Just a Normal Week Really

Goodness me – there appears to be some sunshine!  The weather this week has seemed to deliberately play havoc with the forecasts so perhaps it has decided to settle down now!

I hope you are all well and have had a good week – how quickly the weekends seem to arrive!

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This has been a bit of an odd week in some ways but normal for this household I suppose.

Monday was the Main Man visiting the Doctor – a replacement for our previous Doctor who left a few months ago.  The new one seems very pleasant but is a poor replacement for the doctors we used to have, who actually knew you and your family and could remember when you had so-and-so and what had helped then.  Now it’s ten minutes in and out – no time for civilities or reminders – just state your problem and go!

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I spent a couple of mornings at the Second-Hand Book Shop, still sorting out and dithering about what books to actually put on the shelves and where to put the rest!  There is something very pleasurable in being surrounded by books, even if they are not your own!

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It was time for our annual service of the boiler – and the same man has been taking care of it for 14 years and it is still fine.  I asked if it was time to be renewing it but he said leave well alone ad keep it going as long as possible!  As he took the cover and the bottom off – he showed me it had a lot of mouse droppings in there!  Yuk!  But why would a mouse hide in my boiler …. and was it still there, either alive or dead?  No, no other sign of it so obviously there was insufficient food for it there and hopefully it has moved on!

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We have a chair lift which is a real life-saver on a bad day.  However, part of the front ‘toggle’ that drives it came off.  I rang to request a service visit and was told the engineer would ring me to fix a time.  I pay an extortionate price each year for service, because we need it to be working not just sitting there, and we are supposedly guaranteed a ‘within 24 hours’ repair. 

I rang on Monday 27 September!  No call backs, nothing.  I rang again on Wednesday 6^th to complain but got nowhere at all so I wrote a stiff letter of complaint.  I had a phone call on Friday morning to acknowledge receipt of my letter but, unfortunately, all their IT systems were down.  However, within about half an hour I had a call from the engineer and he came on Friday afternoon.  It was a very quick job but what a performance to get it done!

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We both had our flu jabs this morning – at the surgery at 8.05 and 8.06am.  The whole thing was so slick, speedy and painless.  Well done Staunton Surgery – we were in and out within less than five minutes.

Tomorrow we have to go to a different practice, the Bosham Practice, for our Covid Boosters.  I am hopeful that this will be as easy as this morning.

Any passing Virus – keep on moving, you are not wanted here!

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This has been a bit of a pondering week – mainly about the differences between my younger life and nowadays.  People of my age (say 70+) were born either during or just after the War and we were brought up in a world that seems to have been remarkably similar to life in the 30s and 40s (without the bombs obviously).

For most of us, particularly those of us from a working-class background, life was simple – Dads went to work and were the breadwinner and Mums had the most important job in the world – they brought up the children.  We went to school and, for the most part, did as we were told.  If we got into trouble we usually didn’t tell our parents because they would take the side of the school and you’d be in more trouble!  We played outside after school, at weekends and all through the holidays – winter and summer.  The only difference seemed to be that you wore more clothes in the winter.

Rationing was still in place for several years after the war, so nothing was very plentiful but I never remember going hungry; if I was hungry while playing, any of the mums would give me something to eat!  They would also tell me off if necessary or stick a plaster on when I cut myself by falling off a go-cart or something.

How different children’s lives are today – both parents seem to need to go to work and no-one in particular brings up the children.  They are often in nursery from a few months old until they start school.  Schools can no longer refuse to take children if they are still in nappies (I hope it is obvious I am not talking about children with disabilities), they are expected to provide breakfast and before school care as well as after school care.  Family time seems so limited!  When they are at home, everyone seems to lead independent lives, glued to various forms of media.  Many families don’t eat together or play together.  I listened to a Mum on the radio at the beginning of the week who worked full time, and at weekends she would cook each of the children a different meal because otherwise they would have a tantrum!!

In the course of two generations – how our lives have changed and we are expected to keep abreast of every change and woe betide you if you make any assumption or use an incorrect term!  But we all have thousands of years of DNA in our bodies, our ancestor’s blood still runs in our veins, and I wonder how they would react if they saw the world today.  Nowadays it doesn’t seem to matter a jot if you are kind, gentle, warm, hardworking – what is really important is how you look, and how much money you have. 

I know I am getting on a bit – but if there was anything I could wipe out with my magic wand it would be social media.  It is really frightening how children are allowed to use this and no-one monitors it properly.  Is it any wonder there is so much depression in children – their instinctive feelings are devalued and strange ideas are set up as normal for them.

Sorry to rant but it worries me so much.  I know we didn’t have much when we were young, but it didn’t matter because all our friends and neighbours were in the same situation.  What we did have was time and love.

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I hope the sunshine lasts for a couple more days, because the world always seems a better place when the sun shines.  We are already at the ‘extra jumper’ stage in the evenings, which will soon be followed by the ‘get a blanket’ stage.  No, the heating cannot go on – it’s only October!

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Keep well, stay warm and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

x

Autumn or Winter?

Brr – I don’t know about you but I think this cold, wet, windy weather is more like Winter than Autumn and I wasn’t quite ready for it!  Panic searches for winter cardigans, digging out the blankets and moaning that ‘it’s only October!’  Any day now the annual moan of ‘can we have the heating on?’ ‘No, it’s not November yet!’ will begin.

I hope you are all well, if chilly, and that your week has been a peaceful one.

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I had my knee injected this week and it really has helped this time.  It was a doctor from our practice but not one I had ever seen before and she was amazing – painless, which was a bonus, and quite funny as we chatted about people in general!  Her tip to me was listen to your body – you know what is wrong with you 90% of the time.  Only go to a doctor if you need medication these days because they won’t be listening to you – they will be busy trying to work out what they think is wrong!  She gives patients as long as they need and has no truck with the ’10 minute rule’ which causes ‘a bit of a rumpus’ but, as she said, she was trained to treat the person not just the obvious problem – there is often an underlying issue which needs time and conversation to dig out.

She also sent me for an x-ray which I had the following day.  Can’t complain about that service at all!

Next weekend I have the double whammy of flu jab on the Saturday and Covid Booster on the Sunday.  I shall be super-healthy this winter …… I hope!

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Because of the current petrol-driven outbreak of madness, we are catching the bus everywhere, which is not a hardship as I enjoy it anyway!  In the week I just missed a bus by a whisker so sat at the stop to wait for the next one.  Along came an elderly lady with her walking frame and sat next to me.  We embarked on the usual conversation about the state of the world, the weather and so on and the time passed quickly – she even offered me a peppermint which was kind.  The bus turned up, and as I got on, I looked around and she was still sitting on the seat.  I asked if she was coming and she told me she wasn’t waiting for a bus, but often sat there to find someone to talk to. 

I felt so sad.  I wonder how many people do that sort of thing just to talk to someone and not be stuck indoors alone.  A lesson there for all of us I think!

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Nothing to do with anything at all – but what do you feel about Baby Showers?

I ask because of a sad thing I read in the week about a young mum who lost her baby the day after the baby shower!

Personally, I don’t like them and have always thought that it is at the wrong time.  Yes, buy lovely baby presents, but wait until the baby is here to give them to the mum.  If pushed I settle for something lovely to spoil the mum!

Perhaps it’s just me but I think this is some American celebration that has found its way over here, along with proms, graduation from Pre School and so on – I await the Sweet Sixteen parties to arrive any time now!

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If you have any pre-loved non-fiction books that you are happy to dispose of, may I recommend that you donate them to the Second-Hand Bookshop in Havant?  This is a side branch of the long-established St Faith’s Charity Shop, and all the cash made goes through them.  We have plenty of fiction – paperback and hard back –  and you are welcome to come in and browse in a peaceful atmosphere where you will not be bothered.  There is even a comfy sofa if you want to linger!

You can find this oasis of calm in Pallant House – follow the road beside Waitrose and it is in the big white house at the top of the road.

If you come on a Friday morning, you may even be forced to say hello to me!

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This is probably just me – but I am a dreadful hoarder. 

However, I am currently trying, slowly, to de-clutter but making VERY slow progress.  One room at a time and I pick one area and do that bit but find myself unable to throw things away so back they all go.  Of course I need that picture that my Junior Grandchild drew for me at Infant School, of course I need that lovely Christmas card from an old friend, yes I do need that photo of a landscape, because, one day, I shall remember where it is and be glad I have it!

So it goes on.  I had a pile nearly as tall as me, of paperwork that needed filing – but obviously I had to read every piece then decide where to put it, then find the file and discover it was full …. and so it went on.  It took me two days, a full shredder and a full recycle bin.  Where are the files?  On the floor while I wonder where to put them.

You’d think, being a trained secretary, that I might be better at this – but I am, quite simply, useless!

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Well, that’s about it for this week – enjoy the rest of your weekend if you can in this pouring rain!

Look after yourselves and those whom you love – and, above all, stay safe!     x

Mostly Hospitals and Dockyard!

Good morning my lovelies – I hope you are all well and have enjoyed your week.  We have been very lucky with the weather here – misty, chilly early mornings gradually brightening up into very sunny afternoons!  According to the weather forecast – sadly that seems to be coming to an end and rain is forecast, but temperatures are still reasonable!

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As I mentioned (probably endlessly!) my Junior Grandchild went off to University with a spring in her step and a smile on her face!  She had only been there three days when they went on a day trip to Studland Bay, looking at the environment and the erosion there!  Her accommodation is lovely – there are eight rooms in a purpose build house, plus a fully equipped new kitchen and a communal area – her room is on the ground floor and already looks very ‘homely’ and is en-suite too.  They also have a cleaner who comes in once a week!

She has no lectures on a Friday so, at the moment, she plans to come home on Friday afternoon, keep her Saturday job on for now and do her food shop on the Sunday before her mum takes her back.  So far – better than we dared hope!

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 I had an appointment at the local hospital  – and the outside was complete chaos because of building works and the closing of a car park.  I’d gone on the bus so wasn’t directly affected but it was impossible to ignore.

(I would add that most people with half a brain would understand that if you close all the small hospitals in a large area – Haslar, Havant, Portsmouth, Emsworth, Gosport etc. and only have one – which people have to struggle to reach – it will rapidly become overcrowded.  Now they are building new bits to expand it but already doubts are being expressed that it will be sufficient!)

A man in front of me in the waiting area was called – and you are not allowed to have someone with you, so his wife was asked to wait.  He established he would be at least half an hour and suggested she go for a coffee.  She answered and said she would be waiting at the North Entrance until he came down.

I thought no more of it, went and had my echocardiogram and then my appointment with the Consultant who is just delightful.  I went off him a bit when he pointed out that I was no longer in my 30s and my ‘insides’ were ‘starting to show their age’!  However, all done and dusted in about 40 minutes so no complaints here.

I went to the bus stop and had a bit of a wait, and noticed just ahead of me, the man who was supposed to be meeting his wife – but he was alone!  Had he forgotten her?  Was she lost somewhere in the endless corridors? While I was making up my mind whether to speak to him or not he got on a bus, so my chance was missed.  I wonder what happened?

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The Main Man and I had a day out at Portsmouth Dockyard on Tuesday – using our annual pass.  But even with our pass (thanks to a new, improved system), you have to book a time slot on line and print off the confirmation.  Armed with this, we turned up at the gate and joined the queue.  We had our bags searched (no complaints about that – I think it’s really important) then had to join the next queue.  As we slowly moved towards the door, I saw that some people were buying tickets (which is supposedly not allowed now) but we still had to queue.  After some time we reached the ticket desk, showed all the documents and tickets and were eventually in!  How much easier it used to me when they had a separate queue for pass holders and you just walked in!

We headed straight for the Mary Rose and spent an hour or so enjoying it as we always do.  I love the new part as you go in with the hologram of Henry VIII telling you the history of the battle, then he melts away and you are ‘inside’ the Mary Rose on the battle day with a lot of cannon fire, shouting and suddenly the water starts to rise and you are sinking.  As the doors open you are then in the Ship Hall and start your tour.

However – my certainty that some people are just not equipped with a proper functioning brain was confirmed.  We had all just heard the story of the battle, yet someone asked who we were fighting and the answer came ‘Napoleon’!  In 1545?  I think not and had just seen all the bits about the King of France!

After hearing all about the discovery of the artefacts they had found and which were on display, I heard another woman telling her friend that the bows were made of some sort of plastic compound! 

There are times when I despair!

However, we both enjoyed the harbour cruise and Pete loves sharing his ex-navy knowledge with me.  The ‘official’ commentary was excellent!

I have to say how lovely the staff are there – they all go the extra mile and nothing is too much effort.  We had a great day!

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On Fridays I am currently helping get the Charity Second Hand Bookshop organised.  It is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9.30-1.00 and is well worth a look for anyone who enjoys books!  There is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, with a children’s section too, and the stock will change on a regular basis.  At the moment we have masses of fiction but not so much non-fiction so would always welcome any donations!

If you are unsure where it is, follow the road that runs alongside Waitrose to the large white house at the top which used to be Havant Nursery.  Through the main front door and you will find it on your right – hopefully well sign posted.

Feel free to come and have a browse – you never know, you might find the very book you have been looking for!

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I am so upset and frustrated by the panic buying of petrol and I fail to understand how the comments, supposedly ‘off the record’, of one man can lead to country wide madness!  Please, unless you really are down to close the bottom of your tank STOP and think – is your need any greater than that of an ambulance, a hospital worker or anyone else – you are NOT more important and you are playing into an artificially contrived panic!

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I hope you all have a good week, stay well and, most importantly, stay safe!  x

A Quiet Week

Good morning all – quite a change in the weather today!  I had become used to the Autumnal misty and damp morning and sunny afternoons – but this rain looks set in for the day!  I hope you are all well and that you’ve had a good week!

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My big news is that the Junior Grandchild is off to start at University today!  I am so proud and, at the same time, have that sort of hollow feeling that they will not be at home and how shall I know if they are Ok?  Grandmotherly worries, I guess!  I just wish Alex and all the other students starting out on their new path all the luck in the world.

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I went on a bus this week – which is not happening much these days – and only to the local town which should have taken about 15 minutes.

All went well until we got within sight of the bus station – then the problems began.  A large Waitrose lorry had broken down on the road and had been there for several hours.  (For locals – just past the traffic lights outside the Meridian).  A huge rescue truck had arrived and was blocking the entrance to the buses who were being directed by ‘Hi Vis Man’ to drive on, turn left and drop the passengers wherever there was room. 

Unfortunately, ‘driving on’ was not as easy as it sounds as there was a constant queue of traffic coming from the other direction who had to pull out into ‘our’ lane to get past the lorry.  The driver eventually managed it and the journey had taken me 45 mins!    The Main Man picked me up later but it amazes me how quickly chaos on a road spreads – all the surrounding roads were gridlocked and we had no hope at all of going back home on our usual route.  Fortunately, he knows the roads like the back of his hand, and, with lots of ‘short cuts’ and roads I’d never seen before, we arrived home safe and sound!

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This reminds me, we have always referred to the Bus Station as just that, and where you caught a train as the Railway Station as just that, so why have people started calling it the Train Station?  I know it makes sense, but it sounds so peculiar!

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On a not dissimilar subject – which I may have mentioned before (can’t remember anything these days!) but why, oh why, do some people, particularly advertisers, refer to ‘two times’ when they mean ‘twice’.  Is it really easier to say a shampoo makes your hair ‘two times cleaner’ rather than ‘twice as clean’?

I went to the chemist twice this week but if I said I went two times you would think I was a two-year-old just starting to talk!  I am guessing I am the only person in the English-speaking world who still uses ‘thrice’ – unless, of course, you know better!!

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This coming week I have to visit the local hospital, so we just hope that no strangers decide to share their life story with me and that my blood pressure will stay down.  Cardiologists are very fussy about blood pressure!

I also saw a piece about the hospital, informing me that from Wednesday, the car park will be closed and the disabled spaces will not be available.  I shall have to get the bus then trek up the hill I suppose.  When is my appointment – yup, Thursday!

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Sometimes, not often but sometimes, I start to feel very down and sad (this is not a mental health issue, just a ‘black dog day’ as Churchill used to say).  This happened this week, when by some serendipity, I received a text from a friend I’d not spoken to for a few weeks, just saying ‘picking you up at two – we will have cake’.  The world turned, and I felt so much better – and was fine after the laughter, chat and cake – it really is the little things!

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I am aware that, on rereading this, I could have just said ‘nothing happened this week’ and left it at that but this morning my mind is full of the small things.  I will do better next week!

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I leave you with this – many of you will have read over the years that I have a very good friend in the USA.  I had a message from him to tell me that he had been in the kitchen when he thought he heard thunder getting closer and closer, then the house started to shake and the dog was going mad.

His first thought was that it was an earthquake (he lives half way up a mountain).  It turned out to be a meteor coming to earth and landing about 8 miles away, just on the other side of the mountain!

I looked it up and it would seem that the Meteor landed in Virginia but, as far as they knew, there were no injuries but some property damage!

Phew!

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend and, whatever you are doing, have a good week.  Look after each other and stay safe xx

Mostly Books and Friends

Good morning –I hope you are all well and have had a good week.  I am pleased to say that all is well in the Rambling household!

Thank you very much to all of you who commented last week – and it would seem that we are all of a mind! 

I would like to welcome a couple of new readers who, by some strange alchemy, discovered us from the US.  You are very welcome and I hope you will enjoy being one of the Ramble Readers.

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This week saw me – by request (I didn’t just barge in) – helping sort some problems with a new Second Hand book shop opened in the local town.  I was in my element obviously!  Nothing more encouraging than coming across a well read book that you have also enjoyed and knowing you are not the only one!

There were very few chldren’s books for little ones (I’m thinking under 5s) and they were just piled in a box.  A word with someone resulted in the speedy provision of a child-sized table with four chairs and also a bright red beanbag!  Now I just need a couple of posters to liven it up a bit!

A young mum and her little daughter wandered in and soon were both busy looking at books.  The little one, picked up a book and marched over to me to ask if I could read.  ‘Yes, I can’ I replied.  She asked if I would read the book to her, and a very lovely ten minutes was spent curled up on the sofa reading – I had not realised quite how much I missed doing this! I think encouraging children to read and look at books when they are very young is so important – hopefully she will develop a love of books as she grows older too.  ‘A child who reads becomes an adult who thinks’.

My Christmas wish for this year is that EVERY child will be given a book and that someone will take a few minutes out of their busy day to read with them.  Even if the child is a fluent reader, they, more often than not, will love the opportunity to listen to someone reading to them.

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Just a quick advertisement!  If you are within reach of Havant, you can find the second hand Bookshop in Pallant House.  (Up the road next to Waitrose and in the old house at the top – it used to be Havant Nursery!)

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This week we have been remembering 9/11.  I so well remember being at work and getting a telephone call from the Senior Girl, who was at home with her little one, telling me to get to a television set and see what was happening in the US.

Like most of us I suppose, it was such a horrifying sight that I was shocked and very upset in equal measures.  I couldn’t stop thinking of the people trapped in the flame filled first tower who jumped to their death rather that wait to die in their offices.

There have been memorial programmes on the television this week which reminded us all just what a dreadful day that was, how brave the police and firemen were, rushing into danger as most people were rushing in the opposite direction.  The palpable feeling of panic, the fear, the shock were all captured and now, 20 years on, it still all seems so real and, in a strange way, very recent.

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I need to buy a new outfit for a special occasion – but where to go to buy it?  My usual port of call would have been somewhere like Jacques Vert or Ann Harvey who had concessions in the Department Stores, or a couple of local shops where I could rely on getting what I needed, but they have all gone.  I could buy on line but I like to see the quality of the fabric and try it on to see if it fits – the same size can be a perfect fit in one place but be ridiculously wrong in others. 

I’m in a real quandary!

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Some things in my life are more important than others, but by far the most important, outside of my family, is my circle of friends.

Some date back to school days and we have been friends for over 60 years, others are very recent, but all share one thing – they are really important to me!

Some I see frequently, some I see regularly although not so often, and some I see rarely but we all keep in touch, and when we meet up it is as if we have never been apart.  Last Sunday a couple of new friends came for a cup of tea and we talked the afternoon away, gradually getting to know each other in more depth and enjoying the laughter we shared! 

On Tuesday another friend came over for a cup of tea and a chat – we meet once a fortnight – and again we just talked, laughed and enjoyed the time together.  Sometimes it’s just chit-chat, sometimes it is something really important or worrying – but we can just talk about everything. 

Then on Thursday one of my very oldest and closest friends arrived, clutching a bag of books for me. Another lovely couple of hours of talking and generally putting the world to rights. 

In between times I received e-mails and messages from a very special friend who lives in the US – we chat on line several times a week and again can share everything and anything!

What would I do without these people who do more for me than they can ever know?  Sometimes a listening ear is enough, sometimes some good advice and sometimes a telling off!  More often, just family gossip, chit chat, and discussing how the world should be run.  However the conversation develops, it is important and can never be under-estimated.

I hope you have friends that you can lean on in times of trouble and rejoice with at times of joy – they are what makes the word keep turning!

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I hope you will enjoy the rest of your day and have a good week.  Do try and find some time to just relax and also please do stay safe.

xx

A Wedding not a Marriage

Well, I’ve not been Blogging over the summer but, with the advent of September, I thought I’d get cracking again. 

I hope everyone is well, Covid free and that you have enjoyed the summer doing whatever you chose to do!

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I want to share this story with you – because it made me sad and cross in equal measure.  None of my business at all  – but that rarely stops me!

I have changed the names of the people concerned, and can assure you that they do not come from this part of the world, but from much further away, in the Midlands. 

I was at the local hospital this week and I had half an hour to spare while waiting for my appointment, so was sitting in the café with my cup of tea and book, ready to pass a quiet time (hoping to reduce my blood pressure too!).  A young woman sat down opposite me, and kept sniffing – I looked up and it as pretty obvious she was upset.  What to do?  Well, the same as you would do I expect – you know me – open mouth and dive in!   ‘You are obviously upset, it there anything I can do to help?’

The woman, who I shall call Jane, was on holiday on the Isle of Wight, was visiting Portsmouth for the day, hoping to visit an old friend who was in hospital – she hadn’t realised she would not be allowed to visit.

However, it transpired that she had received a message from her solicitor to say her husband had applied for a Divorce – and they hadn’t even been married for a year!  Just to clarify – she was an attractive woman of about 30 I would guess (and you all know how appalling my guesses are!), with what I would call a bright, healthy, outdoor look, shiny chestnut hair and bright blue eyes.

It would appear that she had been married once before in her late teens, and that hadn’t worked out so they had divorced.  Over the years her job involved her visiting, from time to time, different farms.  She had met a farmer whom I shall call Joe, some years older than her, who had inherited his small farm from his parents when they were killed in a nasty accident.  Jane and Joe had gradually built up a relationship and she had eventually moved in with him – but she found the farmhouse not to her taste at all and said the kitchen was really old fashioned and full of old furniture.  They agreed that they would open a joint savings account, both put in what they could and when they had sufficient funds, the kitchen would be completely remodelled.

However, before this came to fruition they had decided to get married and Joe made the mistake of telling Jane he was happy to leave the arrangements to her, (Big Mistake) except he wanted it to be in the local church as he would like the people who had known him for his whole life in the village to be able to join them on such a special day, and he would love to have the little daughter of his Stockman as a Bridesmaid. He thought the Reception could be in a marquee on one of his fields – or, as Jane said, in a tent in the mud!

Jane told me that she had not been prepared to marry in the church as it was ‘dark, old and pokey’ and she wanted the wedding of her dreams so had booked a very posh venue, where she could stay the night before the wedding (she didn’t want to travel in her wedding dress in case it creased), every detail would be taken care of and they would have the Bridal Suite for their wedding night.  She also wasn’t going to have a child bridesmaid as she had five of her friends lined up for that job.

By this time, I could see where we were going.

She bought the dress she had always dreamed of.  Her parents gave her £1000 for it but it cost an additional £1500 – but was worth every penny because it was the dress of her dreams!

In the end, she used all their savings, plus a bank loan from the farm account that she had neglected to mention to Joe, to pay for everything she ‘needed’ to make ‘her dream come true’.  The five bridesmaids all had beautiful dresses, she had her hair done by a professional hairdresser with temporary extensions so her hair could be curled over her shoulders, her make-up was done professionally, a ‘would be famous’ photographer and his entourage was in attendance and so on.  She discovered Joe intended to wear his only suit so had to persuade her brother to convince Joe he needed a proper ‘wedding suit’ which he did.

She had about 150 guests for the five-course sit down meal after the ceremony, followed by a professional entertainer and a firework display.  All in all the day cost in the region of £45,000 (pause while you re-read that and then gulp in disbelief!  If you were buying a house, imagine how far that would go if used as your deposit!)

Apparently, in the evening when she asked Joe if he liked her dress, he just looked at her and told her he thought she looked beautiful anyway and he didn’t recognise her as she walked up the aisle!  He was really surprised that she would want another white wedding, being divorced. He also only had a small handful of people he knew present which upset him a lot.  As Jane asked me – you don’t want working class people who don’t know how to dress properly spoiling a special day, do you?  I couldn’t resist telling her I was working class and would value my true friends over any make-an-impression people that I didn’t even know!

The final straw was when Joe said he was looking forward to having a child who would hopefully take over the farm one day and Jane let it be known in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going to have any children.

Marriage over before it really began!

I hope you can see why I was so sad – that anyone could be so self-centred and only think about themselves; that could waste so much money for one day to achieve their ‘dream’.  Also very cross – so said I hoped that one day she would find happiness, got up and wandered off to the lift!

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I hope some of you will be thinking ‘Good, she’s back’ and if you are thinking ‘Oh no, more drivel ‘– please don’t tell me!

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For those of you kind enough to wonder – I was at the hospital for my quarterly Kidney check – the first face to face one in a year!  The good news is that my Kidneys are stable – the bad news is that my Blood Pressure was raised! Grrr!

~ ~ ~ ~

I hope you have a good week, take care of yourselves and continue staying safe.

xx

PHEW – GOOD TO BE BACK!

Good morning everyone – I hope you are all well and have been able to enjoy some sunshine recently.  It’s been a busy time in this house but will try and remember what has happened – so do not be surprised in following weeks I suddenly remember something else!

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Very important – I had my second Covid injection so we are both fully ‘jabbed’.  I have to say what a smooth system and how quick and painless it all was!

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A couple of weeks ago, we were finally able to meet up with our Boy, his beautiful wife, their daughter and her partner – and my two Great Grandsons!  I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was as the arrival drew nearer (7 hour drive).  They were all staying in an Air B&B not far away (no way would they all fit in our tiny house!).and we met up at a pub for a meal.  Oh, my life, I have never tried walking in such high winds, it was really scary as the wind whistled in from the sea.  I had to hold on to cars to get across the car park!

It was just so wonderful to be able to catch up after such a very long time and there was so much news as well as hugs and cuddles to be shared.  On the Saturday we had planned to have an extended family picnic lunch with the Senior Girl and her family and my brother and his family.  A grand total of 17 of us.  We met up at Staunton Park so the boys could then visit the Farm Trail.  The heavens opened and it was torrential rain but we still managed by sheltering under cover near the Coach House and moving tables about.  Fortunately, like any family, we made the best of it and laughed endlessly!

After lunch some of us went over to the Farm Trail and the rain stopped for a while so a good day was had by all.

On the Sunday the 8 of us went to Marwell Zoo where we met up with Senior Girl and her family – we had such a lovely day.  The older GG (nearly 2) fell in love with the Giraffes and tried hard to walk like one – and also became very attached to Pete’s walking frame, on which he loved to ride and which he called ‘Pete’s Taxi’!

It was so sad to say goodbye, but at least it won’t be too long before we can meet up again.

~ ~ ~ ~

On the Monday of the following week I had the honour of conducting the funeral of the mother of a friend of mine.  As I arrived, there was a lone Marine standing outside and I fell in conversation with him, as you do, and he told me he was going to play the last post at the funeral which was due to finish.  I vanished to get ready and suddenly the mournful notes sounded out and the tears started to roll down my cheeks.  That piece does that to me every single time.

However, I pulled myself together and got on with my job – which seemed to go well.  What a privilege it is to be asked to undertake such an important moment in people’s lives!

~ ~ ~ ~

On the Friday, the Main Man and I set off to Devon – this is the 38^th year we have gone to the same place, which we absolutely love.  A log cabin, set in a wood away from anything much – no pool, no bar, no restaurant etc. but such peace and quiet, nature and walking distance of a tiny beach which looks crowded if there are more than about 20 people there!

We were joined on the Saturday by the Senior Girl and her crew, so breakfast was ready for their arrival at 9.00 am. It’s become a tradition that I prepare a cooked breakfast for everyone and that is really the start of our week.

Obviously we have come to know the owners quite well, and their son, who we have seen grow up from a little boy into a married man with three children, have a cottage nearby with a sign saying ‘Caution – Free Range Chickens and Children Roam Here’.  How true – the chickens soon wanted to be our friends and were adept at begging for food and the little girl, aged 4, loved an audience for all her stories about school and about the chickens!

One afternoon I was sitting reading my book when I heard a noise and went to investigate, only to discover three chickens in our bedroom.  Shouting at them failed to have any effect, but a trail of breadcrumbs led them to the door!

We loved the rides on the South Devon Steam Railway, which included a visit to a rare breeds farm.  We visited Buckfast Abbey and wandered around the beautiful gardens, which is an annual treat.  We also visited Dartmoor Zoo (as in ‘I bought a zoo’ book and film) but the walking was very difficult for two people, both with wonky legs!

We were back at home by 9.00 on Friday morning – and it was as if we had never been away!

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Yesterday I had to go to the hospital for an Infusion of Iron to help support my kidneys.  Not sure what to expect but it was absolutely fine – painless although the black liquid looked a little off putting but a cup of tea and a biscuit and two very funny nurses helped pass the time.  It should be working in about 48 hours when, I am assured, I shall be ‘running and jumping’ – be sure to keep a look out if you see me!

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If you’ve read my blog previously you will know that I am a great fan of Cheese Scones.  Imagine my shock at being in the local Marks and Spencer for a cup of tea and being told they are ‘not allowed’ to sell Cheese Scones any longer – only fruit ones!  I pointed out that you can still buy them in the Food Hall – but they can’t sell them upstairs.  Oh dear, oh dear – this is not good!

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I hope you have a good rest-of-the-day and perhaps the sun might make an appearance.

Enjoy the rest of your week and please take care of yourselves – stay safe,

C x

Books, Chocolate and Nice People

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and staying safe!  It’s a tad damp here this morning so if you have to go out, please take care!  As always thank you so much for the comments from last week – I really appreciate hearing from you!

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Just an advance warning – there will be no Blog for the next couple of weeks but there is nothing wrong.  As I may just have mentioned, the ‘Northern Branch’ of our family are coming down next Friday and we shall be a bit occupied, especially with two baby Great Grandsons to get to know!

Please keep your fingers crossed for some reasonable weather next weekend – especially Saturday, as all of us are meeting up for a picnic together with sundry other family members.  I just can’t wait!

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At the beginning of the week, I received my bi-monthly box of new books.  This just has to be the best Christmas present ever – four new books every other month!  This time there were three hardbacks, and two paperbacks – a ‘free’ one as it was my third month.  I haven’t started reading them yet, as I wanted to get one lent to me by a friend which I was already reading finished. It was a really gripping story, if a little dark.  You can possibly imagine my frustration at getting to the last page to discover the issue had not been resolved and there is a follow-up book!  My friend hasn’t got that so I shall have to buy a copy – another new book!

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The Main Man and I went to Chichester in the week, just because we could.  I really enjoy going there and am always a bit bemused that the atmosphere is so very different from Portsmouth.  No gangs of children roaming about swearing at everyone, no bicycles being ridden at full pelt through the precinct, no rubbish strewn about – just a nice place to be.

We were making our way towards seating outside a café, where we were going to stop, when I became aware of a group of five teenage boys who appeared to be students walking behind us.  They were just talking and were obviously deep in their conversation and I had to listen.  Well, I would, wouldn’t I?  They were discussing the meaning of ‘Charismatic’ and was charisma something you could acquire or were you born with it.  They were just so interesting to listen to – no football, no pop singers, no swearing, just a reasoned, old-fashioned discussion.  I loved it and had to stop myself from joining in by sitting in the café instead!  If you  know a group of lads including Robbo and Specs, then you already know what a credit they are.

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I also received a package in the week with a copy of an A4 sized tome full of memories, photographs and so on from Havant Grammar School.  I’ve not had time to read it properly but I have flipped through and tipped a few people off that they are featured in there!  Such a lot of hard work has gone into its production – all pulled together by a chap called Simon Bull.  Considering the school only existed from 1958-1974 there is just so much contained in it – including some lovely pieces from members of staff which shows an entirely different side to them!  A real keepsake and something to pass down to my daughter!

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When my books were delivered on Monday, the ‘Jolly Post Lady’ handed it over and said ‘I think it’s chocolate!’  Later when the HGS Book arrived she said ‘More Chocolate!’  When I told her that unfortunately neither had contained chocolate, we both laughed and that was that.  Until she turned up the following morning with no post, but just a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk for me, because she thought I had been disappointed!  Just how kind was that? 

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Back in January I formulated a plan for getting children back into schools without them having to fight to ‘catch up’ – although with whom was never clear.  However, I had a lot of very positive responses, including from teachers.  Much encouraged I sent it off to Gavin Williamson at the House of Commons and that was the end of that.

Suddenly this month I received a reply from one M. Boyes, based at the Department for Education in Manchester (who knew) thanking me for my letter of 15 January, and listing down a series of weblinks I could access to see what a great job Gavin was doing.  He also went on a bit about money and what schools were spending it on and that there is a Covid helpline, should I wish to access it.

The Department for Education is going (or perhaps has gone) quite mad.

~ ~ ~ ~

I’ve been very fortunate to see a few people this week.  I went to see a friend whose mother has just passed away and she has asked me to conduct the funeral, which I am very honoured to do.  I had a visit from another Friend for a cup of tea and a catch up and we were able to sit in the garden, laugh like drains and just enjoy each other’s company; then my youngest nephew and his partner dropped in for a chat.

I have so missed seeing people – there is a lot of catching up to do!

~ ~ ~ ~

Had a phone call consultation from the hospital on Friday about my kidneys – all is well, not as good as last time but looking stable.  I am also anaemic which he was surprised my GP hadn’t picked up as it has shown up on my last two blood tests.  Because of my kidneys, I can’t take iron tablets (hooray!) so I will have to go to hospital for an infusion straight into my blood stream.  He said I’ll be bouncing about like a 5 year old afterwards!  I beg leave to doubt this as I currently am more like a 95 year old!

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I hope you can enjoy the rest of the day – perhaps the sun will break through?  Take care of yourselves and for goodness sake please stay safe!

I’ll be back in three weeks.

A Bit of a Medical Week!

Hello – and here we are again.  I hope you are all well?  Thank you so very much for all the comments last week – it was just so lovely to hear from you and keeping in touch with people is such a therapeutic thing to do – especially when they are people you don’t even know but who came across your Blog by accident!

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Ideal occupation for a wet Saturday morning (and by wet, I mean torrential rain!) is wrapping up Christmas presents.  Now, there is no need for you to raise your eyebrows or comment that I have the wrong time of year!  In two weeks’ time I shall have been reunited with my son and family from ‘Up North’ that I haven’t seen for well over a year and shall have met my two beyond-adorable great grandsons!  The presents are for them as I am confident that they won’t care whether it is Christmas, Easter, VE Day or whatever, they still get presents!

I cannot tell you how excited I am – but perhaps you can imagine!

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There have been no changes on my Great Cheese Scone Rating, but many thanks for a couple of suggestions – I shall be trying them very soon!

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This week has been a bit of a medical week one way and the other.  I had a text from the surgery, in which the type was so small that I couldn’t see it, even with my trusty magnifying glass, so I had to ring and ask what it was for.  Cue for the confusion I should have known would ensue.

‘Don’t know – what does it say?’ 

‘I don’t know, if I could read it, I wouldn’t be ringing.’

Goes away to check – comes back to say it is for my annual review.  ‘Ah OK.  Review of what though?  Blood pressure, kidneys, arthritis, heart – what?’ 

‘Dunno.  Just that it is a review.’

OK – I turn up and it transpires it is a routine Blood Pressure test – and was fine but, while I was there, I had to have a blood test.  Jolly good – 4 tubes later I ask what they are looking for.  My kidney scores?  My B12 Level?  My anaemia?  Oh no – just routine – liver, thyroid and something else that I’ve now forgotten but none of the things I actually wanted checked!

I give up.

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The next day – more medical excitement.  I had to go to the Eye A&E at the local hospital.  I have had a problem (not huge but irritating) since the day after my second vaccination and the Optician decided to send me to the Clinic.  I think it is the department that the rebuilding forgot – but the people there were lovely.

I had some tests and a bit of laughter with the young man doing the tests – he was a student nurse and I swear wasn’t old enough to have left school but he was so good and so kind.  We were having a bit of a giggle about something when he sort of jumped to attention.  I heard a voice say ‘Good morning Nurse’ and he stammered out ‘Good Morning Matron’ – I instantly thought it would be Hattie Jacques but it wasn’t!

Anyway, turns out I have Posterior Vitreous Detachment and it will heal itself over the next few weeks.  I blinking well hope so as this is my good eye!

~ ~ ~ ~

I don’t know how much medical stuff you can cope with but we had a home visit from the Main Man’s Alzheimer’s Consultant.  I would point out this is the first time anyone medical has bothered to check him in the last four years!  It wasn’t quite as spontaneous as this might seem – it turned out he had received letters from our GP, the Dementia Support Nurse, an ambulance Paramedic and someone else, all saying that the Main Man should be reassessed as he was so well!

Sticking to the rules, we sat in the garden, with the builders at the back of us singing away in time to their music, and we tried to understand what the Doctor was saying as he has a very heavy accent.  Anyway – all was going well – the MM could answer all the questions – knew who I was, what the date was, who was Queen and so on and he could count backwards from 100 in 7s – which amazed me because I couldn’t.

It didn’t go well when the MM was asked to do a couple of pencil-and-paper puzzles because he didn’t understand what he had to do.

That was sufficient for the Doctor to say he was getting worse and for me to argue that his major issues were physical not mental.  How dare I disagree with a Consultant – but if I don’t who will?

The upshot is that the MM is now worse because he has been told he is – and believes it, because the Doctor told him.  I think he is giving up trying because he feels it is useless now – and I am both cross and upset!

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I don’t know about you, but I think ITV grossly overstepped the mark in cancelling the final episode of a drama series because the actor playing the main character was reported in the Guardian to be a sexual predator.  No police involvement, no arrest – just a newspaper report.  How did this help – he’s already been paid so it won’t have penalised him but will have upset a lot of viewers.  I honestly think they should not have acted until and unless the police make an arrest – acting on gossip really isn’t acceptable in my eyes and we have seen too much of it in the past few years. 

Stop acting as judge and jury and concentrate on your own jobs – produce something we might like to watch.

 ~ ~ ~ ~

I’ve said previously that I don’t buy national newspapers – but I do read the headlines on my tablet every morning – and half the time I haven’t got a clue who they are talking about.

Here are some from this week – and not all from the same newspaper!

Phoebe Thompson selling nude content on line (accompanied by a photo exposing her boobs to the world)

Steve Aiken to resign, BBC understands

Pregnant Binky Felstead jokes about her ‘bigger boobs’

Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips posts weight loss progress pictures (photo of her in her underwear!)

Edinson Cavani’s strong words to Ed Woodward amid electric form

Giggling Rebel Wilson gets an admiring glance from a male companion

Camila Cabello sizzles in thigh-skimming mini dress on a romantic date night (photo of her in the dress)

There you go – I am fully prepared to admit my complete ignorance – but I have no idea who any of the people are!  And more – I don’t care about them. 

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Gosh, sorry if this seems all a bit negative this week – it’s just the way things are!  Hopefully, we’ll have some sunshine this coming week and I shall be out an about eves-dropping on passers-by!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, take care of yourselves and please Stay Safe – we have nearly made it to the finishing line so don’t fall at the last hurdle!

x

Welcome Back

Here we go again!  How lovely to feel able to be back with you.

Hello all – how are you?  Have you all been keeping well?  The weather is a little changeable but we seem to have been blessed with quite a bit of sunshine recently which always makes the world seem a better place.  We have been tentatively dipping our toes in the outside world so I thought it was time to start sharing things with you again!

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Not long now until 17^th May when restaurants will be able to start serving customers inside, the Covid numbers are very low indeed and we have had both our vaccinations so feeling quite adventurous.  (Oh, this is relevant.  I now have a three-wheeled  ‘walker’ called Bluebell to help me get around.  What an asset!)

Our first venture was to Stansted Garden Centre.  As we got out of the car a little girl was getting out of another car – turned out she was two years old.  She wandered over and watched with interest as Bluebell was heaved out and I was ready for the off.  Pointing at Bluebell she asked ‘Where’s the baby?’ I tried to explain that it wasn’t a pram but was to help old people walk, but she still needed to come and have a good look.  Turning back to her mother she said ‘no baby’ in a sad voice.  Her mother explained that I probably didn’t have a baby but that was fine – not everyone did.  As they walked away, the little one turned back and said ‘Have a happy day, lady’.  How lovely was that!

After some shopping (does anyone go to a Garden Centre and come out with nothing?) we decided a break was called for and walked up to the Pavilion.  They have the system organised within an inch of its life; find a table, note its number, decide from the menu what you need, one person to go and order from the outside tea bar and it is delivered to your table.  Simple, workable and so pleasant.

Sitting in the sunshine, cup of tea and a cheese scone – heaven!

~ ~ ~ ~

This reminds me – I have resurrected, or rather restarted, my list of top places for cheese scones (a personal addiction).  For 2021 the current order is:

1. Mrs C – a friend’s home made, and delivered to my house.
2. Café Paradiso in Chichester – huge, warm without being soggy and a lovely crispy top,
3. Stansted Pavilion – just as I remembered from what seems like years ago – perfect, warm and plenty of fresh butter.
4. Northney Tea Room – (sitting under cover but blowing a gale!) Tasty and fine.

I am now waiting for after 17^th to test last year’s winners – Waterstones!

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Like so many people, I was desperate for a hair-cut – a year’s growth is just awful if you are used to having short hair!  However, I got an appointment for the second week after opening – and I am restored to a short-haired old dear instead of looking like some superannuated hippie with long grey hair blowing in the winds!  As my hair dresser pointed out – the floor could be used as an advertisement for Fifty Shades of Grey afterwards! 

~ ~ ~ ~

We ventured up to Midhurst – just because we could and because it is such a lovely place.  Lots of very old buildings, interesting individual shops and lovely people.  We had lunch at a café (well, on the pavement outside!) and I have never seen such huge portions – they were massive.  Trust me, I can eat but this even defeated me!

As we strolled about, people were very quick to move out of the way and I always say Thank You but their responses were lovely – they all offered variations of ‘it’s my pleasure’ or ‘please take care, there’s a step up ahead’, or ‘Don’t thank me – it’s just not a problem’ and so on.  What a lovely atmosphere.  The sort of place where I feel under-dressed because I didn’t have a wicker basket!

~ ~ ~ ~

Our boy and the family are all coming down later this month (well in two weeks and six days) bringing those gorgeous great grandsons of ours with them.  I last saw the eldest when he was a few weeks old and the youngest I’ve never seen so I expect you can imagine how excited I am!!!!

My Granddaughter has booked an Air B&B at Hayling Island for the few days, so our fingers are firmly crossed for good weather so we can all be together outside at times as there will be too many to be inside.

Counting the days now!

~ ~ ~ ~

As a teenager I used to be at Hayling Island a lot – I was fortunate in having a good friend who lived there and whose mother was a delight and seemed never to mind how many of us were there!  However, I haven’t been there for so long – must be over 40 years now – that the MM and I popped over for a look around so we could at least have our bearings for later!  My goodness, some places have changed beyond belief but other places look just the same.  My friend’s house was still there and still has the same name so I took a photo to send her (she is a permanent resident in Spain now).

The biggest problem is, and always will be, having only the one road on and off and the summer congestion is horrendous, often trailing back into Havant and causing gridlock.  If there is any sort of accident or problem on the bridge – you can be there for hours!

~ ~ ~ ~

Well, that’s probably enough about my week – but how lovely it is to be able to do normal things.  Even the precautions we still need to take aren’t onerous, and it is just so lovely to be outside and with real people – not people on a screen!

~ ~ ~ ~

 Please do stay safe, enjoy this Bank Holiday weekend and fingers crossed the weather will be good for all of us. 

I’ll be back next week x