I love telling stories to groups

Oh yes I do I love telling stories to groups of people who would perhaps never consider listening to them, always loved it when I was a ranger but even more now.

One of the reasons is because you never know what comments you are going to get at the end. usually I get at least one comment or story told to me, some I use to this day.

I told to a group in Peterborough last week and at the end two ladies came up to me.

 One told me the Hitchhiker story as she had been told it sixty odd years ago by her grandfather, how long has that story been doing the rounds?

The other lady told me the Two by the Gate but the boys were stealing Hazel Nuts instead of Apples, which is a new one for me. She also told me 30 years ago her grandfather an ex soldier called Frank Jeeves told stories for his beer in the pubs in and around Peterborough, Market Deeping, Grantham and Stamford. And some folk say nobody told stories in the recent past.

politicians and problems

Interesting to see the good old USA being told that there actions could see the world in chaos, no agreement on budget of course is the reason.

I always thought politicians were supposed to be able to negotiate and come to some amicable conclusion or at least some sort of compromise, instead we see here the most powerful Nation !!!! in the world about to take the world to hell in a handcart or would that be on a Hummer in this case.

If there was ever a reason not to be ruled completely by politicians, this has to be it.

Gorgeous day

all change on the farm fields

I have been surveying a piece of farmland this summer as I have mentioned before on here. The fields in question have been flooded for a while now to control soil pests but the pumping on of water has now stopped and the long dry out has started.

It has been interesting seeing what birds have used the flooded fields and of late the waders have been good, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and more.

With the change in seasons coming and the drying out expected to take a month or more could be more interesting yet me thinks.

favourite pudding, well almost,

I was working in Grantham last week when I saw this, the ingredients of my favourite pudding, well almost, all together in one place.

What can you say other than where's the custard.

memories of family

It would have been Mum and Dads 60th wedding anniversary last week, it would have been but we lost Dad in 2009. Still we can remember what would have been and Mum had a small floral display  put on the stone to mark what would have been a special occasion.

I went to see it last weekend and had a tear in my eye thinking about Dad, I still miss him so he lives on in our memories if not in real life.

the future????????

Well what will it look like next year a year or so from n ow.

Firemen and teachers are going on strike, both citing changes to terms and conditions. As usual the TV reports peoples attitudes and there are those who dont support the actions being taken.

We heard the same just after this govt got in and started making cuts and again no one cared or listened to those who said hang on.

Where are we now, councils have cut services way beyond most folks understanding, even statutory services are now going. You never notice the cuts until you need a service or a facility that used to be there. Help for the elderly around the home, pest control, dog wardens, arts, sports, parks and the list goes on.

We are now hearing there needs to be seven more years of cuts, what will be left, will it be fit for purpose and dont think it doesn't matter to you.

You can't get a quart out of a pint pot whatever anyone tells you.