Eternal Refuge

Actually, so far, today is a lovely day ... the sun is shining, it's a bright day.

And I have walked just under a couple of miles ... USING ONE CRUTCH!!!

Yes, the next stage of the process ... 4 months on, so I fely almost naked!  However it was great to pick up a few groceries on the way home and not have to use a back-pack.  My physio still wants me to use 2 crutches into work, as it's a 10 min walk uphill on the way in, which really stresses the calf ... and by the time I finish the muscles are getting tired.  But I am one happy girl today.

I got in from that planning on giving my kitchen a good clean ... and almost immediately had a message asking if I could work as the lady who should is waiting on a plumber.  So, the kitchen won't sparkle, but I am still not upset ... it was too good a morning!

And, of course ... HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY  for you all

Right, I need to get organised ... so ...





13. What’s the weather like today? Is it about average for the time of year?
Gorgeous! Sunny, bright, with a nice fresh feel

14. How many flights of stairs would you consider walking up in a building, or do you always take the lift/elevator?
At the moment, none!!!!
When I was at college we had a 6 story building, and I never once used the lift ... but I was in my early 20s then!

15. Have you ever considered how you would leave your home in an emergency?
I have never thought about it - but if I had to then I would.
I have a close friend who lives in Malibu, so has been evactuated off and on with the fires, last year.





Right, hope you all have a good weekend
See you Monday x

I am not meant to be working a full week to allow my leg time to heal ... so my Wednesdays are days to do assorted things.

Yesterday I had a frustrating day. First I wanted to go to my large supermarket, which is now too far away to walk to ... so bus. Great ... I got to the bus stop to find a man fuming as it had come on his app that the bus was cancelled. So half hour wait ... I got out my Kindle and settled down. About 10 mins later the man is angry ... the next bus is cancelled. As he said this I saw a bus approaching the opposite bus stop going into the city. One of the things I wanted to get I knew I could pick up there ... so OK, change of plans. When I got there there was a diversion so a longer walk, but fine ... nice and dry. And, so, shopping done, and home.

After lunch I needed to post Nick's parcel and drop off Claire's ... Back to the bus stop to find I had just missed one and had a half hour wait for the next, so decided to walk. Was I aching by the time I got there. Parcel sent, and round to Tim & Claire's ... Tim was working from home as it turned out, so nice to have a 5 minute chat with him, and actually got the feeling back in the leg before the walk home. After the walk I felt really positive again.

That is until the company that I work for rang me to book my training ... most is on-line but some is face to face. I managed to put off booking one of the trainings ... but I don't know how long I can get away with that. So annoying ... one of the courses has to be in a classroom ... I have a choice of venues ... London or Manchester. It took me all my time not to hang up on them at that point!

So after that plans to check in on LJ went out the window ... my book, then an episode of Stargate Atlantis (hence the icon)& my jigsaw called.

In the evening I did see a fascinating documentary on the Aztecs ... and for anyone who has read/heard "Changes" in the Dresden Files it really brought that section of the story more to life.

Now today, I have done some housework and off to work soon. But before that -




28. Have you ever played a kazoo?
No - Tim had one, but I never played it.

29. It's Tom Sellek's birthday - have you ever seen him in anything you've enjoyed?
I don't always automatically recognise the actor's names ... but Three Men and a Baby/Little Lady are a fun watch




Right, that's me up to date

Have a fun day everyone

Wow, today is November ... and I managed a slow staedy 100 yard "walk". However the advantage of walking slow enough that snails ere overtaking me, is that I was able to enjoy the things I could see around me. So ... this is literally just up the road from my house, this morning. So much colour.







( And, more colour here )

So life is progressing ... slow, but overall I can see that I had a better walking style ... I really concentrated on walking through the leg, allbeit, slowly.

I want to try and get a bit of housework done, but I do plan to have a lazy afternoon.  This evening I am looking forward to catching up on Strictly, having missed the last 3 Saturdays ... so although I know who is "out", I have missed the process, and the eving entertainment.

Then tomorrow being Sunday, a very lazy day ... especially as I am unable to drive, so can't get to Church.  So, other than another couple of short walks I plan to totally rest the leg.

I do plan on catching up on the missing questions, as I enjoy the challenge, and thinking what the answers are ... and, after all kazzy_cee went to the bother to sort them out, so don't want tp ignore her work.  So, here are the questions since yesterday, and this weekend -






31. Do you have a favourite aroma you love (a perfume, something baking, a flower etc)?
I have anancient rose bush, and that is one beautiful smell.
But, there again, so is fresh cooked bread!

1. In the UK, the 5th of November is Guy Fawkes night, which is celebrated with fireworks. The firework displays and parties usually start this weekend and may continue for several days of November. When was the last time you attended a firework display?
I haven't been to one for years, although I love fireworks.
When I was a teen our Sunday School group used to have a great firework party, complete with singing round the bonfire, while drinking tomato soup.  For all the years we did it, it always seemed to be a lovely evening - great memories.

2. Do you have anything you love so much on TV that you record all the episodes?
My TV doesn't record!!
However there's not been much that I really want to keep recently - although I have quite a few series on DVDs






Right, let's get this posted.

I will see you all on Monday x

I had a lovely walk yesterday, and another short one today.  Yesterday I had to walk to get Nick's birthday pressie in the post, and also to deliver Claire's pressie to their house.  She was out (Tim was at work), so I left it in their recycling bin in the back garden, as I have a key to their back gate (and remembered to take it with me).  I then text them, as this morning was bin day for us both, and didn't wan't the pressie to end up in recycling - well unless Claire doesn't like it and chooses to do that anyway!

Wednesday however was a very stressful day.  In the morning I had a message from my "boss" at work to ask why I hadn't renewd my DBS this year.  She took me by suprise, as although it is due next week, I had done it back in November.  So, after an hour on hold on the phone with the company that actually employs me I found out that, no, I wasn't covered, but they couldn't tell me why.  So they gave me another number ... and I was on hold for another hour!  Luckily this time I got to speak to someone who was actually helpful  He eventually worked out that "someone" had forgotten to clear it through the system ... so I had to do it again.  So I walked into their office in work only to be told that I had to have an appointment.  So I just sat down and said that the man at HQ told me to come in ... and she decided it was the easiest way to get rid of me!

At long last I have heard that the paperwork is with the DBS people ... I just now have to wait for it to be cleared.  I asked both the people I spoke to why I had not been informed that there was a problem, and their answer was that they didn't know!

What a day!

As ever in between everything I have made a few icons. These 4 are foru your_favourites, with a theme of "Siblings". My favourite sibling relationship is that of Buffy & Dawn in BtVS

 .   .   . 

Tomorrow I am working in the afternoon, but hope to pop in during the morning - so until then ....







29. It is thought that William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" was first performed in 1595. Have you ever seen a Shakespeare play on the stage?
No - had to read them at school. Henry IV part I was one of my O' level plays (the othere was "A Nan For All Seasons")

30. Do you have houseplants?
Yes, but they survive more by luck, I think

31. The end of January – does it seem to have flown past? Have you enjoyed this month?
It's been a typical January really - nothing special, nothing bad.






Right, hope to see you tomorrow.

Yes, I am slowly getting there ... both yesterday and today I have managed a short walk (only about a mile each day), but am going with the positive seeing how last week just walking across my lounge seemed a long way ... and I don't live in a mansion!!!!

I will try and catch up with you all in a moment, but until then I will apologise for the deya.

I had aimed to pop in yesterday ... BUT ...




( BEWARE ... talk of suicide )




I am hoping to get some artwork done today, as don't have work.

The bank balance is not happy, but at least I have the time to fully rest and relax ... and recover.

So, before I post this ....







3. On National Poetry Day do you have a favourite poet or poem (link if you want to)?
Don't have a favourite ... but I tend to like some of the silly poems.
I prefer ones that don't need explaining ... maybe that's why some of the war poetry works for me ... or something silly like -
Little girls should love their brothers
But I so good have grown
That I love other people's brothers
Better than my own!!

4. Do you have any lights in your house that are on a timer so they come on automatically?
No ... if I had lights on a lot that would be wrong, as i tend to like dimmed rooms anyway!




Right, lets try and get on ... answer some replies, and catch up with you if I can x

I worked again this morning ... and it was certainly busy, busy, busy ... which meant that the time went rapidly.  Luckily we had a good selection of people, with only a couple of random questions ... so, a good morning, afer all.

I have also been a good girl as I had a walk of almost a couple of miles ... I realised how I had got a bit lazy recently, and a good friend was "nagging" me in that they have a walk every day and how good it is ... so, yes, I do listen occasionally!






21. In 1943 Disney’s Bambi was released. Have you ever seen it (did you cry when Bambi’s mother died?).
I have always refused to see it, for that reason alone!



Right, I need to see how you are all doing.

I managed to catch up with a friend from work for a short walk ... we pretty much avoided the rain, but were stunned to see almost waves on an inland lake!












I was worried the bird on the nests would feel seas-sick



Bottoms up




Stover is not far from where Mum & Dad used to live, so it was a popular walk for Jiffy.  But it is also fairly flat, so easier walking when I am struggling with a cracked rib.

In the afternoon I got the bus into the city as I have had some problems with my vision ... the optician was great and quite positive, that although my prescription had changed in less than 3 months it was still OK

Today I am having a lazy day ... I need to collect a prescription, but as it's cold and wet I shall leave that for tomorrow.

Instead I shall try and make some icons, which I love, but at present the mouse has to be used in my left hand, so slower than normal.  Before I do that, I must catch up -





9. National Cherish an Antique Day - a day to find out about anything you've got that has been passed down through the family. Or maybe you've bought something that you will pass down? Do you have any antiques?
Actually loads!  The room I am sitting in has a couple of books that belonged to my grandparents when they were kids ... also a clock (one of 2 in the house) on the wall that belonged to my great-granparents and were made in the 1880's

10. World Homeopathy Day - a day to raise awareness of Homeopathy. Do you believe it has a place in modern medicine?
As an ex-osteopath I am a great believer in all forms of traditional healing such as homeopathy, naturopathy etc



Right, let's get on x

Yes, I had a walk and spotted more signs of Spring. It was actually a lovely bright, but cooler, day. So I enjoyed the walk.









I had to go into work to try and sort something on a work computer ... but didn't get the things done I wanted, as I had to email a couple of people, and am now awaiting replies. Oh well, can't do anything else, but at least stage one is done.

So that's frustrating, but nothing I can do

Oh well ... let's start the February questions -



1. Dark chocolate is now considered to have significant benefits for your good gut bacteria and is an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants. But you must eat around 20 g (0.7 oz) of chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa daily to get these benefits - do you like very dark chocolate?
I am a Cadbury dairy milk fan ... and eat very little non-Cadbury (although I always have Nestle Quality Street at Christmas). I have tried the dark-milk that Cadbury make, and even that's too bitter for me ... so, to shorten the answer ... No, I don't!



Right let's get on.

I want to get my sunlounge un-messed. Over Christmas I used it as a bit of a dumping ground, so want to get it sorted out.

See you later x

... and now I must gt on, as I am in work later.

I met up with Christine (from work) ... she is still on long-term sick leave.  We went to Stover, which I hadn't been to since Jiffy crossed rainbow Bridge.  It is not far from where M&D used to  live, and jiffy loved going there ... so happy memories.  And, the weather stayed lovely for us ... here are a few photos from the walk -


We walked up the memorial for the Canadian loggers who were here during the war -





























So what a lovely morning trip. Now, I have to get on, so



5 – Global James Bond Day: Are you a Bond fan (either books or films or both)? Who is your favourite Bond actor? Do you have a favourite Bond theme song?
Pierce Brosnan ... although I quite like Timothy Dalton, as well
If you know me, you know I love jewellery, so the music has to be "Diamonds are Forever"!! Although actually I do like the actually James Bond theme itself.



Right, off to shops, before heading off to work - see you tomorrow x

So today I walked into the city, looked at some shops, and back home ... about 4 miles. So that means I can have cake later! I did some baking earlier this afternoon ... pastry. Some is for now, some for the freezer. When Brenda arrives on Tuesday I have Tim & Claire round for dinner as well. So I have made a syrup tart ... and some individual jam tarts.

Then tomorrow it's Church day. I went to Nick & Brenda's Church last year and did the Bible reading as usually Andrew opens the service, and although the rest was organised, they forgot to sort out a Bible reader ... and I was the "lucky" person who was early!! Nick had picked a very long reading, with lots of long names, but decided to cut out a few of the verses ... so I think I managed it without stumbling too badly (maybe Nick will say different!)

I know there are things I should be doing, but it is Saturday afternoon so will make some icons instead ... before I do that ...




6. What is your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
I always walk to shops, whether the supermarket, or the city. I enjoy it, and do it every Saturday, so it's both the favourite & the worst thing I do!!

7. Where do you think your road is going?
Geographically I live on a road that heads towards the city
Spiritually I am headed towards Heaven
Life ... who knows? It happens a day at a time


Right that's me done for the weekend. I will catch up with you all later, but won't be around 100% until Monday ... enjoy x