A TALE OF LONG AGO

Dear Readers.. 

WE have the sweetest post for YOU tonight. It is sweet in two ways, the first because it is true and the second is because it brought much happiness to both families.

Are YOU sitting comfortably? Then I will begin..

MIRACLE IN TRANSIT.

Thousands of Polish soldiers, women and children arrived in transit camps in the Middle East after being released by the Russians following the German attack on the USSR in 1941 and I helped to entertain them.

One of the soldiers, a quiet, withdrawn young man, had had to leave his young wife a week before the birth of their first baby. With no news of her and no hope of seeing her again, it was small wonder he had "no heart" for any on the parties we arranged.

All his spare time he spent carving with loving care little wooden figures of The Virgin, The Child, Joseph, and an ox and an ass.

The young wood-carver was persuaded to come to the Christmas Eve party. He was carrying a small parcel when I went in the lorry to pick them up from the men's camp. 

"They are finished, my little family," he said. "I cannot give them to my child, so I will give them to the first Polish child I see."

He opened my driving door for me when we reached the family camp. I looked up to thank him but the look on his face drove the thought from my mind. 

He stood motionless, as if he had seen a vision. Then, with a shout that turned all heads, ran to a young woman carrying a sturdy baby boy and flung his arms around them.

The joy of seeing that little family reunited, the chubby baby looking at the Christmas presents I had watched grow out of love and heartbreak, is something I shall never forget.

SECOND TALE.

The author of this Tale about the Polish soldier was Constance.. aka HER mother.

Those of YOU who have read all the Posts of MY Blog might remember that HER parents had to sell their much beloved home, going to live in a tiny house lent to them by extremely kind friends, SHE had left school, all of HER animals were given away and a most of their lovely furniture sold.

Hugo's health was very bad, there were no Benefits to help in such 
a situation. Life was extremely bleak and hard. Constance worked her fingers to the bone doing what she could. 

When she saw an advertisement to win a £100.00 for the best story which HAD to be true and provably so, she entered it and prayed, it was coming up to Christmas, there was no Goose getting fat, all of her beloved livestock had been sold with her much beloved house.

She wrote the story, posted it off to the newspaper and prayed.

On Tuesday, 21st December.. she received the following letter..

Mrs. Constance .....                   20th
Watercress Cottage,
Littlebourne,
Canterbury Kent.


Dear Mrs.  ........


I am pleased to tell you that your Christmas story has been selected as the one-hundred-pound prize winner in our Christmas Story Competition and will appear in our issue on December 23rd.

Your story was selected out of an entry of more than six-thousand and we enjoyed it very much. I am enclosing the cheque for one-hundred-pounds with my sincere hopes that it will bring you some pleasure.

Yours sincerely,
Anthony Clarkson.
Editor.

HOPPIN & A'BOPPIN & A'JUMPING ABOUT..

Dear Readers, WE know not where YOU are but here, in deepest Knightsbridge, it is COLD AND VERY WET..  SHE had thought about going out but realised SHE needed NOT ONE THING.. so changed plans and headed for YumYum HQ.

Oh dear.. I fear these past few days have rattled HER brain.. singular.. heeheeee!

For whilst SHE was a'brewing pots of HER scrummydumptious Crystallised Ginger, SpinyApple and Orange Peel.. I think SHE lost the plot.. SHE grabbed ME, whisked ME upside down and did Rock-around-the-YumYumHQ.. such cheek.. how undignified, supposing someone had lifted off the top of OUR house and been privy to MY embarrassment?

I blame Hugo for this.. it is entirely HIS fault! For he used to catch hold of Constance's hand and dance with her.. it mattered not where they were.. usually in the kitchen where she always had a radio playing.. but off they would go for a few minutes.. then he would give her a kiss and they would go back to they had been doing before.. sweet.

What are YOU a'doing today?  WE know Joanna has Mister Plumber doing plumbing work and some friends are back at work, when SHE was working SHE used to give the team a holiday and then they would come back to work on the first Monday after the New Year.. a few of the team travelled back to their families whose homes were in Turkey and France.

WE are not doing much.. WE are lazing about, if Truth would be told, which it always should be.. many, many books have been read and WE may end up with oblong eyes from the amount of films that WE have watched on HER television!

SHE has got HER nose into European History at the moment.. mostly of the 20th Century. None of it is 'light entertainment' in the slightest.. ugh, man's inhumanity to man.. 'BAD FAITH' by Carmen Callil was gruesome and now SHE is reading 'A WOMAN IN BERLIN' an anonymous diary written in 1945 during the Fall of Berlin.

So to watch 'Singing in the Rain' and 'An American in Paris' have been a pure delight.

SHE goes back to work next week, would love to go to look at garden.. but to journey for an hour to trudge through mud and not be able to do anything when SHE gets there.. makes NO sense!!

SHE has friends coming to stay in January.. I must remind HER to switch Mister Boiler on.. as they are probably used to over heated homes and wearing far fewer clothes than WE do when WE are inside. I am growing more fluffy chest feathers to keep ME warm. And SHE is certainly 'stouter' than SHE was in the Summer!

Off WE go.. crystallising fruit waits for no woman.. oh, I do LURVE that Ginger!

GeeGee Parrot.
December 27th, 2012.

BLOG BIRTHDAY.

Good morning.. good morning.. it's great to stay out late, good morning.. good morning to YOU! Sincere apologies to the writer of 'Singing in the Rain'.

But it is MY Blogs Birthday! For a whole year I have, with regretfully I have to admit some weeks of being AWOL - absent without leave - written to amuse, astound, interest or just make YOU wish that YOU too had an African Grey Parrot in YOUR life.

But YOU certainly have other people in YOUR life.. wives, husbands, children, cats, dogs, fish, goats, rats.. the list is endless.. 

'Officially' SHE does have a human family, somewhere out there are two brothers, a nephew, two nieces, two great nephews and a great niece.. these people are directly related to HER, SHE also has a whole load of cousins, but I have never met any of these people and so, in reality, there is just the two of US. 

SHE tried, for the longest time, to be a sister and an aunt.. but has given up.. when YOU are constantly met with indifference and only contacted when they need or want something.. SHE felt very, very lonely because of this and then one day.. SHE read something which made absolute sense to HER.. and SHE started on a journey. 

SHE read "The definition of loneliness is loving to no avail". Read that, Dear Readers.. for it was the beginning of a new life for HER.

Christmas is a strange time of the year.. there is obscene amount of commercial hype.. obscene amount of money squandered on stuff which is shoddy and of appalling waste. Did YOU make anything to decorate YOUR home or was it bought? Are your Christmas Decorations family 'TREASURES' which are carefully wrapped up
and put away for next year?

For YOUR food, did YOU go to a supermarket - probably owned 
by some non-tax paying conglomerate - or did YOU go to the local butcher OR farmer to ask what their Beef / Duck / Goose / Turkey would cost?

Did YOU, if YOU were in the position to do so, invite a single 
person to share a meal with YOUR family? Do any voluntary 
work?

Time to reflect, Dear Readers.. or are YOU caught up in the, seemingly, never ending drama of MORE.. the photographs of shoppers fighting over boxes of cosmetics in a London store was beyond OUR comprehension. I wonder if they will pay their Utility bills on time?

Speaking of which.. SHE turned OUR boiler off! It sound dire, 
doesn't it? But SHE sat and thought of how HER life was like fifty 
years ago when the family lived in an old house with no central heating, the different food, clothes. And adjusted OUR life 
accordingly. 

What was immediately very funny was that after a few days, our home started to become quite warm.. SHE thought that SHE was imagining it.. but then realised that a neighbour, who has a duplex flat, part of which is behind our flat and above us, had put their heating up because OUR heat was no longer warming theirs!!

Stews with spices, HOMEMADE GINGER SYRUP in hot water, thicker clothes, cotton or woollen tights and HOT water bottles! 

Three of them.. it is quite a crowd in our bed, there is HER, ME on HER head, BIG hot water bottle at HER feet and there are two little ones that roam around, tucked into HER back or near to a hip.

MY BLOGS BIRTHDAY.. and Blogspot is not letting ME celebrate!

Dear Readers.. I am so sorry.. WE wrote a long Post for YOU today but this new version of Blogspot is dreadful and has gobbled most of it up.. WE will try to get it out but it is not signed and will not let us back to the post to finish it off properly.

But today is MY Blogs first birthday, so WE have to say " HELLO" to YOU all.. wherever YOU may be and thank YOU ALL for reading OUR posts for the past year.

GeeGee Parrot.
December 27th, 2012.

Back from the Boon-Docks..

No, Dear Readers, YOU are not imagining things.. it is I, YOUR favourite Blog writing Parrot.. back from those dreadful Boon-Docks, otherwise known as non writings days.. 

WE.. have just realised that it is Christmas Eve and that WE owe YOU all a Post.. so here WE are.

What is OUR news... well, SHE is back doing HER Voluntary work which pleases HER.. I get to have spend time roosting on top of bedroom door, SHE gets to chew fat with some nice people and be of help / do service, I suppose it is called.

OUR life is very quiet.. for it has been very cold and or wet so SHE has been making no trips to garden to pester those poor worms! 

But all should be 'well' there as SHE spent HOURS transporting barrow loads of horse manure and wood chips down the track to the plots, so that each bed would have 'quilts' to make them fat, snug and warm.. 

And what of YOU, Dear Readers? WE have had news from Joanna, the writer of that extremely interesting Blog called 'La Vie en Rose' and a smidgen of news from Ellie of Ellie's Goats Dairy, life on a farm never stops.. her Goaty Ladies are all pregnant again.. can a year pass so quickly?

SHE has had emails asking about OUR wellfare.. I suppose it is because WE have not written for so long.. WE apologise for this. SHE has had to process some very annoying / distressing and unpleasant things that happened to HER in the past month and they have left HER shocked and deeply saddened.

But SHE is strong and will come through this period of darkness.

And so here in deepest Knightsbridge, it is now Christmas Eve.. WE will telephone friends later tonight and tomorrow morning to give them OUR Seasons Greetings and for YOU, Dear Reader, wherever you may be.. WE wish a "Happy Christmas and may YOU and all your families be happy, healthy and safe".

Best wishes from US both.

GeeGee Parrot & HER.
December 24th, 2012.

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED!..

"WELL HELLLOOO" as Leslie Phillips would have said..

It is I, YOUR Blog writing Parrot.. Yes, I admit I have been absent for a verrry lonng time.. but SHE aka The Plotter (Gardener) has been working HER poor fingers to a state of arthritis and pale skin.. seeing as how SHE has given in and now wears mittens and gloves to work in...

Our days were like this.. SHE gets out of bed, wakes ME up with kisses, WE eat breakfast, SHE washes, gets into winter gardening type clothes and leaves.. only to come back when it is dark outside.. it has not been a bundle of fun BUT the four plots are all tucked up under several layers of horse manure and wood chipings..

Now SHE will go back to doing HER Volunteer work, probably two days a week, until early Spring when SHE will drop back to one and a half days a week.

This last week SHE was slightly discombobulated by something.. someone asked HER if SHE would do them a favour.. yes, was HER response, the person sent several texts to confirm that SHE WAS going to do it.. why (?), I wondered, well.. probably other friends have let her down in the past but SHE does not behave in that way. If SHE says SHE will do something, SHE does it.. even if something more 'exciting' comes along which had in fact in this case but still SHE had said "yes" so YES it would be..

The person had asked HER what SHE would like to eat and drink for supper, SHE said "a small piece of Salmon and some vegetables and some Apple juice please" all of which are easy-peasy to buy!

So having told ME that SHE would be doing so-and-so and that I was a good gurl, off SHE went..

SHE collect the person from the dental surgery, they had not booked a car so had to take a black taxi.. it cost a fortune!  Person made herself an omelette and showed HER a rather sad looking piece of Chicken Breast saying "oh, I forgot to get your food but there is some chicken and vegetables left over from last night"..

Dear Readers.. the 'vegetables' were an old dish of Pomme Dauphinois and a couple of Broccoli stalks and a VERY dead looking carrot!  SHE just 'smiled' at such rudeness and took some of the potatoes to heat up.. only to be told "goodness me, you took a lot"..

SHE cooked the chicken and went to sit down at the table.. the television had been switched on and the person had her nose glued to her FaceBook page.. Then she picked up her mobile and started texting people.. Then went and changed into her night clothes an came back down saying "You don't have to stay".

Apparently, having been told one thing.. another was actually happening and HER presence was no longer required.. and SHE was shown the front door, which was closed behind HER before SHE had taken one step.

None so queer as folk.. some people say and they are right.

WE, otherwise, are well.. this week is busy for tomorrow SHE is seeing Gabi, a friend from Austria, WE (I hope to be going as well) are going for supper with Lovely Leigh and Ossie on Friday, SHE is going to purchase a box of Pink Stuff aka Taramasalata and this will be in HER basket.. oh Lordy, how I LURVE Pink Stuff.

SHE has the dining table covered with graft paper.. so lucky that it can stay there undisturbed! SHE is changing things at the garden, wants to self build a 'solar green house'.. they are a completely different shape to a conventional green house, a very long and sloping side faces due south and it is primarily shaped that way to capture the sun in the autumn, winter and spring when the sun is much lower in the sky. The graft paper has sketches of what would be HER ideal.. plus costings etc.

And after walking the plots to find best place for it to be situated.. with NO shade.. SHE has come to a decision to move the Autumn Raspberries and cut down a massive Clematis Montana 'Mayleen'.

SHE also cut down three vines last week.. out with the wood saw and off with their bodies!  SHE will dig the roots out next weekend. They were sour and bitter.. ugh, NOT what was on their plant label at all! In their place are going two fruit trees... a 'Sonesta' Plum and a Pluot.. mix of Apricot and Plum.. delicious beyond belief!

So that is all OUR news.. nothing exciting to report.. WE have been very touched by Rosamund, Joanna and Mary Lou inquiring about our well-being.. yes, dear friends WE are 'ok' and Joanna, SHE will be telephoning YOU later to get an in-depth report on what's-a-goin-on with YOU.

So WE are off to YumYum HQ, WE see no point in being up when WE could be in HER big snuggly-buggly bed with three hot water bottles.. yes, Dear Readers. YOU did read that correctly! SHE has a giant one at HER feet and a dinky one either side of HER at waist level.. oh.. so toasty warm it makes HER, MY feet get quite hot sitting on HER head!

WE will post again soon.. SHE has pretty much finished bothering those poor worms, the only BIG thing that SHE has to do is to winter prune the Apple and Pear Trees and hand weed that big Asparagus bed and then that will be HER chores finished for the winter. This means SHE will be around and about more often.

At the moment SHE is awaiting the arrival of seed catalogues and four gardening books to arrive.. oooh...SHE LURVES BOOKS.

GeeGee Parrot.
November 11th, 2012.

We are back...

Ohhhh.. are YOU still there any of YOU?  I have not written for such a loonng time.. it has not been a bundle of fun here the last two weeks.. SHE has not been in a great space and YOU know how that distresses ME..

WE did have some nice friends to stay which was fun and jolly but underlying those happy days.. it was all a bit gggrr. 

Anyway, here WE are.. but with no tales of 'derring-do' to report.. the weather is gloomy but still warmish.. HER fruit trees still have their clothes on, very weird, they have not even gone yellow yet, except for one little Pear tree who has decided to go to bed on time, her leaves are golden and dropping fast.. but the others are larking about in various shades of green.. very silly,  they will have a shock as 'winter' is forecasted for next week-end!

The Asparagus ferns are still green, SHE is only able to weed the edges of this big 13 square bed as SHE is too stout to wiggle amongst the ferns without breaking them! Same with most of HER beloved Peonies, only a few stems are looking as if they are going to sleep and, of course, the longer YOU leave them, the more nutriends they go to sleep with.

But.. how about this for being very chic! 

At the top of the driveway at plot is a HUGE pile of manure.. horse manure from The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace! SHE has been scurrying up and down that driveway with poor ole wheelybarrow, on it is a massive bag into which SHE puts manure or wood chips from another pile, this way, poor ole wheelybarrow can hold much more.

All the beds that SHE will use next year for beans etc are getting  
manure, meanwhile the beds that have fruit bushes or fruit trees in 
them are getting a mix of manure and wood chippings, the earth 
worms are in heaven.. with these cosy quilts to make their beds all 
snuggly-warm for winter, they are already dragging it down.

Meanwhile back at home.. Well, SHE has never been SO excited 
about housework as SHE is about gardening but WE are getting 
there slowly.. slowly, very slowly! SHE has Silverware to polish this afternoon.. it is supposed to be a gloomy wet afternoon.. SHE is staying home.. which is much more fun for ME!  As I get to sit on ole Goosie head perch in and see what's a'goin on.. 

But Dear Readers, it is not all doom and gloom as WE do have 
something really, really lovely and very happy making to look forward to.. yes, for Joanna has asked if she and JJ could visit with us for a few days in December.. OH.. Wooooopie-de-doo!

And now WE are off for a late snacket of lunch of Portugese perpetual Cabbage and some Spinach with a couple of Meatballs left over from last nights supper..

Bye bye.. hope that YOUR day is pleasant wherever YOU are..

OH.. before WE forget.. it is such a treat to read a 'good' book.. and SHE read a book last night that made HER squeal with laughter!

'THE MATCHMAKER OF PERIGORD' by JULIA STUART, PUBLISHED by DOUBLEDAY.. the author's first novel, what a 
delightful read, get it from YOUR Library or buy it.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 21st, 2012.

GROVEL. GROVEL..

No posts for ages.. so sorry.. many feather plucking apologies.. WE have, as YOU know, had guests and SHE was tired.. So no Blog written.. 

SHE went to try to find trousers for winter.. as I regret to say that the trousers SHE wore ALL last winter.. which were VERY comfortable..  now do not close around HER waist by, at least, five inches, oh dear.

GULP.. I am so glad that I don't have this problem!

However, SHE refused to buy this 'enormous new size' and instead, bought three balls of pretty wool with which to knit a pretty snood.. and a new cafetiere! 

Came home and ate squiddley-diddley.

SHE changed flat over to winter accents today, the sitting room window blind is now red and yellow instead of blue and white.. and the throws are dark red and yellow.. snuggly colours, the upstairs neighbour is here, with her central heating going full blast.. makes our flat very cosy!

And a cosy place is where WE are a'going.. to bed.. SHe has two new books to read and I have a new Pomegranate to molest.. yum.

Hopefully WE will be here again tomorrow, SHE has promised some family photographs to HER cousin Stephen.. So there will be a wiggle or two to get those together, SHE will take them to Snappy Snaps who will email them to him for his wedding book.. sigh..

Good night Dear Readers.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 10th, 2012.

OUT ALL THE TIME..

Which is exactly how it should be.. but it does mean that YOU, Dear Readers, do not get a daily post on MY Blog... 

I will write tomorrow about last night at The Royal Albery Hall.. suffice to say.. the seats were wonderful and so was the evening of Beethoven!

Lovely evening..

Today has been a day for jaunts.. to see Debbie aka Ellie of Goaty fame.. WE do hope those Goaty folk enjoy those three bags of herbs.. plenty more where they came from! Cheese bought.

Then to Waterstones in the Kings Road to find special books written by one of HER all time HEROS.. Valerie Ann Worwood..

Back home, cheese into fridge, out again to Columbia Road.. Yes Joanna, SHE did pick YOU up a sample of Precious Two from Angela HERSELF for YOU and it will go into the post to YOU tomorrow!

Then to Trumans on Brick Lane for lunch.. such a clever, clever place. Probably 20 different stalls all serving the MOST fabulous HOT food being cooked for YOU.. Malasian, Venezuelan, Mexican, Indian, Burmese, Moroccan, Indian... YOU get the picture? Big tables to sit at and happy atmosphere.. perfect.

Home via Spitalfields.. then into Artillery Passage to view Angela Flander's new shop at number 4. Artillery Row.. SO CHIC!

But SHE expected nothing less.. Angela's 'eye' is as good as her 'nose''.. the shop is beautiful.

Back on 11 bus at Liverpool Street, whoosh.. past The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.. aka The Bank of England.. past St. Paul's.. so beautiful.

Off at Royal Courts of Justice on Fleet Street, up side street, past King's College, The Law Society.. wiggle, wiggle up onto the Theobalds Road, onto a 19.. off at HER favourite branch of book shop Waterstones, the ole Simpsons shop in Piccadilly.. found another book by Valerie Ann Worwood.. and home.. to a strong coffee!

Ooooh.. I was so pleased to have them all back and I got to sit on everyone's head after large snacket.. and suddenly.. it was nine of the clock!

WE have early start tomorrow.. mail to collect from Sorting Office, MY food to buy, then they are all going to visit Leigh, Otto and Phoebe at Kew Gardens at one of the clock for coffee.

And then they will come home via HER Library, they need to find some titles of books for research.

Bed time.. sleepy.. busy day and they were quite late last night after walking home from that glorious musical evening..

GeeGee Parrot.

October 7th, 2012.

THREE BAGS OF HERBS LATER....

SHE waddled down the steps.. jurst before sky opened and down came the rain!

But SHE had managed to pick quite a lot of herbs for HER Goaty friends.. one bag of Melissa aka Lemon Balm with a small amount of Golden Oregano, one bag of Rosemary and another of Rosemary with Purple Sage.. it was all SHE could carry.

Ravenous WE WERE.. well, SHE was and I am always ready for something delicious to eat.. what is on offer, I thought?

Umm.. goodie goodie, for out of fridge came large tub of truly scrummy anchovy fillets, tub of small octopus, some funghi in garlic oil, some of those peppers SHE did a couple of months ago.. plus a beautiful tomato that Robert, friend at garden, gave HER last weekend..

What a feast.. quick and tasty, SHE lit the ring under red cabbage, added smoked bacon lardoons, stirred well and put lid back on.. that will cook down for about another half hour... SHE took a Duck breast out of the chiller.. and that is what WE will have for our supper.

But now.. WE are eating the 'snacket'.. jurst to keep norty ole Wolf from door as it were.. SHE ate the eggs and salmon at 8.45am, so it has been a loonng time not to have eaten any yumyum.

SHE cut off two thick slices of Spelt and Seed bread.. drizzled some good olive oil onto them, added crushed garlic and sliced tomato.. I got a bit too.. whooo.. there will be no vampires in THIS house tonight!

But SHE is taking life slowly.. it sounds as if WE are doing a lot but SHE was very sad to have to tell two friends that 'problem' is back.. at least WE know 'it' is NOT Cancer.. but specialist called HER and said "that he is now thinking surgery and most probably towards end of the month"..

Fiddle-dee-dee.. boring as it scuppers marvellous plans for end of month with family... many rude words.

But WE are off to read two magazines SHE was given by friend.

It is so nice to have a pleasant day, get all the work done and then have something to look forward to tomorrow as well.. Royal Albert Hall and Beethoven's 9th symphony.. 

What a lovely treat... and Danish Susan and our two friends are of the same career! There will be lots to talk about when not listening to this glorious music..

Good evening to YOU all.. I hope that YOUhave happy plans for YOUR weekends like WE do?

GeeGee Parrot.
October 5th, 2012.

BUTTERED EGGS & SMOKED SALMON FOR ALL OF US!

YO HO HO... oh Dear Readers.

I lurve it when WE have friends to stay.. for SHE pushes boat out and WE get to eat scrummy ( more than usual ) food with which to break that norty fast! 

This morning WE had Smoked Salmon with our Buttered Eggs... ohhhh... I am jurst crazy and mad about that smokey ole salmon.. yumyum.

Now SHE has Red Cabbage with apples, red onion and spices in pan, will add smoked bacon lardoons about half an hour before end of cooking time.

SHE and guests are going to be very busy.. last night they kicked off with Pizzas.. yes, of course, at HER favourite place..

Pizza@home on The Old Brompton Road, London SW5.

SHE has sad to hear that man who was SO welcoming to HER the first time SHE went in.. looking very grubby.. is leaving London and going back to Pretoria.. but his sister.. who between YOU, ME and the front door.. makes an amazing Pizza is staying.. phew.. that is a relief!  

SHE thought that new folk would be taking it over and SHE would not get same Pizzas as they serve now.. for they are truly, truly very yumyum scrummydumptious.. if YOU like or want them really crisp.. that is what YOU get!

Then guests have invited HER and Danish Susan to go with them to listen to Beethoven's Nineth at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

Next it is an early Sunday morning start for they are all off to meet Debbia aka Ellie of Ellie's Dairy at The Parsons Green Farmers 
Market.

Swiftly back home with the cheese that Asmaa is going to buy, then
off to Columbia Road Flower Market to introduce them to HER most favourite Perfumer, Angela Flanders, 96. Columbia Road.

Lunch will be Vietnamese food on The Kingsland Road.. delicious.

Meanwhile SHE has promised those Goaty folk lots of Herb 
clippings and SHE is thrilled to have someone to give them to! So 
much nicer than putting them onto a rubbish heap, as Rosemary 
never breaks down, there will be lots of Melissa, aka Lemon Balm, 
Oregano, Mint of different varities, and lots of Sage and HUGE amounts of Rosemary!

SHE is off with several strong plastic sacks and taking string 
with HER to tie up the sacks so SHE can carry them on the bus.

So, there YOU have the order of activities for the next few days.. oh, what are our guests doing.. why, they have gone Culture Vulturing at The Natural History Museum. Five minutes walk away.. YES, WE are very lucky to live where WE do.

I am off to perch on a door, lick and smack ole Beaky and to think about that breakfast and SHE is off to garden to pick first two bags of Herbs for our Goaty folk friends.

GeeGee Parrot.
October 5th, 2012.

TOMORROW...

So sorry Dear Readers.. no Tale of derring-do forYOU tonight.. SHE went out with lurverly guests to eat Pizza.. yum, chilli-billy on HER breath and now falling into bed with stuff to organise.

SHE has much to do at garden but not tomorrow as weather forecast says "rain".. but that saturday and sunday are to be sunny.. 

I promise YOU that YOU will have big, loonng post tomorrow.. including one of HER favourite recipes for Autumnal days.. yes, as autumn is most certainly here now.. it was never above 60 degrees fahrenheit today..

Good night.. enjoy YOUR evening.. paperwork for HER now as SHE has to do this before it gets out of control.. YOU know that two pieces of paper can make ten in a nanosecond! Well, they do in this house!

GeeGee Parrot.
October 4th, 2012.

Compassion.. Ellen.. Royal William & Savoy Hotel are all in a pretty vase.. sadly Gloire de Dijon does not like being picked.

Hello Dear Readers.. Yes, lots of Roses to pick, so many in fact, that SHE brought them home in a bucket with lots of water. And the names in the Title are the names of what SHE cut and brought home.. 

It is a GREAT pity that Gloire de Dijon does not 'do' well if YOU cut her.. She goes floppy and hangs her head.. much better to leave her on her bush where she pleases everyone who passes by.

SHE did four trips up to a HUGE pile of leaf and wood mould that is at the top of the track, it takes half an hour there and back with a full wheely-barrow.. two big beds now look fat and cosy, rather like a freshly made bed with clean quilt cover.. 

SHE stuck a fork in to the one that SHE did on Monday, Misters Wiggly Worms are very busy taking leaf mould down into soil.. already there is noticeable difference, they are very clever those wiggly people.. the more worms YOU have in YOUR garden, the healthier YOUR soil is, did YOU know that?

SHE had a nice chat with another plot holder.. Peter, who is 
married to Elena.. they are 'grown-ups' with three children and 
SEVEN grand children.. SHE said "you are very greedy".. he 
laughed! 

Nice man.. he jurst LURVES his Chickens.. they have, like HER, a 
big plot and grow everything that they eat.. healthier than buying 
stuff that has been 'fiddled' with.. ugh.. who wants 'waxed' apples?

EXCUSE ME.. WAXED APPLES? Why would they do that, and they do! UGH.. Why can't they, whomever 'they' are, keep them properly?

Change subject.. these people make US SO VERY CROSS..
Back to ME.. always a good laugh or run for YOUR money.. and as YOU pay nothing to be amused by MY blethering, I think I am  
'pretty' good value!! 

HeeHee.. ok, whilst SHE was out, I had a RIPPING time with that 
box.. I managed to destroy nearly one whole side, sadly, I am not 
allowed to play with Mr. Dyson.. so those minute munched-up bits 
were all over bedroom carpet when SHE came back.. SHE was 
VERY good.. SHE jurst looked at the mess and laughed.. NOT 
many mothers would do that, SHE is a very understanding Maman.. 

"Tomorrow is another day GeeGee" SHE said which is true.. WE 
will be back tomorrow as SHE has to hoover carpets and clean bath etc before our guests arrive in the mid afternoon.

So now WE are off to YumYum HQ and then to bed.. to eat and read.  WE like a selection of delicious YumYums before WE turn out the lights and I do not see why there should or would be any exception tonight!

Good night, Dear Readers, wherever YOU may be..

GeeGee Parrot.
October 3rd, 2012.

OFF TO PICK ROSES FOR TWO GUESTS ARRIVING TOMORROW.

SO this post will be short.. but I will be back later.. SHE has to go to garden to pick 'smelly' Roses for guests who arrive tomorrow..

Lovely things autumn Roses.. their smell is wondrous and perfume a room beautifully without being too over powering like Lillies can be sometimes.

WE will have a very pleasant four days with our guests.. they have a kitten called Blackberry.. why such a name, have YOU never looked at a kittens paw? Their puds look jurst like the Blackberry symbol!

SHE will take them to Animal Fair, Abingdon Road, London W8.  This emporium is supplier of wondrous things for birds, cats and dogs, SHE has known shop and all the staff for ages.. it is where I go to stay if SHE goes away and I do not go with HER.

I suspect that MANY items will be purchased for young Master Blackberry.. they sound as if they are as soppy about him as SHE is about ME.. and that is quite right for all 'children', animal or human should be lurved and played with.

Sadly they are only with us for such a short while.. they leave on the 9th to go back to work. But.. that is what happens.. friends come and go.. it is jurst lovely to see them whilst they are here.

Now.. which door am I going to perch on today? SHE has closed a couple.. to stop ME going in and molesting clean rooms, I suspect!

Or, I suppose I could go and finish destroying that cardboard box..

Now there's a thing... ooh, for I lurve to rip cardboard.. so very satisfying to crunch it with ole Beaky.. sharpens Ole Beaky too.. yes, that is the order for today.. a good crunch and munch with ole Beaky.. 

GeeGee Parrot.
October 3rd, 2012.

RED SOUP AND GRAHAM HURLEY'S CRIME FICTION THRILLERS..

Cloudy.. dull.. overcast.. cold.. sunlight.. bright and warm.. Hello? Would YOU like to make up your mind? What to wear... galoshes or slip ons with no socks? Raincoat or a cardigan?  

WE are very confused.. mind YOU, between YOU, ME and front door.. it doesn't take a lot to get HER confused as SHE has had to do 'dreaded' housework.. proper stuff.. polishing furniture, mirrors, washing backs of doors when I perch.. sorry about that.

WE have two friends coming to stay so their room has to be made neat and tidy.

What a day.. housework, SHE spoke with lovely Leigh in Kew, more housework, is it not strange that it doesn't go on doing itself when YOU are on the telephone.

Then Danish Susan called, HER lovely friend who makes the most delicious biscuits in the whole world, with dreadfully sad news.

That her most beloved sister-in-law has advanced Pancrearic Cancer.. and has been given, maybe, a month to live. Susan's brother and her much adored sister-in-law live in Santa Barbara.. 

But Susan has to go to Denmark the day after tomorrow as her other brother is in 'bad shape' and not eating.. ages 85.. "Lovely friend, how very tough it is when family and friends start ro become seriously ill and pass on.."

This makes ME say it again.. tell the ones YOU lurve that YOU LURVE them.. before it is too late.

Bbbrrrr...  shake head and move on.. to RED Onion Soup!

When YOU make Onion Soup, I hope YOU put the skin in to the 
pot, for they are what give the soup the delicious colour.. WE had
run out of White Onions, so SHE used Red ones instead.. and what 
a glorious colour was produced!

WE are still on that 'strict' budget of eating at home, using rice and 
lentils and Bulgar Wheat to pad 'our' meals, the weekend Chicken 
carcass was put into smaller of two stockpots with carrots, garlic, 
potatoes and red onions plus a couple of litres of water and allowed 
to boil and then simmer.. top off.. oooh, how pretty!

And tasty too.. WE have had an extremely early supper, as WE did 
get up much earlier than normal.. and that was a bit of a shock to 
HER system as SHE was very, very late to put out HER light last 
night.. 

SHE was reading a thriller by Graham Hurley called 'BORROWED LIGHT'. OH DEAR, he has 'killed' off one of his main characters.. 
and it appears that this book was the latest in this series.. so now 
SHE has to wait for him to write another novel. 

But in the meantime, there are 'Winter, MacKenzie and Suttle', all 
characters in the excellent series, what is going to happen to them, 
SHE wants to know? 

Oh.. panic over, SHE has jurst checked on line and there IS another book out already.. phew.. it is called 'HAPPY DAYS' and starts off with the funeral of Farraday, the character who was died in the last book.

Gripping stuff..

WE have a new book to read.. well, SHE reads, I will loll on HER head and wind down after a very busy day.. up and down the hall I flew, HOW many times today?

Sleepy, weather change and lots of excercise.. "good night".

GeeGee Parrot. 
October 2nd, 2012.