Eternal Refuge

... but I have still hung washing outside.  I do like to have the washing out if I can.  But by mid afternoon I shall bring it in.  Luckily I have a 3 story house and have an airer that hangs over the stairwell, so in actual fact it does dry pretty well, and doesn't get that "stale" smell that some indoor dried clothes get.

I had a lazy morning, and ended up watching some daytime TV with an extra cuppa ... fun!  Although it was something where brides were choosing their wedding dresses ... some of the ladies, and/or some of the families certainly had some critical comments about the dresses, and wedding details.

I didn't get the photos sorted, as my computer was on a go-slow on Tuesday .... then yesterday I was working afternoon and evening.  However I should get a couple of posts up today (I hope!!)

Tomorrow I am working in the morning and as soon as I get home I am heading out as it's Brenda's brother's funeral  They live about an hour's drive from here, so I am going (as are Tim & Claire, but separately as they are heading off for the weekend immediately afterwards).  It is going to be a very, very hard day for everyone, but especially Ali (his widow), and the rest of Brenda's family.

I am then working Saturday ... so looks like it will be Monday till I am back again ... so ....






13. Gold or silver jewellery – do you have a preference?
Yes please!
Today - I am wearing 2 gold necklaces & 2 silver bracelets and I am wearing 10 rings .... 7 gold, 2 silver & 1 brass.
I just love any/all jewellery, and do change things around all the time.


14. In 2006 Daniel Craig became the 7th actor to play James Bond in Casino Royale. Who is your favourite James Bond actor (if you have one?)?
I love either Pierce Brosnan or Timothy Dalton
Have yet to see any of the Daniel Craig ones ... that's a plan for "later".

15. What’s the first thing you do when you walk through the door after a day out of the house?
Depends on the weather/time of day etc
So really nothing specific.

16. In 1974 ABBA began their first tour of Europe outside of Sweden. What is the first song you think of when you think of ABBA?
"Take a Chance on Me" or "Money, Money, Money"

17. Today, in 1798, a five-day New England blizzard began that covered thousands of houses and killed hundreds of people. What’s the deepest snow you’ve ever experienced in one continuous snowfall?
When I was 2 and a half ... so don't remember it! I was living in North Wales at the time, and didn't get to see the grass again until Easter.






OK ... will try and get some photos sorted and posted ... but really won't be properly around until Monday x

It was a very long 2 days, compounded by the fact I ended up doing an 11 hour shift on Wednesday.

In the end Auntie Joyce's funeral went well .. and I was able to focus on the fact that she was family.  Tim wasn't able to go due to work (aggrevated with some health issues).  So I took Claire up the day before and we stayed overnight near the sea, so had a nice walk on the morning, and then went to the soliciters to pick up my great-aunts ring, and so to the chapel in the cemetery.  The chapel caretaker was there to meet us and he was great.  We then met Nick & Brenda, and Andrew, so it was lovely that there was another generation of the family to be there to commemorate our aunt's life.  Claire didn't want to do anything, but Brenda did the Bible reading, I did the eulogy, Andrew led the service and Nick took the sermon and the committal.  Auntie Jooyce had chosen her reading and hymns, so that bit was nice to know we were honouring her wishes.  We walked from the Chapel through the cemetery as it was such a lovely day.  The undertaker & team, were lovely, and so respectful.  They also stepped back and let us do what we wanted, in timing ... so a massive thumbs-up, and thanks to everyone.

From there we went to the chapel that Auntie Joyce had attended for 35 years ... we didn't have the service there as the last 3 years, when she needed the help, they weren't supportive of her.  But we had a nice "bun-fight", and left about 3.30pm.

It was a good journey home, but tiring.

This morning I woke at normal time, so have sat and watched some "old" TV, and then had a long walk to the shop to get some groceries.

As I type this I have "Traitors" on in the background.  The TV in my hotel didn't work, so I am 2 episodes to the final, although sadly I have noticed who won (although not really suprised)

Let me catch up with the missing questions -




24. National Peanut Butter Day - have you ever made your own peanut butter? If not, which type do you prefer?
I have never tried to make it, why bother? I like crunchy, but don't always eat it ... I tend to open a jar to make biscuits, then use it up in sarnies!

25. It's Burns Night - will you be raising a small dram?
No ... I'm not Scottish ... and I was working

26. International Customs Day - have you ever been stopped at Customs when travelling?
No

27. Are you a fan of chocolate cake? Have you ever made one?
Yes, and yes. My grandmother (auntie Joyce's mum) used ot make the most stunning Chocolate Cake possible

28. Lego has been around since 1932, have you ever made things with Lego?
Yes - loved it, and won a competition when I was 11. I love watching Australian LegoMasters when it was on.




Right - photos to follow

Hope that you are all doing well ... will try and catch up soon x

... so here I am today, then will dissappear for another couple of days as I have another week of extra shifts.

On a very positive note I am doing well tiredness wise.  Yes, I am getting tired, but mostly not until evening times, so it's good that I can do this extra work ... and with a holiday, and 2 weddings (one of which abroard), as well as the additional trip for the funeral, then my Bank balance is also thankful!!

Anyway, yes, I had a great birthday.  I went to Newton Abbot and round the museum before Christine treated me to lunch, and then we had a 5 mile walk.  I will be posting photos, but they are going to be delayed.  As I type this I am uploading photos from my day in Exeter to share with you all.  So I will catch up ... but it will be gradually over the coming week(s).  However I suppose that means I won't be spamming you!.

Anyway after a good day I drove home and then to Tim & Claire's (remembering to take Tim's pressie with me), and Claire cooked a lovely steak dinner, and she had made me a birthday cake ... so I was truly stuffed, but felt very lucky in my family & friends for my birthday.


Then the following day Tim pucked me up late morning and we drove, via McDonald's(!!), to Brenda's dad's funeral.  The weather was awful, with a couple of super major, but short, hail storms.  It was lovely to see all the family, as well as some distant family and people I know from the Church I used to go to.  Geoffry was 98 and had been a missionary in Nigeria (where Brenda was born), so it was a "Thanksgiving service" in it's true meaning. 

Then Sunday was Church and work, as I think I had already said.  I never book a Sunday, but wouldn't want to leave a hospital short-staffed either, so will do an emergency cover.

On Monday I drove towards London, getting stuck in traffic for about an hour around Stonehenge.  I actually spent a couple of hours in Winchester, the ancient capital of England, on my way (again, photos to follow).

The following day was Claire's dads funeral.  I got lost due to roadworks on the last couple of miles of the trip, but was still there in good time and met up with Nick & Andrew who had also done the cross-country trip.  Richard was only 75, and his death had been a huge shock.  His wife had spent a long time doing CPR before the paramedics came, but despite them working for an hour sadly it was too late.  The family were "military" and when they came back to England, Claire was 17 with her sisters 15 & 13 ... and sadly the transition wasn't easy, so there had been quite a gap in the family relationship for many years, which was repaired, but then lockdown had pulled them apart again.  So the 3 goirls did have some real sadness t work through for so many reasons.  They dai all do the eulogy though.  On Richard's coffin was his regimental colours ... 24 years in the Royal Corps of Signallers, and they had a standard bearer from The Royal British Legion.  So in the end the service was a good representataion of the man.

Then the last 3 days have been work, work & work.

So now I am here to post, do some photo editing ... but then aiming for a lazy-ish afternoon, although I do need to go and buy some fruit & veg.

As I said, Monday & Tuesday are full work days, so doubt I will have time to post ... see I am trying to be a good girl, and although I miss being here, I don't want to over-do things even more ... so ...



1. We're halfway through the year (give or take a few days). What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
As I said I have 2 weddings coming up ... and then a trip to Turkey in September.

2. What do you want to remember about today? What would you like to forget?
Seeing as it's only lunchtime ... it was nice to have a lie-in. Sadly it's raining, so my plan had been to have a nice walk.

3. If you could wish for one thing to happen tomorrow, what would that be?
Nice weather (especially as Tim is on holiday this week)

4. What colours are you wearing?
Mostly black and white ... but the skirt has a panel from knee to mid calf in almost every colour! And my t-shirt has red, as well as white, writing. (Oh, and yellow flip-flops)

5. What is a political issue that interests you?

No comment ... I have always kept this politically free.



Right that's m until Wednesday.

However I do hope I can catch up with your LJ's this evening. I also will be hoping to post some photos of historical Exeter, soon.

Hope you are all well x

I had yesterday off (and don't work Fridays) so have given my kitchen cabinets a good clean and tidy.  Sadly I had a lot of "very" empty spaces where Jiffy's things had been ... so it was a combination of cleaning and moving things.  However, a you can guess, it all made sense as I was doing them, but whether I shall remember what I decided is another matter!!

I heard from the cemetery yesterday to say that Jiffy's grave marker was in.  However as we are in lockdown, I don't think Boris would count a 45 minute drive to look at my little man's grave as essential driving (Can't think why!!) ... so the team took photos and sent them to me.  However once we are free again that is a trip I shall be doing.  This is the marker provided for him, but I still plan to get a granite stone come the new Year.



Today Claire is having the first of her implant replacement ops.  I haven't worked out why they are having to do 2 ops.  Anyway it is 7 years since her mastectomy & implant, and due to scarring, and her age she needs a new implant, so that was booked for March, but caught lockdown that time.  This time lockdown is still doing hospital appointments, so she has op one today.

Well I am not going to do any more housework today, as still trying to be a good girl ... but I have to go for a walk and collect a prescription on the way back, want to do some artwork for icons, and more of the throw I am crochetting (I am watching the Indiana Jones series while doing that!!)

Hoping you all have a good day x

How did that happen!

We have misty rain here, but Jiffy is much happier. No, he doesn't like the rain but the heat was really getting to him - he even missed lunch on a couple of days!

These last 10 days seem to have flown past. I spoke to my doctor at the beginning of the week, and he has signed me off this month - however I may end up back at work sooner. 4 days out of 5 I am now 101%, but on that other day I do dip, which is why my GP is happy to let things ride. However I spoke to one of my managers last week (yes, I am on Staff Bank, but basically only work in the one department) and they are hoping to re-start clinics in the next couple of weeks, once they have worked out the logistics. yes, I will be well enough to work as it will be 3 hours each morning. That also means that after 6 months I won't suddenly be leaving Jiffy all day. So, I wait to hear further on that.

At the beginning of the last week I met up with one of the physiologists I work with. She has been working 1 day at the hospital, 1 day at home and 1 day off. So we met for a walk. She popped over lunchtime as she was only in for the morning today, adn we plan to meet for a walk again next week before the clinics re-start.

I actually finished last week by going to a funeral. Although only 10 people are allowed, as one of the daughters refused to go unless her husband and 3 children could go (despite having nothing to do with Eric for 4 years), they gave the seat to me. He was Mum & Dad's neighbour, but every 6 weeks (until the last couple) I have popped in while Jiffy was having his haircut. They and M&D were great friends - I shall miss seing Eric again, although know that he is now in Heaven so will see him again in eternity.

Sadly I was very upset with the funeral ... not just that I couldn't hug his widow, or the rest of the family who I know so well, but was upset with how the pastor did the service. Eric (&Heather) have been members of the Church all their lives, yet it was the new pastor who took the service. There wasn't a eulogy, and even weirder there wasn't a Bible reading. The first hymn was played as we walked in, so as I tagged on the back I missed that as well!

The one advantage is that "whenever" he is going to have a couple of benches dedicated to him on Dartmoor ... one from the parks people, and one from the family, so hopefully that will be a more meaningful time. But, I am still annoyed!!!!

Wow, I have rambled a bit - sorry! And, I must finish last month's questions -
30 Make a list of three things you can do today to be kind to yourself.
a) I did rest in bed and read before getting up
b) I had 3 different veggies with my lunch - mushrooms, carrots, leeks
c) I am not going to play solitaire on my tablet this evening while watch TV to rest my eyes ... I shall start a new jigsaw instead
31 If you could acquire a talent without any extra effort, what would it be?
A photographic memory for dates - I love history, but forget dates and places. I love linking places I have been to history ... and get them muddled

Well done if you are still awake!

Hope everyone os keeping well and safe ... Take care x

.... And I still feel in limbo.

I suppose keeping Dad focused and OK is taking a lot out of me, although I feel guilty to say that as there is only him my focus is slightly easier.  I think for both of us, it is hard to believe that Mum has died, because last Jan she spent almost a month in hospital, so I keep expecting to get a date for her to come home.

We met with Tim at the funeral directors, and that was not as hard as I expected.  Although it felt weird to be buying a plot in a cemetary, it somehow didn't seem wrong fro the 3 of us to talk about what wood |Mum would want her coffin veneered in.

This afternoon I am off to the solicitors (a friend of Tim ... and he will be there).  The wills are old so Dad and I are executors.  Sadly Mum spoke of re-writing last year, so I know what she had wanted, but never got it done.  The other reason for the appt is that I have to be made Dad's Power of Attourney.  Mum had never wanted it to happen as it would upset the boys, but now we have a double tragedy to sort out.

Tomorrow Dad, Jiffy and I are going to my place again ... it's a tip.  We are meeting my best friend and her husband and they are going to help me sort out the spare room again.  Nick & Tim want to just sell this house, but I am going to do this in stages.  I hope to get to work for a couple of mornings a week (to start with), which means the 3 of us staying overnight in Exeter ... thus the room clear!  I don't know if Dad will cope, if not I will re-think.

Finally I want to thank you for the lovely comments you left ... I am going to reply to them (and previous comments) over the next couple of days.  Like when Jaykub died I have been suprised by those who care ... and those who don't!

Thanks for listening.

~~~~

On a slightly different note (but not!), I am trying to get back to some artwork from time to time ... to take my mind off the eulogy I have to write is the reason at the moment! So, thought I would sign up for a new comm .... I don't know how good I shall be, but I need my escape challenge ...

tvlims| Season 1 Sign ups.