Second Hand Car Dealers.

I have never bought a brand new car, and I never would.

When I bought my current car (The Compact Royce), it was about 3 years old, it had done about 50,000 kms, and it was about half the price of a new one. As far as I was concerned, it was ideal.

It was for sale at a major dealership, and a very attractive 'parts and breakdown guarantee' was included in the price. I was certain that my Euros were being well spent.

On viewing the car, I had noticed that the front left glass headlight cover looked brand new, and that the front left wheel arch panel was a tiny bit different in 'age and finish' to the rest of the car; both parts had obviously been replaced. Without mentioning what I'd seen, I asked the salesman if the car had been in an accident, he answered that IT HAD NOT. I said nothing; and gave him my slow 'knowing smile'.

It really does make you wonder why second-hand car salesmen are totally incapable of telling the truth; all he needed to say was 'yes, it had a little bump, but it's been repaired'.

Kim Jong-un.

Those who live in free-thinking democracies will be shocked at what is now going on in N Korea.

Before I started writing this, I had so much I wanted to say about such regimes and those who suffer under them, but now that I find myself in front of my keyboard, I'm dumbstruck; not usually a Cro-characteristic.

When I did my CCF Officer Training Course, the first line of the first paragraph on page one of the 'How to Win Wars' book stated; Know your enemy, go in strong, and go in hard. I think a few powerful countries might need to get together, and follow that advice (which they rarely do). Let's just hope the upstart fat boy comes to his senses before it's necessary. 

My sympathy goes out to all those poverty-stricken North Korean citizens who are totally brainwashed and powerless in the face of such awful puerile arrogance and bellicosity.

p.s. Don't you think he'd look better holding a large white fluffy cat?

p.p.s. I've known one or two hard-n-fast Communists; people a bit like the anti-Thatcherite hoodies we've seen rioting in recent days. The one dilemma I always offered was to imagine themselves standing on the border between North and South Korea, and to chose where they would prefer to live. As you can imagine, it was difficult getting a direct answer from them, but in the end no-one actually went along with the courage of their convictions; they'd rather be somewhere where they can express their opinions.

Al Fresco Scratching and Daubing.

Stage 1. Find suitably paintogenic location; hopefully not too far from where the Compact Royce can reach. Go to spot several times just to survey it. Think about it some more. And some more. Decision time.  

Stage 2. Load the car with every possible piece of kit imaginable, even with stuff you know you won't need (like a magic wand). Haul it all to the site. Breathe deeply. Do arm swinging exercises (Bauhaus style). Start daubing.

Stage 3. Will I keep the finished job? 

The answer is 'possibly'. I'll hold onto it for a while, until I go back for a second, more simplified, stab. I do tend to destroy more than I keep.

Doggerel.

And did those dogs in modern time

Walk upon France's lawns so green

And were both Mont' and Bok 

On France's pleasant pastures seen.

And did the countenance divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Lumberjack builded here

Amongst these light angelic thrills?

Bring me my glass of yearning rouge

Bring me my brushes of desire

Bring me my paints, O clouds unfold

Bring me my canvases of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight

Nor shall my dogs sleep in my home

Till we have built Lumberjack

In France's green and pleasant loam.

N.B. 'Lumberjack' is Mr Spellcheck's suggestion for what he sees as the incomprehensible name of my village.

With apologies to William Blake.

Another confession.

                               

With all the confessions I'm making recently, I'm almost experiencing what it must be like to be Catholic.

Back in around 1980 I spent a while living in England's Shropshire. My parents were both unwell and they had asked if I would go back to assist; which, luckily at the time, I was able to do.

We had a near neighbour who fancied himself as a Javelin thrower, and it was his wont to practice his art in our paddock. Someone throwing a spear around in your garden, and without having asked permission, is un-nerving, to say the least.

One morning I found him searching about in the longish grass, and asked him what he was doing. He'd lost his bloody Javelin, and his fruitless search continued until lunchtime.

Whilst he was away, I had a quick look myself, and was amazed when, almost at once, I saw a gleaming 'point' peeping out from under a tuft of grass; it was his bloody Javelin. I took it away and hid it in a shed.

He returned in the afternoon and continued his search. I said nothing, and months later used it as a fencing post.

OK, I was probably nasty, and I might even have deprived England of an Olympic gold medallist. But at the time, both he, and his behaviour annoyed me intensely.

I would now like to apologise.  

Freddies Prezzies.

It's been a while since Freddie brought us a present. In fact I'd begun to think that his small-game-hunting days were over. 

In our pre-dogs days he would bring live mice up to the bedroom at night, which, according to the 'Wives Book of Daily Demands' (Burnt-Bra Publications), I was personally duty-bound to find and dispose of.

Fred is now an outdoor cat (at nights, anyway), and it's good to know that no mouse is safe within easy reach of the house.

                                

And this, above, is where Freddie now spends his days; tucked up underneath the duvet on our bed. Good hunting Fred; and thank you!

STOP PRESS: And here he is again this morning, with another offering. He's just turned up with this trophy!

Greenery.

The tentative return of greenery after the long winter is a huge relief; but we're not there yet.

Buds are swelling, most of the fruit trees are in flower, and the climbing Hydrangea (above left) is sprouting leaves. There are signs all around.

The lawn has had its second mowing of 2013, and is looking OK.

We've had so much overnight rain recently that the ground is sodden. A few days of warm sunshine (and no rain) and I should be able to rotovate Haddock's. I'm looking forward, as I always do, to sowing and planting.

Unfortunately there are FOUR MORE DAYS of intermittent rain forecast; the only plus-point being that the watering system for all my newly planted fruit trees has been set on 'automatic'.