28th June 2019
Today it's Happy Birthday to my Mum - long gone but not forgotten. It's the last of our June birthdays tomorrow - Happy Birthday for tomoz Emma. June is mortgage month - one needs a mortgage to purchase all the June birthday cards. |
Anyone galloping off to Glastonbury? Like every year that's gone before, we decided to give it miss. We'll probably be pottering in the garden this weekend instead of enjoying the thrill of festival field lavatories, sleeping in a tiny tent and stuffing burghers - it's not very appealing at our time of life. It'll be good fun for those with the stamina to enjoy the crowds, the noise, and the queues.
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26th June 2019
I've just completed the writers' group Autumn Term programme - another job ticked on my "to do" list. Here's hoping it won't prove too challenging. We like to have it available before the summer break so everyone has lots of time to mull things over and dig deep for inspiration. |
Not much else happening I'm afraid. I'm still grappling with You Tube videos about painting abstract stuff in acrylics. If you think you don't know anyone daft enough to paint a couple of boulders sitting in an abstract(ish) arctic wasteland, well you do, it's me. Why? I haven't a clue. I think they look more like spuds. There's no accounting for how some folk choose to use their time.
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21st June 2019
No prize for guessing where Carol and Gary are spending the weekend. Another of their little whims... "just popping to Rotterdam..." (as you do!). "Popping" to Sainsbury's is about my limit these days Happy Midsummer Birthday to Jenny. None of us made it to Stone Henge for this morning's sunrise - it's a long way to go to watch the sun creep over the horizon and peep through the stones. Having seen reports of the jollifications it appears as well as the ancient "standing stones" there were a few folk present one could describe as "non-standing stoned". Each time I put garlic wash on the hostas (see 17th) along comes a shower and washes it off again. Hmmm... must have a rethink on this one, it could well be a waste of time and garlic. Is the battle lost? |
20th June 2019
Are you geared up to celebrate the Summer Solstice tomorrow? The word “Solstice” comes from the Latin words, sol sistere – “sun stand still”. The sun does seem to stand still as it reaches it’s furthest point from the equator. Summer Solstice (or in Pagan speak Litha) marks the longest day of the year. In the northern hemisphere of our planet, the Summer Solstice occurs during June. This year it is June 21st and many pagans will be celebrating. |
Many cultures celebrate Midsummer but Sweden is the champion of midsummer celebrations. Their festivities are rooted in Paganism and are important to Swedes of all ages. Traditional foods such as pickled herring, salmon, and potatoes are enjoyed and flower-wreath-wearing revellers enjoy folk dances and party on a grand scale.
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14th June 2019
At Tuesday's writers' meeting the library handed out our "summer read" - over the summer break we read a book and the homework for the first week back in September is to write a review. This year we have Cousins by Salley Vickers. I've checked a few reviews and they're very mixed. I don't think I have enough years left to waste time reading books that bore me - I've got to chapter 10 and I'm unsure I'll see it through to the end. |
I was intrigued with that word politicians are tripping off their tongues at the moment. Prorogue - I hadn't a clue what it meant nor had I ever heard it until yesterday. Meaning: discontinue a session of (a parliament or other legislative assembly) without dissolving it.
The ---rogue bit has appropriate connotations don't you think? I reckon the world and his dog are fed up with political goings on right now. |
13th June 2019
Hi everyone - hope you're keeping dry. I can't believe that I'm wearing gloves in June. Raynaud's has no respect for the time of year, I always worry about what the thermometer has to say. And, even worse, having swapped to our summer duvet I had to chuck another cover on top of the bed last night. Heaven forbid that I have to resort to getting my hot water bottle out. Jan and I have been to art class this morning - last meeting of the term. We talked, ate things, had coffee, and did a bit of drawing. I forgot to tell you about Jenny and her emergency op for appendicitis. She came home three days after surgery, then back to hospital, then home again. She's been a bit poorly so we hope she's sitting with her feet up, not the easiest thing to do when you have eight month old Freddie but folks are helping out. Get well soon Jenny. |
Excuse me a moment: just giving a quick wave to some friends in Nottinghamshire as I heard they pop in here to see what we're all up to. Hi there, everyone up Mansfield way.
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Talking of Freddie - he's keen on getting stuck into a good book these days. He's getting pretty vocal too, and starts singing to himself LOUDLY around 5 a.m. Jenny's a bit miffed too because he shouts Dad-dad-dad and has not yet uttered Mom-mom-mom.
Not much else to tell you today: life's been as unexciting as it usually is. Writers' group went OK and we've had two new members join us in recent weeks. I'm managing to find my way round the new software - I've not hurled the laptop through the window yet. |
9th June 2019
I've resolved the missing software mystery. Having pestered Amazon customer services department I finally received an e-mail some two weeks after I ordered it to say that it's lost. They've assured me my money will be reimbursed. In the meantime I did a bit of Googling to find out from where their customer services department operates because I had trouble understanding the chap on the other of the phone. I had to do an extensive "hunt the phone number" on their website which aroused my suspicions - outcome is they don't actually have a dedicated customer services office - it's young men and women working from home in the far flung corners of the planet. So after nearly three weeks of hassle I ordered it from John Lewis Online and it arrived the next day - same price too. Richard is coming tomorrow to do the biz Here it is smiling for the camera, hope it smiles for me when I'm trying to make it do what I want. I can't quite get used to the fact that you no longer get a disc with the programme on - in the little posh box is a code no on something the size of a credit card and a small piece of paper with minimal instructions. I suppose it'll come bouncing down from the cloud... a couple of whooshes round the room and then stuff itself up the USB opening in my laptop. Current innovations have left me stuck in the starting blocks. |
3rd June 2019
No prizes for deducing where Carol and Gary are hanging out at the moment. I've said it all before: middle-aged rockers, Mott the Hoople groupies. Lead man Ian Hunter is in the Big Apple to do a celebratory 80th birthday gig and a party night - Carol and Gary will be attending both occasions. The trip was ostensibly arranged for Gary's 60th Birthday then things escalated when they heard their favourite band was doing a birthday visit too. Here's looking at you kid... |
I'm getting a bit ratty with Amazon. My card statement tells me they've plundered my bank but the software still hasn't turned up. If it's not in today's post I'll be bothering their customer services department. I'm still battling with committing a poem to memory - I'd say in fraction terms it's about five eighths fixed and three eighths a bit more than tenuous. Planting it permanently in my mushy grey matter is like expecting a snowball to remain intact in a blazing bonfire.
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Jay and Lesley are holed up for the weekend nursing really bad colds - we've been warned off to avoid their germs. Get well soon and we'll have double tea and cake when you recover. They recently ordered new dining room furniture - table was delivered with the chairs promised at a later date.. When the chairs were about to arrive groundworks began in Pattingham: big holes, big vans, piles of water pipes, and no access for a delivery vehicle to get near their house. So chairs are coming to our place. I have a mental picture of them standing up to eat their dinner - no joke when you're feeling poorly. It'll have to be the sofa with a tray on your lap folks.
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Happy Birthday to my sister, Wendy in Caerphilly - have a lovely day. She's going for a birthday lunch with her family - have fun folks. Happy Birthday to Rene for tomorrow. Our two birthday girls are at an age when we'd best not count the candles. June is bumper birthday month in our family - the sort of month where you need a mortgage to buy all the cards. I like remembering birthdays - everyone should have a 'special' day.
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I'm a bit fearful of the future and worry that if and when I go daft, will I know that I'm daft? Jan (my lovely cousin) had a good idea... she suggested that memorising poems might help keep the old grey matter in "good memory" mode. I've decided to join in this exercise so I bought two copies of a collection of well know verse entitled "I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud... and other poems you half-remember from school." Jan has already mastered John Masefield's Cargoes with its unpronounceable opening line while I can only get halfway through Browning's Home Thoughts From Abroad. The task is ongoing... I shove my little paperback in my bag and it keeps me quiet while sitting in hospital waiting rooms. We did Ophthalmology on Friday and between scans etc we were directed to the green chairs, pink chairs, black chairs and back to the pink chairs for a final word with the consultant. The colour coded chair system works well but for some reason I find it funny - however, I worry about the colour blind. Result: no change, come back in a year, and they've added eye-drops to my list of medication.
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28th May 2019
Grrr… just popped in for a quick rant... it's the political pantomime that's winding me up. We've had two years of their bitching and back-stabbing and now they've managed to oust Mrs May it's sickening to watch them all fighting for the top job. I'm beginning to think old Guy Fawkes is the one who got it right... maybe we can retrospectively credit him with "reason" rather than "treason"... It's tempting to do something to repay their temper tantrums, obfuscations, and pocket lining. I think we can safely tar politicians of all parties with the same brush. |
Maggie and Cora are flag-waving and urging me not to pay the parking fine. (see 25th May post) I've sent a grovelling letter explaining that I hadn't noticed that two digits (yes just two flipping digits of the blue badge expiry date) were not quite in view when Mr Jobsworth was on the prowl; I await their response. However, I guess there has to be rules and I broke them.
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25th May 2019
I managed Writers' Group and Art Class this week and now it's half term. On Thursday everyone was in holiday mood so there was much chat and less painting - with me the worst culprit. We've had a letter from the Police saying our burglar will be going to trial and is pleading Not Guilty - that's a laugh a minute because Bern actually saw him coming out of the house. As yet there's no date set but it'll be interesting to see the outcome. We bumped into Doreen and Brian at Sainsbury's this morning and had a nice chat - they're about to have a bathroom refurb so I offered them our back door key in case they get taken short in the middle of the loo update. One imagines all sorts of awkward moments when there's workmen in the house and the bathroom is out of bounds, especially now we're all approaching the "leaky" age bracket. Anyone galloping off to the seaside this holiday? We'll be at home if friends and family need a cup of tea. I've spent most of today trying to tidy my office, den, junk space, work room (a.k.a Carol's old bedroom). I despair of all the stuff I collect which forces me, at regular intervals, to have a good sort out. So I shuffle it round, shift the dust and then stash it all back again but I feel better for it, until I come to use something and I'll have forgotten where I've put it. A never ending nightmare. |
I had a jolly letter from Staffs Council telling me that whilst I was in the Library at a writers' group meeting I incurred a £70 parking fine. It also said photographic evidence available. So I asked for a photo - it arrived showing my blue badge duly displayed but the last two digits of the expiry date were not quite visible. An expensive mistake on my part and a mean move by Mr Jobsworth. If I pay up promptly I'll get away with £35 instead of £70.
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16th May 2019
Thursday again and time for Jan and I to get ourselves to art class. When I arrived to pick her up we both confessed to having had little sleep and we also shared a lack of ideas for today's class. Jan had set her alarm and when it went off she tried to switch it off but it refused to be silenced. She shouted at it, kept pressing the off button and still it screamed at her. So, as one does, she slung it across the room before realising it was her phone alarm she'd set and not the bedside one. She barely had time for a quick slice of toast before I was hammering on her door. Bern had booted me out of bed just in time to get myself going. |
14th May 2019
We should remember today's date as the beginning of the fight against deadly diseases. It's the day Edward Jenner (1749-1823) proved that inoculation could prevent a person from developing a disease. He used the gruesome content of a postule on the hand of woman suffering from cowpox (a form of smallpox) to inoculate a boy who subsequently became immune to smallpox. As you may well imagine, people thought him to be nuts and said that children inoculated in this way had all but changed into cattle. I'm so glad they eventually saw sense... else where would we be today? A great bloke! |
Edward Jenner, FRS FRCPE was an English physician and scientist who was the pioneer of smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. The terms "vaccine" and "vaccination" are derived from Variolae vaccinae, the term devised by Jenner to denote cowpox. (Wikipedia)
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9th May 2019
There's nothing like a jaunty jolly gerbera. Gerry brought me this one in early March and it's still producing new blooms. They're a "smiley" little plant I think and clever with it - producing different colour blooms on one plant. Art group went well this morning. We have a few new members - it's all very friendly and there's just about enough painting room for us all. Today Roland brought cakes to mark his 82nd birthday. Many happy returns of the day for tomorrow Roland.
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8th May 2019
The bank holiday weekend turned out to be a bit of flop didn't it? Nothing to watch on telly and too cold to go anywhere... from my perspective anyway. I've done writers' group this week - we had another workshop with Jane Seabourne. We've been set the task of doing an anthology with the writing theme "South Staffs" It's art class tomorrow, not that I'm making much progress. I've slung two more paintings into the bin since last Thursday. The other painters say you should always keep your failures but I can do without a load of rubbish hanging about. I'm on a mission at the moment to do one that I can live with. Last weekend Carol and Gary did a baby sitting stint for Ian and Jenny who were attending a wedding in Devon so they all managed to grab a couple of days of southern sunshine while we shivered up here. I had good news at Friday's cardiology appointment - no further deterioration, come back in six months. Lucky me. |
Ian and Jenny all togged up
for a friend's wedding |
1st May 2019
Hope you were up early enough to wash your face in May Day Morning dew - it's supposed to make you more beautiful. Men can benefit from a May morning wash too but they must wash in the dew from a hawthorn tree. Even folklore is subject to sexism. It's the day for the May Queens to do whatever May Queens do and also for Green Man to set about his jiggery pokery and lead us through spring and into summer. Come on Green Man - do your stuff. No, not the Incredible Hulk, I mean the one with a leafy look who turns up at Beltane - the festival Pagans celebrate on May 1st. |
The Wellington boot was originally a type of leather boot adapted from Hessian boots. They were worn and popularised by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The "Wellington" boot became a staple of practical foot wear for the British aristocracy and middle class in the early 19th century. (Wikepedia)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR
Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke of Wellington B: Dublin 1st May 1769 - D: 14th Sept. 1852 Walmer Castle, Kent. |
30th April 2019
There may be a bit of magic and witchery going on tonight and tomorrow. Today is the eve of May Day and in Germany it is called Walpurgisnacht - a night named after an English nun, St Walpurga (or Walpurgis). In the 8th Century she became Abbess of Heidenheim. Some say the may have been named after Waldborg, a pagan goddess. Whoever she is, in Germany it's the night when witches gather to carouse with the Devil until midnight and then the Queen of the May appears and everything will be OK. It is celebrated by dressing up and dancing round bonfires, similar to our Hallowe'en. Not sure I'll be invoking the witches to appear. For us tomorrow is Beltane (May Day) the first day of summer in the Celtic calendar when the cattle were put out to graze so get your maypoles out, gather some blossom and make merry. Here's a link to what they get up to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjUV-byB8ls I'd love to give it a go and do a bit of witch dancing. |
I had a phone chat with my brother and sister-in-law yesterday. (Bernard and Trudie) I know it' confusing but we have several Bernards in our family, well we used to but only two left now as far as I know (hubby and brother). They rang to ask about our burglar because Trudie's sister, who visits these pages, had told them all about it. Here's waving to you Shirley - glad you are able to pop in.
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26th April 2019
This post-Easter week has been a bit unsettling for us. It started well when Lesley's Mum and Dad came for Easter weekend and Jay and Les treated us all to a lovely lunch at David Austin's Roses Restaurant on Easter Saturday, and after which we had a lovely afternoon in the warm sunshine. The rest of the family were in Newquay with all the babies enjoying the beach and hunting Easter Eggs. |
The weather cooled down and everything went downhill. We had three jolly hospital visits - blood tests, eye department, and kidney unit plus a visit to GP. Then it got worse... we had news that Jon and Zara had been involved in a motorbike accident out in the sticks in Vietnam. They were taken to a little hospital where the treatment left much to be desired. They managed to get themselves to Hanoi where they were seen at a more modern hospital. They're OK, but have severe and painful abrasions and Zara is on crutches with a broken leg. They're staying in Hanoi for a while as they have more hospital appointments to attend.
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17th April 2019
I'm bogged down with a moral dilemma today. While the world mourns the tragedy of a damaged Notre Dame, and yes it is a pity, but I keep wondering if Jesus was around today and we asked him a question such as: we've just had offers of loads of money - should we spend it on repairing an ancient building or should we house the homeless and feed the starving children who live in war zones. What is the Christian thing to do? I'd give anything to hear his reply. |
I've just re-primed a couple of canvases i.e. obliterated two more paintings that didn't deserve to see the light of day. While they dry I'll be getting my hair trimmed. Bern's busy washing bird poo off the garage door, windows back and front, and the patio area - the birds have dived bombed us in recent days in appreciation of all the bird food and fat balls we put out for them. Then we have another exciting outing this afternoon - hospital eye department. |
15th April 2019
Hello... I've not been so good this week - made it to writers' group but had to miss art class - a few sleepless nights too. Hey ho... plod on. I had a nice surprise this morning; my lifelong friend Peggy phoned (she's lives in Australia) so a lovely catch up chat cheered me up no end. |
Good news is I've kept busy doing more paintings - and the bad news: they're consigned to the bin. The ups and downs of being a dauber. I'll say it again: hey ho... plod on. |
8th April 2019
Time for a kick up the backside: I've wasted a whole week without popping in for a chat, sorry. I was under the weather on Tuesday and didn't make it to writers group but back on form by Thursday so Jan and I got to art class. I've been holed up with my paintbrushes all weekend - still dabbling with acrylics. Don't ask me what sort of flowers these are - I don't know because I just invented them. Just think of them as a new species. Thought! Can you call plants a species? - maybe I should say new genus. |
This one is a bit strange. An abstract called "Under and Over". Probably not everyone's cup of tea - it looks like piles of torn up paper. Perhaps a better title would be "Detritus." My only excuse for foisting this on the world is that it was fun to do. |
1st April 2019
I was wondering why All Fool's Day came about and did the usual Google thing. There's loads of explanations about why we mark this day. Some date back to Chaucer's time and there's earlier ones that blame the Romans, but no definitive answer. So here we are acting the Fool and no one knows why. The human race at its best again! |
Denise has popped in with another book recommendation for our avid readers. She says this book is not at all what she expected and it's a true story. "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris. Amazon hails it as an international best seller - sounds very readable.
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Our cherry blossom tree is about to bloom which, despite the chilly morning, has me thinking we're getting closer to spring.
Another two medical appointment have turned up - cardiology in May. Eye department later this month. My social life knows no bounds. I'm not really complaining, compared with other parts of the world, we're lucky to get looked after. AND, despite the complaints we hear via the media, I can't fault the treatment and attention I receive at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital. |
29th March 2019
Brexit Brexit Brexit - what a flipping shambles. I'm not going to comment as I'm bored with all the political talk that just goes round in circles. Much more interesting - this morning I started another painting. Will it end up on the wall or in the bin? The answer to that is as tenuous as the Brexit thing - I just have to wait and see. Plans for this afternoon are less exciting - a trip to the hospital respiratory centre to see how my lungs are coping with the scleroderma. |
I'm driving myself mad just at the moment - that's why I've stopped for a chat. I was just getting going with my painting when I needed the spray (mister thing) to dampen the acrylic paint. Looked everywhere, then I remembered last time little Jai was here he took a fancy to it and happily sprayed everything that didn't need spraying. He insisted, "I'm cleaning, I'm cleaning!" When he'd finishing "cleaning" I hid it so he might forget about it. Of course, and inevitably, I can't remember were I've put it and now my paint is drying before I want it to. (Mutters unrepeatable invective *!$%***+#).
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28th March 2019
I've popped in to say 'good morning' before I pick up Jan - art class this morning. Talking of Jan, we had a long discussion the other day about the poem she had to study for a school exam (our schooldays are in the distant past but odd subjects have a way of creeping into conversations) anyway, we ended up talking about Coleridge's "The Tale of the Ancient Mariner". When I got home I dug out a copy of said poem - Jan must be made of sterner stuff than me - I'd lost the will to live by the time I got to the end. There are some 140 verses. Commiserations to kids who are made to learn that one. See you later... after I've delighted Roland with today's daub. |
Back again, sorry I've no delightful picture to show you - today's effort was unsuccessful. The highlight of our morning was the fancy cakes brought by Hilary in honour of her birthday. Happy Birthday Hilary.
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25th March 2019
Monday again. Just completed my homework for tomorrow's writers' meeting. The brief is to write a letter to either a fictional character or someone from history. I've written to Miss Havisham in an effort to make her get out of that dusty old wedding dress and take a bath. I'm not sure if she'll listen. I've just done a bit of online shopping - a pair of brown trousers. Then I received the follow-up email telling me what I've just bought in case I forget. OK, I am likely to forget, it's the ingratiating wording that has me grinding my teeth. I'm told that... "as you read this e-mail your goods are being lovingly packed...." I wonder: is there a shapely nymph draping herself round my parcel as she tenderly applies the sticky tape - or is it a chap on a fork-lift whizzing round a warehouse slinging stuff onto a conveyor that hurtles it to the packing area? "Lovingly" of course.
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Little Freddie (great grandson no 3) hops onto my phone most days. I don't know what they're feeding him but he seems to grow overnight. |
Some of our gang are or have been on the move again. Jay and Lesley are just back from Feurteventura (Canaries); Carol and Gary have taken a little trip to Thailand and Jon and Zara are seen here taking selfies in a canoe in Cambodia Happy birthday today Zara - love the hat.
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20th March 2019
This morning's TV news set me thinking after the presenter announced that today is World Happiness Day. I wonder if anyone has told the Mozambique's cyclone survivors and the children in Syria. The irony is incalculable. The International Day of Happiness was founded by the United Nations General Assembly and was first celebrated in March 2013. They've announced that this year's theme is to be Happier Together, promoted around a central aim— “Share Happiness and be Part of Something Amazing.” We can only hope that someone is listening. |
We do have something to be happy about - spring is on the way. In fact it's here officially with the arrival of today's Spring Equinox. The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth's equator – from south to north. This happens on March 19, 20, or 21 every year. Oh well... now we know what the sun's up to.
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19th March 2019
Exciting stuff happening this morning - we've had a few bluetits giving our bird box the once over. No contracts signed yet but we're open to offers and promise to provide free food throughout the season. Other than this flurry of feathers I've nothing of consequence to report this week. |
12th March 2019
Can't stop to chat right now as I'm off to pick up Jan and make our way to art class. I had to switch on to check if the threat of Armageddon and the Apocalypse rolled into one big event has been averted i.e. since 4 pm yesterday Facebook has been down and I couldn't get to play Scrabble - I thought the end of the world was nigh. Sighs of relief all round it's up and running again but it might be a good idea to renew passwords, if I can fathom out how to do it. When I switched on there was little Freddie Mitchell smiling at me and holding his "six month's old" label. Maybe catch up with you later when we've finished daubing. Bern's preoccupied at the moment... decisions, decisions, decisions... he can't quite settle on the best way to use his 0.25p per week extra pension he'll be getting since turning 80.
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13th March 2019
My dear friend Cora is on a mission to increase my fluid intake - I forget to drink enough: the medical people are on my case and now Cora is backing them up. She turned up at writers' meeting with this large cup with integral blue straw and trendy unicorn - for some reason young girls have deemed unicorns to be the latest must-have. I'm pretty "with it" now and Laptop and unicorn have bonded so whilst meandering round cyberspace I can keep hydrated. Thank you Cora - and yes, I've filled it with water. |
I'm just about to pop into Codsall Writers' and the Art-on-Thursday websites now to do updates. We learned a little lesson at Writers' meeting yesterday after one member had almost been scammed. If you get a pop-up message asking you to upgrade, ignore it. Apparently it's OK to respond to an update message but not an upgrade one - this was pertaining to her anti-virus software. Be careful folks - too many dodgy people lurking in the ether these days
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If you have time to help the FRIENDS OF BILBROOK group in their effort to keep our village tidy you can find details of their next event on the LOCAL STUFF page (menu above). Scroll down the page and you'll find the info. They welcome your support. There's also details of the upcoming AGM which will be held in the Council Offices. |
We've had a busy weekend with Saturday given over to the birthday people. The world and his dog turned up at our place on Saturday (not that I'm given to hyperbole) it was family and a few friends for an afternoon shindig. Carol, Lesley and Kek (Karen) did all the hard work i.e. cooking and baking while I had the arduous task of slogging away sorting out paper napkins and cutlery.
Jai was happy in the midst of things playing fire engines He had a bit of trouble stopping the little ones getting their hands on his Fireman figures - he managed to deal with inquisitive fingers without upsetting anyone. After it was all over and people were heading home we realised we'd not taken any pictures of the grown ups.
Poor Freddie and Josh were not their usual smiley selves - currently they're both busy with teething troubles and making use of their little dribble catchers. Don't know what they call the baby kit these days but apparently these replace what we knew as a bib. |
7th March 2019
We're in the middle of Big Birthday week today. Bern's reached 80 today - now I know why women refer to their husbands as "the old man." Gary is still reeling from hitting 60 on Tuesday and Lesley's in line for her 50th on Friday. The only consolation is that we're all aging at the same rate of knots. |
Tuesday's writers' meeting was lively - I'd managed some homework. We had to take a quote from literature and use it as a theme. With Friday's post still in my mind I was able to waffle about the Ides of March. I'm able to bore people at the drop of a hat - in fact I've turned into an art form so tell me to belt up if you feel in need of a big yawn. However - the results were interesting and the diversity of interpretations is always surprising.
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At this morning's art class I only managed a small pen and ink drawing and half of an elephant in pencil. Jan got stuck into a lovely watercolour - it's not yet finished but it was looking good when we packed up for the morning. Maggie did a good one in coloured pencils - it was so good someone suggested she have it printed as a greeting card. Sounds like a good plan. Jill, another member of the writers' group, joined the art class this morning. We not know our pens from our paintbrushes at this rate.
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4th March 2019
Hi there... I've just spent the morning battling with my Writers' Group homework. I don't think I've written a winner but I'm feeling pretty noble as that makes it two weeks running I've done the homework. (Pats self on back and blows on my trumpet). |
We had another little adventure on Saturday morning - I woke up feeling weird and ended up in A&E via the "ring 111" procedure. It turned out to be a water infection - they gave me a load of antibiotics and now I'm feeling normal again. Never dull moment. Ooh... I hate medical matters that happen in the knicker region.
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Today's date 1824 - The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was found by Sir William Hillary.
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1st March 2019
Happy new month everyone and welcome to Meteorological Spring as the weather people call it. I believe 21st March is the official date for spring to kick off as the vernal equinox happens around that date. (Just checked - it's on 20th March this year). I've included a little nod in the direction of St David's day for our relatives in Wales. I guess it will be all leeks, daffodils and red dragons down their way - have a great day. |
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28th February 2019
Good morning all - I'm so disappointed to find the blue skies and sunshine have taken their leave. But, no worries. I'm waving my little flag today for Rare Disease Day - SRUK is the only body that carries out research on Scleroderma and Raynaud's (AKA Systemic Sclerosis which comes under the "rare" banner) it's the one I'm stuck with - I'm thankful for their continued research. As yet there is no cure but latest news is that they're looking at stem cell transplant to halt the disease. |
28 February 2019
Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients' lives. |
I've just discovered, via Facebook, that an old Jack Hawkins film is being shown on Talking Pictures TV (Freeview 81) at 1.40 a.m. Friday 1st March. It was filmed just down the road at Pendeford Airport (now a business park) by the traffic lights between Bilbrook Village and the i54 roundabout on Wobaston Road. The film was made in 1957 (I was 17 at the time) some local people became film extras. One person on Facebook says she appeared in it in her pushchair, pushed by her mother. I reckon there'll be families gathering round their goggle boxes trying to spot their younger selves. The film was released by Ealing Studios and all the "action" took place on our doorstep. I vaguely remember the buzz of excitement in the village as THE plane zoomed overhead during the film shoot. Don't forget to set your recorder if you want to see it- unless, of course, you're up for watching telly in the wee small hours.
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23rd February 2019
The wall to wall sunshine is almost too good to be true. We have snowdrops and crocus lighting up the garden, even the birds seem happier in the spring-like weather. We did the hospital run again yesterday for an ultra-sound scan in cardiology. They said there didn't appear to be any further deterioration since the one done in December - a bit good news. |
It's Doreen's birthday tomorrow - an unmentionable one this year - have a fabulous day Doreen, I'll not mention the number but if you're into anagrams try this one - cntoaroianeg
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20th February 2019
I've just stumbled upon my moan of the day... I was wandering round the Seasalt Clothing website looking at trousers. It's sometimes difficult to determine the exact shade of a garment when viewing them online - the colour stated for the ones I was looking at was Tehidy. Anyone have a clue what colour that is? I Googled "Tehidy" curious to learn about this new-to-me colour only to find it's a Castle in Cornwall. I guess the fabric must be a similar shade to some old bricks. Not very helpful - I guess the trousers would go nicely with a cardigan on the same website which they've named Log Basket. Give me strength - talk about pretentiousness personified. After all, a cardigan is a cardigan - I don't get the log basket connection. If they'd do some straight talking and do away with daft descriptions I might buy something. |
Thanks Denise for the book recommendation - she said that she couldn't put it down. Amazon reviews are good too - it sounds like a winner. Carol's checked it out with a free sample chapter from Amazon (via the Kindle App) and she gives it a thumbs up too.
The Girl in the Letter by Emily Gunnis
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Have you heard that people are having themselves micro-chipped? Apparently over 3500 people in Sweden have already had it done. It's like Orwell's 1984 in overdrive. We won't be able to sneeze (or worse) without the world knowing about it. They say in the near future, once micro-chipped, we'll be able to point a finger to access, cars, premises, credit cards, and I suppose anything to which our personal chip is programmed. This set me thinking that in the light of today's violent society. If anyone wants to rob you they'll only have to chop off your finger so they can wave it at your car, front door, bank account... maybe I'm being silly in sensing something sinister...
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There was another fancy moon last night - I missed it - too cloudy.
It's called a Snow Moon because in the past we usually had snow at this time of year so February's full moon became known as the Snow Moon. Perihelion was around 2nd Jan (the point when the earth is at it's closest to the sun) but we're still near enough for the moon to appear larger than usual. An optical illusion but spectacular! |
17th February 2019
We all went to the Alrewas Memorial Arboretum yesterday - it was Ian's choice of venue for a birthday outing. We visited years ago when it first opened and all the newly planted trees were tiny saplings. It was pleasing to see how everything had matured and the improvements that had been made. Andy, little Jai and I saw most of it from the train that travels round the site while the others went for a more energetic stroll. Despite the sombre purpose of the Arboretum the atmosphere is peaceful and inviting - well worth a visit if you've not been and the statuary is impressive. Big Jay likes to look in on the RAF Regiment corner while Bern says 'hello' to shipmates whose names are on the big wall. Then it was into the café for a light lunch and back to Ian and Jenny's house for cake and candles. |
Confession: Bern bought me a wheelchair about 4 years ago - it's been in it's wrappers in the back of his car ever since. The Alrewas site is so large I managed the train ride but thereafter I had to resort to the 'thing' in the boot. When it came time to go home, and the fact that it was it's first outing, we couldn't fathom out how to fold it up again to get it into the boot. Big Jay came to the rescue; he found the instruction book tucked in a back pocket of the chair. Must remember to read instruction books and check for extra pockets in future. The rest of the gang were tickled pink that I'd finally relented and agreed to ride in the chair. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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If you're a tad squeamish I suggest you stop reading at this point. We've had news from Jon and Zara - they're currently exploring Cambodia. They're keen cooks and love investigating the culinary delights of foreign parts. They've overstepped the mark this week and eaten Cambodian rat. I shudder just typing this. Jon went into graphic detail... they spatchcock them (opened and flattened like chicken here). They're cooked complete with teeth, tail and liver. Can you imagine - there's a little rat face grinning at one end of the ensemble and the disgusting tail at the other with a grisly grilled liver sticking up in the middle AND it still looks like a rat as you put it in your mouth. When I voiced my concerns about their diet Zara said "oh they're not city rats, they're from the fields and have lived on rice." Flipping heck - I don't care what it's been eating - it's still a verminous rodent. Now what are you having for lunch today?
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13th February 2019
If you have a Valentine card all ready to post the best box to use in our area is in Lichfield. The Royal Mail postbox opposite the new LICHFIELD Library is one of the four postboxes in the country that have been painted especially for Valentine's Day. They all have links to poets and Lichfield's has been selected due to the 18th century poet Anna Seward, the Swan of Lichfield, friend of Erasmus Darwin and who lived in the Bishop's Palace in the Cathedral Close, now home to the Lichfield Cathedral School. You can read some of Anna's sonnets and poetry on the box, it has also been painted with love hearts especially for Valentine's Day - how romantic! What a lovely spring-like morning - I saw some little birds inspecting our bird-box, they even came back for a second look. Here's hoping they decide to move in - can't think why they wouldn't, there's food on tap and bathing facilities.
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Now I'm wondering what happens to them afterwards.. Will they send a man out in the middle of the night to paint them plain red again? |
6th February 2019
It was backs to the grindstone at writers' group today - Bert Flitcroft joined us to do a poetry workshop. Blood out of a stone comes to mind but we managed to keep our heads above water - there's nothing like the odd metaphor for telling a tale. |
I've sent my apologies to Roland for tomorrow's art class as we'll be attending mother-in-law's funeral in the morning.
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February is a nondescript month - we're one week into it and it'll soon be over. There's loads of folklore surrounding this grey little month which. I reckon you can't beat a bit of folklore - maybe there's a modicum of truth in it - much like today's press reports. Here's three to be going on with...
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That's the bunny business out of the way - we can get on with February now. Fingers crossed and with a bit of white rabbit luck I have a hospital-free month ahead. One appointment letter arrived last week but it's for January 2020 - I rang to check it wasn't a typing error but they assured me I'm booked in for January 2020 for a lung function session. OK, let's dive into the new month - I've printed my February calendar page, an austere picture-less thing. Am I really mean enough to faff about making a calendar? Or am I just a saddo scrabbling around for something to fill the time? Debatable! The whole year is on my computer with birthdays and anniversaries detailed - In December I just have to reshuffle the days and I'm ready for another year. Nerdy or what? Roland, our art class tutor, asks us to donate our old calendars in January so students can take inspiration from the lovely pictures. - I don't bother to volunteer mine.
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28th January 2019
Good morning everyone... we've been lying low for a couple of days as we're 100% busy coughing and sneezing. Our social life is anything but frenzied so it's a mystery where we encounter these bugs. |
Last Saturday saw us at the Mount Hotel - relatives appeared from near and far to celebrate the life of my cousin Marjorie. She died at Christmas time - her family held a private funeral in Nottingham and then arranged a "do" here for the Midland relatives. Marjie had been a sociable soul and would have loved to see such a gathering of the clan. My Mum (after whom she was named) and Marjie's mum were sisters - they had eight other siblings - hence the loads of cousins, second cousins and cousins twice-removed. It was lovely to catch up with them all. I think the younger generations enjoyed discovering relatives they'd never met.
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28th January 1896 Walter Arnold in Kent became the first British motorist to be fined for speeding. The naughty man was bombing along at 8 mph an hour in 2 mph area. Crikey joggers move quicker than that these days.
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14th January 2019
Whatever next? I see people are stockpiling food, toilet rolls, washing powder. What's the matter with them? They think the Brexit thing will put them under siege or maybe start World War Three - like I said the other day, que sera sera and we're all going to carry on breathing. |
Homework is done for tomorrow's writers' meeting. (Pats self on the back). Brief: respond to a picture of an abandoned lone shoe that lies in the road. Happy little scenario isn't it? I struggled to find something to say. I wonder who dreams these things up - or in other words, mea culpa
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Cora's story: Cora's daughter is a teacher and there's a new colleague at her school who hails from Oz. He wants to play football over here but doesn't do our sort of footy. Cora dredged up a distant memory of me mentioning No 1 grandson's involvement with Oz rules footy. So Cora contacts Betty, Betty contacts Ian, Problem solved in the blink of an eye. we think. What did we do before electronic mail?
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11th January 2019
Alleluia - we're just about back to normal. I've been to writers group and art class this week and had a text from the hospital to remind me of next week's appointment proving we're really back to normal now. Have to say I'm bored with the botheration of Brexit and the constant bleating from the media. I'm going to switch off and let it happen round me,,, que sera sera. |
I enjoyed the TV drama "Manhunt" staring Martin Clunes, telling the story of serial killer Levi Bellfield. It was great to see something with authenticity - police procedures, sequence of events and other details were portrayed realistically. Well done to the programme makers. It's worth doing "catch up" if you missed it.
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Have to dash now... we're nipping to M&S to stock up on frozen fish.
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1st January 2019
Hi there! No I don't have a hangover - we were in bed before midnight struggling to keep awake despite the London fireworks and Big Ben ding-donging on the telly. Just at the right time Bern crawled out of bed and opened the window for a brief moment to let in the New Year - that was us done and dusted and we promptly fell asleep. Our social whirl is gruelling. |
Jonathan and Zara have upped sticks again and landed in Asia yesterday. They're unsure how long they'll be away - Carol and Gary hopped over to Rotterdam to see them off - makes our trip to the bedroom window look a tad wimpy. Little Jai is out of circulation again with a nasty chest infection - it always hits him at this time of year when the cold and flu germs are flying about.
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I suppose it's time to talk Resolutions - trouble is, I haven't made any. Anyone else promised to do something worthy? I love it when Christmas is out of the way and we can get on with a new year. I've dumped last year's diary and opened up my lovely new one. I've chosen a neat little shiny one for 2019 by Paperblanks. I've always been a diary fetishist - it has to be aesthetically pleasing and fit nicely among the clutter in my handbag. You'll have to agree my new diary is pretty. There's a slim notebook tucked into a pocket inside the back cover (how cool is that?) and it has two silky ribbon bookmarks and copious lists, dates, and conversion tables i.e. oodles of info that might come in useful but never does.
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By the way... it's been with us for a week and I need to move on so I've shoved Christmas back in its box and dusted where the cards once stood. It's considered bad luck to remove the decorations early so I'm allowing a little vase of holly to hang around until Twelfth Night (5th January) just to keep the demons at bay.
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If you wish to join Friends of Bilbrook for the SBP Big Garden Bird Watch project I've posted details on the LOCAL STUFF page. Scroll down to the Friends of Bilbrook logo for the necessary info. |