“More than a dozen houses and a set of traffic lights in Leadenham were affected on Wednesday, with police being called to direct traffic.
Engineers traced the fault and found a thong had short circuited a power line.”
Last month it was a dog that needed surgery to remove its owners thong that it had eaten. Before that it was, among other things, a thong that had blocked a drain, causing flooding. Thongs, eh? Whatever will they do next?
Read the full story: here
I’ve been so busy with work in the week and enjoying myself at weekends I haven’t got round to posting anything for a while.
(click to enlarge)
It all started the weekend before last when James and Tess came to visit, with their tent – complete with remnants of Glastonbury mud. As part of their “33 things to do before you’re 10″ web effort they were going to spend the night in it, in our back garden.
I have to say, despite a few disparaging remarks from James, they put it up pretty efficiently (full video on his website).
We then all trouped off to Reading to Sue’s sister’s 40th birthday celebrations. The marquee in their front garden had an area pretty close to that of our house! The caterers were busy roasting a large pig as well as preparing sausages, butterflied prawns and peppered ostrich meat on skewers as well as salads, potatoes etc. A huge variety of bottles and cans were on hand or in the giant cooler boxes. Why was I a teacher and not a city financier?
As more children arrived the trampoline, basketball net and bucking bronco got busy. The older folks found chairs in the marquee.
Later, after some food and alcohol, the adults did daft things like dancing and falling off the bucking bronco. (actually, since it wasn’t a horse, it should have been called the bucking steer).
Luckily the night wasn’t too cold as we retired to bed around midnight, leaving the youngsters under canvas.
Last weekend was different again. We drove down to Plymouth for my sister’s 60th birthday party. She wouldn’t have thanked us for a posh restaurant. Her garden is too small for a tent, let alone a marquee and as for butterflied prawns and peppered ostrich meat on skewers!!
So her children had pretended that the tea party with them and their children earlier in the week was the celebration. All those in the know duly sent cards and presents. She was than dragged along to the local Harvester (well, local to the Plympton Novotel where we were staying) to be greated by 30 relatives and old friends singing ‘happy birthday’. A great time was had by all. The weather was good for the long drive there and back. I took it easy on the M4 and M5 and averaged nearly 29 mpg – a lot better than my usual 18 mpg.
I forgot my proper camera and took a few snaps on my phone but they’re too crappy to post here.
Friday an old friend from Australia is paying a flying visit. Saturday is a party for one of the Science Technicians from my old school who is leaving after many years. Nearer the end of the month we’re off to Cairo with J&T, then on to Sharm for a bit of R&R in the warmth. More on that (and some decent photos, I hope) later.
