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Simple things first
My washing machine turned itself off prematurely this morning. I was in the kitchen preparing artichoke soup when I noticed the machine had stopped and all the lights were out. There was no water in the drum and, although it seemed to have stopped earlier than I expected, I turned the dial to Off and opened the door. The washing had a slightly unusual feel but I thought all was well although I was puzzled about the lights being out. Normally I have to turn the dial to Off before that happens.
I hung up the washing and then opened the drawer to let that dry. The conditioner was unused; the machine had stopped prematurely. Had it packed up? I wondered. I put the washing back into the machine, added more detergent to the drawer, closed the door, turned the dial to my usual spin. No lights came on. Something was wrong.
The socket for the washing machine is by the sink in a cupboard in which I keep a box of vegetables which I had used for the soup. I opened the cupboard, and guess what? The socket was turned off. D'Oh! I must have accidentally knocked it off when I took out the box. I switched it back on and the machine sprung into life a few seconds later and continued where it had left off. It didn't reset itself to the beginning of the process like my breadmaker would have done. I needn't have added more detergent so I opened the drawer to scoop it out but I was too late; the water filling the machine had washed it away.
Half an hour later the machine finished. I now know that it has a memory, and one that is better than mine.
Thought for today
Success is not a matter of individual will triumphing over adversity, but a combination of luck, opportunity, culture, initial advantages, hard work, and enough talent and intelligence--enough, note: not necessarily vast amounts of either--to profit from the advantages and opportunities at issue.
A C Grayling, in today's Times, reviewing Outliers: the story of success, Malcolm Gladwell
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Dozy doings
Walked to the library this morning, a round trip of about two miles, for my weekly dose of podcasts and to renew a book. The download speed was high which made a pleasant change. I borrowed two more books and renewed the one I'd taken with me and then set off back home. Almost home I realised that I'd renewed the wrong book; the one due back today was still at home. Instead of having a nice cup of coffee when I returned, I set off again back to the library to renew the book. I could have phoned but thought I should walk for being unobservant.
A neighbour did something even dozier. Someone phoned her earlier in the day and then when she'd tried to phone later in the day, she couldn't because the phone was still connected to the previous caller (so she thought). She emailed me to ask if I was the caller and had I left my phone off the hook. Radio 4 was playing in the background and she knew I listened to that.
Of course, what had happened was that she had forgotten to replace the handset of her other phone; the Radio 4 she heard in the background was that playing in her own house. I phoned her when I collected her email, six hours after she'd sent it, and she told me the tale. It had taken her three hours, and no doubt much consternation, to discover that she was the cause of the problem.
Thought for today
A wise man knows his own ignorance; a fool thinks he knows everything.
Spanish proverb
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Laziness loses leaves
This morning I resolved to collect all the leaves lying in the gutter outside my house. It seemed a shame to waste them; they would make good leaf mould for my garden. The council had not been round with the road sweeper for weeks so there was a thick pile of them. I had it all planned; I would put them in old compost bags and store them by the side of the house. Laziness had prevented my collecting them before.
When it was light I looked out of the window to see how much work it would involve and saw to my disappointment that the gutter was empty. The road sweeper must have been round yesterday when I was out. Bang went that idea.
Thought for today
A jury consists of twelve persons to decide who has the better lawyer.
Robert Frost
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Chivalry on the road
Had an enjoyable walk with my local group of the RA today. There were about thirty of us. The weather was good, it was mild cloudless day. The sun shone through trees so even the dead bracken looked attractive.
Our route went across an A road in the afternoon. The first few crossed over before a car approached from the right. To our surprise it stopped to let more of us cross. The driver seemed not to be in a hurry. A coach then approached from our left; it too stopped for us. Another car came from the right; the driver stopped and put on his hazard lights. A car stopped behind the coach.
It takes a while for thirty people to cross single-file particularly if they are wary of traffic. We waved our hands and sticks (trekking poles) to left and right to say thanks, and disappeared into the woods. I wondered if the drivers thought poor old things, well let them cross. A woman behind me said that they probably thought we were blind because of our sticks and dark glasses (it was sunny).
Thought for today
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.
Aristotle
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Laziness takes longer
Trimmed the lavender on Sunday and decided to burn the dead stalks rather than put them on the compost heap; they would take
too long to rot. I left them in the garage to dry.
This afternoon, as neighbours had no washing outside and it was not raining, I took the stalks and an envelope of paper to the corner of the garden behind the greenhouse where I burn my identity in a metal frame. I had considered burning them in the middle of the empty veg patch as my usual site is close to the wooden fence but I was too lazy to move the metal container. As it happened the stalks burnt so vigorously that I feared the fence might scorch. I let the flames go out and then moved the container; the sides, of course, were now hot. Moving it to start with would have saved time and effort.
Thought for today
Through mistakes one becomes wise.
West African proverb
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Problems down the line
There was an eerie silence at the railway station that I passed on my early morning walk today. There were no cars and no people; trains were cancelled. The reason was not leaves on the line but a body, probably bits of one, on the down line. The screen displayed the word fatality. I was glad that I was not intending to travel by train. Jumping in front of a train, an effective way of dying, disrupts the lives of many. Someone once advised, never attempt suicide when you are feeling suicidal.
Thought for today
Compare your griefs with other men's and they will seem less.
Spanish proverb
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The last cut of the season
Cut the grass this afternoon, I hope for the last time this year. It had grown more than I expected and, because it was damp as well, required more effort than usual. Rain started shortly after I'd finished so I felt pleased that I'd not delayed.
There are roadworks on a narrow country lane near my house. Perhaps roadworks is the wrong word because I've yet to see any sign of work. Both sides of the bend are marked with bollards and orange tape. On top of the bollards are flashing lights which are gradually fading as their batteries run down. This morning all the bollards were lying on their sides and the lights were scattered in the road--the work of local kids rather than strong winds I suspect. I righted the bollards and replaced the lights, three of which started to flash again. The design of the lights was such that they switched on when mounted on bollards. Rather clever I thought.
Thought for today
Lending money to a man causes him to lose his memory.
French proverb
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