I felt so old yesterday, lack of sleep had pushed me into that awful feeling of old age is 'B' awful.
Aches, pain, a bladder problem and insomnia doesn't make life easy. Since we moved here, 5 years ago now, I've not seen my daughter, as it is an awfully long way. I think that's what compounded my mood as its her birthday this weekend.
Suddenly I've really felt old. I had wobbly coming out of our walk in shower. I felt unstable and we talked about a grab bar at the entrance. Then yesterday I realised that I was stepping too far from the edge of the shower, moved nearer and the stepping out was fine.
The sun was shining, so Dh said... 'lets go for a walk and go by the harbour for a decaff coffee this afternoon.' Along the Eastern Prom, where it has been surfaced is excellent for walking, all very flat and even paving, gold in colour and is being called 'the yellow brick' road.
And so we did, parking half way along so it wasn't so far to walk. And we sat facing the harbour with our coffees. A gentleman came and sat at the next table and we spent a very pleasant half hour chatting. He had lived for a while on a narrow boat, so he had some interesting tales to tell.
When we got home, I felt really cheered up. It was just what I needed and we had lamb chops for our evening meal. Perfect end to what turned out to be a lovely day after all.
Chrisxx
I think I've said before I have trouble sleeping. What is awful about the lack of sleep is that it steals my days and some days I have little or no energy, so fail to do anything.
However I've come across this.....
10 Things to tell yourself before sleeping.
I did my best today and that's enough.
I am allowed to rest without guilt.
Tomorrow is a fresh start.
I am grateful for all the little moments of joy today.
I release all thoughts that no longer serve me.
I am safe, I am loved, I'm at peace.
My body and mind deserve deep rest.
I trust that all is unfolding as it should.
I let go of all stress and welcome calm.
Breath deeply and sleep.
I see blogs are up the spout again, which is a real pesk and the reason I gave up my other blog, and this craft blog changed to news items.
*****
Have you been watching this programme, first started in 1964 when all 12 were seven years old.
25 Years, since the horrendous attacks in America.. I don't think anyone reading about it this week, could not be moved by the loss of so many lives. 2977 ordinary every day citizens gone just like that.
I was teaching in a school in Billericay, so didn't know what had happened until the Head rang the school bell to summoned us to the Staff room just after 4:00pm We were advised to go home, as there were messages that London could be next.
Like everyone else when I saw it on TV I found it hard to believe it to be real, and not a film. It was unbelievable, one thing I've always wondered how did the terrorists plan such a clever coordinated attack.. This must have been planned for months before by someone or more, who were very clever.
So to people today who complain about CCTV, Police Stops and Strict Laws, which to some impinge on an individual's way of life, its all there to protect you and me.
Because then there were the London bombings in 2005, more lives lost, more heart ache and more restrictions and check ups where ever you went.
School trips to London for us stopped and people were scared.
Such a dreadful time for everyone.
Chrisxx
We have had visitors yesterday afternoon. My son, Jonathan and his wife, Jenni, who live in W. Wales but always have have a long weekend here in Porthcawl in their motor home, this time of the year.
Our holiday at home resulted in us both having a 2 1/2 pound weight gain. So this week, not only have I kept strictly to the SW food plan, I have been walking.
We prepared all the ingredients on Saturday afternoon. I peeled the tomatoes, took for ever, even with hot water!
So here we are September 1st! I don't know how you feel that it's Autumn, but I feel cheated.. Summer was so hot, we didn't really enjoy it. We hardly sat outside, or even walked too far, it was just too hot.
One thing we realised over the weekend with the 'Girls' here, we no longer have any chutneys. So as we have a lot of tomatoes and cooking apples, I thought a Tomato and Apple chutney would be nice to make and easy.
So we will at the weekend as I had to order some pickling spices.
My recipe is....
3lb tomatoes, 3lb cooking apples, 1lb onions, 1lb Muscavado sugar.
3/4 pint Malt vinegar.
1/4 oz pickling spices tied in a muslin bag, 1/2 oz Salt, 3/4 oz ground ginger.
Peel and finely chop apples, tomatoes, onions.
Put all ingredients into a large pan and stir and gently bring to a boil with spices in the bag.
Simmer gently for about 2 hours.
Remove spices bag and pour into warm dry jars and seal.
This makes about 6 1/2 pounds.
It is delicious with cold meats, cheese or just a hunk of bread!
Enjoy!
Chrisxx
These are Dh's twin daughters.. they visited us over the Bank Holiday weekend with their husbands and each have a child, but don't want their children in the internet, so I respect their wishes.
They didn't stay with realizing we can't cope with that these days, but we met up and they ate some meals here.
It was lovely but we are shattered and taking it very slow the rest of the week! Now approaching 36 years, they were 16 when their dad and I married, so I won't lie, but there were some 'air clearing' moments!
Chrisxx
We do have some colour in our garden and these larger Michaelmas daisies have survived!
There are dahlias and Asters and some self seeded Nicotiana, so not all are dead.
We had the Nationwide alert this evening on our phones and the message came through all in Welsh!! Well, yes we're attempting to learn Welsh, but we're only just starting our 3rd year.. Oh heck what does it flipping well mean??
We recognised one of the leading words, 'gan' It's a fire alert I said, then reading through we recognised the names of towns.. I quickly switched on my laptop and searched for 'Alert' and there it was AB advising the dangers of open fires etc and then again the Alert came through this time in English!! Phew!
I can well understand why people in WW2 felt panicky when the Sirens sounded warning about air raids.
So our new Prime Minister, Andy Burham has spoken to the Nation!
Gosh that sound did make us feel panicky.
What did you think?
Chrisxx
Ugh!! I'm not usually afraid of spiders but don't go out of my way to love them!
Its lovely to see plums on our Victoria plum tree. we had a few last year, but this year its loaded. We shall just eat them altho if there is enough, I wouldn't mind making some Spiced Plum Jam with walnuts, a favourite of mine.
It was like a perfect summer afternoon yesterday, only 20C and we've had some rain, so a lot cooler and we had our French doors open, enjoying the breeze and the sunshine.
Our beautiful 'Susan' rose continues to bloom and give us joy.
I've neglected my blog and reading blogs, the hot weather has really got to me.. the garden is looking as sad as I've been feeling, I've been down in the dumps!
We have been out, but hurried home before the midday temps as 28C and even 24C is just too hot.
The AC in Costa, which we have always complained about as being too cold, has been as welcome relief, when we have had to go to town for anything!
Dh has been so good watering the pots, tomatoes and our small veg patch with watering cans, even though we don't have a hose pipe ban. All the garden is looking dry and there are crisp leaves on the ground, except that self seeded California Poppy, which is thriving and even more flowers have appeared! What magic has it got to survive without watering??
I've been listening to this book from the library through Borrow Box. Sad and poignant about an 89 year old man Bo, his aging and increasing fraility and his carers and love for his dog Sixten.
It was a very hot today like today and we had a lovely day with our families and friends..
Chrisxx
A new Prime Minister and new Chancellor of the Exchequer could mean a loss of income for people like me, an Old Age Pensioner.
Our pensions have a so called guarantee of the Triple Lock so that state pensions stay with or abreast of the cost of living. A new broom could mean we'd lose this, but even worse for me, if it is risen, take my pension above the tax thresh hold. I already pay tax on one of my pensions, which I paid into voluntarily.
It grieves me to think I thought ahead and prepared for my old age and yet people, who made no provision get relief.. I'm not saying they shouldn't have anything, but I don't want to pay tax on my own paid into pension nor any more tax on money I have saved.
Am I being mean or just protecting my own income. I have never claimed anything from the State.. even when my son was desperately ill, and his prescription costs were above my income. I did some private teaching to pay. So I suppose you could say I was earning without paying tax. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do!
The new PM has all sorts of ideas, but where is the money coming from? Yes the ordinary everyday people through tax! Are you a tax payer, is it fair?
Chrisxx
1.Everyone has rolls when they bend over.
2.When someone tells you you're beautiful, believe them, they ain't lying.
3.Sometimes we all wake up with breathe that could kill a goat.
4.Some women complain about their stretch marks, and there are others who wish they had them.
5.You should definitely have more confidence , and if you saw the way others see you, you would.
6. Don't look for a man to save you, be able to save yourself.
7. Its ok not to love every part of your body, but you should.
8.We all know that woman who appears to have it altogether, that woman with the seemingly perfect life. Well, you might be that woman to someone else.
9.You should be a priority, not an option, nor a last resort, or a backup plan.
10. You're a woman and that alone makes you pretty damn remarkable.
Which of these facts do you agree with the most?
Chrisxx
The curtains are closed, the windows are closed, it's like the black hole of Calcutta! We haven't been out, even to the garden. Its just so hot, our Trail Cam registered 30C on our SW facing patio!
When we said we were moving here to Wales, our neighbours in Suffolk, said, 'it rains a lot there'.. but actually in SE Wales there is less rain. But this heat wave is bad, I am not liking it at all. My son, who still lives in Suffolk says there has been a sprinkling of rain and its been cooler the last few days.
We are watering our pots, but by evening the plants are drooping, and our herbs are suffering too. The only plants liking it are the lavenders! And my little self seeded California poppy in the front garden, and where did it come from, as we had none in the front?
We do a little bit of cleaning in short spurts. I set out today to sort out some drawers, filled a carrier bag for a charity shop, and that was it! I sat in my cane chair while I sorted out my sock drawer. My favourite chair, free from my son when he had his furniture shop. He used to take away a bed, when a customer bought a new one and he was asked would he take the chair as well.
It's a big joke between Dh and myself, as I always say its my favourite chair and the most comfortable, even more comfortable than my reclining one!
I can't wait for some rain, our shrubs are showing signs of lack of water, and the grass is like dry straw, but it will all green up as soon as we have rain.
How are you faring?
Chrisxx
It has be the right soil, not too sandy, not too heavy, not stony, doesn't flood and drains well. Rich in organic matter to support a healthy root system. Fertilization may be necessary to supply essential nutrients.
It has to be the right position, not too shady, not too open or hot and not to exposed to wind. Some plants may require 6 hours of sunlight while shade loving plants thrive best away from direct sunlight.
The temperature has to be right, Antirrhinums like a cool temperature to germinate, while Zinnias, Petunias prefer a warmer temperature. Daily temperatures also affect growth. In spring time gardeners will protect certain plants at night if a dip in temperature is forecast.
Water is essential, and it has to be consistent and adequate, as it acts as a solvent for nutrients and supports photosynthesis. But over watering can cause root rot, while under watering stresses the plants and reduces flowering.
So if your gardening isn't flowering, you got it wrong!
But ............ this California Poppy, arrived while the daffodils were dying down and despite the fact, it hasn't been watered, is in a scrappy bit of soil at the edge of the grass, faces south, so in the heat of the day in these searing temperatures, it has survived and not only continued to flower, but the blooms have increased from 4 originally to these, 20 plus!.
I have posted about this rose before, but Tony in radio programme The Archers,' was proudly saying in an episode this last week that he was planting a 'Trotting by Gently' rose. And ours is looking glorious, in spite of the heat. And its been 38C on our SW facing patio!
Another hot day, but we have sat outside underneath our big umbrella and with the gentle drift of a cool breeze it was very pleasant.
The tennis had brought back some memories of a friend, who like me watched and cheered and yelled, especially when it was Andy Murray. We lived apart but emailed every day, more than once a day sometimes, for 20 years. And in Wimbledon we emailed 'yells' back and fro. But just before last Christmas she stopped communicating with me.
Something was said and I gave her an explanation, that implied she had the wrong end of the stick. And just like that she stopped, no explanation, just gave a message to someone else for me. There's no need to tell you, it caused me a lot of heart ache.
Why? I wanted an explanation, as to why, I wanted to know; I was chasing an explanation as though knowing why, would lesson the pain I was feeling. If I could get her to explain herself, perhaps I'd feel better about it. But the truth is knowing why, wouldn't make it go away.
My lovely husband said at the time, let it go, there was no reason why she reacted as she did to me in particular, and it could have been anyone, and not me! It wasn't because I deserved it, not really because I caused it, not because I could have stopped it happening, once it had, that was it! Lesson learnt, when people step out of line, they don't want to be reminded that they have..
I've missed the daily banter especially now its tennis, but I've accepted now, that friendship has gone. But was it a true friendship, I think not, now that I've written about it.
Would you drop a faithful friend of 20 years with no explanation? And as Dh said, she was no friend to behave like that!
Chrisxx
When my step counting watch went phut, Dh bought me a new one. It's an all Bells n Whistles one and logs all sorts of things as well as steps. Would you believe yesterday it said..'It looks like you took a nap at 4:03 for 1 hr 43mins..' So my every move or non move is being recorded!! It keeps telling me my sleep score is poor, logging when I wake! I need more sleep it says.. I know that, no need to tell me, just tell my bladder that!
But when my steps don't achieve my target I can read its frustration in its score.. so I'm tired and don't move enough? Well if I slept better I'd be more active,, my virtual walk, this time in Barcelona is, 16.4km behind my planned pace!
All around me there are prompts to exercise, there are TV adverts, FB adverts, health warnings of being over weight and the need to keep active.. But, as yet I have never seen an news item or charity request for funds for research into over active bladders in aging people. I've yet to meet a female over 75 plus who didn't have to get up for the toilet more than once at night.
And it occurs in males too, so why isn't there a research project into why there is this frequent need to empty your bl***y bladder? Any answers?
Chrisxx
I sowed my seeds at the end of February, so we'd have the tomatoes early in June.. however they were in one of our little plastic green houses outside and were drowned, when we had deluge of rain and we then discovered the plastic had disintegrated and the rain had poured in!
So I sowed more in early April and wow they grew into a good size plant in weeks.. and here they are forming fruits already!
Lesson learnt no point sowing seeds so early. I'm delighted,. And we have had our own carrots, potatoes, lettuce and we've had rhubarb every week.. so satisfying! Beans, cabbages and peas to come.. you don't need an allotment or even a large garden to grow your own, most of ours is grown in bags and pots..what do you grow?
Chrisxx
Its a hot quiet Sunday afternoon and because I was awake at 4 and couldn't get back to sleep, I went for a lie on the bed after dinner to read.. but my eyes kept closing, so I gave in and closed my eyes. Actually they closed themselves and for two blissful hours I slept.
Amazingly, there's no drilling, banging, or even a dog barking, which is wonderful. We moved here to what we thought was a quiet cul-de-sac. five years ago this month.. and there has been building work on one house or another ever since!
But today silence reigns,.
This is the first rose I bought when we arrived here, 'Susan Daniels.'
We call it our 'Susan' rose and she has been doing us proud every year, Isn't she a beauty?
The tennis season is right on us and we love watching it, we have to regulate how much we watch or we'd never get anything else done..We miss Andy Murray but now cheer some of the younger British players, who are working their way up to be the winning players.
Some people don't like the shouting or grunting noise a player makes as they hit the ball.. However there is a science behind the shouting during exertion, it seems that vocalization can enhance muscular force and performance for up to 9 to 12% ! This can be enough to add a meaningful amount of energy to a lift, or speed to a tennis serve, or power to a punch!
There has been lab tests measuring force with or without vocalization. In one classic experiment participants who shouted during an isometric arm flexion produced 12% more force than those who stayed silent.
A more recent study measuring striking force in martial artists, found there was 9% more increase when participants grunted, jumping from 22.g force to 22.2g force per strike.
In tennis the result is equally clear a study of players, with both serve and forehand velocities were significant higher when players grunted! The same was true for isometric force during those strokes. The statistical confidence was essentially perfect, meaning the result wasn't a fluke.
Its all to do with taking in oxygen and using the diaphram and deep abdominal muscles force out the air and add extra force to the punch, stroke or speed.
During my post op physio on my arm, the one physio always used to say, take some deep breaths, fill your body with extra oxygen to help you.. It's something I do all the time now if I have to do something that is going to take a bit more effort!
So cheer on our British tennis players and be glad when they grunt, because it means that little bright yellow ball is going to be the winning stroke... Come on Cam Norrie, come on Emma Raducanu, come on Arthur Fery!!
Do you love watching tennis too?
Chrisxx
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