The Land Where The Bong Trees Grow

 Tuesday. 7.30 a.m. I know, the title is crazy and will have nothing whatever to do with the contents of this post. But why not?

12.25 p.m. It's bright and sunny today. It may look warm and inviting, but I think it's likely to be cold outside. The digital thermometer currently reads 24 ºC.

I have had a visit from some Council staff, doing a survey about my impressions of living in Dexter House and other matters. I really don't see the point of all this. I seem to get sent endless surveys, although there is the incentive of possibly winning a draw for £150.

I have been continuing with my writing. I have spent a lot of time researching so that the information is accurate and convincing.

Thursday. 7.10 a.m. Alfie died last night. I'm devastated. He's been a huge part of my life. He has been a real companion and a source of support since Carol's death. Not only that, but he adapted so well when I moved to the flat. What more can I say? He has been mentioned so much in these posts. 

12.10 p.m. I rang the vet at 8.30 and took Alfie to be cremated. I needed to get this done as soon as possible. I don't like leaving things that need doing undone. I can relax now, even though it was heartbreaking. It is odd coming back to a flat without him there. I will give his things, bowls, and remaining food to a couple at church who have dogs.

Friday, 7.10 a.m. So, the first morning waking up without Alfie. It's strange, as there's none of his sounds, the hollow breathing, his tap-tap-tap of his feet on the floor. It will take a lot of adjusting.

Yesterday afternoon I went for lunch with my friends Mike and Margaret. On the way back, and driving along the part of Chaffron Way running past Oldbrook, I noticed that there was one of those digital displays that tells you to slow down. It has a smiley face that comes on when you reach the correct speed. The whole section has been resurfaced, and the speed limit has been reduced to 40. But then, when you go further on, past Eaglestone and on to the roundabout on Marlborough Street, there is no 40 M.P.H speed limit. Then, along Saxon Street, running past the Milton Keynes Academy and Milton Keynes Hospital, there is a further 40 m.p.h. speed limit, which a lot of people ignore, or pretend to, because when I have turned off the roundabout, there is almost always a car directly behind me, attempting, or so it seems to me, to get me to speed up.

A Little Of What You Fancy

 Friday. 2.20 p.m. Goodness gracious! It's hot out, the sun is shining! Whatever's next? The digital thermometer currently reads 28ºC.

I've been to Lidl. Again, wrestling with the horrible self-service till I was attempting to use it. The thing was being thoroughly awkward. I really hate the things, and I don't suppose I'm the only person to think so.

Saturday. 7.50 a.m. I didn't wake until quite late, which is totally unlike me. If I do wake up in the night, I am usually able to get back to sleep.

'Mary Poppins: The Musical' is currently on tour and is visiting Milton Keynes in November. I really wanted to see it, and Carol loved the film. I remember being taken to London by my mother and going to see it when it came out around 1964-5. At the time, I didn't know about the books by P.L. Travers, on which the film was based, probably because the books had a more female-oriented audience. Anyway, because I wanted to see the musical, I went on the Milton Keynes Theatre website and found that the tickets were somewhat expensive. I can't really justify paying around £65-£70 for a ticket, so I was somewhat disappointed. But this morning I had another look and I have bought a ticket for £25, but the seat isn't in a particularly good position in the auditorium, in what is called The Slips, which is, I think, right up in the top tier, but never mind. I will go in memory of Carol, but as I love theatre, it will be a well-earned treat.

The last time I went to see a show at the Milton Keynes Theatre was around 2019, to see 'Les Misérables', a show I  originally saw in the West End, when it was playing at the Palace Theatre. I went with a friend on a coach into central London, but, surprisingly, the driver didn't know his way around the West End, so it ended up with me directing him to the theatre! Amazing that the coach company employed a driver who had no idea where he was going! It's incredible to think that 'Les Misérables' is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Monday. 7.40 a.m. It's bright and sunny at the moment. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºC. Alfie is under my bed, and it's difficult to reach him, so I will wait until he decides to come out before taking him out.

12.35 p.m. I had a voucher to spend in Marks and Spencer, as a result of doing online surveys. I wanted a long sleeve Rugby shirt, as I already had two and, with colder weather coming up soon, or, at least the likelihood, it seemed a good idea to buy. I went onto the Marks and Spencer website and chose the one I wanted, entered the code from the voucher, and ordered. I had an email this morning telling me that my order was ready for collection, so I went into the MK Centre to collect my parcel from M and S.

Fiddlesticks!

 Wednesday. 9.40 a.m. Well, another soggy day in fun city, Milton Keynes. The days are beginning to draw in as autumn catches hold.

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC.

I wanted to use my Canon printer, but the ink cartridge was more or less finished. When I attempted to print something the other day, it came out very faint, so I suspected that a replacement was necessary. I have this morning ordered one on the Argos website and gone to collect it after 9. I am now back in the flat, and the cartridge is installed in the printer.

Alfie is asleep in this bed. I am taking him to The Groom Room for an appointment at 11 a.m. I have already put the cage in the back of the car, ready to take him.

7.30 p.m. I came back from taking Alfie to The Groom Room, and hoped to have a cup of tea. I went to the fridge and found it was thawing out. How this happened, I have no idea, but all the contents of the freezer part have thawed and, as a consequence, can't be used. After the incident which happened a few weeks ago, when my chopping board and the handle of my best sharp knife melted because one of the rings on the ceramic surface of my oven was accidentally turned on, this was something which I hoped would never happen. As a result of the oven incident, I now turn the oven off at the wall point, but this doesn't explain how the fridge/freezer was turned off. It means I will have to throw away more or less the entire contents.

Thursday. 2.40 p.m. It's another very autumnal day. It's mild but bright. The digital thermometer currently reads 26ºC.

I have been to Sainsbury's and have bought my shopping home; it has been checked off, and two of the freezer drawers have been cleared out. It's not good to eat food that has been frozen, re-frozen and then thawed, as it would make me ill if I ate it, so I have accepted that it is wasted and put what I bought in Sainsbury's in the freezer.

Friday. 1.45 a.m. I couldn't sleep. Alfie was snoring like crazy and was sleeping on the floor, right in the middle of the threshold of my bedroom. The usual thing that wakes me is a need to visit the bathroom. (A thought: why do Americans always refer to the toilet as the bathroom? It just sounds so pathetic, a euphemism.  A bit like the Victorians covering the legs of furniture. Why don't they just say toilet and be done with it? The other one, said by women, is 'I'm going to powder my nose', when in actual fact, they're going to the loo.) Anyway, I couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to make myself a coffee and watch something on television. With such things as BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other streaming platforms, you are really spoilt for choice. I went on iPlayer and decided to watch one of my favourite sitcoms, 'My Family', which stars Zoe Wanamaker and Robert Lindsay. The actual sitcom is rather mediocre, but it is the acting of these two which makes it worth watching.

First Catch Your Dog!

 Saturday. 7.35 a.m. Alfie did his hiding act, so I had breakfast first, and then he made an appearance, so I gathered him up and we went out.

As I write this, the sun is out. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºC.

11.40 p.m. We had the monthly Men's Breakfast at The Oaktree Centre, which started at 9a.m. There were a good many people there and a few relatively new faces, which was good. I mentioned needing help to plant some of the daffodil bulbs, and someone has agreed to assist. We are scheduled to do some of this planting on Thursday afternoon.

1.50 p.m. I'm currently in the middle of making tomato soup in the soup maker. It should take around 15 minutes to finish. If it comes out as well as the chicken soup, I shall be more than pleased.

Sunday. 4.30 p.m. The tomato soup came out better than I could have expected. Some of it has been frozen, and I can defrost it when I want some soup, probably when the weather becomes colder.

I took Alfie out into the community garden, but we didn't stay in there long, as it was raining, and it's still raining as I write this.

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 24ºC.

Monday. 8.25 a.m. It's sunny and bright, but there's a gusty wind blowing. I have a feeling we're in for rain sometime today.

As I write this, Alfie has not been out since he's under the bed, and it's impossible to get hold of him

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

12.50 p.m. Alfie did eventually appear from under the bed, and I scooped him up and took him out to the garden.

The wind continued . . .

Tuesday. 10.05 a.m. It's a bright but not particularly sunny morning. At least the wind has finished howling around the place.

The digital thermometer currently reads 25ºC. 

Alfie slept on his bed next to mine last night, so it was easy enough to pick him up and take him out.

Bright And Early

 Tuesday. 7.35 a.m. It's sunny and relatively warm. The digital thermometer currently reads 25ºc. 

9.55 a.m. I have been out in the community garden, planting a few of the bulbs. It is far easier now that I have the trowel and hand fork.

Wednesday. 8.05 a.m. A somewhat flat and uninteresting sort of morning. Probably best described as 'overcast.' The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºc.

I have bought a Morphy Richards soup maker. I have been considering getting one for a while, because Carol and I had one when we lived in Eaglestone. I don't know what happened to it, because moving from there to Dexter House was so difficult. It was great to make homemade soup and try out different ingredients, and it was so easy to use. This one seems a good deal more versatile, and you can make smoothies in it. This was purchased from Very, the online retailer. The thing arrived yesterday evening. I am currently trying it out. You have to clean it before use, according to the instruction manual. It has a setting for automatic cleaning,  as you can't wash it in the sink because of the electrical parts.

2.05 p.m. I had to get some shopping, so I went to Lidl, but when I got outside, I found it was raining. Not very hard, but still enough to get wet. 

I have made a raspberry smoothie in the soup-making machine. Before you ask, yes, you can make smoothies in it. I had frozen raspberries in the freezer, so I took them out yesterday evening, and they were sufficiently defrosted to make a smoothie. I bought raspberry yoghurt in Lidl and, along with some milk, put it all in the machine, and after barely 5 minutes, I had a delicious smoothie! I worked really well, and I will have to experiment with the thing to do more smoothies and soups.

Thursday. 7.10 a.m. Alfie hasn't been out yet. He's under my bed, and it's impossible to get at him. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

9.10 a.m. Alfie was found on his bed, so I was able to grab him and take him out at last. He's currently wandering around the flat.

The sun is out. For how long, I wonder? Will there be another rainstorm before the day is over?

4.15 p.m. It's sunny at the moment, but it's also windy. Fortunately, no rain, although we do need some.

Friday. 8.15 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

I have my laundry in the washing machine. It should have finished its cycle at around 8.50. I will be going to Sainsbury's once that is complete. 

4.25 p.m. My washing was dry, and it was all put away. I then went to Sainsbury's, basically because my Lidl trip yesterday didn't allow me to buy one or two things. I was somewhat surprised to discover mince pies on sale. It really does defy logic that you would sell something which is a key ingredient in a household's food at Christmas, would be on sale in September and would most likely be inedible, or, at least, well past its best, at the beginning of the festive season. Do Sainsbury's expect their customers to hoard them? Or even, dare I say, eat them?

I have now made chicken soup in the new soup-making machine. It has come out so much better than I expected. Really tasty and inspires me to make more, and I will have to find a book of recipes to increase my soup-making repertoire.

There was a roll of thunder as I was busy making soup, but it didn't develop into anything major. Not even a slight rainstorm.

Things My Mother Said

Sunday. 8.25 a.m. It's amazing, as a child,  you trust your parents completely. My mother would say things which I believed, and you never argued with a grown-up! One of her favourite sayings, if she was asked to do something which she obviously didn't want to, would get the response, 'I can't, because I have a bone in my leg.' Thinking about it as an adult, that doesn't really make a lot of sense, because we all have a 'bone 'in our legs; otherwise, how do we stand or walk?  As a child, you don't see the logic in such a saying.

Something else she said, and probably a lot of parents say something similar to their children, would be, 'Eat your greens. If you do, your hair won't go curly.' Another might be, 'if you don't smile, the milk will go sour.'

It was the same with the crusts on bread. You were supposed to eat them; otherwise, you won't grow tall, or something equally ridiculous. I had no problem with that, because I was tall before I was a teenager, so it didn't make any difference, and I always ate the crusts.

In my home, there was a rule. At tea-time, it was always 'bread before cake.'  'You can't get down from the table until everyone has finished'. Which could be a long time, as I had four other brothers, as well as my mother and father.

If you asked my mother, 'How old are you?' she would invariably say something like '99.' That didn't make any sense. I had an ancient great aunt. At the time, probably in her late 80s. I think she died when she was around 95. My mother certainly appeared 99, while my great aunt definitely seemed ancient. To make it even more baffling, my mother would tell me my great aunt was 21!

The Cow Jumped Over The Moon

 Saturday. 9.15 a.m. I was due to take Alfie out, as usual. But there was a slight problem. Slight being the operative word; I couldn't find him. It turned out he was under my bed. Problem two: Having to get down on the floor is quite a problem for me. I left this until around 8.45 as I thought it was important that he went out. Eventually, I caught sight of his tail and grabbed him. I felt sorry for the old boy, as he was fast asleep.

Sunday. 3.15 p.m. We had Café Church this morning. That means that there wasn't a time of worship, but fellowship, allowing everyone to interact with one another, eat cake, drink tea and coffee and generally have a good time. It allows those who probably don't attend a church to come along and find out more about Shenley Christian Fellowship and discover that it's a friendly place. 

I arrived as I usually do on a Sunday and discovered that the place was locked.  At first, I had a thought that perhaps I was an hour to early, a bit like when the clocks change and we lose or gain an hour. But it wasn't that.   There are usually people there, some setting up refreshments and the band rehearsing in the main hall. Julie, who is one of the leaders at SCF, was sitting in her car. She couldn't open up the building, as she didn't have a key and also had no idea how to switch off the alarm system.

Monday. 9.55 a.m. Warm and pleasantly sunny. The temperature is currently 27ºc according to the digital thermometer.

Time to sort recycling. Not the most exciting of jobs, but it needs to be done, otherwise my cupboard overflows. Some of the cartons are difficult to either fold or tear. I have two plastic bins of recycling and one black bin of other household rubbish. I carry the black bin, together with one plastic bin, take it to the bin store, open the first door and leave the two items in the inner room and then go back for the remaining bin. I then return to the bin store and open the outer door, and then discover the row of bins for recycling are full and there's no room for my two worth of recycling! I put the black bag in another allocated bin and then haul the two full plastic bins of recycling back to the flat. I will now have to leave it where they are until tomorrow, after the bin men come and empty the bins and then return to deposit my two bins with the recycling in the, hopefully, empty bins. What a performance!

Alfie is currently fast asleep on the kitchen floor and somewhat in the way when I am sorting the rubbish, but it doesn't matter as I can step over him. He snores, and it is somewhat amusing.

3.35 p.m.Vashti, the S.H.O. at Dexter House, told me that I ought to take my rubbish to the bin store at the other end of Dexter House. I had never thought of it, but I have now got rid of it, and we aren't apparently getting a visit from the bin men tomorrow. Do I get the feeling that they are only doing collections fortnightly? If so, we're likely to be overflowing with rubbish, recycling, etc.

We are only having Vashti here for half of the week. It's due to Milton Keynes Council running out of money and deciding that sheltered housing will have to cut its staff's hours in each unit. Vashti will be here in the afternoons and cover other units for the rest of the time. This makes sense now. The Council is run by Labour, in a coalition with Liberal Democrats. Labour is useless at financial management. Just look at the current Starmer government. Total disaster, and we're heading for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, a replay of the 1970s when we had to go cap in hand to sort our economy out, and Labour had to make cuts to various services, and inflation went through the roof, and we had the infamous 'Winter of discontent.' I remember dustbin workers striking and going into London and seeing black bin bags piled up at the side of the road, the three-day week, shortages of things in supermarkets and television closing down at 10.30 because the miners and electricity workers walked out. They say, history repeats itself, but that's so true. 

Wild and Windy

 Wednesday. 7.30 a.m. The weather has changed for the worse. It's really windy and wet out this morning. 

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. A shade murky this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc.

Yesterday, I went to my friend Mike, who has Parkinson's, whilst his wife Margaret went to a meeting. Driving there, I had to cross Marlborough Street, and roadworks were going on, with red barriers up. I'm not exactly clear what they're doing, but, as there's been a lot of resurfacing work going on across Milton Keynes recently, I thought it might be something to do with that. On the way back after 4 o'clock, I came up Chaffron Way and got to the roundabout crossing Marlborough Street. I would normally have continued on along Chaffron Way, but it was closed off, so I had to turn left into Marlborough Street and continue on and round near the hospital and on to Oldbrook and home. I realise they have to do maintenance of the road system, but you very rarely get an advance warning of these works, and then have to do a somewhat circuitous detour around the place to get to wherever you were intending to go.

We were told that a yellow weather warning was in place yesterday. The possibility of torrential rain and then flash flooding. It started to get dark when I was at Mike and Margaret's, and then it began to rain, but certainly not the heavy rain as forecast. It was over in around 10 minutes, and then the sun came out. Driving home, there was absolutely no sign that it had been raining. No puddles, nothing. We were watching television, which is supplied by Freesat. The television signal began to break up, and for a while it shut down completely. It came back eventually.

Friday. 1.45 p.m. I had ordered a trowel on Amazon, as I mentioned a day or two ago. Unfortunately, for some reason, it had to be signed for. You had to be over 18. Well, I'm well over 18! It was supposed to have been delivered on Wednesday, and I was expecting it to come during the evening. I got a message from Amazon to tell me that they had attempted to deliver it at around 3 p.m., but couldn't deliver it because there was no answer. Well, I was sitting with Mike at that time, and then they said it would come yesterday at 1 p.m. I was out again! I gave up and cancelled the trowel and should get a refund. I can't think why you would need to sign for the thing. I can understand if it was a knife, but a trowel? Hardly a dangerous item. You could hardly use it to stab someone. I do realise they have a responsibility for making sure some items don't get into the wrong hands. But a trowel?? So, this morning I went to The Range and bought a trowel and a hand fork. I only wish now that I had gone there in the first place.

Walking On Sunshine

 Monday. 11.50 a.m. So, here we are in another month, September. Supposedly the meteorological start of autumn, it's sunny as I write this, but it has been quite gusty, and it rained on Saturday.

Well, returning to my outing to the Buckinghamshire Agricultural Show, I drove towards Aylesbury and out on the road I knew towards Wing. I drove through Bierton but came to a grinding halt. I thought, not surprisingly, that it was due to an accident or maybe roadworks. I have driven this route on many occasions, and it has usually been a fairly straightforward piece of road. Now, for some strange reason, there was what's called 'traffic-calming' in place. This comprised a series of what I can only describe as half barriers in the road (I have since learned that these are called chicanes), which meant, the traffic from each direction had to wait until vehicles from the opposite direction had priority, and then, when that had cleared, you could drive forward. Which meant, if there was a large amount of traffic, then you had to wait longer, and because of these barriers, which were at around 200–300 yards, the tailback would get longer and longer. All I can say is, it's more annoying and is poorly thought out and designed. It must be infuriating if you had to go through this stretch of road regularly, or if you had to use it several times during the day.

Oh, dear. I spoke too soon. There's just been a clap of thunder. 

The rainstorm didn't last. It was over in a matter of minutes.

Tuesday. 9.50 a.m. it's sort of mild and sunny. Not really sure whether it's anything much.

The digital thermometer reads 25ºc.

I have been out in the garden and experimented with the bulb planter. It's easy enough to use, but then you have to put the earth back in the hole. I think I need a trowel for that job.

4.45 p.m. I have ordered a trowel from Amazon. It should be delivered tomorrow. I think there are plenty of places in the garden here at Dexter House for more bulbs to be planted, but I would like a certain amount to go around The Oaktree Centre.

Time and Tide

 Tuesday. 10.35 a.m. I woke a good deal later than normal. I had to wake Alfie as he was asleep when I needed to take him out.

I have now bought my ticket for the Buckinghamshire Agricultural Show on Thursday. It's easy enough to do this online and then print it out. It has a QR code on it, which will be scanned to let me into the ground.

Wednesday. 6.40 a.m. I've been out with Alfie. He insisted on going under the bed, but then I grabbed him and we went out. I was somewhat surprised by all the leaves on the grass. A definite sign that autumn is on the way. It is considerably cooler. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc.

Thursday. 1.05 a.m. Here I am, wide awake, and I've just been watching GB News. I can't believe this: Ofgem has just said that fuel prices, and I'm talking about gas and electricity here, by 2%. This levy is being used to pay for wind farms to be switched off when there is too much wind. (I know, you couldn't make this up!) because the infrastructure isn't there to cope with the power that is produced. This is straight out of Lewis Carroll or Monty Python. So, in that case, what is the point of these hugely expensive turbines, which litter our countryside? How on earth did we get to this crazy situation?

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. It's bright and sunny! I just hope it stays that way, because I'm going to the Buckinghamshire Show. It opens to the public at 8 o'clock, but I don't see the point of getting there too early.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc, so the temperature is gradually going down as the days go by.

1.05 p.m. I've been to the show. I made a bit of a mess-up of the journey and eventually stopped to set up Google Maps on my phone, but it took me to the wrong entrance of the show ground, so I had to turn round and get in the queue of cars further on to then park in a vast field. It was quite a walk to the entrance to the showground, and I had to have my printed ticket scanned to get in.

I next got my show catalogue, again, having my ticket scanned and then a wander around the various stalls. Inside a marquee with lots of food! Cheese in particular, and alcoholic drinks. I tried some mead at one of the medieval fairs, which were held at Bradwell Abbey, and I liked it, so I was hoping that there might have been a stall selling it, but no luck. (Another medieval fayre coming up in September this year, so something to go to.)

There was a lot to see and do. In fact, probably far too much. 

I wandered along several of the avenues and browsed the items for sale. A great deal of stalls connected to many aspects of agriculture, as you would expect, but quite a few which had nothing which was in any way, shape or form connected to agriculture. I went into one tent, which had food and drink for sale. A lot of cheese, gin, wine, meat pies and a good deal more. I didn't buy anything in there.

I found a stall selling bulbs of all types. (I am referring to plant bulbs here and not the electronic variety.) I have been considering for quite a while how I can have some sort of commemoration for Carol. One idea might be to plant some trees, and I have been looking into that. But where should they be put? The other idea was to plant some daffodil bulbs, because Carol loved them and I have always attempted to buy them when they are available where I shop, usually Sainsbury's. Looking around this particular display, I found daffodil bulbs and thought I'd buy them, but leave it until I'm about to leave the show ground to go home, because otherwise I would have to carry them around all day, which would be a real problem.

One of the main reasons for coming to the show was to see the animals. I walked in the direction of the countryside area. The area wasn't just about animals. There was a display of thatching, hedging and farriery (horse shoeing). We had horses on the farm, and a farrier used to visit regularly. I remember when he did, and had his forge up and running, the cattle, which were in the nearby field, used to come up to the fence to watch. Cows are such inquisitive creatures. 

I wandered along the cattle lines. Many had already been judged, but it was great to see highland cattle, with their beautiful, long coats and horns. Further on, horses, then sheep. 

One of the best things I saw at the show had to be the tiny tots, some probably no more than 5 or 6, in perfectly white coats, showing sheep in one of the rings, no doubt to win a prize or rosette of some sort. They all concentrated very hard, the sheep they led very well turned out, clean, groomed and in good condition.

I walked on a little further and came to a ring with people on white chairs sitting and watching something going on in the ring. It was a display of sheepdogs, doing their job of herding sheep. I have seen this on television, but never  'live', like this. I was intrigued, and it was fascinating, and those dogs were absolutely brilliant.

I walked on, returning to the rest of the show ground. It was about now that I needed a sit-down and a drink. But where? There was plenty of choice. Last time I came to the show, in 2019, I discovered a tent which offered all of that. It was run by local churches. I found it again today, and it was really busy. Not surprisingly, because there was an amazing selection of cakes and tea! All of it free! I managed to find somewhere to sit, which wasn't easy, as all the tables were taken.

I found a stall run by the Protestant Alliance, and what drew my attention was a picture of William Tyndale, as it's the 500th anniversary this year of the publication of his translation of the New Testament, As I have several ancestors who were historic figures related to Protestism, including John Wycliffe and John Knox, it led me to have a long conversation with a young man at the front of the stall, and we went on to discuss Bedford, where he came from.

From there, I found a fantastic stall which was selling model tractors and other farming equipment. It turns out that they sell mostly to adults who keep them in display cases or on shelves and they never get played with. I do like them, but there isn't room in my flat for such things.

I came across a stall entirely devoted to beekeeping. They had a display in a case of a hive of bees, which always fascinates me. I bought some honey (no, not wrapped up in a Five Pound note, as in The Owl and the Pussy Cat' poem by Edward Lear.)

It was at this point that I had reached the stall selling the various varieties of bulbs and bought a sizeable bag of daffodil bulbs for £7, and it was then that I thought it was time to leave and go home

My next problem was finding my car. But by luck more than anything else, I did manage to find it, but when I went to leave the car park, I could not see any signs to the exit and ended up at the completely wrong place, which was being controlled by traffic lights and a steward who helped me get out onto the road and then back to Milton Keynes.