New Years Eve from Arbor Low

As is now traditional, the BW's went up to Arbor Low, ancient stone circle, to watch the final sunset of the old year. This year, as last it was more a case of watching the light fade away rather than watching the sunset.

We were joined by Ashley, Joanna, and Louise. We were the only folk up there, which was odd because in all the years we have been doing this, there have always been others up there. Maybe they knew something that we didn't?

Anyway its a wonderful place. Like the Goyt it filters the crap from your mind and allows you see things clearly.

So Goodbye 2007. Its been an interesting year.

Happy New Year to anyone who stumbles by here on their way to somewhere, hope you have a good night and all the best for 2008.

The Birdwatchers go to the Church...Inn

We have for the past few years set up the festivities with a bracing walk somewhere in the Peak District followed by a lunch at a pub. We always go with Malcolm (who many years ago did the Pennine way with me) and his wife Linda. This year we were joined by Luke and Shona and our Grandson Lachlan.

The small BW's have given up complaining about going. They have recognised that whilst they are middle aged teenagers they have have no choice in the matter, and of course they actually secretly enjoy it, though you would only get them to admit it if you did something really cruel to them, like banned them from watching the Simpson's for a week.

Malc and Linda live in Chelmorton, so as Chellie has one of the best pubs in the area, The Church Inn, we have for the past few years “done” a walk around there. Its not a particularly challenging walk, 4 or 5 miles at the most, with a few steep bits and a sunken lane where we stop for tea and Linda's mince pies, but when you have a “pain down all the diodes in your left side” then its enough.

Today the weather was kind. Though there was a bracing wind, especially when you got to the exposed bits on the “tops”, the rain held off and despite the greyness you could see quite a way. Half way to Taddington just after we had crossed a style we came across a small starling clearly in some distress. It could not fly and could only really flop around on the ground. The small BW's were concerned about it. I let them walk on saying that I would sort it. I had no choice but to despatch it as best I could. I could not leave it to starve. When I caught up with the rest of them there were a few anxious glances. The Munch would not talk to me for a while unable to believe that I had killed it. It took him a while to forgive me, which he eventually did in true Munch fashion by coming up to me and head butting my chest.

By the time we got back to Chellie and the Church Inn we were ready for a beer and our lunch, and it was worth the walk as always. So there we are then, another Christmas is upon us.

Microwave Mystery

“I have put the chops on to defrost in the Microwave for six minutes, is that okay?” This questioned aimed at Mrs Birdwatcher as she stands in the kitchen.

“What do you mean you have put them on to defrost for eight minutes? How much do they weigh?”

I look at her slightly perplexed. I stall for time and lob one back at her. “What do you mean how much do they weight?” and try a bit of light hearted laugh.

She is not put off however and comes back with, “Well how have you ascertained the time they need to defrost if you don't know how much they weight?” and suddenly I am fourteen and twisting uncomfortably on the hard wooden stools of the science block while all around me a sea of hands are raised and frantically waving desperate to impart the answer.

Mrs BW brings me back to the present by pointing her finger at the 600g on the packet. “You need to press the defrost button six times so that it reads 600. You see?”

I see! Light bulbs go on and suddenly another one of the microwaves little mystery has been solved. You see I had never quite managed to work out what the figures meant when you pressed the defrost button, so I used to guess.

“What have you been doing all these years?” She asked as I knew she must. The question hangs unanswered as I sneek back to the microwave to make the necessary adjustments.

A little bit of a rant.

There was a piece on Radio 4 on The World Tonight that told of the Church of England saying that the traditional naivety (sorry nativity) story about the three kings, the star, the stable, the kids with table cloths on their heads, was basically aload of bollocks. This is meant to be news! Where have they been all these years? Do they think that we are stupid? I thought everyone knew that Christmas was a mid winter festival that the pagans celebrated way before the Christan's came along to claim it for themselves? No? Well its about time we non believers reclaimed it then. Its nothing to do with Shepherds and Stars and stuff, its about saying phew we're half way through the winter lets celebrate, get pissed and eat to much and then realise a few days later that you've eaten next months food and unless you do something imaginative, like go and raid the next village you will starve. Of course today we just put it on our credit card or if you are in possession of the latest CD from the Inland Revenue, someone else's credit card. Anyway that's really all I wanted to say. Good night and as the great Dave Allen used to say "May your God go with you".

Another Stupid thing.....

Yesterday I did something really stupid, even by my own high standards.

I had spent an hour or so on Monday evening writing Christmas cards. I split them into two piles, those with stamps to be posted and those without to be delivered by hand. On the way to work , huddled up inside my coat against the cold and wanting to get inside as quickly as possible, I paused briefly by the post box and slipped a pile of cards into the slot.

Some time later sitting in Cafe Nero's, my simple enjoyment of my Americano was curtailed when I realised, when opening my brief case that it was still full of Christmas cards with stamps on them, but of the ones to be hand delivered there was no sign.

I can't think where they have got to?

Things a Dad has to do No 367

I had to take the Weasel to see the nurse at our surgery the other day. She had to have some blood tests. Mrs BW was going to be in Birmingham so that's why I had to go. "Do I have to go in with her?" I asked a little bit pathetically.

"Oh course you do, the poor little thing* will be nervous. You're her dad your need to give her some support."

I pointed out that I tend to come over all faint at the sight of blood, and that if it involves a needle I have a nasty habit of passing out. She would be the one supporting me, literally.

So I took her. She was nervous, but I was worse. In we went. The nurse asked me if I would like to sit next to her. "Would it be okay if I sat over there in the chair by the curtain" I asked.

"Of course" she said "If you like we can pull the curtain round the chair so you won't be able to see anything"

"Really" I said "That would be great"

She sighed and raised her eyes to the heavens. Apparently she was joking.

The Weasel was brave and later took a certain malicious pleasure in telling us during tea how many tubes full the nurse took and how dark it looked and....I think I'm going to faint.

*The Poor little thing is fifteen with attitude appropriate to her age.

Hibernation is off

After the failure of my man to sort out the central heating, Mrs BW got her man in, and now we have hot water and heat again. It was a little switch apparently. A very expensive little switch nonetheless. I am now paranoid that it will stop working again and keep on fiddling with the thermostat to make sure that everything is well. Mrs BW says that if I continue to do this I will break it. We also have a carbon monoxide monitor. Mrs BW says it a good idea, and justified it by reading out to me all the horrible things that can happen to you if you have a build up of carbon monoxide. Very scary. I think we should have one in every room.

So at least the BW's won't be hibernating. (Not quite true as the Weasel hibernates at the weekends) And of course the cats hibernate for 99.9% of the year anyway regardless of the state of the boiler and climatic conditions.

I think we might hibernate

Things are a bit chilly in the BW household at the moment. Nothing to do with Mrs BW uncovering my surfing habits or a rush of hormones from the fledglings. Much more mundane. The central heating boiler, of which I recently boasted we had had for nineteen years and hadn't had to have it serviced, has gone all French on us and refused to supply us with hot water and heat. This is not good, as despite the weather forecasters talking about unseasonably warm weather, the Peak District remains stubbornly wet and cold.

We've had a man out. He could find nothing wrong with it other than the fact that it doesn't work. So now we are waiting for another man from British Gas to come and work his magic at a household budget wrecking cost.

On the bright side Moonshine will only come out if we put a fan heater on in the study. The nights would have been quiet and peaceful except the noise of his wheel has been replaced by the sound of four sets of teeth chattering.

Hopefully it will be sorted soon, else the Birdwatchers may well join Moonshine and hibernate for the winter.