We ended the week in Suffolk, spending time around Southwold and enjoying the sea and the sunshine. Everywhere is as parched as London, though as with my apples at home, this year’s fruit crops seem to be excellent. The blackberries are numerous and lush and we will pick a box or two tomorrow. Noticeably the oak apples are full, colourful and without disease this year which is also encouraging. Is there a reason why trees fruit more er fruitfully in drought years? Answers on a postcard or any other format…
Being here is very peaceful, there are no chores to do and a lot of time to think, sleep, write and indulge. What’s not to like?
You’ll see, in amongst the above gallery, one of Sizewell B, in the misty distance. It’s about five miles south of here. One of Boris’ last actions as PM has been to confirm the go ahead of the new nuclear reactor at Sizewell C. Whatever you think of nuclear power, in this energy uncertain world, that’ll be good for local jobs, shite for local roads and ensure we have blackberries the size of pumpkins in the future.
It’s not all peace and harmony, mind you; in the background the Textiliste is surrounded by prints of over 100 hundred quilts and scaled plans of the rooms at Bell House where the exhibition will take place in three weeks. She’s been moving the pieces around like a Ouija board for the overstitched, muttering curses and spells. She never shows it but there must be a smidge of stress building up. My best support is to provide regular feeds and pinot and peanuts on demand…
I had a longish walk with a couple of friends, one of whom, like me has an atrial fibrillation. He’s supremely fit, playing age group hockey for England (and Wales, though we will pass over that small example of disloyalty). He’s probably the only person I know looking forward to his 70th birthday next year as he’ll move into a new age group and be the young blood on the team. Small victories, eh?
Anyway, he’s talking about having an ablation, which is a sort of cauterizing of the dodgy wiring that is one cause of the fibrillation. I have come to the conclusion that the alternative treatment – the defibrillator pads – called a cardioversion and which failed within a couple of weeks for me, isn’t worth repeating so maybe I should be following his route. Time to go back to my cardiologist.
It still hasn’t rained, which is a bummer because we started the annual scarify and feed and seed for the top lawn, in the sure expectation that more wet stuff is due. Still, I’m back at the cricket on Thursday so that’ll bring some downpours…
And Dog? He enjoyed Suffolk, even silently pleading for his own bacon role at the Gun Hill cafe… We shared.
Meanwhile, while we’ve been here, the Lad has been keeping an eye on the cats between doing some work in the garden. He caught out Tipsy the other evening. How on earth she opened the top drawer of the desk, heaven knows but she enjoyed the fruits of her labours in a quantity of kibble…
TanGental 
THE CAT OPENED THE DRAWER! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Oh yes she is incorigible
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Southwold…a pleasant part of the country. One of my cousins owned a large, successful Caravan Park nearby until quite recently, so visited several times before retiring to Spain. Good memories. Your wife looks to be a fit woman! Happy holidays. x
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She keeps me on my toes… and it is a lovely part of the world
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Did you have a go at the oak apple gall magic trick?
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I didn’t because I haven’t the first clue what that is.
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I’m sure you are eager to try it so here is the secret:
Ok, so what is this oak apple magic trick? The magic of the gall is its ability to hover above one’s lips. The may not truly be a magic trick, but it is amusing. While tilting your head back or lying flat on the ground, hold the gall above your lips while gently blowing. Once a steady stream of air is present, let go of the gall and watch the magic. As I mentioned, it’s pretty amusing to people of all ages!
Not in a Ho, ho, ho sort of way I think!
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Splendid. You’ll be drummed out of the magic circle..
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Ooh, I like drums!
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As well as pipes? Is there no end to this man’s enthusiasms?
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Pipes and drums go together, like………pipes and drums?
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Couldn’t see any Oak Apples, just Acorns.
As for why good fruit in a drought year, the usual explanation is that when the plant is under stress it produces lots of seeds so that if the plant dies, there will be plenty of its offspring to carry on its genes
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You could not see the cunningly disguised oak apple? Tssk! Yes I thought that was probably it re fruit but good to get the oracle working…
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Did you ever consider the possibility of posing a question and me not attempting to answer it.
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that is fair; it’s when I don’t ask a question and you still answer it that I begin to wonder…
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That’s my superpower
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Last gasp, maybe? The tree thinks it’s dying so it goes all out?
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Not surprised that Tipsy got into the kibble. Cats are sneaky things. The beach shots are lovely but where is your four-cornered handkerchief hat?
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I did once try but the Textiliste made it clear that I was never to do that again while with her..
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Fruit trees really like the heat – we’re too close to the fog bank to successfully grow fruit – I finally had to give up! Enjoy! My husband has his trains all over the house so I understand how hobbies can take over a house.
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Trains!! Oh I loved my model railway. What gauge? Mine was 00… see I’m a total nerd!!
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Lovely photos, Geoff. Amazed at all the stones on the beach. Those acorns did look like apples.
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I know. My brother put me right about them.
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Good brother.
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It took me decades to realise how good he is
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At least now you know.
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I love the photo of thief in training ….where were the banker and the journalist?? I hope all will be well with the quilt exhibition 💜💖
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Away celebrating thr journalist’s mother’s birthday .
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Aha!!
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Love the photo of the back of Dog’s head, checking out the queue at the kiosk! Awww.
The lady I was staying with for the cricket also has a-fib, as does a friend. They both seem to be on medication and haven’t been offered procedures as far as I know. One of them has a magic pill/regulator to take if things become worrying. There doesn’t seem to be a set treatment, does there.
We finally had some rain around midnight for a while, accompanied by the odd flash and bang, plus a bit more at lunchtime. Hope you get some.
Those patches of black earthy stuff remind me of those French cave paintings!
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Lots of rain so things greening nicely.
Yes afib comes in many forms so several possible solutions. The only meds I have is an anti coagulation tablet. I think it depends if the afib triggers an accelerated heart rate which it doesn’t with me fortunately.
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Pal has to share his snacks with two dogs now so He hardly gets any for himself. (Not a bad thing actually) Looks like a pleasant getaway.
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Delightful. The house is part of a converted 18th century complex that was once a workhouse
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I suspect an inside job on the draw opening.
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I wonder…
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I would have loved to see the footage of Tipsy opening the desk drawer—a resourceful and intelligent critter. We had to learn several times before we quit leaving things out that one of our dogs would consistently grab anything off the counter, even if it was nowhere near the edge.
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That’s true. We’ve learnt several lessons at the paws of unscrupulous pets
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I hope the cardiologist has some good advice
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Indeed some to chew on
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