Oh, and I must report that this morning I saw my first ever blue whale! The mighty creature came to the ocean surface no more than thirty yards away on the port side of "The Jolly Puffin" and simultaneously blew gallons of brine high into the air via its blowhole. It created a kind of mist in which, momentarily, kaleidoscopic rainbow colours danced in the morning sunlight. So beautiful and an image that will always stay with me.
Meanwhile...
Back in Sheffield, my doppelganger walked over to the suburb of Nether Edge to donate a few books at the Oxfam shop and to see if the hardback copy of "Bournville" by Jonathan Coe was still unsold. Luckily, it was still there so he snapped it up for a mere £1.99. His wife, Shirley, had given him a paperback copy of this well-received novel for Christmas but the text was far too small for comfortable reading.
He was planning to lounge in "The Byron House" pub with a pint of bitter while he read the opening pages but the establishment was closed. Instead, he sat outside "Cafe Number 9" with a latte that cost as much as a pint. The early afternoon was again mild and sunny and he managed ten pages before a pair of middle-aged women plonked themselves at the other outdoor table and began to gossip like turkeys before Christmas. Immediately, his reading had to cease.
Later, after making a simple pasta dish for dinner, he and his wife went down the hill to his daughter's house. They were on babysitting duty. He read a story version of "Frozen" to his oldest granddaughter who kept interceding with pronunciation advice. Apparently, "Frozen" is meant to be read in a southern California drawl and not in a blunt East Yorkshire accent.
Base of tree and stone wall on Brincliffe Edge - yesterday
there's a lot going on here at the same time. I've never sailed before so that's anew experience.
ReplyDeleteJust remember there are people in the cabin next door!
DeleteI love Laughing Henry the Horse! The pub looks nice, shame it was closed, but I guess the owners wanted a quiet day during Christmas week.
ReplyDeleteThat tree looks like it is crawling its way across the ground.
That is exactly what I thought about that tree Elsie.
DeleteMy Mum‘s friend since teenage days died that day, saving his wife‘s live. Dieter was a pilot and one of the best looking men I have ever personally met, and when I was a little girl, I had a crush on him.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the hardback version that allows for more comfortable reading.
R.I.P. Dieter - you made the ultimate sacrifice.
DeleteTut...middle aged ladies should be banned from all hospitality establishments.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the petition? I will sign it immediately. And I will sign another one banning them from smoking cigarettes when sitting outside said establishments.
DeleteWill Pie Friday be playing at the awards ceremony or they in residence at the Byron House?
ReplyDeleteThey are usually supported by The Mushy Peas and Onion Gravy - there's no way they'd trek to Edinburgh of the Seven Seas.
DeleteIt is annoying when noise drives us from the pursuit of enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteIs that taken from the gospel of St Luke?
DeleteLet's hope the pubs are open on Tristan da Cunha! You'll not be getting me into any churches! I would fear for the danger to the other attendees.
ReplyDeleteMan, I'd love to go visit that pub. So far it may be my favorite of all the pubs you've posted pictures of.
To me the tree does not look like it is crawling. It looks like it has grabbed onto the earth with tooth and nail and will not be moved. I love it.
I would love to sit with you in "The Byron House" and drink the afternoon away with tales and opinions from 70 years of living.
DeleteIs he the same Henry The Horse that dances the waltz in For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite?
ReplyDeleteYes. The very same one. Your intuition is remarkable Tasker.
DeleteThat darn whale moved too fast for me to get a good picture! Plus I got blowhole snot in my face.
ReplyDeleteWhy are coffees so bloody expensive? Used to be you could buy a cup of coffee for about 50 cents. (Says the curmudgeon.)
When it comes to curmudgeonly behaviour, you ain't got nothing on me buddy!
DeleteI have to laugh to myself when I read these. Your head is full to the brim, it's a good thing you write.
ReplyDeleteDid Phoebe make you sing parts of Frozen as well? That would have been interesting:)
"Let It Go! Let It Go!"
DeleteI am sure the ladies gossiping like turkeys were meeting to catch up on news over the year. I wonder what is sounds like when you men get together for your beers in the pub? A herd of stags routing or bulls charging maybe?
ReplyDeleteThey were both outside to smoke cigarettes as turkeys like to do. Horrible stink!
Delete(hic), er sorry. (burp) i shoulda stuck with wodka.
ReplyDeleteYou have just got to recognise that there are other people on this boat Bruce. It's not all about you mate!
DeleteThose tree roots look like dragon's claws.
ReplyDelete