Fun Monday's topic - Brolly, gamp umbrella

Just a few names for one item that’s this week’s show and tell’...

“Once again and with pleasure I am the host for this coming Monday April 5.
As April is quiet a moody month here in Belgium, I thought about asking you:

Do you use an umbrella against the rain or too much sunshine? Even if you don't you certainly have at least one in your house I suppose. Take a picture and show us the one or ones you use (or not)”

A big Thank You to Gattina for coming to the rescue with her FUN ‘Fun Monday’.

Umbrellas?

“Any umbrella, any umbrella “sang Dick Van Dyke (chimney sweep) in ‘Mary Poppins...

For ‘any’ read ‘many’ in my collection; they’re a bit like handbags and shoes, after a while a collection builds up. Almost as tho’ one on its’ own would be lonely!

When I see one that’s appealing because of its pattern, shape, features or cause I just ‘have’ to buy one.

Hence my collection includes

Sunflowers umbrella from the “Calendar Girls” a stage play and film about an extraordinary group of housewives...who produced a 'naughty' but nice calendar to sell in aid of charity.

It took off as they say...and is now a film and stage play.

I saw the play in Manchester and it was brilliantly funny.

http://www.thecalendargirls.org.uk/

Then there’s my ‘Open University’ one I bought because I study with the OU.

Some are too worn to merit a photograph and ‘live’ in the car behind one of the seats. Yes, two ‘live’ there.

With our wonderful English weather it’s always useful to have a brolly’.

Another resides in our caravan in Cornwall.

At the start I mentioned ‘gamp’ perhaps some will know where the word comes from, but it may be unknown by others.

Charles Dickens' character Sarah Gamp from “Martin Chuzzlewit” carried a large umbrella; so, colloquially, a ‘gamp’ is an umbrella.

Spring Fun Monday!

The lovely Janis of Life according to Jan and Jer set this week's challenge which is all about Spring.

Here is what I want you to do.....
Take a photo of whatever represents Spring to You....and tell us why.


England in the spring...is a rolling progression of favourite flowers.

The faithful hellebores which brightened Winter's gloomy days, continue in abundance in our garden. They've been with us since before Christmas and are still flowering now.


Followed by the humble snowdrop auguring Spring's arrival.

February, when camellias are in bud, promising a blaze of colour in March.


March when flowers progress on apace, farewell snowdrops...

Time to welcome crocuses yellows, purples and white in that order.

This year I was lucky one warm, fine sunny day to find honeybees busy amongst the crocuses. Take a look at the top of the page and you'll see what I mean...

March heading towards April now the narcissi and daffodils take centre stage. Purple crocuses fade so too the whites and yellows. Now we have an abundance of yellow shades.


Camellias are in bloom stately in red, white and pink.



Then, and this really means Spring, the first bluebells appear on stage.




Yellow daffs nodding in the breeze, described so well by William Wordsworth in his famous poem.

White hellebores fading...






Stately camellia...fragile, beautiful, but rain and wind soon destroy their transient beauty.

Such joy and delight to see the splendour of Spring flowers in colourful diversity.
Dark, dull, dire days of winter are behind us, Spring has to be seen to be believed.
Flowers promising finer days to come...time to look forward to when my rose garden is in bloom and climbing roses waft their heady scent into warm evening.

Thank you Jan, for setting today's topic.

I hope I've given a hint at the joys of an English Spring.

again

Went for yet another set of blood tests. Waited until I felt like going there.
We passed the site of the old hospital which had been a wonderful Victorian edifice. In the few months since I discovered it had closed events moved on apace.
The old hospital is no more. In its place another hospital is being created.
The former was red brick typically Victorian. The latter is springing up like a jack-in-a-box, a steel girder framework,breeze block construction.
One rejoiced in the name
Sir Alfred Jones Memorial Hospital and was a Victorian endowment, a mark of philanthropy.
It's brash up-start newcomer will doubtless have a more utilitarian name, and have cost £££££millions!

Meanwhile a local clinic has taken over part of the role of the defunct hospital.

I arrive 'armed' with a book to pass the time. Took a ticket from the machine and settled back in a chair to wait my turn. Some 20+ numbers later it was my turn.

The room was set out to accommodate 3 people at a time.
Phlebotomy nurses expect to perform using the patient's left arm. But, for me it's the right that 'works' best. Also, I remembered to tell them they need a smaller needle. Yes veins can be seen, but are difficult to skewer.
The nurse was a trainee, and she did a good job. Apart from releasing the tourniquet too soon. But, it turned out to be the right thing to do. Her trainer/supervisor replaced it for her and between them managed to fill three separate vials to be sent for testing.
Okay, so it was painful but most importantly
No Bruising!!!
I've come across plenty of nurses who've treated me like a pin cushion, struggled to find a vein and left me with arms so bruised I had to wear long sleeves for the next 10 days.

glorious sunshine

This week the weather has been kind to us. Lots of bright sunshine, no rain. Perfect opportunity to try my hand at photography.
One day was particularly sunny and warm without a lazy wind to chill the air.

By afternoon the crocuses were a blaze of colour and 'alive' with honeybees.

Now my blog has photos to mark the event.

What a lovely hint of Spring!
Some mark the 21st of March (equinox) as the 'first day of Spring'.
The more prosaic Met Office in the UK counts 1st March as the start of Spring. For them, the seasons run in three-monthly cycles.
March thro' May - Spring
June thro' August - Summer
September thro' November - Autumn
December thro' February - Winter

Mother Nature has other ideas and does her own thing!

Writing and life Faye's Fun Monday

So your assignment for March 15 is to share your memories of school lunches. What kind of school did you attend--public, private, parochial? Did you bring lunch from home or buy in the school cafeteria? What did your lunch look like? Who prepared it? Who did you have lunch with? Was this a happy part of the school day? What did you do during lunch time other than eat your PB & J sandwich?

The lovely Faye of Summit Musings
has set today's topic

Another welcome opportunity to take a trip down Memory Lane

Junior School from age 5 to 11

Meals were cooked ‘centrally’ at the local Secondary School and delivered daily.

They were the standard ‘meat and two veg’ popular in those days; with steamed pudding of some kind for afters.

In my last year I was chosen to be a ‘waitress’ for the teachers who had their meals delivered on a tray to the staffroom. Before I could have my own meal I had to them theirs. Then after the first course, take away their crockery and bring back the puddings. All had to be accomplished with spilling or dropping anything and you had to balance the tray on your knee to knock at the staffroom door each time.

Can’t imagine any of today’s youngsters doing that!

Grammar school

Here they had their own kitchens so everything was prepared on the premises. Whereas junior school was a small place, Grammar school felt huge by comparison.

A separate dining room (instead of using the school hall) with tables of 8 from different age groups, plus 1 sixth former. From each table two people were nominated to fetch and carry. The sixth formers played ‘mother’ by dishing out the food.

By the time I was in the VIth form the school had expanded. The original dining room was too small so the school hall had to be used as well. If you had a P.E. lesson just before lunch you had to set out the tables and chairs ready for the diners. Afterwards we had to clear up and pack away.

By now the idea of a cooked dinner was less appealing so we got permission to have our own table and brought in packed lunches. Oh the fun we had as people began experimenting with the fad diets of the time.

College

Here we had a refectory and it was self-service Monday to Friday there was a range of dishes. Saturday tended to be left-overs and Sunday was always salad even in Winter. We soon got into the habit of avoiding eating in at the weekends. Sometimes my room-mate and I cooked for ourselves in the communal kitchen but more often we'd visit the chip shop.

Thank you Faye for the inspiration (smile) hope you'll be pleased to know I've ordered a copy of the book you mentioned which should arrive some day this week.

Facebook | The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (UK): Your vote is needed to help one of our avid supporters, Lawrence Smith, to raise £2500 for Guide Dogs!

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (UK):
Your vote is needed to help one of our avid supporters, Lawrence Smith, to raise £2500 for Guide Dogs!

Tilly-mint and her garden

One of our neighbours has serious health probs and has been in hospital for a while undergoing various tests. Before she left she made plans for her garden. Over the past week we've been blessed with good weather, sunny, dry but cold. D has been doing some serious pruning of fruit trees in our garden and planted new ones.

Next, he's turning his attentions to Tilly-mint's garden. Transplanting established azaleas to create a new bed for vegetables. Then he's hoping to collect the rose bushes she ordered before her extended hospital stay.

Well, he did better than that, he negociated a discount on her purchases!

Tilly-mint will be out of hospital soon it'll be lovely to see her reaction to her refubished garden.

Intelligence does not equal commonsense

Years ago I came across someone that was 'super' intelligent. So far above ordinary mortals that to have a conversation with him was difficult.
He'd been one of the boffins who developed RADAR in WWII.
Given chance he'd talk about his various record-breaking acheivements. Only one problem...he very soon lost his audience...
For some their eyes glazed over and they took refuge in thoughts elsewhere. Others, myself included, struggled to understand, losing their way along a convoluted intellectual path.
Yet, his first wife was such a practical down-to-earth soul, his anchor to reality.

Moving on a few years the guy left/divorced wife1 for wife2 and that's where I lost track of them both.

Yet, still I remember that special evening when he attempted to tell his dinner guests about Chain Home and RADAR.

My OH's 65 today!
Usually there'd be a card from Mike (Cornwall) but sadly we lost Mike last June.

I couldn't help telling our new neighbour about today...

What a lovely surprise for OH as a gardening themed card arrived from NN. *smile*

Gattina hosts Fun Monday

Gattina Fun Monday friend of 'Writer's Cramps' has come up with a splendid topic...

When I came back from my weekly grocery shopping last week, I had an idea for Fun Monday on March 8th. I want to know how do you do your grocery shopping, every day, once a week, once a months, in different shops or in one big supermarket.

A picture of your favourite store and maybe of your trolley would be nice. I think it is interesting to know how we shop in different countries !

I was thinking only the other day how the way I shop has changed over the years. As a youngster, n here the memory will date me *smile*... Being sent to the corner shop at the bottom of our cobbled street. Or on a Friday visiting the chip shop for 6 penn'orth of fish and chips (pennyworth 6d). Throughout childhood shopping was done daily or so it seemed. Forever going 'up street' for...something(s)
Home town's a very hilly place, great exercise as to go anywhere you have to traverse hill slopes of varying steepness.
Money was £ s d (pounds shillings and pence). Pence were farthings, halfpennies, pennies, threepence and sixpences. Then there were shillings, two shilling pieces, half-crowns and 'ten-bob' notes. A totally different language and maths! Imagine having to account for everything you bought down to the last farthing!!!

What a contrast with today!
In my yesterdays all shopping was done on foot, little and often. Now it's two mornings a week, always by car and includes a major supermarket plus two German ones (Aldi and Lidl). Rarely do I venture out shopping alone as 'himself' insists tis his 'job' to 'organise' me. *smile*

He's a right one for bargains; over the 10 years I carried on working after he retired (early) he took over the shopping. So, shopping trips 'have' to have a list to start off with.

Shopping bags?
Gone are plastic bags today in favour of Hessian and cotton ones.

Each of the 3 shops has certain foods we buy mostly from them.
Aldi for fruit and veg; Lidl for biscuits, crisps, ice-cream, milk, fruit juices, pop (do you call it soda?) And both of them for their special offers. This week, Lidl has gardening offers, so fertilisers are on the shopping list. Asda (Walmart) for eggs, odd items and some non-food items. Other things we buy (occasionally) in bulk such as a sack of potatoes from our local farm. We've even been known to return from Cornwall with a sack of local spuds *grin*.
About every 2-3 months we take a trip to CostCo to buy various meats.

Every so often we go into the city to an area known locally as 'Chinatown'.
Matta's is a 'world food shop'
They quite literally stock foodstuffs, herbs and spices from far and wide. This is my favourite as it is full of surprises.

From counting in £ s d to £ p, walking thro' the town to visit numerous small shops, to travelling miles to shops stocking the mundane and the extraordinary. How life has changed!

White rabbits!!!

only cos FM next time is on March 1st

Dearest wendishness our hostess says

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is as follows….

1. What memories do you have of your school years at any stage of your education?

2. Did you keep in touch with your friends who were there with you in your formative years, or perhaps you lost touch as I did and are finding them again? Tell us about some of your school friends.

You don’t have to go into detail, you can if you want to add as much detail as you’re comfortable with, photos are optional but you know most of us love photos


My memory banks are patchy but there are a number remaining from school days and before.
Nursery school - my coat hook had an umbrella picture! No I've no idea why this memory stuck; perhaps because the symbol denoted my outdoor clothes?
Days when in winter gloves were attached to a length of elastic threaded down the sleeves of your coat to stop them being lost.
But the friend I have known the longest was part of those days. My mind pictures us on the swings, roundabouts and slides in the Castle grounds. Yes, Castle you have not misread anything.

My home town has a castle, a Norman keep (motte).

Clitheroe-Castle

After WWI the castle and grounds became the town's war memorial.


But, I digress...the lower part of the Castle grounds had/has a children's playground.

Today's safety conscious society would be appalled by the playground my friend n I visited so often. With candle-wax smeared on the slides to make us go faster! I still bear the scars on my knees from hurtling off the slide into the cinder surround.

So, longest friendship lasted all the way thro' school days; and continues. But a couple of years ago there was a fright! She went into hospital, had an operation and was lucky to survive. She became even more poorly under hospital 'care' than when she went in. Her stay in hospital had a negative impact on her health.

Next longest belongs to grammar school days and also continues. This is the person with whom I also celebrated milestone birthdays.

What's friendship? Two people who tho' not kin are akin in thoughts words and actions?

Even today when we meet up; others ask and we reply that each is the sister the other never had.
Confusing?
Yes until people get used to it.
Even close family have difficulty telling us apart when hearing our conversations as each finishes the other's sentence and seems to know without words what the other's thinking.

Strange coincidence, three people linked by friendship and shared experience (school days); in the same form for 5 years. Our mother's all had the same Christian name.

Thank you Wendy, for passing on this quote...
"Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there." Anon

Strange to think that all of the people I was friends with at college, not one has survived the test of time...

Part 2 RAK moi?

Jill http://lilmouse.blogsite.org/ being an absolute treasure, set FM topics for two weeks, hence Part 2

By far a more difficult thing to write as I tend not to bruit abroad (sound off) about doing things for others, prefering RAK just to happen between me and someone else.

Our newest neighbour lives alone except for her two GSD companions. (German Shepherd Dogs).

When she first moved in the previous occupants had left the place in need of a lot of attention. So she wouldn't use the kitchen cooker as not only was it unsafe, it was filthy! The previous occupants were very heavy smokers...imagine the niccotine staining!

For several months NN (new neighbour) used her standard microwave for cooking. I only found out when she asked if I'd boil some eggs for her.

NN is fiercly independent, an admirable trait. So no use asking her to come for a meal as that'd be "charity".

That gave me an idea...tis as easy to cook for 3 as for 2...
I love cooking, n himself is fond of casseroles, home-made soups, quiches n so on...
So, why not pass across a portion or two for NN?

Now, a year on NN transformed her kitchen but cooking for 1 means she's unlikely to do quiches and rarely makes casseroles. So, this week when I make quiche, NN will have her share and today's cottage pie will also provide me with another RAK opportunity.

Jill (our lovely Fun Monday host) says http://lilmouse.blogsite.org/

For February 15th, please tell about something nice someone has done for you, or an act of kindness you witnessed a loved one perform, without being asked. It can be lately, or years ago, but something that touched your heart, and that you remember for that reason. Feel free to tell several stories if you wish, but remember, this is not YOUR RAK, it’s one that was performed for you or in your presence.

Where to start?
Recently there have been so many and various RAK.

I'm lucky to have two generous neighbours. One brought me some blueberries just cos she thought I'd like them. The other passed across sacks of fertiliser for the garden. Just when we thought we'd had the 'last'; neighbour turned up with freshly picked produce from her garden for us.

Not counting the frequent cups of coffee we've shared.

Then there's 'himself' not and never ever been prone to romantic guestures...cards? You must be joking! Stuff like that is a 'waste of money' according to him.

Imagine my delight and surprise when he bought me roses! Coincidence? Maybe he's turning into a 'softee' for a while...

Then there's the friends who did a 200 miles round trip to collect me so we could celebrate together.

The same people who told me (a few years back) to 'get a passport' when you turn 50. Then proceeded to book, pay for and take me with them to Dublin to celebrate that birthday 'milestone '.

They turn up from time to time, unannounced and with little 'warning' usually a quick phonecall, "open the gates...and put the kettle on...see you in 5"

I have a number of fridge magnets...to quote one:

Practise senseless acts of beauty and random acts of kindness!

Sums up my neighbours and my friends well, don't you think?

The Church Lady hosts Fun Monday http://livinglifeinpa.blogspot.com/

How do you beat the doldrums when you are stuck in the house either because it is too cold or too hot outside? Do you read? Cook? Complete a home improvement project? Watch movies? Scrapbook? Please share your ideas.

Cold weather as we had recently (January) in the UK makes me want to hibernate. Short days, frosty surfaces make me disinclined to go anywhere unless 'needs must'.
This is when online chats in Plurk help raise my spirits. I'd be lost without connection to the Internet. Swopping banter with people far and wide, comparing winter experiences.

In recent years I've found myself less able to tolerate extremes. So, when summer temps rise into the late 20s even early 30s centigrade you'll find me indoors with the fan switched on. No aircon in most homes here, but an optional extra in some vehicles.

Contentment comes with simple pleasures...sitting with laptop browsing, blogging whilst the dogs snooze by my side.
It's still winter, but it's one of those rare days, windless, cold, but not bittely cold so the windows are open. Himself busy in his workshop pottering around. The noise of tapping in nails floats thro' the open window as he makes a nestbox for the garden.

Janis hosts Fun Monday

As your hostess this week...here is what I dreamed up! The big question is ....What is the favourite room in your home? Tell us why and show us a photo?

Fave has to be shower room s for pix? Maybe or perhaps not.

Used to love long soaks in the bath until we added an extension. A proper extension, not sun room nor conservatory.

A shower room, plus utility plus dining room adding 25 m^2 onto our 'footprint'.

Bath preps have become shower preps and yes, I have to admit to having quite a hoard.

There's a UK company called Lush, with shops on the high street (in many countries) and present on the Internet. But when you browse you can't take in the wonderful aromas you find in the shops. Easy to spot a Lush shop, follow your nose...

We called him Jan

his 'Sunday' name was William-John. Typically Cornish through and through.
Years before we knew him, he'd had a serious, life-threatening accident. The accident had made deaf in one ear, he'd lost his sense of smell and his memory. Even short term memory was unreliable. But his very dry sense of humour remained.

She was a formidable lady in the best sense of the word. Over the years she worked with him evey day to improve his memory and teach him how to get on with daily life.

She was the main wage earner, he kept house and had a job with Remploy.
Many's the time we had Sunday lunch cooked by Jan.

Years later, she became ill and he nursed her, she carried on teaching him and setting up everything she could to ensure he could carry on after her death.

For 5 years his life went on, tending house and garden. We kept in touch and visited when down in Cornwall. When you got to know him, you realised what a brilliant job she'd done in encouraging and helping him.

I'd phone to say 'put the kettle on, we'll have a coffee' his reply 'oh no! can't do that'... We'd arrive and he'd have timed it perfectly, coffee was being brewed as we walked in.

Happy memories!

Now they are reunited in death.

Lil Mouse Fun Monday topic

This week?s Fun Monday post will be about chores. What is your least favorite chore? Vacuum get you down? Dust bunnies saying, ?oh yeah, you and what army?? Is there a chore that you neglect doing it until the absolute last minute when guests arrive? Do you just pray they won?t look ?there?? Are you going green with your cleaning? Top tips? If you have any ideas for anyone on Monday, post them in their comment box, because we all know that we LOVE comments!

Housework?!
No-one comments when 'tis done, only when it 'needs' doing!
With 2 German Shepherd Dogs adding to the mess, it'd drive me berserk if I attempted to be house proud.

I like the saying: "Dull women have immaculate houses."
Another saying I like is: "Take me as you find me!"

Okay, my house is my home first and foremost. A place to welcome, care for and nurture those who live here and those that come here. Clean enough to be healthy but not squeaky clean.

As for cleaning methods? There's a lovely online store "Lakeland" cram full of ideas, so yes, I have eco-friendly cleaning stuff.

White vinegar, lemon juice + water work well; but I also use other traditional ideas.

Sayre hosts Fun Monday n asks

http://sayresmiles.blogspot.com/
I want to know your car history. What was your first car? Which was your favorite car? And what are you driving now - and why?
What a great question! I have to delve back thro' the mists of time to recall my 1st vehicle.
But, there are two firsts; the first one I owned which, was such a wreck it ought never to be written about and
My first Real Car...
Morris Minor bought from someone who was desperate for the cash £100. No MOT n 'needed' working on, she says with a rueful grin. It took months of hard work to make it road-worthy, and I learnt a lot about car mechanics by being hands on as much as possible. It was a cheap way of getting me on the road with my own car.
Some 30+ years later, having owned cars made by Ford (Fiesta), British Leyland (Rover), Citroen (AX and estate car), Renault (Laguna), BMW (3 series) - I'm 'into' Toyota as in Avensis estate.
Courtesy of OH, I've happily driven Opel (Ascona), Vauxhall (Senator) Mercedes (C class), BMW (5 series)...
From driving cars with lots of oomph (petrol) to diesels which at first were relatively slow and nowadays hold their own against all comers.
From small 'shopping trolleys' to luxury motors, and recently estate cars have become my vehicle of choice. Having two GSDs, an estate is the perfect vehicle to transport them in safety. Hence my Toyota Avensis diesel my vehicle of choice.

Arctic Britain

Rantz's complaining about too many snow photos! But, as he lives in North Australia, maybe that's the reason for the complaint.

Okay, so we've been lucky, little snow, but lots of ice and low temperatures. Postie finally got round to delivering some mail; what's so remarkable about that? First 'real' post of the year! Days have passed with no sign of any mail deliveries, schools closed and bin collections have 'ceased' until further notice! The madness of it all! 21st century and we are hiding away waiting for the weather to improve.

What's to blame?
Our...
Compensation, ambulance-chasing, sue now and sue everyone £$$£ culture".

After...

joy, comes sadness; after pleasure, comes pain... Melancholy sets in, the usual aftermath of New Year celebrations (in my case).
This year especially, January fills me with foreboding. Some might ask, 'Why'?

Every so often, the calendar dates of one year repeat in due order a former year.
2010 is such a year. If my memory is working, 1984, a year made infamous by George Orwell, stands out as one of particular pain and sorrow.
I lost my 'be all and end all'; the 'rock upon which my life was built'. Does that sound too dramatic? Not to me! The person who left my life suddenly and permanently was my father.

fun Monday

Gattina asks about Christmas decoration(s) special to you.

I'd thought of taking pix of perhaps the tree, wreath on the front door or other sparklies; then I had another idea. THE Christmas decoration that means the most to me is 60 miles away in my home town. They have been putting out a Nativity scene at the entrance to the Castle grounds for longer than I've been around.

Each year, Christmas was made special when my Dad took me to see the Nativity scene.

Yes, there are similar scenes near where I live, but none have the special magical appeal of the one that was part of my childhood.

Now, I read that idiot 'revellers' have stolen 5 of the figures! They have even broken off a wing from the angel... I feel so upset, so annoyed. How could they do that and why?
Councillor Robinson added: "There is little else I can say to express my disgust, other than to suggest perhaps the town should not provide a crib next year?"

fun Monday set by Faye

I realize that a lot of people don't get into writing and mailing out holiday greetings, especially since we can be in contact with friends and family 24/7 through technology--phone calls, texting, twittering, face-booking, blogging, e-mailing, videoing. But, for most of us it's still a treat to see a holiday envelope mixed in with the bills and junk mail in the mailbox, especially if it's a handwritten message.

Am late taking part, only learnt from tweet by Cynicalgirl what today's topic was.

Some folk are tech savvy, but there are still quite a few who put pen to paper. Hence, a mixture of snail-mail cards and e-cards.
E-cards are lovely especially the animated ones. But, to receive a hand-written card is special as when the sender has enclosed a note telling of the past year's events in their life.

However, time rushes by taking with it old friends who have 'left this vale of tears'. Another friend has been anxious about writing cards this year simply because of the number of names she's had to cross off her list.
As she remarked, 'at her time of life; funerals seem to happen more often'.


Then, there are those who having sent cards regularly for tens of years, suddenly leave you off their mailing list.

This year, the flow of cards dried up days ago... As for the rest of the mail? Some bills are onlne (no need for snail-mail). Junk mail has been almost eradicated thanks to TMS the Mailing Preference Service.

Today's post has arrived! Another Xmas card from former colleague, and a dog-e-gift ready for me to personalise and forward to recipient.The latter is a virtual gift!

Otis a Labrador pup in training to be a guide dog for the blind.

hooray for neighbour!

Today, we can't get out of our driveway as it's blocked by workmen, lorries and plant (diggers, pneumatic drill n big whizzy).
Am I upset? Not in the slightest. Why? Cos they are doing a repair that's been needed for years n years.

Quite a while ago the council had our pavements dug up and replaced. At that time we complained about the way ours had been done. Sloping in all directions with odd cambers. Council came to inspect n said it was 'within' accepted tolerances! Friend with Health n Safety qualifications disagreed. Council adamant 'nothing wrong'.

Moving on a few years, neighbour who has recently lost most of her sight thro' diabetes, stumbled n fell. She reported the incident. Now, we are getting the pavement modified. What a pity the Council didn't rectify the problem earlier!

Wendishness to the rescue!

Oh lookie….I’m hosting Fun Monday again….

I saw Cynicalgirl beg and the moment I saw her post I came up with a great idea for a Fun Monday assignment that isn’t Christmas related and I do hope many will join in this one.

Okay, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this – we’re at the end of decade and in the media we’re seeing a lot of highlights, mishaps, misfortunes etc.. that have happened in the news. But what about everyone else? I would LOVE to see your highlights and lowlights from the “noughties”. Photos would be fantastic but you don’t have to – the choice is yours.

This will take some time I think...
Highlights
2009
November
- Toyota Yaris
- baptism when our god-daughter became a godmother
December my Mac book pro!
2002 EARLY RETIREMENT! YIPPEE!

Lowlights
The lowest of the low has to be dear friends who are no more...
Pol, Liz, Shirley and Mike
Not forgetting the loss of our dear girlie Kira , long-coated GSD and real 'teddy bear'

Reached the end of my working life. Illness and anxiety, pressures of work took their toll. Yet another futile, pointless egregious waste of money aka some £30000 spent by the school to undergo OFSTED! Institutionalised torture!

Now for something more cheerful!

2002 was my first trip abroad in many years (20+) so I needed a new passport. Even crossing the Irish Sea is easier with a passport.

Dublin is a charming, pocket handkerchief sized cosmopolitan capital city. I've been lucky enough to stay there with friends on several occasions in the 'noughties'. Discovering the Gravity Bar (Guinness Storehouse), Jamesons distillery, strolling along the Liffey by day and by night. Temple Bar restaurants, bars and shops.

Craic is an Irish word, redolent with fun, laughter and cameraderie. The Irish Tourist Board website www.discoverireland.com/ is well worth looking at to find out more.

I said it was a work i n progress...
More highlights...
2000 saw me taking up the personal challenge of studying with the OU (Open University).
What a learning curve!
Began with tech and geosciences. This led me to become even more interested in both subjects and joining OUGS the geological society. From that, I began to do fieldwork, something I'd enjoyed many years previously. Culminating in a visit to Iceland (place I had to see). 12 days of travel, along the south, east and north, the reverse of the 'Golden Route'. Returning from Akyureri following a difficult route south thro' Iceland's interior. Wearying, worrisome but well worth the effort. Haven't been on any more field trips to date.

she's done it!

What has she done?

Bought a shiny new Mac book Pro and begun the long, fascinating journey into the World of Mac...

Okay, own up the hype about 'ease' of use is both true AND false at the same time.

The keyboard is a delight to use. But, who decided to 'simplify life by removing the hash key!!!

Luckily, I found a blog with useful tips including the gem that

alt +3 gives...# the missing hash key. Jumping for joy...

Yes, the movies to instruct how to do various things are good, but is the difference between Mac n Windoze so great? Time will tell.

Of course, life would have been a lot simpler if I hadn't needed to reset router to default, reconfigure and redo everything.

And there are lots more things to do/redo such as teach Safari my preferred sites, learn to get it to use Lastpass?

Just been experimenting with iphoto! Stunned amazement at it's recognition of places!

Cynicalgirl hosts Fun Monday

A big part of many holidays is the music, but none more so than Christmas, whether or not you celebrate. It’s everywhere–on the radio, TV, in the stores. While many of the songs are lovely and happy and a part of the holiday tradition, a few songs just drive you insane after awhile. Especially since they tend to be repeated over and over, day after day.

So, my question is this: What Christmas (or other holiday) song would you prefer never to hear again, and why? It could be one song in particular, or songs by a certain singer, or a version of a song you usually enjoy that grates on your nerves. We promise not to judge. It’s your chance to vent.

If you have a YouTube version of the offenders handy so we can share your pain, all the better.

Now, if you'd asked for a favourite, I'd have found it an easier ask...

There are so many boringly tedious renditions played as musak in shops, malls, shopping centres and streets around now...

Pet hates must include anything sung by Jim Reeves, I'm shuddering at the thought...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKrCoZ02Mow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stEjTFMb940&feature=related

Are two of the particularly saccharine ones!

This has to be where I admit to once having owned a vinyl LP of Reeves' Christmas songs. At that time they seemed pleasant. Now, they set my teeth on edge.

Perhaps, another reason would be that the LP, along with all my others and 45s were thrown away by my mother (and the stereo too).

Ending on a happier note...I can't help but enjoy listening to


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

Pogues - Fairytale of New York

And the boys from the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day.