Good night sweet prince.

Lost Spike our liver Patterdale really suddenly yet with cancer of lymph system. He had actually seemed healthier over the last year as he had come off phenobarbitone and was not poorly up to last hour or so.
New dog, Jim arriving today at the Jamaica Inn. Sounds like something out of Treasure Island, which is very Cornish, pirates and all that.
On that line we may have hit on a whiskey galore solution to the economic crisis which would be close to the Cornish heart. John Lewis delivered me a washing machine and waved goodbye and set off for next delivery. They had come from Exeter, not the open avenues of Bristol and I swear they did not tell me they were going to Wadebridge and I did not give them directions. I learned later from Chris Daniel that Jack had towed out two lorries stuck in the lanes but did not put two and two together until talking to Jack himself when I found out that one was the John Lewis lorrry.
Using sat nav it had turned up the Lower Measham lane, cannot believe that they did not turn in Andrew Davy's yard as the lane is narrow from the start, mind you perhaps they never got that far. Jack phoned the depot and charged them and then pulled it out.

You know what I have in mind, don't you ? Plenty of us here have small vans etc which could follow, unseen up behind the lorries and off load selected goods while the driver is upfront negotiating with the helpful farmer. We need strategically placed delivery orders which will be likely to trigger sat-navs into suggesting using the narrow lanes. This is where may be the WI could co-ordinate.

Panto Review

Without spoiling the fun, let me say that there are some delectable performances. To tempt you I can only mention some of the thespian delights. Wonderful acting by the two lovely sisters of the junior female lead, who, brings tears to your eyes herself. Her would be suitors are ably played by local business men and Baron and Baroness Hardup are, I believe, straight from the Sound of One Dalmation still showing in the Wet End. The wonderful airy-rodents are ably led by that soviet hamster, rolled out of retirement from that establishment in Torquay. Strong cameo performances come, not surpisingly, from barely disguised stalwarts of the Old Vick; such as the footmen and rodent operatives. I also suspect the fairy godmother to have been poached from the Dibley production (she's still living at Fowey, isn't she ? And with nothing to do now Lenny Harry's done a bunk.) Strong back-stage support and excellent direction and coaching make this an amazing pot-pourri of Cornish entertainment, do not miss it !

What's it all about Alfie ?

Just an explanation to my bewildered readers: well look at the photo, I've no idea where this is going !


 The country mole articles in The Sunday Times a while ago, really annoyed me, so here is my version.

PANTO SENSATION IN SOUTH-WEST..... PREVIEW OF RILLA MILL PANTOMIME BY A.A.JILL … SUNDAY THYMES CRITIC

When my editor asked me to review the rehearsals of a top show in the south-west, I did not expect that the Blonde and I would end up in a village hall in Rilla Mill ! After Gerry Clercson dropped us off in the car-park and zoomed off up to the cheese farm for an emergency Top Beer magazine meeting, we stood there in the drizzle like a couple of angry old ferrets.

However, we were in for a road to Damascus experience (possibly Bing, Bob and Dot's best film). Mrs Dent's production is like a hitchhiker's map of the cosmos in the variety of age, talent and experience that has been brought to the stage of a quite bijou little auditorium. Get out the helicopters and poodle down to Rilla Mill for a delicious treat !
Watch this space for further chunks or wait for the December Link.

Kayaking for Silver Surfers ?

Kayaking, at my age ? I thought but I have just done my first expedition without getting wet or even walking down to the river.
So, can I tempt you into the w.w.water ?
The "canoedling" site was recommended in The Sunday Times a few weeks ago and I thought it sounded worthwhile.
Basically, kayak.com searches the search engines such as Lastminute.com because there are now so many of them that they compete and some hotel chains don't support them. I found a £15 difference for a one night, single room stay and booked a single in Leamington Spa for just £36 with breakfast.
 To me it just shows how complicated the web is becoming, don't just dive in, get out your kayak.

T

This photo seems quite appropriate, something about not looking ahead. Silver Threads.... is going to be about taking a view on what's happening beyond my garden gate.

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Twitter, Facebook etc. What's it all about?
If you are a tadge over 21, then you may have been wondering what is this Tweeting, that they've been going on about over the last week. Most of my contemporaries see social networking as a corner for virtual hoodies to hang around on. It's not for me ! They should be out in the real world, meeting real people ! etc. etc..
Living on Bodmin Moor in Cornwal, however, does not put me in a good position to hob nob with the movers and shakers who have produced the political history that I was watching this and last week. Twitter kept me up to date and in touch with with whatever was "trending" andgave an opportunity to comment. Much less couch potato and certainly, better than shouting at the TV, which is what has amounted to participation in national events for the last fifity years.
Last Tuesday I gave a talk on social networking at our local pub, The Manor, to a small group (begun by our declining Methodist congregation. I did it as I felt that John Wesley, a real mover but not quite a Shaker, would have been out there on the net. Lot better than standing under a tree in the pouring rain).
Oh, no, a religous nut you are going to say and stop reading, pity, but up to you. Don't worry I am not going to Labour the point of the contribution Wesley made to the social revolution that began in the 18th century.