I’m peccable (so are you, probably).

I haven’t blogged for a while, and if you have been waiting for something pithy and witty (which I doubt), you will probably be disappointed, most people will find this little blog boring. Nevertheless, I press on.

A few days ago a friend of mind put this on her Facebook page:

impeccable - what a fabulous word!

That got me thinking, not about the word impeccable, but about the word peccable. I, and probably most other people, know what impeccable means; here are some of its synonyms, according Collins dictionary:

= faultless, perfect, pure, exact, precise, exquisite, stainless, immaculate, flawless, squeaky-clean, unerring, unblemished, unimpeachable, irreproachable, sinless, incorrupt, blameless, above suspicion.

Collins also adds that it is rarely used to mean: incapable of sinning.  The Oxford dictionary says it is rarely used to mean: not liable to sin.

But when we come to Peccable the two dictionaries seem to differ. Because the Collins dictionary says it means: liable to sin; susceptible to temptation. Oxford dictionary says it means: capable of sinning.

I’m confused now because I see being capable of doing something and being liable to do something as two different things; just because I am capable of doing something doesn’t mean I am liable, or likely to do it.

I am not going to go into to what Sin means, you can look it up.

Am I capable of sinning? Yes!

Am I liable to sin? Probably.

Am I peccable? Yes; or am I?

Ellie returns to work after 47 years.

These days, as I have found out, it is quite difficult to find work once you reach a certain age.


But there is always someone who bucks the trend.


So let me introduce you to Ellie.


Ellie is about 55 years old.


When I was quite young Ellie was quite a big part of my life.


But, as often happens, things change, friends drift apart and lose contact.


Although I lost contact with Ellie, I never really forgot him. I occasionally thought about him, mostly around breakfast time.


Imagine my surprise when my sister Ann recently told me she thought she knew where Ellie was and asked if I would like to be reunited with him.


Last Thursday, thanks to Ann, Ellie turned up at my door, after a long journey.


I was delighted to see him, he hadn't changed at all and looked every bit as good as he did all those years ago.


You'd think something would change after 47 years, but not Ellie.


and here he is:

Still looking good (considering his age).

I was delighted to get Ellie back, and today I put him to the use he had been designed for:

The eggs tasted all the better because of Ellie. He has brought back some lovely childhood memories. Thanks Ellie.

And a big THANK YOU to Annie for reuniting us after all those years.

I think Ellie was a present from one of my Grand Parents. He originally came wrapped in cellophane, with a chocolate Easter Egg on his back. This time he came through the post protected by bubble wrap.

May Ellie have many more useful years ahead of him.

I love Truro

I love living in Truro, there always seems to be something of interest going on.


Yesterday it was raining so I didn't get into town.


Today the sun is out and it is a beautiful day.


So I went for a walk into town, it seems quite busy, I guess the sun has brought people out.


When I was walking back through the Piazza (Lemon Quay) there were these contrasting events going on:

There was a group of people meditating (I assume), others sitting watching (it was quite like watching paint dry). There were children enjoying themselves on the roundabout, and others wearing themselves out running around inside big coloured balls.

Chaos and stillness co-existing!

It was lovely, I took a few moments to roll a cigarette and smoke it while I was looking on. Fabulous!

My New Desk

I don’t know if you have a desk, whether you sit at one at work, or if you have your computer on one at home. Or both. I don’t know if your desk is special to you. Some people get very attached to their desks. Because it is the place where they feel creative, or comfortable. I found this poem on the internet written by someone who feels the same about their desk as I do:

Ode to my Desk

By

Tatiana Vasileva

My old desk, at which I write

An old and faithful friend.

Just like a mule, that bears its load

And doesn't bow or bend.

Sometimes at night, when I can't sleep

And find I need express


The feelings in my heart, so deep,

It gives me happiness.

Just seeing my familiar things,

Pens, papers, books and such,

Creates ideas and I try

To say what means so much.

There is a feel of magic here

Beside this desk of wood.

What stories lie within its drawers?

To tell you if it could!

I used a desk for the last 30 years of my working life. I also used one at home when I got my first computer. I have sat at many different desks over the years. Some I have liked and some I could never get used to.

I have looked for the perfect desk, but never really found it. I had a near-perfect desk that was precious to me, it was given to me by a close friend, but I had to leave it behind.

Over the last few years, at home, I have had one of those metal computer tables, but was never happy with it.

When we moved to Cornwall we had the opportunity to try and find the perfect desk for iMac to sit on. We searched for weeks but could not find one that I was happy with. So, I gave up looking and settled for one from the Argos catalogue. It has been OK. It is sturdy, solid, and functional. It has done its job.

But, a few weeks ago, while visiting a friends house, I went into their back garden to have a cigarette, as usual. There, in the garden, I saw an old wooden table, on its side, with a bin sitting on its legs. It was wood wormed, and had some splits on the top. To me, though, it had potential.

I had seen this tallboy in a local shop (the decoration is called Decoupage) and thought maybe I could do the same with the old table:

  

I asked my friend what he was going to do with it, he told me he was going to break it up and take it to the dump. So I asked if I could have, he said he would be glad to get rid of it. So that was that. I collected the table and set about converting into me new desk.

So we looked up how to do Decoupage on the internet, bought some paint, varnish, glue, and decoupage paper, and the set about the transformation.

I forgot to take a picture of the table in its 'raw' state, but here are a couple of pictures of it when I first began to work on it. I had already sanded it down and repaired to top:

It took two coats of under coat/primer and three coats of black gloss.

Then Davina and I had to lay out the paper in the design we wanted:

Then we had to stick the paper on and give it five coats of polyurethane varnish:

 So then I bought a new knob for the drawer and fitted it, but when it was fitted I didn't like it:

 So today I bought a new knob, and here is the finished desk. In position and ready to go:

It's probably an acquired taste, but, I think it is beautiful and perfect for me and the iMac.

So a big thank you to my friends Mickey and Pat for giving me their old table. I hope we have created a thing of beauty that they would be pleased with.

Fatness to Fitness - Help Needed

Gentleman (62)

Not Working

Needs to get fit

Living in Truro

Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel etc)

ECDL

Sage 50 Level 1

Would like to work a few hours a week in return for a couple of weekly sessions in a gym with a personal trainer.

If you have any suggestions please email:

mrprclark@gmail.com