Eternal Refuge

The last couple of days have been busy at work ... so pays the bills!  Although, especially yesterday with the nice weather, it is frustrating that I was working in a basement.

But I have today off ... and have been out to one of the out-lying districts of the city, Topsham . The reason for the trip is that I had an appointment at a jewellery designer.  I had 2 reasons to go.

• The first is that I wanted her to repair a necklace.  I had aimed to wear this one at my nephew's wedding, but the catch broke.  It had only been worn 6 times in it's 100 yeasr ... My grandmother, Aunt & Mum wore it at their weddings.  And I had worn it the 3 times I had been a bridesmaid.  So I wanted to carry on the tradition.  The jeweller said it was probably good I didn't wear it as the gemstone was very loose, as well.  So she is going to clean & repair it.


• The other reason has been an ongoing thought ... I have both of my Grandmother's wedding rings.  Beautiful gold, which I could just sell, or keep as they are or get them changed.  I wanted to be able to wear them, but didn't want to lose their individual integritoes. so I was very torn.  Erin suggested a simple necklace with the 2 rings just interlinked ... so that is what she she is going to look into, for me.

Anyway ... it was nice to see the River Exe, as well as both the village & Church ...




























When I got home I got the washing on the line ... had lunch, and now I am here.  Later I have the ironing to do, and hopefully will chat to Auntie Mary later, as well.

Before I disappear I will both catch-up, and do this weekends, as I am meeting up with Brenda tomorrow for a day out.  She suggested it and then was talking about how Nick is not doing so well, so thought it would be a double good reason to meet up with her ... enjoy the day and have a chat.  So ...




9. In 1904 the steam locomotive City of Truro became the first steam engine to exceed 100mph. Have you ever travelled on a high speed train? Is there are good train network where you live?
I don't tend to use trains much, as coaches are cheeper. 
Exeter has pretty good rail services, some locally and a direct route to London.

10. World Lupus Day. Are you aware of the symptoms? Will you wear purple today?
Sorry, wearing green today!

11. Have you ever used a foam roller to self massage (there's some tips here)? The MELT method also uses a foam roller to realign and stretch joints and facia - have you ever heard of it?
Not used a foam roller, but have used a harder roll occasionally.

12. International Nurses Day - did you ever want to be a nurse when you were small?
Hee ... no!
In fact, when I gave up being an osteopath a few people suggested nursing, and I said anything but!  Then I got the job, and loved it!




Right, I will try and catch up with you all ina moment ... but other than that, see you Monday x

Yes, I managed to do a shift on the switchboard .... I don't think I lost anyone in the system ... but will admit some of it was slow going. I didn't pick up as many calls as maybe I could have done, but it was nice to do some, relax for a few minutes and do some more. I am working again on the next 2 days, so hopefully doing the 3 like that will mean that I am fairly positive about most of the standard calls ... although I think it is still going to be some time before I answer the emergency calls and the boiler warnings, etc that are covered by the team there.

I got on well with the others I was working with today which makes it easier to ask for help.

It still wouldn't be my first choice as I love the face to face, but good to have the challenge ... and the work!

The previous day I worked the full day down on the main reception, and it was a good shift ... busy, but that helps the time go by.

I had hoped to relax this afternoon, but just heard from Tim and we are meeting at a pub half-way between us for a meal later, as he has a change of work coming up. So it will be tiring, but be good for him to be able to chat.

Here are the photo catch-ups for today and the previous 2 days.

I think I told you the saga of Auntie Joyce and having to leave everything in the solicitor's hands ... however I did manage to get her to give us the gold ring she wore ... it is on my ring finger. (Yes I love jewellery) ... but am doubly glad to have the ring as I knew it had belonged to my Great Aunt, before my Aunt ... but it turns out it belonged to my Great-Grandmother before her ... so 4 generations ...


When I walked into work yesterday I spotted the first daffodils of the year




I realise I hadn't taken a photo so thought you would like to see one of my many giraffes ... I love my pen pot, as well (it's on the desk next to my pc)



Right - let's get on ....


Can you use chopsticks? Can you play Chopsticks on the piano? Today is all about chopsticks...
Yes, I can, and do, use chopsticks … when I get a Chinese take-away then it’s always chopsticks I use
I used to be able to play chopsticks, but haven’t tried for many years



#~#~#~#~

I tried posting this yesterday, but had real computer problems ... so it's now "tomorrow"

I had a lovely meal with Tim & Claire ... amd nice to have a reason to have a walk.

Just got in froma full 6 hours on the switchboard,  I am still insure as to the job as much of it is repetative, but all in all I am still quite stressful ... so planning a lazy evening.

When I went to the freezer in my shed to get something out for dinner a bit later I spotted some buds ... although, as the forecast sau=ys the weather is cooling I do wonder if it will survive


Right, so have another question to do  to keep up -



Have you ever made homemade soup? Care to share your favourite recipe?
Don't have a recipe, but make it from veg, tomatoes etc ... whatever I have saved, or have that can get thrown in!



Right - I will post this today ... and try and catch up with you x

... Where do the days go?

I am going into work early afternoon, and working through to the evening.

So this morning I want to get some housework done.  I also need to send a couple of pieces of jewellery off to be repaired.  When I was on holiday the ring I gought Mum about 20 years before she died, and she never took off, is one that I wear when I am not working.  However on holiday I was suddenly aware that it felt wrong, and realised it had split.  So although I have to get it repaired, at least I didn't lose it.

All in all an expense ... add to that my kitchen tap has died, and now I realise my printer has given up the ghost.  So, more expense this week ... at least I am working off and on over the next 6 days.

But before I go to the post office -



3. Do you tend to read reviews of films or TV shows that you're considering watching? What about reviews of books or albums? How much influence might a good or bad review have on you?
Sadly I tend to be very boring and re-watch a lot of things. So I don't often see new stuff.
However must admit my brother bought me some DVDs for my birthday, and I gave them a go, and enjoyed them. So, maybe I should be more adventurous (I only said maybe, though!!)


Right I must get on.

I won't have time to post some more photos, but will try and catch up with you all later.

I have just come back from my short walk, having gone via the Polling Station.  I was suprised, as I thought it was local council voting ... however when I got there it was the City, the County & the Police Chief of the County.  So I got to vote 3 times, having remembered to take my pencil with me!  The real problem was that the last couple of times I voted I had it easy, as Jiffy went with me so I took the polling paper and asked him to pick a vote for me!  This time I had to vote it all for myself and decide - very tough!

The other half of my walk was to post off a couple of rings to be repaired.  one of the ladies I work with has a brother who is a "chief" goldsmith in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.  I have been meaning to get them done for ages, and when I saw one of them again this weekend I decided I really needed to get Debbie's brother's name.  The 2 rings had both belonged to my Grandmother (Mum's Mum) ... and both were engagement rings!  One was from pre-WWI, but sadly he was killed in 1915, and then the other was from my Grandfather in 1920.  So it will be good to get them both wearable again.  So I am looking forward to re-gaining that part of my family history.  Anyone who knows me knows I adore jewellery (as did Mum), and it's the one disadvantage of nursing in the NHS ... one ring only (technically stated as a wedding band), but I actually wear 2 plain rings on one of my little fingers.  Tim loves his jewellery, as well - but Nick, and my 2 sisters-in-law only wear as minimum as possible.   (Nick never wears any at all now)

So, now I am here, and getting this scribbled ... and then to make some icons.

Hope you are all having a good Thursday



6. What’s the last thing you said out loud?
"Thank You" ... to the lady who gave me my 3 voting slips

6 If you were to win a “shopping” spree in a store, where you could grab anything you want in five minutes, what store would you choose?

Silly question ... about the only thing I love buying is jewellery!

It was when I started to check up on this I realised how long I have been missing.  So this is a big catch up ... here are the questions:-

52 - What is your most treasured item?
53 - Your biggest insecurity.
54 - Something that you want to do before you die.
55 - What is something that makes your heart break?
56 - Something that you’re extremely afraid of.
57 - What food are you craving right now?
58 - What was the last dream you remember about?
59 - A habit you wish you didn’t have.
60 - Describe the room you’re in right now.
61 - A dead person you’d like to talk to and why?
62 - Go look in the mirror. What’s the first thing you notice?
63 - What song makes you dance?
64 - Name a cartoon you loved as a kid.
65 - Your ultimate feast?

( And here are the answers )


The list of 365 questions can be found here

To say the house is still chaotic is being polite, but at least I have "dug" my way through my study to find my computer again. I will admit I haven't looked at LJ since I last wrote something, so if there is any big news please let me know.

I thought I would re-start my lj-ing with this amazing link -



As someone who can not dance at all, it does mean that maybe I still have time to learn!!!

So either skip the scribbles, or make yourself a pot of tea, and open up the biscuits ...( what I have been up to )

Group hugs !!

I saw this on curiouswombats LJ - where she had been given a colour, chosen for her, by a friend - and you find ten pictures featuring the colour. She was given blue, but I asked her for a colour and she gave me cream/white

( So, here goes ......  )
So, if you want a colour, just ask.

Day 01 - Introduction
Day 02 – Your first love, in great detail
Day 03 – Your parents, in great detail
Day 04 – What you ate today, in great detail
Day 05 – Your definition of love, in great detail
Day 06 – Your day, in great detail
Day 07 – Your best friend, in great detail
Day 08 – A moment, in great detail
Day 09 – Your beliefs, in great detail

Day 10 – What you wore today, in great detail

Today I spent the morning at Toni's and this afternoon on the computer.  So, a quiet day in a rural setting, means boring clothes ... sorry!

White bra and thong.
Green long sleeved, V neck, t-shirt, jeans (traditional blue denim), fluffy sox, with teddy bear pictures on them, white trainers.
Multi-coloured jumper.
Glove on my left hand ... yes, I tend to do that when "resting" as my injured finger can't cope with the cold.
And, now I wearing a big red baggy cardingan as well, to save putting the heating on.

Pearl neclace, 8 rings (normal ones for me!) and gold earings ... in a Celtic design, watch and magnetic/copper bangle.


( Still to come )

I think this is now the end of my photo MEME - However if I have forgotten you (Ooooops) or if there was something else thet you wanted to see a picture of, please do let me know.

These pictures are for kudagirl , who asked for pictures of my hands and rings and for beanbeans  who asked for a favourite tree.  There are one or two I like, but this is a lovely one.

It also shows, along with the second picture, that ... YES ... Bude is hilly.  Someone commented that my road looked hilly - yes, it is all up and down here!


( Read and see more... )