Tuesday 30 June 2009

And we did...

...it again!

Our cricketers beat the Aussies by nine wickets in the first ODI. Scoring the winning run in 27.1 overs for the loss of one wicket, having bowled the opposition out with two balls to spare.

The England team are already world champions in the Twenty20 form and the One Day game, and beating the Australians by that kind of margin, showed just how far and hard this team have come and worked.

We already hold the Ashes....

A brilliant summer is being had by the England Women's team.

The English summer is being turned on it's head.

A match at Wimbledon finishing at 10:38 in the evening! With the brand new sparkling roof over Centre Court this is now a possibility, and Andy Murray's match against Stansilav Wawrinka (his hitting partner) was a roller coaster, knee trembling...depths of the soul kind of match for the first evening of this show of engineering. Exhaustion clearly showed at the end, that and relief at the win...as Mr Murray came to terms with his win. He knew it would be tough, but I doubt if he thought it would be quite that tough. The Swiss player has a very sweet, hard single-handed backhand, that would have wowed the crowd more if he hadn't been playing their favourite. Outside the top ten at present, I expect to see him back there, if he continues to play as he did last night. Andy Murray's next opponent (on Wednesday) is Juan Carlos Ferrero, the experienced wildcard entry from Spain... It's going to be hard work, especially after the emotions of last night.

And Charlton sign their first player of the season...(their own youngsters excepted). Miguel Angel Llera was signed from MKDons yesterday. A central defender with a left foot, at 6ft 4ins we will look to him to bring a presence to our defence. As Parkinson has commented...we have only two central defenders on our books, but with speculation growing over Hudson being sold to Cardiff...we could be down to one, unless Jonathan Fortune puts pen to paper on a new contract. Today sees the end of the contracts of ten players...six being released and four holding talks for renewing. Speculation is rife...rumour abounds...but, these negotiations are private...which is the correct way to do business.

And it's hot!! Sunshine fills the days...

This can't be an English summer? Can it!!

Thursday 25 June 2009

On Saturday...

...on our run around Norfolk, we stopped at a one off business venture. If you live there, you probably know or have heard of Woad-Inc. It's the company of a farmer who diversified into producing woad, and now has included making and selling his own products using the oil and dye from this plant.

I can say, the items are beautiful... and he's a very nice person to talk to.

But...as these things do, (and on reading a magazine article pinned to the wall) football became the topic of conversation. The piece told me he is an ardent Norwich fan...so I apologised for taking them down. He smiled, and said...well...and he didn't expect anything else with the bunch running the club. Seems he isn't any ordinary fan, but a director...in a small way. More an associate...and at home games, rather than sitting with the Norwich directors, this little group sit with the opposition. Quite telling that...

I think the only good thing he had to say about the present incumbents, was that you were sure of a decent lunch. Other than that...not being good business people was mentioned... I somehow got the impression he doesn't hold out much hope for next season either, but he thought we'd do well. I did keep a straight face at this point.

Other Norfolk footballing news...Kings Lynn, demoted by the Conference, have put an appeal against the decision to the FA. In the meantime, they have already made two signings, one from Kettering Town and the second, the player of the season, from Rugby Town. They've also announced a draw for the shirt sponsorship for the forth-coming season...individuals can apply.

Monday 22 June 2009

A busy weekend...another visit to Norfolk, and another tour around the outsides of houses. I thought I'd finished doing that last September...or I hoped I had!

We also had a party to go to. Our youngest son's girlfriends birthday. Gets complicated like that...but, she had a significant birthday...two bands played, one of which I've known since some of them were about ten...now that makes me feel kind of old! They were both very good, but I must show bias here, and say the local guys were better... They have produced their own CD...which I will get, and let you know the final verdict. Now the couple are off on the Eurostar to Paris for a few days...unfortunately no room in their suitcases for me!!

Then yesterday...which was the day of the significant birthday, was also our eldest son's same significant date, being born on the same day. That was more a family gathering...more food than you could wish for, and great fun too....their boys decided on the music, and we were bombarded from the eighties!

So happy birthday to both of them....I had a great weekend, I think they both did.

Saturday 20 June 2009

Listening...

...to a piece on the radio a few mornings ago, they were talking about spellings, and how some people have blind spots on certain words. Even the simplest words can go amiss, and be complicated to those who use them every day. The expert mentioned the most commonly misspelt word is "definitely". It's a word I love...it means so much, and is so misused.

The most common misspelling is using an "a" instead of the second "i"...spelling it definately...it's the way our differing dialects make it sound...but the English language doesn't work that way, it very often throws the phonetic rules out the window...my Mum keeps telling me that the Americans have it right in saying "lieutenant", it hasn't got an "f" in it! (more about the lieutenant later) A phonetic catastrophe...

And don't think spell-check will help...if you misspell it gives you many choices. Going back to definitely...I had a friend who had spell-checked it, and it had given him defiantly...it made for interesting reading. I think after awhile he left it on purpose...he liked a good joke.

Now...about lieutenant. If anyone ever gets close enough to Canterbury Cathedral for a visit, go down into the crypt, walk around looking at the walls...and there you'll find an old memoriam...it's to a lefftenant. Now is that the correct pronunciation?

Sorry about this, but the weirdest things peke my interest...one day I might bore you with my intense dislike of "two times"...where did twice go?

Another week...

...another call.

The expected call came eventually on Thursday evening. Our buyers are getting twitchy, which you can hardly blame them for...we're getting twitchy! They're renting and have told their landlord they've found a house and he's finding people to take over. One went yesterday. By all accounts they've both been in the agent's office, and on the phone to them this week. So I made the call to Norfolk first...as I know our agent was going to anyway, to let them know.

I don't think anyone knows if our seller is going to move...she's had her house on the market for two years, was close to completion eighteen months ago and they walked away, meaning she lost the cottage she initially wanted. Now, she won't sign anything...changed her mind (after eleven weeks) about the last cottage she offered on, and has also, seemingly, changed her mind about moving in with her partner...

This leaves us where? Getting the Norfolk agent to talk to her about the realities of the situation and hoping she is serious about things., or looking for somewhere else...and starting again. We've been offered on her property since last September, she didn't accept until late March, until she found something. You would think that somewhere in all that time, she'd have known if she didn't want to sell...wouldn't you?

We're off to Norfolk today...house looking. It's not something I want to do, but we can't rely on a yes answer this week, so if we're serious about moving then...needs must... I still want the cottage we're offering on, it's unique...has more living space than sleeping space...a good sized garden, with room for that to develop(she doesn't like flowers)...it's not overlooked, but has neighbours(not just the churchyard opposite)...and is pretty.

Anyway, we want to be settled, know where we are...we've already been through losing a house, exactly two years ago, when my husband was on the high seas, on his way to Norway...then our buyers pulled out. We did have a break from trying to sell between then and now, but life appears in a limbo state...you keep things tidy, decorate what needs, but you don't do...it's a strange existence.

And this last week...is also the fourth anniversary of my Dad dying suddenly. As old as I am, I miss his hugs.

Wednesday 17 June 2009

And the fixtures...

...are...

Hereford away in the Carling Cup is confirmed as the Tuesday evening (11 August) match.

Charlton start the season at home against Wycombe Wanderers...Leyton are a midweek game on the 18 August, away...

We play Southampton at home 12 September, Norwich away the week later, and we're at home on my birthday to Exeter.

Millwall at home are a week before Christmas...and away March 13. Swindon are at the Valley on Boxing Day...then we're away to Brentford 28 December, and Walsall 2 January.

Easter being 3 April, we're away to MKDons and home to Carlisle on Easter Monday (I bet their fans are pleased about that one!).

Last game of the season....away to Oldham. Let's hope that's a dead rubber...and we've done something spectacularly good before then, as we have a potentially tough run in....a visit to
Southampton and a home match with Norwich, before Leeds come for a visit on May 1st

Full details here...

I wonder if the visible reality of that list, will put signatures on contracts and bums on seats!

For the girl...

...in you...

Venturing into a shoe shop on Saturday...I sat to try a pair of flat sandals...and these greeted my eye...





There was a whole central display of the most flamboyant, extravagant items of footwear going. Sadly I can't balance that high without getting vertigo...but, they certainly were wowsers!!

They're here... Schuh

Tuesday 16 June 2009

A little work...

...done this morning.

You'll have to forgive, but it's a one of those annoying "work in progress" reports...

Wayward Rose

A bit of an overhaul of my site was needed, and I've taken this morning to redo the foundations...(I have my reasons for choosing this morning).

Apart from that, for anyone watching my football mutterings...we have Hereford United away in the Carling Cup. Annoyingly it's an evening match, played on either Tuesday 11 or Wednesday 12 August. I like Hereford, it's a lovely city and wouldn't have minded a visit for a weekend.

Sunday 14 June 2009

After all...

...this weeks doings and not doings, I had to go into Cambridge...collecting some tickets for our youngest son. (Why do places put popular tickets on sale during most people's work times?)

The only way to visit the city is going "Park and Ride"...which I see they now have a two tier pricing system for...£2.50 if you get your ticket from the driver, and £2.30 if you purchase it from the ticket machine, for which you'll need the correct money (no change given) and patience...the queue is long. I had neither and paid the extra 20p. If there's only one of you it's cost effective, otherwise go into the back of the city, drop your passengers, then drive out and park, it defeats the object, but the city car parks are horrendously expensive...and the meters are patrolled.

PS...don't use Trumpington (yes it is a real place!) car park on a Saturday...the bus goes round in circles first, getting more delayed as the day progresses.

Anyway...on the bus ride into town I noticed signs for a Town and Country Show on Parkers Piece, never one to ignore such invitations, I collected the tickets and walked to the green...it was busy with marquees of crafts, from the ever present jewellery stands through wood-turners and artists, with the food producers in a separate one....cheese, fudge, pies...a chocolate fountain with skewers of delicacies to cupcakes... I resisted, just succumbing to a stall selling elderflower presse with raspberry....that was nice! Further round there were the mix of food outlets...burgers to salads...you take your pick. A fun fair running in the background...and a central arena...I watched the story of the Suffolk Punch, an endangered work horse. They are huge, beautiful and so gentle. They are as endangered as the Panda and closer to home! If you want more information you can read about the pub and farm at Nayland here... The Anchor's Suffolk Punches. Following those was a show of sheep shearing, and different breeds...

Walking around, I discovered knights awaiting combat, brave souls who put on a great entertainment...the last event was to be a melee at 4:00, which was and is a general fight until the last man is standing. Children love it!

I've previously mentioned the university is eight hundred years old this year, and they were there, with a tent for the children...make your own fossils and art...with players taking the part of benefactors of some of the colleges. The university has some great museums too, which are very often overlooked by visitors.

The city council had taken the opportunity to launch their Environment Festival there too...

Not quite my planned day, but more enjoyed...I had a great time...and I didn't have my camera with me!

And did I mention...entry is free...

Saturday 13 June 2009

Having stopped...

...thought, slept, talked and thought more about it...I think we've come to the conclusion that...

a - we won't be bullied by our agents (who do they think is paying their bill and which banana boat do they think we sailed in on?)

b - we do want the house in Norfolk, but we won't hassle her.

What's the point of upsetting her...let her make her own decisions without anyone beating on her door. The only thing is, if she changes her mind about selling too...we shall see...

Friday 12 June 2009

Well one...

...answer.

Our buyers will wait...for the time being.

They're renting and have two holidays booked in the school summer holidays, which could be fun to work around, but we think the dates work that we'd be moving maybe...perhaps...you never know...in September! Of course for that to happen...our seller needs to

a - find a replacement abode or

b - move in with her partner...

I really don't mind which she does, but one would be preferable to the limbo state we're all in now.

Our agent would like us to sign contracts on our sale next week! I distinctly heard the cash register falling as I walked out the door...

Did I mention...

...about a broken windscreen?

That was the start to my week. A cracked windscreen from a stone thrown up on the local motorway. Then, there was the sore throat...but the ultimate...are you sitting comfortably?

Our story begins a week ago.

Last Friday I contacted the Norfolk agent, as we've been waiting for our seller to make her mind up about her purchase. By all accounts her builder had been, seen what needed doing, and they'd all (buyer and seller) had agreed a new price...and she was going to fill in our forms for her sale and our purchase (yippee), then forward them to her solicitors...and no, she didn't need help completing them, even if she didn't know the answers to some of them.

Fast forward to Tuesday...

We receive a letter from our solicitors...and amongst the finalising items for our sale, was a comment about not having heard from Norfolk and did we know anything. So, after a call to double check things there, and being assured things were fine... The agent did say he'd double check too...

Then came Wednesday...

We told our solicitor this, and having my Mum staying we decided to visit Norfolk (after the windscreen was replaced in the morning). We showed her the front of the house, and went into Burnham Market (out of season it's fine)...and as the agent there isn't far, went to see him. Being asked to sit down didn't bode well. She'd changed her mind about buying...not selling, but buying...eleven weeks after everything, she'd backed out, and is again refusing to sign anything. We're not talking contract, just the first forms...those little bits that say what's staying or going...who's the council, electric...etc. No one can get her to complete them...now they're trying to find her another house, contacting all the areas agents for her...

What do I want to do? Don't ask...

Anyway...came Thursday, and I contacted our solicitor again, telling him the new news...and as I said to him, how long can we expect our purchasers to hang around?! A question neither of us can answer...

Another roller coaster of a week to add to the last two years...

Oh, and congratulations to my nephew...he passed his driving test yesterday. Well done from all of us.

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Someone has...

...chosen one of my necklaces for their Etsy treasury. Cowlick Cutie made a very beautiful treasury using variations of grey. A huge thank you to her, and do visit her very cute shop, she has such pretty ideas.



Grey Street featuring my necklace "Monochrome". It makes you smile from ear to ear to be chosen by someone you don't know...

Monday 8 June 2009

A further...

...wander around the garden.

Taking photographs of the garden I'll be leaving behind...


Wild Strawberries



Clematis


Rosa - Schoolgirl (climber)


Yellow water iris (in bog frog and newt hole)


Tradescantia (named for the botanist Trandescant)


Alliums


Jacobs Ladder


Flag Iris (sorry, I can't remember which variety)


The ancient Rosa Mundi

My favourite roses are the old-fashioned highly scented ones, and though some have a short flowering season, others if dead-headed will flower for longer periods. In my new garden I have plans to support their flowering with the English varieties. The present owner doesn't like flowers, being a shrub and tree person...with very few flowering shrubs even. We inherit a couple of lilacs, a hebe and a ceanothus as flowering shrubs, other that that...she cut the wisteria down to a stump, but it was still there, so hopefully we can resurrect that by putting it on a trellis away from the wall.
Plans...plans...what fun!

Friday 5 June 2009

Now we...

...start!

Official news and no more speculation. Harry Arter, Darren Ambrose, Svetoslav Todorov, Nicky Weaver, Aswad Thomas and Rashid Yussuff, have all been released by Charlton at the end of their contracts. There have been rumours and unofficial details linking Darren Ambrose with the team across south London, and good luck to him there...he'll need it! It's being officially stated that both Ashwad Thomas and Harry Arter have held talks with Woking and have agreed terms pending medicals. Nicky Weaver had already said he was sure he was out...the others you could take a good guess at.

Those in talks for new contracts are Jonathan Fortune, Matt Holland, Darren Randolph and Zheng Zhi...and those I'd love to keep and hope that it works out for all of us. Matty had said he'd like a new contract...and we knew ZZ was in talks with his agent and Charlton already.

A missing name is Josh Wright, who has actioned a clause in his contract to be able to speak to other clubs. Why? Maybe he feels helping Gillingham (on loan) to gain promotion to the same division as his home club gives him a right to more money. At least that's what his Dad is saying to the papers... Fine, if he doesn't want to play for us...bye!!

Youngsters Jack Clark and Alex Stavrinou have both been offered their first professional contracts.

Also reported is a impending offer from Plymouth for Therry Racon...he is wanted by the Pilgrims for a cut-price offer, because we're cash strapped! (I wasn't lady-like then) He is, at present, away playing for Guadeloupe...

The club are looking at bringing new names in, with some being touted in the papers.

Season tickets...the club have reported 58% had renewed their season tickets for the up-coming season by Friday, and had until Monday 1 June to gain their usual seats. I must admit here I am one of the 42% that haven't...not because of not knowing about the club, or their relegation, but more about not knowing where the hell I'll be by then...or how much my move is going to cost...and other things...but....

I have had news this morning, and at last the lady in Norfolk has agreed her purchase, with the seller accepting a reduced offer because of the work needed to be carried out. Now...at last, she is going to fill in the forms...we've only waited ten weeks for those...and with luck we can all sign a contract within a couple more weeks...

Even if it hadn't or doesn't happen, our loft, garage and shed thank us...they can now breath...

Monday 1 June 2009

My sister...

...did the Race for Life yesterday. She ran it in 39 minutes and raised £260+.

I know she lurks here, and never leaves any comments, so just for her lurking...

Congratulations, we're all very proud of you...and love you dearly...

Inclusion...

...in makingcents Etsy treasury...she very sweetly included my honeycomb spacers...and a big thank you to her from me... It's special when someone thinks your work is special enough to include.



Make sure you visit her pretty shop, full of beautiful items...