Jabberwocky

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought --

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'

He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe

Lewis Carroll

27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898

This poem fascinated me in my pre-teens when I was give a copy of 'Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass'. I tried to learn it by heart but never managed to master all of it. If you asked me the meaning I'd have to say I haven't a clue The book sat on my shelves for years and was well read. It seems to have vanished now and I can't for the life remember what happened to it.

Happy Birthday

First Granddaughter has a birthday today. She now leaves her teens behind. Shes studying Medical Science at Collage and is hoping to go on to study Genetics at University. A big difference to the Fashion and textile design she started out with. The change of heart comes from the desire to support her beautiful unexpected baby son.

Happy birthday B.

and

hope you will be happy in your new house.

A New Home.

Granddaughter has signed for a new home today. We went to see it last week followed by a really awful house viewing the next day. The choice was simple! So a brand new eco friendly home was allocated to her. Similar to the one in the photo it's a generous sized, 2 bed home with quite a few helpful additions. Its only draw back is a tiny garden and a noisy Parkway out the front.

So, now it a family frenzy of helping her to get settled in. At the moment her heads in a spin, coping with a new home, a small baby, collage work, exams, studying and back to work. I’m sure she it will work it all out and gradually settle in.

Sunday at the Queens Head

On Sunday Jan. 17th Dave and I booked a Sunday Lunch at lovely old pub in Nassington called the Queens Head. Mum came along with sister Barbara and brother in law Colin.

This 1600 century Pub is located by the riverside in Nassington and has has a total refurbishment. New hotel room were built at the back of the Pub and a lovely dining room added to complete the transformation to a 21st century hostelry. The character of the oldest part of the building has been cleverly retained during the modernisation. Soft comfy red sofas are arranged in the lounge bar, making a relaxing area to wait for your table

Dave and I have had several meals out at this restaurant and have always enjoyed the food. Normally we have to book and the dining room is full but this Sunday it was fairly quiet so we had a really enjoyable lunch.

A Senior Party.

Way back in October 2009 my sister and I began our secret meetings. Mother would be 90 years young on January 17th 2010. How would we celebrate this achievement. We tossed Ideas about. When she was 80 we arranged a family celebratory dinner at a hotel followed by tea and cake back at our house. This time we calculated there would be too many young children to take to a sit down lunch in a hotel. Mum was also that little bit frailer as well. So what should we do?

After throwing around a few ideas, consulting with brother Michael and considering the post Christmas wallet we settled on a simple Afternoon Tea at our house.

We would do the catering between us and attempt to keep the food to simple finger food and I would do the birthday cake, a trifle and some vegan food We decided the Saturday afternoon would be a better day for every one, so invitations were designed and sent out. The weather in the run up to the party was atrocious, ice snow and bitter cold. Luckily for us a last minute thaw cleared the ice away.

Every one invited, with the exception of Christopher and Stephen who couldn't change work schedules, arrived. My modest house started to look very packed. The last arrivals all fitter in comfortably though.

My sister in Law, Agnes took over the tea pot duties. The kids helped themselves to pop and coke. The food seemed to go down well with every one. We insisted mother picked her plateful first ahead of the mad rush!

After to food every one managed to take some photos. I actually managed to get a photo of the five generations of our side of the family with Mum, Me, Sean, Michael and his daughter Caitlyn. Granddaughter Rebecca and her son Nathan make another part of the 5 generations but she can be rather camera shy.

The oldest and youngest members of my family with 90year old Mother and 8 month old Nathan. Actually he isn't the youngest family member as my Brothers daughter, Christine had a son, Joe just 6 weeks ago. (Nathan's ready for home and bed, dressed in his jimjams)
After some persuasion we managed to get a photo of Mum with daughter in law Agnes, son Michael, son in law Colin , daughter Barbara, daughter Monica(me) and son in law David.
Every one had a good time and my niece remarked that it was sad that it took an occasion like this or weddings and funerals to get us all together.

........from BBC local news today

Peterborough City Council bought the ground for £8m Peterborough United's football ground has been bought by a Cambridgeshire council in an £8m deal. The London Road ground and surrounding land has been bought by Peterborough City Council, it was announced during Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Derby. Council leader Marco Cereste said the council can now "unlock the future potential of Peterborough's riverside". The land was owned by Peterborough United Holdings Limited in a rental agreement meant to last until 2014. The football club, known as The Posh, sold their London Road home to a local property developer in 2003. The Posh Independent Supporters Association launched a campaign in 2009 urging the council to help the club secure a long term home ***************** My thoughts.................... Has the Council that much money to burn...........£8.000,000 for that piece of land............ no wonder our Council Taxes are high.

Isn't Science Wonderfull

Its not only the Newspapers that confuse.

BBC Live News Channel Thursday 29^th October 2009

Women who carry excess weight on the hips and thighs, and apple-shaped men who carry it on the waist, risk dangerous blood clots, say experts.

Being overweight per se is risky, but where the fat accumulates is also critical, say the Danish scientists.

Pear-shaped women with big hips and thighs were at higher risk of dangerous clots, even if they had an "ideal" body weight.

Lead researcher Dr Marianne Tang Severinsen, of Aarhus University Hospital in Aalborg, said: "Until now, the importance of fat distribution and venous thromboembolism risk has not been evaluated.

BBC Live News Channel Tuesday 12^th January 2010

Carrying extra weight on your hips, bum and thighs is good for your health, protecting against heart and metabolic problems, UK experts have said.

Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging, they say.

Big behinds are preferable to extra fat around the waistline, which gives no such protection, the Oxford team said

It seems that science like statistics can be made to confuse and confound.

So who do we believe and what do we believe.

Is there truly global warming or is this weather all part of a natural cycle???

Is a big bum really healthy and protect the heart or will we risk a thrombo embolism??? Seems to me these researchers should confer!

Wheres that packet of crisps.

Friday Morning and I'm looking out of my office window at the snow whirling around outside. The central heating timer has needed to be overridden today to combat the cold. The open fire is great for the lounge but the rest of the house needs the extra heat today.

I decided to miss my swim this morning to let Dave take the car. It's easier than waiting around in the cold for a bus. He's taken his Canadian fur hat out of storage and routed out his long abandon 'long johns' from the back of a draw. That means its really cold!!!

It's been really quiet in the pool this week with so many staying home in the warm, so swimming has been a relaxing pleasure. The waters also seemed as warm as bath water. Maybe it's cos I was fairly cold when I plunged in. My swimming friend, Jan's off on a Caribbean cruise next week, on the newest ocean liner that more like a floating city. I wonder if I could stow away in her suit cases!

I suppose really we've been lucky here with the weather. Yes it's snowed and the temperatures are below freezing, the arctic winds blow colder, but we've escaped the awful blizzards that have snarled up other parts of the country. The schools have remained open this time. No ones been stranded over night and no power lines have come down. Fingers crossed it stays that way!!!

My meager Christmas decorations are down but still awaiting storage. The hall Christmas arrangement has made it as far as the half landing on the stairs where I actually quite like it. Sadly it must be stowed away soon as I've a big family celebration to get ready for by next Saturday.

My Mum will have reached her 90th year. Wow, I wonder If I'll get to that age and still be living independently and doing all my own shopping cooking and housework? Quite an achievement but her eldest brother is 95 and is also doing the same.

The youngest member of the family Little Nathan continues to grow and fascinate everyone with his cheerful smile and attitude. Can you see the family resemblance.... The ears!

An Overnight Lodger

Gold Finches really are the most beautiful little birds to see close up. Yesterday in the freezing weather Dave went out to the garden to bring in more logs for the fire but came back in with a shocked little Gold Finch in his cupped in his hand. We have a niger feeder hanging in the Eucalyptus tree that regularly attracts a small flock of Gold Finches that fly in to feed on them and the sunflower hearts.

The feathers that cover their head and body are so fine that it has the appearance of fine fur or velvet. Their beaks are extremely strong and sharp. Just made for extracting seeds form difficult places and cracking them open.

The little bird in Dave's hand must have flown into the patio door and stunned itself. It lay in his hand quietly never attempting to struggle or peck him. We decided to put him in a largish box in a quiet place, with some sunflower seeds, to see if he would rest and recover.

So many little birds that fly into windows just pick themselves up and fly off. Usually if they are so stunned and shocked they die. So we didn't expect this one to recover. I peeped at him twice during the evening. He was still alive but made no reaction. This morning I peeked, he was still alive and sitting there. A little later I decided I'd gently pick him up to see if he had any damaged wings or limbs but as I lifted the lid he reacted and fluttered. Time to release him. I took the box out to the Eucalyptus tree and out he flew and made his rapid escape. Job done.