not my words, but I had to borrow...

When my page is blank, you don’t know that earlier I was full of ideas.

When my house is a tip, you don’t know that yesterday I cleaned all day and that it looked nice for ten minutes.

When I say something stupid, you don’t know that the last time I opened my mouth I spoke insightful wisdom.

When I am quiet all day, you don’t know how I love and long to sing.

When I cry, you don’t know that this morning I smiled.

When I write badly, you don’t know that last week I wrote brilliantly.

When I burn the dinner, you don’t know that yesterday’s meal was delicious perfection...

When I seem weak and easily controlled, you don’t know that I have had a long fight and am tired.

When I am shallow, you don’t know that I am really deep.

When I am grumpy, you don’t know how patient I have been for so long.

When I ask stupid questions, you don’t know that tomorrow I will have all the clever answers.

A Voice Released [blog]

By Rachel Carter 

celebrations

2nd August our younger GSD was 3 years old. Time flying again! Goddaughter's aunt and uncle have had another child...10lb 10oz...that family always have large babies. Fortunately Mother and baby are well and doing fine. 

awol lol

Taking a hint from a lovely friend...here be me!
The two Ms and I plus OH went carpet hunting...OH bought a carpet remnant 80% wool. The two Ms kept on looking. That was last Wednesday and the carpet arrived on Thursday. Looking at the 6m x 4m roll dominating the hallway I wondered what we'd let ourselves in for.
It must be 10-15 years since we last fitted a carpet and tempus fugit has taken it toll. Things do get harder as you get older...
Suffice it to say the carpet battle commenced on Friday with clearing as much of the room as practical. By the evening a couple of worn out people were finally able to view their completed efforts. I warned OH that if he has a similar scheme planned in the future...I will not be fitting any carpets; but will pay someone else to do it!

when

someone has a driveway and front 'garden' and the road either side of their dwelling is empty of vehicles...
Why must they insist on parking on the pavement in front of the house across the road!

 The people over there have been keeping the local builders merchants busy for months; ever since they moved in. 

But they have also been dumping their large car outside our place when there's been lots of room on their side of the road.
OH opined that there's nothing to be done about it...but I wanted to do something.

So, when the vehicle reappeared this morning I took my camera and photographed it and the view of the opposite side of the road.

Later OH reported the vehicle was now parked on 'their' side of the road.

appt

Andale Vets
This is today's 'must do' as elder K9 needs to see Michelle because she's been holding her head lob-sided and shaking it from time to time. I blame z-dog probably because he's been too boisterous and may have done some  mischief.

Returned home from seeing Michelle, who greeted Lady like a long lost friend! She gave her a good check over and apart from an ear problem, a good bill of health.

Result, Lady has antibiotic tablets to take and some drops for her ear. She has an ear infection, but with antibiotic tabs and drops should be back to 100% soon.


As for z-dog it's no food for him after 8pm (Tuesday) and an appt at the vets on Wednesday morning!

best laid plans?

oft go awry...
Phonecall this evening and I did not recognise the caller's voice...
After a while it became clear that it was my theatre going friend's son. No wonder I didn't recognise the voice!
Bad news; my friend is in hospital resting having fallen/blackedout and no-one knows if it's an on-going problem.
He gave me her mobile number and I had a brief chat with her. Typically, she was concerned that we can't go to Manchester this Tuesday to visit the museum.

All I want is for her to be on the mend and back to her usual self.

and a lovely time

was had by all...

Goddaughter was technical manager for the performance and had reserved seats for us. So we had a good view of the performance.
The Kidz did a grand job...some were as young a 4 years old and a couple of them stole the show when they were on stage. Others were teenage/early twenties.
For an amateur set-up they did remarkably well.

Their aims include

•  to have fun, 
• grow in confidence, 
• stay out of trouble
• enjoy learning new skills
• form friendships
• raise money for local young people's charities

 I came home with 'Nemo' a large cuddly toy won in the raffle and now heading to raise more funds for another charity. I have no photos of the performances as it's not allowed in the theatre.

anticipation

Saturday I'm heading north to Rishton and then to Preston whilst OH remains behind to dog sit.

Kidz 4 Kidz Community Theatre Company put on shows twice a year at the Charter Theatre in Preston.

Tomorrow night they celebrate their tenth anniversary...

Kidz 4 Kidz present 'Ten' a celebration of their ten-year anniversary.

"For a night of audience participation, fun, laughter, drinks and being merry... (and possible BBC interest) please join us for our big 10 year show Saturday 9th July @ 730pm. xx "

A theatre/dance group my goddaughter helps out with.

wordless Wednesday (July)

OH idea of a note or list on whatever comes to hand!

We have roadworks with contra-flow and pipe-layers causing chaos

Kale fresh from the garden!

I love the way the colours change on hydrangeas

Tis variegated and pink but its name eludes me

At long last I too have them in flower

Campaign

misc

The past few days have seen me in grumpy mode; must be the weather!
Broadcasters have as the saying goes 'got my goat'.
How and why?
There was a news story from the area where I was brought up. The railway line crosses the valley on a majestic-looking viaduct.
In my youth I went over it by steam train. Later, after Mr. Marples had been an 'Ena Sharples' and closed the local stations my journey was by bus and I saw how impressive the viaduct looked.
(Ernest Marples was minister of Transport when the Beeching act closed railways).
Move on to another century, and it's in need of repair. The irritation came for me that several broadcasters couldn't pronounce the name 'Whalley' properly.
Okay, I know in Manchester they have an area called Whalley Range pronounced wally, and onother called Whaley Bridge, pronounced wail-ee.
But the one in Lancashire is pronounced wall-ee.

Earlier today on the radio, presenters did an item about rude/obscene language written on t-shirts worn by youngsters in Newquay.
The town becomes a 'hell-hole' this time of year as it's invaded by post exam students. Teenagers age 16+ going totally alcohol-fuelled dolally in sun, sea and surf...
To some, Newquay is the SW 'answer' to Blackpool; but to me it's a downmarket Blackpool, all slease.

Another summer of anti-social behaviour beckons in Newquay...

Pirate fm news (local radio)
"Lewd t-shirts are being banned too in the latest bid to clean up the resort."

The Independent...
"Newquay has tried to shed its image as the binge-drinking capital after two teenagers died as a result of drunken nights out two years ago. Around 20 drunk and incapable under-age holidaymakers were sent home last year and 1,000 cans and bottles of alcohol confiscated.

as Dylan Thomas once said...

"The sun declared war on the butter, and the butter ran".
And OH is out doing gardening! Experience might come with age; not not commonsense!
24C indoors, goodness knows what it is outside...but out I went to crop raspberries, not my fave to pick but nice to eat.

how different

today is from yesterday...
Yesterday I was volunteered by OH to go with neighbour H to help him buy ready-made, lined curtains and new curtain track. H is nearing 70 and as they'd say in the old days 'a confirmed batchelor'. This makes conversation difficult at the best of times. So trying to explain the ins and outs of curtains and window dressing didn't go down well. Eventually he agreed 72" drop and possibly 66" wide...
The only time I got anything approaching a conversation from him was when we saw Starlings in the car park. He then volunteered that sparrows were nesting under the eaves in his house. So, over an hour later I finally got him the buy some curtains.
On our travels I found out the hard way that he's a slow, methodical driver. He's had his secondhand car for 3 years and almost done 3000 miles! From time to time I had to ask hilm where he was going and even to tell him several times to change lanes so we could reach where we needed to go!

By contrast today MJM went shopping and what a laugh we had, taking the mickey out of each other and generally enjoying a good chat. We had sandwiches, coffee, tea and chocolate in the supermarket café. Browsing up and down the aisles of the various shops, stopping frequently to describe items to M so she could decide on what to purchase... Deciding whether to treat ourselves and what to buy.

wordless Wednesday

Apols to Sayre

since the Blogger 'outage' I've become an intermittent blogger. That and the increasing pressures on my time thro' OU studies. 3 hours 'wasted' today attempting to do an online exercise that uses a programme from last century, a most temperamental programme to put it mildly.
Eventually, in a vain attempt to save my sanity and make some progress, I resorted to inputting random answers so I could access the 'feedback'.

I've hit the wtf time in my present course, 3 assignments submitted out of 6, so 3 more to do. Awaiting the result for assignment 3, but not hopeful as it turned into a 'publish and be damned' exercise. One where having reached the end of my tether, I hit send...regardless of what I think of my efforts.

and tomorrow is

father's day...

how does your garden grow?

Fun Monday cookery

Sayre asks
What is your favorite cook-out food and/or recipe? OR What special dish are you known for at gatherings of family or friends?
First of all I needed to find out what a 'cook-out' might be! Then I realised it might be connected with what over here is known as a BBQ. Hm...haven't been near a BBQ for many a year. But...I do have a series of cookbooks from Australian Women's Weekly.
They are a 'mine' of useful inspirational recipes.
Better still, they can now be found online

Layered garden salad

1/2 lettuce
250g (2 cups) frozen peas
2 hard boiled eggs
250g mushrooms
125g tasty cheese
250ml (1 cup) mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons French mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 shallots, sliced
1 tomato
4 rashers bacon
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Place coarsely shredded lettuce in salad bowl. 

Sprinkle uncooked frozen peas over lettuce

Sieve eggs, combine with finely sliced mushrooms spread over peas and top with grated cheese. 

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and shallots, pour over cheese. 

Cover, refrigerate several hours or overnight. Chop bacon finely, fry in pan until crisp, drain. Top with tomato wedges, bacon and parsley just before serving.

unavailable

error messages telling the Blogger is inaccessable again!
At least I've had fewer distractions for a day or two.
Our 'Summer' weather is more like Autumn; cool temps with heavy persistent rain. In these conditions it's good to have a microfibre towel for the dogs.

The hedgehog has put in an appearance several times lately; the big problem is to prevent younger dog from finding it and marching round with a prickly ball in his mouth. 

wordless Wednesday