Monthly Archives: February 2012

Black and White

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No visit to Cousin’s would be complete without a photo of the Big Cat. Black and white, she provides the theme for this post. Here she is, comfortable behind the towels in the bathroom.

Comfortable

Her canine tormentor, again.

What's Happening?

The traditional cottage where a friend of Cousin’s lives, from an oblique angle as there were cars outside.

Cottage

The plaque that tells when it was built.

1743

Continue reading →

Heat Wave

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Ooh that Penelope Lively, she’s good. I just lost an hour or more to reading Heat Wave. Spare descriptions; clear prose; an ear for dialogue and the importance of things said and unsaid; an eye. I feel I have travelled the whole journey from spring to late summer, watching Luke and the wheat grow, seeing Teresa suffer and Pauline relive her memories while hoping for better for her daughter. I have met Maurice and Carol and found them wanting. Harry was never all he cracked himself up to be, while Hugh is considerably more than he seems, and James does not deserve to be treated so badly.
I am still at World’s End, outside the now closed doors, looking across the twenty acre field with its straw bales still and waiting. Such is the power of good writing to transport a reader, to build and maintain a world that seems so real, it is hard to understand that the last page is really the last, that Mr Chaundy will not be casting a dismissive eye over the next people to own this house, and that the weather forecasting postman does not exist outside the pages of this novel.

Moving the Goalposts

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I wanted to retire at thirty-five. It didn’t happen. A few years later, I became restless, wanting to try something new, and swapped my permanent, full-time job for a mix of short-term, part-time contracts and study.
The move left me financially less well off, but with a much greater sense of freedom. It also screwed up my work pension, particularly as part-timers were opted out unless they said they wanted otherwise, and I didn’t realise.
However, my state pension was due when I turned sixty. Then the goalposts were moved. First I learned that I should have to work until sixty-five, now it’s sixty-six, and before long it’ll probably be sixty-seven. It may go on increasing. someone from the DWP told me it will probably move to seventy as soon as the government can manage. Continue reading →

Reunited

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I’ve had a great break at my cousin’s and it is nice to be home again. In an hour I’ll be able to collect the ginger ninja from the cattery. I’ve bought him a new biscuit ball and play tunnel, but having a cuddle is going to be the best bit. I expect he’ll want to go climbing outside and have some energetic play.
Can’t wait…

Westie Boy and the Wee Man

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One of the youngest members of the family has been with us today. Three years old, and a big fan of television, but eventually we prised him away and I had the perfect excuse to read The Gruffalo’s Child.
The weather is cold with a bitter wind, so outside play is not an option. Even Westie Boy prefers to stay indoors.
I woke to Cousin’s voice saying “Good boy!” repeatedly and realised the first training session of the day was underway.
We’re sticking to ‘sit’, and extending the time before we give the click and treat.
He is focusing more on us and it seems to both tire and calm him.
Now we need to see if it works on the wee man…

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