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(4547, 283, '2017-09-21 23:48:29', '2017-09-21 22:48:29', 'I\'m aware that it is over a week since my last posting and I haven\'t been idle although a lot of what I do is quite ordinary. I\'m trying to cycle 10 miles two or three times a weeks - this is a time trial not a gentle ride and at the moment I\'ve peaked at covering the circuit in 54 minutes. It\'s getting tougher because I set off just after 7 am so it\'s now quite chilly however I feel a lot better for it.\r\n\r\nWhen it\'s wet or windy I go for a walk on another circuit which is around four miles and takes a little over an hour. At least on the walk I take time to photograph the trees which are looking beautiful before the autumn leaf drop starts.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4542,4544,4545,4543\"]\r\n\r\nThe vegetable garden is coming to an end so the last potatoes are out of the ground; Bramley apples have been picked and pureed; courgettes finished; runner beans now stringy; carrots ready for eating and the peppers quite small.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also been privileged to see a painting that my college friend Tim has done. It was taken from a photograph he took on the last occasion Jane and I were out together. She, as always, with that wonderful smile that melted my heart all those years ago.\r\n\r\nAnd of course West Wolds U3A continues to keep me busy as chairman and also on visits such as the one to Sheffield Assay Office and Cutler\'s Hall with a quick stroll around the galleries in the Winter Garden.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4539,4541,4540\"]', 'This and That...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4531-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-09-21 23:48:29', '2017-09-21 22:48:29', '', 4531, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4547', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4558, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:28', '2017-10-04 19:08:28', '', 'university-visit2(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'university-visit2sep17', '', '', '2017-10-04 21:58:57', '2017-10-04 20:58:57', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit2sep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4549, 283, '2017-09-27 12:08:28', '2017-09-27 11:08:28', '', 'misty-morning(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'misty-morningsep17', '', '', '2017-09-27 12:17:23', '2017-09-27 11:17:23', '', 4552, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/misty-morningsep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4550, 283, '2017-09-27 12:08:35', '2017-09-27 11:08:35', '', 'pig-yard(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'pig-yardsep17', '', '', '2017-09-27 12:12:09', '2017-09-27 11:12:09', '', 4552, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pig-yardsep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4551, 283, '2017-09-27 12:08:43', '2017-09-27 11:08:43', '', 'veg-plot-prep(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'veg-plot-prepsep17', '', '', '2017-09-27 12:22:27', '2017-09-27 11:22:27', '', 4552, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/veg-plot-prepsep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4552, 283, '2017-09-27 12:25:32', '2017-09-27 11:25:32', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pig-yardsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4550 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pig-yardsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I don\'t allow myself rest days. There are days when I don\'t have anything in my diary and on those days I write a list of things that need to be done. This week I run the lawnmower over the lawns to pick up the leaves which have started to fall and swept the drive with Dave. This spruced up the look of the house for at least 24 hours until more leaves drift down.\r\nI\'m still managing to get myself sufficiently motivated to go for a cycle in the early mornings. I confess that I\'m tending to put my head down and try to beat my best time (53 mins)(competitive? never) <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/misty-morningsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4549\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/misty-morningsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>however I cannot fail to see the road kill - two badgers and a muntjac deer. One of the badgers keeps being dragged off the verge probably by a fox as it tries to rip the meat off it. So every day I pull it back onto the verge - it\'s surprisingly heavy.\r\nAnd the morning light is different every time I go out. Here we have \"mists and mellow fruitfulness\". Thankfully it hasn\'t been too cold although it was only 5 degrees C one day - a portent of what\'s to come.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/veg-plot-prepsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4551\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/veg-plot-prepsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>In the spring of last year I was thinking that I would abandon Jane\'s vegetable plot, turf it over and concentrate on the flower beds. How I have changed. I get so much pleasure from the vegetable garden (a bit fed up with runner beans and courgettes for dinner). I\'m not only planning what to grow next year I\'ve already planted garlic and onion sets. As for the flower beds, they\'ve been a bit neglected so I now need to change my focus and do some serious reorganisation. More thought required...', 'Rest Days', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'rest-days', '', '', '2017-09-27 12:25:32', '2017-09-27 11:25:32', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4552', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4553, 283, '2017-09-27 12:25:32', '2017-09-27 11:25:32', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pig-yardsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4550 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pig-yardsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I don\'t allow myself rest days. There are days when I don\'t have anything in my diary and on those days I write a list of things that need to be done. This week I run the lawnmower over the lawns to pick up the leaves which have started to fall and swept the drive with Dave. This spruced up the look of the house for at least 24 hours until more leaves drift down.\r\nI\'m still managing to get myself sufficiently motivated to go for a cycle in the early mornings. I confess that I\'m tending to put my head down and try to beat my best time (53 mins)(competitive? never) <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/misty-morningsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4549\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/misty-morningsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>however I cannot fail to see the road kill - two badgers and a muntjac deer. One of the badgers keeps being dragged off the verge probably by a fox as it tries to rip the meat off it. So every day I pull it back onto the verge - it\'s surprisingly heavy.\r\nAnd the morning light is different every time I go out. Here we have \"mists and mellow fruitfulness\". Thankfully it hasn\'t been too cold although it was only 5 degrees C one day - a portent of what\'s to come.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/veg-plot-prepsep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4551\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/veg-plot-prepsep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>In the spring of last year I was thinking that I would abandon Jane\'s vegetable plot, turf it over and concentrate on the flower beds. How I have changed. I get so much pleasure from the vegetable garden (a bit fed up with runner beans and courgettes for dinner). I\'m not only planning what to grow next year I\'ve already planted garlic and onion sets. As for the flower beds, they\'ve been a bit neglected so I now need to change my focus and do some serious reorganisation. More thought required...', 'Rest Days', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4552-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-09-27 12:25:32', '2017-09-27 11:25:32', '', 4552, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4553', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4554, 283, '2017-09-27 19:03:20', '2017-09-27 18:03:20', '', 'Lotus-vs-MX5-2(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lotus-vs-mx5-2sep17', '', '', '2017-09-27 21:50:26', '2017-09-27 20:50:26', '', 4556, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5-2sep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4555, 283, '2017-09-27 19:03:26', '2017-09-27 18:03:26', '', 'Lotus-vs-MX5(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lotus-vs-mx5sep17', '', '', '2017-09-27 21:54:44', '2017-09-27 20:54:44', '', 4556, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5sep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4556, 283, '2017-09-27 21:55:34', '2017-09-27 20:55:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5-2sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4554\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5-2sep17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The day arrived when, after twelve months of scary fun in the Lotus I\'ve made a mature decision and toned down the speed by a notch (0 -60 5.2 seconds to 7.4 seconds). What the change will give me is 5* comfort and the ability to drive for more than 2 hours without feeling crippled and of course it is so much easier to get in and out.\r\n\r\nIf I had a three car garage I would have been tempted to keep the Lotus because I did love it but it was time to move on.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4555\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5sep17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>As the proud owner of a Mazda MX5 RF 2 litre Sport Nav 160PS in machine grey I look forward to getting out in it. After a quick run round my favourite roads I know it will be my preferred vehicle unless there are floods, snow or I\'m giving a lift to more than one person. The adventure starts here...', 'Five Star Speedster', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'five-star-speedster', '', '', '2017-09-27 21:55:34', '2017-09-27 20:55:34', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4556', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4557, 283, '2017-09-27 21:55:34', '2017-09-27 20:55:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5-2sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4554\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5-2sep17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The day arrived when, after twelve months of scary fun in the Lotus I\'ve made a mature decision and toned down the speed by a notch (0 -60 5.2 seconds to 7.4 seconds). What the change will give me is 5* comfort and the ability to drive for more than 2 hours without feeling crippled and of course it is so much easier to get in and out.\r\n\r\nIf I had a three car garage I would have been tempted to keep the Lotus because I did love it but it was time to move on.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4555\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lotus-vs-MX5sep17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>As the proud owner of a Mazda MX5 RF 2 litre Sport Nav 160PS in machine grey I look forward to getting out in it. After a quick run round my favourite roads I know it will be my preferred vehicle unless there are floods, snow or I\'m giving a lift to more than one person. The adventure starts here...', 'Five Star Speedster', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4556-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-09-27 21:55:34', '2017-09-27 20:55:34', '', 4556, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4557', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4559, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:33', '2017-10-04 19:08:33', '', 'university-visit1(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'university-visit1sep17', '', '', '2017-10-04 20:41:16', '2017-10-04 19:41:16', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit1sep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4560, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:38', '2017-10-04 19:08:38', '', 'broadbent-theatre(sep17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'broadbent-theatresep17', '', '', '2017-10-04 20:14:28', '2017-10-04 19:14:28', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/broadbent-theatresep17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4561, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:47', '2017-10-04 19:08:47', '', 'yew-ball(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'yew-balloct17', '', '', '2017-10-04 20:08:47', '2017-10-04 19:08:47', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/yew-balloct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4562, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:54', '2017-10-04 19:08:54', '', 'hospice-garden(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hospice-gardenoct17', '', '', '2017-10-04 20:35:34', '2017-10-04 19:35:34', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hospice-gardenoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4563, 283, '2017-10-04 20:08:58', '2017-10-04 19:08:58', '', 'clumber-park(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'clumber-parkoct17', '', '', '2017-10-04 22:03:07', '2017-10-04 21:03:07', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clumber-parkoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4564, 283, '2017-10-04 22:10:18', '2017-10-04 21:10:18', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/broadbent-theatresep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4560 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/broadbent-theatresep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>It\'s a worthwhile reminder that life is for living and not something to be frittered away by spending too much time looking backwards although the past has made us who we are.\r\n\r\nIn the absence of Lucie (Canada visit) Dave and I went to the <a href=\"http://broadbenttheatre.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Broadbent Theatre</a> to see a light-hearted comedy about <a href=\"https://www.tangramtheatre.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the life of Charles Darwin</a>. It\'s a lovely place, set in the heart of the countryside and sadly it wasn\'t a full house.\r\n\r\nOn Saturday night Dave and I went to Market Rasen Festival Hall to see a couple of modern folk singers - <a href=\"https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiTm_692tfWAhUELVAKHUhRBTMQtwIIKDAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7dQNWPgzDNQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Jzp_smt3JWUrWvI8mnoH8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flossie Malavialle</a> and <a href=\"http://www.edwinahayes.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Edwina Hayes</a>. It was a good evening however I felt the humorous introductions to some of the songs were a little too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hospice-gardenoct17.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4562 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hospice-gardenoct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"268\" /></a>I decided that the Hospice Garden needed some TLC so I\'ve spent a couple of hours dead heading and generally making sure it was neat and tidy. One of the Yew balls has died so Caitlin is making enquiries as to where we can get another one. The other Yew balls are doing very well and will require a trim to keep them in shape, probably in the spring.\r\n\r\nThankfully the silver birches are looking very healthy but then again they would because they have Jane\'s ashes scattered over them.\r\n\r\nOn a bright, sunny day in early October it was a very peaceful place to be.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit1sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4559 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit1sep17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the U3A I organised a car full of people to visit Lincoln University for their <a href=\"http://lightsexpo.org/#events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lights</a> research open day. It was disappointing that out of 330 members I could only find 4 other people to join me at a free event.\r\n\r\nIt was aimed at school children so we were advised to turn up after 1pm. Some of the \"attractions\" were overblown and a little disappointing although I did like the two lecturers who were demonstrating 3D scanning and printing although they did haven\'t a printer on show. I challenged them to scan my face which they amusingly did, unfortunately the scanner cannot cope with a beard or moustache so it loses a lot in translation. Maybe a death mask?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit2sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4558\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit2sep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>This external booth was demonstrating the way people became astronauts and the work that took place on the International Space Station.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately we didn\'t see the end because it was 6pm and time to leave so everyone made their way back to my car and we headed for home. As an overall showcase for the university there is room for improvement and I will write with some suggestions when I get a moment.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clumber-parkoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4563\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clumber-parkoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And finally - there is always an \"and finally\" - I spent today with my college friends Tim &amp; Wid and Susie &amp; Jon at Clumber Park. It\'s a great venue with a number of walks one of which we did around the lake (4 miles?) before having lunch.\r\nWe\'ve known each other nearly 50 years and whenever we meet it\'s like going back in time. The wit and repartee hasn\'t improved but it is still in existence. Always good to see them...', 'Life is for Living', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'life-is-for-living', '', '', '2017-10-04 22:10:18', '2017-10-04 21:10:18', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4564', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4565, 283, '2017-10-04 22:10:18', '2017-10-04 21:10:18', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/broadbent-theatresep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4560 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/broadbent-theatresep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>It\'s a worthwhile reminder that life is for living and not something to be frittered away by spending too much time looking backwards although the past has made us who we are.\r\n\r\nIn the absence of Lucie (Canada visit) Dave and I went to the <a href=\"http://broadbenttheatre.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Broadbent Theatre</a> to see a light-hearted comedy about <a href=\"https://www.tangramtheatre.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the life of Charles Darwin</a>. It\'s a lovely place, set in the heart of the countryside and sadly it wasn\'t a full house.\r\n\r\nOn Saturday night Dave and I went to Market Rasen Festival Hall to see a couple of modern folk singers - <a href=\"https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiTm_692tfWAhUELVAKHUhRBTMQtwIIKDAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7dQNWPgzDNQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Jzp_smt3JWUrWvI8mnoH8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flossie Malavialle</a> and <a href=\"http://www.edwinahayes.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Edwina Hayes</a>. It was a good evening however I felt the humorous introductions to some of the songs were a little too long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hospice-gardenoct17.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4562 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hospice-gardenoct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"268\" /></a>I decided that the Hospice Garden needed some TLC so I\'ve spent a couple of hours dead heading and generally making sure it was neat and tidy. One of the Yew balls has died so Caitlin is making enquiries as to where we can get another one. The other Yew balls are doing very well and will require a trim to keep them in shape, probably in the spring.\r\n\r\nThankfully the silver birches are looking very healthy but then again they would because they have Jane\'s ashes scattered over them.\r\n\r\nOn a bright, sunny day in early October it was a very peaceful place to be.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit1sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4559 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit1sep17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the U3A I organised a car full of people to visit Lincoln University for their <a href=\"http://lightsexpo.org/#events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lights</a> research open day. It was disappointing that out of 330 members I could only find 4 other people to join me at a free event.\r\n\r\nIt was aimed at school children so we were advised to turn up after 1pm. Some of the \"attractions\" were overblown and a little disappointing although I did like the two lecturers who were demonstrating 3D scanning and printing although they did haven\'t a printer on show. I challenged them to scan my face which they amusingly did, unfortunately the scanner cannot cope with a beard or moustache so it loses a lot in translation. Maybe a death mask?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit2sep17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4558\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/university-visit2sep17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>This external booth was demonstrating the way people became astronauts and the work that took place on the International Space Station.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately we didn\'t see the end because it was 6pm and time to leave so everyone made their way back to my car and we headed for home. As an overall showcase for the university there is room for improvement and I will write with some suggestions when I get a moment.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clumber-parkoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4563\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/clumber-parkoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And finally - there is always an \"and finally\" - I spent today with my college friends Tim &amp; Wid and Susie &amp; Jon at Clumber Park. It\'s a great venue with a number of walks one of which we did around the lake (4 miles?) before having lunch.\r\nWe\'ve known each other nearly 50 years and whenever we meet it\'s like going back in time. The wit and repartee hasn\'t improved but it is still in existence. Always good to see them...', 'Life is for Living', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4564-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-04 22:10:18', '2017-10-04 21:10:18', '', 4564, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4565', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4590, 283, '2017-10-21 23:19:13', '2017-10-21 22:19:13', 'Firstly - thanks to all those who sent birthday cards and good wishes. Another year older, only two years until I\'m 70 which somehow is significant. I find birthdays quite depressing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4592\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://ysp.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yorkshire Sculpture Park </a>with a friend and we had a pleasant day, the weather was excellent, managing to sit outside on the cafe balcony for morning coffee and lunch.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always fascinating to wander around and get up close to the sculptures whether it is <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Moore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Henry Moore</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Frink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elizabeth Frink</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barbara Hepworth</a> or <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ai WeiWei</a>. In the past it has been possible to touch many of the installations but at the moment there are ropes around some of them.\r\n\r\nIt was such a sunny day I managed to drive all the way home with the roof down - glorious.\r\n\r\nDuring the week I had Martin and Kate (Bulgaria now Portugal family contingent) staying with me which was a pleasant change from an empty house and enjoyed acting as host, whether it was cooking the evening meal or simply serving toast and marmalade for breakfast.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I was lucky enough to get two cakes for my birthday: Sue made a beautiful chocolate cake and Lucie produced a great carrot cake.\r\n\r\nThe family (9 in attendance) had lunch at Market Rasen Golf Club and a good time was had by all or at least that was what they said. The next time we will all be together again is at the family holiday in Norfolk next May.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It\'s Autumn so the leaves are now falling in masses every day blanketing the lawns. It\'s been very windy (storm Brian) so that has increased the drop. On Friday I took 5 bags of leaves to the tip (run out of space to compost them) and I filled them all again when I got back.\r\n\r\nTo hand scrape the lawns takes two hours - it\'s all good exercise.', 'Another Year Older', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'another-year-older', '', '', '2017-10-22 11:45:19', '2017-10-22 10:45:19', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4590', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4567, 283, '2017-10-12 22:35:53', '2017-10-12 21:35:53', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4570\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>An update on the new MX5 - after only 200 miles there was a crack in the windscreen which, after careful examination, the dealer informed me was caused by a stone and there was a minute chip. This was just the beginning of a silly saga. The insurance covered the windscreen replacement with a £100 excess however it seems the insurance doesn\'t cover the recalibration of the camera in the screen and this may cost another ridiculous amount of money.\r\nToday two technicians turned up to replace the screen only to tell me they couldn\'t do it because, although they had the screen, they didn\'t have the colour matched panels on the sides and the top. These wouldn\'t arrive until next Tuesday. So why bother to arrange this appointment? It\'s strange this kind of frustration doesn\'t worry me anymore - nobody died so why get worked up about it? Life\'s too short...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/blade-runneroct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4569\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/blade-runneroct17-134x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"134\" height=\"200\" /></a>Last Sunday I went to see Blade Runner 2049 with a friend. The original Blade Runner is an iconic film and I was probably expecting too much. This version was too long, had a thin plot with some dubious science throughout. There were references to replicants having \"virgin\" births where the new \"messiah\" was valued and revered. If you make a replicant why like a production line why give it a womb?\r\n\r\nI admit I\'m being a bit harsh; I liked the special effects and overall enjoyed the film but it wasn\'t groundbreaking or iconic...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Louth-shakespeare-revueoct.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4568\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Louth-shakespeare-revueoct-200x148.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"148\" /></a>On Tuesday evening I went to a U3A organised visit to <a href=\"https://louthriverheadtheatre.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louth Riverhead Theatre</a> to see a Shakespeare Revue performed by the local amateur group. They were good however the whole performance was spoiled by some deranged member of the audience who had the most lengthy, loud laugh. Rather than focussing on the activity on the stage I sat waiting for the next outburst of inappropriate cackling. The cast did an incredible job of staying with the script and there were times when they had to adapt to the buffoon.', 'Cars, Film and Theatre', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cars-film-and-theatre', '', '', '2017-10-12 22:35:53', '2017-10-12 21:35:53', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4567', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4568, 283, '2017-10-12 22:09:44', '2017-10-12 21:09:44', '', 'Louth-shakespeare-revue(oct', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'louth-shakespeare-revueoct', '', '', '2017-10-12 22:09:44', '2017-10-12 21:09:44', '', 4567, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Louth-shakespeare-revueoct.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4569, 283, '2017-10-12 22:09:46', '2017-10-12 21:09:46', '', 'blade-runner(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'blade-runneroct17', '', '', '2017-10-12 22:09:46', '2017-10-12 21:09:46', '', 4567, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/blade-runneroct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4570, 283, '2017-10-12 22:15:35', '2017-10-12 21:15:35', '', 'mx5-rf(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mx5-rfoct17', '', '', '2017-10-12 22:15:35', '2017-10-12 21:15:35', '', 4567, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4571, 283, '2017-10-12 22:35:53', '2017-10-12 21:35:53', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4570\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>An update on the new MX5 - after only 200 miles there was a crack in the windscreen which, after careful examination, the dealer informed me was caused by a stone and there was a minute chip. This was just the beginning of a silly saga. The insurance covered the windscreen replacement with a £100 excess however it seems the insurance doesn\'t cover the recalibration of the camera in the screen and this may cost another ridiculous amount of money.\r\nToday two technicians turned up to replace the screen only to tell me they couldn\'t do it because, although they had the screen, they didn\'t have the colour matched panels on the sides and the top. These wouldn\'t arrive until next Tuesday. So why bother to arrange this appointment? It\'s strange this kind of frustration doesn\'t worry me anymore - nobody died so why get worked up about it? Life\'s too short...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/blade-runneroct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4569\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/blade-runneroct17-134x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"134\" height=\"200\" /></a>Last Sunday I went to see Blade Runner 2049 with a friend. The original Blade Runner is an iconic film and I was probably expecting too much. This version was too long, had a thin plot with some dubious science throughout. There were references to replicants having \"virgin\" births where the new \"messiah\" was valued and revered. If you make a replicant why like a production line why give it a womb?\r\n\r\nI admit I\'m being a bit harsh; I liked the special effects and overall enjoyed the film but it wasn\'t groundbreaking or iconic...\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Louth-shakespeare-revueoct.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4568\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Louth-shakespeare-revueoct-200x148.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"148\" /></a>On Tuesday evening I went to a U3A organised visit to <a href=\"https://louthriverheadtheatre.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louth Riverhead Theatre</a> to see a Shakespeare Revue performed by the local amateur group. They were good however the whole performance was spoiled by some deranged member of the audience who had the most lengthy, loud laugh. Rather than focussing on the activity on the stage I sat waiting for the next outburst of inappropriate cackling. The cast did an incredible job of staying with the script and there were times when they had to adapt to the buffoon.', 'Cars, Film and Theatre', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4567-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-12 22:35:53', '2017-10-12 21:35:53', '', 4567, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4571', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4572, 283, '2017-10-14 22:00:47', '2017-10-14 21:00:47', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4574,4575,4576,4577,4578,4579,4580,4581,4582,4583\"]\r\n\r\nConsidering we\'re halfway through October there are still pockets of colour in the garden which is lovely to see. Over the next month the trees will continuously dump their leaves over the lawns and despite my best efforts it\'s impossible to keep them clear.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4573\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I\'m still eating vegetables from the garden - potatoes, carrots and celeriac with a small cucumber and a few peppers.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot gives me a great deal of pleasure; I\'ve already planted garlic and a couple of rows of early onions. I do need to plan for next year...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4586\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And finally, I washed the car (cracked windscreen and all).  My beautiful home and an iconic car.\r\n\r\nI should be happy...', 'Gardening in October', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'gardening-in-october', '', '', '2017-10-14 22:00:47', '2017-10-14 21:00:47', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4572', 0, 'post', '', 1),
(4573, 283, '2017-10-14 18:22:58', '2017-10-14 17:22:58', '', 'carrots+celeriac(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'carrotsceleriacoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:22:58', '2017-10-14 17:22:58', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4574, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:01', '2017-10-14 17:23:01', '', 'calif-poppy(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'calif-poppyoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:01', '2017-10-14 17:23:01', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/calif-poppyoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4575, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:05', '2017-10-14 17:23:05', '', 'flower3(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flower3oct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:05', '2017-10-14 17:23:05', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/flower3oct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4576, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:10', '2017-10-14 17:23:10', '', 'michaelmas-daisies(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'michaelmas-daisiesoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:10', '2017-10-14 17:23:10', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/michaelmas-daisiesoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4577, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:14', '2017-10-14 17:23:14', '', 'hollyhock(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hollyhockoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:14', '2017-10-14 17:23:14', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollyhockoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4578, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:18', '2017-10-14 17:23:18', '', 'pansies(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'pansiesoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:18', '2017-10-14 17:23:18', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/pansiesoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4579, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:22', '2017-10-14 17:23:22', '', 'flower2(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flower2oct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:22', '2017-10-14 17:23:22', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/flower2oct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4580, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:26', '2017-10-14 17:23:26', '', 'primula(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'primulaoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:26', '2017-10-14 17:23:26', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/primulaoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4581, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:29', '2017-10-14 17:23:29', '', 'canterbury-bells(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'canterbury-bellsoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:29', '2017-10-14 17:23:29', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/canterbury-bellsoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4582, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:33', '2017-10-14 17:23:33', '', 'rose(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'roseoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:33', '2017-10-14 17:23:33', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/roseoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4583, 283, '2017-10-14 18:23:38', '2017-10-14 17:23:38', '', 'flower1(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'flower1oct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 18:23:38', '2017-10-14 17:23:38', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/flower1oct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4584, 283, '2017-10-14 19:05:19', '2017-10-14 18:05:19', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4574,4575,4576,4577,4578,4579,4580,4581,4582,4583\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Gardening in October', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4572-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-14 19:05:19', '2017-10-14 18:05:19', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4584', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4585, 283, '2017-10-14 21:18:26', '2017-10-14 20:18:26', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4574,4575,4576,4577,4578,4579,4580,4581,4582,4583\"]\r\n\r\nConsidering we\'re halfway through October there are still pockets of colour in the garden which is lovely to see. Over the next month the trees will continuously dump their leaves over the lawns and despite my best efforts it\'s impossible to keep them clear.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4573\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I\'m still eating vegetables from the garden - potatoes, carrots and celeriac with a small cucumber and a few peppers.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot gives me a great deal of pleasure and I\'ve already planted garlic and a couple of rows of early onions. I do need to plan for next year...', 'Gardening in October', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4572-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-14 21:18:26', '2017-10-14 20:18:26', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4585', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4586, 283, '2017-10-14 21:43:54', '2017-10-14 20:43:54', '', 'mx5+house(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mx5houseoct17', '', '', '2017-10-14 21:43:54', '2017-10-14 20:43:54', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4587, 283, '2017-10-14 22:00:47', '2017-10-14 21:00:47', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4574,4575,4576,4577,4578,4579,4580,4581,4582,4583\"]\r\n\r\nConsidering we\'re halfway through October there are still pockets of colour in the garden which is lovely to see. Over the next month the trees will continuously dump their leaves over the lawns and despite my best efforts it\'s impossible to keep them clear.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4573\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/carrotsceleriacoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I\'m still eating vegetables from the garden - potatoes, carrots and celeriac with a small cucumber and a few peppers.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot gives me a great deal of pleasure; I\'ve already planted garlic and a couple of rows of early onions. I do need to plan for next year...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4586\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>And finally, I washed the car (cracked windscreen and all).  My beautiful home and an iconic car.\r\n\r\nI should be happy...', 'Gardening in October', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4572-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-14 22:00:47', '2017-10-14 21:00:47', '', 4572, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4587', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4588, 283, '2017-10-19 17:25:05', '2017-10-19 16:25:05', '', 'mx5+house-banner', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mx5house-banner', '', '', '2017-10-19 17:25:05', '2017-10-19 16:25:05', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5house-banner.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4689, 283, '2017-12-23 16:06:45', '2017-12-23 16:06:45', '', 'Sunset-Findhorn(Dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-22-14-20-56', '', '', '2017-12-23 16:13:12', '2017-12-23 16:13:12', '', 4690, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4643, 283, '2017-11-22 22:58:51', '2017-11-22 22:58:51', '', 'lumiere7(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere7nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:58:51', '2017-11-22 22:58:51', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere7nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4644, 283, '2017-11-22 22:58:55', '2017-11-22 22:58:55', '', 'logie-steading(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'logie-steadingnov17', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:24:24', '2017-11-23 18:24:24', '', 4654, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logie-steadingnov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4645, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:00', '2017-11-22 22:59:00', '', 'beamish1(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'beamish1nov17', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:18:01', '2017-11-23 18:18:01', '', 4654, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beamish1nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4646, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:03', '2017-11-22 22:59:03', '', 'lumiere6(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere6nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:03', '2017-11-22 22:59:03', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere6nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4591, 283, '2017-10-21 22:58:45', '2017-10-21 21:58:45', '', 'bday-cake(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bday-cakeoct17', '', '', '2017-10-21 22:58:45', '2017-10-21 21:58:45', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4592, 283, '2017-10-21 22:58:52', '2017-10-21 21:58:52', '', 'YSP-Ai-WaiWai(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ysp-ai-waiwaioct17', '', '', '2017-10-21 22:58:52', '2017-10-21 21:58:52', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4593, 283, '2017-10-21 22:58:59', '2017-10-21 21:58:59', '', 'leaf-piles(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'leaf-pilesoct17', '', '', '2017-10-21 22:58:59', '2017-10-21 21:58:59', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4594, 283, '2017-10-21 23:19:13', '2017-10-21 22:19:13', 'Firstly - thanks to all those who sent birthday cards a good wishes. Another year older, only two years until I\'m 70 which somehow is significant. I found birthdays quite depressing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4592\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://ysp.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yorkshire Sculpture Park </a>with a friend and we had a pleasant day, the weather was excellent, managing to sit outside on the cafe balcony for morning coffee and lunch.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always fascinating to wander around and get up close to the sculptures whether it is <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Moore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Henry Moore</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Frink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elizabeth Frink</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barbara Hepworth</a> or <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ai WeiWei</a>. In the past it has been possible to touch many of the installations but at the moment there are ropes around some of them.\r\n\r\nIt was such a sunny day I managed to drive all the way home with the roof down - glorious.\r\n\r\nDuring the week I had Martin and Kate (Bulgaria now Portugal family contingent) staying with me which was a pleasant change from an empty house and enjoy acting as host, whether it\'s cooking the evening meal or simply serving toast and marmalade for breakfast.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I was lucky enough to get two cakes for my birthday: Sue made a beautiful chocolate cake and Lucie produced a great carrot cake.\r\n\r\nThe family (9 in attendance) had lunch at Market Rasen Golf Club and a good time was had by all or at least that was what they said. The next time we will all be together again is at the family holiday in Norfolk next May.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It\'s Autumn so the leaves are now falling in masses every day. It\'s been windy so that has increased the drop. On Friday I took 5 bags of leaves to the tip (run out of space to compost them) and I filled them all again when I got back.\r\n\r\nTo hand scrape the lawns takes two hours - it\'s all good exercise.', 'Another Year Older', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4590-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-21 23:19:13', '2017-10-21 22:19:13', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4594', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4622, 283, '2017-11-09 16:31:00', '2017-11-09 16:31:00', '', 'peppers(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'peppersnov17', '', '', '2017-11-09 16:31:00', '2017-11-09 16:31:00', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/peppersnov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4596, 283, '2017-10-22 11:44:58', '2017-10-22 10:44:58', 'Firstly - thanks to all those who sent birthday cards and good wishes. Another year older, only two years until I\'m 70 which somehow is significant. I find birthdays quite depressing.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4592\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://ysp.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yorkshire Sculpture Park </a>with a friend and we had a pleasant day, the weather was excellent, managing to sit outside on the cafe balcony for morning coffee and lunch.\n\nIt\'s always fascinating to wander around and get up close to the sculptures whether it is <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Moore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Henry Moore</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Frink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elizabeth Frink</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barbara Hepworth</a> or <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ai WeiWei</a>. In the past it has been possible to touch many of the installations but at the moment there are ropes around some of them.\n\nIt was such a sunny day I managed to drive all the way home with the roof down - glorious.\n\nDuring the week I had Martin and Kate (Bulgaria now Portugal family contingent) staying with me which was a pleasant change from an empty house and enjoyed acting as host, whether it was cooking the evening meal or simply serving toast and marmalade for breakfast.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I was lucky enough to get two cakes for my birthday: Sue made a beautiful chocolate cake and Lucie produced a great carrot cake.\n\nThe family (9 in attendance) had lunch at Market Rasen Golf Club and a good time was had by all or at least that was what they said. The next time we will all be together again is at the family holiday in Norfolk next May.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It\'s Autumn so the leaves are now falling in masses every day. It\'s been very windy (storm Brian) so that has increased the drop. On Friday I took 5 bags of leaves to the tip (run out of space to compost them) and I filled them all again when I got back.\n\nTo hand scrape the lawns takes two hours - it\'s all good exercise.', 'Another Year Older', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4590-autosave-v1', '', '', '2017-10-22 11:44:58', '2017-10-22 10:44:58', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4596', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4597, 283, '2017-10-22 11:45:19', '2017-10-22 10:45:19', 'Firstly - thanks to all those who sent birthday cards and good wishes. Another year older, only two years until I\'m 70 which somehow is significant. I find birthdays quite depressing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4592\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YSP-Ai-WaiWaioct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>I visited <a href=\"https://ysp.org.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yorkshire Sculpture Park </a>with a friend and we had a pleasant day, the weather was excellent, managing to sit outside on the cafe balcony for morning coffee and lunch.\r\n\r\nIt\'s always fascinating to wander around and get up close to the sculptures whether it is <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Moore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Henry Moore</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Frink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elizabeth Frink</a>, <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barbara Hepworth</a> or <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ai WeiWei</a>. In the past it has been possible to touch many of the installations but at the moment there are ropes around some of them.\r\n\r\nIt was such a sunny day I managed to drive all the way home with the roof down - glorious.\r\n\r\nDuring the week I had Martin and Kate (Bulgaria now Portugal family contingent) staying with me which was a pleasant change from an empty house and enjoyed acting as host, whether it was cooking the evening meal or simply serving toast and marmalade for breakfast.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4591\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bday-cakeoct17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I was lucky enough to get two cakes for my birthday: Sue made a beautiful chocolate cake and Lucie produced a great carrot cake.\r\n\r\nThe family (9 in attendance) had lunch at Market Rasen Golf Club and a good time was had by all or at least that was what they said. The next time we will all be together again is at the family holiday in Norfolk next May.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4593\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/leaf-pilesoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>It\'s Autumn so the leaves are now falling in masses every day blanketing the lawns. It\'s been very windy (storm Brian) so that has increased the drop. On Friday I took 5 bags of leaves to the tip (run out of space to compost them) and I filled them all again when I got back.\r\n\r\nTo hand scrape the lawns takes two hours - it\'s all good exercise.', 'Another Year Older', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4590-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-22 11:45:19', '2017-10-22 10:45:19', '', 4590, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4597', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4598, 283, '2017-10-29 17:22:01', '2017-10-29 17:22:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>I\'ve never believed in luck - good or bad. Stuff sometimes just happens! The MX5 is starting to disprove my commitment to this belief because... it gets a cracked windscreen within 200 miles from new; the process to get it changed is tortuous and then today when they came to finally fix it the chaps laid some of the plastic housing on the grass and... yes, piglet ran over one piece and scratched it. The robot mower moves randomly and takes many hours to cover the whole lawn so how come it happened to be in the one square metre where these pieces of plastic were placed? What are the odds? After a brief \"discussion\" where the guys suggested I claim off my insurance - what, for their stupidity? It was rapidly agreed they would  order a new part and replace on a revisit. Won\'t this annoyance ever go away?\r\n\r\nDespite all that nonsense I had a lovely day pottering about in the garden. Cutting back autumn raspberries - wrong time of year did I hear you say? Do I look bothered? It\'s a raspberry cane, it\'s got two choices - live or die. There are plenty of punnets of raspberries in Tesco. I\'d forgotten how absorbing pottering can be - forget the big stuff and attend to the little things. As an example I split a planter of crocosmia (used to be called Montbretia - go figure) and put half into another planter; very enjoyable.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is looking tidy. The garlic and onions for next year are doing well so I need to start to plan what is going where. The last of the celeriac came out - lessons learned: slugs find them very tasty (as do I) so they need slug pelleting and I need to water them more often next year. And now I have a plan of what will go where in 2018 - this level of organisation is almost frightening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wood-cuttingoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4036\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wood-cuttingoct16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>With the evenings drawing in I\'ve started to light the log burner earlier which means cutting the wood that has been seasoning in one corner of the garden. The log bins are only half full so there\'s plenty to be done and I might have to buy, yes, \"buy\" some wood before spring arrives.', 'Thinking Aloud (again)', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'thinking-aloud-again', '', '', '2017-10-29 17:22:01', '2017-10-29 17:22:01', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4598', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4599, 283, '2017-10-28 21:40:47', '2017-10-28 20:40:47', '', 'Stuff-Happens', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'stuff-happens', '', '', '2017-10-28 21:40:47', '2017-10-28 20:40:47', '', 4598, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4600, 283, '2017-10-28 23:22:06', '2017-10-28 22:22:06', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>I\'ve never believed in luck - good or bad. Stuff sometimes just happens! The MX5 is starting to disprove my commitment to this belief because: It gets a cracked windscreen within 200 miles from new; the process to get it changed is tortuous and then today when they came to finally fix it the chaps laid some of the plastic housing on the grass and... yes, piglet ran over one piece and scratched it. The robot mower moves randomly and takes many hours to cover the whole lawn so how come it happened to be in the one square metre where these pieces of plastic were placed? What are the odds? After a brief \"discussion\" where the guys suggested I claim off my insurance - what, for their stupidity? It was rapidly agreed they would  order a new part and replace on a revisit. Won\'t this problem ever go away?\r\n\r\nDespite all that nonsense I had a lovely day pottering about in the garden. Cutting back autumn raspberries - wrong time of year did I hear you say? Do I look bothered? It\'s a raspberry cane, it\'s got two choices - live or die. There are plenty of punnets of raspberries in Tesco.', 'Thoughts from Another World', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4598-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-28 23:22:06', '2017-10-28 22:22:06', '', 4598, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4600', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4601, 283, '2017-10-28 23:27:35', '2017-10-28 22:27:35', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>I\'ve never believed in luck - good or bad. Stuff sometimes just happens! The MX5 is starting to disprove my commitment to this belief because: It gets a cracked windscreen within 200 miles from new; the process to get it changed is tortuous and then today when they came to finally fix it the chaps laid some of the plastic housing on the grass and... yes, piglet ran over one piece and scratched it. The robot mower moves randomly and takes many hours to cover the whole lawn so how come it happened to be in the one square metre where these pieces of plastic were placed? What are the odds? After a brief \"discussion\" where the guys suggested I claim off my insurance - what, for their stupidity? It was rapidly agreed they would  order a new part and replace on a revisit. Won\'t this problem ever go away?\r\n\r\nDespite all that nonsense I had a lovely day pottering about in the garden. Cutting back autumn raspberries - wrong time of year did I hear you say? Do I look bothered? It\'s a raspberry cane, it\'s got two choices - live or die. There are plenty of punnets of raspberries in Tesco. I\'d forgotten how absorbing pottering can be - forget the big stuff and attend to the little things. As an example I split a planter of crocosmia (used to be called Montbretia - go figure) and put half into another planter; very enjoyable.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is looking tidy. The garlic and onions for next year are doing well so I need to start to plan what is going where. The last of the celeriac came out - lessons learned: slugs find them very tasty (as do I) and I need to water them more often next year.', 'Thoughts from Another World', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4598-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-28 23:27:35', '2017-10-28 22:27:35', '', 4598, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4601', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4647, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:08', '2017-11-22 22:59:08', '', 'lumiere5(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere5nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:08', '2017-11-22 22:59:08', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere5nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4604, 283, '2017-10-29 17:17:59', '2017-10-29 17:17:59', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>I\'ve never believed in luck - good or bad. Stuff sometimes just happens! The MX5 is starting to disprove my commitment to this belief because... it gets a cracked windscreen within 200 miles from new; the process to get it changed is tortuous and then today when they came to finally fix it the chaps laid some of the plastic housing on the grass and... yes, piglet ran over one piece and scratched it. The robot mower moves randomly and takes many hours to cover the whole lawn so how come it happened to be in the one square metre where these pieces of plastic were placed? What are the odds? After a brief \"discussion\" where the guys suggested I claim off my insurance - what, for their stupidity? It was rapidly agreed they would  order a new part and replace on a revisit. Won\'t this annoyance ever go away?\r\n\r\nDespite all that nonsense I had a lovely day pottering about in the garden. Cutting back autumn raspberries - wrong time of year did I hear you say? Do I look bothered? It\'s a raspberry cane, it\'s got two choices - live or die. There are plenty of punnets of raspberries in Tesco. I\'d forgotten how absorbing pottering can be - forget the big stuff and attend to the little things. As an example I split a planter of crocosmia (used to be called Montbretia - go figure) and put half into another planter; very enjoyable.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is looking tidy. The garlic and onions for next year are doing well so I need to start to plan what is going where. The last of the celeriac came out - lessons learned: slugs find them very tasty (as do I) so they need slug pelleting and I need to water them more often next year. And now I have a plan for what will go where in 2018 - this level of organisation is almost frightening.\r\n\r\nWith the evenings drawing in I\'ve started to light the log burner earlier which means cutting the wood that has been seasoning in one corner of the garden. The log bins are only half full so there\'s plenty to be done and I might have to buy, yes, \"buy\" some wood before spring arrives.', 'Thoughts from Another World', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4598-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-29 17:17:59', '2017-10-29 17:17:59', '', 4598, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4604', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4605, 283, '2017-10-29 17:20:43', '2017-10-29 17:20:43', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4599\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff-Happens-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>I\'ve never believed in luck - good or bad. Stuff sometimes just happens! The MX5 is starting to disprove my commitment to this belief because... it gets a cracked windscreen within 200 miles from new; the process to get it changed is tortuous and then today when they came to finally fix it the chaps laid some of the plastic housing on the grass and... yes, piglet ran over one piece and scratched it. The robot mower moves randomly and takes many hours to cover the whole lawn so how come it happened to be in the one square metre where these pieces of plastic were placed? What are the odds? After a brief \"discussion\" where the guys suggested I claim off my insurance - what, for their stupidity? It was rapidly agreed they would  order a new part and replace on a revisit. Won\'t this annoyance ever go away?\r\n\r\nDespite all that nonsense I had a lovely day pottering about in the garden. Cutting back autumn raspberries - wrong time of year did I hear you say? Do I look bothered? It\'s a raspberry cane, it\'s got two choices - live or die. There are plenty of punnets of raspberries in Tesco. I\'d forgotten how absorbing pottering can be - forget the big stuff and attend to the little things. As an example I split a planter of crocosmia (used to be called Montbretia - go figure) and put half into another planter; very enjoyable.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is looking tidy. The garlic and onions for next year are doing well so I need to start to plan what is going where. The last of the celeriac came out - lessons learned: slugs find them very tasty (as do I) so they need slug pelleting and I need to water them more often next year. And now I have a plan of what will go where in 2018 - this level of organisation is almost frightening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wood-cuttingoct16.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4036\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wood-cuttingoct16-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>With the evenings drawing in I\'ve started to light the log burner earlier which means cutting the wood that has been seasoning in one corner of the garden. The log bins are only half full so there\'s plenty to be done and I might have to buy, yes, \"buy\" some wood before spring arrives.', 'Thinking Aloud (again)', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4598-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-29 17:20:43', '2017-10-29 17:20:43', '', 4598, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4605', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4606, 283, '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4608 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A mish mash of items but nothing new there. I\'ve been persuaded by keen gardener friends to draw up a plan of the vegetable plot for next year so that I can decide what to grow, when to sow and where. It should also help with crop rotation particularly as my memory cells are being covered in <a href=\"https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amyloid plaques</a> (caused by not enough sleep and closely linked to Alzheimer\'s)\r\n\r\nThe garlic have been planted and are already 10 cms tall; the onions are not far behind. I\'m thinking of taking out the herbs because they have spread vigorously, beyond their usefulness. They are also in part of the garden that gets the most sunshine so I might plant flowers that need bright sunlight.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4607 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Last night the \"family\" went to Lincoln University to see a lecture by Chris Packham on Bats and Owls.\r\n\r\nApart from the irritation of waiting in a confined space before they opened the doors we had good seats.\r\n\r\nHe was excellent - informative and very amusing. Of course the stars of the show were the owls but let\'s not forget the pipistrelle bat that was brought on at the beginning - very cute.\r\nHaving described how owls are so beautifully developed for hunting we then had a demonstration of several owls flying across the audience and in one instance landing on a man\'s head.\r\n\r\nAfter the lecture we walked over to Prezzo\'s on Brayford Wharf for dinner. A good evening was had by all.', 'Vegetables, Bats and Owls', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'vegetables-bats-and-owls', '', '', '2017-11-01 09:00:33', '2017-11-01 09:00:33', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4606', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4607, 283, '2017-11-01 08:43:09', '2017-11-01 08:43:09', '', 'chris-packham+owl(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'chris-packhamowloct17', '', '', '2017-11-01 08:43:09', '2017-11-01 08:43:09', '', 4606, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4608, 283, '2017-11-01 08:43:13', '2017-11-01 08:43:13', '', 'veg-plot-plan(oct17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'veg-plot-planoct17', '', '', '2017-11-01 08:43:13', '2017-11-01 08:43:13', '', 4606, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4609, 283, '2017-11-01 08:52:41', '2017-11-01 08:52:41', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4608\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A mish mash of items but nothing new there. I\'ve been persuaded by keen gardener friends to draw up a plan of the vegetable plot for next year so that I can decide what to grow, when to sow and where. It should also help with crop rotation particularly as my memory cells are being covered in <a href=\"https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amyloid plaques</a> (caused by not enough sleep and closely linked to Alzheimer\'s)\r\n\r\nThe garlic have been planted and are already 10 cms tall; the onions are not far behind. I\'m thinking of taking out the herbs because they have spread vigorously, beyond their usefulness. They are also in part of the garden that gets the most sunshine so I\'m thinking of planting a flowers that need sunlight.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4607\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Last night the \"family\" went to Lincoln University to see a lecture by Chris Packham on Bats and Owls.\r\n\r\nApart from the irritation of waiting in a confined space before they opened the doors we had good seats. He was excellent - informative and very amusing. Of course the stars of the show were the owls but let\'s not forget the pipistrelle bat that was brought on at the beginning - very cute.\r\n\r\nHaving described how owls are so beautifully developed for hunting we then had a demonstration of several owls flying across the audience and in one instance landing on a man\'s head.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter the lecture we walked over to Prezzo\'s on Brayford Wharf for dinner. A good evening was had by all.', 'Vegetables, Bats and Owls', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4606-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-01 08:52:41', '2017-11-01 08:52:41', '', 4606, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4609', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4610, 283, '2017-11-01 08:53:50', '2017-11-01 08:53:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4608 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A mish mash of items but nothing new there. I\'ve been persuaded by keen gardener friends to draw up a plan of the vegetable plot for next year so that I can decide what to grow, when to sow and where. It should also help with crop rotation particularly as my memory cells are being covered in <a href=\"https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amyloid plaques</a> (caused by not enough sleep and closely linked to Alzheimer\'s)\r\n\r\nThe garlic have been planted and are already 10 cms tall; the onions are not far behind. I\'m thinking of taking out the herbs because they have spread vigorously, beyond their usefulness. They are also in part of the garden that gets the most sunshine so I\'m thinking of planting a flowers that need sunlight.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4607\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Last night the \"family\" went to Lincoln University to see a lecture by Chris Packham on Bats and Owls.\r\n\r\nApart from the irritation of waiting in a confined space before they opened the doors we had good seats. He was excellent - informative and very amusing. Of course the stars of the show were the owls but let\'s not forget the pipistrelle bat that was brought on at the beginning - very cute.\r\n\r\nHaving described how owls are so beautifully developed for hunting we then had a demonstration of several owls flying across the audience and in one instance landing on a man\'s head.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter the lecture we walked over to Prezzo\'s on Brayford Wharf for dinner. A good evening was had by all.', 'Vegetables, Bats and Owls', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4606-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-01 08:53:50', '2017-11-01 08:53:50', '', 4606, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4610', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4611, 283, '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4608 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/veg-plot-planoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A mish mash of items but nothing new there. I\'ve been persuaded by keen gardener friends to draw up a plan of the vegetable plot for next year so that I can decide what to grow, when to sow and where. It should also help with crop rotation particularly as my memory cells are being covered in <a href=\"https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amyloid plaques</a> (caused by not enough sleep and closely linked to Alzheimer\'s)\r\n\r\nThe garlic have been planted and are already 10 cms tall; the onions are not far behind. I\'m thinking of taking out the herbs because they have spread vigorously, beyond their usefulness. They are also in part of the garden that gets the most sunshine so I might plant flowers that need bright sunlight.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4607 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chris-packhamowloct17-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Last night the \"family\" went to Lincoln University to see a lecture by Chris Packham on Bats and Owls.\r\n\r\nApart from the irritation of waiting in a confined space before they opened the doors we had good seats.\r\n\r\nHe was excellent - informative and very amusing. Of course the stars of the show were the owls but let\'s not forget the pipistrelle bat that was brought on at the beginning - very cute.\r\n\r\nHaving described how owls are so beautifully developed for hunting we then had a demonstration of several owls flying across the audience and in one instance landing on a man\'s head.\r\n\r\nAfter the lecture we walked over to Prezzo\'s on Brayford Wharf for dinner. A good evening was had by all.', 'Vegetables, Bats and Owls', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4606-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '2017-11-01 08:56:27', '', 4606, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4611', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4612, 283, '2017-11-02 19:57:17', '2017-11-02 19:57:17', '', 'Val-sparrowhawk2(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'val-sparrowhawk2nov17', '', '', '2017-11-02 19:57:17', '2017-11-02 19:57:17', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Val-sparrowhawk2nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4613, 283, '2017-11-02 19:57:20', '2017-11-02 19:57:20', '', 'Val-sparrowhawk1(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'val-sparrowhawk1nov17', '', '', '2017-11-02 19:57:20', '2017-11-02 19:57:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Val-sparrowhawk1nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4614, 283, '2017-11-02 19:57:26', '2017-11-02 19:57:26', '', 'G&C-Motorhome(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'gc-motorhomenov17', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:25:49', '2017-11-02 20:25:49', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4615, 283, '2017-11-02 19:57:30', '2017-11-02 19:57:30', '', 'Prof-Mo-Ray(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'prof-mo-raynov17', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:26:35', '2017-11-02 20:26:35', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4616, 283, '2017-11-02 20:33:41', '2017-11-02 20:33:41', 'Our beautiful site here in Lincolnshire has a variety of wildlife from the squirrels that roam across our gardens, the rooks, wood pigeons that frequently fly into the windows (dead I\'m afraid), the tawny owls that sit in the trees, the grass snake eating a frog and then today Val and Nick had a sparrow hawk killing and consuming a feral pigeon. Both photos courtesy of Val...\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4613,4612\"]\r\n\r\nAfter the initial kill and feather plucking it flew away and then returned later to finish its meal.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4615\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'ve been part of a small team undertaking research with the University of Lincoln investigating the ethical issues of self funding in adult care. The project is a three-year programme funded by the Wellcome Trust. As co-researchers we will be involved in interviewing a variety of people involved in adult care services. It is still in the early stages and the foundations are still being laid. Professor Mo Ray is the lead academic supported by a Fellow PhD. Last night I went to see the Profs inaugural lecture at the university. The lecture is an hour-long so you may wish just to dip into it.\r\n<iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x5nJTz1jQg?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\nIt was fascinating not only because it gave a background to her life and how she came to be where she was but also great insight into the issues of how an ageing population is represented by the media. It was an excellent evening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-4614 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Today I was visited by Gary and Caroline. Gary and I worked together for five years and we\'ve kept in touch over the past 8 years since I retired. They like travelling in the their motor home and were on a long diversion after a few days in the Peak District before heading back to Oxfordshire.\r\n\r\nAfter a very pleasant lunch at the Advocate Arms and a good catch up, I gave Caroline a tour of the house because she\'d never visited before. Caroline is into arts and crafts so she really enjoyed seeing the studio and I was able to persuade her to take some of Jane\'s craft books away with her before they get taken to a charity shop.\r\n\r\nI really enjoy having visitors...', 'Wildlife, Lectures and Visitors', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'wildlife-lectures-and-visitors', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:34:55', '2017-11-02 20:34:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4616', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4617, 283, '2017-11-02 20:21:13', '2017-11-02 20:21:13', 'Our beautiful site here in Lincolnshire has a variety of wildlife from the squirrels that roam across our gardens, the rooks, wood pigeons that frequently fly into the windows (dead I\'m afraid), the tawny owls that sit in the trees, the grass snake eating a frog and then today Val and Nick had a sparrow hawk killing and consuming a feral pigeon.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4613,4612\"]\r\n\r\nAfter the initial kill and feather plucking it flew away and then returned later to finish its meal.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been part of a small team undertaking research with the University of Lincoln investigating the ethical issues of self funding in adult care. The project is a three year programme funded by the Wellcome Trust. As co-researchers we will be involved in interviewing a variety of people involved in adult care services. It is still in the early stages and the foundations are still being laid. Professor Mo Ray is the lead academic supported by a Fellow PhD. Last night I went to see the Profs inaugural lecture at the university.\r\n\r\n&lt;iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x5nJTz1jQg?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Wildlife, Lectures and Visitors', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4616-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:21:13', '2017-11-02 20:21:13', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4617', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4618, 283, '2017-11-02 20:32:42', '2017-11-02 20:32:42', 'Our beautiful site here in Lincolnshire has a variety of wildlife from the squirrels that roam across our gardens, the rooks, wood pigeons that frequently fly into the windows (dead I\'m afraid), the tawny owls that sit in the trees, the grass snake eating a frog and then today Val and Nick had a sparrow hawk killing and consuming a feral pigeon.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4613,4612\"]\r\n\r\nAfter the initial kill and feather plucking it flew away and then returned later to finish its meal.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4615\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'ve been part of a small team undertaking research with the University of Lincoln investigating the ethical issues of self funding in adult care. The project is a three year programme funded by the Wellcome Trust. As co-researchers we will be involved in interviewing a variety of people involved in adult care services. It is still in the early stages and the foundations are still being laid. Professor Mo Ray is the lead academic supported by a Fellow PhD. Last night I went to see the Profs inaugural lecture at the university. The lecture is an hour long so you may wish just to dip into it.\r\n<iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x5nJTz1jQg?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\nIt was fascinating not only because it gave a background to her life and how she came to be where she was but also great insight into the issues of how an ageing population is represented by the media. It was an excellent evening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-4614 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Today I was visited by Gary and Caroline. Gary and I worked together for five years and we\'ve kept in touch over the past 8 years since I retired. They like travelling in the their motorhome and were on a long diversion after a few days in the Peak District before heading back to Oxfordshire.\r\n\r\nAfter a very pleasant lunch at the Advocate Arms and a good catch up, I gave Caroline a tour of the house because she\'d never visited before. Caroline is into arts and crafts so she really enjoyed seeing the studio and I was able to persuade her to take some of Jane\'s craft books away with her before they get taken to a charity shop.\r\n\r\nI really enjoy having visitors...', 'Wildlife, Lectures and Visitors', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4616-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:32:42', '2017-11-02 20:32:42', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4618', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4619, 283, '2017-11-02 20:33:41', '2017-11-02 20:33:41', 'Our beautiful site here in Lincolnshire has a variety of wildlife from the squirrels that roam across our gardens, the rooks, wood pigeons that frequently fly into the windows (dead I\'m afraid), the tawny owls that sit in the trees, the grass snake eating a frog and then today Val and Nick had a sparrow hawk killing and consuming a feral pigeon.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4613,4612\"]\r\n\r\nAfter the initial kill and feather plucking it flew away and then returned later to finish its meal.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4615\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'ve been part of a small team undertaking research with the University of Lincoln investigating the ethical issues of self funding in adult care. The project is a three-year programme funded by the Wellcome Trust. As co-researchers we will be involved in interviewing a variety of people involved in adult care services. It is still in the early stages and the foundations are still being laid. Professor Mo Ray is the lead academic supported by a Fellow PhD. Last night I went to see the Profs inaugural lecture at the university. The lecture is an hour-long so you may wish just to dip into it.\r\n<iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x5nJTz1jQg?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\nIt was fascinating not only because it gave a background to her life and how she came to be where she was but also great insight into the issues of how an ageing population is represented by the media. It was an excellent evening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-4614 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Today I was visited by Gary and Caroline. Gary and I worked together for five years and we\'ve kept in touch over the past 8 years since I retired. They like travelling in the their motor home and were on a long diversion after a few days in the Peak District before heading back to Oxfordshire.\r\n\r\nAfter a very pleasant lunch at the Advocate Arms and a good catch up, I gave Caroline a tour of the house because she\'d never visited before. Caroline is into arts and crafts so she really enjoyed seeing the studio and I was able to persuade her to take some of Jane\'s craft books away with her before they get taken to a charity shop.\r\n\r\nI really enjoy having visitors...', 'Wildlife, Lectures and Visitors', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4616-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:33:41', '2017-11-02 20:33:41', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4619', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4620, 283, '2017-11-02 20:34:55', '2017-11-02 20:34:55', 'Our beautiful site here in Lincolnshire has a variety of wildlife from the squirrels that roam across our gardens, the rooks, wood pigeons that frequently fly into the windows (dead I\'m afraid), the tawny owls that sit in the trees, the grass snake eating a frog and then today Val and Nick had a sparrow hawk killing and consuming a feral pigeon. Both photos courtesy of Val...\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4613,4612\"]\r\n\r\nAfter the initial kill and feather plucking it flew away and then returned later to finish its meal.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4615\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Prof-Mo-Raynov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>I\'ve been part of a small team undertaking research with the University of Lincoln investigating the ethical issues of self funding in adult care. The project is a three-year programme funded by the Wellcome Trust. As co-researchers we will be involved in interviewing a variety of people involved in adult care services. It is still in the early stages and the foundations are still being laid. Professor Mo Ray is the lead academic supported by a Fellow PhD. Last night I went to see the Profs inaugural lecture at the university. The lecture is an hour-long so you may wish just to dip into it.\r\n<iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0x5nJTz1jQg?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\nIt was fascinating not only because it gave a background to her life and how she came to be where she was but also great insight into the issues of how an ageing population is represented by the media. It was an excellent evening.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-4614 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Motorhomenov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Today I was visited by Gary and Caroline. Gary and I worked together for five years and we\'ve kept in touch over the past 8 years since I retired. They like travelling in the their motor home and were on a long diversion after a few days in the Peak District before heading back to Oxfordshire.\r\n\r\nAfter a very pleasant lunch at the Advocate Arms and a good catch up, I gave Caroline a tour of the house because she\'d never visited before. Caroline is into arts and crafts so she really enjoyed seeing the studio and I was able to persuade her to take some of Jane\'s craft books away with her before they get taken to a charity shop.\r\n\r\nI really enjoy having visitors...', 'Wildlife, Lectures and Visitors', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4616-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-02 20:34:55', '2017-11-02 20:34:55', '', 4616, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4620', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4623, 283, '2017-11-09 16:31:08', '2017-11-09 16:31:08', '', 'parsnips(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'parsnipsnov17', '', '', '2017-11-09 16:31:08', '2017-11-09 16:31:08', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/parsnipsnov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4624, 283, '2017-11-09 16:31:13', '2017-11-09 16:31:13', '', 'new-lense(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'new-lensenov17', '', '', '2017-11-09 16:33:43', '2017-11-09 16:33:43', '', 4625, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4625, 283, '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After the experience of the sparrow hawk in Nick &amp; Val\'s garden and the superb photos  Val captured I thought it was time to upgrade my Panasonic DSLR that Jane bought me when I retired 8 years ago. Yes, I know, it was <strong>eight</strong> years ago and it seems like only three. The Lumix G1 is an excellent camera giving beautifully clear images.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought a secondhand 100 - 300mm zoom lens which looks brand new. Wildlife is difficult to capture at the best of times so this lens will hopefully help me to get some good shots. Next stop <a href=\"http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donna Nook</a> to photograph the seal pups.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is slowly closing down however I\'ve just picked the last of my sweet peppers from the potting shed/greenhouse. Now we have had the first frost I decided to dig up a few parsnips. They don\'t look too bad and they taste delicious so my dinners are now accompanied by parsnip in all forms - mash, steamed, roasted, and spiralized.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4623,4622\"]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/images/doug%20macleod_mem_bma_2015.jpg\" alt=\"Image result for doug macleod blues singer\" width=\"260\" height=\"195\" />Last Sunday I went with Dave &amp; Lucie to the Hope Tavern Blues evening to see <a href=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doug MacLeod</a> who is a delta blues man. Apart from a problem with the sound system that delayed the start by 30 minutes it was an excellent night of blues music all of it written by Doug MacLeod. He actually met <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_McGhee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brownie McGhee,</a> a blues legend. When I was at college I had (or maybe it was Jane\'s) a Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee album. Strange how connections go round and round.', 'Seeing, Growing and Doing', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seeing-growing-and-doing', '', '', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4625', 0, 'post', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4626, 283, '2017-11-09 20:33:31', '2017-11-09 20:33:31', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After the experience of sparrow hawk in Nick &amp; Val\'s garden and the superb photos that Val captured I thought it was time to upgrade my Panasonic DSLR that Jane bought me when I retired 8 years ago. Yes, I know, it was 8 years ago and it seems like only three. The Lumix G1 is an excellent camera and it gives beautifully clear images.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought a secondhand 100 - 300 mm zoom lens which looks brand new. Wildlife is difficult to capture at the best of times so this lens will hopefully help me to get some good shots. Next stop <a href=\"http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donna Nook</a> to photograph the seal pups.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is slowly closing down however I\'ve just picked the last of my sweet peppers from the potting shed/greenhouse. Now we have had the first frost I decided to dig up a few parsnips. They don\'t look too bad and they taste delicious so my dinners are now accompanied by parsnip mash, steamed, roasted, and spiralized.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4623,4622\"]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/images/doug%20macleod_mem_bma_2015.jpg\" alt=\"Image result for doug macleod blues singer\" width=\"260\" height=\"195\" />Last Sunday I went with Dave &amp; Lucie to the Hope Tavern Blues evening to see <a href=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doug MacLeod</a> who is a delta blues man. Apart from a problem with the sound system that delayed the start by 30 minutes it was an excellent night of blues music all of it written by Doug MacLeod. He actually met <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_McGhee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brownie McGhee</a> who is a blues legend. When I was at college I had (or maybe it was Jane\'s) a Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee album. Strange how connections go round and round.', 'Seeing, Growing and Doing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4625-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-09 20:33:31', '2017-11-09 20:33:31', '', 4625, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4626', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4627, 283, '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4624\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-lensenov17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After the experience of the sparrow hawk in Nick &amp; Val\'s garden and the superb photos  Val captured I thought it was time to upgrade my Panasonic DSLR that Jane bought me when I retired 8 years ago. Yes, I know, it was <strong>eight</strong> years ago and it seems like only three. The Lumix G1 is an excellent camera giving beautifully clear images.\r\n\r\nI\'ve bought a secondhand 100 - 300mm zoom lens which looks brand new. Wildlife is difficult to capture at the best of times so this lens will hopefully help me to get some good shots. Next stop <a href=\"http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donna Nook</a> to photograph the seal pups.\r\n\r\nThe vegetable plot is slowly closing down however I\'ve just picked the last of my sweet peppers from the potting shed/greenhouse. Now we have had the first frost I decided to dig up a few parsnips. They don\'t look too bad and they taste delicious so my dinners are now accompanied by parsnip in all forms - mash, steamed, roasted, and spiralized.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4623,4622\"]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/images/doug%20macleod_mem_bma_2015.jpg\" alt=\"Image result for doug macleod blues singer\" width=\"260\" height=\"195\" />Last Sunday I went with Dave &amp; Lucie to the Hope Tavern Blues evening to see <a href=\"http://www.doug-macleod.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doug MacLeod</a> who is a delta blues man. Apart from a problem with the sound system that delayed the start by 30 minutes it was an excellent night of blues music all of it written by Doug MacLeod. He actually met <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_McGhee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brownie McGhee,</a> a blues legend. When I was at college I had (or maybe it was Jane\'s) a Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee album. Strange how connections go round and round.', 'Seeing, Growing and Doing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4625-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '2017-11-09 20:37:11', '', 4625, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4627', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4628, 283, '2017-11-10 20:49:57', '2017-11-10 20:49:57', '', 'seal10(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal10nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:49:57', '2017-11-10 20:49:57', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal10nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4629, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:04', '2017-11-10 20:50:04', '', 'seal9(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal9nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:04', '2017-11-10 20:50:04', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal9nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4630, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:09', '2017-11-10 20:50:09', '', 'seal8(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal8nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:09', '2017-11-10 20:50:09', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal8nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4631, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:14', '2017-11-10 20:50:14', '', 'seal7(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal7nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:14', '2017-11-10 20:50:14', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal7nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4632, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:20', '2017-11-10 20:50:20', '', 'seal6(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal6nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:20', '2017-11-10 20:50:20', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal6nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4633, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:25', '2017-11-10 20:50:25', '', 'seal5(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal5nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:25', '2017-11-10 20:50:25', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal5nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4634, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:32', '2017-11-10 20:50:32', '', 'seal4(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal4nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:32', '2017-11-10 20:50:32', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal4nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4635, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:37', '2017-11-10 20:50:37', '', 'seal3(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal3nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:37', '2017-11-10 20:50:37', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal3nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4636, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:42', '2017-11-10 20:50:42', '', 'seal2(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal2nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:42', '2017-11-10 20:50:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal2nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4637, 283, '2017-11-10 20:50:47', '2017-11-10 20:50:47', '', 'seal1(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal1nov17', '', '', '2017-11-10 20:50:47', '2017-11-10 20:50:47', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/seal1nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4639, 283, '2017-11-10 22:37:26', '2017-11-10 22:37:26', 'Donna Nook is a popular location for grey seal breeding and at this time of year the number of seal pups being born is increasing week by week. The pups are suckled for about 18 days and then the mothers leave them to fend for themselves.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4637,4636,4635,4634,4633,4632,4631,4630,4629,4628\"]\r\n\r\nThe pups are off the cuteness scale but I\'m not so sure about the newborn\'s, with blood on them and placenta lying around with magpies making the most of it. The cow seals come on heat immediately after giving birth so the bull seals are quite aggressive with each other and chase off any interlopers as they protect their harems.\r\n\r\nThe new lens seems to have worked really well. The North Sea wind slices through you so after 45 minutes of seal watching it was time to head for a hot chocolate...', 'Seal Pups', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'seal-pups', '', '', '2017-11-10 22:38:44', '2017-11-10 22:38:44', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4639', 0, 'post', '', 3),
(4640, 283, '2017-11-10 22:37:26', '2017-11-10 22:37:26', 'Donna Nook is a popular location for grey seal breeding and at this time of year the number of seal pups being born is increasing week by week. The pups are suckled for about 18 days and then the mothers leave them to fend for themselves.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4637,4636,4635,4634,4633,4632,4631,4630,4629,4628\"]\r\n\r\nThe pups are off the cuteness scale but I\'m not so sure about the newborn\'s, with blood on them and placenta lying around with magpies making the most of it. The cow seals come on heat immediately after giving birth so the bull seals are quite aggressive with each other and chase off any interlopers as they protect their harems.\r\n\r\nThe North Sea wind slices through you so after 45 minutes of seal watching it was time to head for a hot chocolate...', 'Seal Pups', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4639-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-10 22:37:26', '2017-11-10 22:37:26', '', 4639, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4640', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4641, 283, '2017-11-10 22:38:44', '2017-11-10 22:38:44', 'Donna Nook is a popular location for grey seal breeding and at this time of year the number of seal pups being born is increasing week by week. The pups are suckled for about 18 days and then the mothers leave them to fend for themselves.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4637,4636,4635,4634,4633,4632,4631,4630,4629,4628\"]\r\n\r\nThe pups are off the cuteness scale but I\'m not so sure about the newborn\'s, with blood on them and placenta lying around with magpies making the most of it. The cow seals come on heat immediately after giving birth so the bull seals are quite aggressive with each other and chase off any interlopers as they protect their harems.\r\n\r\nThe new lens seems to have worked really well. The North Sea wind slices through you so after 45 minutes of seal watching it was time to head for a hot chocolate...', 'Seal Pups', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4639-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-10 22:38:44', '2017-11-10 22:38:44', '', 4639, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4641', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4648, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:13', '2017-11-22 22:59:13', '', 'lumiere4(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere4nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:13', '2017-11-22 22:59:13', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere4nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4649, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:19', '2017-11-22 22:59:19', '', 'lumiere3(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere3nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:19', '2017-11-22 22:59:19', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere3nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4650, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:23', '2017-11-22 22:59:23', '', 'lumiere2(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere2nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:23', '2017-11-22 22:59:23', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere2nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4651, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:29', '2017-11-22 22:59:29', '', 'lumiere1(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lumiere1nov17', '', '', '2017-11-22 22:59:29', '2017-11-22 22:59:29', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lumiere1nov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4652, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:34', '2017-11-22 22:59:34', '', 'shilden-loco(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'shilden-loconov17', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:12:51', '2017-11-23 18:12:51', '', 4654, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shilden-loconov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4653, 283, '2017-11-22 22:59:39', '2017-11-22 22:59:39', '', 'happy-family-durham(nov17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'happy-family-durhamnov17', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:13:05', '2017-11-23 18:13:05', '', 4654, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/happy-family-durhamnov17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4654, 283, '2017-11-23 18:28:09', '2017-11-23 18:28:09', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/happy-family-durhamnov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4653\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/happy-family-durhamnov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Val organised a few days in a cottage near Durham so the \"family\" could get to see the <a href=\"http://www.lumiere-festival.com/durham-2017/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lumiere event</a>. Unfortunately Val wasn\'t well enough to attend which was a real shame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shilden-loconov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4652\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shilden-loconov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Before travelling into Durham we visited the Shildon Locomotive museum. I do like engineering and it\'s interesting to be reminded how we used to lead the world in technology. Politicians try to convince us that we still do however we don\'t. Google, Facebook and Uber didn\'t start in the UK and the 21st century technologies we did have are now owned by international conglomerates e.g. <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arm_Holdings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ARM Holdings</a>.\r\n\r\nThe rest of the family visited two years ago (November 2015 - Jane and I didn\'t go because she wasn\'t well enough) and were of the opinion that it wasn\'t as good as then but I still enjoyed wandering around the city and looking at the light installations.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4651,4649,4650,4648,4646,4647\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beamish1nov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4645\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beamish1nov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>On the Saturday the majority decided to go to the Beamish Museum. It isn\'t cheap but it is really worthwhile and considering it was a Saturday it wasn\'t too crowded.\r\n\r\nThe old buses and trams are great fun. The area that was set in the 1920s was excellent. Shops full of items that were still in use by my parents in the 1950s, such as a <a href=\"https://www.vinterior.co/listings/vintage-rug-beater?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgNrQBRC0ARIsAE-m-1z18bwA2a7IEn4gM-_eZPi4J1w5zJaP3eP9QRi-33FrixeMzg9h3pUaAs7XEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wicker carpet beater</a> and yes you can still buy one on the internet (for heavens sake why?). It was a great day out even if the temperature barely got above 3 degrees all day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logie-steadingnov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4644\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logie-steadingnov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Sunday morning I left ahead of the rest to travel north to the Highlands to visit Tony and Jude. My theory was that Durham is on the way but of course the Highlands are deceptive because Durham is only one third of the way there so I still had a six hour drive.\r\n\r\nTrue to form it rained incessantly for the two days I was there and all the way home but it wasn\'t about the weather it was about having a good time with dear friends.\r\nThere were times on the way back when I thought I was sailing the MX5 down the motorway rather than driving because it was so wet and windy.', 'Lights! Action! Exhaustion...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'lights-action-exhaustion', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:28:09', '2017-11-23 18:28:09', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4654', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4655, 283, '2017-11-23 18:26:44', '2017-11-23 18:26:44', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/happy-family-durhamnov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4653\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/happy-family-durhamnov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Val organised a few days in a cottage near Durham so the \"family\" could get to see the <a href=\"http://www.lumiere-festival.com/durham-2017/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lumiere event</a>. Unfortunately Val wasn\'t well enough to attend which was a real shame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shilden-loconov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4652\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shilden-loconov17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Before travelling into Durham we visited the Shildon Locomotive museum. I do like engineering and it\'s interesting to be reminded how we used to lead the world in technology. Politicians try to convince us that we still do however we don\'t. Google, Facebook and Uber didn\'t start in the UK and the 21st century technologies we did have are now owned by international conglomerates e.g. <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arm_Holdings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ARM Holdings</a>.\r\n\r\nThe rest of the family visited two years ago (November 2015 - Jane and I didn\'t go because she wasn\'t well enough) and were of the opinion that it wasn\'t as good as then but I still enjoyed wandering around the city and looking at the light installations.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4651,4649,4650,4648,4646,4647\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beamish1nov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4645\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/beamish1nov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>On the Saturday the majority decided to go to the Beamish Museum. It isn\'t cheap but it is really worthwhile and considering it was a Saturday it wasn\'t too crowded.\r\n\r\nThe old buses and trams are great fun. The area that was set in the 1920s was excellent. Shops full of items that were still in use by my parents in the 1950s, such as a <a href=\"https://www.vinterior.co/listings/vintage-rug-beater?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgNrQBRC0ARIsAE-m-1z18bwA2a7IEn4gM-_eZPi4J1w5zJaP3eP9QRi-33FrixeMzg9h3pUaAs7XEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wicker carpet beater</a> and yes you can still buy one on the internet (for heavens sake why?). It was a great day out even if the temperature barely got above 3 degrees all day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logie-steadingnov17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4644\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logie-steadingnov17-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Sunday morning I left ahead of the rest to travel north to the Highlands to visit Tony and Jude. My theory was that Durham is on the way but of course the Highlands are deceptive because Durham is only one third of the way there so I still had a six hour drive.\r\n\r\nTrue to form it rained incessantly for the two days I was there and all the way home but it wasn\'t about the weather it was about having a good time with dear friends.\r\nThere were times on the way back when I thought I was sailing the MX5 down the motorway rather than driving because it was so wet and windy.', 'Lights! Action! Exhaustion...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4654-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-11-23 18:26:44', '2017-11-23 18:26:44', '', 4654, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4655', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4657, 283, '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/film-stars-dont-die-in-live.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4659 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/film-stars-dont-die-in-live-200x123.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"123\" /></a>I went to see \"Film Stars Don\'t Die in Liverpool\" last night with a friend. It\'s the story of <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Grahame\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gloria Grahame</a> a film star from the 1940s and 50s who, in her later life had a relationship with a much younger british actor Peter Turner (who wrote the book).\r\n\r\nIt\'s a beautiful story, well put together and superbly played out by Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. Their relationship is totally believable, poignant and tragically sad. I went prepared with several hankies and certainly needed them. If you enjoy a love story then this is one for you...\r\nFor a detailed review <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/14/gloria-grahame-star-crossed-life-and-love-peter-turner-film-stars-dont-die-in-liverpool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>', 'Film Stars Don\'t Die - Review', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'film-stars-dont-die-review', '', '', '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4657', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4658, 283, '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '<img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/68bf5111ea9aec318b2d5f36caabc27b0ba3729e/106_0_1000_600/master/1000.jpg?w=300&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=e75f6fc143fad2e213ef3855d8f460ce\" alt=\"Image result for film stars dont die in liverpool\" />I went to see \"Film Stars Don\'t Die in Liverpool\" last night with a friend. It\'s the story of <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Grahame\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gloria Grahame</a> a film star from the 1940s and 50s who, in her later life had a relationship with a much younger british actor Peter Turner (who wrote the book).\r\n\r\nIt\'s a beautiful story, well put together and superbly played out by Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. Their relationship is totally believable, poignant and tragically sad. I went prepared with several hankies and certainly needed them. If you enjoy a love story then this is one for you...\r\nFor a detailed review <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/14/gloria-grahame-star-crossed-life-and-love-peter-turner-film-stars-dont-die-in-liverpool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>', 'Film Stars Don\'t Die - Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4657-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '2017-12-01 12:18:45', '', 4657, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4658', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4659, 283, '2017-12-01 15:44:18', '2017-12-01 15:44:18', '', 'film-stars-dont-die-in-live', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'film-stars-dont-die-in-live', '', '', '2017-12-01 15:44:18', '2017-12-01 15:44:18', '', 4657, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/film-stars-dont-die-in-live.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4660, 283, '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/film-stars-dont-die-in-live.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4659 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/film-stars-dont-die-in-live-200x123.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"123\" /></a>I went to see \"Film Stars Don\'t Die in Liverpool\" last night with a friend. It\'s the story of <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Grahame\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gloria Grahame</a> a film star from the 1940s and 50s who, in her later life had a relationship with a much younger british actor Peter Turner (who wrote the book).\r\n\r\nIt\'s a beautiful story, well put together and superbly played out by Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. Their relationship is totally believable, poignant and tragically sad. I went prepared with several hankies and certainly needed them. If you enjoy a love story then this is one for you...\r\nFor a detailed review <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/14/gloria-grahame-star-crossed-life-and-love-peter-turner-film-stars-dont-die-in-liverpool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>', 'Film Stars Don\'t Die - Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4657-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '2017-12-01 15:44:48', '', 4657, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4660', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4661, 283, '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>My ongoing search for a \"significant other\" continues. There have been some near matches (some good, others not so good) and every time it ends there is a feeling of disappointment. I find it difficult to get to know people in a climate of high expectations and even harder to make the decision to walk away. Usually one or other party loses interest, discovers something that isn\'t \"right\" (whatever that means) or collectively cannot find the time or energy to maintain the connection. Matters of the heart remain a mystery to me.\r\n\r\nAnd then you start all over again... Is it worth it? Hopefully because life has little meaning if it isn\'t being shared with someone else. My search so far has led me to meet 12 lovely people who have been interesting and a few of whom have got past the two date level. The first date is quite straightforward, the second date is critical and the third date - well if either of us make it to a third date then it is likely to last at least a month. I haven\'t always behaved honourably (that\'s by my standards) and I have annoyed a few people on this journey. I\'ve learned something from every encounter; my strengths and weaknesses are more apparent and there are some things about myself I didn\'t even know. I will endeavour to enjoy the journey, avoid becoming fixated on the outcome and develop a sense of humour about it all. As someone who is prone to plan everything, I enjoy change as long it is from a stable foundation however I don\'t have any stability other than from my inner strength and very good friends around me. Onwards and upwards...', 'Relationship Nurturing', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'relationship-nurturing', '', '', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4661', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4662, 283, '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>My ongoing search for a \"significant other\" continues. There have been some near matches (some good, others not so good) and every time it ends there is a feeling of disappointment. I find it difficult to get to know people in a climate of high expectations and even harder to make the decision to walk away. Usually one or other party loses interest, discovers something that isn\'t \"right\" (whatever that means) or collectively cannot find the time or energy to maintain the connection. Matters of the heart remain a mystery to me.\r\n\r\nAnd then you start all over again... Is it worth it? Hopefully because life has little meaning if it isn\'t being shared with someone else. My search so far has led me to meet 12 lovely people who have been interesting and a few of whom have got past the two date level. The first date is quite straightforward, the second date is critical and the third date - well if either of us make it to a third date then it is likely to last at least a month. I haven\'t always behaved honourably (that\'s by my standards) and I have annoyed a few people on this journey. I\'ve learned something from every encounter; my strengths and weaknesses are more apparent and there are some things about myself I didn\'t even know. I will endeavour to enjoy the journey, avoid becoming fixated on the outcome and develop a sense of humour about it all. As someone who is prone to plan everything, I enjoy change as long it is from a stable foundation however I don\'t have any stability other than from my inner strength and very good friends around me. Onwards and upwards...', 'Relationship Nurturing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4661-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '2017-12-04 13:55:44', '', 4661, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4662', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4663, 283, '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4664 \" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence-e1512396171737-300x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"244\" /></a>I\'m not sure how close we are to a robot emulating a human being. Some roboticists claim it could be within the next 20 years but I\'m very dubious about these claims. Most of the machines demonstrated so far are \"one trick ponies\" or rely largely upon big data to answer foolish questions.\r\n\r\nThey can beat a human playing Go but can the same computer <a href=\"https://youtu.be/gy5g33S0Gzo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fold the towels</a> (it takes 100 minutes to fold 5 towels) or load the dishwasher? I don\'t think so. Humans are complex organisms and there are some things we do, like catching a fast-moving ball, that we don\'t even know how we do it. And then we come onto the ethical issues (always assuming we can program a computer to think ethically) - the philosophical debate as to what is \"good\", what is the \"right\" thing to do. After all we asked 65 million people as to whether we should leave the European Union and we couldn\'t come up with the right answer.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4665\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen we program robots to learn will they learn to behave like us? Will they absorb the <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seven deadly sins</a> and display: Lust; Gluttony; Greed; Sloth; Wrath; Envy; or Pride. Who knows? We need to get this stuff sorted before too long. We cannot rely on <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asimov\'s 3 Laws of Robotics.</a>\r\n\r\nUltimately what\'s good for the planet might be the demise of the human race and robots might make that decision - would they be wrong?', 'Artificial Intelligence', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'artificial-intelligence', '', '', '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4663', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4664, 283, '2017-12-04 14:00:05', '2017-12-04 14:00:05', '', 'artificial-intelligence', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'artificial-intelligence', '', '', '2017-12-04 14:00:05', '2017-12-04 14:00:05', '', 4663, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4665, 283, '2017-12-04 14:20:19', '2017-12-04 14:20:19', '', 'Humans-channel4', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'humans-channel4', '', '', '2017-12-04 14:20:19', '2017-12-04 14:20:19', '', 4663, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4666, 283, '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4664 \" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence-e1512396171737-300x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"244\" /></a>I\'m not sure how close we are to a robot emulating a human being. Some roboticists claim it could be within the next 20 years but I\'m very dubious about these claims. Most of the machines demonstrated so far are \"one trick ponies\" or rely largely upon big data to answer foolish questions.\r\n\r\nThey can beat a human playing Go but can the same computer <a href=\"https://youtu.be/gy5g33S0Gzo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fold the towels</a> (it takes 100 minutes to fold 5 towels) or load the dishwasher? I don\'t think so. Humans are complex organisms and there are some things we do, like catching a fast-moving ball, that we don\'t even know how we do it. And then we come onto the ethical issues (always assuming we can program a computer to think ethically) - the philosophical debate as to what is \"good\", what is the \"right\" thing to do. After all we asked 65 million people as to whether we should leave the European Union and we couldn\'t come up with the right answer.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4665\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen we program robots to learn will they learn to behave like us? Will they absorb the <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seven deadly sins</a> and display: Lust; Gluttony; Greed; Sloth; Wrath; Envy; or Pride. Who knows? We need to get this stuff sorted before too long. We cannot rely on <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asimov\'s 3 Laws of Robotics.</a>\r\n\r\nUltimately what\'s good for the planet might be the demise of the human race and robots might make that decision - would they be wrong?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Artificial Intelligence', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4663-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '2017-12-04 14:23:36', '', 4663, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4666', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4667, 283, '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4664 \" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/artificial-intelligence-e1512396171737-300x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"244\" /></a>I\'m not sure how close we are to a robot emulating a human being. Some roboticists claim it could be within the next 20 years but I\'m very dubious about these claims. Most of the machines demonstrated so far are \"one trick ponies\" or rely largely upon big data to answer foolish questions.\r\n\r\nThey can beat a human playing Go but can the same computer <a href=\"https://youtu.be/gy5g33S0Gzo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fold the towels</a> (it takes 100 minutes to fold 5 towels) or load the dishwasher? I don\'t think so. Humans are complex organisms and there are some things we do, like catching a fast-moving ball, that we don\'t even know how we do it. And then we come onto the ethical issues (always assuming we can program a computer to think ethically) - the philosophical debate as to what is \"good\", what is the \"right\" thing to do. After all we asked 65 million people as to whether we should leave the European Union and we couldn\'t come up with the right answer.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4665\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Humans-channel4-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen we program robots to learn will they learn to behave like us? Will they absorb the <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seven deadly sins</a> and display: Lust; Gluttony; Greed; Sloth; Wrath; Envy; or Pride. Who knows? We need to get this stuff sorted before too long. We cannot rely on <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asimov\'s 3 Laws of Robotics.</a>\r\n\r\nUltimately what\'s good for the planet might be the demise of the human race and robots might make that decision - would they be wrong?', 'Artificial Intelligence', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4663-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '2017-12-04 14:23:52', '', 4663, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4667', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4668, 283, '2017-12-05 22:18:33', '2017-12-05 22:18:33', '', 'walesby-walk3(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'walesby-walk3dec17', '', '', '2017-12-05 22:18:33', '2017-12-05 22:18:33', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/walesby-walk3dec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4669, 283, '2017-12-05 22:18:42', '2017-12-05 22:18:42', '', 'walesby-walk2(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'walesby-walk2dec17', '', '', '2017-12-05 22:18:42', '2017-12-05 22:18:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/walesby-walk2dec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4670, 283, '2017-12-05 22:18:49', '2017-12-05 22:18:49', '', 'walesby-walk1(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'walesby-walk1dec17', '', '', '2017-12-05 22:18:49', '2017-12-05 22:18:49', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/walesby-walk1dec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4671, 283, '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4668,4669,4670\"]\r\n\r\nWhen in doubt go for a walk... Since the temperatures have generally dropped below 10 degrees I\'m no longer cycling and so I\'m attempting to get out for walks. The exercise and fresh air has to be good for me and the beauty of the natural world is all around me. If I\'m not taking pictures on my Galaxy S8 phone then I\'m using my Nikon Coolpix. I need to be a little more creative and that will come with time and a little more dedication. Watch this space.', 'Woodland Walk', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'woodland-walk-2', '', '', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4671', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4672, 283, '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4668,4669,4670\"]\r\n\r\nWhen in doubt go for a walk... Since the temperatures have generally dropped below 10 degrees I\'m no longer cycling and so I\'m attempting to get out for walks. The exercise and fresh air has to be good for me and the beauty of the natural world is all around me. If I\'m not taking pictures on my Galaxy S8 phone then I\'m using my Nikon Coolpix. I need to be a little more creative and that will come with time and a little more dedication. Watch this space.', 'Woodland Walk', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4671-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '2017-12-05 22:25:59', '', 4671, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4672', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4674, 283, '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/inviteonly.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4675\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/inviteonly-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"177\" height=\"177\" /></a>Over recent months I\'ve realised how naive I have been with this website (why did it take me so long you may ask?). The posts I have written can be misinterpreted by strangers. For people who are using the information to discover my lifestyle may form opinions about my life that might be incorrect.\r\n\r\nIn the next few days I will make the site available by invitation only so friends who have followed the site over the years will face the prospect of having to sign in. I apologise for this but recent events have forced my hand.\r\n\r\nI will continue to write posts but only my trusted acquaintances will be able to read them.', 'Invitation Only', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'invitation-only', '', '', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4674', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4675, 283, '2017-12-14 17:03:40', '2017-12-14 17:03:40', '', 'inviteonly', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'inviteonly', '', '', '2017-12-14 17:03:40', '2017-12-14 17:03:40', '', 4674, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/inviteonly.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4676, 283, '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/inviteonly.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4675\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/inviteonly-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"177\" height=\"177\" /></a>Over recent months I\'ve realised how naive I have been with this website (why did it take me so long you may ask?). The posts I have written can be misinterpreted by strangers. For people who are using the information to discover my lifestyle may form opinions about my life that might be incorrect.\r\n\r\nIn the next few days I will make the site available by invitation only so friends who have followed the site over the years will face the prospect of having to sign in. I apologise for this but recent events have forced my hand.\r\n\r\nI will continue to write posts but only my trusted acquaintances will be able to read them.', 'Invitation Only', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4674-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '2017-12-14 17:05:56', '', 4674, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4676', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4745, 283, '2018-01-21 11:25:14', '2018-01-21 11:25:14', '', 'PSX_20180121_112208', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'psx_20180121_112208', '', '', '2018-01-21 11:27:21', '2018-01-21 11:27:21', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4744, 283, '2018-01-21 11:24:20', '2018-01-21 11:24:20', '', 'PSX_20180121_112223', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'psx_20180121_112223', '', '', '2018-01-21 18:21:19', '2018-01-21 18:21:19', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4741, 283, '2018-01-21 11:08:28', '2018-01-21 11:08:28', '', 'Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'antony-cleopatra-rsc-rst-11', '', '', '2018-01-21 18:29:50', '2018-01-21 18:29:50', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4742, 283, '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4745\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208-123x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"300\" /></a>First off was a visit to the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Courtauld</a> gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/what-on/exhibitions-displays/soutine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soutine</a> portrait exhibition. He is famous for his depiction of staff working in hotels and restaurants. He manages through these images to show their shyness and humility as they consider themselves to be servants and almost unworthy to be captured as a painting.\r\n\r\nIt is strange how he still manages to capture the essence of the person despite most of the image being distorted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4744\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a>After lunch we walked from Somerset House to the National Portrait Gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/cezanne-portraits/exhibition/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cezanne Portrait exhibition</a>. A strange collection of portraits many of himself or his wife. I find it interesting that rarely, if ever, anyone smiles in portraits. I don\'t understand why not, maybe because it\'s difficult to capture a smile, artists can\'t paint teeth or it looks if held in a pose for too long it becomes an inane grin.\r\n\r\nI particularly liked this pipe smoking farm worker resting his head on his hand looking particularly bored.\r\n\r\nIt was a fascinating exhibition of works for which Cezanne is not famous.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4741\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" /></a>And so for the evening\'s entertainment and for me the highlight of the weekend a visit to the Barbican to see Antony and Cleopatra by the RSC.\r\n\r\nOutstanding doesn\'t cover what happened over the ensuing three hours. Superb orchestration, incredible acting and of course the Shakespeare script.\r\n\r\nI\'d forgotten it was the final performance and when it came to the curtain call many of the actors were in tears because it was the end of something they really enjoyed doing. I walked out stunned...', 'London - Saturday', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'london-saturday', '', '', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4742', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4679, 283, '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4680 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the continued expansion of my culinary skills I decided the other day to see what it would be like to cook a finger. Of course it had to be prepared first so I took a very sharp knife and sliced into it. I didn\'t allow for the rush of blood to the finger or away from the rest of my body.\r\n\r\nIn truth I was trying to separate two frozen minted lamb burgers when the knife slipped - 10% sharp knife and 90% stupidity. As someone who takes a small dose of aspirin every day, when I bleed I bleed well, and I was quite surprised, nay shocked, at how much blood there was. I eventually staunched the flow and wrapped it up. Of course I should have phoned the neighbours for help but that would have been a \"show of weakness\" which I wasn\'t going <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today.png\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today-200x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>to allow. An interesting experience and there will be even more \"fun\" when I unwrap it but not now. I\'ll ask nurse Lucie to help with that because I know it\'s going to hurt.\r\n\r\nAnd to prove what a brave boy I am somebody sent me this sticker...', 'Cooked Finger Anyone?', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cooked-finger-anyone', '', '', '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4679', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4680, 283, '2017-12-19 20:13:45', '2017-12-19 20:13:45', '', 'bloody-finger(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bloody-fingerdec17', '', '', '2017-12-19 20:13:45', '2017-12-19 20:13:45', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4681, 283, '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4680 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the continued expansion of my culinary skills I decided the other day to see what it would be like to cook a finger. Of course it had to be prepared first so I took a very sharp knife and sliced into it. I didn\'t allow for the rush of blood to the finger or away from the rest of my body.\r\n\r\nIn truth I was trying to separate two frozen minted lamb burgers when the knife slipped - 10% sharp knife and 90% stupidity. As someone who takes a small dose of aspirin every day, when I bleed I bleed well, and I was quite surprised, nay shocked, at how much blood there was. I eventually staunched the flow and wrapped it up. Of course I should have phoned the neighbours for help but that would have been a \"show of weakness\" which I wasn\'t going to allow. An interesting experience and there will be even more \"fun\" when I unwrap it but not now. I\'ll ask nurse Lucie to help with that because I know it\'s going to hurt.', 'Cooked Finger Anyone', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4679-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '2017-12-19 20:23:31', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4681', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4703, 283, '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frozen-CX5dec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4704\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frozen-CX5dec17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"186\" /></a>Despite all the disruption experienced by other travellers my journey home from the Highlands was relatively uneventful.\r\n\r\nI had to scrape the snow from the car and then chisel the ice off which had frozen solid underneath. I\'m not used to such hardships.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/leaving-highlandsdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4705\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/leaving-highlandsdec17-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"207\" /></a>It was a beautiful start to the drive with the sun rising over the hills and a scattering of snow across the trees and fields. Although the roads had been gritted there hadn\'t been enough traffic for the snow to have thawed. I had to take it easy.\r\n\r\nThe only hold up was at Scotch Corner where there was 2 mile tail-back to get onto the A1. Regardless of the minor delays I was home by 6pm and the 9 hour journey didn\'t seem too bad after all. Looking forward to the next time.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4586\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The house was warm, cosy and welcoming... I had a lovely, memorable time with Tony and Jude but home is home. I\'m sure they were pleased to get their home back to themselves and not have a guest sitting around cluttering up the place.', 'Home Again', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'home-again-2', '', '', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4703', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4683, 283, '2017-12-19 22:32:46', '2017-12-19 22:32:46', '', 'brave today', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'brave-today', '', '', '2017-12-19 22:32:46', '2017-12-19 22:32:46', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(4684, 283, '2017-12-19 22:34:40', '2017-12-19 22:34:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4680 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the continued expansion of my culinary skills I decided the other day to see what it would be like to cook a finger. Of course it had to be prepared first so I took a very sharp knife and sliced into it. I didn\'t allow for the rush of blood to the finger or away from the rest of my body.\n\nIn truth I was trying to separate two frozen minted lamb burgers when the knife slipped - 10% sharp knife and 90% stupidity. As someone who takes a small dose of aspirin every day, when I bleed I bleed well, and I was quite surprised, nay shocked, at how much blood there was. I eventually staunched the flow and wrapped it up. Of course I should have phoned the neighbours for help but that would have been a \"show of weakness\" which I wasn\'t going to allow. An interesting ex<img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today-200x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" />\n\nperience and there will be even more \"fun\" when I unwrap it but not now. I\'ll ask nurse Lucie to help with that because I know it\'s going to hurt.\n\nAnd to prove what a brave boy I am somebody sent me this sticker...', 'Cooked Finger Anyone', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4679-autosave-v1', '', '', '2017-12-19 22:34:40', '2017-12-19 22:34:40', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4684', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4685, 283, '2017-12-19 22:35:09', '2017-12-19 22:35:09', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4680 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the continued expansion of my culinary skills I decided the other day to see what it would be like to cook a finger. Of course it had to be prepared first so I took a very sharp knife and sliced into it. I didn\'t allow for the rush of blood to the finger or away from the rest of my body.\r\n\r\nIn truth I was trying to separate two frozen minted lamb burgers when the knife slipped - 10% sharp knife and 90% stupidity. As someone who takes a small dose of aspirin every day, when I bleed I bleed well, and I was quite surprised, nay shocked, at how much blood there was. I eventually staunched the flow and wrapped it up. Of course I should have phoned the neighbours for help but that would have been a \"show of weakness\" which I wasn\'t going <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today.png\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today-200x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>to allow. An interesting experience and there will be even more \"fun\" when I unwrap it but not now. I\'ll ask nurse Lucie to help with that because I know it\'s going to hurt.\r\n\r\nAnd to prove what a brave boy I am somebody sent me this sticker...', 'Cooked Finger Anyone', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4679-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-19 22:35:09', '2017-12-19 22:35:09', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4685', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4686, 283, '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4680 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bloody-fingerdec17-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>As part of the continued expansion of my culinary skills I decided the other day to see what it would be like to cook a finger. Of course it had to be prepared first so I took a very sharp knife and sliced into it. I didn\'t allow for the rush of blood to the finger or away from the rest of my body.\r\n\r\nIn truth I was trying to separate two frozen minted lamb burgers when the knife slipped - 10% sharp knife and 90% stupidity. As someone who takes a small dose of aspirin every day, when I bleed I bleed well, and I was quite surprised, nay shocked, at how much blood there was. I eventually staunched the flow and wrapped it up. Of course I should have phoned the neighbours for help but that would have been a \"show of weakness\" which I wasn\'t going <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today.png\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4683\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/brave-today-200x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>to allow. An interesting experience and there will be even more \"fun\" when I unwrap it but not now. I\'ll ask nurse Lucie to help with that because I know it\'s going to hurt.\r\n\r\nAnd to prove what a brave boy I am somebody sent me this sticker...', 'Cooked Finger Anyone?', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4679-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '2017-12-20 18:05:58', '', 4679, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4686', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4687, 283, '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/christmas_cat_animated_gif.gif\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-761\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/christmas_cat_animated_gif-162x200.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"162\" height=\"200\" /></a>As we head into the festive season and there is so much happiness around I find myself thinking back two years to when Jane went into St Barnabas Hospice.\r\n\r\nI have come a long way since then and recognise that I still have to find a new life, with or without a partner.\r\n\r\nI wish all readers a wonderful Christmas and most important of all a healthy New Year. Love and Hugs - Steve xx', 'The Festive Season', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'the-festive-season', '', '', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4687', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4688, 283, '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/christmas_cat_animated_gif.gif\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-761\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/christmas_cat_animated_gif-162x200.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"162\" height=\"200\" /></a>As we head into the festive season and there is so much happiness around I find myself thinking back two years to when Jane went into St Barnabas Hospice.\r\n\r\nI have come a long way since then and recognise that I still have to find a new life, with or without a partner.\r\n\r\nI wish all readers a wonderful Christmas and most important of all a healthy New Year. Love and Hugs - Steve xx', 'The Festive Season', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4687-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '2017-12-20 21:21:55', '', 4687, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4688', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4690, 283, '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-e1514045290875.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4689\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" /></a>The nine-hour journey up to the Highlands to stay with Tony and Jude is arduous but the scenery through Scotland is stunning. As a result of rain and mild temperatures there wasn\'t a lot of snow on the hills.\r\n\r\nI\'m enjoying good company, lively discussions, excellent food and plenty of wine. All this and walks through woodland and along the sea-shore - who could ask for more?\r\n\r\nThe sun sets at 15:30 at this time of year however they are beautiful - Findhorn Bay...', 'Scottish Highlands', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'scottish-highlands', '', '', '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4690', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4691, 283, '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-e1514045290875.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4689\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" /></a>The nine hour journey up to the Highlands to stay with Tony and Jude is arduous but the scenery through Scotland is stunning. As a result of rain and mild temperatures there wasn\'t a lot of snow on the hills.\r\n\r\nI\'m enjoying good company, lively discussions, excellent food and plenty of wine. All this and walks through woodland and along the sea shore - who could ask for more?\r\n\r\nThe sun sets at 15:30 at this time of year however they are beautiful - Findhorn Bay...', 'Scottish Highlands', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4690-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '2017-12-23 16:15:17', '', 4690, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4691', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4692, 283, '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-e1514045290875.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4689\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-22-14.20.56-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" /></a>The nine-hour journey up to the Highlands to stay with Tony and Jude is arduous but the scenery through Scotland is stunning. As a result of rain and mild temperatures there wasn\'t a lot of snow on the hills.\r\n\r\nI\'m enjoying good company, lively discussions, excellent food and plenty of wine. All this and walks through woodland and along the sea-shore - who could ask for more?\r\n\r\nThe sun sets at 15:30 at this time of year however they are beautiful - Findhorn Bay...', 'Scottish Highlands', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4690-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '2017-12-23 16:15:42', '', 4690, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4692', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4693, 283, '2017-12-26 15:19:41', '2017-12-26 15:19:41', '', '2017-12-26 13.13.47', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-26-13-13-47', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:28:51', '2017-12-26 15:28:51', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-26-13.13.47.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4694, 283, '2017-12-26 15:20:09', '2017-12-26 15:20:09', '', '2017-12-25 15.31.18', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-25-15-31-18', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:40:27', '2017-12-26 15:40:27', '', 4699, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4695, 283, '2017-12-26 15:21:32', '2017-12-26 15:21:32', '', '2017-12-23 11.47.33', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-23-11-47-33', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:26:50', '2017-12-26 15:26:50', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-23-11.47.33.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4696, 283, '2017-12-26 15:21:55', '2017-12-26 15:21:55', '', '2017-12-25 12.55.43', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-25-12-55-43', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:31:19', '2017-12-26 15:31:19', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-12.55.43.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4697, 283, '2017-12-26 15:23:02', '2017-12-26 15:23:02', '', '2017-12-25 12.56.43', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-25-12-56-43', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:25:44', '2017-12-26 15:25:44', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-12.56.43.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4698, 283, '2017-12-26 15:23:48', '2017-12-26 15:23:48', '', '2017-12-25 16.07.21', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2017-12-25-16-07-21', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:54:48', '2017-12-26 15:54:48', '', 4699, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4699, 283, '2017-12-26 15:46:49', '2017-12-26 15:46:49', 'As Christmas Days go this was one to store in the memory banks as a delightful time - relaxed, amusing, warm and cosy.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4695,4696,4697,4693\"]\r\n\r\nFrom mild conditions it gradually turned colder and the wind picked up to be quite biting but this is the Highlands and so one shouldn\'t expect anything else. We walked along fast rushing streams swollen by recent rain, the cold uninviting sea (where romantics had taken the time to display a heart made of pebbles) and through woodland leading through sand dunes onto near empty beaches.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301774511.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4694 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301673287-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"Preparing Christmas Dinner 2017\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Christmas dinner was whisked up by terrific team work... Instructions seemed to be shared seamlessly between them whilst I sat in complete awe - I now believe in telepathy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-e1514302322836.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4698\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And before I knew it the food was delivered - turkey breast wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of vegetables. Needless to say it was delicious and I think there might be a doggy bag for me when I head for home.\r\n\r\nWe\'re already making plans for a grand tour trip - the <a href=\"http://www.northcoast500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Coast 500</a> in the summer. Tony and Jude in the Caterham and me in the MX-5 RF. It\'s always good to have something to look forward to.', 'Crimble Day Plus', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'crimble-day-plus', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:57:24', '2017-12-26 15:57:24', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4699', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4700, 283, '2017-12-26 15:46:49', '2017-12-26 15:46:49', 'As Christmas Days go this was one to store in the memory banks as a delightful time - relaxed, amusing, warm and cosy.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4695,4696,4697,4693\"]\r\n\r\nFrom mild conditions it gradually turned colder and the wind picked up to be quite biting but this is the Highlands and so one shouldn\'t expect anything else. We walked along fast rushing streams swollen by recent rain, the cold uninviting sea (where romantics had taken the time to display a heart made of pebbles) and through woodland leading through sand dunes onto near empty beaches.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301774511.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4694\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301673287-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Preparing Christmas Dinner 2017\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Christmas dinner was whisked up by terrific team work...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd before I knew it the food was delivered - turkey breast wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of vegetables. Needless to say it was delicious and I think there might be a doggy bag for me when I head for home.\r\n\r\nWe\'re already making plans for a grand tour trip - the <a href=\"http://www.northcoast500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Coast 500</a> in the summer. Tony and Jude in the Caterham and me in the MX-5 RF. It\'s always good to have something to look forward to.', 'Crimble Day Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4699-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:46:49', '2017-12-26 15:46:49', '', 4699, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4700', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4701, 283, '2017-12-26 15:57:10', '2017-12-26 15:57:10', 'As Christmas Days go this was one to store in the memory banks as a delightful time - relaxed, amusing, warm and cosy.\n\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4695,4696,4697,4693\"]\n\nFrom mild conditions it gradually turned colder and the wind picked up to be quite biting but this is the Highlands and so one shouldn\'t expect anything else. We walked along fast rushing streams swollen by recent rain, the cold uninviting sea (where romantics had taken the time to display a heart made of pebbles) and through woodland leading through sand dunes onto near empty beaches.\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301774511.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4694 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301673287-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"Preparing Christmas Dinner 2017\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Christmas dinner was whisked up by terrific team work... Instructions seemed to be shared seamlessly between them whilst I sat in complete awe - I now believe in telepathy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-e1514302322836.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4698\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And before I knew it the food was delivered - turkey breast wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of vegetables. Needless to say it was delicious and I think there might be a doggy bag for me when I head for home.\n\nWe\'re already making plans for a grand tour trip - the <a href=\"http://www.northcoast500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Coast 500</a> in the summer. Tony and Jude in the Caterham and me in the MX-5 RF. It\'s always good to have something to look forward to.', 'Crimble Day Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4699-autosave-v1', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:57:10', '2017-12-26 15:57:10', '', 4699, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4701', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4702, 283, '2017-12-26 15:57:24', '2017-12-26 15:57:24', 'As Christmas Days go this was one to store in the memory banks as a delightful time - relaxed, amusing, warm and cosy.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4695,4696,4697,4693\"]\r\n\r\nFrom mild conditions it gradually turned colder and the wind picked up to be quite biting but this is the Highlands and so one shouldn\'t expect anything else. We walked along fast rushing streams swollen by recent rain, the cold uninviting sea (where romantics had taken the time to display a heart made of pebbles) and through woodland leading through sand dunes onto near empty beaches.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301774511.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4694 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-15.31.18-e1514301673287-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"Preparing Christmas Dinner 2017\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Christmas dinner was whisked up by terrific team work... Instructions seemed to be shared seamlessly between them whilst I sat in complete awe - I now believe in telepathy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-e1514302322836.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4698\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-12-25-16.07.21-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>And before I knew it the food was delivered - turkey breast wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of vegetables. Needless to say it was delicious and I think there might be a doggy bag for me when I head for home.\r\n\r\nWe\'re already making plans for a grand tour trip - the <a href=\"http://www.northcoast500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Coast 500</a> in the summer. Tony and Jude in the Caterham and me in the MX-5 RF. It\'s always good to have something to look forward to.', 'Crimble Day Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4699-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-26 15:57:24', '2017-12-26 15:57:24', '', 4699, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4702', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4704, 283, '2017-12-28 17:22:17', '2017-12-28 17:22:17', '', 'frozen-CX5(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'frozen-cx5dec17', '', '', '2017-12-28 17:22:17', '2017-12-28 17:22:17', '', 4703, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frozen-CX5dec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4705, 283, '2017-12-28 17:27:33', '2017-12-28 17:27:33', '', 'leaving-highlands(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'leaving-highlandsdec17', '', '', '2017-12-28 17:27:33', '2017-12-28 17:27:33', '', 4703, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/leaving-highlandsdec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4706, 283, '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frozen-CX5dec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4704\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frozen-CX5dec17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"186\" /></a>Despite all the disruption experienced by other travellers my journey home from the Highlands was relatively uneventful.\r\n\r\nI had to scrape the snow from the car and then chisel the ice off which had frozen solid underneath. I\'m not used to such hardships.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/leaving-highlandsdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4705\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/leaving-highlandsdec17-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"207\" /></a>It was a beautiful start to the drive with the sun rising over the hills and a scattering of snow across the trees and fields. Although the roads had been gritted there hadn\'t been enough traffic for the snow to have thawed. I had to take it easy.\r\n\r\nThe only hold up was at Scotch Corner where there was 2 mile tail-back to get onto the A1. Regardless of the minor delays I was home by 6pm and the 9 hour journey didn\'t seem too bad after all. Looking forward to the next time.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4586\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The house was warm, cosy and welcoming... I had a lovely, memorable time with Tony and Jude but home is home. I\'m sure they were pleased to get their home back to themselves and not have a guest sitting around cluttering up the place.', 'Home Again', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4703-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '2017-12-28 17:39:25', '', 4703, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4706', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4707, 283, '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/big-sick-reviewdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4708\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/big-sick-reviewdec17-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>On Boxing Day we went to the Findhorn Foundation to see the Big Sick. A romantic comedy about a Pakistan born comedian, brought up in the USA and his experiences of dating when his mother is trying to get him into an arranged marriage.\r\nOne of his dates, Emily, starts to become a fixture until she learns that he hasn\'t told his family about her and that he has a collection of photographs of the potential women he has been matched to.\r\nIt is very funny and at the same time quite touching as things start to go wrong for both of them. Holly Hunter as Emily\'s mother is superb as the archetypal mum prepared to fight for the best for her daughter and show that the \"liberal elite\" are not to be messed with. As I walked back to the car I said \"any film that makes me laugh and cry in equal measure has to be a winner for me\". It\'s undoubtedly on limited release for a niche audience but worth catching up with on Netflix or Amazon Prime if you get the chance...', 'The Big Sick - Film Review', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'the-big-sick-film-review', '', '', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4707', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4708, 283, '2017-12-28 18:22:27', '2017-12-28 18:22:27', '', 'big-sick-review(dec17)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'big-sick-reviewdec17', '', '', '2017-12-28 18:22:27', '2017-12-28 18:22:27', '', 4707, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/big-sick-reviewdec17.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4709, 283, '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/big-sick-reviewdec17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4708\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/big-sick-reviewdec17-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>On Boxing Day we went to the Findhorn Foundation to see the Big Sick. A romantic comedy about a Pakistan born comedian, brought up in the USA and his experiences of dating when his mother is trying to get him into an arranged marriage.\r\nOne of his dates, Emily, starts to become a fixture until she learns that he hasn\'t told his family about her and that he has a collection of photographs of the potential women he has been matched to.\r\nIt is very funny and at the same time quite touching as things start to go wrong for both of them. Holly Hunter as Emily\'s mother is superb as the archetypal mum prepared to fight for the best for her daughter and show that the \"liberal elite\" are not to be messed with. As I walked back to the car I said \"any film that makes me laugh and cry in equal measure has to be a winner for me\". It\'s undoubtedly on limited release for a niche audience but worth catching up with on Netflix or Amazon Prime if you get the chance...', 'The Big Sick - Film Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4707-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '2017-12-28 18:28:40', '', 4707, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4709', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4712, 283, '2017-12-31 15:14:42', '2017-12-31 15:14:42', '<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: \'comic sans ms\', sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color: #0000ff;\">Wishing Everyone a Healthy and Happy 2018</span>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/happy-new-year2018.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4713\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/happy-new-year2018-300x132.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: \'comic sans ms\', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #0000ff;\">Keep those comments coming...</span></p>', 'Happy New Year 2018', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'happy-new-year-2018', '', '', '2017-12-31 15:14:42', '2017-12-31 15:14:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4712', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4713, 283, '2017-12-31 15:12:31', '2017-12-31 15:12:31', '', 'happy-new-year2018', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'happy-new-year2018', '', '', '2017-12-31 15:12:31', '2017-12-31 15:12:31', '', 4712, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/happy-new-year2018.gif', 0, 'attachment', 'image/gif', 0),
(4714, 283, '2017-12-31 15:14:16', '2017-12-31 15:14:16', '<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: \'comic sans ms\', sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color: #0000ff;\">Wishing Everyone a Healthy and Happy 2018</span>\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/happy-new-year2018.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4713\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/happy-new-year2018-300x132.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: \'comic sans ms\', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; color: #0000ff;\">Keep those comments coming...</span></p>', 'Happy New Year 2018', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4712-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-12-31 15:14:16', '2017-12-31 15:14:16', '', 4712, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4714', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4715, 283, '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '<span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4719\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"255\" height=\"170\" /></a>Food</span> - it\'s a classic time of boom and bust. At Christmas we buy or are given treats (biscuits, chocolates, crisps, nuts, wine) that we  wouldn\'t normally consume. I normally restrict what I buy during the year so there is no temptation in the house. I buy ginger biscuits and crackers rather than chocolate biscuits or crisps but if they cross the threshold and are in the house then I have to eat them. I don\'t have any discipline. As a consequence I\'ve put on 2 Kgs over the past two weeks. It\'s a simple solution, eat less and do more (too cold to cycle)... Watch this space.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4718\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"125\" /></a>Personal</span> - What does 2018 hold for our personal lives? Who knows? More of the same or something dramatically different? The power to change things rests with every one of us. I\'m really grateful for having the very good friends that I have and I\'m trying to pay that forward to others. I visited somebody yesterday who had spent most of the festive period on their own; I\'m trying to pay forward the support I get from others. Who knows, I might meet the second love of my life - I\'ll keep looking and try not to forget to have fun on the journey...</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4717\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"187\" /></a>Society</span> - Will 2018 be the year when:</span>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">Theresa May eventually falls and is replaced by one of the backstabbing bastards that politics seems to breed? Jeremy Corbyn is Prime Minister? Donald Trump is still tweeting inanities? North Korea climbs down from the brinkmanship stance it keeps taking? Truth overcomes \"</span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_facts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alternative facts</a><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">\"? There are fewer people on the planet? The poor and homeless are still with us?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4716\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18-300x159.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"104\" /></a>No Resolutions But</span> - I need to get off my backside and get back into making things happen – friends, U3A, University, holidays (Family in Norfolk, friends in Portugal, brother in California)...</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\">So what does the future hold for you?</span>', '2018 Ramblings', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', '2018-ramblings', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4715', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4716, 283, '2018-01-02 10:45:55', '2018-01-02 10:45:55', '', 'make-it-happen(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'make-it-happenjan18', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:45:55', '2018-01-02 10:45:55', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4717, 283, '2018-01-02 10:45:57', '2018-01-02 10:45:57', '', 'societies(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'societiesjan18', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:45:57', '2018-01-02 10:45:57', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4718, 283, '2018-01-02 10:45:58', '2018-01-02 10:45:58', '', 'me-image(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'me-imagejan18', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:45:58', '2018-01-02 10:45:58', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4719, 283, '2018-01-02 10:46:00', '2018-01-02 10:46:00', '', 'choc-cake(jan2018)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'choc-cakejan2018', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:46:00', '2018-01-02 10:46:00', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4720, 283, '2018-01-02 10:54:48', '2018-01-02 10:54:48', '<span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4719\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"255\" height=\"170\" /></a>Food</span> - it\'s a classic time of boom and bust. At Christmas we buy or are given treats (biscuits, chocolates, crisps, nuts, wine) that we  wouldn\'t normally consume. I restrict what I buy so there is no temptation in the house. During the year I buy ginger biscuits and crackers rather than chocolate biscuits or crisps but if they cross the threshold and are in the house then I have to eat them. I don\'t have any discipline. As a consequence I\'ve put on 2 Kgs over the past two weeks. It\'s a simple solution, eat less and do more (too cold to cycle)... Watch this space.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4718\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"125\" /></a>Personal</span> - What does 2018 hold for our personal lives? Who knows? More of the same or something dramatically different? The power to change things rests with every one of us. I\'m really grateful for having the very good friends that I have and I\'m trying to pay that forward to others. I visited somebody yesterday who had spent most of the festive period on their own; I\'m trying to pay forward the support I get from others. Who knows, I might meet the second love of my life - I\'ll keep looking and try not to forget to have fun on the journey...</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4717\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"172\" height=\"168\" /></a>Society</span> - Will 2018 be the year when:</span>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">Theresa May eventually falls and is replaced by one of the backstabbing bastards that politics seems to breed? Jeremy Corbyn is Prime Minister? Donald Trump still be tweeting inanities? North Korea climb down from the brinkmanship stance it keeps taking? Truth overcomes \"</span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_facts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alternative facts</a><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">\"? There are fewer people on the planet? The poor and homeless will still be with us?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4716\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18-300x159.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"104\" /></a>No Resolutions But</span> - I need to get off my backside and get back into making things happen – friends, U3A, University, holidays (Family in Norfolk, friends in Portugal, brother in California)...\r\nSo what does the future hold for you?</span>', '2018 Ramblings', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4715-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:54:48', '2018-01-02 10:54:48', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4720', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4721, 283, '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '<span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4719\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/choc-cakejan2018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"255\" height=\"170\" /></a>Food</span> - it\'s a classic time of boom and bust. At Christmas we buy or are given treats (biscuits, chocolates, crisps, nuts, wine) that we  wouldn\'t normally consume. I normally restrict what I buy during the year so there is no temptation in the house. I buy ginger biscuits and crackers rather than chocolate biscuits or crisps but if they cross the threshold and are in the house then I have to eat them. I don\'t have any discipline. As a consequence I\'ve put on 2 Kgs over the past two weeks. It\'s a simple solution, eat less and do more (too cold to cycle)... Watch this space.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4718\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/me-imagejan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"125\" /></a>Personal</span> - What does 2018 hold for our personal lives? Who knows? More of the same or something dramatically different? The power to change things rests with every one of us. I\'m really grateful for having the very good friends that I have and I\'m trying to pay that forward to others. I visited somebody yesterday who had spent most of the festive period on their own; I\'m trying to pay forward the support I get from others. Who knows, I might meet the second love of my life - I\'ll keep looking and try not to forget to have fun on the journey...</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4717\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/societiesjan18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"187\" /></a>Society</span> - Will 2018 be the year when:</span>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">Theresa May eventually falls and is replaced by one of the backstabbing bastards that politics seems to breed? Jeremy Corbyn is Prime Minister? Donald Trump is still tweeting inanities? North Korea climbs down from the brinkmanship stance it keeps taking? Truth overcomes \"</span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_facts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alternative facts</a><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">\"? There are fewer people on the planet? The poor and homeless are still with us?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4716\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/make-it-happenjan18-300x159.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"104\" /></a>No Resolutions But</span> - I need to get off my backside and get back into making things happen – friends, U3A, University, holidays (Family in Norfolk, friends in Portugal, brother in California)...</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;\">So what does the future hold for you?</span>', '2018 Ramblings', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4715-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '2018-01-02 10:58:00', '', 4715, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4721', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4735, 283, '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4736 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A visit back to Northampton is always interesting. The traffic is probably no worse than when I lived there but it seems so much more busy compared to the slower pace of life (and traffic) in Lincolnshire.\r\n\r\nAfter catching up with Sue &amp; Graham I went into town for lunch with an ex work colleague. We caught up on the state of Local Government when times are tough and the impact of outsourcing on the public sector (demise of Carillion). The new County Hall is a superb building and my old office now overlooks this architectural statement. There\'s a part of me that would have liked to have worked in it. The Data Centre is still housed across the road in the old County Police station so that hasn\'t changed at all.\r\n\r\nI spent the afternoon with a couple of Jane\'s friends and ex work colleagues from Blisworth Surgery. It was good to reminisce about their time working together and also my experiences over the past six months. In the evening I had dinner with a family friend before heading for home rolling onto the drive just after 11pm. A busy and sociable day.', 'Northampton Visit', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'northampton-visit-2', '', '', '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4735', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4725, 283, '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4726\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" /></a>Thank goodness the \"festivities\" are over. I found the first few days of the New Year dire because there wasn\'t anything going on but I did get out for a few walks.\r\nAt the weekend I drove the MX5 (great fun) over to Cleethorpes and did a four mile walk away from the pier and back again (4 miles @ 3.8mph). I only had to walk 100 metres away from the promenade and the throngs of people drifted away.\r\nThis week is busier with chairing the U3A committee meeting on Monday and all the fallout from that; visiting ex college friends; and the U3A Monthly Meeting.\r\n\r\nLife is goodish...', 'Weekend Plus', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'weekend-plus', '', '', '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4725', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4726, 283, '2018-01-10 22:25:22', '2018-01-10 22:25:22', '', 'cleethorpes-pier(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cleethorpes-pierjan18', '', '', '2018-01-10 22:25:22', '2018-01-10 22:25:22', '', 4725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4727, 283, '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4726\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" /></a>Thank goodness the \"festivities\" are over. I found the first few days of the New Year dire because there wasn\'t anything going on but I did get out for a few walks.\r\nAt the weekend I drove the MX5 (great fun) over to Cleethorpes and did a four mile walk away from the pier and back again (4 miles @ 3.8mph). I only had to walk 100 metres away from the promenade and the throngs of people drifted away.\r\nThis week is busier with chairing the U3A committee meeting on Monday and all the fallout from that; visiting ex college friends; and the U3A Monthly Meeting.\r\n\r\nLife is goodish...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Weekend Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4725-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '2018-01-10 22:32:56', '', 4725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4727', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4728, 283, '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4726\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" /></a>Thank goodness the \"festivities\" are over. I found the first few days of the New Year dire because there wasn\'t anything going on but I did get out for a few walks.\r\nAt the weekend I drove the MX5 (great fun) over to Cleethorpes and did a four mile walk away from the pier and back again (4 miles @ 3.8mph). I only had to walk 100 metres away from the promenade and the throngs of people drifted away.\r\nThis week is busier with chairing the U3A committee meeting on Monday and all the fallout from that; visiting ex college friends; and the U3A Monthly Meeting.\r\n\r\nLife is goodish...', 'Weekend Plus', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4725-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '2018-01-10 22:37:53', '', 4725, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4728', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4729, 283, '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '[caption id=\"attachment_3082\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\"]<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jane-on-decking-1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3082\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jane-on-decking-1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a> Relaxing in Rothersthorpe[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo years ago today Jane died, the world became a lesser place and my world fell apart completely. Since that day I\'ve slowly built a new life, brick by brick, tear by tear, until I can face each day with optimism and hope (not every day but most days).\r\n\r\nToday I\'m going to the Hospice garden to meditate on our lives together not in a morose or maudlin way but a reflection on 45 years of happiness, excitement and pure joy.\r\n\r\nNobody could have asked for more however I know there is more joy to come and I look forward to what life might bring next...\r\n\r\nA special thank you to all those who have supported me over the past two years and continue to be there for me.', 'Two Years Ago...', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'two-years-ago', '', '', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4729', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4730, 283, '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '[caption id=\"attachment_3082\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\"]<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jane-on-decking-1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3082\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jane-on-decking-1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a> Relaxing in Rothersthorpe[/caption]\r\n\r\nTwo years ago today Jane died, the world became a lesser place and my world fell apart completely. Since that day I\'ve slowly built a new life, brick by brick, tear by tear, until I can face each day with optimism and hope (not every day but most days).\r\n\r\nToday I\'m going to the Hospice garden to meditate on our lives together not in a morose or maudlin way but a reflection on 45 years of happiness, excitement and pure joy.\r\n\r\nNobody could have asked for more however I know there is more joy to come and I look forward to what life might bring next...\r\n\r\nA special thank you to all those who have supported me over the past two years and continue to be there for me.', 'Two Years Ago...', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4729-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '2018-01-12 09:59:52', '', 4729, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4730', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4731, 283, '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hospice-garden-2nd-annivers.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4732\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hospice-garden-2nd-annivers-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The hospice garden dedicated to Jane on a dull January day. There were birds in the silver birches and the trees are doing well always remembering they have Jane\'s ashes in the roots to give them that added zest for life.\r\n\r\nIt was peaceful and lovely to contemplate our life together - never to be forgotten xx', 'Hospice Garden', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hospice-garden-2', '', '', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4731', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4732, 283, '2018-01-12 15:09:21', '2018-01-12 15:09:21', '', 'hospice-garden-2nd-annivers', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hospice-garden-2nd-annivers', '', '', '2018-01-12 15:09:21', '2018-01-12 15:09:21', '', 4731, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hospice-garden-2nd-annivers.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4733, 283, '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hospice-garden-2nd-annivers.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4732\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hospice-garden-2nd-annivers-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>The hospice garden dedicated to Jane on a dull January day. There were birds in the silver birches and the trees are doing well always remembering they have Jane\'s ashes in the roots to give them that added zest for life.\r\n\r\nIt was peaceful and lovely to contemplate our life together - never to be forgotten xx', 'Hospice Garden', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4731-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '2018-01-12 15:12:00', '', 4731, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4733', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4736, 283, '2018-01-18 14:46:07', '2018-01-18 14:46:07', '', 'new-ncc-building(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'new-ncc-buildingjan18', '', '', '2018-01-18 14:46:07', '2018-01-18 14:46:07', '', 4735, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4737, 283, '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4736\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A visit back to Northampton is always interesting. The traffic is probably no worse than when I lived there but it seems so much more busy compared to the slower pace of life (and traffic) in Lincolnshire.\r\n\r\nAfter catching up with Sue &amp; Graham I went into town for lunch with an ex work colleague. We caught up on the state of Local Government when times are tough and the impact of outsourcing on the public sector (demise of Carillion). The new County Hall is a superb building and my old office now overlooks this architectural statement. There\'s a part of me that would have liked to have worked in it. The Data Centre is still housed across the road in the old County Police station so that hasn\'t changed at all.\r\n\r\nI spent the afternoon with a couple of Jane\'s friends and ex work colleagues from Blisworth Surgery. It was good to reminisce about their time working together and also my experiences over the past six months. In the evening I had dinner with a family friend before heading for home rolling onto the drive just after 11pm. A busy and sociable day.', 'Northampton Visit', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4735-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '2018-01-18 14:55:23', '', 4735, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4737', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4738, 283, '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4736 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/new-ncc-buildingjan18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>A visit back to Northampton is always interesting. The traffic is probably no worse than when I lived there but it seems so much more busy compared to the slower pace of life (and traffic) in Lincolnshire.\r\n\r\nAfter catching up with Sue &amp; Graham I went into town for lunch with an ex work colleague. We caught up on the state of Local Government when times are tough and the impact of outsourcing on the public sector (demise of Carillion). The new County Hall is a superb building and my old office now overlooks this architectural statement. There\'s a part of me that would have liked to have worked in it. The Data Centre is still housed across the road in the old County Police station so that hasn\'t changed at all.\r\n\r\nI spent the afternoon with a couple of Jane\'s friends and ex work colleagues from Blisworth Surgery. It was good to reminisce about their time working together and also my experiences over the past six months. In the evening I had dinner with a family friend before heading for home rolling onto the drive just after 11pm. A busy and sociable day.', 'Northampton Visit', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4735-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '2018-01-18 14:55:55', '', 4735, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4738', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4743, 283, '2018-01-21 11:15:53', '2018-01-21 11:15:53', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\nFirst off was a visit to the Courtaulds gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the Soutine exhibition.', 'London - Saturday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4742-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-21 11:15:53', '2018-01-21 11:15:53', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4743', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4747, 283, '2018-01-21 11:36:40', '2018-01-21 11:36:40', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4745\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208-123x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"300\" /></a>First off was a visit to the Courtaulds gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the Soutine portrait exhibition. He is famous for his depiction of staff working in hotels and restaurants. He manages through these images to show their shyness and humility as they consider themselves to be servants and almost unworthy to be captured as a painting.', 'London - Saturday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4742-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-21 11:36:40', '2018-01-21 11:36:40', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4747', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4748, 283, '2018-01-21 18:22:52', '2018-01-21 18:22:52', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4745\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208-123x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"300\" /></a>First off was a visit to the Courtaulds gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/what-on/exhibitions-displays/soutine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soutine</a> portrait exhibition. He is famous for his depiction of staff working in hotels and restaurants. He manages through these images to show their shyness and humility as they consider themselves to be servants and almost unworthy to be captured as a painting.\r\n\r\nIt is strange how he still manages to capture the essence of the person despite most of the image being distorted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4744\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a>After lunch we walked from Somerset House to the National Portrait Gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/cezanne-portraits/exhibition/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cezanne Portrait exhibition</a>.', 'London - Saturday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4742-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-21 18:22:52', '2018-01-21 18:22:52', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4748', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4749, 283, '2018-01-21 18:30:03', '2018-01-21 18:30:03', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4745\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208-123x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"300\" /></a>First off was a visit to the Courtaulds gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/what-on/exhibitions-displays/soutine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soutine</a> portrait exhibition. He is famous for his depiction of staff working in hotels and restaurants. He manages through these images to show their shyness and humility as they consider themselves to be servants and almost unworthy to be captured as a painting.\r\n\r\nIt is strange how he still manages to capture the essence of the person despite most of the image being distorted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4744\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a>After lunch we walked from Somerset House to the National Portrait Gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/cezanne-portraits/exhibition/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cezanne Portrait exhibition</a>. A strange collection of portraits many of himself or his wife. I find it interesting that rarely, if ever, anyone smiles in portraits. I don\'t understand why not, maybe because it\'s difficult to capture a smile, artists can\'t paint teeth or it looks if held in a pose for too long it becomes an inane grin.\r\n\r\nI particularly liked this pipe smoking farm worker resting his head on his hand looking particularly bored.\r\n\r\nIt was a fascinating exhibition of works for which Cezanne is not famous for.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4741\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" /></a>And so for the evening\'s entertainment and for me the highlight of the weekend a visit to the Barbican to see Antony and Cleopatra by the RSC.', 'London - Saturday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4742-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-21 18:30:03', '2018-01-21 18:30:03', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4749', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4750, 283, '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', 'The Capital has so much to offer and I can see why it acts like a magnet to the young, affluent or rich. One has to ignore the cost of everything for example I had a bacon sandwich in a very popular cafe (they were waiting outside in the cold for a table) which cost as much as the steak and dumpling stew I had in a pub the previous night.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4745\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112208-123x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"123\" height=\"300\" /></a>First off was a visit to the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Courtauld</a> gallery at Somerset House. This is an unbelievable gem of a gallery because there are so many familiar art works from all the major artists. I was there specifically to see the <a href=\"https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/what-on/exhibitions-displays/soutine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soutine</a> portrait exhibition. He is famous for his depiction of staff working in hotels and restaurants. He manages through these images to show their shyness and humility as they consider themselves to be servants and almost unworthy to be captured as a painting.\r\n\r\nIt is strange how he still manages to capture the essence of the person despite most of the image being distorted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4744\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180121_112223-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a>After lunch we walked from Somerset House to the National Portrait Gallery to see the <a href=\"https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/cezanne-portraits/exhibition/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cezanne Portrait exhibition</a>. A strange collection of portraits many of himself or his wife. I find it interesting that rarely, if ever, anyone smiles in portraits. I don\'t understand why not, maybe because it\'s difficult to capture a smile, artists can\'t paint teeth or it looks if held in a pose for too long it becomes an inane grin.\r\n\r\nI particularly liked this pipe smoking farm worker resting his head on his hand looking particularly bored.\r\n\r\nIt was a fascinating exhibition of works for which Cezanne is not famous.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4741\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Antony-Cleopatra-RSC-RST-11-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" /></a>And so for the evening\'s entertainment and for me the highlight of the weekend a visit to the Barbican to see Antony and Cleopatra by the RSC.\r\n\r\nOutstanding doesn\'t cover what happened over the ensuing three hours. Superb orchestration, incredible acting and of course the Shakespeare script.\r\n\r\nI\'d forgotten it was the final performance and when it came to the curtain call many of the actors were in tears because it was the end of something they really enjoyed doing. I walked out stunned...', 'London - Saturday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4742-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '2018-01-22 09:43:35', '', 4742, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4750', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4751, 283, '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', 'An early morning swim at the local Virgin Leisure centre. It\'s nearly 6 months since I\'ve been for a swim and after only 8 lengths I was feeling the strain. I splashed on and managed to complete the half mile that I used to do in 20 minutes but this time it took many minutes longer.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180122_095322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4753\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180122_095322-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" /></a>The forecast was for it to rain all day but it didn\'t matter because we drove over to Hampstead to get an overland train to the <a href=\"http://designmuseum.org/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Design Museum</a> in Kensington. We were particularly interested in the Ferrari Exhibition. I\'ve never been a particular fan of Ferrari - too ostentatious for my liking but the early models are iconic and you can see how many of the sports cars of today have replicated the shape of the early Ferraris.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/8268.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4754\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/8268.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>A short bus ride to the Natural History Museum to see the Wildlife Photography exhibition. The images are really incredible however there is so much technology involved it makes me wonder whether it is worthy of the acclaim they get. I guess, as with many things in life, it is all about being in the right place at the right time and knowing where to be is the skill.\r\n\r\nAfter more use of public transport (underground and overground) we eventually arrived back at the car parked in Hampstead. At this point it had rained incessantly all day so visiting exhibitions was the best thing we could have done.\r\n\r\nDinner out at <a href=\"http://www.pashaislington.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pasha</a> restaurant (Turkish) in Islington - excellent.', 'London - Sunday', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'london-sunday', '', '', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4751', 0, 'post', '', 3),
(4752, 283, '2018-01-22 09:48:08', '2018-01-22 09:48:08', 'An early morning swim at the local Virgin Leisure centre. It\'s nearly 6 months since I\'ve been for a swim and after only 8 lengths I was feeling the strain. I splashed on and managed to complete the half mile that I used to do in 20 minutes but this time it took many minutes longer.\r\nThe forecast was for it to rain all day but it didn\'t matter because we drove over the Hampstead to get an overland train to the <a href=\"http://designmuseum.org/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Design Museum</a> in Kensington. We were particularly interested in the Ferrari Exhibition. I\'ve never been a particular fan of Ferrari - too ostentatious for my liking but the early models are iconic and you can see how many of the sports cars of today have replicated the shape of the early Ferraris.\r\n\r\nA short bus ride to the Natural History Museum to see the Wildlife Photography exhibition. The images are really incredible however there is so much technology involved it makes me wonder whether it is worthy of the acclaim they get. I guess with many things in life it is all about being in the right place at the right time and knowing where to be is the skill.\r\n\r\nAfter more use of public transport (underground and overground) we eventually arrived back at the car parked in Hampstead. At this point it had rained incessantly all day so visiting exhibitions was the best thing we could have done.\r\n\r\nDinner out at Pasha restaurant (Turkish) in Islington - excellent.', 'London - Sunday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4751-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 09:48:08', '2018-01-22 09:48:08', '', 4751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4752', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4753, 283, '2018-01-22 09:56:55', '2018-01-22 09:56:55', '', 'PSX_20180122_095322', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'psx_20180122_095322', '', '', '2018-01-22 10:01:45', '2018-01-22 10:01:45', '', 4751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180122_095322.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4754, 283, '2018-01-22 09:57:16', '2018-01-22 09:57:16', '', '8268', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '8268', '', '', '2018-01-22 10:02:08', '2018-01-22 10:02:08', '', 4751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/8268.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4755, 283, '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', 'An early morning swim at the local Virgin Leisure centre. It\'s nearly 6 months since I\'ve been for a swim and after only 8 lengths I was feeling the strain. I splashed on and managed to complete the half mile that I used to do in 20 minutes but this time it took many minutes longer.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180122_095322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4753\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PSX_20180122_095322-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" /></a>The forecast was for it to rain all day but it didn\'t matter because we drove over to Hampstead to get an overland train to the <a href=\"http://designmuseum.org/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Design Museum</a> in Kensington. We were particularly interested in the Ferrari Exhibition. I\'ve never been a particular fan of Ferrari - too ostentatious for my liking but the early models are iconic and you can see how many of the sports cars of today have replicated the shape of the early Ferraris.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/8268.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4754\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/8268.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>A short bus ride to the Natural History Museum to see the Wildlife Photography exhibition. The images are really incredible however there is so much technology involved it makes me wonder whether it is worthy of the acclaim they get. I guess, as with many things in life, it is all about being in the right place at the right time and knowing where to be is the skill.\r\n\r\nAfter more use of public transport (underground and overground) we eventually arrived back at the car parked in Hampstead. At this point it had rained incessantly all day so visiting exhibitions was the best thing we could have done.\r\n\r\nDinner out at <a href=\"http://www.pashaislington.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pasha</a> restaurant (Turkish) in Islington - excellent.', 'London - Sunday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4751-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '2018-01-22 10:05:21', '', 4751, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4755', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4756, 283, '2018-01-22 10:12:06', '2018-01-22 10:12:06', '', '20180122_101129', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '20180122_101129', '', '', '2018-01-22 17:01:22', '2018-01-22 17:01:22', '', 4758, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4757, 283, '2018-01-22 16:05:30', '2018-01-22 16:05:30', '', '2018-01-22 13.57.12', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2018-01-22-13-57-12', '', '', '2018-01-22 16:51:55', '2018-01-22 16:51:55', '', 4758, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4758, 283, '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639815447.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4757\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639775213-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>The highlight today was the visit to the <a href=\"https://www.postalmuseum.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postal Museum</a> at the old Mount Pleasant sorting office and a ride on the Royal Mail underground train.\r\n\r\nMail has been transported around London in a variety of means. In Victorian times there was a steel bullet that was pushed around tunnels using compressed air produced by a steam engine. The underground system that was used until 2003 was first built during the 1930\'s and went through a number of changes but functioned throughout the second World War. It was opened for tourists last year and is fully booked several months ahead so I felt privileged to get to ride the train so soon.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4756\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129-300x273.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"273\" /></a>Although it is only a fifteen minute ride the multimedia experience is superb and very engaging. The combined use of video and still photography gives a 3D dimension to the experience as you stop at particular stations and go back through time. If you\'re into trains and/or the history of the Royal Mail then this is an attraction not to be missed.', 'London - Monday', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'london-monday', '', '', '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4758', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4781, 283, '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4782 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>I wasn\'t sure about going to see <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billboards_Outside_Ebbing,_Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Billboards</a> because it was reviewed as a black comedy and I kept thinking \"Can the Americans do black comedy? They don\'t understand irony so what hope is there for black comedy?\"\r\n\r\nI didn\'t need to concern myself. It is supremely dark and very funny with an excellent cast, fine acting and superb dialogue. Being set in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Missouri</a> with all of the inherent prejudices (homophobia and racial intolerance) of mid western USA the backdrop has plenty of gold to mine and it is fully utilised.\r\n\r\nI don\'t intend to give anything away. The film is very funny, extremely sad and that finely balanced mixture of humour and pathos makes this a \"must see\" film!', 'Three Billboards - Film Review', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'three-billboards-film-review', '', '', '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4781', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4760, 283, '2018-01-22 16:51:10', '2018-01-22 16:51:10', 'The highlight today was the visit to the Postal Museum at the old Mountpleasant sorting office and a ride on the Royal Mail underground train.', 'London - Monday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4758-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 16:51:10', '2018-01-22 16:51:10', '', 4758, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4760', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4761, 283, '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639815447.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4757\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639775213-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>The highlight today was the visit to the Postal Museum at the old Mount Pleasant sorting office and a ride on the Royal Mail underground train.\r\n\r\nMail has been transported around London in a variety of means. In Victorian times there was a steel bullet that was pushed around tunnels using compressed air produced by a steam engine. The underground system that was used until 2003 was first built during the 1930\'s and went through a number of changes but functioned throughout the second World War. It was opened for tourists last year and is fully booked several months ahead so I felt privileged to get to ride the train so soon.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4756\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129-300x273.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"273\" /></a>Although it is only a fifteen minute ride the multimedia experience is superb and very engaging. The combined use of video and still photography gives a 3D dimension to the experience as you stop at particular stations and go back through time. If you\'re into trains and/or the history of the Royal Mail then this is an attraction not to be missed.', 'London - Monday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4758-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '2018-01-22 17:03:39', '', 4758, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4761', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4762, 283, '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639815447.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4757\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-22-13.57.12-e1516639775213-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>The highlight today was the visit to the <a href=\"https://www.postalmuseum.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postal Museum</a> at the old Mount Pleasant sorting office and a ride on the Royal Mail underground train.\r\n\r\nMail has been transported around London in a variety of means. In Victorian times there was a steel bullet that was pushed around tunnels using compressed air produced by a steam engine. The underground system that was used until 2003 was first built during the 1930\'s and went through a number of changes but functioned throughout the second World War. It was opened for tourists last year and is fully booked several months ahead so I felt privileged to get to ride the train so soon.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4756\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180122_101129-300x273.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"273\" /></a>Although it is only a fifteen minute ride the multimedia experience is superb and very engaging. The combined use of video and still photography gives a 3D dimension to the experience as you stop at particular stations and go back through time. If you\'re into trains and/or the history of the Royal Mail then this is an attraction not to be missed.', 'London - Monday', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4758-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '2018-01-22 17:04:41', '', 4758, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4762', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4845, 283, '2018-02-28 14:33:27', '2018-02-28 14:33:27', '', 'snow@middleton+hall(feb18)', 'The lake overflow in the snow', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'snowmiddletonhallfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:11:38', '2018-02-28 15:11:38', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/snow@middletonhallfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4846, 283, '2018-02-28 14:33:30', '2018-02-28 14:33:30', '', 'tea+cake+alnwick(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'teacakealnwickfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:02:09', '2018-02-28 15:02:09', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4847, 283, '2018-02-28 14:33:33', '2018-02-28 14:33:33', '', 'mary+alnwick(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'maryalnwickfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 14:56:36', '2018-02-28 14:56:36', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4848, 283, '2018-02-28 14:33:36', '2018-02-28 14:33:36', '', 'alnwick-gardens-fountain(fe', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'alnwick-gardens-fountainfe', '', '', '2018-02-28 14:33:36', '2018-02-28 14:33:36', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/alnwick-gardens-fountainfe.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4764, 283, '2018-01-26 11:19:10', '2018-01-26 11:19:10', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/family-lunchjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4765\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/family-lunchjan18-1024x352.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"220\" /></a>To celebrate Dave and Graham\'s January birthdays we all met up in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melton_Mowbray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Melton Mowbray</a> for lunch. The town was interesting and worthy of another visit when the weather is a little warmer.\r\n\r\nThe <a href=\"http://www.theanneofcleves.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anne of Cleves</a> was an excellent choice. Home cooked food, well produced, plenty of it and reasonably priced.', 'Family Lunch', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'family-lunch', '', '', '2018-01-26 11:19:10', '2018-01-26 11:19:10', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4764', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4765, 283, '2018-01-26 11:12:57', '2018-01-26 11:12:57', '', 'family-lunch(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'family-lunchjan18', '', '', '2018-01-26 11:12:57', '2018-01-26 11:12:57', '', 4764, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/family-lunchjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4766, 283, '2018-01-26 11:18:34', '2018-01-26 11:18:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/family-lunchjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4765\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/family-lunchjan18-1024x352.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"220\" /></a>To celebrate Dave and Graham\'s January birthdays we all met up in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melton_Mowbray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Melton Mowbray</a> for lunch. The town was interesting and worthy of another visit when the weather is a little warmer.\r\n\r\nThe <a href=\"http://www.theanneofcleves.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anne of Cleves</a> was an excellent choice. Home cooked food, well produced, plenty of it and reasonably priced.', 'Family Lunch', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4764-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-26 11:18:34', '2018-01-26 11:18:34', '', 4764, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4766', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4767, 283, '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4772\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" /></a>I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying levels of experience and ambitions. Several felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - what this website is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4773\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub-200x144.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"144\" /></a>It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based on the pub in Melton Mowbray where the family had lunch the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place and so I produced this:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4769\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI decided to focus on the shop where I worked several evenings after school, straight from the station, and all day Saturday.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Not my decision! My mum had decided I needed to get a part-time job to earn some pocket-money and she even found somewhere that was looking for cheap labour. To start with I wasn’t a willing worker however as I entered the small shop, pretending to be a supermarket, in the mid 1960s I realised this could be fun. Yes, yes even packing shelves could be fun, I know it doesn’t sound feasible but to my great surprise it was fun.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Enter through the back door turn right and up a wooden staircase to the store-room or turn left and immediately down a few steps into the shop. You didn’t need CCTV because from the top of the steps you could look over the top of the central row of shelves and the two narrow aisles. At the top of one aisle were two electric tills with short, narrow counters. Considering its size the range of goods seemed incredible even down to the pickled walnuts only ever asked for by one man for his pregnant wife.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Apart from restocking the shelves very little changed. Same customers at the same time on the same days. In a teenage world surrounded by turmoil this was a place of constancy and ticked along with the regularity of a metronome.</em></span>\r\n\r\nWriting this helped me to go back in time and experience those feelings I had as a teenager.', 'Creative Writing', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'creative-writing', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4767', 0, 'post', '', 2),
(4768, 283, '2018-01-27 16:15:26', '2018-01-27 16:15:26', 'I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying experiences and ambitions. Several all felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - that\'s what a lot of this blog is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end of warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based the pub the family had had lunch in Melton Mowbray the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place.', 'Creative Writing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4767-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:15:26', '2018-01-27 16:15:26', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4768', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4769, 283, '2018-01-27 16:16:25', '2018-01-27 16:16:25', '', 'teenage map', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'teenage-map', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:16:25', '2018-01-27 16:16:25', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4770, 283, '2018-01-27 16:18:54', '2018-01-27 16:18:54', 'I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying experiences and ambitions. Several all felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - that\'s what a lot of this blog is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end of warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based the pub the family had had lunch in Melton Mowbray the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place and so I produced this:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4769\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI decided to focus on the shop where I worked several evenings after school, straight from the station and all day Saturday.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Not my decision! My mum had decided I needed to get a part time job to earn some pocket money and she even found somewhere that was looking for cheap labour. To start with I wasn’t a willing worker however as I entered the small shop, pretending to be a supermarket, in the mid 1960s I realised this could be fun. Yes, yes even packing shelves could be fun, I know it doesn’t sound feasible but to my great surprise it was fun.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Enter through the back door turn right and up a wooden staircase to the store room or turn left and immediately down a few steps into the shop. You didn’t need CCTV because from the top of the steps you could look over the top of the central row of shelves and the two narrow aisles. At the top of the one aisle were two electric tills with short, narrow counters. Considering its size the range of goods seemed incredible even down to the pickled walnuts only ever asked for by one man for his pregnant wife.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Apart from restocking the shelves very little changed. Same customers at the same time on the same days. In a teenage world surrounded by turmoil this was a place of constancy and ticked along with the regularity of a metronome.</em></span>', 'Creative Writing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4767-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:18:54', '2018-01-27 16:18:54', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4770', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4771, 283, '2018-01-27 16:20:35', '2018-01-27 16:20:35', 'I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying experiences and ambitions. Several all felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - that\'s what a lot of this blog is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end of warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based the pub the family had had lunch in Melton Mowbray the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place and so I produced this:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4769\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI decided to focus on the shop where I worked several evenings after school, straight from the station and all day Saturday.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Not my decision! My mum had decided I needed to get a part time job to earn some pocket money and she even found somewhere that was looking for cheap labour. To start with I wasn’t a willing worker however as I entered the small shop, pretending to be a supermarket, in the mid 1960s I realised this could be fun. Yes, yes even packing shelves could be fun, I know it doesn’t sound feasible but to my great surprise it was fun.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Enter through the back door turn right and up a wooden staircase to the store room or turn left and immediately down a few steps into the shop. You didn’t need CCTV because from the top of the steps you could look over the top of the central row of shelves and the two narrow aisles. At the top of the one aisle were two electric tills with short, narrow counters. Considering its size the range of goods seemed incredible even down to the pickled walnuts only ever asked for by one man for his pregnant wife.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Apart from restocking the shelves very little changed. Same customers at the same time on the same days. In a teenage world surrounded by turmoil this was a place of constancy and ticked along with the regularity of a metronome.</em></span>\r\n\r\nWriting this helped me to go back in time and experience those feelings I had as a teenager.', 'Creative Writing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4767-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:20:35', '2018-01-27 16:20:35', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4771', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4772, 283, '2018-01-27 16:26:17', '2018-01-27 16:26:17', '', 'creative-writing', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'creative-writing', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:26:17', '2018-01-27 16:26:17', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4773, 283, '2018-01-27 16:31:24', '2018-01-27 16:31:24', '', 'cosy-pub', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cosy-pub', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:31:24', '2018-01-27 16:31:24', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4774, 283, '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4772\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" /></a>I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying levels of experience and ambitions. Several felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - what this website is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4773\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub-200x144.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"144\" /></a>It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based on the pub in Melton Mowbray where the family had lunch the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place and so I produced this:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4769\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI decided to focus on the shop where I worked several evenings after school, straight from the station, and all day Saturday.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Not my decision! My mum had decided I needed to get a part-time job to earn some pocket-money and she even found somewhere that was looking for cheap labour. To start with I wasn’t a willing worker however as I entered the small shop, pretending to be a supermarket, in the mid 1960s I realised this could be fun. Yes, yes even packing shelves could be fun, I know it doesn’t sound feasible but to my great surprise it was fun.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Enter through the back door turn right and up a wooden staircase to the store-room or turn left and immediately down a few steps into the shop. You didn’t need CCTV because from the top of the steps you could look over the top of the central row of shelves and the two narrow aisles. At the top of the one aisle were two electric tills with short, narrow counters. Considering its size the range of goods seemed incredible even down to the pickled walnuts only ever asked for by one man for his pregnant wife.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Apart from restocking the shelves very little changed. Same customers at the same time on the same days. In a teenage world surrounded by turmoil this was a place of constancy and ticked along with the regularity of a metronome.</em></span>\r\n\r\nWriting this helped me to go back in time and experience those feelings I had as a teenager.', 'Creative Writing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4767-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '2018-01-27 16:35:49', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4774', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4775, 283, '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4772\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" /></a>I\'ve always enjoyed writing, let\'s not get into a debate as to whether I\'m any good at it because that\'s immaterial, so I decided to sign up to a creative writing course.\r\n\r\nDaunting doesn\'t come close to describing how I felt sitting amongst nine other people with varying levels of experience and ambitions. Several felt they had a book in them and were hoping to write a novel. All I wanted to do was capture thoughts and experiences in a way that would invite people to keep reading - what this website is about...\r\n\r\nThe first exercise was to establish a sense of place and so I wrote this:\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4773\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cosy-pub-200x144.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"144\" /></a>It’s always a struggle to walk into a pub alone but the moment I entered I felt immediately at home. The open fire at one end warmed the room and within a few strides I was at the bar facing a smiling landlord. The locals gave a glance up from their conversations but were soon re-immersed in their gossip. As I looked around I absorbed the old beams, stained glass screens and the cosy, intimate booths. It was comfortable without being shabby and I thought “this is my local, at last I’ve come home”.</span></em>\r\n\r\nThis was based on the pub in Melton Mowbray where the family had lunch the day before. There\'s plenty of room for expansion in terms of description particularly around the pub landlord and the regulars but that would come in an edit if I wanted to take it further.\r\n\r\nThe next exercise involved mapping our teenage years in terms of place and so I produced this:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4769\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/teenage-map-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI decided to focus on the shop where I worked several evenings after school, straight from the station, and all day Saturday.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Not my decision! My mum had decided I needed to get a part-time job to earn some pocket-money and she even found somewhere that was looking for cheap labour. To start with I wasn’t a willing worker however as I entered the small shop, pretending to be a supermarket, in the mid 1960s I realised this could be fun. Yes, yes even packing shelves could be fun, I know it doesn’t sound feasible but to my great surprise it was fun.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Enter through the back door turn right and up a wooden staircase to the store-room or turn left and immediately down a few steps into the shop. You didn’t need CCTV because from the top of the steps you could look over the top of the central row of shelves and the two narrow aisles. At the top of one aisle were two electric tills with short, narrow counters. Considering its size the range of goods seemed incredible even down to the pickled walnuts only ever asked for by one man for his pregnant wife.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Apart from restocking the shelves very little changed. Same customers at the same time on the same days. In a teenage world surrounded by turmoil this was a place of constancy and ticked along with the regularity of a metronome.</em></span>\r\n\r\nWriting this helped me to go back in time and experience those feelings I had as a teenager.', 'Creative Writing', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4767-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '2018-01-27 16:38:14', '', 4767, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4775', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4776, 283, '2018-01-28 11:52:10', '2018-01-28 11:52:10', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"1685,1683,1682,1677,1673,1662,1616,1663,1644,1547,1536,1525,1521,1540,1505,1506,1498,1429,1438,1430,1440,1443,1441,1446,1444,1442,1451,1448,1445,1449,1450,1452,1130,1067\"]', 'House Photos', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '409-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-28 11:52:10', '2018-01-28 11:52:10', '', 409, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4776', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4777, 283, '2018-01-28 11:53:42', '2018-01-28 11:53:42', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"1685,1683,1682,1677,1673,1662,1616,1663,1644,1547,1536,1525,1521,1540,1505,1506,1498,1438,1430,1440,1443,1441,1446,1444,1451,1448,1445,1449,1450,1452,1130,1067\"]', 'House Photos', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '409-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-28 11:53:42', '2018-01-28 11:53:42', '', 409, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4777', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4778, 283, '2018-01-28 11:57:44', '2018-01-28 11:57:44', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"1067,1130,1452,1451,1450,1449,1443,1683,1682,1662,1616,1663,1547,1536,1525,1521,1505,1506,1498,1438,1430,1441,1446,1444,1448,1445,1673,1677,1685,1644,1540,1440\"]', 'House Photos', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '409-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-28 11:57:44', '2018-01-28 11:57:44', '', 409, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4778', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4779, 283, '2018-01-28 11:58:45', '2018-01-28 11:58:45', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"1067,1130,1452,1451,1450,1449,1443,1683,1682,1662,1616,1663,1547,1536,1525,1521,1505,1506,1498,1438,1430,1446,1444,1448,1445,1673,1677,1685,1644,1540,1440\"]', 'House Photos', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '409-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-28 11:58:45', '2018-01-28 11:58:45', '', 409, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4779', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4780, 283, '2018-01-28 12:00:08', '2018-01-28 12:00:08', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"1067,1130,1452,1451,1450,1449,1443,1683,1682,1616,1663,1547,1536,1525,1521,1505,1506,1498,1438,1430,1446,1444,1448,1445,1673,1662,1677,1685,1644,1540,1440\"]', 'House Photos', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '409-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-28 12:00:08', '2018-01-28 12:00:08', '', 409, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4780', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4782, 283, '2018-01-30 19:24:51', '2018-01-30 19:24:51', '', '3-billboards-film(jan18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '3-billboards-filmjan18', '', '', '2018-01-30 19:24:51', '2018-01-30 19:24:51', '', 4781, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4783, 283, '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4782 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>I wasn\'t sure about going to see <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billboards_Outside_Ebbing,_Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Billboards</a> because it was reviewed as a black comedy and I kept thinking \"Can the Americans do black comedy? They don\'t understand irony so what hope is there for black comedy?\"\r\n\r\nI didn\'t need to concern myself. It is supremely dark and very funny with an excellent cast, fine acting and superb dialogue. Being set in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Missouri</a> with all of the inherent prejudices (homophobia and racial intolerance) of mid western USA the backdrop has plenty of gold to mine and it is fully utilised.\r\n\r\nI don\'t intend giving anything away. The film is very funny, extremely sad and that finely balanced mixture of humour and pathos makes this a \"must see\" film!', 'Three Billboards - Film Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4781-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '2018-01-30 19:33:27', '', 4781, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4783', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4784, 283, '2018-01-30 19:33:58', '2018-01-30 19:33:58', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4782 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>I wasn\'t sure about going to see <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billboards_Outside_Ebbing,_Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Billboards</a> because it was reviewed as a black comedy and I kept thinking \"Can the Americans do black comedy? They don\'t understand irony so what hope is there for black comedy?\"\r\n\r\nI didn\'t need to concern myself. It is supremely dark and very funny with an excellent cast, fine acting and superb dialogue. Being set in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Missouri</a> with all of the inherent prejudices (homophobia and racial intolerance) of mid western USA the backdrop has plenty of gold to mine and it is fully utilised.\r\n\r\nI don\'t intend giving anything away. The film is very funny, extremely sad and that finely balanced mixture of humour and pathos makes this a \"must see\" film!', 'Three Billboards - Film Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4781-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-30 19:33:58', '2018-01-30 19:33:58', '', 4781, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4784', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4785, 283, '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4782 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3-billboards-filmjan18-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>I wasn\'t sure about going to see <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billboards_Outside_Ebbing,_Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Billboards</a> because it was reviewed as a black comedy and I kept thinking \"Can the Americans do black comedy? They don\'t understand irony so what hope is there for black comedy?\"\r\n\r\nI didn\'t need to concern myself. It is supremely dark and very funny with an excellent cast, fine acting and superb dialogue. Being set in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Missouri</a> with all of the inherent prejudices (homophobia and racial intolerance) of mid western USA the backdrop has plenty of gold to mine and it is fully utilised.\r\n\r\nI don\'t intend to give anything away. The film is very funny, extremely sad and that finely balanced mixture of humour and pathos makes this a \"must see\" film!', 'Three Billboards - Film Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4781-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '2018-01-31 09:17:50', '', 4781, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4785', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4866, 283, '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/garden-wiresmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4867 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/garden-wiresmar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>As the days start opening out, after the snow has melted away my thoughts turn to the garden and the jobs that need to be done before everything starts growing.\r\n\r\nWhen we first moved in we bought two apple trees (Bramley and Cox\'s Orange Pippin) with the intention of espalier training them against the fence however circumstances worked against us and after nearly four years I\'ve put in posts and am in the process of stretching stainless steel wires between them. The idea now is to prune the trees back so they will grow horizontally along the wires. This might take a few years of careful pruning to get them back into shape because they\'ve grown upwards. To fit one level of wire <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nursery-visitmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4868\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nursery-visitmar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"276\" /></a>took me two hours but I am getting faster so the next wires should be installed faster but I\'ll have to wait for another dry day before venturing out.\r\n\r\nA weekend in the south of the county with Mary and we visited a <a href=\"http://www.rasells.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local nursery</a> where I purchased a black Hellebore and took a fancy to a Daphne but haven\'t purchased one yet. It\'s a winter flowering shrub with a heady scent that smells of cloves. My garden lacks colour in the summer apart from the green Hellebores which are spreading like weeds - another job is to lift them and move them into a better position in the borders.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mistletoemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4869\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mistletoemar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>On a seven mile walk across the <a href=\"http://www.grimsthorpe.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grimsthorpe Castle</a> estate with Mary we saw lots of oak trees festooned with mistletoe. I don\'t remember seeing it before in such large bunches.\r\n\r\nAfter all the snow and rain the fields were exceedingly wet and muddy - it was heavy going. There were times when our boots were so thick with mud we were several centimetres taller.\r\n\r\nIt was a relief to get back to a cuppa with wholemeal toast spread with ginger curd. Life can still be full of surprises ;-)', 'Walk and Gardening', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'walk-and-gardening', '', '', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4866', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4787, 283, '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-200x98.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"98\" /></a>It\'s amazing how much time being the chairman of West Wolds U3A takes up. In the second week of the month I have a committee meeting to prepare for and run and in the final week of the month I\'m running an IT Workshop and an Ethics and Moral Dilemmas debating group. I\'m thinking of starting a <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4767\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Writing Group</a> once I\'ve completed the sessions I\'m attending. I also manage the <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website</a> and with nearly 50 groups it can take some time to make sure it\'s up to date particularly when people change details but fail to tell me and then are surprised when the website is out of date.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>Alongside all of that my social life has taken on an exciting  lease of life. Since the beginning of January I\'ve been dating a new friend. We go to the cinema, walking, visit places of interest, eat out quite a lot and cook together. All of this is great fun. We\'re approaching it as an adventure; we don\'t know where it will take us - we\'re enjoying the journey. For the time being her name and photograph remain under wraps however my nearest and dearest will hopefully get to meet her over the next weeks and months. Strong friendships take time to build and it is still early days.', 'U3A and Stuff', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'u3a-and-stuff', '', '', '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4787', 0, 'post', '', 4),
(4788, 283, '2018-02-08 18:00:01', '2018-02-08 18:00:01', '', 'u3a-logo', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'u3a-logo', '', '', '2018-02-08 18:00:01', '2018-02-08 18:00:01', '', 4787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4789, 283, '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-200x98.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"98\" /></a>It\'s amazing how much time being the chairman of West Wolds U3A takes up. In the second week of the month I have a committee meeting prepare for and run and in the final week of the month I\'m running an IT Workshop and an Ethics and Moral Dilemmas debating group. I\'m thinking of starting a <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4767\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Writing Group</a> once I\'ve completed the sessions I\'m attending. I also manage the <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website</a> and with nearly 50 groups it can take some time to make sure it\'s up to date particularly when people change details but fail to tell me and then are surprised when the website it out of date.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>Alongside all of that my social life has taken on an exciting  lease of life. Since the beginning of January I\'ve been dating a new friend. We go to the cinema, walking, visit places of interest, eat out quite a lot and cook together. All of this is great fun. We\'re approaching it as an adventure; we don\'t know where it will take us - we\'re enjoying the journey. For the time being her name and photograph remain under wraps however my nearest and dearest will hopefully get to meet her over the next weeks and months. Strong friendships take time to build and it is still early days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'U3A and Stuff', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4787-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '2018-02-08 18:15:34', '', 4787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4789', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4790, 283, '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4788\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/u3a-logo-200x98.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"98\" /></a>It\'s amazing how much time being the chairman of West Wolds U3A takes up. In the second week of the month I have a committee meeting to prepare for and run and in the final week of the month I\'m running an IT Workshop and an Ethics and Moral Dilemmas debating group. I\'m thinking of starting a <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4767\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Writing Group</a> once I\'ve completed the sessions I\'m attending. I also manage the <a href=\"http://www.westwoldsu3a.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website</a> and with nearly 50 groups it can take some time to make sure it\'s up to date particularly when people change details but fail to tell me and then are surprised when the website is out of date.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4409\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/online-dating-200x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"143\" /></a>Alongside all of that my social life has taken on an exciting  lease of life. Since the beginning of January I\'ve been dating a new friend. We go to the cinema, walking, visit places of interest, eat out quite a lot and cook together. All of this is great fun. We\'re approaching it as an adventure; we don\'t know where it will take us - we\'re enjoying the journey. For the time being her name and photograph remain under wraps however my nearest and dearest will hopefully get to meet her over the next weeks and months. Strong friendships take time to build and it is still early days.', 'U3A and Stuff', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4787-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '2018-02-08 18:28:07', '', 4787, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4790', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4794, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:07', '2018-02-09 18:09:07', '', '28 Dec 2011_0799', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '28-dec-2011_0799', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:09:07', '2018-02-09 18:09:07', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/28-Dec-2011_0799.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4795, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:19', '2018-02-09 18:09:19', '', '2011-05-14-608', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', '2011-05-14-608', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:09:19', '2018-02-09 18:09:19', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2011-05-14-608.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4802, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:50', '2018-02-09 18:23:50', '', 'bluesmartcar', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bluesmartcar-2', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:30:56', '2018-02-14 16:30:56', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluesmartcar.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4797, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:25', '2018-02-09 18:09:25', '', 'audiTT04', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'auditt04', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:13:02', '2018-02-14 16:13:02', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4798, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:28', '2018-02-09 18:09:28', '', 'freelander_2003-02-01_002', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'freelander_2003-02-01_002', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:38:00', '2018-02-14 15:38:00', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4799, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:32', '2018-02-09 18:09:32', '', 'golf gti', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'golf-gti', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:03:23', '2018-02-14 16:03:23', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4800, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:35', '2018-02-09 18:09:35', '', 'Img2007-04-14_0004', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'img2007-04-14_0004-2', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:28:08', '2018-02-14 16:28:08', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Img2007-04-14_0004.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4801, 283, '2018-02-09 18:09:39', '2018-02-09 18:09:39', '', 'mazdamx306', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mazdamx306', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:56:56', '2018-02-14 15:56:56', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4803, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:52', '2018-02-09 18:23:52', '', 'bmw_318i', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'bmw_318i', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:17:17', '2018-02-14 15:17:17', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4804, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:53', '2018-02-09 18:23:53', '', 'Citroen2CV', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'citroen2cv', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:09:41', '2018-02-14 15:09:41', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4806, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:56', '2018-02-09 18:23:56', '', 'fiat uno', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'fiat-uno', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:34:04', '2018-02-14 15:34:04', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4807, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:57', '2018-02-09 18:23:57', '', 'ford_escort-1', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ford_escort-1', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:23:57', '2018-02-09 18:23:57', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ford_escort-1.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4808, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:58', '2018-02-09 18:23:58', '', 'ford_fiesta_sport', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ford_fiesta_sport', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:23:58', '2018-02-09 18:23:58', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ford_fiesta_sport.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4809, 283, '2018-02-09 18:23:59', '2018-02-09 18:23:59', '', 'ford_orion', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ford_orion', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:23:59', '2018-02-09 18:23:59', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ford_orion.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4810, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:01', '2018-02-09 18:24:01', '', 'hilman imp', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'hilman-imp', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:05:34', '2018-02-14 15:05:34', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4811, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:02', '2018-02-09 18:24:02', '', 'landrover 90 defender', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'landrover-90-defender', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:28:14', '2018-02-14 15:28:14', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4812, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:04', '2018-02-09 18:24:04', '', 'morris mini van', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'morris-mini-van', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:33:19', '2018-02-09 18:33:19', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4813, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:05', '2018-02-09 18:24:05', '', 'morris minor pickup', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'morris-minor-pickup', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:00:10', '2018-02-14 15:00:10', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4814, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:07', '2018-02-09 18:24:07', '', 'Morris_Minor_1000_1960', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'morris_minor_1000_1960', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:29:26', '2018-02-09 18:29:26', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4815, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:09', '2018-02-09 18:24:09', '', 'suziki_vitara', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'suziki_vitara', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:22:15', '2018-02-14 15:22:15', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4816, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:11', '2018-02-09 18:24:11', '', 'Triumph Herald', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'triumph-herald', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:38:28', '2018-02-09 18:38:28', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4817, 283, '2018-02-09 18:24:14', '2018-02-09 18:24:14', '', 'Triumph_Spitfire', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'triumph_spitfire', '', '', '2018-02-14 14:56:35', '2018-02-14 14:56:35', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4818, 283, '2021-01-19 11:53:06', '2021-01-19 11:53:06', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of owning a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster. For a timeline view of our later cars <a href=\"http://www.pigyard.com/ourcars.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\nIt was easy to maintain and fun to drive even if the hood was a bit fiddly to take down and put back up again. The wheel bearings needed to be replaced on a regular basis for some reason.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4817 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"172\" /></a>The Triumph Spitfire was our first sports car. It had the same running gear as the Herald and so was an easy step to take but it was totally impractical in terms of one car between two people and giving lifts to friends. From what I can remember we didn\'t keep it very long.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4813\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"176\" /></a>Whatever possessed us to buy a Morris 1000 pickup is beyond me now and looking back made no sense at all but it seemed a good idea at the time.\r\nIt was rebuilt by someone we knew in Weedon, Northants. He did the major welding and body work; Jane and I painted it and cleaned up the engine. I can recall spending a Sunday afternoon replacing a half shaft that had broken. It was cold and wet but I needed it to get to work the following day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4810 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" /></a>The Hillman Imp was our first new car. Jane loved the colour and I think this is the car she learned to drive in and passed her test.\r\n\r\nThe aluminium engine was a bit of a problem with water leaks after a few years and I don\'t we ever sorted it completely before we sold it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4804\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The 2CV was another new car. A crazy vehicle with a flap under the dashboard to allow air to flow and a gear stick that needed to be pulled and pushed in a most unnatural way. Jane loved the car but hated driving it. It was possible to easily remove the rear seats if you wanted to sit around for a picnic. The suspension was very soft and it wallowed around corners. The 2 cylinder engine barely accelerated so the idea of a 0 - 60 acceleration time was immaterial. A real character of a car - love it or hate it!\r\n\r\nWe went through a very boring phase of car ownership when we seemed to be purchasing Fords - An Escort, Orion and Fiesta Sport.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"4809,4807,4808\"]\r\n\r\nThey were practical, reliable and they allowed us to have a car each at a time when I was teaching in Daventry and Jane was Homeless Officer at South Northants Council.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"152\" /></a>For a while Jane had a Fiat Uno. I think she was influenced by the fact that it had an econometer on the dashboard so she could drive economically. In the end it proved to be such a pain (it drove me nuts) I stuck a bit of black tape over it so we could ignore it.\r\n\r\nI hadn\'t left teaching long and had to go away to Derbyshire on a course for three days so I drove up there in the Orion and Jane was very concerned about me driving all that way. While I was away she managed to smash into a roundabout in thick fog at Towcester and squashed the Uno by a centimeter or two on one side. surprisingly it wasn\'t a write-off and once it was repaired we soon sold it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"158\" /></a>And then there was the BMW 318i. I loved this car for its raw power - it was the most powerful vehicle I had ever driven at that time. It did have its foibles such that if I accelerated too fast in the wet the back end would get very lively and I found myself driving sideways down a major road in the middle of Northampton. It also had this quirk of just stopping and then refused to start. I would have to wait an hour before it would start again. I only found this out when I called the RAC and by the time they arrived I just turned the key and it started - most embarrassing.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4815\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" /></a>When we started ballooning we wanted a vehicle that could tow a trailer and be capable of off road activity.\r\nThe Suzuki Vitara filled the role very well and Jane loved it.\r\nAs my main crew person when I started to learn to fly she enjoyed following me and I was always pleased to see her and the Vitara bounce onto a field after a landing. Car and driver never failed me!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4811\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"160\" /></a>Sadly the Vitara wasn\'t sufficiently chunky. We were used to driving the Ballooning Business Land Rover Defenders so we decided to buy a Land Rover Defender 90. It was uncomfortable and the fuel economy, even for a diesel, was terrible but it was great off road.\r\nIt towed our balloon trailer back and forth across Northamptonshire for a couple of years before we decided we needed a bit of comfort.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4798\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"159\" /></a>Sticking with the Land Rover theme we then purchased the Freelander. A good workhorse but very dull. It was sold before it gave us too many problems (Land Rovers are notoriously unreliable).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4801\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"182\" /></a>At some point we owned a Mazda MX3 but the exact timing is a little vague (must have been when we lived in Rothersthorpe). It was Jane\'s car and she loved it. Amazingly zippy with a rev counter that when higher than any car we had owned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4799 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>Nobody can have a real love of cars until they\'ve owned a VW Golf GTi. Our black rocket was our pride and joy for a few years. Fast, furious and an iconic vehicle.\r\n\r\nThis was Jane\'s car and she really enjoyed driving it. She was never reluctant to put her foot on the accelerator and speed around the country lanes of Northamptonshire\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/VW-Lupo.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-6622\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/VW-Lupo-300x161.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"110\" /></a>The high power and poor fuel consumption of the GTi made Jane feel guilty and with her desire to save the planet she set her heart on something smaller and decided, after enjoying the VW experience, she wanted a VW Lupo. She still managed to zip around but it didn\'t have the panache of the GTi so she didn\'t have the same feelings about it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4797 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>The Audi TT was a gift from my brother. I was so proud to own it and the driving experience was superb. No matter how fast I threw it into a corner it went round like it was on rails. One winter after an unusual snowfall when the town was all snarled up with traffic I drove home on impacted snow and the 4x4 TT didn\'t slip or slide. It was like driving home in slightly damp conditions. The most sure footed car I\'ve ever owned.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Nov-29-2011_0765.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4793 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Nov-29-2011_0765-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Our ballooning required comfort and so we upgraded the Freelander for a Honda CRV. It was comfortable, reasonably economic and had a large a boot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Img2007-04-14_0004.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4800 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Img2007-04-14_0004-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I think it was around this time we had three cars. The Honda CRV, Audi TT and to add to our stable we bought a Smart Car. It was Jane\'s pride and joy. Everything about it suited her - colour, economy, sliding roof and it was very distinctive. She loved it so much we then bought a brand new one.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluesmartcar.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4802 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluesmartcar-200x127.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"127\" /></a>Although she had a choice of colour she still wanted it to be personalised but with the new house build and other pressures of time we never did get round to it. In the spirit of positivity she even test drove a new one whilst she was undergoing chemotherapy. She actually thought the new one was too large and didn\'t want to change.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Porsche-Boxster-2008.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-6535 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Porsche-Boxster-2008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>After the Audi TT I decided to buy a Porsche Boxster. It didn\'t handle the road quite as well as the Audi TT but it had the growl to the engine and the qudos that made it special.\r\n\r\nI only kept it for four years until I retired and then I decided, despite Jane\'s protestations, we needed to move on to something more sensible.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/farewell-Skoda-Yetisep16.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-3929 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/farewell-Skoda-Yetisep16-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"149\" /></a>The Skoda Yeti was definitely a change (step down) from the Porsche but its 175 bhp diesel engine and four wheel drive made it very responsive. It had the power to pull a balloon trailer across rough terrain and very comfortable.\r\n\r\nIt did us very good service and I was still driving it for 10 months after Jane died. It was at this point I decided to move on and sell her Smart Car and the Yeti in a single Trade in deal.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/mazda-cx5-frontsep16-.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-3931 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/mazda-cx5-frontsep16--300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"160\" /></a>After much deliberation in October 2016 and many test drives I eventually decided to buy a Mazda CX5. A large four wheel drive car with all the luxury and gadgets of a Range Rover or Jaguar FPace but at half the price. Its 180 bhp diesel engine was brilliant. It was also the first automatic car I had owned. A great car for doing long haul journeys and it took me to Scotland many times in the three years that I owned it. I covered close to 40,000 miles and only had to replace the front tyres.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Lotus-cleanmar17.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4306 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Lotus-cleanmar17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"161\" /></a>While driving the CX5 was fun and practical I wanted something that was going to raise the adrenalin a little. Bring some excitement into my life.\r\n\r\nI bought a Lotus Elise. There was a knack to getting into and out of it and it was impossible without the seat being pushed back as far as it would go. I also had to swing the door as wide as it would go and effectively fall out. Apart from the inconveniences around getting in and out there were few refinements. It did have a stereo system but it was impossible to here the radio over the noise of the engine. It accelerated like lightning because the body was light and the small Toyota engine revved very quickly. Another down side was the road holding - great round corners but hopeless on bumpy roads when the steering wheel wanted to tear itself out of my hands. After 12 months of adrenaline rushes and 5,000 miles I decided it was a younger man\'s car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4586\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5houseoct17-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"171\" /></a>The Lotus had to go and I decided to buy the most popular sports car in the world... the Mazda MX5. I opted for the RF version which had a hard retractable roof. It was a comfortable sports car with plenty of acceleration. It had the power to easily exceed the speed limit and held the road well although I could lose the rear end on roundabouts in the wet. It never felt really sporty. It had all modern gadgets - satnav, bluetooth etc. but after three years I decided I\'d had enough and contemplated whether I really needed two cars.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mazdacx30jan21.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-6613\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mazdacx30jan21-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"173\" /></a>After the CX5 I decided to slightly downsize and lose the diesel engine but keep the advantages of four wheel drive, automatic and comfort. This led me to buy the Mazda CX30. It is very comfortable and has all the gadgetry one expects from a modern car however the user interface for the satnav is terrible. It doesn\'t have a touch screen and you have to select destinations by rotating a wheel around an alphabet on screen. It does have Android auto but even that interface is limited without a touch screen. I will keep it for three years but probably won\'t buy another Mazda.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Boxster1Nov20.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-6545\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Boxster1Nov20-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"182\" /></a>Having driven for a while with only one car I had a yearn to buy another Porsche Boxster. I spent several months debating as to whether I needed/wanted a second car and looking at the best model to buy. Did I want to spend £30k on a five year old car or half that on a low mileage 12 year old car. Eventually I decided on the latter. I looked and waited for months until I discovered this one and collected it mid November 2020.', 'Cars', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cars', '', '', '2021-01-19 11:53:06', '2021-01-19 11:53:06', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?page_id=4818', 5, 'page', '', 0),
(4819, 283, '2018-02-09 18:48:55', '2018-02-09 18:48:55', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of driving a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Cars', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4818-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-09 18:48:55', '2018-02-09 18:48:55', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4819', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4820, 283, '2018-02-14 15:31:44', '2018-02-14 15:31:44', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of driving a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\nIt was easy to maintain and fun to drive even if the hood was a bit fiddly to take down and put back up again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4817 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"172\" /></a>The Triumph Spitfire was our first sports car. It had the same running gear as the Herald and so was an easy step to take but it was totally impractical in terms of one car between two people and giving lifts to friends. From what I can remember we didn\'t keep it very long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4813\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"176\" /></a>Whatever possessed us to buy a Morris 1000 pickup is beyond me now and looking back made no sense at all but it seemed a good idea at the time.\r\n\r\nIt was rebuilt by someone we knew in Weedon, Northants. He did the major welding and body work; Jane and I painted it and cleaned up the engine. I can recall spending a Sunday afternoon replacing a half shaft that had broken. It was cold and wet but I needed it to get to work the following day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4810 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" /></a>The Hillman Imp was our first new car. Jane loved the colour and I think this is the car she learned to drive and passed her test.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4804\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The 2CV was another new car. A crazy vehicle with a flap under the dashboard to allow air to flow and a gear stick that needed to be pulled and pushed in a most unnatural way. Jane loved the car but hated driving it. It was possible to easily remove the rear seats if you wanted to sit around for a picnic. The suspension was very soft and it wallowed around cars. The 2 cylinder engine barely accelerated so the idea of a 0 - 60 acceleration time was immaterial. A real character of a car - love it or hate it!\r\n\r\nWe went through a very boring phase of car ownership when we seemed to be purchasing Fords - An Escort, Orion and Fiesta Sport.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"4809,4807,4808\"]\r\n\r\nThey were practical, reliable and they allowed us to have a car each at a time when I was teaching in Daventry and Jane was Homeless Officer at South Northants Council.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"158\" /></a>And then there was the BMW 318i. I loved this car for its raw power - it was the most powerful vehicle I had ever driven at this point in time. It did have its foibles such that if I accelerated too fast in the wet the back end would get very lively and I found myself driving sideways down a major road in the middle of Northampton. It also had this quirk of just stopping and then refused to start. I would have to wait an hour before it would start again. I only found this out when I called the RAC and by the time they arrived I just turned the key and it started - most embarrassing.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4815\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" /></a>When we started ballooning we wanted a vehicle that could tow a trailer and be capable of off road activity.\r\nThe Suzuki Vitara filled the role very well and Jane loved it.\r\nAs my main crew person when I started to learn to fly she enjoyed following me and I was always pleased to see her and the Vitara bounce onto a field after a landing. Car and driver never failed me!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4811\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"151\" /></a>Sadly the Vitara wasn\'t sufficiently chunky. We were used to driving the Ballooning Business Land Rover Defenders so we decided to buy a Land Rover Defender 90. It was uncomfortable and the fuel economy, even for a diesel, was terrible but it was great off road.\r\nIt towed our balloon trailer back and forth across Northamptonshire for a couple of years before we decided we needed a bit of comfort.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Cars', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4818-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-14 15:31:44', '2018-02-14 15:31:44', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4820', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4821, 283, '2018-02-14 16:07:05', '2018-02-14 16:07:05', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of driving a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\nIt was easy to maintain and fun to drive even if the hood was a bit fiddly to take down and put back up again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4817 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"172\" /></a>The Triumph Spitfire was our first sports car. It had the same running gear as the Herald and so was an easy step to take but it was totally impractical in terms of one car between two people and giving lifts to friends. From what I can remember we didn\'t keep it very long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4813\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"176\" /></a>Whatever possessed us to buy a Morris 1000 pickup is beyond me now and looking back made no sense at all but it seemed a good idea at the time.\r\n\r\nIt was rebuilt by someone we knew in Weedon, Northants. He did the major welding and body work; Jane and I painted it and cleaned up the engine. I can recall spending a Sunday afternoon replacing a half shaft that had broken. It was cold and wet but I needed it to get to work the following day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4810 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" /></a>The Hillman Imp was our first new car. Jane loved the colour and I think this is the car she learned to drive and passed her test.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4804\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The 2CV was another new car. A crazy vehicle with a flap under the dashboard to allow air to flow and a gear stick that needed to be pulled and pushed in a most unnatural way. Jane loved the car but hated driving it. It was possible to easily remove the rear seats if you wanted to sit around for a picnic. The suspension was very soft and it wallowed around cars. The 2 cylinder engine barely accelerated so the idea of a 0 - 60 acceleration time was immaterial. A real character of a car - love it or hate it!\r\n\r\nWe went through a very boring phase of car ownership when we seemed to be purchasing Fords - An Escort, Orion and Fiesta Sport.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"4809,4807,4808\"]\r\n\r\nThey were practical, reliable and they allowed us to have a car each at a time when I was teaching in Daventry and Jane was Homeless Officer at South Northants Council.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"152\" /></a>For a while Jane had a Fiat Uno. I think she was influenced by the fact that it had an econometer on the dashboard so she could drive economically. In the end it proved to be such a pain (it drove me nuts) I stuck a bit of black tape over it so we could ignore it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"158\" /></a>And then there was the BMW 318i. I loved this car for its raw power - it was the most powerful vehicle I had ever driven at this point in time. It did have its foibles such that if I accelerated too fast in the wet the back end would get very lively and I found myself driving sideways down a major road in the middle of Northampton. It also had this quirk of just stopping and then refused to start. I would have to wait an hour before it would start again. I only found this out when I called the RAC and by the time they arrived I just turned the key and it started - most embarrassing.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4815\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" /></a>When we started ballooning we wanted a vehicle that could tow a trailer and be capable of off road activity.\r\nThe Suzuki Vitara filled the role very well and Jane loved it.\r\nAs my main crew person when I started to learn to fly she enjoyed following me and I was always pleased to see her and the Vitara bounce onto a field after a landing. Car and driver never failed me!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4811\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"160\" /></a>Sadly the Vitara wasn\'t sufficiently chunky. We were used to driving the Ballooning Business Land Rover Defenders so we decided to buy a Land Rover Defender 90. It was uncomfortable and the fuel economy, even for a diesel, was terrible but it was great off road.\r\nIt towed our balloon trailer back and forth across Northamptonshire for a couple of years before we decided we needed a bit of comfort.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4798\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"159\" /></a>Sticking with the Land Rover theme we then purchased the Freelander. A good workhorse but very dull. It was sold before it gave us too many problems (Land Rovers were notoriously unreliable).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4801\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"182\" /></a>At some point we owned a Mazda MX3 but the exact timing is a little vague (must have been when we lived in Rothersthorpe). It was Jane\'s car and she loved it. Amazingly zippy with a rev counter that when higher than any car we had owned.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4799\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"177\" /></a>Nobody can have a real love of cars if they\'ve never owned a Golf GTi. Our black rocket was our pride and joy for a few years.', 'Cars', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4818-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:07:05', '2018-02-14 16:07:05', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4821', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(4822, 283, '2018-02-14 16:21:39', '2018-02-14 16:21:39', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of driving a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster. For a time line view of our later cars <a href=\"http://www.pigyard.com/ourcars.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\nIt was easy to maintain and fun to drive even if the hood was a bit fiddly to take down and put back up again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4817 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"172\" /></a>The Triumph Spitfire was our first sports car. It had the same running gear as the Herald and so was an easy step to take but it was totally impractical in terms of one car between two people and giving lifts to friends. From what I can remember we didn\'t keep it very long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4813\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"176\" /></a>Whatever possessed us to buy a Morris 1000 pickup is beyond me now and looking back made no sense at all but it seemed a good idea at the time.\r\n\r\nIt was rebuilt by someone we knew in Weedon, Northants. He did the major welding and body work; Jane and I painted it and cleaned up the engine. I can recall spending a Sunday afternoon replacing a half shaft that had broken. It was cold and wet but I needed it to get to work the following day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4810 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" /></a>The Hillman Imp was our first new car. Jane loved the colour and I think this is the car she learned to drive and passed her test.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4804\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The 2CV was another new car. A crazy vehicle with a flap under the dashboard to allow air to flow and a gear stick that needed to be pulled and pushed in a most unnatural way. Jane loved the car but hated driving it. It was possible to easily remove the rear seats if you wanted to sit around for a picnic. The suspension was very soft and it wallowed around cars. The 2 cylinder engine barely accelerated so the idea of a 0 - 60 acceleration time was immaterial. A real character of a car - love it or hate it!\r\n\r\nWe went through a very boring phase of car ownership when we seemed to be purchasing Fords - An Escort, Orion and Fiesta Sport.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"4809,4807,4808\"]\r\n\r\nThey were practical, reliable and they allowed us to have a car each at a time when I was teaching in Daventry and Jane was Homeless Officer at South Northants Council.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"152\" /></a>For a while Jane had a Fiat Uno. I think she was influenced by the fact that it had an econometer on the dashboard so she could drive economically. In the end it proved to be such a pain (it drove me nuts) I stuck a bit of black tape over it so we could ignore it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"158\" /></a>And then there was the BMW 318i. I loved this car for its raw power - it was the most powerful vehicle I had ever driven at this point in time. It did have its foibles such that if I accelerated too fast in the wet the back end would get very lively and I found myself driving sideways down a major road in the middle of Northampton. It also had this quirk of just stopping and then refused to start. I would have to wait an hour before it would start again. I only found this out when I called the RAC and by the time they arrived I just turned the key and it started - most embarrassing.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4815\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" /></a>When we started ballooning we wanted a vehicle that could tow a trailer and be capable of off road activity.\r\nThe Suzuki Vitara filled the role very well and Jane loved it.\r\nAs my main crew person when I started to learn to fly she enjoyed following me and I was always pleased to see her and the Vitara bounce onto a field after a landing. Car and driver never failed me!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4811\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"160\" /></a>Sadly the Vitara wasn\'t sufficiently chunky. We were used to driving the Ballooning Business Land Rover Defenders so we decided to buy a Land Rover Defender 90. It was uncomfortable and the fuel economy, even for a diesel, was terrible but it was great off road.\r\nIt towed our balloon trailer back and forth across Northamptonshire for a couple of years before we decided we needed a bit of comfort.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4798\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"159\" /></a>Sticking with the Land Rover theme we then purchased the Freelander. A good workhorse but very dull. It was sold before it gave us too many problems (Land Rovers were notoriously unreliable).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4801\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"182\" /></a>At some point we owned a Mazda MX3 but the exact timing is a little vague (must have been when we lived in Rothersthorpe). It was Jane\'s car and she loved it. Amazingly zippy with a rev counter that when higher than any car we had owned.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4799\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"177\" /></a>Nobody can have a real love of cars until they\'ve owned a VW Golf GTi. Our black rocket was our pride and joy for a few years. Fast, furious and an iconic vehicle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4797\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"162\" /></a>The Audi TT was a gift from my brother. I was so proud to own it and the driving experience was superb. No matter how fast I threw it into a corner it went round like it was on rails. One winter after an unusual snowfall when the town was all snarled up with traffic I drove home on impacted snow and the 4x4 TT didn\'t slip or slide. It was like driving home in slightly damp conditions. The most sure footed car I\'ve ever owned.\r\n\r\nOur ballooning required comfort', 'Cars', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4818-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:21:39', '2018-02-14 16:21:39', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4822', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4823, 283, '2018-02-14 16:34:48', '2018-02-14 16:34:48', 'Over 50 years of driving I\'ve had the pleasure of driving a variety of vehicles. There was a time when I would think nothing of spending my weekends repairing cars that were hanging onto survival by the thinnest of metal. I still enjoy driving but the cars have become more reliable and faster. For a time line view of our later cars <a href=\"http://www.pigyard.com/ourcars.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here...</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4814\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Morris_Minor_1000_1960-200x128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"128\" /></a>I bought my first car when I was at college - an ex police Morris Minor which had a dodgy clutch. I remember spending a Christmas break at my brother\'s house in Bedfordshire with the car rolled up on scaffolding boards and bricks whilst in freezing temperatures we removed the gearbox, replaced the clutch and thrust bearing. It was so cold our fingers stuck to the metal parts. Happy days! In the final months of college I had to wrestle it all the way to the scrap yard as the steering seized up and the wheel bearings rattled to bits.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4812\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-mini-van.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>The replacement car was a Mini van that had more holes in the bodywork than a colander. The floor in the back of the van was becoming separated from the sides and had to be brazed together (the metal was too thin to weld) and the engine frequently overheated. I recall standing in a petrol station whilst it was being refueled and I scratched a bit of paint on the front wing only for my finger to go right through and get stuck. I filled the hole with a rubber grommet so it looked as though it had once been an aerial hole. It was a nightmare vehicle and didn\'t last long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4816 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph-Herald-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"167\" /></a>We were both teaching so we could just afford the luxury of a Triumph Herald convertible.\r\n\r\nIt was easy to maintain and fun to drive even if the hood was a bit fiddly to take down and put back up again. The wheel bearings needed to be replaced on a regular basis for some reason.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4817 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Triumph_Spitfire-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"172\" /></a>The Triumph Spitfire was our first sports car. It had the same running gear as the Herald and so was an easy step to take but it was totally impractical in terms of one car between two people and giving lifts to friends. From what I can remember we didn\'t keep it very long.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4813\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/morris-minor-pickup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"176\" /></a>Whatever possessed us to buy a Morris 1000 pickup is beyond me now and looking back made no sense at all but it seemed a good idea at the time.\r\n\r\nIt was rebuilt by someone we knew in Weedon, Northants. He did the major welding and body work; Jane and I painted it and cleaned up the engine. I can recall spending a Sunday afternoon replacing a half shaft that had broken. It was cold and wet but I needed it to get to work the following day.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-4810 alignright\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hilman-imp-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" /></a>The Hillman Imp was our first new car. Jane loved the colour and I think this is the car she learned to drive and passed her test.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4804\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Citroen2CV.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>The 2CV was another new car. A crazy vehicle with a flap under the dashboard to allow air to flow and a gear stick that needed to be pulled and pushed in a most unnatural way. Jane loved the car but hated driving it. It was possible to easily remove the rear seats if you wanted to sit around for a picnic. The suspension was very soft and it wallowed around cars. The 2 cylinder engine barely accelerated so the idea of a 0 - 60 acceleration time was immaterial. A real character of a car - love it or hate it!\r\n\r\nWe went through a very boring phase of car ownership when we seemed to be purchasing Fords - An Escort, Orion and Fiesta Sport.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" ids=\"4809,4807,4808\"]\r\n\r\nThey were practical, reliable and they allowed us to have a car each at a time when I was teaching in Daventry and Jane was Homeless Officer at South Northants Council.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4806\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/fiat-uno.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"152\" /></a>For a while Jane had a Fiat Uno. I think she was influenced by the fact that it had an econometer on the dashboard so she could drive economically. In the end it proved to be such a pain (it drove me nuts) I stuck a bit of black tape over it so we could ignore it.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4803\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bmw_318i-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"158\" /></a>And then there was the BMW 318i. I loved this car for its raw power - it was the most powerful vehicle I had ever driven at this point in time. It did have its foibles such that if I accelerated too fast in the wet the back end would get very lively and I found myself driving sideways down a major road in the middle of Northampton. It also had this quirk of just stopping and then refused to start. I would have to wait an hour before it would start again. I only found this out when I called the RAC and by the time they arrived I just turned the key and it started - most embarrassing.\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4815\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/suziki_vitara-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" /></a>When we started ballooning we wanted a vehicle that could tow a trailer and be capable of off road activity.\r\nThe Suzuki Vitara filled the role very well and Jane loved it.\r\nAs my main crew person when I started to learn to fly she enjoyed following me and I was always pleased to see her and the Vitara bounce onto a field after a landing. Car and driver never failed me!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4811\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/landrover-90-defender.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"160\" /></a>Sadly the Vitara wasn\'t sufficiently chunky. We were used to driving the Ballooning Business Land Rover Defenders so we decided to buy a Land Rover Defender 90. It was uncomfortable and the fuel economy, even for a diesel, was terrible but it was great off road.\r\nIt towed our balloon trailer back and forth across Northamptonshire for a couple of years before we decided we needed a bit of comfort.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4798\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/freelander_2003-02-01_002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"212\" height=\"159\" /></a>Sticking with the Land Rover theme we then purchased the Freelander. A good workhorse but very dull. It was sold before it gave us too many problems (Land Rovers were notoriously unreliable).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4801\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/mazdamx306-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"182\" /></a>At some point we owned a Mazda MX3 but the exact timing is a little vague (must have been when we lived in Rothersthorpe). It was Jane\'s car and she loved it. Amazingly zippy with a rev counter that when higher than any car we had owned.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4799 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golf-gti-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>Nobody can have a real love of cars until they\'ve owned a VW Golf GTi. Our black rocket was our pride and joy for a few years. Fast, furious and an iconic vehicle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4797 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/audiTT04-200x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"160\" /></a>The Audi TT was a gift from my brother. I was so proud to own it and the driving experience was superb. No matter how fast I threw it into a corner it went round like it was on rails. One winter after an unusual snowfall when the town was all snarled up with traffic I drove home on impacted snow and the 4x4 TT didn\'t slip or slide. It was like driving home in slightly damp conditions. The most sure footed car I\'ve ever owned.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Nov-29-2011_0765.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4793 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Nov-29-2011_0765-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Our ballooning required comfort and so we upgraded the Freelander for a Honda CRV. It was comfortable, reasonably economic and had a large a boot.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Img2007-04-14_0004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4800 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Img2007-04-14_0004-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I think it was around this time we had three cars. The Honda, Audi TT and to add to our stable we bought a Smart Car. It was Jane\'s pride and joy. Everything about it suited her - colour, economy, sliding roof and it was very distinctive. She loved it so much we then bought <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluesmartcar.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4802\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluesmartcar-200x127.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"127\" /></a>a brand new one.', 'Cars', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4818-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-14 16:34:48', '2018-02-14 16:34:48', '', 4818, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4823', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4824, 283, '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4825,4827,4828,4832,4829,4830,4831,4833,4826\"]\r\n\r\nThis month isn\'t renown for a great deal happening in the garden and 2018 is no different with daytime temperatures of around 5 degrees, a frost whenever there are clear skies and plenty of rain and even more rain. A sunny afternoon tempted me into the garden with the camera and it didn\'t take long to find the early signs of spring. The squirrel and the pheasant are attracted to the bird feeder to pick up whatever the long-tailed tits, goldfinches, blue tits, robins, chaffinches and starlings leave behind.\r\n\r\nHopefully it won\'t be long before I start sowing seeds in trays in the utility room.', 'February Garden', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'february-garden', '', '', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4824', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4825, 283, '2018-02-15 18:52:50', '2018-02-15 18:52:50', '', 'squirrel-on-birdfeeder(feb1', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'squirrel-on-birdfeederfeb1', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:52:50', '2018-02-15 18:52:50', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/squirrel-on-birdfeederfeb1.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4826, 283, '2018-02-15 18:52:53', '2018-02-15 18:52:53', '', 'pheasant-in-garden(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'pheasant-in-gardenfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:52:53', '2018-02-15 18:52:53', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pheasant-in-gardenfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4827, 283, '2018-02-15 18:52:56', '2018-02-15 18:52:56', '', 'snowdrops+fairy(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'snowdropsfairyfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:52:56', '2018-02-15 18:52:56', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/snowdropsfairyfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4828, 283, '2018-02-15 18:52:58', '2018-02-15 18:52:58', '', 'greenhelebore2(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'greenhelebore2feb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:52:58', '2018-02-15 18:52:58', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/greenhelebore2feb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4829, 283, '2018-02-15 18:53:01', '2018-02-15 18:53:01', '', 'primula(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'primulafeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:53:01', '2018-02-15 18:53:01', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/primulafeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4830, 283, '2018-02-15 18:53:03', '2018-02-15 18:53:03', '', 'saxifrage(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'saxifragefeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:53:03', '2018-02-15 18:53:03', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/saxifragefeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4831, 283, '2018-02-15 18:53:07', '2018-02-15 18:53:07', '', 'camelia(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'cameliafeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:53:07', '2018-02-15 18:53:07', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cameliafeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4832, 283, '2018-02-15 18:53:09', '2018-02-15 18:53:09', '', 'greenhelebore(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'greenheleborefeb18', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:53:09', '2018-02-15 18:53:09', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/greenheleborefeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4833, 283, '2018-02-15 18:53:12', '2018-02-15 18:53:12', '', 'ranunculus(feb16)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'ranunculusfeb16', '', '', '2018-02-15 18:53:12', '2018-02-15 18:53:12', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ranunculusfeb16.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4834, 283, '2018-02-15 19:00:41', '2018-02-15 19:00:41', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4825,4827,4828,4832,4829,4830,4831,4833,4826\"]\r\n\r\nThis month isn\'t renown for a great deal happening in the garden and 2018 is no different with daytime temperatures of around 5 degrees, a frost whenever there are clear skies and plenty of rain and even more rain. A sunny afternoon tempted me into the garden with the camera and it didn\'t take long to find the early signs of spring. The squirrel and the pheasant are attracted to the bird feeder to pick up whatever the long-tailed tits, goldfinches, bluetits, robins, chaffinches and starlings leave behind.\r\n\r\nHopefully it won\'t be long before I start sowing seeds in trays in the utility room.', 'February Garden', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4824-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-15 19:00:41', '2018-02-15 19:00:41', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4834', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4835, 283, '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4825,4827,4828,4832,4829,4830,4831,4833,4826\"]\r\n\r\nThis month isn\'t renown for a great deal happening in the garden and 2018 is no different with daytime temperatures of around 5 degrees, a frost whenever there are clear skies and plenty of rain and even more rain. A sunny afternoon tempted me into the garden with the camera and it didn\'t take long to find the early signs of spring. The squirrel and the pheasant are attracted to the bird feeder to pick up whatever the long-tailed tits, goldfinches, blue tits, robins, chaffinches and starlings leave behind.\r\n\r\nHopefully it won\'t be long before I start sowing seeds in trays in the utility room.', 'February Garden', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4824-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '2018-02-15 19:01:51', '', 4824, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4835', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4837, 283, '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4772 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-200x158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"158\" /></a>Different Points of View</span>\r\nThis session was aimed at getting us to write from a different point of view. As previously there are a series of warm up exercises and in the middle a discussion about first, second and third person narratives. First person being “I”; second is “you” and third is he/she or a person’s name. I didn’t know any of this and found it difficult to get my head round it whereas the literary types in the group were very familiar with writing from different points of view.\r\n\r\nWe had to pick a phrase and then write something:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Behind my back... there is a world of experiences. So much behind me, it is impossible to remember it all in detail and quite futile to even bother trying.</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>In front of me there is a huge black hole of the unknown that I’m drawn into whether I like it or not. Many parallel universes that beckon me, each on dependent on every decision I take from this moment forward. Just as every decision behind my back brought me to where I am now – to this moment in time; this minute, this second, the only moment that really exists – now!</em></span>\r\n\r\nThe tutor then gave out cards with an item written on it and we had to write from that items point of view. Although she said she had shuffled the cards I got the feeling she had selected this card especially for me:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4839\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18-200x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" /></a>It’s dark and smells wonderful then suddenly there’s a rush and light floods my space. A hand caresses me and then flicks me into the air. I’m slowly placed into position across her ample flesh and tightened from behind. I’m working again, an uplifting experience for us both. She pushes and prods at me so that everything is in place and comfortable. She pouts into the mirror, turns this way and that before stepping into that famous white flouncy dress. We’re ready Mr President... (Marilyn Monroe’s Bra)</em></span>\r\nWhen I read it to the group it raised a few laughs and everybody guessed who I was.\r\n\r\nFinally we had to write a longer piece from a different point of view. I chose to be a nervous Boris bike in London.\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I’m bored! I’ve been parked here for over two hours and nothing has happened. Oh, hang on, I’m being approached. A thin, blond woman in Lycra. She’s got potential. Yes! She’s unlocked me. At last I’m going for a spin but where to? Ok, ok take it easy; bit of a wobbly start – is this your first time? No? Ok steady it and now we’ve got momentum. Down the slope, Past Prince Albert on the right and out towards Hyde Park corner. Mind you if she’s this bad in the park what’s she going to be like when we hit traffic? Don’t say “hit”. Here we go – phew nothing coming and we’re into a bus lane. Please, please don’t hit that taxi otherwise I’ll be out of action for months. Brake! Brake! Oh my god! Is it me or are these riders getting more gung ho? At last a bit of clear road through Horse Guards and I get to appreciate her warm bum on my seat. For heaven’s sake don’t get distracted – mind on the job; keep rolling and keep upright, that’s all I have to do to survive. Enjoy the rhythm of the pedals, the whoosh of air and the sound of rubber on tarmac. What more is there?</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>She’s braking; we’re slowing and eventually I’m parked. Marble Arch – not far but far enough and a different aspect of looking across the park until the next punter comes along.</em></span>\r\n\r\nI know I’m not going to win any prizes for my writing but that isn’t the point. I enjoy the experience, the challenge and listening to other people’s efforts. I’m already booked onto the next session in March.', 'Creative Writing 2', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'creative-writing-2', '', '', '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4837', 0, 'post', '', 5),
(4838, 283, '2018-02-20 16:43:17', '2018-02-20 16:43:17', '', 'boris-bikes(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'boris-bikesfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-20 16:43:17', '2018-02-20 16:43:17', '', 4837, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4839, 283, '2018-02-20 16:43:19', '2018-02-20 16:43:19', '', 'marilyn-munroes-bra(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'marilyn-munroes-brafeb18', '', '', '2018-02-20 16:43:19', '2018-02-20 16:43:19', '', 4837, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4840, 283, '2018-02-20 16:45:08', '2018-02-20 16:45:08', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4772 alignleft\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-200x158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"158\" /></a>Different Points of View</span>\r\n\r\nThis session was aimed at getting us to write from a different point of view. As previously there are a series of warm up exercises and in the middle a discussion about first, second and third person narratives. First person being “I”; second is “you” and third is he/she or a person’s name. I didn’t know any of this and found it difficult to get my head round it whereas the literary types in the group were very familiar with writing from different points of view.\r\n\r\nWe had to pick a phrase and then write something:\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Behind my back... there is a world of experiences. So much behind me, it is impossible to remember it all in detail and quite futile to even bother trying.</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>In front of me there is a huge black hole of the unknown that I’m drawn into whether I like it or not. Many parallel universes that beckon me, each on dependent on every decision I take from this moment forward. Just as every decision behind my back brought me to where I am now – to this moment in time; this minute, this second, the only moment that really exists – now!</em></span>\r\n\r\nThe tutor then gave out cards with an item written on it and we had to write from that items point of view. Although she said she had shuffled the cards I got the feeling she had selected this card especially for me:\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4839\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18-200x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" /></a>It’s dark and smells wonderful then suddenly there’s a rush and light floods my space. A hand caresses me and then flicks me into the air. I’m slowly placed into position across her ample flesh and tightened from behind. I’m working again, an uplifting experience for us both. She pushes and prods at me so that everything is in place and comfortable. She pouts into the mirror, turns this way and that before stepping into that famous white flouncy dress. We’re ready Mr President... (Marilyn Monroe’s Bra)</em></span>\r\n\r\nWhen I read it to the group it raised a few laughs and everybody guessed who I was.\r\n\r\nFinally we had to write a longer piece from a different point of view. I chose to be a nervous Boris bike in London.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I’m bored! I’ve been parked here for over two hours and nothing has happened. Oh, hang on, I’m being approached. A thin, blond woman in Lycra. She’s got potential. Yes! She’s unlocked me. At last I’m going for a spin but where to? Ok, ok take it easy; bit of a wobbly start – is this your first time? No? Ok steady it and now we’ve got momentum. Down the slope, Past Prince Albert on the right and out towards Hyde Park corner. Mind you if she’s this bad in the park what’s she going to be like when we hit traffic? Don’t say “hit”. Here we go – phew nothing coming and we’re into a bus lane. Please, please don’t hit that taxi otherwise I’ll be out of action for months. Brake! Brake! Oh my god! Is it me or are these riders getting more gung ho? At last a bit of clear road through Horse Guards and I get to appreciate her warm bum on my seat. For heaven’s sake don’t get distracted – mind on the job; keep rolling and keep upright, that’s all I have to do to survive. Enjoy the rhythm of the pedals, the whoosh of air and the sound of rubber on tarmac. What more is there?</em></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>She’s braking; we’re slowing and eventually I’m parked. Marble Arch – not far but far enough and a different aspect of looking across the park until the next punter comes along.</em></span>\r\n\r\nI know I’m not going to win any prizes for my writing but that isn’t the point. I enjoy the experience, the challenge and listening to other people’s efforts. I’m already booked onto the next session in March.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Creative Writing 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4837-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-20 16:45:08', '2018-02-20 16:45:08', '', 4837, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4840', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4841, 283, '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4772 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-200x158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"158\" /></a>Different Points of View</span>\r\nThis session was aimed at getting us to write from a different point of view. As previously there are a series of warm up exercises and in the middle a discussion about first, second and third person narratives. First person being “I”; second is “you” and third is he/she or a person’s name. I didn’t know any of this and found it difficult to get my head round it whereas the literary types in the group were very familiar with writing from different points of view.\r\n\r\nWe had to pick a phrase and then write something:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Behind my back... there is a world of experiences. So much behind me, it is impossible to remember it all in detail and quite futile to even bother trying.</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>In front of me there is a huge black hole of the unknown that I’m drawn into whether I like it or not. Many parallel universes that beckon me, each on dependent on every decision I take from this moment forward. Just as every decision behind my back brought me to where I am now – to this moment in time; this minute, this second, the only moment that really exists – now!</em></span>\r\n\r\nThe tutor then gave out cards with an item written on it and we had to write from that items point of view. Although she said she had shuffled the cards I got the feeling she had selected this card especially for me:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4839\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18-200x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" /></a>It’s dark and smells wonderful then suddenly there’s a rush and light floods my space. A hand caresses me and then flicks me into the air. I’m slowly placed into position across her ample flesh and tightened from behind. I’m working again, an uplifting experience for us both. She pushes and prods at me so that everything is in place and comfortable. She pouts into the mirror, turns this way and that before stepping into that famous white flouncy dress. We’re ready Mr President... (Marilyn Monroe’s Bra)</em></span>\r\nWhen I read it to the group it raised a few laughs and everybody guessed who I was.\r\n\r\nFinally we had to write a longer piece from a different point of view. I chose to be a nervous Boris bike in London.\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I’m bored! I’ve been parked here for over two hours and nothing has happened. Oh, hang on, I’m being approached. A thin, blond woman in Lycra. She’s got potential. Yes! She’s unlocked me. At last I’m going for a spin but where to? Ok, ok take it easy; bit of a wobbly start – is this your first time? No? Ok steady it and now we’ve got momentum. Down the slope, Past Prince Albert on the right and out towards Hyde Park corner. Mind you if she’s this bad in the park what’s she going to be like when we hit traffic? Don’t say “hit”. Here we go – phew nothing coming and we’re into a bus lane. Please, please don’t hit that taxi otherwise I’ll be out of action for months. Brake! Brake! Oh my god! Is it me or are these riders getting more gung ho? At last a bit of clear road through Horse Guards and I get to appreciate her warm bum on my seat. For heaven’s sake don’t get distracted – mind on the job; keep rolling and keep upright, that’s all I have to do to survive. Enjoy the rhythm of the pedals, the whoosh of air and the sound of rubber on tarmac. What more is there?</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>She’s braking; we’re slowing and eventually I’m parked. Marble Arch – not far but far enough and a different aspect of looking across the park until the next punter comes along.</em></span>\r\n\r\nI know I’m not going to win any prizes for my writing but that isn’t the point. I enjoy the experience, the challenge and listening to other people’s efforts. I’m already booked onto the next session in March.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Creative Writing 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4837-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '2018-02-20 16:47:28', '', 4837, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4841', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4842, 283, '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '<span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 16pt;\"><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4772 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/creative-writing-200x158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"158\" /></a>Different Points of View</span>\r\nThis session was aimed at getting us to write from a different point of view. As previously there are a series of warm up exercises and in the middle a discussion about first, second and third person narratives. First person being “I”; second is “you” and third is he/she or a person’s name. I didn’t know any of this and found it difficult to get my head round it whereas the literary types in the group were very familiar with writing from different points of view.\r\n\r\nWe had to pick a phrase and then write something:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Behind my back... there is a world of experiences. So much behind me, it is impossible to remember it all in detail and quite futile to even bother trying.</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>In front of me there is a huge black hole of the unknown that I’m drawn into whether I like it or not. Many parallel universes that beckon me, each on dependent on every decision I take from this moment forward. Just as every decision behind my back brought me to where I am now – to this moment in time; this minute, this second, the only moment that really exists – now!</em></span>\r\n\r\nThe tutor then gave out cards with an item written on it and we had to write from that items point of view. Although she said she had shuffled the cards I got the feeling she had selected this card especially for me:\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4839\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/marilyn-munroes-brafeb18-200x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" /></a>It’s dark and smells wonderful then suddenly there’s a rush and light floods my space. A hand caresses me and then flicks me into the air. I’m slowly placed into position across her ample flesh and tightened from behind. I’m working again, an uplifting experience for us both. She pushes and prods at me so that everything is in place and comfortable. She pouts into the mirror, turns this way and that before stepping into that famous white flouncy dress. We’re ready Mr President... (Marilyn Monroe’s Bra)</em></span>\r\nWhen I read it to the group it raised a few laughs and everybody guessed who I was.\r\n\r\nFinally we had to write a longer piece from a different point of view. I chose to be a nervous Boris bike in London.\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4838\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boris-bikesfeb18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>I’m bored! I’ve been parked here for over two hours and nothing has happened. Oh, hang on, I’m being approached. A thin, blond woman in Lycra. She’s got potential. Yes! She’s unlocked me. At last I’m going for a spin but where to? Ok, ok take it easy; bit of a wobbly start – is this your first time? No? Ok steady it and now we’ve got momentum. Down the slope, Past Prince Albert on the right and out towards Hyde Park corner. Mind you if she’s this bad in the park what’s she going to be like when we hit traffic? Don’t say “hit”. Here we go – phew nothing coming and we’re into a bus lane. Please, please don’t hit that taxi otherwise I’ll be out of action for months. Brake! Brake! Oh my god! Is it me or are these riders getting more gung ho? At last a bit of clear road through Horse Guards and I get to appreciate her warm bum on my seat. For heaven’s sake don’t get distracted – mind on the job; keep rolling and keep upright, that’s all I have to do to survive. Enjoy the rhythm of the pedals, the whoosh of air and the sound of rubber on tarmac. What more is there?</em></span>\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>She’s braking; we’re slowing and eventually I’m parked. Marble Arch – not far but far enough and a different aspect of looking across the park until the next punter comes along.</em></span>\r\n\r\nI know I’m not going to win any prizes for my writing but that isn’t the point. I enjoy the experience, the challenge and listening to other people’s efforts. I’m already booked onto the next session in March.', 'Creative Writing 2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4837-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '2018-02-20 18:27:36', '', 4837, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4842', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4849, 283, '2018-02-28 14:33:42', '2018-02-28 14:33:42', '', 'folly(feb18)', 'The Folly', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'follyfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 14:54:33', '2018-02-28 14:54:33', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/follyfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4850, 283, '2018-02-28 14:34:00', '2018-02-28 14:34:00', '', 'boathouse(feb18)', 'The Boat House', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'boathousefeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 14:54:42', '2018-02-28 14:54:42', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/boathousefeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(4851, 283, '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past <a href=\"http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dunstanburgh Castle</a> and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4845,4850,4849\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.', 'Northumbria', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'northumbria', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4851', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4852, 283, '2018-02-28 14:41:45', '2018-02-28 14:41:45', '', 'dunstanburgh(feb18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'dunstanburghfeb18', '', '', '2018-02-28 14:41:45', '2018-02-28 14:41:45', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4853, 283, '2018-02-28 15:13:12', '2018-02-28 15:13:12', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past Dunstanburgh Castle and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and an excellent quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea is biting but walking the ramparts prepares us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage is on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse and the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one or the other.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4849,4850,4845\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Northumbria', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4851-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:13:12', '2018-02-28 15:13:12', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4853', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4854, 283, '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past Dunstanburgh Castle and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4849,4850,4845\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Northumbria', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4851-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '2018-02-28 15:16:46', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4854', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4855, 283, '2018-02-28 15:17:37', '2018-02-28 15:17:37', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past <a href=\"http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dunstanburgh Castle</a> and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4849,4850,4845\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Northumbria', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4851-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:17:37', '2018-02-28 15:17:37', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4855', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4856, 283, '2018-02-28 15:37:39', '2018-02-28 15:37:39', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past <a href=\"http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dunstanburgh Castle</a> and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4849,4850,4845\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.', 'Northumbria', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4851-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:37:39', '2018-02-28 15:37:39', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4856', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4857, 283, '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4852\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dunstanburghfeb18-200x141.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"141\" /></a>A long weekend in Northumbria in February doesn\'t sound particularly attractive but it was a great few days. We walked from Craster past <a href=\"http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dunstanburgh Castle</a> and along the beach to Newton by the Sea in a strong easterly wind. We stopped on the way back at a local golf club for lunch and by the time we returned to the car we had covered nearly nine miles. A great day followed by a late dinner at <a href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504037-d2168268-Reviews-The_White_Swan-Belford_Northumberland_England.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The White Swan</a> which had a surprisingly good menu and excellent, quality food well presented.\r\nThe following day we had an afternoon in <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Berwick upon Tweed</a>. Again the wind off the north sea was biting but walking the ramparts prepared us for a coffee in Costa and dinner at home - venison stroganoff with a log burner flickering in the background.\r\n\r\nThe cottage was on the Middleton Hall Estate where there are a number of holiday cottages some of which would make perfect romantic weeks away. We particularly liked the idea of the Boathouse or the Folly so we will revisit another time to experience one of them.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"columns\" size=\"large\" ids=\"4845,4850,4849\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4847 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/maryalnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>On our final day we went to Alnwick and spent some time in the gardens. The combination of cold air and fountains is chilling so we spent some time in the cafe drinking hot chocolate and coffee looking out at the gardens.\r\n\r\nAfter a wander around Alnwick it was a time for a visit to <a href=\"https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barter Books</a> and an inevitable afternoon tea.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18.jpg\">\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4846 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/teacakealnwickfeb18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>Sitting in front of an open coal fire drinking Earl Grey tea eating carrot cake and <a href=\"https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1129665/selkirk-bannock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Selkirk Bannock cake</a> (recipe) was a treat not to be forgotten.\r\nWe left Northumbria with a sprinkling of snow. On the way down the A1 we used a book that Richard and Nicola had given to me to find places to eat off the main motorways. We finished up in a cafe in Knaresborough run by and for people with learning difficulties. The sandwiches weren\'t brilliant but it was a place full of happy people.', 'Northumbria', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4851-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '2018-02-28 15:38:21', '', 4851, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4857', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4858, 283, '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/snowy-housemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4859\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/snowy-housemar18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After many years of mild winters we seem to be totally unprepared for a few flakes of snow and daytime temperatures of minus 5 celsius. Admittedly I didn\'t have a need to go out in the car but I did walk into the town several times where many of the shops had closed because of the inclement weather.\r\nAfter the snow started to clear those who had been holed up came out to visit Tesco only to find all the bread had been sold and the milk was getting a little low. The only time I\'ve seen Tesco more busy was at Christmas. Even the self-service tills had queues.\r\nI did drive down to Mary\'s near Bourne on Friday afternoon where the road from Wragby to Bardney was down to one lane with drifts on either side of the road about two metres high. The Mazda CX5 was sure-footed and I felt quite confident until I passed a bulk tanker on its side lying on top of a hedge - I reduced my speed and became a little bit more cautious.', 'It\'s Called Winter', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'its-called-winter', '', '', '2018-03-05 18:53:01', '2018-03-05 18:53:01', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4858', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4859, 283, '2018-03-05 18:42:42', '2018-03-05 18:42:42', '', 'snowy-house(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'snowy-housemar18', '', '', '2018-03-05 18:42:42', '2018-03-05 18:42:42', '', 4858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/snowy-housemar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4860, 283, '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/snowy-housemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4859\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/snowy-housemar18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>After many years of mild winters we seem to be totally unprepared for a few flakes of snow and daytime temperatures of minus 5 celsius. Admittedly I didn\'t have a need to go out in the car but I did walk into the town several times where many of the shops had closed because of the inclement weather.\r\nAfter the snow started to clear those who had been holed up came out to visit Tesco only to find all the bread had been sold and the milk was getting a little low. The only time I\'ve seen Tesco more busy was at Christmas. Even the self-service tills had queues.\r\nI did drive down to Mary\'s near Bourne on Friday afternoon where the road from Wragby to Bardney was down to one lane with drifts on either side of the road about two metres high. The Mazda CX5 was sure-footed and I felt quite confident until I passed a bulk tanker on its side lying on top of a hedge - I reduced my speed and became a little bit more cautious.', 'It\'s Called Winter', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4858-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '2018-03-05 18:52:46', '', 4858, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4860', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4861, 283, '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4862 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18-200x157.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"157\" /></a>My role as Chairman of West Wolds U3A gets me involved in all sorts of activities. Today one of the team organised an event similar to Cash in the Attic where for a small fee our members could bring along items for a professional auctioneer to value. It was a good turn out and because I was on the door I waited until the end to get my items looked at. I have a large number of books containing postcards that Jane collected over many years. She set them out into three themes - balloons, fairies and windmills. It was difficult to put a price on any of them (anything between 20 pence and 20 pounds per card) so the valuer suggested I take them to a postcard specialist in Ely. Jane took so much time and trouble over her collections that I\'d like them to go to a good home.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4863 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Later the same day we had a visit from the Lincs and Notts air ambulance. It landed in the small playing field at the back of the house. After ten minutes it took off again but I don\'t think it was on an emergency call out.', 'Mid Week Events', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'mid-week-events', '', '', '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4861', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4862, 283, '2018-03-06 22:12:44', '2018-03-06 22:12:44', '', 'valuations(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'valuationsmar18', '', '', '2018-03-06 22:12:44', '2018-03-06 22:12:44', '', 4861, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4863, 283, '2018-03-06 22:12:46', '2018-03-06 22:12:46', '', 'air-ambulance(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'air-ambulancemar18', '', '', '2018-03-06 22:12:46', '2018-03-06 22:12:46', '', 4861, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4864, 283, '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4862 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18-200x157.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"157\" /></a>My role as Chairman of West Wolds U3A gets me involved in all sorts of activities. Today one of the team organised an event similar to Cash in the Attic where for a small fee our members could bring along items for a professional auctioneer to value. It was a good turn out and I because I was on the door I waited until the end to get my items looked at. I have a large number of books containing postcards that Jane collected over many years. She set them out into three themes - balloons, fairies and windmills. It was difficult to put a price on any of them (anything between 20 pence and 20 pounds per card) so the valuer suggested I take them to a postcard specialist in Ely. Jane took so much time and trouble over her collections that I\'d like them to go to a good home.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4863 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Later the same day we had a visit from the Lincs and Notts air ambulance. It landed in the small playing field at the back of the house. After ten minutes it took off again but I don\'t think it was on an emergency call out.', 'Mid Week Events', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4861-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '2018-03-06 22:24:48', '', 4861, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4864', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4865, 283, '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4862 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/valuationsmar18-200x157.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"157\" /></a>My role as Chairman of West Wolds U3A gets me involved in all sorts of activities. Today one of the team organised an event similar to Cash in the Attic where for a small fee our members could bring along items for a professional auctioneer to value. It was a good turn out and because I was on the door I waited until the end to get my items looked at. I have a large number of books containing postcards that Jane collected over many years. She set them out into three themes - balloons, fairies and windmills. It was difficult to put a price on any of them (anything between 20 pence and 20 pounds per card) so the valuer suggested I take them to a postcard specialist in Ely. Jane took so much time and trouble over her collections that I\'d like them to go to a good home.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4863 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/air-ambulancemar18-200x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" /></a>Later the same day we had a visit from the Lincs and Notts air ambulance. It landed in the small playing field at the back of the house. After ten minutes it took off again but I don\'t think it was on an emergency call out.', 'Mid Week Events', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4861-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '2018-03-06 22:25:17', '', 4861, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4865', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4870, 283, '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/garden-wiresmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4867 size-medium\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/garden-wiresmar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>As the days start opening out, after the snow has melted away my thoughts turn to the garden and the jobs that need to be done before everything starts growing.\r\n\r\nWhen we first moved in we bought two apple trees (Bramley and Cox\'s Orange Pippin) with the intention of espalier training them against the fence however circumstances worked against us and after nearly four years I\'ve put in posts and am in the process of stretching stainless steel wires between them. The idea now is to prune the trees back so they will grow horizontally along the wires. This might take a few years of careful pruning to get them back into shape because they\'ve grown upwards. To fit one level of wire <a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nursery-visitmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-4868\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nursery-visitmar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"276\" /></a>took me two hours but I am getting faster so the next wires should be installed faster but I\'ll have to wait for another dry day before venturing out.\r\n\r\nA weekend in the south of the county with Mary and we visited a <a href=\"http://www.rasells.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local nursery</a> where I purchased a black Hellebore and took a fancy to a Daphne but haven\'t purchased one yet. It\'s a winter flowering shrub with a heady scent that smells of cloves. My garden lacks colour in the summer apart from the green Hellebores which are spreading like weeds - another job is to lift them and move them into a better position in the borders.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mistletoemar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4869\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mistletoemar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>On a seven mile walk across the <a href=\"http://www.grimsthorpe.co.uk/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grimsthorpe Castle</a> estate with Mary we saw lots of oak trees festooned with mistletoe. I don\'t remember seeing it before in such large bunches.\r\n\r\nAfter all the snow and rain the fields were exceedingly wet and muddy - it was heavy going. There were times when our boots were so thick with mud we were several centimetres taller.\r\n\r\nIt was a relief to get back to a cuppa with wholemeal toast spread with ginger curd. Life can still be full of surprises ;-)', 'Walk and Gardening', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4866-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '2018-03-12 19:03:30', '', 4866, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4870', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4887, 283, '2018-03-22 19:46:01', '2018-03-22 19:46:01', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/planting-outmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4889\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/planting-outmar18-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>When the sun is out and the temperature in the garden gets above 10 degrees I start to think that spring is upon us however as all us Brits know there can be a sting in the tail and tomorrow could be completely different. Today I planted out the <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/286096/Heuchera-Lime-Marmalade/Details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Heuchara</a> and the almost black <a href=\"https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/168774/Helleborus-x-hybridus-Harvington-Shades-of-the-Night/Details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hellebore</a>. I\'ve promised myself that I will put more effort into the borders this year to develop what Jane started and to rearrange the shrubs that are, in places, taking over or just not appropriate.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/robin-helpingmar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4888\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/robin-helpingmar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>It was a rewarding afternoon and I managed to make a good start on the redesign. Of course it is always satisfying when you have a little helper at hand like this robin because he managed to take my mind off my aching back.\r\n\r\nAfter the winter lay-off there are muscles in my body that I forgot were there and when I start to use them it doesn\'t take long before they let me know.\r\n\r\nNext job is to sow some early seeds in trays in the utility room to give them a head start - early but not too early...', 'Almost Spring', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'almost-spring', '', '', '2018-03-22 19:46:01', '2018-03-22 19:46:01', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4887', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4872, 283, '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4875\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>I bought the tickets for Joan Baez on her farewell tour in early November in the hope I would have a \"friend\" who would go with me and although I\'m fortunate to \"be\" with Mary she already had an event she was attending with her son and daughter. Instead of going with Mary I arranged to go with an old friend who happens to live in York and I was going to stay overnight with him. On the morning of the show I got a text to say he wasn\'t well and couldn\'t make it. I eventually found a friend from the U3A who had nothing planned and was prepared for a night out in York and the late journey back (sadly many people over 65 are not prepared to go out after dark).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4874\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>York Barbican is a lovely venue. It\'s relatively small and has well raked seats so wherever you sit you get a good view of the stage. My tickets were for row C and towards the centre of the auditorium so it was almost possible to have eye contact.\r\n\r\nJoan came on stage at 7.30 pm and played through until after 9 pm without a break. At 77 she\'s a legend in the music business and still looks and sounds very good. Someone in the audience shouted \"You look great Joan\" and she replied \"I have to work at it\". She didn\'t appear to have to work at her singing - it was natural, relaxed and although she has dropped an octave to save her voice she still has the range that makes her sound so special. It was a memorable night out and I was home before midnight.', 'Joan Baez Review', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'joan-baez-review', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4872', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(4873, 283, '2018-03-14 10:09:08', '2018-03-14 10:09:08', 'I bought the tickets for Joan Baez on her farewell tour in early November in the hope I would have a \"friend\" who would go with me and although I\'m fortunate to \"be\" with Mary she already had an event she was attending with her son and daughter. Instead of going with Mary I arranged to go with an old friend who happened to live in York and I was going to stay overnight with him. On the morning of the show I got a text to say he wasn\'t well and couldn\'t make it. I eventually found a friend from the U3A who had nothing planned and was prepared for a late night out in York and the journey back.\r\n\r\nYork Barbican is a lovely venue. It\'s relatively small and has well raked seats so wherever you sit you get a good view of the stage. My tickets were for row C and towards the centre of the auditorium so it was possible to have eye contact.\r\n\r\nJoan came on stage at 7.30 pm and played through until after 9 pm without a break. At 77 she\'s a legend in the music business and still looks and sounds very good. Someone in the audience shouted \"You look great Joan\" and she replied \"I have to work at it\". She didn\'t appear to have to work at her singing - it was natural, relaxed and although she has dropped an octave to save her voice she still has the range that made her voice so special.', 'Joan Baez Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4872-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:09:08', '2018-03-14 10:09:08', '', 4872, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4873', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4874, 283, '2018-03-14 10:30:57', '2018-03-14 10:30:57', '', 'joan-baez1(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'joan-baez1mar18', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:30:57', '2018-03-14 10:30:57', '', 4872, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4875, 283, '2018-03-14 10:31:01', '2018-03-14 10:31:01', '', 'joan-baez2(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'joan-baez2mar18', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:31:01', '2018-03-14 10:31:01', '', 4872, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4876, 283, '2018-03-14 10:33:25', '2018-03-14 10:33:25', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4875\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>I bought the tickets for Joan Baez on her farewell tour in early November in the hope I would have a \"friend\" who would go with me and although I\'m fortunate to \"be\" with Mary she already had an event she was attending with her son and daughter. Instead of going with Mary I arranged to go with an old friend who happened to live in York and I was going to stay overnight with him. On the morning of the show I got a text to say he wasn\'t well and couldn\'t make it. I eventually found a friend from the U3A who had nothing planned and was prepared for a late night out in York and the journey back.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4874\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>York Barbican is a lovely venue. It\'s relatively small and has well raked seats so wherever you sit you get a good view of the stage. My tickets were for row C and towards the centre of the auditorium so it was almost possible to have eye contact.\r\n\r\nJoan came on stage at 7.30 pm and played through until after 9 pm without a break. At 77 she\'s a legend in the music business and still looks and sounds very good. Someone in the audience shouted \"You look great Joan\" and she replied \"I have to work at it\". She didn\'t appear to have to work at her singing - it was natural, relaxed and although she has dropped an octave to save her voice she still has the range that makes her voice so special.', 'Joan Baez Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4872-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:33:25', '2018-03-14 10:33:25', '', 4872, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4876', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4877, 283, '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-4875\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez2mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"257\" /></a>I bought the tickets for Joan Baez on her farewell tour in early November in the hope I would have a \"friend\" who would go with me and although I\'m fortunate to \"be\" with Mary she already had an event she was attending with her son and daughter. Instead of going with Mary I arranged to go with an old friend who happens to live in York and I was going to stay overnight with him. On the morning of the show I got a text to say he wasn\'t well and couldn\'t make it. I eventually found a friend from the U3A who had nothing planned and was prepared for a night out in York and the late journey back (sadly many people over 65 are not prepared to go out after dark).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4874\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/joan-baez1mar18-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>York Barbican is a lovely venue. It\'s relatively small and has well raked seats so wherever you sit you get a good view of the stage. My tickets were for row C and towards the centre of the auditorium so it was almost possible to have eye contact.\r\n\r\nJoan came on stage at 7.30 pm and played through until after 9 pm without a break. At 77 she\'s a legend in the music business and still looks and sounds very good. Someone in the audience shouted \"You look great Joan\" and she replied \"I have to work at it\". She didn\'t appear to have to work at her singing - it was natural, relaxed and although she has dropped an octave to save her voice she still has the range that makes her sound so special. It was a memorable night out and I was home before midnight.', 'Joan Baez Review', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '4872-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '2018-03-14 10:40:55', '', 4872, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4877', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(4878, 283, '2018-03-20 13:27:34', '2018-03-20 13:27:34', '', 'diseased-sycamore2(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'diseased-sycamore2mar18', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:32:50', '2018-03-20 13:32:50', '', 4883, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamore2mar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4879, 283, '2018-03-20 13:27:37', '2018-03-20 13:27:37', '', 'woodland-path(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'woodland-pathmar18', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:27:37', '2018-03-20 13:27:37', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/woodland-pathmar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4880, 283, '2018-03-20 13:27:41', '2018-03-20 13:27:41', '', 'wood-chippings(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'wood-chippingsmar18', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:27:41', '2018-03-20 13:27:41', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wood-chippingsmar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4881, 283, '2018-03-20 13:27:44', '2018-03-20 13:27:44', '', 'logs(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'logsmar18', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:27:44', '2018-03-20 13:27:44', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/logsmar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4882, 283, '2018-03-20 13:27:47', '2018-03-20 13:27:47', '', 'diseased-sycamore(mar18)', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'closed', '', 'diseased-sycamoremar18', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:36:54', '2018-03-20 13:36:54', '', 4883, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamoremar18.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(4883, 283, '2018-03-20 13:42:54', '2018-03-20 13:42:54', '<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamore2mar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-4878 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamore2mar18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The trees in the garden are a real asset and give great pleasure however they do need to be looked after because when there are high winds there is always a risk that branches might break off and damage the house or the neighbours houses. Today I had Lincolnshire Tree Services working on an ash tree and horse-chestnut to lift the canopies and ensure they are safe. Whilst they were here they checked out the other trees.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamoremar18.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4882\" src=\"http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/diseased-sycamoremar18-150x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" /></a>The sycamore in the photo has <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kretzschmaria_deusta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ustulina Deusta</a>, a fungal disease which damages the roots. This tree will need to be removed very soon because it\'s leaning towards the neighbours\' houses. Because it has a tree preservation order I will need to get permission to have it removed. On the positive side it will mean I will have enough logs for next year.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThere were a few logs from the trimming work and a large pile of chippings which I\'ve used to spread along the woodland path. It helps to define the path and keep the weeds down.\r\n\r\n[gallery type=\"rectangular\" size=\"medium\" ids=\"4881,4880,4879\"]', 'Trees, Logs and Chippings', '', 'publish', 'open', 'closed', '', 'trees-logs-and-chippings', '', '', '2018-03-20 13:42:54', '2018-03-20 13:42:54', '', 0, 'http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?p=4883', 0, 'post', '', 0);
