Lifelong learning? You bet!

I was always a champion of lifelong learning while I was in the education business and am not beyond the furtherance of knowledge in myself as well as others.

For instance I only found out my mobile (cell) 'phone was capable of doing this today. Yes I know that makes me pretty dumb, huh? Well so it might, but discovering the 'phone's ability to animate a group of images pleased me no end... and yes, little things please little minds!
😛

Hibernation time!

That's it I'm all done. Hit the supermarkets before 6:00 a.m. this morning to buy the last of the supplies needed for the 'festive' period, so with all the fresh produce safely secured I can withdraw into my shell and lock myself away until after the farce that is Christmas is over.

I will need to leave the house again because of course Tilly needs her walks, but at least I can avoid having to interface with all those people desperate to scour the shops of every last article on the shelves... I feel quite good about that really! 😌

All I need now is for someone to give me a nudge when Christmas is over and life returns to 'normal'. Until then I wish you a Cool Yule and leave you with this thought:

If Man will live forever more because of Christmas Day,

how long will Woman survive?

Another step forward...

So I had my pre-op assessment at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr this morning, which I passed with flying colours thank goodness and that's one step further forward towards getting the surgery I need on my hands. The next step in the process is for me to meet with the Specialist who will undertake the knife-work and the Anaesthetist who will take care of keeping me pain free during the operation.

I'm not complaining, but I think it's a shame it's not possible to go through the two processes on the same day since each visit entails a 60 mile round trip for me and this morning's assessment was already my third visit to the hospital. To be honest I'm just happy things are progressing.

I don't have a date yet for the aforementioned meeting, but I'm told it should happen in the not too distant future and the consequent surgery on my right hand should happen a couple of weeks after that. 😃

So all in all things are looking up for Usky!

Just can't help myself

I was getting petrol this morning when I noticed a middle aged woman having difficulties. She'd filled her car, but then the thing wouldn't start and she was trying to push it off the forecourt. I finished filling up, then went across to help and by God do I wish now I hadn't...

Here's the thing, I have osteoarthritis in my hands and am awaiting surgery: trapeziectomy on both thumbs. You may or may not want to watch the embedded video... it's not the most attractive thing in the world and not really for the squeamish.


So pushing this lady's car (I'm disgusted nobody else offered to help!) has done me no favours and tonight I feel as though my hands are on fire and I'm in considerable pain. A noble gesture to help a lady in distress no doubt, but under the circumstances bloody stupid! When will I ever learn? 😖

Well I never did

Out shopping in the metropolis of Newport today and I was a little startled, not to say taken aback, by two of the shopfronts I passed...

The first was an establishment called:

Silver Tarts

What ever could the shop offer I wondered? Their web suggests ladies should 'Throw Some Glitter'

Well I suppose you could could throw glitter to make it all a bit sparkly, or use chocolate paint or some such... I dunno, it just sounds a bit suss and very suggestive to me.

The second establishment is known as:

Bedroom Athletics

Loungewear? Hmmm... I wonder. Sounds unlikely to me. Have to admit I imagined sex-swings, leather harnesses, bondage frames and other interesting items! 😁

Do you have any interestingly named shops in your neighbourhood?

Life on the Edge

Some people really enjoy living life on the edge... being ready for anything, anytime, anywhere. Who can blame them? Not me for sure since I was that way inclined myself in days gone by. Not sure I'd have pitched a tent on the edge of 5 metre drop though!

Life on the Edge

Anyone exiting this tent's doorway and turning left will be in for a nasty shock and no mistake... and they'd fall onto rocks too, so no soft landings!

Life Behind Bars

I'm forever surprised by the things I spot when I'm out walking Tilly, like this child's doll who had obviously been extremely naughty for instance:

Incarceration?

Spirit beings of the golf course

I don't know how many golf courses in the UK feature totem poles, but one of the courses local to me does.

Dewstow Totem Pole

This is the totem pole that stands on what was the Park Course at Dewstow golf club. As you probably know a totem (Ojibwe dodaem) is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe. I do wonder why a golf club would consider squirrels, rabbits and owls as sacred objects or spirit beings, but the pole is quite interesting and I guess a bunch of golfers might be considered a tribe...

Squirrels and Rabbits

The totem pole was carved by Bob Davies from a dead 60 foot Sequoia back in 1993 and is looking a little worse for wear now.

Squirrels and Owls

The base of the pole has become overgrown with ivy and bramble so much of the lower detail is now covered as is the commemorative stone, a bit of a shame in my opinion.

Best not to forget the Buzzard and the Seagull!

So, does your local golf course have a totem pole? No? Perhaps a few helpful spirit guides would help your swing!

Goose Green Invasion Force?

Back in 1982 British forces were involved in the Battle of Goose Green and while I certainly wouldn't want to belittle their efforts (or those of the defending Argentine forces) I just wonder how our guys would have coped if faced with this lot?

These are, mostly, Canada Geese who have adopted Magor Pill on the Severn Estuary. Quite why they've turned up in such numbers at this time of year I'm not sure, unless migration is early this year?

Watching them massing and making their way along the shoreline reminded me of a full-blown invasion force... hence the post title. Whatever the reason for their presence, Tilly and I enjoyed watching them for a while.

Me and my shadow

Walking Tilly and found it hard to resist capturing this image...

Mez follow ewe everwhere Grand Dad!

I'm not actually convinced Tilly would follow me everywhere if I didn't have pieces of doggy sausage in my pocket!

Work in progress at Chez Usky

Some renovation has been going on at Chez Usky in the form of outdoor living space... in essence a new patio area. Sounds simple said quickly, but in truth it hasn't been and the work that started on 8^th August is now nearing completion.

The old patio was way past its sell by date and the bay tree we planted back in the early days of our residence here had become unmanageable. Also some of the bricks in a retaining wall were crumbling and the wall was in definite need of rebuilding.

So this was what we started with...

Not exactly eye-catching was it?

Ripping up the old slabs was easy enough, but removing the Bay was something of a chore to say the least, but this is what it looked like when that was done.

Slabs up and Bay removed

Once the new slate slabs started going down things looked considerably better, especially given the extra light thanks to the removal of the Bay tree.

In true dog fashion Tilly found a nice warm sunny corner to claim as her own.

Let sleeping dogs lay

We're almost at completion now I'm pleased to say and here's how things are looking...

Rebuilt wall with slate capstones 

Patio Chez Usky

Old 'Bay' end

There's cleaning to be done and once the slabs have had time to 'settle' we'll seal the area to preserve the surface. I'm really looking forward to finding some nice furniture and firing up the Weber to char some steaks!

T.C. Ellis guitar dumped - what a cruel waste!

Cardiff based luthier T.C. Ellis makes some really great guitars, believe me I know and I'm not just saying that because I own one... Phillip Campbell (Motorhead) plays one and while on the subject of Motorhead, Tim Ellis was Lemmy's luthier of choice.

So here's the thing... while out walking Tilly this morning I spotted a guitar floating in a drainage reen. Being me, I hooked it out and guess what? It was a TC Ellis!

TC Ellis found dumped in a reen

The weight is beautiful the neck looks straight and true and despite having been dumped in deep water the woodwork looks in reasonable condition. Also, judging from the lack of fret wear, I doubt the guitar has ever been played much.

In need of a bit of tender loving care 

No doubt about it this axe is in need of some TLC and wants (deserves) to have some cash spent on it to restore it to its former glory. I'd love to know what arsehole thought it was a good idea to dump this high class musical instrument in a drainage reen!

You won't find one of these in Ikea

How's this for an interesting 'bench' seat?

Park Bench - Belle Vue Park, Newport

It's actually very comfortable to sit on too :)

Celebs spotted at Caldicot Castle

One very recognisable face among the crowd gathering for Saturday's Quo concert at Caldicot Castle was former Wales captain and back-row player, Colin Charvis.

Status Quo fan Colin Charvis at Caldicot Castle

Were you there? Did you spot any other celebrities?

Quo rock Caldicot

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I'd see the legendary Status Quo playing a live gig in this sleepy part of the world. Indeed when I first noticed a poster advertising the forthcoming concert at Caldicot Castle I assumed I'd misread and it would be a Quo tribute band playing the venue. But no, on closer inspection the poster really did say Status Quo and what's more they would be supported by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel... obviously this was going to a night too good to be missed!

Tickets were obtained and the date eagerly awaited.

The evening kicked off with local band The Bug Club warming up the audience in what must have been for them a dream come true.

When Cockney Rebel took the stage the atmosphere kicked up a few notches the crowd really began to buzz.

Then this happened...

Status Quo take the stage at Caldicot Castle

We all knew Quo would be without Rick Parfitt who had suffered a heart attack during a concert in Turkey in early June, but that didn't detract from the crowd's excitement when the band appeared on stage. Hope the recovery goes well Rick!

Rocking all over Caldicot!

Bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards' son Freddie has stepped in to fill Rick's shoes and the lad certainly didn't look (or sound) out of place.

Freddie Edwards

The atmosphere at Caldicot Castle was now akin to that experienced at any major music festival where the audience sing, shout, dance, clap, wave inflatable guitars and generally have a lot of fun and why wouldn't it be? After all, we were enjoying some excellent music at a great location.

Francis Rossi the Grand Old Man of Rock

The Grand Old Man of Rock may be no spring chicken, but age hasn't slowed down his on-stage performance or detracted from his charisma; Rossi's lead breaks are as cutting now as they ever were.

John 'Rhino' Edwards and Andrew Brown

Rhino's driving bass lines and Andrew Brown's solid fills round out the Quo's sound while youngster Leon Cave sets the time on his skins.

Leon Cave

Playing a selection of their classic tracks, Status Quo lived up to everyone's expectations... I could witter on and on about the performance, but if you know Quo you know what we enjoyed under the night sky so I'm going to leave it there and just share some more images with you.

Just before I go, how about a couple of silly facial expressions?

Pain or Pleasure?

What're you thinking about Francis?