Nibs

How the devil are you? Good I hope.

I’m very grateful for the comments that come in – but don’t be bashful about what you’re up to. The biggest-hitting topics are the ones with comments and that’s because the audience is interested in the wider circle…and more importantly, how you are faring.

I guess you are all grounded like me. There’s an old chap around the corner who keeps a weather station. Last month we didn’t have enough rain to register a reading. I saw him briefly this morning (between deluges) and he said it had rained in Oxford on every calendar day in May. It started pouring sometime last Friday and it rained day and night until Monday lunchtime. And yep, I can hear it hammering down now.

However, the glass if always half full (mostly of rain water). The chapters are gushing out. Still ripping up loads but feel like I’m making some real progress.

Saw Andy Cave last week which was a real treat. He left the Telegraph and he’s running his own company now. Sounds very busy. How things have changed since our days at the Oxford Mail.

Which reminds me – my war with the council continues. The Oxford Times even published one of my ‘Very Cross of Headington’ letters last week. I won’t bore you with the reprint here. As Matt is always saying: “I have seethed and moved on.”

Party at Troy Towers in the last weekend of June – full details in the next post.

Forget Kaka, Cuckoo scores in extra time

Heard one in Shotover woods this morning. Phew that’s a relief – I hate going a year without catching one and it’s getting close to the final whistle. I can sleep easy now.

Also saw two more of our summer visitors – a whitethroat and blackcap. Amazing really as the whole place was polluted with the sound of people yelling at their bloody dogs. I even heard one booming couple moaning that they hadn’t seen any wildlife as they wrestled with their barky boxer. Aw, you don’t say!

And well I’m griping, have you seen the price of golden gravel? I’m trying to tart up the garden and was a bit taken aback by £7 a bag. And don’t get me started on the cost of individual boulders – aggravated robbery (or should that be aggregated robbery). I wouldn’t normally advocate stealing from nature but I don’t reckon they’ll miss a few stones from Rhossili beach. Anyone wanna help me drag them up the coastal path? Hello?…I say…anyone want to…ah never mind.

A few of you have been asking about the state of my projects so here’s an update:

1) Work – not doing any. I’m having a rest and looking at properties in Herefordshire
2) Viking ship sailing – abandoned. Too expensive
3) Anglo-Saxon battle. This weekend near Oswestry. My ‘brigade’ isn’t going so I’m spectating.
4) Party at my house. End of June.
5) Triathlon. Nearly got fit enough to do some proper training last year but then I went back to work. Had an exploratory jog on my mashed up toes and they seem relatively OK so I’m quietly getting fitter. Not making any promises
6) Photo projects. Richard and Sue have very kindly allowed me to go their house to photograph the redstarts so it’s a matter of finding a convenient time. The ‘musicians fingers’ will have to wait til I’ve upgraded my camera
7) Home and garden – in progress…. if I can afford the grit
New long-distance walk. Mort was in touch this week so we’re about to hatch a route
9) And finally… the book. The wet weather allowed me to press on with the research but it’s a long job. The whole novel is sketched out with timelines, character sketches and most of the early period researched. I’ve written five chapters but ripped up more than I’ve kept. I simply don’t know how long it will take, not having tackled anything like this before. Can tell you that I’m really enjoying the challenge tho.

Looking forward to seeing a fair few of you over the Bank Holiday. Have a great time if we don’t hook up.

Who’s got Haribok’s bag?

Runic inscriptions from Anglo-Saxon England are rarer than hen’s teeth. I think there’s only 30 or so ever been found.

But one turned up locally on a copper alloy strip, thought to be from a pouch, and containing a nice set of 6th Century weighing scales and weights. The fabric/leather had all decayed so only the clasp was left.

The runes say Haeriboki: wusae. Now that’s just the kind of poetic interlude that would be grand for my book thinks I. The scholars aren’t absolutely sure of the exact meaning but the first word is a personal name, the strict translation of which is Army Beech, but probably better understood as Battle Tree (ie brick s***house…a stout warrior).

The second word could be a woman’s name (ie Haribok 4 Wusae). Or it could be crap scribing and the author meant thusae which means ‘this one’. (ie This is Haribok’s). I favour the final explanation in which the writer tried to make the rune to say busae – a purse (Haribok’s purse).

The artefact is in the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. Er…except it isn’t. I went to see it today and they couldn’t find it. They didn’t half look worried Mr Mainwaring.

…you keep your wallet safe for 1400 years and then look what happens.

Sure it’ll turn up. Watch thusae space.

Soggy blog

When it first started pouring a couple of weeks ago I was really pleased that it put an end to my trips with the watering can. I’ve been grounded ever since.

However, the TV meteorologist said there was some tropical air moving in …so the rain would be getting warmer. Anyone think we should build and ark?

But I’ve read some great books, and my own has seen a rapid advancement.

John was on the blower the other night. He’ll be in Hereford over the Bank Holiday. I’m planning to go the to the battle re-enactment so it will be a chance to catch up. And Alan has been in touch again so perhaps we could really turn the clock back. Alan tells me he is semi-retired now. Apart from myself, I’ve now met four people in as many weeks who have ditched the rat race.

I was pondering this new nirvanic state of affairs as I drew the curtains last night when a bee reminded me of reality by stinging me on the hand. I may never play the banjo again!

PS. I knew there was something else – Steve and Jane have another addition. Girl, no name yet. Parents look dog tired but they’re all OK.

Skipping work

The young lass next door arrived home from work yesterday and greeted me cheerily with the words: “Hullo Dave… You look like a broken man.”

Digging out part of the patio and filling a skip with the rubble has obviously reduced me to a pale mirage of my former magnificence. I wouldn’t have minded but it was only a mini skip. Despite temporarily slumping over my wheelbarrow I’m ploughing on with the catalogue of house jobs and expect to see some heavy tickage over the next week or so. Then I can get back to writing my book (…and updating the blog).

Saw a funny comment on one of the lower league matches over the weekend. Apparently, Stevenage fans were taunting the Exeter visitors with chants of: “You’re going home in a combine harvester.”

Will be back in the rural machine zone myself early next week.

BTW: Anyone heard a cuckoo yet? I saw a swallow on 10 April and some swifts on Saturday – both really early – but, sadly, no cuckoo. Any hearings, please let us know.