Taxing Issues

I was in central Belfast again today for my appointment with the Tax Office. All the pertinent and requisite certificates were produced and it all seems most sanguine. I hope to receive a letter from them in September.

Thence I walked over to W H Smith, stationers, and bought some Thank You cards. They have a fair selection.

The larger bedroom I'm now using at home has ghastly curtains; or, at least, they do not fit properly. I ambled into the Spinning Wheel and chose a pair which should suffice in the interim, though I might require extra "black-out" lining later.

I'd intended to lunch in Town, though it was far too early and I wasn't particularly hungry anyway.

Swimless!

I motored up to the swimming-pool yesterday evening in the expectation that I'd be able to enjoy some swimming prior to the old school's closure at the end of term.

Disappointingly, and for the umpteenth time, the place was deserted, scaffolding lined one wall and the cover was on top of the pool.

Members had been told, by email, that the pool would be closed last week for pump maintenance. I understand the Sports Club when they would say that the matter is beyond their control.

I have no confidence in the day-to-day supervision at the swimming-pool; moreover, I'd have sacked at least one person many years ago.

Earlier on Monday I moved my main computer and printer into another bedroom in order to see whether it would be preferable there, or not. By the end of the day I'd taken it all back into its old location!

Darling Mother, 1925-2010

Here is a wedding photograph I found of my mother.

A Sunday Occupation

I have been moving bedding and furniture into a larger bedroom today. I dislike teak. I'll phone the Council in order to have it removed imminently.

That was my principal exercise of the day. I simply could not be bothered making myself a dinner so, instead, I have made smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches on wholemeal bread; with a few glasses of Chardonnay and a Cognac.

I am listening to Purcell on my hi-fi system, which consists of large KEF 3 or 4 foot speakers, Musical Fidelity Class A amplifier and Marantz Signature CD player.

Royal Swan Upping

Swan Upping, the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames, was announced yesterday by David Barber, The Queen’s Swan Marker.

This year’s Swan Upping will start on Monday 19th July, departing from Sunbury Lock and ending at Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Friday 23rd July.

The ceremony of Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century and takes place during the third week of July every year. In 2010 The Queen travelled up the River Thames to witness the historic ceremony for the first time.

It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. With the assistance of The Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets are also assessed for any signs of injury or disease.

Swan Upping dates from medieval times, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans which were considered an important food source for banquets and feasts. Today The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies who were granted rights of ownership by The Crown in the fifteenth century. The swans are counted but are no longer eaten.

The Queen's Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen's Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag and pennant.

The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates and the birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hook and line. The cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen's Swan Warden, whose role is scientific and non-ceremonial. The Queen's Swan Marker produces an annual report after Swan Upping detailing the number of swans, broods and cygnets counted during the week.

Apart from Swan Upping, The Queen's Swan Marker has other duties. He advises organisations throughout the country about swan welfare and incidents involving swans, he monitors the health of the local swan population and advises fishing and boating organisations how to work with wildlife. The Queen’s Swan Marker works closely with swan-rescue organisations and supervises the rescue of sick and injured swans. He also co-ordinates the removal of swans from stretches of the river Thames used for summer rowing regattas.

European Union's Absurdity

The European Union will attempt to ban us selling eggs by the dozen or even half-dozen. Are they being serious? I noticed the article in the Telegraph, which I now read online instead of the Sunday Times (I ought to have begun years ago).

If I had any say in the matter I'd tell them to go and boil their heads, not their eggs. Who do they think they are, dictating what we must and must not do?

Utterly outrageous.

Super Dirty Duck

It was worth the ride. Three and a half hours of pleasure. The Dirty Duck's hard to beat in midsummer. Plenty of lovely girls to admire. Another bonus was a complimentary return journey, courtesy of Northern Ireland Railways, for Lord Belmont. A touch more velour upholstery and walnut panelling wouldn't have gone amiss, though. The chap who issued the tickets was distracted by teenage revellers.

I had the fare ready, though nobody collected it. Both ways.

The Dirty Duck Bar was as busy as usual. I had their "deli" hamburger with all the trimmings; and about five Bombay Sapphire gin and tonics!

I dumped the trusty bicycle in the bushes, as usual; and it was still in situ when I returned. Splendid!