"Thank you Rhyl.and goodnight!"

I have never liked rock music, and certainly am not a fan of working men's clubs, so tonight's visit to Rhyl's Navy Club wasn't something I would have chosen to do on a Saturday night, but Andrew was performing in his first public "gig" for sometime, so we felt a bit of support was in order.

Ann, Tim, Janet, Chris and I all wore our "our brother is in the band" T shirts and joined Jayne in the council estate- wallpapered events room! There was four bands performing and all members were in their late forties and early fifties, indeed they all had a sort of William H. Macy/ lived in look about them all!

To be fair the music was professionally done (though not my cup of tea), and it was worth going just to watch a more distant family member bouncing around like The Wreck of the Hesperus after one or two small sherries!.

We escaped at 11.30pm, and I did notice a lot of cocaine use in the toilets which was sad but I guess in fitting with the rock n' roll lifestyle motif of the evening!

Things change, things stay the same....

On the drive through Glossop to Sheffield, I was sad to see that the town's old fashioned chemist had changed owners! Gone was the 1930's sign stating the pharmacist's name - Finlay McKinley, and it seemed end of an era, especially as I think I got inspiration for Fin's name from seeing the sign on a regular basis.

Sheffield has changed too. Buildings are shooting up all over; old cutlery workshops down Trippett lane are getting a revamp and the old school opposite All Bar One is well on the way to be developed into a hotel and bars. It is nice to see. Ambled around the city for a bit and took some pictures of the completed Peace Gardens and City Hall, which give the city an art deco feel then met up with Jane and Mike, who managed to get the night off from their respective partners to come out. Mike was on excellent form, obviously leaving his job has lifted him considerably, and Jane looks every inch like her Laura Linney double! It was good to meet and chat, and coming over gave me the boost that I needed,

Left Sheffield this morning after a bit of shopping at Coles and the drive over the Peaks was lovely as Ladybower was stunning. Took a few nice shots of Derwent and was home for lunch!

Later this month I am going over again to see Nige and Kathryn, I hope to fit in a visit to the revamped Weston Park Museum which looks very impressive

20 lbs of ugly fat

Total weight loss 20 lbs! just 15lbs to go!

Off to Sheffield now..........destination Cole Brothers for Chris' birthday pressie

Back tomorrow

Farming starts

Potatoes, shallots, sprouts, the rhubarb, garlic and tons of nasturtium and I have used nearly half of my first bed!

Before going to weightwatchers tomorrow (and then on to Sheffield) I hope to get some of the beans and peas in.

The beautiful weather has made today highly enjoyable, if not slightly tiring, I have also got a bit of a tan.

The Station Agent, Hazel & Otto and rhubarb

Watching The Station Agent (2003) Was the only saving grace in two rather boring night shifts . I had forgotten how sweet and moving this film is, as it gently recounts how quiet people need love and support to escape from their lonely lives. Peter Dinklage as Finbar an isolated "small person", Patricia Clarkson a grief stricken mother and the ubiquitous Bobby Cannavale as bored Italian hotdog salesman all find each other in a small rural town and become friends. On reflection I think the message in the narrative is not just one of loneliness and redemption through friendship, it is about human kindness in its many guises. It is a little gem of a film.

Hazel's new dog is a right character, perfectly suited to his name of Otto He is an Affenpinscher or a "german monkey dog" and seems quite a bruiser, especially as he does indeed LOOK like a small black monkey
Chris and I have decided that we are going to get another male Welsh terrier later in the year. I know we will never replace Fin, but Meg looks so "uneven" without another larger terrier around her, having two just seems right.


Tomorrow I can get stuck in planting out the allotment. Rhubarb(right) goes in tomorrow as does all the potatoes. Thursday is city day! meeting Jane and Mike in All Bar One! ....B L I S S!

The Veggie plot is ready!!!!

Finally finished my first plot this morning! and celebrated this afternoon by ordering my new 12 hen poultry house complete with electric fencing and solar panel! It has been back breaking work, but at least after my next two night shifts (tonight and Monday), I can get stuck in planting out!

saturday night out in Prestatyn

It does not look much , but the food is lovely, went there tonight at 6pm for a nice meal then on to Janet and Ned's for a glass of wine before going home. We did walk the two miles from Trelawnyd to Prestatyn before we started but that suited me on fatfighters!

Lovely salmon for main course ( Chris was a little snobby about the cheese! for dessert), but it was a nice change!

Good Friday

The black dot in the background is Maddie, so you can actually see how big my first bed of three in the allotment is going to be! The graveyard (just to the right of this photo) has been a hive of activity today, what with a score of villagers descending on it to lay flowers and clean graves (a big Easter habit I am told). I have worked hard clearing the last of the plot in between conversations with various characters. First Ned and his mother (visiting her family graves) had a chat (she also wanted to visit Fin's grave which touched me greatly). Then an old school friend Susan stopped and had a chin wag, then Hazel's mum , came over to see how I had changed the Church's field: I was surprised I managed to get any work done at all!

Heard on the news that a woman had jumped to her death from of the cable cars on Llandudno's Orme. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6533311.stm

Being so desperate to plan and execute such an act is so sad. It got me thinking of Eric Steel's film The Bridge.

(see the web site http://www.thebridge-themovie.com/new/index.html) I wanted to see this documentary in the Sheffield documentary film festival recently but missed it. Steel and his crew filmed San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge during daylight hours from two separate locations for all of 2004, recording most of the two dozen deaths in that year (and preventing several others). They also taped more than 100 hours of interviews with friends, families and witnesses, who recount in sorrowful detail stories of struggles with depression, substance abuse and mental illness. Humm perhaps one could question the ethics of the film maker, but I suspect this film throws up many questions about the psychiatric care, community support, and the dreadful effect suicide has on those left behind.

Years ago I had the good fortune to fly in a small plane over this iconic structure, the day was bright and warm, and I must admit I was totally moved by its size and beauty in one of the prettiest cities I have even visited. Funny what you remember and think about isn't it?

This evening I have spring cleaned the kitchen (I know I know I live an exciting life)

used far too much bleach to clean the tiles and now think I have bleached the tips of my fingers off!!! they all feel a little numb!

hey ho