Saturday, 30 April 2011

Garden time

It was time for some serious attention to be given to the pond. Last year the water-lillies had some  blight, and they didn't really recover. The decision was taken, to get them out of the pond. Easier said than done.

There was a lot of plant, a lot of silt, and a lot of leaves to be removed from the bottom of the pond.

Fantastic stench was generated. Sorry neighbours.


The pond looking better
Pigeons waiting for food (with little patience)
This year we have tadpoles in the frog pond!

Friday, 29 April 2011

Watching the wedding...

Tinker does not like sharing his spot with the TV aerial. Casper is a more comfortable choice it would appear!

The TV aerial doesn't like Tinker much either as his fidgeting disturbs the picture.

Thursday, 28 April 2011

Not the wedding yet...

Still over 24 hours to go and they are already camping in the Mall.

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Rubbish!

Bin day well overdue in Westminster

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Look what happens when you leave things...

The electrical storm activity on Saturday somehow managed to affect our office. Power outage? Power surge? Arrived at work to find the UPS was in fact very interruptible, and screaming for attention on overload and the server had turned itself off. Excellent start to the (short) week.

Monday, 25 April 2011

More social time

On Satuurday I spent an afternoon with my school-friends and the next generation, their children.

There were as many small people as adults - children of all ages covering about 9 years range.

Despite the slightly changeable weather we all had a lovely afternoon - although I'm not sure weather this was a flower arrangement or a drink?!

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. The chocolate consumption has begun in this house! I shall now annoy the Better-half by making my eggs last for several weeks - whilst he usually finishes his before the end of the Easter Bank Holiday.

Saturday, 23 April 2011

Friday, 22 April 2011

Ladies who lunch

I've reached the age now where social interaction with my friends tends to take place during daylight hours, and generally involves food, non-alcoholic beverages and small children. 

We like to start the girls early - I met with two old work colleagues today and their daughters (the older just turned one, the younger nine months old)... and we introduced them to the art of being ladies who lunch.

A leisurely lunch - which went on well into the afternoon!

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Maundy Thursday

The week leading up to Easter in the Christian Calendar, Holy Week. Is more than half over.

Today is Maundy Thursday when Christian's commemorate the Last Supper. The Queen (whose 85th birthday it is today) traditionally gives out alms to the poor at a Maundy Thursday service. The money, it would appear, equates to her age - so this year the pensioners get 85p. Riches once upon a time, I suppose.

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Random moments

Glorious spring weather!
Underside of the building works to the new Blackfriars Station
Enjoyed some lovely sunshine today - especially nice dose whilst hanging around waiting for a bus after my hospital appointment (view above of Woolwich Common). Also enjoyed some not so nice sunshine stuck in terrible traffic on the way into the office. Upper and Lower Thames Street were stationary and it took half an hour to cross town! Lots of time to admire the new Blackfriars station - which is going to be the only station to span the Thames!

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Scenes from my journey

Shadow of a lamp-post in Parliament Square

Evening Trees

Last rays of sun at St James's Park

Ready for the Royal Wedding

It's Channel 4!

Crossing Vauxhall Bridge

Wisteria

More Wisteria

Artistic tin sheeting

The Shard still growing

Deptford

Monday, 18 April 2011

Sofa has landed!

This morning there was a big hole where our old sofa used to be. The amazing Better-half had managed (all by himself) to manhandle the old one out of the living room all by himself.

There was a big space in the hall as well... all the furniture out there had to be moved to allow passage for the old and new sofas. The cats were quite interested for about five minutes but then they got bored and found better things to do.

But here is the new sofa. Amazingly a little smaller than the old one but it seats three instead of two! And the best bit of all... it does this! I'd forgotten what it looked like - it has been months coming. But it is so comfortable. There is lumbar support and a headrests, and somewhere to rest aching limbs... I love our new sofa!


Tinker, however, is bored already!

Sunday, 17 April 2011

Kitten moments

Being an outside cat is very tiring!
Disguised as a stuffed toy!
My boys!

Such very different little characters.

Tinker likes to be with people all the time - he complains if he's shut out, and he likes to sleep on me whenever possible.
 
Casper on the other hand is a free spirit. He'll take you or leave you (although he's a man's cat as he'll spend more time with my better-half). Hard to believe sometimes that they're my little twins!

Saturday, 16 April 2011

More kitten walking

There's birds on that roof! They're taunting me! "Squeak" said Tinker.

Dead fuchsia's are very good for scratching faces!

 I like playing in the dirt. This is like scratching in the litter tray. You can do things here the same thing as in the litter tray. My little boy takes his first outside toilet trip - all grown up!

There are still birds on that roof though! I'm trying to teach him birds we like (blackbirds, thrushes, tits) and birds we don't like (magpies and herons). He did sit on the blanket box the other morning and tell me the heron was on the netting, so he is learning!

There is one of those annoying birds. I'd like to play with those I think! Their feathers sure are fun to chase around... so are bugs, and spiders, and bees, and leaves...


Casper still won't come out of the house. Although he was very interested in the strange smells of his brother when his brother came back inside - and gave him a good going over from tip of nose to tip of tail.

Friday, 15 April 2011

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Another weekend of sport on the horizon

We start on Saturday with two FA Cup Semi-finals. All the four teams making their way down from up North to Wembley - Manchesters United and City on Saturday to be followed by Stoke and Bolton on Sunday. Arsenal and Liverpool are also playing on Sunday - and don't forget of course Charlton are at home to Huddersfield.



Then on Sunday there is also the Chinese Grand-Prix (the last that we'll have to watch 'as live' for a good while). We'll have to wait even longer in my house as Celtic are playing a cup-semi final against Aberdeen which Rich won't miss for an early run of the Grand-Prix!




There is also, of course, the London Marathon on Sunday too. I doubt (on the basis of recent weekends) I'll make it out of bed in time to see any of the runners go past the end of our street - we're not far from the mile and a half marker so they come by quite early. I support them all in spirit though - especially all the fund-raisers running to raise money for the various MS charities.

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Pagaentry

Unless you've been living under a rock you can't have failed to notice that there is a Royal Wedding coming up in just under a fortnight. You certainly can't fail to notice in the Mayfair/St James's/Westminster area of London which is ready getting all the finery ready.

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Night out in Mayfair

Something I always wanted to do was to be invited to dine at one of the West End's Private Members' Dining Clubs. I was lucky enough to get such an invite for tonight. Looking just like any other building in the street these buildings are carefully understated.

Inside they are amazing. Not changed probably since Victorian times. Black and white checker floor tiles; heavy wood panelling; landscape paintings in ornate gilt frames and heavy drapes.

The food wasn't the whole story (although it was very good) - meeting new acquaintances at dinner, interesting chats - and a talk after the meal finished. It was a wonderful evening out!

Monday, 11 April 2011

Favourite spot

Very clean kitten!
Tinker's favourite spot when he isn't cuddling on the sofa; "his" chair.

Sunday, 10 April 2011

Kitten walking

Exploring my kingdom
Summer is on the way... well this Spring feels like Summer. The kittens are nearly one year old. It's time to go outside. As we have a large garden and are quite near the main road we're starting gently. Taking walks on leads. We - well me or the Better-half and Tinker. Casper is a scaredy-cat (literally) jumps a mile if anyone opens a door and resolutely refuses to set foot outside. He was very interested in the strange smell of Tinker on his return though - Tinker had a good roll in the dirt!

Posing for the camera!
Eating grass comes naturally
Water fascination continues
Moments before we discovered the table can't take cats
Casper the cowardly cat keeps an eye on his brother