June , the frost free portion.

June 4 and perhaps the frost warnings are behind us. We had 2 last week. The bush beans were showing, through the soil, their curved necks which I covered with loose soil. Near one that. The scarlet runner beans had come through with their true leaves which had to be protected with a covering. On the other side of the ledger we had a harvest of rhubarb and a few leeks. The leeks came from a fall planting of seedlings.

So into June we go. Other delights catch the eye; bumble bees on dandelions, Johnny jump up alternating between sunning or shivering and the unkempt bleeding hearts. June should become a verb. So much action, june up.

Memorabilia

A little over fifty years ago our drama professor, Frank Canino, staged "The Hollow Crown"in which a fellow Antigonisher, Addy, and I had interesting roles. In a blue gown, left over from a prom, and no wig I played the young Victoria.
I think, from the applause, it went over well. Also, off stage I had this 'what happened' looks. Next day when I entered a class the professor exclaimed,"But you look so tall"

I am ambling around my memorabilia this Victoria Day weekend before I renew the vegetable garden.

Never Eat Shredded Wheat

At 11.30pm, on the eve of Ash Wednesday, I regretted, slightly, of the promise to wait with them for the school bus in the morning. But I set the alarm and got up at 6.30am.

At 6.35am I saw that the grandson was in his drill; changing from pajamas to his laid-out school clothes and then a quick breakfast of yogurt and one toast. His mother helped with his outer gear of snow pants, parka, boots, toque and gloves. Then the backpack was hoisted on and we were ready for the short walk to the roadside for the 7.10am bus. The temperature was - 10 degrees C on March 24; this is NB, Canada. He and his sister usually go at 7.09am but because grandma walks slower on icy patches we went a minute earlier.

I pointed to the remnants of the sunrise and was introduced to the mnemonic:
Never Eat Shredded Wheat by my eldest grandchild. Brightens my day to have an aid to hang on to the cardinal points, Thank you and Happy Easter.
 

contemplation

J. G. Ballard's opening sentence in High Rise:
" Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog ....."
We are looking after Jones and just about keeping up with him.

It is a thought.

Leap February

                  Tick tock, tick tock cries
                   the bone clocks at six thirty.
                   Eyes see brief sunrise.
                                 

              

                   Today is February 29 which makes 2016 a leap year, but like 2012 it is  wholly divisible by 4. In 4 years time, 2020 will be wholly divisible and we will get a February 29. Google search will explain how, to manage seasonal human activities, calendars were devised. We follow the Gregorian but other tribes have their own.

                   Calendars apportion time and are understandable but of time, the dimension I have no inkling. No amount of staring at the moon is going to help.

                                

Heathrow Hive in the Year of the Monkey

                                    2016 the Year of The Monkey

After a flight of 12 hours from Bangkok, I arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7pm, February 16 to connect to a flight on Air Canada on February 17 at 11.10am. It is a long layover.

Heathrow is bright, brisk and brusque. No smiles but it functions. I landed at Terminal 2 and was told that only Terminal 3 stays open overnight. Took the bus for Terminal 3 noting that the automatic glass doors, at the wait area, only open when the driver comes and keys in his/her pass at the receiver. Clever control especially in cold weather.
At Terminal 3, I did my ablutions in the clean toilet and set about exploring the area. Eateries and shops open until 9.30pm. After that the cleaning and security staff take over. I settled down in one of the departure lounges covering my legs with a blanket taken from Thai Air. The idea of the blanket came from seeing a blanket, from another airline, covering a passenger in transit at the Bangkok airport. About 11pm, as I was brushing my teeth, a lady staff member told me that an immigration officer would like to see me. He checked my passport and asked me to join the dozen passengers staying overnight. We were put in one departure lounge which has an attached bathroom. We were offered coffee and tea but I asked for water. A few minutes before that, another security officer brought in an intoxicated man who was refused boarding Virgin Air bound for Lagos. He was tall, dark and drunk and kept saying " I love you " to the not so tall but calm security guy. A shade before 5 am, the same lady staff member came to rouse us, giving our Virgin Air passenger extra time. She and a colleague were to send us on our way. Meanwhile, the laggard unzipped a pocket on his carry-on and claimed that his passport was not there. The lady called her supervisor who had brought him in and was told that it was in the ex-drunk's coat pocket. Finding it he became apologetic and claimed over and over "I was stressed out, stressed out man."in a very loud voice. He explained that he came from NY in the morning and his Lagos flight was in the late evening. He became agitated and the matronly lady had to tell him to calm down before she will take him to the Virgin Air counter to arrange, for him, another flight. She told him that it would still be that one an only late evening flight and he was not to pass his time drinking. Or else.
Heathrow Hive is Business but can be benign.

Cat asks the Oracle

A bright sunny day on January 28 and the cat wants to know if Spring is on her way. The Amaryllis is testing for light and temperature and will get back to the feline. Meanwhile I know better or not.