Tuesday 3 October 2017






Sooooo Sorry!!!

Our hearts cannot understand
how
in this day
such an awful attack should have happened
to ordinary people
enjoying an evening of music.

There are no words to convey what is in our hearts.
To all affected
not just those who were there
but the wider society
of families, friends neighbourhoods
and those dealing with the awful aftermath
we send our heartfelt love
and support!



Sunrise over the mountains.
A start of a lovely day!
Today...
We had to travel
100 miles to the hospital where 
I had major ankle surgery
last December
for my final check up.
The surgeon is very pleased and
I've been discharged
so that is good.
What is even more good 
is that for the first time in 9 years
I can walk without crutches.
Something to celebrate!!





I have continued doing voluntary work
at a local castle.
I started last year just to get me out of the house and
meeting people again
and loved it!!


Last year I also
started training as one of the 
Castle Guides.
I have always loved visiting
the castle and its
beautiful grounds.....
in fact...
I have shared many photos from
the gardens in the past.
So it is a no-brainer
that I love 
introducing people to
the castle
and its history!




As we walk through the arch
and see the start
of a castle built
in 1300s
the story unfolds....



It was actually attacked
in the Civil War



and there are many
tales
of rich and famous!



What else has been happening??
Well



I had a pergola in the back yard.
The operative word being HAD.

I decided to strip
all the plants and climbing roses off it
as they had gone 
well past it.

I went to work
and came home to discover
that hubby had decided to'help' me!
Which apparently meant
firing an arrow 
over it to carry rope
and then attaching it to the car to pull
et voila!!

A half down pergola


He pulled the rest down the next day!
Such a good help.....
NOT!!


My university course
starts again this weekend.
As you may remember, it is a distance learning one.
I was in my fourth year last year
but
was so unwell 
after my ankle op .....
that
I just couldn't keep up
and had to defer to this year!
I love the history component and probably
could have managed that
but the Latin
I just floundered at!
Ah well
Let's hope I do better this year !!




I am continuing to 
enjoy working in my planners...
decorating etc


Especially in my TNs.

I enjoy finding quirky pictures 
and sayings to use


I particularly enjoy
using questions from people like
@theresetgirl
to stimulate thoughts and ideas!


So....
that's me....
at the moment.
What about you.....?
I think it's time that I closed the computer
and started visiting!



Sunday 3 September 2017

 
 
 
September Already!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
When I last posted at the end of May...
 
I fondly imagined
that I was going to start blogging again
at least weekly!!
 
But ....
within a few days....
I was back in hospital......
this time for 2 weeks!
 
 


It was all a bit shocking
as ....
I had taken my husband for an appointment
to investigate whether he had had
a TIA a few days before....
 
My asthma was not good....
but
it happens!
 
 
The registrar took one look at me....
practically pushed my husband out of the way....
took out his stethoscope....
and told me he was admitting me immediately...
shouted for a nurse to get a wheel chair.
 
 
So.....
I was in hospital for 2 weeks!
 
I didn't get to answer your lovely comments.
 
I am soooooo sorry!
 
 

 
 
 
It was so encouraging to read.......
that so many remembered me..
and had been wondering what had happened to me!
 
Thank you all so very much!
 
I intend to try to post more often ....
and visit....
and reply to your comments!
 
This last time in hospital was such a shock
as I thought that at last
I had finished with all the orthopaedic operations.
 
I was off crutches for the first time in
9 years....
and then.....
I ended up back in hospital!!
Ah me....
 



These pictures were taken yesterday.
It was a lovely afternoon
so we enjoyed the sunshine in the
walled garden
of a local castle.
 
 


How has the summer been for everyone?
I have to say
that, here in Wales,
it has not been very good.
Have felt so sorry for the holiday makers.....
particularly those with young children!
 
The coast is wonderful in good weather......
but it must be awful trying to entertain
young children
in a tent, or caravan,in the rain!
 
 

 
 
Last week seemed to have been one for
animals breaking out!!
 
First, on Tuesday,our own cattle
broke out of the back field onto my front lawn;
then, on Thursday and Friday, our neighbour's goat
got out and, as it was a billy goat,
put the fear of....
into a friend who was helping me in the garden;
then, on Friday,
our other neighbour's cattle broke into our farmyard
(luckily I had shut the farmyard gate
the night before!!
Lastly, ALL Saturday night
our bull
walked up and down the field
under our bedroom window........
roaring and bellowing...
to a neighbour's heifer......
 ...who was obviously in season!!
 
Who would live in the country??!!
 



So......
what's happening in my life?
Well I had to defer
my university course last winter as I was just
not well enough
after major surgery on my ankle.
 
I had got half way through....
but have to say
I was not enjoying relearning Latin.
 
I hated it the first time!!
 
I banked my first 3 assignments as I had good marks.
 
Now I must make sure that I don't slack with the studies.....
otherwise I will find it hard to pick up in February!
Oh joy!!
 
As I'm doing my degree distance learning
it will take me 6 years.
I have completed 3 and was half way through my 4th
when
I had to stop!
 
 

 
 
These last couple of years
I have taken up
scrapbooking and decorating my planners...
I really enjoy it and find it very relaxing!
 


I am going to start a course
for a couple of hours
once a week
on album making.
The examples I've seen are really lovely
but I'm sure that it will take me a while to get
anything like!!
 
 

 
 
I also enjoy
memory keeping/journaling in
my Traveller's' Notebook (TN)........
Sometimes I write and decorate
every day
 
 
 
 
At other times...
it can be quite a few days!
 
 
My family may enjoy reading about me...
and the things I enjoy
after my days..
on the other hand.....
they may just throw them away.
 
It doesn't matter as...
I have enjoyed doing it!!
 
 
So....there you are....
I think that I've about caught up!
I shall enjoy becoming reacquainted with you!
 
 


Wednesday 17 May 2017

So Long

 
 
 
 
 

 


I can't believe that it has been so long since I last posted.
 
I don't know why I haven't written.
 
 
Life just seemed to get too full and it's too easy
 
to let time without posting....
 
drift by.
 
 
I have had several more operations.......
 
one because the fixing in my back loosened.....
 
so they had to reopen and start again!!
 
 



Then.....
 
I was also studying with the Open University.
 
It was supposed to take
 
16/18 hours per week......
 
I'm afraid I took much longer!!
 
My assessments gained good marks though!
 
 
So, here I am
 
I'm looking forwards to catching up again.
 
I wonder if there are many out there
 
who remember me???
 




These photos are from a holiday

I took in Dorset
 
with a friend
 
 
The top 2 are a beach at Charmouth.
 
Although it was out of season
 
there were still a lot of people scouring the beaches at low
 
tide trying to find fossils.
 
This is an area well known for fossils.
 
I did have a look but
 
ended up buying some to bring home.
 
 
It's so hard to believe that
 
the stone you have in the palm of your hand
 
is an animal
 
that lived 195 million years ago!!
 
 

 
 

 
 
These next few photos are from West Bay.
 
A popular UK detective series was filmed here
 
Broadchurch.
 
My friend was an avid follower
 
 so we had to have a lot of photos taken here.
 
I have to say that the rock face was stunning!!
 
 
 
 
We drove further along the coast to
Hive Bay
and saw the other side of the hill
 
 


 
There was an artist on the beach
 
and he looked so small against the cliffs
 
 
 

 
 
 
It was good to come home again
 
and see our hedgerows
 
full of flowers




 
 
 
 
 
 
 



we are just so fortunate where we live!!
 
 

 

 
We even have wild garlic
 
in our hedgerows
 
lovely!!
 
 
 
 
 
One thing I have started to enjoy
 
since I last wrote is
 
scrapbooking
 
 



There's something very calming
 
and satisfying
 
about choosing stickers and placing them.
 
I hadn't realised what
 
a huge community there is
 
of those who enjoy, and take great pleasure in sharing,
 
their finished spreads!
 
 
I love starting with a blank page....
 
perhaps colouring it a little..
 
before fixing..
 
different shapes...
 
and journaling around them
 
This one is particularly pretty.....
 
poppywillowco
 
sells some beautiful foiled stickers in...
 
her etsy shop
 
 

 
 
So....there we are.
 
I think that I've caught up?!
 
I look forwards to visiting you.....
 
and seeing what is happening in your lives!