An occasional jar is good for you

The lady above is so sure that vodka, and I admire her choice, will remove all problems, so who am I to deny her ideas? But instead I merely try to have the odd glass of red wine (obviously for only for the sake of my heart) to improve my own life.

One can of course run into excess, if a certain amount of care is not taken, but we should note that it is ladies that need to maintain the flow even when they are "busy". We all know that moderation is worthwhile (which probably includes avoiding invading other's countries) but the odd G&T or martini could surely not hurt any-one?So pass me that martini and let's see how it goes in the future because it is after all a drink that is much screwed around with, to me less than 3:1 is only lemonade!
But the idea of drinking shorts while dining is atrocious, wine is the only answer. And even the rebellious people now striving to run the world have started growing their own wines and should try drinking them, or preferably Chilean wines.

But at least they have realised the need for a drink occasionally, especially to improve the team performance at work, or at least as considered so by our brethren.Please click and read the note!

I am getting old?

Last Friday our eldest son Zaidhe married Rhevy who lives quite close to the farm. This was just a small affair, presided over by the Mayor, as the church wedding will take place later. Paul, her father was widowed some months ago and many are convinced that to have a wedding in less than a year from a parent's death is ill-omened. So I pointed out that a civil wedding makes things legal and the "real" church wedding can take place after the period has passed.

But I really believed that marriage should take place now and so it transpired. And here are the young couple toasting each other in Chilean wine, although Rhevy's face after showed she did not really appreciate wine!
It was both sad and strange to see another going through what I had earlier. Becoming a widower is not pleasant and Paul had the worst of it since he could not even get back from working overseas as an Engineer to be with his wife at the end.
But Alice and I were pleased that at least a civil wedding was held and were happy to stand with the young couple at the ceremony. There is something charming about love; but I was pleased to hear the Mayor, for 31 years previously a policeman, give a solemn warning about the standing of marriage and pointing out that the jail was always ready to be of service to them if either strayed. I was particularly fond of this clear statement, as it rather reflects my views on how important marriage is.
And to complete the pleasures of the day even the wildfowl decided to show their happiness about a marriage!

Gas Passing

I sometimes wonder how accurate scientific reports are, certainly 14 seems quite a small number.

It is true though that the action can sometimes be violent and unexpected. Not that I have to worry so much as a trouser wearer, of course. However although we men feel we have exemptions over certain actions, we are often reminded by the ladies that we can misread situations and act in a manner likely to get us into trouble.
Of course women avoid the problem by making us aware of the actions to be expected; and we blunder on entirely at our own risk.
And, as my loo seat tells me, there is a risk and being aware I can take such steps as may be necessary to ensure my welfare. Nevertheless it does sometimes happen that a charming lady may fail to give proper warning and then the handy, fold-up sign can provide at least some relief; since it is easily folded into the alternative shape of a fan.

Dip me in Honey

The above rather amused me, I am prone to getting the wrong end of the stick myself but I trust that this would not have happened to me. Mind you the "Leader of the Gang" came an awful cropper in later life so it's all possible I guess.

However I was reading an extremely cultured book the other day and my mind went off from the nastiness of unkindness to kids and flew to lovely ladies instead. Mind you I am rather terrified in case strong minded women decide that I should be punished for such thoughts and thus took steps to change my way of life completely. Although I admit that I am prone to exaggerated clothing, whether my esoteric ties or loud tee-shirts but I have to state categorically that I do not want to progress even one step further in standing out in a crowd. But this fellow looks charming and each to his own I say, except for people of a like mind to Paul Francis Gadd, naturally.

Dog Days

At the risk of becoming even more boring than I normally am I am returning to dogs. Alistair was previously a lover of cats and hamsters but seems to have been converted to dogs on his Easter visit. Or is it just the enjoyment of laying out in the sun doing very little that attracts him?

Alice of course, being a motherly sort, treats Jasper and Muggins in particular as her latest children, although Muggins does look a shade fearful as he enjoys this cuddle. Mind you he also knows her as the main disciplinarian of the home and her merely saying, "where's my smack" is enough to send all dogs off towards safety!
Myself, I am an easy going soul, as all know, and the gentle stroll along the beach with the occasional halt to stare aimlessly at the sea or a camera is a great pleasure. I have recently come across photos (although not yet scanned) of my previous dog Rosie, an Old English Sheepdog, and at some future time will portray her. Also tell a mildly amusing tale of her protectiveness to Alitia.
But I am glad that Alistair has finally decided that dogs can be loveable, at least at times, and I strongly believe it was one of our mongrels that finally persuaded him. After all who could not fall for the most interesting nose in the world.

Music again

When we drove up to the farm we stopped off to buy some bread and I was so pleased to see the harpist was back. My first, late, wife was Welsh but it seems strange to see Philippine exponent.

Otherwise I tend to a somewhat eclectic music mix, although here we will stick mainly to one format. After all what could be better than being ill with "White Line Fever"?
Mind you one would have to be affected by something even in the '60s to think that Jimi would have people so unknown as to be regularly asked "Who?" as his backing band, don't you think?
Throughout the years though there have been people who lasted longer than, say Jimi, Jim, Janis or Sid and I salute them.
Kief is naturally my all time favourite, falling out of the tree or not, but although less prolific, being rather idle, I am awfully fond of Billy. Maybe less widespread than Kief but anyone who can do a Morrison song and make it seem right must have something going right for him.
Strange that I am not a greater fan of dedicated dance music really since the music I like does tend to create a hip swivelling mode. On the other hand, perhaps with my shape it is just as well.
But as my liking for Sid implies I am fond of punk and consider that there were no finer examples of the art than "Vic Vomit and the Vile Farts".

Paraffin Budgie

The youngest son turns thirteen today and spends the day flying back from Cebu to Manchester, perhaps not the most thrilling of ways to spend a birthday.

However we have had great times, although he has not quite got the knack of dog control, as can be seen as Muggins and Jasper pull him along the beach!
Alice of course has complete control, but then she has this over the entire extended family and, naturally, me.
To get back to the sprog, he has had an extended holiday, flying early and going back late. This due to the problems of getting flights. Indeed to my horror his waitlisted section Doha to Manchester remained waitlisted and we eventually had to send him Business Class at great expense.
Of course, he is worth it although recalling his younger days I never expected him to become a Business Class world traveller at thirteen.

Times

My charming wife had me at lunch recently together with a nephew and his fiancee, Cherry, who is a hardworking sweetheart.

I always like to sit opposite my wife, hence the shot to the right, apparently in much of Asia "lovers" sit next to one another; but how to look at her beauty?
To my amazement they are a totally charming couple and also did not in any way play on the rich westerner syndrome. And do we help them; well, they are family and they were pleased at what little we gave. How nice it is when one is not paying skin tax but are genuinely given thanks.
But enough of this being nice, let's look at me ensuring that besides my bottle of wine I get total value from a "bottomless" Diet coke. Notice that "diet", I have to tell you that it does not make you slim.

No Time to Blog

We have been extremely busy rushing between the houses, buying more farmland and the like and I never seem to get time to sort myself out at the keyboard.

Thank the Lord that it is Tuesday.

For Knife See Pliers

I trust that this lad did not share the fate recorded in the delightful poem: -

Electric wires,
Boy with pliers,
Blue flashes,
Boy in ashes.

One Pill Makes You Larger

I have always been very fond of Grace Slick, and enjoyed the Great Society Days, although this was not to the exclusion of the Airplane period, not quite so sure about the Starship.

So it was with some pleasure I came across a few pictures from the famous (not five but) Alice books. These days I guess Carroll would have been identified as Dodgson and arrested as a perv so one wonders if the Queen would have interfered to ensure he was pardoned. After all her ancestor Queen Victoria was so enamoured of the books that she ordered all of his published output. She must have been surprised at the wealth of mathematical treatises she was given!
The second time I was in KSA I refused to watch more than two pornos in a row during the obligatory Thursday night session without the light relief of Disney's film to break the monotony. With sufficient Sid this cartoon went down a treat even with the more hardnosed of my companions.
Nevertheless there is another cartoon character who keeps popping up to ask me this question: -