My Back Garden

8th February 2012

At long last the snow arrived  on the 4th February and the country came to a stand still.  Cars where backed up for 24hrs on  a fairly gentle slope near my house, unable to go any further. The phenomena these days in the UK when snow is predicted, people storm the supermarkets and  buy a mountain of  provisions as though life will be on standby for weeks. If fact that rarely happens here, the roads will soon be clear. The gardens look pretty  though covered  with deep pristine snow especially when the sun shines.

Last  Friday whilst I was  out shopping   I locked my  keys in the car. Stranded miles from home I rang around for help but no one was answering my call. There was a café nearby  so decided to have lunch and try again later. Fortunately some one did ring back and I got a lift home to collect my spare set.  Never has this happened to me before, I felt so impotent and stupid for rest of the day  but now can laugh about it  as another senior moment.

Monday I attended Bolton Speakers Club as my friend Betty was taking her B9  “Audience Rapport” her excellent speech was being used for the Speech Evaluation Competition so I took part and even though its almost three years since I did any evaluations, most of it  came back to me and I enjoyed the challenge. It was good to see everyone again, I will pop in now again to get back into the swing of things, but I don’t intend to take part in any of the events until the session starts again in September.

Busy day up in the loft sorting again which stuff to throw away and which to keep.  I know full well when I pass over, it will all be disposed of but then I won’t know, or I don’t think I will !
My grandson came for tea again this week, he is such a darling and doing so well at school.  I am hoping this will become a regular thing now he is getting older and able to make choices.

Finally decided on a cooker hood for my new cooker (12 months old.) it’s a stainless steel  chimney hood, very superior, I can’t wait to see it in-situ. But we have to move a overhead cupboard to make room for it, how long that will take is another story.

This week it was good to hear for my cousin Pam in Cornwall she sounded great and I had a long chat with Cathi in Perth, that cost me, but was worth it.  I must remember to get a Tesco International Calling Card which allows cheap calls abroad, it’s  recommended as the best deal. I have Skype on my PC but it requires some degree of organisation to work well and we are just not that organised.
Every one is well and  keeping busy which is  a comfort in this very difficult time. I hope that the government will honour their promises and not bow down to  pressure from other governments. Iran is very volatile, Argentina is  threatening we do not want any more conflict and the EEC well that's a constant problem. Now Scotland wants independence !

6th February  1952 marks the ascension day of   Queen Elizabeth 11 she has been  the British Monarch  for 60years and still going strong . I am not a royalist but I do admire her strong dedication to her  role,she is 'dedicating herself anew' as diamond jubilee year begins, so I assume Charles is just not ready.






I have settled into my new  mentoring of PC beginners at St Vincents.   My first session was overwhelming with nine eager learners, but I have been able to reduce the numbers by organising a more structured programme, concentrating  first on those with basic needs and providing a programme of exercises for others with various computer skills.   Looking forward to starting at another Library on the 14th February. I was sad to  finish  at Castle Hill  I was so comfortable there, the staff where my friends, but they  close in two weeks and hopefully one or two may follow me to Harwood..        

   

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.
 

Happiness

My Poem for the New Year

ONE HAPPINESS SCATTERS A THOUSAND SORROWS

Happiness is a true measure of life.

It is contagious and speaks volumes

Banishes dark imaginings,

Brightens skies and lifts the soul.

Life revolves around seconds of experience.

Be in control

Fill your eyes with  wonder and surprise.

Listen only to the sounds that 

Make  fear and disappointment  disappear.

Dismiss the things that hurt ; 

Words of hate, pain and sorrow,

Look toward tomorrow

Lift  heavy hearts, find good in all things,

No matter how little.

The world is full of  miracles.

We are, the miracle of life,

We have the power to change 

Attitudes and rituals

That keep us in chains. 

Change what can be changed. 

Control is in your hands.

See the beauty, see the love

And set it free. 

ValCook  2012  

14th January 2012

Finally got back into my  usual routine, walking using the bus and attending the gym. I am thinking of going swimming, once I get my head around the thought  and I am still on the bike. It took me a few weeks to get my mojo back, had to  finish the chocolates and the bits and bobs left over from Christmas,though I had to pace myself, thankfully the cupboard is  now bare and I am shopping for healthier food.

Today is my first born son’s birthday, he is a good son but I am not prepared to divulge his age as it will only reflect on me and I am reluctant to go there, my inner spirit tells me I am still a spring chicken.  Haha

January 6th I started a new post as Computer Mentor for a group at a local Residential Home. Its just two hours Friday afternoons, I still volunteer at the Library and will be moving to another site, as our’s will be closing soon. Due to the financial cuts five Libraries are to be closed down in the next two months, its  going to affect mainly pensioners and young families who regularly use the  local libraries and are not as mobile as others, it’s so wrong.

I spent the day watching all three  “ The Godfather”  Movies, back to back.   I had recorded them last year and was saving them for a marathon session . It’s years since I saw it last and I was equally delighted the second time around, it was well worth the  11 hours viewing.  I have quite a few classic movies lined up for this winter’s snow storms but up till now we have not had any.  But give it time, it sometimes snows on my birthday in February..

Breaking news today a recently built  cruise ship the Costa - Concordia has run aground today  in the Mediterranean its on its side 4,500 people on board and many are missing, people likened it to the Titanic disaster. I go cold when I think of it as I am not a  happy sailor. God bless them all.
My son was a Sailor in the Royal Navy for seven years and I felt quite ill sometimes thinking of him being at sea.

Happy New Year

4th January 2012

Well another year  has flown by so very fast its rather unsettling , but I am feeling quite optimistic about 2012 I am sure it's going to be a good year in spite of all the doom and despair we read about in the press.I pray for world  peace, financial stability and the return of real summer weather.   Curiously our weather has been very mild for this time of year and in some areas the spring bulbs have pushed through. We did have an occasional frosting of snow earlier in December but Christmas was warmer in the UK  than some continental cities. My central heating was a problem for a while during Christmas the thermostats’ on the radiators would not turn down, three of them were on full blast. It was either  tropical or freezing  as I switched the boiler on and off in my attempt to control the temperature in the house.  I was so relieved when the engineer came and replaced the faulty gauges.  Since then we have had more torrential rain and exceptionally high winds that have caused a great deal of damage around the country again.  

Christmas was a series of spontaneous events. Christmas Eve Andy’s car was off the road with a broken front spring and busted tire, he was not injured  more inconvenienced than anything. He went to work on his bicycle which  took time and effort but he made it. Its now back on the road  at a price !….
So Christmas Eve I collected both Andy and Ryan and they came  to tea, we had a lovely visit..
Christmas day I knew I would be on my own, so I decided to help out at a local church who were providing Christmas Dinner for their OAP , it was different..  then spent a quiet evening watching a movie’ Sophie’s Choice’ with Meryl Streep and Kelvin Kline.   Boxing Day I cooked my Christmas Dinner opened a bottle of wine and watched Young Victoria on the TV.
Managed a good walk during the week and as the weather was quite pleasant I decided to go up to Knaresborough Wednesday to catch up with the family. It was a lovely drive, the sun was shining and out of town the roads where clear. We spent a quiet afternoon, me just  enjoying being with family.    New Year’s Eve was quiet too for me, I have never been a party girl and over the years have tended to avoid crowds and  parties.  I  downloaded a couple of Henning Mankell`s novels to my Kindle so I was in good company most of the day and  in bed before midnight, soon asleep in spite of the noisy fireworks that started earlier in the evening and lit up the skies.
I received sad news on  New Years Day, my cousin in the USA had died, she was in her nineties and even though she had been ill for a  long time it was still unexpected.  She was very special ,a GI Bride who followed her Guy over to the USA after the war, made her home and raised a family in Montana. She always kept in touch with me through the years and visited Bolton as often as she could. In the late seventies I was able to take my husband and children over  there to  attend her  youngest daughter’s wedding an exciting adventure for us all.  Since then we have been over to Montana many time on visits, travelling through much of the USA. Its a very special place totally awesome.
        

Many Glacier National Park Montana

Rocky Mountain Dream

Butte Montana is our second home.

A place on earth where we can roam

Through snowy peaked mountains over grassy plains,

Where the spirit of adventure soon enters your veins.

Breathing in the mountains clear crisp air of creation,

You discover that the earth is but one great nation.

Looking up into the blue Montana skies

As rivers fill lakes, that mirror your eyes.

Lewis and Clarke intrepid explorers

Discovered this tough wild wilderness for us.

Flathead, Glacier Beaverhead and Gallitan.

Wonderful areas of adventure for man.

For fishing and hunting the stars are your guide.

The freedom you feel is released from inside.

There`s Moose and Elk shot with permission,

To see them complete with rack is truly a vision.

But beware of the bear and the Buffalo who roam,

Through forests and plains that are really their home.

But to ride the white water and swim in the lakes,

To take a boat ride through the Rocky Mountain`s gates,

Is a privilege we must not ignore.

To obey the rules of that we are sure.

No litter or fires, and stay on the track,

If you want to make sure you will ever get back.

The people are warm they are loving and giving

Their hearts are as big as the land that they live in.

We travel the miles to recapture a dream

To sit on the deck and drink in the scene

Of the beautiful mountains and highlands of Montana.

VCook 2006

Lead up to Christmas

Bolton Christmas Markets

1^st December was a fine sunny day so I was encouraged  to return to riding the bike around the outdoor circuit at the local athletic track. Really enjoyed myself for an hour taking it easy but building up speed and strength gradually. I now feel I have mastered the gear changes , in my teens there were no gears on bikes and many had a fixed gear now there are thirty six gears on some bikes, thank you, but I will stick with six. I must admit I do find I am more agile,  climbing stairs is much easier and my occasion dash for the bus I don't collapse on the platform, so I will  ride the bike around the track this a winter but only on fine days.

The lead up to Christmas is now in full swing, Coffee and Mince Pie  mornings , Carol Services,Pantomimes and other festive events. The Christmas Markets have become very popular, throughout the UK. Manchester has had one for many years and now Bolton has encouraged European Stall holders to bring their festive cheer over the Channel to our Town Hall Square. We have regular Farmers Markets on the Square but recently they have down sized as many are not able to spend money on quality fresh food because they are on Benefits and just can’t afford it. I ordered my turkey and all the trimmings from a local butcher, a dying breed in Bolton, Supermarket fresh meat just doesn’t seem to have the same taste and I don’t like frozen turkeys. We use to see butchers shops all over the town, almost on every street corner there would be a local owned Greengrocers, Bakers,  Grocers, Newsagents and a Butcher. Now we have to many  Super Markets in the town, I did welcome them at first when the family where at home and I needed a big shop every week, but now I can manage shopping almost daily, usually at the local Coop. I accept that the pace of life today is faster, but  I feel  some have lost the art of living,it’s a consumer society with  most children  having few boundaries and little direction and all they seem  interested in is celebrities and their life styles.
Its only when one stops and really weighs up what is happening to this country and the long term    consequences especially to our young ones  of no jobs and little hope of a future its a sad development. I won't even mention the Bankers or I will fill the page. This revelation comes with age, experience and of course individual circumstances. I have been very fortunate in my life a wonderful family we had our problems but nothing major, my choice of career was brilliant, loved every minute of every day. And now  have reached the age where I can relax enjoy the years ahead with good health, financial security ( but no guarantee on that issue) a comfortable home, my children and grandchildren  and good friends.... I fear this will not be the case for many in the future.

Enjoyed a couple of Christmas Dinners and Lunches with friends. I like to dress up, paint my nails wear my heels and feel special on such occasions but its often casual dress and no ties prefered.  

Gosh this past few weeks we have had some storms, wind and rain that in some areas of the country have been very destructive. We are fortunate to be living in a valley that possibly protects us from most excessive weather conditions, many in the UK are repeatedly flooded, suffer coastal erosion and property damage.. The only problem I have now is my conservatory roof requires attention ,it is a panelled dome that needs the seals replacing, the consequence of stormy weather is they slide downwards, opening me up to the elements. I will have them sealed but the roof may have to be removed, so until then I have a system that works, a wooden mallet a block of wood and gentle persuasion.

I think I am organised now for Christmas. All Christmas cards have been posted or delivered. I have visited most of the people I want to see sadly the list is getting smaller each year. Some gifts are wrapped and my tree is up and I think I have enough food for all eventualities. Staying home this year for Andrew who is working Christmas Eve. I would love to have all my family together at Christmas but its not possible so I alternate around them as best I can.

Merry Christmas and  Best Wishes  to you and your familes for 2012 

Enjoy the holidays and I’ll get back to you in the New Year.

November Fog

Jumping and jiving

Christmas Lights

21st November

Our Annual Remembrance Day Service  on Sunday was not as dynamic this year.   The absence of  Military Bands was a significant mistake, replaced by a small civic band that did not add anything to the parade . The audio system was very poor so too, I feel music makes a   huge difference to parades so it was a deep disappointment this year. We should honour our fallen soldiers with dignity and pride but it was rather flat on Sunday..  The following day Dorothy and I travelled into Manchester on the Metro to meet up with friends, who we will be on holiday with next year in France. We had  rather a long lunch in a good little Italian Bistro in the  city centre and talked for hours.  Then we had a mooch round the shops, but we weren’t very interested as it was far too busy. The  city and  shops where festooned with colourful fairy lights and Christmas decorations already  six weeks before Christmas ! Unbelievably I saw at the beginning of November a house  excessively decorated with coloured lights with Ornamental Features and a Christmas Tree in the garden,  people go mad  these days  but how they can afford the electricity is beyond me.  Any way I had a good shop this week and  found some brilliant bargains in Bolton 40% off.  Last week I  ordered some new spectacles so was excited to collect them, Johnny Depp style I wanted a complete change I had taken ages to choose a pair of  bottle green frames.. and I love them.

It was my youngest grandson’s  9th.birthday on the 18th  he is a keen football fan and wanted a Barcelona  Football strip, what a rip off they are, but what does it matter really, as long as he is happy.  Went up to Knaresborough that weekend in  sunshine until I  met with heavy fog coming over the Yorkshire Moors. Fortunately I had arranged to stay over and came home Sunday afternoon before it got dark,
It was  foggy  all over the North West, it  was so bad that planes where grounded and ferries stationary. through till Monday.   We couldn't go on our usual walk with Bob it was so bad, so I finished reading my book, the last one in the  Millennium Trilogy an excellent  read  I am sorry its ended.

Had a real nightmare with my internet connection for three days this month. The router would cut out repeatedly and then run smooth for  a couple of hours then start cutting out  again  every few minutes .. I rebooted it, changed all the filters around on my phone connections, checked the cables and became more and more frustrated.  After 24hours I was convinced  it was  a fault on the phone line, so I rang Talk Talk my Internet Provider .  They where quite polite and efficient in  suggesting I go through the procedures I had already  performed and would not accept it was an unstable phone line. Eventually they agreed to check my line and there you are, the internet has now been stable for the past 12hrs hours!!!!.

 A friend of mine has been planning to start a Modern Jive Event in  a local venue and at the last moment asked me to help out on the first night. Well it was a great success I really enjoyed myself, the music was lively and up beat and some of the couple were exceptional dancers, a joy to watch.  I did start to learn French Jive in 2001  but found  it  far too energetic, I couldn't cope with some of the moves that made me   dizzy,but I might give it another try and try to avoid the whirling around…..  So I am on the door  collecting the money, for as long as I want to be. ….

Tomorrow is  the "National Strike Day" throughout the UK. Some Head Teachers and  many of their staff, nurses  ambulance and health care professionals and  people in the public sector come out in protest of the  Government’s decision to  increased pension  contributions and extended the retirement age. Schools are closed and many offices and services will be affected.  In view of the recent Riots and Marches we have experienced this year I do hope they don’t attract the  kind of nutters that take advantage and make more trouble.

(This link will give more insight into the Governments   Pension Policy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15909788

Bonfire Night

Bonfire

Fireworks

                                                                 
10th November

Hi everyone
Well the bike rides will have to stop until maybe Spring as  I came off the bike and cut my knee and hurt my shoulder. The accident was due to a combination of rain, autumn leaves, a sharp incline plus fatigue.Also the week before I was chased and bitten on the leg by a small terrier, fortunately I wore waterproof over pants so no teeth marks but a far sized bruise.  Later in the week we had a beautiful sunny day so I took a trip out to Bury and had a good mooch around the shops and open market, bought some neat shoes and a sweater then  lunch before catching the bus home. I like to travel by bus into town as its such a hassle parking when you have to constantly be aware of the time. Parking  fines can be as much as £60 if you overstay the time and  we have very diligent Parking Wardens , I think many must be on commission. After being fined three times in one year I now use the bus into town is less stressful and its free for us oldies.
 
  I am feeling rather good now that Dorothy and I have booked our  summer holiday,its always seems  such a chore when there are so many choices. This was my first choice touring  Southern France and the Pyrenees with  PTG Rail and Culture, it will be our fourth tour with them .We are joining up with friends from previous trips, it going to be exhausting but fun, first class all the way..

Caught up with  a few friends this past week who I haven’t seen for ages and  cuddled a darling baby boy that really made my day. Said  ‘Bon Voyage to close friends who escape the cold by  wintering in New Zealand, I will miss them as it feels good to have them in my life but they will back in April brown as nuts..
Had my annual  flue jab,thankfully there is a reports of a 'One Off'  flue vaccine being available soon …. good I hate needles.

There was a horrendous multiple car crash on the M5 motorway this past week, which could have been caused by a stray firework and smoke from a  nearby bonfire could have added to the already poor visibility due to the weather, and  lack of lights on the motorway.  I was anxious  for a while because my brother and his wife where staying in the area and I thought  they may have been travelling that stretch of motorway, until they contacted me to say they where home earlier.…  many town councils due to the economic downturn  have been  reducing /removing lighting from motorways and roads,not a good idea.  I frequently travel home from visiting  my son in  Yorkshire and driving over the unlit Yorkshire Moors without the aid of the moon, in total darkness is not  good. Even with headlights and full beam its still not enough especially when a boy racer is on your back. I  do use the  Motorway sometimes but it  a longer journey  and there are unlit stretches on there too.  I must be getting old??
This month I have been able to help a couple of my friends with computer problems . It always amazes me how much I know about basic computing but I admit, there is much more  I don’t know. So  I am frequently faced with is a challenge that I really enjoy completing...



This is the itinerary of my holiday ------  
 http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/SouthernFrance2012.pdf  

Go visit Bury Market -----
http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4184

This is the history as to why we light bonfires and fireworks every year on the 5th November

'Remember Remember the Fifth of November
Gunpowder Treason and  Plot'

http://www.bonfirenight.net/