Category: News

Good morning from beautiful, downtown Byfield. The big news on the weather front this week – we actually had a drop of rain! Not the rip-roaring deluge we might have anticipated but some very April-like showers, heavy and intermittent blown along by a cold, brisk to gale force wind. Actually, it was a good thing that we didn’t get the Biblical downpour we might have been due as, with the ground being so parched, it most likely would have skidded across the surface and flooded away. As it was, the short, sharp showers have enabled at least some of the precipitation to penetrate through to the roots providing much-needed refreshment for my thirsty broad beans. Continue reading “29 May 2011”

Good morning to you all on another fine morning here in beautiful downtown Byfield. The weather this week has followed the pattern of last – glorious, spotlight-bright sunshine burning into your eyes at about 4.30 in the morning followed, by mid-morning, with increasing cloud and wind. By the afternoon the day is cold, overcast and windy with no f***ing rain!

Normally, of course, one would rejoice in being able to report that we’ve had no rain. After all, that’s what British summers are known for the world over – cold rain and wind. But we’ve had no significant rain for weeks and everywhere is desperate, not least my broad beans! And every afternoon, as the skies become increasingly grey and overcast, it seems so tantalisingly close and we even get the odd drop or six but nothing more. I never thought I’d say it but let’s have some rain, please. Continue reading “22 May 2011”

Good morning on another splendidly gorgeous morning. Let’s hope that it either stays splendidly gorgeous or, if it degenerates as it has done for most of the week, that it actually delivers a significant rainfall – the garden needs it!

This is the time of year when the early morning sun shines through one of our windows directly into, first of all, Penelope’s eyes and then, a few moments later, into mine. It’s a pretty rude awakening at 4.30 in the morning, rather like having a theatre spotlight switched on three inches from your face. For the past week the sunshine at that time of the day has been full-on, the skies have been clear and, when I take Molly for her morning constitutional, it’s glorious. By about 10.00, however, it has started clouding over, the wind picks up and we are teased with the prospect of rain all day. But it never comes, apart from the odd droplet or three. The farmers need it and my broad beans need it, so bring it on! Continue reading “15 May 2011”

Welcome home!

So, here we are, home again in beautiful downtown Byfield after a wonderfully enjoyable and agreeable ten days in Hanover, Huletts Landing and Boston.

When last we “spoke” I was relating how delighted I was to be able to provide additional driving opportunities for Dad as we drove to Huletts and then straight back to Hanover to have my eyes checked at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock emergency room. Having been given the “all-clear” we set off back to Huletts on Sunday and enjoyed one of the nicest days I have ever had the privilege of seeing at the Lake. Sandy and I spent early Sunday evening “fishing” (I say “fishing” but in truth Sandy fished and I pretended to know what I was doing by following his instructions as carefully as I was able). Unfortunately, we caught nothing but we were more than compensated for our efforts – the Lake was stunningly beautiful. At dinner that evening Sandy laughed and said to Pam that I had been faced with a problem with which he and she are abundantly familiar – which of the 8,000 potentially fantastic photos do you take? I resolved that particular dilemma by taking all 8,000. (You can see a slideshow of some of the least bad ones here). Continue reading “8 May 2011”

OK. Sorry for the delay – is everyone sitting comfortably?

If you have been paying attention, you will know that I am currently in the States visiting Mom and Dad (and if you haven’t been paying attention, it doesn’t really matter). Presently we are at Lake George on a gloriously beautiful Spring day. The sky is clear, the sun is blazing and the temperature must be approaching 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21 degrees Celsius). I flew from London to Boston on Wednesday morning, the flight was fine and I had a chance to see some decent films which I have been looking forward to (The King’s Speech, The Social Network and True Grit [the new Coen brothers version] just about filled up the flight). I made a convenient connection with the Dartmouth Coach and arrived in Hanover just before 6.00 pm local time.

Continue reading “1 May 2011”

I am very sorry that this week’s edition of the Weakly News will be somewhat delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. I hope to have something for you to avoid reading either later today or tomorrow.

Royal Wedding Special

Good morning and Happy Easter to you all. More signs of Spring – we had our first swallow sighting at 23 Banbury Road on Tuesday afternoon and the water companies issued the first drought warning of the season. I am guessing the hosepipe ban won’t be far off.

We are presuming that our first swallow is one of the early scouts checking out the area for suitable nesting locations prior to the arrival of the rest of the crowd. Presumably, he had a quick tour of the garage and the rest of the estate before swooping through the open front door to see what was on offer inside. After inspecting the various luxury suites available, he settled on the main guest room; he whooshed in, flew around, crapped on one of Penny’s best pillow cases and, after some gentle persuasion, finally was encouraged to exit by way of the window. Later that afternoon a second swallow appeared (or perhaps it was the same one) and he too decided that the indoor accommodation was preferable to that available in the garage. This time it was our bedroom which was deemed to be the most luxurious lodging available and again, only after much encouragement, was he finally persuaded to vacate the premises. I’ve now put a notice on the front door explaining that there is no spare indoor accommodation available. Then, on Thursday afternoon we were treated to an exhilarating “dog-fight” as three swallows raced and swooped around the skies, chattering at one another and clearly staking their respective claims to be the dominant swallow in the neighbourhood. It’s great to have them back. Continue reading “24 April 2011”

Good morning to you all and hopefully your day and week will be gloriously delightful. We’ve had a week which has been just marginally on the right side of tolerable, I suppose. It’s been colder, greyer and breezier than last week with the wind from the northeast rather than from the Saharan sands of last week. Having said that, yesterday was very pleasant and today looks like it could similarly be grand. I feel another Sunday bike ride coming.

Unfortunately from the gardeners’ perspective, the April showers have yet to materialise.  Ms Playchute planted my broad beans and a couple of other things in the raised beds this week and now needs some precipitation to help them all get started. Wouldn’t it be handy if it rained at night and was gloriously sunny during the day? Continue reading “17 April 2011”

Good morning to you all and I am delighted to relate that we have had splendid weather for most of the week. The temperatures even crept into the 70s (i.e., the 20s in Celsius) and although it’s not quite shorts and t-shirt-type weather, it’s getting close. Apparently, the wind has been from the south which is blowing warmer air over the British Isles along with sand from the Sahara. Haven’t noticed the sand, I have to confess (except that the car windscreens are fairly dusty, now that I think about it) but we’ll gladly take the warmer weather. Continue reading “10 April 2011”

Good morning to you all and special thanks to those of you who have made a comment and/or submitted some material for the News. We’re always grateful for any contributions. Regular readers will have long ago deduced that we don’t really have anything to say each week and that quality is certainly no pre-requisite for publication – we’ll take anything! So, “thank you” to those who contributed to this week’s “amusements” and to Susie who contributed an amusing video link which you can catch at the bottom of the posting. And, of course, Dad has been posting his own “amusements” in the comments section. Keep those cards and letters coming folks! Continue reading “3 April 2011”