1 July 2026 (Wednesday) - Early Shift

Again I woke feeling full of beans and raring to go... at half past one. And again I then lay awake for much of the rest of the night before giving up and getting up just before five o'clock.

Being the first of the month I cracked out a new razor blade hand had my daily scrape, then spent five minutes wrestling with the bread bag. I wanted toast; the bread bag didn't want me to have toast, or any bread at all. I eventually got into the bag, but it was a closely fought battle. I scoffed toast as I watched another episode of "The Handmaid's Tale". The show started well but seriously lacks continuity. I've got a theory that the different episodes were written by different people, none of whom had actually watched any of the previous episodes.    

I set off for work just after six o'clock. There was mist over the fields as I drove west-wards. It was quite scenic. As I drove there was a lot of talk on the radio about how the (going) Prime Minister has managed to find loads of money for the defence budget... or to be precise he's announced loads of spending and is leaving the piddling details of finding the money up to his successor. Apparently it is vital that the UK spends tons of money on its military forces as the Russians are planning to invade in 2030. Personally I can't see the Russians having a go at the UK; I'd have thought that the Russians would have learned from their debacle in Ukraine. I'd also have to ask what is the point of the UK's nuclear deterrent if not to put the wind up anyone fancying their chances.

I stopped off in Tesco to get a sandwich. One of the tills had been opened by an assistant, and so I went there. Sometimes the self-service tills can be too much arse-arch. 

The woman in the queue in front of me and the woman on the till were both talking about their plans for this evening. "We" are starting at five o'clock they both said... I thought they were friends who were planning an evening event. They weren't. "We" was the England football team who was playing some match this evening which they were both going to watch (on their own). Some people (i.e. everyone but me) take football so seriously and so personally.

I went in to the early shift and did my bit. And an early start made for an early finish. The roads home were surprisingly busy. I was going home early because I was on the early shift. Seemingly the rest of the country was going home early to watch the football.

Once home I did “FEED THE FISH”, and then “er indoors ^TM” drove us all out to Petham where a chap who was on holiday in the area (up from Cornwall) had organised a geocaching meet-up. A dozen of us spent an hour or so chatting. It’s always good to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

We were a tad late home so we had KFC which we scoffed whilst watching an episode of “McDonald and Dodds”. Generally I don’t like police dramas, but this one is strangely captivating… 

2 July 2026 (Thursday) - Wishing Well

With no alarm set I slept through. I woke for the first time at five o’clock, rolled over, and finally got up at eight. I made toast (as I do) and had my usual look at the internet (as I do).

A friend was trying to get people to sign a petition for the government to hold a referendum to bring the water industry into public ownership. There are those who feel that public ownership of resources and services isn’t the most efficient way to run them. It might not be, but there’s no denying that the way the water companies run in the UK is nothing short of shambolic. We can pump gas all the way across the country; why not water?

I saw an ex-trainee of mine was having a birthday today. He was forty. Forty !! If asked I would have said late twenties. Where do the years go?

And it was claimed that Donald Trump has personally made over two billion dollars out of being President. I always thought he couldn’t be as stupid as he appears to be.

I took the dogs up to the woods. We walked our usual circuit and everything passed off very uneventfully. We didn’t see anyone else, we didn’t chase anything. Treacle went in a muddy puddle and Bailey rolled in something foul, but (all things considered) an uneventful outing.

We came home. Treacle had dried off so the mud brushed off. Bailey got a scrub, and I made us both a cuppa. I Munzed, and Wordled from “bring” to “maven”. Maven? It means “a trusted expert, connoisseur, or someone highly skilled in a specific field who understands its ins and outs”. One lives and learns.

I set the dishwasher going and went into the garden. Once I’d gathered up all the turds (there were quite a few) I got those bits of wood I sawed and painted earlier in the week. I screwed them all together, then unscrewed them and screwed them together how I should have done in the first place. Bish bosh – I had a roof for my wishing well. I put some roofing felt on, then put the roof into place. I measured up for my horizontal and within a few minutes my bucket was hanging.

The roof felt is a bit scuffed in places; I should really have done the roof felt on the lawn rather than on the patio, and it needs something inside the actual well, if only for appearances. But it don’t look too bad, does it?

I’m quite pleased with it bearing in mind I know absolutely nothing about DIY. I keep threatening to do some DIY evening classes (if only I could find any). I can remember having an argument with our French teacher at school (about fifty years ago) when I said that we really should be taught practical stuff at school. My old teacher was adamant that I was at a grammar school and we didn’t do menial manual labour. In years to come I would pay the lower orders to do that sort of thing for me (or so I was told). I wonder what happened to old Steve Werrett – things certainly didn’t turn out like he would have had me believe.

I got out the lawnmower and gave the lawn a haircut, then sat by the pond and had a late lunch of lemonade and sausage rolls as I read my Kindle.

I got uncomfortable on the wooden bench by the pond so I crept into the house and loudly announced that I was going to “FEED THE FISH”. The dogs went from snoring to half-way up the garden in less than two seconds. And with fish fed I marked some trainee’s portfolio work.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a very good bit of dinner which we washed down with another bottle of that three quid plonk as we watched another episode of “McDonald and Dodds”. Playing for two hours we got it down to an hour and a half by fast-forwarding through the adverts.

I can see why the streaming apps don’t allow you to fast-forward through the ads…

3 July 2026 (Friday) - Yogi Bear

Again I slept far better with no alarm set. I woke at five, and got up and put a load of washing on. I hung it out at eight o’clock, then made toast and had a look at the Internet as I do. I hadn’t missed much. As always it was one big argument. People were confusing patriotism with racism; so many people feel that in order to be proud of being British you have to be hateful to the rest of the world. Those who blather platitudes were wringing their hands about teenage thugs killing pigeons with catapults. Those who’d just bought a new car had been sold a total wreck but the aggrieved flatly refused to name the garage. Despite our being in the third decade of the twenty-first century, creationists and flat-earthers were aggressively posting stuff that was flatly wrong, and were openly parading their ignorance and stupidity.

We’re certainly not living in the world I had hoped for when I was younger.

A Facebook friend was having a birthday today… someone with whom I used to work fifteen years ago, and she couldn’t have said more than half a dozen words to me when we did see each other. I sent her the standard Facebook “Happy Birthday”.

I went upstairs to get dressed and found a pile of dog sick on the bed. Someone had blown… I put the vommed bedding into wash and took the dogs up to the woods. As we drove, Fatboy Slim was the castaway on Desert Island Discs. He sounded rather interesting, but there’s no denying his choice of music was on the dire side.

We got to the woods and walked our usual circuit. Unlike yesterday the woods were heaving with normal people. We eventually shook off the first group who were a hundred yards behind us constantly screaming at their dogs.

We met the strange bloke in collar and tie who always blanks us. We met him at a very narrow point on the path where he grudgingly gave me a grunt of acknowledgement.

I thought I saw a deer and was about to take a photo when I realised it was another dog; that dog’s mummy said he’d chased deer before, and the deer had turned on him. That’s something to keep an eye on.

And we met a chap who had a rant about the wood’s car parking charges which came into effect this week. He wasn’t at all happy to hear that I’d joined Forestry England (he took that as a personal affront), and he was boasting that he’d parked on the lane outside the car park. He said there was probably space for cars to get past him…

We came home. I made up both a cuppa. I Munzed. I Wordled from “eight” to “baton” in four goes. “Baton” – a word I’ve heard of. A novel break with tradition for Wordle. And then there was a commotion from the dogs. We had a delivery. Most delivery people just knock on the door. The Yodel chap doesn’t. He just puts the parcel straight into the box in the garden.

I hung out the third load of washing, put the fourth in to scrub and spent a few minutes reviewing more trainee work.

After scoffing more sausage rolls and lemonade (classic lunch!) I got on with the ironing whist watching more of “The Handmaid’s Tale” in which again rather than using dialogue, the lead character spent a lot of the time grimacing at the camera. It turns out that the actress is also the director and producer of the show so I expect that explains why she’s acting so incomprehensibly.  

We did “FEED THE FISH”. The pond is looking a bit green. I have a plan for it… but that will be next week’s project. “er indoors ^TM” boiled up a rather good dinner which we scoffed whilst watching the “Yogi Bear” film. It’s been on our Sky Q box for months. It was rather good…

4 July 2026 (Saturday) - Dog Club and Longbeech

I rolled my eyes as I read Facebook this morning. Someone who usually posts twee twaddle to one of the dachshund groups I follow was devastated that her dog had “done for” a neighbour’s chicken. This went completely against her world view of dewey-eyed soppy dogs. What did she expect? Treacle’s a lump and she’s caught (and killed) two rabbits and eaten a live mouse. Bailey is perhaps the smallest dog I’ve ever seen and she has had a squirrel. At the end of the day they are descended from wolves.

I read a post from someone who had the arse that their neighbour was getting work done on his house and wasn’t being asked for his opinion on which company should be given the work I found myself thinking about my ex-neighbour “Nutty Noodle” who once went ballistic at me because I didn't take time off work to supervise a roofer. When I refused to stay home to watch the work being done, he took time off work himself to supervise them, and tried to bill me for his time...

I put out a few Munzees. Wordled from “group” to “pizza” in four goes, and strained my brain at Steve’s “Guess the Lyrics” competition which was playing on the radio. “My love has taken a tumble oh but I’m still standing”. No? I had no idea either. According to Google it was “Sweet Little Mystery” by Wet Wet Wet.

We went to Dog Club where a good time was had by all… mostly. It was a shame that Morgan had to be put on his lead, but he simply doesn’t like Alsatians.

From Dog Club we drove up to Charing listening to Steve doing the Mystery Year on the radio. We had no idea, and sadly the signal gave out after ten minutes. I was disappointed – I like the Mystery Year competition; it’s a regular feature in my week.

We got to the Wagon and Horses. I’d phoned them yesterday and arranged for us to use their car park. We met Karl and Tracey and went for a little walk round the nearby woods. The woods at Longbeech North are a favourite walk of ours; the dogs behave do much better when they walk in an area that they know.

After three miles we were back at the pub’s car park (at opening time). We had a pint and some starters. Olives and bread are good, as is whitebait. And the main course arrived with the second pint. As I’ve said so many times before you really can’t beat a ploughman’s lunch.

And then it all got a tad vague…

There was definitely a third pint, and a double Sipsmith’s with tonic. I’m pretty sure there was a Bombay Saphire with tonic, and I think there was some Japanese gin as well…

I slept most of the way home.

I took a few photos whilst we were out.

We arrived home to find it was far hotter than it had been just five miles up the road. I had a little sleep, as did “er indoors ^TM”.

The plan had been to get the Infinity table out, but it was rather late by the time we woke up. Admittedly I’d been on the sauce, but I think I might have caught the sun too…

5 July 2026 (Sunday) - FTF, Early Shift, Pond Plants

I woke at three o'clock. Having an alarm set, sleeping till three o'clock was something of a result. I then dozed on and off, and eventually got up at six o'clock. I didn't fancy watching telly this morning so I sparked up my lap-top and tuned in to the local squabbles. There was a lot of consternation about the hose pipe ban. It was claimed that the issue isn't that there's no water (supposedly there's plenty), it was claimed that the issue is that there's insufficient infrastructure to get the water from the reservoirs to the houses. It was also claimed that while you can't use a hose to water your garden, you can use one to wash away the dust in a building site.

Is that true? I don't know, but whatever the issue it is clear that the incessant house-building needs to stop.  

As I read the various rants on the matter so not-so-nice-next-door was making racket as she watered her plants. She always seems to be up and about very early.

Originally I was supposed to have been working yesterday, but swapping shifts meant I could get to Dog Club, our walk, and the pub yesterday. It also meant that I had to work this morning, but there it was.

As I drove up the motorway the pundits on the radio were talking about how there's moves afoot in the Church of England to turn over a lot of their land to leave it to grow wild to encourage nature and stuff. Or something. There was talk about how tenant farmers might or might not be evicted as part of this scheme, but I wasn't really sure what  they were talking about. Some vicar was wheeled on to explain what was happening, and she alternately whispered and cried, and (quite frankly) wasted ten minutes of air-time during which she was utterly incomprehensible.

I took a diversion on my way to work. A new Wherigo geocache had gone live not far off of Bluebell Hill as I was scoffing my toast. Being first to find a geocache gets bragging rights, but first to find a Wherigo... I've only been first to find one of those twice before.

I got to where I was supposed to be, fiddled about with my phone, and pausing only briefly to fall four feet off of a wall and into the undergrowth I soon had the cache in my hand. First to find. Go me.

I drove on to work listening to the morning's church service as I went. As a relapsed Christian I find myself with so many questions about the entire Christian religion. Fairly high up on that list is the question of why is the creator of the universe so insecure that it needs us to be constantly telling it how wonderfully marvellous it is? When I was religious, the whole "praising" element was just part of what happened. We sucked up to god because it was so brilliant and in comparison we were just crap. But does it really need us to be sucking up to it all the time?

I got to work and did my bit. And with my bit done I came home. Again I tried to listen to Adrian Mole on Radio Four Extra, and again the signal kept cutting out.

Once home I had a cheese sandwich (woof!) and went into the garden to do some pond maintenance. Some of the plants in the bog filter were looking a tad iffy so I got rid of the dead leaves. And whilst I was at work Matt had sent a present – some pond plants. I was rather grateful for those, and even more grateful to see that he’d sent them in pond pots. They are now in the bog filter. Water mint is good stuff. It grows fast, and smells lovely if you like mint, Which I do.

Whilst I was at it I cleaned out the pond filters and used the mucky water on the plants. They will like that (hopefully). I might need to top up the ponds before too much longer. Apparently I can use the hose pipe for that… That’s just as well because I would anyway. There’s only one person who would see me doing it anyway, and if she squealed me up I’d know who it was. Not that I could do much about it.

I played Meowdoku for a bit and dozed a bit. I think I might have overdone it in the sun this afternoon.

“er indoors ^TM” then raised the alarm – flying ants were crawling out of the lawn. Not that I could do much about those either.

I’m feeling washed out… and the torn muscle in my bum is starting to play up. It does that most evenings these days…

6 July 2026 (Monday) - A House Guest, Too Hot (Again)

Pogo came up for a little sleepover last night… SLEEPover was supposedly the operative word. He was in the garden and shouting at the seagulls at three o’clock. Though to be fair the seagulls do squawk all night long. They’ve got a nest on our chimney; I wish they hadn’t.

I didn’t get back to sleep after that. The CPAP machine had made my nose rather sore and bed space was at a premium.

I made toast and had a look at the Internet. Those who’ve never once had a lemon handed to them by life were advocating making lemonade from life’s lemons. I really should stop following the “Twee Memes” pages.

There were those who spent last week advocating covering the surfaces of their garden ponds with lilos who this morning were acting surprised when all the fish died. The more crap that goes on a pond’s surface, the less area there is for oxygen to get in to the water. Which is why my pond has splashy things.

I sent out birthday wishes to one of my ex cub scouts who was thirty-eight today. Thirty-eight !!

I Munzed, Wordled from “shout” to “toddy” in five goes, then took the dogs out earlier than usual.

We got to the car park in Kings Wood about an hour or so earlier than usual, and walked our usual route. As the walk wore on it was rather warmer in the sunshine, but most of the walk was in the shade, and with a breeze blowing it wasn’t too bad for the dogs. They seemed to like their outing.

We came home; the dogs were all soon asleep. I went round the garden with a bucket and trowel and harvested dog dung, then (once I’d washed my hands) made us both a cuppa. I wrote up some CPD, and spent a little while solving a set of geo-puzzles that went live this morning.

I spent most of the afternoon fiddling about playing Meowduko as it was too hot to do much else. Eventually it was tea time and “er indoors ^TM” boiled up dinner and went bowling. I sparked up Netflix and started watching a film. “Per Aspera Ad Astra” was a Chinese science fiction film.. or so it claimed. It was tripe. It’s not often that I give up with a film half-way through.

I hope Pogo is quieter tonight…

7 July 2026 (Tuesday) - Too Hot (Again)

Everyone was settled last night. No one fidgeted or wanted to go shouting at seagulls and I slept through until seven o’clock.

I got up, made toast and had my little look at the Internet. It was still there, and was much the same as it ever was. This morning’s squabble was on a Facebook bird watching page where someone wanted people to identify the woodpecker he’d just photographed. The bird in question looked like a goldfinch to me (and a lot of other people too) but the chap who’d posted the photo knew a woodpecker when he saw one, or so he claimed.

I took the dogs up to the woods for an early walk. It didn’t seem as warm as yesterday. As we walked there was a buzzard flying low through the trees squawking like a thing possessed. I stood and watched it for a few minutes, and then realised that fifty yards away a herd of deer were also watching it too. The dogs were utterly oblivious to the deer.

We had a minor episode as we came back to the car park. As we walked up the hill I saw the old chap who’d taken a tumble a couple of months ago and who I’d helped up. I was about to explain that Pogo would probably scream at his dog, but he does that. Pogo gave a half-hearted squeak and the old bloke stamped and thrashed at Pogo and shouted at him to f… off. When I asked him if that was necessary; the old bloke got rather aggressive. When he’d finished ranting I reminded him that I’d helped him up a little while ago, and that the next time I see him lying on the ground I would leave him there. It was at that point that he pretended to be deaf, and his rather embarrassed wife tried to hurry him away.

Would I leave him laying on the ground next time? Probably not…

We came home. I Munzed, Wordled from “night” to “sling” which I got on the last go. I did a You-Gov survey and then wasted ages looking at audiobooks. Bearing in mind my utter inability to listen to the Adrian Mole diaries on Radio Four Extra at the weekend I had a plan to download them to my MP3 stick and play them in my car that way. Sadly the best I could find was to get them on a CD… CD – my car doesn’t have a CD player, and who has a CD drive on a laptop any more? The best I could find was some “audible” thing which would have me spending money each month. Not a lot of money, but I said that about the Sky TV. By the time I paid for Sky and the internet and Netflix and Paramount it soon added up to over a hundred quid a month.

I eventually got the Kindle app to start reading the Kindle book I’d bought ages ago, but all it would read was the copyright rubbish; not the actual story. I had this idea that I might play it from the BBC Sounds website directly on my phone, and I tried that as I set off to Folkestone, but for some reason the phone won’t play any sounds when in the car. Something to do with the Bluetooth I think?

I spent an hour or so running errands for “Daddies’ Little Angel ^TM” and then took her and Pogey home. It was eight degrees cooler in Folkestone compared to Ashford.

I got home and scoffed some malt loaf for lunch as I marked a trainee’s essay on iron metabolism.

We did “FEED THE FISH”. If I haven’t made the announcement by about half past three all three dogs follow me around waiting for the announcement. The fish got fed, the dogs had a few scraps of dried rice. Everyone saw that as a result.

I watered the plants, played Meowdoku, and checked the car’s tyre pressures. As I drove home earlier it told me one of the tyres had a low pressure. All seemed OK to me when I checked, but I’d rather have a false alarm than no alarm.

We had a rather good dinner (with a chilled bottle of that cheapo plonk) whilst watching another episode of “MacDonald and Dodds”. I’d be rubbish at being a detective. And to think I once seriously considered being a rozzer…

8 July 2026 (Wednesday) - The Heatwave Continues

Despite the heat I slept well last night. Settled dogs make such a difference.

I got up and had a look at the potted plants in the garden. Every morning not-so-nice-next-door is out watering her plants, but the soil in my pots was still damp from yesterday so I didn’t give them another drenching. You can over-water… I think I might have don’t for my acers by doing that.

I made toast and had a look at the Internet. All the talk on social media this morning was about that odious Nigel Farage who was playing silly beggars. Having been accused of all sorts of financial irregularities, rather than facing a proper investigation he’s resigned as an MP. He says he will stand in a by-election and the public can decide between him and “the establishment”. It’s a rather silly attention-seeking stunt that has blown up in his face as all of the other political parties have announced they aren’t going to stand in any by-election he might set off.

I really can’t understand why anyone would vote for him anyway. It’s nothing to do with his policies; it’s him. He’s never seen in his constituency, and his record as an MEP (back in the day). He was one of the top three most poorly attending MEPs and there were allegations of his diverting money even then. His stock in trade is to stand on the political sidelines and heckle. The last thing he ever wanted was to ever get elected to anything because he would then have to do something.

And there was talk about how many non-native invasive species are now living wild in the UK. I’ve seen scorpions, parakeets, wallabies and catfish all within twenty miles of home, and I think I’ve heard wild boar (and seen their turds) in Kings Wood.

I Munzed. I Wordled from “plant” to “demon” in five goes, and we took the dogs out before it got too hot. A couple of days ago a new geocache went live in Denge Wood (near Petham). There was still no find logged on it this morning. Looking at the maps it seemed as though it was a mile into the woods so we’d have shade.

We had a minor snag when the road there was closed, but we eventually got to where we needed to park. We had a good walk out to where the geocache was supposed to be. The hint was “nestled at the bottom of a tree” and with the difficulty set to the easiest rating possible it shouldn’t have been a difficult find.

We arrived to find the leaf litter had been brushed away from pretty much every tree within fifty feet of where the GPS said we needed to be. Someone else had obviously already been there and had a good look round before us.

We searched for twenty minutes before giving up. But having had a decent walk out we had a decent walk back to the car. And I took a few photos whilst we were out too.

We got home just as it was getting too hot.  “er indoors ^TM” sorted us iced coffee. I marked a trainee’s essay on the laboratory investigation of haemostatic abnormalities, then spent an afternoon slobbing in the garden. Reading my Kindle, playing Meowdoku, “FEEDING THE FISH”, watering the plants, having a little snooze…

We had a rather good dinner which we scoffed whilst watching a film. Despicable Me 4 was rather good…

9 July 2026 (Thursday) - FTF, Phone Games, Plonk, Too Hot

I woke at five o’clock to the sound of Treacle whimpering. She’d got off the bed and wanted to come back up but clearly couldn’t. I got up to help her… and she jumped straight back onto the bed. Ho hum…

As I made toast I noticed my coffee mug was still a tad grubby. A quick look at the dishwasher showed several of the rinsing nozzles were bunged up. “er indoors ^TM” took it to bits and had a full-on fight with it. You wouldn’t believe the amount of muck that came out.

Whilst she clouted the thing I scoffed toast and peered into the Internet as I do. The MP for Faversham was all over Facebook whinging about what a pain in the arse “Operation Brock” has been and will be. She talked a good fight, but seemed to draw a veil over how “Operation Brock” is one of the most obvious and tangible results of Brexit (which she was all in favour of). As I’ve mentioned before, our system of democracy is a stupid one. The masses don’t like foreigners so we vote for firm border controls. And part of firm border controls is taking time to control the borders and the masses don’t like that either. And we have politicians like this one cheering on both policies effectively saying black is white and right is wrong because she doesn’t dare alienate the electorate by telling them what they don’t want to hear.

I Munzed, Wordled and we got ready for the off.

On Sunday morning I saw a new geocache had gone live near the canal near Hythe. Someone had looked for it that morning and not found it. On Monday the chap who’d hidden it had updated the given co-ordinates, and on Tuesday he’d posted that he’d had a look and seen it was in place. But with no one having logged a First to Find I had a plan that this might make a little dog walk this morning before it got too hot.

We drove down to Hythe and despite the utterly meaningless hint “Take the path less noticed—look where nature stands guard” we found a tube hanging from some barbed wire about seven feet up. But we were first to find it, which was more than we’d achieved yesterday which was a result.

We carried on along the canal for a little walk. Treacle fell in but was soon hoiked out. And as we came to the bridge across the canal we found a little café. I got us an ice lolly each. There’s no denying that Soleros have shrunk massively since I last had one. Apparently it’s all about reducing the calories and not maximising the profits.

We got back to the car just as it was getting seriously hot. Once home, “er indoors ^TM” went off shopping and got herself a haircut. Personally I’ve a set of trimmers which I run over my head every couple of weeks or so, but she pays good money to have her hair looking pretty much the same as it was before she went for the short back and slap.

I spent a few minutes fiddling about on-line and found MP3 versions of the original broadcasts of “The Hitch Hiker’s guide to the Galaxy” which I’ve put on my MP3 stick. “er indoors ^TM” returned and sorted rather good tuna and cheese rolls and we sat in the garden for a bit. Having seen endless adverts for “Matching Story” I thought I’d give it a go. It was nothing like the adverts.

I had a little sleep until the dogs went mad. We’d had a delivery. A few days ago I mentioned I was trying to get the Adrian Mole books in audiobook format. I came up with a plan that if I could resurrect my old lap-top I could use the CD drive on that to rip the CDs to my MP3 stick. It was a good plan, thwarted only by eBay. Having bought the complete Adrian Mole collection on audiobook CDs, am I being hopelessly naïve in expecting something billed as “The complete collection” to have all eight books and not just the first three?

The first book was on five CDs… it only took an hour to convert them to MP3 format. I’ll do the next two later, and if any of my loyal readers have any of the last five Adrian Mole books on CDs… (he smiled hopefully).

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a very good bit of dinner which we washed down with a bottle of that cheap plonk whilst we watched the latest series of “The Traitors US” in which a couple of dozen supposedly celebrities tried to out-overact each other.

I’ve set the dishy loose on the day’s crockery. Hopefully its overhaul of this morning will have sorted it out. We shall see.

10 July 2026 (Friday) - Early Shift

I woke at four o’clock which with an alarm set was something of a result. I got up and spent an age trying to find something to watch on Netflix. I eventually settled on something called “Master of None” which was rather rubbish really.

I then had a little look t the internet which was rather quiet at half past five this morning. A friend was posting from his second Sicilian flat… He’s just bought another flat in Sicily. Holiday homes are all very well, but personally I’m not keen on the travelling to and fro. I sent out a birthday wish, and with not a lot else happening I got ready for work.

As I drove to work the pundits on the radio were talking about the Bayeux tapestry which arrived at the British Museum in the small hours and will be in the UK for a year.

For years I thought the Bayeux tapestry and the Hastings Embroidery were the same thing mainly because our teachers at Red Lake Primary School told is that they were. Not that anyone who lives outside of Hastings would ever have heard of either before today. I can remember our teachers at school making such an issue about it/them.

And there was talk about Anne Widdecombe who died overnight. Everyone seems to think she was a wonderful old duck following her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing; no one seems to remember what she stood for. Her voting record in parliament showed she was against gay rights, consistently voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life, always voted against measures to prevent climate change, and thought the unelected House of Lords was a good thing.

I stopped off at the petrol station in Pembury where the stuff was five pence per litre cheaper than it was at home. I saved myself over two quid... which I then blew in Tesco not realising that the berries snack pot was classed as a main meal and not a snack, and consequently wasn't included in the meal deal.

As I queued to find this out, so some idiot woman was holding up the queue by gossiping at anyone who came within shouting distance.

Work was work. We had the inspectors in. Perhaps I'm getting old, but the inspector who sat with me this morning looked as though he was about twelve years old. Back in the day the bulk of laboratory inspections were carried out by recently retired lab staff.  

Being on an early, home time came early (it does that). I drove home listening to the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy MP3s I downloaded. They were a tad fizzy in places, but something for nothing is always good. I can (vaguely) remember tuning in to them when they were on the radio nearly fifty years ago. I can also remember other things on the radio from back then. The Grumbleweeds (although incredibly dire on the telly) were rather funny on the radio, and Roy Castle used to have a very amusing radio show too. I wonder if I can get copies of those?

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a rather good bit of dinner which we scoffed whilst watching more episodes of “The Traitors USA”. It was entertaining enough…

11 July 2026 (Saturday) - Dog Club, Dinner, Telly

Something odd was going on with not-so-nice-next-door this morning. Her back door was wide open. Her back door is never open for more than a second. She always has it locked, and it is open just long enough for her to jump through when she then locks it again. I wonder what was going on there this morning?

I made toast and looked at Facebook. It would seem that Anne Widdecombe (who I mentioned yesterday) was murdered. Whilst I realise that it is bad form to speak ill of the dead, it always amazed me that someone who was an active church-goer could have so strongly supported the policies that she did. Mind you our local Restore UK councillor is much the same. He goes to church, does such good work with the local homeless… and look at what his party advocates.

A new puzzle geocache went live. It didn’t take me long to solve it… or (to be precise) find its location. However when you get there, you’ve got a field puzzle involving a nine-volt battery. That sort of thing is all good fun, but it don’t last long before someone breaks it.

I Munzed, Wordled from “locks” to “avian” in four goes, then strained my brain as Steve announced the “Guess the Lyrics” competition. “Oh so let her go don’t’ start spoiling the show”. I got it right away – “Livin’ Thing” by ELO.

I sat and listened for my mention on air, and having heard the world being told that I was the first one to get it we got ready for the morning.

We took the dogs round to Repton and Dog Club. We had over twenty dogs along and had a great time. Mostly. Morgan has got issues with one of the newer dogs, but every time he got a little feisty I shouted at him and he came back.

From Dog Club we drove off to Charing. We tried to do Steve’s Mystery Year competition on the radio, but as we set off so the news was starting, and by the time the news and the adverts had finished we were half way up Charing hill and the signal had all but given up.

We got to the car park of the Wagon and Horses where we met Karl and Tracey. We went for a little walk round Longbeech North. We walked the same woods last weekend; it was rather cooler this weekend.

And with walk walked we came back to the cars and then on to the Wagon and Horses where we had a rather good bit of dinner and a little drinkie too. Though not quite as much of a little drinkie as we had last weekend.

We came home. I watered the garden and counted up the Dog Club money. Bearing in mind we charge one pound fifty per dog per week, how could I possibly have ended up with an odd thirty-five pence?

We did “FEED THE FISH”, I watered the plants. “er indoors ^TM” went off to a family meal in Rye. I stayed on dog duty. Having downloaded some old favourite books and MP3s I discovered “Earth Abides” had been made into a TV show. Rather than paying good money for the MGM app I had a look on You-Tube. So far the show is rather good.

I’ve just had a little break to do dog dinner. Morgan has refused everything. Treacle has eaten hers and Bailey’s leftovers, and having had a couple of mouthfuls Bailey has just gone into the garden where she ate the turd that Treacle had just dropped…

I’m going to watch more “Earth Abides”…

12 July 2026 (Sunday) - Early Shift

I woke seriously early this morning. Rather than laying awake I made toast and watched the last episode of "Earth Abides".  I watched five episodes last night and watched the last one this morning. Having seen that a TV adaptation had been made of one of my favourite books I had been intrigued to see what had been done... To be honest it wasn't bad. Compared to the absolute balls-ups that have been made of televising some books (The Foundation series immediately springs to mind) it could have been a whole lot worse. The writers had taken a few liberties with the plot, and had left out quite a few of the most important parts of the book. And (like with the Harry Potter films) if you hadn't read the book you'd be wondering about a few scenes which were otherwise inexplicable.  But all things considered, a lot better than I thought it might have been.

If you've not seen it, give it a go. It's free to watch on You-Tube.

I Wordled, and set off to work, listening to my newly acquired Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy MP3s. They were a bit fizzy in parts, but looking back to the late seventies, the original broadcasts were also bit fizzy in parts.

As I drove the roads were quiet, as well they should be early on a Sunday morning, but there was quite a bit of traffic in Sissinghurst. I couldn't work out why until I saw the signs. A boot fair. I was amazed at just how many people were already going round the boot fair at half past six. Boot fairs are truly a sign of our times, aren't they? Back in the day people gave their rubbish to the Boys Brigade and the Scouts who would hold a jumble sale to raise funds. These days people just have a stall at a boot fair and pocket the profits themselves.

Mind you back in the day when I used to be involved with the Boys Brigade and the Scouts it was clear that jumble sales had had their day. What with the poncey stalls that they attract  it's rather fashionable to go to the boot fairs. There's a certain air of almost snobbery showing off the trinket you snapped up when you found it at a boot fair. But who has ever boasted about going to a jumble sale, let alone admitted to actually buying something from one? 

I got to work and did my bit. In between doing my bit I read my Kindle. I've started re-reading "The Kraken Wakes" by John Wyndham. I've always said this was an old favourite of mine... but I'd forgotten the writing style. Ridiculously upper-class and pretentious.  I still like it though.

When the late shift arrived at mid-day I slipped off for a spot of lunch. Last night “er indoors ^TM” had brought home a job lot of sarnies from the family bash I'd missed last night. As I scoffed them I thought that it would have been good to have got along. Not only could I have caught up with friends and family I've not seen for ages, but I could also have met up with one of my most loyal readers too (waves 😊 ).

But Treacle goes mental and screams and shouts if left unsupervised for more than a few minutes, and I'd rather not upset the neighbours any more than I need to. Treacle don't care though.

Being on an early shift was something of a result (I like the early shifts). I again listened to the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy as I drove home.  Having left the crew of the Starship "Heart of Gold" facing certain death when I'd arrived at work, I drove home listening to their antics at the restaurant at the end of the universe. Did you know there's a restaurant at the end of the universe? It turns out that there's no judgement day waiting for us, just a rather posh restaurant. And if you stick one penny in a bank account today, by the time the end of the universe comes, compound interest will have paid for your meal. 

If you live that long...

Alternatively you could spend your time with a load of hairdressers and accountants on the “B” Ark.

As I drove home I felt myself wilting. I got home and once I’d watered he plants and done “FEED THE FISH” I had a little shut-eye in the garden. Again having been wide awake during the night when I should have been sparko I found myself struggling to stay awake during the afternoon (And it wasn’t as though I’d been on the sauce like yesterday)

We had a rather good bit of dinner, and I was falling asleep over that too. I really should have an early night…

13 July 2026 (Monday) - Rather Busy

I slept through till five o’clock this morning which was something of a result. I then made the schoolboy error of going to the loo only to come back to find dogs in what had been my warm space. I eventually folded myself around then and dozed on and off for another hour or so.

I made toast and had my usual look at the Internet as I do. It was rather quiet this morning. No one was picking fights over trivia, no one was demanding that their imaginary god could have another person’s imaginary god in a fight. No one was having a birthday…

I had some emails. People had been looking for my geocaches in Kings Wood and elsewhere yesterday. Those who’ve not been playing the game for that long were rather effusive in their written logs. Those who are amongst the country’s top finders weren’t quite so. I’d like to think they didn’t mean to be quite as rude as they appeared to be in what they’d written.

I thought about sending then a snarky message, but thought better of doing so.

I took the dogs up to the woods. As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking about the Falklands war of 1982. Apparently the next game that the England football team will play in the ongoing World Cup is against the Argentinian team, and a whole load of bad feeling has been stirred up.

We got to the woods and had a good walk. We didn’t see any normal people, we didn’t go in any swamps.

We replaced two geocaches that had been reported as being missing (as they were). We took a different route to our usual one. Being a warmer day I deliberately took the dogs on a shorter route… it was only about a quarter of a mile shorter according to my mapping app. I would have said a whole mile shorter – shows what I know.

I came home and harvested an epic crop of dog dung, cleaned out the fish pond filter, voomed round with the bionic burner, then had a little look at some of my Wherigos. A Wherigo is a special sort of geocache in which you play a little game on your phone (which I write) before being told where to find the actual geocache. Sadly a lot of people use cheat software to rip into the coding of what I’ve written to get the location without playing the game. So I’ve started writing Wherigos containing pictures giving fake locations. These pictures never appear when playing the actual game properly, but do appear when you use the cheat software.

I’ve had several people messaging me saying that they can’t find my Wherigos, and when I ask what co-ordinates they’ve got they give me the fake co-ordinates that I’ve set to catch them out. And then they try to pretend they haven’t been cheating…

I Munzed, Wordled from “cheat” to “stout” in four goes, and then sat by the pond reading “The Kraken Wakes”. Or I tried to. I found myself rather engrossed in the antics of the pigeons. Having spent a load of time, effort and money setting up a splash-aerator-ornamental-fish thingy it would seem that the pigeons are using it as a water fountain so that they can get a drink. I’m not complaining though; they do far less damage when they stand and drink from that than when they try to stand on the floating baskets and capsize the lot. Which they also tried to do this afternoon.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up pizza and chips and then went bowling. I cracked on with the ironing whilst watching something on Netflix. “Unchosen” is about a young woman struggling with being a part of a crackpot religious sect.

Being very wrapped up in crackpot religion when younger, that could so easily have been me.

14 July 2026 (Tuesday) - Late Shift

I had a fairly decent night’s sleep, eventually getting up at seven o’clock. I made toast (as I do) and peered into the internet (as I do). It was still there.

This morning’s squabble was that old chestnut about how do you fill up your garden ponds? There are many who would rather use sulphuric acid than tap water as tap water is supposedly full of chemicals. These people advocate either saving rain water (that comes off of your roof and down the gutters collecting muck as it goes), or using tap water but also adding no end of chemicals to counteract those that they claim are in the tap water. It’s an argument that’s been running for years. Personally I use the water from the tap – it can’t be that bad as I’ve been drinking it for years.

Pond keepers wind me up. So many of them fart around gathering rain water, measuring the levels of no end of chemicals (that they don’t understand) and adding this treatment and that treatment to get the levels of the various chemicals just right… and then once a month they chuck out a quarter of the water and start all over again.

And there was a video on Facebook from one of the head honchos at Kent County Council saying how vital and necessary it was to bring back “Operation Brock”. The video was odd. The chap speaking banged on about how we need “Operation Brock” at peak times, and also said that the numbers of lorries using the channel crossing remain constant all year long. Why not queue up the cars full of tourists that *are* seasonal?

It struck me as rather odd that his lot all stood for election promising to get rid of it, and now they are singing its praises.

I Munzed, Wordled from “brock” to “steak” in five goes, then took the dogs out. As we drove the pundits on the radio were interviewing Robert Jenrick. He winds me up. He appears all over the media finding all sorts of fault with things about which he did absolutely sod all when he was actually in government himself. At one point the interviewer had to remind him that he’d been brought on to the radio to be interviewed and not to make a speech.

We went to Orlestone today, and walked half of what we did yesterday, but chased rabbits, and those of us that didn’t roll in fox poo went into a rather muddy swamp.

We came home for a bath, and to report the old mattress than had been fly-tipped in the car park. That mattress annoyed me for two reasons. Firstly someone had clearly made as much effort to drive the thing to the woods as it would have taken to drive to the tip. And secondly because no one else had reported it. I mentioned the thing to another dog walker who told me it had been there several days.

We came home where dogs got bathed. Having squealed with the fly-tipped mattress I wrote up some CPD, and carried on with a little project I’ve been doing for a few days. I’m compiling a little list of places where we’ve had (relatively) successful dog walks.

I then had a look on-line for cheap beer. Amazon have stopped knocking it out at a quid a bottle, which is a pain in the glass. I had a quick go at Meowduku, and set off to work.

I drove up what once was (and will be again) the motorway listening to The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Marvin the Paranoid Android outwitted a Frogstar Class D Scout Robot, and Zaphod Beeblebrox was fed into the Total Perspective Vortex. For all that the books and the TV shows and the film were good, HHG was always a radio show.

As I drove I saw that (as promised) "Operation Brock" was still on. As usual, nothing was being held on the motorway (it rarely is), and there were ten cars in the Brock bit that clearly hadn't read the instructions before driving into the Brock bit.

I set the cruise control at fifty miles per hour (as that is now the speed limit there), and lost count of the amount of foreign lorries that tail-ended me. Loads of them drove about six feet from my rear end before eventually overtaking at what I can only describe as "far too fast". A policeman with whom I used to go to the Open University once told me that the police never attempted to do anything about the crap driving of foreign lorry drivers as they always pretended not to be able to speak English and it was "all too much arse ache". That was thirty years ago - it would seem nothing has changed in the meantime.

I went in to Sainsburys to get lunch. As well as a sandwich I got a caramel and apple dipper. It looked nice. Work was work, but the caramel and apple dipper was something of a disappointment. It tasted rather cheap. I won't be getting that again. 

I did my bit, and was rather glad to see the night shift arrive.

It was still light as I left work. That won't last for much longer. I drove home listening to more of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and in a novel break with tradition got to park right outside the house.

That will make for an easier trip to the woods in the morning. I can never remember where I park the car. 

I’ve moaned a lot today, haven’t I?

15 July 2026 (Wednesday) - Stuff

I woke at half past two to the sound of distant barking. It sounded like Treacle. I got up to see Bailey standing on the edge of the bed looking worried. We hurried downstairs… to be followed by Treacle. I let the dogs out, but whoever had been barking had shut up.

We went back to bed where I slept through till half past seven when I woke with a headache.

I made toast and had my usual look at the Internet. There was an interesting post on one of the Munzee pages I follow… well not so much interesting as incomprehensible. So many people just type what they have to say and press the send button without re-reading what they’ve typed. If they did, they would see that they are writing gibberish. It would only take two seconds to check what they’ve written. Spell checkers are free.

There was a squabble on one of the local Facebook pages where someone had listed all the visitors she’d had to her house in the last month. A neighbour had been to social services with concerns that she’d had a *lot* of visitors recently and she wanted to be open about who had come to her house. It should be laughable, but some people really have nothing better to do with their time. It’s the sort of thing our nutty neighbour would have done. I wonder whatever happened to him?

And I saw a friend had been over from Australia on a flying visit. Had I known he was going to be within an hour’s drive…

I took the dogs up to the woods. As we drove the pundits on the radio were dribbling on about… I have no idea what they were dribbling on about. Many years ago I realised just how out of touch I was with current affairs so I make a point of listening to the morning and evening news programs when driving. Sometimes there’s interesting stuff. Sometimes it boils my piss. But usually (like this morning) it is utter tripe that is forgotten by the time I’ve parked my car.

We got to the woods and set off on our walk. I tried to photograph the dogs but my phone had frozen up. I eventually forced it to re-start, and as we walked (apart from two people at the car park) we walked for an hour and a half and only saw one other person.

We found a pond though. Treacle had a paddle and a swim, but Morgan and Bailey wouldn’t even go close.

We saw two herds of deer, but they were gone before I got the camera out.

As we came home I listened to more of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Did you know that John Le Mesurier played the part of the Wise Old Bird? I remember him doing that on the radio all those years ago.

Once home I gathered a bumper crop of dog turds from the garden (before Bailey could go eat it), then washed my hands and made us a cuppa. I Munzed, and Wordled. Starting with “sound” I worked my way through “flask” and “aspic” to “pshaw” which (apparently) is a seventeenth century word used to express strong disapproval, contempt, impatience, or disbelief. One lives and learns.

I spent a couple of hours marking trainee’s work. Some of them have recently passed their exam, which was something of a result.

I screwed on the wishing well’s roof. I’d just sat it on previously and the wind had taken it off.

I watched a couple more episode of “Unchosen” in which the righteous turned out to be iniquitous sinners (they usually are).

And then, seeing that Treacle was watching me like a pork (to coin a phrase) I loudly announced that it was time to “FEED THE FISH”. The ceremony of feeding the pond fish really is the highlight of her day. She watches me intently from mid-day onwards, and when I make the announcement that “I’M GOING TO FEED THE FISH” she charges to the pond quite literally squealing with excitement. All that happens is she gets a handful of the dried rice-cereal stuff that the fish have, but to her it really is heaven on earth.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up bangers and mash which we scoffed whilst watching a couple of episodes of “The Traitors USA”. A particularly vindictive character got the heave-ho. There’s something about the American version which is much more personal and rather nastier than the UK version.

And the England football team is playing in the semi-final of the world cup this evening. They are playing against the Argentinian team, and I’ve lost count of the amount of memes I’ve seen which hark back to a war which finished over forty years ago…

16 July 2026 (Thursday) - Something Scary In The Woods

I slept for nearly eight hours last night, but woke feeling like death warmed up. I made toast and peered into the internet. It would seem that “we” lost last night. That is the England football team lost. Personally I’m not fussed, but I’m rather concerned for my many friends, colleagues and acquaintances who are clearly not of a white Caucasian appearance. Many of such friends have told me that whenever the England football team loses an important match then they don’t feel safe for up to a week. Many have been verbally harassed in the street, and some even attacked purely because the England football team lost and the thicker element wanted someone on whom to take out their frustrations.

There wasn’t much else happening on the internet this morning. I Munzed, Wordled from “slept” (via “trace”, “white” and “quote”) to end up with “butte” as it was the only thing that worked when randomly trying the letters I had left. Apparently a butte is an isolated, steep-sided hill with a small, flat top. Formed by severe erosion of a mesa (a larger table-like landform), it is common in the American West. One lives and learns.

Wordle seems good for rather stupid words at the moment.

I went upstairs to wake “er indoors ^TM” and the dogs, and once they’d had their brekkie we went up to the woods. As we walked we met one other person – a young lady who looked to be heavily pregnant – several months overdue by the look of her. Call me old-fashioned if you will, but is wandering round the woods on your own at that stage of the pregnancy a sensible thing to do?

We had a minor episode as we walked. At about the three-mile point Morgan stopped walking and started growling. As I caught up with him so he went forward oh-so-slowly, staying about six feet from me with his ears back, and grumbling as he went. This carried on for about a hundred yards after which time he seemed to venture away from my side a little more, and after another hundred yards he was back to his old self. The other two didn’t seem at all fazed, and I couldn’t see any reason for him to be scared and defensive.

I wonder what that was all about..

We drove home listening to more Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Once home I made us a cuppa and used Microsoft Copilot to “enhance” the photos I’d taken when out on our walk earlier.

I had a pootle in the garden. I swept up the bird seed. A few months ago that seemed to be attracting rats. I’ve not seen any for a while… I cleared dog dung. I pulled weeds from the flower pots. I thought about trimming back the hedge from not-so-nice-next-door, but it was getting a tad too hot so I sat by the pond and alternately read my Kindle and had a doze.

I came in and spent a couple of hours watching telly. “Unchosen” was rather good… it was only as I got to the end that I realised that the boss religious crackpot was Christopher Eccleston (of Doctor Who fame). As I watched telly so Treacle was watching me. When telly was done I got up and she ran down the garden, then came back and looked at me clearly waiting for me to say the magic words. Which I did, to her delight. She ran back down the garden squealing in excitement. We did “FEED THE FISH” then I watered the plants, and then sat by the pond for a bit reading more Kindle.

I wrote up some CPD, I ordered another e-book for my Kindle. The e-book cost ninety-nine pence. Is that cheap? Bearing in mind when I was a lad I would regularly buy paperback books out of my pocket money I thought that ninety-nine pence was (relatively) what I used to spend on a book back in the day.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a very good bit of dinner which we scoffed whilst watching more of “The Traitors US” and whilst guzzling a bottle of plonk. And some amaretto too…

Hic !

17 July 2026 (Friday) - Bonus Early Shift

“er indoors ^TM” and the dogs came to bed about an hour after me. By the time Bailey had finished licking my head and had settled I was wide awake, and I stayed that way. I gave up trying to sleep and got up at half past four. I made toast and sparked up Netflix.

“Parasyte – The Grey” was probably a decent show when made, but like other Korean shoes (Alice in Borderland, Squid Game…) it seems to have lost a lot in translation. It was a shame that they had pretty much exactly the same monster as the one that appeared in “Stranger Things”.

I won’t be watching the second episode.

I had a quick look at the Internet. There was an interesting post on the Facebook page about sightings of large cats in Kent. I'm sure I once saw one in Hawkhurst, and I often wonder if there's one or two in Kings Wood (something put a deer carcass up a tree a few years ago!). Was it one of those that made Morgan act so odd yesterday? Apparently one of the leading lights of the local "spotting large cats" fraternity had been asked to take part in a TV program... The filming has taken place and having signed to agree to appear on the telly the chap wasn't happy. He's had a screening of what will be broadcast and he claims that the TV show wasn't about looking for big cats in Kent. It was about laughing at people with unusual hobbies. The chap claimed that everything that he'd said to the cameras had been taken entirely out of context to make him look silly.

I suppose that at first sight anyone claiming that pumas and panthers run loose in Kent is going to seem to be a nutter... until you actually see one yourself.

I Wordled from “early” to “legal” in three goes, and got ready for work.

As I drove up the dual carriageway that once used to be the motorway I couldn't help but notice what a complete waste of time and money that "Operation Brock" nonsense is. There were two lanes supposedly with a fifty miles per hour speed limit with foreign lorries still trying to go at seventy, and the "Operation Brock" bit had maybe two dozen lorries (and two cars) coming down it over the entire fifteen miles.

As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking about the film that has been made of the classic book "The Odyssey". Apparently films are now being made with cinemas in mind. It was claimed that making films for the screening apps has all but done for the cinemas with attendances massively down on what they used to be. Back in the day there was only three channels on the telly. My aunts used to "go to the pictures" every Tuesday night regardless of what was being shown. When we lived in Folkestone we used to go on a Monday night. It was cheap, and warmer than our cold flat.

But these days I'm not interested in going to the cinema. I'd rather watch a film in the comfort of my own house, be able to pause or rewind it, and not have to put up with the Great Unwashed burping and farting and fiddling on their phones. I'd rather not go to a cinema and sit through endless adverts and pay more for one film than I'd pay for an entire month of any of the streaming apps.

And there was talk of how Donald Trump is banging on about election fraud in the 2020 Presidential election. The general consensus is that he and his party are going to do incredibly badly in the upcoming mid-term elections and he's getting his lame excuses ready.

I got to work and cracked on with the early shift. I'd been asked to do an extra shift today, and bearing in mind the thirty-third Rule of Acquisition (it never hurts to suck up to the boss) I obliged. I'd only have walked round the woods with the dogs and dozed by the pond if I hadn't gone in. I rather missed the walk round the woods, but just lately it's been too hot to do anything much in the garden. 

I did my bit in an air-conditioned laboratory 

Doing the early shift was a result. I got out early (dur!). I came home via Sainsburys as I was under orders to bring milk home. I also brought home some bottles of beer, and raspberries and cream too.

I got home… and had a little doze before dinner.

Dinner was good. As we scoffed we watched more “The Traitors USA”. I think I’ve finally figured out how that show could be a lot better. The show needs people to be aware of subtle nuances in people’s behaviour. However the contestants in the US version treat it as a popularity contest.

I quite like watching how the so-called celebrities are so quick to parade their stupidity and ignorance.

Is that wrong of me?

18 July 2026 (Saturday) - Dog Club, Games Night

I slept reasonably well. Somehow I’ve managed to pull a muscle in my shoulder and if I don’t get into just the right position it plays up. I managed to get comfortable and slept far better than I did yesterday.

I made toast and had a look at the Internet. Some Reform UK councillor was posting videos on Facebook supposedly shaming non-Reform UK councillors who weren’t singing the National Anthem at the most recent council meeting. Sadly all he did was expose what a pathetic attempt the councillors had made at singing the National Anthem. For some reason my Facebook feed often presents me with posts from Reform UK councillors. All but one of them post nothing but personal attacks on their political opponents. The one that doesn’t is my local councillor who does seem to actually do stuff, but he’s now packed up with Reform UK and joined the breakaway Restore UK. But the masses lap it up… You wouldn’t believe the posts of support this lot get for doing nothing other than smearing their opponents.

I Munzed, and Wordled from “slept” through “track”, “dotty”, “month” and “tooth” to get it with “booth” on the last attempt.

Steve was on the radio doing the “Guess the Lyrics” competition.  “I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita”. That one was easy. “Mambo Number Five” by Lou Bega.

We went round to Dog Club. We had a good turn-out with over sixteen dogs along. It was difficult to count as they all kept moving about but there were at least sixteen dogs. Morgan was in something of a “frisky” mood. I wish he would be a tad more moral.

“er indoors ^TM” went off to craft club. I took the dogs to Tenterden. As we drove Steve was doing the Mystery Year competition on the radio. When was the two-pound coin released? 1998. I drove all the way to Tenterden listening to the radio. The signal did far better on the way to Tenterden than it did going less than half the distance to Charing last week.

We got to the steam railway where there was a little geo-meet taking place. It was good to catch up with friends. We chatted for a bit, but the dogs eventually got bored and fractious.

We came home.

I made myself a cuppa and sparked up my old lap-top (the one with the CD Rom drive). Once it had booted up (about fifteen minutes) I carried on converting my new Adrian Mole audiobooks to MP3 format. Converting ten CDs took two hours. As I did that I watched the first two episodes of “Stranger Things”. There’s been a new series released (a few months ago) and having forgotten pretty much everything about the show I thought I’d be better off starting again. It was rather good.

“er indoors ^TM” came home from craft club with raspberries and Belgian buns. Once we’d done “FEED THE FISH” I watered the plants, and then had a little look at the audiobooks… It looks to me as though the CDs has the first, second and fourth book… but not the third. I expect I shall find out.

Steve, Sarah and Chris came round, and we had a rather good evening on the Infinity table. “Game of Life”, “Sorry”, “Ticket to Ride”… 

I do like our games nights…

19 July 2026 (Sunday) - Early Shift

I woke at four o'clock. The pain in my shoulder had returned with a vengeance. I couldn't get comfortable so I got up, made toast and watched an episode of "Stranger Things", then had a little look at the Internet. It was still there, and there wasn't much of note on there early on a Sunday morning. 

I tried not to disturb anyone as I got dressed, but as I did so “er indoors ^TM” had an attack of cramp and made enough noise to wake the dead. It you are wondering what woke you at quarter to six this morning, that was her.

I set off west-wards to work. I tried listening to the radio but the news was depressing. That idiot Donald Trump is pursuing his war in the Middle East for no other reason than that because he can (from what I can see).

And there was talk of the new Prime Minister looking to start drilling for oil in the North Sea (again). What with the state of the Middle East he'd be daft not to.

This was followed by what I can only describe as utter tripe, so I turned off the radio and listened to my Adriam Mole audiobooks. They were far clearer that the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy MP3s I've been listening to. I'll see if I can get better versions of those.

As I drove I was held up by two sets of traffic lights. No road works, just traffic lights. You'd think that whoever was responsible for traffic lights would take them down when there is quite obviously no need for them. I was also held up by a swarm of cyclists on the A262. You'd think they'd take the more scenic lanes, wouldn't you? I certainly used to back in the day when I had a bike.

I got to work and had a little chat with the girl who was finishing the night shift. She used to work where I used to work, and listening to her reminiscing made me remember just how unhappy I'd been working in that place for so long. It took me years to realise that a workplace didn't have to be hell on Earth, and that I didn't have to feel physically sick at the thought of going to work.

I did what I couldn't avoid and it wasn’t really that long until I was on my way home. But by the time I’d got home and had a little sleep (the very early start had caught up with me) it was too late to do very much.

I played Meowdoku whilst “er indoors ^TM” boiled up a very good bit of stir-fry which we scoffed whilst watching the final of “The Traitors USA” which turned out to be something of a triumph of deception over decency. Much like life in general really… We followed this with a show in which all the contestants came back together and talked about how the show had gone. The reunion would have been a lot better had it featured the chap who’d hosted the show rather than wheeling on someone new. I couldn’t really concentrate on the reunion show itself… I’m not sure what was the most distracting; the host being cross eyed, the obvious over-acting, the ridiculous hats or the rampant brazen chest-brandishing of the lady contestants.

My shoulder still hurts.

20 July 2026 (Monday) - Pond Filters, Ironing

Every night I either lay awake all night or sleep for nine hours… Last night was a better one. Once I’d got into the right position so that the shoulder wasn’t playing up I was out like a log.

I got up at eight o’clock and made toast.

This morning (being up a bit later getting up) there was quite a bit of stuff on Facebook as I scoffed my toast. This weekend just gone had been Pirates Day in Hastings. I *always* find out about that after the event. Not that going there with the dogs would have been very practical.

Some idiot half-wit was banging on about how the vapour trails from aircraft are a relatively new thing and were some joint conspiracy of the loony left who were acting in cahoots with Satan, and no end of other idiot half-wits were joining in to agree with him. The argument would have made more sense if anyone could have explained exactly what was wrong with these vapour trails, or exactly what the loony left and Satan were planning.

And someone on a local page was complaining about something or other. The specifics are irrelevant, but everyone involved in the bickering was using an alias. No one was brave enough to put their name to what they were saying.

Back in the day the weekend just gone would have seen Canterbury’s beer festival. That used to be great fun… that seems to have stopped.

In between falling over dogs I hung the washing out. They wouldn’t stop bothering me this morning; they wanted their walk so we set off to find the car. Having had to park three streets away when I came home from work yesterday (as there were no spaces closer to home) there were three empty parking spaces right outside the house this morning.

As we drove to the woods so the pundits on the radio were interviewing Josh Kerr. In all the hysteria about world cup football his breaking the record for running a mile in the shortest time over the weekend has pretty much gone unnoticed.

We got to the woods. We had our walk. We walked about four miles (again my watch and my phone were half a mile apart in their estimates). Apart from growling at two groups of normal people the walk passed off without episode. No poo was rolled in, no swamps were wallowed in, no squirrels were chased.

We came home. I made us a cuppa. I Munzed, Wordled from “right” to “diver” in six goes. I wrote up some CPD including my three thousandth CPD (continuing professional development) blog entry. That blog is supposed to be a record of what I’ve learned in my professional capacity. Legally I’m supposed to keep up to date with developments in my field, and to keep a record that I’ve done so. An on-line blog works for me, and it has quite the following with over two hundred people having looked at it over the last three weeks. If only I knew who they were I might see if I can’t blag some of their CPD efforts.  

I ran out the hose and topped up the ponds, and whilst I was ponding I ran out the thick hose and cleaned out the pressure filter. Cleaning that is so simple compared with cleaning the old box filters I used to have.

And with filters cleaned and pond topped up so the dogs had a drink from the aerator-splashy-fish-ornament. The pigeons were drinking from it last week, “er indoors ^TM” told me that the seagulls were having a drink from it last weekend, and now the dogs are having a slurp.

I made some toast for lunch and with that scoffed I set about the ironing that was in the ironing box. That took an hour or so, and then I sat by the pond and read my Kindle, played Meowdoku and had a little doze.

Bearing in mind that “er indoors ^TM” was going bowling later I emptied the washing basket into the washing machine. I thought I might iron the shirts and sort the undercrackers whilst she was out.

And once she’d boiled up dinner and gone bowling that’s what I did.

At the moment the laundry is non-existent. Both the washing and ironing baskets are empty. Go me.

Mind you, it won’t stay that way…

21 July 2026 (Tuesday) - Late Shift

For all that I slept well, I woke exhausted following a night of nightmares. I woke in a cold sweat in the small hours following a rather vivid dream in which my late father had taken the house apart in order to repair a problem that simply wasn’t there. And then I found myself charged with going back in time to organise a geocaching mega-event fifteen years ago.

I made toast and peered into the Internet as I do and saw something which made me think. When I was a lad I was wrapped up in the Boys Brigade. Looking back that was a mistake. The Boys Brigade is a *very* religious organisation and it seriously messed with my head. One of the greatest regrets of my life is that I introduced a good friend to the Boys Brigade and he fell for the religion hook, line and sinker. He’s now a Baptist minister in the West country and regularly posts videos of his morning prayers on Facebook. He’s now off on “sabbatical” From what I can work out this entails three months of doing precious little but going off on holiday and sitting on your. bum saying prayers at someone else’s expense. And that someone else’s expense is tax-free – the Baptist Union is quite clear on the matter.

This got me thinking... and I did a little looking-up. A Baptist minister earns thirty thousand quid a year, gets a free house and a pension too. All for blathering a few platitudes.

Who’s the daft one, him or me…

I Munzed, and took the dogs out.

As we drove so the pundits on the radio were talking about how the new Prime Minister is sorting out the nation’s finances… or trying to. His attempts to sort the issues with the water companies by nationalising them seem to have fallen at he first hurdle. Those owed money by the water companies want their bit and are mounting a legal challenge to be sure they get it. And they probably will. I can remember a favourite author of mine who once wrote “"If a man stopped me in the street and demanded of me my watch I should fight him for it. If, on the other hand, he should assert his intention of trying to obtain it by means of an action in any court of law, I should take it out of my pocket and hand it to him, and think I had got off cheaply".

And there was talk of VAT on leccie bills being abolished. The expert opinion was that it might save the average household fifty quid a year which would be more than wiped out by the rise in leccie prices.

The new Prime Minister has got his work cut out…

We got to the woods. Being pressed for time we went to Orlestone today where the car park had only one other car in it. We walked anticlockwise today as the driver of that other car was fifty yards in front of us going clockwise and his dogs were barking at us. I don’t know where they went though; we didn’t meet them half-way round like you’d think we might.

We chased a few squirrels, but didn’t roll in anything. And the swamps had dried out too. After two miles we were back at the car after a rather uneventful walk. I like those.

We came home. I made us both a cuppa. I wrote up some CPD, Wordled my way from “dream” (which gave me nothing at all) to “shill” on the fourth attempt. I got “shill” as nothing else would fit. Apparently “shill” is the sort of person who gives positive reviews to companies and services with which they have a vested interest. As I’ve often said, a day when you learn nothing is a day wasted… I then wasted half an hour playing Meowdoku and then set off to the late shift.

As I headed off to work I saw a traffic warden on a pedal bike. Is that a new thing? Presumably so they can make a quick getaway having done the dirty. A friend of a friend once told me that they once worked as a traffic warden for a short time and were under orders to be sure that they issued enough parking tickets to cover their wages.

I drove up the ex-motorway (now dual carriageway) watching very few lorries coming down the "Operation Brock" bit. Again nothing was being held up in it. As I drove I had a strange phone call. Someone with a Scottish accent claiming to be called Tony called me saying that they were returning my call.  I'd not called him and I told him so, at which point he got rather aggressive and confrontational. I hung up. Being able to use the hands-free phone thingy in my car is something of a novelty, but I could do without nutters bothering me.

I went in to the Sainsbury's petrol station in Aylesford. As well as petrol I got lunch.  I made a point of telling the woman on the till that what I had was the meal deal as she never charges the reduced meal deal rate (always charging full whack). She took umbrage and refused to honour the nectar card deal voucher that she'd given me the last time I was there.

I went in to work and did my bit. Things weren't as bad as they might have been, but I was glad to see the night shift arrive. I drove home listening to more Adrian Mole. Pandora had returned from Tunisia which was (as we have all been told) "full of hazards".

The trouble with the late shift is that it finishes too late. By the time I got home it was gone ten o’clock…

22 July 2026 (Wednesday) - Busy Day

Every morning as I scoff toast I have a little look at Facebook. Perhaps I shouldn’t; it winds me up. But it makes me realise just how stupid some (many) people are. One chap (a builder) was posting copies of a series of text messages in which a customer cancelled a huge contract because the contractor called him “Tom” and not “Thomas”. I was reminded of a rather arrogant eight year old cub scout who was once in my pack. His name was Charles and he told you so. I once called him Charlie and he certainly pointed out the error of my ways. Tom, Charlie… does it really matter? Cleary it does to Thomas and Charles.

And there was quite a lot of whinging about last weekend’s official Red Dwarf convention which (by all reports) had been something of a disaster. Thirty years ago sci-fi conventions were run by the fans for the fans. We used to have great fun going up to the University of London, meeting friends, dressing up, and watching the latest episodes of our favourite shows which had been sent over from America on video tapes, then going on to the themed pubs to drink Romulan ale (lager with blue food colouring). These days the conventions are run by commercial companies who want to make a profit, and the themed pubs have been closed down for breaching copyrights. Such a shame.

I got the leads onto the dogs and we went out. As we drove the pundits on the radio were talking about how one of the artificial intelligences unilaterally decided to mount an attack on a competitor. Perhaps the machines will take over the world? All the more reason to thank the Alexa every time it does something for me.

We got to the woods and walked a rather random walk for a change. As we came up the Pilgrim’s Way so I heard shouting and shrieking. Some people were approaching on bikes. I held Morgan and Bailey by their collars. I didn’t hold Treacle as she could be trusted not to run under the bikes’ wheels. And so Treacle ran under the bikes’ wheels. No one actually crashed or came off… I told the cyclists in a rather firm voice that the gravel on the path was very loose, that there were far better tracks to cycle on in the woods, and that the Pilgrims Way was a no cycling path. Two of those statements were true, but I always bear in mind the old adage that you can fool all of the people all of the time if you talk loudly and confidently. And I have been told that I can do a good impersonation of a scary tattooed skinhead thug. The cyclists hurried off.

We carried on with our walk. We saw a buzzard circling low. We saw deer. We didn’t see a swan for all that my Merlin bird app said we did. It’s interesting that now that the mating season is over, the birds in the woods are a lot quieter.

We came home listening to my Adrian Mole audiobook. Adrian’s father had made a spice rack. Once home I made us both a cuppa, Munzed, and Wordled from “dwarf” to “lorry” in four goes. I wrote up some CPD, then put the finishing touches to a little project I’ve been working on for the last week or so. It’s a little list of where we go for walks. I might extend it, I might forget all about it. Time will tell.

I went into the garden and trimmed back some of the overgrowth coming over the fence from not-so-nice-next-door. I tried speaking to nutty noodle when he used to live there (I wonder whatever happened to him). At that time the brambles from his bushes came a full five feet into my garden and he really couldn’t see my problem. Since then I’ve just tried to chop it all off at the fence line, but the stuff goes up quite a way. It’s a shame that she chooses to be so difficult. I’ve offered to prune it properly. I’ve offered to replace the fence. She either ignores me, or shrieks incomprehensibly then asks if I understand English (and she’s Japanese!).

I watered the plants, and generally pootled. All the time Treacle was watching me. Eventually to her delight I announced that I was going to “FEED THE FISH”, and she flew down the garden to the pond, squealing in excitement as she went.

I then gave myself a haircut (those hair trimmers have saved me a small fortune) and sat by the pond reading my Kindle for a bit until it was time for the dentist.

The doggy dentist.

Some time ago when having her annual check-up the vet said Treacle’s teeth weren’t as good as they might be. She recommended a scale and polish (under anaesthetic) and said it would be four hundred quid… and then anything they found whilst rooting about in her gob would be extra. I told the vet I’d think about it, and as we walked home I saw a van drive past with the logo “Doggy Dentals Ashford” so I gave them a ring.

They are excellent. Charging about a tenth of what the vet wanted, the nice lady gives the dogs’ teeth a good cleaning. Or that is she gives the girls’ teeth a good cleaning. She had a look at Morgan’s gob when she came to Dog Club for Dog Dental Week and said his gob is OK. Or it was then.

We got to the doggy dentist. Neiter of the girls really had a glowing report. Treacle’s teeth will probably see her out, but Bailey will probably need one or two pulling before much longer.

As we came home I saw something that made me sit up and take notice. A small dog which looked just like my Fudge running up the road. I took the girls home, then went up the road to see that dog that looked like Fudge. He was just running loose with no collar. I soon caught him and picked him up. He offered no resistance. I walked up and down the street banging on doors, haranguing passers-by, and shouting, but I couldn’t find anyone who recognised him.

In the end I took him to the emergency vet. They’ve now got him and say they will scan him for a chip and if they can’t contact the owner then the dog warden will have him in the morning. Apparently that’s the process and the law.

Part of me wishes I’d not taken him to the emergency vet.

Part of me realises that three dogs is already too many. A fourth? Seriously? 

23 July 2026 (Thursday) - A Toad and a Pigeon

Late last night I phoned the emergency vet. The little dog I found did have a chip and had been reunited with his family. I had something of a sense of relief about that. Partly for the little dog, and partly for myself as I just know that I couldn’t have left the little thing on his own.

Once I’d got comfortable I slept well (the pain in my shoulder has moved into my upper arm). I got up just before eight o’clock, made toast and peered at the internet as I do. It was the same as ever. There was an interesting argument kicking off on one of the religious pages that I follow. Apparently it says in the bible “Do not eat anything you find already dead”. Presumably the implication is that you have to go hunt/forage your dinner every time. Obviously supermarkets, KFC and kebab shops are a no-no in the view of the Almighty? Clearly this is a bit daft, but then when you read the bible much of it is rather daft. I felt sorry for the god-botherers in the squabble who were claiming that you have to pick through the bible to find the bits that aren’t nonsensical. Your holy text is either the word of your god, or it isn’t. You can’t pick and choose the bits you want. Can you?

I Munzed, Wordled from “stray” to “orbit” in three goes, then got ready for the off. As I drove the dogs up to Challock the pundits on the radio were interviewing one of the head honchos at Edinburgh council. They’ve implemented a “tourist tax” by which anyone staying in paid overnight accommodation in Edinburgh from tomorrow will be subject to a five per cent levy for the first five nights of their stay. This woman being interviewed was genuinely surprised that hotels have all reported mass cancellations, and various events including the Scottish ballet have been cancelled. The pundits interviewing her didn’t actually ask “are you truly that stupid”? but it was quite clear that she was.

We got to the woods and had our walk. There were several cars in the car park, but we did our usual four (and a bit) miles and didn’t see anyone else at all as we walked. We didn’t see any deer, but we did see a toad. Each dog gave it a sniff, and then carried on, which was a result.

We came home where I made us both a cuppa. I had planned to brush the dogs’ teeth (I need to do that daily!) but they were all asleep after their walk. So I wrote up a little CPD. Last week I saw some Pappenheimer bodies. Back in the day whenever we saw something interesting down the microscope we’d keep the slide, and everyone had a case of microscope slides all of which faded with time. Some still do that, but now we are in the twenty-first century I take a photo and keep an on-line atlas of haematology. It’s nothing special, but hopefully it will impress the inspectors if and when I get inspected.

I stood up; the dogs all leapt up. With them awake I had a go at brushing their teeth. We need to practice that some more.

I had a little pootle in the garden, then sat by the pond and woke up an hour later in time for lunch. More toast which I scoffed whilst watching an episode of “Stranger Things” then sat by the pond again watching the antics of a pigeon sitting above the waterfall. He was there for a good five minutes and didn’t seem at all bothered by my watching him.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a rather good curry which we washed down with a bottle of plon whilst watching the first episode of the new season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” which was rather good.

I’ve got work in the morning…

24 July 2026 (Friday) - Early Shift, Accounts

With an alarm set I was awake early. Not as early as I often am, but still early enough.

I made toast and scoffed it whist watching an episode of "Stranger Things" then, taking care not to wake anyone, I set off for work. As I'd watched telly so I'd heard the bin men coming up the street. Back in the day the bin men used to collect the bin from your garden and take it back again. These days you have to leave the bin out on the pavement for them, and once they've emptied the bin they just fling in in the general direction of "away from the bin lorry" and leave the pavements awash with discarded wheelie-bins. You only get you bin back if you go looking for it, and only if you get there before someone else steals it because your bin is better than theirs.

I retrieved ours, put back those of a neighbour or two, then weaved my way in and out of all the other bins which had been strewn across the pavement as I went to find my car.

I went to the co-op to get lunch. As I was feeding coins into the self-service machine so the stench of cannabis filled the shop. Some chap staggered into the place absolutely reeking of the stuff. These days pretty much everywhere I go seems to stink of it.  The allotments by the co-op field are particularly bad for it. It might be grown there - it certainly smells that way.

As I drove up the motorway the pundits on the radio were talking about the new Prime Minister who has announced even more tax cuts. The general feeling was that his predecessor was something of a dull character. The new chap is trying to avoid his mistakes, endear himself to the masses and make a name for himself. First impressions matter. Or so it was felt.

Meanwhile that idiot Donald Trump  has given the world a whole load of new trade tariffs and wonders why no one likes him.

I got to work and saw one of the top bosses from where I used to work was visiting. He made a great show of saying hello (as though we were long lost buddies) and he asked how I was.  I told him I was far happier working in a place where I didn't feel physically sick every day at the thought of going to work. I named a few names that (in retrospect) I should have named ten years ago.

Part of me wonders if I was right to stick the knife in after so long... part of me doesn't.

An early start made for an early finish. I came home down the dual carriageway that once was the M20 and hit a traffic jam. A car had broken down, and we had three miles of ten miles per hour. Meanwhile what used to be the coastbound carriageway (supposedly for lorries going to the port) sat there completely unused.

I suppose I was only half an hour late home, so I shouldn’t complain too much.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up pizza and went off out. I settled with the dogs and looked at the monthly accounts.

They could be worse, but they could be a whole lot better. It would be nice if I could magic up some money like the new Prime Minister seems to be able to do.

I shall now watch some more episodes of “Stranger Things” and hope I don’t fall asleep…

25 July 2026 (Saturday) - Rather Busy

As I scoffed toast I looked at the Internet as I do. Someone had posted a photo to one of the Facebook groups that I follow. A picture of a large cat (a caracal or something like that) which they’d seen in Surrey. Or so they claimed. The original photo was forwarded to one of the group experts who looked at the geo-tagging in the photo and immediately saw that the original photo had been taken in Africa.

Oh dear…

And there was a *lot* of talk about last Thursday’s episode of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”. There were quite the arguments raging on the Facebook pages… The trouble with any sort of prequel series is that you already know that certain characters aren’t going to be killed off, don’t you? No? Well you would if you’d seen the show on which it was based. And if you hadn’t you really shouldn’t be picking a squabble with people who had. Shouldn’t you?

I Munzed, Wordled from “group” to “aloha” in five goes. “Aloha” – seriously? As I fiddled about so Steve wasn’t on the radio. His stand-in wasn’t the same.

We took the dogs to Repton and Dog Club. I tried to count; I think we had eighteen dogs along. Some were being quite “frisky”. It was a shame that Morgan was being a bit confrontational; there’s one big dog who is rather timid, and Morgan can’t resist trying to pick on him.

From Dog Club we drove to Rye Harbour. “er indoors ^TM” had arranged a jigsaw trade with someone there, and whilst we were in the area we thought we might walk the dogs round the nature reserve. I had this vague plan that we might see seals. We didn’t. But we had a good wander round. There was a series of geocaching Adventure Lab caches round the reserve which gave us a route for our walk. It was a good walk. We came back to the car through the caravan site. I always think I’d like a caravan on a site… but I doubt I’d ever use it if I got one.

We came home. Treacle had a bath as she’s been trusted to be allowed off of the lead and had gone in some manky water whilst we’d been out.

We then had a rather good afternoon in the garden. Some cheese and pickles, Meowdoku, crossword puzzles, a couple of beers and a little sleep. The dogs had chicken ice poles – a while ago we boiled up some chicken fillets and froze the water. They yummed them up.

We came in, and got the Infinity Table out and played “Ticket to Ride” on the UK, Asia, Switzerland and Europe maps. I won one game, so I saw that as something of a result.

I took a few photos today. Today was rather busy. I’m going to work tomorrow… my intention is for something of a rest.

26 July 2026 (Sunday) - Early Shift

I had something of a restless night. I got up at half past four, and so did Treacle who seemed rather out of sorts. She had a stomp round the garden, did her thing, then went back to bed.

She’s been a but iffy for the last week or so. Am I being paranoid, or is she losing weight?

I made toast and watched an episode of “Stranger Things”. When the show ended and I turned off Netflix there was one of those ten minute long adverts playing for a pressure washer. That was a waste of some company’s money; who’s going to buy a pressure washer during a hosepipe ban?

I had a look at Facebook which reminded me that it would have been Terry’s birthday today. Terry was a good friend. Because of his work (for the Foreign Office) and him living fifty miles away we didn’t meet up that often, but when we did the time was rather special. I miss him.

I Munzed and got ready for work. As I drove off so the pundits on the radio were starting the "Farming Today" program. I often listen to that on a Sunday morning on my way to work for the simple reason that there is nothing else on. I won't say that it is rubbish; I'm sure there are some people who go into raptures of delight at the thought of it. But for me, if I were to type "something dull" into Google I'm sure that Radio Four's "Farming Today" would be in the top three suggestions.

I put my Adrian Mole MP3s on and drove up a surprisingly busy M20. There were a lot of cars there at seven o'clock on a Sunday morning. Some chap heading coastbound was driving far too fast in the dual carriageway bit and flashing his headlights like a thing possessed. What was that all about?

I got to work and cracked on. I can't really complain about working at the weekends. It is part of hospital work. Hospitals never close and so we work round the clock. But this was my fourth consecutive Sunday.  However as I always say I don't mind working at the weekends when the weather is iffy. Yesterday had been glorious. Today was overcast with drizzle. There's no denying that the garden needed it, and I'd rather be sulking at work when it is damp rather than sulking at home.

I did my bit, and came home listening to more Adrian Mole MP3s.

Once home I found that it hadn’t rained in Ashford.

I sat on the sofa with the dogs… and woke two hours later. I didn’t realise I was that tired.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up a very good bit of dinner. She does that. As we scoffed we watched episodes of “Upstart Crow” which I am reliably informed is a comedy.

One lives and learns.

Yesterday was full-on and non-stop. Today has been on the dull side… I spent much of it remembering little episodes with my old mucker…

27 July 2026 (Monday) - A Day Off

With no alarm set, apart from a trip to the loo at five o’clock I slept for eight hours.

I hung out the washing that I’d put in to scrub at five o’clock, made toast and had a look at the Internet as I do. I was presented with a *lot* of photos of royal pythons this morning. For all that those who’ve never been within a hundred yards of one will shriek, they are sweet little things. I’d get another if not for the dogs. Bailey would certainly kill it.

And my cousin was complaining about seagulls. She lives on the coast. We have much the same issues (including a seagull nest on the roof) but the closest bit of sea to here is ten miles away.

There was a minor squabble on the Facebook page of “The Good Food Hunter UK”. The “UK” bit always makes me chuckle as from what I can see the fellow’s not hunted anything more than fifteen miles from Hastings. Like with most reviewers, those to whom he doesn’t give glowing reviews take offence, and it was all getting a bit personal.

And Bill Oddie had died. Everyone remembers his wildlife programs and “The Goodies”. Am I the only one who remembers “The Saturday Banana”?

I Wordled. I didn’t get the answer yesterday and so broke a Wordling streak of one hundred and eighty days of getting it right. Starting with “eight” I got it on the fifth attempt this morning with “poser”. I wonder how long this streak will last before I don’t get it right again.

I Munzed, and took the dogs out.

We went up to Kings Wood where we walked our usual circuit. I saw deer, but they were too quick to be photographed. The fairy doors were back (a rather sweet little touch) as were the hornet traps (not quite so sweet). And there had been a fire. The tumulus was covered in ashes and cinders. What sort of half-wit sets light to a scheduled ancient monument?

As we walked we had some messages from “Daddies’ Little Angel ^TM” who was not happy. She’d been walking Pogo and some random passers by asked when Pogo’s pups were due. She had to explain that he wasn’t pregnant; just fat.

We came home where I made us a cuppa. We’d had strawberries and cream yesterday and I used the last of the cream in my coffee. Very nice. I wrote up some CPD. Dull, but needs writing up. One day I will be called up to have my continuing professional development audited. In the past I’ve seen people having absolute panic attacks when trying to produce evidence of what they’ve learned over the last two years. My CPD mightn’t be very good, but I’ve done it.

I did a YouGov survey. If you do enough of them they give you money.

And I downloaded an app. I’m not sure if WeRoam is going to be much good, but time will tell.

I got the washing in, then cleaned out the pond filter. With the pressure filters it’s such an easier job than it used to be. One of the older ladies at Dog Club has inherited her (now passed on) husband’s koi pond and at the weekend her box filters (the sort we used to have) overflowed and she woke up to a three-quarters-empty pond. I don’t miss those old box filters.

I played Meowdoku – I’m currently the country’s number one Meowdoku-er. Go me!!

I read my Kindle for a bit and got the Kindle Bookworm award. Go me!!

We did “FEED THE FISH” and used up the last of the fish food, so I had a little look on Amazon. It certainly pays to shop about. Fifteen litres of the brand of fish food we get costs a shade over seventeen quid. Forty litres of the exact same stuff is just under twenty-one quid. That’s two hundred and sixty per cent more fish food for only twenty per cent more money. I’m just hacked off that it took me so long to realise this.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up pizza and chips and went bowling. I settled down with sleeping dogs and watched an episode of “Stranger Things”.

Again – I’ve had a day off and I’m worn out.

28 July 2026 (Tuesday) - Diversions, Duck's Feet

I woke at ten past two feeling full of energy and raring to go. I then lay dozing before finally getting up at five o’clock. I made toast, watched an episode of “Stranger Things” then had my usual look at the Internet as I do. It was still there, and rather dull at six o’clock. No one was kicking off about anything, so I sorted the undercrackers that I’d washed last night, put some of them on, and got ready for work.

A couple of months ago I saw the boss had made a minor boo-boo and had put me on leave this week. As I got ready for work part of me wished I’d kept quiet and just taken the week off.

I had something of a "drive from hell" getting to work this morning. As I approached the turn-off to the A262 I saw the road was closed. There was a diversion sign pointing west-wards, but as I went west-wards there were no other diversion signs. That was helpful (!) I followed the back roads that I knew would take me to Sissinghurst and hoped that would bring me out past whatever had closed the road. It did, but it wasn't long before I joined a two-mile tailback on the A21. After forty minutes I got to the traffic lights which were causing the hold-up. You'd think road works which were clearly so disruptive would have people actually working on them, wouldn't you?

And then there was another major tailback caused by people struggling to get past a three car smack-up which had happened at one of the busier junctions.

As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking about the company Johnson and Johnson who were facing legal battles about their talcum powder. It was alleged that the stuff caused cancer. Does it? I don't know. But it turns out that if a court declares that it is carcinogenic, then it is only carcinogenic where that court has jurisdiction. The stuff might cause cancer in America, but until such time as a UK court gets involved, the stuff is heigh, ho pip and dandy over here.

One lives and learns.

And there was a lot of talk about ex-servicemen who had been involved in atomic bomb testing in the1950s and 1960s. They were after compensation because the atomic bomb testing had given them cancer. Bearing in mind that anyone who was in the armed forces during that time would now be well into their seventies I must be missing something here.

Pausing only briefly to get lunch from Tesco I went into work. A colleague was just back from a safari holiday in Africa. Travelling all over the place in Tanzania and Mozambique... seven flights in twelve days. I'd like to do that... if it wasn't in a malarious area.

And there was talk of voluntary redundancies. Well, not actual redundancies, a voluntary "Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme". I thought about it, but I'd only get a year's money which wouldn't last long, and I quite like going in to work on a part-time basis. 

As I did my bit we had a phone call from one of the places to which we refer some specialist testing. The person on the other end of the phone was someone with whom I worked years ago. The last time I saw her was in a pub in Lyminge when I was part of a "rent a mob" supporting a friend's band and she was part of a hen party. I got her and the hen party to heckle the singer which was rather entertaining.

Bearing in mind the debacle I had this morning I checked Google Maps before heading home. I came home via Matfield, Brenchley and "Earl's shortcut". "Earl's shortcut" involves taking the back lanes between Biddenden and Bethersden and for all that it is half a mile shorter, it actually takes longer as the roads are so narrow. I'm not keen on taking it as the first fruit of my loins once went that way and ended up in a ditch, but with the main road closed I didn't have much choice. Ironically the bit where “My Boy ^TM” had ended up in a ditch was closed because of an accident so I had even more of a diversion to get round that bit.

Once home I found that the duck's feet had been delivered. Some time ago the doggy dentist lady had recommended that crunching chicken's feet was good for the dogs' teeth so we've been getting bags of those from Amazon. But Bailey had gone off of those. Bearing in mind she'd had the thumbs-down from the doggy dentist lady last week (and brushing her teeth takes some doing) we needed to sort something. Last week the doggy dentist lady mentioned duck's feet. All three seem to like those (for now).

You really can get a bag of duck's feet from Amazon. It’s a shame we forgot to cancel the standing order for chicken’s feet…

29 July 2026 (Wednesday) - Another Day At Work

I had another bad night. I got up at five o’clock, made toast and watched another episode of “Stranger Things”. This one was a full fifteen minutes shorter than yesterday’s one. One major difference between telly and streaming is that all the episodes of a series on the telly are all exactly the same length. There’s no two episodes of a streamed show that are the same length.

I Wordled from “early” to “valve” in four goes then had a look at the internet. There were quite a few posts about pubs re-opening of Facebook this morning. The Halfway House in Challock is to re-open. Having been taken over and re-named The Stag it soon went belly-up as the owners were targeting drivers of classic cars and motorbikes. Not only is this something of a niche market, it is also the very people who don’t spend out on the pub’s key product as they are all driving.

Ironically this is a mistake that the new owner of The Peacock at Goudhurst is looking to make as they are currently refurbishing and looking to target the biker community.

And the Kings Head in Wye has just re-opened after a refurb allegedly costing over a million quid despite there already being three other successful pubs within a five minute walk of the place.

Bearing in mind that (on average) two pubs close up every day in the UK, there’s some rather confident wannabe landlords locally.

And some chap was posting to the local Facebook groups whinging about the state of his food waste bin. It was rather disgusting (as food waste bins are) and he was getting rather aggressive about why the council aren’t going to clean it out for him. He said that he pays his taxes so why shouldn’t the council come clean his bin?

This chap is allowed to vote…

I set off to find my car. I'd had to park some distance from home last night. As I walked I found myself somewhat distracted by the young lady walking down the road in front of me. Perhaps I'm an old puritan, but she might as well have been stark naked for all that her "clothes" were keeping hidden. Perhaps she'd forgotten to get dressed this morning? After all it as only half past six.

I got lunch from the co-op. There was a minor delay as the chap at the front of the queue wandered off to get a cup of coffee from the self-service machine half way through paying for his stuff. He suddenly realised there had been a queue behind him at the counter and that he wasn't the only person on the planet. He then got into a panic as to whether he should finish paying for his shopping or finish getting his cup of coffee.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have this idiot magnet.

Yesterday I had to take a major diversion between Tenterden and Biddenden as the road was closed. I checked Google Maps before I left home and it told me the road was open. It lied. I got to London Beach to find the road still closed, so I took the same diversion I took yesterday. But bearing in mind Google said there were still road works on the A21 I bypassed those and went the way I'd come home last night on that part of the journey.

For all that I prefer working where I am now, the drives to and fro can be problematical.

As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking about FIFA - the world's governing body for football. Following meetings at the recent World Cup, FIFA's head honcho is looking to sell off the rights to its major events (including the World Cup). Amazingly the company which looks set to make most money out of the deal is run by the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Is anyone surprised at that snippet?

Despite taking a rather convoluted route to work I got there far too early. As I walked in I could smell the scent of brekkie wafting on the breeze and I fancied a plateful. I've smelled that before; it is invariably a disappointment. But despite my better judgement I went to the canteen, got a plateful of the cooked brekkie and was again disappointed. It wasn't bad; just nowhere near as good as it smelled.

I went into the lab and did my bit. At lunchtime I had a rather eerie episode. I've been reading a book - a post apocalyptic story set in southern England in which a plague had wiped out most of humanity. Our heroes were in Sevenoaks and needed medical supplies.  One of the characters pointed out there was a hospital on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. The author perfectly described the roads I drive down, the hospital drive, the hospital foyer, the corridors I walk down... but all described as they would be after a world-ending plague.

It was all rather unsettling

With work worked I came home. Google said the A21 was still slow so I headed cross-country via Matfield and Horsmonden again. It also said the road between Tenterden and Biddenden was open, and unlike this morning it was.

As I drove I listened to more Adrian Mole MP3s. It’s far more entertaining than the evening news.

“er indoors ^TM” boiled up hot dogs and chips which we scoffed whilst watching the first episode of the new series of “Bake Off: The Professionals”. It was rather good. As was the hot dog and chips. 

30 July 2026 (Thursday) - Not At Work

I slept through till half past seven this morning. That was an improvement on the last two nights. I made toast and had a look at the internet as I do every morning. A friend was posting pictures and videos from her Cornish holiday in which her daughter seemed to be spending an inordinate amount of time jumping into the sea from harbour walls. I once did that in Hastings. Someone was posting to local Facebook pages offering to sell aerial photos of people’s house taken from his drone… sadly he was posting anonymously so no one could contact him.

And the world was up in arms because Nigel Farage hadn’t been invited to the cross-party talks about social care. All sorts of conspiracy theories were being thrown about but no one seemed to realise that now that Nigel Farage is no longer an MP he was not eligible to attend. He stood down from being an MP in the hope that he'd avoid scrutiny for the five million quid bung he received from Christopher Harborne. (that blew up in his face, didn’t it?)

I Munzed, Wordled from “slept” to “flume” and took the dogs out.

We drove up to the woods where we had an average walk. As we walked we saw where something had been chewing the bark from the trees (squirrels or deer?). My bird app thought it heard a merganser… which is a duck and there’s not many of those in Kings Wood. We saw deer in the distance – too far away to bother chasing them. And we met a woman on a horse… As she came toward us through the woods (on a supposedly “no horses” path) I grabbed the dogs by the collars and held them till she passed. She thanked me for holding the dogs, then made the snide comment that dogs are usually on leads. I smiled sweetly and thought better of telling her that horses are only allowed on the gravelled tracks.

And Bailey rolled in fox poo. Twice.

We came home for a bath, and I made us both a cuppa. I spent an hour marking a trainee’s work on thrombotic disorders. I wrote up some CPD. I put some washing in to scrub, rounded up all the dog turds that I could find, then voomed round the front and back yards with the bionic burner. Five minutes with that sorts the weeds.

“er indoors ^TM” went shopping. I made some toast for lunch and thought about my old lecturer and mucker Pete Chopping. Pete was chief biomedical scientist at Orpington Hospital forty years ago and in the evenings he used to lecture us at Bromley College of Technology. He was *always* banging on about what he called the “Tea & Toast Brigade” by which he meant pensioners who lived off tea and toast and with such a diet usually ended up with macrocytic anaemias (anaemic with really big red cells caused by not eating properly). He maintained that the “Tea & Toast Brigade” brigade were responsible for ninety-nine per cent of all the low folate results we saw in the lab (we measure folic acid every day). Pete would have laid an egg if he saw what I eat for lunch most days when not at work.

Pete was that rarity – he knew absolutely everything there was to know about haematology and could explain and teach so well. And he always got the beers in. He liked a bottle of White Shield. Such a shame that he’s gone…

With toast scoffed I ironed the shirts I’d washed earlier and ironed the rest of the ironing too as I watched an episode of “Stranger Things”. I managed to put the ironing board away without disturbing the dogs, and Treacle was asleep when I announced that I was going to “FEED THE FISH”. She leapt up squealing in excitement.

With fish fed I voomed round with the watering can, then sat by the pond for a bit and read my Kindle.

Over dinner we watched this week’s episode of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” which started well but the writers clearly wrote themselves into a hole from which they couldn’t get out. Half-way through “er indoors ^TM” asked how our heroes were going to get out of the pickle they were in, and sadly rather than resolving the plot the writers effectively said “sod it” and just ran the end credits. Such a shame.

We followed this with more “Bake Off: The Professionals”. Who would have thought that making a Battenburg was so complicated.

And we are now watching the Claudia Winkleman show. Apparently there won’t be a second season for which I am very grateful.

31 July 2026 (Friday) - Litter Pick

I woke feeling profoundly miserable for no reason that I could fathom. I got up, cracked on and it soon passed.

I made toast and had a look at the Internet as I do most mornings. Trivia and petty backbiting abounded, but what really boiled my piss was the Reform UK leader of East Sussex County Council. His bunch have made the decision to stop giving out free meal vouchers to children. The owner of the Grumpy Cook Café in Hastings has carried on giving children free food (at his own expense), but yet again no good deed goes unpunished. Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, and the local Labour MP Helena Dollimore have both been told by the Reform UK leader of East Sussex County Council Andy Woolley that he plans to contact the police about them. He’s got the arse that they named him in criticism when the council he runs decided to stop dishing out school holiday meal vouchers. He feels it unfair that he should get stick for the decisions he and his underlings make.

Meanwhile the head honcho of Reform UK gets a five million quid bung and they are quite happy about it.

Am I missing something here?

I had an email. A new geocache had gone live on the way to Maidstone. There seems to be something of a conspiracy in that new geocaches in the Maidstone area only go live on days when I’m not working there.

I Munzed, Wordled from “wrong” to “purse” in five goes, and got ready for our walk.

As we drove to the woods the pundits on the radio were talking about the state of the country’s water supply and interviewing Feargal Sharkey about it. It was pointed out that no new reservoirs have been built in the UK for thirty years. It was also pointed out that new reservoirs cost a lot of money and don’t have an immediate financial return for investors. There was talk about why nationalising the water companies would just cost the country a fortune…  Feargal Sharkey said that ninety-nine per cent of what the water companies are spending this year is coming from the increased water bills (the implication was that all the existing money goes to paying dividends to foreign investors) so it’s going to cost us anyway.

It strikes me there are two obvious things to do. Desalination plants (like they have elsewhere in the world) and pipes across the UK. Gas gets pumped the length of the nation; why not water?

We got to the woods and had a good walk. As we walked I gathered litter. For some time I’ve been noticing the litter on our walk. The lager can at the half-mile point. The Haribo wrappers at the three quarters of a mile point. The old helium balloon. The discarded trousers (seriously!)

I got quite a haul of rubbish.

The woods were quite busy today; we met loads of people.

We came home. I made us a cuppa then nipped to Tesco to get some odds and sods. I hate supermarkets. Usually I go before work, but at mid-day (like today) they are heaving with normal people. Not one of them look where they are going; not one of them has the slightest idea that there is anyone else in the supermarket. And pretty much every single thing has been moved from where it was the last time that I called in.

With shopping shopped I then pootled in the garden for a bit. Sweeping up, puling weeds, generally tidying up. Whilst I’d been shopping I’d got some Belgian buns. We had them with a cuppa for lunch, then I effectively wasted the afternoon by alternately read more Kindle and played Meowdoku.

“er indoors ^TM” sent me a WhatsApp. If I phoned a certain number I could enter a prize draw for free and have a chance to win a million quid. That would be nice, wouldn’t it. So I entered the prize draw.

It would have been nice to have won, wouldn’t it?

We had a bottle of the three quid plonk with dinner. As we scoffed and guzzled we watched more “Bake Off: The Professionals”. I find myself more interested in the presenter rather than the baking. Woof !!!