A sea side holiday.

 The sun shone here in Porthcawl yesterday, the last day for Dh's daughter, her husband and little boy's holiday.

And they spent the day here, Coney Beach, a child's fun place to be.

They went to the Fair Ground, a popular place and somewhere I spent my childhood, ice cream, candy floss and toffee apples!

Huge frightening rides 

As well as rides for the little ones.

 And a huge sandy beach to build sandcastles and then a paddle in the sea.

Dh went and joined them in the afternoon, and helped Josh to build a huge castle and then he had a paddle in the sea. I stayed home, I don't mind walking on the beach when the tide is out, but soft sand is not for steady walking!

They went to a local fish n chip restaurant in the evening and we ate at home, a SW fish and chip meal, because the scales were not on our side in the morning!  But we have enjoyed the times out and we ate with them.

I was so glad it was warm and sunny on their last day, Porthcawl at its best! 

Chrisxx

(Photos are all stock photos)

If only he was alive today!

Canary Bird rose, a favourite of mine. I've had notelet from someone with this rose on and this memory came flooding back to me.

Where ever I've lived I've gardened. When I was first married I didn't really know a lot about gardening, neither did my first husband. We had a square front garden, with a lawn and flower beds around. My Aunty gave me some money and I bought bedding plants, and I can remember I was so proud of it.. however when my husband came home, he wasn't impressed and wanted to know how I had paid for them. 

When we moved to Billericay, I had a bit more experience and gardened with a vengeance, but no spare money. Every birthday money I was given, I saved for seeds and if anyone I knew was splitting clumps of plants I happily accepted anything. I had all my family saving washing powder box lids, because you could get flower bulbs when you sent away 6 lids! I was determined to have a garden to be proud of, and it was lovely!

Things were a bit rocky between my husband and myself, he worked away a lot and when he came home it was difficult being together.. but one day he said he wanted to be more of an 'at home husband.' He said he wanted to be more involved in our family. 

I thought that was a good idea, because his going away with work meant he was very 'remote' with our children.

On Saturdays, I walked the mile into town and took the children to the library. I didn't drive but I had a big twin pushchair and they all squashed in!  On that day I remember it well, the sun was shining, we stopped in the park on the way home, so the children could play on the swings etc.. 

When we got back to the house, I couldn't believe my eyes. He'd been out and hired a rotovator and dug up the back garden, lawn flower beds, even my yellow rose, a present, everything! I cried and cried and wouldn't speak to him. He had decided he would grow vegetables! I couldn't speak I was so upset. I fed the children and went out to the one neighbour Denise I knew, for the evening. 

That Sunday, I did not cook a Sunday dinner. Monday I phoned my school friend, Terri, in Kent. I phoned a friend and her daughter came to baby sit and be with the children after school till 6 pm, when he used to get home from work. I had enough money for the train fare and went to Terri's. I'd left him a note.. I stayed away 3 days and only went back because of my children. 

The veg gardening didn't last long, one year, then he grassed it all  over and we moved.  My lovely neighbour told me about the satellite college of London University, opening in Brentwood, I applied and got place. It was just 4 miles from our town. I did the three year degree course and was qualified as a B.Ed, a teacher! I had a job to support myself. I don't know how I lasted with him another 7 years and play the little at home wife. But if he was alive today I'd have the guts to call him all the names under the sun; he was a controlling bully. I look back and wonder how on earth I stayed with him for all those 23 years, before walking out that day and leaving.

You may think this isn't true, but I can honestly say it was true, if only I had the nerve to speak then, but I was brought up to be the subservient little Welsh wife... men were the boss! 

So Dh, my Darling husband is the best thing ever to happen to me, he is amazing... God was looking out for me!

Chrisxx

Bryngarw

A day out... to suit a child!

We've been to Bryngarw  country park.. it rained!

But the little one, Dh's grandson loved it and paddled in all the puddles and stamped through all the muddy pools!

He loved the nature trail, the wetlands, and the play area.

The adults loved it too, I didn't venture on the rocky paths, but I loved the lunch which had ice cream as a pud!

When I researched it, the sun was shining.. but we still had a good day.

Its a great place to visit!

Dh and I slept all evening.

Chrisxx

SADDNESS!

 Yesterday  morning we went into town with Dh's daughter, her husband and boy, now 6 years old! Wow.... I can't believe it, it seems only the other day we were there, in Yorkshire when he was born.  

Costa was busy, so we sat outside and it was lovely, warm although there were clouds, and we drank coffee and ate these and chatted, it was perfect! 

I do know Dh's twin daughters really well, because when Dh and I were first married we all lived together... they were 16, so yes there were some air clearing moments, but we all managed to get through it, mainly because I loved my husband enough to get over the girls 'difficulties!' Now we get on really well. 

Every thing was fine, but then talking about my own grown up children and grand children, I was suddenly over come with an awful feeling that probably I will never see them again. It was a horrible over whelming feeling and I started to weep... very quietly. Dh was concerned, but I made up a story of thinking about my fall.

And since home I've been a bit sad, although getting over it. But it is probably true, I won't see my children or grand children ever again and I feel suddenly I want to.. the last time we travelled to Essex to meet up with my eldest son, I developed a urinary infection. Fortunately I had some anti-biotics which I was taking as a prophylactic so it helped... so I'm nervous about long car journeys again. They are all so far away and busy with their own lives.

Am I being a bit dramatic, but it is making me feel really sad.

Chrisxx

What to do when it rains.

 Rain rain go away, come another washing day! A horrible wet day, we've stayed home, and enjoyed a beef dinner with Yorkshire puds, home grown potatoes, carrots, beans and cabbage, followed by stewed rhubarb and no not custard, but cream!

And we've read all afternoon while the rain slashed on our windows... thinking at least we 're fortunate we're not on holiday! What weather on a Bank Holiday, poor people who came here for the day as the sun was shining this morning.

Dh has read all my library books, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Just by chance I found a new author. Jo Spain, I only picked up the first book by her, because there were quite a few on the library shelf,

I am delighted....and have loved these and reserving more by her...phycological thrillers.

... and I'm working my way through these..

Richard and Judy's Summer reads..I've read 2.

What would we do without books?

My aunty always forecast rain on Bank Holidays!

Chrisxx

Fridays are always the same!

 There's a chill in the air, but its August and supposed to be summer! I still wore a thin cotton dress to weigh in at SW Friday, my SW dress! It was chilly in the Scout Hall where its held. I shivered for Ffion who was wearing a strappy top, her shoulders were bare, but she said she wasn't cold; I think I felt cold for her! I was wearing a warm cashmere cardigan over my dress, so was warm! If you have ever been to a weight losing group, you'll understand the need to wear the same clothes every week!

We go early to be in the first few in the queue to weigh, because we eat after we weigh! I walked into the hall and started to make my way to the queue, and this young man pushed in front of me to join the queue! How rude, he all most pushed me to one side! It reminded me of the time when we had stopped at a Service area for the loo, which I really needed. I was walking as fast as I could with my wheels, when a young man using crutches rushed past me into the one disable loo! I could have screamed, but crossed my legs and hung on!! In fairness he was quite quick and I said 'Thank you,'  when he came out, always polite!

I got weighed, 0.5 pounds, is that all I said???... but then we laughed because she had mistakenly written my weight down wrongly, the previous week making my loss 8 stone!

But then I could eat my SW breakfast, which is always a marmalade sandwich and our own coffee, made by Dh.. its my favourite breakfast and I only have it on Fridays... lovely fresh whole meal bread, one slice, 8 grams of butter and 1 teaspoon of homemade marmalade; its so good!  

I dread Fridays some weeks, but our Consultant is very funny and we've got to know a lot of people, there so a happy time! 

A group of us are arranging our own meet up for a Christmas dinner!

Chrisxx

Proud Grandma!

 

My lovely granddaughter was 30 yesterday, I can't believe the years have gone so fast.

Always excelled at school and got a 2:1 Bsc  Now a charteed accountant, happy in her work and life. She has a beautiful voice too, was Oliver in her schools production age 10 and then Joseph age 12. Sang with Kings College one Christmas and always was there in her church choir. She's very artistic and a good cook. 

From a very young age she was confident and stood out from other children her age. 

And she is a lovely person too.

So it was a pleasure to buy her these earrings as a present

 

Happy Birthday Saskia Christine Amelia

Chrisxx

An unbelievable remedy!

 

Do you recognise these plants, found in woodlands and gardens?

Yes.........Stinging nettles... you might wonder why I'm showing them to you. I am,  because they are an amazing plant and I first heard about what they could do many years ago, on Woman's Hour on the radio.

Because I can't use my right arm to lift myself up in bed, I rely on my left arm and it is beginning to tell me it's working over time, so I'm getting a lot of aches and pains in my upper arm and  shoulder, arthritis! I do take painkillers in the morning and at night but sometimes it still aches. Keeping my arm warm does help, so I always wear a wool cardigan, sometimes in the house only on my left arm!

Creams, like Deep Heat are good but the relief doesn't last.

But stinging the area with stinging nettles gets it warm and the heat lasts for days! You might not believe me, but it does work.. try it if you have an arthritis type pain and see for yourself!

Chrisxx

A book to keep you on the edge of your seat!

 

This is the first book I've read by this author, but it will be followed by many more. It was absolutely gripping and a real page turner.

Every parents worst nightmare!

What do you do when you watch your two young daughters get on a tube train and before you get on, the doors close and it speeds off? Faye just age 6 and Bea 22 months stare back at their mother, as she frantically shouts to them, get off at the next station! Will Faye understand, will they be safe?

The morning tube station was especially busy and Sive the young  mum battling through the crowds, with the baby in the push chair,  was momentarily distracted by a call on her mobile phone, and the next minute her two little girls are in the carriage and the doors close.

When eventually the transport police tell her the girls are fine at the next station, it is complete relief... that is until Sive finds out only one of the girls have been found, Bea the youngest, while Faye is nowhere to be seen.

Sive, her husband Aaron, and the friends they were meeting up with that weekend, all unite in the search for Faye.

But during the search, the reader finds out that everyone has a dark past with something to hide. 

One character Nita says,  'Everyone tells lies!'

The story flips back and fro in time, with short chapters, each one ending with a cliff hanger, a roller coaster ride where the twists and turns are relentless right up to the end.

Fast paced and gripping, you'll  never guess the twist at the end.

Chrisxx

So true.

 Chrisxx

Shocked and sad.

 Although we live in a small cul de sac it can have its noisy times! Our next door neighbours have parties, not every week.. We can hear them but it doesn't bother us, we sleep through the singing and shouting! I think its because the sound travels at night? We are a long way from them, as we are all detached. Dh complains its not decent music, because its not his choice.. this is a man who disliked a certain supermarket, because of the music they played. I didn't even notice the music!

Saturday night it was particularly loud, we think it was the eldest daughter's 18th. They were all outside. We just laugh because its the loudest in the bathroom. I won't repeat Dh's rude comment about being in there and letting rip with the singing!! 

We can't hear it in our lounge and nor can we in the bedroom with the  windows closed.

Greg the neighbour and his wife are very nice and have often offered help if we need anything doing any time. He and another neighbour cleared the gutters of weedy growth and swept the whole road this summer as the council hadn't. He comes with a bottle of wine and mince pies at Christmas time.  So we're happy with them as neighbours.. so imagine our horror to see yesterday someone had painted the 'C' word on their outside white wall. Who would do that, what horrible person, I can't even guess.. so Greg was out there painting over it as it wouldn't wash off.

We were shocked and sadden to think that could happen here.

Chrisxx

Voting?

 Quite a few differing opinions about Kamala, very interesting to read. But who will win depends on the vote on the day. Who becomes President will affect us here in Britain, its up to the people of America who wins, lets hope they make a wise choice.

I never thought for one moment the vote to leave the European market would go the way it did, especially as we were living in Suffolk at that time, where farmers received the subsidy and the vote there to leave was the highest. It made me realise how little I knew of why people vote the way they do.

Trump seems to have a magnetic charm for some people.. but look at how his wife stands away from him.  It made me think of the time when Jeffery Archer, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative party 1985 to 1986, was accused of paying a prostitute.. he appeared outside his house to speak to newspaper reporters protesting his innocence, and his wife Mary stood away from him, when reached out to put his arm around her. She thought he was guilty.

Boris Johnson comes over to me as an untidy joker, but it seems he was good at making decisions, unfortunately he lied about the get togethers in lock down, and so was relieved of his position as Prime Minister. Today he's seen as being the hyper confident, carefree vibe of a brat. I liked him and his wife Carrie Symonds!(third wife) 

So who knows what will happen.. here we are with the party of the people, the Labour party and the first thing they do is stop the winter fuel payment to pensioners, which was originally given by another Labour minster, George Brown. I think it was the easiest way for the government  to get money fast. 

Politics cause divisions in families, friends, towns and cities. We all think our views are the right ones.. but at the end of the day its the 'have nots' who suffer. And the ones in power who call the tune.

I'm so relieved that I had the up bringing to be frugal, to get that education my deceased mother wanted for me and that my aunt pushed for me, even though there wasn't a huge amount of money.. it means we can live within our means and well!

Vote as you think best for the majority of the people, be fair and hold on to your faith in humanity. I am one of the ones who believes there is a higher power than men and it is He, who will prevail, regardless of who wins.

Chrisxx

Scrumptious!

 

When we don't know what to have for dinner this recipe comes to mind.

Originally a Jamie Oliver, but we've tweaked it over the years to suit us.

Serves 2

Ingredients

4 Boneless chicken thighs with skin

200 g new baby potatoes halved

100 g onion roughly chopped

100 g carrot cut into chunks

100 g cherry tomatoes

40 g baby mushrooms

Hand full thyme

Red wine pot

Seasoning.

Method

Par boil potatoes and carrots

Place in oven proof tray with rest of veg

Season with salt and black pepper

Spray with olive oil spray

And pour over red wine pot

Mix  around

Place thighs on top and spray again,

Scatter on thyme

Cook in hot oven for about 40 mins until all looks crisp and golden.

Enjoy!

Chrisxx

Who will win?

 She has such a lovely smile, which it seems is driving her opponent Trump  mad.. He keeps throwing insults at her 

and said, 'I call her laughing Kamala, have you seen her laughing? She is crazy, you can tell a lot by laughter, she is nuts.'

But I think she looks lovely, keep smiling Kamala.

It looks like the American citizens are warming to her, she does seem to talk a lot of sense.

Whether she wins and becomes President is beside the point, I like her and she is a 'Harris' so must be good because that's my name.

Go Kamala go!

Christine Harris.

Goldilocks!

 For quite a long time I've been complaining our bed is too high for me to get in comfortably.. more or less since I first broke my arm, 9 years ago! Other things have cropped up and we did nothing about it.

So yesterday we decided we would go and not just look, but actually buy a new bed. The one we have now is 15 years old, but still very comfortable, its just I can't just sit on it and swing my legs up onto to it with out a struggle, my legs aren't long enough, you could  say I'm a 'short arse'

We measured our present bed and the mattress so we were prepared. We went to a well known bed shop, not too far away and with a large car park.

The shop was huge with probably about 60 to 80 beds there. Another couple about our age were walking round too. As we passed each other, she said, 'Nothing is simple these days is it?' And I agreed.

I began to feel overwhelmed and could have burst into tears. So many beds, different makes, heights, mattresses.. too many!  The salesman was very nice and not a bit pushy, even offered us a cup of tea.

Eventually we found one that was just right except it had one of those high head boards, which we didn't want and also the mattress sunk into the base, and very blue, so really not what we wanted at all, but it was the perfect height, I got onto the mattress quite easily and lay there, perfect, not too firm and not too soft, in fact just right!

The salesman showed us a bed without that sort of base, without the high head board, and not blue,  but the same mattress and the height we wanted..we'd found it, the bed for us...  it was just right!

All we have to do now is win the lottery to pay for it!

Chrisxx

My seaside town

     We managed to miss the rain when we popped to town yesterday. I'd bought a sling off Amazon for my arm, but it just wasn't right, so I decided to return it. I've never had to return anything before apart from kindle books and they just whoosh away. 

So following the instructions on the Amazon site, it seems the Post Office is a collection point for parcels.  A QR code arrived on my phone, which when shown at the Post Office, they packed it up, labeled it and that was that, easy peasy lemon squeasy!

Of course we had to visit Costa and have a coffee, it was very busy and all the outside seating was full, but for once the AC inside didn't feel too cold. 

We had a window seat and people watched. Lots of people and children, just like a holiday seaside town in August! I love watching as people walk by, and as its the school holidays, there were different people. It was a very happy atmosphere but noisy, we didn't mind. Not so many oldies with motorized scooters or with walkers and small dogs as there were a month ago.

This is just one of the floral displays. I like the colours chosen this year, mainly deep pinks and pale mauves.

I love my town.

Chrisxx

Could you be an Olympian?

 So the  2024 Olympics are finished. Dh and I have talked about our own sport experiences. There wasn't a lot of sport in my young life. I started school 1946 age 4 and I can't remember any games or PE lessons until I was 7.. then we were all given a pair of these, black plimsolls,  nick named Daps, because of the sound they make as you run along.

Then my education in PE started. I can remember all the girls had to put our dresses in our Knickers and the boys had to take off their long trousers and wore shorts. 

We were all given a rolled up raffia mat and in a line we marched off into the playground.

There we unrolled our mats and with a teacher in front of us, all lined in rows, we copied him. 

We did running on the spot, jumping up and down, star jumps and then we laid down on our mats.  

I can remember us doing cycling with our legs and that was it.

We had finished, we rolled up our mats and matched back into the cloak room and put our daps in a numbered wire cage and told to remember our number.. don't know if I did, because I don't remember doing it again!

I suppose it was the Governments' attempt to get us children stronger after WW2!

I did a bit of games in my secondary School, no PE but hockey and netball.. but nothing else. So I don't think I would have been an Olympian.

But I do like watching it; we watched quite a bit, but hadn't realised that the BBC wasn't the main company so missed the tennis final, but never mind we saw Andy Murray and Dan Evans' wild celebrations, on getting through the second round of the men's doubles tennis. That was worth anything to see their jumping around, they were so delighted.

Could you be an Olympian?

Chrisxx

Diet what diet?

 

    Smoke salmon and cream cheese

Ham and lettuce

Egg mayo

Cheese

Cucumber

Each stack of sandwiches were wrapped in a long thin length of cucumber, they looked pretty too.

Cream doughnut, custard slice, carrot cake, chocolate muffin, ginger and orange cake.

Scones, jam and thick cream.

And of course pots of tea.

All six of us tucked in and thoroughly enjoyed it all. 

    All of us from our SW group.

We were celebrating two birthdays.

And such a lot of fun and chatter.

I think we'll do it again for someone else's birthday.

Diet what diet?

Shame no one took a photo, we were too busy enjoying ourselves!

Chrisxx

The hope of a Rainbow.

We've been watching the news, and are horrified to see the towns that are experiencing these horrendous anti-racist riots. What's wrong with people, when did this get so bad that people have to be so violent?

Its suggested it has all been triggered by the stabbing of the three little girls, Bebe, Elsie and Alice, innocent little girls enjoying a yoga and Taylor Swift themed dance workshop.

Are these educated people? I think not. We watched in horror on our TV screen, as an Asian owner of a corner shop, watched remotely a video of his shop being ransacked and looted with things being stolen. What had sweeping cigarettes and other items into bags got to do with keeping the illegal immigrants out of Britain?

We live here in Porthcawl where apart from the complaints about the parking, its quiet here, lets hope and pray that it stays that way and that everywhere else calms down.

Poor people who are suffering from these riots, I hope its not happening near you.

Chrisxx

The Best Read!

 This is written by my favourite author, Charity Norman. I've read all her other 8 books and loved them. She has the ability to write a different story every time unlike some, whose books all have the same format.

This book's main protagonist Livia, is a probation officer, married to Scott, a teacher with two children Heidi age 13, and Noah, 6  who has asthma.

They live a happy family life until Scott's brother, Nicky, who has uncontrolled type 1 diabetes dies. Scott has always felt responsible for his brother and his feelings of guilt, because he wasn't there when his brother died, sends him into a downward spiral of searching for an answer of why his brother died.

Its terrifying of how quickly he falls onto a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and fake news which are exacerbated when the covid epidemic hits and makes him seek solace in the truther community.

Livia does her best to bring him back to reality, but he has already lost his job, his friends and continues to act irrationally . She says she's fighting an enemy she can't see.

Its all too realistic an account of how even sane people can start to believe that everyone is out to get them.

Its very well written, a powerful engaging story, a part family tragedy, thriller and court room drama. Absolutely gripping I read it over a weekend and once again had the feeling of being lost once it had ended. 

Well worth a read, as are all her books, now I'm lost as to what to read now!

Chrisxx

Huffing and Puffing

And sex in the garden! This a 'you tube' but exactly the same as what happened in our garden 2 nights ago. It's the female making the huffing noise and it is quite loud. We went to bed and left them to it as evidently it can last for hours!

Who'd have thought Fuzzypeg was such catch!

Such fun to watch them. 

A third hedgehog arrived and ate the food while the other two romanced in the flower border.. so we now have Fuzzypeg, Draenog and Prickles!

Chrisxx

Thank you for all the commiseration comments, I am feeling better and the bruising is reducing, just the odd ouch getting into bed!

Yes another bad night!

 

Tired and a bit weepy I've had 4 nights in the row of little or no sleep, so having some days off blogging! My arm and shoulder is black and blue and very, very sore, so hence keeping me from sleeping.

Chrisxx

A bit of a dip but joys too!

 I'm having some very difficult nights.. Yes its hot, but our portable fan keeps me cool and the whirling noise doesn't disturb me. The bruising all on my right side where I fell is really showing now, black and blue is an understatement, very black and blue is nearer the mark and its very tender.

And I'm tired and feeling very down. Dh is very good and very attentive, but when you're in pain only you really knows what its like and I have a lot of pain. I have taken painkillers and when I'm sitting comfortably, it is fine, but moving my arm is agony. I am moving it passively, by lifting it using my left hand and that is helping, but progress is slow.

Yesterday I went to have my weekly hair appointment and it looked superb when he had finished. I'm so glad I changed hairdressers, because he shampoos it without wetting me, my head doesn't itch and it a lot cheaper! And it has the bonus of not being in town so no parking problems.

I'm reading the latest book by my favourite author Charity Norman and loving it. 

And on my kindle, so easy to hold. My library books are too big and heavy so I've abandoned those, and Dh is reading them!

Fuzzypeg continues to come each evening and we've noted he's later after these very hot days. He goes straight for the water before tucking into his food, such a little love.

And we've watched  Andy Murry and Dan Evans in the men's doubles tennis in the Olympics and ok they're out,  beaten in the 4th round, but oh boy didn't they fight to the very last ball! So exciting, quite took me out of my myself. Thank you Andy for all the years you've given us 'couch tennis players' such joy. You've been amazing over the years, happy retirement!

So lots to be thankful for and also as always........ 

..

Chrisxx

Drs or the Aged?

 I didn't vote Labour, but always thought they were the party for the 'people'.. but todays announcement of stopping the OAP winter fuel allowance must have shocked thousands.

It seems they are blaming the previous government for the lack of funds. Sounds a bit like when the Tories won in 2010 and were told the coffers were empty!

Where did the money go this time? Well I think Covid was in part, some of the cause.. People, who had to have Universal Credit because lock down prevented them doing their work, all those who were self employed. Extra money to the NHS, the equipment, and PPE etc, people who had to work less hours, so less tax, and what about the tests, the vaccines? It didn't come without its costs.

And what about Brexit, or was it the Tories living it up, is that the cause of this 'Black hole' where the money went?

But what ever, why stop money that would help the most vulnerable?

OAP can't go on strike! And to the argument put forward by Angela Rayner that there are OAPs, who could apply for extra benefits, what a cheek! Many old people don't qualify for these benefits, because they budget and live within their means. But they're not well off and certainly valued that extra fuel allowance money. And I would guess a lot of the Labour vote came from these older people.

No one would deny that Drs are not important and work hard, but do they have to look for the cheapest food on supermarket shelves, wear extra woolies and live in one room to save heating costs, in their homes. Are they the people struggling with their food trollies on buses, or going to centres, opened for old people as 'warm hubs?'. I think not!

You may not agree with me, but I say 'Shame on you Labour Govt!'

Chrisxx