Christmas & New Year 2013

                                      

                                                   A Very Sincere Belated Greeting to You All

                    

As you can see I have been so busy in the run up to Christmas this year I haven’t posted since November. In fact I have hardly been home most days. Eight Christmas Dinner/Parties are more than I am use too but I felt a needed to go and see people, I must say I enjoyed every one. Speakers Club was a  Costumed Murder Mystery, set in the 1930s.  I was Esmeralda a popular leading lady in the Theatre, a suspect throughout but totally innocent, everyone joined in the spirit of the evening and we had a great time.
In between a hectic few weeks visiting friends who I don’t get to see very often and Christmas shopping a nightmare in itself, I managed to get my  Christmas Tree up.   Nearly bought another one,  but at the last minute decided against it as I was spending Christmas with my son.  When I finally got the tree out of the loft……… I remembered, silly me I  replaced it last year. Then I had to search for the timer plugs for the lights.   I thought I had a system,  to put things back where they came from, but then sometimes I forget where they came from and put them somewhere else. Bought two new timers and then found the missing ones!! 

Sunday a Emergency Plumber was sent for when  I found the toilet floor flooded and the water pipe that fills the tank leaking, in fact squirting up the wall. Thankfully the damage was minimal as the carpet tiles dried easily and the wall was ok.  He fitting a completely different new system that is very quiet and efficient, minus ball cock!!.

This year I had decided to travel up to my sons in Harrogate on the train, as the weather forecast was threatening heavy rain and snow. It would be different, I could relax, read a book and in 2hours he would collect me at the station.     At Christmas I usually choose to give money instead of presents but this year I went shopping, bulking stuff, so I had more luggage to take up to Harrogate. The train then seemed a problem, plus there where changes to the timetable..  so I  decided to drive there, the weather was fine, in fact better than it was at home. ….I have requested a refund of my fare, minus £10 admin fee!  will see how much I get back.
We  did manage a walk with Bob on Boxing Day and amazingly the sun shone, but it was very boggy underfoot. I had a wonderful Christmas with my son and family, far to much to eat but  I am not complaining the food was excellent, he just loves to cook.

My  New Year will be quiet as I am still getting over Christmas. Lots of  recordings to watch on  TV   good movies and shows. I feel very satisfied ,Christmas was a great success but  I will soon be back to basics, with less rich pickings,  no more cream, cakes and chocolate. But for the time being there is too much temptation so I will go with the flow and enjoy the moment.
Hope you all have had a great time over the holidays and   looking forward to what the New Year has to offer .  I do hope and pray we get a decent summer and less rain. 
Byeeee
Luv you XX
 

Good Health & Happiness to my Family & Friends 

 

      

Autumn Colours

                                                                              
                                                       Stream  running through Astley Park
                                                                          

                                                 A Golden Carpet of Autumn Leaves 

26th November

OK Christmas is in the high street, it started  almost as soon as the clocks went back an hour and the darkness became a reality from 5pm. I was informed by the Post Office information that the last posting for overseas surface mail (much cheaper) was in the last week of October . Having missed it last year I was on the ball and posted my overseas Christmas Cards and parcels. Much to my surprise some arrived at their destination within four days.!!!  Hope you don’t think I am losing it those of you who received these greetings.

 I have been to a couple of Christmas Dinners !!  in October, only because its cheaper and easier to get a table at certain places .  Enjoyed a Speakers Conference and outings in October, hectic but good times. Enjoyed meeting up with friends and retired colleagues who I haven’t seen for ages.

Over the past few months I have been  plagued with daily unsolicited phone calls about  free loft insulation and   help with cavity wall  insulation, its a government directive that insulation has to be enhanced due to greenhouse gases and all that EEC jazz . The (cold call ) phone calls are so persistent and  had become a real problem even though I had  barred the calls, they still got through. Worn down I requested a Survey from British Gas who where offering this free top up insulation. I explained that the loft was ¾ boarded and my Cavity Walls had been foam filled in 1965  they still wanted to come and look for themselves. What a farce, I was asked  to rearrange the loft so he could  have easy access, this I did and soon found myself deep into all the clutter that needed throwing away Thankfully I had started the week before the visit as it was taking longer than I thought . Any way the surveyor  came and quickly agreed that I didn’t need any help as it was OK.  Hopefully the phone calls will stop now my box has been ticked!       

My new bed arrived and I love it, even though it is higher now the bedding is in place than I anticipated, its great . I have to climb up onto it and I can’t just sit on the edge, my feet dangle almost a foot of the floor which is a little annoying but I can live with that, I may  get a foot stool…….

My friends have left for the Antipodes once again escaping this  gloomy cold wet weather that every years seems to stay on well into the Spring.  On saying that, we had a beautiful sunny Sunday  I went for a walk around Astley Park in  Chorley, wonderful trees in sunshine and colour, a good mix. Since then its rained constantly and once again floods are causing so much anguish in certain areas of the country.

Astley Park Chorley Lancashire UK

Remembrance Sunday was cold and wet and I was not up to standing outside for two  or more hours, so  I watch the coverage  of the London Service on TV. Remembrance Day always inspires excellent coverage on the BBC. This year I watched a feature on the War Horses role in the First World War. Incredible that so many returned home  after the carnage that was trench warfare, the whole feature was very emotional.  The first assault was the Cavalry but their swords and tactics where found to be useless against the fire power of the German enemy,it was the Infantry and the horses that won the war after far too many young men lost their lives.  Without these sterling mounts that tirelessly  clomped through the deep mud and  persistent cannon fire to deliver ammunition, food and men to the front lines we would have lost the war.



This month at the NHS Retirement Group a lady from Hearing Dogs for the Deaf came to talk to us on the organisation.  A brilliant concept that works so well for deaf people . I am sure mother would have benefited from having a  trained hearing dog, we always had family dogs but our Judy was mothers faithful friend. A small Manchester Terrier who was  just the very best companion for her being very deaf he was her eyes and ears, they where devoted. I feel quite emotional  these days when I am reminded of past times. ….. Which isn’t a bad thing.

Hearing dogs

I passed my BSC  B8 assignment on Humour this month, but it was hard work putting it together. I must have changed direction three or four times before I was happy with the concept. So happy me, on to the next stage the  B9  Audience Report and Engagement. I already have some ideas to work on. 

Attended Chethams Music School in Manchester with my friends Betty and Astrid, to a Lunch time Recital and Tour of the 600 year old building followed by tea and cake in the refectory. Astrid's father attended Chethams before it became a Music School.  It is now a Registered  Charity who  take children who have potential and  talent for music, from the age of 8 to 18 but only from EEC countries . Overseas applicants have to pay and its very expensive boarding school .  The recital was awesome, three young musicians on Cello Flute and Piano individually played, Vivaldi Mozart Reinecke  and Saint-Saens, really complicated pieces without sheet music it was incredible. A really remarkable afternoon.

Chethams School of Music

Getting ready to do my Christmas Shopping, German Markets will be coming to town soon that's always a good day out . We saw lots of  Festive Christmas Stalls in Manchester last week  in the square near to the Chethams Shool so I  will be going there soon .
Bye for now X    

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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