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Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

BEWARE! DON’T GET PRICKED BY A CACTUS.

Posted in Fun, Health on June 19, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Despite surgery and picking, the cactus resists

Many years ago, more than I dare to remember, I bought a packet of cactus seeds after seeing mini cacti growing in “fancy” pots!

The plant centre no longer exists and I promise it had nothing to do with the cursing that followed that purchase.

Carefully adhering to the planting instructions on the packet, I placed the pregnant pot out of sight and promptly forgot about it. Months later I remembered my cacti seeds. My…how they had grown. The next stage was transplanting them into single larger pots, so that I could tuck them away again.

Later, to my surprise, two plants had shot up in protest at their abandon, and the rest unfortunately didn’t survive to see the light of day.

Now, 20 years later, I am unconditionally and secretly picking at the mini cacti growing out of my right forefinger. My left forefinger was successfully operated on years ago for the same problem. Somehow my right forefinger survived all medical attempts to oust it.

Cactus spines are produced by specialised structures and act as protection against herbivores in deserts….(plant pots included). The word cactus is derived from the Ancient Greek (kaktus).

The first acknowledgement of this spiny “pain” was when my son said “Mum, what’s that growing on your finger?” My son, whose own son is now in his early twenties, cannot believe that I still possess this painful eyesore. The NHS have given up too – the last visit was met with a rebuff. So, I too give up.

My advice to you all is: DON’T GET PRICKED BY A CACTUS.

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TEAS’E PLEASE?

Posted in Fun, General on February 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I don’t know how you feel in the morning, but a nice cup of tea sets me up for the rest of the day. Every time I drink a cuppa, it evokes memories of my grandmother singing to me:

I like a nice cup of tea in the morning, for to start the day you see, and at half past eleven, well my idea of heaven is a nice cup of tea.

Original Binnie Hale recording here.

I would stare at her wondering how she could enjoy such a cuppa steaming liquid, when my preference was a fruit juice!

Tea is so much a part of our British way of life. I didn’t realise it was initially introduced to this country by a Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza, in the 1660’s after her marriage to King Charles 2^nd. A gift to Charles 2^nd in Catherine’s dowry was the port of Bombay in India, now known as Mumbai. This valuable port was handed over to the East India Company for an annual rent of £10 in gold.

Famous diarist Samuel Pepys first mentioned drinking tea (spelled tee), in his diary entry for 25^th September 1660. He noted that it was China tea. Interestingly, tea drinking was considered unusual in that period with the commoners! Pepys was a member of the wealthy London set.

The British first introduced tea plantations into India to break the monopoly of China tea. Much later, vast areas of land in India, were converted to the production of tea by the British East India Company. India has now evolved into one of the most technologically equipped tea industries in the world, although it is now alleged that China has overtaken India due to increased land availability.

In more recent times the Indian Government has been sympathetic to the demands of their industry and pledged to support tea plantations and lobbied extensively with world trade organisations.

There’s a lot of history attached to the tea industry and millions depend on the sale of tea, not just for the feeling of well-being but for the actual standard of living from proceeds of tea production exported to the rest of the world.

Now enjoy that cuppa tea! I prefer Indian!

What’s yours? Mine’s Teasmade!

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Hull’s amazing SPIDERMAN.

Posted in Culture, Fun, Local news, Nature on November 10, 2014| Leave a Comment »

“Maman” by Louise Bourgeois Photo copyright: Mark Adams

I was intrigued by zoologist Dr. Tim Cockerill’s BBC4 “Spider House” programme last week, whose purpose it is to correct the bad press spiders tend to get. He is an excellent presenter and I didn’t know that he’s a local – from Sutton, east Hull.

Dr. Tim Cockerill

The programme is very timely, as I always get several huge house spiders scuttling around the borders of the room this time of year. Not large enough to cast shadows though! Now I know they’re shopping for a male to further the species and also provide a post-coital supper.

It brings to mind the more than 10 meter, eye-catching spider that sits in front of the Tate Modern suitably named “Maman”; the work of French-born artist Louise Bourgeois.

There’s a second giant spider in Liverpool, this time called “La Princesse”, created by another French artist François Delarozière, commissioned to inaugurate their year as cultural capital in September 2008.

La Princesse by Delarozière
Photo copyright: Matthew Andrews

That one is 15 meters high, weighs 37 tonnes and is made from reclaimed steel and poplar wood.

It’s interesting to see how arachnids capture the imagination, usually in some form of anxiety. As Dr. Tim Cockerill points out, they are neither monstrous nor scary.

Which leads me to my next thought, I wonder what Hull has in mind to mark its City of Culture year in 2017. Perhaps Hull’s very own zoologist, Dr. Tim can advise them!

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The Policeman’s Daughter

Posted in Culture, Fun on June 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Should I enabled be, to start life again,

My father, PC William Pomfrey

Not as a babe unaffected by tears,

But allowed to age thru the learning years.

With Dad still alive, so I could strive,

Maths enjoy, no tears to hide my avoidance ploy!

Learn to use fractions, decimals as one should.

Enjoy the classroom scene as best as I could.

Persevere, learn and gain to levels high.

Work hard in school years and reach for the sky.

Would not change love of Nature within my life.

Mary Louise Pomfrey (Kingston)

I would be caring, sensitive, as father strived.

He was a policeman who cared with pride.

Then a victim of murder ended Dad’s life,

Through a source of infection, that added to strife.

The Natural world of which we should care.

All wildlife on Earth was put here to share.

I would paint as an Artist with colours that flow.

And receive praise for canvasses put on show.

My mother long gone, led a stressful life.

For she strived so hard as was no longer a wife.

My son and daughters the nest have flown.

To Paris, Suffolk and a West Country home.

I transferred from the South some years ago

Have travelled far and wide,

Including the Indian and Pacific tide.

Now married to Yorkshire land of the free.

Here’s to your health with a nice cup of tea!

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Smartphone Madame? Of course, may I inspect your fingertips?

Posted in Fun, Nature on September 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Not all monkeys like Smartphones

Blast!

I hope that’s not swearing! It used to be, but these days probably is no longer… I suppose.

Otherwise, what do you say when you’re tweeting away on your laptop to your heart’s content, then struggle with one of those new-fangled Smartphone gadgets offered to you as a gift?

Struggling to make my brand new Smartphone behave, I took it with me on my last trip to see my son in France. He installed Twitter, set it up over WiFi so that I wouldn’t incur prohibitive roaming fees and gave me an induction course on Android ‘gesture control’. He whistled through setup menus effortlessly as though it was an extension of his hand.

And wow, what fun I had watching my followers grow by the hour as I tweeted with them around the world from the comfort of the sofa.

Then I returned home.

The birdsong continued to twitter merrily on the laptop – competing with those in the natural world – but my dear little Smartphone stopped tweeting altogether. Of course I needed to connect it to my own WiFi. My son showed me how to do that – in France.

But back home, things were not so simple. Where is that WiFi menu again? Swipe down? But I don’t see the same thing as I did in France!

My son spent 30 minutes on the phone from France trying to guide me through the menus, but the damn thing just wouldn’t behave. The screen kept fading in and out, the menus didn’t respond properly and I really got myself in a ‘tiz-woz’. I was never able to get to the screen to enter the security key to connect to WiFi. In the end we gave up.

Did someone say they these gadgets were easy to use? Perhaps it is me. Perhaps my karma is creating a real-time distortion field around the Smartphone.

My son says it’s down to the display. Android devices use ‘resistive’ touch screens – great if you have long finger nails because they work with pressure. I don’t, so Apple’s ‘capacitive’ displays are apparently much easier to use. They work by the electric current in the finger tip and are more accurate.

Can I suggest that Carphone Warehouse salesmen get some extra training then and inspect fingertips before making their recommendations?

You can’t mess with Mother Nature.

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Plant a tree!

Posted in Fun, Nature on July 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

A red deckchair primed for its lazy occupant

What more can one wish for than to sit out in one’s garden under the shade of trees. It’s so much nicer to enjoy when everyone else is experiencing the sweltering heat of this current English summer!

When my husband and I first moved in some years ago, the garden was long, flat and uninteresting. We now enjoy a mixture of Apple, Holly, Poplar, Californian Sequoia, Willow and a Yew hedge, which the Council informed me is over 200 years old!! Just imagine, Napoleon was authorising the use of the Metric System, Henry James was being born to the world and Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” was being published.

Yes, there is still space to relax in an easy deck chair situated on a small robust lawn, surrounded by grape vines (grapes sometimes) and laurel. The birds enjoy the natural surroundings as do the squirrels and wood pigeons – when they are allowed!

Trees provide shade and shelter for wildlife and play a significant role in moderating the climate. So… plant a tree in your garden!

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Proud Mary

Posted in Culture, Fun, National news on August 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It’s not quite over yet – the Paralympics are still to come – but I just need to say how proud it feels to be British after such a wonderful Olympic Games. I felt so uplifted, especially after the breathtaking closing ceremony – yet another fine celebration of Britain’s cultural influence on the World.

Triumphant Ennis after Heptathlon Gold

I never, ever thought I would become a “couch potato”, but my curiosity, then desire to watch ‘Mo’ and Jessica, mushroomed into a compulsive binge to consume as much BBC Olympic coverage of our athletes as possible. What excitement! What a feast! I don’t normally follow sporting events.

What a joy to witness the skill and sportsmanship of these and other athletes. From mountain biking, road racing, sailing, athletics, equestrian events; I was rooting for them all of the way! By the way, where did all those cheering and flag waving millions lining the roads come from?

The impact from the drama, excitement and pure pleasure on the British psyche has been phenomenal. What a powerful unifying force for our nation! Athletes of all creeds and colour striving for a common goal: to give their best for Great Britain, pumping patriotism to an all time high with it. Let’s hope we can harness all these positive vibes through these difficult economic times.

Hull’s Olympic boxing champion – Luke Campbell

Kingston-upon-Hull’s own Luke Campbell – gold medal bantam weight boxing Olympian – will receive further accolades when he returns home. What a hero!

Psychedelic Olympic Stadium

Hats off to Danny Boyle’s Olympic ceremonies. What proud moments so skillfully executed. I loved the psychedelic and special effect lighting in the closing ceremony. And did anyone spot the sudden appearance of a tightrope walker? Imagine the stress of performing that feat in time with the rest of the show. Timed to perfection.

John Lennon’s Imagine, as you have never seen it before

John Lennon’s Imagine was a touching nostalgic note too along with the Who and other pop bands… one of our strongest cultural exports. Britain’s lasting impression on the World. And where did the octopus spring from? Magic! The athletes seemed to be enjoying the free concert in the centre.

I was amazed that over seventy thousand volunteers participated in the Games and was glad to see their recognition heartily applauded. Their good nature and humour said it all.

Now it’s over to the Paralympics and then off to Rio. We wish them all the very best. Looking forward to it.

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SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Posted in Culture, Fun, National news on August 6, 2012| 1 Comment »

That’s the only description I can muster for the magnificent presentation of the Opening Ceremony of the British 2012 London Olympics – a superb portrayal of our very own sense of Britishness.

Britain’s pastoral heritage portrayed at the London 2012 Olympics

I wonder whether the thousands of excited international visitors in the audience fully understood the sheep reference and its relationship to the British and its laws! As an island nation, the extensive permanent grassland, moorland, and woodland pastures enabled relatively large numbers of animals to be kept, encouraging the development of pastoral farming in the 13th century. Just one century later, sheep farming had emerged as a cornerstone of foreign trade and national policy through wool exports to Europe. Common law, a pillar of the British legal system, stems from the rights of tenants and others to graze their livestock on the Lord of the Manor’s or public land known as a “commons“, which gave rise to the term “commoner“. The House of Commons was traditionally composed of commoners. So although it may seem frivolous to portray Great Britain through its pastoral heritage, sheep truly did play an instrumental role in shaping British society from the 13th century through to the Industrial Revolution.

We are truly a melting pot of nations and influences when you consider the progressive integration of cultures over the last two millennia – the Romans (Italians), the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes (Germans), the Vikings (Danes), the Normans (French, descendents from the Vikings!) and more recently the post-war colonial integration of Pakistanis and Indians. It’s this mix that gives us our sense of humour and self-derision. After all that history of invasion, we tend not to get too excited about things and just get on with life, come rain or shine.

Mary Poppins at the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

And as if it needed proving, Mary Poppins preceded the Queen and James Bond in their respective heavenly descents into the magnificent stadium. What a good “sport” the Queen was to agree to such an “escapade” and what a joy to receive her welcoming tribute to the Opening of the Games.

The Queen parachutes in style to open the London 2012 Olympics

The 2012 Olympic celebration is vastly different from the one I experienced with my family in Munich in 1972. My memories of that event are just as fond, even though we witnessed at first hand the horror of the terrorism that was to develop over the following decades.

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Spanish scanner loves green sweater

Posted in Fun on May 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Question: How do you make a green sweater disappear before your very own eyes?

One method of securing your possessions from airport security scanners

Answer: Very easily. Follow this simple recipe. Place your sweater in one grey, dry, plastic security tray. Then place the tray firmly on a scanner conveyor belt, preferably at Palma Mallorca Airport. Add one dose of thorough frisking by airport security staff as your sweater gently feeds into the scanner’s bowels. Wait 30 seconds to let things simmer and Abracadabra! Your green sweater has gone! Consumed by the scanner – it never emerges from the other side.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Now you have to make yourself understood by Spanish airport staff. Try explaining to them that you are waiting for something that never appears. You can’t! They don’t understand English and you can’t speak Spanish. No attempts at waving your arms in circular orangutan-like motions will inform them of your cause. It is at times like these when you discover that there is no international symbol for ‘sweater’. Only those of you that regularly play charades at dinner parties will succeed in explaining your problem. I must make a note to accept more invitations to dinner parties.

I stood and waited stubbornly, only to have Spanish airport security usher me along impatiently. I finally reported my loss to the Information Desk who duly noted my problem and diligently shrugged their shoulders.

But that’s not the end of the fun. Eventually, several weeks later, I received a long letter in Spanish from Palma Mallorca Airport, suggesting I send them an email to report the problem! Surely it’s reported, otherwise how did the letter find its way to me?

Let’s hope their airport security department is more efficient than their lost and found department. I can only hope my green sweater has found a home with some deserving soul.

In stark contrast, when returning from visiting my family in Paris last weekend, I entrusted another sweater to a scanner in Charles de Gaulle airport. My faith was restored. Three metres later, I was able to retrieve all of my possessions. The French appear to feed their scanners more regularly than the Spanish. You can always trust the French with food.

A tale of two cities!!!

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