Then or Now?

 Honestly I do not think growing up in the 1940/1950s have the edge over todays children.  It seems it is believed that, young people of today lack certain attributes of my generation. 

Do young people of today mock Royalty? They might, but do the Royals deserve our 'regard?' I wonder myself with the revelations that have come to light in recent times.

I used to think the Royal family were sort of special. Queen Elizabeth 2nd had an amazing reign, but don't let us forget, she like all the family wanted for nothing. So I'm not so 'glassied eyed since certain things have been reported. It seems she took delight in mimicking people she met for a laugh. I think that's rather cruel, but who am I to criticize the Queen. Lets face it, have any of the Royals ever had to think, food or heating?

With the present scandals about her second son Andrew, does taking his royal titles away  punish him? So he won't be living in a 20 plus room house, but only a 6 bedroom, poor fellow!! Although it has been reported that the two jobs advertised, a Chef and house Manager have not had any applicants, so he might have to make his toast and jam himself! But I doubt his brother the King will be charging him rent money for the house. 

I do like and admire Catherine and William, the Prince and Princess of Wales, but they live a life of luxury too. It wasn't good news to hear that the Princess had been diagnosed with cancer and I'd hate her to be ill again. However the incidents of women with cancer is there all the time, I hope they too have the best of care and treatment as did Catherine, but deep down I guess all won't have. 

So am I like the youth of today, lacking respect for my elders and people of  'class?' I don't believe I have, I respect people who have proved their worth, especially women, who I know have to work twice as hard as men to get noticed. Leaders who stand up and tell the truth, not pander to common beliefs to gain rewards. Sometimes it the quiet people who deserve our respect and regard, the ones who help those less fortunate than themselves. 

I have never seen or heard young people of today talking in a whispered voice, when relating that someone they know is mentally ill. Years ago that would have been behind a 'hand' over the mouth. So I'm not knocking young people of today but I would like them better, if the songs they have had more of a tune to them! What do you think?

Chrisxx

It's juicy!

 I saw this on one of those FB pages and all thoughts of losing at least 8 lbs in March, left my head! I've been so focused losing every week, right in the 'mode' and just a picture was enough to throw me off course. For goodness sake, I screamed at myself you can't even smell it!

What is it that makes us crave some foods? I don't eat chocolate or drink wine or any alcohol, but some cake weakens my resolve. I won't make it, but I did think as an Easter cake? We don't make a Simnel cake any more, for the reason we're always dieting!

But Dates in a cake appeals to me, we do have Date and Fig yogurts and they are delicious! 

Chrisxx

Thank you for putting me right about the siskin picture

Here's the correct one,

A Dank Day with a pretty visitor.

This was our weather yesterday, dull and what I call 'air rain.'  You can't really see it,  but it sure does wet you. I hate days like this, wet, dull and dank!  This lane is near to where we live, but not one we walk. So we stayed inside after a delicious roast chicken dinner, followed by stewed rhubarb and yogurt, perfect!

Dh is happy finishing the jigsaw I abandoned and I read, the latest Ruth Mancini book, much more exciting then 'When the Rain Ends.'

We've been watching the birds, as we have  two feeding stations and both are well visited. 

In the last week, as well as all the Tits, we've noticed Green Finches. joining the Gold Finches and new yesterday was a Siskin.

Very distinctive with their forked tail and the males have a streaked yellow, browny, grey body with a yellow streaked black head and bib.

I think that brings us a total of 16 different birds that visit our garden, which is amazing, as the first few months we were here, we were lucky to see a sparrow!

I love watching them, they take their turn for the sunflower seed hearts, and are very entertaining to watch.

Chrisxx

It happened even back in 1800's

I am back to being awake at night, so annoying because it steals my days.. Thursday it rained, what a surprise, raining in Wales!! So we thought, as we couldn't get out to the garden, we'd do some much needed cleaning.. All planned for when we got back from the hair dressers, atho' by the time we arrived home it was more or less lunch time. 

We sat with a cup of tea and then oooops suddenly it was nearly 4 o'clock! We had both dropped off to sleep, too late then to start the cleaning, as everybody knows OAPs knock off time is 4!

I was so tired.

This is John Keat's (1875=1821)

To Sleep 

.O soft embalmer of the still midnight!

Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,

Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light,

Enshaded in forgetfulness divine;

O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close,

In midst of this thine hymn, my willing eyes.

Or wait the Amen, ere thy poppy throws

Around my bed its lulling charities;

Then save me, or the passed day will shine

Upon my pillow, breeding many woes;

Save me from curious conscience, that still hoards

Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole;

Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards,

And seal the hushed casket of my soul.

We studied the poems of Keats when I was in school and I fell hopelessly in love with him, just like teenagers love pop singers today!

Chrisxx

When the Rain Ends.

 

This was the first book I've read by this author and it was an easy and pleasant read. However, the names really annoyed me, Dani, Rosie and Bella.  One of those is a dog, it confused me and I had to read the first few chapters, twice to get hang of who was who. Perhaps I was tired, as I was reading it in bed, so that's maybe why I was lost, but it was Rosie, she was the dog!!

The book was about loss, love, grief, romance and  friendship. I think the author dealt with really well with the many emotions, especially when dealing with profound loss.

The grief camp for children was wonderfully handled and I liked the whole idea of it. It was what Bella the daughter needed to walk that grief journey, while her mother, Dani walked her own road of a very different loss.

 A well written story and the ending was 'warm feeling' ending. Worth reading and good if you have had a sad loss.

However, I don't know if I'd read another Mary Ellen Taylor book at the moment.

Chrisxx

Catching up.

 We've started to get our garden straight... but it does still look winter weary. (That's a nice way of saying, it looks a mess.) Our front garden is an odd shape so we do very little to it. We have these tubs right outside our front door. These are our winter ones, the Wall flowers are still to flower.

Because of its odd shape and because its small, we planted daffodils all around it. Down the side of the path and....

.... in front of the front door. We planted 350 bulbs three years ago and they have increased.

So always a nice show as we approach the bungalow, they're always lovely to see as we drive up.

Yesterday we were up and out for a coffee to our favourite coffee shop before10:00am. The sun was shining and then after lunch we started in the back garden! The grass hadn't been cut since beginning of October, it was long. But our super-duper power mower and Dh took the top off easily, so we can now start to get it back to look like lawn and not a field!

I sowed some more seeds, Cosmos, Sea holly, Dahlias,  Asters, Tagettes, and Antirrhinums. All are in my seed containers on the middle bedroom window sill. 

I take our gardening seriously and we always have colourful flower beds. We'll carry on now, two flower beds still to top dress and feed. I check the peach tree every day, we will have peaches this year, it has buds, so I'm delighted.

I admit I don't find it easy these days, but I do what I can, and supervise Dh doing the things I can't!

How are your gardens?

Chrisxx

The Lonely Feeling!

 

Have you seen the stories about this money Punch, who was bullied and ostracized by the other monkeys. The zoo keepers took pity on him and one gave him the toy chimp. 

He took to it right away and was seen carrying it around and hugging it and  even seen preening it, parting the fur just as monkeys do to each other, (Are they looking for fleas??)

But then Go-chan arrived, he had been in a circus. He was used to noise, bright lights and colours and just didn't fit in, and the other monkeys pushed him out of the group. 

He was moved to the zoo where Punch was and Go-Chan was the first monkey to sit along side Punch!

It was almost as though Go-chan recognised that Punch was lonely too. The first to reach out, no hesitation, no fear, just understanding. 

Their bond didn't fade after that first embrace, it grew.

They sit together, move together, support each other quietly.

Its not loud, its not dramatic. Its steady and sometimes that's the most powerful kind of love.

So Punch isn't alone anymore he has Go-chan.

Chrisxx

What a glorious day

 

Sun rise yesterday morning (Taken by a FB follower) And it was a beautiful sun shiny day..We went into town after lunch and it was crowded, so was the promenade.

And it's still winter!

Although March 1st is heralded as the start of Spring, it was only 8.6 C and felt it too!

It is St David's Day the patron saint of Wales today. I used to be dressed as a Welsh girl, with the big hat, when I was little. We always had the afternoon off school on a school day, which was nice.

The photo is not me, but how I was dressed, and yes with the high hat too.

It seems it was an extension of the 1800's riding high hat and has become synonymous with the Welsh Costume. It was promoted by Lady LLanover, born 1803, died 1886 who wanted to ensure that the Welsh dress and culture was kept.

It was a glorious sunny day, roll on Summer!

Chrisxx

Happiness?

 A survey of 2000 people reported that the happiest every day sights included a rainbow after the rain,  a baby's smile and a clear night sky full of stars. Just some of the things that gave them that happy feeling, while 28% said they'd crack a smile at a dog wagging its tail excitedly. Others said, that seeing an older couple walking hand in hand gave them a warm feeling too. 

What does gives us that burst of a warm feeling and makes our hearts skip a beat?  I get that squishy feeling seeing baby animals, a soft warm plump little belly of a puppy stretched out on a blanket, a line of ducklings waddling behind  their mum, the soft nose of a kitten rubbing your face saying hello, I love those.

There are so many things that cause us humans to have a happy smile; sun shiny days, cherry blossom in full bloom, waves lapping gently on the shore, the first sun's rays in an early morning, those early spring flowers,  foot prints in fresh snow, a toddlers' giggle, a child's drawing, a window with twinkling lights on a dark night, a fluffy clean towel warm from the drier, the scent of freshly baked bread and the smell of coffee. These are just a few, I could include that letter or email you've been waiting for, the phone call and that unexpected but wanted visitor, they give me a joy I can't describe. 

So what are yours, more I'm sure and just as joyous?

Chrisxx

Interesting Books V Kindles?

 

I've only ever had one nasty comment, anonymous of course. Shame, otherwise I'd have visited their blog and been 'sweet! And I do mean kind and generous with my reply.

I love to read what other people write and the comments and I try to be careful not to say something that could cause hurt, when I write.

So I'm not fazed by comments that damn kindles and declare they're not as good as holding a real book. There are some aspects , which can be difficult to do with a kindle, until you really get to know how to use their idiosyncrasies. 

I read real books, I like the look of them, the feel of them and the smell of a new book, however kindles have their uses too.

I have a Paperwhite kindle, its my second kindle so I've had a kindle since they were first came on the scene in 2007. I took it on our second visit to Australia  in 2008.

 It is very convenient to read in bed as its back lit, so when I'm awake at three in the morning, as I often am, I can read without my bedside light and not disturb my husband. (Actually it wouldn't bother him if I did switch on my light) And just one aspect that I need, is  that I can enlarge the font. Our book group's book a month ago had faint small print.. so I bought a kindle copy for ease to read. A while ago I wrote about things I hated about books and size and depth of print being faint and small was just one of them. 

So please don't knock kindles, because there are those of us who rely on the convenience and ease of using them. Having a case like this one pictured here, which is mine, makes it more like a book.

I love my kindle! What do you think?

Chrisxx