Isabel Rogers

Yet again we have got a guy out to fix something hydraulic-related. It had to break on the day of Many Deliveries and also the day we promised the farmer we'd clear his field because of impending manymanymany sheep'n'lambs. You don't want to upset a farmer at the start of sleepless weeks of lambing.

Not if people do things in the correct order. That, then this.

It is. (And who says we can't send more than one at a time?)
Have just written the one to my mother, stamped it and put in my bag so I can nearly forget to post it at the right time.

Am very much enjoying the level of smug on @themerl.bsky.social's feed today. And feel that you, my people, would enjoy it too.

Oh god I love the ALCS roulette. Is it going to be fifty quid or the best part of a grand? Nobody knows!

spotted woodpecker (black and white and red and altogether beautiful) on a hanging peanut feeder, as seen through a window

here - have a shonky pic of Mr or Mrs Woodpecker (can't tell EVEN THO I NOW KNOW HOW TO because the feeder isn't twirling). You try getting a nice pic through a window while trying not to scare a famously shy bird

GO HAM

he has reached that afternoon slump

This is going to be my checklist for what I've already done from your other book. And I'm going to sneakily use it to check on what my mother has done so far, while she's available to ask. She's not up to it being a gift.

Cover of Get Ahead of Being Dead, Your Handy Planner for the End of Life by Evie King. Red flowers surround the text, living at the top, wilting in the middle, dying at the bottom. Quote from Richard Herring at top. Don't buy this book if you're already dead, it's too late.

🚨Cover reveal🚨

Power out today, so I'm paring my battery use right down to essentials to share with you that my power is out today. Thermos filled and camping stove ready. There WILL be keys and toffees for everyone.

Haven't clicked. Won't click. If I want someone tilting at windmills I know the very thing and it won't make me nearly as cross.

Correct. Exactly the right way to do it. This is how to enjoy life. Plus: DELICIOUS FOOD

* tidies kitchen *

...

* immediately messes it up again *

In my defence, yesterday's breakfast was late and hurried after I picked up my wash tent that had blown over in a surprise overnight gust, and walked to my neighbours' house to do the same for their bins which were out for Bin Day. I don't tell you everything but it's been busy here.

Early lunch (today started early - don't judge) and realise, as I munch my toast and houmous, why it tasted so odd yesterday at breakfast with marmalade. It is a rosemary sourdough with salt on the top. Delicious. But surprising with marmalade.

Cleaner gossip: cleaners and handymen across London are being mobilised and paid £££ to get the dormant mansions of “ex-pats” ready for the unscheduled return of their traumatised owners from Dubai.

Just popped in here for a moment in passing and this has absolutely made my day.

"Richard! Stop hiding under a cache-misère of your own mythology! We have guests!"

Reading an article analysing the *gestures* sitch, and coming across words like 'enmeshed' and 'acculturated' describing UK-US interactions. Succinct and true. Words are powerful. Vocab may* yet save us.

* yeah I know I know

It'll be polo necks and even longer hair soon.

Richy's whole thread here is marvellous.

oh MY

Ding-dong! The Dutch Fish Doorbell needs you to help migrating fish A Dutch lock is closed for the spring, and its employees want you to tell them when migrating fish come knocking by ringing a digital doorbell

Well, in more pleasant news, the Fish Doorbell is back... 🧪

Now there's an idea.

Don't get them often round here. This one was far FAR lower than anything I've seen. I feel there must be rules doing this where people live, and the rule is higher than that.

Get them here around one day a month, then nothing. But usually much MUCH higher. This was mad.

I know I'm wilfully avoiding the news, but fuuuuuckinell a fighter jet just went over the lowest I've ever known one to do. Didn't see it coming but now my ears hurt. Sheep scattering in panic. Zig leapt across the room and is now trembling violently. Clearly training hard at Lossiemouth. Bugger off

Zig asleep on his side on the bed but somehow his underneath front leg has got hitched over a blanket and is pointing up at an angle, straight joints. floofy feet that I didn't wash last time we came in off the field so prob a fair bit of dried mud in between his toes. Maybe he's making a point

my perfectly normal dog

pond visitor - first I've met this year