Eternal Refuge

I have decided that despite needing to do some housework, or even to clean some war graves I am going to have a lay day (and thus a lazy weekend). I worked longer hours this week ... and next week am working through, and into the weekend, so decided a day of handcraft, reading, icon making ... and even sorting those missing photos!!

So I will try and catch up with you all as well ... so it should be a good day (I hope!!)

Now -




5. Do you have a favourite gemstone?
I do like emeralds … although pearl is my birthstone (and yes, I like them). In fact, I do like most of the main stones … their colour & refraction etc

6. Ivy climbing over a wall can act as an impressive natural air conditioner, absorbing heat from the sun and cooling internal temperatures by as much as 7.5C/45.5F. Do you like ivy plants?
I like looking at ivy on a house, however pulled it off my previous house as the roots were growing through the render ... so decided the loss of the greenery was better than the loss of the covering of the house!




Right ... see you later x

I am still trying to sort out photos, make icons ... and do housework!!

So, my bedroom is cleaned and here are a few pictures from The Royal Albert Museum in Exeter. I went there on my birthday between brunch and getting home. It is a very eclectic mix, and when I first went was slightly confused by that. However I think it means that you tend to look at more things, as you never know what's round the next corner. For example I love giraffs a,d Gerald is one of the 19th century prize exhibits ... but he is standing nxt to a harpsichord. The display in front of him has some ancient lace ... so, eclectic!!




( Stolling round the RAM )


Hope you enjoyed your peep into the local museum.

Work was truly hectic yesterday - no real reason, but at least the time went by rapidly! Off to work again, later. So, before that -




1. The Delphinium or larkspur is a tall plant with pink, blue, purple or white flowers. Shakespeare called it ‘lark’s-heel’. Butterflies love it, but it’s very toxic if eaten by humans/animals. Do you have any poisonous plants you recognise in your garden or nearby?
I always spot the yellow Ragwort, as having spent time around horses for 15 years, it is extremely poisonous to them. They brighten up a motorway, but sadly spread rapidly and a toxin to horses and other animals.



Right, lets get on

So the final of this set of pictures from my day out last Staturday ... the village of Lacock itself.  It's now used for film locations, because of it's age ... so there are few road markings, and no telegraph poles, aerials etc


The Church ... and we saw a bride and groom leaving -




( Enjoy the village )

As I said the Abbey has a huge and varied history, but one of the famous residents was Heny Fox Talbot the inventer of photography.

As part of the complex there is a photographic museum ...





"Hand-built unit for storage and dispensing chemicals, 1860

Eyeglasses worn by William Fox Talbot, 1845

Views of Berlin taken in 1946

Tken in 1939 ... amazing 3D effects


This is the dide of the Abbey ... and "the window"




The first photograph -1835 -


.

I can't say it's a weekend off, as I have a list of things I want to get done today ... let's see how many I get done!  Trouble is I had a late birthday pressie from nephew #1 yesterday ... a book, the third of a trio he has given me, and I can't wait to start it!

If you are a Star Wars fan then they are a fascinating read ... a collection of short storie filling in the bak stories of all the behind-the-scenes characters in the 3 main films.  So they follow canon, but they also give another depth to the film(s).

... this is the new one!

Work was odd yesterday ... 6 hours, but times when the area was totally deserted, and times when the queue of enquiries stretched out of the door.  But I get on well with the volunteers on a Friday, so all in all an odd, but good, afternoon.

I have already done some shopping, and tidied a bit of the front garden ... now here, and trying to get some photos sorted so I can post them a bit later.

I do want to get some housework done ... and hopefully have a chat with Auntie Mary.

So, will post this and sort photos ....






28. Which is your favourite - white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, silver or platinum jewellery?
I prefer gold to be gold ... although the ring & necklace I bought in San Francisco were platinum. I adore jewellery, and look at design in some ways, more than colour.
The only thing I don't really like is white gold, and would prefer silver (as the necklace & bracelet I have on)

29. How often do you take photos?
Ha - ironical as that's my next task!
In a wekk it would be at least 3 days ... when I am "out" it would be all the time!!




Right, let's edit photos ... and post

I had a really lovely long weekend away - and yes, the camera was super busy.  So eventually there will be loads of photos to share.

I went to Nick & Brenda's straight from work on Friday and got caught up with nephew #2 & partner ... then chatted to Brenda before bed.

In the morning Brenda & ! went to Lacock Abbey & village.  Lacock Abbey was establshed in the thirteenth century by a lady who set up an order to help educate ladies.  Until the dissolution of the monestries in 1530's when it became privately owned.  The next famous event was that in the mid nineteenth century William Fox Talbot was the owner ... the inventer of modern photography.  The Abbey was used for some of the scenes in Harry Potter films.  The village of Lacock is "old" and is used as the set for a lot of films as they don't have lamp-posts, TV arials etc.  So in the evening after dinner with Nick & Brenda, Brenda & I watched Harry Potter #1

On Sunday after Church it was Sunday lunch and nice, especially as nephew #3 & partner, as well as #2 were there.  We sat in the garden for a time, and then just as I was leaving nephew #4 came in ... so good to see 3/4 of the boys.

Monday christine came over early-ish and we went to Stourhead ... another great day out.

On Tuesday I walked into the city and met up with Toni & Pete for brunch.  I had planned to do one of the historic walks later but in the end it was drizzling, so went round the museum instead.  After a lazy afternoon I walked to Tim & Claire's and we had a BBQ

So, yes, a great weekend ... but it was nice to be back at work to have a sleep!!!

I have some icons to make, and loads & loads of photos to edit ... so ...






26. Do you love the sunshine or prefer to stay in the shade?
I love the sunshine, but if I am sitting for any length of time by myself then I like to read ... so shade is better ... other than that, sunshine please!

27. Do you own any pairs of sandals, or do your feet remain covered in hot weather?
As soon as the weather begins to warm up (March) the tights go and by April/May I am in sandals ... and live in them as late in the year as possible.






Right I hope to post some photos and catch up with you all tomorrow (*fingers crossed*)

I keep promising that I will “catch up tomorrow” … then tomorrow disappears without a chance of spare moments! Sorry

I am working every afternoon and evening, and eat before I go to work, so my mornings seem quite short.

Sadly, shopping and housework always seem to be there.

So, no real excuses, other than life!

I met up with Tim and Claire for brunch on Saturday – their treat. I had looked after their garden/bird-feeders while they were away, so I walked to the city to have food … and hear about their trip. They had a lovely time. They went to Madrid, a city that I have yet to visit. They were really positive about it.

Other than those few hours I don’t really have any excuses for not being around.

I don’t want to lose touch with you all, but at the moment my LJ life might be a bit intermittent, so forgive me for that. I will do my best to keep up with you all, but please do let me know if you have any excitement in your lives.

It doesn’t help that even though I work with computers, LJ is one of the programmes blocked by their virus & SPAM filters.

Still … let’s keep up to date with the questions, so that if I can get myself more organised then I won’t be too far behind …






11. Do you wear a watch?
Yes, always.

12. Do you have some table items you only bring out when you entertain guests for dinner?
Yes – I have a lot of stuff that I love using, but as it’s only me at home I don’t set the table with different things on a daily basis

13. Do you own a corkscrew?
Of course!

14. When was the last time you sorted through the clothes in your wardrobe/closet? Are there items you really should get rid of?
I am not someone who buys new clothes, just to buy clothes, or follow fashion. So I throw out clothes when they are getting worn out, or if they are stretchy if they have stretched too big for me.

15. It’s Nature Photography Day – have you recently taken a photo of anything from nature?
Last photos I took were attempting some close-up photography of flowers.

16. Do you own a travel adapter socket, a travel hair dryer or a portable mini iron?
Of course – I travel abroad, so have the adaptors as needed.
Never ever use a hairdresser, and don’t have a mini-iron. If something is crushable I don’t tend to pack it!

17. Have you ever had a massage?
Sports massage, yes.
Any other, no.




Right, I must get on. It’s my month to find prompts for photo_scavenger so must get that posted.

I will try and keep up … I really will

81 years ago the Allies landed in Northern France.

One of my friends landed on Gold beach.  He was such a lovely man, who I used to meet every year at a Remebrance Day service in London.  One of my treasures is actually the Sweetheart Broach he gave his wife when he went to war in the beginning of 1940.  He had twin daughters and apparently they wanted me to have it, as they knew we were good friends.  So special.  Another friend landed on +3, and was always talking about that!

Dad was in London working on the docks and saw much of the activity up to a few days before the 6th June.  Mum was in the middle of England and until the end of May was aware of a lot of transport heading south ... then nothing!

It is good to remember small events on a big day of history.

~ ~ ~

I ended up having a lazy morning before work yesterday, but today am being busy ... done some housework, as well as made some ginger biscuits.

After lunch I am yet again heading into work. Hopefully it will be as good as shift as yesterday. On Wednesday afternoon, despite it being only a short shift, it was chaos, so I was certainly glad to get home!

So, before I head out -





5. When you visit somewhere new, do you research anything about the area?
Yes
I love, love, love sightseeing ... so nice to know what's worth seeing, as well as the basic history of the area.

6. Do you have a membership to any local organisations (e.g. gym, museum, art gallery, local group, etc)? How often do you use your membership (and what’s the advantage of having it?)
Not a local one, but a national one - National Trust. I ususally use it 5 - 15 times a year. Even visiting the local houses there is always something new to see.




Right, I want to make some icons if I can

... You know about the penicillin allergy.  It was a phone call, which was good as it was at another hospital, over an hour's drive away.  It was a good appointment and they are debating whether they can de-sensitiseme to one of the anti-biotics, or not.  However she assured me that if |I truly needed penicillin then they can actually admit me, and treat me with them, plus another treatment to keep my blood pressure normal.  So, good to know that I still have that option, if I truly need it.

I worked Saturday, which is why I wasn't around ... in my spare time I managed to catch up with the missing A to Z photos, as well as the missing ones from photo_scavenger

Tomorrow I have a dental appointment before work, so work get on line ... so ...



31. It’s Clint Eastwood’s birthday – have you seen any of his films? Do you have a favourite?
There is something special about “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” … I also like “High Plains Drifter”.
And, of course, “Where Eagles Dare”.

1. June is named after the Roman Goddess Juno. Do you know the names of any other Roman Gods or Goddesses?
Having travelled to Rome yes, I know a few, but as I am a fan of Greek mythology I tend to know their names in preference.

2. Do you have a favourite alcoholic beverage?
I drink most things other than stout, or red wine. I do like a slightly sweet white wine, as my #1 I suppose

3. It’s World Bicycle Day! Have you ever ridden a tandem bicycle or a tricycle?
No ... although I had a trike when I was 4, so I suppose that's a lie!


A to Z -
Tips

Used

My dishwasher had just cleaned all my "used" stuff.
View

View out of my bedroom window
West

Mum and Dad bougth this at the furthest point west you can go, when they had a holiday the year after they married (1953).  It's made of granite, a real Cornish stone.





Right, that's me caught up ... see you Wednesday.

However when I went into work on Friday I was asked to work on the Saturday, and the Bank Holiday Monday ... so couldn't get here, and couldn't meet up for a day out with Brenda as I planned.

I actually finished work by 3pm, but then had to go to Tim & Claires and sort out their bird feeders, and garden pots as they are away.  When I got home I didn't switch on the computer.

So, I had genuinely aimed to be here, but it didn't go as planned.

Since then I have done some extra work as well as keeping Tim & Claires garden checked ... at least yesterday it rained so I dien't need to head off there before work.

This morning I went there, and then finished off sorting the photos (and posting them) ... I need to get on and get some food prepared before I head into work, so won't catch up with messages ... but will try to get back tomorrow ... but I will catch up with the questions , but not the photos!






24. Have you ever had a pedicure?
No – although I do wear nail polish … and a toe ring and ankle bracelets throughout over half the year.

25. Are you a fan of popcorn at the movies?
I so rarely go to the cinema, that I don’t really get into eating popcorn anyway.

26. Today the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling event will take place to celebrate the UK Spring Bank Holiday. A 7-9lb (3-4kg) round Double Gloucester cheese will be rolled down a hill until someone catches it (you can see a video of the spectacle here). Are there any Spring Festival Events in your area?
Nothing I knew about … but I ended up working, so it wouldn’t have really mattered.

27. Do you like lettuce? Any particular variety?
I do love all forms of lettuce … I am a great fan of a simple salad.

28. When was the last time you wore flip-flops (Zories/thongs)?
This morning – they are my summer “slippers”, and when not at work I will wear them even if going for a walk. I do love them.



I hope to get back tomorrow!