28th December 2017
Hi everyone - hope you've all surfaced after the sprouts and turkey jamboree. I can't wait to shuffle the remains of December out of the way and get on with 2018. I always get a bit impatient after the marathon telly-watching sessions, food overload, and Chrimbo stuff. I'm not given to making resolutions nor dwelling on the past as some do at this time of year. Onward and upward - all I need is a new diary poised and ready to go... I bought mine way back in November. I'm quite nerdy about it - it has to be a certain size with just the right amount of writing space, plus some interesting snippets of info. I transfer certain bits of info from my old one to the new one well before January 1st. We all have our little foibles don't we? Before we're quite finished with Christmas I may as well show you what our selfie queen has come up with this year - I'm talking about Jenny, she's turned taking a selfie into an art form. |
I'm imagining you all up to your elbows in flour, stuffing, mincemeat, and turkey giblets with sprout mountain still awaiting your attention. I don't have to worry about all that this year - we're crossing the county border and going to Carol and Gary in Shrewsbury. We've changed the bed, given the vacuum cleaner a bit of a go, flicked a duster, nothing left to say except, bring it on. I thought we'd have a little exhibition to showcase the work of our creative followers. Great work everyone. |
lovely hand-made cards
by Doreen, Val, Audrey Hilary's and Maggie's cards
(art group members) This one is Rene's: a self-caricature as supermarket shelves pose a problem - advancing years and a bit of "shrinkage" have caused her to be a tad vertically challenged. I know the feeling Rene - I struggle with the top rail of my wardrobe these days.
|
Cora and Jay used photography for the images on their cards
Roland's charcoal drawing
Jose's watercolour Val's charcoal of her horse, Calico (art group members) |
23rd December 2017...
...and it's Tom Bawcock's Eve so I guess you'll all be having Stargazy Pie for supper tonight. It'll be on the menu in Mousehole, Cornwall, to mark the occasion when Tom Bawcock turned out in a howling gale to catch fish to feed the starving fishermen's families. Things were very bad and they hadn't been able fish due to bad weather for some time - Tom's bravery saved lives - Stargazy Pie has been eaten in his honour since 1822. |
|
Thank you Ann for leaving us this very important message on Facebook:
FOR THE ATTENTION OF PARENTS: On 24th December at just before 6 pm the International Space Station will pass over the UK and will be visible for about 3 minutes - allowing that the sky is clear. FOR THE ATTENTION OF CHILDREN: On 24th December at just before 6 pm you will be able to see Santa's sleigh flying through the sky. He'll be flying quickly to make sure he manages to call on all the children and when he passes over your area he'll be visible for about 3 minutes - let's hope there are no clouds. |
22nd December 2017
Sorry I've been missing again - I was a bit spaced out when I got back from the hospital on Tuesday. We were there for five hours including a session in a recovery ward where they keep you for an hour or so before bringing a sandwich and cup of tea - quite civilised I thought. The sedation plus the gas and air had me a little befuddled - I understand now why they advised not to drive for a couple of days. |
Do you remember a few weeks back when I said I'd won a couple of jig-saw puzzles in a competition. One puzzle was normal but this one, which I gave to my brother, is three dimensional and ends up as a scale model of a camper van. There were so many pieces he commandeered their dining room table for a considerable time. I believe my sister-in-law is happy that it's finished and mealtimes can return to normality. He says it was tricky to do especially as most of the pieces are curved.
|
18th December 2017
I shan't stay long this morning - I'm not feeling very sociable. I've eaten my permitted morsel of breakfast and now have to starve until tomorrow lunchtime in preparation for tomorrow's hospital visit. I think it's going to be a looooooooong day today - my evening entertainment is swallowing buckets of wallpaper paste. I'll spare you further details. To make matters worse I'm having to miss tomorrow's writers' group Christmas bash. It's also our wedding anniversary so there'll be no posh nosh or chocolate. Total irony - never mind, worse things happen at sea. |
I think Bern's in self-torture mode too - he's set himself the task of cleaning the oven. He's all rubber gloves and oven cleaner right now.
|
17th December 2017
It's a right old dun-coloured day today - hardly full of festive cheer. I guess we'll have to start gearing up soon if we're going to be ready for the jollifications. We've made another little nod in the general direction of Christmas and put some lights in the back porch to welcome any passing Elves or Santa. We've still not managed to convince Little Jai that riding in a trolley is fun. He'd rather be running round the aisles and exploring without supervision.
|
15th December 2017
It's been a bit of a "blast from the past" sort of week - and what could be nicer than old friends appearing out of the blue. I've had an e-mail from my lifelong friend Peggy in Australia to say she and John will be over here during Christmas. Dave Bloomer called in this afternoon - a friend since our Fire Service days, we haven't seen him since summer. And I've had a newsy e-mail from Joan - another friend of long-standing whom we met in the Fire Service years way back in the 1970s. Joan and Vic have moved to Leicester and we've been out of touch long enough to set the airwaves buzzing with our mega catch-up via e-mail. Not sure Joan and Vic will approve of my nicking this Facebook picture but Doreen and other local friends will be pleased to see them. Hi there Joan and Vic - we're all waving to you from Codsall and so happy to have found you again. |
14th December 2017
No art class today... Bern's out doing his weekly walk, although not the usual route, he's delivering our Christmas cards to local friends. These days you need to put a mortgage in place before entering the post offices to buy stamps. Denise said her Jack was horrified when he saw the stamp bill amounted to £60. I managed to buy ours without Bern looking over my shoulder but he was more than willing to "walk the walk" to save a tenner so no complaints from me. |
Have you put your tree up yet? They're popping up everywhere, so too are the migraines of flashing lights - I just can't cope with flashing ones. I've made my usual assemblage of twiggy stuff and added lights and baubles. Our grumpy old anorexic Santa has shuffled out of his box and taken up his position near the said birch twigs. They're on top of the bookcase and behind the twigs is my favourite little sculpture - a replica of the Charles Eames' "House Bird". I'm not into big-time bling - I prefer bald bare minimalism. Add to that a hint of Bah Humbug when I see the over-spending, the big divide between the Haves and Have-nots, and all the other nonsense that goes on at this time of year.
|
13th December 2017
It's too cold to do much so I may as well indulge in a rant that's been simmering: desperate for a change of scene we went to the garden centre yesterday for a lunchtime sandwich. Placed an order - two sandwiches and a pot of tea. They give you the tea at the time of ordering then the sandwich appears 20 minutes later. By the time you get round to the tea it's pretty much cooled down and I like mine hot. I remember seeing Fern Britain on the TV programme "Would I Lie to You?" (very amusing) and she revealed that she has a tea-cosy in her bag when eating out because she likes her tea to be hot. I'm going to do the very same thing - next time I shall have my little knitted tea cosy in my handbag when I venture out for a lunchtime sandwich. |
Sorry to say I've another complaint: hair cut booked for 11.30 this morning. Turned up at 11.25. The hairdresser ushered another person into the chair and began working on her hair. She said to me, "I won't be long." Twelve o'clock and I'm still waiting and there's no sign of the other person's hair being finished. I pointed out that my appointment was for 11.30. Response was, "oh well..." I left without having had my hair done. It was the same scenario when I went last month so this time I decided enough is enough. I see it as another case of being old and invisible - they assume you've nothing else to do except sit around, gaze into space and dribble.
|
11th December 2017
Who's been building a snowman and who only put their nose out of doors to shove the snow off the doorstep? (As did I). Too brrrrr for words isn't it? Our weather followed Carol and Gary to Rotterdam - they should have been home on Sunday but due to flight cancellations they're still holed up over there. Hope they haven't run out of knickers - bit of a wardrobe wobble when you've packed for three days and end up staying for six. Grapevine has it that they've enjoyed the trip, dined with Zara's parents and all was tickety-boo. And just to fill in time they've braved a blizzard today to visit Delft. There's news too that Jon has passed the first stage of his Dutch Language course and he's going to carry on to the next level - Goed gedaan Jon, je bent een superster |
Tomorrow's writers' meeting is cancelled (weather again). However, there's still one more meeting to go before the holiday. Jay and Lesley went to Lincoln this weekend to a Christmas Market - not as much fun as they expected because of the overcrowding.
|
Richard (computer whiz) has been this afternoon - it was a matter of technology getting the better of me (again). Windows has been nudging me for a week or so to allow an almighty upgrade. I finally gave in on Friday and let it do its thing. We'd also had an upgrade on the home hub. Apparently this caused a dispute between computer and printer and they refused to talk to each other. Phone call: "Richard please help." Result: "Here's a fat cheque Richard." But it's all working again now.
|
7th December 2017
It was our last art class of the term today - loads of chat and exchanging of cards and towards the end of the session everyone rummaged in their bags and out came the nibbles. That's the painters' Christmas bash done with for this year. Carol and Gary hopped over to Holland around mid-morning. They were met by Jon and Zara and everyone's happy to be reunited. I keep reminding myself to set about finishing off writing Christmas cards. Every year at card time I start worrying about the mountains of paper on the move around the planet - we should be calling them Kinetic Kards rather than Christmas Cards. It'll be a good job when we've mastered the art of thought transference and then everyone can "think" they've sent and received seasonal greetings rather than decimating trees. |
5th December 2017
"Thank goodness it isn't bin day..." do you ever have the need to voice that phrase? Had it been bin day I think murder would have taken place at our house. Yesterday this box arrived from John Lewis - it's full of little Chrimbo gifts I'd ordered for the young people. (Hands up, Guilty! I'm one of the thousands who shop online and ruin high street trade). I left it on the table last night intending to sort it out this morning. Bern is always first downstairs to make sure the dining room is warm enough to combat my Raynaud's and general shiveriness (how kind). Today he saw the box full of stuff and assumed that I'd been sorting out the recycling stuff and that it was destined for the bin. "Where's the box?" - "In the bin!" was the conversation as we ate our porridge. Again I utter, "Thank goodness it's isn't bin day..." Happy ending: it was safely rescued and stowed away safe from Bern's clutches. |
2nd December 2017
Oh crikey! December managed to get going before I've put in an appearance. We were busy doing hospital stuff yesterday and came away without any results - they said a report would go to my rheumatology consultant so I'm no wiser now. While waiting for my session with the cardiac physiologist I got talking to an old man in the waiting room (I say 'old' but I guess he was of my generation). I asked why he had his hand bandaged and he told me that he'd had his carpal tunnel 'fixed'. He said he needed it done because he'd lost dexterity and couldn't thread the needed of his sewing machine. Curiosity roused, I chatted on and one question led to another and he revealed that he was a member of a re-enactment group and he made his own costumes. I got quite involved in his story - his role was that of an 18th century pioneer along with cowboys and Indians - and just as it was getting interesting I was called in for my appointment, punctual to the minute. It was one time I wouldn't have minded if things were running late. |
3rd December 2017
A quiet Sunday for us with time to look out for tonight's super moon. Apparently it will appear to be 7% larger and 15% brighter than usual because the earth is at its nearest point to the moon at this time of year. I keep thinking about writing Christmas cards, but haven't ventured beyond thinking as yet. I have the address labels poised and waiting as they get churned them out via the computer - each year there's names to delete (RIP) and sometimes new friends to add which sets me thinking about everyone and wondering how they are with another year nearly spent... on considering the consequences of ageing the consolation is that we're all doing it at the same rate of knots. |
29th November 2017
We were up and out early this morning for the first of this week's hospital trips. Outcome: they advised two unwelcome 'orrible oscopy type procedures - both to be done on the same day and before 'C'. So that's the stuff of nightmares in the pipeline (pardon the pun). |
30th November 2017
Good morning everyone - and what a cold one. It's art class day but I didn't concentrate too well this morning. Just think, tomorrow we can shout the 'C' word as loud as we like... that's something to look forward to (or not). |
28th November 2017
I'm not a happy bunny this morning. Yet another hospital appointment has turned up - a fast track visit tomorrow at the gastroenterology department. Hardly a fun outing and I'm not overly keen to get there. I can put up with most proddings and pokings but I'm not a fan of the procedures involved in sorting out one's insides. |
News on the family grapevine that little Jai has earned the nickname 'Gromit'. He's developed an addiction to cheese and is known to ask for a Dairylea triangle on waking.
|
Thank you Rene - the amaryllis is blooming lovely.
|
27th November 2017
Yesterday was our annual jaunt to Weston Park for a pre-"that-time-year" family lunch. We take the latest date available when we don't have to pull crackers and eat stuffing and mince pies. We had a fab time even though Jon and Zara were missing - Rotterdam is a tad too far to travel just for lunch. Jay (big Jay) took some pics but we're head scratching at the moment trying to transfer them from his digital camera via e-mail - for some reason his Apple system is arguing with my Windows. Little Jai was wide awake and up for yesterday's event. I'll show you the pics if and when we can resolve the technological glitch. |
I had a mad five minutes in the garden this morning - it was too cold to linger long - I wanted to pull up the miles of trailing nasturtiums which were looking the worse for wear. I should have cleared them ages ago.
Little man had a busy time in the washing machine again yesterday morning - he's quite keen on them at the moment as he's started diving headfirst into ours too. I wonder why he was carrying a shopping bag that matches his pyjamas?
|
24th November 2017
We've been to Heathcotes again to collect mine and Rene's cards - that's one little 'C' job done and dusted. If you've plans to visit the switching on of 'C' lights in the local villages I've put the times and dates on the 'Local Events' page. Another hospital letter arrived this morning - it's cardiology next Friday. It's like the Harry Potter film when the white owl drops loads of letters at Harry's house - only we gets loads of letters from men in white coats. |
I wonder if any of you are out and about grabbing 'Black Friday' bargains. Lots of media talk about it and some say it's a bit of a con. Haven't made my mind up on that one - but like it or not, there's something very satisfying about bagging a bargain.
|
23rd November 2017
Lovely sunshine this morning - Bern's been for his weekly walk while I went to art class. He takes the opportunity to stretch his legs on art class day because if he had me in tow it would degenerate into a weakly walk and we wouldn't get very far. The session went well although a few were missing and Roland made favourable comments about my pen and ink drawing of well-worn boots. Hilary completed a splendid snow scene in oils while Maggie wrestled with a fir cone. Jackie worked in watercolour and Nadine waded into a field of poppies. Jo bravely attempted a group of indigenous Guatemalans and Olga grappled with a potted pelargonium. To sum up: it was an action packed morning in the Village Hall and we were all pretty much exhausted by home time. |
After breakfast this morning, I took one look into my glory hole, ( AKA den, or Jay's old bedroom) and thought, I've gotta do it. What can I chuck out to make it look tidier? I've ferreted in the corners, shifted a mountain of dust, shuffled a few things around. I didn't manage to bin anything but it's looking better just for a good clean and putting things away. In the process I unearthed a collection of CDs so I've had Shostakovich (top left 1906 - 1975) and Erik Satie (1866-1925)for company and enjoyed a reminder of how much I love their music. Rene and I were only talking about Dmitri Shostakovich the other day as she's recently been on a residential course in Church Stretton about his life and work. Revisiting Satie's short piano pieces had me thinking how modern they sound - meditative, unpredictable, and verging on quirky. Brilliant stuff providing escapism on a dull, dreary day. Fritz Kreisler is next on the list. |
21st November 2017
Rene and I had a successful hour with Matt and Luke yesterday - our 'C' cards are in the pipeline and will be ready for collection on Friday - and it's still November. Jose rang this morning to ask directions to the same place. I wonder if those two young men dread November - a time when hoards of oldies descending on them armed with their amateur artworks. It's all good fun and keeps us out of mischief I suppose. Writers' meeting this afternoon. We've an easy task this week - review an old piece, try to improve it. I've dug one out and after a thorough pruning and weeding it reduced down to one page which proves how prone I am to churning out drivel - I've been able to bin half of it. That means I've chucked out all the pleonasms. A good tip that, get rid of yer flipping pleonasms. It's a lovely word - Greek for superfluity - meaning: redundant use of words. It may be deliberate but is usually involuntary. A common fault in much writing. For example: 'in this day and age', instead of 'now', 'today' or 'nowadays'. |
They're anticipating a bit of hiatus in Wolverhampton tomorrow as the town centre will be closed to traffic from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm because three major events will coincide and thousands are expected to turn up.
From 5pm there will be Christmas festivities in Queen Square featuring a lights switch-on and firework display. Meanwhile at the Civic Hall, from 7pm, comedian Sean Lock will entertain a crowd as part of his Keep It Light tour. And at Molineux, top-of the-table Wolves take on seventh-placed Leeds United with kick-off at 7.45pm. |
17th November 2017
Jay has hit the Taylor Telegraph front page again. He had a little secret that none of us knew about and then his instructor happened to post it on Facebook (was there life before Facebook?). He's waving a "I've passed my motorbike test" certificate. Whatever next? I wonder what vehicle will be appearing parked alongside their current collection, and how many wheels will it have? I know he's a retired detective but covert operations are still ongoing - once a cloak and dagger man always a cloak and dagger man! |
16th November 2017
I didn't realise 'C' was as close as it is... trouble is my enthusiasm hasn't arrived yet... I suppose I'll have to rummage around and drum up a bit of interest by the time December gets here. I like the thing that appeared on Facebook (right). Well done Santa - that should warn them off. Sainsbury's have given over 50% of the loo-roll aisle to 'C' stuff so that's means another six elves to grieve over - and that's not counting the mountain of mince pies on offer. Flipping elves will be extinct at this rate. I blame the supermarkets. |
Just remember, every time someone
mentions 'C' before December, Santa shoots an elf. |
Next weekend - 18th & 19th November - there's a Chocolate Festival in Shrewsbury. Sounds like a good plan. Here's a link to the website for more information - what's not to like? http://shrewsburychocolatefestival.co.uk/
|
14th November 2017
Did you watch "The Boy With a Topknot" last night? I read the book yonks ago and last night's programme was very well dramatized and helped our understanding of multi-cultural relationships. It provided food for thought. Jose came round this morning (obviously coffee) but the main action was to debate a couple of her paintings and select one for her 'C' cards. Mission accomplished - she's off to the printer on Thursday to place her order. A greater reminder to get ours sorted. Picture is ready but need to do the admin.
|
Jay and his Regiment mates have been busy chatting on Facebook - I managed to pinch a picture. I guess having found each other at the Cenotaph 'do' there was a post-parade gathering at a nearby pub - the inevitable liquid lunch and all that. Seems like they had quite a turnout - or do the military call it a muster - judging by the blue berets it was a mighty muster - I wonder how the pubs coped with them all. I guess the furrowed brow is all about concentrating to do a selfie.
|
Little Jai came trotting in yesterday afternoon (he'd brought his Mum along too) - he was all smiles and ready to play. He still has a nasty cough but he's loads better than last week. We managed to keep him indoors out of the cold despite his efforts to escape. We have a new sheepskin rug that I've artily-fartily draped over the sofa. I told Jai it was a doggie so he was happy to spend time stroking "doggie" and soon forgot his urge to get outside.
|
I'm off to writers' meeting shortly - and yes, I've managed to do the homework. Not a masterpiece but it's words on paper and that's all I'll admit to.
|
10th November 2017
Oh dear, apologies for going AWOL again - the days slipped through my fingers like water down the plughole. There's been stuff to do between the usual chores, Writers' meeting on Tuesday, visit a poorly little boy on Wednesday - little Jai has a nasty chest infection and is looking very washed-out. Then Art on Thursday morning and Hospital on Thursday afternoon for a check up with the Rheumatology consultant. My symptoms have stepped up and I was offered Iloprost infusions to alleviate the effects of the Raynaud's element of my condition. I've looked at the facts and tried to weigh up the pros and cons of the treatment and have decided to put this option on hold until I'm further down the line - the side effects of the treatment are not much fun. They said the offer is still open but I've decided to see how I cope this winter before making a final decision. But - hallelujah! - they're going to give me the steroid injections in my joints again - I look forward to that. While I was there they cadged another armful of blood for testing. |
Iloprost is given through a drip (infusion) into your arm, usually continuously for about six hours a day for 3–5 consecutive days in hospital or a clinic. In some hospitals you stay on the ward for the three to five days and in others you attend the day-case unit during the day and go home in the evenings. The infusion will be started at a low dose and then increased gradually to make sure you can tolerate the higher doses. If you develop side-effects, your dose will generally be reduced again.
|
Thirty-four years ago today (1983) Microsoft released its first Windows operating system. Over the years I've used a few versions, including Vista - I have Windows 10 at the moment and getting too old for all the chops and changes. Bern uses Apple but between us we manage to muddle through but begin to feel that technology has the upper hand as we battle with smart phones and iPads and a land-line that vets callers. It makes you wonder who or what is in charge.
|
4th November 2017
Anyone doing the Guy Fawkes business? We've been invited to the Pattingham firework event with Andy, Raj and little Jai. I'm not keen as it will be too cold and draughty standing about as the dark moves in and I find sparklers no longer hold a fascination for me. Bonfire night isn't the fun event it used to be when one is old and cold. |
Considering we've moved into the misty month we've had some glorious pretty-leaf days this week. There was a bit of an excited buzz round the family this morning when we got wind of Ian's (no 1 grandson) radio interview minutes before it hit the airwaves - we were all desperately trying to tune in to Wolverhampton Community Radio on fm something or other. Anyway we made it just as it was getting going. Ian chatted on enthusiastically about the thrills of Australian Rules Football - their England Team, the British Team and his local team, i.e. Wolverhampton Wolverines, plus the ones he'd been coaching in Scotland and elsewhere. Then, when asked if he supported our home grown Wolves, he had the cheek to own up to being an Arsenal fan.
|
How's this for an illogical conundrum? - having carried out further research (AKA Googling) I couldn't find a cheaper insurer than my current one whom I told you has hiked the premium another £40+ since last year - about to do the dastardly deed I asked If I remove Bern's name from my policy and just have one named driver, would it be cheaper? "No" they replied, "if you remove his name it will be £50 more." I just don't get it - seems like they can dream up a loophole at will just to get more money out of the punters.
|
1st November 2017
Here we are again... another new month... hope you weren't freaked out by last night's Halloween hi-jinks. Trick & Treaters never do our street so our "naughty tin" is undisturbed. (Naughty tin is where we hide the stuff we shouldn't eat) - it only gets raided when the urge to eat chocolate overrides good intentions. |
It's generally thought that Halloween came over here from America. I've researched (just a tad) and found that its origins lie in Ireland and Scotland. Way, way back in Pagan times November 1st was known as Samhain or Samhuin which referred to a Pagan festival marking the transition between summer and winter. It began on the night of 31st October with bonfires and superstitious rituals, and was thought to be the time when supernatural activity was at its height, giving rise to many of the customs and beliefs now associated with Halloween. They thought that the land of the living was just a "veil" away from the land of the dead at this particular time. Hence their fear of ghosts and evil spirits. (Lovely spooky stuff isn't it?) The customs were taken to America by Irish and Scottish emigrants who settled there. The word, now often spelled as Halloween is a corruption of All Hallows Eve or All-Hallowmas. The Christian Church has renamed it All Saints' Day or All Souls' Day.
|
Sorry I have to scoot right now - we're meeting daughter Carol and Jay (that's big Jay her brother not little Jai her grandson). We're having a sneaky lunch at David Austin Roses - naughty but nice. It's worth a visit just to use their posh rose-strewn cups and the matching rose covered napkins. It's the little things that make you happy don't you find?
NB: Hate to mention the 'C' word but if you're looking for upmarket (non-tatty) 'C' decorations they have them in their gift shop - hasten to add the quality is reflected in the price and no we didn't' purchase any. |
30th October 2017
Did you see the only TV programme worth watching last night? Wasn't it wonderful? In this instance I think we can justify the use of those overworked adjectives that irritate me so much because Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet 2 is truly awesome, amazing and let's throw in fantastic too. The camera crews do a fabulous job in bringing this stuff into our living rooms - the arctic regions look incredible especially when viewed from the comfort, warmth and safety of your armchair. |
First frost of the year, and sparkly in the sunshine. I'm indoors, heating on, with hands as dead as a dodo... causes havoc with my typing accuracy. I've just plugged in my little hand-warming gadget to give it a recharge. We went for a walk round the new Debenhams yesterday afternoon - not the right thing to do on a sunny afternoon but I was curious. I'm not impressed... they had loads of blingy stuff and mountains of 'C' fripperies but nothing to tempt me.
|
Carol and three girlfriends spent the weekend doing the Liverpool sights with an evening at The Cavern - glad I was able to give that one a miss - I never suffered from Beatle Mania when I was a teenager. However, I hear a good time was had by all.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! |
My car insurance renewal letter arrived and they've hiked the premium £40 above last year's price. I don't quite understand the ethos of insurance companies - you're charged more for being a loyal customer and handing over your cash year after year, but if you're new to them you get a 'special' reduced price. Time to do the phone calls to find a cheaper offer - such a chore.
|
I love this report of an event that happened on 30th October 1938...
(New York Times - 31st October 1938). "...A wave of hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners throughout the nation between 8.15 and 9.30 o'clock last night when a broadcast of a dramatization of H G Wells's fantasy 'The War of the Worlds,' led thousands to believe that an interplanetary conflict had started with invading Martians spreading wide death and destruction in New Jersey and New York. The broadcast, which disrupted households, interrupted religious services, created traffic jams and clogged communications systems, was made by Orson Welles, who as the radio character, "The Shadow" used to give "the creeps" to countless child listeners. This time at least a score of adults required medical treatment for shock and hysteria..." The radio play was adapted from the Wells's novel and scripted to read like a simulated news broadcast. There was brief introduction to say it was fictional but listeners missed, or forgot about it, as they listened. People wrapped wet towels round their heads to protect against poison gas, hid in cellars, and called police stations and media offices for advice. Nationwide panic was replaced by outrage when normality returned. Calls were made for the government to regulate broadcasting to prevent it happening again. Some viewed the incident as a lesson that demonstrated the power of mass communication as a means of manipulating public opinion and behaviour. Maybe they had a point... |
29th October 2017
I'm given to cavernous yawning this morning - had a terrible night and didn't sleep until around 4 - the night seemed extra long as we'd put the clocks back - maybe I'll do better tonight. I've signed up to South Staffs Community Lottery scheme - "in it to win it" and all that guff. If you're having a go I wish you luck. Proceeds support local causes so I decided to give it a whirl, and who knows, we may get a little windfall. I received news of it via e-mail. Here's a link: The South Staffordshire Community Lottery is now live for players to buy tickets. PLAY TODAY! Visit www.southstaffslottery.co.uk and register on the website or call 01902 213777. |
Friends of Bilbrook have sent us a message re the local lottery: participants can name which local cause they wish to support OR you can leave it to the Council to share out the proceeds. Here is the message from FoB
As you may well be aware, the South Staffordshire Good Causes Lottery is now live. This is a chance to give extra support to a local good cause close to your heart, as well as being in with a chance of winning money for your own use. Please consider naming Friends of Bilbrook as your chosen good cause. That way 33p in each £1 will go towards making Bilbrook a better place for us all.
|
26th October 2017
I reached the 77 mark yesterday - bit of a bummer really when I still have dreams of dashing around the countryside with the wind in my hair... you may well say "dream on" and I do... but it's time to get real, as they say. Anyway I had a fab day starting with a long e-mail from my lifelong friend Peggy in Australia. By lunch time we had quite a gathering and Carol had come armed with sandwiches, nibbles, buns and cakes - we had a fun time with an impromptu indoor picnic with Jay, Ian, Carol, Bern, my Brother Bern and sister-in-law Trudie. With the aid of a busy teapot and a carrot cake I'd made it stretched well into late afternoon. Oh, and Jon in Rotterdom zoomed in via FaceTime so we all had a little chat with him. Babba Jai couldn't come as he was busy doing a Halloween thing in his new spooky skeleton suit but he's going to pop in today. I had such a lovely time, there's nothing better than chat and laughs with family and friends. Thank you everyone for a lovely day. P.S. Ian and Jenny get top marks for the funniest card Kate and Aled update: they're currently in South Bali and in a few days time they'll be heading for Australia. Judging by some of the stories she's told us they'll be glad of some civilised accommodation and bathroom facilities. |
Have you read about the land speed record thing? They're aiming for 1000 miles an hour. Fantastic technology - but I have to ask why? I can't think of one good reason for travelling on land at such speed. I suppose there's something I'm missing here... it requires the same mind-set one needs to struggle up Everest or swim in arctic waters... Such activities are too uncomfortable to contemplate - must be an age thing on my part.
Today is the anniversary of The Gunfight at the OK Corral (1881) when the three Earp brothers (Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan) fought a gun battle with the Clantons and McLaurys. Apparently the site is still a major tourist attraction and a re-enactment of the occasion is carried out daily. Talk about milking it...
Karen (Aunty Kek to the young ones) is doing a whistle stop tour of New York during half term week. I reckon she'll be worn out by the time she's back in the classroom after galloping round skyscrapers and taking in the sights.
|
21st October 2017
Blimey - four days since our last little chat. I had a couple of unwell days but I'm up and running again (for running read shuffling round at my usual nominal speed). Another storm blowing up - hope roofs and fences hang on to their moorings. There's nothing worse than getting up in the morning and finding the neighbours can see the untidy bits of your garden. |
We braved the wintry weather last night for an impromptu "do" at Andy and Rajni's - it was a Friday Night Fish & Chip Supper, the calorific mountain being supplied by the local chippy. Babba Jai was in the Land of Nod when everyone arrived. It was worth turning out for the load of laughs we had, but I gave the grub a miss - it doesn't agree with my current problems.
|
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) - the day Lord Nelson sent his famous message to all the ships of his fleet "England expects... etc" and of course, the day he was fatally wounded. One could say Nelson met his Waterloo at Trafalgar or does that count as a mixed metaphor? Looks like you'd need to be memory man or something to decipher the message from all those flags. Makes me rather thankful for text messages and e-mail - I struggled a bit with semaphore in the Girl Guides - Nelson's system was another kettle of fish - but sea-worthy I suppose. Shame he was shelled. (sorry).
|
I spoke with my sister (Wendy) in Wales last night to see if the storm had affected them. She said their roof was in situ but the car was covered in red Saharan dust and not a camel in sight. We then spent an hour (she called me so it's on their phone bill) catching up on family news. It's congratulations to nephew Phillip (Royal Marines) he's been promoted to sergeant.
|
16th October 2017
Today's red sun is a bit eerie - nature never ceases to amaze us with strange happenings. Hope Storm Ophelia has quietened down by the time it reaches our shores. We happened to be in the south 30 years ago when the 1987 storm struck - we remember it well. I wondered what it was named and via Google found it was just know as the Great Storm. The UK didn't name storms until 2015 - first one being Storm Abigail. |
I rang Jay earlier urging him to go and look at the "pretty" sun. He's up to his ears in water workmen who have arrived to fix their underground leak. However - he's now at the stage of "tether and end of" as they've cracked a pipe and the leaking water is much more leaky now. He's not a happy chappy and I guess the pretty sun has had to take a back seat.
|
Have you had a little card through your door extolling the virtues of a 60 minute float? It offers a £20 discount so you only have to pay £39 to float in a bath laced with Epsom Salts for an hour. (Normal price £59) At first I thought it was a joke and then I visited the website it mentions. Posh venue, private bath in a little room, after your float a shower with complimentary toiletries... therapeutic and relaxing... I suppose it would be, but crikey £59 to get bath wrinkly skin and an hour of peace and quite... I don't think so... I could sit in the garage (peace and quite) with my feet in a bowl of water (with Epsom Salts) for free. No doubt someone will give it a go and it's only up the road in Tettenhall.
|
Writers' group tomorrow - Bert Flitcroft is coming again to do a workshop. That means we don't have to do any homework - just turn up with a couple of poems we've written in the past. Then led by Bert they'll get dissected, scrutinised, evaluated to see what's wrong with them.
|
15th October 2017
We've been a tad busy, trying to get the dining room useable again. We still have no electrics in there. Plaster has dried out and Bern's finished the decorating since which we've been trying to refit skirting before the electrician comes. We're not the best DIYers in the world and mitres seem to have a will of their own. In theory we're fine with the 45 degrees to make the pointy bits - it's just when it comes to the actual cutting things go awry. We have a little heap of strange wooden shapes i.e. ones that didn't quite work out and had to be abandoned. Every so often we get a "tether - end of" moment and fling down the tools and have a cup of coffee and a rethink. On a good day, along comes Jay and puts us back on the straight and narrow. |
Talking of Jay - he tells us he enjoyed his induction and training session in the Derbyshire Peak District with the Youth Hostel Association. He reckons he's now qualified to make beds and molly coddle the public. A little flippant - there was more to it than that. It seems that Youth Hostel living has taken an upturn and is decidedly civilised - it's no longer "prepare your own baked beans and make your own bed. They provide a comfortable and reasonably priced facility and some hostels prepare meals.
|
12th October 2017
What a lovely morning - or should I say 'leafy morning' - they're certainly dancing around in today's breezy sunshine. Had a good session at our art class - as usual I did plenty of chatting but managed to produce a little pen and ink sketch. Roland gave it a thumbs up but I'm not too sure about it. She's paddling in the sea (supposedly). |
Kate's happy feeding this little jumbo. She and Aled have now arrived in Kuching Malaysia - latest news is that the rains continue.
|
10th October 2017
Hospital visit accomplished - kidneys are still chugging along without further deterioration - all's well for now. The consultant I saw had the title of 'nephrologist' - I've not come across one of those before. His expertise is to do with the effect of blood pressure on the kidneys. We live and learn. Afterwards we went into town for coffee and had a look at how the new Debenham's store is progressing. It was buzzing: all lit up looking ready for Thursday's grand opening. Assistants were busy putting the finishing touches to displays and some even stepped outside to encourage onlookers to turn up on Thursday for celebratory drinkies. For the first time in ages the Mander Centre had plenty of people passing through - maybe the new store will help Wolverhampton regain its mojo and encourage other retailers to move in. |
Jay is in Derbyshire doing an induction course on Youth Hostel Management. He's already done a similar course at the Shugborough Estate a few days ago. Both organisations have taken him up on his application to do occasional voluntary work and both are green welly-ish and out-doorsy - just his cup of tea.
|
9th October 2017
Sorry I'm late... I got waylaid by things to do such as breathing a bit of life back into the painting I intend to use for our 'C' cards. I think I'd used too much painting medium and it's displaying dull patches - they call it a 'sunken' painting when this happens. I've searched the Internet to find out how to revive it. I discovered that rubbing stand oil into the dull patches helps - that's what I've been messing with. Bit of a whiffy woozy-head business too so I opened the windows and then I got freezing cold. Having gassed myself - cleared the air with an arctic blast - I then baked myself by the downstairs fire back to normal temperature. I reckon I go round in circles in a counter-productive sort of way. |
I have a hospital day tomorrow so I'll catch up properly when we're back. Downside is I'll probably miss writers' group.
|
I've been messing about sorting out our 'C' cards. I'm using a painting I did a year ago. I know it's early days yet but I thought it would save getting caught up in the 'C' rush at the printers - we all (art group people) descend on Matt in December wanting our stuff in time for posting. It's not that I'm being efficient, I just needed something to do to stop me poking about on Facebook. I'm quick to sneer at moronic pastimes and then find myself doing them - I'm a true hypocrite and confess to the occasional game of Candy Crush too. Mindless!
|
Back here we'd call it a fashion faux pas... but needs be as needs must... they've had to resort to the latest thing in monsoon wear as they paddle their way around wearing pretty bin bags - fantastic drastic plastic if you ask me!
|
Anyone got to grips with GIFs yet? My gang have recently taken to using GIFs and I've been hauled in to join them. This morning a GIF with a moving white bunny landed on my phone from Carol to mark the arrival of first of the month. In order to get my head round this GIF business I looked up the meaning of the word. Result: GIF = a lossless format for image files that supports both animated and static images. Any ideas where I can look up "lossless format" ?
|
We've had news that Jay and Lesley arrived back under their own roof at 2 a.m. this morning following a week in Morocco - they've enjoyed a nice dose of hot sunshine to set them up for the winter. I expect they'll be round later for a cup of tea so we'll hear all about their travels.
|
Must dash - have to be at the doctors soon to hand over my two weeks blood pressure readings.
|
Home again: they're happy with the figures and said do it all over again and come back in three weeks.
|
28th September 2017
We had a good crowd at art class this morning and it was nice to have Hilary back with us - she and Mac have been in Scotland for a few weeks. People are beginning to think about designs for their 'C' cards (can't say the word even though I've seen 'C' cards and 'C' chocolate and decorations in the local shops. I was thinking they must have heads full of nothing - when what they really have is heads full of profit margins. Can't believe I'm bah humbugging already - it's still September! |
Jon's moving mountains in Rotterdam. Oops - don't think they have mountains in the low countries. A misplaced metaphor methinks. Anyway, he's doing fine. On the same day that he received Dutch citizenship he attended a job interview and starts work next Monday. Quite an achievement I'd say. I wonder how he'll get on language-wise. I would imagine work technicalities will be a bit more difficult than polite conversation.
|
Messages via Whats App reveal that there's tantrums and trouble in Thailand. Kate and Aled felt rather pleased to find a "very reasonable" hotel in their latest port of call. Kate decided it wasn't so reasonable after all when she tried out the "en suite shower." Heath Robinson has nothing on the contraption they were confronted with. It was a length of hose that discharged water into a bucket. To add insult to injury Aled's feet wouldn't fit in the bucket. As you might imagine we've smiled to ourselves - well laughed our socks off actually. Better luck with your next hotel K & A.
|
26th September 2017
One of today's dilemmas has been resolved (sort of) writers' group homework: we have a little picture of a washbasin, tap, toothbrushes in a glass. Make what you will of that. I've managed to drum up a bit of nonsense but will read it with trepidation in fear of groans of despair. The other little worry is how am I to resist temptation as the Gudrun Sojden catalogue detailing the winter collection arrived this morning? Life just isn't easy is it? |
Here's another little factual gem that we don't need to know: of all the people born in the UK in the last 20 years - September 26th is the most common birthday. I wonder who took the trouble to work that one out. I hate to think some statistician was actually paid to come up with the information. Have a nice day if it's your birthday and remember you share it with a lot of other people. I wonder if the card companies experience a rush on sales.
|
25th September 2017
I've just read an article on the BBC website by the Scleroderma & Raynaud's Society (SRUK) about the condition I've been diagnosed with - I'm not sure whether to be reassured by the fact that I'm not bonkers after all despite everyone telling me how well I look, or a bit scared of what's to come as the condition is incurable and degenerative. Here's a link to a copy of the said article. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-41034822. I think I'll just keep taking the pills and in the meantime bury my head in the sand. We're still waiting for the dining room ceiling and walls to dry out. We're sort of tidier but I'll be glad to get back to normal once it's dry enough to paint.
We've been to order a new bookcase this morning and so we can finally getting rid of the old wobbly ones. I've already taken piles of books to the charity shop but even with a Kindle I can't go one hundred per cent bookless - so many of them have become good friends. |
And on a happier note.... CONGRATULATIONS Jon! He's just this minute sent a message to say as from this morning he's officially a Dutch Citizen. This afternoon he has an interview with the tax office and a job interview. He's certainly not allowing the Dutch grass to grow under his feet. He's a proper clogs and windmills sort of guy now. I heard on the grapevine that Zara's insisting he gets a bike and then he'll be a real Netherlander.
Gelukwensen Jon. Wij zijn trots van u en wensenu success. |
23rd September 2017
We cut it a bit fine this morning - I'd noted it in my diary and Bern had it in his, it was also on the communal calendar - when I started writing a bit of a shopping list on the back of a little card that was lying around I realised it was the appointment card for our flu jabs... and we had just five minutes to get there. Mad dash - oldies were descending on the surgery in droves. We made it just in time so we're done and dusted for another year. As I type this Bern has just called out from his den that there are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body - what a revelation - and do I need to know that? - my flu jab stuff has a long journey ahead then. |
REMINDER: don't forget to spend your old one pound coins. As from 16th October they cease to be legal tender. It's out with the old round pound coin and in with the new 12-sided one. Time to rummage down the back of the sofa, and look through your stash of coins. Some of the old one pound coins have a rarity value - maybe a Google search will prove rewarding for some.
|
Kate and Aled are still enjoying Bangkok, its temples, Buddha, and the delights of the monsoon season. The old Whats App thing is busy again so we can all communicate with them. Today we received a picture of the washing up facilities at a restaurant they'd just eaten in. Horror of horrors in my book. They hadn't noticed it until they were leaving the place. I guess that's one eating place they won't be visiting again. Oooh, crikey, I really can't cope with this sort of thing. I can't live without a big bottle of anti-bac. |
22nd September 2017
Summer has officially gone then - it's the Autumn Equinox today - in days gone by also called Mabon. We've done nothing more exciting than Sainsbury's today and sort the downstairs rooms into some sort of order. We can't go too mad until the walls have dried out - the dining room looks gloomy with it's pinky damp plaster and is minus skirting and lighting. |
21st September 2017
Hello again - I'm surprised to find it's Thursday already. We're up early this morning as Adam and Lyndon are coming to re-plaster the dining room. All the furniture is crammed into the living room and we managed to find a couple of square feet to sit down and eat some cereal before they arrived. Andy (not our Andy but our trusted electrician Andy) came yesterday evening to disconnect the electrics in the dining room which currently looks like a war zone and the living room resembles a hoarder's paradise. The only thing to do is sneak upstairs and get glued to the computer - hence this quick chat before I go to art class. See you later... |
18th September 2017
Fab Sunday buffet lunch yesterday at Andy and Rajni's - little Jai kept himself busy charging through the crowd with his toy on wheels. Jack and Audrey were there too and we all said our goodbyes to Jon. Now it's back to boring Monday - Bern is stripping paper in the dining room - we've forgotten how long it's been up and it's proving reluctant to part company with walls and ceiling. Plasterer is due on Thursday so we're back to our usual state of upside-down-ness. |
I'm also doing battle with our writers' group homework - we have to write a poem in the style of a famous poet, i.e. using the same metre, rhyming pattern etc. I've chosen one by John Betjeman because I thought the da-de-da rhythm of it would be more do-able. Not as easy as I anticipated and so I struggle on. ..
|
While I was hunting through the poetry books for my "model" the John Betjeman collection fell open at a page that had a book marker. I had a little "argh" moment when I took a second look at the bookmark. Ian and Andy had made it when they were small so it must be 30+ years old. The pictures are cut from magazines and stuck on.
I've been leafing through my copy of "Chambers Book of Days" and an entry for today's date surprised me. On this date in 1981...
"...The guillotine remained France's standard method of judicial execution until as recently as the abolition of capital punishment in 1981. The last person to be executed in France was Hamida Djandoubi, who was guillotined on 10th September 1977." Gruesome or what? |
17th September 2017
Brrr... I'm not liking these cooler days, I've had to get my gloves out already and it's only September. I went for a prescription review on Friday and the doc was unhappy with my blood pressure so it's back to monitoring it every day and reporting back to him in a fortnight. We've dug out the old gismo and woken it up with some new batteries - I have to do it four times a day and keep a record. Another fun-filled activity to help pass the days. This is my thingy - I suppose they have a proper name but I don't know what it is. |
We had a great evening on Friday - Jay, Les and Lesley's parents, Audrey and Jack, came for supper. I intended to take a picture but of course we were so busy yakking I forgot all about it.
|
Zara rents one of the iconic little cube houses in the centre of Rotterdam. They hit the headlines in recent times because of their fascinating innovative design features - she says loads of tourists turn up to take photos of them and they're often besieged by streams of Chinese pointing cameras at their windows. The buildings look strangely topsy-turvy but inside they are neat and perfect and I can confirm that the floor is level. Jon says viewed from the inside the windows have odd shapes and unusual angles. I think at first glance they are reminiscent of a row of windmills. (A word in Jon's ear from Gran: you will need to put your stuff away in a more orderly way than we're used to seeing - there won't be room to hang clothes on the floor).
|
14th September 2017
Up early this morning and off to art class. It was nice to see everyone again. Loads of chat but we eventually settled down to some work. Roland brought three great pictures he'd completed during the summer break - he's hoping to get them accepted for the Wolverhampton Society of Artists' exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery - we've all promised to keep our fingers crossed for an acceptance. The exhibition opens on 23rd September and closes on 19th November 2017. Little Jai came round this afternoon bringing Mummy Raj, Uncle Jon, and cousin Emma, He's very proud of his new walking skills and it was a job to keep him indoors. We did venture out for a little while but he's so hell bent on eating the gravel it made more sense to lure him back inside. Here's today's selfie with Jai munching on the bait we used to drag him back in.
|
13th September 2017
Good morning... I've been packing my bag ready for tomorrow's art class. Roland suggested we just bring drawing materials for a start of term 'warm up'. Now I have to find something to draw that's not too heavy to carry. Decisions, decisions! |
Hope Storm Aileen has left your fences intact - I didn't hear a thing but Bern reckons it was gusty in the early hours.
|
We've had a go at sorting out the garage. You know how stuff gets dumped, then something else gets dumped on top of it... well that's how it is in our garage. We've been thinking of confronting it for the past two years. We spent a couple of hours doing a "keep it" and a "chuck it" pile. Bern's ferried the "chuck it" stuff to the tip. It'll need another similar session to finally let the daylight in. I worry that we'll turn into hoarders like we see in TV programmes. Believe me, stuff you think might come in useful never does.
|
11th September 2017
Saturday afternoon went well - everyone turned up for Kate and Aled's farewell - we got to meet Aled's Mum and Dad who came up from Cardiff to see them off. Jon and Zara and little Jai turned up too. We've had a message since to say the travellers have landed safely in Bangkok. Kate put in some practise with her new selfie stick before heading to Heathrow - here's the result. |
I can't help but think about the events of that fateful 9/11 when today's date comes round and we have to spare a thought for all the hurricane victims around the world. There seems to be loads of stuff to worry about these days.
|
I've had an e-mail from Roland this morning reminding us that art class recommences on Thursday - oh crikey, time to think about my next project. Help! Inspiration in short supply - I need a light bulb moment.
|
9th September 2017
We have another "do" today. It's at Karen's place - a Bon Voyage for Kate and Aled - they're about to go wandering round Asia. Jon and Zara have come over from Rotterdam so it'll be hellos and goodbyes all round. I don't know - the young ones in this family dash around so much I don't know which ones I'm supposed to be waving off and which ones need a welcome. The pic is Kate and Aled, they met at Aberystwyth uni and graduated a year ago. Looks like they're having au revoir cake at Aled's place and now they've got to do all over again this afternoon. |
At today's meeting Cora told us about an interesting event she had been to last month. Her 96 year old mum had been one of the "Canary Girls" working in the munitions factory in Herefordshire during WW11. Because the work was of a secret nature there had never been official acknowledgement of the dangerous work they did. The explosive substances turned their skin and hair yellow, hence the "canary girls". Those still alive are now a great age. County of Hereford officials decided to honour their efforts now before time runs out. At its peak the factory employed 4,000 to do this dangerous work - at the recent ceremony some 75 years on, Cora's Mum aged 96 received her medal along with 30 others. Congratulations one and all, you deserve to be recognized.
|
3rd September 2017
Today's date always has me asking a big 'why?' It's the day when, in 1752, Britain switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and to make it work they had to get rid of 11 days - September 3rd of that year was suddenly September 14th so a one week and four days got lost in a black hole. Bad luck if it was your birthday on any day from 4th to 13th you'd have lost out on cake. |
What lovely weather we had yesterday - I spent time collecting nasturtium seeds. I do it every year, then dry them and store a jam jar full for next year. It's a bit of a daft ritual really because when you've grown them you get invaded by caterpillars. The trumpet shaped flowers are colourful and brighten up the late summer days.
|
Another 1st of the month - I wonder why they come round more quickly these days, might have something to do with my aptitude for day-dreaming the days away. The garden birds seem quite aware that the year has marched on - we've had a flurry of bluetits this morning stuffing themselves silly with birdseed - I guess they're fattening up to face the winter.
|
It's that time of year to think about making your corn dolly. It is said that the name corn dolly comes from a corruption of ‘corn idol’ and that this straw ‘idol’ was a winter refuge for the ‘Spirit of the Harvest’. Normally the spirit lived in the growing crops but when they were cut it became homeless and so the hollow straw woven corn dolly provided a winter sanctuary. The concept has its roots in the pagan "circle" i.e. everything is born, dies, and is reborn - likewise the grain is sown, ripened, harvested, and the spirit, represented by the corn dolly, is eventually ploughed back into the soil in spring where it grows again. As with many age old traditions, the Christian Church takes over the ancient rituals and the Corn Dolly comes into the church in the guise of a Corn Cross, harvest loaves shaped like corn, or some other Christian symbol.
|
Hilary's left us a message after viewing Thursday's NZ slideshow showing the adventures of Granny Betty...
She says she's glad to see Granny Betty held on to her handbag (and her decorum) throughout the challenging stop off points. She and Mac were interested to see the Luge as they have an opportunity of riding it in the near future. They're doing a bit of nail-biting to come to a decision about the Luge: apparently it can be a hair raising experience. Granny Betty commented, "rather them than me - I was happier just watching." |
31st August 2017
Andy and Rob have been today (electricians). The came to reconnect all the electrical sockets and heater following the completion of the plastering. They've done a great job - should you need a good electrician details are on the Links page from the above menu. They're called Barratt Electrical Solutions Ltd. |
We've had a message from Ian to say he's back on UK soil. Jenny is en route and due in tomorrow while Jon and Zara are currently heading for Rotterdam. They'll be heading for Birmingham on Sunday plus Jay, Les, Andrew and Gary to see Carol perform in what we all consider to be the "Gig of the Year". She's a keen member of the Shrewsbury contingent of the Got 2 Sing Choirs - several choirs are joining forces at Symphony Hall on Sunday evening.
|
30th August 2017
My crazy grandsons and granddaughters-in-law have posted a lovely surprise for me on Facebook - I've managed to do a highjack and make it into a slideshow. It all came about because when Jon first went wandering round the world a couple of years ago I crocheted him a little Granny to keep him company. Inevitably he named her Granny Betty - I reckon she's the most well travelled woolly headed granny in the world and she seems to have done a good job of keeping Jon company whilst keeping a tight hold on her handbag. Thanks guys and gals - you've made my day. |
|
29th August 2017
It's a misty cobwebby morning in our neck of the woods - decidedly autumnal. I like this time of year when the garden has done it's best and is coming to a standstill. It feels quite peaceful doesn't it? Then I turn round and see our drain is blocked and overflowing ugh! Flipping heck, then the blind in the bathroom decided to part company with it's retaining gismo and even the tiles it was screwed into came crashing down. Then you look over the fence so to speak and you see North Korea is messing up. Which only goes to show the moment you start waxing lyrical and thinking all's well with the world: it isn't ! I give up. Re the drain: we've flushed it, poked it, prodded it, poured hot water, fed it drain unblocker chemicals, baled it out umpteen times - today we await the drain mender man as every time we use the kitchen sink, dishwasher, washing machine, there's a flood in the back garden. The bathroom blind disaster is still in progress. It needs replacement tiles in the window recess and a rethink on how we stop the local populous watching us have a shower. |
Jay and Lesley called in yesterday morning and we had the low down on Seville. They consider it a wonderful city - well worth a visit. Beautiful buildings, wall to wall sunshine, and decent eating places that don't cost the earth. Their main revelation was about the lovely cafes they found and rather than cough up £40 for two breakfast in their hotel each morning they chose to have breakfast in one of the said cafes where they got hooked on fartons - go on... giggle, they did and so did I.
Fartons are a sweet type of bread typical of the Valencian town of Alboraya. Elongated and glazed with sugar, they are made of flour, milk, sugar, oil, eggs and a leavening agent.
|
26th August 2017
I fear a dreaded moment is hovering on the horizon. I allude to "The Plot" - in my case, it's becoming elusive, but hopefully not quite 'lost'. A few days ago, in the middle of one my decluttering sessions, I found two pairs of specs; my previous ones and the ones before that. Curiously, they were all purple. Why would anyone buy purple glasses three times in row? However, I did, and I'm still mystified. Anyway, I had a little trying on session, as you do, and then shoved them back in the drawer. For a couple of days thereafter I complained of my eyes being a bit 'fuzzy' and I suddenly wondered if I'd been wearing an old pair in error. I couldn't decide which were the latest ones so I checked my Facebook profile photo and, as you may have guessed, I'd been wearing the old ones . I'm a no hoper! |
23rd August 2017
They seemed to enjoy the total eclipse in the US so I got onto Google to see when we'd be getting one. Not long to wait, just 3 years, 9 months, and 18 days - we'll be getting a partial eclipse on 10th June 2021, that's something for us to look forward to if you're into planetary activity. |
I was slightly bemused the other day when TV news showed us people taking pictures of Big Ben's last donging session. I suppose if they've recorded the sound they'll be able to have a personal big bong moment when the fancy takes them - but I didn't quite "get it". But each to his own, or as they say, whatever floats your boat... dongs your gong...
|
I've just had to take five minutes to untangle one of my senior moment dilemmas. In the hall diary where we record our scintillating social calendar (dream on!) - I'd written "hair cut, 11.30" so I got a bit of a move on this morning then checked my handbag diary which says haircut is next week. A phone call resolved the chaos - it's next week so I can twiddle my thumbs a bit this morning.
|
We have another book recommendation this week. This time from my brother. His comment: "I've never laughed so much in all my life." It's a factual book written by the chap who took a narrow boat across the channel. I remember seeing a TV documentary about his adventure - his wife and whippet accompanied him and I recall it looked rather treacherous taking a vessel with such a shallow draft on the open sea. "Narrow Dog to Carcassonne" by Terry Darlington.
I'm about to start on it, the press reviews are good and it looks like being a travelogue that's quite a hoot. |
More horror stories this morning - another act of terrorism in Barcelona - all we can do is offer sympathy. I always think such events make all our other worries seem trivial.
And none so trivial as the fuss some people are making about the change to Walnut Whips. Yes, those chocolate pyramids filled with something fattening and topped with a walnut. Apparently the manufacturers are going to eliminate the walnut because nuts are getting more expensive. Not a life changing happening and hardly worth a mention but they have to fill the newspapers with something. Maybe the final word of the item I read makes ground-breaking news - a pack of six will be available around 'C' time. (that word we don't mention yet and the bloke in a red suit is around with holly and all that). I wonder if they'll rename them as 'chocolate whips' or maybe 'nutless whips' . If they do get called chocolate whips it will have the S&M people on the alert - and by that I mean the Stupid and Meaningless of maybe Silly and Moronic... take your pick. |
16th August 2017
We've had a harvest festival moment at our house - my good friend Hilary arrived with bounty galore, including a bunch of scented sweet-peas. She's so kind and as green-fingered as Mr Titchmarsh, Monty Don and Percy Thrower rolled into one. There was also a bag of plums but I've stewed those and Bern's already made inroads on them, and there's some magnificent tomatoes hiding behind the sweetcorn. I didn't get round to singing "...we plough the fields and scatter..." but thank you Hilary. |
14th August 2017
I always think of August 14th as driving test day. I can't remember the day I took mine, I mean the day they began - the first tests were introduced in France on this day in 1893. Only male drivers over the age 21 were permitted and on passing their test were allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 8 mph. Thrills galore for petrol heads back in the day - I think people jog faster than that these days. 42 years late the UK began testing drivers on a voluntary basis - a year later (1935) driving tests became compulsory. |
Did you see that Big Ben is going to be out of action for about 4 years? I assume Londoners will miss that big bong booming out across the city. They were chatting about it on Radio 4 this morning. I winced when one chap on the programme mentioned that with the clock tower closed we wouldn't be seeing fat, sweaty American tourists puffing up the steps of Big Ben's tower to see whatever it is they look at up there. I thought his words were too unkind and verging on xenophobic - he needs to look around him - we've plenty of fat, sweaty Brits stuffing burghers and buns.
|
Oh... I forgot to mention that we've stripped the walls and ceiling in the sitting room. Stuff has been heaped up in the dining room and the house looks like a war zone (bit embarrassing really especially when Alan and Alistair came). It's been done a few days early because Jay came round to help with the ceiling stripping before he left for Spain. We have plasterers coming on Thursday to redo our tatty walls and ceiling. It's come about because we feel we're getting too old and achey to do wall papering - walls and ceilings are to be skimmed so that decorating in our dotage will be easy (we hope) just a matter of sloshing a bit of paint - that's the theory behind our thinking anyway.
|
13th August 2017
I'm a bit miffed that I missed the perseid meteor shower last night - every time one of us woke up for a bathroom visit we had a quick look to no avail - maybe we should have been to Specsavers. I've 'borrowed' this pic from the BBC website - it's the sky-scape over Exmoor - beautiful. |
9th August 2017
I think I'm turning into a time fritterer - a fritterer extraordinaire. Firstly I've spent ages watching You Tube videos by Gerda Lipski, about how to do abstract paintings using acrylic. Daren't tell our art tutor, Roland, he would not be impressed. I like her work and having studied the videos (several times, remember I'm frittering time} and decided to have a go. I went to great lengths to acquire the materials i.e. Googled and searched Amazon to find the right acrylic gloss medium and a bottle of ethanol. Lethal stuff, it's neat alcohol and highly flammable. I finally located some at a supplier of nail parlour stuff - apparently it's used in the application and/or removal of fancy false nails. This morning I dived in and had a go. I've stunk the house out with chemicals, nearly gassed myself with the fumes, and generally made a bit of a mess - all good fun. I'm not thrilled with the result but I may have strayed from Gerda's instruction as the videos were in German and I haven't a clue other than Achtung and Danke choen. |
5th August 2017
Not the right weather for August is it? Ian's getting worse than us - I see from his pics they're wearing coats and woolly hats. Looks like the tournament is about to get underway. Good luck to The Swans. I wonder who designed their logo - I think it's great. Sorry to overload you with Australian Football - it's big news in our family. They tell me UK football kicks off today (pun intended) and the Wolves' first match of the season is a sell out. I guess the town will be teeming today (or team-ing even). |
2016 saw the launch of the Great Britain Women’s Australian Rules Football Team – the GB Swans. The Swans will bring together females from the England Vixens, Scottish Sirens and Wales.
The first appearance for the GB Swans was a winning one at the Champions League in Amsterdam in March. The next step after this was winning the first ladies AFL Europe Championships in August 2016. The attention now turns to the main event. The Swans will be striving to make their debut at the International Cup 2017 in Melbourne a successful one, along side the GB Bulldogs. GB Swans coaching team:
|
4th August 2017
Hello all, I've been out and about today. This morning Bern and I went to Weston Park to see the current art exhibition entitled "Synthetic Landscapes". A display by people who can think outside the box. I didn't understand the term 'synthetic landscapes' until I saw the works. They're imagined landscapes but none were painted in the conventional manner. The first one we viewed looked naïvely simplistic..., blue sky, green field with lots of tiny white sheep dotted across the field. After a moment or two I realised the sheep were moving and as I watched they wandered in and out of the picture. I found this quite amusing - it was a digital "installation". There were some arresting pieces in beautiful luminescent colours that looked like something from fairyland - they had been created from eye-shadow and graphite. That's just a couple - get the gist? |
I nipped round to Jose's this afternoon to see how she's coping with her damaged hip. She said she's feeling much better but as yet she's not very mobile. Claude's taking good care of her and has taken on the role of head chef and bottle washer, night nurse and caretaker. He's a real good egg.
|
It seems everyone we know is jetting round the world right now. Here's Madeleine. She's my Scrabble partner on Facebook. She lives in Lichfield and is currently spending time with her sister and family who live in Norway. Lovely pictures Madeleine. Thanks for sharing them with us. See you on Facebook when you get home. Madeleine is Ian's wife, Jenny's, Grandma so I guess we're sort of Grannies-in-law.
|
1st August 2017
New month, new page... all my foregoing waffle is still there, you just need to select previous pages from the menu at the top. Hover your mouse over the "Betty Blogs 8" and you'll find the previous pages if you're desperate for something to do. As we have a bit of blue thing going on this morning, I thought you might like to see these lovely agapanthus that are just opening up in our front garden. According to Monty Don they do better if their roots are packed tightly. These have just about filled the pot now - it's taken a few years but I think he's right, they seem happier this time round and they've been fed with liquid seaweed. |
August is named after the Roman Emperor Augustus (63BC - AD14). In times gone by August 1st was the day to celebrate Lammas - one of the great Pagan festivals that celebrate the seasons of the year. Lammas was the time when farmers gave thanks for a bountiful harvest. Hay meadows were reopened for common grazing, and a time marked by country fairs and other festivities. In Ireland and Scotland 1st August was Lughnasadh (or Lughnasa) a festival in honour of Lugh the God of light and wisdom. Loaves were baked from the first corn of the harvest and presented as offerings or eaten at a celebratory feast.
|