Scarfs,Steiff, and bags of cabbage

I was not going to blog today

I didn't think I had anything to share except for last night's film review

But as usual

I was wrong.

I didn't sleep last night..a case of too much coffee after the cinema

I was up early this morning taking Chris to the station, so staggered off to bed on my return for a quick nap. When I eventually got up to let the animals out, my favourite scarf had been looped carefully around the back door handle. I must have dropped it into the rain soaked road when I returned .

Not a big deal.

But a thoughtful little action from a passing neighbour.

( in actual fact I found out later that I had left the scarf in the cinema and my cousin and his wife noticed it and dropped it off this morning!)

A couple of days ago

A bag of cabbage leaves had been dropped off by the gate with a note attached which simply said

" for Mary"

Sender unknown

Last Week I delivered some eggs to Rosemary & Bernard in the village and collected a gift of several jars of homemade preserves. Each one carefully prepared and labelled.....and

On my way home affable despot Jason presented me with a huge bag of much needed egg boxes

Nothing huge...but little kindnesses for sure

This little chap was given to me the other day too

It was a " I thought you may like this" kind of gift

He turned out to be a vintage 1940s Steiff Scottie Dog

How sweet is that?

Little kindnesses like these  help the world go round a little more smoothly me thinks.

Ok I will rephrase that

Little kindnesses make my world run a little smoother

....................... and happier

Ps

In way of book ending this entry

Here are two separate gifts of bread left by locals for the birds

This morning!

Hey ho

Philomena

The overall feeling you get when watching Stephen Frears' drama Philomena is one of restraint. Restraint in the storytelling. Restraint in the performances, and restraint in the emotions of the piece, which, could,  given the subject matter of the forced adoption of illegitimate babies in 1950s Ireland, be an emotional rollercoaster ride.
This gentle approach serves the movie well, for it is a powerful and at times affectionately amusing look at two very different individuals sharing an extraordinary experience.
Much has been made of the Steve Coogan and Judy Dench partnership in Philomena and there is no denying their talent portraying world weary hack Martin Sixsmith and unworldly Irish Grandmother Philomena Lee.
But ,  for me, ( and I  know  I am in a minority here) I thought Dench was miscast .
Despite this fact.
The movie is well worth seeing.
7/10

Jessie Come Home

Yesterday morning I took the dogs to the beach for a run

after a half an hour of silly circles galloping

they tumbled back into the berlingo

And I drove to Tescos to look at the scotch egg section

I had just entered the car park when I heard a bit of growling from the back seat

And after yelling a sharp " enough" ( my usual command to stop bickering)

I looked into the rear view mirror to see what was going on

Five dog heads popped up into view

Which was just a little disconcerting
For as you all may recall

We have only four dogs.

Jess...finding her own way home

As it turned out dog number five was an over active patterdale terrier called Jess
Who is my sister's dog.
Apparently she had become  separated from my sister somewhere in the sand dunes,
Seen a car she recognised and had jumped unseen into the berlingo before I drove off

I returned to the beach and eventually found my rather frantic sister searching a nearby golf course for her dog.
Patterdale terriers are well known for their quick witted personalities
*******

The weather is shitty today, so, I will stay in and make mince pies for Christmas
Our Christmas cards arrived this morning too
A homemade design of my old ghost hens by fellow blogger Em Parkinson
@
http://dartmoorramblings.blogspot.co.uk
Sweet

Ps

If you want to read a rather moving story

Have a look at this tale at

http://hippo-on-the-lawn.blogspot.co.uk

Cracking

" fame!" I'm going to live forever!

Pageviews today

445

Pageviews yesterday

1,981

Pageviews last month

59,186

Pageviews all time history

1,000,150

Well.....I understand that it's not quite on a par with selling your millionth book on Amazon but Going Gently has received it's first six figure page view. 

I am vain enough to " enjoy" the fact even though that many of my " hits" are automated and not generated by bulldog loving housewives in the American mid west or nostalgic ex teachers in scenic South yorkshire

In my mind a million hits are a million hits! 

Cue ticker tape and vuvuzelas!!!!!

Going Gently is nothing more that a little look at an ordinary life in a village that has seen better days. Ok, it has the draw of a set of characters that please..( pole dancing bulldogs, handicapped rabbits and  a ninety five year old, scone obsessed old lady) but essentially it remains a diary about an odd family of sorts....a diary which has now become an essential part of my daily routine to write.

Sometimes I wish I could write a blog with the precision and talent shown by a certain " ranting" old Somerset resident. Other times I wish I was as witty as a boozy ex pat hidden away in the African bush or as mad as " mad as a box of frogs" Ursula who lives God knows where......

But I'll settle for a daily and mundane chronicle of mucky wellies,bowel habits and chicken's prolapses

Thank you all for reading.

Winifred........Going Gently

Burn those Lips

I heard this on the radio this morning

A real blast from 1979

Not one of their most popular hits

But as a gauche 17 year old 

I loved it

Enjoy

Life As An Undercock

In school there was always a few poor souls that were always on the receiving end of systematic and merciless bullying. They were usually the weaker pupils, the lonely, and the different.
The animal world is no different. You just need to add to the mix a need to remove any potential genetic rival , a need which is exceptionally strong with the male members of a community.

Meet Harry.
Harry is a teenage cockerel who is not only a sad " ginger" but has proved himself to be an out and out " big girl's blouse " of a cockerel.
If he was human
He would mincing, screaming, silly young Queen.
On a regular basis , one of the ordinary hens will take a sharp beak to him, and amid a flurry of red feathers, Harry will scream hysterically like a girl and run shrieking in dramatic circles with his wings  held high above his head.
Think Jack out of Will & Grace 

Now a camp, cockerel is bleeding useless when the protection of a flock is concerned and
all the hens seem to sense this. They have no use for Julian Clarey in a chicken suit
All they want is beefcake
.....it's a case of choosing Russell Crowe over Russell Brand

Poor Harry.......he's neither fish nor fowl

Sunday Kip

Time To Dress Up

As you all know I don't " do" religion . I clean the church...yes.......I help out with  church activities yes and I think that the Church has an important and valid part to play in community life....but I don't go to services, I don't worship and I don't pray....even when the far and distant memories of Prestatyn High School's morning service gets pricked at funerals and weddings with renditions of the Lord's  prayer.

It's something I feel strongly about.

Anyhow,

The Bishop visited Dyserth Church today and Trelawnyd's congregation swelled the ranks in support of our small Church here in Trelawnyd. 

Chris helped out in his role of  church warden and donned his best tunicle for the event and I must admit that the " official photo" of the lineup does look rather impressive and almost Christmasy!

Though a little bit of tinsel and a couple of baubles wouldn't go amiss

I heard that organist Gaynor gave the organ some welly and that Dyserth Church was full for the event ......I have a sense that people are quite drawn to the local Bishop, who seems a wonderfully  jolly character............in a rather old fashioned and pleasing way

No it's not the finale of the stage show Sister Act

The Bishop of St Asaph ( centre)

chris ( second  left)