Eternal Refuge

Much of England has had a smattering of snow, but we don't have any here.  As I am surviving on crutches, I am truly thankful.  That will be super scary if it does freeze here.

I had a nice lazy day yesterday ... and, yes, I did manage to get 2 short walks done.  However the cold bugs are back again, and I am working later, so won't do an extra walk this morning.

My decorations will stay up over the weekend ... but come Monday things will get "naked" again.  I know a lot of people strip the decs on Boxing Day, but I love having them up, so nice to keep them until almost 12th night.

I ended up having a lazy day yesterday, although at least I managed to get my knitting pattern sorted out, and have got it all going again ... I do love knitting, but am not the fastest, and tend to only do a few rows a day. I spoke to Auntie Mary yesterday, and despite the fact that she is almost 96 she still knits a lot. She was just starting on a cardigan for a friend's partner. What she does is ask them to provide wool & pattern ... and she knits. If she has nothing specific on the go, then she knits baby clothes for charity. As ever,it was great to catch up with her, ... we always have a good laugh.

On Saturday we had the "family" get-together. Since Mum & Dad died, Tim & Claire have had a gathering at the beginning of December each year (except Covid year, of course). So her family & his family turn up, eat, drink and are merry. Nick & Brenda picked me up ... and our side was missing nephew #2 & partner. Claire's side was missing nephew/niece & toddler (as she is also 7 months pregnant) and missing sister #2.

But, as you can see ... I got to meet Jonah, at long last (he was ill, then I was busy, then I was unable to drive ... so nice to meet him at long last)





My Christmas is coming together - decorations are up, and cards are written ... although I have a few letters to write to add to the cards before posting. I had sent one to Australia at the end of last week, and heard from them this morning ... although, it's no longer a "them", so I also need to write another letter to Jean.

Oh well ... let's get on with that ... so ...




5. Do you own anything with fake (or real) fur trim?
No ... I did when I was younger.

6. Do you own a microwave oven? What do you use it for?
I have one, but don't use it very much at all.

7. Have you ever tried an alcoholic cocktail, or a non-alcoholic mocktail? Do you have a favourite?
I love many cocktails ... but not a mocktail fan (what's the point!!) If I am driving, I just stick to lemonade.

8. Today is Green Monday: the most lucrative shopping day of the year. This is usually the last day that people can shop online so that the purchases can still arrive in time for the holidays. What’s the last thing you bought from an online retailer?
A specialist light-bulb for a lamp that we kids bought Mum & Dad back in the late 70's

9. If you have a battery smoke alarm in your home, do you check the batteries regularly?
Mine is electrical with battery back-up.





Right, hopefully it will rain less over the next few hours so I can have my daily rehab walk.

Let's try & catch up with you all before I log off.

xx

St Michaelmass is an Orthodox Christian celebration (In the Christian angelology of some traditions, the Archangel Michael is considered as the greatest of all the angels, being particularly honored for defeating Satan in the war in heaven) ... but is also a quarter day ... and the first day of Autumn.

I will admit I had never really thought about it, just saw the name on my calender this morning, and realised I had to learn a bit more.

In Irish folklore, clear weather on Michaelmas was a portent of a long winter, "Michaelmas Day be bright and clear there will be two Winters in the year." And, guess what, it's a beautiful bright day!!

The weekend went well - although I managed to burn my arm on the oven yesterday!!

Now I am getting organised for another week at work.

Before I head out ....








29. When was the last time you had to take part in a fire evacuation?
It really would be an odd week if I didn't hear the fire alarm warning bells going off at work. She have a 3 stage system of warnings.
The last time I was out of the building was about a year ago, but only for a short time.
About 6 years ago I was outside for most of a shift ... builders had drilled through a gas mains!
I have helped a ward evacuate, as they came through the ward I was working in (about 10 years ago)
We do annual fire training for a reason! All hospitals have piped oxygen in every wall!!!






Right, let's get some housework sorted, before I am off

Yes, the weather is lovely ... wall to wall sunshine ... but it's certainly chilly.  I really need to check out my heating before it gets much further into winter.  I have a terrible feeling the boiler has pretty much died.  So that is a bill, and a challenge, to sort out soon.

Yesterday was a good day at work, but my planned morning din't pan out as by the time I had sorted out banking, shopping, washing etc, etc the morning had gone.

Monday was a good day at work, as well ... and my dental appointment went well.  2 fillings ... what really frustrated me was that the bigger of the 2 (and the dentist is concerned about the future of the tooth) is a repair of my previous filling done by my last dentist.  My new dentist has had to do 2 large fillings ... both of which were repairs from the previous dentist, so although my new dentist is more expensive she both takes the time to listen to my worries, as well as explain what is going on.

I really want to catch up with you all ... but I also need to get some icons made.  Really I must ask father Christmas if he can give me an extra few days per month!

So, here are the questions ... and for those who bother you will realise that I abandoned the weekly photos.  Yes, I was enjoying the challenge but time keeps getting away from me, so I decided that sometimes I can be sensible!








23. Do you know how to perform the ‘Heimlich manoeuvre’?
I learnt it at college in the early 8's.
However it is now "deleted" from our resussitation training.

24. Have you ever seen a comet in the sky?
Back in the 80's ... Halley's Comet. However as I was living in London at the time, the light pollution didn't make for a good view.




Right, let's get on

... And we are basically half way through the year now ... and even weirder, a quarter of the way through the century.  How can that be?  Where have the days go?

I had planned to catch up with you all but for some unknown reason my internet is on a super go-slow ... so whether I get caught up is very debatable.

Although we are meant to be in a heat-wave today, it's warm & muggy ... but actually overcast and damp in the air.  Hopefully it will clear later, as I hung my washing out anyway.  For me, I don't mind, as I am inside computining this morning, and inside working this afternoon!

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Before I try and see if the internet will let me post this, let me do the question ....






“A cold in the head in June is an immoral thing” (L M Montgomery, Canadian author, born 1874). Have you had a cold in the head so far this year?
I tend to get chest infections more, but yes I have had a head cold this year.
(I love LM Montgomery's Anne series of books ... just saying!)






Right, I must get on ... hopefully to catch up with you all, but also to try and get some photos sorted, to post tomorrow.

See you soon x

When I got in from work yesterday I made a cuppa, came upstaires and switched on my computer and ... the doorbell rang!

It was truly lovely to see them both, as they satyed for a couple of hours, but by then I just decided to have a lazy evening - chatting to a friend via text, and watching some TV ... so, sorry, my plans of being here, were shot down.

I had a lovely Easter Day ... it was a lovely service, and when I got home I actually sat in the sunshine for an hour reading - just so lovely. My great-grandmother always said that whatever the weather around Easter, it would always be sunny on Easter Day. Thank you Grandma Hillson!

I am working again this afternoon ... and want to get some icons made before then. But as it's the first post of the week I need to do my A to Z ... Week 18 – Apr 27 R is for ROOF. And, you get 3 for the price of 1. This is my house .... conservatory, kitchen, bedroom ... 3 roofs.


And ....






21. In Egypt, National Food Day is a day to celebrate the country's diverse cuisine. Do you like falafel?
Ironically, despite touring Egypt for 2 weeks last year, I don't remember seeing falafel. I don't actually remember having any, elsewhere ... but it may have been one of the things I tried when I was in Sicily, as we had a wide range of foods there.
So, the answer is, I don't know!

22. What do you have hanging on the walls of your home?
Pictures, photos, pictures, plates, pictures, clocks, pictures ... and more pictures. I have Vitorian photos of my great grandparents, to a cartoon of 5 giraffes named for myself, Nick & Tim, Brenda & Claire. (And everything in between)
As I look straight ahead of me, I have a cartoon of a lion with the quote "Sometimes I sits & thinks and Sometimes I just sits". Next to that is a painting Mum did of a village in Northamptonshire (near where she was born), and a love spoon that Dad' best man made for their 50th wedding anniversary.
In fact there is very little space left on my walls now.




Right, my artwork is calling me

I will check up on what you are all doing, as well

.... And, even better, the sun is shining.

I had a super lazy morning, so wasn't here, but at least I shall hopefully settle the bugs down soon.

This morning I went to Killerton (the local National Trust property) and walked through some of the grounds, enjoying the Spring flowers -












They also have a costume display that's changed every year.  this year it's the 1920's (more photos to follow).

On the way home I picked up some groceries, and I am now editing the photos, and making some icons as well.  I also plan to actually read a bit, as well.  Making the most of the day off.

Tomorrow will be Church but in the afternoon I am going into Exeter to meet up with Christine as the Bishop's garden is having an open-garden in the afternoon, and with the weekend's weather it is too good an oppertunity to miss.

So - it's a "farewell" until Monday -





4. What was the last book you bought? Have you read it yet?
I bought the book Bonfire, The Chestnut Gentleman ... the sory of Lt.Colonel John McCrae during WWI (he wrote In Flander's Fields), as written by his horse. I bought it the day I saw John McCrae's grave in France. Yes, I have read it.
I bought a load of guide books in Egypt that I am dipping in and out of.

5. Does your phone have the facility to store your payment cards? Do you take advantage of that instead of using your physical card?
I am not a phone person, at all. So it's a physical card.

6. How confident are you about doing your own home renovations? What’s the biggest project you’ve tackled?
I have done decorating, and gardening ... but other than that no.






Right, see you Monday

It's a fairly overcast morning, but as there's a breeze I did put my washing on the line. I will be getting it back in again at lunchtime as I am working this afternoon. But at least everything gets a bit of a blow, which I do love.

And, seeing as it's Monday, I am doing the A to Z ... Week 12 – Mar 16 L is for LOST

This doll was second hand when Mum had it in the mid 1920's. When I was younger I remember she was wearing leather shoes ... but somehow with all the house moves in between they now appear to be LOST!

Having had a lazy Sunday I don't really have any news, so will close this here, with -






17. Do you add things to your ‘to-do’ list just so you can cross them out immediately to say you’ve done them?
No - I think I would be too depressed if I actually listed all the things I needed to do, let alone the other things I would like to do.
Mum used to keep a list though, so know exactly what it's like.





Right, I have icons to post, so they will be up soon.

Hope you have a fun Monday x

Today is very bleak, although yesterday was lovely.

Apparently tomorrow the temperature is going to drop even further ... so is it winter returning, or was the sunshine we had yesterday our summer, and we are now into Autumn?!!!

The weekend was actually nice.

Work went well - although we did have one man who decided to "go home" ... he was just wearing his boxers, and socks ... luckily (for me) he had a nurse with him trying to persuade him to return (for his shoes, if nothing else). An hour later he came in with a couple of the security men talking to him ... so how long he stayed I don't know.

As it's Monday I have looked at what the photo prompt is, and taken a couple of photos this morning. Week 11 – Mar 9 K is for KING ... Yes, I'm a Royalist, and a hoarder ... so here's my royal mugs (some were Mum & Dad's) ... and include -
King George V
King Edward VIII
King George IV

And, Tim & Claire bought me this money box as an extra Christmas present -
King Charles III

So, there's all the Kings since 1911.

I have signed up for another couple of icon challenges, which seeing as I am going to be working a lot more over the next couple of weeks may be a challenge ... but that's good for life!

So, before I get on with seeing what you have put up, and then icon -







10. It’s International Bagpipe Day! Are you a fan of bagpipe music?

Possibly not as big a fan as Royalty! However when I am at the cenotaph I love hearing the laments that are played. And, will admit the lament played as the Queen's coffin was lowered at St George's Windsor really was hauntingly beautiful.






Right - let's get on x

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.