28 October 2017 (Saturday) - Dartford Marshes

I slept like a log until 3am last night. Not surprising, really. I went for a tiddle, and came back to bed to find I had to fight a wolf-pack to be allowed any space on the bed. I then dozed fitfully until the alarm went off.

Over brekkie I had a look at the Internet. One advert piqued my interest; there was a photo of a nearly naked Lucy Lawless in the clutches of a similarly un-clad lady with the caption “Lucy Lawless Finally Confirms The Rumour”. Being a very shallow sort of person I couldn’t help but wonder what rumours were confirmed, but hoped that being nearly naked and in the clutches of a similarly un-clad lady might have something to do with it.

It didn’t.

The link went to some old rubbish about the TV series Xena Warrior Princess. That was two seconds of my life wasted. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so easily distracted by un-clad ladies.

I also had an email from the nice people at Pieroth inviting me to their wine tasting event next Sunday at the Ashford International Hotel. The part of me that went out on the beer last night wants to go. The part of me that lays awake at night worrying about money knows this would be a silly thing to do. Pieroth wines are good wines, but I’ve been to these events before. They offer “tastes” and within a few minutes you are at the point of having your pants as a hat and singing songs about sailors when out comes the order forms and you find yourself blowing over four hundred quid on a couple of dozen bottles of plonk that you don’t actually want.

I shall give that a miss…

We got our stuff (and dogs) together and drove up to Dartford where we met Karl, Tracey and Charlotte. On New Year’s Day we had planned to go there and to walk the geo-series that had gone out for the New Years Day event, but the weather was against us. During the year we made plans to go there, but for various reasons events conspired against us.

We finally got there today.

We met up at the recommended parking spot only to find that there were dozens of notices saying that you couldn’t park there, and a parked car had a parking ticket. So we drove up the road half a mile to somewhere where we could park. We had a rather good walk across the marshes, round the rather nice housing estate, and along the river Thames. The views of the Queen Elizabeth bridge were rather amazing; despite having been over it so many times I had no idea just how huge the thing was.

It was a warm autumn day; half way round we stopped an ice cream van; we all like ice cream. And three quarters of the way round we found the Pier hotel and had a well-deserved couple of pints.

Geocache-wise this was a rather good walk. We found all of our targets relatively easily. I say “found”; we went knowing that two were missing. We’d messaged with the chap who’d hidden them and arranged to replace the missing ones. One wasn’t actually missing.

I dozed most of the way home; once home both dogs had a bath. What with fox poo and river mud both were rather grubby. We had a rather good bit of dinner, and then with "er indoors ^TM" off out to the Saturday film night I settled in front of the telly to watch the 2005 film of “The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I turned it off after ten minutes.

I might watch more of “The Expanse” in a bit. Or I might just sit here and doze…

27 October 2017 (Friday) - On The Sauce

I had a rather restless night. Usually I have no problem getting to sleep; staying asleep is the problem. But last night, nice-next-door were (rather noisily) “doing the dirty deed”. After quite a lot of screaming and grunting there was a strange crash, and things went quiet. Either they were done, or the wardrobe had collapsed. I didn’t like to enquire.

And then the puppy spent much of the night stomping about all over me.

I got up just before 5.30am and over brekkie watched an old episode of “Red Dwarf” in which Ace Rimmer appeared for the first time. A classic !

I then sparked up the lap-top. It took a little while for Firefox to install its updates (a bit like me, really). For once there didn’t seem to be many arguments happening on-line; after yesterday’s rant I was pleased about that. And on seeing there were no emails not destined for the waste bin I set off to work.

Being on an early shift I left home very early. The stars were beautiful at half past six this morning.

As I drove to work the pundits on the radio were talking about the revelation that people who like Shakespeare get so worked up about it that watching one of his plays gets their heart going like it does for everyone else when having a workout on a treadmill.

I'm not sure I believe this, but until our old friend Science says otherwise, I shall take this as yet another reason to sit on my bum and watch telly.

There  was also a lot of talk about the scandal in the Australian parliament in which half a dozen elected officials have been removed from office as they have dual citizenship. Apparently you can't stand for Australian office with dual citizenship, but several people have done so; claiming they had no idea they were citizens of two countries.

How could you not know that?

I got to work and the night shift was glad to see me. Or not so much glad to see me as glad that they could go home. I took the emergency bleep (don't like having that!) and did my bit. During the course of doing my bit the gusset of my trousers exploded, which was something of a nuisance. I don't think anyone noticed, which was probably for the best, but things were a tad drafty "down below" for much of the day.

As I'd stepped into the breach (as it were) last Friday night I had some time owing to me, so I slipped out an hour early. I hadn't intended going straight home, but I needed functional trousers. I tried not to disturb the dogs too much, and soon I was on my way to the railway station and on to Folkestone where I met Jimbo and Stevey. Stevey didn’t hang about long, he was going back to Ashford and on to the astro club, but me and Jimbo went on to the Firkin. An old favourite; they’ve moved premises to next door.

We had three pints before moving on to another ale house; the Bouverie Tap. I’d not been there before; not too shabby at all. But by then we were hungry, and when hungry there is only one place to go.

McDonalds !!!

Over the road from McDonalds was a new drinking venue; the Rum Clinic. I’d not been there before. I won’t go back again. It was staffed by immoral young ladies who preyed on the likes of me. They flaunted their ample charms until we’d paid out nearly a tenner for two halves of lager at which point they put their tits away.

We didn’t stay long there.

On to Kipps for a pint, and then a kebab and back to the railway station. I said goodbye to Jimbo, and on finding I’d just missed the train I scoffed my kebab and watched “love’s young dream” snogging on platform one until the Dover train arrived.

In a novel break with tradition I stayed awake all the way home…

26 October 2017 (Thursday) - Squabbles

I was rather tired last night; it was a shame that the puppy chose to spend much of the night stomping over me. I got up and wasn’t impressed to trip over one of my shoes that she had been chewing.

Over brekkie I watched the fourth episode of “The Expanse”; I think I’m now at the stage where I will carry on watching it because I’ve come this far and it would be a shame to stop. It is entertaining enough, but in order to maintain an aura of mystery, the writers have created very uninspiring two-dimensional characters. The show might improve. Here’s hoping.

I then had a look at the Internet. I’d received a private message from someone who’d posted on one of the national geocaching pages. The chap had asked for advice, and I was the only person who hadn’t responded with sarcasm. Kite flying, snake-herding and astronomy in the past, Star Trek fandom yesterday, geocaching today… why does everything have to be one big nasty squabble?

I was particularly incensed about the geo-squabble though. One of the leading protagonists was (and usually is) one of the dozen or so national reviewers who really should know better.

And so to work through a very wet morning. As I drove it became clear that it wasn't just me who finds that social media is little more than arguments. The pundits on the radio were saying that more and more people are finding Facebook to be depressing. This is especially a problem with children who are finding it impossible to get away from the petty squabbles and niggles of school.

I'm reminded of the Babel Fish in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy which, by improving communication beyond anyone's wildest dreams, was directly responsible for the worst wars in history.

But social media can hardly be blamed for human nature. I blame the schools.

Why can't people (from a young age) be taught how to conduct a disagreement. I was taught the principles of a reasoned discussion at school. "I disagree with you for the following reasons..." and then actually listening to the response you get rather than getting all personal and nasty because someone else thinks differently to you.

I might have asked this before... In fact I'm getting tired of asking this.

Once I deliberately had a very active social life.  In the past I created clubs for astronomy, snake-herding, star trekking. I would organise all sorts of events and activities... and  unfortunately an integral part of that was dealing with the squabbles that went with it. These days  (more and more) I find myself actively avoiding any bickering by keeping to myself  and a select group of friends and family. (And effectively working a five-day shift pattern has compounded this recently)

I must stop being so reclusive and start being more sociable again...

I was amazed to hear about how the Navy are dealing with cuts to the defence budget by selling three frigates.

Surely in this age of international terrorism, the national news is hardly the place to be discussing the country's defence strategy?

I got to work; we had a good day. I say "we" - I certainly did. There was cake. And with the good day done I came home, walked the dogs, and waited for "er indoors ^TM" and "Daddy’s Little Angel ^TM" to come home from shopping.

I’m in for a long wait…