Shipping Forecast or Football Results?

I have two secret ambitions. I know they will never be fulfilled. I would just love to have a go though. I would love to read the football results out on a Saturday afternoon and I would adore it if the BBC asked me to read the Shipping Forecast. Actually perhaps my time is near. James Alexander Gordon who has read the classified football results on a Saturday for eons has retired. Now is my time.

I have no interest in football but it's a dear memory of childhood listening to the rhythmic beat of the announcer reading out all the football results as my brothers listened attentively for the score for Leeds Utd. There was comfort in the methodical singsong. A slight downward inflection for the loser and a tad cheery lilt for the victor. The names were great too especially the Scottish ones. Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir and Queen of the South. I often thought as a little girl that I quite fancied being queen of the south for the day.

Partick Thistle 1: Queen of the South 1 - apologies if I have the leagues mixed up there. Leeds Utd 27 : Manchester Utd 0 - one there for my brothers! Sorry, David! It's how matter of fact the announcer had to be enunciating with authority and certainty but putting the slightest undulation in the score to keep it interesting and never monotonous.

The shipping forecast is the same. Fabulous names: North Utsire, South Utsire, German Bight, Shannon, Rockall, Malin. The announcer has to be precise, no mistakes, clear as clear can be: lives depend upon it. As a non sailor I have absolutely no idea what it all means but it's music by words. I think it's all about wind direction and visibility and I don't know what but it sounds important and crucial and just a bit mysterious.

I'd be good at either.  Perhaps the BBC will come knocking!

Wild flowers

I visit my mum almost every day. The garden at the elderly people's home she lives in is just lovely. This year the gardeners planted wild flowers - breathtaking and cheering to the soul.

The Build: Week 6

We are still here in the middle of our building site. Lots and lots of activity helped along by the glorious weather. We can see now what the outside will look like and the house does look a lot friendlier for it. Two velux windows went in today in the kitchen - very exciting.

We have been a little preoccupied with our Juliette balcony. If you remember back to my post in March I mentioned how in an ideal world I would have a tower as part of this extension. Second best would have been a full blown balcony which again wasn't possible so we have settled for third best: a Juliette balcony. Actually it's more like a 'Julie' balcony. Due to the pitch of the roof under the balcony we can't quite have full length windows. We have had to settle for three-quarter windows but we are thankful for anything we can get.

David and I have made a full blown, forensic study of Juliette balconies as we have walked around the area. Surprisingly there are quite a lot of them and each and every one has a handle on the outside of the window. Now if you have a proper balcony upon which your butler serves you your morning paper, strong coffee and croissant every summer morning then you may indeed have need for a handle on the door exterior. The butler may gently close the balcony window as he retreats to his duties. Then once you have breakfasted you may have need of said handle on the outside of the door to get back in. But a Juliette door is a door to nowhere. It's a door to ventilation. It's a door with aspirations to being a balcony. A door with a view. You aren't going to cling to the balcony balustrade, close the door and then want to get back in. We are not a superhero Spiderfamily. Why would you need a handle on the outside? It just looks daft and clumsy.

Thus we have set the builder and window maker the task of ensuring there isn't a bloody big handle on the outside of our 'Julie' window which will annoy us to death from the garden. I thought Juliette balcony makers would have this little detail in hand but no. They manufacture these windows with proper handles. No doubt indeed because they are just patio windows but placed one storey or more up. Will keep you posted on the handle controversy.

It's hot!

You know it's glorious weather when you can put your washing out on the line in the evening to save you a job in the morning, absolutely confident in the knowledge it won't rain and the sun will shine again the next morning. Ahh sunshine and blue skies.

Dressing of the wells

Yesterday was the annual well dressing ceremony in the village where we live. Apparently in the 19th century there were  regular well dressings here but the tradition died down until being reintroduced in 2000 by the Women's Institute.

There is a huge tradition of well dressings in Derbyshire where wells are decorated in flower petals to give thanks for the clear water they provide. The traditions may date back to the Black Death when you really were thankful for untainted water and gave thanks for that privilege.

The WI dressing made entirely from flower petals and greenery.

The well dressings where we live are quite a celebration. A brass band leads the way. There are quite a few wells and each one is blessed and a verse of All Things Bright and Beautiful sung. Some are actual wells coming off the escarpment behind the village and some are symbolic allowing different groups to get involved in the historical ceremony. The three local schools, the guides, scouts, WI, two local churches all make flowered tableaux.

The local Rainbows, Brownies, Guides.

I think it's a lovely tradition bringing together the local community. I think everyone gets something out of it. If you are religious then you really are giving thanks. If you are not then you can enjoy the camaraderie and the artistry and dedication of the people who make the flowered pictures. I also love the fact the local schools get involved. My son last year was able to point out the owl that he had made from petals on his school's tableau.

Long may sticking petals on wells continue.

Summer artichokes

I don't know about you but Globe Artichokes have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Not that they have come up in conversation much in the circles I mix in but if they have I have been slightly in awe of anyone who knows what they are and hugely in awe if they have cooked and eaten one. I have been even more impressed if they have known which parts you eat and how?

Last year we bought two plants and popped them in the garden. This year we have magnificent architectural artichokes. The buds are absolutely amazing and a beauty to behold. In the build up to one being ready I bought a jar of artichokes to sample. We liked.

We looked on the internet to discover when we should pick. And after some prevarication we did duly pick. By coincidence I watched a chef on TV cook an artichoke the other month so felt a little bit more confident as to how to go about cooking it and which bits to eat.

Today we cooked it and ate it. It was very enjoyable. Not much to eat from one small globe but heck we'd grown it so it was wonderful. We chewed on the cactus-like leaves and savoured the internal choke. I did manage to boil a little caterpillar in the process so apologies to all multi-legged, long bodied creatures but it was all a lovely summer in the garden experience.

Rapunzel Diaries 4: Victoria/Prospect Tower

Another great tower because you can climb it. It was built in 1844 to relieve unemployment amongst local miners and stonemasons. It's also a cool tower because it already sits on the side of a very steep hill so the vista is rather spectacular. It has spiral stairs within which are always desirable. They build up the anticipation of the view as you wind round and round.

It sits within The Heights of Abraham complex near Matlock in Derbyshire which must be one of the oldest little theme parks in Britain. It was first opened in the 18th century for woodland walks and visits down the lead and fluorspar mines. You can still go down the mines today. I really enjoyed it as it has a real sense of history and because of its unusual position, perched on the side of a wooded precipice. But the best feature is the cable car in which you travel to get up the steep hill to visit this bijou theme park. You really do need a head for heights.

By the way it's called the Heights of Abraham after a battle on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec in 1759.