Picture for Matthew and Nancy

Happy memories of your time in the Grand Hotel .

Took this on a lovely warm evening earlier this week . two men at the front of the hotel , taking the air .

coffee

Photographing cakes and cups of coffee is becoming a bit of an obsession and its always a sorry reflection when the latte is just not worth getting the camera out for ( luckily a rare event now as coffee production is more and more an art form )

Laid back day with no cats to feed and just a bike to collect ( anyone else have trouble with getting the front wheel off ? the shop men make it look so simple ) and a building society trip to sort out finances , a speed fiends course to book ( Val's course was fully booked , so I will be on my own in September ) and of course the shoe cabinet to clear out so that the thirty four pairs of shoes in the porch , hall, under the bikes , and in D's office, could be safely rehomed . ( Two of these pairs of shoes turned out to be mine , I conclude that N may be developing something of a shoe fetish ). Piles of sand to be vacuumed after shoe clearing , as thanks to our proximity to the beach every homecoming is accompanied by a little heap of sand either in Reception ( hoho) or in the bathroom where divesting for the shower results in a fall of sand as well as a grimy heap of garments on the tiles . Now that Spidery Corners have gone though , I almost relish the crunch underfoot of the sand , making such a contrast to the pristine conditions at floor level . Best not ( yet ) to raise the eyes above the waist though . The ceiling and walls leave much to be desired though there is a sense of Change Afoot . Always promising .

CatFight

The cats are punching each other like kangaroos but it is always tricky to catch them on camera at such moments . They are cross as wasps and sit squaring up to each other , too close for comfort , faces almost touching , staring and scowling . If I move for the camera I risk pushing them as they are hard up against my foot , fur bristling . I am trapped , tray of coffee , nectarine and bran biscuits perched on the armchair edge , hoping I can hold it together till they are burnt out .The new bathrobe is already sporting a piccalili stain and I dont want that and the laptop awash with strength seven black coffee. the risk being that Toby will panic and retreat in one great backward leap , over the top of me . It's happened before .
Kitty's ears are flat back , like an owl , though she looks manic rather than wise . They are both still , the punching has subsided and I wait to establish whether this is an uneasy truce , the calm before the next bout , or something more . The silence goes on , the ears go forwards slightly and the atmosphere changes . I settle back , the end is in sight and I see Toby's fur soften and his tail subside and shrink . Slowly and carefully he begins to shift backwards , shuffling cautiously until he is right on my foot , withdrawing himself until he is out of range , then he streaks away and onto the table to a patch of waiting sunlight , to contemplate his shortcomings . Kitty raises a paw , examines it pompously and emits a contemptuous sneeze.

Thus the day begins . I return to my breakfast. D is sweating over a court report in the next armchair and I realise that I have no firm commitments All Day . I can plan to collect his bike from its service with perhaps a coffee and muffin thrown in for good measure , if he can be talked away from his desk for an hour . I can chose the next book to get me through the early morning starts ( none for several days though am not sure why this should be. ), the Fay Weldon havi ng been finished this morning at seven . I can tackle the Times crossword . Or , as the post has just arrived ,I can book myself on a speed awareness course .