair amount etc etc. I am a busy bee [anxiety does have its pluses] but I am equally adept at wasting my free time twonking about. On Saturday I just observed what I do do sometimes- it transpires that quite a lot of time was being taken up answering quizzes and quipping on others posts on the book of the face. Harmless fun in itself except I hadn't really given any thought to just how much time I was spending on these displacement activities. What should I do about this I pondered? On Saturday evening I began by investigating my massive list of bookmarked sites I'd acquired. I managed to slash the number

Earlier this week I finally got around to asking one of the ladies I housesparkle for why she had conkers in the corners of all the rooms. It keeps spiders away she told me. That was a new one on me so if you're not an arachnid fan then this is for you! Arilx

Last night I quietly celebrated the full moon with dear chums. I don't know why it continues to surprise me but my friends know my taste better than myself sometimes. Out of the blue S gave me this last night- she saw it and decided that I must have it. It's by Lisa Parker and I've just been looking up some of her other designs drool! Arilx

No don't worry you're not about to receive a lecture on insurance or anything sensible like that...this is more to do with how people protected themselves from The Evil Eye in yesteryear. The more I read the more apparent it becomes to me that the fear of witchcraft was a very real one and people took many steps to try and keep both themselves and their surroundings safe. These are some of the snippets I have come across in various wonderings and wanderings in recentish times. Domestically I've seen the evidence of old shoes and a mummified cat at our local museum which were found between the walls and in the roofs in local homes and the witch bottles filled with pins, human hair, urine and other lovelies buried under the doorstep or within the house structure where it was believedwitches could gain access. This is a Bellarmine jar which was often used for this purpose and there are many examples on display at the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle. I mentioned in a

I am a regular declutterer but it goes in phases- I am mid phase right now so quite a few clothes have left the building [many to my friend S who has first refusal- she does likewise], heaps of books courtesy of Mr GBT and various goodies from the kitchen cupboards which have come to light as I've been cleaning through. I am always amazed at what turns up even though I am no slattern when it comes to housekeeping. The small person has inherited my sorting gene and has been right through his room moving stuff on before he begins at college. Over several months last year I helped Mummikins to sort out her attic. Gradually we freecycled, recycled and charity shopped masses. Last week I joined her for an hour or so to make a start on the house and we cleared a cupboard and a bureau. One of things we came across was an old folder full of calligraphy. This was amongst the papers and although familiar to many, I still love the peace that descends upon me as I reread the words. Deside

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." Ernest Hemingway This has  never  worked for me mind you. After a few small sips of a rather strong cider called Red Dragon at a beer festival last weekend I was dancing at I came home and signed up to do the park run which started yesterday. Prior to this I was just talking about doing it! I ran the thing and improved my time from 43 mins back in the summer when it was so hot to 35.29. I nearly made it round but had a little stroll towards the end. Not too disappointed though as have twonked about on all my runs since the sponsored one and haven't tried to do 5K since then! I am not a natural runner but I did really enjoy it today and it costs nowt. There is no doubt it benefits my mental health which far outweighs the slog of heaving my carcase around the course! Arilx The choice of photo is as ever totally random- just something that amused me in one

You are unique, irreplaceable. Did you know that? Why aren't you glad, astonished about yourself and about everyone else you know? In searching for the deepest reason for human happiness....I always found, deep down, a sense of security, a great simplicity and a spontaneous joy in little things. How is it that some people sit in the sun looking like sour apples- and that others whistle in the rain? Don't weigh out your love like a grocer. Don't measure out in advance how much you will give, how far you will go in love. Do you ever get the feeling that children are puzzled about the dull narrow-mindedness of grown-ups? When grown-ups are together they talk in code. When they meet somebody they ask about his job, his possessions, his connections and his education....But if you tell children about a friend they ask"Does he collect butterflies? Can he whistle? Can we go swimming? Phil Bosmans

I have been doing mysterious things with lemon and lime peel of late which left me with several peeled fruit. I am exceptionally good at tucking them in the fridge and rediscovering them resplendent with furry coats. Long past being used they are composted but not this time for I Got My Act Together. Our food wastage is already low but there's always more I can do.Today I've made some lemon jam using this recipe- it's sweet but tart and looks promising. http://madonnadelpiatto.com/2010/03/14/the-limoncello-factory-leftovers/ If anyone  is stuck for ideas for leftover lemon peel there are some ideas here http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lemon-peel-uses.html Even the lemon pips can be dried and reused if you are so inclined. http://www.thekitchn.com/jam-makers-tip-save-lemon-seeds-for-homemade-pectin-194003 Over and out! Arilx

I am quite sure I have seen some of these characters falling out of the local hostelries on a Friday night! These quirky boat races are to be found on one of the follies in Nymans....I am only just realising that my beloved gargoylesque type figures adorn buildings other than churches! Following our recent holiday to the Wye Valley the fella on the left hand side also tickled my fancy. I do wonder if the stern looking dame on the far side is his trouble and strife. I never tire of spotting faces....after the 600th blog post on this topic others might though! Arilx

A weeny chuckle. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152127180856467&fref=nf Arilx

This blog acts as my diary. Today the small person starts the next stage of his education as he enrols at college to do A levels. For personal reasons this is my way of marking it [it's my choice of song most definitely not his!] Arilx

The second set of snaps as threatened! "Erm now this one" she says stiffling a snigger and channelling her inner Rachel de Thame is a Magnolia Sargentiana Robusta [or so it said on the label!] Arilx

The first set of shots from yesterday. The more subtle colours. The changing hues of the hydrangeas as they begin to go over in the first one caught my eye. View across to the pinetum. In the foreground you can see a meadow of pincushion flowers. The hum from the bees was incredible. Nymans seems to be able to blend architectural plants with the more familiar perennial ones seamlessly. I was very taken with some of the dramatic forms of the individual flower heads. This is the view of the house that I love the most. It was partially ruined by fire in 1947. More photos to follow tomorrow. Arilx