Saturday 3rd August 2019, 8.10pm (day 2,900)
I’ve always been prepared to state that the Belgians do the world’s finest beer. And it’s very nice to finally come to their country and test this out for real. Has my mind changed? Not in the least.
I’ve always been prepared to state that the Belgians do the world’s finest beer. And it’s very nice to finally come to their country and test this out for real. Has my mind changed? Not in the least.
Another bit of travelling begins. First stop, London. Clare peruses possible future destinations in an exhbition at the British Library. This is her 99th appearance on the blog, incidentally.
I had to get myself out into some fresh air — the thunderstorms, which have been a constant presence for days, also relented. The sheep seem still to suspect me of some nefarious and unstated crime however. There was a lot of this today; sheep were definitely the dominant lifeform in the region.
Another day when I didn’t leave the house. Joe will be fairly housebound for a while too, as today he went and had his “Sybil Fawlty” operation; in other words, the removal of an ingrowing toenail (this being what kicks off the fun in the Fawlty Towers episode, “The Germans”). He seemed fairly blasé about it all. But it’s not like he needs any great excuse to put his feet up at the moment — and why shouldn’t he, it’s the summer holiday.
Since I posted on Thursday and mentioned how hot and sunny it was, we have seemed never to be more than three hours away from the next storm. I sheltered from this evening’s one under the tarp that has been graciously stretched over the beer garden at the Fox and Goose; it is from this covering that this raindrop rather attractively descends.
On a day when the rain came down so hard we were in some danger of flooding again, it’s nice to have some escapism thanks to the Picture House showing Goldfinger. How cool is Connery in this role? Male or female, you surely cannot but want to be him. And as was the case the last time this place did a Bond tribute, the ones up front look pretty cool too.
The post title has a double meaning. ‘Back in time’ because Palmerston Park in Dumfries is a very old-school football ground, particularly at this, the Terregles Street end. The brickwork! The pylons! I doubt this scene would have looked a great deal different in the 1950s.
‘Back in time’ also because the weather is like February here…. no, come to think of it, February was nicer than this at times. This photo is taken in conditions of around 14ºC and teeming rain. The thought that over the last week, the UK might have experienced its hottest ever day, was laughable at this point.
This somewhat alarming example of the taxidermist’s ‘art’ was on display at the flea market in Hebden Bridge this afternoon. So many questions are begged I am not sure I know where to start. The rather evil-looking rodent descending from top left raises its own issues, too.
Infrastructurally, politically, the country moves inexorably to a state of meltdown, but hey, let’s at least enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.