The second shift arrived to apply the second coat

 

 

Being out of a job, I sat down and read Alex Garland's book The Beach which is a latter-day version of Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness with just a touch of Lost Horizon.

It's one of the few books I read after I had seen the movie.

 

 

 

Daylight Savings Time

 

Those who believe that you can cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket, will be pleased that Daylight Savings Time started this weekend.

Which gave our neighbours across the river the chance to play their discoteque boombox not just two but three hours past midnight, and our neighbourhood an introduction to some really bad "music".

 

The "Clubhouse" got porched

From the beginning ...

... to (almost) the end

 

What do you do with eight 2.4m long 200x75mm left-over sleepers? Simple: You add a porch! Mind you, you also need 150 linear metres of pine decking, a couple of dozen stir-ups, screws and bolts, and varnish to finish the job.

It's another long weekend in this Land of the Long Weekends - this week it's 'Labour Day' - and the start of Daylight Savings - my first savings this year! - and also 27 degrees outside, so while the first coat of varnish is drying, I relax inside!

Gone with the dogs

 

It's another beautiful morning at "Riverbend" and we took Malty & Rover for a walk. Now it's back for a late breakfast and a bit of eye-shut. At "Riverbend" I needn't know the time: if I wake up in my pyjamas, it's morning. If I'm in my clothes, it's time for tea.

All that talk about exercise. I exercise every morning without fail. Up, down! Up, down! And then the other eyelid. I mean, I'm pushing 70. That's enough exercise for me.

As for entertainment, my idea of a good night out is a good night in. At my age I don't need to do drugs or drink anymore. I can get the same effect just by standing up real fast.

One thing I do indulge in though is bananas. Bananas contain chemicals that work like Ecstacy and Prozac to stimulate the production of serotonin and dopamine. Bananas make me happy. And I still buy them green. I guess that makes me an optimist.

 

In the middle of Erewhon

 

The cottage guests have left - see here - and I can go back to my reading. I started on Samuel Butler's Erewhon which is a fictional country but based on Samuel Butler's own experiences in New Zealand. No wonder he thought he was in the middle of nowhere! ☺

Anyway, I'm off to Erewhon! If you want to follow me, click here.