What's a blog then

R.I.P. From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (23 hours old)

My beautiful little stray is dead. He went out for some fresh air at half-past-four on Wednesday afternoon, and some swine ran him over and killed him right outside our gate. They didn't even have t… more

Lincolnshire Folk From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (12 days old)

Many years ago I collected a folk song. Of course, as I was only about five at the time I had no idea that was what I was doing when we sang it in the playground. None of us realised that those playgr… more

Post From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (15 days old)

For the first time in months I write a proper letter. I don't do letters; I do emails - occasionally long, rambling letter-like emails, but more often a series of postcard-like messages. Normally the … more

Work From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (15 days old)

Last week I worked every day. This week just the one - and I am the only Museum Education Assistant to work at all this week as we had just the one booking. It is usually like this either side of scho… more

Just Two Months From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (18 days old)

Less than two months ago I was a stray . . . not any more! This is the way to spend these cold autumn days, not wandering around hoping to chance upon a meal.… more

Cat Watching From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (18 days old)

Albert, apart from his first three weeks as an unweaned feral kitten, has for all his eleven years lived the life of a pampered pet, knowing that a nutritionally balanced meal will be put on his plate… more

Cofidentiality versus Freedom of Speech From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (18 days old)

Most of us who work have signed something about not breaking client confidentiality or bringing our employers into disrepute. As if we would! But when it comes down to it, what do these words a… more

Formal Lessons? From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (19 days old)

Apparently there has been a report, rejected out of hand by the government, which recommends that formal schooling should not begin until children are six years old. Well, I suppose it depends what… more

Address From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (22 days old)

Today Joe got a letter from the District Council (guardians of the electoral roll and administrators of the rates guaranteed to have every address in the area on file) addresed to "Free Vale Drive" - … more

Saluting Today's School From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (22 days old)

The school I went to today is having substantial building work done. They are all carrying on nobly against huge background noise and disruption. At the moment there is no staffroom and everyone is ha… more

Cato From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (26 days old)

Doesn't he look wise and full of dignitas, gravitas etc.? Cato seems to suit him.… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 8 Going Home From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (28 days old)

The rain was siling down when I got up. I cleared out the grate and relaid the fire as I had done each day of the holiday, Called Joe, Had my shower. Called Joe Laid the breakfast table. Called Joe. P… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 7 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (28 days old)

Friday, October 2nd The last day. (Sigh!) Still it is nice to see the cats and the Aged Parent again. We decided to visit Holker Hall. It was raining intermittently which made a house with lots … more

Lake District Holiday - Day 6 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (29 days old)

After three busy days at work I can now resume my holiday diary:- Thursday, October 1st Joe was still complaining of a bad tum so my first stop was in Bowness to buy Immodium etc. I also called … more

Lake District Holiday - Day 5 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (30 days old)

Wednesday, September 30th This was the day that Becky joined us for the day. I had hoped to persuade her, Paul and Hannah to join us for several days of the holiday, but they are trying to get back… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 4 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (32 days old)

Tuesday, September 29th Joe had expressed a desire to do some shopping so we stopped in Bowness. I bought a new memory card for my camera - the 128MB one having stopped working, leaving me with onl… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 3 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (33 days old)

Monday, September 28th We drove up to the North Lakes on stage one of the Wordsworth trail, and another house new to me. Mummy and I went to Cockermouth years ago where we had 'won' a half-price… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 2 From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (33 days old)

Sunday, September 27th I was so impressed with the church - not the building which is relatively modern (about a hundred years old) and undistinguished - but the whole ambience. (Note the heap of c… more

Lake District Holiday - The Cottage From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (34 days old)

Over the years I have stayed in quite a few cottages, but this one is easily the most remote. Crook is a very spread out village with about a mile of road and open country between the pub and the chur… more

Lake District Holiday - Day 1 The Journey From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (34 days old)

Saturday, Septemeber 26th We set off for the Lake District in remarkably good time despite Joe having managed to flood his kitchen doing a last minute underwear wash. (My washing was all done earli… more

Wow! From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (43 days old)

Oh, dear, I was late to work today - not badly - just a few minutes and I did have an excellent excuse. I was just leaving the house when Kevin Leahy, until he retired Curator of Archaeology at North … more

Friendship From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (44 days old)

Pam asked how Blackie was getting on with Bert. They are getting on fine. Tonight I went out to call them in. No sign. Half-an-hour later they saunter up together - two boys returning from an e… more

Television Appearances From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (46 days old)

Has anybody noticed that - whether as interviewee, part of a featured group or just in the crowd - whenever somebody you know is involved in a TV programme, if that somebody (especially if it is yours… more

Back to Church Sunday From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (47 days old)

We had Back to Church Sunday at Swallow this week. Invitations were sent out to the whole village and the church was pretty full I am glad to say. On the other hand I was finding it quite difficult to… more

Fire From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (47 days old)

The last few nights we have been lighting a small fire in the evening - a month earlier than we usually do so. Blackie clearly has never seen a live fire before and was very quaint with his slow, caut… more

Mastermind From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (49 days old)

I was reading a blog earlier that has a twitter column down the side. I could do with that just to mention in passing that on tonight's Mastermind I scored 10 on the Oscar Wilde questions when the con… more

A Nice Cup of Tea From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (51 days old)

A man came along to measure up for a little job that needs doing. I had just put the kettle on so I offered him a drink. "Yes, please," he said, "and my man who's waiting in the van. He's been all… more

Victorian School From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (52 days old)

Back to work properly today with two workshops at the Wilderspin School. The two large groups from a Scunthorpe school were still at the beginning of their Victorian history project, but very eager an… more

Elton's Baby? From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (53 days old)

I don't have any problem with cross cultural international adoption - several of my cousins became my cousins by that route, and it has been pretty successful, so I'm rather in favour of it. Equall… more

Blame? From LissaT ^Pro in Clarissa et al. (55 days old)

This morning on TV before I went to church so I didn't hear what conclusion they reached - if any - they were debating whether Islam itself was to blame for islamic extremism. No, it isn't Islam … more