Glorious Days of Summer - out for a spin.

Went out for a spin in the car yesterday, as it was a glorious day and I 'really, really' needed some time to clear my head (call it spring cleaning, I'm just slow off the mark!).

On Safari in my local hills..!

Sure, it's NOT Tanganika or British East Africa, but it was my own little vintage Safari with 'The Boys' up mountain and down Dale. Something cleansing and healing about getting outdoors and doing something physically challenging. Weather was sporadic with sunshine then heavens' opening up, then sunshine again!! So I had a few 'outdoor showers' of the nature kind, but it was all part of the experience. Often we take for granted the beautiful places on our own doorstep, but 'NOT TODAY' as I got to the top of a hill, looked around me and took it all in, breathing the fresh air, sipping a drink from my flask, and knowing, "Today is a good day to be alive...!"

Getting that Golden Era masculine scent.

I'm the kind of chap who likes the base notes of leather; coffee; tobacco; chocolate in my Cologne. I love that dark, musky, rich masculine smell that I associate with being a man. Just what 'I' like (as scents are all very personal to the person who sports them).
My current favourites are, Aqua di Parma (from the 20's), Knize Ten (a very old 20th C. one from Austria and a fav with the Hollywood Set of the Golden Era); and the more modern ones of L'Occitane's "Eau de Baux" (again a richly deep fragrance of Lavender and Leather, with cyprus), and Jo Malone's "Black Vetyver Cafe" with a definite 'coffee' base, that just brings back happy memories to me everytime I wear it.
The Aqua di Parma is the 'odd man out' here, as it is light, fresh and citrissy, so marvellous for a summer tea party or an afternoon saunter!

The other's are probably more suited to the evening and the Cocktail Lounge!

Just feeling old fashioned folks...

No rhyme nor reason, just feeling old fashioned today. A few unexpected things happened today that weren't the nicest of occurences, my little BERTIE (The Sparrow) passed away and his little soul has flown to that big nest in the sky on a 'Wing and a Prayer.' So after burying this little darling bundle, I got all dolled up, dressed in my old fashioned *pick me up* socks, and poured myself an Old Fashioned Sour. Life does go on, yes, it can be "the best of times and the worst of times", but as Francis often said..."The best is yet to come!"

Return from Ireland.

Just newly returned from Ireland to see folks and friends, sharing good craic, strong freshly ground Monsoon Malabar Coffee, fine drink and deliscious cigars with good friends. Always good to touch base with my country roots.

Sporting my potatoes whilst getting 'down and dirty!'

FIRST - A HAIKU...

My spread searching fingers mine
Moist earth, cloaking virgin flesh
Nuggets of white gold




Well, after the 'suited and booted' look in the earlier post, I just thought I'd literally EARTH myself again by digging up the 'spuds' I'd planted a few months ago. Not sure what it is about me and soil, but I just love to physically 'connect' with the stuff and get my hands 'right in there!' So these little hands were digging right into the earth (after I'd turned it over with the pitch fork) and it was like finding 'golden nuggets' in the Yukon each time my fingers tightened around one of the potatoes in the ground. Can you tell this is just lifting my spirits no end? (I'm feeling really groggy the past few days, and something's amiss, so I need things to keep me busy!). So have a look at those little white critters, "There's gold in dem der hills I tell ya!!"
Words like, FULFILLED; SATISFIED; CHUFFED; HAPPY; PROUD (Coz I did that!!, yep, little ol' me, and who would have thought!! :-) ); and so 'pleased' that I've grown my own veg again. So I've chopped some of my spring onions and chives, some rosemary and mint and will be dreaming up a meal fit for a King (Mmmmm, well maybe royalty won't turn up for this dinner, so fit for this hardy Gardener of a man here!!!
And Boy-oh-Boy, does a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio taste mighty-fine after some labouring. Plus it helps take the sting out of the nettles..ouch!!
So the COCKTAIL LOUNGE will be serving up Irish Champ tonight with scallions,chives, mint, rosemary, butter, sea salt, flaked peppercorn and milk..yum!! Ta-daaaaa!!!
I needed that! but my body's telling me, lie down, I need to repair here !

Suits YOU Sir...(40's COOL)

This is a little 3 piece number I picked up from the States the other day. It is stamped 1940, but 'maybe' from earlier (late 30's) just judging by the styling and not unheard of for older models to be sitting on the racks of small haberdasheries and then stamped later (so there you go!). Nice rough, lightish summer weight wool in blue-grey with a red window-pane check. Two button fronted jacket, traditional six button waist-coat. A great fit, so no tweaking to be done, and a very strong and sound suit with that classic Golden Era silhoette shape to the torso. A wee bit of Cooper, Grant and Bogie perhaps.
HAPPY PADDY!!

LOVE IS..never having to split HARES...;-)

I came across this lovely little book about a week ago and just snapped it up whilst out on my travels. Sure the PADDY WAGON isn't a kindergarten, but it does have a multitude of different little nooks and crannies to suit all tastes in this delightful Cocktail Lounge setting. So snuggle up under your big blankie, lights dimmed, hot cocoa by the bed, and close those wee eyes and listen to this delightful tale...

Apologies for the poor reading :( still recovering from my Ireland return...

***********DON'T FORGET, STOP THE MUSIC PLAYER ON THE RIGHT FIRST OF ALL************