A Good Thing?

 The meningitis outbreak in Kent Universities and schools is really frightening, young people don't think they can get ill. I feel very sad for the families who have lost someone. My cousin's daughter died age 31 from meningitis.

When I was a student nurse in the sixties, there was an outbreak of small pox and we were all given the vaccine right away. Clinics were set up to offer vaccines and us junior nurses were 'lent' to help with the crowds, who arrived for the vaccine. 

We had talks on what to do and what not to do. They frightened us to death and  those of us, who usually went out partying,  stayed in and I avoided travelling on buses, so missed going home for a few weeks.

There were notices pinned up around to remind us......

1.Wash your hands always, especially when you've been out.

2.Keep your hands from your face.

3. Don't touch handles of doors. (I still don't!)

4. Avoid handling money, ie coins.

And these have stuck with me all my life. I still don't touch door handles when out and use a tissue. Dh and I had a meningitis vaccine at age 71, along with pneumonia and shingles later, and today, I have an appointment for the RSV. vaccine, Respiratory Syncytial Virus. vaccine.

The NHS offers these to protect us.. I'm always incredulous that people don't have them. They obviously have never seen real illness, nor been really ill.

I have had all the covid jabs and flu jabs.

I think they are all a good thing to have, what do you think?

Chrisxx

Driving Home.

We can take several ways to drive home from town,  but our favourite way is driving along the front prom, yesterday the sea was gently coming in.

There were a lot of people walking enjoying the sunshine. 

We drive up to Rest Bay, 

Here this grassy area often has mole hills and cowslips. When its cut, they mow pathways in the long grass. 

And wild flowers grow all round in the rocks at the top of the bay.

Then down through Nottage estate, where they are nearly all bungalows. I keep a commentary as we drive along; 'Neat hedges at my cousins, her gardener has been,' I say.

Down all the way to the roundabout, to pass the field where there are four Shetland ponies, they are sometimes separated, I think its because they bite each other! But they are so small and pretty!

We pass an allotment and then further on we pass the Meadow, now with a large Lake, presently there are large geese there, Canada Geese? 

Opposite is the Buttercup field where the Beach ponies live. 

All the way is different, from beaches to fields, and hills in the distance. Often sheep grazing, and the wind turbines slowing turning. We can see them from the end of our road, slowly turning against the blue sky.

When we turn into our road we can see our golden daffodils,  'fluttering and dancing in the breeze,' Wordsworth's poem.

It was beautiful yesterday, a sunshiny day and our town looked beautiful and we love it, and when it rains, we say thank goodness we're not on holiday!

Chrisxx

You could have knocked me down with a feather!

 This post won't  have the same meaning to readers who don't live in UK.

Something medical that has been bothering me for a few months, got worse over the weekend, I had to try for a Dr's appointment yesterday morning. I dread the  8 o'clock scramble, as its called. Before now I have been up to an hour listening to the voice saying are 'number 23' or what ever number is next. So I was ready and started dialing the Medical centre number at 7:57 and kept redialing and as soon as it started to ring. I quickly pressed 2 + 1= #2 for English and #1 for reception and I was speaking to someone right away. I think I was one of the first patients!! I had an appointment at 9:00am Wow!! I've never had that before.

I saw one of the new Dr's, Dr Jenny Jenkins, she was very nice and gave me the medication that is sorting me out.  I don't know why I leave problems so long, but I suppose it's how I was brought up, not to be a nuisance!! 

After it, we went into town to Costa's for coffi and a Cheese toasty, which was very nice. Not the SW food plan but we called it our breakfast!

How do you find getting a Dr appointment where you live?

Chrisxx

Mumisms

 THE TOP BEST LOVED BRITISH MUM-ISMS:

Money doesn't grow on trees

Don't talk with your mouth full

Don't eat that, you'll spoil your dinner

If someone asked you to jump off a cliff, would you?

Do not slam the door

I've got eyes in the back of my head

If the wind changes, you'll be stuck like that

If you don't finish your dinner, there'll be no pudding

Wait until your dad gets home

Were you born in a barn?

I want never gets

I don't care who started it

Eat your greens

I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times

Don't say what, say pardon

Ring me when you get there safely

Don't put your coat on inside, you won't feel the benefit outside

Don't put your feet on the furniture

Sit properly on your chair

Did you have any of these said to you and as a mum have you said them yourself?

Chrisxx

Exhausting!

 Some friends and I have been reminiscing about things we did in the past, always dangerous as we age! I can't believe how tired I get  now after some simple household chores. 

Years ago when I lived by myself and working full time, on my weekends off, I spent Saturday getting sorted for the week ahead. I had a cleaner for years, but when I downsized to a small three bedroomed house, I did it myself. Saturday was my turn around day when I did everything. By 9 o'clock I'd have done a load of washing, and pegged it out on the line, I'd then make up the clean bed, clean the bathroom, and vac all the bedrooms and landing. By 11 o'clock I would have whooshed around, cleaned the kitchen and down stairs cloak room and run the vac all through down stairs. After lunch I went into town, did my food shopping, visited the library. I usually met some one for a coffee before returning home. 

I used to spend some time doing the garden, but always sat down at 5 to watch the soap 'Brookside.'

I nearly always went out with friends, either to the cinema or we all liked dancing and there was a club not far from Billericay, where we went. I rarely stayed in on a Saturday night!

Sunday morning I ironed some clothes and the bedding before I went to church. I always cooked myself a Sunday dinner and then, I usually met up with friends and we went off somewhere. London was was easy as Billericay was on the Liverpool St. line train line.

These days, I tidy the bed, clean the bathroom, tidy in the lounge and I'm whacked! I never realised how much I did in one day, all those years ago and never thought I would find it all so exhausting when older! And now I wonder why I did so much cleaning?

Still as my friend said, we're still here albeit slower!

Yes dangerous to look back! What do you think?

Chrisxx

A Flood but all's well.

What a shock the weather was yesterday morning,  our weather station said  the temperature was 5C and as we went to leave the house at 9, it started to hail! So we waited till it had past before we set off for SW.. I keep my plastic hat with me incase and altho it flattens my hair, it all bounces back when I run my fingers through it. We didn't hang around after the meeting and drove straight home, glad to get back into the warm.

After lunch we had look my seedings in our little plastic green houses.

They are looking ok now, but when we looked in, the top trays were full of water..we hadn't noticed the clear plastic had  disintegrated and the rain had poured in! 

Oh no! But my tomatoes, pelargoniums, lupins, Sweet peas and lavender all survived. All the plants bought as bare root plants are growing too, but my cosmos are leggy, so I'll sow some more next month

A small primrose plant now 3 years old has spread, so I'll separate some shoots and spread them around the garden.

And a lovely cowslip growing well. We get them free from the birds!

I'm very hopeful of  garden full of colour again, I love sitting outside as often as I can admiring it.

How's your garden?

Chrisxx

Do we need Spam?

 Our weekly food order arrived yesterday morning and all was there as ordered.. Dh asked me was there anything I thought we might need  when he was doing it, and I remarked to him that, some bloggers had noticed the emptying of shelves in supermarkets with the rumours of war ( You're all so informative Thank you!) I did say perhaps check our water and dried goods situation, but we're fully stocked up, as we have a pantry so always keep ahead of what we need. Jokingly he asked 'Did I want spam??' 

'Only if I can have it battered and deep fried in beef dripping,' I replied!! I never had spam as a child, although there was spam around I suppose, but I didn't know of it. 

But my Grandmother did make me battered chips with an egg cooked in the chip pan too! It was all delicious with a slice of white bread and butter.  

I should have been fatter with all that dripping cooked food, but photographs of me as child showed this stick thin child, with curled hair and brown as berry. I did play 'out' all day and every day except Sundays of course. Sundays were chapel days and quiet times at home.

Do we need spam or extras?

Chrisxx

Heart ache.

 

My youngest son, Michael and I often watched TV together..his sister and brothers were all of an age where they were either out or doing homework.

And we loved this series..I think we probably watched them all. It was such a happy family story.

Recently there have been articles about some of the actors now a lot older. I don't really like reading about how they are now, I want to remember them as they were in the story, because it reminds me of Michel and myself and the dog I had then, Mari, all together on the soffa.

He is the son, who cut himself off from me and all his brothers and sister, over 14 years ago now. Its coming up to Mothering Sunday and I think about him at this time.

I send him cards, Birthday, Christmas and Postcards, but there has never been a response. 

He was such a lovely little boy, always helpful and loving.

When I think about him I remember the mornings when he, then age 8, would creep around the bed on his hands and knees to my side,...whispering, 'Mummy, its 6 o'clock, I've put the kettle on.' 

And we'd drink tea together in the kitchen before anyone else was awake.

I hope and pray that, that little boy is still there in his mind, so one day I'll pick of the phone and I'll hear, 'Hello Mum.' 

Hard to believe isn't it, that a child can turn his/her back on their parent, but it happens all the time, hundreds, thousands and more. And a parent like me will still wonder why.

Chrisxx

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,