A touch of nostalgia

Nikki said in her nostalgia meme entry that she’d be particularly interested in hearing how I started blogging.

After years of not working with computers and not having one at home I finally bought one back in May 2004.

It sure was a steep learning curve but after a few months when I found that I hadn’t got fed up with it, or frustrated enough to call it a day, I bought a book about the internet which included a few pages about blogging which caught my eye. I started looking at blogs and found a few that I liked on 20six and regularly read them.

No one that I knew either blogged or knew anything about it but over the Christmas/New Year holiday I thought that I’d start one.  As a lifelong aviation enthusiast I thought that was what I’d blog about and wondered about a name. I really did have a eureka moment when I googled FlightBuff to see that it came up with no results!

And so here I am over three years on, via various blogs, doing a touch of nostalgia meme…

1. Can you remember without looking what your first post was about?

That first post, done in February 2005, has long gone but I’m sure that it was a short one about me and aeroplanes.

2. Where did you write it?

I probably spent several days beforehand writing out drafts either sitting on the sofa, with a cup of tea and some biscuits, or at work lunch times before doing it on my PC on the living room table.

3. Which was the first blog that you read?

I honestly don’t remember! I looked at lots from which a handful became my first blog friends.

4. Who did/do you tell about your blogs, if anyone.

Some family, friends and work colleagues. One or two either look at, or ask about, them.

5. Have your blogs ever caused a scandal?

I shouldn’t think so, and I not aware that they ever have. I like to think that they have given others as much pleasure to look at as I have had doing them.

6. Tell us something random which happened as a result of blogging?

I firmly believe that it has enriched my life in many ways which has surprised me, and has been most welcome.

7. Snog, marry or avoid – pick another blogger for each.

Now you know that I’m not going to answer this one don’t you. What I will say is that I’ve certainly had lots of blog kisses which have all been nice, I’d really be spoilt for choice if I did have to choose a blog bride and there was one blogger who did strike me as being rather unsavory at times, but who thankfully no longer blogs as far as I know.

8. What’s your most amusing blog memory?

There are so many! I’ve always had great fun blogging and still do which is undoubtably why I still do it. This Quagga entry I’m such a cheap date from April 2005 was probably the first time that I got called Flighty. Sadly all the comments are nameless but do read them as you’ll see I’m mentioned as FlightBuff then Flighty, it’s also great fun trying to work out who said what!

I’m not going to tag anyone to do this meme, which I actually enjoyed doing.

A sense of wonder

As usual I got up this morning and after making that all important first cup of tea turned on the PC.

I took a quick look at the news and weather then checked my emails. Among them is one from Glo telling me about her day yesterday including a couple of hours on the beach, as you can see, and hear, here.

On to the blogs and Daffy brings a smile to my face with her comment, and I’m sure that Glo’s comment makes her laugh.

I then chat for a while with my Japanese friend, for free thanks to Skype.

Today I’m not working but it’s overcast and drizzling so it doesn’t look I’ll be doing more than pondering on the plot later on today. I was there yesterday just for an hour or so when I took my new header picture. It’s Virginian Stock which my catalogue says is probably the easiest of all plants to grow.

It’s Farnborough Airshow week and, as always, there have been aircraft visiting Northolt in association with it, including several during this morning’s aerial rush hour. There was this smart looking Italian Air Force Falcon 900EX followed by a Spanish Air Force CASA C-295M which burst a tire on landing causing this nice Falcon 2000EX to overshot and do a long go-around!

As you’ve probably realised by now that, yet again, there’s no wildlife programmes on terrestrial TV next week. It’s the time of year when it seems to be all sport and repeats unfortunately!

I still marvel at a sense of wonder I get when I come here. Anyway I’m off to make a second cup of tea before having another quick look round starting with  Olivia‘s terrific Manhattan Sunsets.

Have a good weekend!

Plenty of p’s!

I’ve been plotting, pottering (or puttering as Porcelain Rose calls it) and pondering this week.

Plotting is when I actually do some work on the plot such as digging, planting pruning and weeding. Pottering is when I just refill the bird feeders and top up the pond. Pondering is nothing more than strolling round taking photos.

I acquired a handful of logs, all about 3″ dia. and a couple of feet long, earlier in the week. On Thursday I carefully dismantled the log pile and then rebuilt it incorporating them The only sign of life were a few slugs and snails. I shall now leave it be so that any wildlife that wants to use it can do so undisturbed.

I dug up a few new potatoes and a couple of onions to have for lunch. I can’t believe that I’ve just cooked and eaten something I’ve grown!

There’s been no further sign of Frog but this morning these two appeared to be making whoopee in the pond. I left them to it and when I took a peek later on they were heading out onto the plot

It was just about perfect this morning being sunny and warm with a light breeze. The blue sky was filled with fluffy white clouds. The robin came to say hello and, at last,  a couple of butterflies stayed put long enough for me to take some pictures. These white ones are fairly common

and  this one was tucked away in the undergrowth, hence a not so good photo , which appears to be a Meadow Brown.

I’m sitting here writing this with the scent of the third lot of sweet peas that I’ve bought home wafting around the room, and they really do look nice in the vase on the window sill.

Now how about something a bit different! Join me on a Joy flight! over on Flighty’s fancies? I think that it’s the perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Whatever the weather…

As there’s nothing on TV next week worth a mention here I thought that I’d do a round-up of some weather related blog entries that I’ve read recently.

Midwifemuse is right about it being A very English obsession and I commented that I thought that’s because we’re a nation of gardeners.

City Exile‘s Contrary to Popular Belief mentions weather forecasts, and she wasn’t the only one who suffered from full-on drowned rat syndrome as EllieGant makes clear in two entries Wet, wet, wet and Rain, rain, go away.

Divastar just rather plaintively titled her entry Summertime? . I think that the dog looks as though it would prefer to be wet than dressed like that!

Mildew has recently started a daily photo blog SomePhotos and Day 5 saw a Red Sky at Night. LoisWakeman‘s aptly titled Flaming July includes a very autumnal looking photo!

The Homely Year mentioned the rain but countered it with A ray of sunshine and Veg Plotting also cheered us up with ABC Wednesday – Y is for…

Pink Purl‘s Oh To Be In England! has a rather different outlook on London’s recent weather which may come as a surprise to some of you.

Uphilldowndale‘s Bears in the Belfry has nothing to do with the weather but is simply one of the most delightful entries that I have read in ages.

Whatever the weather have a good weekend!

The shed and flowers

My sentry box shed has caused much comment, and smiles, due to it’s small size. Someone even suggested that it’s really an eco-loo!

As a minimalist I can keep everything in it except myself!

It’s Shed Week 2008, and I loved looking at the pictures of some of the more eccentric and outlandish ones.

I said recently that much of the plot is brown and green, and that there’s not much colour! On reflection that isn’t strictly true as there is but it is dotted all around the plot. It’s not overwhelming which I like as too much colour would detract from what is a place of peace and relaxation for me.

Here’s a selection of flowers taken over the past week starting with 1) the superb rose Valentine Heart, 2) Pretty Lady starts like this and 3) ends up almost white but it’s scent definitely eludes me sadly!

1) 2) 3)

The sweet peas 4) and 5) were grown from seeds that Nikki sent me, and 6) look and smell lovely in a vase on the window sill.

4) 5) 6)

The big poppies 7) have finished but 8) there are the wonderfully bright Californian ones seen here with some love-in-a-mist and 9) some smaller red ones dotted around.

7) 8) 9)

There’s lots of 10) to be seen, 11) are almost hidden blackberry flowers and 12) is a pretty looking weed!

10) 11) 12)

Even non-flowers look good with the amazing artichoke head 13), this red leaf 14) and I think that the grasses 15) really are wonderful in all their combinations of shades and shapes!

13) 14) 15)

As I said earlier that is only a selection of what delights and surprises me every time I take a stroll round.

There is also the varied wildlife which I’m more than happy to share the plot with!

Happy lawn lounging!

If you’re a book buff then one of the pleasures of summer surely has to be lawn lounging with a good book!

I’m always reading several books at any one time and at the moment it’s these.

Last week Daffy kindly sent me From Baghdad, with Love by Jay Kopelman which I’m sure she’ll agree is an ideal dipping in and out of book. All of us who have, or just like, pets read such books as it’s the animal, rather than human, factor that continues to delight, and often surprise, us.

I’m a great fan of crime novels but since reading three really good ones in quick sucession early in the year I’ve been struggling to find any more as good. However I started The Dragon Man by Garry Disher at the weekend which looks like being as good as they come! It has a terrific plot and believeable characters of which Hal Challis, the main cop, spends his off-duty time restoring a wonderful 1930’s Dragon Rapide, hence the title. No doubt I’ll finish it far too quickly but I’ve already got the next one Kittyhawk Down.

Out of a Clear Sky by Sally Hinchcliffe is the hardback that I’d recommend as a good summer read. It’s an edgy story of obsession, false friendships and a disjointed family life which I’m sure that many reading will relate to in some way, hopefully indirectly. Although a first novel it doesn’t read like one thanks to Sally’s excellent use of language and words. Incidentally I really like this book cover.

I have mentioned previously that Sally is fellow lawn lounger City Exile (and before that Disgruntled Commuter) whose excellent blog entries have kept many of us entertained for the past three years and more.

Of course don’t forget the raspberries with vanilla ice cream and a glass of  home-made lemonade which I consider essential rather than an indulgence for lawn lounging with a good book!

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and a national holiday, in the USA. I hope that all our good friends over there enjoy themselves however they celebrate it!

Have a good weekend and happy lawn lounging!

We’ll be lawn lounging…

looking at a few good books on Thursday rather than sofa flying watching the TV. That’s because, once again, there’s no nature or wildlife programmes being shown next week.

I’d like to thank everyone who commented on the recent Just one book entry.

My thanks also to Glo (Porcelain Rose) who thought that I was deserving of a Green Frog Thumbs Up award

and did this 

It’s Canada Day today so Glo, Blueandtigger and Mylozmom will all be celebrating it. Enjoy yourselves!

One year on

It’s just on a year since I first set eyes on Plot 124.

Looking back through nearly 60 entries that I’ve done here about it I’m well pleased with progress so far, with very few downs and plenty of ups.

So let’s take a wander round Flighty’s plot shall we…

1) is the view from the roadway half way along the northern edge looking down the poppy path with the stone feature roughly in the middle of the plot; 2) is the area to the left of the path with lot of grasses and vivid blue cornflowers shown in close-up 3).

1) 2) 3)

From the log seat at the edge of the pallet patio I can see virtually the whole plot. 4) is to the left with the blackberries, raspberries, runner beans, peas (just appearing) and broad beans; 5) moving to the right there are strawberries, beetroot, lettuce, more runner beans around the cane wigwam, potatoes, onions and the log pile at the top right; 6) looking west along the path dividing the plot with the vegetable, soft fruit and wild area to the left and the flowers to the right. The pond is well hidden in the grass to the top left and the stone feature just visible at the bottom right of the path.

4) 5) 6)

7) is the opposite view to 6) looking towards the pallet patio, 8) is the Daffy’s delights area which I’ll show again once the plants have grown and flowered and 9) the Iceberg rose is at the top left, the ladybird log is well hidden at the end of the left hand path and the right hand, poppy path leads to another log and is the opposite view of 1).

7) 8) 9)

10) is Nikki’s corner which as well as her lovely rose has 11) two lettuce and 12) lots of these thumb nail sized flowers, as well as some rye (?) grass and the best of the sweet peas which should be starting to flower any day now.

10) 11) 12)

This view is from the bottom south-west corner and shows most of the plot

Among the highlights have been Nikki’s birthday roses, meeting Frog Newton, the poppy header photo and this morning eating this which tasted absolutely delicious.

Sitting eating an apple I could see ladybirds, honey bees and even a couple of birds which just may have been garden warblers! only a few feet away!

It’s good knowing that my plot is a  haven for wildlife which I can share with in this way. It may not be traditional allotmenteering but it makes me happy.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed our wander round as much as I have showing you.

Next week there’ll be another special entry which will include anything I’ve missed here and feature my sentry box shed, which will be rather appropriate as it’ll be Shed Week 2008!

Happy gardening!

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started