Dh and I love to watch tennis, I never played as a child but had all the gear bought for me, but I was too feeble to hit the ball hard enough.
But I love to watch it and so does Dh, so we were really sad to see that Andy had to pull out of his match at Queens yesterday.Thursday 20 June 2024
Marmite?
Wednesday 19 June 2024
An All Sorts of Day!
Yesterday we had coffee in town with someone I went to school with when we were age 8.. She does like to moan, but we listen as she's by herself, so we're happy to be a listening ear. Its no hardship to us and we hope she feels better getting stuff off her chest! And the coffee was good and Dh and I shared a Tiffin, wooow they're gorgeous!
Tuesday 18 June 2024
Tea in the garden!
It was a beautiful day here yesterday, a bit too hot to be honest! Dh was up early as he had a blood test appointment for his annual check up. He left me in bed, but I was up and drinking tea when he got home.
I asked how it was, 'The sharp prick was sharp,' he said! Ooops! It will be my turn next, hope I have someone different.
It was a bit too hot to garden first thing, so we caught up with some house work, and the washing. I did my 'tiara' job and thought of Princess Catherine at the Trooping of the Colours' on Sunday. She looked as usual absolutely gorgeous, but even slimmer. Get well soon Kate. I loved the clothes of both Kate and Charlotte, both in black and white.When it was cooler, at about 4 we went out to tackle next door's ivy and 'mile a minute,' which grows on their fence on our shared boundary at the side of our bungalow. They have never cut it and we usually get it cut when we have our hedges cut, but the last fellow hardly touched it. So it had grown so much it was taking up our pathway, so Dh cut it right back and I helped to bag it up. It filled 4 green sacks. It took us 1 1/2 hours!
It was still warm, so we had our evening meal outside. It was lovely to sit out in our own garden.. We are so very blessed!
Hope you had this lovely weather too.
Chrisxx
Monday 17 June 2024
A low cal snack.
INGREDIENTS
Medium sweet potato grated
Medium courgette grated
Medium onion grated
1/2 cup cheese (cheddar) grated
100g feta Cheese grated
1/3 cup wholemeal flour
4 eggs
Season to taste if you want.
METHOD
Combine all ingredients
And spoon into a lightly greased muffin tin
Makes 30 mini muffins
Cook 180c for 20 mins
Ideal for a snack 2 muffins = 70 cals
I like these with a chutney and an apple!
Enjoy!
Chrisxx
Sunday 16 June 2024
A different point of view?
Did you see the interview with Rushi Sunak when he complained, that as a child they didn't have Sky?
The interviewer had asked him, had his family suffered any hardships Rushi was taken unawares and looked embarrassed and answered 'lots of things' several times repeating just that. But pushed to answer something specific, he said that his family couldn't afford Sky, when he was growing up. His father was a GP and his mother was a pharmacist running their own chemists, and they had put their money into paying for private education for himself and his sister.
Sky TV!!!! When there are people who can't afford to eat and pay their bills? One of Dh's daughter's works for the Charity, 'Christians Against Poverty.' And she has said its difficult not to cry listening to some people, who through no fault of their own, now are not able to afford to live in their own homes, because the costs of energy, and household costs mean their salaries no longer cover the costs.
So I had no sympathy for Rushi Sunak, but last evening while chatting to my eldest son on the phone, he could see the other side of the coin. 'Rushi is 10 years younger than me,' he said, 'and at that point in time, everyone of his age group had Sky, so as a young boy, he would have felt he had missed out, because they didn't have Sky.'
He went on to say that he could remember when he was desperate for roller skates, because all his friends had some. He felt he was missing out because he didn't have any. But he had some a few days later as my Aunty had sent some money for him.
And at the same time I bought him a quality pair of football boots. Albeit second hand, they didn't look warn and were very, very nice, he loved them.
He went on to explain that when you're young and everyone else has the latest toy, it feels as though you are the only one without the toy. I love the way he says to me 'Mum, you have to realise some people value some things, you haven't even thought about.' Which is very true, I haven't lost my little Welsh Chapel ideas, so a bit narrow and I'm not in the real world some days.
And I didn't have this problem when I was young, because being a War baby, lots of children were like me and we played with what we had. As a matter of interest, when roller skates were the thing to have, when I was about 10, my aunty bought me some and my other aunty made me a pleated skirt to wear. But I was hopeless and spent a lot of time on my bottom, rather than skating!
So I feel I need to listen to two sides of stories and be a more understanding.. but I bet Rushi's parents didn't have to go without food, so their children could eat!
What's your point of view?
Chrisxx
Saturday 15 June 2024
Steps... ok at last!
When we moved here 3 years and a day ago, these were the steps from the French doors on to the patio. It doesn't show here but that bottom step had a drop of 8 inches and no hand rail. I quickly phoned around builders to get a handrail.. I was able to find one for that second weekend and they were very nice and competent and suggested a wooden area to step out on to. Seemed a good idea at the time, and to be honest I was desperate to get them sorted.
Yesterday and today our odd job man has built these super steps. Just what I needed and only 3inch depth to the steps... wonderful!
Friday 14 June 2024
Is it an illness?
I have it night after night, some times I dread going to bed. I've read about it and follow all the recommendations. What is mostly suggested, is not to stay in bed when you wake in the night. So I get up and read, although if I'm comfy and warm I stay in bed, trying not to think thoughts that will keep me awake.
Sometimes my mind races and thoughts fly through my mind, and then when I check the time, an hour has gone, so have I been sleeping and was I dreaming? Three years ago one Dr did prescribe some sleeping tablets, whooo I was like s zombie all day, so didn't take them. after trying them once.
I saw a different Dr, young and new, and she said I needed estrogen, as post menopausal women lack this hormone and also prescribed an anti histamine tablet for sleep. It has helped but I still have nights when I wake for the loo about 3 and can't get back to sleep. I have to be completely comfortable, pillow just right, nightie covering my nether regions, and duvet not on my head and feel warm.
Strange but sometimes I feel uncomfortable even though all the above things are ok and I've come to realise, that its my body that's not comfortable, little niggles keep me awake. Mostly its my arm, not extreme pain but definitely uncomfortable, so I leave 2 paracetamol ready to take and then I go to sleep and its the best sleep of the night.
Being awake at night, steals my days and I'm lethargic and slow all day. Its not good for trying to lose weight, well its not good for anything. And horror of horrors I 'm getting bags under my eyes!
There have been nights when Dh wakes too and we get up and have tea and toast in the middle of the night. Not good for the food plan as I have a liberal amount of butter, not weighed!
The one good thing that comes out of this I get to read a lot of books.
Its so annoying, not a healthy things to happen, I've heard of 'Sleep clinics' but how would you get to one of those? Its not classed as a priority condition so no real treatments that help to prevent it, just tablets to help you sleep.
Any women who suffer the same?
Chrisxx
Thursday 13 June 2024
Such a relief!
I was worried as my eye sight had deteriorated since last year, I can't see some fonts on my laptop, especially on some blogs, its very small.. So I enlarge it to read it by holding down the 'Ctrl key and tap the plus key and it enlarges that page. At night in our bedroom, Dh has put a stronger bulb in my bedside lamp so that makes it easier, and to read my Bible we have the over head light on.
I am having new prescription glasses to read better and in these same frames as I really like them. So such a relief, I can sleep better tonight.
Chrisxx
Wednesday 12 June 2024
Favourite for Dh and me? yuk!
So for his birthday one year I booked and bought tickets to see them, the tickets were £94 each. He was so excited, I hated them, to me it was just a cacophony of sound! I couldn't wait for them to finish, another time if he wants to see them, I will not be going!!
I used to go to Cliff Richards shows, but I think that part of my life has past! Do you have favourites?
Chrisxx
Tuesday 11 June 2024
A healthy man age 67.
Michael Mosley wrote books, did TV shows on the benefits of a healthy diet. He often followed diets to prove their worth.
Dh and I followed his 5:2 diet when it first was published and it was so hard to follow Two days you were allowed 800 cals and the others you ate normally. It was so difficult and on our 800 cals days we went to bed very, very early!Did we lose weight? Yes, we did but only temporally, once we ate normally we gained it all back! But we never gave up and later tried another one, a bit more realistic.
He was healthy, full of energy and was known as a very charismatic generous person, in fact a very nice gentleman.. so how can such a man die on a Greek Island? Reports are coming in that he took a wrong turning on the walk he had set out on, collapsed and died.
So sad for his wife and four children. But I'm wondering why was he out walking in that middle of the day heat? Strong people are sometimes over confident of their capabilities. A few times I've said to Dh, 'No you're not doing that, it will mean you're over doing it, you're older, there's no need to prove anything.'
Each time I had holidays in very hot countries, the hotel guides warned about mid day heat, dangerous water for swimming, and walking alone at night, so we had a locals advice.
A life needlessly lost.
RIP Michael Mosley.
Chrisxx
Monday 10 June 2024
Supercentenarians!
Sunday 9 June 2024
Vote?
Dh and I have received our voting cards, ready for the general election, but who shall we voting for is ?? We don't know.
The previous MP was Jamie Wallis, who 'came out' as a trans.
He doesn't have the best record. He crashed into a telegraph pole late at night and was seen running away from the crash scene dressed in a black leather mini skirt, high heels and a pearl necklace. I'm presuming he was wearing something additional to the pearls, but this was all that was reported. He ran away, so he said because he felt venerable in his women's clothing, as he had been raped on a previous occasion while dressed as a woman. His father drove him home after the crash. He had a fine of £2500 and disqualified from driving for 6 months,
A new would be candidate has withdrawn over wholly inappropriate comments about women!
There are 5 other candidates but Dh and I haven't a clue who they are.. will they be around 'door' knocking? Who knows and will it make a difference who ever gets in?
I think we'll be watching and waiting, but I'm not enthused; I will vote but haven't got a clue who for.
Chrisxx
Saturday 8 June 2024
Treats!
So not a lot happening here, except Dh chased a cat up the garden, he/she dashed through the hedge, but only after he/she had given Dh the stare. Cats are so daring aren't they?
Can't wait for the weekend so we can have a rest|!
Chrisxx
Friday 7 June 2024
06/6/66
Thursday 6 June 2024
Alls well
Our visitors arrived bearing gifts, flowers and this little hanging maple leaf saying, in Welsh.
This translated .... 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.'
(Audrey Hepburn)
Which lovely and shows a lot of thought.
I felt a bit mean minded, but she hadn't explained herself to me. I'd forgotten she was a pragmatist so what you saw, was what you got.
And not only did they eat everything, but had seconds. The extra large chicken was cooked the day before so we could have it cold; it was juicy and delicious, they loved the pickled cucumber and have asked to have the recipe, which I will email along with the red slaw recipe that Dh makes, everything was perfect especially the roasted baby tomatoes. We have put the new potatoes we cooked on our order, as we hadn't ever had them ourselves before, and they were really very nice. And the large green salad with red endive and water cress was so crispy, which I love..
(Thank you Jamie Oliver!)
Strawberries and meringues and cream, was desert.
She apologized and we both agreed texting can be misleading and can be misunderstood, and perhaps phoning is better. So we ended with a friendly hug, minding my arm!
Roses are beautiful but gripped the wrong way, could cause a thorn to prick a finger.
Dh and I were very tired and went to bed early! And we don't think we need to clean for a month at least!! LOL
She took a root of my Ladies Mantle, which we laughed about because the original plant was from her garden in 1990!! I have had snippets of it in 5 gardens and this root has flourished in this garden.
She loved our garden and walked around several times.
'Felly, mae popeth yn dda.'
(So, all's well)
Chrisxx
Wednesday 5 June 2024
A friend? NOT!
Two weeks ago I had a text saying she had booked a b&b. and they were free Sunday and the Wednesday and wanted to treat us to a meal, as I had helped when she moved house, many moons ago.. I don't like eating out, as my duff arm makes eating without spilling food not easy and Dh has to cut some meats for me! I replied that we weren't free Sunday, but Wednesday was ok. Dh suggested inviting them here..I wish we hadn't.
A succession of text messages kept coming. I hardly use my mobile and would rather phone than text. First it was, she was now on a gluten free diet, which wasn't a problem for us. Then she didn't eat peppers or onions.. so we decided on a plain chicken, with a green salad with optional gluten free dressing, new potatoes and roasted baby tomatoes, fruit for desert.
So we thought all sorted. Then more text messages, could we meet Monday or Tuesday for a coffee? So as were in town Tuesday, which is my hair appointment day, I said ok. We suggested Costa, easy to get to and good coffee and a very good loo. Her answer, she'd have to check if they had oat milk. Anyway although they did, it also had wheat in it and her partner finds the smell in there too overwhelming !!WOT?? So no to Costa, yes there are 2 other coffee shops, but not to suit me, and I didn't want to anyway. I was getting a bit fed up with my phone pinging with text messages, so I switch off the sound. Dh and I had a chat and I decided to say scrap lunch here, as it probably wouldn't be right! I'm too old to be bothered with people who I haven't seen for years.
A long text back, to say they had come all this way to see me and would be disappointed not to. I had never said come and visit me, in fact apart from Christmas and birthday cards, we'd not had any personal contact for years. I was not happy, and was ok if I never saw her. And I never liked her partner anyway, who used to have his phone on permanently, with it ringing every10 mins from his daughter. Dh persuaded me to let them come. Monday afternoon we went to Tesco and bought a whole load of food.
When I had yet another text, she was ok if we didn't meet for coffee, and not to worry about the food, what ever we did would be fine, we wouldn't poison her, it would just cause her some discomfort.. I was furious, how insulting, did honestly think we didn't understand about allergies! And also her partner only has black coffee or green tea.
I am not happy, but I'm thinking it's only once, then I will never have to see her again. grrrrr
What do you think am I being horrible? Do you know what, if you think I am, I couldn't care less. I feel I've been blackmailed and manipulated!
Chrisxx
Monday 3 June 2024
Such sad news
This has hit me as I know someone with this decease.
Probably won't be big news with everything else going on, but people like this need to be remembered. He has fought this with such dignity with his wife supporting him through out this awful illness.
RIP Rob
Chrisxx
Sunday 2 June 2024
Salmon at its best!
After an afternoon in the garden on Thursday, it was hot, but we had done lots, and we were shattered! Aimlessly we were sitting flicking through Channel 4 and stopped on a Jamie Oliver's cooking program. Dh saw this and decided he'd cook it for our evening meal on Friday. I think we had most of the ingredients except fresh chilis and olives.
Any way Friday he popped out and got them and then disappeared into the kitchen for the best part of the afternoon! It was delicious..
Ingredients
Heaped tbs Capers
Olive oil 2 tbs
Anchovy fillets (tin)
2 Sprigs of Rosemary
5 Olives
A lemon
Thin slices of a red chili
Salmon, 2 pieces for us, Jamie Oliver had a side of salmon.
Method
In a bowl
Add together all the above ingredients, tearing the anchovies into strips, stripping the rosemary off the stem, squashing the olives, zest of the lemon then squeeze in the lemon juice and add the olive oil. Mix all together and cover and fridge over night, if possible, Dh left it for a couple of hours.
Then make little cuts into the salmon and into each cut, stuff some the mix and decorate with the thin slices of chili. Jamie's looked like this.
Saturday 1 June 2024
Mind calming!
I have been watching the washing blowing in the wind, so mind calming, and I needed it!
Then I had a conversation with a chair company, a recliner. I don't want to have one that allows you to lie back, but one where you can have your legs raised. I had sent for their catalogue, nice chairs but no prices. So I asked the woman who answered the phone for a price list. She went off straight into the spiel of all our chairs are individually made, so prices vary. I replied I knew that, but I wanted an idea of the prices. Honestly she went on like a robot, as if she hadn't heard me, so, I said, ' Dych chi siarad Cymraeg?' which means, ' Do you speak Welsh. She stopped and asked what did I say. I replied I'd asked her if she spoke Welsh, as she obviously hadn't understood my English, when I had asked if there was a price list. Well, ha ha, I must have touched a nerve as she accused me of being rude and hung up! So I won't be buying from them!
Why do these firms hide their prices all she needed to do was to give me was a starting price and then up to, what ever, so I had an idea of the price. I'm not naïve I know they're upwards from £850 and was prepared to have a demo at home, if I had an idea of the price.. Ah well, I shall spend my money else where!
So I needed that quiet sit in the garden, which is green and lush looking, and my dahlias are showing growth hurrah!
So I calmed down watching Dh's washing blowing on the line! And the daisies like white spots in the lawn looked lovely too.
Chrisxx