Eternal Refuge

Yes, washing is on the line.  My bedroom is cleaned ... and hall, stairs & landing all hoovered ... and about half of it is dusted ... so I am gradually making my way downstairs.  Mind you, Mum would also be confused, as Mondays is the day you do the washing, and Thursdays was the day that housework was done!

I did manage to get out for a short walk yesterday, and aim to do the same this afternoon.  It's another bright day, but looking ay the forecast, rain is heading in for the weekend!

Mind you, I also realised I have failed ... I forgot to take the photo yesterday.  The A to Z prompt is Jade, and despite my numerous ornaments, jewellery, and general junk, I don't think I have any Jade.  So the nearest I have is this green pot, which is Japenese ... some jades are green, and most come from, and are used a lot, in Japenese and Chinese cultures.  So not a true image, but with bending the rules, it sort of works!!!


So, having said Mum would be pleased, I don't know if she would be pleased to see me cheating!!!!

Yesterday, as well as my short walk I made these icons for Your_Favourites over on DW ... with a theme of "Oscar Winners"

The first 2 are Clark Gable in "It Happened One Night", and the last two of Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady" (so maybe I am back in Mum's good books, as she liked both films!!)

Right I need to get on.








4. In 1882, Britain’s first electric trams ran in East London. Do trams still operate in your area? If not, have you ever been on one somewhere else?
No
The only time I have ever been on a tram was when I was in san Francisco back in 2017!






Right, the resy of the day is calling.

Yes, I shall be making pancakes later.  After all it's "Pancake Day" ... or Shrove Tuesday ... or Mardi Gras!

Will catch up with you later.

What a busy morning - had a lovely walk in the sunshine this morning, and then got organised as I am having Tim & Claire over for dinner tonight.  We are having a pork casserole, and I have made some jam tarts, but also bought a roulade ( yes, I cheated ... but why not?)

I can't believe it has been 8 years since Mum was called Home. It was lovely to see some Autumn colour near where she is resting this morning.  The cemetery is a beautiful location, and even if you don't know anyone resting here, it is a lovely place for a walk.  During lockdown it was always busy!











Right, so I had better get my kitchen floor cleaned.  I love cooking but am not the tidiest chef alive. My cookery teacher at school always said that my area looked like a bomb site! And especially with flour, which I needed, it get's everywhere!

So, before I head off -




29 – Ask A Stupid Question Day: There's no such thing as a stupid question except for the one you choose not to ask. When you were in school, did you hesitate to ask questions because you were afraid they were stupid questions? Did you make fun of other students who asked questions that struck you as stupid? As an adult, do you still hesitate to ask questions you think are stupid? Do you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will ask the question so you won't have to?
Actually I always hoped they would get asked, as I wasn’t brave enough to ask questions in class.




Right will catch up with you soon, and then again tomorrow x

It's Monday morning, and I have 2 loads of washing on the line.  That was always her first task of the week ... but to make her completely proud I have to get the ironing done this afternoon and all packed away/put to air.  before we had the automatic washing machine she washed Mondays and ironed Tuesdays .. so maybe I get the extra day!  However, as it turns out, I am going out for a lot of tomorrow.

Having had quite a few ongoing days of work I have only a couple of shifts this week, and I am actually going to enjoy a couple of days "out".  I was beginning to feel guilty that I wasn't doing the trip to see my Aunt, but as the home has COVID at present they are not wanting visitors if it can be helped.  So, housework, spring-cleaning ... and a couple of days out.  It is Christine's birthday on Wednesday so tomorrow I am taking her to a National Trust property ... we are hoping that we can see some Spring flowers (before it turns cold again later in the week)

Work was actually OK over the weekend (a long day on the Saturday), but as both days were quiet I actually spent some time doing some basic icon working, as well as reading on AO3 ... that's the great advantage of working on the main reception ... I need a lot of info, so I have 2 computer screens, and it means I can open a couple of extra tabs, OK.  Actually it was so quiet yesterday that I was actually able to watch the LegoMasterss Australia, as I would have done if I had been home.  So getting paid to do whta is a "normal" rest day is brilliant!

Right, I will catch up with you all a bit later, but before that -



20 – Love Your Pet Day: Do you have pets? Tell us about them – cats, dogs, other species? How many?
Mum & Dad had a spaniel when I was born, called Scrappy, who died when I was 6.  Sadly I don't remeber her.
My first love was a spaniel Perry, who was a month short of his 5th birthday when he died.  I was in my 20's and he broke my heart.
Then Mum & Dad had Misty, another spaniel, who was almost 16 when he died.
And, then there was Jiffy!
And, of course Mum bought me Jaykub ... he was 9 when he came to me, but sadly only lived another 18months ... and another broken heart,  Welsh cobs should live to be in their mid 30's.  I then had DJ, my namesake, on loan.  I suppose he was about 11 when I gave up riding, and he then went to work for Riding for the Disabled in Windsor ... so it was nice to know that he was moving to a special home.

21 – International Mother Language Day: What is your native language? How many languages do you speak fluently or near-fluently? How many languages besides your native language have you studied?
I speak English ... and even have a problem with the technicalities of that language (just read my blog/fics, and you will know).
I do however try to learn please/thanks in the language of the country I am visiting ... it's just polite.



And, as I said I did some icons, and here they are as I posted them on DW -

Challenge 165 – your_favourites. This challenge was "favourite gengre" and my favourite genre is the classic musicals of the 1940's - 1960's ... here are 4 examples:

1- It Started with Eve
2- Silk Stockings
3- Summer Stock
4- Tea for Two



Challenge 56 of perioddrama_ic. had a challenge of "Fantasy" .  Well, I'm hoping Robin Hood counts as Fantasy! (I am English, so recon he must be a real person!)




As well as a few that I made for Itsabattlefield Quick Battles.  This is where you get a prompt, and just post 1 icon.  It's not a competition against others, really just a challenge for yourself.  Then they are all posted so you can see what others make of the challenge ...

     



Right, will catch up with comments, and your posts later x

Guess what - Photobucket  went down yesterday afternoon, so because of that only the one set of photos - so I am uploading them now (I hope)

Clinic went well, although we did have one of the rudest patients out.  No excuse for rudeness, ever ... sorry, but that's what I think!

After that I did 90 mins on reception and now lunch has been & gone.  The trouble with doing the extra work like this is that end up having a  very late lunch.  Oh, well, can't be helped. 

I have just posted some icons, and have another set almost finished so I will see if I can get those done today, even if I don't get them posted. 

But, before I aim for another programme -


15. Do you text more or call more? Why?
I only text a couple of people - one brother, both sisters-in-law & a couple of friends.
I only ring my sister-in-law & friend once a week; and my 2 aunts every 2 - 3 weeks

I will try to catch up with you all later (fingers crossed)

PS Happy Birthday Mum (points at icon)

Yes, sorry Mum, but you were, although I know why you did it!  What am I talking about?

Mum made all her own jam, pickles etc.  Yummy taste I know, but it takes forever to do!

I actually decided to make some chutneys as part of pressies for people this Christmas.  I did tomato last week, and beetroot & onion this morning.  And, yes, it's hot in the house now, with a lovely vinegary smell.  Just hope that they taste as good!  I have actually labeled them, saying, "Made with love, whatever the taste"

So Mum, they are your recipes, and should taste OK, but don't think I will bother making stuff for myself; but whether they get eaten or not, I am glad I have made the effort.

Now I need to start writing Christmas cards & letters.  I want to get quite a bit done before the weekend, so a few soon, and then when I get home from work tomorrow the pen will be busy.

I have posted one set of photos already, and have one more to post, but will get them done tomorrow.  For now, I must get on ...


30. What level of brightness do you usually keep your phone at?
Umm, don't know!  I do know my Kindle is just below the half way point, so that will do for an answer.


See you tomorrow

Yes, sorry Mum, but I bought some mince pies today!  For Mum, mince pies were what we had from Christmas Eve to 12th night.  Mum used to make them and my memory of them is special.  She made beautiful pastry ... in fact she was an amazing cook.  Last year, nearer to Christmas I made my own which was nice, but seeing these on sale today, I just had to bow to temptation!

Work was actually good for a change, and we finished a bit early so I went and got my flu jab on the way home.  I had my Covid a few weeks ago, and now work is giving both on the same day.  So I confused the system!  Still it's done.  I had asked at my doctors last week when I was passing, but bizarrely they aren'r doing flu jabs this year.  Seems totally ironic given what is going on!  So far the arm feels OK, so hopefully that will continue. - I have had flu jabs for about 20 years now and (so far) never had a problem.

I have an appointment tomorrow with my osteopath for my ankle injury ... and am glad of that as over the last couple of days one of the damaged muscles is really sore.  However, the other one seems to be OK, so that's a positive point.

Well I have loads of letters I must write, so will sign off here ... well, after -


25. Do you own/wear any jumpsuits?
No!

... Whenever she saw me back in jeans for the first time in the autumn/winter season she would always say "Winter draws on" .... so had to say that today.  That was the other job I did yesterday - swap my winter to summer wardrobe.  I have a case and a single wardrobe so swap as soon as the weather changes.  I had hoped to last a few days longer before putting back on full-length jeans (etc) and sox ... but in the end decided that it was silly to wait.  So I am feeling very cosy as I type this, and it also means I can delay putting the central heating back on for a bit longer.

Haven't done my normal shopping trip, just to my local supermarket ... add a sore ankle to rain and I decided I needed milk, fruit etc so had to shop, but decided not to do the longer walk.

One of my projects this afternoon is to start thinking about seasonal_spuffy in November .... I shall make some icons, but am thinking around a short fic, so I shall see how that goes.  Maybe if I get organised this time, I shall manage something.

My other task is to continue writing up my holiday journal.  I have done a third of it, but want to get some more done.  In the past I have written each evening but that was one thing that I decided to skip this year to keep my energy levels better.

Mind you I have a couple of letters I need to write ... so looks like I will have a busy afternoon if I do it all!

But, before I head off -


2. Have you seen someone recently you used to talk to, but don’t anymore?
No

3. What color are your eyes?
Blue-grey


Well those questions didn't take long!

Hope you all have a good weekend - see you Monday x

As I said, I went to the Island of Jersey for a week to explore the island, but also to see the wwii history.  The one place in Britain that had German occupation.

On the first day we went to the War Tunnels, built by slave labour.  It was used mostly for storage, and for a hospital.  Ironically for me it was important that I saw that.  The father of the doctor who delivered me had actually been a doctor on Jersey during the war, and had worked in the tunnels in the operating theatre.  Mum had problems when I was born, and apparantly it took the doctor over an hour to stitch her up.  They chatted, and Jersey came up as it was where Mum & Dad had their honeymoon.

It now has various displays, to do with it's use.


Our group getting ready to go in -



The hospital -



Some of the many unfinished tunnels -

Sadly, a typical residents menu -

Due to the situation, many things were non-existant ... things like bicycle tyres were made with hose pipes

After the Normandy landings in france, Jersey (and the rest of the islands) were cut off.  Churchill aimed to starve the Germans out ... but sadly that meant that everyone was starved.  In the end they did have a couple of Red Cross liberty ships in to help.



After going to the tunnels, we went to St Brelaide for lunch, and then a walk round the village to see soem more history -
The hotel where we had lunch ... and during the war was used by the Germans for weekend breaks.  There were 2 on the island, and the other was the hotel we were staying at.  So 1940 - 1945 it was called - Soldatenheim 2


One other place we saw was this 13th century Chapel -

It must have looked stunning when you realise how much remains 700 years later -



Some of the Atlantic Wall - built during the occupation to protect the island from invasion
And, a general view of the beach -

Yes, I know, I wasn't around yesterday!  I was very tired, although not so tired that I had to sleep, but enough that my focus on anything wasn't brilliant, so decided not to turn on the pc.  But still managed to have a short walk so my daily trips are still continuing.

Today was yet another busy clinic, so yes I am tired agaain, but not as bad as yesterday so am catching up.  I have had a short walk today as well - I had to get some milk so walked the long way there.  I also picked up a grow bag so that I will be able to grow some tomatoes soon (I adore them)

I don't really have much news, as the clinics were full on and the tiredness is frustrating!!  But, before I go -


26. What physical traits have you inherited from your mother?
My grey hair, which is thick like Mum's (although the curl comes form both my granddads.
My large bust ... all the females on Mum/Grandma's side of the family are "well endowed"

27. Where were you raised for most of your life?
Essex ... if you are English you will have heard of "Essex girls" ... and yes, I am one.  Born there are lived from the age of 6 - 25 (3 months to 6 was in North Wales)

Yes, she may have died almost 6 years ago, but the year before she had said that there was a reason that they had been put in the same uni house.

Yes, Andrew went to Southampton Uni back in 2014, and was put in a house with 9 other people, one of whom was also a committed Christian. So, Mum said that God realised they would suit!. Anyway they shared a house for 3 years, then she went to Spain to work for 2 years. When she came back she went to college in Bath, and gave Andrew a ring and said that it would be fun to catch up. Eventually they started dating, and yesterday Andrew & Jess became engaged. So both are now 25 and with that history I am really hopeful that they have a great chance to really survive.

Congratulations Andrew & Jess


I do love that top, or dress, she is wearing!



Well while passing on good news, I will also do the 2 days meme to be able to turn off the pc soon.

6. What do you think about hunting?
Sorry it's not PC, but for me I see the history of the English Countryside ... a lot of long term heritage.
In most hunts very few animals are actually caught, as they are mostly cleverer that humans, and can often out-smart us!

7. What places are you really grateful exist?
Museums



Well this evening I shall be watching Sound of Music ... I do love that film, and will honour Christopher Plummer ... may he R.I.P.