Eternal Refuge

Made for Retro_Icontest

1 - Surrounded By Dakness	2 - Sky Is Above Us	3 - Silhouette Blending	4 - As Simple As It Can Get	5 - Overwhelming Text
6 - Sightless	7 - White Decorations	8 - Your Heart's Desire	9 - Mood Colouring	10 - Neon Lights

As ever, all are snaggable, but credit would be appreciated. The credits are available over at my icon journal - d4s_icons

I have shared photos of Killerton in the past, and there are a few here ... However these are mostly of this year's costume display. They change it every year, and this year, it's the 1920's ... Throughout the house there was Charleston music playing, as well











Sir John Acland - died 1785







1925 Wedding Dress

Day Dress

Tut Mania ... apparently the colour is Mummy Brown

( Some Evening Wear ... yes please! )

.... And, even better, the sun is shining.

I had a super lazy morning, so wasn't here, but at least I shall hopefully settle the bugs down soon.

This morning I went to Killerton (the local National Trust property) and walked through some of the grounds, enjoying the Spring flowers -












They also have a costume display that's changed every year.  this year it's the 1920's (more photos to follow).

On the way home I picked up some groceries, and I am now editing the photos, and making some icons as well.  I also plan to actually read a bit, as well.  Making the most of the day off.

Tomorrow will be Church but in the afternoon I am going into Exeter to meet up with Christine as the Bishop's garden is having an open-garden in the afternoon, and with the weekend's weather it is too good an oppertunity to miss.

So - it's a "farewell" until Monday -





4. What was the last book you bought? Have you read it yet?
I bought the book Bonfire, The Chestnut Gentleman ... the sory of Lt.Colonel John McCrae during WWI (he wrote In Flander's Fields), as written by his horse. I bought it the day I saw John McCrae's grave in France. Yes, I have read it.
I bought a load of guide books in Egypt that I am dipping in and out of.

5. Does your phone have the facility to store your payment cards? Do you take advantage of that instead of using your physical card?
I am not a phone person, at all. So it's a physical card.

6. How confident are you about doing your own home renovations? What’s the biggest project you’ve tackled?
I have done decorating, and gardening ... but other than that no.






Right, see you Monday

Yes, as I said I had a really lovely time at Tim & Claire's party - and the main thing was, that they enjoyed themselves.   The food was OK, the atmosphere good, and everyone seemed to be able to relax and enjoy the evening.


You can't see it, but those heels are very high.  I did take flat sandals as well (in case) having the lag injury, but the end I managed to survive the evening, and it hasn't flared up the problem!

The following day we met for a family brunch, so it was good to see everyone there, as well ... although many went back to Tim & Claire's I sadly had to work.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have certainly clocked up some hours at work, and picked up an infection, which flared up my asthma. Luckily I managed to see the doctor on Monday who has changed my asthma treatment which immediately calmed that down. Truly amazing. However she couldn't give me any treatment as I am still waiting for anti-biotic allergy testing, and until then there is not much that can be done for me. Still settling the asthma means I am finding it easier to cope with everything else.

I hope that you have all had a good time while I have been missing. I need to catch up with the questions, but as I am working soon, I really don't have much time to check up on you all ...








29. It’s International Mermaid Day – have you seen any films featuring mermaids?
Miranda ... not a surprise that Dad loved this film!

30. It’s the International Day of Zero Waste – have you noticed less plastic packaging when you’ve bought things recently? When did you last buy something with Polystyrene/Styrofoam packaging?
Some things seem to be better, but there's still a lot of things that could be even better.
Can't remember when I last battled Styrofoam.

31. What crafts do you enjoy?
Sewing, Knitting, Crochet

1. Have you ever been the victim of an April Fool’s Day joke? Do you remember any good stories that fooled the public back in the day (in the UK, they once fooled the public that spaghetti grew on trees!)?
Not that I can remember
Yes, back in the 1970's there used to be a few BBC documentaries, like the one about making carrots into perfect rectangles.

2. Do shops/stores have loyalty cards where you live which give you a better price on some items in their store? Have you got any loyalty cards you use regularly?

I always use them in regular shops I use .... as I was going to buy something there anyway, I might as well gain something at the end of the month/year





Right, I am going to get this posted , with apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Hopefully I will catch up with you all tomorrow

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Yesterday when I was at work one of the volunteers was telling me that as from next week she would also be doing some volunteering elsewhere in the hospital.  She has joined the Chaplaincy team.

Now, for those who don't know, our hospital "Chapel" like most other hospitals etc, are multi-faith.  As you go into our Chapel you are facing a normal looking Church.  The cross is actually made from food from a tree on Kos, thatis said to have been planted by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.  Stand there and look right, and that is sub-dividided.  The front half is a "Synagogue" and the back half a "Mosque", as they are the other 2 main faiths in the area.  However stay standing and face left and there is a small Hindu "Temple" area.  Most of our Chaplains are Christian based, but we have on-call Imams and Rabbis.

So hopefully you can imagine to a certain degree what our "Chapel" looks like.

So, I asked the lady in question which Church she went to ... as I knew she had celebrated Christmas, so ruled out other faiths.

However now it comes to the bit I don't understand.

her answer was that she didn't go to Church ... she was an Atheist.

Sorry, but I just don't understand why someone who has no belief in God, however vague, or whatever faith, would want to be involved with that team!

I suppose that maybe I should pray that in being around the team she will realise that God does exist after all.

So after that surprise I must say that the rest of the shift ran smoothly!

Today is another day of heading into work after an early lunch. But before I get on -








20. What do you see if you look down at the floor right now?
Grey carpet (I am in my study)




Right, let's get on

This set of icons were made for round 15 of characters20in20  and the character I chose was Chakotay from Star Trek Voyager




10 THEMES

Mirrored	Smile	Faded	Roses	Kawaii
Height Difference	Text Bubble	Internet Slang	Diagonal Lines	Catch Phrase

5 CATEGORY (Jewel Tones)

1	2	3	4	5

5 ARTIST'S CHOICE

1	2	3	4	5

As ever, they are all snaggable.  Credits are available over at my icon journal - d4s_icons

Being colourblind I am always concerned about specific colour prompts, so downloaded this colour palette to help.


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I bouught some shoes to wear next weekend at Tim & Claire's party ... actually took a risk on eBay, and they fit really well.  If they hadn't, I would have just put them in the charity bag.  So far, so good.

However, as I mentioned in the questions a couple of days ago, I have to get the heel height adjusted on one of them.  Well I have been doing that for 40 years now.  If it's a pair of flat shoes I add a "cushion" to the left shoe ... if it has "proper" heels tyhen I take them in to shoe repairers.

However this morning that took some time ... as I had to agree that I was damaging the design of the shoe, that I was affecting the angle of the heel, that I was changing the whole design of the pair as a pair ... etc, etc.  He eventually agreed to do it, but said that he would not accept being sued for any problems.

Despite me saying I had done this for 40 years - it now becomes a risk assessment for the cobler. 

Anyway, the shoes are on at present, as I need to make sure I am not going to rub a blister next Saturday ... and to remind my body about heels. as at work I am always in flats.

So that was my stress for the day ... I hope!

Now I am going to get things sorted out, before heading back into work after lunch.  So, before I post this -









15. It’s Red Nose Day – a day to raise funds for those in need, particularly for ending poverty in children. Have you ever taken part in a Red Nose Day event? Have you ever bought a red nose to wear?
No - and No.

16. Do you regularly eat breakfast? What’s your favourite thing to eat?
I always, always eat breakfast
Normally it's cereal and a couple of cups of tea.
But I will admit the rare times I stay in a nice hotel then I do love a full English breakfast.
However, whatever I do, the day starts with a pint of cold water.





Right - hope you all enjoy your weekend

See you Monday x

I had to make 10 "Enemies to Lovers" icons for fandom10in30 ... and the obvious answer is Spuffy - Spike & Buffy from BtVS

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10

As ever, all are snaggable, but credit would be appreciated. The credits are available over at my icon journal - d4s_icons

Yesterday I ended up having a productive day.

As you have already seen I posted some icons late afternoon, so that's one set ticked off the monthly list!

I also gave my sunlounge a good clean.  I tend to use it over winter as a storage area, but over the last couple of weeks have been using it.  However I realised it needed a good clean and tidy up, and that was done yesterday.  As it was actually overcast I even gave the windows a clean, which is one of my least favourite tasks around the house.

This morning I have got some shopping done, so already done one of the tasks on my to-do list for today.  I am hoping to get a short walk again later, as well.

Thought I would also share the post I have just put up on photo_scavenger ... it's my month for thinking of prompts, and yesterday I decided this week should be "Q is for ...".  I actually had a slight panic when I realised what I had challenged us all to find this week!

Then I remembered this book.  One of my Grandmother's lived with us for a few years, and for my 21st birthday she gave me this book (& another) ... she did also give me a half sovereign, that she had been given new on her 16th birthday in 1908.  The book, though, is dated 1874, which was 18 years before she was born.







I will admit I probably didn't even flick through the pages at the time.  Maybe now I have taken it off it's shelf I should have a look through.  The other book does still have the letter she wrote to me at the time, so that's super-special.

Right, I want to get a few more jobs around the house so ...






11. Have you ever won a prize for something?
Yes - I won a Lego competition when I was 10!!!!
When riding I got a lot  of 2nds & 3rds for competitions at the riding school, but sadly never a 1st.



Right, I shall see what you have all been up to.

Today is very bleak, although yesterday was lovely.

Apparently tomorrow the temperature is going to drop even further ... so is it winter returning, or was the sunshine we had yesterday our summer, and we are now into Autumn?!!!

The weekend was actually nice.

Work went well - although we did have one man who decided to "go home" ... he was just wearing his boxers, and socks ... luckily (for me) he had a nurse with him trying to persuade him to return (for his shoes, if nothing else). An hour later he came in with a couple of the security men talking to him ... so how long he stayed I don't know.

As it's Monday I have looked at what the photo prompt is, and taken a couple of photos this morning. Week 11 – Mar 9 K is for KING ... Yes, I'm a Royalist, and a hoarder ... so here's my royal mugs (some were Mum & Dad's) ... and include -
King George V
King Edward VIII
King George IV

And, Tim & Claire bought me this money box as an extra Christmas present -
King Charles III

So, there's all the Kings since 1911.

I have signed up for another couple of icon challenges, which seeing as I am going to be working a lot more over the next couple of weeks may be a challenge ... but that's good for life!

So, before I get on with seeing what you have put up, and then icon -







10. It’s International Bagpipe Day! Are you a fan of bagpipe music?

Possibly not as big a fan as Royalty! However when I am at the cenotaph I love hearing the laments that are played. And, will admit the lament played as the Queen's coffin was lowered at St George's Windsor really was hauntingly beautiful.






Right - let's get on x