What a deafening silence!

29/10/2008 by Ted.

Greetings everyone.

Not a lot happening on the blog at present.  I suspect that Andrew’s reminder that the bearded gentleman with the red hat and coat is looming onto the horizon has catapulted everyone into a frenzied Christmas (sorry Andrew, Winter holiday!) shopping spree.  No time to say “Hello” - goodbye! I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!”  as the song goes.

We had our first Cumbrian frost yesterday morning, but it produced a lovely day which was very much appreciated. I was busy tidying up the garden and setting out my spring bulbs and missed getting out for a walk and enjoying it. So I went out today instead (without my wet gear!) and got a thorough soaking. That rain was REALLY COLD.  But it was good to breathe the nippy autumnal air again.

As some of you will know (aren’t I always complaining about it?) I live in a very exposed and therefore windy location.  When I moved in I had a double glazed door put on (I’ll not say by whom!) which has always managed to allow a draught through round the hinges when it was particularly windy.  The draught then passed through the vestibule and proceeded to suck all the warm air from the living room before shoving it out round the hinges of the back door.  Consequently in windy weather my living room was always the coldest room in the house.

Because I am a rugged type - or maybe just a bit thick - I have put up with this for the past ten years or so.  But a month ago I decided that I had had enough and ordered a new front door - which was fitted last Thursday.  I looked forward to a windy day to test out the new door, and on Friday morning it WAS windy - and raining heavily too (who would live here?) and the wind was battering the rain against and THROUGH the locked and closed front door.  The vestibule was awash.

After a bit of troubleshooting I discovered that the rain was pouring in around the letter-box (not through it!).  When I telephoned the firm to tell them they noncholently (Andrew, is that a proper word?) informed me that it must be because the letter-box opening had not been sealed and they would send someone out IN SEVEN DAYS to fix it - which is tomorrow. And the  intervening seven days have been seven of the wettest and windiest for ages.  Wow! Good, eh? I shouldn’t really complain though because no wind comes in around the hinges  of the new door and the living room now gets warm.

Apart from that not a lot has been happening here.  It has been too windy to go model boat sailing, the radio controlled duck has been temporarily overtaken by snooker and the financial crisis and we altered the clocks.  And it is nearly Winter! As another old song says, “Life gets tasteless, dont it?” Never mind, Spring is on the way.  Little mum and I always started counting the days to the shortest day about this time - and it isn’t too far away - just 52 days - and then everything starts to grow lighter again.  Wow!!

To help pass on the dark evenings I have rooted out my “old favourite” CD’s with songs which go back to my youth at St. Alban’s in Manchester (Where????)  where I learned to dance just under nearly a hundred years ago. Most of you will be too young to remember them, but how about these? Begin the beguine, It’s a sin to tell a lie, The last time I saw Paris, Skyliner, The man from Laramie, Two sleepy people, Penny serenade, I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter - and hundreds and hundreds more - REAL SONGS with words that warm your heart and melodies that set you singing. Well, they do me anyway and I am really enjoying them. One of my special favourites is Paul Robeson singing songs like Ol man river, Fat little fella with his mummy’s eyes, Shortenin’ bread and My curly headed baby - our dad used to sing us little ones to sleep with that one - remember? “Lula-lula-lula-lula bye-byes, Do you want the moon to play with? Or the stars to run away with? They’ll come if you dont cry”.  So I’m going to wrap myself up in these lovely favourites and sing along with them and it will soon be Spring again. Soppy, eh? But I love it! Being an oldie certainly has it’s blessings!

I trust everyone is well and enjoying life to the full.  Still awaiting a blog photo of Nathan, our kid.  Nice to talk to you the other day.

My love to you all (especially the pretty ones!),

Keep blogging!

Ted.

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