Scene: Piblington Baggage

A man sits on a cheap plastic chair. The factory space is cold, damp, and a bright light shines is his face. There is little sound except the the occasional drip of water. Robert Hooksmith: Hullo? Is, is there anyone there? I’m very cold and someone’s tied me to this chair. Elderly voice: Hooksmith, you sit before the Council of People. Your crime is the abandonment of ethics – Robert: That’s not a law. I object! Elderly voice: As I was saying, the abandonment of ethics and the unlawful cancellation around the ECHR. Robert: Is this the toilets thing again? You woke nutters, you’ll – Young voice: Silence! The European Court of Human Rights. Do you not pay attention to […]

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Gift not grift

Hi, Friday at last huh? Well, good news for those of us who don’t work the weekends, at least. Yikes, I hated working weekends back in the 90s. Saturdays & Sundays are made for relaxing, IMO. Well, okay, housework, errands, dog-walks, and then maybe some relaxing – but not being stuck at a desk! 🙂 A brief spell With a last minute summer trip, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and Child 2.0 headed off into the countryside. They had their hearts set on visiting a distance neolithic site, and this would mean an overnight stay. With the slightly cooler weather, I did wonder if I might get a day out, however work related, uhhh, work conspired against this. I did, […]

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Staycation vibes

Hi, Today’s the last day of the Jones’ staycation. Both the Ever Lovely Mrs J and myself had leave to use up, so with Child 2.0 on a much deserved school holiday; it was time for a few days out. Given our family situation around caring – both human and animal! 🙂 – we split things up, so Mrs J & Child 2.0 could stay overnight for the further trips, while Yours Truly would look after the hounds. Plus, I don’t travel as well as I used to (Ed: Fairly sure Lynn’s snoring might summon a Witcher to investigate the monstrous noise😏). Hot headed It’s been another heatwave in Europe, so the first part of this week was aiming to […]

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It kills dreams

Hi, How’s things? For UK readers, I hope you’ve unpacked the summer clothes you’ve put away, after this week’s cool spell. Brace yourself, climate change is coming 😉 There we go, that’s the obligatory mention the weather element sorted. Not the news This week – and I will ignore all that’s going wrong at the mo, because, well frankly, I just can’t face it. Part of me feels I’m ignoring the Elephant in the Room – “another banana, Derek?” 🐘- but dare I say, in an age where there seems little escape from 24 rolling hellscape reporting, I’m beginning to feel that not talking about certain topics is actually a blessing. If no that, then certainly a temporary respite or […]

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Scene: The Network

Two smartly dressed Victorian gentlemen are making the way through rough ground, trying to reach a windmill. Watson: This way Holmes. Not much further. Holmes: Yes, I can see that. Watson: Don’t be snippy, Mister You-can’t-top-my-IQ-on-a-dartboard. Holmes: Why in the name of evidence and deduction is this internal contraption stuck out in the depths of beyond? Watson: I believe this is Norfolk. Just be glad we’re in the bits above sea level. Holmes: Gah! Nettles. I’ve been stung in places I didn’t know I had places. Do you have my medicine, by the way? Watson: Here, rub this on it. Holmes: Rumex obtusifolius, Watson? Really? Watson: Rufus who-it-wotsit? Holmes: A dock leaf! Watson: Yes, I know it’s a blooming dock […]

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Taking it steady

Hi, How’s things with you? Hopefully good. Household Child 2.0 broke up for the summer holidays today, so despite his collection of A Level homework, he is, at least, free of attending school for the next six weeks or so. This also means that I won’t be doing the morning & afternoon school run. I’ve blocked out those times (plus a small gap for traffic issues) in my work diary since Mrs J’s work & health needs changed. I mean, we’re very much an equal ops house, so child care & house work is just stuff we do. Dare I say, no different than most modern households. So with my current contract coming to an end and Child 2.0 on […]

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