Calling Danny Boy

Our new favourite programme is the excellent 'Lost'. Watched two episodes back to back (as they show one on E4) the other night, but it will get confusing with forthcoming holidays and remembering to set the video for the right channels.
Also caught part of 'Where Eagles Dare', although I fell asleep as usual just after Ingrid Pitt pretends to slap Richard Burton. We'd been drinking some of the French wine, hence the snoozing and desire for some Burton cinema.

I have taken up painting for the first time in 16 years. It's partly to do with my time off at the moment and nothing to do (my daughter is part of a complicated scheme involving two friends, so I've only had to look after her one day this week) and partly to do with something my mother said about me being a good artist but wasting my talent(!)
So I bought some acrylic paints and brushes and after some struggling and momentary fits of depression I am slowly beginning to produce some acceptable art. Watch this space, as they say.

Summer Fun

Back at last from our holiday in France to a softly twittering burglar alarm and dripping overflow pipe. I recall most vividly the marathon drives of the last two weeks. Bristol to Dover, Dunkirk to the South of France and all again in reverse.

In the end, we didn't camp. The tent and sleeping bags, along with the other luggage and three crates of wine, just contributed to the load in the back of the car as I struggled up hills. On the way we stayed at Disneyland (going round the Pirates of the Caribbean ride twice) before setting off south. I drove as far as I could before coming to a slow halt exhausted in one of the numerous motorway 'Aires'. There we slept, in the car, until dawn. Apart from the lack of space, I slept like a log. Meeting our relatives in Narbonne, we had to endure their tales of the fine hotel they had just stayed in, with stories of gorges, hot springs and exquisite food.

"The ham roll and hot chocolate I had at the Aire wasn't bad" was my contribution to the discussion.

On the way home I drove as far as I could before checking into a comfortable hotel (exquisite by Aire standards). Apart from the barking dogs, I slept like a log.