A Good Start to the New Year

26th January 2012
It’s been rather quiet these past few weeks.  This week the news is  dominated by  the cruise ship disaster as there are many still missing and  bodies are being retrieved daily from the sunken hold of the ship. Various stories are circulating about the  unbelievable behaviour of the  Costa Captain, but I expect we will have to wait  to find out the truth as to how such a disaster happened.

Feeling much better  and quite energetic after starting my  Korean Ginseng and returning to the gym. I  take a 1000mg capsule daily  for a two to three months each winter it really does pep me up. I always take daily vitamins and omega oils but  need these extra minerals during the  winter months, Ginseng  known as the panacea of life  works for me..
     


So I have been spring cleaning all through the house . Taking `stuff ` to the  Recycle Depot that Bolton now has. All the local sites had been closed and centralized in this one site, I was very impressed by the organisation at the site and will have no fear in going again.. Reluctantly dropped off clothes that don’t fit well or are out of favour  at the local Charity Shop and other stuff I have replaced but are still very useful ..  it was a busy week but very satisfying a good start to the New Year.
Friday last week I was invited  out to dinner by a new friend who I met at the Library and we where joined by her sister and neighbour. It was an enjoyable evening with constant conversation and much humour ,except for the meal.  The establishment,  now a Posh Pub that used to be the village local once excelled at serving tasty Meat Pie and Mushy Peas.  I have fond  memories of this place full of life and laughter, not so now …. far to posh and the meal, minuscule and belied its description on the menu.  I did send word to the kitchen that I was disappointed with my choice and could have changed but as I was with new friends who lived in the village felt it could present a problem for them. So I backed off,  as we had received a complimentary  bottle of red wine on arrival….some things you just have to do.

My latest indulgence is an SonicView android tablet. I felt the need for a challenge, this comes over me now and again so I started to review them. I handled so many and nearly opted for the  Sony I-Pad because it was thin, light and very popular. But no, I don’t play games only occasional card /word games and jigsaws online, so the powerful  I-Pad was over-spec. for my needs and this reflected in the price. So I was delighted to find the Sonic View-Pad 10e which is not only very similar to the  thin and light I-Pad it has all the Spec and Google Android system for almost half the cost.. Now I the challenge is to learn how to use it as its so different than the Computer.……. one week on I love it.

Travelled into  Manchester Thursday to see the Stage Musical Oliver by Lionel Bart. Its such a standard musical, I love all the songs and its years since I saw the movie and I wasn’t disappointed, everything was   brilliant. I went with my friends Betty and  her daughter Lucy we had great seats. Afterwards  had excellent Pizza at a local Pizzeria,  a superb ending to a delightful day.
You should all know what song I chose from  Oliver

   
I have been enjoying a BBC drama that is taking me back to my previous life as a Community Midwife. It is an emotional journey for me, a mixture of smiles and tears but so endearing. Even now I am filling up remembering all those mothers and babies who touched my life and gave me a total job satisfaction,it was a true  privilege.
Read the first few chapters of  the book   “ Call The Midwife” by Jenifer Worth

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2091462/SANDRA-PARSONS-TV-midwives-cruel-betrayal-single-mums.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14859228
The acute shortage of Midwives still needs to be rectified today.
 

Spring Carpet

This is my favourite Picture

A carpet of Snowdrops

A sailors resting place

St James Church Belingham Worcestershire

Well both Computers have now found good homes so I am happy, it makes me feel so righteous after I have recycled stuff. The weather has been sunny and warm so it was a joy to work in the garden again. I managed to prune all my bushes, some quite heavily but then I was a wee bit concerned because we where threatened with frost, but thankfully they look ok and some buds are evident . The bulbs are not doing well, I only have three daffodils showing colour and many many green shoots that I fear will not. The snowdrops are very brave, they have been out even under the snow, I suppose that’s why they are called Snowdrops. On the 6th of March I drove down to Worcestershire to visit with my brother and sister in-law and catch upmy niece and her girls. I enjoyed the drive down even though I was reduced to driving 50miles per hour 50% of the way,due to road works, but I didn’t mind, it was quite calming as apposed to frantic. The weather continued sunny and warm all weekend much warmer than home . Sunday I went swimming and then had the Sauna and Jacuzzi all to myself, really felt special and I have never been as clean for ages. There where quite a few visiters dropping by over the weekend so there was plenty going on. On the Monday mt brother and I took a long long walk around Pershore. It was good to spend time with him, I don’t think we have talked as much in years and even though he had a heavy cold and I feel sure he was feeling rough, he soldiered on. But that’s what he is good at, soldiering, having been in the Army until he retired. It was good to see their girls again too,it`s amazing how fast they grow up these days.
After my swim and relaxation we took me to see the bulb display at a local church yard A Spring Carpet of Snowdrops and Croci, it was breathtaking ,up north everything is so behind because of the cold winds.

Go see more photos:-

Spring Carpet

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198705&id=577402844&l=5c3bf20d9b

Pershore

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198727&id=577402844&l=752709ac67

During the week I attended a local gig “Eclectricity” run by my friend Scott, a good mixture of poetry and music, featuring HoneyFeet a Manchester Jazz group., I couldn’t help but dance around to their music, it`s so foot tapping brilliant yet mellow and addictive. Loved it. By Friday I was starting the mother of all colds it really took my by surprise I can`t remember when I last had a cold so bad. Four days in bed , medicated to oblivion, coughing and sneezing almost continually . It was soooooo good when I stopped coughing. Unfortunately I missed out on the WI Spring Council Meeting at Southport .I was looking forward to hearing Sandi Torsvig speak, plus it`s an occasion when you meet up with friends from all the WI`s in the North. Today I had my hair cut, took a short brisk walk until it started to rain. I felt so sad at the state of the gardens there is just no colour at all. Spring has not yet sprung in Bolton!

Easter sunshine

Rivington Pike

We have been having a brilliant Easter Weekend the sun has shone and the gardens are filling with colour so quickly.So different to last year when it snowed. I mowed the grass, what a job, it took me ages to get it decent it was so thick and lush. Thankfully I am feeling so much better now my cough has gone. I didn’t realise how low I had gone until I started feeling better.
At the beginning of April we had such a terrible wind it kept me awake I could hear the wheelie bins (big bins)that had been left out for the collection in the morning, being blown over . I popped down and brought mine back inside the garage. I didn’t feel like facing the mess that could have been in the morning. We have three bins, Grey for general household rubbish, Green for garden waste and Beige for paper and card. Some also have a Burgundy bin for tins and plastic bottles. I don’t have space for one of those so I have a box instead. It’s a complete charade as the recycling plants can`t keep up with the amount collected and the paper is being shipped out to far distant lands and dumped. I wish the government would sort it out. I believe in recycling, the concept is excellent but there has to be a better system than we have at present. Drove up to Harrogate on Thursday to see my lads, Stue and Sam ,weather was overcast but warm. We had lunch in the local Pub and then a mooch around the town centre shops. I really enjoyed being with them it felt good. After the bank holiday when all the crowds had gone Betty and I decided to climb Rivington Pike. This is a tradition by many at Easter time. It was a nice bright day but windy so we wrapped up warm and set off through the Chinese Gardens built by Lord Leverhulme around his bungalow, now gone, half way up the hillside. The gardens are being renovated and are much improved. After climbing 480 + steps we lost count, the wind was force 7 at the top and fairly took our breath away. If there had not been a fence at the top of the climb we would have been swept away. Brilliant day loved the climb and managed well, with the aid of walking poles it is so much easier. Forgot my camera so found these online.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jed/chinese%20gardens/chinese_gardens.htm Go take a look