useful notes

Very proud to announce that my godson Cosmos' wife Nicole
has published her bibliography via the British Library, on the
history of the British National Party which as we know now
welcomes Black and Asian members. See

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpsubject/socsci/topbib/bnp/bnptimeline.html

And another useful link is podcastable from the BeeB and
concerns mighty legend Billy Jenkins. Here he is talking and
playing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/midweek

From this posting you may glean that I have a night in and
no ironing. It was to have been a fun night - Its Andrées
birthday - but she turned her nose up at a party. And K*t,
whose birthday is tomorrow, was embarrassed and didn't
want a jolly either. At this rate I shall have to do some work.

Been rather shocked tonight. Was cooking my tragically slight
and dull supper whilst watching the two little kitchen mice
bop about. And found that they were ignoring my cooking in
favour of the bar of hand soap by the sink. Sigh.

This week

Been busy having fun with Margo and her adorable
Theophilé, seen here about to burst into a smile -

Margo is the ideal guest. She cooked dinner, bought Anne and
Monique round, made no demands at all. She only stayed two nights, wish it could have been longer.

Rushton and Clare turned up with friends I hadn't seen since we were in our twenties, Jane and Neil.
They hadn't changed in appearance which seems odd as I have withered with the seasons.

The only fly in the ointment this week is that the Mairé have pulled up the lavender hedge up by the level crossing.
'Malade', they said and replaced it with a wire fence.

I have lots of lavender taken from it over the years and will try to germinate some. Will advertise if successful.

some skies and a reminder

Some skies of the last few days - today was hot and clear.
But I forgot the camera. Anyway, it was just blue.

Here's a reminder;
Don't forget to come to the Haiti fundraiser.

When you clean your teeth you will remember this mysterious
image and link it with your desire to book your place in
what will be an evening of frolics and virtue. A remarkable
combination. Email Jo or Leigh or let me know and
BOOK YOUR PLACE

an exciting lunch

A very simple lunch for Annie, Pete and Mick turned into a
highly charged afternoon as the funny smell that has been
haunting this house developed smoke that emerged from
the electric box thingie.

Peter - manly Peter - calmed my girlish fears and turned off
the electricity.
Annie called the emergency services.
I did my bit by standing in the road hand-wringing until Mighty
Msr Pozo and his family arrived in full kit.

I should explain that the Pompiers of Tilling are run by Msr Pozo
and he has various family members on the team. Today his son
was assisting. Madame Pozo, matriarch of the tribe, lives a few
doors down from me and in the hiatus between looking at the box
and waiting for the EDF, her grandson lit a fag and trotted off to
say hello. He is very tall; she just about reaches his waist.

EDF came, looking very much as if lunch had been disturbed.
I offered sandwiches and wine but no takers - Msr EDF took an
hour to replace the box and went off smiling, possibly with relief.
Terrifying job. He wore a clear plastic helmet to do it.

All is now well.

Yet again, Annie and Pete have pulled me out of some hideous
spot. Thanks and thanks again...

andy and lou to the rescue

Andy and Louise rescued me from a bad paint day yesterday,
bless their dear hearts; among other delights was a trip to
Parchemin where they had a fine stack of English novels at 20
cents each.
And then they fed me and Sue and John and Daisy and Charlie.
Charlie has been mysteriously transformed in to Medici angel.

working on the noir

Andy sent a clip from the BBC, featuring the law courts of
Carcassonne.

So; Sieur d'Arques, the vinters we all love who run the Toques
et Clocher every year, have been busted passing off a wine as
Pinot Noir. Rather carelessly they passed off more than is
produced in the region -which led to the customs to spot them.

12 producers (some of whom didn't even grow Pinot Noir)were
found guilty and given suspended sentences.
All were fined from between 1,500 euros and 180,000 euros.
Not bad as they made 7 million.

They supplied to E and L Gallo - who were not involved in the
case- and didn't receive a single complaint.

One wonders why the customs can't leave well alone and get on
with pulling in the drug abusers of these parts... the illegal drug
users, that is.

spring morning