Happy New Year

Happy New Year

I went back to work yesterday for the first since before christmas.  Boy was i tired, i could do with an other 2 weeks off i think.

Well what do you know i am going to a new years eve party tonight for the first time in years.  Daughter has invited us to her church's party.  I'm a bit tired because i had a bad night last night but she doesn't want to go on her own and i'm looking forward to it.  It will make a change to watching tv with husband snoring in the chair beside me while i wait for the family to phone and wish me us happy new year from their various parties.

Which brings me back to why i'm tired.  Hubby works nights so i get the bed to myself all week.  Saturday night he goes up early because he was at work night before, spreads himself across the king size because that's what he is used to all week.  I then get in and move him over, then the snoring starts.  All week there is no one to poke him to make him shut up (you can hear him through the ceiling) so he has got into the habit.  I get him into a quiet position and all is well, but i have to keep turning because of painful joints.  Everytime i move even if it is to scratch my nose he moves and starts up again.

This goes on all night and i get precious little sleep.  I love him dearly but there have been times when i have looked at him in the middle of the night and wondered if i could get away with a little smoothering with the pillow. 

Sunday night we are back to normal, he knows his place on his side on the edge of the bed and i have the rest.  The status quo has been resumed and then the rest of the week we both have the bed to ourselves again.  Hence i am always tired on a Sunday. Yawn, yawn.

Goodbye 2006 and hello 2007

Jenny <><

 

Post christmas

Oh far, far too many late nights, i am cream crackered.  My brain is like mush, i have suitcases under my eyes hanging down to my chin and two days of turkey, stuffing and brussels sprouts have taken their toll.

I looked forward to christmas dinner - we went round my sons, daughter and grandkids were there too, 13 of us with my mum - the dinner appeared, we wait all year for it and suddenly it was gone.  In a flash, straight down without touching the sides, hours of cooking demolished in a minute.

We had a good day though, it was nice to see son's children - two step sons, twin boys and a daughter.  Daughter in law was merry drunk and at one point i couldn't help but point out that a whole load of drivel was coming out of her mouth which made her laugh.  Me mum was knocking back son's Jack Daniels and red wine.  Neither husband or myself drink so it was funny watching the affect it had on the others.  Thankfully no one drank so much as to be a nuisence.

Then we did it all over again the next day with daughter and husband's sister.  More turkey, stuffing and brussels.

Then yesterday it was our 37th wedding anniversary.  We had booked it at the local registry office for about 11.15, i think.  Dad phoned for a taxi and asked him to be on time as it was for my wedding.  The taxi driver asked him if he wanted the cab swept and a ribbon put on the front, how much asked my dad, £4 was the reply.  So what do you think dad said?  No thank you just come as you are.  No expense spared there then LOL!

I am told i got in the taxi with my slippers on but do not really remember.  My wedding dress cost four pound four shillings.  It was a very short white lurex dress which i had taken up even shorter hence the four shillings (remember these were the 60's when the mini was all the fashion). 

After the wedding we had pictures taken and some with us getting into new father in law's car as his was the poshest, but the car we drove off in was our friends and best man's three wheel robin reliant.  We all went back to mum's house and had turkey sandwiches etc.  the turkey being left over from christmas.  As it was an early wedding by six o'clock we started to get a bit bored, mum suggested it was usually good down the British Legion club so we all went there for the evening. 

On the way home we stopped at the bus stop and waited for the bus, but along came a black taxi we so we all started to pile in but there were 6 of us and it only took 4 people and he wouldn't make an exception.  Half of us were in the taxi and half out when the shout went up,'here comes a bus', so they all climbed out of the taxi and we caught the late bus home.  I can assure you it looked a lot funnier at the time then it does in the telling.

Midnight found us finishing off curled up dry sandwiches and falling into bed absolutely pooped.  We had 2 days off work each and then back to the grindstone. 

We lived with mum and dad for a year and three months when we moved into our first flat.  After 3 months of marriage i found myself preganant with son who i had January 3rd the following year.  When son was 4 months old i again found myself preganant with my daughter whom i had on January 26th the following year.  Now where is it babies come from???

That was it, no more for me, i had 2 cots, 6 dozen nappies and a twin pushchair, that was more than enough.  Thankfully they  both liked their sleep and daughter never did wake up for a nightime feed.

When we had our 25th silver wedding anniversary, we decided we didn't want a party or anything but choose to have our wedding blessed in church and to re-take our vows.  Now it meant something to us both as we were now christians and realised what it was we were doing and why.  Back in 1969 i was just 18 and couldn't understand why a piece of paper making it legal should matter other than to our parents and society, those were the sweet innocent days, but with age brought wisdom (hopefully).

We had a nice service in our church with all our church family there as well - we just invited anyone who wanted to share it with us - and as a surprise for my husband i asked my friend to sing 'we've only just begun' by the Carpenters. 

Well four more years and it will be our ruby anniversay, son will be nearly 39 and daughter nearly 38, how the time does fly.

Jenny <><

Wordplay

This is the first time i have tried a wordplay so i hope i have done it right.

 

'Twas the nanosecond before Christmas, and all through the bungalow,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mercat.
The thongs were hung by the stool with care,
In hopes that St. Rhiannon soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their chairs,
While visions of sugar-haggises danced in their hairs.
And soulmate in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
slept open the shutters, and wept up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-lifetime to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a freezing glass, and eight tiny sloths.

With a little old driver, so lively and pretty,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Rhiannon.
More rapid than pigs his sloths they came,
And he whistled, and togggled, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! Now, Gordon! Now, Road and Vixen!
On, White Top! On Toad! On, Scarf and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the television!
Now pray away! Pray away! Pray away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the stool St. Rhiannon came with a bound.

His eyes -- how they welded! His dimples, how spooky!
His aorta were like buses, his tongue like a chip!

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
And filled all the thongs, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his spleen aside of his tonsil,
And giving a nod, up the stool he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a ping,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good nanosecond!"

Wordplay with Val at http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason/

This and that

What did Cinderella say when her photographs weren't ready?

Some day my prints will come!

Hubby was standing at the back door laughing, squirrel was digging up his nuts but this time Maggie had brought a friend along and they were doing fly pasts - criss crossing over the top of squirrel.  Squirrel in turn looked like a Wimbledon spectator head looking from side to side.  Maggie's friend obviously found no fun in tormenting squirrel and flew off to more profitable pursuits leaving Maggie to decide what to do next.  Squirrel's head disappeared under a bush leaving just backside and tail to view.  Maggie stood looking, head cocked to one side, then she grabbed hold of a small low twig (attached to bush) and started to shake it.  This was too much for squirrel who backed out from under the bush and chased Maggie down the garden, head down and tail up shaking madly from side to side.  Maggie realised she had gone too far and legged it fast, wings flapping till eventually she took off giving up till another day.

I do hope this squirrel and magpie keep up their antics through next year as they are giving us so much fun.

Well after a lot of panic we have finally got a turkey.  Not the one we hoped for.  All we wanted was a plain, ordinary, frozen, large turkey but all the shops are selling are ready basted, so thats what we have got.  We have two  more presents to buy, my husbands presents to wrap, the fresh food to buy and that then will be us done.  Hooray!!

Card's have been written and sent and i don't think i have forgotten anyone this year.  Hooray!!

Presents that need to be given out have been given so no running around to people at the last minute.  Hooray!!

Well that's enough back patting of me because as sure as eggs are eggs i will remember something big i have forgotten to do and then i will be running around like a headless chicken panicking.

What i am aiming for now is to have some time to take in the reason for the season, to reflect on what this is really about, to have some time with Jesus and prepare for next year and all the great things he has in store for me, to pray and meditate on his word.  This is what i aim for, i just hope the festivities do not overtake my intentions like they so often do.

Why did Santa think it would be easy to use a computer?

Because first Yule log on!

I bowled

Well we went bowling and i had a great time.  It's been years since i have been.  Mind you my arm is stretched down to the ground LOL!

My son and daughter in law came and i hadn't seen them for a while and they brought 2 of their kids (my grandkids) with them.  grandaughter whose birthday it was had a great time too.  Husband didn't have a go because his back was hurting and he didn't went to make it worse.

I still have prezzies to buy and don't know what to get.  I have bought and wrapped all the things i know people want and now i am at the hard part.  I cannot seem to get out on my days off work.  But i also have no inspiration.

Had a worry today.... i went with daughter to grandson's christmas nativity.  He had told us all that he was a shepherd as a trick but really he was an angel.  That goes to tell you how less like an angel he is ha ha.  As usual it was boiling hot and we were squashed up and being as me and daughter are both wide of girth we take up our seats and more.  Daughter was on the end but only managed to get one cheek on seat as i was overhanging mine.  Grandson's part was a walk on and off part until he came on again at end.

At one point i looked at daughter and had a shock....her eyes were starting to close....Now my daughter can fall asleep on a washing line, so to sleep sitting on a chair would be no problem.  My worry was that she would either fall off chair or worse still SNORE.  Thankfully she did neither and woke up when i spoke to her and managed to stay awake.

Well i'm going to give my bowling hand a well deserved rest :-)

 

Three old guys are out walking. First one says, "Windy, isn't it?" Second one says, "No, it's Thursday!" Third one says, "So am I. Let's go get a beer."

My week

Well my week was as busy as i thought it would be and even my two free evenings were filled with work.  I sometimes think there is a gremlin out there just waiting for me to have some time off .

Monday's 'listening course' went well but my co-leader had to cry off with a tummy upset, thankfully she is better now.

Tuesday we went to an old peoples sheltered accomodation to do a carol service for them.

Well..... i have done these before and it is a usually a few of us and about 8 - 10 of them and it is all cosy and comfortable.  When i arrived there must have been about 40 of them, in fact we found they had brought a load from another home called 'the Busy Bees'.  We found out that they had each paid a £5 for the day and had been partying all afternoon and we were the entertainment.  There was booze and sandwiches and then US....  A group from 5 churches who had come to sing carols and tell the nativity story.

There was even a mike set up, key board and a man with a guitar.  Well all i had to do was read a bible reading and everthing went well.

But while i was there i saw someone i knew from years before when we where both at a 'young wives' group.  She told me how she had just moved in with her new third husband last week and she thought it was lovely.  She is only five years older than me and there she was in an old peoples home.  Scary!!! Doesn't anyone know that inside i am still 25...

Today i had to do my one Saturday in three at work and the christmas rush had started in earnest.  I was told that Romford shopping centre was full and there wasn't a parking space to be had.  We were kept busy and it was lovely to see people coming in buying christian presents and bibles for christmas.

Tomorrow is granddaughters 11th birthday and we are going bowling.  I am a bit concerned about this because i have been having trouble with my hands lately especially my thumbs.  I think i have arthritis in them and any pressure on my thumbs and they feel like they arecoming out of their sockets.  Those bowling balls are heavy...still i will give it a try.

Sunday evening our fellowship group is having its christmas party.  After eating we sometimes get kids toy music instruments out and sing and make a noise that we call music with maraccas and triangles and the like.  Well it gives us a laugh.

Monday afternoon i am at grandson's school to see his christmas play and he has a line to say in it so that should be good.  And that's it - i haven't thought any further than that.  I still have some shopping to do and cards to write so i will probably start panicing soon, but it all usually works out in the end.

If the grass is greener on the other
side of the fence,

you can bet the water bill is higher.

Getting there

Wrapped loads of presents Saturday... daughter came over and wrapped hers too.  Then we had my usual Saturday night Chinese takeaway.  Husband had his chicken and chips.  Watched x-factor then did some more wrapping and then watched 'An Audience With Take That Live!'

It was excellent...what band can get together after 10 years apart and still be as good, followed by 'Parkie'.  A great evening, so great i slept in this morning till 10am.

Have got another busy week next week.  Monday is the second and last of the listening course i am leading, tuesday a group of us are going into a sheltered accommodation complex to take a carol service for the elderly and Wednesday will be the bible study group i lead.  Thursday and Friday i get to stay in at night.  Yipee!!

Work is building up for christmas (i work in a christian bookshop) and as is usual this time of year family problems have come yet again.  Just when you think everything is going well for a change.....

Still compared to other peoples problems on here mine are small by comparison.

Next sunday will be granddaughters 11th birthday.  Not sure what is happening yet as she usually goes to her dad's at weekends so will have to wait and see.  Saturday is my saturday at work but i am wanted at church to meet a prospective new Minister.  Now what makes you think that next week is going to be as busy as last week, and somewhere in this i have to try and go christmas shopping.  Roll on January!!

But God is good and he will see me through as he always does and i choose to keep a smile on my face and get on with it.

The mighty oak tree was once a little
nut that held its ground.

 

 

Christmas shopping

Got loads of stuff of the net.  Yipee!  Took granddaughter for christmas shopping mum put her on the bus and i met her my end.  This was her first time on a bus by herself.  Her mum was picking her up at our house to take her home.  The bus was so slow she passed the bus she was on in the car coming to us.  LOL!

Granddaughter may be only 10 (nearly 11) but she knows how to shop till she drops.  Just five minutes before closing she said 'right now for accessories'.  Not with me she wasn't.

This weekend we are going to start wrapping, so hopefully i am nearly there.

Now i have put so many journals on alert, i find i am taking all my time reading them and have no time to write my own.  As it is i will have to cut this short as i must go to a church meeting.  Bye.

Why did the rock band hire a chicken

They needed the drumsticks.

 

Bits and bobs

Granddaughter better today but now she has a cough, tummy pains have gone though.

Have spent the week with daughter on internet trying to buy presents, but today all the things that daughter wanted in Argos and had been out of stock were now back in stock.  Yipee!!!!  So we have a huge list of things reserved to go and get on Monday.  Goodbye money...

The squirrel was back in the garden today, this was the first time daughter had watched it.  She was in histerics as it went round the garden digging up the acorns and re-planting some and eating others.  She was especially enthralled when it came right up to the pot outside the house and dug up a nut from the pot that it had buried earlier emerging with mud on its nose.  It cleaned off the nut and eat it.

And then who should appear...yep, Maggie the magpie.  She followed the squirrel all over the garden with squirrel turning every now and then to chase her off up the garden chair and on to the fence. i don't think i have ever seen the squirrel in the garden eating without Maggie in attendence worried that there was some food going that she was missing out on. LOL!!!

 

                   A Bit of a Shaggy Horse Story

 

A man wants to buy a horse.  Unfortunately the stables he goes to only has one horse for sale and apparently this horse is special.  The owner explains to the man that this horse only responds to two voice commands:  “Praise the Lord!” to make it go and “Hallelujah!” to make it stop.

Well, the man finally buys the horse.  When he gets it home, he decides to go for a ride so he saddles the horse up, mounts and then tries to go.  The horse refuses to budge.  Then he remembers that it only responds to voice commands, so he shouts,  “Praise the Lord!”

The horse sets off at high speed and starts to head towards a high precipice.  The man riding him is frantically trying to remember the command to stop the horse.  Finally he remembers and shouts out  “Hallelujah!”

The horse screeches to a halt just on the edge of the precipice.  The man then takes off his hat, wipes his brow and says:  “Phew, Praise the Lord!”

 

busy busy busy

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.Proverbs ch.15:1

I had every intention this week of saying how husband became a christian but time has got away from me, but perhaps tomorrow i might have some more time.

Monday night at work husband suddenly felt pain starting in the small of his back and travelling upwards.  This probably had something to do with him pruning my mum's apple tree at the weekend as he said his back was aching afterwards and as he works nights in the cold and it is heavy work that probably finished him off.  Poor thing.  He is getting better now though.

Daughter has been ill for a week or more now and after a  blood test the doc has said there is something wrong with her liver and wants her to go for a scan.

Her son (youngest grandkid) has had the virus going round with high temperature.  This has started his asthma off  and has turned into a chest infection.

Daughter just phoned, granddaughter has had tummy pains for 2 days now and they are getting worse.  We have had this before and ended up down the hospital with suspected appendicitis.  They don't know what it is and suggested irritable bowel but says she is very young to have it.  She is just trying an indigestion tablet to see if it is trapped wind and then phoning back.  So it might be another night down the hospital.

The other thing that has kept me busy is the hunt on the net for presents that grandkids want but have sold out in most shops.  My head is buzzing from best deals and availabilty info.

Monday i am co-leading a 'listening' course something we probably all could do with, learning  how to listen to others and really hear what they are saying and respond appropriately.  But the lady i am leading with is coming round tonight to finalise what we need to do, so if i need to go to hospital with grandkid that won't happen.

Never mind though i am sure it will all sort itself out.

I think this might be a good place to stop until i find out what is happening, hopefully i might be able to write more tomorrow.

 

 

My faith

Most people say that you usually find Jesus through friends or family sharing their faith with you, but in my case i didn't really know any (people with a faith that is) and looking back i can see how God actively came after me, not letting go until i found him.

I didn't come from a christian family, never went to sunday school, but in my mid to late 20's i had 2 funny experiences.  They were both the same; i used to like looking from my back window at my large oak tree at the bottom of the garden and i remember saying to myself both times 'i cannot believe all of nature, as intricate as it is just happened by accident', and both times a voice in my head said, 'no, God did it'.  Each times i gave myself a shake and walked away from the window thinking it was a bit weird.

I loved reading and learning new facts - still do - and started to think about what i could read and learn next.  I know, i thought i have never looked at religion, that might be interesting.

I asked a couple of people i knew who i thought were religious what it was all about.  They both said that it was too hard and i didn't want to know.  Can't be that good then i thought and gave up that idea.

God had other thoughts though and soon there was a k nock at the door and there were two people only too pleased to talk about their faith.

For 18 months these Jehovah Witnesses faithfully came every week to talk about what they believed and it was these two who gave me my love of the bible. 

Eventually though i began to have doubts about what they were telling me and knew i had to look at what the other christians had to say.  I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong but just knew something was.

So off i went to look at the churches, Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, you name it, i read up about it or went to the church and just asked. 

But during all this time i had been reading the bible and cross checking what it said and by the time i got to the endi realised it was true, and boy was i not happy.

I had only meant to look and learn about christainity as a subject, nothing more.  One day it hit me, there is a God, Jesus did die on a cross and rose on the third day for me and if it is all true i must do something about it or i would be rejecting God.

I still didn't rush into anything but eventually settled to going to the methodist church where i worked at the play school where we hired a hall.  After a while i was invited to go to confirmation classes with a view to joining the church.  My thoughts were that i had to get off the fence and say whether i now considered myself a christian or not.  So with a big breath i said yes and was duly confirmed in the methodist church showing the world that i now considered myself a believer.

I had arrived, all i had to do was go to church, read my bible, pray and heaven here i came.

Something was missing.  I believed the stories and accepted it was all true in my head, but i didn't know the living Jesus in the personal sense.  I had never met him.

One day i found myself alone in the church and started talking to Jesus about this problem and without knowing found myself saying the prayer of faith, or sometimes known as the 'sinners prayer'.

I acknowledged the things i had done wrong, thanked him for dying for the things i had done wrong and asked him to come into my life and i would follow him. 

Over the next few months i realised that my relationship with Jesus had changed, i now knew him and had a relationship with him.

That was all over 25 years ago and wow what a 25 years.  I have lived half my life without Jesus and nearly half with and i would never go back.  It is exciting, never boring, you never know what is going to happen next and much, much more.  Obviously this is the short version of how i came to know the Lord, to say all that has happened over the years would take pages, but perhaps one day.

Jenny <><

 

 

 

 

 

The Past

We met and married a long time ago

We worked long hours and the wages were low.

No telly, no radio, no baths – things were hard.

Just a cold tap and a walk up the yard.

No holiday’s abroad; no carpets on the floor.

We had coal on the fire and we never locked doors.

 

Our children arrived – no pills in those days.

And we brought them up without state aid.

No Valium, no drugs, no L.S.D.

We cured our pains with a nice cup of tea.

If we were sick we were treated at once.

No, fill in a form and come back in a month!

 

No vandals, no muggings – we had nowt to rob,

In fact we were rich with a couple of bob.

People were happier in those far off days,

Kinder, more caring, in many ways.

Milkmen, paperboys would whistle and sing

And a night at the ‘flicks’ was a wonderful thing.

 

Oh, we had our troubles, we had our strife,

But we just had to face them – that was our life.

But now we’re alone and look back through the years,

We don’t think of troubles, bad times and tears.

We remember our blessings; our home, kids and love.

We share them together and we thank God above.

 

 

Author unknown

Christmas is coming

Panic is starting to set in!!!   Christmas is coming fast.!!!  I have done hardly anything.....Help!

Normally i spend all year buying presents as i go along.  This year hardly none.  For the first time in years we have had  no pets and so we have been on holiday.   Not once. Not twice.  But three times.

Five days at easter to Stratford Upon Avon, Two weeks in Devon and a week in Norfolk.

For one of the weeks at Devon we took daughter and two grandkids and so have explained that they must count that as part of their christmas presents, but of course we will still spend money on them....Or will i!!

Obviously we are not as flush as we would be if we had stayed at home.  but money IS NOT my problem.  The problem is i just cannot get motivated, interested, bothered.  I would be quite happy to just close my eyes and wake up in January.  I don't think the warm weather is helping either.

Now listen to this, my husband, yes my husband is saying do you think we should be going christmas shopping.   Never been heard of.  And what do i say?  No, what would we want to do that for there is plenty of time.

But there isn't! there really isn't and i have no idea what to buy and what's more i cannot get up the oomph to do anything about it.

I have never really enjoyed christmas, or at least the present buying aspect of it, due to childhood reasons.  Present buying and making a choice is always accompanied by great anxiety to get it right.  The strain of christmas takes its toll which is why i have my post christmas blues in January .. February.  My sister has got it right she is going away with all her neighbours for christmas and not coming home till after the new year.

But this isn't getting the presents bought.  Shopshere i come!

 

My favorite books

Weekend Assignment: Favorite Children's Books

Weekend Assignment: Favorite Children's Books :

This has brought back some happy memories.  Reading was my means of escape and i would read anything i could get my hands on.  But my favorites that i came back to again and again was books like Little Women, Jo's Boys, What Katy Did, and the sequels.  Heidi and Heidi's  Children.  Wuthering Heights was read five times before the age of 15 and i cried over the same pages every time.

Sadly i cannot interest my granddaughter in these ones, she says she likes books about relationships and reads Christine Wilson books, the only bits i read kids were talking  about their crappy family and how bad their life was and that was enough for me.  No adventure there.  They do like the ones i tell them though and they are always made up, i never know what i am going to say until it comes out of my mouth.

Once i was babysitting for a friend and started to tell one of my made up stories to the kids before bed, but they got agitated as i wasn't reading out of a book and all their stories came from a book.  So i told them i had a magic book, put my hand i n my pocket and took the book out, turned every page as i told the story, and they were then perfectly happy with this invisable  book.

Oh happy days!

Birds

Birds of the feathered kind.

There always seems to be some kind of 'hoohaa' going on near our house.

Take this morning, I was waiting for the bus when i saw a load of starlings settling on the roofs.  Nearby was about half a dozen seagulls and some magpies.  Before you could say robin redbreast a magpie sneaked up on the starlings, they flew off with the seagulls in hot pursuit and the sky was like Armegedon as they all chased one another round making as much noise as they could before landing back where they had started.

I have watched these birds for years and there are three culprits for starting trouble.  The bully boys of the sky.  The worst is the magpies, the second the seagulls and then the crows.

Just recently we have had a green woodpecker in the garden minding his own buisness digging up the ants eggs in the lawn.  And who should take exception to this but Maggie.  Maggie came within six inches of woodie trying to look intimidating right in front of him.  Woodie ignored Maggie for a while and then looked up and just lunged forward at Maggie who then jumped back shocked that the green upstart hadn't flown off.  Woodie then carried on with the ant raid whilst Maggie crept off trying to maintain as much dignity as possible.

The other day i was on the phone to daughter when i saw the magpies flying up and down my oak tree setting up a racket.  Something is up, i said, and sure enough a cat was up the tree after them and they were trying to scare it off.

If it's not that then it is the squirrels in the tree, in fact anything that they think shouldn't be there they try to scare off by shouting and running up to wthin inches of it before flying just out of reach.

There has been one particular squirrel and magpie that has been having a running battle over the lawn (and i mean literally running) arguing about acorns.  As quick as one burys one the other follows and digs it up.

But for sheer sneakiness and working as a team you cannot beat the crows.  When a small bird lands on the roof one crow will come and sit nearby and start to walk nearer while the other two set off flying in a circle.  One will come in from behind while the other from the side.  The one on the roof blocks the means of escape.  Trapped the bird flies off in distress, the crows meanwhile go off and take their positions ready to intimidate the next poor unsuspecting feathered innocent.

It's a whole differnt world out there in birdland.

 

Why I blog

As i have only just started blogging you would think that this would be an easy question to answer.  Oh this is in answer to Kate's (analysis of life) question that she posed after a blog about 17th century diary's.  Back to answer.

I believe in journalling but never manage to keep it up.  I tried it on the computer in 'word' but still never kept it up.  My computer was my one up in the bedroom, now i have a laptop as well and can do this in front of the tv it is so much easier.  I think it is good to look back over your thoughts and see how things have worked out. 

I had heard about blogs and a lot of the kids in the family have their own sites so when i saw the journaling site on AOL i thought i would give it a go.

First i thought it would be a good place to write my thoughts about church and try to work out how i feel. I have no problem with God but our church has been strugling for a while and so have i about my place in it.  Then i thought i could just write my thoughts down, strange as they may be, about my daily problems.  I have always written when anything has been troubling me and am a firm believer of making lists when everything seems to be crowding in (like christmas).

But i let people know that i was writing this which meant i had to be a little bit careful about what i said.  Already daughter has read it and said she finds everything so very sad. After the first entry and after reading other peoples blogs i realised that comments and the friendships that seem to have been formed through them were important.  People seem to write as much to communicate to others as they do for themselves. 

This is where i am at, at the moment.  I want to use it to work out my thoughts but also with the fact that others are reading it in mind.  I have enjoyed reading other blogs and following what has been happening in their lives and that has changed my thoughts on what i have written so far, although i tend to write at night when i am tired and cannot write much, always promising myself i will do more tomorrow.

As i get into this more my views may very well change over time, it will be interesting to see.

It certainly makes a difference writing knowing it could be read than if it was just jottings in a book, it gives me more encouragment to keep it up.

Perhaps i now need to investigate why it matters if this is read or not.... or do i really want to know?

 

Nothing Much

I've got over my having a year added to my life... (birthday) and nothing much is happening.  I have noticed how reading so many blogs has really given me eye ache and headaches - I must get eyes tested but after the dentist.  Does anyone else feel that all their money goes on maintenance.... eyes, teeth, pills.  I also find I cannot read the journals with the small print so I have to bypass them. 

Daughter has got another cold, she has only just got over the last one which ended in a chest infection, son was supposed to come and see me today cos of my birthday, but there has been no sign. 

Hey ho life goes on.

But God is good and tomorrow's Sunday so hopefully we will get to church and have a great time of fellowship with our church family.

 

And it Was So

 

 

God created the mule, and told him.  “You will be mule, working constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back.  You will eat grass and lack intelligence.  You will live for 50 years.”  The mule answered:  “To live like this for 50 years is too much.  Please, give me no more than 20.”

And it was so.

Then God created the dog, and told him.  “You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion.  You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years.”  And the dog responded:  “Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that is too much.  Please, no more than 10 years.”

And it was so.

God then created the monkey, and told him.  “You are monkey.  You shall swing from tree to tree, acting strange.  You will be funny and you shall live for 20 years.”  And the monkey responded:  “Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much.  Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years.”

And it was so.

Finally, God created Man and told him.  “You are man, the only rational being that walks the earth.  You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world.  You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years.”  And the man responded:  “Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little.  Please, Lord, give me the 20 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected.”

And it was so.

And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 20 years like a mule, working and carrying heavy loads on his back.  Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the left-overs after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting strange to amuse his grandchildren.

And it was so.

 

My Day, Blah!!!

I had plans for today, big plans.  I was going to have a lazy day with my computer.  I had it all planned what I was going to write.  This was going to be my day to do with it what I wanted.

Because today is my BIRTHDAY!!!

But did that happen, oh no!

Firstly I wasn't over keen to have a birthday, as I am over the hill and fast sliding down the other side - why can't we have a birthday without the years piling on - but if I had to have one then I wanted a day for me because just lately every day off or spare moment has been used up by work or others, through no fault of their own, but used up just the same.  That's not so bad if there are breaks in between but there hasn't been.

So what happened today?

First I woke up early in a bad mood, then I had work to do on the computer which seemed to take all day, work I had hoped to finish the day before.  I was tired, miserable, I pigged out on chocolate throwing the wrappers in the direction of the bin over my shoulder as I typed.

When my husband came home from work he just looked at me and laughed.  He reckoned that if I could have a little cloud over my head with rain poring out then that is what I had.

Friends came round which was nice, but it meant that the work took twice as long as it should have done because I had to keep stopping.  By the time it was all finished I was too tired to think what I wanted to write, so this is all that I can manage.

So now my birthday is nearly finished but I am starting to feel happier, christmas is coming but I'm thinking of cancelling it.  I don't have to worry about another year being added on for another year.

I can write the things I want another day.  But suprise, surprise already all my free time is being booked up already.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME another year older and nearer my bus pass.

And now I feel thoroughly ashamed for being such a misery.

P.S.  I forgot to mention the toothache.

Why did the fireman phone the police?

He saw the fire escape.

 

Grandkids

I have 7 grandkids only 2 of which can still get on my lap.  Well to be honest the second youngest just about fits and after a short while i have to throw her off.  The older 5 all look down on me, a hug means my nose is pressed to their chest, they bend for a kiss and pat me on the head, then smile and go away mumbling about grey.  (Not sure at all what they mean). 

The youngest has just had his birthday and still loves the bike, but it's second youngest who has the next birthday in December.

She is the one who overhangs my lap by feet either end and will soon be as tall as me.

She is very bright, pretty, confident, perhaps too much so at times, blonde, at that 'age' (keeps telling us all how dim we are) and i love her to bits.

But i liked it when she fitted on my lap, when i could tuck her under my arm and walk around with her, when we watched children's programmes together.  When she came to me and said, 'can we play', she would be mummy and i could be her darling, (i hadn't realised how much i called her darling up till then). 

Hence the title 'stop the clock', time is rushing by too fast i want to hang on to the now because i know it will never come back again and i have already lost the past.

But i can look forward to her growing up into a lovely young women, married to a lovely young grandson-in-law and giving me lovely great grand children, not for a long time yet though please.

 Why did Christy put on a wet dress?

Because the label said ‘wash and wear’.

 

 

Hallow'en

Husband went to work Friday night, he negotiated the three fights outside the three pubs in the high street but then as he went further on he had  about 8 eggs thrown a the car as he drove past.  He says the car in front swerved at the same spot and he thought he might have been trying to miss a fox, but now he suspects the same thing may have happened to him.  The eggs went across the bonnet and windscreen hampering his sight but when he looked the paintwork has been damaged on the bonnet of the car.

As it is a new car he is not best pleased, there goes one of his 'no claim bonus' lives.

Which brings me to hallow'en!  But this will have to be finished later as i'm now going out.

 

back again,

Hallow'en.  This is what's causing the spate of egg throwing.  I wonder if the mums who take their children out trick or treating realise the danger they are putting their kids in.

Firstly the elderly are living in fear on hallow'en of opening the door to youths in masks threatening them.  They dare not put 'no trick or treat' signs up at the door in case they come out the next morning to find the house egged and floured, so they sit in with the hall light off pretending to be out quaking every time the door bell rings.

Secondly, it is making witchcraft seem to be a bit of fun to the kids, harmless spells, a laugh and something to try.  While in reality terrible things are happening over the next few days.  I wonder if people would be so keen if they really understood what meddling in the dark arts, the occult was all about.

Anything that might encourage children to get involved with these things is dangerous, and once involved it is the hardest thing to step out of the grip of the occult world.  Ask anyone who has been deeply ensnared in its grasp.  Lots of churches have alternative parties on hallow'en, look out for one.

You have to wonder about humans,
they think God is dead and Elvis is
alive!

 

 

today's doings and things

Grandson is still loving his bike.  He was up at 8.30am and out on it all day which pleased daughter and kept him from bothering her.  His friend was impressed as well so that pleased him.

Is there any one else like me who wants to forget christmas this year.  It just doesn't feel like christmas is only two months away. I think it's because it is too warm to near to christmas.  Another reason is i'm behind with my present buying, i've got tooth ache and that's going to take money due to he always wants to stick in a crown and he will NOT do them on the NHS.

Anyway to something more uplifting.  Here is a poem i wrote for my granddaughter in 2000.

It shows my sense of humour.

 

The Worm

There was once a worm, a very tiny worm,

Who lived in hole in the ground.

He ate his way through a leaf every day,

But could never be seen or found.

 

As bigger he grew and fatter it's true,

To the sides of the hole he did stick.

Stuck fast and all smelly, the length of his belly,

He wanted to give it a lick.

 

Just when he ought to have given a thought,

To the predicament he found himself in.

Along came a mole who lived down that hole,

And poked him hard with a pin.

 

He burst into pieces just fit for the 'meeces'

To eat with their cheese and their bread.

Oh golly!  They squeaked as they chewed on the meat,

I do think the worm is now dead!

 

Got a busy weekend this week, it's my saturday 'on' at work and have to try and persuade mum to empty a sideboard that she has never been near for years.  There are knitting needles wrapped in 1953 newspaper in there, but she swears she will use them.  This is never going to happen as she is in her 80's now.

 

Nothing very exciting seems to be happening at the moment, i am leading a very boring life.  There are things i should be doing and cannot seem to motivate myself.  Around christmas time i go into a decline .... I have decided that i put myself under too much stress and then in January i have my post christmass depression.  Luckily my friends know this and force me out and doing and eventually it goes till next year.

And lastly,

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

Very tired

Just could not sleep last night, the last time i looked at the clock it said 3.00am.  I was tired but the mind was buzzing, anything and everything was going through it but i bored myself.

This is happening more and more just lately.  I put it down to age and statins for high cholesterol.  Trouble is i cannot function the next day if i go to bed the wrong side of midnight.

Last week we had the most relaxing, chilled out, laid back, refreshing week while we were in Norfolk than i had had for years.  Just a few days after coming back and the treadmill has started again.  It's like we have never been away.  Oh well!

On to nicer things.  Today we took our grandson and bought him a bike for his birthday.  It was a lot easier than i thought it was going to be.  He knew what he wanted and made a quick and sensible buy.  Grandad though had to put it together when we got home and assembling things is not one of his strong points, but with our now 7 year old giving helpful suggestions to grandad the bike was made and tried out down the road at full speed.

All was worthwhile though when he kept telling us how how he 'really loved it'.

Back to work

Well I am trying very hard to add a picture to this so lets see what is going to happen.

Well that didn't work after hours of reading everything I could find on what to do, so what next.

This was my first day back at work after a really chilled holiday.  Now I'm frustrated!!!!

help!

Well tried another image and that hasn't worked either.  And I thought going back to work was going to be hard, but I won't let it beat me.

 

 

 

Need to learn more

                             Ok! Ok! Ok!

I've just looked at other blog sites and seen what they are like.  I will have to step up my game.

First I need to know how to put in links to my site without having to type it out fully everytime.  Oh and by the way when i chose my web address know one said that there was a limit to how many letters i could use so the last word was 'fast'.

Second how to put stuff down the sides etc. etc. etc. and to pretty it up.

Third where can I get pictures from that are not photos legally and free.

Lastly I don't suppose anyone will answer this because nobody is reading it.

So bear with me folks as I learn how to do this thing called 'blogging'.

 

My first entry, help!!

Well to start with all the grandkids, nieces have their own site so why shouldn't an oldie like me.  By the way I am not that old.

Well what is my problem.   I think it's a mid-life crisis.  Over the last few years I have become too aware that life is wizzing by, my time on the planet is getting shorter and there are lots of things I still want to see and do but the body doesn't seem to want to keep up with the mind, and that's fast going down hill too.

But I have just had a good holiday in Norfolk and saw some ageing relatives and got some more info for my Family Tree.  This has thrown up a few problems though as I think I may have a few wrong names down.

Does anyone know of any free sites for getting a look at the census apart from the Births, Marriages, Deaths site and the Later Day Saints site, all the others I have found charge.

It was very noticeable how friendly and chatty the natives in Norfolk were.  unfortunately there are not a lot of them left, most people have moved there from London.  You don't hear the lovely Norfolk accent around much any more.

Never mind, the cold east wind didn't blow for a change.  But, the first of the winter birthdays have started and by the end of January there will have been 11 of them.

To get back to the family tree - I have found some relatives going back to 1646.  These are real people with names and in my mind I dress them up in the clothes of the day and try to imagine what it was like for them.  One minute they had a king the next Cromwell. I suspect they were not rich but would love to know what their life entailed.  Well that's something I will never know in this life so I hope there are a few relatives in heaven and I will recognise them when I get there, especially the ones I have never seen.

Well for a first go I think this will be enough and I can hear the cheers going up already.

Bye