Wednesday 22 April 2020. Lawn
Day.
Scarified twice, mowed once, fed with 5kg Neudorff organic lawn
feed and improver and then irrigated with one inch of water and
over-seeded with 150g of Gro-Sure multi-purpose lawn seed.
It now looks awful.
Friday 3 April 2020. Shopping
online. Between 17.00 and 18.00, the Tesco
man came with bags and bags of mostly edible stuff –
fruit, veg, frozen, fresh, cheese, chocolate, bread, Yazoo
(I’m allowed one treat) and even dental floss. Will life
ever be the same again?
Saturday 28 March 2020. The oil man
delivered 1,500 litres for £637.88. That is £69 cheaper
than the last delivery 14 months ago. The central heating
is back on!
Monday 23 March 2020. Went
shopping
in the morning. Just in time. By the afternoon the
UK was officially in Lockdown.
Tuesday
17 September
2019. Had
a splendid
afternoon with
14 ministers
at the Reading
Evangelical
Leaders Forum
(ELF) speaking
about
bioethical
issues.
Some want to
take practical
action against
abortion.
We shall
see. I
did my best to
chivvy them
along.
Monday 2 September 2019. Took Lazy Lady off her moorings. Not a great fishing season - the weather was poor so out only five times and caught only 76 fish, about half of which are already eaten.
Tuesday 23 July 2019. This morning / afternoon, we went fishing for the first time this year. It was 23 mackerel caught on the 23rd. So it was mackerel fillet in a white bread bun with horseradish and yoghurt plus some salad for lunch. Two hours from sea to table - that is fresh, fresh fish.
Wednesday
17 July
2019. We
launched
Lazy Lady
this
morning.
It rained soon
after.
Oh, for some
sun, some calm
seas and some
fresh fish!
Tuesday
2 July
2019. Yesterday
a tiny chip of
concrete
flew in my
right eye
while I was
angle grinding
- yes, I was
wearing
glasses,
goggles and a
face
mask.
Two A&E
doctors failed
to remove
it. Oh,
the
pain.
Today another
A&E doctor
rolled back my
eyelid and
washed out the
offending
grit.
The pain
gradually
subsided.
Hooray for the
NHS!
Friday 17 August 2018. While my
dirty, polluting, petrol-guzzling Renault Clio was in the
repair garage, I was lent an eco-friendly, electric Renault
Zoe. What fun and a taste of the future when we shall
all be driving such two-pedal, silent cars. I was
impressed - how the milk float has advanced.
Tuesday 7 August 2018. The
Brumettes (Esther 15, Rachel 13 and Naomi 11) are with us for
the week. Yesterday, we climbed Pen Dinas and swam in
the sea off South Beach in Aberystwyth. Today, an early
start to climb Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales (1,085
metres or 3,560 feet). It was a 2.25-h drive there,
then a 3.5-h ascent (via the Llanberis path), a 1-h lunch and
photographs at the summit, a 3-h descent, plus a 2.25-h drive
back. We were bushed. There was 100% mist going
up, but the sun came out on the way down. Lovely
all-round experience. Tomorrow, Machynlleth market
then crabbing in Aberystwyth harbour.
Saturday 14 July 2018. Out
fishing in
Cardigan Bay
for the first
time this year
- calm, blue,
bright and
hot.
Caught 8
mackerel to
eat with the
first of our
runner beans
and black
cherries from
the
tree.
This is
summer.
Friday 13 July 2018. Up
at 06.00 and
out by 07.00
to the harbour
to launch Lazy
Lady - all
calm and
lovely.
Hoping for
some serious
fishing during
the next few
weeks.
Wednesday
27 June
2018. The
current heatwave hit a peak this afternoon - the mercury
rose to a staggering 39ºC by our backdoor. Some
cooling rain would be nice.
Tuesday
19 June
2018. Caught
the 05.30 milk train to London to arrive at Euston at
10.13. I had a meeting from 11.00 to 14.30.
Then it was the 15.43 train back to Aber at 20.20.
A new adventure!
Friday
15 June
2018.
Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Shakespeare
Company's
theatre at
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Thrilling,
gripping and
at times
frightening -
what a
wonderful
production
despite the
modern dress
and some trans
characters.
Saturday
26 May
2018.
Renovating
a tired lawn -
over the last
10 days, I've
scarified,
fertilized,
mowed,
over-seeded
and
top-dressed
it. It
now looks
awful, but in
a week or two
it should look
lush, like
Wimbledon
centre
court.
Thunderstorms
are forecast
for tomorrow -
excellent,
just on time.
Tuesday
8 May
2018. Finished painting
Tyrolean end wall of the house with two coats of
Weathershield masonry paint - 8 litres in total, up a
ladder, for 3.5 hours each coat. Phew!
Friday
27 April
2018. Today marks 50 years since the
Abortion Act
1967 came into
force – since
then, there
have been
almost 9
million
abortions in
Great Britain.
Friday
13 April
2018. A
day in
London.
Free concert
at St James's
Church,
Piccadilly by
the Solem
Quartet (Haydn
and Bartók -
wonderful),
Charles 1:
King and
Collector
exhibition at
the Royal Academy
(OK, a bit
dull) and
dinner at
Bentley's
Oyster Bar
& Grill (nice,
but
overpriced).
Friday 6 April 2018. The
first grass
cutting of the
year - despite
the cold
Spring, this
is about the
usual time to
get out the
Flymo.
Friday 30 March 3018. At last
the Prunus
nigra has flowered,
albeit sparsely thanks to a
pair of hungry bullfinches -
this is the latest date ever
for our tree. Could that
be because of global cooling?
Wednesday 21 March 2018. Collected a Renault Megane
replacement key for the
one we lost somewhere, sometime. It cost an
eye-watering £217.83 - that won't happen
again.
Tuesday 20 March 2018. The
Spring equinox, when the
length of day and
night are equal, and
it's goodbye to winter and
hello to spring. It was
-2.5ºC
here this morning, but that is
irrelevant.
Monday 5 March 2018. Our way out, the
A44 between Aberystwyth and
Llangurig, has been impassable
for the last four days - the
snow drifts were cleared last
night. We've returned to
'civilisation'.
Friday
23 February
2018. Today I have painted the top of my desk with floor paint
(yes, it's
brilliant
stuff) and
replaced the
valve
cartridge in
the shower
(slightly
tricky, but
gratifying) -
the triumphs
of DIY.
Monday
12 February
2018. The Big
Clearance begins - long overdue,
we have bitten the bullet by
sorting, saving or shedding 40
years of household 'stuff'
including toys, clothes,
electronics and pure junk, even
my fishing rod and reel that I
bought when I was ten years old.
Monday
1 January
2018. A
happy New Year
to all my (few
and special)
readers.
My cold is
abating, the
sun is out and
a pheasant has
just strutted
up our garden
- a happy New
Year indeed!
Monday
25 December
2017. Oh
no, not
again! I
have started a
cold on
Christmas
Day.
This time,
despite the
malady, we
have eaten
well, with
thankfulness.
Friday
22 December
2017. Wendy's big
Christmas present arrives - a tumble
dryer. Our house is now looking
even more like a Bosch showroom with
five such big German appliances in the
garage and three in the kitchen. Bitte schön.
Wednesday 6 December
2017. Two
men from Carpetright came and laid vast expanses of
beige carpet throughout about half of the house.
It looks gorgeous. But now it’s shoes off at the
front door and all eats/drinks in the dining room -
well, for a couple of months.
Monday 20 November 2017. Mr
Oil came early this morning. 1,500 litres for
£691.43 - considerably more than last time, but that was
21 months ago. We're now dreaming of a warm, white
Christmas!
Wednesday 8 November
2017. First
frost of the autumn/winter. It was -1.0ºC
this morning, but wonderfully sunny. The
long-range forecast is for an Arctic winter.
Wednesday 4 October 2017. 'The length of our
days is seventy years ...' (Psalm 90:10). Yes indeed,
today mine are. And I am
both content and thankful.
Wednesday 20 September 2107. After 13 years, my last day sitting on the magistrates'
bench. As everyone knows, those approaching 70 are
quite incapable of making sound judgements.
Tuesday 19 September 2017.
After CT scans, multiple tests and numerous
examinations, Wendy was discharged from Bronglais
Hospital. She is OK, dog-tired, but cheerful. The
headaches and aphasia continue but the former are
readily controllable (paracetamol) and the latter is
improving.
Friday 15 September 2017. Yesterday, while I
was lecturing at the Wilberforce Academy, Cambridge, Wendy
had a sudden headache and lost her speech and
comprehension. When we arrived back at Aberystwyth we
went straight to A&E and the diagnosis was an aneurysm
in an artery of her brain.
Monday 21 August 2017. An unusual purchase today - a bath and
taps. Yes, that old cast-iron bath is finally
going to be replaced by a sleek Carronite model with
smart Bristan taps and a cute pop-up waste.
Friday 11 August 2017.
Just back from a jolly week with the family (8 adults and 8
children) at a farm cottage (sleeps 22) in the Brecon
Beacons. The area, quite unknown to us, is scenically
beautiful.
Tuesday 1 August 2017. Ordered a new carpet for the hall, lounge,
landings and stairs. It will be fitted in October,
after the bathroom has been renovated. Is there no end
to home improvements?
Saturday 29 July 2017. Exactly
45 years ago we were married. We celebrated in the Crickhowell area by
climbing Table Mountain and staying at the Gliffaes Country
House Hotel - wonderful grounds, decent food.
Friday 14 July 2017. Sent off my driving licence application
form (confusing and ambiguous) for the over-70s together
with my old green licence (issued in 1977) and a truly awful
mugshot.
Saturday 1 July 2017. The
pictures have been rehung, the doors have handles again, the
sockets and light switches are back on the walls and two new
smoke alarms have been installed. Now onto the lounge!
Monday 26 June 2017. Ah,
the joys of home decorating. The repairing and preparing
and painting of just the hall and two landings have taken 3
weeks - those architraves, window frames, balustrades, skirting
and ten doors. Soon be over!
Friday 9 June 2017. At long last we have a
replacement for our written-off Clio. It's
another Clio, same shape, same colour, just with
more updated gismos. The registration is
CV10 NLC to be remembered as Naomi Likes Cake.
Monday 5 June 2017. To London, despite the
terrorist attack on London Bridge two days
ago. Now a subdued city. A National
Gallery tour with Gayna Pelham - the best so
far. Dinner at Clos Maggiore (advertised
as the most romantic restaurant in London) - one
of the best so far.
Thursday 1 June 2017.
The official
start of Summer. Today we joined the 21st
century and installed a dishwasher. I have
mixed feelings - I shall miss the nightly
post-dinner tryst with my wife as she washed and
I dried and put away!
Wednesday 24 May 2017.
Ran to Jones'
drive and back in 25 minutes and 15 seconds - a
new target to beat. I've not run this
route for 7 whole months and now I'm just 7
seconds slower.
Wednesday 17 May 2017.
Back to my
young ways - twice round the village in 11
minutes 56 seconds, a BMI of 21.98 and a weight
of 11 stone 3 pounds. Some times I feel
like Benjamin Button.
Saturday 22 April
2017. My
first run since 22 December, 4 months ago.
Once round the village in 6 minutes and 5
seconds - very pleased with that as a decent
baseline on which to improve.
Saturday 15 April 2017. My Easter present, a Flymo
hover lawnmower - a replacement for a
17-year-old model which 'died' last week.
I really wanted a ride-on mower - maybe next
time!
Monday 3 April 2017. To London - Apollon Musagète
Quartet (Haydn and Arensky) lunchtime concert at
the Wigmore Hall - wonderful. Three seats
along was a student I taught at University 30
years ago. Then to Tate Britain for the David
Hockney exhibition - mixed. Finally
to Pollen Street Social for dinner - superb and
great fun.
Monday 20 March 2017.
Our very
useful Renault Clio was written off today - a
young driver rammed me nearside at an
Aberystwyth roundabout. Thankfully no-one
was injured, but it was not the jolly First Day
of Spring I had hoped for.
Thursday 16 March
2017. A
musical evening with the National Orchestra of
Wales and Simone Lamsma playing Mendelssohn's
violin concerto in E minor - superb.
Wednesday 15 March 2017. A spring day - I mowed the
grass for the first time this year.
Saturday 11 March
2017. After a three-month break due to
illness, I'm back swimming on Saturday mornings - a
cautious 10 lengths for starters.
Wednesday 1 February
2017. The Prunus nigra flowered -
neither early nor late. Perhaps global warming
is neither here nor there.
Tuesday 17 January
2017. Message
from JustGiving, 'John, you were in the top 5%
of fundraisers for 2016. Well done on
raising so much for your cause.'
Monday 9 January 2017.
At last,
emerging from a two-week humongous cold having
sampled the full pharmaceutical panoply,
including three mega-doses of antibiotics.
Sunday 25 December 2016. A not so merry Christmas. The Queen missed the Christmas day church service, and so did we. We’ve both had shocking colds. We managed scrambled eggs for lunch and a Waitrose curry for dinner. So we have postponed Christmas Day until at least tomorrow. And we haven’t opened a single present yet.
Tuesday 20 December 2016.
I gave evidence at the
coroner's inquest into the death by drowning of William
Davies - see entry for 31 August 2016. It was a
moving hour with tears. The verdict - death by
misadventure.
Friday 18 November 2016.
This is the first
anniversary of my running training - who'd have
thought? Today, twice round the village in 12
minutes 1 second. Twelve months ago, I did once
round the village in 8 minutes. That's progress!
Thurdsay 17 November 2016. A 94-mile-an-hour storm hit Aberystwyth
this morning. I was in court (on a 2-day trial) by
the marina and saw/felt the full force. This
evening, a National Orchestra of Wales concert - Die
Fledermaus Overture, Elgar's Cello Concerto (Leonard
Elschenbrioch, soloist) and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.
A very mixed day.
Monday 31 October 2016. I've never caught anything by beach
fishing - until today. This afternoon I hooked three
dabs at Borth - just as the sun set. Beautiful.
Wednesday 26 October 2016. First frost of the winter - down to -1.5ºC so I had to scrape the
windscreen
before
attending
court.
Monday 24 October 2016. Today I learned that my Bioethical
Issues in now available as an ebook - https://www.dayone.co.uk/collections/ebooks-2/products/bioethical-issues-ebook
Tuesday 18 October 2016. The tree surgeons - Joe, Stuart and
Tristan from Arbcore - came to
chop and trim several of our 30+ year-old trees, front and
back. Not the cheapest, but (apparently) the best.
Monday 10 October 2016. Affinity
meeting in London followed by You Say You Want a
Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970
exhibition at the V&A and dinner at the Ritz.
Tuesday 27 September 2016. Wendy and I attended Uncle Jack's funeral
in Long Buckby, Northamptonshire. About 280 people
were present. I read Psalm 23.
Thursday 22 September 2016. It was exactly 40 years ago today, 22
September 1976, that we moved to Aberystwyth - how times
flies! It was a Wednesday. And then it rained
for a month.
Monday 12 September 2016.
My favourite (and only) uncle, Uncle Jack died peacefully in
his sleep this morning at 10.20. He had cancer. We
visited him at Northampton General Hospital last Monday.
Wednesday 31
August
2016. This morning, I spotted a powerboat circling wildly
about 500m
offshore.
I thought the
crew had been
thrown
overboard.
I raised the
alarm with the
harbour-master.
The RNLI
launched and
recovered two
men from the
sea.
Sadly, one of
them died.
The
RNLI said that
I saved one
life - I wish
it could have
been
two.
This episode
has had a
sobering
eff
dire. We
caught just
six mackerel,
but the
sunrise was
glorious.
On raising the
outboard back
in the
harbour, the
tilt mechanism
died. Lazy
Lady
is now due for
a major
operation at a
nearby marine
engineers and
it's probably
a premature
end to our
fishing season
this year.
Monday 1 August 2016. Back
from a couple
of days of
walking and
eating in the
Lleyn
Peninsula
celebrating
our 44th
wedding
anniversary.
Also Esther,
our eldest
grandchild,
became a bona
fide teenager
today – happy birthday, Esther!
Thursday 28 July 2016. Most, if not all, of the sponsorship money for my Wolf Run is now in. It reads like this: online donations, £1,359.30 + Gift Aid, £224 + offline, £105.00 = a grand total of £1,688.30. I always hoped I could raise £1,500 so I'm delighted. And thank you again you generous donors. And remember, it's never too late to add to the pot!
Monday 25 July 2016. Picked all the cherries - hardly a bowlful, the
poorest crop ever. Most had rotted on the tree because
of the wet, wet June.
Friday 22 July 2016. We went fishing early this morning for the
first time this season. It was slow going, but we
managed to land seventeen of the mackerel beauties.
Guess what we’ve got for dinner tonight?
Wednesday 20 July 2016. Put
Lazy Lady
on her
moorings early
this
morning.
Five-minute
cloudburst
just as we
launched.
Plop! as I
dropped my
glasses
overboard in
the harbour -
surprisingly
found them
later at low
tide and
Specsavers
cleaned them
for me.
Tuesday 5 July 2016.
A nice email message today, 'Your
JustGiving page was one of the most successful of
June. Out of 67,626 fundraisers, you were in the top
5%!'
Monday 4 July
2016. First training since the Wolf
Run, about 23
days
ago. The
severe
contusion and
'the mother of
all bruises'
on my left
thigh have
subsided.
Once
cautiously
round the
village in 5
minutes 50
seconds - I'm
pleased with
that.
Friday 1 July 2016. While
we were
watching A
Midsummer
Night's Dream
at the Royal
Shakespeare
Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
(wonderful
play), Wales
were beating
Belgium 3-1 in
the Euros 2016
(wonderful
play).
Friday 24 June 2016. The
Referendum
votes have
been counted –
the UK is to
leave the
European Union.
A landmark
decision
indeed.
From now on,
23 June is the
UK's
Independence
Day.
Monday 18 June 2016. Yet
another
cultural day
in
London.
Affinity
meeting, Russia
and the Arts
exhibition at
the National
Portrait
Gallery and
dinner at
Scott's - we
shared a
turbot!
Saturday 11 June 2016. The Wolf Run
- did I finish
course?
YES, of course
I did!
It was tough,
but great
fun. I
have never
seen so much
mud. See
and read all
about it here
Wednesday 8 June 2016. My last training session before the Wolf Run.
Twice round
the village in
exactly 12
minutes.
Pretty pleased
with that -
the foot is
feeling
good.
Now two days
of rest before
the big event.
Thursday 26 May 2016. My
first
tentative run
for 17
days.
Once around
the village in
6 minutes,
fifty-six
seconds.
My ankle held
up - I am
delighted (and
relieved).
Monday 23 May 2016. Another cultural day in London
- Pekka Kuusisto (violin) and Nicolas Altstaedt
(cello) at the BBC3 lunchtime concert at the
Wigmore Hall,
a guided tour
of the
National
Gallery and
dinner at Quo
Vadis.
All lovely.
Sunday 22 May 2016. The Golden Anniversary of my baptism. See the
address I gave
at Carey
Baptist
Church,
Reading,
here.
Wednesday 18 May 2016. In the last three days I've had
private
physiotherapy,
an x-ray and
NHS
physiotherapy
- nobody
thinks the
damage to my
left foot is
too
serious.
Exercise and
stretching are
needed.
Maybe I'm
optimistic,
but it is
beginning to
feel somewhat
improved.
23 days to the
big event!
Saturday 14 May 2016.
Rather
than running
I've been
swimming each
morning for
the last four
days, even as
early as 07.15
on
Friday.
It's been fun
and hopefully
beneficial.
Wednesday
11 May 2016. In the last
two days I have seen my own
GP as well as an A&E nurse
and consultant. None of them
thinks my foot problem is a stress
fracture. They have prescribed
rest, gentle exercise and
analgesics. I am frustrated.
Monday 2 May
2016. A
standard training run around the
village ended up with bad, bad pain in
my left foot. Oh dear, is this
the beginning of something serious?
Monday 11 April 2016. A busy day in London. BBC3 lunchtime concert by I Fagiolini at the Wigmore Hall, the Delacroix and the Rise of Modern Art exhibition at the National Gallery and dinner at Koffman's restaurant at The Berkeley.
Friday
25 March 2016. Another
barrier has been broken –
this time the
30-minute trail at Nant yr
Arian. My time was 29 minutes,
fifty-eight seconds.
Wednesday 23 March
2016. My
life has changed. The Exchange Store has
re-opened, after 20 years, in Capel Bangor ... and
it takes the vouchers for The Times
newspaper. No longer will I have to drive 8
miles every day into Llanbadarn Fawr to collect my
copy, from now on it's a brisk 250m walk.
Monday 21 March 2016.
That 12-minute barrier has been
broken –
twice round the village in 11 minutes, 42 seconds.
Thursday 17 March
2016. Went for another 5km run on the Nant yr Arian trail –
this time I followed the correct route. Time –
30 minutes, 34 seconds.
Friday 11 March 2016. Somewhat inadvertently I've downloaded Windows 10 onto my PC. Seems OK, so far. A couple of glitches, easily fixed. Postscript: loading Windows 10 onto my netbook was an entirely different experience. The Uni Help-desk team tried and failed. The problem is the machine's small memory because 10 needs about 13.5GB of space to download. Anyway, eventually, and surprisingly, the Knowhow boys at Currys did it for a mere £20.
Thursday
10 March 2016. Went for my first 5km run on the Nant yr Arian
trail – gorgeous day, beautiful scenery, soft, muddy running
surface, but with some killer slopes. Time –
26 minutes, 41 seconds. Postscript: in my enthusiasm
(and ignorance), I missed some of the route direction markers,
so this was a truncated run.
Monday 7 March 2016. It is exactly two years since my Bioethical Issues - Understanding and Responding to the Culture of Death was published. Thankfully, I don't have to live off its royalties.
Thursday 3 March 2016. The day to increase my training run to 10km (six miles), the distance of the forthcoming Wolf Run. I had hoped to run it in less than 60 minutes – I did it in 55 minutes, 54 seconds. It’s a new landmark for me.Wednesday
24 February 2016. The oilman delivered a bargain fill up -
£401.63 for 1,500 litres. That's over £335 cheaper
than last time, 16 months ago.
Thursday 11 February 2016. Twice
round the village in 12 minutes, 29 seconds - my fastest ever
and my hip is much improved.
Thursday 14 January 2016. The Prunus
nigra flowered - is this the earliest ever?
It must be a benefit of global warming.
Wednesday
13 January 2016. As the Beatles sang, 'It's getting better all the
time.' Once round the village now in under
6 minutes, in fact, in 5 minutes, 48
seconds.
Saturday 9 January 2016. A week of interval training - 10 x 90m sprinting followed by 10 x 90m jogging, plus a 5-minute starting and 3-minute ending of jogging. Today was my best time, 19 minutes 45 seconds.
Friday
1 January 2016. I
celebrated the New Year by running my new 3-mile
training route in 26 minutes 21 seconds. That's
just less than 9 minutes per mile - not bad for an
elderly beginner.