A masterclass in obsession

I enjoyed Notes on a Scandal (2006)! an intelligent and complex story of obsession,repression and class envy , Cate Blanchett as reckless teacher Sheba, not coping with marriage and herself and knobbley old Judi Dench as bunny boiler friend Barbara are fine in the lead roles. Dench is especially impressive and brings a touch of humanity to a potentially vile and damaged individual. Bill Nighy was excellent also as Blanchetts older and bemused husband. Well worth a visit!

Went with Hazel and got the times of the showings wrong, so with an hour or so to kill we went to Osborn's grill in Llandudno. The grill and wine bar was campy over the top, yet quiet and very comfortable. Had a nice chat and glass of Chardonney! Perhaps when Chris' dad comes up we can go there for a meal. I was very impresed

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mexican stand off

a rare photo, neither Joan or Meg look happy but both have decieded NOT to move!

memory

Strange thing happened to me today! I had a sudden rollercoaster ride down memory lane to the 1960s! Rushing around work after my first acute spinally injured patient for ages, I just noticed a striking elderly Jewish lady watching all the ICU goings on from the side ward( she looked like a dark version of Nancy Walker you may remember that she played Valerie Harper's wisecracking mother in Rhoda). Something made me stop and as I know I have an excellent memory for a face I entered her room to say hello.

She surprised me, as before I could say anything she said in a thick European accent "Hello it's John isn't it? I havent seen you since your were a little boy!" This was Betty, a friend of my mother's from the conservative club days of the 1960's and early 1970's. I remembered a score of Fanny Craddock-esque ladies with Thatcher hairstyles and leathery cleavages, that all sat together in their fur stoles with large martinis. Betty was perhaps the most memorable as she had a thick smokers voice that growled like Eartha Kitt, and seeing her brought back all those long forgotten memories of a lonely suburban childhood. I was very touched as she remembered me! And even knew I was in Sheffield (But still thought I was a psychiatric nurse). we chatted for a while, and I only returned to thinking about her only after I left work to walk the dogs on the beach. I found it strange that ancient memories surface so easily when provoked You think that they are gone, done and dusted as it were, but no,they are all lurking there always! just waiting to catch you unawares!

Jeep fantasy

We have sorted out some equity from the cottage and now are in a position to renew the rotten window frames in the back of the house and to purchase a new car as the polo is on its last legs! Been toying with the idea of a small 4 x 4 or jeep; the fantasy of the barber clad country gent with dogs bouncing around behind the dog gate and gardening tools and wellies in the boot, seems very attractive! but reality bites and a more realistic and cheaper-to-run version may be on the cards! As long as all the dogs can be placed in the car safely, ( and cleanly) thats all that matters.

When collecting fire wood from the local farm, met the farmer's wife for the first time. Pragmatic and funny, we chatted at length about hens and after a bit of sweet talk hopefully she will be able to furnish me with some more chicks for my new run. Mind you as we were chatting one of her best layers jumped from a wall, dive bombed into another wall and died ! Not the brightest star in the sky!

Double Headed primulas

I have never seen these before and thet are rathe pretty! Put them on the table by the back door as George has been pulling the heads off all the flowers he sees!

Jet lag

Perhaps I am getting old but I am definately not "bounching back" after a night shift as quickly as I used to. Had three hours sleep this morning and was woken by Joan who was puking all over the patchwork quilt! As I came down stairs Meg was destroying the cat flap as two horses were being ridden down the lane! I felt awfull ! jet lag after nights sometimes hits you like a brick wall, and try as I might I found it hard to get going today! At 5pm finally got my arse into gear and took the dogs for a long walk. The weather has been crisp and bright ,so took my camera around the village.








St Michael's church at Trelawnyd is first recorded in 1291 and there is evidence to suggest that in origin it goes back into the early medieval period. The present church was built in 1724 and heavily restored in the 19thC. It contains a late medieval roof and part of a sepulchral slab but little else of early date. It occupies a sub-rectangular churchyard, which is notable for a 14thC churchyard cross (right) and a rare 18thC hooded tomb. The cross was used as a meeting place for local farm labourers and workers who used to meet to be "picked" by farm managers for a days work.

The art of being polite!

Well surprise surprise Shilpa Shetty won big brother. I think at the end of this sorry tale, Shetty really won the moral argument, not because of her race, but because of her breeding. She might of been a diva; certainly I think she was pompous at times and obviously liked to control her environment and the other ,shall we say, denser members of the house, but she carried herself at all times rather stylishly and was always polite and courteous. I know we can all compare her with Jade Goody (hard but ugly personality) and Danielle (dirty mouth), and it will always smack of Beauty and the Beast yet Shetty clearly has manners and how refreshing is that?

Politeness to strangers seems to be a thing of the past, today I was in the supermarket I don't usually go to. The woman on the till got rather exasperated with me when I paused to put my purchases into the carrier bag. "You are supposed to put your stuff in a trolley and wheel it away to pack your bags!" she snapped. No smile, no gentle request, no kiss me on the arse or nothing! She was taken aback somewhat when I stopped short and gave her one of my best "You are nothing!" looks and asked sweetly "why are you so rude?" The sad fact is , when she replied "I wasn't being rude", she actually did believe it! Thank god for the pair old ladies behind me who stage whispered "She was rather sharp ! wasn't she?"

Give me Shettys anytime over the Jade Goodys of this world.

Getting excited, as nu's wedding creeps closer! sorted out her wedding pressie, which I hope he and Jim will like. There has been a few last minute cock ups but on the whole things are going well! Still pleased as punch at giving her away.

Normal sunday

Caught up with The Archers this morning ! I love the sunday omnibus, as it is the ideal backdrop when sitting at the kitchen table doing paperwork! Took the dogs on the beach with Janet at eleven, and Meg found a dead rabbit of all things washed up on the beach, which she preceded to drag around the shoreline with George hot on her heels.After the walk we drove to Queensferry to a mediocre antiques fair then went to Colwyn Bay to Rogers Jones auction house. Not much to bid on, but I did see a sweet Victorian table and a pair of 1912 silver candlesticks which I liked and did put a commission bid in! Mind you the auction house is no on line and all the items have been photographed on it. You can even bid on line now! ( well I never!)

Aunt Judy is comming for dinner tonight (Roast chicken and apple crumble)!!!!!!!! bliss