Nothing changes.

These are my daughter's two dogs out in Brisbane, Oz.

Obviously the same rules apply in her house as they do in ours. 

Rule No 1: Absolutely no dogs allowed on the sofas!!!

Oh, all right. Go on then.

The weather in Brisbane has been awful, which is why the girls look very fed up.

Lore and order.

I was very pleased to see the Fairy Police out-n-about, and rounding up stray Fairies from the streets of Brighton this morning

This particularly dangerous example had been caught with a vicious wand, wings for an air-born escape, and a tutu to distract passers-by.

I believe she is now safely under lock and key at the local Fairy pound. The sooner the rest of them (if there are any left) are found and arrested, the better.

 

Ella Fitzgerald - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

One of the world's most beautiful songs, sung by one of the world's most beautiful voices.

Judy's version is the most iconic, but Ella's is superb too, and contains the often ignored verses.

Well done Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but not so well done to MGM who originally thought the song not suitable for The Wizard of Oz. How wrong they were!

An Open Letter to Her Majesty.

Your Majesty. I may be old, and have various permanent aches and pains, but I think I can still do my bit; if required.

If Your Majesty requires my services in order to stem any further advances from that b*stard Putin (please excuse my language), I will put my name forward willingly.

I can no longer cope with long route marches, but I'm a good shot, and would probably make a good 'static sniper'. A decent rifle, a silencer, and a good supply of ammo, and I'll be there amongst the best of them.

As I'm sure you're aware, I did do some basic Officer Training, so a commission would be appreciated; 'Captain' would be fine (of a Sussex Regiment please).

Somehow I don't see Putin's men actually attempting to conquer England (like the tyrant Hitler before him), I think he'd find such a thing tricky (as did the tyrant Hitler) . However, I'm prepared to travel into Europe to help the cause. I speak French, so that might be of use.

Your Majesty, may I humbly suggest that you have a word with your Chief of Staff (Sir Tony Radakin), and remind him that Boris's trifling economic sanctions will not stop this maniac. It will require serious fire-power, determination, and sadly loss of life. Taking money away from Russian Football Club Billionaires will not achieve this.

I am ready to go. You have my address and phone number, so whenever, or if ever, I am required, I will take my shilling and fight for the freedom of my country, and for that of others.

Your servant; Cro xx 

Cousins.

I have six grandsons; no granddaughters. Four of the grandsons are roughly the same age, so they all get along very well.

This must be my favourite photo of them together from a few years ago.

I'm not quite sure why they're wearing those Water Polo style hats, but the high-rise backdrop of Goldcoast (Oz) is superb. My youngest owns a home there (not in one of those blocks). It almost looks like something from a Superman film.

                                       

 

The boys are all young teenagers now, and are big, strapping, handsome lads.

It's a pity that they live as far apart from each other as is possible, otherwise they'd make a great gang. I could picture them sharing a flat in Chelsea, or Bondi; clubbing, making female hearts flutter, and generally living life to the full. Just as all young men should do.

Maybe during their inevitable gap years, they'll all get together again and 'do stuff'. There's no better friends than cousins.

 

This Really Annoys Me

I don't know why I should be so annoyed by headlines such as this, but I suppose it's possibly because it risks making others feel that they're somehow inadequate. If they've worn the same clothes more than once, then they are being 'cheap'. 

Why on earth shouldn't Queen Letizia wear her dress more than once, and why on earth do they refer to it as 'recycling'? I don't 'recycle' my T shirts or socks, so why suggest that Letizia does? The man in the brown trousers looks as if he'd recycled those several hundred times; but no mention of that!

I am well known for using clothes for as long as possible; in some cases until they literally fall to bits. My old long Barbour coat is a fine example; it's still hanging on, just.

Who in their right mind would spend £222 on a dress and only wear it once? I'm sure that those who meet The Queen will have worn their clothes on several occasions, and I don't suppose they would be fussed if she did the same. It might even make her seem more approachable.

 

What lives down a hole like this?

Behind our house, there's a short twitten that runs between our garages and the garden behind a primary school. Over recent days, Billy has been very interested in an ever expanding hole under the fence. I would estimate its size as about 7 by 6 inches.

Being a country boy, I'm always interested in the behaviour of wild life, and I'm watching the evolution of this sub-fencing passage with interest.

It shows fresh signs of digging daily. It's too small for a Fox; unless it's for cubs. It could be a Rat, but it's almost too large. I have seen a Squirrel in the tree above it, but I don't know if Squirrels dig holes as such. It could also be a Hedgehog, but again, I'm not sure if they are 'diggers'.

I don't think we have Badgers in town, nor do we have Stoats or Weasels. 

I notice that someone has tried to block the hole with a roughly nailed plank, but it doesn't seem to be deterring whoever the digger is.

I do hope it's a Fox, and that it the passage will soon be enlarged. I do rather like the idea of Foxes living nearby. People say they kill Cats, but I think this is false. Somehow, though, I doubt if it's a Fox.

Billy is certainly keen on meeting whoever pokes his/her nose through the opening. He finds it fascinating; as do I.