Scrabbleathon

There's recently been a campaign or three on Facebook in response to the removal of the traditional and proper Scrabble game that I used to play  online. It's been replaced by a cartoony version that a child would hate, never mind an adult. Dumbing down at it worst.  The decision and implementation of the 'new improved' game has caused a huge backlash with many people freely giving hours a d hours of their time to e-mail, write, organise petitions, etc, in an effort  to get the game changed back to its previous form. I won't play the new game, I think it's horrendous.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to have fallen on deaf ears sadly. Not only that, any shred of human compassion seems to have gone out of the window.  I never cared about my stats and scores particularly, they were just there if I wanted to see them. Much more important to me was the human element - the contact with strangers, often on the other side of the world; friendships were made, many of them lasting, and I've met up with a couple of players over the past few years. \it filled many an empty hour over my recent long stay in hospital, often in the middle of a sleepless night. I could come online and there would be someone somewhere to play, chat to, and catch up with. It went far, far beyond 'good luck' and 'how's your weather?' I miss my daily Scrabble, the challenge of the game, the banter, the laughs, the sharing and caring with fellow humans wherever they happened to live. Today was the Scrabbleathon - organised on Facebook to get protesters to play a game or two wherever they live, to publicise the decision to change the game, and to highlight the campaign to have our beloved and proper game returned. Due to unforeseen family commitments, I was unable to attend or organise a public event, but I am playing a game against myself, much  in the spirit of everyone involved. It's been great fun all the way through, and I take my hat off to those who have worked so hard to get us all this far. Fingers crossed for the outcome we want - will report back as and when. In the meantime, why not dust off your board and have a game ?

Fresh today

Newly baked bread and the first of the garden raspberries :)

Strawberry fields for...................... Wednesday

Lovely day out in the glorious weather with a friend; she wanted some strawberries for jam, so we hoyed off up to Ansty pyo on the A30 up near Salisbury. ~It was the first time I've been there, although I've been aware of them for a long time.  Great strawberries, both planted lower in raised grow-bags and higher terraces to help your back!  There was a great farm shop - proper local produce, and lots of it, as well as the fruit. We had an excellent cup of tea in the café too - came with a decent sized pot of hot water, which you don't often get these days, and we managed to get 6 cups out of the pot for £3.60 - lovely proper china tea cups too, and milk in a proper jug. It's the little things that make the difference, isn't it? We just happened ( ha ha) to choose a table next to the bookshelves where you could buy from a good selection of books, for charity - I gave my money to the Air Ambulance which is a cause very dear to my heart due to recent events.  I got a   lovely book of patterns for knitted cushions, and a wee paperback by Dylan Thomas, will post about that later. We then went to collect some jam jars from a friend, and had more tea and were regaled with hilarious stories of their adventures in Mexican hotels among other things. Haven't laughed so much for a long time :) Then back to my friend's house where we sat in the garden with a ham and salad baguette and a Pimms. There may have been chocolate biscuit goodness too.  Arrived home tired and happy, the sign of a good day out. This is what I was looking at with my Pimms http://www.anstypyo.co.uk/pyo.html

The scent of a well-loved kitchen................

Fresh banana bread, philadelphus from the garden, rose perfume wafting in through the open windows and two gallons of mead just started

I have found my forever home.................

http://www.d-s-r.co.uk/property/braeside1.htm

Because grass is beautiful too....................

Little piece of gorgeousness

I bought this on Saturday, completely irresistible

Smallholder show, Ardingly

Went to this yesterday with a couple of friends. Baking hot day, bit too hot for me, rally, but had a good time. Bought some herbs, cheese, fleece and bits.  Would have liked to see more animals and 'muddy boots' bits, but was enjoyable. Highlight of the day for me was choosing two sheep to be shorn and buying the fleeces to bring home. The lad was only asking £2 per fleece, but that is really nowhere near the mark, and I was happy to pay £10 for the two, felt privileged to choose and be able to buy such good wool straight from the producer, lovely Poll Dorset. It's been added to the pile......................... Here's a few photos from the day