The Fulling Mill, Alresford

Nice subject, but would have looked better with a lot less north.
Are you trying to emphasise the water or that curving branch at the top?

Both. The red berries, too, and the chimneys, which are on a third, where they should be. But (if anything) less South might be better.

Oh, here we go with the rules again!

It looks right where it is, and (as I've said before) "the rules" help to explain why. It is not there because a rule says that it should be.

They don't, though. If you want rules, you've got the path cutting the picture in half.

If often happens that to comply with one rule one has to break another, but I agree that on balance this picture is better with less South so that it's not cut in half.

The south is fine. It's the excess north that puts it off balance.
If you'd bring the top edge down to that first 'V' below the branch,
you'd have a much better picture.

Sorry, don't agree. The top-framing branches (all of them) and the berries are an important part of the scene, as much as the ducks who flew over from Enfield specially.

Roy's given up and gone off down the Rovers.

Oongare. I take football very seriously and think of nothing else.

This evening for dinner I had grilled chicken and rice. It might have been available for years, but I've only recently discovered ready-cooked rice, which is far quicker and more convenient to prepare (and actually nicer) than the raw rice which used to take 25 minutes to cook in a saucepan which then needed to be washed.

That's nice. I had roast beef sarnies and an apple.

That's what I have at lunchtime, though more usually a ham, chicken, mackerel, bacon or seafood one than roast beef, and a Jazz apple. One sandwich or filled roll isn't always enough, but it can be supplemented with a buttered dry Weetabix - stomach-filling without being fattening.

What's wrong with Cox?

Trans women ask that question. Eve was the first to do so.

You cannot beat a good Cox, except perhaps with a Granny Smith.

SM was never my thing, least of all with old ladies. But perhaps I should have given the draught excluder that name, in a gentle sort of way.

But if it's apples that you're talking about, I used to buy Granny Smiths before I discovered Jazz, with Braeburn coming a close second. But any of these can vary in quality and taste from pack to pack and even within the same pack. I've never tried Cox but might, provided they're not soft or sweet, which I don't like.

You've never had a Cox's Orange Pippin! That is incredible.

When I was young, my mother used to send me down the road to an old man called Mr Cutt, who had a small orchard in his back garden and sold the traditional varieties at a few pence a pound, always giving the child some extras to sample.

A good Cox is firm and full of flavour, but make sure it's an English one.

1. No, but I once knew a man named Jack Cox. He did a spell as catering organiser (tea maker) at club events, and had a small team of female assistants. These were known as his "pippins".

2. I bet you were the apple of his eye.

3. Mine was all of those things.

I've just been to the supermarket and bought a pack of Jazz and a pack of Cox apples. They'd better be good.

Well?

I don't know yet. I'll have the first one tomorrow. I had to use up an existing pack of Jazz ones first.

I've just had a Cox. Quite nice, but I prefer the Jazz.

Never judge a fruit by one apple (especially from a supermarket).

I bought a pack of four. I'll reserve judgement until I've tried the other three.

Yesterday I ate two apples, twice my normal, but no ill effects.

But all from the same producer, no doubt.

Take a drive up to Suffolk (Boxford perhaps) and pick one from the roadside.

I could, but with the cost of petrol, it would be a rather expensive free apple. Today I had another of the Coxes and I don't actually like them (at least ones I have) all that much. They're a bit soft on the outside and a bit too sharp. So, sorry; I'll be sticking with Jazz, but Waitrose sometimes have "Best of British" - a mixture of types, which I might give another go.

Next Sunday I'm leading a (circular) walk from Nasty. In the club program it's titled "Nasty and Ugley", but the "Ugley" part is for appearances only, as Ugley is some distance away, and the option of stopping there on the way home for a drink and short walk must now be scrapped as (I've just learnt, with a deep sigh) the pub there has closed permanently.

A good Cox is always firm. Perhaps you got one of those foreign types.
I look foward to some nasty photos.

1. Didn't I know it. Happy memories.
2. I didn't. Shirley and her ancestors were English.
3. [www.flickr.com/photos/satguru/6814394848]

That Jazz cider seems to have addled your brain.

Oh, core blimey.

Watch it up those apples and pears, or you might come a cropper!

I already have.