PeteBlanchard - Network

This is how exciting retirement can get in January.

This is how exciting retirement can get in January.

Looking behind the bin, I discovered our dearly departed cat's old water bowl.Now washed, it's ready to become Reg's water bowl...

Looking behind the bin, I discovered our dearly departed cat's old water bowl.

Now washed, it's ready to become Reg's water bowl whenever the sun-loving mog from next door takes up residence in the garden again in the summer.

Merry Christmas, everyone! S'pose I'd better get up after a rather pleasant Christmas Day lie-in*.* Only available to folk without...

Merry Christmas, everyone!

S'pose I'd better get up after a rather pleasant Christmas Day lie-in*.

* Only available to folk without younger children. Terms & conditions apply.

I'm off to Wiltshire in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations for odd, novel, interesting places to visit?(The list already has Avebury...

I'm off to Wiltshire in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations for odd, novel, interesting places to visit?

(The list already has Avebury & Salisbury (Old Sarum & the cathedral) on it.

Lunchtime's smoked fish & bean stew was a winner. And there's enough left over for 2 more meals.The only problem is that the...

Lunchtime's smoked fish & bean stew was a winner. And there's enough left over for 2 more meals.

The only problem is that the kitchen will be smelling like Captain Haddock's crusty undies for the next couple of days.

Sigh...

I've been spotted having breakfast by Reg from next door.It's not gone down too well.

I've been spotted having breakfast by Reg from next door.

It's not gone down too well.

Some might say that Reg from next door is abusing my hospitality...

Some might say that Reg from next door is abusing my hospitality...

Hopefully, *this* link will work...https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23776024.no-surprise-southend-fish-chip-capital-uk/

Hopefully, *this* link will work...

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23776024.no-surprise-southend-fish-chip-capital-uk/

Seems there are more fish & chips shops in Southend-on-Sea than anywhere else in the UK. Doesn't surprise me. The statistic for...

Seems there are more fish & chips shops in Southend-on-Sea than anywhere else in the UK. Doesn't surprise me.

The statistic for eateries used to be that there were more restaurants in Southend per 100k people than anywhere else in the UK outside of London.

www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2377602...

And if you were interested, *the* one to go to is Oldham's, here in Westcliff... ;)

One of the most pleasant things I've discovered about retirement is a lazy summer breakfast outside in the sunshine.

One of the most pleasant things I've discovered about retirement is a lazy summer breakfast outside in the sunshine.

Just remembered I'd put a chocolate bar at the back of the cupboard last week. Or had I dreamt it?A quick rummage resolved the matter;...

Just remembered I'd put a chocolate bar at the back of the cupboard last week. Or had I dreamt it?

A quick rummage resolved the matter; it was real.

And it was delicious 🤤

The run to the tip is complete & I've now showered.You may now remove the pegs from your noses and prepare for lunch...

The run to the tip is complete & I've now showered.

You may now remove the pegs from your noses and prepare for lunch...

Off to fill the car with more buddleia branches for another exciting trip to the tip!Think I'll leave this morning's shower until...

Off to fill the car with more buddleia branches for another exciting trip to the tip!

Think I'll leave this morning's shower until after I get back... 💩

The downsides have included triggering my hay-fever, making my car stink with buddleia cuttings & treading in fox poo.Still, the Goddess...

The downsides have included triggering my hay-fever, making my car stink with buddleia cuttings & treading in fox poo.

Still, the Goddess of Small-Scale Community Action must be smiling on me as yesterday I found a £5 note in amongst the rubbish...

There's a little bit of communal land just behind our close. Out of sound, out of mind, it's become overgrown & filled with...

There's a little bit of communal land just behind our close.

Out of sound, out of mind, it's become overgrown & filled with rubbish over the years.

But now, a group of us is clearing it up. So far, we've chopped down & cleared several large buddleias & 2 small sycamores.

Breakfast over, so time to get up off my rear and do something constructive...

Breakfast over, so time to get up off my rear and do something constructive...

I see Twitter is still on life support this morning.While DMs work still and the whole thing works fine if you access it within a browser...

I see Twitter is still on life support this morning.

While DMs work still and the whole thing works fine if you access it within a browser (rather than via the app), it's the worst outage yet under Elmo.

It amazes me still how one man's massively overinflated self-belief & ego has led to so much money being wasted & destroyed one of the world's leading social media.

19°C in the shade in the garden this afternoon. Glorious!

19°C in the shade in the garden this afternoon.

Glorious!

Yesterday I heard that a Twitter friend's dog had to be put to sleep. I'm not a dog person, but this little Jack Russell was so...

Yesterday I heard that a Twitter friend's dog had to be put to sleep. I'm not a dog person, but this little Jack Russell was so photogenic, I felt like I knew him.

I don't know if there's such a thing as 'canine star quality', but if there is, then this little chap had it in spades.

RIP Leonard

Then just now, I got another one, this time pretending it's from BT.This one reckons I've got 2 missed calls. Odd. An email telling...

Then just now, I got another one, this time pretending it's from BT.

This one reckons I've got 2 missed calls. Odd. An email telling me I have missed calls!?!?!

Of course, it isn't from BT and wants me to click on a dodgy link. No way.

Be careful and DON'T click on the links!

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