BRRRRRRRRRR

First time I ventured out today was to walk Honey. Anyone meeting me would have wondered who the yeti was LOL I had big (fake) furry hat, fake furry coat, trousers and boots, plus thick gloves but I forgot a scarf to wrap round my neck and face and I needed one! Car said 0oC but wind chill of about -5 made it bitter. It was also a bit damp trying to sleet/snow which made it REALLY cold. Even Honey beat me back to the car to come home LOL she had her race around in her warm fleece coat then went to the car and waited for me to catch her up. I was so glad to get out of that wind. The house is snug and warm thank goodness. Honey is stretched out on her duvet instead of curled up to keep warm :)



In warmer times

Ahhh it's Emmerdale time! Bye for now x

Let's get quizzical, quizzical...

Monday night is pub quiz night most weeks. We have a nice team of five now who cover most bases quite nicely, apart from Football, and we all hate that and know nothing about it. The last 3 weeks has seen us 2 team members down, as Kev has been rehearsing for the Christmas Mummers Play. Last night we welcomed back Kev and Sheila and benefitted from their input hugely. Kev is our music genius and we went from a struggling 6 - 8 points without him to a magnificent 18/20 last night. We managed second place in the main quiz with a low score of 31/40 when the winners got 35. Lots seemed to struggle last night. At least pub was lovely and warm :) I had my favourite dish  for dinner prior to the quiz - lamb shank, with cabbage, carrots, green beans and mash with mint gravy - mmmmmmmmmm. James and Jenny had Angus burgers which looked lovely.
Hmm talking food just before lunch time is bad. I now feel very hungry! I am going to wack on some pasta and heat up a portion of my home made bolognese sauce for lunch. Onion and garlic rich, it should help boost my immune system. Might not make me too popular with friends tho LOL
The fish are looking fine. I hope they stay that way.
I have discovered one problem with phones now I have moved my PC base from the dining room to the living room. I had the phone next to the PC for convenience, plus and extension in the living room. Now I have the PC in the living room but it's tucked behind the sofa and I can't get to the phone quick enough before the answering machine picks up the call.
(5 mins later) Having just almost fallen over myself attempting to answer the phone for the third time this morning,  I have now moved the extension from the dining room into the living room by the PC! So we have 2 phones in the living room at opposite ends :) and I can answer the phone quickly now YAYY result!
I love digital phone systems as I have phones all round the house, almost.

Weather update : It did turn to snow - for about 5 mins - and now has stopped doing anything. However a lovely bit of snow laden cloud is moving in so I live in hopes.

This was last winter's dusting. I am hoping for more this time round. :)

Watch this space!

We have fish!

Jen made it home safely with a huge builder's type bucket full of water and fish. 14 lovely healthy goldfish are now resident for three months or so. I hope she has 14 to take back to the farm in the spring!
I must apologise for yesterday's over-indulgence. I'm sure the minute details of my day were riveting reading - NOT.
I paid the price of all the water carrying by having painful knees in the night. I tried to roll over in bed but it took me a few minutes as pain shot through my knee. I had to inch over a bit at a time. It didn't help that Honey was cuddled up close and grumbled and grunted at my movement LOL Anyone would think it was cold last night and she felt warmer up against me. I make a good draught stopper :-)
I am actually hobbling around the house with a stick today the pain is so bad. I have some bits to bring downstairs but they can wait until Jenny gets home from work. I am in no shape to carry anything today :-(
I love seeing the photos of all the snow around the country but we have none here - yet! There was a heavy frost this morning so everything was sparkling in the early sun. It all looks pretty, Glad I am not driving until later.
Bad news! A magpie has discovered my feeding station! He has been hanging around trying to get at the suet cake and keeping my small regular visitors away :-( They need their suet fuel in this weather.
A stupid pigeon flew into the patio doors with a resounding DONK this morning. The windows face north and were reflecting the brightly sunlit garden so I expect he thought he was flying through. He looked a bit startled but flew away after a few seconds. Maybe it will stop him shovelling down the birdfood like a Dyson sucking up dirt. I have very fat, well fed wood pigeons :-)
I usually leave the doors inside the house open all the time but in this cold snap I am closing them to stop draughts and keep the living room warmest for comfort. The only problem is Honey is used to having a free run round the house and she hates shut doors. She is always on the wrong side of a closed door!
Tonight is pub quiz night YAYY I just hope we do a whole lot better than last week!
Please come back Kev & Sheila, we need you!

Have a good week whatever you're up to. Stay warm and safe above all else. x

Waiting for fish

Jen should be home soon with the fish! I blimming well hope so after the day I've had! I hope they don't all turn belly up overnight. I have treated the water and had the filter running but it should ideally stand for a couple of days before introducing the fish. Oh well - needs must! I know they will be cramped in the tank, probably 2-3 times the recommended stocking level but it is better than being entombed in ice or suffocated in rank water under the ice.
Watch this space for updates!

Bloody Sunday!

I'm p'd off. Can you tell? LOL The day started fine. I woke up about 8.15 and lay in bed until 9 cuddled up with Honey (the dog). I had a quick bath and dressed. Let Honey out and then gave her breakfast. She has dry all-in-one mix with a little olive oil drizzled over it. It stops her having dry skin problems and keeps her coat is silky and smooth.
I rounded up the assorted mugs and glasses from around the house to go in the dishwasher. It's amazing how far mugs can walk. Some even hide behind the curtains! With a fully loaded machine I put it on so all would be clean and dry in time for lunch. So far so good.
James was coming over for lunch so I nipped out to Tesco Express to get some potatoes and sausages. When I got in the car I remembered I was low on petrol. The warning light came on Thursday night but it gives me about 50 miles so I ignored it. Now the 'miles to go' was getting down to 25 (40 km actually) so I drove up to the big Tesco for their petrol. There were huge queues but for once I was lucky as two people  finished and left as I pulled in and I drove straight in to a pump. I swiped my Tesco card fine, but it thought a long time about my credit card before spitting it back out with a 'Try another card' message :-( Oh b**ger! I used my debit card with no problem but I was worried my credit card had been stopped by the fraud people as had happened twice to me before in last 5 years. Anyway I filled up *wince* and decided it would be less hassle to get my few bits at the Express rather than Tesco Extra so off I drove. Knowing my luck, I suspected the little car park for the little shop would be full, but no! I parked easily and wandered around getting my potatoes, sausages, oh yes and washing up liquid cos I'd just finished the bottle, and some Lenor for Jen (she's allergic to Comfort :-/ ), oh and some Surf liquid, and then toilet rolls because we were running low and Andrex 4 pack was 25p cheaper than Tesco own! and... well you get the picture. I came out with a lot more than I went in intending to buy, but at least the machine there took my credit card with no trouble. I got it home and unpacked just as James walked in. I cooked lunch OK, I had fish with sugar snap peas, mushrooms, and mash, James had sausages and mash as usual.

Did I tell you about the goldfish? Well....at the farm where Jenny keeps her horse, there are loads of water troughs in the paddocks. To help keep these troughs free of insects and green slime, they keep a few goldfish in each tank. I think they are mixed golden orfe and basic goldfish but they do their job well. The horse don't drink them because they dive down when anything approaches the tank. Anyway, this cold weather has caused a few problems with the tanks freezing over despite having balls floating in them. Jen is worried about the fish so she asked the farmer if she could bring them home for a 3 month holiday at our house. Now I was not overjoyed at this. I have got an old fish tank kept from when we had tropical fish a few years ago. So I got James to bring the tank and all its bits in from the garage for me. It was heavy but he managed to get it to the front door and I helped him in with it. We set it up on the sideboard on top of some foam sheeting. My lovely solid oak expensive, hand made to my specification, sideboard. No - don't worry nothing nasty has happened to it - yet! Anyway I put some water in and waited. No sign of leaks! Great! Onwards! I added some gravel to the bottom and a few buckets of water until it was about half full. I left it another half hour until just before taking Honey walkies and checked again. B**GER! A tiny leak was showing itself in one corner. *sob*
I put a towel there and made sure it was not on the wood surface. It was a tiny, very slow leak so I grabbed my coat and the dog and fled. I nipped round to the local Pet Superstore and said a prayer they did not close at 4. Finally a bit of luck! They close 4.30 on Sundays! Result! I've got myself a new tank *phew* I then walked Honey at Baiter before it got dark and she was a happy dog racing around at speed.
We came home and since I got in I have been ladling water out of the leaking tank, trying to get it dry enough to move it off the sideboard and get the new one in place. James is coming back soon to help me move it. Then I can set up the new tank with water etc. Jen is bringing some oxygenating weed with her so the tank should be ok for tonight until I can get the filter and air pump working. I just hope the fish survive the journey and over night in new surroundings. I am knackered! Back and forth with buckets of water, walking the dog, round the pet store, shopping. Who said Sunday was a day of rest? No after lunch snooze :-( No rest. Until now, when I've left the last bit of water syphoning out of the tank, while I sit down and moan to you LOL
Sympathy, chocolates, and Baileys to my home address, thank you. xx

I see snow

There be snow on the hills across the harbour. Purbeck looks pretty. Not a flake here, just freezing like everywhere else.

Jen's off horsing around for the weekend. I hope she's got her thermals! Layers is the trick!

I am layered up too. Cami, top, cardigan and trousers today - Jeans.

Brain not fully working yet - I need coffee!!

Be back later xx

New PC - grand opening!

Well I did it! Plugged in the bits. Got the power supply in place. Flipped the switch, pressed the 'on' button and softly and almost silently the machine powered up. I went through the set up screens with no trouble. It's all working fine :) I connected to t'internet with no trouble and have got ICQ set up and working. I've been on FaceBook and that's all working fine. I now need to install Office on there and get my email working somehow. Tomorrow's tasks.
I have had a torrid time trying to separate out all the leads that connected a variety of peripherals to my old pc. Everything was crammed in a small space and difficult to reach under the small desk. I managed to get down there on the floor but it took a bit of working out how to get back up again :-?
Honey is not happy with the new arrangement as she can't see me from her rug in the lounge. I have put a duvet in the corner next to the new desk for her to lie on so she is next to me now and settled happily there. Spoilt? my dog? you bet. She's got me well trained to meet her needs.
She had a good run at Baiter this afternoon, getting lots of attention from other dog walkers and lots of petting. She loves the fuss.
I am sorry blogs will be a bit brief for a few days while I get all necessary functions working on the new PC.
Have a good weekend xx

a weird Thursday

It was the usual routine to start with. I woke up as Jen yelled 'Bye' as she went to work at 7.50 then I rolled over. Mistake! I woke up properly just gone 9 and panicked. Loo, shower, dressed and downstairs reaching for the coffee by 9.30. Persuaded Honey it wasn't really THAT cold out as I pushed her out of the door. Let her back in. Gulped down the coffee and out the front door by 9.45. I was going to surprise John by getting there for 10. I was giving him a lift to work as he was car less for the day. It took me nearly 10 mins to de-ice the thick frost off the car. The heated windscreen works well but I am always wary of using it on a frost laden window. So I cleared the ice and then warmed it up. So it was 10.10 by the time I got to John's. It was all quiet and no sign of life. 'Someone' was still asleep in his warm bed!! And he was the one pushing me to get there for 10 LOL While he got up I grabbed his pc :) (no that is not a euphemism for anything!) 
John cooked a delicious lunch then I dropped him off at work and I headed home. I sat down to watch 'Dinner Date' and woke when it was all over - I think I remember him arriving at his first date but it faded after that :) was a lovely zizz.
It was almost time for walkies as the sun was dropping when the phone went. It was a friend in need, so I zoomed out with Honey and called in on my friend with the dog.  Honey was very understanding and let herself be petted and stroked while we talked. I think it was good therapy and I left after an hour or so, with my friend feeling a little better, but I will check up on her tomorrow.
I am collecting John from work and taking him to Wimborne Folk Festival tonight. What was the last thing he said? "Can you make it a double cheeseburger with no pickle?" He had a big lunch but that was at 12 and 9pm is late enough to wait for a bite to eat so I'll collect one on the way. Thank goodness for McD's drive through!
I have started to unplug and extricate the bits from my old pc to attach to the new one but the under desk cable 'spaghetti' made it a bit of a task and not easy on my knees, so it's slow progress :(

Secret : I am an Emmerdale fan and enjoying the hour long episode tonight :)
Off out soon - have fun xx

a quickie

Got the desk moved. Got power. Not all connected yet tho. Should be working tomorrow.

I took 14 black sacks of rubbish to the tip today. They filled the car.

I spent the afternoon trying to help my partially sighted friend get her email working with her 'talking' software. It could not handle it :( but did get her access to her email so some progress.

I picked up 2 more rabbits from Eileen, taking them over to John's tomorrow for his freezer.

Cooked dinner for Jen and I for 8.30 tonight when she got in from work. Collapsed in front of TV at 9 LOL.

Now off to bed - night all!

xx

new look

What do you think of the new blog appearance? Comments below please \/

A wiser woman

Well yesterday was a whole lot better than I thought it would be. The two guys running the 'Speed Awareness' course were great and extremely informative and helpful.
I got caught on a fixed camera in a classic situation. Entering a town/village, down hill, round bend - camera! I was stranger to the area and watching for road direction signs while trying to keep up a conversation with my American guest, just picked up from Bristol Airport. So demands on my concentration were high, and speed limit signs were lower down on the list. The double flash got my attention OK and I was there at 36pmh in a 30 zone :( Guilty!
Fortunately attending the course avoids getting the penalty points on my licence and the knock on effect of carrying them for 3 years, affecting insurance premiums. Attending this course is only an option on first offence on a clean licence, and will not be offered again for 3 years, so any more offences will incur the penalties.
It took me about 1 hr 35 mins going and 1 hr 45 mins coming home as I stuck religiously to the limits LOL I had to drive to Taunton for it as the courses are held in the area the offence occurs. Let that be a warning to all who travel around. Especially if you live in East Anglia and get caught on camera in Cornwall! Or live in Hampshire and get caught in Scotland! You may then choose to take the points as courses are not held at weekends and taking time off work, plus the travel could add up to an expensive day out.

I got home in plenty of time to get to the pub for the quiz. We ate dinner there first, then settled down for the quiz. Mike, who runs it, had changed the format and it threw many of us. We managed to pick our worst round for the joker so threw away 8 points as a result! It was not our night and we finished an ignominious 8th place. We really struggled with the picture round and did not bother submitting the music quiz sheet as it was so bad. So we slunk home with no money AND no chocolate *sob*. The pub was packed too. The final insult was a relatively new team won the 'Play Your Cards Right' type game. The Jackpot was up to £250 but thankfully they stopped before the final card and took £200 offered by Mike. At least it means the new jackpot starts at £50+ rather than £10.
I slept like a log last night. Had a busy day :)

Today is the delivery day for my new pc with a delivery slot time of 7am - 6pm :( I got Jen to wake me up early so I was awake at 7 and up and dressed by 10 past. *yawn* Not used to being up and about at this hour - well I am retired and don't often need to be up and around that early. I'd definitely find it tough to get back into 'work mode' if I had to work.

My dry mouth is reminding me I need a coffee. Not had one yet this morning :( I am nothing without a large coffee. I use a pint mug in the morning :) saves coming back for a second mugful until much later :)

Have a good day today whatever you have planned. xx

Soft rabbit

The rabbit stew was delicious. I got carried away watching X factor and wasn't watching the time so it had about an hour longer than I intended LOL but the meat just fell off the bones. It was scrummy! I have another 2 meals left in the pot :)

When you coming over Chris?

I'm a bunny boiler!

It's on! The rabbit stew is smelling delicious. Onions, carrots, leeks, a whole rabbit (jointed) all simmering away in a big pot, flavoured with Knorr stock cubes and some herbs.  Even the dog is sniffing the air and licking her lips, although none is destined for her dish. The rabbits are fresh caught on local farms, snared at the burrows. At least I don't have to worry about shot pellets :-)
I went shopping earlier to get new suet cake holders, and stock up on suet cakes. This time I am reinforcing the holders with wire to help stop the squirrels nicking it again. I will put the new one up in the morning as I need daylight to do it.
Tomorrow will be interesting. A little while ago I got caught on a speed camera near Bristol and I am attending a 'speed awareness' course in Taunton of all places tomorrow. This is instead of getting points on my licence and worth it to keep it clean. Only trouble is it's going to take me about 1.5-2 hours to get there. I'll be looking out for speed cameras on the way LOL I hope I'll be back in time for the pub quiz in the evening.

Shhh don't tell anyone but I am enjoying the X Factor. I love Matt, Mary and Rebecca although I expect Mary to finish 4th or 5th. I think Matt will win, with One Dimension second and Rebecca third, but we'll see how it all pans out nearer Christmas. I just pray Wagner does not win.
On the other hand I cannot stand 'I'm a celebrity' - it is 'reality tv' at its very worst as far as I'm concerned. I think I'd prefer unknowns to do it, Big brother style, or not at all!
I was surprised and delighted about a week ago to see two pipistrelle bats swooping around my house and my neighbour's at dusk. I have no idea where they are roosting, could even be in my attic as one of the small fillets in my fascias has come loose. I hope so! I love bats! I will leave them well alone.

Almost time for Strictly Come Dancing - don't care who wins, I just love the costumes.
I hope you have a good week ahead. xx

Jeanette... was that chorizo in the hole? or English sausages? You are in Spain - it should be paella! ;-)

I was robbed!

It was there when I went out. Came home and it was gone. Stolen. I checked all round the garden in case the thief had dropped it but not a sign. It could have been two of them! I've seen them lurking around, checking out the safe times to attempt the theft. Now I'll have to go buy a new one :( I know the thieves - both of them, bright eyes, bushy tails, and smart grey fur! Squirrels have nicked my suet cake holder, along with the nearly new suet cake in it! The tits will be hungry. I'll have to go get a new one tomorrow before they stop calling.
I have a lonely sunday ahead of me - no James coming to lunch. He's off to London for the day!
At least I won't have to cook sausages and mash! I might 'treat' myself to a frozen roast chicken dinner for one! really push the boat out! LOL
Or maybe have my rabbit with loads of veggies, onions, leeks, carrots, swede. Let it stew for a few hours until tasty and tender.
I hope you enjoy your sunday. If you spend it with friends or family, enjoy their company and give them a hug before you part. xx

Oh my aching legs

Last night was just brilliant. We had a full house, even had to bring in extra chairs. Vin Garbutt was the star, a unique performer, not the best voice in the world, but what a presence and personality, and such a genious song writer. His stories had us in fits of laughter. Supporting him was Nigel Waite, a local singer-songwriter who writes from his heart and beautifully. The phone has not stopped ringing all week with people desperate to get tickets at the last minute and one or two getting cross when told we were sold out. If you are that desperate to see someone then book early! We only have a small venue, and even great big theatres and concert halls have a limit as to how many seats they have. When they are sold they are sold.

I am only just getting moving and feel a bit stiff and achey today. I have a car full of sound gear to deliver back to John's soon. Just need one more coffee! The dog was very good and managed to hold on from 6pm until I got home 12.15 am. I think she was a bit fed up with being left alone so long and I had to spend 15 minutes making a fuss of her and playing with her before we headed to bed. We both slept well.

Have a good weekend whatever you're up to xx

that's MADAM Chairman to you!

Today was weird and vanished in a puff of wind (knew I should not have had baked beans again!) Did some emptying out and clearing out, making space to get desk out of Jen's room and make space for it in the lounge. I then thought of popping over to John's to use his PC while he slept (night shift this week) That did not go too well, struggled to get flyer updated and did not get round to printing tickets :-(
Came home and took Honey walkies. Wet with big puddles everywhere but managed to arrive just after a heavy shower and got back to the car just as first spots of next one arrived. It was very wet underfoot.
I did a quick shop at Tesco Express on way home so there was something in the fridge for Jen to cook/heat up for herself when she got home. She was coming home after I'd gone out. Passing ships syndrome! She'll probably be off to work before I surface in the morning and she's off to Salisbury straight  from work so I won't see her again until Sunday night.

Tonight I was in the chair for Wimborne Folk Club. It's a singaround/anything goes night. Everyone is welcome, to listen, sing, play an instrument, read a poem or tell a joke. I forgot my bag with my poems in, so I told a few bad jokes instead. We had a nice mix of performers and had a great evening.

Probably won't have time to blog Friday so see you Saturday xx

Late Wednesday and struggling

We went out Monday night and I forgot to turn off the pc before I went. Oh BTW we came third in the pub quiz, just short of the prize money. However we did win 2 lots of chocolate.
When we got back, Jen went to plug in her iPod to recharge it and found the pc with the black start up screen showing devices - the one you get before windows starts up. I switched off and back on and it did the same thing - it could not see the hard drive :( I have taken it to a very nice man who said he will do what he can to retrieve the hard disk  data but it might be the drive that's gone kaput *sob* All my folk club stuff is on there - mailing list, web site pages, posters, tickets etc. Plus all the fok festival stuff for the programme, website and flyer. If I've lost all that I am in deep doo-doo. Hours of work. Not to mention thousands of photos. Didn't I take a back up? well funnily enough last week I bought a 500 gig plug in drive for that exact purpose. But it's still in it's box *more sobbing*
The good news is that Christmas has come early (YAYYY) and next Tuesday sees the arrival of my new PC. It's an all singing all dancing hi spec gaming machine. 1 Tb hard drive 4 meg Ram, dual core processor, Nvidia graphics. It's Win 7 so will take some getting used to. My old pc's are Win Xp . I've skipped Vista LOL.

However there is the thorny problem of siting the new PC. I had planned and reserved a corner of the lounge for the desk, currently taking up too much space in Jen's tiny bedroom, destined to be the home of the PC I was going to buy for Christmas. However there are 2 things standing in the way of that arrangement. 1 we can't get the desk out of Jen's room - too much stuff on it and around it right now - so major clear out needed there. 2 I have stacked boxes of sorted out stuff into the empty corner of the lounge so that will have to be shifted to make room for the desk LOL so the next few days will be busy. It's a bit like those sliding squares puzzles, you need an empty space before you can start shuffling the bits around. So first step is to create a space! Easier said than done in my house - our new by-word is DE-CLUTTER! But we're not very good at it :( How am I writing this blog? I'm using the crap old slow PC I had virtually abandoned in my bedroom. I've managed to get it connected to the internet and it's working, but a little temperamental.
I love this blog site because it auto saves every 2 minutes so if this pc decides to do one of it's random auto restarts I won't have lost anything!

Today was a sh.t day weatherwise with rain in varying intensities all day, and gusting winds. It wasn't too cold but very depressing. A good duvet day - except my dog beat me too it! She spent most of the day on MY bed curled up in a nest made from MY duvet - spoilt dog? oh yes :) but she is a greyhound and feels the cold and hates getting wet (apart from racing through puddles!)

Now it's Thursday and I need my bed. Someone is warming it up for me :-D
no - not some hunky man (shame!) - just Honey hoping I'm not coming to bed at all tonight!
Night night all xx
PS thanks for comment on last blog Jeanette - I've replied

Soup's Up!

My darling daughter, Jenny, is not one of life's natural cooks, and only tackles cooking with a good cook book and scales to hand. She follows a recipe to the letter yet is not always successful. She has her favourite Mary Berry Cook Book and has some success with various recipes from it. Me? I'm the 'oh that looks about right' type of cook - scales? why bother? A few spoonfuls of this and a glug of that will do. So when Jen asked me to make an onion soup from the book I said 'yes of course', when what I meant was 'I'll give it a try'. I checked the list of ingredients and popped out to the local Tesco Express. I did not have any bay leaves so substituted mixed herbs instead. I got some stilton but I could not remember the quantity needed so bought a chunk and hoped for the best. Onions were no trouble! :) I did follow the method even if some of the quantities were guessed at. It proved surprisingly quick and easy and ended up pretty tasty, if a little salty. I think the main reason for this is I use hardly any salt in cooking, and the recipe required stock so I used two knorr veggie stock cubes in 1.5 pints of water and  then added most of the slab of stilton which was a bit more than the recipe suggested. So it was salty to my taste buds but Jen was happy with the end result. The onions were in medium-small chunks and not blitzed so it was a lumpy soup. I am sure you could blend it if you prefer a smooth creamy soup.
I have just made my third batch of soup and did not use stock cubes at all. Jen complained the first batches were peppery, and, as I had not added a speck of pepper, it had to have come from the stock cubes. I hope she likes this lot and remembers to bring home her thermos flask to use it for soup for lunch this week. I found the ubiquitous Chinese take away boxes very useful for Jen to take soup to work in and re-heat in the microwave at work. Jen has a mild gluten intolerance and has to watch her intake of bread, pastry and pasta. She is ok with one roll, or 2 thin slices of bread for a sandwich but any more than that and she starts bloating up like a balloon. She seems ok with fresh egg pasta but dried pasta has to be used in very small quantities.

Monday is pub quiz night and it's the one night in the week when we manage to get together as a family. Jen, James and myself, plus a couple of friends make up our little team and have most topics covered. Jen and James are great on celebrity stuff and current tv programmes and movies. Kev is brilliant on music, history, geography and food and drink (he's a chef!) and I cover most other topics :) Our one weakness is sport, particularly football! None of us like it or follow it so changes of player or manager leave us cold, and we don't know which stadium is where or who plays there. Luckily we usually only get one football question a week, and sometimes none! We do well on minority sports and quirky ones.
It's just us three tonight, plus maybe an ex member of the team who has not been to the quiz for over a year. Glynne popped over for coffee last week and it was good to catch up. He's another of my friends who is unemployed and looking. He is over 60 and struggling to get anything more than a few hours a week part time care work. He does enjoy this though and it is done officially and within the guide lines so he does not lose the benefits he gets. I hope he comes tonight because it's always a good laugh with him around.
The sun is sinking low in the sky so I am off to the park with Honey for her walkies (running) and my stroll (crawl). It looks like a lovely sunset tonight :)

PS Jeanette it's a chilly 7 degrees here but dry and bright. Hope it's nice and warm there in Spain :) ... Spain... :| .... warm sunshine ...:( ... *sob*

Fancy that

Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years,it's parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were for cars (£1.40),for buses (about £7). 
Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility.

The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.

The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.
 
Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ...  is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about £560 per day -- for 25 years.
 
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 7 million pounds .... and no one even knows his name. 

Caught in the act

I had a moral dilemma yesterday. I was shopping in my local Tesco Express, just a couple of items to get, when I spotted a child of about 8 or 9 yrs lurking at the magazine shelves. He was furtively trying to extract the 'free gift' attached to a football magazine - stickers I think or those collector cards. I just stood and watched him. He stopped and slunk off to find Mum and started to pester her to buy him the magazine. She refused saying it was too expensive and she was saving up to get him the computer he wanted. She was unaware of what he'd been up to and I could not make up my mind what to do. She dashed off back into the shop to get something else she had remembered and I had a quick quiet word with the lad about not stealing things and warning him they had cameras in the shop to catch thieves. I said I did not want him getting into trouble for the sake of a few cards. Better to save his pocket money and buy the cards himself. Should I have said something to his mum? I'm hoping I scared him enough to think twice about trying it again. He obviously knew he was doing wrong. 
Many years ago I 'shopped' a shop lifter. I saw an old man putting items in his pockets as well as his basket. I did feel sorry for him at first in his rather shabby coat but he was pocketing more than went in his basket. I pointed him out to an assistant and she kept a discreet eye on him before calling for the manager to deal with him. I saw him being held at a till as they opened his coat up to reveal a load of extra inside pockets designed to take goods. I did feel sorry for him at first, thinking he must be really hard up to nick the odd tin of beans, but when I saw his coat I realised he was a well organised and prepared thief. I know sometimes older folk get confused and put something in their bag rather than the basket by accident, but this man could not plead age or confusion with his ill gotten gains so well concealed in special pockets. I don't know what happened to him. I hope he got help and support and not just a fine or a short stay inside.
I know stealing is an issue. I know most of us would not go out to deliberately steal items from shops or other people, but how many of us take home the odd pen from work? Or paper, or maybe borrow a stapler and neglect to return it? What would you do if you found a wallet stuffed with money? or maybe an item of jewellery on the ground. Would you hand it in as lost property or would you keep it?
Ah talking of lost jewellery - here is a spooky tale, and it's true! As the years advanced, I found my original wedding ring getting a bit tight. I had it stretched a little by a jeweller but was worried it had weakened the ring. For our 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in Jersey, my lovely hubby suggested I get a new one. We had been tight for money when we got married and I had just a narrow plain gold band. Now we could afford something more decorative. We went to one of Jersey's Gold shops and I chose a tricoloured gold plaited band. It was made to my size and we collected it the next day. I stored my old wedding ring and wore the new one with love and pride. It fitted tight enough to stay put but loose enough to remove with a bit of a struggle. When my lovely hubby died from diabetic complications, I was obviously deeply upset. Soon after I realised life had to go on, so ventured out for a walk with a friend's dog I walked regularly. I took the route I usually did and stopped to sit on the bench where I used to sit with Peter, when he managed to come out with me. I headed back to the car after, and as I was putting the dog in the car I noticed my ring was missing! I was distraught and carefully retraced my steps as best I could, eyes glued to the ground. I particularly searched round the bench but could find no trace of the ring. I reported it to the police but they held out no hope of me getting it back. It would either be trodden into the ground or found and pocketed by the finder. As this place was one of his favourite spots to sit and watch the world go by, we made it the agreed resting place for Peter's ashes. I like to think the spirit of Peter was there when I sat and contemplated my life without him around, and somehow I had loosened the ring fiddling with it subconsciously and it was left there where his spirit was. 
I now wear my original wedding ring on a gold chain. It's too tight for my ring finger and too loose for my little finger. I do still wear my eternity ring on my left hand. 
This coming Christmas will be the 7th without Peter with us. We have established a whole new set of routines for Christmas since losing him, but it is still very complicated trying to organise seeing everyone over the festive season. All the offspring and their cousins work and get different days off over the period. It's easy for me and my sisters to meet up because we are now all retired and free agents, so we can meet mid-week with no problems, but the younger ones are limited in their holidays. If I arrange a visit without them, my kids complain like mad, but finding a day they are all available is difficult. I have booked a day with my sisters, and arranged both Jen and James to take a day's holiday, so for once we will all be together :) makes a nice change! I'm not sure yet who is visiting who, or if we are meeting half way for a nice pub lunch. It is often easier to do that so we both travel for about an hour to a suitable venue, rather than one lot travel 2 hours or so each way.
I talk to both my sisters at least once a week on the phone and keep in touch.
Although we are sisters we are three very different women. There is almost exactly 6 years between each of us, so my oldest sister is 12 years older than me and more like an aunt. My other sister is 6 years older than me and the hard worker of the family. I am the lazy spoilt youngest 'child'. I always had two older sisters and a stay-at-home Mum to 'help' me so a love of housework did not come naturally to me LOL I was lazy and untidy as a child and have not changed LOL. I now appreciate how my mother felt having me living with her, as my daughter lives with me still and takes after me in too many ways! I am always falling over her 'stuff'! LOL maybe it's retribution! 
As usual I have waffled on too long.
Jeanette - have a ball in Spain!
Rosie - take care of your lovely kids and enjoy those horses and ponies. I don't envy you getting up in the dark to see to them in the morning.
Have a good day everyone! xx

Saturday, Saturday oh oh-oh Saturday, Saturday

I woke up at 5 am, rolled over and then lay there, wide awake. Too hot? Maybe a bit, so stick my arms and feet out of duvet. That's better. Sleep? nope! Ok stop thinking about that tax form to fill in about my pension. Try to clear my mind. Hmm now my arms are cold. Roll back the other way and pull duvet up. Now the dog is wriggling :( I just can't find a comfy position. My knee is aching. I toss and turn a few more times but just can't get back to sleep. What's the time? 5.45 am :( Way to early to get up, but I just don't seem able to get back to sleep. I turn the pillows over this time. Try again. 6.15 *sigh* I turn on the tv. Watch the news for 10 mins then turn the sound down to a soft level and roll over again. 
I wake with a start. Time? Aaaah 8.54! I guess I did get back to sleep then :) I showered and got dressed. I have ordered some Christmas presents and I know I'm likely to get a parcel delivery so I'd better be up just in case, although I did feel like rolling over and sleeping on some more LOL 
Parcels can come anything from about 7 am to 6 pm depending on company delivering. Parcel Force is usually mid-late morning. UPS and similar tend to be afternoons here. Other deliveries, any time they can get here! 
I was downstairs and half way through my pint mug of coffee when the postman arrived. Parcel Force for this one :) It's the M&S bits :) present for Jen I must find a hidey hole for and not forget it. I have found intended presents before now, stuffed in the wardrobe or drawer and forgotten. 
Next Friday we've got a big night at the folk club. I've sold almost 60 tickets and our limit is 70, so close to selling out. Makes a nice change to give the artist more than the minimum fee and have a nice bit to put in the kitty to cover recent losses. I hope it will bring the club some good publicity and maybe a few more regular visitors.
I popped out to the local Co-op mini market to get myself a nice British chicken to cook for lunch (I can smell it now mmmmmnom) and do me for the whole weekend. Hot lunches and cold teas :) I picked up a nice Savoy cabbage to have with the carrots I have already. I also bought some of their delicious onion baguettes. Crusty fresh baked rolls with roasted onion bits through them, delicious with cold meat or cheese. Tea will be a baguette stuffed with crispy lettuce and cold chicken with some mustard mayo :) 
J has his family round him for the weekend, it's his latest grandson's baptism. So lovely to have his far flung family all close together. 
I have the usual visit from my no 1 son for lunch tomorrow. I'll have some more chicken with veg and he'll have his usual sausages and mash. I hope it stays dry enough for him to sweep away the leaves collecting on my drive. My house is the end of a cul-sac and immediately down wind of all my neighbours and their trees :( so the little wall along the edge of the drive makes a natural leaf trap. I get them all blown up the hill and stopping on my drive. That's in addition to my own trees out the front. Anyone want any leaf mould/mulch? 


Jen had her car serviced this week *sigh* and her rear brakes needed doing *bigger sigh* and then they told me all four of her tyres were on the legal minimum *scream!* I was mentally adding up - 2-300 for service, 200+ for brakes, 4 x £68 for tyres.. OUCH! In a rash moment I said I'd pay the bill as I was worried her car was not safe to drive and although she had money put by for the service she did not have enough for the extras. So we got it all done, oh with Mum's taxi in operation for the day too! Just before Christmas too :( so much for spreading the spending over 3 months :( make that 4 or 5 months now. 
I have a really good widow's pension thanks to my hubby's company, but I still have to be careful with my spending. I have investments I can cash in if need be for large capital items. I am not rich but I have enough to live on and meet my bills. I know I am lucky to be in that position. I could be forced to go back to work at least part time, if not full time, and I'd physically struggle to do a proper job now. Not least having to get up early every day LOL I know I'd adjust to it but I've been retired some years now and I like the freedom. Also who would be available for emergency child care if I was working? There is also the problem of my dog. She loves being with me and is my shadow. She would not like being left alone all day. 
MMMM the chicken smells delicious now. Time to cook a few veg to go with it. Have a good day yourself and enjoy whatever you have planned.
xxx

Friday night - Saturday morning

I have had a blissfully lazy day. Not been out apart from quick walkies with Honey - was a bit damp! 

Poole, Sunset Wednesday

I've been updating the website for Swanage Folk Festival. Starting the revamp for next year's fest. Quite a few pages to update, and a few new ones. It just takes time uploading artist's pics and weblinks.


Friday night is my soap night - Emmerdale, Corrie, Eastenders, Corrie again. Love it! Eat my dinner in front of TV in solitary splendour. I had one of my 12 tins of bargain baked beans tonight. It's ok because I'll be sleeping alone and alone tomorrow LOL well they did forecast more wind didn't they? 


No need to worry about watering garden for the next month. It's sodden and full of puddles. Plants look a bit sad, and the garden is full of leaves :( Will have a nice pile on the drive for James to sweep away Sunday :)


Oh Jeanette, I hope you have a lovely time in Spain. I am really not jealous at all LOL

we will remember them...

It's a day to remember those who have died in the service of our country, and to remind ourselves it is still happening. Those who serve today deserve our utmost respect for what they do and the risks they take on our behalf.

I get so angry when I see shirkers who pretend to be unable to work to live on benefits and do nothing to earn them. I would also hate any truly deserving people who genuinely cannot work, have to beg to survive. What I really want is everyone to have a conscience and do the right thing. Work if you are able to and need to, and leave the benefit system for those who truly need it.

Our serving troops deserve every penny they earn and more. The armed services are always recruiting so why not encourage more long term unemployed to join up? They learn trades and skills and are equipped for a productive life after serving.

I know I should not generalise and every person is an individual with their own problems and needs, but if many work-shy people can be bothered to give up smoking pot and drinking and go out and do something worthwhile, we would all be better off.

The other side of the argument is that there are not enough jobs available out there to enable those willing to work to get back into work. Past governments have destroyed our manufacturing base industries (thank you ,Maggie T) and we have lost many skilled workers and engineers, so the chances of rebuilding our industries are slim because we have no-one with the necessary skills to pass on their knowledge to the young. We are now a nation of bankers and w.......rs. We do need bankers but not just bankers. There are more people employed in the service 'industries' than in engineering or manufacturing. We end up importing most of our goods from the far east.

Oh Lord - sorry for the rant.

Several friends are already unemployed late in life and struggling to cope and now a very close friend is facing redundancy at 60. He is a skilled printer but the company is closing presses and his job will go. He is prepared to do almost any job to give him enough income to keep him afloat until retirement. He wants to work. But once you are over 60 you slip out of the normal system and don't appear on unemployment figures because you are deemed unemployable! Nice eh? So most unemployed 60+ people end up doing part time work and claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.

Enough ranting - it's depressing. Something weird happened while I was writing this blog and I could not get back into it to continue. I had to post it then edit it after. Strange.

I'd like to thank Jeanette for her kind comments about my blogs. I actually write them for my own benefit, but if anyone else enjoys them then that's a bonus. Oh BTW, Jeanette, I do hope you're enjoying your time in Spain. I am not in the least jealous, nope not one little bit. I mean who'd want to swap the delights of a blustery autumn in England for the warmer climes of Espagna? My garden in full of dead leaves blown down by the gales, and a mass of puddles from the torrential rain on already soaked ground. The temperature was 12 Tuesday, 7 yesterday and 14 today - coats on - off - on - off LOL I'm booking my ticket out of here tomorrow!

I have just shoo'd off the pesky squirrel for the 4th time today and I'm off out with the dog. I need to be quick as I have to pay my daughter's garage bill *sigh* then fetch her from work to go collect her car. I'm off out tonight to the local folk club with friends :)

To my few readers, have a pleasant evening, and a good Friday. I promise to keep away from political issues next time. xx

A black (bin) day

No need to panic. I put the rubbish out first thing this morning - well 9 ish LOL - and rolled the black bin down the drive. The men managed to come and empty it just after 5 - well done them! It was almost full too.

Nothing nasty happened today in case you were wondering about the title LOL
I watched the squirrel trying to steal my bird seed and kept chasing him off. He looks very plump and well fed so short rations today will not hurt it, and I'm sure he was back as soon as I went out. Honey very nearly caught a fox last night in the garden - I was letting her out to pee just as Mr Fox came through the hole in the fence and shot across the garden.

Fox in my garden

He just went straight up and over the chain link fencing into the playing field next door leaving Honey huffing and puffing and prancing around stiff legged. She then pee'd in several places round the garden, scent marking her territory. The down side to this is that the fox will probably do the same tonight and I'll have a stinky garden in the morning LOL

Honey

Honey had a good walk this afternoon. The temperature fell below 8oC so I put Honey's coat on her. She has a light, soft, warm, fleece dog coat and she loves it. It's light enough and stretchy enough to move well with her when she runs and does not seem to affect her at all speed-wise. She raced around as usual at top speed. The light fades rapidly now late afternoon and although it's light when I go out it's usually dark by the time we get home. 


Oh blimming heck! Someone is letting off banging fireworks - WHY???? I hate fireworks at the 'official' times and can see no reason to let them off any other time. It just makes unsuspecting pets and wild animals seek shelter and shiver in fear for hours.


Jen's home from work so I need to go cook dinner. Have a good evening xx

Remembrance Day

Don't forget Thursday is Remembrance Day. Not only do we remember those who have lost their lives defending our country and democracy, but also think about those currently serving in dangerous places. Their lives are on the line too. 

My thoughts go to families who have lost a loving Dad, son or brother, and these days Mum, sister or daughter.

We are thinking of them all, and we will remember them.

Quizzical

Monday night is pub quiz night. We did not expect to do so well this week as we are minus a couple of vital team members for three weeks. We managed to finish 4th last night in a fairly low scoring night, tight at the top. We won the picture round, thanks to Jenny and James, and won a Terry's Chocolate orange :) I did let them share it with me LOL. 

It was an interesting night with a few newish teams and so nice to see more youngsters coming along to join in. It's not all serious oldies like me!

I had invited an old friend along who used to be on the team when I first joined it, but he was unable to make the quiz, so he came over for coffee this morning :) Was lovely to see him and catch up with him and his family news. He was made redundant in September and is just about managing on benefits and some part time work. His needs are few and costs low so he is managing. One of our other friends at the quiz is also unemployed now, and another close friend is facing redundancy in the New Year. Not good news :( I am so lucky to have a good pension to live on.

Jen was on a late shift today and didn't leave for work until 11.15 so she had some time with G too. He is a lovely man but decided late in life he preferred the company of young men to women. It doesn't stop him being really nice and easy to get on with. He is still in contact with  his ex wife and all his children and grand children, nothing else has changed. I am glad we've kept in touch. It was because of him I got into pub quizzing in the first place :) 

As Jen was going to be home late tonight, I spent some time earlier making some onion and stilton soup at her request. It's based on a Mary Berry recipe with my own twist. It is very tasty and has loads of onions in it so it's pretty good for you too. Jen will take some into work for her lunch tomorrow. They have access to a microwave to heat it up in. :)

I had bought a new 4 pint bottle of milk Saturday which usually lasts the week as I don't drink milk. However I used a pint in the soup so she just has enough left for a cup of tea in the morning - oops! I must get some more tomorrow.

I save a fortune by doing most of my day to day shopping at the local Tesco Express. I know I don't get much choice of things but I can get all the basics, bread, milk, fruit and veg, meat and fish, eggs etc there and I don't get tempted to buy other goodies. I take a list and spend say £20 for a few days food. If I go to the local big Tesco store with the same list I'll spend £60 buying a load of special things on top of my list :( I do have to use the big shop about once a month to get things  they don't stock in T Express. I use the buggies now at the big store as I find the pain in my knees gets steadily worse as I go round, and I have to walk slower, so it takes much longer to get round the store, so I get even more pain :( It got to the point where I'd have to go and sit on a seat half way through a shop so I could get round the whole store. Using the electric buggy speeds me up no end and saves me a lot of pain. Thanks Tesco! I know I could use online shopping and get it delivered but there is the rush to unload it quickly when it arrives and then pack it all away. Doing a small shop 2 or 3 times a week spreads the load :) I just have to remember when I have the dog in the car with me to immobilise the movement alarm :) I have had her set the alarm off a few times in the past LOL

Honey (my dog) went gaga over G when he came today. He loved stroking her and she would not let him stop, nudging his hand if it stopped moving :) I think it was good therapy for them both :D It looks as though the fireworks are over now until NYE and Honey is just beginning to relax in the evenings again instead of hiding in the utility room under the boiler.

Time for bed - the central heating has been off for a few hours on the timer and it's cooling off now. I have my bedroom radiator turned off permanently as I can't sleep in a warm room and I am just comfortable now with a 4 tog quilt at night. I have spent the whole summer sleeping with just a sheet or a sheet and a thin throw over me and have only just changed to the 4 tog duvet. I have stuck my feet out sometimes during the night to keep cool. Hot blooded in bed me! LOL Even the dog gets hot if she rolls against me and goes off to sleep on her duvet bed on the floor to cool off. 

Time for bed for me. Night all xx

I've been squirrelled!

One of my life's little pleasures is my bird feeding station. It's a mock gothic stand with hanging hooks festooned with 2 seed feeders, a suet cake holder, a water tray and a flat feeder tray. I keep it well stocked with mixed seeds and suet cakes stuffed with seeds, fruit and meal worms. It is sited between my dining room and kitchen windows so I can see it easily from both. My PC is in the dining room so I can watch the comings and goings and keep note of my feathered visitors. However the local squirrels are also partial to sunflower seeds and suet cake and frequently raid my feeders.



suet cake feeder

 I play a game with the squirrels. I watch them run along the fence then sit and watch. If it seems all clear they drop to the ground to cross to the feeder. They pause at the base then shin up the pole like greased lightning. The flat tray provides a handy sitting spot within squirrel reach of the seed feeders and suet cake holder. They have had a good chew at the seed feeders but the metal ones I now use are resistant to squirrel teeth. The old plastic ones got chewed to pieces.
I came down this morning to see the suet cake holder was missing from the feeding station! I'd been raided in the early morning light! I found the holder on the ground a few feet away where the squirrel had tried to drag it away but it was a bit too heavy. He/she had obviously tried to nibble it open but had to make do with just eating as much of the suet cake as it could through the bars of the holder.
The tits love the suet cake so I have to make sure I always have one hanging up. They come at set times in the day and in the space of 20 mins I can have 50 tits of various varieties visiting the cake holder. The long tailed tits come in flocks of around 12-15 and seem to all get on the feeder at the same time. Blue tits and great tits come in pairs or families. I have been looking up collective nouns but have not found any for tits, so I've been thinking about their behaviour and habits and come up with an 'excitement of long tailed tits', because they sit in a nearby tree and twitter loudly before descending on the feeders, a 'flurry of blue tits', and a 'strut of great tits', because they do strut as though they own the joint, and a 'whisper of coal tits' because they are very shy and come and go very quickly and silently.
Over the last year I have had the feeding station I have seen:-
robins, dunnocks, thrushes, blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, wrens, blue tits, great tits, longtailed tits, coal tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, bull finches, gold finches, black caps, nuthatches, green woodpeckers, lesser spotted woodpeckers, wood pigeons, collared doves, hedge sparrows, and a few warblers which have not stayed long enough for me to tell which variety they are. Then there's the squirrels, and field mice who scurry about picking up the left overs and dropped bits. I am sure rats come round at night too but I have never seen any.
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 I have a foxes earth deep under my rockery and they come and go as regular visitors or sunbathe in my garden.

(sorry for poor quality - taken quickly with phone camera)

I have my oldest son here at the moment. He's a regular Sunday visitor coming for lunch with Mum :) How nice you think, well, yes it is good to see him, and I always get a hug but he doesn't like sunday roast dinners and it's always sausages and mashed potatoes for him regardless of what I have! it does make choosing what to cook easier, but it is very boring!

The sun is beginning to drop in the sky and I need to get out with the dog before dusk and early fireworks start up again :( At least clear blue skies mean we get the best of any light going and it delays night time just a little. Should be a good sunset tonight :)

Bye for now. x

A not so quiet time

Why do we have to have fireworks? Why can't we just have bonfires, burn guys, bake potatoes, eat parkin and toffee apples? I do wish they would ban home fireworks. Being in a large town I am surrounded by familes letting off fireworks from dusk until way past the 11pm curfew. It started Saturday 30th October and hasn't stopped.
Every night the poor dog has been huddled up shaking in her 'nest' under the boiler. I have had to walk her by 4.30 at the latest to avoid the early fireworks.
Big professional shows are good value for money and generally safer. Some councils put them on for free so go and enjoy a show and forget the few paltry home fireworks please! I feel sorry for the wild creatures who have  no shelter from the noises. I wonder how many die of fright and shock?
OK rant over - for now.
I do enjoy a lie-in at the weekend when my darling daughter is not getting up at 7 am banging the bathroom door. I often don't stir until 8.30 or even 9 sometimes when I don't have noises in the house. On the other hand she often brings me a coffee in bed so I should not complain :) I know it's heading for winter as my dog, Honey, has decided my bed is softer and warmer than her duvet on the floor. She is now sleeping on the other side of the bed on her own blanket although I do sometimes wake up with paws stuck in my back as she stretches out my way. I say 'move' and she does with a grumble and a sigh as she settles in a new position. I'm not sure who snores loudest, although my daughter says it's definitely me LOL
I have made a start on my Christmas pressies, and have had a few parcels delivered already. I just have to keep going now. It's November and I need to be pretty much done by December.
James said he had pretty good views from his flat of all the fireworks going off last night. James is up high in his block of flats and has brilliant views over Poole Harbour and the hills to the north. I'm sure there will be lots more tonight. The pub down the road is having theirs right now with loads of bangs.
I've been watching 'Strictly' and I think Anne Widdecombe has reached the end - at least I hope so. It's time for her to go and let the dancers do their thing. I'm off now watch Xfactor - come on Mary! Cher & Matt xxx

SCENE SETTING: I am an aging widow with three adult offspring, James, Craig and Jenny. James lives in his own flat, Craig has a partner, Di, and 2 sons, Jack and Alex. Jenny still lives with me. These are the important people in my life, along with my best friend, John. I have other friends who will feature in my blog now and then, Eileen who's in her late 70's and deaf, and Linda, who's in her late 50's and is almost blind. 3 brass monkeys always comes into my mind :)

C'est moi!

I have been blogging on http://www.feesch.co.uk/ for many years but that site is closing soon so I am moving over to here from now on. Please follow me for lots of boring stories of my life, with little bits of humour, some sadness at times and even the occasional bit of poetry :)

Now carry on....

It's Friday Nov 5th and it's damp. I am currently keeping John Freida rich by buying almost every frizz control product he makes. My hair is naturally curly - that I like - but it is also naturally frizzy (thank you great great great grandma for being African!) and being mostly grey now it is wiry and frizzy! It takes gallons of serum, mousse and conditioner to remotely control the frizz, plus styling wax to give that lovely defined curl look for an hour or two. Oh the things we women have to suffer in the name of beauty  Who said it's too late to bother?? *slap* As long as I have breath in my body and the means to do it, I shall wear make up and attempt to control my hair. There may not be much of the old beauty left but I need to support it and boost it any way I can (uplift bra, tummy control pants, anti-wrinkle cream, hair dye) all this so I can grow old disgracefully LOL.

I had the boys for an hour or so yesterday while Alex's Mum and Dad went to see his teacher for the termly progress chat. He's doing very well and is very happy at school, long may it stay that way. My step grandson is struggling. He is left handed, moderately dislexic, and 9 yrs old. Going out playing with his mates is more important than doing homework, and being silly in class so he gets sent out is easier than facing a struggle with the work. I can see him becoming disaffected and slipping further behind. Mum and Dad make every effort to support him and encourage him, with removal of privileges at times when he's naughty and rewards for good behaviour and hard work and effort put into his work. The signs are there of pre-puberty hormonal problems too so I think they will have their work cut out for them in the next 5 years to stop him becoming a bunking off layabout hanging around the streets and shopping centres.

It is very hard to motivate a young lad who finds everything academic hard but has natural skills and talents in some areas that could make for a good future for him if he could develop them properly. It is frustrating for all of us around him to see him switching off to almost anything other than blinking video games. He is strictly limited in his gaming time but he just seems to be waiting for the time when he IS allowed on the PS3 or Wii. It's all he talks about with enthusiasm  It is used as a reward for doing the right thing at home and at school and is withdrawn if he doesn't do as he's told. He does have access to games at his friend's homes, often games belonging to older brothers and way too old for a lad of his years and that worries me.

It is one thing to give your child some freedom to learn to be independent and make choices, and yet another to keep some 'scaffolding' system in place that will protect and support him without becoming a prison or straight jacket. A real juggling act for parents.  I have to stand back and let his Mum and dad manage him as they see best, because they have to deal with him daily and know him best. My ideas are now old fashioned and I don't want to be seen as interfering. All I do is point them in the right direction for support and help from school and education and behavioural experts. I don't want Jack to be 'labelled' but if it helps get the support and advice they need to help him succeed at school then let them stick all the labels on him they like. I just want my grandson to grow up to be a sensible and hard working young man who can get and hold down a decent job to provide himself with a future.

I know I am getting on in years, but so many of the young people they have on Jeremy Kyle are unemployed, pot smoking, drunken layabouts and it horrifies me. They get their girlfriends pregnant and get a council flat with benefits to live on and have no incentive to learn a skill or trade to make a living. What's wrong with some ambition and goals in life? Will they still be smoking pot and not working when they are 40? 50? and bringing up their own offspring to live on the state too? I know it's a minority but it's a growing minority and more teenagers are thinking 'why work when you can live on benefits?'. If the work force continues to shrink there will be no-one paying taxes into the system and it will soon reach a crisis point, with larger numbers of elderly people needing support and young people unable/unwilling to work demanding support, yet not enough money coming into the system to pay out. The crunch is coming.

Oh lord, sorry I have rambled on into such a serious subject. 

Normal service will be resumed shortly :)