The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Tuesday 2 February 2021

Easy come, easy go!

I was watching the news earlier today and see that Captain Tom, the nation's covid hero, has just died of pneumonia after being hospitalized with covid. Of course at 100 years old it was logical that he wasn't going to live for many more years, but as someone who will have been shielding at home it makes me wonder how he actually caught covid all the same. The sad thing is, with the pandemic still raging he won't be afforded the kind of funeral that I'm sure many would have wished to give him. Nevertheless, RIP Captain Tom!

Captain Tom!

As I once again figured I'd have a go at losing a bit of weight (or even a lot of weight), I decided to do a repeat of Dry January this year and again found it surprisingly easy. I have to admit I did have one drink - a glass of mulled wine when I was out walking with my neighbour in the mountains the other week - but other than that nope, not a single drink since just after Christmas. While I didn't expect miracles I thought I might lose a few pounds, but despite "instantly" losing 4 lbs, a couple of days later I was back up 4 lbs so I'm back to my starting point, even though I've been out walking and eating pretty healthily. So I guess it's portion control from here on in but, damn, it's hard when you've got a human hoover living with you!


Bit by bit I've been going through more files that my ex left behind and so far there've been no more horrible surprises, although some of the documents he left behind should actually be important to him - tax documents and such - but hell, since when did it become my responsibility to sort and file that stuff? I did find an entire file relating to various campers we've had over the years so kept the buy/sell paperwork and pitched the rest. Looking at the papers I see that we bought our first camper in 1996, when the kids would have been four and eight. I remember our second outing in the van, when we were still trying to figure out what all the buttons and switches were for, we decided to leave straight after work on a Friday night and head down to a reservoir called the Barrage de Serre-Ponçon. This involved a five-hour trip down the route de Napoléon and us ending up arriving around midnight. We'd called ahead to let them know we'd be arriving late so they told us to just pull in and hook up without making any noise and we could register in the morning. The kids were already fast asleep at that point, but that night the wind picked up and ended up blowing a hoolie, rocking the camper from side-to-side and me wondering what the hell we'd let ourselves in for. That is, until the next morning when we opened up the blinds to the most magical view of the reservoir against a mountain backdrop. It was just stunning! I was talking to André about it this morning and he said he remembers how much fun it was playing with other kids in the swimming pool and running around the camp site all day - it felt like a week's holiday crammed into a weekend!

The view from the dam!

Our camp site!

The reservoir at Serre-Ponçon!

In other news, I was reading the other night when I saw that The Pirates of the Caribbean  - Salazar's Revenge was on. I think I might have seen the first film but none of its sequels - I usually don't have the patience to sit and watch TV anyway. I have to say, though, that however messed up Johnny Depp may be in real life, he absolutely nailed Jack Sparrow! In addition to that I realized that Javier Bardem was playing Salazar and I just love Javier. I find him so sexy (although maybe not in full Salazar make-up) and deliciously evil so I did watch a bit of it just to drool! He kinda has the brooding good looks of a young Al Pacino in The Godfather and the sexy voice to go with it! 

Salazar!

Javier Bardem - gorgeous right?

Then the next night Skyfall was on and yet again Bardem was playing the baddie. I really don't like him "as a blond" but still, he was a great baddie, even if I don't care for the Bond films at all! There's been some talk about who should replace Daniel Craig as the next Bond and I have to say I'd have a hard time choosing between the two potential front-runners - Tom Hardy and Idris Elba. They've both got that kind of twinkle in the eye that to my mind Daniel Craig lacks - but I don't suppose anybody cares what I think do they!

Tom Hardy!

Idris Elba!

I stopped over to see Jen again today and she's doing well, although still being good about laying on the sofa as much as possible and not going out. She's 31 weeks pregnant today so it's going in the right direction thankfully. The weather's been crap here for the last few days but just as I was heading home the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds so I had to pull over and take a quick snap of the mountains as they were so lovely!


When I got back Max was at the house, having come over to check on my heating system (or, more likely, to have a beer with André)! He was asking what all the tyres were doing in front of the house and I told him that André and I have been lugging them up from the basement so that I can throw them in my car as and when and take them to the tip. Yesterday I asked at the tip where I should put the tyres that were on rims and when he told me I had to separate the tyres from the rims first I just thought "here we go again, something else that I've got to figure out how to do"! Max was somewhat incredulous that we wouldn't even try to sell the tyres/rims that were in decent shape. I don't care about the money but I agree I don't like the idea of just throwing out something that can be of use to someone else. Admittedly that kind of stuff gets put to one side at the tip but still. So while he was standing there Max took a few photos and posted six tyres/rims on Le Bon Coin (a local buy/sell/exchange paper) and within five minutes he'd gotten three enquiries, so hopefully they will sell pretty quickly and be taken off my hands. If they do sell, any money they make will be put towards more musical equipment for their band so I might get Max to come over next time I've got a load of stuff I need to get rid of. I guess some people are "sellers" and some are not - and seemingly André and I fall into the "not" category. Like I say, easy come, easy go, right!

39 comments:

  1. Very sad news about Capt Tom. He couldn't have the jab because he had pneumonia which then made him more susceptible to covid. Unfortunately there are carers and nursing staff who are refusing the vaccination. Some agencies aren't providing enough PPE. At least he had an incredible 100th year. Tom Hardy. Idris Elba are both absolutely gorgeous. Jackanory has never had so many viewers as when Tom Hardy read the stories.

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    1. Captain Tom did indeed have a wonderful 100th year didn't he. And ooohhhh, Tom Hardy reading Jackanory. I bet all the moms were watching without the kids (he has a sexy voice too and I'm very susceptible to that)!

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  2. Even if you can't sell the tires, I'll bet someone would take them for free. My dd gives away things off and on on her neighborhood "free cycle" page. I don't think I've seen that Pirates movie, though I have seen several. Johnny Depp did indeed nail Jack Sparrow :)

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    1. I've given things away in the past on Freecycle but now I just take it to the charity shop. They won't take tyres, unfortunately, and I don't particularly want people coming to my house to pick things up. At least at the tip (I should call it "the recycling centre") we do put things on one side if they are not broken and while technically people should not take them, people do indeed help themselves - which is as it should be!

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  3. That is a terrible shame about Captain Tom. I don't think in his wildest dreams he ever considered becoming such an admired human being. I usually end up giving my stuff away if I can. My Mom would always scold "you can make some money," but I never really cared about that. I'm always just happy to get rid of it.

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    1. I always felt it was far too much work to sell things and since I don't need the money I'd rather just give it away too and get it out of my sight! Still, if the lads can get some money for their band by selling the stuff so much the better!

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  4. Javier is dreamy.
    I have liked Bond films a lot since Daniel Craig took over; we've seen all his in theaters.
    As for his replacement? Idris all the way!

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    1. I thought Connery as the original Bond was perfect, although I never liked the man. Then Roger Moore - well it just became way too silly. Daniel Craig, yep, nice but maybe trying a bit too hard (you can see I'd make a great film critic can't you), so I'd be curious to see what Idris or Tom would do with it, if it is indeed one of them. Funny thing, when I worked at the World Bank I was introduced to an English colleague whose name was actually James Bond. He was born before Flemming wrote the book and as he said "whatever funny quip you think you might make, I've heard them all so don't bother"! Poor guy, that must be an awful name to carry round if you're short, fat and hairy!

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  5. Definite need for Bond to have a twinkle in the eye

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    1. Absolutely. Roger Moore had it be I found the films just too silly!

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  6. Once knew of a chap who had tested as only 0.07% unlikely in a paternity test and had cruelly earned the nickname Bond as a result. He had a definite twinkle in his eye!

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    1. I don't care what anyone looks like but a sexy voice and a twinkle in the eye - who could resist!

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    2. You are so funny to play along!!! I'm waiting for Dr Zulinga to sort out mu marriage.

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    3. If I ever see a spell for Rogue Shoppers I'll let you know!

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  8. I laughed at the winnie the pooh picture, that sums me up! The route de Napoleon - arggh! How you drove a camper van along it I do not know, I had to drive on it in a saloon car while hubby had a nap and I was terrified! It goes through rocks and comes out about 200 miles up a mountain with a narrow edge along it and of course because we were in our own British car, and on the other side of the road, all I could see from my peripheral vision was the steep drop!! I blame that experience for my fear of going over high bridges to this day! We often drove to France for our Keycamp holidays with the children and much as they hated the journey there in the car, they absolutely had a ball once we got there. Great memories. x

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    1. I have to admit when the kids were young we had a wonderful time with those campers. Every weekend we used to go about an hour down the road to a national park called Les Bauges, where the men went fishing, the woman sat around and yacked and the kids had no end of other kids to play with. It really was idyllic - until the kids hit puberty and became neanderthals. As for the route de Napoléon I only have a vague memory of it but since everywhere round here is "like that" I'm not surprised you almost laid an egg!

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  9. Johnny Depp has said that he took Keith Richards as his inspiration for Jack Sparrow and I love that thought. The two movies of the series that Keith is in charm my heart.
    What a beautiful place to camp! I imagine that the kids had amazing times when you took them on those trips. What beautiful scenery you have been surrounded by and still are!
    I'm glad you're getting your old tire situation sorted out. It's that sort of thing that makes me want to weep.

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    1. Oh I thought Depp took his inspiration from Mick Jagger. Either way, it definitely worked and I thought he was brilliant as Jack Sparrow. And we did have some wonderful times in that camper. I guess there's an age for everything isn't there, but I know our kids had a blast over the 10 or so years that they were young and we were constantly out and about in it!

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  10. I was just typing that to try and sell things, I'd need my daughters brain to help-but maybe we might have some luck if we go that way. I like the idea of letting Max try and then the band gets a little kitty. I'm sure my kids would share great memories of the simple vacations-I love that Andre said how much he liked the swimming and playing at the campsite. Good memories.

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    1. As regards selling things, I couldn't be bothered and definitely didn't want the hassle - I'm no saleswoman, that's for sure. But Max's first reaction was to upload the pictures onto that site so if they can make some money for their band I'll be more than happy. As for holidays, we went on so many camping holidays and for the kids it was just great. There were always so many other kids around to play with and we used to let them just run all day and straggle back when they were hungry. What more could a kid want?

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  11. Oh, and yes, RIP Captain Tom. What a way to live your 100th year.

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    1. Absolutely. He was quite the classy gent, RIP!

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  12. I think it is much easier to sell something you know about - I know nothing of tires so would be like you. Good for your son though, less trash and more items being used by others. Bardem is beautiful - but has played some freaky characters over the years.

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    1. Oh I don't mind the freaky characters - Bardem is just so sexy!

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  13. I am so glad Jen and Biboo are doing better. As for the next Bond, my candidate is Tom Ellis although I prefer Irish and Scottish men. I like redheads.. a lot :)

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    1. Isn't that weird, I have never heard of Tom Ellis, but then again, I don't really watch TV. I think we're attracted to our opposites generally. I mean, I'm very pale skinned with light coloured hair and I have always liked dark-skinned men with dark hair and eyes. Doesn't mean the others aren't attractive of course, it's just for me I'm not attracted to your typical Englishman. Although I will admit to a soft spot for the occasional redhead!

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  14. Oh that picture of Javier....sigh.....thanks for that.

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  15. To the person who let me know about my blog post being cut and pasted - thanks I already saw it. I immediately wrote back with a comment that "for the sake of clarity the 'bitchy cow' comment referred to my husband's mistress", after which her post was edited. Then someone commented that she was tired of reading about the mask/no mask debate - and the comment published then deleted. My comment wasn't published of course. But just like with my husband's skank's "testimonial" I really couldn't care less!

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  16. Hello, how lovely to discover your blog. I'd looked at the mad eccentrics blog and saw the cut and paste she'd done. I stopped regularly reading there some time ago, she stopped doing the frugal posts after she came into some money when a relative died. Then I realised she was dangerous, telling people not to wear masks and promoting subversive you tube videos. She's definitely a weirdo and has become more so just lately. One tip - watch her own you tube clips but with the sound off, watch her mouth making it's weird shapes, if anyone would benefit from wearing a mask it's her! She now comes across as being very self opinionated and those videos are so waffling and long I stopped watching them. That and the inability to speak properly - SomeFink instead of SomeThing is just lazy speech.

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    1. Hi Jen, and welcome to my blog. I certainly didn't mean any insult when I said I thought she was a tad eccentric. Heck, I'd love to be eccentric but I guess at this point "whatevs" as they say. She's entitled to her opinion as I am to mine. I think my main point was that her no mask stance would go down very badly here with or without an exemption as everyone really does seem to be following the rules - well around here at least!

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  17. I'm so glad you've seen the post! I just received an email to warn me a comment I left was included! The song 'you're so vain' popped into my head the moment I saw it! I was trying to find an email to send you a message and thankfully read your comments before doing anything else! I've put comment moderation on my blog for now just in case! Take care! x

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    1. I did see the post because, as I said, I liked this person and admired her determination to retire on her own timeline. The fact that we don't agree - well it's neither here nor there is it. Storm in a teacup in the end!

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  18. Just to add, if I'd remembered you have comment moderation on I could have sent you a comment and asked you not to publish it - duh!! lol. It's late, what can I say!! x

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    1. Sorry, I probably shouldn't have published it but since I didn't name this person anyway .... Still, the whole point is everyone has a different opinion on so many things - but the pandemic, Donald Trump and Brexit must be some of the most provocative and we're never going to all agree. Nor should we have to - we're entitled to your own opinions after all!

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  19. Captain Tom! What a loss. So sad! What a joy it was to watch him go from garden to birthday to book to interviews. What an inspiration he was. I've put on a stone since I moved on my own - shocking! I'm eating more because I'm walking regularly, but obviously eating THE WRONG STUFF (who knew bags of crisps and packets of biscuits, carb & sugar-loaded bombs of deliciousness, aren't conducive to weight loss? *ahem*). I know what I need to do, it's just doing it. You know? And although I am a big Daniel Craig fan, I would be equally as happy with either Tom Hardy or Idris Elba. Oh, maybe both? ;) Seems I've missed the hoo-hah about another blogger. Ah well. As long as you are well and safe, that's all that matters. xx

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    1. Hi, it's good to see you back again. And I commiserate on the weight. I haven't put any on but I haven't lost any despite the walking but I blame my son for that. Well I have to blame someone other than myself don't I. Trouble is, I enjoy having someone to cook for so I guess I'll have to wait until he moves out. And I agree with you - Tom or Idris for the next Bond. Then again, they might surprise us all and chose someone else mightn't they!

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