I should have thought this yesterday, and I shouldn't have let the shopping experience drag me down! I knew I was being grumpy but couldn't shake it off.
Monday 29 April 2024
Dark thoughts
Sunday 28 April 2024
Never again!
Dh asked could we pop to Tesco yesterday afternoon, a Saturday? It might be busy he said, but then it might not! Why did he want to go? The steak he had ordered wasn't available, so we didn't get it when we had the delivery on Thursday, and he really fancied it for our evening meal.
We went and yes it was busy, but not too bad, so he kept saying? As we only had a few other bits with the steak, we decided to use one of the self service tills. Right away it was a bad idea; we needed a shop assistant, it didn't like our own bags! We waited and waited while she ok-ed some ones alcohol. Why did we think we could sail through the self check out? Then, because we had some paracetamol we needed her again! We always said we'd never use a self check out on principle, and because they always seem to go wrong as soon as they see us! So annoying and to my way of thinking, it doesn't save time.
Then in the very large entrance there were about 7 young lads bouncing around as though on a rubber bouncy castle. Shaking their collection buckets and making racket, exciting squeals and shouting. I was afraid one would bounce into me, it doesn't take much to over balance me. The adults with them seemed unaware of their noise. I expect it was just me, old and out of the stream of the joys of youngsters enthusiasm, that found them out of order. So annoying I thought, what were they collecting for? It wasn't clear, but it was a boys football club.
Saturday shopping?? Never again! But the steak was very tasty and we had English strawberries from Kent, delicious!
Chrisxx
Saturday 27 April 2024
A pleasant day in our life.
At Slimming World the scales said I hadn't kept to the food plan, but truth be told my gain could have been greater! But its a new week so I'd better not suggest a coffee in town, as I have tasted a Costa's Tiffin, wooooo it was loverly! I remember making something like it when my children were little for their birthday parties.
The recipe is really easy, Rich Tea biscuits, broken up, chocolate, syrup, soft brown sugar, glace cherries, raisins and cocoa powder. It is very calorific, but worth it, but I won't be making it!When we came home the decorator said he would be finished in the afternoon and he was; it looks absolutely super and very white with red tile paint windowsills. The tile windowsills were here when we moved here and although not my choice, they look ok. So now we need to paint our bench and we are going to buy a new door mat.
We love that bench and in the summer we sit there and say 'hello' to people who pass and most stop and chat. Dh used to sit on the outside wall, when we lived in Leiston, not that many people passed by, but the farmers in the tractors waved as they drove passed.
This is our bench when Dh put in new wooden planks and painted it. At present it looks a bit faded but won't take a lot to get it looking like new again.
So the decorator has done a very good job of painting our bungalow, we are very pleased and we'd have him again, so we may have our bedroom painted next.
The decorator was admiring our seedlings and veg patch and said our garden looked lovely, and thought it all looked as though we knew what we were doing. We did say we'd been gardening for a 'few' years! He is a budding enthusiastic new gardener.
Later on my potted on my Alicante tomato plants, all looking good. I'll do some more potting on at the weekend; hope the rain stays away.
And that was our Friday, not exciting but very satisfying and would have been even better if the hedge cutter had turned up at 4 to give us a quote, but 'dim problem,' I have another one coming tomorrow morning. How was your day?
Chrisxx
Friday 26 April 2024
Three early visitors!
Dh and I are usually up, drinking tea at about 8:30 am most mornings, unless we have an early appointment or agree to meet someone or SW. So someone knocking on our front door earlier yesterday morning was a surprise. It was some one looking for an Ann Cooper? We didn't know anyone of that name.. so Dh came back into the lounge to drink his tea.. then knock, knock again. I could hear the man saying, 'I'm the decorator come to paint the outside walls' I nearly choked on my tea! I've had that decorator book since the beginning of the month, he was to let us know when he could start.
He said he'd sent a text to me? I quickly got my phone. I only look at it to use as a phone, I don't use it for the internet so I don't look at it all that often. He had sent a text at 8:10 am to say I can start today!!LOL
We were still in bed then, anyway as it was all outside painting, he and his crew started while we carried on in our dressings gowns, with another cup of tea, as that first one was cold! I can cope with cold tea, but not my first morning cuppa!
Dh said we might as well carry on and have our breakfast, so we did, inside the lounge with the curtains closed. As we started to eat, knock, knock again! It was our grocery order from Tesco being delivered early!
Once we had showered and dressed later, we sat with our coffees and Dh said.. hope we can drink this in peace!!
Chrisxx
Thursday 25 April 2024
Living for 'Manna'
I did not sleep well and was awake for a couple of hours on Tuesday night, ugh! So when Dh gave me a little tap to say it was already 8:30 am, I did not want to leave my comfy bed.. I'd got back to sleep about 5 and woke again for the loo at 7, so it seemed as though I'd only just gone to sleep. Why did he wake me? Because we'd arranged to go for a coffee with an old school friend.
We meet her now and then, because she lives alone, and her son died 18 years ago, so I do feel sorry for her, but we don't really have anything in common. She spent a long time recounting her story of her part time job. She had been offered extra days, because some one was taking extra holiday time. She was complaining about the extra time, and when I said 'well you'll have the extra money,' she was quick to say, 'it wasn't worth it because she'd be taxed! And didn't like to say 'no''.
It made me realise how really blessed I am and was, because in the last six years of my teaching job, I worked three days a week and when I was asked to do an extra day, I nearly always said no, because I didn't need the money. Not that I had loads, but I enjoyed my four days at home and what money I earned was good. I tried to explain to the secretary of the school, who used to ask me to work extra, that I was working for 'manna' like the Israelites, who only were given food for that day, except for the Sabbath.. So I only needed enough money to live, so no need for extras. When I did work the extra days, it was when the Head Teacher asked me. She was very good to me and so it was hard to say no to her.
I never went without and had jobs done on my house as and when I earned the money. The front windows were replaced in the lounge first, then French doors in the dining room.. and so I had things done every now and then. I did have my youngest son move in with me in my second year there. He had a bit of an upset in his life, and he did all the electrics, as he was doing a college course. That was an enormous help and I'll always be grateful to him for all his help. (He's the son who no longer speaks to anyone in the family) He lived with me for just over 18mths.
Then when all of downstairs was more or less done, (not the kitchen) I had a real 'Billy bonus' A tax rebate and I bought something I'd always wanted, a raspberry pink carpet through out the lounge/ dining room and the hall, stairs and landing from Alders, an expensive quality store! I loved that carpet and it always looked good. It was still there looking good when I sold the house 14 years later. And amazingly all I'd had done to that house increased its value and when it sold, it went for three times what I had paid for it!!
So having seen my friend, we won't again for a while, she has some days booked out with work colleagues in the next few weeks, so she's happy.. and we had a lovely coffee!
Chrisxx
Wednesday 24 April 2024
A Beautiful Grand daughter.
My beautiful grand daughter spent last month in India working for her firm. I look at her and can't believe she is 30 this year, a qualified Chartered Accountant and a very confident young lady.
I remember her being born, my daughter had asked me to go to her when she was in labour, as her husband was making too much fuss! I drove the 65 miles as fast as was allowed.. and stayed with my daughter rubbing her back, till late at night, when a midwife suggested I should leave as it was 10:00pm and all the husbands had left at 8:30pm!
My daughter was very tired and had agreed to have an epidural, so knowing she would be ok I left.. drove home and my grand daughter was born 6:20am.. I drove back right away and was delighted to see my grand daughter, a bit red in the face as they are, but beautiful.. and name?? Saskia Christine Amelia!
She is such a beautiful young woman, and a very lovely.
Chrisxx
Tuesday 23 April 2024
What is a weed?
Where ever we've lived we have had a particular difficult weed. Here in Porthcawl, it's this, ' Cuckoo Pint' It pops up under our hedges and in our flower beds. It is really difficult to dig up, as the stems are quite delicate, so when you yank them out, the little bulb is left behind. So careful digging and wiggling of your trowel to get them right up!
Monday 22 April 2024
The Next Epidemic?
I thought it was just me, although friends my age have said they thought the same. We all think we suffered in lockdown, because of less physical activity, through lack of walking and getting about and the lack of interaction with other people, that also caused feelings of anxiety.
But it seems, we are not alone and the latest figures show there is 16% more older people reporting falls, than before covid. Experts reported in a paper published last week, the enforced isolation had taken its toll on mobility, confidence, and the capacity of millions of older people to live independently without extra support. Specialists in older people's health had warned that this was likely to happen because of the lack of stimulation and lack of physical activity.
Furthermore, routine heath and social care services aimed at maintaining or improving physical mobility among older adults in the prevention of falls, had been suspended during the epidemic. Re-engaging with these services have proved to be a challenge for some elderly people, due to lack of confidence in every day activities or loss of physical activity.
Reading this report brought home to me how much it reflected my own reduction in physical activities, it also spoke about increases in weight, increases in type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and anxiety. So its not just me. Its a blessing that I don't have any of these illnesses. Medical people are saying our next epidemic will be the lack of care for the elderly and that care services will be stretched beyond their resources, because of the number of people needing care. Did we need to be told this? I thought it was already a problem, but what I didn't realise was that, lockdown was the cause in some instances of some elderly people no longer confident enough to live independently!
I'm very thankful that I had Dh and that we didn't succumb to covid. However moving house 294 miles away from Leiston Suffolk in June 2021, didn't help us. At our age it was hard and completed floored us. We were months recovering and took our time, not rushing to unpack our 'hundreds' of boxes for the first 2 years!
I think this was a much better idea than I realised, to buy my Rhet Butler! Lots of people have stopped me enquiring about it and remarking on how sturdy it looks.
I use my wheels all the time now and it allows me to walk confidently and quite far.. 1 or 2 miles daily depending where we walk.
Did lockdown have an adverse effect on you? But I must admit I do feel a little bit like my old self lately and walking doesn't have that 'ugh' feel any more!
Sunday 21 April 2024
Like a summer's day.
It was a sweltering hot day yesterday and our town was full, the main street was bustling and the car parks full. Lots of people were down on the front beach looking at that drift wood!
Dh chatted to the walking group leader and going to that would be super for him. I walk fairly well but only with my wheels, and 3 or 4 miles would be too much for me.
So a pleasant day and very summery.. I walked through town without my jacket it was that hot!
Chrisxx
Saturday 20 April 2024
Some answers!
Shwmae bawb,
Lots of comments on Meghan's jam.. I not a fan of hers and while I agree strawberry jam is made and eaten in US as well as other countries, it is a very English jam. Why did she have them numbered and if they want a life completely away from the Royal Family, why hang on to the title of Duchess of Sussex. Just seems contrary to their wishes.. but I 'm happy to live and let live just NIMBY!.
My cousin, no she is not and I won't have her to stay. I think she only wants a nosy look and I 'm not prepared to listen to her condescending sayings. Her posh friends wouldn't have her in their 'bubble' in the covid lockdown, neither would her brother! I didn't like her when I was little either, she was always hitting me! And something I remember was the incident of my 'School Girls' comic. My Aunty Glad, who with my grand mother brought me up, used to buy me comics, I was reading it and my cousin asked could she have it and I said no, as I was reading it, she snatched it from me and ripped it to pieces. We must have been 7-ish and I remember it well!! Am I bearing a grudge? I suppose so!
My dips in moods all stem from my weight and failure to lose big chunks of weight! The present SW consultant said I'm probably eating too much food, even though in the SW food plan some foods are classed as free, in that you can eat lots of them. However over the years, she explained SW has evolved to eating less carbs and more veg and fruit and protein! Why didn't someone say this years ago, saved me some £ s.. Although I have lost weight consistently in the last 4 weeks and I have increased my walking and yesterday walked a mile along the front prom.. probably not brilliant in some peoples exercise program, but brilliant for me!
My Dh is very patient with me and does do the lion's share of work. This last week was the ninth anniversary of my breaking my right arm, which changed my life in a big way. However I still do a lot in our home and while I can't dig in the garden, I sow all the seeds, transplant them all and water them each day. That's some commitment and needs good pouring skills to keep the water off the floor. That's why Dh is not encouraged to water in the house! LOL And I weed, for 10 mins, sit and then weed some more! And I do my 'tiara' job every day! I make the bed, dust and polish and tidy, picking up and putting stuff away. So I'm not idle, just don't cook, but I do clear up after Dh and load the dish washer.
So I am settled and happy here in my own home town, but I do miss some aspects of my life in Billericay, mainly my Church there. I attended that church from 1974 to 2005, apart from the 4 years when I lived in Coventry, but attended a church there too and became a big part of the congregation. I miss the Billericay, church dreadfully. I knew the people, the pastors, there were 5 in my time there and I suppose I was a cog in the church life.. so I must make the effort to put down church roots here!
But all said and done, we are very blessed and live a comfortable life. I do have worries about what would we do if Dh couldn't drive anymore, so in the next few months, once the weather is settled we're going to bus into town. The bus stop is 3 mins up the side path and it runs every 25 mins.. so that's my next challenge!
Chrisxx
Friday 19 April 2024
My town
Some people asked what my town was like, this is the sea parts of it.
This photo appears on all the weather news when the weather is bad!
Thursday 18 April 2024
Would you buy this?
The latest venture by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is Strawberry jam, the label reads America Riviera Orchard displayed in a basket of lemons.
Wednesday 17 April 2024
I didn't want to like this book but.....
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Grrrrrrr, some days I hate myself!
That troublesome word has cropped up again ....weight.. mainly my being very over weight. How did I get here I ask myself?? The bulk of this extra weight arrived in lock down. Why?? We did things in the garden, to keep active, when we had planned not to when we moved to Suffolk, so we'd be free to take holidays any time of the year. But it didn't work out that way. Once the rules in the second lock down, was that we weren't to travel, our movements were restricted, we didn't drive to walk somewhere, but did walk around our road. and locally. I bought my 'wheels' to help me, so we did get out walking. We didn't go shopping, but had everything delivered, so no tempting shelves of sweets and chocs to see.. sounds feasible doesn't it?
But....
We ordered the tempting things instead, crisps, chocs, cake, we even found Orange Flavoured cake mixture and different fruit bread mixes and we did what a lot of Britain did, we baked cakes and made bread! When it was the winter months, we did not walk as much and my weight piled on. I felt very anxious the whole time and hardly ever slept through the night, so we had tea and toast most nights! Then I compounded the stress by saying I wanted to move back here to Wales in the middle of lock down!
We had buyers right away, but they were slow getting a mortgage and the sales dragged on for 4 months. Each time we saw a bungalow here, because our sale hadn't gone through, we lost what we wanted to buy. This bungalow was the only one left for us to buy. Too big really, although we've filled it with our own furniture even though we gave a lot away before we came here. The garden is a lot bigger than we wanted, fortunately we have a big power lawn mower so it makes short work of the grass. And we have settled in and do get out quite a bit. But exercise doesn't lose weight, eating less does! Hence Slimming World and I am losing weight, but so slowly and I'm very easily tempted, so this SW cake helps.. But Sunday I ate more than one piece and some ice cream and as we had beef for our Sunday dinner, we had home made Yorkshire puddings, so doubt I'll lose another 2 lbs this week! Grrrrrrr
Here is the SW Weetabix cake, it does hit the spot.
SW Weetabix cake2 weetabix crumbled
200ml skimmed milk
100g sultanas
100g Self-Raising flour
1 Tsp Mixed spice
2 Tbl Sweetner
2 large eggs
Method.
Preheat oven 180C fan/160C/Gas 4
Line a pound tin
Pour milk over Weetabix and mash, leave for a few minutes till thoroughly soaked.
Beat in all remaining ingredients
Spoon into tin and cook for 1 hour.
Turn out and leave to cool.
Slice into 12 pieces (3 1/2 syns per slice)
Chrisxx
Monday 15 April 2024
A WALK?
Sunday 14 April 2024
Insomia and a Saturday.
This is pickled cucumber made by Dh, the one I made was eaten,; we really like it! The recipe is here.... https://alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-fancy.html
I had a funny old Saturday, started off tired as I was awake for 2 hours in the night. Some nights I sleep with the loo visits and some nights I wake for the loo and then can't get back to sleep. Friday night I tried hugging my pillow for an hour, with the mantra, 'I'm warm, I'm comfortable and I'm going to sleep,' with the picture in my mind of the sea gently lapping the shore. Then after an hour I get up, as that's what all the experts say.. I sometimes read my kindle, as its back lit so don't need a light, but at the moment I'm reading the book group book, 'A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding,' About a mother grieving for her daughter and Grandson, who were victims of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. The font is faint and where its in italics, I need a bright light to see it. An easy read, but not a book I'd go to bed early to read! So I sat in the lounge with my spot light to read it. Climbed back into bed at 4 and was asleep in minutes.
We usually visit the library on Saturdays, but no books to collect so we'll take ones we've read back on Wednesday, the book group afternoon.
Then gardening in the afternoon, Dh mowed the front grass, then he pruned a rose I'd missed, when I did the others a few weeks ago. It was a cutting that Dh took of a rose, that my daughter gave me several years ago and flourished in my Billericay garden. He took 4 cuttings and all 'took' We left one in the Suffolk garden and gave 2 away, so this is the last one. It's very precious, pink with a heavenly Turkish delight scent.. And while we were looking in that flower bed, I found a little penstemon, called Sour Grapes, I thought I'd lost. I took cuttings before we left Billericay and have had 1 or 2 in my garden where ever I've lived. This one I brought with me from Suffolk. Some of my plants have lived in several gardens!
(pic from a catalogue)
I can't kneel to garden any more so Dh did and cleared away the Forget me Nots and dandelions around it, to give it breathing room! Its still very tiny but I'll give it lots of TLC to bring it on.
So our pickled cucumber went with our green salad and a very tasty steak and baked potato, for our evening meal. Another Saturday gone, with a drizzly end, I call it air rain, the sort that wets you!
How was your Saturday?
Chrisxx
Saturday 13 April 2024
Make your own pot noodle
Friday 12 April 2024
A Sea Monster?
On Thursday afternoons I have my hair done, since moving here I've found a hair dresser who does it just right. We don't usually go round town after it, but today we did, as it wasn't raining. Once I've had my hair done, I won't get it wet; we wandered through the town to get some cards, but suddenly there were some spicks of rain so we rushed back to the car.
We thought we'd have a drive to the sea front to see this huge piece of drift wood. Its been photographed by loads of people and is on all the FB pages. But we couldn't get a parking space near to it and I didn't want to get wet. Its like a huge monster from the sea!
It looks bleak doesn't it? We drove further along the front and got a parking space further along the prom, just by our favourite kiosk and got a lovely decaff coffee...
Thursday 11 April 2024
How life changes.
Wednesday 10 April 2024
Once Upon a Time!
Ice on the inside of the bedroom window, toes on a hot water bottle.
Spiders in the outside lav, with paper on a meat hook on the back of the door. I never closed the door at night, but sat there swinging my legs, looking at the stars.
Sunny all day, playing out in the back lane. Pushing my dolls in my pram with Kay and Margaret, wonder where they are today?
Days on the allotment with my grandfather, eating too many gooseberries and then tummy ache! Bless him, to keep me clean, off came my dress and on with a wheat sack, so I went home with a clean dress and filthy knicks where I'd sat playing in the mud!
Sweet shop round the corner and 5 for a penny. Dandelion and Burdock pop. Tinned peaches and Evaporated milk for Sunday tea and bread and butter! Play clothes and a set of Sunday best clothes and school uniform.
Knitted pixie hat and matching gloves, probably would be highly valued now, but then every scrap of wool was used for something.