Oh Phil! You spoil us :-)

Wow what a night! Phil Beer was brilliant and loved by everyone. Sheer delight!

We had a full house, even using the folding chairs to seat everyone. There are still a few missing the message about booking ahead. We had enough chairs out for those who'd booked and had posted the SOLD OUT signs on the website and in emails but we still had quite a few turn up on the night. Luckily we'd had a few cancellations and managed to squeeze in all who came, even if it was a bit cosy. There were quite a few new faces too so maybe they will come back for other nights at the club.

 Phil works on a percentage of the door so he got a good fee and we got some money in the coffers :-) a win-win situation. The Royal British Legion were brilliant too and we had a room full of happy people.

How do I feel today? Tired, achey, but happy. My knee is playing up today - but it always does when I've been carrying furniture! Hopefully it will improve as the day goes on so I can take Honey for a longer walk today. Make the most of the sunshine while we've got it. I think it must be lunch time - my stomach is making noises and demanding some input. I'm off to raid the freezer and will shop later when I'm not so hungry :) safer that way.

Have a good week xxx



TGIF again

Phil Beer

Oh how the days and weeks are racing by.

Tonight is our folk club with Phil Beer as our star for the night. He is brilliant and will give us a cracking night's music. I just hope he finds us ok and we get set up in plenty of time as we are sold out.

Recapping events of the last week or so...
I had a fairly quiet weekend and Monday came all to soon.
I took my blind friend Linda to Bournemouth Airport Monday morning. She was off to Switzerland for a week visiting her brother. I'm picking her up next Monday.
Monday night is pub quiz night and last Monday it was just 3 of us. James and Jenny would have won the picture quiz but were -1 for winning the week before, so came 2nd. We managed to win the main quiz with a solid 38/40, beating the second team by 2 points so we'll be -2 next week! Not bad going for a reduced team :) We shared the £25 prize.
My son had decided to get himself a new TV and offered Jenny his not-so-old one. We picked it up Tuesday night and decided to have fish n chips for dinner, so when we got home we left the tv in the car and went in to eat. We both forgot all about the tv so jen went off to work Wednesday morning leaving me with a big tv in my car. I made it secure and covered the boot space with the pull-over cover with a view to getting Jenny to take it in when she got home. I walked Honey down the road so didn't use the car. Jen came home and .. well yes .. we forgot the TV again! She was off early Thursday morning so, after I'd put out the re-cycling bin, I managed to lift the TV out of the car and put it by the bins for Jen to bring in later.
I walked Honey at Baiter park by the harbour side and she had a good time meeting friends.

Happy Honey

We met Lenny who is a greyhound cross with identical colouring to Honey. He loves Honey and she likes him so there was a lot of vigourous tail wagging and even a few excited squeaks from Lenny. He is such a happy smiley dog with a real grin. I had a chat with his owners. Solo the standard poodle arrived to say his hellos so we all moved on.
Jen finally managed to bring in the TV when she got home.
Thursday was folk club night and this week it was just John and me. Eileen and Ann are away for the weekend in their camper van, and with Linda in Switzerland, it was a car for two, not 5 as usual.
Today (Friday) I have spent mostly getting everything ready for the club tonight. Tickets printed, posters organised, raffle sorted, emails sent etc etc. It will be a busy night!
I finished up my crab in a baguette with some lettuce and salad cream - mayo is too bland and the sharp tang of the salad cream is ideal with crab. It was a lovely crusty roasted onion baguette from the co-op (£1 for 4).
It's John's birthday Sunday and I'm taking him and Roz out for dinner.
otherwise it looks a fairly quiet weekend again.
Have a good one yourself xx

Feelings - and ramblings

Just going through a bit of a weird time at the moment. My knee is very much at extremes from day to day. I get a few days when I am hardly aware of it and can trot about without a stick and feel good then WHAM I can barely put any weight on it and it is stiff and very painful and I am struggling to move without sharp pains shooting through my knee and down the leg. It is painful at the moment. The pain depresses me sometimes. Occasionally I just sit down and cry because I can't do anything without pain. I can wake up the next morning and be free of pain again - it is so unpredictable.
Generally my health is quite good and I have managed to get through the winter months with only one cold which lasted about 4 days. I have friends and family who have had the cough thing that lasts about a month or so and I feel sorry for them. However recent happenings have made me view my life differently.

I have to say something about the state of things in Japan. We see the pictures and videos, so many of them, of the incoming tsunami and how it just swept everything away in its path. It is hard to comprehend how many lives have been wiped out, and how the survivors will cope with losing homes, family, friends and their life's possessions. How on earth will the country recover and clear the debris and human remains? The infrastructure has been chewed to pieces making rescue and assistance very difficult. There is always the threat of radiation from escaping radioactive material into the atmosphere from the crumbling nuclear power plant. There is also the threat of further tremors or even another massive quake, bringing the danger of further tsunamis to endanger the rescue squads.
It gives me a different perspective on my own little problems.
My heart goes out to those who have survived and those working to clear and recover some semblance of normality. I watched a news item yesterday of some rescuers at work who were sent rushing to high ground by  a tsunami warning. They were then told of possible radiation heading their way and told to go indoors, so they all rushed into the remains of a still standing building on the ridge. Then there was a minor tremor and a sense of panic - stay and maybe get injured in a collapsing building? or go outside and get contaminated with radiation? How can people work in these conditions? I have no idea how they do it but I admire their spirit and strength to at least DO something positive regardless of their own personal risks.

I have supported previous appeals from the DEC in the UK following disasters and I was surprised to find a statement from them saying they were NOT launching and appeal for Japan, as their primary aim was to support third world countries who are poorly resourced and have no emergency plans or funds to provide them. They state Japan is a wealthy country whose government has planned for such events and has many resources to call upon. Japan has not 'officially' requested international help so none is being provided by a governmental appeal.
If you wish to contribute something to help the stricken Japanese, the Red Cross DOES have an appeal fund and has agreed donations to the fund will go to the Japanese Red Cross to boost their resources.
Quote from the official Red Cross site:-  http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

"The Japanese Red Cross has been working on the ground since the disaster began, mobilising 85 teams, made up of more than 700 doctors, nurses and support staff, to provide first aid and healthcare and assess the damage and needs of the communities affected.
More than 500,000 people have been evacuated and are being housed in temporary centres set up in schools and public buildings where the Red Cross is distributing thousands of blankets.
The Japanese Red Cross has agreed to accept donations from the UK."

It does state that any surplus (??) donations will go into Red Cross funds to provide emergency support ready for the next international disaster.
I know we need organised help and support to help the affected people as quickly as possible, and it seems the Japanese government is channelling and controlling it's relief efforts in the way they deem best. But surely they should accept financial offers from other countries, and any specialist help offered to speed up the process. The sheer scale of this disaster must be stretching Japanese resources, no matter how well prepared they are.

Sitting in my own home. comfortable, warm, and safe, I cannot imagine what it must be like to have lost everything and yet survive yourself. It gives me a whole different perspective on my own trivial problems and needs.

On a lighter note... Honey is doing well and enjoying life as much as she can. She has steadily grown in comfort and confidence of being on the retractable lead, knowing she does not have to stick to my side like glue yet is still in contact with me. We met one of her old acquaintances yesterday and it gave me a shock. Baloo is a huge GSD (Germand Shepherd Dog) with very dark colouring and has always had an enthusiastic eye for the 'ladies' of the doggy world. He has a very soft friendly nature and welcomes attention from humans. I have not seen him for some months and although he seemed on the thin side the last time I made a fuss of him, he seemed generally in good condition. Now he is crippled with arthritis and was walking slowly with a stiff gait and a really sad droop to his demeanour. He did try to come and sniff Honey but she saw him coming, and an early soft warning growl from Honey told him he was wasting his time. He stopped and then headed back to his owner with a noticeable limp. He must be about 10 or even 11 now and obviously feeling his age.
Jenny's friend has just had to have the family dog put to sleep following a stroke or seizure. Tonic was about 14. It is still a distressing time for their family even though they knew he would not be with them for very much longer.

Oh I'm sorry this blog is all doom and gloom. But that's how life goes doesn't it, a real roller coaster ride of events and emotions. Good times and bad bringing mixed feelings.
Sometimes I just want to curl up and shut out the world for a few hours. Other times I adore being outside in whatever weather enjoying the beauty around me and just feeling good to be alive. I have no regrets about my life so far. Yes I've made bad choices at times but I've learnt from them. My only wish now is to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible and not be a burden to anyone. I just need to actually DO more, instead of just thinking about what I need to get done, and getting depressed at the mountain of outstanding things to be sorted. Oh for the body and energy of a 30 yr old!
Well I can dream still can't I?

Bin done

It's Wednesday again. It was team work. I emptied the bins round the house and tied off the bags, leaving them in the hall for Jen to stick in wheelie bin and drop down to the road on her way to work. What does Jen do? Steps round the bags and goes.
I caught her before she drove off and she popped the bags in the bin for me and trundled it down the drive to the road edge. Thanks Jen!
I was reading friends' messages on FB today talking about fresh snow in Scotland today! Sitting here looking out at bright sunshine and spring flowers blooming it's hard to imagine. It is not that far from Scotland to the south coast but our little island has a diverse climate and very regionalised. What would we have to talk about if it was always warm and sunny every day?

I had some sad news at the weekend. One of my Canadian friends died on Saturday. He'd had major heart surgery in April 2007 and came through that really well but contracted C-Diff in post op hospital care. It took a heavy toll on him and messed up his digestive and urinary systems, causing continual problems. His quality of life has steadily diminished over the years and the final straw was being diagnosed with lung cancer just before Christmas.

Glen and me in 2007

It was quite a blow to get the news and we knew from what Carol said that time was fast running out for Glen. She had him home to care for him with visiting support and specialist equipment to help move him, but it was hard going for her. His doctor suggested a spell of respite care in a home for 3 weeks to give Carol a break and a chance to rest a bit, and they transferred him in an ambulance Friday. Saturday he said goodbye to the world. RIP Glen.

Another friend has just heard his brother and his wife have been found buried in the rubble of their apartment block in Christchurch, NZ. Full marks to the police and Salvation Army for tracing my friend, who had no idea his brother was there.
It may not be front page news any longer, but the suffering and mourning still goes on for the residents of Christchurch. Please spare a thought for the hundreds of people whose lives have been affected by this disaster.

On a lighter note, Honey is sunbathing! At this time of year the sun is at the perfect height and angle to shine straight into the lounge giving a large sunny area for a couple of hours. She has dragged her rug and duvet into the sunny zone and is stretched out enjoying the warmth on her tummy. A tough life eh?
She met one of her friends last night, Solo, a big white poodle. He is totally pampered and spoilt (like Honey) and it's like royalty meeting when they get together - the Prince and Princess of the doggy world LOL But they did seem genuinely pleased to see each other. Honey likes Solo because he wags his tail in greeting and doesn't make a nuisance of himelf by sniffing her all over. They have a quick mutual sniff then go off together sniffing the grass side by side - just pals.

Honey is quite picky about dogs she's friendly with, and she had a nice time at the weekend meeting another 'buddy' called Paddy. He is a big greyhound who had a nasty accident a few years ago ending up with a hind leg amputation. He moves very well on 3 legs and seemed very relaxed with Honey, even venturing quite close to me, which is rare for him as he is very wary of people. Maybe Honey told him I was ok and safe to be near. I passed on Toby's old fleece coat to Paddy because his owner had problems getting a coat big enough for him. Most of the greyhound coats are thick and warm but a bit stiff and it was hard to get a decent coat big enough to stay put on Paddy with his post amputation body shape. (Toby was John's old greyhound who used to stay with me quite often) The soft fleece coat works a treat, moulding to Paddy's body shape and keeping him warm, yet still light and stretchy so he can move easily. Honey loves hers and is always happy to wear hers. It's only one layer of polar fleece but it enough to retain body heat and keep the cold at bay. Maybe I should knit Honey some leg warmers too for next winter! If next winter is anything like this last one she'll need them to keep warm.

Enough of winter talk - Spring has sprung round here! Yayy! Make the most of the sunshine if you have it too.
xxx

Spring Marches in

Things have been looking up lately. The daffs are out in the garden. The weeping willow has turned lime green with all new leaf shoots. The camellia is bursting its buds, most showing pink now but not open fully yet (it's late!). The forsythia is half out now and the gorse is showing yellow. Compared to recent years everthing is about 2 weeks behind. I think the lingering cold temperatures may have something to do with this.
The birds and squirrels definitely feel spring in their bones (and other body parts!) and are chasing each other around like mad. The starling flying formations are in full swing and pretty spectacular around Poole.
The thermometer in my car read 6oC yesterday when I walked Honey but the wind chill was about -4 so it felt more like 2oC. It was a quick walk!
Today, in contrast, said 6oC again, but no wind and bright sunshine made it feel more like 15oC. I had a jumper on with a cardigan over it and I was hot!

I had one of 'those' mornings today. I had to pick up a sign-for letter from the PO, pay in some cheques at the bank, and get a few bits of shopping, so I 'did' the village shops in Lower Parkestone. When I got back to the car I found my keys were missing! I re-traced my steps back round the shops and bank, ending up at the post office with a rising sense of panic. Luckily they were there! By now I was running about half an hour late and somewhat frazzled. I still had a parcel to collect from Tower Park before joining John for a light lunch.
There are a plethora of courier/delivery/parcel post companies round here, and luckily DHL (Now Yodel ! ? !) is one of the closest to me and easy to get to. One of them is buried in the far flung bits of Bournemouth airport and a right pig to get to, UPS I think.

I was paying in cheques for Fairport Convention concert tickets and the to-be-signed-for letter was another ticket request so I sent off the tickets and paid in the cheques. The cashier saw my bank balances and suggested I take out an ISA with some of my savings, and change the savings account category to one paying a higher interest rate.
Sounded good to me so I opted for it. Of course I had to fill in forms LOL so there was quite a queue by the time I was finished. Then I was back a few minutes later looking for my keys!
By the time I got my keys back (left at stop no. 1 the  Post office) and got back to my car, my knees were complaining. What should have taken my 10 minutes took more like 30 without a sit down anywhere.
When it came to walkies with Honey she got the short version. Up the park path, pee, poo and back to the car and home pronto. She did not complain and tucked into her dinner just fine.
Honey is funny and likes to have her 'day bed' right in the middle of the lounge floor. I got fed up trying to step over her or round her every time so I moved her duvet and rug to the side next to the sofa, out of the way. I thought she'd be OK with this, but she has been humphing the bedding around until it was a heap in the middle of the room again! LOL Now she is fast asleep on this messy heap, back in her favoured spot! I am back to having to walk round her again or risk stepping on her outstretched legs.

Tomorrow I have arranged a trip into Swanage to see the people who host the festival website. The web page editor I have to use for it is limited and time consuming, and I want to be able to work on the pages offline and upload them using FTP, an easier (for me) and quicker update option. I have to go through 5 levels of menu options to upload a new photo and can only upload one pic at a time *sigh*. I also have to save my work at frequent intervals otherwise I get timed out *another sigh*. Why can't they auto save?
I have lost count of how many times I've gone hunting details in a browser and come back to the page to find it's timed me out and I've lost my current updates GRRRR.
Oh well... they give it us for free so can't complain too loudly.
With the current sunny-but-cold weather, it will be a nice drive into Swanage :) I might even take the ferry over!

I hope life is treating you well and you can enjoy some of the sunshine :) xx