I’m not sure why, but it’s much easier to add photos from my iPad than from the computer. I’d ask Ronan, but he’d probably blame the iMac. No matter, if necessary I’ll just transfer pictures from computer to pad and go from there, as I just did with my new ‘unobservant eye’ photo. Which I also worked out how to put on to the sidebar – ok, that wasn’t so difficult.
Anyway, today was rather more eventful than we had expected. Al & co were off to the Sea Life Centre in Yarmouth as Pugsley’s chosen birthday treat, so they called in here on their way. When he’d unwrapped his saw, hammer and so on, I explained the carpentry story (that sounds a bit New Testament, but you know what I mean – or if you don’t, you didn’t read yesterday’s post) and everyone looked pleased. Except Hay, because it went rather over his head, but it was all right because he liked the carved stone elephants I’d brought back from Turkey (why elephants? Because they were there. Does it matter?) so he had that to be pleased about. Pugsley liked them too. Very cleverly, the Sage* had found up the original set of soldiers that Al had made for Ro, so they were displayed too.
After they left, we got ready to leave for Old Buckenham airfield, where they were holding a tribute day to Ken Wallis, who died recently at the age of 97. I’ve written about him before: he is best known as the inventor of the autogyro, most famously used in You Only Live Twice, the James Bond film. Ken himself was the stunt pilot in the Little Nellie scenes. Little Nellie was named after him of course – Nellie Wallace, the music hall star.
We were over half way there when Miriam sent me a text and, paused at a junction, I read it – fortunately. The cows were out. Oh bum. I replied that we’d get back asap and turned round and drove back. Big Pinkie looked smug. The other two looked sedately excited – if you think that’s an oxymoron, that’s the only sort of excitement I do myself at my age. They all strolled peacefully on to the Ups and Downs, I gave Miriam my keys because she wanted to take Ben for a run later, and we set off again.
Darlings, it was a brilliant day. We never considered calling it off after our unscheduled return, but I’m so glad of that. There were lots of vintage and classic cars and motorbikes on show, particularly English ones. One easily forgets how many fine English vehicle manufacturers there used to be. There were autogyros on display too, very splendid ones, aeronautical (and aerobatic) displays and Little Nellie herself was there.
*You may have noticed, my husband is usually called Russell nowadays. His sagacity has lapsed severely of late, but credit where it’s due.
So relieved to hear that Big Pinkie is still up to her tricks. Although I’ve never met her face-to-face, she feels like an old friend. Maybe you can introduce us next year…!
I remember your post about Mr Wallis well, because it made me look for these amazing machines and for him.
Nice photograph!
Made me wonder how you keep Edweena’s area clean. Tortoise diapers or litter? She is rather well known for her high capacity bladder….
She’s getting a bit old and limpy nowadays, but as naughty as ever. Maybe she could stage a breakout for the blog party and we can all have fun rounding her up.
He was a great raconteur – he had an amazing fund of stories to tell. We last saw him in July, he was still as sharp as ever.
She lives in the garden and it all soaks away into the earth – her run is shifted every so often. She’s awake at present, not quite ready to hibernate after all. But we’re keeping her indoors from now on.
I’d love a tortoise. I keep telling Dave he wants one…and a pygmy goat…but he’s not taken to the idea yet. I don’t understand why.
Sounds like a fabulous day out, even with the naughty cows.
That sounds like a splendid weekend.
I do remember seeing cows in the field when visiting the zeddery and wondering which one was Big Pinkie.
I cannot say that a tortoise is something I’ve ever aspired to owning. A pygmy goat on the other hand is very cute. Sir B and I saw one in a hedge at Colchester Zoo once. It had escaped its enclosure so we went over and petted it while it was munching away where it probably shouldn’t have been.
Hey Z! I’ve been a stranger of late, subject to my usual poor reading habits. But thanks for the (sad) news about Mr. Wallace; I’d missed that in the news. I shall watch YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE in tribute to him this evening. Indigo x
I like horses and dogs best. If I wanted anything cold blooded, I’d like frogs and newts, followed by toads, followed by snakes. A tortoise would – oh, no actually, I’d rather have a tortoise than a snake. I quite like goats, but I’d rather have an alpaca, they’re so ridiculously pretty.
Indigo, I can’t say a word about that, I haven’t been keeping up with blogs at all, and even when I’ve read, I haven’t left comments.
I borrowed Ken’s memoirs from the library a while back (they’re out of print). Ripping yarns, but all true!