As I peered into Facebook I saw the spring break holiday
season had started. Several friends were off here and there. That’s why I like
Facebook; I’m very nosey.
There were a couple of posts that made me chuckle. Someone
was after contact details of a celebrity footballer who lived locally; they
were hoping to involve him in a charity event they were organizing. This chap’s
nephews and niece went to the scout group I used to be involved with. I lost
count of the amount of times we were promised an appearance from this chap at
fundraisers and special events over many years. We never once saw him.
A kite-flying friend had the hump because he was expected
to cover for a colleague “who had been taken seriously ill with a case of it
is Friday afternoon and the sun is shining” (to quote him verbatim).
A colleague was very proud because her son had been
announced “Boy of the Year” at Boys Brigade. I’ve warned her about Boys
Brigade before. It is great fun, the boys (and girls!) have all sorts of
adventures and activities, but all the time slowly and insidiously religious
claptrap is being forced onto them without their realizing. There really should
be a law against brainwashing children in that way…
I saw four Facebook friends were having birthdays today. I
sent birthday wishes to the ones I am vaguely in touch with, and wondered who
one of them was. Presumably from the mutual friends we have I must have met her
whilst working in Canterbury. But I don’t remember her at all.
And I saw our Munzee Clan had reached Level Three.
I went upstairs and woke “er indoors TM” and
the dogs, and then spent a few minutes browsing Facebook marketplace for old
baths. I soon found myself looking at a new (different) car. Much as I
like my car, I miss my old Espace. I could fit so much into it. If I do find a
cheapo bathtub, getting it home will mean hiring a van. Back in the day I could
fit everything into my old Espace.
Being Saturday morning we drove round to Dog Club.
Attendance was down a tad with some of the usual suspects on holiday. Apart
from one little spat early on, all went well. It usually does.
Some people turned up just as we were leaving; we stayed
with them until the next group arrived, and so having failed totally on Steve’s
“guess the lyrics” contest on the radio on the way there, we missed the mystery
year contest on the way home. However I was given a question… When did Princess
Diana die? 1997. I remember it distinctly. It was a Saturday night when I was
working.
We came home, had a cuppa, and I counted up the money in
the Dog Club pot. We ask for one pound fifty pence per session per dog… how on
Earth did I end up with a spare nineteen pence?
Then leaving “er indoors TM” and the
dogs, I set off.
I went to work via Willesborough. During last week someone
on one of the Facebook pond forums asked if anyone lived in Ashford as he would
like some advice. Needless to say the keyboard warriors were out in force
offering sarcasm, but it turned out the chap only lived a couple of miles away.
I said to him that I was no expert but would come and have a chat if he liked.
The bloke has a rather good pond; far bigger than mine. It isn't
very old though, and the water is rather murky. I think the chap has the same
issue that I've had for years - too much light and no plants making use of it.
I've come to the conclusion that a garden pond will always have a certain
amount of photosynthetic life in it, and if you don't stick in ornamental
plants yourself, the pond will grow green algae of its own. Which is why I've
set up the bog filter, and am looking to expand it. I suggested he might build
one. Or two. He's got space to build two rather big bog filters and make
something of a garden feature out of them. I got rather enthusiastic as I spoke
about what I would do if it were my pond. In retrospect I might have been a tad
too enthusiastic; what I had in mind is rather ambitious and would cost several
thousand pounds to do. But looking at his garden the chap seems to be rather
good with his hands. I hope he does build a couple of bog filters; they would
look good. I hope he sends me photos of when they are done too.
From Willesborough I went on to the late shift. I'd rather
not work weekends; I'd rather not work at all. I suppose I've got a decision to
make. My pension money covers my expenses and gives me a little over too.
Working gives me money to squander on ponds and garden and second hand bath
tubs. Is having the extra money worth the effort of doing the work? For now I
shall continue, but if I have many more shifts like today’s I won’t be
continuing for much longer.
I came home to find the house in silence. No one dared make
a sound. “Darcie
Waa Waa TM” is having a sleepover and “er indoors TM” had got her
settled. Heaven help anyone who wakes her.
I wonder how long she will stay settled before the dog
snogging starts.
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