2008 — 12 November: Wednesday
Well, I guess that's Year Zero just concluded. I must say, having Christa die on Armistice Day was mnemonically dashed considerate of her! Here's my next picture of her:
Christa in Great Yarmouth, 1977
Back in 1962 (before Christa spent a year in Nebraska on a High School exchange programme) she'd been in East Anglia, on the coast, for about six weeks. She had a sentimental desire to revisit the area (my own knowledge of it was entirely limited to what I'd read in the subset of Arthur Ransome books where the adventures took place on the Norfolk Broads) so she sorted out a British Rail one-day weekend excursion to Great Yarmouth for the pair of us — I suspect in 1977; I've seen a ticket receipt somewhere.
Of course, the weather — being a British summer — was atrocious. Here she was sheltering in a bus stop, but we had an enjoyable day out, and she loved studying the geography en route too. I was happy to tag along because basically, as long as she was happy, I was happy. Besides, I got to treat her to a pub lunch.
Today's adventure...
... officially concluded at about 15:00, was another visit to Keyhaven — amazing how much difference 45 minutes makes in the tidal effect on the mud flats — to say "hi" to a couple of cormorants (or shags, maybe) and then a gentle pootle right1 along Salt Marsh Lane to the Needles Eye beachfront café where I treated my patient co-pilot and me to American Club sandwiches and a cuppa. No sign of yesterday's egret today, but I did clock a family of swans; in all probability the same ones I saw back in October:
The crockpot I stuffed earlier is starting to make my mouth water, though it won't attain the peak of perfection for another two or three hours, alas. It's 16:30, and I'm listening (aghast, as usual) to the tales of traffic woe all over the UK. I was just downstairs to close the living room blinds, and discovered another duo of DVDs delivered via the "drop them on to the windowsill" method:
I assume the title on the right is another version of the tale told in Private Schulz.
And now, I've just heard a spokesman admit on national radio that fruit that is oddly shaped or knobbly tastes just the same as fruit adhering to ridiculous Euro requirements for symmetry (which have been scrapped after 20 years, I think I heard him say). But if it's ridiculous now, surely it's even more ridiculous to have had this directive for the last 20 years?
The US may have Barack Obama but the EU has Mariann Fischer Boel. "This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot," said the European agriculture commissioner today, referring to the imminent decision to scrap EU laws banning imperfect-looking fruit and vegetables. Marketing standards for 26 fruit and vegetables, which led to a lot of less-than-perfect items being thrown away, are to be repealed.
However, the change in thinking in Europe was prompted not by an acknowledgment that the rules should never have been introduced but by a belated decision that they were inappropriate during a food crisis. Those who point the finger at alleged EU bureaucracy note that the ban will remain in place until July next year.
More here. And, if you want to do your head in, munch on this. (Sorry, Big Bro!)
How cool are these...? dept.
Being just as bigoted and prejudiced as the next chap, I was momentarily dismayed this afternoon when, having allowed a fellow motorist to pull out in front of me into a slow-moving queue, I spotted what looked like one of those dreadful "fish" symbols on the back of his car. Imagine my delight when I read the word "Darwin" inside this "fish with legs". And my co-pilot found a source for these badges:
I may just have to get one!
My friend Brian, who probably thinks I have more time to scan the Interweb than he does, has just sent me a link about the forthcoming Humax Freesat HD PVR. It should give that nice Mr Murdoch a run for his money. But now it's time for my date with Little Dorrit which was followed, of course, by part two of the three-part series on children's books. Excellent. The rest of the crockpot is now being chilled, a final cuppa is being contemplated, and a teensy spot of Amazonian shopping has been performed. Time to finish watching "Lust, Caution" (begun last night). It may take me a while, but I get there in the end.