Redcurrants

I haven't had much time for posting but felt that I must share a wonderful tip that I read the other day.
Like a lot of people at this time of year I am inundated with redcurrants on my 2 bushes and picking them is very laborious, it was a job that my husband would spend hours on but I get bored quickly. While looking up a reminder of how much sugar to fruit for making jam I came across a tip that to pick them run a fork down the stalks, and it really is so much quicker I have bowls full in half the time. So now I have made the jam I might get quite a few frozen before the birds finish them off.

Margate

Interesting article Dr Moores seems to be in conflict with the thoughts of his leader.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/20/ukcrime.communities

Rambling

This post may ramble a bit as I have just come back from a jolly good night out but am now sitting here thinking. The sight of the ripped up Shannon Matthews posters started me off.
When I was working in a London stockbrokers during the 1960's I was quickly promoted to supervisor but all of the boys/men that worked for me got paid so much more than the girls for the same job that when one man got paid more than me I handed my notice in. I immediately got a big pay rise, due to my explanation that my eggs and butter were no cheaper than his. But the girls did not do any better, my very selfish thoughts at that age was that was their look out.
In the early 1990's I had moved to Ramsgate and my attitude to Margaret Thatcher was that she agreed that women's lib was rubbish but women needed to fight for their rights themselves and that was a good thing.
However she was to visit Ramsgate and I watched a television crew, who were bored with waiting for her, arrange a local demonstration and their police escort, who were equally as bored, in to a really good rant with the police holding them back ( what from ?)so that they could get some good pictures. When Maggie finally arrived it was much more subdued.
So what I am getting at is did people really rip up posters and celebrate without help from the press or did they just mumble 'that's a good thing' to themselves.
I think I had better go to bed now - god help me in the morning.

Guns in Thanet

Following the murder in Margate this morning, it made me think, we don't very often hear of gun crime in Thanet. I do hope this is just a one off and guns don't start appearing on the streets here.

Has spring sprung

I spent the last two days walking around London. Went to stay with my daughter on Thursday and decided to do some family research around the City all day on Friday including ancient burial grounds. I got chucked out of Guildhall Library at 5pm and decided to look at the Art Gallery, which was a mistake as they were really closed too, and I got myself caught up in a private viewing but the artist was nice and the wine welcome by that time.
On Saturday my daughter walked me all over the Isle of Dogs which was lovely but I told her I didn't need my coat (would she listen!)
Today I just feel unable to move but with weather like this I had to go into the garden. I took a saw with me thinking I might cut some overgrown trees down a bit on the border with next door a quick attempt and I knew I didn't have the energy, but, with luck the neighbour was out too and said pass me the saw and I'll do it from this side. So with little effort on my part the garden is looking much better - now that's what I call gardening.

Crocuses and snowdrops with daffodils to follow - Happy Days

Ramsgate Harbour

I came across an interesting observation from 1797.

This harbour is intended as a place of refuge for ships in the frequent hard gales of wind from south-east to east-north-east, when they are exposed to the greatest danger in the Downs. But after all the immense cost attending this stupendous work, not less than 300,000l, after all the time, trouble, and contrivance, which have been employed and exerted in completing this enormous undertaking, it collects so much sand, mud, &c. that it by no means, answers the great end designed by its construction.

Yet another unsolved problem!

Npower

I cannot believe that my supply from my new supplier Npower started yesterday. Now I have to go through it all over again!