Another restless night, of miscellaneous bodily aches and discomforts, but, a new day is here, with rainfall bringing in it's wake some cooler air. Just the sheer delight of this new day distances me from the night's unrest, I even feel the nascent possibility of attempting some gentle exercise. Now, there's a few unexpected words to trip from my thought processes. Whether it comes to anything remains to be seen!

The only exercise so far has been of the wrist and fingers as I've checked my e-mails, primarily welcome, and downloaded one or two e-books from the Bruderhof website. I suppose a stroll down the garden, to feed the goldfish, loosely falls into the category of "exercise" even though more calories are burnt tapping away at the keyboard than this especially short "hike"!

Lack of exercise not withstanding, my body still feels the need to partake of some victuals so, it's time to love you and leave you. Come back soon.

Prized Assets

Some major rewiring is called for with regards to the connections to the pond pump so, the initial waiting for the electrician to call has now passed and, we await, somewhat impatiently, the next phase. No doubt the goldfish would be happy with any Heath-Robinson arrangement, as long as it works, but there are regulations in place and, the current arrangement we retrospectively realise has been sufficiently ramshackle!

Let's just hope that Tag, Blaze, Blondie, Babe and the triplets can survive their temporarily pumpless environment.

Today is yet another example of Blazing June ... the look of it is wonderful ... the feel, for us two middle-aged lovers, is that it's just too much. In recent days my ankles have taken on the diameter of my upper calves although, I must admit, they do subside somewhat after (what passes for) a good night's rest.

We are looking forward to a weekend visit from some very special friends; a relationship, which stretches back to the days of shared academe, is not to be scorned in these days of ephemeral values!

PONDering the passing day

The aches and pains in the shoulder area (reported yesterday) continued on into the night, so much so that, somewhere around 2.00AM, I had to seek out my shoulder support strap in an attempt to ease the discomfort. Of course, the thermal qualities of the shoulder strap/support proved a bit of a liability, when I'm already sleeping sans vêtements under a maximum of one bedsheet because of the cloying heat!

Surprisingly, the shoulder reinforcement did alleviate some of the distress. Further shifting aches persisted, however, in calf muscles, ankles, upper arms and, only in the most unusual of bedroom postures was I finally able to rest. It is not really my disposition to be strapped down in the bedroom [ nudge nudge, wink wink ...] but, I'm just starting to wonder if that might not prove beneficial.

Once again, although sunshine is considered an anti-depressant, it's accompaniment of cloying humidity soon displaces the 'anti'! The garden cries out for work to be done but, at the moment I have an additional excuse (apart from my general malaise) for not facing up to the tasks. The excuse, sorry I meant to say reason, is the anticipated arrival of a tradesman to sort out our pond-pump woes and, of course, he wouldn't expect one to be out in the garden ... the abode of the aforementioned pond-pump ... would he?

The slightest twinge finds its place in the cosmos

After yesterday's nature trek, and subsequent work of pond maintenance, this afternoon and early evening has produced the reward. To be honest, the pond maintenance plays a bigger role in todays reward than the pleasure trek.

Today, I have aches in muscles and joints of whose existence I have been (and to some extent remain) sceptical. The ache at the base of the neck I understand, the spasmodically sharp pain (apparently) in the middle of the shoulder blade proves a bit trickier! The pain in both shoulders I can once again relate, albeit only in part, to yesterdays exertions but; a kind of floppy dull giddy ache in the ankles is hard to apportion cause to.

Knee joints seem to have a recurring pattern of dull aches, that's simply (or should that read 'complexly') me! Sweeping waves of tiredness, sometimes appearing quite out of the blue, are tiringly becoming pretty much the norm as are the sudden switches of the bodies thermostat.

If I was quite simply a machine, even a robot, I guarantee the most dilligent technicians would have their work cut out! But, thank God, I'm not a machine. I'm a human being who still enjoys a laugh, a drink, affection (both shown and showing), sex as pure delight even if rather exhausting. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm such a wonderful warm and loving human being, I'd be giving up in total despair! [ Meantime I can't avoid the odd bit of despair, more over social than personal issues, just as I can't help wondering at the immeasurable vastness of space allowing room, for a little clod of clay like Planet Earth, to produce such amazing diversity.]

Anti-Phishing

After further glitches with Netcraft Anti-Phishing Toolbar on IE, following several "repairs", re-installations etc., decided to give up on it. However, I'm still really pleased with it's performance on Firefox!

Decided this morning to install Trust Anti-Phishing Toolbar, only time will tell if it suits me but, I do like it's interface and the built-in search engine. Think I'm going to be satisfied!

I really do regard some kind of anti-phishing toolbar as an essential plug-in / add on.

A Doorstep Oasis

A discovery on one's own doorstep, at least within fifteen to twenty minutes walk, is something well worth reporting. Helen decided it might be a good idea to have a little walk, this morning, before the heat became unbearable (once more). After some fifteen minutes, we approached the pond where we had seen the juvenile newts a few weeks ago; what had happened, in spite of yesterdays torrential rain the pond appeared to be dried up!

A walk along a pathway, previously too waterlogged to tread, we found it was possible to cross "the pond" at what had been it's widest point ... and that without getting our feet wet; no, I'm not talking miraculous events, the ground was reasonably dry and firm. What had happened to our pond? A path, at what would have been the far side of the watery place, led us to an area of ponds and marshland, with a duck-walk 0r two to ease the traverse. The margins of these areas were flanked with Flag Iris and Bulrushes ... we had found our oasis from the "shock"of the dried-out pond. An oasis for amphibians as well as us mere mortals and, we rejoiced in the presence of Sand Martins and Buntings as we leisurely ambled around.

Evidently, this wetland reserve is on the site of the old clay pits from a brick-making industry. As we reached the metalled track beyond the marshes, we spotted the start of the narrow pathway from which we usually viewed the temporarily absent pond.

The feelgood factor abounds; after omitting (for atmospheric reasons) the last few days of brisk brief walks, we have stumbled upon our doorstep reserve. It is almost as if the mountain has come to Mohammed!

Not Too Bad A Day ... After All

In spite of the prevailing atmospheric conditions and, their affect on my various minor ailments, I still managedto enjoy *Father's Day. Dinner was a huge success, an emergency prepared sneakingly hot curry (See "Malcolm's Food And Spilt Drink Column" entry for 18 June) came out even better than anticipated.

Spent mid-afternoon doing some Christmas-related (in the hope that some of the subject matter would help us to ignore the day's oppressive heat) VHS to DVD transfers. The day continued in lazy fashion, even after a storm tried to break through the days clamminess.

This evening, sadly, was the final episode of the current series of "The Last Detective" [ITV] ... our only TV viewing of the day. A very tender humour percolates each episode without detracting from the case in hand.


* for further Father's Day references see 'Some Atmosphere' on Heterocon's Blog.

Madness Abounds

No, this is not a swift return with the entry I'd forgotten. Just happily went into My Yahoo, using Firefox browser ... no problemo ...; clicked the 'Inbox' link (under Yahoo! Mail Preview and was required to sign in again. Having signed in I was then directed to the Security screen ... you know, the one like an eyesight test ... write down the "word" you see in this box! Don't the crass MORONS know that a random selection of letters, both upper and lower case do not necessarily make a WORD.

Could they please :

a) define their terms more precisely
b) get their act together

Personally, I would be happier with b. It's a relief to know where the madness lies!

On Sanity and the Quest For Resolution

Firstly an update on problems signing in to Yahoo, touched on in my blog entry for 17 June as well as by Heterocon :

The problem seems to have cleared itself when using Firefox but, the behaviour of the sign on screen has now modified on IE6. If I first of all sign in to My Yahoo on IE6, I can immediately click on the link to Yahoo! Mail ... as expected, no further signature check required. Alternatively, if I go directly to Yahoo!Mail I am immediatly transferred from my first signing-in page to the extra-security of copying the "word picture".

I realize that the sensible thing would be to always enter Yahoo!Mail via My Yahoo when using IE6, or else only use Firefox. Problem is, when I discover a problem I simply have to gnaw away at it in the hope of obtaining some kind of resolution. Perhaps the issue is not really one of Security Madness but rather my tenuous grip on Sanity! [Joking ... I think ...!]

Secondly: I've forgotten what I was going to be scribing about. Perhaps I shall return!

Malcolm's Food and Spilt Drink Column

Following upon the remarkable success of last night's ginger & paprika dressed Chicken in a honey, mustard & garlic casserole, I found myself today in something of a quandary.

I had hoped that the second dish of casserole would see us right for Sunday lunch; I was somewhat dispirited (though at the same time flattered!) that this reserve casserole had diminished somewhat.

Quite a quandary you must admit. The solution .... shallow boil some diced potatoes, the water heavily seasoned with Coriander, Garam Masala, and Garlic; add this to the casserole residue along with some chopped chillies and crushed garlic, slosh it around in a well-oiled pre-heated Wok and ... hey presto ... serve with a lovingly prepared saffron rice. Easy when you know how, not too difficult when I don't.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Helen's sister Fran, who called over to visit us today, was savaged by a Wild Yorkshire Parasol outside of the local Brewer's Fayre, thereby re-distributing a potentially refreshing glass of 'Stella'. Unfortunately, I was at home slaving over a hot keyboard so I have to rely on the eyewitness accounts of my beloved.

Will we be hearing more of these attacks should the sunshine persist?