I was awoken by a little
thud this morning. I think a certain small dog had mis-judged his
attempt to jump on to the bed at 6.30am. Once he was eventually on
the bed I wound him up by looking at him and then pretending to go
back to sleep. I succeeded in aggravating him so much that his
whining woke er indoors TM". I really
shouldn't encourage Furry Face to come upstairs.
For want of anything
better to do I checked the phone's 1571 message thingy. I wish people
wouldn't leave messages on it; I rarely (if ever) check it.
There was a message on it left by a health visitor some three days
ago. I can only assume she had a wrong number as neither of us had
any idea of what the message was about, despite her detailed
witterings about who she wanted to visit and their apparent maladies
and treatments.
So much for medical
confidentiality. Perhaps I should have made an issue of it rather
than just deleting the message; after all some people have been
sacked for lesser mistakes (!)
And so to work. I'd left
rather earlier than I needed to; but being on a late shift meant that
(if I was quick) I'd have time to pop into the cheapo bargains shop.
That was the plan...
I found traffic was
queued for two miles out of Canterbury because of road works. Far
from having time to go shopping, I was ten minutes late for work. I
shall have to eke out my supply of armpit-squirt until I can get to
Wilkos.
I did my bit at work and
came home. On the corner of our street is a bench where various
vagrants often congregate. This evening once I'd parked, as I walked
home I was greeted by one of these. He was an ex-cub scout who was
having a crafty tinny. I got chatting - I distinctly remember this
chap when he was a cub fifteen years ago. His family had never had
any luck back then, with a brother having died as a child, and his
mother dying whilst he was young. His luck hadn't changed. I had
heard he'd moved up north. He told me that he had; but it hadn't
worked out. He was visiting Ashford trying to arrange visiting rights
to his child. Apparently his ex- was being difficult about custody.
He was enjoying a quick drink before taking a train to London where
he was staying with a relative for a few days. He was vague about his
plans after this sojourn would be over.
Sometimes I get so
wrapped up with my own trivial problems that I forget that I am doing
rather well compared with so many others.
Being on a 10pm finish
meant that I couldn't get to see Maria for her birthday bash, nor
could I get to the astro club committee meeting this evening; which
was a a pain. We've not had a committee meeting for a few months, and
it would have been good to have got along. Being the Treasurer I have
a couple of cheques that need signing, and it's easier to collar
other signatories at a committee meeting than anywhere else. It would
also have been good to have had a chat. I sometimes wonder about the
club's future direction. On the one hand it would be good to expand
our remit; involve the membership more, put on observing evenings,
organise imaging workshops. On the other hand we've tried expanding
what the club does before, and had a minimal take-up. The punters
seem to be happy with what we are doing.
I'm gripped by
indecision. On the one hand the club might be doing more. On the
other hand I have absolutely no interest in shivering whilst looking
through a telescope at midnight.
Something else which
needs a little thought is Canterbury beer festival, which is only
three months away. It's been suggested that we go along mob-handed on
the Friday afternoon like we have before. I've checked my shift
pattern and I'm not working that day. But... getting there (train
& taxi) is a tenner. Beer is (at least) twenty quid. A
portion of goat curry and some flavoured olives is another tenner.
And then there is a tombola to win and souvenirs to buy.
So that's fifty quid to
be packed like sardines into a cowshed with the weirdie-beardies who
frequent beer festivals.
I've been told that I
brew a half-decent pint. Maybe I could rally the troops and we could
put on a festival of our own. For far less that what someone would
spend on a day at Canterbury beer festival, anyone could buy the
barrel, bucket and ingredients for five gallons of ale. If I could
get half a dozen takers we could do a beer festival of our own. I
shall put out some feelers; the weekend of Canterbury beer festival
would be a good time to stage such an event. If we go for that
weekend people will need to get brewing within the month...
No comments:
Post a Comment