Category: England

Late Spring in England

Joey Jones21 Comments

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

Oh WP, this DP is so very easy to answer today. May in England, what’s not to love?

The new energy is sublime, with days longer now and warmth in the sun. The birds are as busy as ever with the arrival of swallows and swifts from Africa. If you are super-lucky you’ll get to hear a cuckoo.

Bluebells and tulips bring more depth of colour to the late Spring. With wild animals coming out of hibernation, too, the land feels alive. Fresh.

As a young child, Lily ( some of you may remember I’ve written about this amazing lady more than once) would take me to something called The Tulip Festival at Cannon Hill Park, in our side of the city on Birmingham. ( Just across the road from Pebble Mill, TV studios.

It ran from 1960 to the late ’70’s and we have Sir Frank Price to thank for it. A Labour politician and Lord Mayor of Birmingham thought it would brighten up the city after what were in those days quite harsh winters.

If overseas visitors were thinking of visiting England, I would suggest May is the month to do it.

Food for the soul

Joey Jones3 Comments

What is your favorite restaurant?

It is called ‘ Francis de Sales ‘ by the owners, but’ Franky’s ‘ by the many regular customers.

In a decommissioned chapel, set back from the road and in the shadow of a mighty oak, stands  this beautiful building with the original stained glass windows and pews. The stone floor and decorative tiles are a sight to behold.

Open from 12 noon to 8pm, 5 days a week, it’s wise to book if you are intent on eating there. If not rock up and hope for the best.

No meat or dairy but impressive cocktails and delicious food. In keeping with the changing seasons the menu varies throughout the year. Comforting soups, tagines, and old school veggie meals  are favourites throughout the winter and spectacular Buddha Bowls when the weather is warmer. All the usual suspects; sesame tofu, grains, beans, lentils and rice dishes. The bread is made locally and as many ingredients as possible are sourced from as close to the building as possible.

Children and dogs are welcomed and always the accompanying adults do a great job of keeping the ambiance calm and pleasant. With immediate access to an adjoining side room big sofas and drawing equipment and toys are available to the kids to chill.

There is background music, loud enough to distract from the conversation of other parties, but quiet enough to be able to relax and enjoy the moment.

Outside the old graves are still tended to and an unspoken respect attaches itself to the customers as they come and go.

The key to this environment is balance….and I’d say they’ve got it in spot on!

Rise and shine

Joey Jones2 Comments

What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

What a treat! The dog didn’t wake me up until 8 this morning. I guess he doesn’t realise the clocks changed last weekend and to him it is still 7am.

But that’s ok. I went with his mindset and basked in the luxury of a lie-in. I didn’t lie in, as such. A quick look at the Sky News and a glance at the Socials to make sure World War 3 isn’t imminent and I’m up and about.

Downstairs I flick on the kettle and let said dog out. I stand on the threshold and just breathe the new day in for a moment or two. The clouds were giving way to a glorious blue sky and the sun shone on the red breast of a robin. I thanked the gods.

With coffee in hand I head back upstairs to get myself together. LBC radio with Nick Ferrari puts me firmly in the picture of what’s going down in the outside world. I briefly tidy up my surroundings before back down the stairs to saddle up my boy. And away we go.

First off we walk the few steps to a Green Space, as they are called now. It’s actually the site of an old castle. Then, with job done, into the car for a short drive up to another GS, This time a local park/nature reserve. It’s usually unlocked, but if not I will let us in and message the park ranger, to save him the time

I was saddened along the way to see the blossom had passed its best. The once pretty, fresh and pert blooms, now all tinged with brown. Happily the daffodils stood to attention and looked fabulous.

A quick whizz around the three field/areas, several ball throws and chases and we are on our way out in about 20 minutes.

Back home his lordship has his breakfast, then the birds, some of whom are sitting on the fence patiently waiting..and then me.

I then consider which errands and/or chores should be accomplished, before sitting down for a little while to see what WordPress and the Daily Prompt have in store for us..

And that’s my first hour, done and dusted.

Tomorrow’s World

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How has technology changed your job?

Every older generation gets to see the world change before their eyes. An almighty shift away from ‘ the good old days’. Some folk continue to grow and embrace The Now and sadly some will fear and shun it.

The person writing this is still in awe of the landline. I kid you not! I mean, how the hell did someone come up with that idea and put it into practice? The history books will educate me on it, but it’s the original concept that blows my mind. And don’t get me started on 3D printers. How is that possible? Mind blown again!

As a child I remember watching a weekly TV show that would talk about the future of innovation, science and technology There was one particular episode I remember to this day, Raymond Baxter the presenter told us the time may come when we would be able to see the person on the other end of a telephone call. ‘Wow’ we said in unison, sat together in the one room, as families once did in the evenings.

Today my brushes with technology are minimal. As the kettle boils I ask ‘ Alexa, play LBC London’. She obliges and then I check into WordPress/Jetpack ( a few changes gone on there, obvs) and that really is the extent of how technology affects my day. Or is it?