I have been posting a LOT of fiction lately. Thanks to everyone who is reading it, and commenting. Thanks also to all of you who sent (and are still sending) photos to prompt the current short stories. But this blog isn’t just about fiction, as regular readers will know.
So, what else is going on, in the world of beetleypete?
The short answer is ‘not much’. That said, One of Julie’s twin daughters presented us with a lovely new granddaughter on the 5th of the month.
Mother and baby (yet to be named) are doing well, I am pleased to report.
Ollie’s fur finally grew back, just in time to get a good soaking most days out on our walks in the various ‘Named Storms’ affecting Britain at the moment. He hasn’t encountered many of his furry friends lately, as many dog-walkers are avoiding the foul weather, and are wary of the numerous trees that have been blown down. Last week, we lost another one of his oldest friends, Paddy the Border Collie. He was owned by our next-door neighbours, and was one of the first adult dogs Ollie ever met. I used to walk and feed him when they went on holiday, and he was always pleased to see me. But his back legs failed not long after he was 15, and he made his last trip to see the Vet.
My Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet has been annoying me. After working well enough until the guarantee expired, it started to be reluctant to turn on. A factory reset was suggested, but it has to be on to do that! Anyway, I deliberately ‘over-charged’ it the other night, and it finally came on. Perhaps I have been lax in shutting it down when I should? I don’t know if that is a problem, but now I turn it off completely every night, and keep my fingers crossed that it works the next morning.
Loath as I am to mention it, we haven’t had too many issues with all these unusual storms. The shrubs and hedges have survived, the tall chimney for the wood-burner is still in place, and the recently-installed TV aerial has refused to budge in high winds too. It is best to be careful when out driving, as some minor roads have a lot of water on them, and some trees are down close to the road too. But I don’t have to drive unless I need to go to the supermarket, so I am currently only going out in the car twice a week.
Julie caught an awful cold, and has been off sick from her job. Her voice is croaky, and she is flitting between being too hot, or too cold. We are confident is is not a case of Corona virus, and as she works as a doctor’s receptionist, she can be sure of getting good medical care should it be needed.
February has not been very inspiring for photography, at least not for me. So no new photos, I’m afraid. I am hoping for better weather in March, so I can celebrate my birthday with a trip somewhere, and some photos of the occasion.
That’s it for now. Sorry it’s a bit boring, but I’m a retired old man
“Oi! Wake up! You’re at the end of the post now!”
Congratulations on your new family arrival!
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Thanks, Abbi. She’s a little ‘ginger nut’. 🙂
(Recently named Maeve)
Best wishes, Pete.
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This was not at all boring-I enjoy hearing about the lives of my dear friends- Poor neighbors, losing Paddy. Take care in those storms. I am sorry your wife has been sick. We are just getting over the same kind of thing. Also-I am amazed at your photo prompt stories. Each one has been entertaining. x Michele
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Thanks, Michele.
The photo prompt stories have been a big hit. Every one had at least 100 views, and some more that 150. Glad you are enjoying them.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Well, didn’t I laugh out loud at the last line! Actually, that was far from boring. I’m so sorry about the neighbor’s dog. It’s good news on the storms and Ollie’s fur. And, a new baby in the family is the best news of all! Surely winter will end soon, right? BTW, your photo prompt stories are fabulous! Best to you, Pete.
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Thanks for all your kind words, Jennie. Listening to gale force winds as I type, it is hard to imagine winter being over. I think we may have a lot more winter to come yet. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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“Say it ain’t so, Joe” Gale force winds are very scary!
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I like reading about your life, Pete. I hope Julie recovers quickly. There is a lot of information about corona virus about and I am not sure what to believe and what is fake news.
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Well Julie works at a large GP Surgery, and they have no cases so far. Fingers crossed.
Thanks, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We all caught the flu, so I hope you somehow manage to escape it and that Julie gets well soon. Congratulations for the baby — and Ollie’s hair. So sorry about Paddy. Despite your claims to the contrary, it sounds like a lot of things have happened lately!
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Thanks, Nicholas. When you write it down, it does seem a lot more, I agree. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Termites are always boring. But you never are.
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Thanks, David. I will take that as a ‘pun-liment’! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hey, Pete. I hope Julie gets well soon. And Congratulations for the baby! And Ollie’s hair. Remember to celebrate. Yeah life goes on even if storms (Tom, Dick and Harry) try to interrupt it. We are having rains again here as well. This has been a pretty wet winter and i wonder if reading your posts has been influencing it. 🤣🤣🤣
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Thanks, Shaily. I hope I didn’t send you any excess rain by wishing it away from Beetley. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Farmers here
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Farmers here will be extremely grateful to you, in that case. 😁
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Life is seldom boring, Pete, and neither are you.
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Thanks, Pete. You are kind to say so. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Speaking of tablets, I love mine, a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2019. I only charge it when it tells me to charge.So far, so good. How’s the weather there now?
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It stopped raining about 5 pm. But more forecast for Saturday! 😦
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The one bright note is that this winter you have been kept very busy writing all this wonderful fiction and so far, at least, the previous seasonal grumps seem to have been kept at bay.
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I am consciously trying to be less grumpy, Elizabeth. At least on my blog. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is working.
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Congratulations on the new granddaughter Pete, and your never boring I always look forward to your posts.
I became a grand dad in January every one keeps congratulating me, not sure why as I didn’t really do much 😁
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It was even easier for me, Bobby. I didn’t have any kids to start with! 🙂
Cheers mate, Pete.
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Congrats on your new granddaughter. They are special. Do you enjoy babies? Jim loves them and would play with them all day. Not me. I like them from 4-10 and then from 15-18.
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I a not a natural person with children. Not until they are about 12, and want to talk about their history homework.
I like babies when they are very quiet.
So far, this new one has been very quiet, so I like her. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Haha
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Oh, wonderful news on a new granddaughter!
Congratulations!
I have three grandkids and they are such a joy!
Hope your wife feels better soon.
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Thanks, Margie. In my case, they are ‘step-grandchildren’, but I do see a lot of them.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m always happy to get personal updates from you Pete. Congratulations on the new baby, and I hope Julie feels better quickly. Hugs for Ollie.🤗
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Thanks, Kim. I will give him your hugs when he wakes up. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations on the new arrival, Christmas will never be the same again 🙂 Good to hear that the storms have mostly passed you by, talking to family up in Cumbria it sounds like they have had a rought time of it.
March already! I better get my green house finished 🙂
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The storms didn’t pass us by, but most of the life had been sucked out of them by battering the west and midlands first. It was our luck they came from the west, this time. 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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I take it no one is sending postcards anymore? Maybe you should put another call out for them.
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They are, GP. I have a decent pile to photograph, when I get around to it. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oi! Great update, Pete…my wife leaves her iPad reader plugged it at all times, so when she wants to move around, it’s always fully charged. Unfortunately as you know, these new gadgets seem to be designed for “replacement” every year…frustrating but a real thing….oh well, I still cling to paper when reading – although I have about 30 books on my iPad, so I’m not a snob I promise!
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I have few apps on my tablet, so don’t understand why it crashes. I suspect Amazon’s habit of downloading ‘Free TV shows’ I didn’t ask for is to blame somehow. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Not sure if it will help but the tech team of my office tells me that the more often a device charges, the more quickly it ‘dies’. I was told to charge mine when it tells me to charge, which is once a day, and not leave it on charging overnight.
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Thanks, Shaily. I never usually charge something until it needs it. But on this occasion, I was desperate! Seems to have worked, at least for now. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I always try to take the view that even when not much appears to be happening, there are always things I can appreciate. Cheers, Jon.
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A sensible attitude, Jon. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I suppose you needed a little break, Pete… You have been rather busy of late!
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Yes one story a day, and another tomorrow. 🙂
Not complaining!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Bless you Pete. We are boring too 😀. Sorry to hear about Julie, but great to hear about the baby. Yes, those storms were awful. Anyway, have a GREAT birthday! Xx
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Thanks, Lorraine. It’s not until the 16th of March, so I’m hoping the weather does improve!
Best wishes, Pete. X
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Congrats on the baby…….Ollie is doing good that is excellent news…..Hope Julie will get better……retirement is grand…..chuq
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Thanks, chuq. Yes, it is the best thing to be retired. But I would like better weather to enjoy that retirement more. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hear you……we have lots of rain this month but temps are warmer than normal…..chuq
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So nice to catch up on the Beetley News! Congratulations on the new baby. What a delight. I am sorry Julie is feeling poorly and I hope she recovers soon. Between technology and rain and the sad loss of neighboring pets, your life sounds anything but boring.
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Perhaps ‘routine’ might be a better word? 🙂
Thanks, Maggie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations on the new granddaughter! And I’m happy that Ollie is doing better and hopefully Julie will feel better soon too. Sorry for all those storms you’re having, I know how old that gets. Back in the Pacific Northwest were having our first blue skies since November 30th. That’s according to according to the weather service, and I guess they mean, completely blue skies with no chance of rain. Life goes on. 🙂
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Thanks, Susanne. We woke up to sunshine today, but more like sleet by 1 pm! 😦
Best wishes, Pete.
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Gotta enjoy it while it’s there! Our blue sky event is supposed to last three days! 🙂
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Not boring at all, Pete. It was good to have an update. I hope Julie recovers soon and you don’t succumb to whatever she has.
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If I get it, Mary, Ollie will have to walk himself. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I expect he knows his way around by now!
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Trouble is, he can’t be trusted near traffic. No road sense at all.
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Haha never boring Pete. Your birthday is coming round again??? Are you having a celebratory week again?
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Probably going to visit family and friends over a long weekend. Not fully arranged yet. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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