Love birds

Term encompassing two people in a relationship almost regardless of how serious they are. Thought of this when referring to Polly and Adri who stayed at Naworth over the weekend.

Serving drinks

As I mimicked during the JKKs' recent visit to Naworth, Dad would preface the serving of drinks by telling a guest: "I'm worried about your thirst". Sounds so much more attentive than just saying "what would you like to drink?". A bit OTT, though.

Holding your ears

When playing football in the garden and an errant shot was sailing towards the kitchen window, Dad would put his hand over his ears for some reason as though not hearing the smashing of the window would somehow make it better. Come to think of it, he did it when it was sailing over the fence.  I was having a kick around with Aidan yesterday and found myself instinctively making the move as the ball sailed up in to a tree.

Football shout

Watching Reading v Blackpool among siblings and cousins last month it was perhaps no surprise that John and I were reminded of Dad's shout at Elm Park: "Keep it on the island, Reading!" As we said, he clearly didn't have much faith in the team's skills if just preventing the ball from going out of play was something worth encouraging.

The pic comes from Reading v Arsenal in 1972.

"You're not on the rostrum now"

 Meaning there's no need to talk so loudly or self-importantly.

Love note

Seldom a note actually about love but any piece of paper left around the house prompting action from a family member or sometimes a note intended for someone to whom you would never wish to show love to start with. I leave them all the time.

Brush in your bed

Leaving a brush in someone else's bed was always a great wheeze for Dad - and often for children getting their own back. In response to finding a brush as he slid into bed Dad would call out: "That's very childish" even though he was the one who instigated the trick.

Pic of the day: "Faulkner's sale" is written on the reverse along with a reference to the print being produced in Jan 1955.