Monsoon!

Our printer’s finally died. It’s been getting more and more persnickerty for some time, and more and more inclined to print at a slight angle, make graunching noises or chew up the paper. Well, it finally went to the great yard sale in the sky. My husband found a new (second-hand) one for free, so on Thursday afternoon I was trying to install the driver for the new model. It’s…

October 23, 2015
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Biodanza

Today I tried something new: Biodanza. I wasn’t at all sure what it was before I went. I just knew that I need more exercise, it was convienient, and the first class was free. And anyway, I always used to like dancing and I haven’t done any for years. I did email and ask how fit you needed to be, and I was told you can do it at your…

October 22, 2015
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The big scrub

I was mad busy before and during Astrofest, and I pretty much ignored the house. Ten days is a long time to ignore housework, and it was pretty terrible at the end of that time. For a while now I’ve joked that my house keeping (or rather lack of) is an act of charity. Any other overworked person who sees my house immediately feels better about hir own. But by…

October 6, 2015
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Thieving Ravens!

A raven getting curious about Sheila Crosby's books, Roque de Los Muchachos, La Palma
October 4, 2015

On Saturday I was in the Roque car park selling books from the boot of my car, when the ravens turned up, begging for food. That’s why I keep cat food in the car, specially for them. Then they got curious about the boot of my car and the books. I started to get a bit nervous when s/ze took an interest in my pot of change. That’s the black…

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San Jose soap box race

San Jose soap box race
September 22, 2015

When I heard that the road outside our house was going to be closed for a go-kart race, I was picturing loads of very noisy karts snarling past. Frankly, I was congratulating myself that it was due to finish at 7pm. One year the regular rally went on until midnight, and the noise drove me crazy. But this was great – motorless karts rolling down the hill, some cheap and…

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Thirsty Ravens

Raven drinking water from a bottle top with the telescopes of the Roque de Los Muchachos behind
September 9, 2015

After tour guiding yesterday I went up to the Roque hoping for a chat with the ravens. They turned up all right, but they didn’t seem as interested as usual in the biscuits on offer. It turned out that they were really thirsty. I was rather surprised, because birds have such good kidneys that they need very little water. In any case, there’s a water tap with a little pool…

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