Speed; bulb tea; fresh air and exercise

The 'Most Popular' slot on the BBC News website continues to amuse, with this incongruous pairing in the top two spot yesterday.

Recently paid my third speeding fine (and collected accompanying penalty points) following being snapped last October. Highly irritating as always. Also, am mightily peeved at not being offered a speed awareness course in place of the penalty points, as a number of people I know seem to have been on these, including Dad who apparently enjoyed the one he went on recently. The initial form I was sent gave me the option to indicate if I’d like to go on a course if a place was available, which I did, but no joy. October’s snapping was near Watlington and would have been on one of my Monday morning cross country drives to join the M40. The previous occasion was near Ross-on-Wye in 2008, and the first in Henley in 2000, when as I recall I was cruising happily back to our flat for breakfast after dropping Ray off at work. All three in 30 mph zones. On the 2008 occasion I was driving a hire car so, embarrassingly, had the notice forwarded to me by the hire people.

Looking back at the notice from 2000: TVP seem now to state the speed you were doing, which they didn’t then. Also my fine on that occasion was a mere £40, whereas it had gone up to £100 this time. Am attempting to take great care to keep to the limit in the 30 mph zones on my Monday drive, even when that involves ignoring other cars backing up behind you and trying to overtake.

Relayed the tale of woe to my hairdresser Lisa on Saturday, who commented that she hadn't seen me as a speed demon. Assured her that I am merely a victimised innocent.

Went for a solo dinner at Wagamama after work last Thursday and ordered a jasmine flowering tea, thinking it would be served in a little pot as per when I’ve had it in other places. Was surprised to be served with a glass of hot water on a saucer, with what looked like a bulb next to it. Assuming I was supposed to put the bulb into the water, I did, and it did indeed burst forth into something resembling a flower. It was the first time I’d encountered flowering tea, but apparently it is a known concept. Not sure whether it's supposed to do something special for you, or whether it's just meant to look pretty. Actually it looks a bit weird, unless sipping from a cupful of leaves and twiggy bits is your thing.

Looking back towards Tanners Lane

Enticed Ruth out for a healthy walk on Saturday, up past Highdown School and along Highdown Hill Road, which peters out into a path leading uphill to Tanners Lane (although there was tarmac visible so quite possibly it was a through route for traffic at some point in the past). Crossed a field from Tanners Lane to join Dysons Wood Lane, where we noted this pair of pillars, which a bit of research suggests marked the driveway to Dysons Wood House. Another Geograph picture has a bit more blurb about the house, suggesting that it was earmarked for demolition in 2011. Couldn't find anything subsequent to confirm whether it actually was demolished, but I have to say I couldn't see it from standing by the pillars (though the hedge had grown up a good bit since the first of the pictures).

Walked through Tokers Green back down into Caversham, stopping off at the Griffin for a pint and packet of crisps. Exclaimed at the number of calories in a bag of Kettle Chips.

Prior to the walk, began Saturday with a reluctant visit to see Jill the hygienist at Prospect Street Dental Surgery. Apparently, as Jill mentioned more than once, it had been eight months since my last visit, which had evidently annoyed her since she's asked me to see her every four months. Not sure what my incentive is supposed to be for forking out around £40 to have my teeth scraped and be lectured about tartar buildup, and have taken to trying to stretch the gap between appointments, though Jill doesn't take cancellations lying down and is given to phoning you and forcing you to rebook. Ruth and I theorised that she'll probably start coming round to the house if I cancel another one.