Thirty five years ago today,
at roughly 5am, after a horrendous thunderstorm, my second son, Tom, was born.
at roughly 5am, after a horrendous thunderstorm, my second son, Tom, was born.
Happy Birthday Tom.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
A Day in the Life (Beatles, 1967)
5am. Am woken by Cassie (cat) who wants to go out. Discreetly roll over and accidentally nudge Rog, so he that knows Cassie is awake, but not that I am! Having successfully accomplished that objective, I go back to sleep while he gets up to let Cassie out.
6am. Am woken again, this time by Rog, with a cuppa. Go through bathroom, then sit up in bed reading for a while. Downstairs at 6.30, feed Cassie, switch on PC, read emails (one from the lovely Clare, entitled Your Daily Sunshine), read updates on the blogs I follow, catch up on Facebook and then visit
www.susanjeffers.com for my daily quotation "You are only given a little spark of madness, make sure you dont lose it" by Robin Williams and daily affirmation "I trust I shall say whatever needs to be said".
7am. Breakfast - cereal and toast. Load dishwasher, load washing machine (Alex arrived home late last night after finishing work at 8pm, bringing 2 bags full of dirty washing - his new digs lacks the essential tumble dryer! How can one person own so many dirty clothes, thats what I want to know?). Write to-do list.
8am. Water houseplants, change hand towels, empty and reload washing machine, ring Mum, who seems quite bright and chirpy today, exchange texts with friend I've been trying to catch at home to speak to for a couple of weeks now - think we've found we'll both be around at 9am on Wednesday, hope to speak to her then.
9am. Load tumble tryer with Alex's socks and pants, all of which seem to have turned a delicate shade of pale blue/grey, I guess from having been washed along with denim jeans! Hang various T shirts (some in matching pale blue/grey) on washing line. Empty and reload washing machine again, hey I'm now washing stuff that obviously came back from his holiday in Greece at the beginning of June, and stuff I've never even seen before, so probably isn't even his (now I'm starting to understand why there is so much!). Made our bed, cleaned huge mirror in bathroom.
10am. Coffee break, except I dont drink coffee, so have glass of water and apple, before cleaning the rest of the bathroom. Over the weekend we reduced the price of our house in the hope of attracting more viewers (and possibly a buyer) which means I must keep it really clean, especially kitchen and bathroom. Empty washing machine (is that a non-grey T shirt I spy?) and reload for fourth and final time.
11am. Sweep kitchen floor, play about on Facebook for a few minutes, mop kitchen floor. Empty washing machine for fourth and final time, my washing line is now completely full. Oli appears at 11.40 and fixes himself some breakfast. Rog and I enjoy a pleasant walk along the towpath into town.
12noon. Allow Rog to wander off to the pub, via the bakers shop to pick up some bread, while I go into Morrisons for some necessary provisions, and as its too early for the bus when I come out, I drag the trolley back up the hill, feeling quite virtuous - also hot and sweaty, its about 24C out there. Alex is up and breakfasted and very impressed that all his clothes are washed and drying. Put shopping away.
1pm. Fix myself a chicken, lettuce and mayo roll and allow myself the luxury of sitting down for half an hour, more or less the first time since breakfast. Rog comes in while I'm eating, fixes himself a sandwich and we get to sit together and chat for a while. Wash dishes, the ones that dont go in the dishwasher - decent cutlery, grill pan, some of our better glasses.
2pm. A quick five minutes of playing games on the PC then clean the hob and kitchen worktop.
3pm. Just on the verge of cutting up some stewing steak for tonight's tea, beef curry, when Oli offers to do it, thanks Oli, yes please. Emptied the tumble dryer and paired Alex's socks. Made a start on ironing some of his stuff, no way is there time for me to do it all, but a short hour, listening to BBC Radio 6 - Oli's choice of tea prepping music - (instead of my usual Classic FM) saw 4 shirts, 3 T shirts, a hoody and a pair of jeans nicely folded in his overnight bag.
4pm. Ironing bored. Ironing board put away. Glass of Murphys poured, sitting at breakfast bar with Rog and Alex (glasses of lager in hands), indulging in intelligent conversation (ooh, get me!) Stewing steak bubbling away nicely, courtesy of Oli, onions and peppers chopped, likewise. Wind down time, methinks.
5pm. Transfer yesterday's and today's photos onto my PC and do some editing. Take the remainder of Alex's non-ironed clothes from the washing line, fold them neatly ready to pack in his other bag - he owes me big time! Give Oli some logistical support with cooking the rice, the rest of the curry he has sorted out by himself, and it smells wonderful.
6pm. Fabulous beef jalfrezi with saffron rice for tea, thanks, Oli. Watched Points West on TV.
7pm. Well, thats been my day today, not a typical day by any means, but then in another sense its a very typical day because since Rog and I both retired no two days are ever the same. It hasn't been any more or less busy than any other day, and on days like this I often wonder how I ever had the time to raise a family and hold down a part-time job. I have a couple of things left to do before I sit down in front of the TV with my crocheting, I need to pack Alex's unironed clothes into his bag, and make him some breakfast sarnies - he's off back to Bristol at 6am tomorrow to start his early shift at 8am. - then at sometime between 9 and 10pm I shall be off to bed, goodnight all, thanks for listening.
6am. Am woken again, this time by Rog, with a cuppa. Go through bathroom, then sit up in bed reading for a while. Downstairs at 6.30, feed Cassie, switch on PC, read emails (one from the lovely Clare, entitled Your Daily Sunshine), read updates on the blogs I follow, catch up on Facebook and then visit
www.susanjeffers.com for my daily quotation "You are only given a little spark of madness, make sure you dont lose it" by Robin Williams and daily affirmation "I trust I shall say whatever needs to be said".
7am. Breakfast - cereal and toast. Load dishwasher, load washing machine (Alex arrived home late last night after finishing work at 8pm, bringing 2 bags full of dirty washing - his new digs lacks the essential tumble dryer! How can one person own so many dirty clothes, thats what I want to know?). Write to-do list.
8am. Water houseplants, change hand towels, empty and reload washing machine, ring Mum, who seems quite bright and chirpy today, exchange texts with friend I've been trying to catch at home to speak to for a couple of weeks now - think we've found we'll both be around at 9am on Wednesday, hope to speak to her then.
9am. Load tumble tryer with Alex's socks and pants, all of which seem to have turned a delicate shade of pale blue/grey, I guess from having been washed along with denim jeans! Hang various T shirts (some in matching pale blue/grey) on washing line. Empty and reload washing machine again, hey I'm now washing stuff that obviously came back from his holiday in Greece at the beginning of June, and stuff I've never even seen before, so probably isn't even his (now I'm starting to understand why there is so much!). Made our bed, cleaned huge mirror in bathroom.
10am. Coffee break, except I dont drink coffee, so have glass of water and apple, before cleaning the rest of the bathroom. Over the weekend we reduced the price of our house in the hope of attracting more viewers (and possibly a buyer) which means I must keep it really clean, especially kitchen and bathroom. Empty washing machine (is that a non-grey T shirt I spy?) and reload for fourth and final time.
11am. Sweep kitchen floor, play about on Facebook for a few minutes, mop kitchen floor. Empty washing machine for fourth and final time, my washing line is now completely full. Oli appears at 11.40 and fixes himself some breakfast. Rog and I enjoy a pleasant walk along the towpath into town.
12noon. Allow Rog to wander off to the pub, via the bakers shop to pick up some bread, while I go into Morrisons for some necessary provisions, and as its too early for the bus when I come out, I drag the trolley back up the hill, feeling quite virtuous - also hot and sweaty, its about 24C out there. Alex is up and breakfasted and very impressed that all his clothes are washed and drying. Put shopping away.
1pm. Fix myself a chicken, lettuce and mayo roll and allow myself the luxury of sitting down for half an hour, more or less the first time since breakfast. Rog comes in while I'm eating, fixes himself a sandwich and we get to sit together and chat for a while. Wash dishes, the ones that dont go in the dishwasher - decent cutlery, grill pan, some of our better glasses.
2pm. A quick five minutes of playing games on the PC then clean the hob and kitchen worktop.
3pm. Just on the verge of cutting up some stewing steak for tonight's tea, beef curry, when Oli offers to do it, thanks Oli, yes please. Emptied the tumble dryer and paired Alex's socks. Made a start on ironing some of his stuff, no way is there time for me to do it all, but a short hour, listening to BBC Radio 6 - Oli's choice of tea prepping music - (instead of my usual Classic FM) saw 4 shirts, 3 T shirts, a hoody and a pair of jeans nicely folded in his overnight bag.
4pm. Ironing bored. Ironing board put away. Glass of Murphys poured, sitting at breakfast bar with Rog and Alex (glasses of lager in hands), indulging in intelligent conversation (ooh, get me!) Stewing steak bubbling away nicely, courtesy of Oli, onions and peppers chopped, likewise. Wind down time, methinks.
5pm. Transfer yesterday's and today's photos onto my PC and do some editing. Take the remainder of Alex's non-ironed clothes from the washing line, fold them neatly ready to pack in his other bag - he owes me big time! Give Oli some logistical support with cooking the rice, the rest of the curry he has sorted out by himself, and it smells wonderful.
6pm. Fabulous beef jalfrezi with saffron rice for tea, thanks, Oli. Watched Points West on TV.
7pm. Well, thats been my day today, not a typical day by any means, but then in another sense its a very typical day because since Rog and I both retired no two days are ever the same. It hasn't been any more or less busy than any other day, and on days like this I often wonder how I ever had the time to raise a family and hold down a part-time job. I have a couple of things left to do before I sit down in front of the TV with my crocheting, I need to pack Alex's unironed clothes into his bag, and make him some breakfast sarnies - he's off back to Bristol at 6am tomorrow to start his early shift at 8am. - then at sometime between 9 and 10pm I shall be off to bed, goodnight all, thanks for listening.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Week 9/52 57-63/365
This week its been really nice, weatherwise, and fairly laid back otherwise.
57/365 All ready to write my best seller, paper, pen, folder, inspiration from my favourite author
58/365 A day trip to Boscombe, to help Oli move out of this years student digs, wouldn't be complete without a quick toe dip and a white choc magnum
59/365 Mr Blackbird, conveniently close to my front window
60/365 The Kenavon Venture gives trips along the canal
61/365 Another day of son assisting found us in the Horley area of Bristol to help Alex move from one set of digs to another, (its that time of year).
62/365 A day at home, and lunch in the garden for us
63/365 My dear friend Kate is expecting her first grandchild, a girl, and these are the items I have made to send off to her son and daughter-in-law in New York State. Actually thats not entirely true, because I didn't make the hats, they were made by my friend Ali's mum. Ali please let your mum know that two of her hats are going to USA.
Hope you all have a good week.
57/365 All ready to write my best seller, paper, pen, folder, inspiration from my favourite author
58/365 A day trip to Boscombe, to help Oli move out of this years student digs, wouldn't be complete without a quick toe dip and a white choc magnum
59/365 Mr Blackbird, conveniently close to my front window
60/365 The Kenavon Venture gives trips along the canal
61/365 Another day of son assisting found us in the Horley area of Bristol to help Alex move from one set of digs to another, (its that time of year).
62/365 A day at home, and lunch in the garden for us
63/365 My dear friend Kate is expecting her first grandchild, a girl, and these are the items I have made to send off to her son and daughter-in-law in New York State. Actually thats not entirely true, because I didn't make the hats, they were made by my friend Ali's mum. Ali please let your mum know that two of her hats are going to USA.
Hope you all have a good week.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Lazy Sunday Afternoon (Small Faces, 1968)
Wow, I can still remember last Sunday, it was the hottest day of the year so far, much too hot to actually do anything, so Rog and I spent most of the afternoon just sitting in the garden, enjoying the moment. Without moving from my chair, I could see:
1) Blossom on the tree in next door's garden
2) Our log pile, and brickwork detail on the back of the house
3) His and hers wheelbarrows
4) The washing line full of Alex's stuff
5) The table with our bits and pieces on it
6) The pear tree
7) One of the two fig trees
8) My current W.I.P.
9) A splash of colour from the Californian Poppies
Wonder if this Sunday will be as nice?
1) Blossom on the tree in next door's garden
2) Our log pile, and brickwork detail on the back of the house
3) His and hers wheelbarrows
4) The washing line full of Alex's stuff
5) The table with our bits and pieces on it
6) The pear tree
7) One of the two fig trees
8) My current W.I.P.
9) A splash of colour from the Californian Poppies
Wonder if this Sunday will be as nice?
Friday, 1 July 2011
Versatile blogger award
Thank you Lois for awarding me with this, the Versatile Blogger Award
I need to tell you seven random (or is it interesting?) things about me, and then pass this on to seven other bloggers, so here goes:
1) I'm a recently retired Mum, that means I am now an empty nester, mother of four adult sons.
2) I'm forever taking up new challenges, my current one is writing.
3) Even though my eldest son is now 40, I dont feel any older than 35 inside my head.
4) I'm still hanging on to a teenage dream of one day flying in Concorde (come on Richard Branson, you can get them to sell it to you if you try hard enough)
5) I would love to live on the coast, but my OH wouldn't, so its probably not gonna happen
6) I love growing (and eating) vegetables, although this year, because our house is on the market and we hope to move sometime soon, I've only grown tomatoes in growbags.
7) I have a truly vast collection of old books.
I am passing this blog award on to :
1) Emma, The Syders
2) Tracy, Mad about Bags
3) Becky, Dots and Spots
4) Elaine, Mauls being creative
5) Ali, Magic Making Hands
6) Callie, Mumu and Squeak's place
7) Janice, Its all about the light
8) Gini, Desparately seeking myself
(sorry, this is only supposed to be seven, but I couldn't leave any of them out)
All the above are very clever ladies in their field(s) of expertise
I need to tell you seven random (or is it interesting?) things about me, and then pass this on to seven other bloggers, so here goes:
1) I'm a recently retired Mum, that means I am now an empty nester, mother of four adult sons.
2) I'm forever taking up new challenges, my current one is writing.
3) Even though my eldest son is now 40, I dont feel any older than 35 inside my head.
4) I'm still hanging on to a teenage dream of one day flying in Concorde (come on Richard Branson, you can get them to sell it to you if you try hard enough)
5) I would love to live on the coast, but my OH wouldn't, so its probably not gonna happen
6) I love growing (and eating) vegetables, although this year, because our house is on the market and we hope to move sometime soon, I've only grown tomatoes in growbags.
7) I have a truly vast collection of old books.
I am passing this blog award on to :
1) Emma, The Syders
2) Tracy, Mad about Bags
3) Becky, Dots and Spots
4) Elaine, Mauls being creative
5) Ali, Magic Making Hands
6) Callie, Mumu and Squeak's place
7) Janice, Its all about the light
8) Gini, Desparately seeking myself
(sorry, this is only supposed to be seven, but I couldn't leave any of them out)
All the above are very clever ladies in their field(s) of expertise
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Photo Scavenger Hunt for June
An interesting selection again this month, thanks Kathy.
The view right outside my door - my front garden, in its green phase
Something with my town's name on it - a personalized OS map of Devizes and surroundings
An elephant - couldn't find a real one, so snapped up this lovely china one on my son and daughter-in-law's sideboard
Something begining with Z - had to consult the dictionary for this one
A farm animal - this obliging heifer lifted her head over the railings for me
A wheel trim - Rog did a wheel change on my car and helpfully left my wheel trim in a photographic position
Architectural detail - a fancy roof ridge on the dentist's building
Cheese - this is the only cheese I can eat, anything stronger makes me cough
Night - bit of a cheat this one, from a Fleetwood Mac Fan, Tango in the . . .
A childhood memory - a prize from my junior school teacher, I always wondered why she put her name in it and not mine!
Cutlery - a last minute desparation shot
Tree branches - my fig tree
The view right outside my door - my front garden, in its green phase
Something with my town's name on it - a personalized OS map of Devizes and surroundings
An elephant - couldn't find a real one, so snapped up this lovely china one on my son and daughter-in-law's sideboard
Something begining with Z - had to consult the dictionary for this one
A farm animal - this obliging heifer lifted her head over the railings for me
A wheel trim - Rog did a wheel change on my car and helpfully left my wheel trim in a photographic position
Architectural detail - a fancy roof ridge on the dentist's building
Cheese - this is the only cheese I can eat, anything stronger makes me cough
Night - bit of a cheat this one, from a Fleetwood Mac Fan, Tango in the . . .
A childhood memory - a prize from my junior school teacher, I always wondered why she put her name in it and not mine!
Cutlery - a last minute desparation shot
Tree branches - my fig tree
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Trousers
An item of clothing that most describes who I am. This is the prompt from Josie's writers workshop, which I am linking into for the first time this week.
Look at the trousers I'm wearing. They were an absolute bargain, I dont remember how much, but they were a charity shop buy and back then I never used to spend much more than £2 or £3 per item - with two small children and not much money all my clothes were charity shop finds, and these trousers were just THE very best. We are talking about way back in 1992 when this photo was taken, the trousers were pure cotton, and although not really clear from the picture, each leg was different, the right leg being much more garish than the left. So, these trousers really describe the person I am, economical, casual and odd, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, a bit rough round the edges but basically sound, having seen better days but with plenty of wear still left in me.
Look at the trousers I'm wearing. They were an absolute bargain, I dont remember how much, but they were a charity shop buy and back then I never used to spend much more than £2 or £3 per item - with two small children and not much money all my clothes were charity shop finds, and these trousers were just THE very best. We are talking about way back in 1992 when this photo was taken, the trousers were pure cotton, and although not really clear from the picture, each leg was different, the right leg being much more garish than the left. So, these trousers really describe the person I am, economical, casual and odd, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, a bit rough round the edges but basically sound, having seen better days but with plenty of wear still left in me.
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