Marty

Thank you, Albert, you say the nicest things. Or do you mean I should buy a few nut bearing trees as well?

I don't want to die quite yet, thank you very much!

If I were allowed out to the garden centre, I would buy some raspberry canes for the new garden. And some blackcurrant (and maybe redcurrant) bushes. Oh, and a root or two of rhubarb, as well! Not to mention a few apple trees (and maybe a pear). Looks like the majority of those may have to be on next year's shopping list. [EDIT: Fortunately I have a number of strawberry plants in tubs]

My favourite is raspberry. As a child I preferred strawberry, but am not as fond of it any more.

Not that the trailer really does the film justice (at least as far as I'm concerned):

Just Googled it, and it looks as though it would be worth watching. There's a British play and film called The History Boys that some of you may like if you've not already seen it. The film is a 2006 British comedy-drama film adapted by Alan Bennett from his play of the same name, which won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named The History Boys one of the Top Ten Films in its 2006 awards. The film was nominated for the 2007 GLAAD* Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release. Richard Griffiths (who played "Hector" - the boys' very camp General Studies teacher) and Frances de la Tour (who played the boys' regular History teacher) received BAFTA nominations for Best Male Actor and Best Female Actor, respectively. * GLAAD Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

All good here, thanks, Albert. Hope the same for you and yours!

It started raining whilst I was out in the garden of the new, old house, so I went inside and took another 500 grammes of wild blackberries from the freezer and made some jam. That tall jar is a standard one pound (454 gramme) jam jar. I'll pop back in a couple of hours if it's not raining too heavily to check the the centre of the lids have popped down. If any haven't, that (those) will be the jar(s) to open and use first. But I've never had a jar not do that with me yet. When I was leaving the house, I checked to see if there was any water dripping in from inside the front door. None visible, but it will probably need a lot more heavy rain than this to be 100% sure the builder has cured the leak.

My, my! Busy little bee, weren't you?

Greetings, Page

I'm not saying it's necessarily the case as far as your son is concerned, but that comment I have highlighted made me think of an article in Waterford Whispers News (a satirical online newspaper) from around six years ago, when the Irish Government was trying to introduce water charges: Warning: Mention of mast*rbation

Good afternoon, Albert

Enjoy the walk, Gary. I'll probably have gone to bed by the time you get back.

In future maybe think about saving two copies? Perhaps one on your hard drive and one on a USB stick?

Sometimes doing nothing can be just as important as being active. I'm reminded of a piece by Welsh poet William Henry Davies... _____________ Leisure William Henry Davies What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. (From: Songs Of Joy and Others, published 1911)

Hi, Clo! Although the forecast was for showers, the day actually stayed dry. It was cold to begin with, and felt colder due to a fairly strong breeze, but the temperature got up to around 11°C later in the day. Clouds and sun. I'm told to expect showery weather tomorrow until Monday afternoon; but hopefully the met office have it wrong again and it stays dry. Mind you, it's hardly rained since the builder fixed the leaky gutter on the roof. I wouldn't mind a real prolonged downpour, just to see for sure that the leak has stopped.

Hi, Albert! All well here, thanks. And you? Not in the house long. Spent most of the day in the garden, tidying up all the briars and brambles I'd cut, and making a bonfire of them. Also started clearing out the upper story of the old cottage in the garden, and found lots there to add to the bonfire. While all this outside work is good for me, and helps while away the time spent on lockdown, I'm finding myself quite tired at the end of the day. Got potatoes and carrots steaming at the moment. Will make a cheese omelette to go with them. That'll be dinner sorted for tonight. Although it's now 9:15pm, so it will be a late dinner. Might video chat with a friend or two later. I've hardly spoken to a soul all day.

Hi, Caz! Yea, I'm doing good, thanks for asking. Because I am over 70, I am effectively under house arrest at the moment, although the Government tells me it's for my own safety. I am allowed to go out in the garden and, fortunately, I have a very big garden in the old house I purchased last November. That garden has been untended in the approximately ten years since the house fell vacant, so I have plenty to keep me occupied. And, if the weather turns too wet, there's lots of work needs doing inside the house. I have loads of provisions in the cupboards, fridge and freezer, so there's no danger of me starving to death. So I'm not getting too bored during my house arrest. Initially the cocooning (to use the Government's term) of the over 70's was to last until Easter Sunday, but the health minister suggested yesterday that it may be extended. I must admit, though, that just once or twice during the past week I have felt a sort of helplessness. That has soon passed, but I do worry about those elderly whose mental state may not be quite as robust as my own. My nearest chemist (pharmacy) is around 20 miles (30km) away, and they texted me the other day to say my prescription is ready for collection. They don't offer any sort of delivery service (but told me over the phone that they are in discussions with the Government about that), so I shall either have to arrange for someone to collect it for me, or maybe ring the health centre in my village on Monday. Maybe they have arranged to get basic medicines (which is all I need) in stock. I wouldn't need the medicine for about ten days anyway, and none of it is critical. I wouldn't be in imminent danger of death without it. So, that's my story! Not as bad as many people's during this current crisis, I am sure.

Where I live, in rural Ireland, I am dependent on mobile broadband, which isn't the fastest at the best of times. Normally I would get my best connection during the day time, when the kids are at school. Since the government closed the schools two weeks ago I have found my internet has slowed down to a crawl at all times of the day.

Sweet dreams, Albert.

Source: Scientific American

I could say several things here. But they would probably be classed as political, and earn me a warning from a GA moderator...

Yea, catches up with us all eventually. There was a time when I could pick things like pencils up from the floor using my toes... (Now just a distant memory)

Belated "Hey" bakatya, Page.

And I'm off into the garden for a while. Catch yous all later.