Snow Joke

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago during the first period of this winters snow. Snow does look nice when fresh, good for those who ski, plus good fun for young people and families at Leisure. 

Not such good fun for those who had to struggle to work, got stuck somewhere by rail or airport problems  or  worse still stuck in their vehicle in a snowdrift.

Being retired I did not have to go anywhere and hunkered down in my warm well stocked home with a bit of help from my family ensuring we had everything we needed. 

Changing the subject I am writing this on Christmas Eve and looking forward to spending Xmas Day with part of my family. and hopefully some nice presents. Trouble is as a senior citizen one tends to be asked what one wants which can limit the element of surprise and it can be difficult choosing presents for ones children who are of course actually adults by now.


Still a good meal accompanied by some wine and festive spirit always give a warm glow and a good excuse for a nap


Merry Xmas everyone

Pidgeon Post, Spring

I recently took this picture of a humble pidgeon perched precariously on the bird feeder in our garden. Just an ordinary town pidgeon, not the racing or variety breed, but coinciding with the general election announcement and re-reading Pidgeon Post, I got this picture of Gordon Brown delivering a message to the Queen. Following this further images of senior politicians and constituency candidates flying around delivering their "vote for me" messages. 

I suppose, rather like the book, polital parties and the voters are looking for gold. The Swallow's, Amazon's and D's actually find copper, not quite gold but still a valuable commodity. At best we will get a new government but whoever wins, or perhaps a hung parliament, a pot of gold on the horizon is unlikely but for a lucky few.

For me, I guess, it will neither be gold, copper, maybe just some rusty iron, by which I mean, more taxes, frozen pensions and decreased services. Perhaps I just dream of my 40's & 50's childhood when nothing seemed complicated

It is nice to see the warmer weather and the spring trees blossoming. It was springtime the first time I visited crawley in 1966 and we were immediately impressed by the spring flowers etc. then. Gladly the council has in the main maintained and replaced bulbs as necessary although a few patches have been damaged by major roadworks.


Good luck to the town in the "Britain in Bloom" contest in which they are finalists. Lets hope the judges are aware of the fine spring flowering trees in Tilgate like this one in Tilgate Way.

Tilgate Man

My Famous Ancestors

There is something satisfying when you find famous relatives in your family tree. Not that mine are neccesarily instantly recognised by most people but they do qualify for listings in wikipedia and a search for their names will produce a number of results.

First Robert Bloomfield 1766-1823, my fourth great granduncle. In his time a well known poet with several books of verse published the most well known being "The Farmers Boy". Not that Robert had a good or successfull life. His writing began in a garet in Bell Alley, London and he died in poverty. 

Below are the opening phrases of the Farmers Boy. The complete book can be downloaded from the Gutenberg Press

Now, ere sweet summer bids its long adieu,

And winds blow keen where late the blossom grew,

The bustling day and jovial night must come,

The long-accustomed feast of harvest-home.

No blood-stained victory, in story bright,

Can give the philosophic mind delight;

No triumph please, whilst rage and death destroy:

Reflection sickens at the monstrous joy.

And where the joy, if rightly understood,

Like cheerful praise for universal good?

Second, Charles James Blomfield 1786-1857, Bishop of London 1828- 1857. Relationship to me is second cousin six times removed. Full details of his history can be found on Wikipedia so I will not go into too much detail here but there is a memorial to him in St Pauls Cathedral.

Bishop Blomfield had many children. One of these Sir Artur Blomfield also had fame as an architect who designed many buildings including the Royal College of Music. Another child of some fame was Lucy Elizabeth Bather nee Blomfield who was author of "Biographies for Young People" which can still be purchased from Amazon.

It seems that all my famous relatives have the Blomfield/Bloomfield name. All the other surnames in my tree seem to have just been workers with a variety of jobs. I continued this trend with a long but un-distinguished career in the Civil Service. Ah well perhaps I will send off for my National Service medal, don't know when I would wear it, pehaps I could put it on when watching the Remberance Day parade on TV. And I could always wear it to my funeral, not that I am planning this for a good while yet!

Tilgate Man


PS see my family tree