Author: Gazoopi

Two weeks ago our dishwasher gave up the ghost.

As most of you know, I will be moving to Spain in two months, so I decided that it wasn’t worth buying another one here in Toulouse, just to have an extra large item to move.

Therefore we have spent the last couple of weeks washing up by hand.

We have found so many advantages of not using the dishwasher that we are now considering not having one in future.

These advantages are:-

1) Enjoying a chat about our day while washing up after the evening meal

2) Always have clean crockery and pans ready for the next meal. Previously we needed many more as some were ‘waiting’ in the dishwasher until it was full.

3) Never leaving the kitchen a mess after a meal as the pots needed to be cleaned straightaway.

4) Clearly the cost is lower when doing it by hand

5) We have found that it doesn’t really take so much longer to wash up than previously to load and unload the dishwasher.

It would be interesting to hear your views on this.

Good morning Charioteers.
The theme for April was nostalgia, however the way I am feeling this morning neuralgia would have been more appropriate 😦

We had five sound entries, one from the Genius, Araminta and Pseu, two from Janus. Well done to all.

After a sleepless night of hard consideration over these results (actually due to the neuralgia) I am proud to announce the winner.

The winner could have been anyone, depending on the mood I am in on that day. As Hans Hofman, the Bavarian painter said “People say ‘Hofmann has different styles’. I have not. I have different moods; I am not two days the same man.”

Today I am in need of a laugh (even though it hurts) so it is a tight decision between Genius’s Curly Wurlys and Janus at Six Years Old.

Four Eyed English Genius has it. Please set the next competition.

For each budding poet
This is just a little push
All though you may not know it
I would hate you need to rush.

THE APRIL COMPETITION ENDS IN 5 DAYS!

https://charioteers.org/2014/04/03/april-poetry-competition-nostalgia/

Well, after climbing back on my chair this morning I see that it is down to me to open the next Poetry competition.

Last week I was in the UK visiting my parents (both 90 this year) and my daughter and grandchildren.
I spent the mornings with my parents. As is usual with older folk our time was spent mainly reminiscing.
But most afternoons and evenings were spent playing with the grandchildren. We introduced the three younger ones (8, 7 and 7) to playing cards. Sitting playing the same games with them that I played with my parents fifty years ago filled me with many fond memories. It was great to see, in these modern times, that they all neglected their tablets (yep, computer tablets at 7) to play old-fashioned card games.
So, I flew back on Friday full of Nostalgia, but in a positive sense.

Therefore I propose a poem about the past, almost the direct opposite of March’s competition which was new dawn, new beginnings. It can be anything related to homesickness, longing for lost ones, or just happy memories.

Closing Date: 27th April 2014.

When I retired two and a half years ago, I began writing my diary each day.

Having recently read these words of the poet, William Allingham, I am wondering whether there is any truth in them, and maybe it is time for a change.

“A man who keeps a diary pays, Due toll to many tedious days; But life becomes eventful – then, His busy hand forgets the pen. Most books, indeed, are records less Of fulness than of emptiness.”

Do you keep a diary?