New Computer

January 14th

Well all my decorations are back in their boxes and up in the loft for another year. I am seriously thinking about taking a cruise next Christmas to a warmer clime, it has been so cold these past weeks.
I have just spent an interesting few days researching a new computer. I have been concerned about my Computer for some time now. It kept freezing and the pixels would dance around the screen, until I rebooted. I downloaded a new Graphics Driver and it is now more stable but it was getting me down. Also knowing I am constantly downloading Microsoft security patches, upgrades and service packs and a multitude of Norton`s Virus upgrades. It was no wander my loyal friend of five years was giving up the ghost, it was just too much for its little memory to cope with. I knew it was not going to get better and could die at any moment. So I finally got my head around buying a more powerful Machine. (500gig hard drive 4gig RAM) also bought a 500Gig external hard drive to help me transfer my work to the new computer and for backup . I now have the challenge of Microsoft Vista . For those who don’t know much about PC`s all my Windows XP peripherals are incompatible with my new machine, printers scanners modems etc. I decided too that I would go online via a wireless router I thought it would be exciting to have a complete new experience. After a few false starts, I have the system up and running the PC is brilliant and I love the wireless connection. I can use my laptop anywhere in the house and even in the garden. I Find Windows Vista interface isn`t a problem and once I find where things are I feel sure I will enjoy using it.
Last Sunday with three friends from Speakers Club we took a tour of Manchester Art Gallery. The Tour Guide was Chris one of our members, so it was a special treat for us all. They had an Exhibition of Holman Hunt`s paintings, he played a central role in the radical Pre-Raphaelite art movement in the 19thcentury. I love the Pre Raphaelite style, each painting tells a story and the colours are so vivid The gallery was quite crowded but it was fun, I really enjoyed the afternoon.
www.manchestergalleries.org/whats-on/exhibitions/index.php

Go see his paintings at
www.abcgallery.com/H/huntwh/html

January 8th.
Happy New Year

may 2009 prove

to be your best ever.

Health and happiness to you and yours.

The big freeze has arrived minus 20 degrees in areas of the UK. Fortunately we live in a valley surrounded by moors and don’t get extreme weather but it still can be bad especially on the motorways and rural roads. I try to avoid going out or at least waiting until after midday when hopefully the gritters have cleared the main roads and the sun has defrosted most of the pavements.
The freezing fog is the worst, visibility is a whiteout from only a few yards When I worked in the community as a Midwife we had to go out to calls no matter what and I have experienced some hair raising moments often having to abandon the car and walk.

Check out this video its real scary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npTRXr4Sgxg&eurl=http://www.asylum.co.uk/&feature=player_embedded

Stuart came to stay overnight last week, he and Andrew had a night on the town. It was good to see my two sons together a rare sight as Andrew spent seven years from the age of 16 in the Royal Navy. Stuart being 5year his junior never had the opportunity to hang out with big brother during his teenage years. But now age is not a problem and it is good to know they have reached a point where age is not a barrier to friendship. Couldn`t cope with it for too long though as I have got use to my space and having two huge fellows sleeping over, as much as I love them, is…..! Went to see the Epic movie “Australia” I loved it but my friend thought it too long at 2 hours.45mins . I loved it and was choked up and dewy eyed a few times and I jumped with surprise more than once too, I like that. The film is a compilation of many stories and just as you think this is the end another crisis looms. I am not going to divulge the ending that would be unfair, go and see it.

Post Christmas

Bridgewater Hall Manchester

Well Stuart came down as promised and Andrew brought Ryan around to see his Granma. It was like old times putting up with the boys banter and teasing once again. Don’t think I could have coped with it for long though it would wear me out, as much as I love them. Managed to get to see most of my friends on my Christmas Visiting List. As we all are getting older the list gets longer,but it is good to see them and catch up, if only once a year. Our WOL Christmas Party was very successful after a few unfortunate hitches and some regulars down with flue. Thanks to Gemma for the Buffet, Katie for helping, Julian standing in as Compére and Sean who attended in spite of his injury to cover the Quiz. I always enjoy every evening at WOL, as everyone always makes such a effort.
The weather this week has been exceptional , bright clear blue skies and sunshine every day. Its been quiet mild really and in the sun very pleasant. Frosty and cold some mornings but on the whole a lovely week. The sales are on everywhere. I have avoided temptation as there is nothing I really want and often I buy things on impulse that I regret afterwards. Plus there are far too many cars on the roads and too many people out there in the shops. Altogether a manic experience. Been There ! Done That! No More!
Christmas day was quiet, Andrew finished work at 4pm and joined me for Dinner. It felt good cooking the Festive Meal once again with all the trimmings. The turkey was perfect and everything ran like clockwork. I have spent many Christmas Day in Australia and believe me nothing quite beats being at home in the cold fresh stimulating atmosphere of England at Christmas. Eating your own weight in food and drink in a cosy warm loving environment enjoying some great TV/video entertainment. As much as I love and miss Cathi Amy and Ben in Australia, home is where the heart is and at Christmas time one needs to be with family and friends.
Yesterday Dorothy and I went into Manchester to attend a performance of "The best of Gilbert and Sullivan`s Music and Songs" at the Bridgewater Hall. My Parents loved G & S operettas , Dad could sing most of the Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and many more. They are firm favourites of mine too, so it took my back to my childhood hearing the familiar words and music. Afterwards we had dinner at a Turkish Restaurant in the City. A special treat for Dorothy who spent many years stationed in R.A.F Cyprus with her husband. It was good I enjoyed what I had, something wrapped in vine leaves, then Sea Bass and vegetables followed by a authentic honey based dessert, very sweet.
I hope you all had a great Christmas break and in a few a days it will be the New Year. Resolutions at the ready !

The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester

This architecturally-stunning building hosts over 250 performances a year and boasts an award-winning restaurant and café bar. Its waterfront location in the heart of the city makes it an ideal conference and event venue.
Manchester's prestigious international concert hall opened in September 1996 and since its opening has continued to receive plaudits from artists and audiences alike. In March 1998, The Bridgewater Hall was named winner of a Civic Trust Special Award, given for the new building which has done the most to enhance the appearance of a city centre, as well as an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in November of that year.
The Bridgewater Hall auditorium is surprisingly warm and intimate for a hall seating nearly 2,400 people. Rows of slender columns supporting a flat, coffered ceiling create the marvellous acoustic, while the seating is carefully tiered to draw the audience as closely as possible around and into the performance. The visual impact of the auditorium climaxes in the spectacular façade of the remarkable £1.2 million pipe organ, designed and built by Marcussen of Denmark.

Merry Christmas, Good Health and Happiness to You All.
Click ,watch and listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktCc9QPbU7w

Pre-Christmas Days

Full of Festive Good Cheer.

The snow lingered for about two days and then slowly disappeared. It has been extremely cold and frosty all this week and slippy underfoot. I haven`t ventured out until after midday when I hoped the pavement have been defrosted by the sun and the roads clear and safe. Unfortunately our Stuart has fallen on black ice and broken his elbow which means he is grounded for many weeks unable to drive or do much.
Enjoyed our Women Institute Dinner at the local Golf Club, our table was very noisy we had the giggles and blamed the port and lemon most where on.Speakers Party was rather a sedate affair though it was good to see everyone relaxed and not under pressure with assignments. Went to Bolton Little Theatre to see “Fawlty Towers” it was a very successful TV comedy sitcom in the sixties, with Monty Python`s John Clease and Connie Booth. It was excellent they had all the characters off to a T. I was disappointed I couldn’t get to the Wigan Poetry Night as the weather was really bad hailstones and windy. I am really adverse to going far a field in winter, its not the going it’s the coming back as the weather changes so suddenly. I am busy next week three Christmas lunches so I hope the weather is better. I will be glad to stop all this eating. Ha Ha ! did I really say that ? No, but it is always good to get back to a normal pattern of eating
Finally decided not to get another dishwasher but a condensing clothes dryer instead. It is coming next week and they will take the old dishwasher away. I have a rather noisy vented tumble dryer in the garage that can be scrapped or given away.
17th Finally gave in and went into the attic and rescued the Christmas Decorations. Each year I vow not to bother and then I weaken. Andrew will be with me for Christmas Day and Stuart is coming down New Year for a few days so I have to get with the Christmas Spirit. It just seems so much trouble putting the tree up and taking it down again. I must be getting old!

It`s Write Out Loud`s Christmas Party Sunday so I am practising my piece. I will put my others on my poetry page later. This one is current to this time.

The Festive Season

3am I awake alert disturbed and anxious
Is it a dog barking, a car backfiring
No it’s thoughts dropping into my mind
Like a stone into water the ripples spreading to become a flood of fear.
Its all this Christmas hype,
Each year I vow to be ready .
I never am.

Last minute panic, cards and letters to write.
Presents, parties, clothes and dates to fix
Why is it such a headache.
Every year it arrives earlier
And I am never ready.

When I was working.
With a family of five.
I was organised on time well prepared
Now I have retired its just bedlam
Running around at the last minute .
Places to go, people to see, parcels to post.
Presents to chose, extra food and drink
Always buying far to much
As though we face a famine
Will I ever get it right.
Don’t think I don’t enjoy the festivities
Drinks with friends, dinner dancing.
A time to let you hair down.
No ! It’s the hullabaloo in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

I have thought about getting away
Leaving it all behind
Taking a Turkey and Tinsel Tour
A Cruise round the Caribbean
But its just a day dream .
How could I face the family ,
How could I not be there for my friends.
No its not Christmas
Without a festive tree
Eating too much, getting tipsy and watching Tele.
Knowing that the pressure evaporates
On the morning of the 25th

It is over
Yes Over
For another year.

Val Cook 2008

December 2008

View from my front step 2.12.08

1st December 2008
Well here we are the final month of the year 2008. I remember the build up to the millennium that doesn’t seem that long ago, its rather frightening how the years fly by. I have started organizing Christmas but its taking a great deal of effort to get motivated. I was so happy to post my overseas cards before the last posting date. Missed the surface mail again this year so I must get myself a reminder as its quite expensive otherwise. I expect there will be a many tightening their belts this year with the increase of fuel, food and utilities. I know I am very careful with electricity but I wont be skimping on heating as that is asking for trouble. But I have turned the thermostat on the central heating down a degree for the time being and wear socks and sweater in the house. My youngest son Stuart had his Fortieth Birthday last week, it seems incredible to me that I have three children over Forty. But still its only a number, all three look much younger than their age. I have stopped counting years its irrelevant, its how you look and feel that matters. Keeping the body and brain active is important ,if you don’t use it you will lose it. I try to pace myself but sometimes thing take over and then I have to stop, have a couple of days chilling, then I am up and out again.
I have been shopping for Christmas gifts it is so difficult for me as I agonise over what is suitable for any given one. I should start earlier and I used too when the family was at home and I was working full time, but now I have little interest in shopping. Thursday I found my way to IKEA in Ashton Under Lynn what a journey, the rain was pouring down and I was on the motorway for ages. The directions I had confused me and after taking a number of wrong turnings I eventually saw IKEA miles from where I expected it to be. Enjoyed the mooch though, it took me  hours to walk around the store. Bought eight items unique to IKEA and enjoyed a  light tasty meal, so I was happier on the way home. I have lots of Christmas Outing and Parties in the weeks leading up to Christmas , just hope the weather holds up. We have had some really bad frosts and it was very foggy for 24 hours at weekend.

2nd December Look what I woke up to this morning, snow 4 inches deep. It was certainly a surprise the weather bureau hadn’t prepared us for this. It was lovely snow , powder dry just like we used to have when I was a child. I really enjoyed clearing it off the drive as it was so light and easy to shift. By lunch time the rain had reduced the roads to a mush and I think by morning the snow will have gone.

Armistice Day

The Birthday Boy

November
On the 6th I drove up to Harrogate to see the family. It was cold and wet but I enjoyed getting to know the car. The electronics are so different from the previous model I will have to learn one thing at a time. This drive I concentrated on the lights, heater, wipers and radio. Kept my speed below 50mph in spite of the erratic gestures from other driver as they whistled past me. I will master the cruise control and the trip meter next time I take a long drive. I am looking forward to opening her up and seeing what she can do.

On the Sunday I attended our Area Conference as I was Topics Contestant once again. No way am I going to win as there are so many brilliant speakers in our area, but its good experience, I enjoy the challenge and the company and lunch was excellent. Monday I spent ages in Staple photocopying Guidance Marking and Judging sheets for our local contest on the 17th its all new to me but I am learning. In future I will do little and often to build up a supply gradually it was just too stressful, you only find out the drawbacks to the job as they occur. We run three contest a year for Speech : Topics and Evaluation. Winners go forward to Area then compete at District level and on to the National Conference, this year to be held in Dundee Scotland. Last year it was in Blackpool and most of us went for the weekend and had a great time.

I was finally discharges by my Orthopaedic Consultant, my elbow has been fully mobile for weeks a bit sensitive at times but none the less feels good. I don’t want any form of interference unless its warranted.

This week has been quiet. The weather has turned quite cold and the icy wind is vicious. Although it was lovely and sunny yesterday, it was a joy to be out. I swept up most of the leaves on the garden what a task I was glad the wind had died otherwise it’s impossible to gather them together. I have a Suck/Blow machine but it is so heavy I prefer to use a brush and shovel.

Sunday was Armistice Day but I wasn’t up to standing out in the cold all morning on the Town Hall Square for the Remembrance Day Service. So I watched it on TV it was from the Cenotaph in London . Tuesday was the 11/11/11 Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month and at the Eleventh hour I hope everyone honored the minutes silence in Rememberance. I always feel sad thinking off those young men and women serving in the armed forces in the conflict zones around the world. Away from their families and friends for long periods and especially those are injured or never return. I have travelled through the Europe’s Battle Fields, visited the War Graves and stayed in Ypres to hear the Last Post played at the Menim Gate. It was a very emotional experience and it saddens me to hear of what is going on today.

Go visit Ypres http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dccfarr/introduction.htm

I have been writing a lot lately. It comes over me periodically and I spend hours studying the dictionary and thesaurus for evasive wonderful words to use. Poetry is still going strong WriteOutLoud has a new venue in Sale Trafford and the Hebden Bridge night is growing in popularity. I love it.

Finished knitting Ryan` s pullover for his 6th Birthday It looks good now that its stitched and pressed. He will have a big Birthday parcel from me, as I have got him Books a Game and lollies. His birthday is so near to Christmas and he has almost everything that is in the shops now. He is a little sweetie and I love him lots, where do the years go. Bye for now.