The Road to Self-Improvement
Brown Owl has published a pamphlet of Useful Sayings to catch the Village Hall Coffee Morning Market. It is full of timely advice for those trudging along The Road to Self-Improvement.
Unfortunately, despite my regular New Year resolutions to evolve into a fine upstanding villager, I have noticed that far from being healthy, wealthy and wise this morning, I am in fact, barely functioning.
As you may imagine, I am determined to pinpoint exactly how I got myself into this sorry state &
- learn from it
- get a grip for the future.
Where I went Wrong:
Last night, I didn’t go to bed early. In fact, I didn’t go to bed at all. After supper, the Agent went to bed and I decided to watch the first episode of ‘The Crown’ on Netflix. Be warned! Newly wise after the event, I now know I made not just one but two bad errors of judgement.
Mistake #1. I signed up to Netflix
Mistake #2. by snuggling up on a bean bag with lots of cushions under a rug, I made myself too warm and cosy.
Having enjoyed Episode 1 very much, I thought I’d quickly watch Episode 2:
& Episodes 9, 10 …
Yours vowing never to binge watch Netflix again,
Read MoreA Cautionary Tale
A Cautionary Tale
Just in case any of you are thinking of Spring Cleaning in the near future, I thought I should post this cautionary tale so that you may take an informed decision as to whether or not it’s a good idea…
What happens when Martha Stewart cleans her windows:

Mad Dogs and Englishmen…
Mad Dogs and Englishmen…
Early this morning, as it was such a beautiful sunshiny day,
I decided to go for a relaxing spin on my bike.
Relaxing? LOL.
Yours remembering with heartfelt nostalgia, those summer days back in July when the sun came out & stayed out & my bike rides were so much more straightforward,

Summer is icumen in!
Summer is icumen in!
Sumer is Icumen in,
Loudly sing, cuckoo!
Grows the seed and blows the mead,
And springs the wood anew;
Sing, cuckoo!
A Summer Bank Holiday Barbecue!
The Ox and Moose decided to lay on a beautiful summery Barbecue to enable Castle Coopians celebrate the summer-is-a-coming-in May Bank Holiday. Hurrah! This is what living in a tiny English village is all about! What could be a more convivial way of passing a bank holiday afternoon than chatting with one’s friends and neighbours in the local pub’s garden? Pimms in hand, children and dogs running happily about, delicious scents wafting over from the steaks on the barbecue and the lilac blossom on the trees – what a great recipe for a relaxing village get-together.
Ingredients for the Ox and Moose Village Barbecue:
- A freshly mown beautiful green sward for us all to stand about on and chat together … Tick.
- Tables dotted about the green sward for families to sit at with parasols to give a shade/sun option…. Tick.
- A Bouncy Castle for the little children to jump about on….Tick.
- The Castle Coop Village Barbecue laden with sausages & burgers ready to waft out the requisite delicious summery smells on summery breezes…Tick.
- Countless jugs of wonderful summery Pimms to accompany the scrummy barbecue….Tick.
- The traditional convivial atmosphere of a British village party held outdoors in the sunshine…. Tick.
Hurrah!
except…oh dear.. Where on earth was the beautiful summery sunshiny afternoon?.
Revised ingredients for the Ox and Moose Village Barbecue:
- Wellington boots as the Ox and Moose’s beautiful green sward was awash….Tick.
- Umbrellas rather than parasols….Tick.
- A Dripping Bouncy Castle…Tick.
- The Castle Coop Village Barbecue hidden under loads of umbrellas to protect all the sausages and burgers from the driving rain…. Tick.
- Countless cups of hot tea to protect against the chill factor…. Tick.
- The traditional convivial atmosphere of a British village party held outdoors in the rain…. TICK!
&…….. a very good time was had by all!
Summer is Icumen in (revised for our Great British Weather)
Sumer is Icumen in,
Loudly shiver, Brr Brr!
Pours the rain and blows the breeze,
And come our brollies out anew;
Put on your wellies, Squelch, Squelch!
The appalling weather blip going on in Castle Coop at the moment means once again, I am wrapped up in my michelin-man look-alike outfit in a bid to stay warm. I hope you are warmer than I am…
Yours, feeling as if it’s November inside and out,
Read MoreAm I forgiven?
I am hopeful the Agent has forgiven me for giving him my cold.
He’s sitting by the fire keeping warm.
I see he’s left the last piece in the jigsaw for me to put in…
That bodes well don’t you think?
Yours hopefully,
Read More