How did I survive??

My Victorian grandmother's cures for various ailments, when I was growing up.

Always wear a vest and pull it right down your back to keep your kidneys warm. (Wee-ing problems and to keep colds at bay) I also wore a Liberty Bodice. Called Liberty bodices, because they originally were to be worn instead of the stiff corsets of the 19th Century. So you were liberated from a corset! I never minded wearing one, it kept you warm. No central heating only one coal fire in the living room. 

I do remember I had a bed cardigan and even in todays time, I sometimes wear one, when I'm in bed and the heating has switched off early. When I was little in winter, the bed was warmed by a brick  heated in the oven with a bit of old blanket wrapped round it.

Goose grease smothered on your neck, then a Lyle stocking wrapped round it, secured with a safety pin.(Sore throat)

Sheep's wool gathered off barbed wire fence, washed and inserted into your ear for earache. Something we always gathered when we visited my Grandmother's sister in Maesteg, as their road was at the bottom of  a mountain with wandering sheep.

Bread, milk and water made into a mash, heated and spread on a piece of cotton and topped with another piece of cotton and pressed on the area with the boils, still hot, a poultice.. Wound round with strips of cotton to keep in place. (Any boil or ulcer)

Starch powder sprinkled on itchy areas to stop the irritation. (Any itchy rash)

Cold salted water streamed on bruises to reduce swelling. 

Honey, vinegar and butter.. brought to the boil, then sipped slowly for a  sore throat and coughs. (I loved  this)

Cabbage water after the cabbage had been boiled to a pulp!!  A cup of the  cabbage water drunk for your bowels! Ugh Plus Syrup of Figs on Saturday night.

And then the rest of the cabbage water poured down the outside lav. to clean the 'U' bend!

I had the usual childhood illnesses, mumps, measles and Yellow Jaundice, (what ever that was?) But I can't ever remember missing school with a cold, so somethings must have worked! 

She was born in 1887 and had 8 children.. only 5 survived into adulthood

Gladys (1906-1990) Marion (1908-1924) Thelma (1912-1994)  Eunice, my mother (1918-1945) Rachel (1920-2016)

I think my Aunty Glad (Gladys) found the money from somewhere and coerced my father, to help pay for me to go to that private school, so I'd get a good education. She went into Service age 12 in a big house in Penarth! She sometimes spoke about it and how hard it was.

I had quite an alternative childhood to many children of my age.. and I survived. My grandmother had no patience and often flew into a rage, today I wonder was it hormones??.. It was fine while my grandfather was still alive, because he used to take me out.. He used to say...'Dere 'm cariad'.. (come here darling) and we'd sneak out the back door.  I learnt to keep out of her way.. and I often wonder, if that was why my aunt paid for me to be a boarder. 

I loved that school and they were the happiest days of my teen years.. And this nun, Sister Mary Bernadine, Headteacher was amazing. She treated me as though I was special and I loved her.

I survived!!

Chrisxx

Flowering Sunday & Mothering Sunday.. Edited to correct the date, thank you Angela

 Me with my mother and father, age 6 months.

I don't have any real memories of her, but I put flowers on her grave each year on Flowering Sunday, this year its on April 13th. I have travelled every year back here to put flowers on her grave, and those of my grandparents and two Aunts..From Billericay it was 234 miles, I stayed at the house when I still owned it, but after selling it I stayed in a B&B. And after Dh and I were married he came too, and with Nell of course.

People I've met who don't have family buried never understood why I did it.. but its a big thing in S Wales even in today's  times. I am going to have a Green Burial in Herongate, which is near Billericay. So there'd be no need for grave visits, I wouldn't put that on my children.  I decided on the Green Burial near Billericay as I lived longest there than any where else.

But,  my children did treat me on Mothering Sunday.. cards, flowers, champagne  truffes, a super new camera  and best of all long phone calls.. I have tried to say to my children, I take as much delight in their phone calls,  as I did with their first tooth or first step! 

Hope you did too, get treated! 

Chrisxx

The Slow Lane.

(Last years honey -suckle)

 

I seem to be in the doldrums, but its ok I've not killed an albatross, altho I did squirt some water at the cat that dares to stroll across our patio, then toilets in our veg patch! He's always quicker than us and runs along the fence, eyeing one of our bird feeding stations.

 And also, I seem to be a bit fed up with the SW food plan too, even though I had a good weight loss last week. So we looked up some different recipes to gear me on! For lunch yesterday we made egg muffins. I started off in the kitchen with Dh and then suddenly there were too many cooks in the kitchen!! So I went into the lounge and left him to it..

For 2 persons: 4 eggs beaten, chopped chives, copped bacon, chopped spinach and grated cheese., salt n pepper. Beat eggs, add the rest of the ingredients and spoon into a well greased muffin tins.  Sprinkle Feta  cheese on top, Makes 4 cook 180C for 10mins Serve with parsley to decorate|!.. Very tasty warm and even  better cold, with ham and a big green fresh salad.

All my seeds have germinated, but some aren't big enough to pot on, but I'm raring to go. I am all ready, but no point potting on with no true leaves, because they'll get seedling droop and  possibly die. I have taken the cosmos and sweet peas and put them in our little outside plastic green house to stop them getting leggy.

And the book I've  just finished, 'Someone in the Attic,' went on for page after page. It seems to me as though Araminta Hall was trying to write a certain number of words and filled the pages, but nothing was happening! 

And last night I couldn't get to sleep, I heard the early gulls at 4:00 am, and went to wee a hundred times, well maybe not hundred but a lotta, lotta wees. This always happens if  I am awake. So had to have a nanny nap in the afternoon! 

But I have some good things to look forward to.. Coffee in town with someone I was in school with in the 1950s!  

And later on I've my craft group. I have some new knitting, an Emotional Support Chicken.. I'm knitting it for a friend, who's been through a divorce and has bought her own house for the first time..And she loves Chickens!

Chrisxx

Opinions

 The only thing you should stop wearing as you get older is the weight of  other people's opinions!!

Because I believe this,  I've published Jane from Dorset's comment.

Happy travelling Jane, as you go on your way. You're allowed your opinion but not to criticize others nor impose your views on others.

As a matter of fact, I personally think everyone should garden as best they can and within their means, so I wouldn't suggest any product to anyone.. 

Chrisxx

Meeting friends.

 I've been contacted by two ex pupils from my school, St Clares. One lives here in Porthcawl and we've arranged to meet next week..I've had to post a photo of myself, as it is 70 years more or less since we were in school together

This is 4 years ago when I had my hair just a bit longer than now and looking at it I like it, so am going to grow it a bit.. its not my choice to have it this short. I don't know why my hairdresser cut it so short. I think sometimes they get scissor happy and keep snipping!! My phone camera has gone phut and it won't connect to my email to send photos, it keeps saying its a video, so can't take any new ones at the moment. I think I'd like a new phone, its not that good.

So someone else from school to meet, I already see someone I was in school with when we were 8! 

Strange but I've never thought of connecting with old school friends, what would you talk about, old times or how we are now?

And good news on my weight 2 1/2 loss so I am pleased, especially having visitors over last weekend. We kept the meals SW and they were still very tasty. 

 New week and we're off to a good start because we did not go into town after the meeting to indulge in Costa's cakes!

Altho' Dh has suggested we go on Tuesday, I shall have to be strong.. still not eaten any ice cream, I decided to give it up for Lent, not for a religious reason, but a check on me indulging in Ice cream, I can eat it till I'm absolutely full!!!

Life is rushing by at the moment, as we are gardening every day to get it straight and ready to plant out all the plants, I've grown from seed..They are all flourishing.. wa---hooo!

I'm already potting on Nicotiana, Pelargoniums , Dahlias and Antirrhinums.. 

I'm hoping for a colour filled garden this summer.. and we've had some rain,....just what we needed.

PS. I'm looking after the planet Jane from Dorset, Read my post again, we use our own compost!

I do dislike these preach-y people, especially the ones who don't have a blog, so who knows what you do? So I would suggest you don't read my blog or get off your preach-y podium!

Chrisxx

Such an improvement!

 I've had such a lovely few days, and basically its due to my antibiotics.. I'm so much better when taking them. All sorts of things are easier, I have normal micturition,, I don't have to visit the toilet so often and although I still get up at night more than just once, I go back to sleep right away.  And I can go out, knowing I can go longer than an hour without the need of a toilet and so that's a relief. So I'm rested and have more energy.

And of course we've had sunshine. Yesterday I was too hot in the garden and had to have to umbrella! I've sown a whole lot more seeds, lupins as my original efforts didn't germinate, but they were 2017 seeds, so its not surprising they didn't germinate! I've started potting on some seeds I sowed earlier this month. Today I want to pot up my new dahlias as well as top dressing the flower beds. I tried to find some well rotted manure locally, but couldn't so bought some on line! Its all dry so mixed in with compost, our own compost, none of this rubbish peat free stuff, it will be perfect. 

We even ate our lunch outside, first time this year, it was such a lovely day. Dh cut the grass and it nearly looks like a lawn instead of a tumpy field! 

The lupin plant we bought,  when we went to the garden centre is huge, so a big decision, where shall we plant it; where I can see it from the French doors, or the bed that runs parallel to the bungalow? I'm so excited about the garden.

Our front garden daffodils are sadly going over, but I've decided to sow some Love in the Mist seeds, there. They germinate readily and will be tall enough to peep up over that little wall that borders the lawn. I've ordered 5 pkts of 1500 seeds!!

Watch this space!

Are you ready for our sunshiny days ahead altho' at the moment we could do with rain!

Chrisxx

Like minded friends

 We have had a lovely afternoon with our U3a gardening group. Sue did a talk on Salvias..

We are at a new venue, the town football club house which had facilities to show her photographs on a large TV screen.

They were amazing, propagated from cuttings or sown seeds, her garden is a mass of them, she told us

I've never been a great  lover of them but her photos and hwe talk has persuaded me to grow them, or at least give them a go.

Although I'm not sure where, as I have window sills full of seedlings and more seeds to sow.

There was also a head gardener of a big estate garden there. He was promoting the Open Garden Scheme...All sounded wonderful with tea and cake at them all.. 

After the meeting we went to a Garden Centre to buy a new long handled trowel, as Dh broke the one we had, which was really mine! I mustn't moan because he was weeding the long fence border which is 30m long! (98.5 ft)

We also bought some plants, a huge lupin, a pack of mixed colours of pelargoniums, (6) and a tray of baby leeks! And when we got to the checkout it was 10% off for over 60s, so a bit off.

I really enjoyed my afternoon.

Talking about gardens and plants with like minded people!

Do you like gardening?

Chrisxx

A prince to be proud of.

 

Our very own Prince of Wales visiting the Mercians, just 90 miles from Russia in Estonia. Engendering good vibes with the troops in a country right next to Russia. 

In full combat gear chatting amiably and later on in the naafi being one of the lads playing pool!

He looked like any other soldier.. made me feel quite proud for him.

A young man proud to be colonel in chief of the Mercians who have just started their 6 month deployment, as the lead battle group working along side their NATO  partners.  With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UKs largest permanent  overseas deployment. I didn't know this, that we had troops in a country right next door to Russia. Trump speaks of a war, but is this all hot air? Our government hasn't spoken in the same way, but it looks like UK is making sure we're in league with the other European countries. From studying history, there will always be talks of wars, and I hope and pray it is all just talk.

.

But you have to be proud of this young man and he is probably one of hundreds of young people, who are proud to wear a uniform.

But what a prince!

Chrisxx

Such a relief, a Dr who understands.

 I've had a worrying week.. since seeing the new Dr at our surgery, I've had several hospital appointments, he said it was very necessary to follow up on all the urinary infections I've had over the last 4 years. 

  I had the dreaded full bladder scan, Wednesday  and it was fine. I wasn't desperate for the loo, as I have been in the past. I worried I hadn't drunk enough water! But all ok, kidneys and bladder no abnormity discovered. And the two young women were lovely. Didn't rush me and helped me on and off the  bench.

Yesterday afternoon  a cystoscopy was next.. I've had them before, not too awful, but not pleasant and the risk of an infection very probable. So I asked right away for antibiotics, In the past I've had antibiotics.  And the Consultant agreed with me because of my history of repeated UTIs, so  he prescribed a low dose antibiotics for 3 months and my app. will be re-booked..Such a relief I could have hugged him. He perfectly understood my concerns, and I think he could see from my smiles I was relieved and very thankful.

I feel I can enjoy our visitors this weekend now.

Chrisxx

Life!

 Life is amazing,

Then it's awful,

Then it's amazing again,

And in-between the amazing and the awful,

It's ordinary and mundane and routine.

Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful and relax and exhale in the ordinary.

That's just living, heart breaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful ordinary life.

And it's breathtakingly beautiful.

L K Knost

Chrisxx