Monday, 28 September 2020

This, That and The Ogham Alphabet

 E.ON who are my electricity supplier have decided they are moving everything online - perhaps to persuade more people to have the smart meter. It says I MUST register and set up an online account or I won't be able to see my bill. I'm pondering what will happen if I do nothing and don't see my bill - ha! wont be able to pay it then will I? How long would they let things go before cutting me off?  

I'm selfishly very happy with the way the swimming pool is having to operate at the moment with virus restrictions. There are many more opportunities to swim than before and so few people swimming. I went early afternoon on Saturday and had half the pool to myself, a lovely quiet swim.(Although they are now changing this session to a family one so I won't be able to go at the same time). The only down was on the way home when a stone flew up and chipped the windscreen. Bother!

Saturday afternoon and the first fire of the season and it was much needed too.

Last month I forgot to do a post about the tree that represented the 9th Lunar month in the Ogham Tree Alphabet. (It was Hazel) and nearly missed this one too.

For the 10th Lunar month, the 'tree' is a Bramble representing the letter  M -  perhaps to the Celtic Druids 2,000 years ago there was no difference in language between trees and bushes, and brambles left to themselves soon turn into a thicket.

Above and Below....The illustrations from the Ogham Sketch Book  by Karen Cater


 

This Bramble below is one of my own - newly grown - not on purpose - at the top of the ditch on the meadow. 

 
 
I haven't picked any blackberries this year  - they are not my favourite things - I'd rather have an apple crumble without the seeds, prefer strawberry jam to blackberry and have plenty of other fruit in the freezer. So the birds will benefit. 

Guess what I'll be watching on TV this week?....................Tennis! French open on ITV4 all week. Good News Indeed.

 

Going back to my Friday Library Book Photo and all the interesting comments - here are some replies.

Unknown.....................I like sharing ideas for reading and collecting ideas from other bloggers 

Rachel..................I think it was you or Pat Weaver who mentioned the Jan Morris book. I had just started work in the library when he became her and remember the fuss about the new book at the time and change of name 

 Ang.....................The Little Library Year is more recipes than books - disappointing (for me anyway) 

 Sharon...................I'm glad you enjoy the library photo  

Pat..........................Fewer books on shelves now! 

Mazda...................Hope you get your proper library service back   

Sooze...................Hope you reading mojo soon returns


Later this week there will be photos of men up poles! Our electric in the area will be off while they switch us all to a generator for the week as lots of upgrading of poles and wires is happening. Including the pole right outside my gateway.

 
Back Tomorrow
Sue

19 comments:

  1. You've answered my question re the electricity!
    WHat a nuisance about the chipped screen. Maybe it is repairable under your insurance? Fingers crossed.
    And definitely yes re the numbers in the pool - it's so much nicer like this although I do feel slightly guilty for saying so.
    xx

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    1. The pool was much busier today, they've abandoned the discount 20 swim pay up front card and don't know how to give me my money back for the swims I've not had!

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  2. I think the utilities companies are going to hold us to ransom about the way we pay our bills, and the insistence that we have smart meters. It took five weeks for Ebico aka Robin Hood Energy, to send me a paper bill. Now lo and behold they have sold out to British Gas. I can't input my readings until the changeover has taken place. I am waiting for news about what happens next. I won't have a smart meter.

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    1. EON have suddenly sent lots of emails about all sorts - some went in junk - I shall pretend they all went in junk so I didn't see them!

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  3. Blackberries do take a downward turn during October, and I wonder if the folklore surrounding not eating them stems from the wisdom of the countryside, to leave fruits for wildlife to feed upon before leaner days?

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    1. Once the days are damp blackberries soon go mouldy anyway - devil or not!

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  4. Knowing that Eon supply many elderly people around here I would say in response to Eon "dream on".

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    1. I'm going to ignore their emails until they write me a letter

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  5. We had to have a smart meter , we have always had a prepayment meter and there is no longer anywhere you can vend a meter within 5 miles , British Gas had previously removed the online vending which worked brilliantly for years . If we hadnt had the smartmeter we would have been buggered during lockdown as there was knowhere open to vend the metre

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    1. That would have been a problem for sure. Life just gets more complicated

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  6. Interesting to be reminded of Jan Morris - I have most of her books and have the ggreatest admiration for her and the way she behaved at a time when these sort of things were still largely brushed under the carpet.

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    1. Her book Conumdrum is the best ever book I have read about her life and the early days of gender issues, all very matter of fact and written with great humility. A short autobiography in fact.

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  7. Check your insurance, sometimes you can have a chip repaired free of charge. I had it done once, it does alleviate the risk of a complete crack.

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    1. Yes I think I can - I'm going to see what my friends at the repair workshop say about where it is - a MOT fail or not

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  8. There's an art to eating apple and bramble pie in not biting too hard so seeds don't get stuck in teeth. The one we had tonight was delicious, made with wild brambles we picked lasy week. Of course, they are brambles to me. Used to argue with southern m-i-l about the correct terminology.

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    1. Blackberries grow on brambles - that's definitive!

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  9. Sorry you got a chip in your window. I really don't like blackberries either.

    God bless.

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  10. So, the devil spits on blackberries ON MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, does he! A pox on him!

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  11. I prefer blackberries to blackcurrants, but I always make jelly and not jam when I use them as I really don't like all the little seeds that get stuck in your teeth.

    In Wales we are with British Gas for our electricity and have had a Smart meter since they brought out the sort that was compatible with our solar system, and we have paid all our bills on-line since we've lived there so here's no change for us.

    Alan's got a chip on his windscreen too, right in my line of sight as a passenger! It passed the MOT when we thought it wouldn't, but we will be getting it fixed before the frosty mornings come with a vengeance as it does mean you have a weak spot in your windscreen. I have had a chip turn into a full sized crack in the past :-(

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