Life with cats, and other things…
Pigeons practicing their circuits on 5th September. A flock of pigeons has been around for most of the summer. Since things quieted down after the departure of the rowdy gang (starlings, grackles and red-winged blackbirds), they drop in periodically to peck at the seed tray and hoover up whatever is left of the peanuts, though … Continue reading Sorting
08:02 13th September 2026 Saturday was quite the greyest, wettest day in many weeks. But I have a backlog of skies that I've been meaning to share. Sky-gazing is one of life's great pleasures, in my view. By sheer good luck, 8 years ago, I acquired a property that offers a wide open view and … Continue reading In the moment
9th September 2026 Some days simply refuse to come together to produce a single accomplishment. Although I am in the fortunate position where this matters not, it is never-the-less irritating when the disruption is due to power outages followed by internet failures. Those came mid-morning and lasted some five hours. Earlier, my time had been … Continue reading A little white chicken
"Salute to the Queen" from an original by John Young 1987 The above print of a painting hangs where I pass by it several times a day, but I hardly need it to remind me of that awful day 25 years ago. September 11th is one of those anniversaries that cannot pass unnoticed. Hiroshima was … Continue reading The towers
30th August 2026 It's funny how context can totally change your perception of things. Children's playgrounds, which are always in garish colours, get my back up. They are hideous and often ruin a perfectly good view. Kids deserve to have them, but must they be so loud? The swings and slides of my childhood were … Continue reading Sacrifices
August drew to a close quietly, under a benign sky. Traditionally, it is a hot month in which we endure the "dog days" of summer, but not this year. As reports came from around the Northern Hemisphere of oppressive heat and drought, our temperatures remained well within the comfort zone with just enough periodic rain … Continue reading Summer of ’62
06:23 28th August 2026 You would think, with dawn arriving later, that Lily's wake-up calls would be adjusted. Well yes, they are, but in the wrong way. First it was 03:30, then 3 and last night it was 02:30, which is not awful because it gives me a chance to get back to sleep, but … Continue reading Lost sleep
White snakeroot Snail mail is infrequent these days, usually consisting of begging letters and unsolicited "free" gifts from charitable organisations. Yesterday, though, I received an actual letter with the following unwelcome news: In a matter of a few short weeks, my primary care physician will be leaving, so I must start over yet again. The … Continue reading Unwelcome news
14:25 25th August 2016 As I write, we await the arrival of a gentleman who will offer a quote for the installation of a generator that will keep us up and running in the event of a power failure, since the model we inherited with the house appears to activate but a single light bulb. … Continue reading Diffusers
25th August 2026. A changing landscape. Living in Asia, we had only two basic seasons, wet and dry. Some times of year were a little less hot. This delighted my parents. Once I'd acclimated to the humidity, I didn't think much about seasons, though I loved tropical downpours. What pleased me immensely was that in … Continue reading Anniversary