Armistice Day

The Birthday Boy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fiat Punto Grande my `Snow Queen` is now mine.

Just to let you all know I have my car. I love it and its a dream to drive. All thanks to Mr. Mark Beach of Lythgoes (the boss) who intervened on my behalf and within 48hours the car was collected from where-ever it was being held and delivered to me.I couldn`t be happier. It is a top of the range car and full of electronic gear so I will have to study the handbook carefully before I go any distance. I am so pleased too that I chose white, it looks so special and it will be easy to find in any crowded supermarket car park. Bye for now

So sad, no car.

Today is Monday 27th October and my new car has still not arrived , I am so disappointed I have waited patiently for nearly 13 weeks.. So far no one at Lythgoes Fiat Car Dealership can tell me where my car is or when I will get it. I have been given so many dates, promises and excuses that I now have no confidence in anyone at that dealership, their customer service sucks. I was informed in August that the car had not been ordered, which they soon denied, but it does make you think! I know I will feel more comfortable if I went and cancel my order, as much as it grieves me as I so wanted this car, but I do not trust them and do not want to deal with them any more. Been rather busy again these past weeks, drove over to Slaidburn in the Forest of Bowland with Betty to a Promise Auction to raise funds for the local church, only to find it was the wrong date, we both read the literature too. Any way we had a walk around the village met up with some friends and had a very enjoyable meal before returning home.
Dorothy and I have booked our holidays for May we are going to Venice on the Eurostar travelling with the same holiday firm ptgtours Rail & Culture, who went with to New England. I am so excited now we have made the decision to go, in spite of the economic situation that is troubling everyone. Physio have discharged me as my elbow is now ok. I have to see the Consultant on the 6th Of November and I feel sure he will say the same. Went into Manchester to see a play at the Central Library Theatre called the Glee Club a comedy drama it was exceptional I should go more often I really enjoyed it.. Saturday Muriel and I attended a Brass Band concert by Wingates Brass Band, they are so so excellent, I do enjoy live music its so uplifting and its good to see quite a few youngster in the band too. The BBC Young Musician of the Year Peter Moore was featured playing his trombone. The theme for the evenings was `Music from the Movies` I had fun watching the two young Percussionists dance around at the back of the band hitting all the right notes on a multitude of instruments throughout the concert. Have attended four Poetry Reading Rounds recently. It was National Poetry Day last month and this month National Reading Week the main events being in Libraries. My favourite poem that I chose to read was Birches by Robert Frost. I will post it so you too can enjoy reading it. Bye for now, I need a good nights sleep if I am too tackle the Car Showroom Guys tomorrow morning.


http://www.ptg.co.uk/ ptgtours Rail & Culture `Italian Vintage`
http://www.wingatesband.co.uk/ Wingates Brass Band
http://www.poetry-online.org/frost_birches.htm Birches by Robert Frost

End of a Terrible Summer

Poetry Reading

The last week in September was delightful, sunny and warm I was able to get the garden bedded down for the winter. Regretfully I have lost a number of plants due to the cold winds and rain and boy did the slugs and snails have a feast this year. My elbow was a problem again but being my left arm I am able to manage. Started Physiotherapy which was rather painful but persevered and now I have more mobility in the joint. Began knitting again after maybe six or seven years and Ryan watched me knitting premature baby hats for Save the Childrens project that our WI is supporting this year. (Last year we knitted lots of bob hats for the Mission for Seamen). He wanted one but knowing that he wouldn’t wear a hat for long I offered to knit him a sweater, a lovely bright red one ,his choice.
I have been on a shopping spree this month to brighten up my winter wardrobe. It is always a joy when you come across something you like and it fits. I had a good response to my talk at our October WI meeting, I spoke about my childhood and included some poetry too. The following Saturday I attended a Seminar on Speech Construction and was inspired to give a presentation at the end of the day spurred on by my success at the WI. Being Educational Director for our local club is proving to be rather a demanding role, but I will stick it out and hope as I become more experienced it will be less stressful.
My poetry is still a great part of my week. I enjoy writing listening to and reading poems and my style has changed over the past year as I read more diverse poetry. There has been an on going WOL discussion over the summer on what constitutes a good poem, as today there are so many differing styles all equally acceptable. I have entered Andrew Motions Poetry Competition in the Guardian, winners will have their poems on "Love" read by celebrity poets at a Reading later in the year. Crossed fingers. Well my car arrived in Dover on Monday, and it should soon be ready for collecting , ordered on the 23rd July I have been very patiently waiting over 10weeks I do hope I am not disappointed.

Glasgow

Has Doctor Who landed his Tardis in the centre of Glasgow, or is it a Police Box ??

This is the view from the Jury Inn Glasgow " River Road & Railway"

After a very busy week preparing for Speakers on 15th, Dorothy and I had a ride out to Boundary Mill in Colne a huge factory outlet about 40 minutes drive away., to see if we could pick up a bargain. I was very lucky, found two smart jackets, a grey blazer type that will be very useful next summer and a three quarter length in black for the winter. After lunch we called at my good friends Anne and Derek for a cup of tea and chat before heading home. The following weekend I travelled to Rochdale by bus, a place I haven’t visited for many years and I don’t think I will be bothering again. It was a warm sunny day and the crowds where out in the town . I wasn’t at all impressed by the layout of the town it seemed to be a disorganised urban sprawl. The Town Hall is a magnificent building but like most northern towns today the towns infrastructure was depressing. I arrived home having bought nothing which was an added disappointment. For the past year Bolton has been restructuring our Victorian Market Hall and it was opened on the 16th. That was another disappointment for me, my town now has a clone of every other mall in the UK. From a vibrant individualistic unique building filled with a variety of local merchants we now have a number of fancy Boutiques and fashionable coffee shops. Nothing for me, but for anyone under 30years old, less than a size 16 and with a huge bank balance they will be welcome. The six coffee shops within one - two minutes walking distance of each other, will soon be in financial strife.
Enough moaning lets be positive. I had a great reunion in Glasgow with my good friends Leslie and David ,they live in California and are touring Ireland and Scotland by coach until the end of the month.
It was wonderful to see them again, they passed on a couple of trips so we could spend the day in the city . I stayed overnight in their hotel so I could wave them off next morning as the left for the Isle of Skye. It was a short but sweet visit but well worth the effort.
Write Out Loud was featured again at the Octagon Theatre, with poetry and music from guests and our popular open mic poetry session, another successful evenings entertainment.
Went to see the movie “The Duchess” Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire. It was excellent rather sanitized as an autobiography but that’s what film makers do. The book was better I really enjoyed it and visiting Chatsworth House in Derbyshire was a bonus.
Had a check up at the hospital my elbow is less stiff and the pain more intermittent and not as severe. I have another appointment in November to determine the next course of action.
http://www.chatsworth.org/

An Eventful Week

What a week I have had. Road works on the main road into town have been quite obstructive and seem to be lasting for ages. I have been taking a long detour every time I wanted to go into Bolton. Or been confined to sitting patiently on the bus, still what else would I be doing ? We had an unexpected warm sunny day last week, so I invited Mary my neighbour around for afternoon tea and it was so pleasant we sat in the garden. I regret that we have not had any summer this year , I have had no inclination to sit out at all. Needless to say that was the only day in the past fortnight that we could sit out. Horrendous rain again and poor Wales has come under floods ,Scotland last month and now Wales. Under a very dull grey sky I drove into Yorkshire to visit my son, it did not improve but we managed to walk the dog around Swinsty Reservoir again before the rain caught up with us. My grandson back from his holiday in the sun looked so grown up, he is so handsome and tall just like his father. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to find a lounge full of six foot teenagers, when I had last seen them they where children and now here they where fine strapping young men.
Speakers Club has started again, we run from September to May. As Educational Director I have to plan the meetings and arrange assignments for the members. Oh dear what have I taken on, I have great respect for anyone taking this responsibility. Still I think I have overcome a few of the hurdles. It will be a ongoing challenge but I am determined to continue, it will be trial and error but I feel sure the members will be supportive and patient with me. We enjoyed a pre session dinner at a local Chinese Restaurant, not one of my favourite choices but it was a good evening.
On the 11th July this year I fell rather heavily in the hall. I was shaken and it took me some time to recover but there didn’t appear to be any serious injuries,being a nurse I usually can tell. A carpet burn on my forearm and a few bruises on my left side. Elbow ok but bruised and within a week I was feeling fine. Six weeks later I have a haematoma on my forearm and a stiff elbow . My GP thought it was a dislocated elbow,horror of a manipulation was facing me I was in shock.. I went to straight to the Orthopaedic department at the hospital and it was X-rayed, no fracture but a suspected foreign body inside the joint . The fact that I take aspirin daily seemed to confirm the haematoma on my forearm, thought to be a result from the carpet burn that did not break the skin but was bruised. It was suggested I attend Physio to overcome the stiffness and have the elbow and lump scanned . Today my elbow works fine it aches now and then so I am cautious. I have to return to the Hospital on the 11th September .for the Scan . I pray every day that the scan will not show a foreign body that needs investigating. Been out and about promoting Poetry hoping to start new events in the town . On the 17th September WriteOutLoud has a special evening event at our local theatre The Octagon where we have visiting poets and we showcase some of our members. There will be a short open Mic that I will probably take advantage off. Travelled to Hebden Bridge one evening to support a new WOL Poetry event at the Stubbins Wharf Inn, rather a long way but worth it. My friend Anne came along as Navigator as I was unsure of the way, I hope she enjoyed herself, I accept that not everyone is as passionate as I am about poetry. .
Last Wednesday my dishwasher blew up smoke and smells filled the kitchen no surprise as it was maybe 20years old.. Fortunately I have my ex: who is well able to sort my house hold problems out. I need a new dishwasher but its not a priority now I live alone. I am waiting for my new car, it will arrive on the 6th October at Dover en rout from the Fiat Factory in Italy. This will be my third Fiat Punto, a brilliant car that I am happy to drive.

Bolton Theatre http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/

Read Andrew Motion on Performance Poetry
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/08/29/bomotion129.xml

Go look at my new car, click on versions and go to the 1.4 Eleganza multijet,beautiful car.
http://www.fiat.co.uk/Showroom/#showroom/grande_punto_5dr/configurator

Open Markets

Hi
Well I have kept away from the cheese and butter. Ate more fruit and vegetables, chicken and fish, especially smoked mackerel and roll mop herrings, two of my favourite fish. I love all seafood, it was wonderful in Australia the fresh seafood was so available and cheap. I have recently started shopping on the open market, I pass it each time I go to the gym and it seemed only sensible to check it out as my Mum always got her fresh fruit and vegetables off the open market every week. For many years we lived near the Market.After my Grandfather died my Mum took over the licence of the Public House he ran,it was in the town centre a coupl eof years later we moved into another Pub across town. I was glad when we left and bought a proper house as we had no family life when we lived in the Pub. Mum and dad worked long hours every day, it was very hard on all of us as it was never really a home. So I now call twice a week to get a bag of fresh fruit and veg and its much cheaper than at the supermarket. Also there is a wonderful fish market where I can browse with interest all the new and exotic fish that are displayed on the slabs. We have such a diverse community now, their tastes have to be catered for too. The market has changed though from mum`s days ,its much quieter,no costermongering as its against the law,now also under cover and less fun.
Woke one morning to find my kitchen window had two long scratched down the centre. The rest of the window and frame was OK so it wasn’t intruders. We now believe it to be Magpies fighting as they are so aggressive at the moment and spend most of the day stutting around my back garden. If a stray bird dares to land, they attack and there is an awful battle some times two against one. I have stopped putting food out for the birds for a while, hoping they will go away.
Brilliant Poetry Nights at the Howcroft Bolton and the Boars Head Middleton, both nights exceptional. It is National Poetry Day on the 9th October I always submit a poem to be displayed in the local Libraries around the town . This year the theme is Work. There is a exhibition at the Museum of Humphrey Spender photographs 1930 & 1940 . I spent a few hours enjoying the displays and watching archive footage of old Bolton looking for inspiration . It really took me back to my childhood, seeing the town as it was and witnessing events that had been over the past sixty plus years. I am not going to mention the weather. Its still bad.

Market Information
http://www.bolton.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=367,128731&_dad=portal92&_schema=PORTAL92

Visit Spenders website
http://spender.boltonmuseums.org.uk/index.html

My Poem for National Poetry Day inspired by Spender`s photographs.

King Cotton

In bygone years times where hard
For men, women and children at work
In the Cotton Mills
Of Lancashire.
Industrial Revolution built
Distinctive towns of tall chimneys
Belching soot and smoke
Into the sky with menace.

Whole families toiled
Amidst the heat dust and noise.
Machinery and men
Processed the cotton.
Raw cotton picked by slaves
In searing sun and servitude.
Shipped across the sea.
Combed and spun in
Hot Humid unhealthy
Environment, ideal for the cotton
But not the workers.

Long days without daylight,
Fresh air denied.
The endless drumming of machines,
The pounding of the belts and pulleys
Detrimental and deafening .
A constant fluttering of fine fibres
Float in the air
Clogging lungs.
Accidents a common feature
Of cleaned machinery, that did not stop.

Clothes and hair
Festooned like Christmas ornaments
A permanent reminder to all
Of who they were.
Hooters heard throughout the town
Called the workers,
Equally strident
Released them.
The huge steam engine stilled.
Machines rumbled to silence,
Cog wheels coaxed singing belts to stop.
Rooms became quiet, as Cathedrals.
Lines of weary workers
Clogs on cobbles
Shuffle by like a defeated army in retreat.

Mills at night like ships at sea
Windows ablaze,
The steady beat of the pistons
Heard throughout streets of
Terraced houses, row after row.
A depressive reflection of life
In cotton towns.
Poverty and harsh times, forcing
Children and women
To take the industrial treadmill
That made Cotton King and Cotton Barons rich.

And did those feet in bygone years
Walk upon Northern cobble streets.
And did the mighty engines roar
In all those dark satanic mills.
And did those rich Cotton Barons
Live well, in English pastures green.

ValCook 2008