philmayfield

My wife's hairdryer blew up yesterday. Went on Amazon, new one delivered same day. The edging shears long past their best. Amazon delivering new pair today. Morrisons had a slot yesterday. Groceries expected today. Will we ever shop in the old fashioned way again? We have two cars sitting on the drive. Do we really need both? How things have changed during our lockdown. There is a well stocked village shop 2 miles away and a farm shop 4 miles away for any special extras. I doubt I'll ever see the inside of a supermarket again.

I accept Brew's comment that churchyards were not originally designated as nature reserves but as so few people now follow a religious faith there are fewer people to maintain them. The fact that they are becoming wildlife sanctuaries is a positive outcome in this secular society. It's one of the few places were wildlife is largely undisturbed in the villages and even the non Christian's can enjoy the tranquility.

There’s a world of difference between formal war graves and country churchyards. Churchyards, by their walled layouts are protected havens for wildlife. Whilst they should be kept relatively tidy around the graves there are lots of places where wildflowers can flourish and where animals and insects can take refuge. We are privileged to be the owners of a meadow which is home to rabbits and pheasants, dragonflies and a whole range of wildflowers. It is sad to have to cut it down at haymaking time but it’s necessary to manage it to prevent it from being badly overgrown and it does provide a stim

It grows in exactly the very places you have been. Without going into precise botanical details it’s best identified by the unpleasant ‘mousey’ smell of the leaves. That usually keeps people and animals away. In reply to Cliff Ton, I too have done lots of grave explorations in the wilds of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire looking for long lost relatives and experienced the delight when I’ve actually had a result. I’ve always confined my explorations to the winter months when it’s much easier to get around.

I agree that a certain amount of tidiness is required around the graves. The problem is that, in my experience, the overzealous tidiers want to hack everything down, even in the margins of the churchyard where the wild flowers flourish. The councils are just as bad, cutting back verges way beyond the need for road safety purposes. All grassland needs to be managed but there is a season to do that and Spring is not the time. Let’s enjoy the wild flowers whilst we can. To many wild flowers seem to be considered as just weeds. We even have wild orchids growing in our meadow.

Churchyards are one of the last bastions for wildflowers but they do need a chance to flourish. Some people have an obsession with tidiness which prevents others from enjoying the natural beauty. Our meadow is a haven for wildlife at the moment but it does have to be managed to prevent it becoming a matted mess next year. In the summer it will be made into hay which will provide winter feed for a herd of Lincoln Reds. Very good quality meat!

It's good to let the wildflowers grow in churchyards. Some of the church elders can get overzealous in wanting to keep things tidy. We have a few acres of meadow where we encourage wild flowers.

Remember the two metre rule. Just wave.

I wished I loved the human race I wish I loved its silly face You know the rest!

Yes, just read it. I think it’s just people walking their pets. Very popular I’m told.

The problem is that I live a ‘simple’ life surrounded by material possessions none of which mean very much to me but I’d probably miss them if they were gone. Having a few acres of land enables me to keep my fellow men at a distance. It must be miserable to be couped up in a high rise flat.

I'm not one for fancy clothes. A trip to Downtown or Edinburgh Woollen Mill once a year or less satisfies me. I only own one pair of shoes so I reorder the same style when mine are wearing a bit thin. I'm not really into material things other than I do like a nice car. We hardly ever eat out and never go to the cinema or theatre. A very boring and mundane life I lead but I've done all the things I've wanted to do years ago.

My last Jag, which I kept for its three year warranty period, went back to the dealership 8 times. I was sad to see it go as it was an F type but I couldn't live with the unreliability. Back to the Germans now sadly.

A watch battery costs about £2 and the tool for removing the back about £6. I've changed loads without problem. The more expensive watches have mechanical movements but a few have a battery. My Citizen Eco Drive has its battery charged by light and it automatically receives a time signal. Probably the most practical everyday watch I've ever owned. I've had it for over 10 years and I saved over £200 buy buying it from the Phillipines on Ebay. Not as elegant as a Rolex though but then nobody else sees your watch.

That's called a Chavitimer Brew. When I was in business there were many who thought they'd 'arrived' when they had a gold Rolex and drove a Jag. I've had a few Jags but never aspired to a Rolex. Just a shade too flash for my conservative image!

I've always fancied a Navitimer. I suppose I can afford it but I can't justify the expense! Can't take it with you I guess.

I suppose expensive watches are much like expensive cars. All achieve the same function in the end. It appears to me that you live in a 'modest' chateau Jonab with, no doubt, extensive gardens. A chacun son gout!

All of three watches are 'pilot's' watches. I love all the knobs and dials. They're totally useless for flying though. For that I had a larger Breitling mechanical stop watch which fitted to my navigational chart board. I still use it for last minute bids on Ebay! My 'best' watch is an Omega Speedmaster Professional. Certified by NASA to be used on the moon. I've never flown that far though!

Yes Lizzie, a Patek is a 'proper' watch. It's just a pleasure to admire it on your wrist and to know it's probably worth more than you paid for it.

My father did watch repairs as a sideline in the post war years. He was an aircraft instrument engineer in the RAF. There was a constant flow of watch repair customers beating a path to his door where he would also sell them eggs or whole birds from the fowls he kept in the garden!

The keen watch people go for the expensive Swiss timepieces which have a mechanical movement but can never keep precise time. Additionally they require a service every few years at a cost of around £500. My Japanese watches, which are considerably cheaper, keep time to the exact second and require no attention.I have never even changed the battery on my 10 year old Seiko. I do have a posh watch which I don't wear for fear of scratching! I have a collection of oldish wall clocks which I have restored but I've put most of them in store as they were becoming a pain to wind each week. I even put

I always refer to a sundial. It gives me reassurance that my everyday watch which is powered by light and requires no batteries and gets two daily radio time signal updates from an atomic clock in Germany, is keeping good time. You can’t beat old technology!

I think Graham made the greater part of his considerable wealth from investing in property. He had a vast collection of flats throughout Nottingham. Even the upper floors of the cycle shop were converted into flats. I first met him through flying. He never really got the hang of navigation so he was always looking for someone to fly with him to ensure he didn’t get lost! Nice guy!

That would be Graham Read's Cycle Warehouse. The Raleigh Cycle King. I bought a bike from that very shop last week although my friend Graham died last year in Harrogate.

My mother’s parents used to live on Greenwood Rd. Those prewar council houses were nicely designed and had large gardens. Theirs used to back onto allotments and I remember there was an Anderson shelter right at the very top of the garden which was arranged in three levels being on the side of a steep hill. It was only a short walk up the road and you were in open countryside with Colwick Woods stretched out in front of you. I’ve not been up there since the 50’s. It would be interesting to have a drive up there just to see how things have changed.