There's definitely something very fishy going on today...

Fresh Fish

...well it is Friday after all

I have often been accused of being a tad 'crusty' and have to admit it's a fair cop... I can be somewhat stiff around the edges

I'm not as thick skinned as a decapod crustacean though...

Live Crabs
Time for a little dressing I think...

Don't clam up

Little Clams
Let yourself go and let it all out

Now I know shellfish aren't to everyone's taste, but I love fresh seafood and these little clams (similar to cockles) are really wonderful. The Portuguese steam them in a Cataplana with white wine and tomato sauce...

G'night Blogland... ...time old Usky toddled off for the night... ...see you all tomorrow.

This almost seems like one of those movie sequel things now... but what the heck

Remember we went shopping yesterday? Well there were some really hot deals to be had in that market...

Hot Stuff

A couple of weeks ago Microsoft killed my laptop... I recovered said lappy by deleting everything on my hard disk and installing a Linux operating system. All was well with the world, except I missed not being able to use Photoshop... I reinstalled Windows on Tuesday and low and behold, Microsoft killed my lappy again!

Yesterday was a busy day and I had an appointment this morning I couldn't miss... now I'm back... no Windoze O/S... Linux O/S and a revitalised lappy.

Anyone here using Windows 7? Is it really any better than Vista? Stupid question... it HAS to be...

With this lot on offer, all we need is some bread and wine for a good lunch...

Cheese Please... um... Louise

Well, what on earth did you expect?

Now we're out on this jaunt, it's time we started shopping I think...

Any of you blokes out there fancy a nice pair of melons?

Lovely Fresh Fruit

Look at all this lovely fresh fruit... we'll have to have a handful or two of this don't you think?

'Morning all...

Having been sat here for the last four hours or so I've spent some time trawling through photos and put a small selection together to give an insight into what turns old Usky on... shopping wise that is

Come on then, gird up your loins and grab your bags... it's time to hit the market!

The Market Hall

There's nothing quite like the sight of fresh fruit and vegetables to get my culinary brain in gear and my juices flowing...

Pop back a bit later to see what we find next.

It makes a change I suppose to be wide awake at this time of day through any reason other than insomnia... but today I am, because this morning I have heartburn...

So here I am blogging and watching a documentary about the Zambezi...

I realised a little earlier the images I'd attached to yesterday's post Cut-throat Bridge had mysteriously disappeared... there was obviously some kind of odd gremlin thing running round yesterday morning because the time stamp was way out too... anyway, long story short and all that... I've put the images up again so if you're interested please re/visit Cut-throat Bridge

Chatting here in comments the other day about the various soothing sounds of moving water reminded me I was going to post a re-working of an old favourite of mine; the Melincourt Waterfall, Resolven.

Melincourt Falls
Sadly the falls are currently closed to the public, thanks to the recent weather and a number of fallen trees.

Here's my original image, for comparison:

You can click the images for larger views.

I just posted on one of my blogs and note the time stamp says 09:08:59... now how did that happen? I didn't fiddle with the 'Edit Timestamp' in 'Properties', honest

Lazy Sunday... nothing to say... just a couple of pictures for you...

Life On The Edge

Twisted, Not Bitter

Here we are at last, almost back up to road level from the valley floor. Only another half mile or so to go before we reach the pub, a welcome seat, a refreshing drink and a choice of fine food

I hope you've all enjoyed our virtual day out... the weather was kind to us, the scenery wonderful, the company excellent

If you're good boys and girls I'll take you on another wander one day soon.

Rugby tonight... Wales v Samoa... so I'll be busy for the rest of the evening!

Lunch was lovely and the rest most acceptable, but we really did need to press on and complete our walking day

Our path takes us alongside the brook a while longer, before we have to climb back to the higher ground... thankfully the walk is not too taxing and the views are well worth the effort... and the sun has come out to greet us again

Did I mention there's an excellent pub close at hand when we get to the road? Just the place to stop for a drink and a nice meal

It's taken us longer to reach my chosen spot for lunch than anticipated... apologies to all those with healthy appetites... sorry to say I simply misjudged... still the wine I left chilling in the stream will be nice and cold

Come on them folks, get yourselves comfortable and let's tuck in... there's plenty to go round and enough space for everyone to sit comfortably

Shame the sun seems to have deserted us...

I posted the garden path of my dreams yesterday... and thought I'd continue my walk with you this morning.

This is a lovely pathway, although it is quite a long walk if we're to go right to the end... never mind though, we've got all day.

The first part of our walk takes up and around the side of hill before dipping down between the trees to the valley floor and a very pretty stream...

We're blessed to have the sun dappling through the trees at this spot today... isn't it lovely? Just the place to set up an easel for anyone with the talent to paint.

How would you like your eggs this morning, boiled or fried?

Come on, let me lead you up the garden path...

...it's not as though I'm a hairy spider inviting you to my web

Well there's a thing...

I was checking some online stats to viewers of this blog (see below) a little while ago and lo and behold it seems the world and his dog are finally getting the message and moving away from Microsoft's memory hungy and incredibly vulnerable Internet Explorer (MSIE for the uninitiated). I'm a bit surprised there aren't more Opera users listed below, but gratified to see so many people using Firefox

User	Percent	Browser	Version
67	33.50%	Firefox	3.5.5
58	29.00%	Firefox	3.5.4
28	14.00%	MSIE	8.0
19	9.50%	Firefox	3.0.1
13	6.50%	MSIE	7.0
7	3.50%	MSIE	6.0
3	1.50%	Firefox	1.5.0
2	1.00%	Chrome	0.2
2	1.00%	Safari	3.2.1
1	0.50%	Opera	4.2.1

Something that really surprises me showed up in the list of operating systems used by the last 200 visitors to my blog... just look at those 78 really sensible Linux users okay, okay... I forgot to add the blocking cookie so the 78 Linux users is probably just me!

User	Percent	Operating System
78	39.00%	Linux
58	29.00%	Windows XP
45	22.50%	Windows Vista
9	4.50%	Unknown
8	4.00%	Windows NT6.1
2	1.00%	Windows 2000

Not just for all those who gave their lives for their country so selflessly, but also for my Dad who died this day 1989; I will never forget you.

Died While On Active Service

I came

I saw

I read

I have nothing to say...

Have a little autumnal colour

The really scary bit about monsters.

I have always dreamed in my sleep... that is I can recall some dreams right back to my childhood. Some of my dreams have been happy dreams and others nothing short of vivid nightmares... since I have been taking medication to control my depression, the nightmares have become more and more scary and more and more frequent.

Last night brought new heights of fright for those around me... and was a first experience as far as I know.

Starting at something after 2:30am and reaching a highpoint (crescendo perhaps?) around 3:00am, yours truly had a conversation with 'another' being... voicing both parts... in very different tones.

The early part of this conversation was apparently incoherent, but was loud enough to wake my daughter in the room across the landing. The content did become recognisable though and I was obviously in distress. The culmination of the dialogue ran something like this:

Me: Away! Get Away!

It: You cannot fight me

Me: Leave me

It: I own you. You are mine

Me: What are you?

It: I am

followed by me screaming and being woken.

I have no idea what my dream was about and do not recall it at all... I just remember being woken and finding frightened faces. What the devil is going on?

I have something to say about scary monsters today, but first I want to just lighten my mood a little with this...

Mount Kong

Handsome chap isn't he?

What is it about Sunday morning that brings out the slob in me? I've no idea... but I have to admit I always seem less active on a Sunday than any other day... I know, I know, that's not saying much... I make no excuses for my sedentary lifestyle!

Sunday does seem to be a lazier day than any other though... my whole system appears to adopt a go-slow attitude... and I just feel the need to slob out and be lumpy on the sofa

Of course some things are lumpier than others and look infinitely more interesting than old Usky slobbing out on his couch

This week for my Sunday exercise I shall imagine scaling the above outcrop while being the size of an ant... that should be enough of a workout for anyone!

Progressing along the mountain path...

Up To The Rocky Crop

I promised to share some more images from the hilltops last week and haven't come up with the goods yet... so now I'm going to put that to rights

Hill Pass

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning..

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph.. (Remember, the Pope is German..)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who is it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

Or...

The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn

Or maybe just...

The Welshman who went up a mountain and came down a little humbled and more right in the head

Well okay I suppose you've guessed this post is really nothing to do with the wonderful Ms Bush and her Wuthering Heights.

It's about your old pal Usky and the way his crazy head works.

When I'm feeling down and my head hurts I often take myself off to lonely places where I can just be alone with Nature and wallow in my state of mindless desperation and self-indulgence. Oddly it usually helps bring me around, giving me the opportunity to literally howl at the moon and work out my frustrations.

Last week I found myself in a location where with just a little effort I could get to the top of high place and enjoy my sense of self-pity. So I parked my car, changed my shoes, donned my jacket,,, well it was cold, for god's sake... and started climbing.

Having reached the top(ish) I surveyed the horizon and was met by a glorious, if somewhat misty, vista. Deciding I wanted more I made my way onto a rocky outcrop and looked over the edge. On a bright, clear day it would have been nothing short of spectacular.

Not satisfied, I edged myself forward until my toes were literally 'over the edge' and looked down... and for the first time in a couple of years I was hit by strong thoughts of suicide... the need to just step out and fall was so strong I almost gave way to my inner feelings and took a dive... thank god sense prevailed and I was able to step backwards.

I haven't experienced such strong feelings of the need to do away with it all for almost two years now and to be honest the episode frightened the crap out of me. I ended up sitting with my back to one of the rocks facing away from the wide world and just crying... releasing my fear and frustration.

It took quite a while for the tears to stop; I was chilled to the bone by that time and wanted nothing more in the world that a pair of welcoming arms to snuggle into... no such luck sadly. Oh well...

Back at the car I used my heated seat for the very first time, luxuriating in the comforts of modern technology and my selfishness for splurging having received my small golden-handshake. I also spent some time reflecting on my time at the cliff edge and chastising myself for the fool I obviously am. There's always someone worse off than you isn't there? So while I've been so preoccupied with my depression these last weeks, some other poor soul has been having a really nasty time.

Just a few of my thoughts... I'm thankful for being strong enough to step back and carry on... I'm sorry for being so selfish recently... I'm grateful for the love and support shown by friends here... I'm pleased to feel welcome in this community.

On a lighter note, I took my camera with me to the top of said mountain and did manage to capture a few images to remember my visit. Here's one of my captures... I hope you like it.

please click image for a larger view
I do have more pictures from that day if you'd like to see them.

Anyone here remember Kate Bush's wild and windy moors ?

Drop in tomorrow to catch a look at Usky's view of Heathcliffe's domain...

Hello all... just a note to say I'm still alive and well(?) and have been missing you guys... your positive thoughts and messages have been a real help to me recently and I thank you all sincerely... but now it's time to watch your backs because Usky is almost back to 'normal'...

Life's a funny thing isn't it?

Do I look as though I'm smiling?

I should have been...

You decide...