Thursday, March 26, 2009
1.Battling on. 2.With friends in the park.
Bill has a very strange voice this evening. It is peculiar that somebody with a hoarse voice seems to want to demonstrate it and doesn't stop talking!
My own voice is dropping to a croak now, though for some of the day I haven't felt too bad.
We are both flagging this evening.
And we were quite busy for a while today.
We have not stocked the food supplies in this house for a couple of weeks and we were looking to a world without tea or coffee!
And the cats would have felt grumpy without more food.
We went first to Lidl - Crawley Lidl seems to have a less wide range than in other places. Recently I have been unable to find the fish that we love.
Maybe we'll have to go back to Horley.
And of course Lidl doesn't have cat food that George and Harry think is fit for them - and nor do they stock caramelised onion chutney. So we called in at Asda on the way home.
And then it all needed putting away.
This afternoon I described and listed just 5 more items - I was working so slowly.
And as the postage goes up on April 6th I had to learn the new charges. I decided to re write my postage and payment instructions.
Bill printed some photographs. He is a bit behind at the moment because there was not time to deal with Sheffield Park Station and Park pictures before we left for Wales.
This time last week we were enjoying sunshine in Wales - walking with Pete and Jean in the country park.
Here are some pictures of us enjoying each other's company and the surroundings.
There are 2 pictures taken 10 years ago.
What is she doing?
Jean is winding up the recorded message giving information about the park. There were several of these dotted around.
The recordings all began with a burst of Celtic music.
Now Bill is having a go.
Two old men remember the good old days when machines were mechanical and not computerised.
But they love their computers and digital cameras too.
Each proudly told the other of things that their cameras could do.
Jean and I wait for the show to start.
Jean and I wait for the show to start.
This stone amphitheatre does stage dramatic and musical events on the stage across the river.
And here we are having a picnic at the same spot 10 years ago.
Pete is often at the country park - teaching archery in one of the fields.
It is fitting therefore that there should be "Pete's Seat".
Though I guess it was placed there for some other Pete, probably now deceased.
We gathered whilst those with cameras attempted to get the best shot of the sculptured arm and hand that rises out of the water. I put one of Bill's pictures on yesterday.
They don't look so very different 10 years ago do they?
Actually it was a bit alarming to see that we have all aged during the last decade - more than we realised I think.
Tomorrow we go to Snowdon.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
More coughing and parcels. Glynllifon in Wales.
And so it goes on - coughing that is.
I am not ill, but energy is draining away. Bill has the bug too.
Bill took the car to Tates this morning for its 1st birthday service. That's an expensive business and we have to do it to keep the guarantees in place.
But how come they can charge us for 5 litres of oil, when the car only takes 4 litres?
Later we walked in the sunshine and chilly wind to post parcels.
There are now more parcels to be posted because I had things selling today.
Two items of crested china have done quite well, but I was surprised not to have sold the cat with a crest for Odiham. I would have thought that would be rarer than a goose for Sheffield or a post box for Bradford.
But then the number of people who have connections with Odiham is considerably less than for the Yorkshire cities.
Anyway this afternoon I have been wrapping and dealing with the sales.
And I can now start sharing with you some photographs from Wales.
I am breaking each episode into even smaller sections, so I should have photos for several days to come.
Today there are pictures from Glynllifon, which was once a grand mansion with extensive grounds.
The Glyn or Wynn family lived there for some centuries.
The present house was built around 1840 - after the previous one was destroyed by fire.
But life changed and the family could no longer afford such a property.
Everybody can now enjoy a stroll through the grounds - for a small charge. We confess that we paid nothing; the little shop was closed and there was nobody about.
Last Thursday we were there with Peter and Jean.
They have lived in North Wales for many years now - but we knew them first in Crawley.
Jean and I were in the same year at school, whilst Bill and Pete trained as motor mechanics at the same time.
This was our second visit to the park - having been there almost exactly 10 years ago.
Today I have selected pictures which show various things that caught our eye as we walked....and talked. Tomorrow I will post pictures of the 4 of us.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday woes and work
The words this evening will not sound so very different from last night's words.
But it is not just tiredness that is affecting me - the bug that I thought might be lurking is taking over.
I have a dry chesty cough..... I know - that well known Russian, Ivor Chestikov! My head aches and my throat is sore.
Bother!
I have managed to work through it to some extent.
I have sorted out all the photos taken in Wales - but have not yet arranged them for blogging.
I will start on that tomorrow.
I wrapped a couple of books which sold on EBay today.
And I wrote up all the things bought at the weekend and everything is now on the shelves in the garage.
This morning we took some exercise in the sunshine - sounds like a treat, but it was, in fact, quite chilly in the wind.
The walk was down to the doctor's surgery for my B12 injection. Ouch!
The nurse then took my blood pressure. Maybe the very brisk walk and the injection had affected me - my blood pressure was higher than normal. The nurse looked back at past records and could see that. She repeated it after about 3 minutes and it had dropped a little.
Tomorrow we will not be doing much - the car is off for its first service.
Time for cough medicine, paracetamol and bed soon. Goodnight.
But it is not just tiredness that is affecting me - the bug that I thought might be lurking is taking over.
I have a dry chesty cough..... I know - that well known Russian, Ivor Chestikov! My head aches and my throat is sore.
Bother!
I have managed to work through it to some extent.
I have sorted out all the photos taken in Wales - but have not yet arranged them for blogging.
I will start on that tomorrow.
I wrapped a couple of books which sold on EBay today.
And I wrote up all the things bought at the weekend and everything is now on the shelves in the garage.
This morning we took some exercise in the sunshine - sounds like a treat, but it was, in fact, quite chilly in the wind.
The walk was down to the doctor's surgery for my B12 injection. Ouch!
The nurse then took my blood pressure. Maybe the very brisk walk and the injection had affected me - my blood pressure was higher than normal. The nurse looked back at past records and could see that. She repeated it after about 3 minutes and it had dropped a little.
Tomorrow we will not be doing much - the car is off for its first service.
Time for cough medicine, paracetamol and bed soon. Goodnight.
Monday, March 23, 2009
A lack of bounce.
I have started to sort photos of the Welsh trip.
But I am not ready to put them onto the blog.
This is mostly due to lack of energy. I am really hoping that the weariness I feel is just that - but there are hints now of an impending bug. I am coughing quite a lot and my chest feels tight.
Doing too much and feeling a bit stressed combine to give me symptoms of a different kind too - the gut has felt bad. And I was so queasy earlier on today.
Oh woe is me!
So today I have plodded through things which needed doing.
And I feel a bit peeved that I haven't finished all I had hoped to do.
Never mind, there is always tomorrow.
I have an appointment with the nurse in the morning for my regular B12 injection - maybe that will give me some oomph.
We may well go to Dorking afterwards to tidy shelves and collect any takings. But we could just wait until I go in on Saturday when I do a duty for Jo.
And I would like to get things bought at the weekend written up and stowed away in the garage. It is just as well I like the things because they are extra ornaments on kitchen units at the moment.
I shall have an early night and hope for the best - tomorrow I will get my bounce back.
But I am not ready to put them onto the blog.
This is mostly due to lack of energy. I am really hoping that the weariness I feel is just that - but there are hints now of an impending bug. I am coughing quite a lot and my chest feels tight.
Doing too much and feeling a bit stressed combine to give me symptoms of a different kind too - the gut has felt bad. And I was so queasy earlier on today.
Oh woe is me!
So today I have plodded through things which needed doing.
And I feel a bit peeved that I haven't finished all I had hoped to do.
Never mind, there is always tomorrow.
I have an appointment with the nurse in the morning for my regular B12 injection - maybe that will give me some oomph.
We may well go to Dorking afterwards to tidy shelves and collect any takings. But we could just wait until I go in on Saturday when I do a duty for Jo.
And I would like to get things bought at the weekend written up and stowed away in the garage. It is just as well I like the things because they are extra ornaments on kitchen units at the moment.
I shall have an early night and hope for the best - tomorrow I will get my bounce back.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Home again.
Home again!
Rotten journey - about an hour longer than our journey to Bangor; on the road for over 7 hours.
Lots of traffic and incidents. We were just glad we were not going the other way - total jam on M25 to M40 after a large lorry of cocoa beans landed on its side.
This morning out early for the boot sale on Anglesey - most satisfactory for Ecky and me and not at all for Ashley and Bill.
It felt very cold on the show ground. Bought another jacket for Ecky to keep her warm - black to match her latest fashion ideas.
But it was good to get out.
Once we were packed up it seemed sensible to get on our way - though Ecky and I were sad.
Tired now of course. Thank goodness we arranged a swap at the shop and don't have to be there tomorrow.
Thank you to folks who have Emailed and facebooked during the last days.
Goodnight.
Rotten journey - about an hour longer than our journey to Bangor; on the road for over 7 hours.
Lots of traffic and incidents. We were just glad we were not going the other way - total jam on M25 to M40 after a large lorry of cocoa beans landed on its side.
This morning out early for the boot sale on Anglesey - most satisfactory for Ecky and me and not at all for Ashley and Bill.
It felt very cold on the show ground. Bought another jacket for Ecky to keep her warm - black to match her latest fashion ideas.
But it was good to get out.
Once we were packed up it seemed sensible to get on our way - though Ecky and I were sad.
Tired now of course. Thank goodness we arranged a swap at the shop and don't have to be there tomorrow.
Thank you to folks who have Emailed and facebooked during the last days.
Goodnight.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Plans awry
Up early. Went to a car boot sale on the outskirts of Bangor. Most of the stalls were indoors and run by dealers. Bill and I bought a few things that we hope to sell and Ashley bought some books and CDs.
Back home for breakfast.
Then Bill put some shelves up in the kitchen for Liz's spices etc.
The we left Liz at home and Bill, me, Ashley and Ecky went to see what the nature reserve below Penrhyn castle had to offer. Phenryn is only a couple of miles from home.
We parked by a beach where the River Ogwen flows out into the Menai Strait. It is the Ogwen we see flowing from Snowdon.
The beach was interesting with the remains of breakwaters - looking rather like ruined cottages.
The nature reserve was small. There were a couple of hides - one looking out to the bird life in the estuary and the other looking out to a lake with bullrushes.
We enjoyed a walk.
But it seemed much chillier than yesterday.
In the afternoon Ecky stayed home with Liz, and Ashley came with us to get some lunch and then to see Pete and Jean - to explain why Liz decided not to buy his car after all.
We got back in time for Ashley and Liz to get ready to go out for a meal together to celebrate their wedding anniversary on Monday.
But it all went wrong.
They went to get some money out of the cash machine at their bank and realised from the statement that transactions not made by them had appeared.
So they came back home to try and sort this out.
Banks are usually very good about these things.
Ecky and I looked at some of the computer games that she enjoys.
Tomorrow we will try a different boot sale and will relax for the morning before setting off for the journey home.
Goodnight.
Back home for breakfast.
Then Bill put some shelves up in the kitchen for Liz's spices etc.
The we left Liz at home and Bill, me, Ashley and Ecky went to see what the nature reserve below Penrhyn castle had to offer. Phenryn is only a couple of miles from home.
We parked by a beach where the River Ogwen flows out into the Menai Strait. It is the Ogwen we see flowing from Snowdon.
The beach was interesting with the remains of breakwaters - looking rather like ruined cottages.
The nature reserve was small. There were a couple of hides - one looking out to the bird life in the estuary and the other looking out to a lake with bullrushes.
We enjoyed a walk.
But it seemed much chillier than yesterday.
In the afternoon Ecky stayed home with Liz, and Ashley came with us to get some lunch and then to see Pete and Jean - to explain why Liz decided not to buy his car after all.
We got back in time for Ashley and Liz to get ready to go out for a meal together to celebrate their wedding anniversary on Monday.
But it all went wrong.
They went to get some money out of the cash machine at their bank and realised from the statement that transactions not made by them had appeared.
So they came back home to try and sort this out.
Banks are usually very good about these things.
Ecky and I looked at some of the computer games that she enjoys.
Tomorrow we will try a different boot sale and will relax for the morning before setting off for the journey home.
Goodnight.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Magical mountains
Oh how tired I am and my legs ache!
But it was all worth it.
This morning we drove to the top of the pass above Llanberis and then walked along The Miners Track.
It was glorious. The majestic mountains of Snowdonia and the lakes set against a brilliant blue sky.
Such joy and peace filled me.
And lots of memories too of the day over 30 years ago when we took that path - not thinking that we would end up on the summit of Snowdon.
Today we definitely were not attempting that.
Anybody who knows the Miners Track will realise that at first the path is very easy but the final mile to the top is very steep and might have been beyond my fragile body and balance.
Though maybe one of the longer, gentler paths just might be possible.
But we walked a long way - further than I have walked for quite a long time.
I was eager for each magical footstep onward. There will of course be views to share with you next week.
We had lunch in Bethesda - a friendly little cafe. I was touched by our waitress - a young girl with mongolism. She was welcoming, but handed me the paper and pencil to write down the order.
Then we spent a while in Annies - a branch of Ashley's favourite charity shop.
The shop was manned by a friendly chatty woman who had lived for some years - guess where! Crawley! North Wales is full of people from Crawley it seems!
We bought 2 bags of books and a few items of clothing.
Then it was time to hurry and collect Ekatarina from school.
We called in at Home Bargains on the way back to Orme Road.
How does that shop do it? Sell for such low prices I mean.
We bought bottles of drink for the journey home - £1.59 in the motorway services and just 39p in Home Bargains.
Of course we didn't just buy drink.
I have cooked this evening - chicken in red wine - courtesy of a Lidl special offer with potatoes and veg.
And now I feel like being in bed.
So, good night.
But it was all worth it.
This morning we drove to the top of the pass above Llanberis and then walked along The Miners Track.
It was glorious. The majestic mountains of Snowdonia and the lakes set against a brilliant blue sky.
Such joy and peace filled me.
And lots of memories too of the day over 30 years ago when we took that path - not thinking that we would end up on the summit of Snowdon.
Today we definitely were not attempting that.
Anybody who knows the Miners Track will realise that at first the path is very easy but the final mile to the top is very steep and might have been beyond my fragile body and balance.
Though maybe one of the longer, gentler paths just might be possible.
But we walked a long way - further than I have walked for quite a long time.
I was eager for each magical footstep onward. There will of course be views to share with you next week.
We had lunch in Bethesda - a friendly little cafe. I was touched by our waitress - a young girl with mongolism. She was welcoming, but handed me the paper and pencil to write down the order.
Then we spent a while in Annies - a branch of Ashley's favourite charity shop.
The shop was manned by a friendly chatty woman who had lived for some years - guess where! Crawley! North Wales is full of people from Crawley it seems!
We bought 2 bags of books and a few items of clothing.
Then it was time to hurry and collect Ekatarina from school.
We called in at Home Bargains on the way back to Orme Road.
How does that shop do it? Sell for such low prices I mean.
We bought bottles of drink for the journey home - £1.59 in the motorway services and just 39p in Home Bargains.
Of course we didn't just buy drink.
I have cooked this evening - chicken in red wine - courtesy of a Lidl special offer with potatoes and veg.
And now I feel like being in bed.
So, good night.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Walking and talking
Tired tonight.
A few more details about our day will emerge when I have pictures ready.
Basically we met Pete and Jean at a local county park attached to what was once a huge mansion. I'll search for the Welsh name next week - but tonight it feels like lots of effort.
We enjoyed a good walk and lots of talking as we strolled though the woods and up and down the hills.
The cafe in the park was not open and so we went to a garden centre - when I told Liz she recalled that it was her favourite garden centre.
Like garden centres everywhere there are lot of things for sale with little connection to gardens - but it was better than most because there was a very wide collection of well cared for plants. We bought a foxglove.
I enjoyed a good soup - sweet potato and parsnip, and Bill had ham salad.
Then we went back to Pete and Jean's house and the talking continued.
We were too late back in Bangor to take Ecky to Brownies. But Bill was able to drive up the hill with Ashley to bring her home again.
And that is it for today.
Goodnight.
A few more details about our day will emerge when I have pictures ready.
Basically we met Pete and Jean at a local county park attached to what was once a huge mansion. I'll search for the Welsh name next week - but tonight it feels like lots of effort.
We enjoyed a good walk and lots of talking as we strolled though the woods and up and down the hills.
The cafe in the park was not open and so we went to a garden centre - when I told Liz she recalled that it was her favourite garden centre.
Like garden centres everywhere there are lot of things for sale with little connection to gardens - but it was better than most because there was a very wide collection of well cared for plants. We bought a foxglove.
I enjoyed a good soup - sweet potato and parsnip, and Bill had ham salad.
Then we went back to Pete and Jean's house and the talking continued.
We were too late back in Bangor to take Ecky to Brownies. But Bill was able to drive up the hill with Ashley to bring her home again.
And that is it for today.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Vampires in bangor
Life had changed here in Orme Road.
Princesses and fairies have been abandoned to the world of childhood. Now the talk is of vampires and goths and such like!
The journey to this world was easy - but long.
We left home at twenty past six.
A brilliant orange sun was just rising to the east.
We didn't keep the sun with us all morning - round Birmingham the world was shrouded in grey fog.
But as we past the Croeso y Cymru sign the sun broke through again and the North Wales mountains and coast looked good, though the haze seemed to hand over Anglesey.
We stopped at the OK diner - where we ate more than we actually needed.
And then arrived with Ashley at just gone half past twelve.
We had a quiet time, as planned, before driving to the top of Bangor to meet Ekatarina from school.
We did some shopping in Lidl and we have plenty to keep us going over the weekend.
I cooked fish and boiled potatoes and vegetables this evening. Ecky had some mashed potato. She is still a grazer, rather than a meal eater.
I read to her at bed time - she chose one of her Horrible Science books about the human body.
This led to an interesting conversation. We talked of the possibility of kidney transplants and such like and Ecky asked about brain transplants.
And then we were into the "What is a brain?" question and how each brain is unique and if you could transplant a brain, then would the person who had died to enable the transplant actually go on living in the recipient's body?
We were up at 5 o'clock this morning. So we will be off to bed very soon.
Tomorrow we will meet up with Pete and Jean.
Goodnight.
Princesses and fairies have been abandoned to the world of childhood. Now the talk is of vampires and goths and such like!
The journey to this world was easy - but long.
We left home at twenty past six.
A brilliant orange sun was just rising to the east.
We didn't keep the sun with us all morning - round Birmingham the world was shrouded in grey fog.
But as we past the Croeso y Cymru sign the sun broke through again and the North Wales mountains and coast looked good, though the haze seemed to hand over Anglesey.
We stopped at the OK diner - where we ate more than we actually needed.
And then arrived with Ashley at just gone half past twelve.
We had a quiet time, as planned, before driving to the top of Bangor to meet Ekatarina from school.
We did some shopping in Lidl and we have plenty to keep us going over the weekend.
I cooked fish and boiled potatoes and vegetables this evening. Ecky had some mashed potato. She is still a grazer, rather than a meal eater.
I read to her at bed time - she chose one of her Horrible Science books about the human body.
This led to an interesting conversation. We talked of the possibility of kidney transplants and such like and Ecky asked about brain transplants.
And then we were into the "What is a brain?" question and how each brain is unique and if you could transplant a brain, then would the person who had died to enable the transplant actually go on living in the recipient's body?
We were up at 5 o'clock this morning. So we will be off to bed very soon.
Tomorrow we will meet up with Pete and Jean.
Goodnight.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday sunshine in our front garden
There is not much to say about today.
I continued to feel exhausted.
I fell asleep over a cup of tea after a trip out to buy cat food this morning.
We have sorted out our needs for the trip to Ashley's - well, I hope I have remembered everything.
Bill has been out to cut the lawns - it sounds like we have a huge garden of interlinking lawns! But Bill mows Frieda's grass in exchange for her feeding the cats when we go away; and he cuts the grass next door for the landlord and gets paid for it.
It was a beautiful Spring day and he took a few pictures of the front garden.
Cowslips bought on Sunday at Fontwell - and a similar pinky mauve flower.
Blossom on Solly's tree below.
We bought this tree on the day we knew that one of our cats had died - Solly was so full of character.
Well, all cats have their character - George and Harry certainly do.
But Solly was all love and bold gestures and so soft and cuddly.
The tree was called Solly's tree on that day.
We intend to be on the road in the morning by about 6 o'clock. I would love to be able to start later really. But I have worked out that it would be more relaxing to have a little time to unwind after 300 miles before hitting the supermarket (Lidls I think) and thinking about food for the family.
We might stop mid morning - somewhere like Nantwich would be about right.
I shall write a little blog each evening whilst away - pictures will have to wait until next week.
Now to get some sleep. Goodnight -until tomorrow night from Bangor.
We return home next Sunday evening.
