I always knew I was special!!

 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE 1% ERS:

99% of people born between 1930 and 1946 (GLOBALLY) are now dead.

If you were born in this time span, your ages range between 77 and 93 years old (a 16-year age span) and you are one of the rare surviving one-percenters.

You are the smallest group of children born since the early 1900's.

You are the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who can remember the winds of war and the impact of a world at war that rattled the structure of our daily lives for years.

You are the last to remember ration books for everything from tea to sugar to shoes. You saved tin foil and poured fried meat fat into cans.

You can remember milk being delivered to your house early in the morning and placed in the "milk box" at the front door. Discipline was enforced by parents and teachers. You are the last generation who spent childhood without television and instead, you “imagined” what you heard on the radio.

With no TV, you spent your childhood "playing outside". There was no city playground for kids. The lack of television in your early years meant that you had little real understanding of what the world was like.

We got “black-and-white” TV in the late 50s that had 3 stations and no remote.

Telephones (if you had one) were one to a house and hung on the wall in the kitchen (who cares about privacy). Computers were called calculators; they were hand-cranked. Typewriters were driven by pounding fingers, throwing the carriage, and changing the ribbon. INTERNET and GOOGLE were words that did not exist.

Newspapers and magazines were written for adults and your dad would give you the comic pages after he read the news. The news was broadcast on your radio in the evening. The radio network gradually expanded from 3 stations to thousands.

New highways would bring jobs and mobility. Most highways were 2 lanes and there were no Motorways. You went downtown to shop. You walked to school.

Your parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war, and they threw themselves into working hard to make a living for their families.

You weren't neglected, but you weren't today's all-consuming family focus. They were glad you played by yourselves. They were busy discovering the postwar world. You entered a world of overflowing plenty and opportunity; a world where you were welcomed, enjoyed yourselves. You felt secure in your future, although the depression and poverty were deeply remembered.

Polio was still a crippler. Everyone knew someone who had it.

You are the last generation to experience an interlude when there were no threats to our country. World War 2 was over and the cold war, terrorism, global warming, and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life. Only your generation can remember a time after WW2 when our world was secure and full of bright promise and plenty. You grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better.

More than 99% of you are retired now, and you should feel privileged to have "lived in the best of times!" If you have already reached the age of 77 years old, you have outlived 99% of all the other people on this planet. You are a 1% 'er!

Now isn't this interesting? Are you a 1%?

Chrisxx

A Confession

 When Dh and I were married his twin daughters were 16, we had what only could be called, 'air clearing moments!' Lots of talk about school work. (As well as the expense of washing one pair of jeans and then putting the same into the tumble drier!) They watched 'Friends' over and over, so much so that they could chime in with the dialogue. 

When I drove back to the house as I drove up I could see them through the window hurriedly switch off the TV, so were sitting with school books in front of them, when I came in, They were supposed to be studying for their 'A' Levels. 

But years earlier my own daughter in her first half term break from UNI, raved about 'Neighbours' I didn't even know there were programmes in the day time. I was a teacher, so wasn't home during the day and holidays were filled with things I liked to do. And as I was brought up in a home without TV, it didn't feature highly in my life.

But I have a confession, I have discovered, 'Frasier' I love watching it and am in great admiration of the script writers and the actors! There are 274 episodes over 11 series each one with 24 episodes. I'm on series 11. When I've seen them all I'd be happy to watch them all over again!

If we have watched a scary film. I have to watch an episode to take my mind off the film, daft or what??

Do you have a favourite TV Programme? Perhaps I'm making up for my youth when I didn't have a TV to watch?

Chrisxx

PS, The patio has turned out very nice, not the size slabs I wanted but ok.

Did they not hear or understand???

 If you have read my blog in the past, you'll know I love my garden. At the moment we're having a new patio. We had problems getting a firm, as all very busy. We did have a firm booked with a moderate estimate, he came in February, but we had various messages to say, the rain had stopped his other work, so it would be a while before he could come. Then came the message we were dreading, perhaps we should get some one else.

So then came the search to get some one else. I asked on our local FB page for recommendations.  I had 3 different building firms names given to me. Only one turned up and his quote was  £7600 + vat.. so a lot more than we were expecting, but to be honest I was so desperate to have a patio without the uneven slabs we had, I was willing to pay.

Then the man who did our new windows and French doors and front door, gave us the name of these builders, their quote £4300 which was near enough to our first builder.

They are here now and I'm screaming in my head, I'm back to not sleeping because I have that awful anxious feeling again.

We discussed fully what I wanted 350mm squared sized pavers and I had marked out how I wanted  them laid. A staggered shape along side the new fence and garden area and explained to them, that all the trees and plants already planted were all newly planted, but none were in their way.

The first thing was 350mm sized paver may not be stable or could easily not stay level???  I nearly said to him, 'what part of I want 350mm pavers ' did he not understand. He went away that evening and DH and I discussed what to do. I was desperate to have a patio that wasn't a trip hazard.

So I have 600mm pavers, not in the shape I want, because the pavers are too big to do that shape, 2 plants dug up and left to dry in this heat,  because they were in the way, our brand new wheel barrow left on the side filled with rubble, because they needed 2 and Dh said they could use it, and a big oil mark on our drive from their van. Their quote was for 5 days work, but as they have had 3 hour+ lunch breaks, because it had been very hot, today is day 6 and they were here at 7:30am.

It's all very good work, but not what I wanted and because it not laid  in a staggered design looks boring. So I'm paying for something which is not what I want. As a quilter I could see in my head the pattern I wanted and also could see how to achieve it.. these men may be able to lay down pavers, but they lack imagination and grey brain  cells and I suspect are great at 'man-splaining' at home, because they know what's best!

What part of 'this is what I want' did they not hear or understand?

Grrrrrrr 

I'd ask you all if you had any tips on getting trades people and getting them  to do as you asked, but we are NOT having anything else done, Wales is sadly lacking workmen, who even when you speak in English, still do what they think is best And not what you want!

Chrisxx

Where is she now?

We pass this tree on our way home, called The Welcome Tree by the towns' people, but we never noticed it when we used to drive here, every year for a holiday at my Grans and Aunts.

My children were more fixed on the brow of the Three Step Hill, because at the top we could see the sea. So there was a lot of shouting, Who ever sees the sea first loves Holly Stewart!

In fact everything my three sons did revolved around Holly Stewart. 

First one up ths stairs, first to wash, clean their teeth get dressed! Who ever was first loved Holly Stewart!

She was a pretty little girl in my middle son's Junior School class. 

I doubt she ever knew that she was a big 'name' in our home.

Then she grew up and went off to University and we didn't see her for years.... until... my eldest came home one evening to say he'd see Holly. She was working in a local supermarket and had become a 'Goth!'

I saw her a week later walking along the high street; black clothes, black eyes, black lips and hair twisted into the then fashionable nest style.

I'm sure she thought she looked amazing and as a Goth she did;  but she was no longer the sweet little girl they had fought over when they were Junior School age. 

I wonder what happened to her. She wasn't mentioned again and was like favourite toys forgotten. She was my 'arrow in my bow' because I banded her name around when I wanted my sons to get dressed for school etc, poor Holly, perhaps it was good she never knew!

I still have her name in my mind when we reach the brow of Three Step Hill and I can see the sea!

Have you memories of your children?

Chrisxx

Does it make you happy?

 At the beginning of April,  I promised myself to  lose 8 pounds in the month, well I failed that goal. I lost 1/2 pound each week and then the first week of May I didn't lose but stayed the same. I was so disappointed I hadn't gone over my 'syns' (the extras you're allowed with the slimming world food plan) So what happened the next week? I gain a whole pound.  And I haven't done much better since. 

But I have now continued on my weight loss journey,  because that number on the scales doesn't tell you:

How strong you are.

How fit you feel.

How well you're sleeping.

And it certainly doesn't tell you how amazing you are; this last week on two occasions different people have said to me, how good they felt after speaking to me  and how interesting I was!

Losing weight didn't give me that ability I always had it! No one would deny that losing weight is better for health and allows you to live better day by day, and that it also promotes a feeling of well being, so I will carry on. 

But I know I can be happy regardless of my weight loss! And according to many friends I don't look my age, even with my greying hair, I have smooth looking skin. I presume that's because I eat a healthy diet and use good facial creams and no soap!

What do you think about dieting?

Chrisxx

Plane crash!

 
Great excitement but no one hurt, the pilot scrambled out and paddled ashore. A small singled engine plane crashed into the sea off our town beach.

It was under water for a while, but then dragged and carried over the rocks to be lifted away.. lots of excitement and people there to witness it happening around about 9:00 am yesterday morning.

Porthcawl was on the news!!

Chrisxx

Where is the rain??

We have had a lovely morning, a sun shiny day again, too hot really and we went off to buy a selection of shrubs. Our nearest garden centre is always full of plants including trees.

These don't look a lot but they are shrubs that will grow up and out and the photo doesn't do them justice.

But I have still had to buy some shrubs on line and those that have  arrived are in excellent condition.

This an Amelanchier tree in flower, is my favourite

These Gooseberries are called Giggles!

And to come are a crab apple, a Victoria Plum and a Russet eating apple, in the mean time my red hot credit card bought 3 climbing roses that I had seen on the Chelsey Flower show on TV!

We really need rain to plant these, at the moment our back garden registers 29.2° C. Planting them in this heat would be risky, so at the moment they are grouped where we can water them in the evenings.

Yesterday we visited a member of our U3A Gardening Group.. what a lovely garden, quite small and wall surrounded, but climbing pink sweet scented roses to to the skies and frothy clumps of Erigeron every where, in the cracks in the pebbles and all along the wall of her drive. So, so pretty, and something I'm going to do I usually pull it up when it self seeds.

So that's what I'm doing, Erigeron everywhere!! 

Come on rain, come here!! To think my old neighbours in Suffolk said I'd be upset with all the rain in Wales!!LOL

Have you had rain?

Chrisxx

 

A Boat, Corn beef sandwich and a paper bag!

 Trips on the Waverly paddle streamer have started up again. They go to Ilfracombe across the Bristol channel and west to Swansea and Lundy Island.

I went on one with my Aunty when I was 12 years old. I can remember being excited and scared! It had been decided we'd have breakfast on board and we did, big thick doorstop Corn beef sandwiches. 

Omgosh was I ill, and spent a long time with my head in a paper bag heaving! It was the first time I discovered that the sea was ok to swim in, but not to ride on! 

Ilfracombe was ??  Can't remember that at all, altho I've seen photos of us walking along eating an ice creams. I don't know how I was on the back but I guess I was alright, as there were no family stories about me!

Since then I have been on other sea journeys, but with very strong sea sickness pills! 

We are going to watch the next arrival just to see it docking along side the pier,  but I don't want to go on it and it took me years as an adult to have a corn beef sandwich!

How are you on sea journeys?

Chrisxx

Hedge gone./new Fence!

 When we moved into our bungalow, which will be two years on the 6th June, I said right away I didn't like the very high hedge, which went all round three sides of the property. Everyone I knew said, it would cost too much to have it removed and it was nicely green! Environmentalists said it would be alive with insects and birds and what a shame to remove it. But they didn't have the headache of getting it cut, nor the cost. The cost has risen over the two years and is now close on £1500 each year! But guess what.... it had no birds in it and apart from the odd spider or ant not a lot of anything else.. And as it was my hedge I have had it taken out and a fence in its place. 

We still have the Copper Beach hedge down one side and the half size one that edges the front garden. And now this wonderful fence! We plan to grow some small garden trees and at the top perhaps a Bramley and a Victoria plum. As well as roses and shrubs, I'm delighted and love it. We have gained extra ground,  where the hedge had grown out as well as up. I have plans and can't wait to go out and buy new plants. I already have bought three roses, 'Sweet Syrie,' 'Chanfos Beauty' which I saw on the Chelsey Flower show TV last evening, its so exciting.. Watch this space!

Chrisxx

Yes I did after all.

 

Yes I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shame it rained for all the street parties and picnics planned and the people who had camped out along the Mal were soaked, but it didn't dampen their enthusiasm.

King Charles and Queen Camila were very regal with their crowns. Charles looked very emotional when William was swearing his allegiance.

Loved the Princess Royal riding the horse behind the gold carriage.

The Princess of Wales, Kate as  beautiful as ever and little Charlotte dress just like her mum. And proud Prince George as lead Page carrying the long King's cloak. Wasn't Louis lovely singing the National Anthem. 

An amazing day!

Did you watch?

Chrisxx