Christmas Time

22nd December


Well the snow and ice hasn’t gone, the roads other than the main highways are just as impassable and some people are still housebound . It seems we have a shortage of salt & grit and transportation is under threat. There is talk of shortages in the supermarkets and petrol stations, some households and businesses are experiencing problems obtaining oil for their central heating. Airports closed, trains delayed and roads blocked, its a terrible time for those trying to get away for Christmas. Fortunately I live on a bus route so able to get into town, mooch round the shops and go to the gym. I am still hopeful that I will get up to spend Christmas with Stu & Co this weekend, but we will have to wait and see if it snows again. I will have to use the Motorway to get up to Knaresborough along with everyone else, it will be horrendous so I have a lot to consider. Other wise I am feeling good and ready for the festivities whether its here or there I will relax and enjoy the weekend. Have a wonderful wonderful Christmas. To all my family and friends; I wish we could all be together on that day, what a great time we would have. Take Care love you.

My Seasonal Poem

Christmastime

                                                               Christmas is the occasion
                                                               For family and friends
                                                               To gather together
                                                           To renew, review, past times.

                                                           Grudges hopefully forgotten
                                                                  Slights forgiven
                                                                Opinions tolerated.                  
                                                          Their New Years Resolution.

                                                          Over eating and drinking
                                                             Common for most.
                                                          Children overindulged
                                                        Grandparents fussed over.

                                                    Commercial aspect of Christmas
                                                       Exciting entertaining and colourful.
                                                Money spent as if there was no tomorrow.
                                                      So all can have a great time.

                                                             But there are those
                                                       Who, lonely or homeless
                                                     Have not had a great time
                                                              For a long time.

                                                             Not for them gifts
                                                         Or a cheerful greeting.
                                                    Not for them the cosy chair
                                                           By a warm fireside.

                                                       Cold is their companion
                                                       Hunger is their penance
                                            Isolation and condemnation is their reward.
                                               Compassion is what they need.

                                  There but for whatever strengths they do not possess,
                                            Whatever support they do not have,
                                               Whatever love they do not feel …..
                                                                    Go I.

   Merry Christmas & Happy New Year xxx Valere






















The Lead up to Christmas

                                                              Snow covered country road



Well I certainly haven’t experienced anything like the ice and snow we have had this November. The whole of the UK was gridlocked -20 degrees in Scotland. It has cleared and feels a little warmer, but the forecast is, we have more to come. I was in Australia for three months last winter escaped the snow and ice but heard how horrendous it was, people where trapped in their homes for weeks; so I had better get stocked up on essentials and pretty soon too. Christmas is creeping up on us but I have most of my shopping done it’s the wrapping and the deliveries next. I haven’t been quite myself this past week, nothing significantly obvious just tired and this stonking headache that responds well to a couple of painkillers but then its back within 5 -6hours. I don’t know which is worse the headache or the side affects of these pills. Didn’t stop me from attending a couple of Christmas Dinners, some times I find distraction is as good as medication, to meet up with people you rarely see and catch up on their news. I have organised a Christmas party for the poets this month ,thankfully I am not catering , just hope the weather stays reasonable, last year because of the snow only a handful made it. I am hoping to stay with Stuart in Knaresborough over the Christmas weekend but of course every thing depends on the weather , after last year everyone remains sceptical. My grandson seems settled in Sydney and is keeping in touch with everyone via Face Book and Skype and by all accounts a having a grand old time before he buckles down to work. Face Book is a brilliant tool for keeping in touch with friends and family but some need to curb their language and watch what they say, I don’t think they realise that its much more public than an e-mail. A casual comment can sometimes offend and bullying is riff on these social network pages. There have been teenage suicides attributed to comment on social networking sites which is really unacceptable, I try not to read to much in to most of it, but it still can cause me concern. There are many safeguards on these social networking sites to protect information but some often do not bother and leave their pages open to the world. A local teenager recently stabbed another to death over a derogatory comment on Face Book about his sister.
New Year Resolutions guys -: I set out to do may be one a year, as I feel that is enough for anyone especially if it’s a tough assignment. So I am working on this New Years Challenge and will let you know when I start it. Last year a vowed to reduce the number of groups I was involved in to a manageable three. This I have achieved Women’s Institute, WriteOutLoud and History, I did start volunteering at the library, but I don’t feel that counts.



Remembrance Sunday

11-11-11

                                     Eleventh hour on the eleventh day in the Eleventh month 
                                                         We will remember them

I have always supported the Armed Services and the Remembrance Service on the Town Hall Square with all the local dignitaries and representatives of the many branches of the services, has been an important event in my calendar. My father was in the Royal Navy during WW2 both my brothers served in the Army and my eldest son was in the Royal Navy and joined the TA on discharge. Because he is tall and very smart he was chosen as Honour Guard at the Cenotaph almost every year, and now is proud as a Policeman to march with them on that day. I have a high regard for the dedication and sacrifices these young men and women give our country, in the conflicts of the past and recently in Northern Ireland ,Iraq and Afghanistan. Seeing the young and old marching through the town accompanied by a Military Band is really something special.
Boy is it cold now. It’s surprising how you forget how cold the wind can be until you feel it whistling around your ears for the first time. It has forecast heavy snow soon, already there is snow in Scotland. Plus we have had dense fogs on occasions, something I haven’t seen for many years and with the amount of traffic on the roads it can be very dangerous. I shouldn’t really moan about the weather we have had some brilliant Autumn days sunny and warm. I was knee deep in leaves on the garden last week, filled the huge Wheelie Bin and this week there are just as many more that need clearing, one of the pains of being surrounded by trees. But the autumn colours have been magnificent this year, they say it is due to the very cold winter and the wet summer. We also had a bumper fruit harvest this year and that was due to the abnormal weather too. Went to the cinema to see the latest Harry Potter movie it was good but it was only Part 1. I have to wait now for the conclusion which will be at least a couple of years I bet I will have forgotten the plot by then. I have started my Christmas shopping and my writing my cards so I am feeling quite proud of myself as I am usually on the last minute. I am spending Christmas in Knaresborough this year with my son, so I have to get organised. My 19year old grandson is now on his way to Australia with a 12 months working Visa. He is in Hong Kong for a week or so then on to Sydney. Lucky guy he will have a brilliant time.



Saltaire,

No.6  Defender

                                                 Autumn colours in my back garden
The last few weeks in October I was out almost daily, it was certainly too much for anyone. But I soldiered on and must say enjoyed myself. Went with the WI to Saltaire Mills in Shipley North Yorkshire. It was a model village complex in its time, with educational and recreational facilities, plus a hospital and homes for the workers at the Woollen Mill built by Titus Salt and run by his family for decades. http://www.saltsmill.org.uk/contact.htm   Now it is a complex of apartments, offices, enterprising units, shops and the David Hockey Art Gallery. Quite impressive but I must admit the shops where the main attraction I don’t rate Hockey very much he is too modern. The following Sunday I was in Manchester to join friends in a guided tour of Manchester Art Gallery, my friend Chris is a guide at the gallery and occasionally takes these tours, so we went along to support her. I always find these tours very interesting as they have some brilliant collections, I especially like their large collection of Pre-Raphaelites Paintings as they tell a story. I like this one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_of_Shalott
I had a nice long chat to my daughter before she left for a holiday in Bali. Since then the Merapi Volcano in Java has erupted and desiccated a large area followed by a Tsunami triggered by a earthquake soon after. Thankfully I have been assured she was not in that area. Bali is a small island far south of Java well away from the disaster. Its rather a coincidence that the day she returned from a previous holiday in Bali the area where she was staying was bombed by terrorists, many killed and maimed it’s a troubled area in more ways than one. And now in the past few days two Quantas Jumbo Jets have lost an engine on their flight to Sydney Australia from Singapore. Its really scary, I now fly via Dubai with Emirates, but I have been on the Singapore Route many times in the past.. My friends Ann and Derek are on there way today 7th Nov, to New Zealand for the winter via Singapore and Sydney I do hope they will be safe. I was pleased that I was able to spend some time with them before they went, I will miss them, they are good friends,this time last year we where together in New Zealand in Ruby Bay and wonderful holiday.
Last week I went to my cousins funeral she was 85yrs,it was lovely to see all her family together again, she had eight grandchildren and the same number of great grandchildren, I do miss children, mine have all grown up or live too far away. Yesterday Saturday I was up in Harrogate hanging out with my son and grandson. He is 19 yrs now and off to Australia at the end of this month for 12 months, hoping to play football and cricket in the sun. We watched him play football for his team,( they are top of their League) and I was surprise how much I enjoyed the excitement.

Hebden "Poetry Workshop" Weekend

View over Hebden Bridge

Since getting back from holiday its been all go, no fault but my own I just take on too much at times . On the 2nd I had a small involvement in televising a Consumer programme called “First Click” for the BBC at the Central Library. Gloria Hunniford, Jenny Bond and Angela Rippon where presenting three shows on Consumer Rights . As Computer Mentors we were asked to support the public if they wanted to access the internet and it would also give us an opportunity to promote our free mentoring service at all the local Libraries. It was very interesting but didn’t run as smoothly as everyone expected, but no doubt this will not be evident in the final programme when its screened. You may see the back of my head, my right ear or hear me helping someone find information on a Computer, still I enjoyed the experience. Its on the BBC the 22nd November ?? The time, you will have to check

The Historical Society has started its programme so I went along to hear about Cardinal Wolsey life and times as shown on the Stage and Screen . It was an interesting slant on the subject I am tempted to read more about him. We have had some lovely warm sunny days at the end of September that made me regret having put away my summer clothes. The garden was given a make over and I was able to wash and peg out again ,I always prefer pegging my clothes out in the sunshine they smell so fresh and feel wonderful..

Attended the Women’s Institute Autumn Council Meeting in Preston as it is a few years since I have been to a meeting, it was good to catch up with people I haven’t seen for a while.

My niece Ema was getting married on the 9th but I couldn’t get down to Worcestershire that weekend. I know it went well, so Love and Congratulations to Ema ,Nick and the girls.

Hebden Bridge Hostel

The River Calder

The following week I had a few days feeling really OFF probably due to dashing a round to much and over doing it, but that’s me. But a managed to chill out for a few days in preparation for this past weekend. It was Write Out Loud’s Poetry Workshop Weekend in Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire. We took over the Local Hostel and over 50 poets spent a wonderful time sharing and honing their poetry. Awesome, I now want to get stuck in to some serious writing as I am all fired up.

Portugal Holiday

                                                         The Pendolino a dream ride

A British made Locomotive most of the Vintage

                      Stock was German 

A Typical City Street in Oporto

Travelling through these huge rocks on our trip from the Spanish Border

Hazardous area for boats in the past 

                                      Loco making smoke prior to our trip,we were all covered
                                                in soot when we returned,I had black hair.
 

                                  View over the Douro River from our hotel in Regua
30th September

Arrived home from my holiday Portugal on Sunday at lunchtime. Flew Ryan Air out of Liverpool my first from that airport. I must admit I was pleasantly surprise after hearing lots of conflicting rumours about these cheap flights. Plenty of legroom and a smooth journey the only complaint was the restriction on luggage weight at 15kgs.
Portugal was brilliant we had sunshine every day and rain for no more than two hours one morning. We where based at Regua in a 4star hotel overlooking the Douro River. Dot and I had a Suite! But unfortunately no time to enjoy it. There were forty in our group, many couples and a few singles . All of the men and two women were avid Train Enthusiasts. PTG Tours (Portugal Traction Group) are brilliant at filling our day with old and new variations on Transport with some very interesting places of interest all first class. Needless to saw in Portugal we visited a few Vineyards. I have never drunk so much port and wine in in the day ever, I remained very sober as we ate such huge meals. We sailed along the river from the Spanish Border down to Oporto in two stage, passing through 4 enormous locks 35 to70metres depth, it was quite an experience. We had three days in the city, exploring the medieval city of Guimaraes in the Minho Region, visited mountain Sanctuaries at Braga and the obligatory vineyard travelling back to the city First Class on the Pendolino, fantastic.
I am so glad we had such wonderful weather on holiday, as coming home to the grey skies and miserable rain was a downer, my central heating has been on ever since.



August Washout

Me Cathi & Marnie
Amy Ben & Sam
1994

I am really getting into this mentoring its given me more enthusiasm for volunteering in fact I have started helping out another project associated with the Libraries. Over sixties groups are making Reminiscent Boxes to distribute to rest homes and schools. I am enabling them to use a computer to correlate the information and produce a contents brochure. One of my helpers is 92 years old and quite enthusiastic. I have been to the sales again looking for clothes for my holiday and feel quite pleased at the savings I have made. Trouble is I will have to throw some clothes out now to make room for them. I hate parting with old favourites, and it’s not long since I had a good clear out. . Last week it was so cold I had to resurrect some warm clothing which I had put away until winter, so that hasn’t helped the situation……. But guess I can squeeze my new bargains in somewhere. It’s surprised me too, how many women have been wearing boots throughout the summer, I should have kept my boots out and enjoyed warm feet too. May be next year I will.

I was honoured to receive my eldest’s mobile phone when he recently bought a new one. Its much more advanced than mine with a camera and blue tooth capabilities that will work in my car and on my PC. I have really enjoyed using it more than I thought I would. It has taken me weeks to discover how it works, but I now its easy peasy and show off on every occasion.

Both grandsons and my granddaughter had a birthday this month. The two boys are now 18 years old I remember the day they where born, a few hours apart in different counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

It was a hectic weekend but a I was over the moon, it was a wonderful time. Now my babies are tall hansom and smart young men and I am very proud of them.. My granddaughter is 22years old and that seems amazing, where did the years go . She is in college working towards a teaching degree, she is such a beautiful clever young woman, who I am also very proud of. My youngest grandson will be 8years old in November, he is gifted with intelligence far beyond his years and such a good looking boy.. Suddenly I am feeling ancient, but it will soon pass. …….hahha

Spent a most enjoyable day with children at a Literary Festival, in a nearby town Bury. It was hard work but it was fun, we had Writing Workshops, Readings and Singing, some of the children where just amazing. There would have been more attending but again is was raining hard all day and who wants to venture out in that kind of weather.

Have picked a tub full of apples this week so I am going to peel and blanch them for the freezer.

Every year I am thinking of getting another chest freezer, as my present one is not big enough. But I don’t, so maybe this year will be the year.

Bye for now,