After some time I feel ready to start blogging again. So much has happened in the last few years, not least retirement, grand-children and a very different life styles.
Most of all, various health issues have held me back, but now things are looking up.
More to follow.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Christmas Stuff
I am sorry to use the 'C' word in September, but I am planning ahead.
For the last 2 years, I have made presents for people because as a retired lady I don't have the income that I previously had, living as I do on my pension.
What I do have is an unlimited imagination and time, so here we go again. My friend Sarah and I are gardening this afternoon, planting pots that we will love and nurture until Christmas when they will be just ready to give as presents.
I have also started making Shamballa bracelets, and have to admit, I'm quite good at it. Our local craft shop called 'No Two Things' run craft classes, and have booked me to lead a class teaching Shamballa work and folk painting. Mmmm ... back into teaching, but in a different way and a different client group but I am so looking forward to it.
If you live locally to Didcot in Oxfordshire, you may want to come along and learn how to make your own Christmas presents, at a fraction of the cost, but with a lot of love and time which makes them even more precious.
Well, off I go to get my gardening gloves and pots to get started. Sarah will be here soon so better put the kettle on and tidy up a bit.
Isn't if funny, I get more done in the 10 minutes before someone comes to visit than I do for the several hours previous to the visit.
For the last 2 years, I have made presents for people because as a retired lady I don't have the income that I previously had, living as I do on my pension.
What I do have is an unlimited imagination and time, so here we go again. My friend Sarah and I are gardening this afternoon, planting pots that we will love and nurture until Christmas when they will be just ready to give as presents.
I have also started making Shamballa bracelets, and have to admit, I'm quite good at it. Our local craft shop called 'No Two Things' run craft classes, and have booked me to lead a class teaching Shamballa work and folk painting. Mmmm ... back into teaching, but in a different way and a different client group but I am so looking forward to it.
If you live locally to Didcot in Oxfordshire, you may want to come along and learn how to make your own Christmas presents, at a fraction of the cost, but with a lot of love and time which makes them even more precious.
Well, off I go to get my gardening gloves and pots to get started. Sarah will be here soon so better put the kettle on and tidy up a bit.
Isn't if funny, I get more done in the 10 minutes before someone comes to visit than I do for the several hours previous to the visit.
Thought you might like to see my babies, Jasper and Mica.
They are exhaustipated (word that won the new word competition).
it means too tired to give a s**t!
I thought it was funny!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
That welcome is calling to me
Whenever I visit my family in Wales, I enact a little ritual when I see the sign with the Welsh dragon. I sing! If you are Welsh, singing come a swift second after talking, so my poor husband just raises his eyebrows and lets me get on with it.
We are holidaying in North Wales, and although Welsh by birth I have not visited this area before because I was born in the South. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains, the coastline, the wild life and the feeling of welcome that that surrounds me. My lovely 'other half' even joined in with my song as we crossed the border.
We are staying in a lovely little cottage, (previously a granary which has been lovingly restored and is 'chocolate box' pretty inside and out). I can't believe that we haven't tried this before, usually opting for an hotel or a cruise in the past. We have changed our usual holiday accommodation for this cottage because we now have two little dogs, and felt that we want to share the holiday with them.
We have walked on the beach (and I paddled in the sea with the dogs), and although cold we had such fun and laughter especially my 'other half' when I nearly fell into a very large rock pool. Mica and Jasper, the dogs, loved every minute and were almost as exhausted as we were at the end of the day.
We have counted five castles, on our travels through North Wales, and intend visiting as many as we can before leaving this lovely place.
Wales as a destination for your holidays? Yes, most definitely.
We are holidaying in North Wales, and although Welsh by birth I have not visited this area before because I was born in the South. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains, the coastline, the wild life and the feeling of welcome that that surrounds me. My lovely 'other half' even joined in with my song as we crossed the border.
We are staying in a lovely little cottage, (previously a granary which has been lovingly restored and is 'chocolate box' pretty inside and out). I can't believe that we haven't tried this before, usually opting for an hotel or a cruise in the past. We have changed our usual holiday accommodation for this cottage because we now have two little dogs, and felt that we want to share the holiday with them.
We have walked on the beach (and I paddled in the sea with the dogs), and although cold we had such fun and laughter especially my 'other half' when I nearly fell into a very large rock pool. Mica and Jasper, the dogs, loved every minute and were almost as exhausted as we were at the end of the day.
We have counted five castles, on our travels through North Wales, and intend visiting as many as we can before leaving this lovely place.
Wales as a destination for your holidays? Yes, most definitely.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Busy busy busy.
I have been making presents to give to people this Christmas.
Yesterday I made some chocolate sweets and some little boxes to present them in, and I have made lots of jewellery which is my new passion.
Here are a few things that I made this week.
Yesterday I made some chocolate sweets and some little boxes to present them in, and I have made lots of jewellery which is my new passion.
Here are a few things that I made this week.
White crackle quarts and onyx with silver clasp.
Pink Shell rectangles, with mookite 4mm rounds and pink quarts beads. Magnetic clasp.
Haematite and pearls with magnetic clasp and matching earrings.
Shell pendent with silver wire work and bale, glass beads in black and grey on a wire torque.
(I love doing the wire work).
Picture jasper shapes and tigers eye 6mm rounds, and jasper 7mm rounds. Magnetic clasp. Matching earrings. This looks stunning when worn.
If you get one of these for Christmas, you must look surprised. They have been made with real gemstones (on the whole) and a lot of love and time thrown in for good measure.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Brian's last day on route 63
An emotional presentation was given to Brian on his last day of route 63. He has been covering this route for the last 8 years, firstly with Windrush Transport, and then White's Coaches. Over the years he has made many friends whilst driving through the villages of Hinton Waldrist, Longworth, Appleton and Cumnor on his route to Oxford, and the passengers have expressed their regret that he will no longer be driving them. Mr. Alan Feast, Parish Councillor made a presentation on behalf of the people of Appleton who had made a collection.
Mr. Eric Auckland of Longworth Parish Council was also present and gave Brian a gift to mark the last day of Brian's route.
Brian would like to say 'thank you' to everyone that donated to his farewell present, and to those who sent cards and best wishes, and gave individual presents.
Brian would like to wish all his friends and passengers a fond farewell and the best of luck with the new service which will start on Monday.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Just our luck!
Brian has been really poorly again. His breathing is not good, pain in chest and coughing. I managed to get him to the doctor this evening after work, but I had to get cross with him for not looking after himself to get him to agree to the appointment.
We waited for about half hour for the duty doctor who gave him a good going over, and felt that he needed to use an inhaler, and go back to see his own doctor if things did not improve.
He dashed off to Tesco's where we knew that the chemist was open late to get his prescription filled. I really didn't want another night of worrying about him coughing and wheezing, so he needs to start his medication as soon as possible.
He was so upset when he came out of the shop and found that someone had bashed the car and put a huge dent in it, and driven off without leaving details. So now he's, coughing, wheezing and upset. It's going to cost quite a bit to put it right - just what we need at Christmas when the budget is stretched to capacity already.
I won't tell you what Brian said, but it was not 'bless you,' although it did start with a 'B.'
We waited for about half hour for the duty doctor who gave him a good going over, and felt that he needed to use an inhaler, and go back to see his own doctor if things did not improve.
He dashed off to Tesco's where we knew that the chemist was open late to get his prescription filled. I really didn't want another night of worrying about him coughing and wheezing, so he needs to start his medication as soon as possible.
He was so upset when he came out of the shop and found that someone had bashed the car and put a huge dent in it, and driven off without leaving details. So now he's, coughing, wheezing and upset. It's going to cost quite a bit to put it right - just what we need at Christmas when the budget is stretched to capacity already.
I won't tell you what Brian said, but it was not 'bless you,' although it did start with a 'B.'
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
School days
Tuesday today, that means that Alice has been with me overnight since I picked her up from the nursery yesterday. We then have to get her back for 12.45 (the afternoon session) at her school nursery today.
Sounds easy enough doesn't it. Small problem, Alice lives an hours drive from where I live, and timing can be difficult with a 3 year old who does not see why she should get dressed or have her hair brushed and certainly does not want to clean her teeth.
"I just want to play Nannie Rosie - sing it again!" She has suddenly started to enjoy marching, and my job is to sing ' The grand old Duke of York' over and over again whilst she marches around the table. She is followed by Jasper, tail wagging and tongue hanging out, whilst Mica sits on my knee wondering what on earth is going on.
We then had several games of 'hide and seek' after reading 'Spot's Birthday Party.' She hasn't quite got the hang of the hiding bit because she goes to the same place each time, and I have to look everywhere giving a commentary (no, Alice is not behind the curtain etc.) before finding her. She loves it anyway and we all had a lot of fun and giggles.
She finally allowed me to help her get dressed, and she did her teeth and I was allowed to brush her hair. We then collected all her bits and pieces, including her overnight bag and 'marched' to the car, with me singing 'the grand of Duke of York.'
I am not sure what the builders who are working on the house next door must have thought but at this point I just had to get her into the car so kept on singing. The dogs got into the car in record time - no doubt embarrassed by my singing. Once all in and strapped safely we were off.
We managed to get to school just 10 minutes late, Alice slipping into the class and sitting on the carpet with the other children in time to watch a story of the Nativity. She looks such a little lady, my baby has disappeared and this delightful little girl has taken her place. I am one lucky Nannie Rosie.
Sounds easy enough doesn't it. Small problem, Alice lives an hours drive from where I live, and timing can be difficult with a 3 year old who does not see why she should get dressed or have her hair brushed and certainly does not want to clean her teeth.
"I just want to play Nannie Rosie - sing it again!" She has suddenly started to enjoy marching, and my job is to sing ' The grand old Duke of York' over and over again whilst she marches around the table. She is followed by Jasper, tail wagging and tongue hanging out, whilst Mica sits on my knee wondering what on earth is going on.
We then had several games of 'hide and seek' after reading 'Spot's Birthday Party.' She hasn't quite got the hang of the hiding bit because she goes to the same place each time, and I have to look everywhere giving a commentary (no, Alice is not behind the curtain etc.) before finding her. She loves it anyway and we all had a lot of fun and giggles.
She finally allowed me to help her get dressed, and she did her teeth and I was allowed to brush her hair. We then collected all her bits and pieces, including her overnight bag and 'marched' to the car, with me singing 'the grand of Duke of York.'
I am not sure what the builders who are working on the house next door must have thought but at this point I just had to get her into the car so kept on singing. The dogs got into the car in record time - no doubt embarrassed by my singing. Once all in and strapped safely we were off.
We managed to get to school just 10 minutes late, Alice slipping into the class and sitting on the carpet with the other children in time to watch a story of the Nativity. She looks such a little lady, my baby has disappeared and this delightful little girl has taken her place. I am one lucky Nannie Rosie.
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