Povey Prattle

  The universe has been good!  At least in Sarasota, and probably elsewhere, the supermarkets did not start blaring Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. In truth there has been no music whatsoever. Was this a new marketing ploy; or was it a response to the sombre mood of much of the nation. There was one exception in greater Sarasota. Fresh Market decided to assault our ears.  I heard a bland version of that tedious song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" being blared inside and out, by unimaginative soloists  -  you might well  call them "The Stepford Duet". Some of you know that I live very quietly in my home.  I never watch T.V.  (The most recent time I was glued to the screen was when Hurricane Irma was approaching).  I listen to the wireless only when I am in my car. I like the silence.   But to be sure I have been Christmas music deprived this year. Mea Culpa. So now, since we are still in Christmas, I offer you three of my favourite bits of Christmas music

A lovely time with Jack and Donna Chrisman, and Ashley Lloyd. Good food  (with no need for over eating); and great friendship. As I opened my gifts the Chrisman dog Andy, and my dog watched every move in the hope that there might be dog treats in one of them. I gave Ashley some fine boxed chocolates.  Knowing that her Mom and Dad can be sweet toothed I prepared this sign for Ashley to paste to the box. Happy Days!  

This dog  keeps me sane in COVID 19 days.  Maybe he is God's  angel. I put some kibble at the edge of a table to attract Z's attention.  My best pal! p.s  Zion is most likely a mix of Brittany Spaniel and Great Pyrenees. Which ever,   he came out well!

 WOT? The toilet in my bathroom has not been flushing as it should. I looked into the cistern to try to discern the problem.  That I could not do; but I discovered these  at the bottom of the tank. Over the counter reading spectacles.  I have no idea how they got there; and I have not missed them.  Go figure!  (They had nothing to do with the toilet flushing  problem). ------------------------------------------------------------------- WOW! I wrote on Dec 21st about the superb service I got from Delta Airlines when I had to cancel a U.S.A/U.K./U.S.A  flight I'd planned for March 2021. I'd anticipated that Delta that would give me a credit against future flights,  The wonderful Delta agent decided that instead I should get a refund for the full fare. She told me that I should get the refund within 7-10 business days. 7-10.  Oh baloney!  My AMEX credit card registered the refund today.. Not 7-10 days on,  but two days on! I am a sworn Delta Airlines fan!

It was in 1996/7 that Comet Hale-Bopp passed through the skies. Some family members were visiting me in Pittsfield, MA and we agreed that the transit of the Comet was spectacular . Hale-Bopp became a celestial friend. We missed it when it moved away after many days. Yesterday I was able to view the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. There is not a photograph which does it justice. It was not spectacular; rather it was awesome. My awe was rooted in the knowledge that I was viewing a celestial brightness which humans had not seen for nearly 800 years. (Paul Dellegato a weather forecaster from News 13 Tampa) puts it this way.) "As expected I had a bunch of emails/messages telling me it was a big letdown. I made a post last night reminding everyone that Jupiter and Saturn were not going to join to become one massive bright star. Visually, a very bright Mars this summer was more impressive. A Flyover of the Space Station is really cool. I have seen the Northern Lights and they wer

You will remember that I had planned  to  go to England last  September for the marriage celebration  of my nephew Dan and his partner Chrissy. Their plans were interrupted  by COVID 19  and changed  to March 2021.  So I changed my USA/UK flights for the celebration from September 2020 to March 2021.  Delta Airlines made that change without charge.   The not so good  news is that with COVID 19 being rampant in both our countries I decided that it would not be wise to travel as soon as next March.   I called Delta this morning, having been previously advised that if I cancelled they would give me a voucher to use on future flights.   The very good news  for me is that I encountered the best Delta employee ever.   I told her that I knew that I would get a voucher.   She said that she wanted to get  me a full refund.  The refund department said no; but the agent said  "I am not satisfied with that, and I will speak to a supervisor."    I had to stay on the line for thirty minute