October mists

My kitchen windowsill

The Cake

Well its certainly  feeling colder this week, I am wearing my thermal socks  as my feet are so sensitive to the cold and I get terrible cramp in my legs, very odd and painful ..  Its been very misty for the past few mornings  but it  soon lifts to brilliant  sunshine.  I do hope it continues for a while as what a difference this last few weeks has been, I have never been  so busy, every day something to sort out  or somewhere to go,just how I like it.

Our WI celebrated 35th year with a wonderful lunch at Shaw Hill Country Hotel & Golf Course.We traveled there by coach and  I was the designated photographer, I really enjoyed the day.

http://www.shaw-hill.co.uk/

 The following Saturday I was invited to my friends 25th Wedding Anniversary Party at the local Conservative Club.  Oh boy ,I  soon realized how old I  was, when the disco music was deafening and there wasn’t one tune I could relate too. Plus the room was far to crowded with to many people standing  in groups  blocking all possible exits… . Yes, I feel truly past it......

Returned to Speakers Club this month, I now feel ready and wanting a challenge. It was good to be part of the group again, most are established members but there are a few new faces. I will be preparing a 8 minute speech on Humour for the  November meeting, it will be my B.8.  If I pass this  and the following two I will progress to the advanced programme some time in the New Year….  My talk  in September to the N.H.S Group was well received and I was pleased that I could include photographs of every one I mentioned in my talk  "My Mother".

Attended the Bio-bank this month it’s a voluntary service where they assess my health and well being every five years, its for research purposes, I have been three times now and I benefit a great deal from the information they provide. This time I have found my right ear has lost some levels of sound but my left ear is still good. All observations where sound and the only thing they commented on was my weight…. It was in Stockport this year so I enjoyed the day out at their expense. Hope I am still around for the next check up.

http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk

Took a drive up to Boundary Mills a  large Factory Outlet to meet up with Stu, Sara and her mother Pat to enjoy some retail therapy. It was a good day out, it felt good to spend some time with them  and we enjoyed  a fish & chip supper at Bannister’s Restaurant before we parted company. Stu & co back  up to Harrogate and me down to Bolton.

www.boundarymill.co.uk/

I went to two Book Reviews this month and  rather cheekily used the same book review at both "Writing Home." Alan Bennett  a Yorkshire writer, playrite and actor  has been a long time favourite of mine. He wrote the The History Boys` and ` The  Madness of King George` a brilliant piece about the Kings illness
Porphyria.  It was made into an excellent movie.    This book brings together excerpts from his diaries from 1980 -1995, play and book reviews and many anecdotes about his life and times, quite hilarious  in parts.  It a best seller and has been  through a few reprints.  I loved it and couldn’t put it down it's a rather large volume too, I laughed out loud on most pages. I could hear Alan’s distinctive Yorkshire vowels  all the way through the book.. Wonderful read, full of  humour, pathos, affection, honesty, happy and sad perspective on his life.

 Another joy this month has been on the BBC Television, a documentary featuring George Harrison (Beatles) life. It was wonderful to hear his music again I had quite forgotten how good he was as a solo performer and song writer. He was a good man sad he died so young.  The film produced by Martin Scorsese “ Living in the Material World” won a  double  Emmy  Award this year the film was well worth the accolade.

Looks like a quiet week ahead, I will try and get out in the Autumn sunshine and take some Photos. Might even take the train into Blackpool and get some sea breeze, but it will have to be a glorious day for that.

POSTSCRIPT

Google have moved my editorials back to this Blog ???  I cannot access the editing page so
June -July - 10th & 24th August  & September Blogs are  available at

 www.valeriesjournel.blogspot.co.uk

Take Care



     
     

My Trip to Cornwall

12th June

Keeping their eyes on me.

 Peacocks

Black Swans native of Australia

Mr Rooster looking after his Harem

"Can I come with you?" said the duck

Cornish Lane leading down to Popes Mill

I am home again after my visit to Pershore, Liskard and Tavistock catching up with my relatives who I haven’t seen in ages. Rested up for the weekend in Pershore with my brother  Bill and his wife Carol  then travelled down the motorway to see Pam and Tony in Cornwall.  We had wonderful weather all the time sunny and hot totally unexpected plus  the peace and quiet of this idyllic county .....  when I say quiet, Tony breeds poultry, waterfowl and other birds, so the Cockerels dawn chorus was at first surprising but I soon got used to it,  the Peacocks where  noisy  but it really wasn't a problem.. I fell in love with one special breed of hen I called them  my Fat Bottom girls in pantaloons.

 Tony also has a  Mine on his land  called the `Wheal Mary Ann Mine`  a mineral mine, not tin like most mines in Cornwall so he is a very busy guy. Pam and I  had  time out in Tavistock to met up with her sister Shelly who  I hadn‘t seen for years,it was great to catch up.. I enjoyed the long sustained drive on the motorway, few could contain themselves to the speed limit but we moved at a steady pace without hold up or incident which was good. Back in Pershore where I was to spend  a couple of days  before going home Carol was kind enough to arrange for me to meet up with with  my niece Emma, my nephew  Chris his wife and children it was a lovely surprise.   I came home loaded with plants, recipes and  happy memories.  Thank you  Bill, Carol, Pam & Tony for your unending hospitality you are stars. XX

http://www.minecaptain.plus.com     Go Visit Tony's Website


Arrived home to a very dry and dusty garden, never dreamed we would have such sunshine. After mowing the grass and watering for a couple of hours it was soon back in control, lost a few pot plants but they can soon be replaced.
 By Wednesday I   was really tired and had developed a persistent cough that was becoming annoying.   So I took it easy for  a few days before joining Betty and Lucy on our planned trip to the  Annual Whit Friday Brass Band Contest  taking place in the eleven villages around Oldham & Saddleworth .We set off up the M62 and with some difficulty we finally found  the villages of Uppermill & Greenfield. It was a brilliant day we really enjoyed being part of the crowd  watching Bands from Switzerland, Germany and  all over the UK as they competed throughout the day. Afterwards we drove  very carefully over the moors  through a dense white fog  to Holme Firth to call on Betty’s cousin who was kind enough to provide supper. We took the long way home down the M62, which was clear and bright, arriving home rather late but happy with our day out.

http://www.whitfriday.brassbands.saddleworth.org/Venues.html

Marching to the Competition Field

I was really rough over the long Diamond Jubilee weekend, (5days) watched some of the festivities on TV but I was to tired really to take it in. Stayed in bed until Wednesday as the cough was so dramatic I was shattered. I  slept most of the time but with adequate medication kept my cough and headache somewhat under control.  Today I am much improved and looking forward to getting out and about again.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/TheQueenandspecialanniversaries/TheQueensDiamondJubilee2012/TheQueensDiamondJubilee2012.aspx

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Features/DG_WP200687

Today Saturday, its cold and wet my central heating is back on and the warmer clothes  out again ! But the garden is  green and lush once more.
I am going to start looking for a new Computer chair as mine has suddenly started having a right sided list that is seriously affecting my back. Must admit it is ancient and has given excellent service, still looks good till you sit on it.!!

Post script :- I have mended the chair, with a six inch brass screw  forced in to the gap where a metal joint had given way. It now supports the right side of the seat and I am now level. Gives me time to breath before looking for a new chair.
Feeling better every day. :~)

Bye for now XX

The Women's Institute

   

17th May
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes’ (NFWI) AGM will be held on Wednesday 30 May 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall, London from 10.30am to 4.30pm.  More than 5,000 WI members are expected to attend to decide the organisation’s campaigning focus for the forthcoming year, and vote on the following resolution:
“There are chronic shortages of midwives. The NFWI calls on the Government to increase investment in the training, employment and retention of midwives in England and Wales to ensure services are adequately resourced and are able to deliver a high standard of care.”

 In fact it is a global problem but  relevant to us here at home.. I was asked by our committee to address the debate for the acceptance of the resolution that will go forward to the AGM in London. Nobody spoke against the resolution as it really was a forgone conclusion as everyone in our group voted for it.  I enjoyed  gathering the evidence and searching the latest information for my presentation and it was well received.   I had prepared sheets of facts and figures and stories  from my time as a Midwife but they where left unopened from the moment I started talking,  it came so natural to me the message from my heart.  It made me sad that the Midwifery Service is in such a mess, I hope and pray it will improve soon.


The WI is the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK with more than 210,000 members in over 6,500 WIs, and over 21,000 new members joining in 2011. It plays a unique role in enabling women to develop new skills, giving them opportunities to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities, and provides wide-ranging activities for members to get involved in.

visit www.thewi.org.uk


http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/sep/15/midwife-shortage-dangerously-high


Last month  it was our WI’s turn to Host the Beacon Group Meeting, it’s not  a meeting it’s a social evening and usually we entertain in house, but this year we brought in the Barbers Shop Singer, local lads who have won many accolades for their performance.  I have known most of them for years as AJ was a member for a  while but work and other commitments intervened . They work hard and it shows,
it was a brilliant night, everyone commented on its success.
http://www.cottontownchorus.co.uk

Been shopping  for my trip, always like to have something special for my  holidays. I was very lucky Marks & Sparks where having a sale so it didn’t take me long to find bargains.   I felt very energised for a couple of days  so I enjoyed working on the garden as  I had a problem.  Last year I had pebbles put around the borders at the front of the house to reduce the amount of weeds that where becoming the bane of my life. I get very few weeds at the back of the property because we are protected by fencing bushes and trees. The front is open plan with grass verges all the way up the road that where full of weeds last year.  Because of the financial cuts the Council decided not to cut the grass or weed, it was a big problem because road signs and street names  in places where covered over with long grass. People complained, so  now the Council mow some grassed areas and leave others that are not a priority. Anyway, I have three Hostas under these pebbles that I thought  would  have died due to the amount of week killer we applied  and the membrane and pebbles that was placed over them. Imagine my surprise as I watched these three black mountains steadily rise up from the pebbles. Eventually I decided to act and dug up one of the Hostas, it took me three hours, they are all huge and I almost filled the green bin. So I freed the other two from their black mountain and they are growing fast, will decide what to do this winter whilst they are dormant.

 Look who is peeping threw the pebbles

Free At Last

Had a delightful evening with some friends at a local  Spanish Tapas Bar, picked up and dropped off saw me quite ipsy tipsy, it was a good night.  Glad I am back to my regular Google Blog it was quite upsetting to think that I  would lose all my Journals from 2008, thankfully we are back. Managed to download and store the Journals on my external hard drive.  I would like to think that my great great grandchildren and their children will read them and learn something about there Granma’s life. I wish I had the opportunity to know more about my parents and their families, but its too late now everyone’s  memories have gone.

Do not even ask me how this has happened but Google has reconstructed my pages.

So Happy

The patio nearly done.

Rhubarb is recovering

24th April 2012


It is ages since I wrote to this blog because I have been so busy over the past few weeks I simply haven’t had time.. So it feels good to be sat here writing to you all once again. But the Google Blog has had a dramatic change,I am going to have to learn new techniques, so stay with me I hope its a success.   I have been busy organizing a trip to see my brother and his wife in Worcestershire  and my cousins who live in Cornwall. I  like to drive but it’s a long way to Cornwall so I spent a couple of days  in Worcestershire  on my way down and again break the journey with on my way  back. I am really looking forward to seeing them again and catching up . I feel so isolated at times being so far away from my family Cathi & Kids in Australia, Stue & Co in Yorkshire and others scattered around the UK. Thankfully Andy and Ryan live close by and lately A.J.my ex. husband ! he  flew down to Perth this week to see Cathi  & kids and to get some sun.  The clocks sprung forward  again on the 25th March giving us more daylight time, the long dark winters are so draining, it’s a joy to wake up these days even though its raining… The weather its always about the weather, well the drought has now travelled into some parts of Yorkshire, the wild life is suffering and crops are diminished, there is a hose pipe ban throughout so soon the areas will be in crisis, but the Northwest has an abundance of water due to the rain! Now my greenhouse has gone I decided to replace the rear window in the garage as it looks over the Patio and was in dire need of help. Certainly improves the area now so I can concentrate on what to do with the crazy paving that has over the past 50 years I have lived here supported a huge oil tank, a  greenhouse and looks shabby.  Pebbles/ astro turf or repaved ??
Easter was very quiet, had a nice long chat to Cathi, all is well in Oz. It was a lo-o-o-ng weekend, boredom saw me batch baking  Chocolate cake and flapjacks and my freezer is full of tasty meals for next few weeks. Had to get out and walk even though it was raining, sitting is no good for my mental state and all the chocolate eggs I consumed was lying heavy on my conscience.
Started potting on some pink and white carnations and sowing some sweet peas and sunflowers seeds in time for the summer. Its rather ironic I  now have this urge to potter  pots after just giving my greenhouse away. Any way my patio will need some colour this summer.
Out to lunch with my usual buddies, where would I be without them.
Today I attended the funeral of my friend  and colleague Joyce was a retired midwife and it was good to see so many old friends again. We spent all afternoon reminiscing, a truly warm and fond farewell to Joyce.
Have started doing jigsaws on the computer and really enjoy the challenge the more complicated the puzzle the better.

Posted 3 weeks ago by Valerie Cook
 
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Spring Has Sprung

Camellias

                                              Grape Hyacinth and tiny Daffodil

Climbing Hydrangea

Lonely Daffodil

16th March  

My back garden is now  cleared of  rubble  from the demolition of the greenhouse . It.s nearly  20years since the greenhouse was put up, so seeing the original space  again, I must admit  the garden does  look better. A change is as good as a rest, so they say and I am going to enjoy my  little oasis..

People say the British are always discussing the weather, well it seems we do. Its warm and sunny for this time of year and believe this we are in the middle of a drought. Threats of a hose pipe ban and many other water restrictions are mainly down in the south east  where unfortunately  most of UK crops are grown .

Seen some  pink and white blossom  on trees and lots of greenery. We will soon be cutting the grass and pottering about in the gardens again, hope we don’t get a hose pipe ban up North.    What always gives me a lift at this  time of year time, is the sight of ….
   
    `a  host of golden daffodils beside the lake beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze`.

www.online-literature.com/wordsworth/514

But Horticulturalists are saying we have a shortage of daffodils this year especially for Mothers Day, due to the extensive cold weather which has delayed their growth..  Today I only have  a single daffodil in my garden lots of shoots but no  bright yellow heads.  No crocus  or snowdrops either this year, where I usually have a fair display. Still there is life returning to the garden my camellia has blossoms and there are a few other welcome changes that tell me Spring has Sprung.

 I went to the movies last month with some firends to see Woman in Black, featuring Daniel Radcliffe, a  very scary film.  It was good, I enjoyed it because I didn’t know the story, but some in our party had seen the play and  were disappointed with the film. I don’t think you should be  too judgemental  after seeing a play or even reading the book on any movie, as they are all different interpretations of a story and stories often  lead to individual representation.  I thought Daniel played the part well, its odd to see him so grown up after so many  years as Harry Potter.




Received a welcome phone call from our holiday representative that we now  will be flying direct  Manchester  to Nice in July, instead of via  Heathrow. This is great news because  last year due to bad weather over the Atlantic I missed my connections in Philadelphia  and I was re-routed via  LAX. Consequently  I was  hours late arriving in Bakersfield, fortunately I have wonderful friends who where prepared to sit and wait for me, David and Leslie you are stars.


 This week my youngest son has moved house and now resides back in Harrogate. They are now in walking distance of the Hospital where they both work, plus the school and the town centre, so all in all a good move. Drove up on Mothering Sunday in warm sunshine, I really enjoy the drive through Skipton and over the North Yorkshire Moors especially in sunshine to  spend  time with my family again.  My eldest grandson had an accident last weekend playing football, poor boy broke his nose.  I didn’t get to see him this visit, but  I was glad really as  I did not want see him injured, two black eyes and swollen nose. I  can imagine  it though, boy it  must  hurt…


www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist

Bye for now.

Queens Park Bolton

24th February 2012
Another busy couple of weeks again . Finally found someone to take the greenhouse off my hands. I want  a secluded patio  on the back garden and the site where the greenhouse sits is well suited to just that. Gave it  away to a School Project and  they came, dismantled and removed the greenhouse  but for a few damaged panes of glass all was transported ok.  I haven’t really used the greenhouse for a few years. When I first  retired I grew tomatoes and various vegetables, cultivated  bedding plants  from seed and really enjoyed the process.But over time and due to all the travelling I was doing I couldn’t spend as much time as I should and it all became to much for me.  It laid dormant for many years, slowly filling up with  stuff so  I feel good that it will now be useful to the school.

February is my birthday month I am an Aquarian and as many of you know already,  a  Valentine’s Day Baby.  So for a week I was frequently out to lunch  and received some wonderful gifts from my friends.One such gift was an Orchid ( Phalaenopsis ) with specific instructions on how to look after it. Did you know it feeds of air and you only water them once  a month. I hope it survives as I am being tested.!!!
Was taken out to a  local restaurant  The Chinese Buffet  by my eldest son.it was very thoughtful of him and I  enjoyed the meal.   I also attended a lunch at the Student Catering Department at the University Around twenty five ladies from our Women’s .Institute ( W.I.) go there once a year and its usually excellent food and service, but not so this year. Unfortunately they  had numerous problems, much of the menu was off, and we had  exceptionally long periods between courses. I suspect there was a gremlin in the kitchen,thankfully there was a  good atmosphere all round but a few chose to go home with there dessert in containers. I felt sorry for the students as it was their day to shine.

At last my cooker hood is in-situ, and the cupboard  over the cooker is to be re-sited on the opposite wall.  Looks good, I like it, thank you  Andrew and Alan, much appreciated.

We has a couple of sunny days this  week and I am so pleased the evenings are coming light again,its so depressing when its dark by 4pm. Happily bulbs are showing and in some areas blooming, which is remarkable after the horrendous cold weather we have had. Took a walk through Queens Park on Sunday as it was a lovely sunny day to check on the restoration work that has been underway. Looks rather bleak at the moment until the colour come back in the spring. The children’s areas is finished and the duck pond looks much better but its still sad a reflection of the times,no money for its maintenance.   I remember Queens Park being the pride of Bolton with its acres of green grass, neatly trimmed lawns, beautiful floral displays and  a  children‘s  paddling pool. There was enough gardeners to keep it looking good all year round. The outdoor Music Auditorium has gone, no more music in the park, wonderful memories.. When we lived near by as children it was our playground, such happy times, but it has been sadly neglected for many years and it will never be quite the same again..  

Started as a Volunteer at Harwood Library, it will take some getting used to as its rather compact and small. The staff are friendly but I miss Castle Hill.  I will be joining the staff for a farewell dinner this Friday,they have been moved to other  Libraries in the town but non to Harwood...