WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Stanley]

Dream on Maz. Women are still disadvantaged and it's high time there was a revolution.

[Marilyn]

There is no denying that, Stanley.
But - we are stronger than we know. Education is power. We have come a long way since the days when we had no right to vote, own property or work after becoming married. I clearly remember being discriminated against and being forced to resign because I was pregnant and single.
Some cultures lag behind, but generally the world is a pretty good place for women...we can choose to have children ( or not have children), to marry ( or not to marry), to buy a home, and pick and choose our jobs. We are not denied loans or credit cards. We are not forced to be reliant on men.

[PanBiker]

The fourth chimney stack down on Ash Grove in Barlick. It's the only one with terracotta pots (it has three), two actually as the third is now occupied by a pair of nesting Jackdaws. I noticed them inspecting the stack last week, they have decided to move in by the looks of it.

[David Whipp]

Pictured at Stocks Beck this afternoon; I'm guessing a kingfisher?

[PanBiker]

Looks about right David, there used to be one that worked the canal bank along the tree line below your house. I used to see it regularly when I fished the stretch, a few years ago.

[Stanley]

Quite right Maz but they haven't all realised that.
Jackdaws are very intelligent birds and you will almost certainly be right Ian.
David, definitely either a kingfisher or an escaped Norwegian Blue.... There are some kingfishers behind B&D on the beck there.
The change in the weather.....

[Tizer]

The bird appears to be sitting at the very end of a thin branch. That's the clincher for a kingfisher. They love to fish from such perches. A lone reed sticking up out of the water is their favourite and in nature reserve ponds you'll often see a bamboo cane or similar fixed upright in the centre. They can't resist it!

What grabbed my attention today is that we've run out of shortcake biscuits and I'm having to make do with chocolate chip cookies!

[Stanley]

You poor, deprived old bugger! I shall be haunted with that image all day.....
How hard it was to do a simple job like poking a half inch hole through an inch of bronze. Should have been easy for a bloke like me but you should have heard it squeal. Don't know exactly what the problem was.... worrying.

[Stanley]

The complete lack of any good news in the media. Or am I just being pessimistic? The prospect of the Budget next Wednesday isn't doing a lot for me either!
The arrival in the post of a massive questionnaire from Ipsos Mori wanting me to act as an unpaid researcher in their current enquiry into the nations health habits. This from the people who keep giving me bleeding obvious advice about how I should live my life. Not only that but filling it in earns a bribe of a voucher that can be exchanged for things I have no desire for. It went straight into the universal filing system..... the bin!
This search for more and more data is out of control, I refuse to add to it. Who is paying for the huge wodge of paper and the staff needed to deal with it..... I think I can make a good guess.

[Stanley]

The fact that the air compressor I bought recently for the shed still has 80psi in the tank this morning now that I have cured to tiny leak on the air line.... A matter of small consequence to the world but very satisfying for me! (I know, I should get out more....)

[Marilyn]

Now...don't go blowing your own trotters off with a shed explosion, Stanley!

[Stanley]

Perfectly safe Maz, every house should have one! Just think what Dave could get up to with one of these......

[Marilyn]

Oh Gawd. I dread to think.
We went to the hardware store today as he wanted 80 cm of chain to help secure our bike rack to the van. Nice young fellow cut him the 80 cm of chosen chain, and duly paid for we headed back to the car.
Goodness knows how he cut himself in that particular process ( maybe his wallet has sharp edges? ) but he was dripping blood when we got back in our seats.
How does it happen? I really can't fathom it...
Last time we went camping he tried to pump his bicycle tyre up with one of those air compressor thingies that plug into the car's cigarette lighters. There was a Big Bang! We all rushed to find him holding a shredded tyre with an 8 inch hole in it, and him with a confused look.
He kept insisting that the instructions said the tyre would take 45 psi...and according to him the (brand new) tyre "blew" at 40 psi.
( bless him)
Next day, the car wouldn't start and we had to buy a new car battery.
I don't mean to sound negative, but I get a bit worried every time he has a bright idea

[Stanley]

My world is focussed on my back at the moment. I lifted a heavy weight awkwardly a couple of days ago and it has come home to roost! Nasty.....

[Stanley]

I'm focussed on my back! I hate nagging pain! Also the site is quiet because Tiz is away for a week doing his geology. Add to that the fact that I am most comfortable when I am stood up or laid down and an early walk is indicated!

[Marilyn]

What you need is a hot bath and a good rub down, Stanley ( and a couple of Nurofen).
Just keep moving, even if you can only manage a shuffle. Don't sit in a heap.
Keep telling yourself that you are " the little engine that could" as you shuffle about.

[Stanley]

You are quite right Maz and don't worry, I am not giving in. I've been in the shed for over three hours and forgot (almost) that there was anything wrong with my back. One of the jobs I did involved a lot of getting down on the floor and getting up again and I managed. It's still there but it's over four hours since I took a tablet and when I have done Shed Matters I shall be going to bed. I'm considering not taking any more Ibuprofen unless it's absolutely necessary because I am so sensitive to anything like that, in themselves they can make me feel rotten. It's improving and I shall give it a chance to do some healing....
Thanks for asking.....

[Stanley]

I had to crack and take two pills this morning.....
My mate Brian who has been on chemo for cancer in the stomach has finished his course and is waiting for a scan. He is looking a lot better but says he tires quickly. I think of him and then my back.... Things could be worse!

[Stanley]

I've found tghat two Ibuprofen and a good rub with old fashioned embrocation first thing in the morning means that after about an hour the pain in my back recedes and as long as I keep moving or lie down I'm OK for the rest of the day..... Even so, the sooner it starts to mend the better!

[Stanley]

Ian correcting me by pointing out that Billy Parson's funeral is at Bracewell and not Gill. I must be getting old. Thank God he pointed my mistake out, thanks Ian!
My mate Mick has finished the patterns for the rest of the castings I need for the engines..... Isn't it nice to be working with friends....

[Stanley]

The weather will be dry but cold for the funeral at Bracewell. The black funeral Crombie will come out of the wardrobe, only been worn three times.....
Ian told me a good story about Billy's son John.... if he is at the funeral I shall pull his leg.

[Stanley]

How cold funerals are! It was a good family service and I'm glad I went. I was well rugged up but the cold still penetrated my bones. I didn't warm up properly until I got in bed with bed socks on! Will have a quiet day today....
Thanks to Susan for taking me down there and Iain for being dead on time to bring me back. A bit of help is worth a lot of pity......

[PanBiker]

Probably a result of thinking about that bloke that has just resigned. Stanley has managed to move the origin of my name from Scandinavia to Scotland in a few posts this morning (example above). I am a Jan or a Yan, the simple version, why do we need two i's in it anyway? Sounds the same though and I answer to both.

[Stanley]

You're right.... I'll get Ian back into my head....
A World Service programme on 'Chem sex' about which I know nothing (SEE THIS)
If this is the Brave New World, include me out!

[Stanley]

The fact that the planets may have dictated Spring but they haven't told the weather! A few brave daffodils are on show but no sign of the grass moving yet....