The secret of eternal life...

It's the kind of title that is sure to lure a few to explore further. I won't worry if the majority end up feeling cheated , Knowing isn't a screen side phenomena.
We are warming up . Anne-So has just put the supports up for peas and beans. I will be bringing more flat stones to the yard . I am not rushing. It may be sunny but the stones are cold , damp and heavy. Viewed from the north side the yard project looks like little else than a pile of rubble. . It is only when the work is viewed by the light of full moon that the true form is obvious to the minds eye. Photographing in the moonlight hasn't proved possible. If someone out there could clue me in as to how to do it I would be most grateful. Folk'd not see much from the one eyed images whether day or night photos. I get virtually no comments good or bad in real life. There's me trying to make a point and there's "them" trying not to notice. It would be nice if I got some interested informed feedback once in a while. The only memorable comment so far came from Captain Denis, "You're crazy", is wot. Crazy enough to try I reckon, it isn't a clinical definition. I like my work, I love the life. I can afford to take my time and mek that good stuff last.
Crazy or not I am glad to be here. This week will see most of the "stone sketch " of the steps . Most of the structure is just piled up dry, without mortar. It will all get stuck down when the donkey work of lugging appropriate calibre rocks to where they will be permanent fixtures. The cement mixer is still in pristine condition, unused. This spring will see it getting the thrashing it was designed to take.
I hear there's a million unemployed youth in U.K., the number is growing fast. At sixty I may only rely on me own good knackered self to do the do in my domain. I would be glad to give youth a chance to get started. I was infected by that nasty virus once before. I will not be volunteering to bail anyone out this time round. Our marriage struggles forward on a bare minimum of cash. No social security, no promise of a pension.My altruism during Thatcher's years in office didn't pay off. Wholly cheated and robbed is all I got for my pains. It's hoped that someone would get the point o' me before terminal decline of European economy sets in. At present it looks like it is on the road to rigor mortis. A point of view is hardly going to breath new life into the corpse. "Best not give your bread to the dead," sez I. Opinion doesn't weigh heavy, popular consensus couldn't move the smallest rock . What did folk say in my youth? "Fine words butter no parsnips." Popular opinion can become consensus psychosis if left unchallenged. Be warned Internaughts, you are easily bamboozled by Klevva speak.
Today is gloriously sunny. I have done too much of this pogoing today. We are ahead of the Spring. Anne-Sophie has sown tomato seeds , early peas are in the ground. The garlic is planted. The broad bean seeds were discovered to have bean weavel, identifiable by a tiny hole in the skin of the seed. There' s a pile of stuff that I could write about what's ado in the Izdom of Iz.
The stone journey continues. I will refer to that in passing, as a casual allusion. Photos of the rocky progress will have to serve. I will leave you with that for now. Doings need to be done.
I nearly forgot...the secret of eternal life??? Keep moving, iz all.

Summat to say...

"You used to come out with some stuff." Few enough would ever remember much of a word. Saying isn't writing nor is it typing. I mean the same stuff as the words I merely said all those years ago. Getting to a point where folk could "see what Iz meant". There are those who would argue against near on every word that I uttered. Happen summat got lost in the translation.They would have been better off if they just simply understood the intended message delivered in a common tongue. I may not have wasted so much time speaking. For the most part they didn't get it.

Britain is a cold country... don't blame the government.

A brief glimpse at Yahoo news remind me of the seasonal crisis. "The "return of winter", it didn't go away and then "surprise surprise" it just popped back to finish the job. It is not news that thousands of old people die every winter in Britain. What would be news would be the assurance from both government agencies and the general public will not be allowing the annual tragedy to repeat itself.It is always winter in February. Invite someone in need to share your cosy fire. Folk ought not need telling.
If the same number of predicted untimely deaths were as a result of terrorist action there would be a rare old hue and cry. I doubt that the British population will create much of a fuss when the annual body count is over. You can't blame the government for not caring, they are representative of the peoples will. Retrospective protest wont bring anyones "loved" ones back to life.C'est normal, hey what? Neglect of duty of care renders the whole country culpable.
A recent visit to U.K. introduced me to what were once regarded as "homes fit for heroes", the are now a long way from being fit for healthy human habitation. They were designed to have fire places heated by solid fuel. Now they are sick buildings. As a practicing carpenter I learned that sick buildings make people vulnerable to many illnesses. This is the season of the culling .
They say peace of mind is proportionate to the size of ones woodpile. We cut our fuel in the summer. in preparation for the worste that the year may offer.Wood burning is encouraged by the French government. Wood is a sustainable fuel to hell with turning biomass into car fuel . Get your priorities right. France gives 50% of the price of a wood burning stove back as a tax rebate on the initial purchase of a stove whether a person pays tax or not. When will Britain,we're told it is the fifth richest in the world, announce with the passing of the cold season that "no one died of our neglect this winter". Good luck my darling Albion. If you are passing this way and feeling the chill; don't hesitate to call in and get warm.

Frozen solid...

Couldn't get the rubble out of the wheel barrow. The spade and hoe just bounce of the soil.Ayup my old blog, long time no see. Filling in the gap would take more than the the day is long. It'll be a while before I put up more photos. You will just have to wait. I've still got a lot to say . Saying out loud isn't the same as pogo typing. You will get some of that when I get a satisfactory audio visual presentation. We still make incremental seasonal progress. The yard project is moving forward again. The round house at the top of the field is on hold till the summer. I am content with just relaxing in warmth and comfort. Looking out of the window with the coming years work staring me in the face.
This is the time for planning the work. Most of the vegetable garden has been manured
it will get turned over just before we plant and sow from early spring. Start warming up a bit of ground in March for early potatoes. . I want to plant garlic but will have to wait till the ground thaws.We still have a few fresh veg in the field Swede, Kale, Leeks, There are some carrots, they are locked in solid ground. Most of our main crop is safely bagged up out of the frost.Plenty of spuds in store.Beetroot is surviving well.We have two enormous cabbages left. Our fuel supply is more than adequate. There is an awful long list of stuff stored in the freezer, It was a good year in Le Breil. As it should be.
I haven't been getting a lot of cheery news from the British media. 'Cept for Toby being on the mend I would get really glum if I started rambling on about the miserable condition I found my lovely old country in on my recent visit. I talked to someone who's peers took to calling the "green guru". Oxford, the city of dreaming spires and lost causes. Reduced "ecology and sustainable development" to blue with a streak of yellow.It sells soap but it doesn't leave you feeling clean.
I will be coming over to Britain again soon on legal business. I will try to ignore as many unhappy details as I can. Concentrate on whats going on that shows some sign of doing some lasting good.
Emma hasn't given brother Toby her new address. She is having a little sulky power play I guess.Someone should give her a word to the wise.
I haven't had her address since she left school. She would be welcome here if she got the bottle to leave the "Big Mistake" behind. Present conduct makes no rational sense .
You have my address Em. You are welcome here any time. We need to talk, long overdue.
The blog can wait Duty calls.