The Wilderness.

 My town has an area of urban green space near to the town centre, known as The Wilderness,  Its cared for by volunteers who visit there every morning to feed the swans.

The lake was enlarged about 20 years ago and supports a variety of fish and now is about 3 acres.

It's a beautiful area and valued by the town's people.. there was an item on the town's face book page the other week, about a cygnet found floundering on the duel carriage way, which used to be the railway and runs parallel to the Wilderness; it was supposed that it was a failed first flight and guided back to the lake! It's visited each year by Canada Geese, which we often see flying over our home, both night and morning.

The hen, named Angel has a deformed wing, but is perfectly alright and has had several broods in the three years she has been there

It is teaming with wild life, birds, trees and small creatures and in 2020 a group of volunteers planted 2000 bluebells and 2000 daffodils.

Why am I telling you all this is because, when I was little I played there with school friends and it was just a scrubby area with a thin trickle of a stream. I often went home with wet muddy knicks where I had slipped over.. there wasn't any visible wild life, just a lot of screaming children. It was a heavenly place to play altho' not approved by my grandmother, but then who would have told her where I had been? I certainly didn't and there was a neighbour often around to clean me up before I ventured home!

I was amazed when I moved back here 3 years ago, how different it was.. thankfully it will always be looked after by groups of volunteers. 

A truly beautiful place well worth looking after.

Chrisxx

You're worthy!

I love these sayings and when I read similar for the first time, I realised I was a person in my own right and worthy!

A harsh childhood with a Victorian grandmother, who didn't spare the rod. And then a bad choice of husband, who thought I was the lowest of the low. Thank God I came to a place in my life that gave me the courage to leave him and start a new life!

Chrisxx

Just one.......

 Dull wintery days has had me snuggled down at home, avoiding the call to walk from my inner reluctant self.  Its meant a gain of a pound this week,  but I can cope with that. A while ago I'd be remonstrating with myself and vowing I'd cut out even more of the foods I love, and be walking on the treadmill till my little legs are aching.. but now I think its only a pound and only this one week!

Where did I get that sensible head from?? Old age I think and maybe several years too late!

The beaches look wind swept and deserted, however there are always some brave souls walking their dogs and even the surfers suitably dressed in wet suits or are they dry suits?

There are three live webcams here in Porthcawl, which I look at some mornings, interesting to look at. At one time last year the RNLI cam had a spider and the little long legged creature made a lace covering over it.. 

Bleak and not even winter yet.. our heating has kept us warn, but I will have to tog myself up and brave the elements, if I want to keep that pound gain to just a pound and just one week!

Chrisxx

The answer.

 I seemed to have got this losing weight under my belt as it were, if that's the saying I want. But everywhere and I mean everywhere is out to get you, so called healthy and slim. Television adverts, on line, supermarkets all trying to prove that healthy means slim. (Although supermarkets are loaded with chocs, cakes and fatty foods, there are also aisles of so called healthy foods)

Each time I had any pre-operation check ups, I was asked had I had any unexplained drop in weight? My reply was..'I wish!' Until that is my sister in law was diagnosed with colon cancer. The last time we'd seen her before she was diagnosed, she looked very slim and was delighted that she had lost weight, saying she was wearing clothes she had kept, but thinking she'd never get in them again.. don't we all do that. I have a wardrobe full of them!

So I'm going down the route of  a small weight losses, basically I don't want rolls of skin, when I have lost the fat, but also it allows me to have the odd meal out and this for a pud now and then! Yes, why doesn't skin lose weight??

So I have found that happy medium. That last weekend, when we met up with Dh's sister he'd said he had never seen her looking so old.. I never saw again, lockdown arrived and she went into a care home. Dh went to her funeral only being close family allowed.

So losing regularly and slowly is suiting me at the moment. We eat a variety of foods, Dh likes cooking so SW books and PON books are on our coffee table all the time and we're enjoying what we're eating, and that's the main thing too, eating food you enjoy!

Chrisxx

Reading is good for you!

 I have a life long love of reading, so the library is very important to me.. So I was horrified to find when we moved here, the new library is not in the main high street of the town. And even worse, it was up steps with an 'S' shaped ramp if you can't manage the steps, and even worse the ramp is over hung with trees, so lots of drippy wet drops when it rains and also in high winds the ramp is closed incase a branch breaks and falls! We didn't get to the Book group last week, because it was raining too heavily and even with macs and an umbrella we'd have been soaked. I've read this week that libraries are closing down because of lack of use and 160 are now being manned by volunteers paid in some instances by the local charity of the town where it is sited. This in my view is awful as it has been proven and researched to show...

Reading is good for you!

It is a known fact that reading has benefits.. it boosts mental cognition. It seems that simply imagining about running while reading about it, can trigger the neurons related to the physical act of running, therefore enhancing connectivity in specific parts of the brain. Neuroscientists involved in the study said ' reading a griping novel makes changes in the way the brain connects the different circuits. This research may explain why readers often find it easier to make decisions, plan, prioritize, and access their creative side.  

It aids sleep, reading has a calming effect, and when it becomes a  nightly ritual, there is signaling to the brain that it is time to wind down and helps to regulate the body clock.

Reading is thought to reduce stress helping to lower the heart rate and ease tension in the muscles, even better it is suggested than walking or listening to music. 

It improves life satisfaction, on average readers are more happy than non readers.. Studies have shown that those, who read for pleasure have a higher level of self esteem than those who don't and cope with difficult situations more easily.

It may help you to live longer..simply picking up a book could mean living longer. According to research reading a chapter a day might actually keep the Dr away! A study of 3,635 people by Yale University found that book worms tend to live longer, maybe up to 2 years longer. Other research has shown that reading can significantly slow brain aging, this includes improvements in memory, visuospatial skills and attention.

If you want to find out more about this, you'll find it at https://ultimatelibrary.co.uk/

I knew there was a good reason to why I loved reading and so now I know!

Chrisxx

Saturday Night Entertainment.

     We love 'Strictly Come Dancing' on TV even though there has been some unpleasantness and suggestions of the Professionals being too harsh, it hasn't put us off watching it. 

We have our favourites who we vote for each week, we make our own comments on their dancing. 

(J B Gill and Amy Dowden) Their jive was wow, how did he keep kicking like that, we were out of breath watching him!

(Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez) She danced beautifully this week, but had very low marks from the judges, we thought she looked beautiful and danced gracefully. But we thought her Viennese Waltz was absolutely gorgeous.

(Wynne Evans and Katya Jones) Wynne was amazing and never kept still, we were clapping and shouting ... go Wynne go! A great Quickstep! We tune in to his Radio show in the mornings on Radio Wales, he's so funny and it is so the way of Welsh people.

When they perform really well we're full of complements. And get annoyed if the Judges mark our favourites poorly! We recognise some of the steps and clap if our celebrities dance well, we try to guess their scores and give them our own scores.. we'd give them all 10 s! 

In our view its a wonderful entertainment show, its not just the dancing, but the costumes, the make up, the music, the whole show, we love it all! A real Saturday night TV show.

Do you watch it and if you do, do you have favourites and vote for them?

Chrisxx

A rather nice week.

I've had quite a good week, well actually it was very good! I did walk for two days, but not Wednesday, because the rain was horrendous, coming down like cats and dogs altho in Wales its described as 'Mae hi'n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn' ......Its raining old women and sticks! And then short walks the rest of the week, but it helped, because my weight loss on Friday was 2 1/2 pounds! I was delighted and intend to do the same next week.

We did go for a coffee, after the SW meeting, but resisted the Tiffen and took a SW hifi bar with us.. quite chocolatey so satisfied the choc taste! It was lovely coffee and I met my cousin, who is looking after her youngest grand daughter Eila just 9 months old and gorgeous. My cousin thought I'd looked as though I'd lost weight. Because she's looking after Eila, she is going to a different SW group, but is missing our friendly one.. so nice to meet and chat it buoyed me up no end, I left her with a smile on my face.

Then last evening my Grand daughter Saskia phoned to tell me that she and Dan her boyfriend had got engaged last week, when they were holidaying in US in Vermont! Such exciting news, he's a super young man, the only person we've ever had stay, who helped with preparing and clearing away the Sunday dinner, apart from my grand daughter. It was wonderful news.

And have you ever heard the saying ....'when you can't change the situation, change yourself' So, some people, who email me have been making me feel irritated and anxious, so I decided to swerve them. And I feel a lot better for it! Such a relief, like a weight off my mind.

What was your week like?

Chrisxx

Meanwhile the world goes on..my favourite line

Wild Geese 

You do not have to be good

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting,

You only have to let the soft animals of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain 

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees 

the mountains and the rivers,

Meanwhile the wild geese high in the clean blue air

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting

over and over announcing your place 

in the family of things.

By Mary Oliver

Sometimes you need poetry

Chrisxx

Its so undecided

I don't know how the people of America are feeling, but I personally am getting uneasy with the thought of a leader voted in, who appears not quite right in the head. Sometimes talking for the sake of talking without making sense and totally off subject.

Its difficult to discern truths from lies, is Trump really saying all those things.. he has had several conversations with Putin, is that fact? He believes he can end the war in Ukraine? How is he going to do that?

Each time there a news article about him, I can't believe he says some things. We watched 'Question Time' and people, who are with Trump, seem to dismiss his misdemeanors and odd remarks..and those people genuinely think he's the best for their country.

I worry that someone, who is the Head of a very powerful country could lose his cool and push that 'button' and then we'll all be in the 'mire!'

This was my morning prayer from Proverbs 31 Christian Ministries.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

What do you think?

                              Chrisxx

Changes!

It's been all change for us... the bed... the new bed!! I kept saying to Dh this is not like the bed I tried in the store, but he reckons it has to be.  Anyway we decided to change the new mattress for the mattress off the bed in our second bedroom, perfect! Firmer and just right... Dh is long suffering with me being changeable, but I am convinced that the new mattress isn't the one I tried,  it is too soft! So I'm happy and since using it, I think its warmer! OK it could be the weather is warmer, but I don't think so, the mornings are brrrrrr, warm knicker weather! We've also changed over the metal rail head board for our old padded one, much more comfy to rest your head on when reading in bed.

I've also been back to Specsavers, for 4th time and said the varilux lenses are not right, I have to lift up my head to view my laptop screen.   So I've had them changed to just reading glasses, so I can use them reading at night in bed.. there was a refund as those lenses are cheaper, £140. The young man wanted  me to accept a credit note, which I could use on another pair of glasses. I told him I would never use Specsavers again and got my money!

We also decided to drop out of the U3a 'Singalong' group. She wants to change to not having a break in the middle, but keep singing for the hour, then have a social with tea and biscuits at the end. That doesn't suit us, we're not moving for an hour I was stiff and had to stand a few times..Then when it finished most people, including us left. The person who organises it said, they're doing what the majority want.. but she has forgotten we provided the biscuits, so now they'll have to buy them themselves. I am sad about this as I really enjoyed it and took an active part.

And taking the advice of Michael Mosely (RIP) I have done one thing different, I'm actually walking once a day.. That may not sound great but it is for me, I don't like walking, but have pushed myself to do it.

So a very big change for me!

Chrisxx

Mary Berry's Banana Bread

Now and then we indulge in a simple cake, one with limited fat and one where you can use half sugar and this recipe is one of those.

Banana Bread

100g butter (a substitute is lower fat spread)

`175g castor sugar (you can use half sugar)

225 Self raising flour

2 eggs

2  v. ripe bananas

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbl sp milk(semi is ok)

Pre heat oven 180 or gas mark 4

Mix all ingredients till well mixed.

Spoon mixture into prepared loaf tin.

Cook for an 1 hour until banana bread is well risen and golden brown.

Test if cooked with tooth pick, if wet cook for longer.

Dench with runny icing flavoured with chocolate... or not... doesn't really need it as it is very moist.

Leave to cool before slicing and then ....

ENJOY

Chrisxx

Book Group Book.

 I still have nights when I wake and can't get back to sleep and last night was one of those. It was 3 am, I tried snuggling back down after a loo visit, but half an hour later I was still awake, not wide awake but not sleepy.. so after another loo visit I switched on my bedside lamp and got my book. (The light doesn't bother Dh) I thought it would give me a chance to finish our Book Group book. 

Frank 75, a retired writer and academic receives an invitation to a funeral of an old friend to take place in Milan, Italy. Being reclusive, he has no idea of what is happening in the world, and is unaware of the increasing covid epidemic that is unfolding.

In Milan he finds he can no longer ignore what is happening in the wider world, when he finds himself quarantined in his hotel by the escalating restrictions. By nature introspective and self absorbed the reader is privy to his inner most thoughts and reflections and he becomes very real. 

There is a vast contrast between Frank and the family hiding out in the attic, who by his invitation, joined him in his room. One dispossessed family, that would struggle at the best of times and a man cultured, educated, who became involved with them, as they huddled down together at the height of the epidemic, brought a realistic edge to the story. 

It was an expertly written book, well paced, an absorbing and resonant read and certainly a convincing covid novel.

It just wasn't for me, but being the Group book, I read it, perhaps you might like it?

Chrisxx

A very white patio!

When we came home from SW yesterday morning the garden was radiant in sunshine, so we sat outside to have our cup of tea. We didn't talk just sat quietly and enjoyed the garden and quiet.. no builders banging for a change, two houses are now finished and the other is only worked on now and then. 

Dh had some posts to sort and I stayed there, in my warm jacket, because although the sun was shining it was only 10C. The patio is now sparking,  as Dh used the power washer on it yesterday and our pots back on it.

I loved sitting there, watching the birds on one of the feeders.. and the squirrel jumping from branch to branch on the trees that border the driveway of the private school, which is about 100ft from our garden. We sometimes see him tripping along our fence with a walnut in his mouth, so some one has a tree here near us? Its such fun watching him..

 Our sparking, very white patio

This was the garden when we arrived just over 3years ago.

And here are the three flower beds we 've dug and planted.

Sorry about the table with my tray of weeds! And we have the small trees and shrubs in front of the fence we had, instead of the awful hedge. Its a fair sized garden and we're very pleased we kept our big power motor mower..It takes Dh about 25mins to do back and front grass, so may be one more cut before winter with all this sun. The garden is very different from when we came here, the grass looks more like a lawn with regular cutting and weed and feeding and we've managed to get rid of most of the dandelions. 

It was very calming sitting there and then it was time for lunch, I was desperate, we had a baked potato with cheese grilled on top! A lovely morning. What was yours like?

Chrisxx

Smiling is infectious!

 If you've read my blog in the past you'll know I suffer with repeated and horrendous UTIs so when I heard about hiprex, which is a bladder antiseptic and prevents infections I asked my Drs could I have some. I was summoned to a face to face app.!! 

I saw a Dr I hadn't seen before, she was excellent, knew what I was talking about and was fully sympathetic.. and not only did she agree it was worth giving hiprex a try, as we had our flu jabs booked later this month, she said she could do them there and then to save us having to go to the Medical Centre again. So we were jabbed!

Then I found this gem of a poem by Spike Milligan and was just how I felt when I left the Drs.  

Smiling is infectious,

You catch it like the flu.

When someone smiled at me today,

I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,

and someone saw my grin.

When he smiled I realised, 

I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,

then realised its worth.

A single smile, just like mine,

could travel round the Earth.

So if you feel a smile begin,

don't leave it undetected.

Let's start an epidemic quick,

and get the world infected!!

by Spike Milligan

Chrisxx

A gardener's tale.

 Every morning the first thing I do is walk through the lounge to look out of the French doors to view the garden. If its not raining I step out onto the top of the steps and peer up and down. I smell the air, look at the furthest flower bed, is there a new flower, is there anything new to see, how is the shape of the little scented tree? It all brings great joy to me. I listen to the birds, and when the wind is in a certain direction, I  can hear the sea! Some mornings I see the geese flying across  from the nature reserve to Ogmore. I used to walk round in my dressing gown, but after my fall I am wary, so wait till I've dressed.. one thing falling fully dressed, but in my nightie??

We had a lovely couple of hours on Monday afternoon, the sun was shining and it felt warm. Our garden is south-west facing so good for lots of plants, but would you believe too hot for some others, which flower one year and then disappear, but I keep trying, so I plant snowdrops every year!  But it means we can grow some very nice grapes!

With all the tidying up, I also reduced the height of the crab apple tree so it will bush out. I had a beautiful one in my garden in Billericay and I made jars of crab apple jelly, to which I added  different herbs and gave away to friends.

Here's one of my end of the summer pots... ready to go for a winter sleep in the garage. A bit sad to see the end of summer.

And the cosmos all looking a bit end of summer weary.

Once these have died down  I shall fill it with even more bulbs!

And my new spring pots already planted  with daffodils, and tulips and grit to protect (I hope) against the squirrels.

 I gently pruned some of the roses, just to their 'knees' in Autumn, it will be down to their 'ankles' in spring! And the clematis too, remembering 'flower before June, don't prune!' All the sayings I learnt as a new gardener so many years ago, have helped me through the years.

Dh was going to power wash the patio, but with the rain showers we decided to just get the patio ready for the next dry fine day, not safe on a day with sudden showers,  as it is electric.

 I just love my garden, and  it was surprise,  because of covid lockdown we didn't view the property, altho my son videoed the bungalow for us, I was a bit concerned about the garden, would it be too small? Truth be told it's a bit too big, but we haven't made it labour intensive so we're coping!

Do you love your garden?

Chrisxx 

How Clever

 

Seen on the beach yesterday

Chrisxx

Weaver.

 This wasn't my proposed blog post for today but I feel I should give praise to Weaver whose blog has been so interesting and informative of her life, as a wife to the farmer plus her first husband.

She announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and stopped blogging in July. 

She has given me and many more hours of enjoyment reading her writings..

October 6th she died.. Rest in Peace Weaver of Grass.

                        Chrisxx

90th Birthday.

 Yesterday we went to a 90th birthday party, it was my mother's cousin, although she refers to me as her cousin. Often on the phone, when she's asked me about something from the past, and I have said I don't think I remember that, she has said...'Don't be silly of course you do!' So I keep quiet!

She gave a little speech about her life, but forgot that myself and my cousin were her bridesmaids, until I reminded her, we all laughed..

Her brother age 92 was there. I went to talk to him, asking him did he not recognise me, he didn't, but I carried on talking to him and reminded him I had quite a 'pash' for him when I was 18. He wrote to me long letters, when I was a student nurse. He was one of those over studious, quiet, shy, young men, but did go on and get married and had four girls..And I just moved on as  you do when you're 18 and young!

There were about 50 people there including my cousins, (one the other bridesmaid) I don't have much contact with her, she lives in the midlands. And her brother, they were both full of the holidays they'd had this summer, all very nice, but to me it was like they were chasing dreams. I'm past that stage of my life, all that airport hustle and bustle, not for me any more. They asked could I speak Welsh yet and I was able to reply.. 'Ydw, dw i'n dysgu siarad Cymraeg,' (yes I am learning to speak Welsh)

The food was lush, pulled pork in a bap, roast potatoes, mixed green salad leaves, coleslaw and apple sauce. I loved it as we never eat foods like that these days, as we're always trying to lose weight (I lost 2 pounds this week) We just had a little bit of it all.

And there was a very delicious birthday cake, all very nice.

We drove home the long way via our front promenade, which was crowded, but just by chance there was a parking space by Booths, the pavement kiosk with the fab Welsh ice cream, so we stopped for one,  it was delish..So a nice day but I was glad to get home for a decaff tea! Can't beat a good cuppa.

Have you older relatives?

Chrisxx

Matt Boxall's 100 cal soup.

This is written from his video, an interesting way to write a recipe in a different way!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the chill of winter approaches, its time to welcome the comfortable embrace of the soup season!

There's an undeniable joy of savouring a steaming bowl of home made soup and for those looking to slim down for the summer ahead, there's no need to sacrifice flavour for fitness. 

Tik tok sensation Matt Boxall famed for his diet friendly culinary creations has unveiled a scrumptious 'weight loss soup' that packs a mere 100cals per serving, proving that a delectable taste and dieting can indeed go hand in hand.

Matt enthused, 'If you want to loose weight, this is the soup for you,' as he detailed the simple but nutritious components of his recipe.

To whip up this concoction gather a diced carrot, 80g each of sweet potato, tomatoes, half an onion, a duo of garlic cloves, and a dash each of salt, pepper and fiery chili flakes.

Roast these vibrant vegetables in an oven preheated to 200 degrees for a snug 20 minutes. Following their oven adventure, pop them into a blender, introducing a splash of coconut milk and 300g of vegetable stock to the mix.

Heat the soup and its ready to eat.... enjoy!

Such a fun way to write a recipe!

Chrisxx

Getting things ready......

It's been a glorious few days here, beautiful sunshiny days.. we were taking our time yesterday  morning drinking coffee, talking and deciding what to do in the garden,  when Dh said isn't it your hair day... whoops I hadn't realised it was Thursday! You might think that odd but we were a day behind, because didn't do our trip to Tesco for yogurts and fruit on Monday, but on Tuesday, so hence the mix up..but we managed  to get my hairdressers in time.

It was so nice in the afternoon, we worked in the garden. I was able to sort out my spring bulb pots, a bit of fresh top soil, and new grit, so ready for spring.. Dh cut the grass, if we have a couple of dry days he's going to weed and feed it, doing that last year did improve it. I also potted up my pelargoniums that came from the front pot and the dahlias, they will all go in the garage to over winter them. Our garden is ready for winter, although I still want to move my 'Susan' rose which didn't do so well this summer.(Susan.... because its part of the name and I can't remember it) I am planting my new tulip bulbs when it gets a bit colder. I was very brave and walked around with my walking stick being extra careful where I fell in July. I'm still a bit nervous, but I can't not look around all the flower beds, they give me such joy and being nervous makes me more careful!

And we have the ingredient's to make these.. yes its coming!

Have you got your garden tidy for winter yet and have you made your puddings or do you buy them?

Chrisxx

I never realised.....

 I never realised how much energy I had when I was younger.. I'd clean my house all morning doing several loads of washing and peg it out on the line; then a quick snack lunch and I'd get the garden weeded, and grass cut in the afternoon. These days I'm out of 'go juice' after one job!

I never realised how I could walk the mile to town effortlessly to go to the library., today we drive!

I never realised how I could get up each morning at 5:45am for work and keep going all day!

I never realised how I could eat a cake or two with a cup of tea in an afternoon and my weight stayed the same. Didn't even have a scales.

I never realised how easily I carried bags of shopping from the local shops, which were a good half a mile away.

I never realised how when I went to bed I'd sleep all night and never thought I wouldn't.

I never realised how I much ironing of clothes I did three times in a week, a husband and four children generated mountains of ironing.

But my biggest regret is I never realised how slim and attractive I looked. I had thick glossy brown hair, I still have thick hair but greying now, but it still curls easily and my hairdresser loves that it does!

I still have strong long nails which I have manicured and polished, one of my weaknesses..

In fact I should be saying instead of 'never realised'... I never 'appreciated my worth', a childhood without a mother, that lacked love and a really rotten choice of a first husband and I felt worthless and always second best.. 

But no more!! Meeting Dh was amazing because he is amazing and appreciates all I do.

Isn't it strange how when you look back at life you wish you'd had a Degree in ' Hindsight!'

So make the best of everyday..don't let your yesterdays spoil your todays!

Chrisxx

A different book for me.

Sometimes we read to be entertained; sometimes to be inspired; sometimes to escape and inhabit another world, this book delivers on all of these and leaves us a better person. 

But it was not the sort of genre I usually read, but it was offered as free kindle book and I liked the title, its a romantic novel! I am so glad I got because I really, really liked it!

It centers around Kit, a Dr working in an emergency dept in a California hospital. Then her life totally changes while watching a news item about a fire in a Club in New Zealand, because she thinks she see her dead sister in the crowd watching the camera crew! She goes to her Mother's, who has also seen what appears to be her daughter supposedly killed 15 years earlier. 

Kit travels to New Zealand to look for her sister.. and so the story unravels. It is an amazing story, the girls had a turbulent upbringing, their parents too wrapped up in their own relationship to notice anyone else. She and her sister Josie are left to their own devices. I loved the way the story unfolds from the perspective of the two sisters; loved the description of the sibling rivalries only to discover they envied each other; loved the way the idyllic childhood was explored then slowly disintegrated.

The style of writing was almost poetical and I loved it. I felt invested in the characters and though the action switched in time and between the two characters, I didn't find the story line disjointed.

Its a book well worth reading and although there was sadness and neglect, there was a satisfactory ending, though to some it might seem contrived.. but that's the nature of romantic novels, but I loved it and have bought a couple more of  Barbara O'Neal's books! 

I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Chrisxx 

Presents but no card!

 I am so annoyed, it was my daughter's 60th birthday last week 26th September and as it was an important birthday, I went to a lot of effort to send her presents and a card. I searched for a card that didn't have an old person on it or old-ish inference. I bought it weeks ago and  posted it well in time for the day.. and it hasn't been delivered! 

She got the orchids, which she loved and a cake from a reputable firm, gift wrapped and in a tin, which she said was delicious, shared at their weekend away in their holiday house. So they were all ok, but not the card!

I wanted everything just right as she has been ill.. a month ago when she went to see her Dr complaining of extreme tiredness, it was discovered she was dangerously anemic and had to have 2 units of blood! Tests since have ruled out several possible causes and she is beginning to feel a lot better, although still on medication.

I've found how to complain about undelivered letters and I will be doing that asap!

Grrrrrr!

Chrisxx

What is a luxury?

 So true...on days when I've had a really bad night I think these..

Insomnia and a getting up 3 times for the loo means it steals my days.

Just doze my days away and when it rains it doesn't feel a such a waste of time.. and I read!

Chrisxx

Porthcawl Elvis Festival [ Day 2 Sept 28 Afternoon] (6 Locations in 4 mi...

A great weekend for Porthcawl... this is an annual events and always well attended.. we drove to the prom and it was crowded. 

Lots of Elvis's and women in full skirts with net petticoats and the pavement outside seating full.

Chrisxx

Raining!

 What do you do when it rains and rains and rains?  We are always sorry when we see news reports, that people's homes are flooded, it must be awful.  Perhaps I should be more grateful that we have those steps to get into our lounge at the back and there's a step up into our front door. So not easy for water to leak into our home, although a couple of nights ago we were up at 3:00am checking outside, because the rain was torrential and our gutters were over flowing.  We'd had them cleaned a short while ago, so no problems with them, but it was frightening to see the water overflowing out of them like a waterfall, the rain was so heavy.

We were the only people looking out of our front door, just checking we were alright. Perhaps everybody else was sleeping through it, although it was so loud we were woken by it. Dh closed our fanlight window just to make sure no water came in.

Then we had tea and toast and read for a while sitting in our arm chairs.. we didn't go back to bed till 5 when the rain had lessened and I slept till 9.. so didn't feel too bad the next day.

And it did stop late morning for a short while and we had some sunshine. I walked around the garden checking the plants, a chrysanthemum needed a stake, but everything else was fine.  Although our lawn was covered with  leaves and the keys from the Sycamore trees that grow along the drive way of St Clares, the private school about 70 yds from our property. They sprout and grow every where and Mountain Ash trees, even in the middle of our hedges. We had a warming lamb broth for lunch and then the rain came back and so we read our books.. Dh has read more books than he usually does this year and I have just finished my 58th..But mid afternoon we decided to drive to the sea front and have an ice cream and we did and it was lovely.

Booths is one of the pavement kiosks and the ice cream is from Marsh Farms, Welsh and its lush! 

Friday, yesterday, it was a gloriously sunshiny day and in the afternoon, Dh planted some Brussel Sprout plants. They will be grown by Christmas 2025! So nicely covered with an environmesh to protect against the Cabbage White butterfly and surrounded by bio slug pellets. Garlic will go in tomorrow.... All our other veg is now finished, just some carrots and we do have grapes still ripening.  We've had another bumper crop of tomatoes, which have been delicious. 

There's always something to do in a garden and the heavy rain has watered in the new plants!! Well actually practically washed them away!

So what do you do when it rains and rains and rains?

Chrisxx

TIFFIN

 We love the chocolate Tiffin you can get in coffee shops but I used to make this a lot for my children and me and I still love it!

Ingredients

150g Rich Tea biscuits or a similar not Digestives they are too soft.

175 g Butter

200 g Sultanas or a mixture of 150 Sultanas and 50g Glace Cherries, halved.

150 dark chocolate (Greens?)

200g Cooking Chocolate

100 g Golden Syrup

METHOD

In a bag crush the biscuits with a rolling pin, but not to dust, leave some chunks.

Put chocolate, butter and syrup in a bowl and either melt all over a  pan of hot water or in a Microwave.

Then fold in broken biscuits and fruit and mix thoroughly into the melted choc mixture.

Then pour into a butter greased pan.

Leave to cool.. 

Enjoy!

Chrisxx

A whole year.

 Its been a whole year since we said good bye to our lovely Nell. She was such a cutie although she had her own mind!

She was such a nosy one too, always looking out of the window giving a woof at passing people, but only from inside the window!

We still miss her and although I wanted another dog, Dh said he couldn't cope with the loss of a dog again. Then suddenly about a couple of months ago he said, 'yes lets get another one.'

So we talked and talked about it.  Here, this bungalow to get into the back garden you have to use the French doors in the lounge, so not good for a dog coming in from the garden on a pale silver green carpet, but we could cover it?...  So we're still talking and lately we've  noticed dogs in our favourite coffee shop,  has become dog friendly! 

This was on a FB page and could have been Nell!

We'll always remember you Nell.

Chrisxx

Autumn Garden

 We had our young gardener on Thursday afternoon and she weeded our 'L' shaped flower bed which gave us the push to get the others straight for the winter and the weather was perfect for us, not too hot. We cut down the Buddleia which was huge.. so we're happy with the garden, although I need to sort out the dahlias for their winter sleep! I'm very pleased with my Autumn flowers, Michaelmas Daises, Chrysanthemums, and Rudbeckia.. 

I want to buy a whole lot of more daffs for our back garden.. so another trip out for garden stuff which we love!

So pleased with my plants I bought the other week, all reduced and now in my garden.

So we're looking very Autumn, which is good although the thought of winter on the way is depressing, I need to buy some new jigsaws to keep happily busy!

At the moment rain has stopped play in the garden!

How is yours?

Chrisxx

Victor Meldrew???

 My darling husband (Dh) is a real love, kind, loving and patient but now and then he gets a 'bee in his bonnet' and can be like a real Victor Meldrew.

Here in Wales everything is recycled and so Dh prides himself in us only having a very small amount in our blue sack, rubbish bag.. so the other week he was insensed when someone put a bulging blue sack outside our drive way, when ours was practically empty. He went on and on about it, I said go and put it outside some one else's house. Of course he didn't, but he wasn't happy.

We also have, as well as various bags for different stuff, a lidded bin for food waste.. which we do use. The younger couple down the way from us obviously don't, as the sea gulls attack her blue sack and rubbish gets strewn all over the road. Dh moans about that too, but I just laugh.. and I always say to him, we're too old to get het up about things outside our control, but he does still have a moan!

When we were talking about it, I'd said in jest.. don't go outside in your pyjamas like Victor Meldrew did, if there's a noise....... remembering the episode in 'One Foot in the Grave,' when Victor arrived back in the bedroom with a dead hedgehog on his foot. And we laughed and laughed!

Well what else can you do?

                                             Chrisxx

OLD?

 Although we have our groceries delivered we do pop to Tesco every few weeks for yogurts and sometimes extra fruit. We choose a quiet time, usually Monday afternoon as we've learnt our lesson going at another time, when it turned out to be very busy and it was hell! Just something else that's changed for us as we have got older.. we used to love shopping together and used to go a Friday afternoon when Dh finished work. 

Its so strange how your 'likes' change as you age. I used to love walking on the beach, now I choose to walk on the prom and look down at the beach. I worry how my feet sink into the sand and I fear over balancing.

At our Book Group meeting yesterday afternoon, we talked about books we'd read  over the summer.. One member talked about what are now called 'Beach Read' Easy romance type books and she mentioned several authors, whose books,  I used to read all the time, now I find them not to my taste. Of course I didn't say that then. I had read the most books, and was asked how I had time,? My answer was 'I classed it as a hobby and gave it a priority in my life.' Years ago I would never have spent an afternoon reading, I did useless things like vacuuming a carpet that didn't really need it, because that's what I always did. 

I've definitely changed over the years.. I do a lot less cleaning, every where is cleaned once a week, except for the toilet and the wash basin which is cleaned every day and the shower every other. The kitchen is tidied and cleaned after dinner each evening, although floors, unless dirty are washed with an easy swish mop once a week. Windows?? We hate doing them, we have a window cleaner for outside and we do inside now and then!

Why make work for yourself?  We go out more......... for coffee, to meet people we know, for a walk, to meet up with SW friends, the gardening group and to join with others for the singalong group, to blow away the cobwebs..Just enjoying what we like to do! And we go to bed earlier too, so must be really old!

Just one of the lovely sunset photos off the town FB page.

Chrisxx