Resurrection

Finally, someone’s managed to resurrect a deceased Nabaztag, with the addition of independence via an implanted Raspberry Pi. 

I may need to attempt this project. 

A1

We’ve now been stuck at a standstill on the A1 for over two hours. 

The road’s been closed since late morning due to an accident. This isn’t my best weekend. 

Maneki-neko

Unfortunately, our Chinese waving cat is no more. The cat, which is alleged to bring good fortune, seems to have attracted the opposite. 

It sat in our window, reliably waving to passers by for a year or so. Until it was hit by a bottle of beer. And, so, the cat-beer bottle encounter ended very badly. The beer bottle was in several pieces. The cat was intact, but wet and without movement. And the window hadn’t coped particularly well either. 

We’re currently in our local public house, rather than the planned Kings Cliffe. After effecting a professional (equal to Wadds was here) temporary repair, arranging for a replacement, and organising someone to keep an eye on the house (excessive, I know), we’re now discussing a revised departure time. 

I do have a theory that the incident was racially motivated and carried out by non-locals. 

Sisters II

It’s truly been an emotional week. But, despite learning that my father was worse than I’d experienced or imagined, my week has ended on a high. I’ve re-established contact with family long (and wrongly) abandoned because they were related to my father. Sadly, many relevant people from my childhood have passed away, but there are people i’ve not yet met.

My uncle Leslie, who helped more than he knew when i was a kid, is at the back. My two sisters are seated.

Resolutions were made and will be kept. 

Sisters

For almost all of my life, whenever anyone has asked whether I have family, I’ve responded with something along the lines of my mother, sister and a couple of cousins. Of course, that wasn’t correct. I have, or rather had, a father. And a half sister. Along with the former comes a largely forgotten group of uncles, aunts and cousins. 

My early childhood was hugely affected by my father’s (he was never a dad) behaviour. The massive financial ups and downs, the stories, lies and frequent absences, followed by an eventual disappearance one Christmas, resulted in my never wanting to see him again. That would’ve been when I was around nine. 

I was, though, forced to seek him out at the age of 17 because I needed his signature on a piece of paper. The meeting, at his house, lasted only an hour and a half or so. It was very uncomfortable and I had to endure a lengthy stream of fatherly advice before the signature was secured. I shan’t go into more detail, other than to say that his parting words were an offer of his shoulder should I ever need it. 

Neither of us attempted to make contact after that evening. 

While I was in his house, I met my half sister; a little girl in a school uniform. I think I resented her at the time; she appeared to have the dad I’d not really known. Well, not since my very early childhood. It was a conscious decision never to see my father, or anyone connected with him, again. 

A few years ago, my sister told me that she and my half sister were in touch with each other. She explained that my half sister was in the UK and asked if I wanted to meet her. I declined. 

My sister later told me that my half sister was very nice and her life with our father had also been pretty miserable. The lies and irrational behaviour hadn’t ended when he left our lives. 

A few days ago, I received a text message from my sister. My half sister had told her that our father had died. I did feel a little sad, but (and I’m not sure I can explain why) a little relieved. I came to the conclusion that my avoidance of my two sisters’ meeting four years ago hadn’t been my best decision and found her on Facebook (perhaps social media is of value after all). 

Anyway, the outcome was that all three siblings met last night. I have two sisters who, despite a difficult childhood (and father), are very nice people. 

The Ship, Ouseburn

We’ve had a most pleasant afternoon in Ouseburn today.

After a pint in town, in the Split Chimp, we caught a bus to Lime Street and walked to the Cluny. Walking past the Ship, we noticed an unusual barbeque outside.

The menu was 100% vegan. So, after a pint of Jakehead in the Cluny, we decided on a beer in the Ship. When talking to the chef, we found that the pub is now vegan. A vegan pub in Newcastle!

We shared a portobello mushroom burger and a chilli wrap; both were great.

Then there was a walk to the Tyne Bar for a pint of Sam Smith’s Taddy lager and live music. We’re currently with Erdinger and Budvar in the Bridge Hotel. All in all, a most pleasant afternoon.