Food for the brain

Hello, Getting on with things a bit earlier this morning. It was a big ask yesterday to point you in the direction of a video that takes an hour and a half to watch. Not everyone has the time to sit through something that long. There is a natural break at the point where the first story appears to finish, and a second story emerges. You could split it that way and still enjoy the whole thing, because the two stories run parallel, drawing it to a very emotional conclusion at the end.

You know I am a nosy person, I have said it many times, but I am not nosy for the sake of it, it's not that I want to know everybody's business. It's just that my little brain keeps asking me, what's that all about, I want to know how things work, how they fit together, why things happen, and what makes them happen. The internet is an ideal tool to satisfy my curiosity. I wasn't interested in learning at school, the only lessons I liked were practical subjects like cookery, sewing, art, and cross country running, and writing stories. I hated being forced to sit for a couple of hours my head jammed up with a mass of numbers that made no sense at all, or listen to the teacher drone on about some battle or other that happened a million years ago.I didn't need to know that stuff. I wanted to know about life, how and why things happen, right now while I am a part of it.

I walk around my village in the evening, and now it is getting dark early I see people watching the tele. The screens are that big these days, it's easy to see what they are watching, and the same tele's in the same houses are on, night after night. There seems to be a lot of run of the mill stuff, which is neither taxing to the brain, or even remotely interesting. I suppose they call that entertainment. I ask myself if I am perhaps missing out, should I get a tele. But what would I learn from Strictly Come Dancing, or the X Factor, or the many quiz programmes it seems to be awash with. And don't tell me I can learn a lot from cookery programmes, my mum was there to show me how to knock up a meal.

No, tele on the whole does not add to my learning experiences at all. I have an appetite and I need to feed it. Just like my body needing food, my brain also needs sustenance in the form of stimulating information which I can dissect and consume.

I do pick out a few programmes for their entertainment value, to watch on the computer, but I am paring that down now in favour of  something that will give me food for thought. Even Coronation Street has been given the boot, where do they get those barmy stories from, and so repetitive as well. Same old same old is not what I want. I need fresh, new ideas to feed the old grey matter.

I've been checking out a few crafty web sites which I am happy to share. You never know, there might be some new ideas here to give you inspiration.
Contemporary Quilt is all about erm,... quilting. There are lovely pictures of amazing quilts and details of events which you can visit.
Effie Galletly is a landscape artist and quilt maker, her works are inspired by the landscapes and structures of the Western Islands and the West Highlands of Scotland. She runs workshops on the Isle of Lewis, which were very successful in 2013.
Gillian Travis is an award winning textile artist living in the north of England. Her web site is choc a bloc full of interesting stuff, I will have to bookmark this one. Her work is colourful and contemporary, inspired by her extensive travels, all are documented on her blog.
Anne Kelly is a textile artist who lives in Sussex. She collects recycled fabric and paper to create a range of work which is mostly framed. She has a blog, and teaches at her workshops.

There's a few to be going on with, Now here's the question....what do you read up about on the internet, what subjects feed your desires for more knowledge?  What are you studying, what subjects  are you keen to learn more about? Are you feeding your brain with the right fodder, or are you slumped in front of the box, content with chillin after a hard day with your nose to the grindstone? Hey, that's more than one question, never mind, I'm being nosy again, ha ha.
Toodle pip.

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Inspiring

Hello, I'm a bit late with this, I've been watching yoootooob again, someone on a forum posted a link to a video which was 1 hour 30 mins long, I stuck with it as it was so interesting. If you are into healthy eating and food nutrition and losing weight, you might like to watch. It's a documentary about an Australian guy called Joe Cross who described himself  as fat, sick, and nearly dead. He decided he must do something about it because he didn't want his life to be dependent on the tablets he had to take every day. 

His plan was to take himself away from his usual environment and travel around America for 60 days while living entirely on juices. As time went on you could see the changes in him. He lost a whole lot of weight, he looked and felt better, and it looked like he was reversing the aging process. 

As well as the benefits to his slimmer frame he was also able to stop taking his medication. This was all done with the support of a medical doctor, who monitored his blood throughout the experiment. 

As well as it being a story of one man's determination to change his unhealthy lifestyle, there is a twist to it about three quarters of the way through. I won't tell you what it is in case you want to watch it, but it is so emotional it brought tears to my eyes. As well as being a heartwarming story, it is also educational, describing exactly what happens to your body if you choose to eat all the wrong kind of foods. It is well worth watching if you have the time.Switch the tele off when there is nowt on and watch this instead.

This is my dinner tonight, no cooking required. Lettuce, carrot, pickled onions, tomato, chickpeas, portion of quiche, cottage cheese, and dips. Lovely jubbly.  

Can't write any more, Heidi has her head on the keyboard. Toodle pip

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I do look after me teef

Hello me hearties. My nice lady dentist Emma has had a good prod around and given me a clean bill of health, me gnashers are good for another year. She asked me lots of questions about my lifestyle, drinking, smoking, how often do I brush my teeth, how often do I floss, and which toothpaste am I using. I have very low risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. I have scored a zero, meaning I have healthy gums. Whooopeeee. My teeth are not perfect by any means, with two crowns, a four teeth bridge, and several fillings this is as good as it's going to get, and I am hanging on to what I have. If anyone overseas is interested in how much a dental check up costs here, it's �18.50. My practice has both private and national health options. For most things I pay the cheaper national health rate, mind you, I haven't had anything done for ages. I went private for the bridge, opted to pay more for a better colour match, and shorter waiting times. They offer the services of a hygienist at �35 a time. I have never been to a hygienist in my life, I have never needed to. 

So, what's for dinner tonight. The usual steamed veg, all out of the garden except the spinach which was on a yellow sticker. I thought I would give these Tesco chicken style strips a try, they are the size of potato chips. I'm not very impressed by them, not much taste and a bit rubbery. I much prefer their veggie burgers. 

I thought you might like some kitty photo's. These are Janets cats, I'm feeding them for her while she is away, a sort of favour swap if you like, she will be feeding mine next week. There are seven cats,  I've got five of them here. This is Teddy, Janet raised him from a tiny kitten when he came into rescue, then she kept him.

Mr Beasley or Mr B as we call him, wouldn't stay with his owners when they moved home he kept wandering off. After picking him up and taking him back several times they had to admit defeat and he was put up for adoption. You can see where he ended up. We are not supposed to keep our rescue cats, but sometimes we do, ha ha.

I can't remember the names of the others, they are written down on a menu plan, each one has their favourite food.

I sat and watched the tele with them tonight, they are all lovely.

Because I was at the dentist this morning I missed what they put into the skip. By the time I got back, some traveling people in a van had stopped to ask if there was any metal. The owner said they could take it. But, they not only took the metal they took a load of other stuff as well, cheeky beggars. Anyway, after they had gone, the owner put a large box in the skip, and it was full of soft toys and dolls, so I nabbed it quick. These will be ideal for selling on the stall at the Christmas market.

I put some of the bulky items in my car this morning and after I had finished at the dentist I went to Lindsey Lodge Hospice shop with it. They were chuffed to receive it.

It's late so I am off to bed, it's been a busy day. Sewing has been put on hold for the moment, I must start getting a few things together for my adventure. Catch you tomorrow.
Have a laugh with Pam

Toodle pip

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Genes or choices?

Quite a few emails land in my box every week, I try and answer them all, eventually. I like to hear what you are getting up to, and it's nice that my blogging efforts are appreciated. I've picked this one out to reply here, I know who sent it but I shall leave the name off, I don't need to identify the writer.

Hi Ilona,

I am almost 4 1/2 years older than you are and I am wondering if your diet and lifestyle are keeping you off all medications?  I am pretty fit but have had to take a statin to control my cholesterol and now fosamax to help my bones.  I also take vitamins.  I am also warned that I am pre-diabetic.

I know you eat a vegetarian diet and I do not.  Also you walk SO far.  I do 2 miles every day but that's it.

I am not sure if it is your lifestyle or your genetics which keep you so healthy!

Thanks.

Hi. So I am 65 and you are 69, not much between us. It's difficult to say why one person appears to be healthy and another has problems, there are so many variables to be taken into consideration. I suspect that genetics do play a big part in our makeup, we can inherit the wrong genes from our parents and grandparents, but they are not the whole reason why we become ill. There has been talk in the press lately that people should take more responsibility for themselves, because self inflicted illnesses brought on by unhealthy lifestyles are costing the NHS millions. You only have to walk down the High Street in any town or city to see that there are more overweight people around these days, and that can't all be put down to genetics. True, some people may be prone to put on weight through some malfunction of certain organs in their body, and those people do genuinely need help from the medical profession, but now they are talking about offering gastric bands to more and more people as a cost cutting measure, meaning they won't have to spend so much money at a later date when people become incapacitated through excess weight.

Leaving all the genetic reasons aside why some people are not as healthy or more healthy than others, I believe the rest is down to lifestyle choices. You've heard the saying, 'You are what you eat', which makes sense to me. The body is like a car engine, you've got to put the right fuel and lubricants in to get optimum performance out of it. You've got to drive it right as well. If you thrash it around and neglect the servicing, you get a shit ride and eventually it will grind to a halt, just like a body would, given the same treatment.

Another factor which I think affects how the body performs is how you cope with the stresses and strains of every day living. Some people don't give a stuff about anything, they sail through life with apparently not a care in the world. Others will worry about every minor detail, however insignificant it is. I am somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards not giving a stuff. I have been a worrier in the past, worried what people think about me, not any more. That was when I was young, I am older now and more able to cope. I do think about what is happening to the world, the violence, the nastiness going on all around us, but I can't do anything about it so I try not to dwell on it, and can only hope that what goes round comes round.That might seem like a 'burying my head in the sand', attitude, but I think of it as self preservation.

Of course, mental attitude can also be linked to genetics. I think I take after my father, he had a carefree nature, if anything bothered him his answer was to go to the pub. Mum on the other hand was a worrier, oh my goodness did she worry. I'm not sure if that was what sent her to an early grave, but it couldn't have helped. Father died too early as well, but that was mainly through alcohol and tobacco abuse, something that won't affect me.

I believe that most of us, and I'm talking about able bodied here, have choices. We can choose what we put in our mouths, and we can choose whether to get up off our backsides. Nobody force feeds us with crap, it is all out there in the shops, we don't have to eat it. Nobody ties us to the settee and tells us to watch TV hour after hour, we can choose not to switch it on, or in my case, not to have a TV at all.

To sum up, I can fall off the wagon, I am not perfect. I can have a packet of crisps, or an ice cream or a choc bar, but to keep things in perspective, these are treats and not everyday food items. Remember the advert years ago, A Mars a day helps you work rest and play'. Ha, they got that wrong didn't they. They should make an up to day advert now, A Mars a day will make you fat, rot your teeth, give you spots, and bring on the diabetes.

Regarding my level of fitness, I was always active. I did a manual job for many years. As well as sitting in a lorry cab I also loaded and unloaded it. I physically lifted five hundred bicycles out of box trailers. I roped and sheeted wagon loads of timber or beer barrels. I chained massive lumps of machinery down on my low loader. I multi dropped fifty parcels, or catering deliveries a day. I delivered three piece suites and carpets to furniture shops. I was up and down inside tipper trailers pulling the fly sheet over and fastening it down. It was chuffin hard work, but now I am so grateful that I chose that career, and didn't opt for an office job.

Who knows what the future holds for me healthwise. I've tried my best, I won't worry about it now, just wait and see what cards I've been dealt. Keep on doing what I am doing. Try to keep to a healthy diet, try to keep busy, and keep on using my brain for as long as it functions. That's all I can do.
Thanks for reading. Going to get up off my backside now and go for a walk. Toodle pip.    

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Walking your way to health

Eeeee, aint this sun grand, makes you want to get out and walk. And so, the topic today is walking. My friend is a member of the Ramblers, he goes out once or twice a week on group walks, and he also gets a magazine sent through the post, four times a year. When he has finished with it he passes it on to me, and when I have finished with it I pass it on to another friend who likes walking. 

Something in this copy caught my eye, and I am going to pinch bits from the article to pass on here. You might find it interesting. The title, '20 reasons why walking can change your life and the world you live in'. This is about a new report from the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support, on how walking has major benefits to the health, the economy, and the environment. Some of them we all know about, but this report backs up the obvious benefits with real facts. 

1. Physical inactivity is responsible for 17% of early deaths in the UK, and 6% of deaths around the world, making it the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality.

2. A major study comparing the health impact of brisk walking with running found that walkers benefited as much as runners from a reduced risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, as long as they used the same amount of energy over a longer period.

3. 12,061 emergency admissions in England for coronary heart disease could be avoided each year if everyone did the Government's recommended level of exercise, and heart disease and related strokes could be cut by up to 35%

4. Studies on the brains of older people have shown that keeping physically active can improve cognitive function, memory, and processing speed, and reduce the risk of dementia.

5. The mental health charity Mind, recommends that outdoor activities should be recognised as a clinically valid treatment for mental distress. Studies have shown that it improves your self perception and self esteem, and produces feelings of well being.

6. Walking improves sleep quality.

7. Walking is free, you don't need an expensive gym membership, and you don't need any special equipment, and will save money on making shorter journeys on foot.

8. Walking is proven to blunt the effects of blood sugar spikes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes in high risk individuals. If everyone in England was sufficiently active nearly 3000,000 cases of diabetes could be avoided each year.

9. Physically active older people are up to 68% less likely to fracture a hip, and are far less prone to falls because of the stronger bones.

10. Like many developed countries, England is experiencing a serious inactivity crisis. 61% of adults and 30% of children between 2 and 15, are classed as overweight or obese. Walking for Health is is England's largest network of health walks, supporting and engaging an inclusive programme that meets the needs of local people.

I have summarized a few of the reasons how walking can change your life. If you want to read the full report click on the link to the Walking for Health web site, and click on Walking Works, Our new report. There are also links to help you find a group in your area if you don't want to walk alone.

There is a lot of useful information in the Ramblers magazine. Top ten walks from around Britain, with maps, to keep for reference. Stories of volunteers working hard to keep footpaths open. Ask the experts feature. Reports of walks in other countries. Walking events around the country. And lots of ideas of where to walk.

Although I am not keen on walking in groups, I have decided to join the Ramblers. They are a charity and do a lot of work to keep the footpaths open. I have been out today with my shears chopping back the vegetation on a footpath in my village. It was getting rather overgrown and wading through waist high nettles wearing shorts is not very nice.

The annual membership fee is �33, for a pensioner it is �20. I have paid with �11 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers, so Ramblers will get the money from Tesco. If you want to read up about the Ramblers, go to their web site. 

Have I inspired anyone to get walking? It doesn't have to be a ten mile slog, it can be what ever you want it to be, as long as you get off your bum and do something. I will be out tomorrow. Starting at the Humber Bridge I shall be walking across it and along the Yorkshire Wolds Way, to meet up with some guys from the Walking Forum. They will be on the last leg of their long walk, and when I meet them I will turn round and walk back with them. Looking forward to it. Let me know how much walking you are doing this weekend, or anytime, it isn't just a weekend activity. Any spare hour will do, any day you like.
Toodle pip.

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Pardon, did you speak?

Wot's all this 'ear then? This ear is my good ear, the other ear is useless. When I lie with this ear on the pillow I can't hear very much at all. This can be a bonus. If I had a partner who snores I would still be able to sleep, but I haven't. Mayze cat doesn't snore, and she lies at the bottom of the bed on my feet. Well I don't think she snores, I can't hear her. 

The other ear, my rubbish ear, has been sore for a couple of weeks. The hearing aid is rubbing it a bit, so I have been leaving it out, and sticking some Germoline on the sore spot. I stick Germoline on anything that is a bit sore, it's great on blisters, and chapped lips.

I have been walking around without a hearing aid. Not good if I meet someone in the street and I have to explain that I can't enter into a conversation because it is too difficult to catch every word they say. Sometimes I try and keep up by lip reading, and imagining what the missing words might be. If the person rabbits on as normal, or talks to the side of my head, I have to give up and make an excuse that I have to go. Then there are people who will sympathize with my predicament and talk very loudly with their face six inches from mine. They talk very s l o w l y, emphasizing each syllable, and I get the feeling that they think I have a learning difficulty. This makes me feel uncomfortable because I don't like people in my face.

Not being able to hear very well can bring all kinds of frustrations and problems. For a start people don't know you have the disability if your hearing aid is covered up with long hair. It's not like wearing glasses that show you can't see very well. A lot of deaf people don't want to wear the National Health hearing aid, because it is rather obvious, and they pay a lot of money for a smaller discreet one which hides inside the ear. I personally would rather see the kidney shaped bit of plastic hooked over someone's ear, than have them struggle to hear what I say. I think, aha, another deaf person, I will modify my speech so they can understand me. And by modification I mean facing them, not too close, speaking in a normal voice, not shouting, and speaking clearly.

It's not all bad being deaf. There are times when I want things around me to be quiet, so I can retreat into my own little world. The retreating bit I have to do anyway when I am in a room with lots of people talking among themselves. Even with my hearing aid in, I find it impossible to engage in conversation when there is a lot of noise going on around me. If I am sat by myself and not speaking to anyone, as happened at the party I recently went to, I am happy just to sit on the edge and watch others have a good time. I can entertain myself with the thoughts passing through my head. Someone spotted that I was alone and asked me to join them. I felt it would be rude not to, so I went over to their table. Of course I could not resist joining in the conversation and felt I ought to make an effort. I enjoyed their company, but oh, it was hard work. When I am in this scenario I find it takes less effort to tell stories and entertain. It might appear that I am hogging the conversation but it is easier than trying to catch a few words here and there of others talking.

There are advantages of not being able to hear very well. I don't like loud noise, so I can choose to take my hearing aid out. I spend a lot of time daydreaming, getting lost in my own thoughts, and noise interrupts that process. When I can't hear it's as if I am in my own little bubble, and I can choose who to let in, or close the door. I have been wearing my hearing aid continuously every day from when I get up to when I go to bed, but now I have discovered the joys of switching off the world outside, I think selective hearing is the way to go. What was that? Did you say something?
Toodle pip.

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Another stitch and a runny nose

Good morning, just, it's coming up to 12 midday. I'm back from the Parkrun so I thought I would write an update. I must admit I was in two minds whether to go or not. I was up and out of bed just after 7am, and had coffee and toast for brekkies. Still I thought, should I really bother with this, then in a last minute decision I said to myself, just get on with it. I gathered the few bits and bobs needed, money for shopping afterwards, keys, phone, and bar code, and put them in my money belt. Dash upstairs to change into shorts and teeshirt, rush out the door and find I have not put my hearing aid in. Oh bother, it's 8.37am and I need to be gone. Rush back into the house and try and remember where I put said hearing aid, one of three places. Looked at my watch, shall I not bother, still in two minds. Oh stuff it, just go.

I got there with two minutes to spare, and joined the back of the crowd. I have tried starting in the middle, and in the front, but I find I do better at the back, not so much of a crush, let the other athletes stride ahead. I had a bit of a chat with the man next to me before we got the signal to go. Then once the countdown went down to zero we were both off and I never saw him again. I can't talk as I am running round, preferring to concentrate on my breathing and where my feet are landing. I vary my stride according to how I feel and the surface I am running on. Most of it is on tarmac with a twiddly bit through the woods. Most of it is flat, with one slight incline and one long stretch downhill.

At the halfway mark a volunteer steward was standing with his electronic timing gadget, he shouted 16 minutes something as I passed. That made me think maybe I have a chance of beating my personal best if I can keep up the pace for the second lap. I had forgotten to check my watch when I started, so hearing that time for the first lap gave me a bit of a boost.

The stitch came and went and I dabbed the dribbles from my nose with a tissue, and kept on going. I have a little smile to myself when I am running along looking at all the different shapes and sizes of bottoms. Some try and disguise them with baggy clothes, that's me, I don't like people staring at my @rse. Even as skinny as I am, I still have wobbly bits. Then there's folks who don't give a hoot and wear the tightest most brightly coloured lycra they can find.

After checking back in with my bar code, I sat in my car and ate a banana and had a drink. Then a quick pop into town for a few bits, and a pop into the Cash and Carry on the way home. I got ten packets of noodles for �1.

The results are up on the Parkrun web site and I scrolled down looking for my name. What was my time? Yippeeeeee, I have another personal best. 34 minutes 40 seconds. I beat a previous time by only 4 seconds, not much, but hey, it's going in the right direction. If only I could find out how to avoid the dreaded stitch, I could do a lot better.

Right, it's time to get up and go out. I've got some walking to do now, so boots needed for this. I'm helping Helen deliver the parish newsletters in her village. There will be a few miles covered there then. All good exercise.

Have a nice Saturday. Toodle pip.

Bye the way, it was a good party last night. I limited myself to one drink, had a veggie pie and peas with a pudding to follow, and had smashing chats with some lovely people.  

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Are you going the right way?

Hello. If anyone wants to ask me anything I will try and answer, I'm not saying I know everything, I don't, but if I can draw on my life experiences and share some of the knowledge, I will try and help.
Gam Kau posed a question yesterday.

I love your frugal ways and your lifestyle. Healthy, wealthy (in the way that counts!) and wise. We can all learn from you. I was wondering, did you ever go through a point in your life where you weren't so frugal? It seemed to take me until middle age to pull myself together and be properly frugal.

Years ago, if you had mentioned the word frugal, I wouldn't have known what it meant. I suppose I was frugal though, but didn't know it at the time. I was taught to save up for the things I wanted, and plan my spending carefully. My mum was my teacher, she managed to keep the family clothed and fed with a roof over our heads, on very little money. We never had pocket money, there wasn't any spare to give us. We had treats now and again, like a shilling to go and buy sweeties at the corner shop. Sometimes only sixpence, we could afford four blackjacks or fruit salads for one penny, or a big gob stopper. We learnt from an early age to chose the best we could for the money we had. We saved our birthday and Christmas money to buy something bigger.

When I left school I got a job in a shop. I wanted to buy a trouser suit from a rather posh ladies clothes shop, but didn't have enough. Mum allowed me to put a deposit down and pay weekly out of my wages, she signed as guarantor. I had a little payment book, and every Friday, I went in the shop and paid the installment, before I bought anything else. Then I went home and paid my mum her board and lodgings money. I contributed to the household income as soon as I had my first wage packet.

I left home at 18 and got a bedsit in Blackpool, now there was no mum to fall back on if I ran out of money, it was down to me to budget properly. I had a job, my rent took up a large chunk of my wages, then I had to be careful with what was left, to buy food, a bit of money for going out, and the electricity meter. I remember walking almost everywhere then.

A few years later I went back to live at home for a while, then I got a rented flat, preferring my own space. All the jobs I did at that time weren't particularly well paid, I worked in shops, offices, and factories. When I got to 27 I found lorry driving, and my wages then increased enough to be able to buy a house. I was paid the same as the men from the start. It wasn't fantastic, I was never going to get rich from driving, but I reckoned that doing something I loved was a far better prospect than being stuck in a job I hated. The money almost didn't matter to me, as long as I had enough. And to make sure I did have enough meant not spending more than I earned.

I was skint when I got my first house, lived in chaos for a while until I saved up to pay for renovations. Slowly things began to get a bit easier, then I sold and plunged all my money into a bigger house. Then I was skint again, but able to keep up with paying for everything. The only time I borrowed was from an ex boyfriend who lent me �3,000 to replace windows and a door which were falling apart. He didn't want any interest, and I drip fed the payments back into his bank account. All was paid back in a year.

Apart from a mortgage, I have never taken out a loan from a bank or a lender, and never bought a car on finance. I just couldn't do it. That would be spending someone else's money and I wasn't entitled to it. What I did do once was to remortgage so that I could afford to change my dilapidated clapped out old van to a half decent second hand car. I needed to be able to get to work. I already owned more than half my house, so I reckoned that the money was mine to use for a car, so I could earn money to keep up the repayments. As I previously mentioned I never missed one mortgage payment. Paying for a roof over my head was priority.

I have juggled credit cards in the past, to take advantage of 0% interest, but that was mainly to help the cash flow for my business. Buying stock with plastic, selling it, and paying off the bill when it came through the door.

I must admit that long term saving was never on my agenda. I try to keep a small buffer for emergencies, that's all I need. I have no desire to amass great wealth, money was never a motivator in my life. There are far more important things.

That's the wealth side of your question answered I think. What about health? I was skinny when I was a teenager, and through most of my twenties, then I put on weight when I became a lorry driver, through unhealthy eating. No time to sit down for a proper meal, always snacking, goodness knows what I put my body through. At least I didn't get a beer and fried breakfast belly like some of the men, I gradually crept up to almost eleven stone. Mind you with the physical hard graft I was doing, an extra few pounds didn't matter. Some of it was muscle and I needed pretty strong biceps and shoulders to assist with all the lifting I was doing. My last driving job was pretty easy going, mostly driving, so I didn't need to be strong any more. I started to look after myself, cut right down on the snacking, always took my own pack ups. The weight dropped down to a more acceptable level, and now I am back to 8 and a half stone.

So, I'm not sure if I have answered your question, 'Did I ever go through a point in my life when I wasn't so frugal?' I suppose the answer is no. I can't say I went off the rails, went on a spending spree running up debt, spending money I didn't have. It never happened. I am the only one responsible for how I live my life, it was always up to me to earn enough money to pay for what I need. My mathematics are simple, the money coming in on the one side, has to be more than the money going out on the other side. That's what I was taught, and that's what I have lived by. I haven't been swayed by seeing other people with more than me, and I don't feel one bit envious of those who have far more than I have. I am sorry if that makes me sound smug and self righteous, I don't mean it to be.

Hope that has helped. I think as long as you stick to the simple rule of not spending more than you earn, you can't go wrong. Paying interest on a load of debt is chucking money away. I have paid a lot of interest on my mortgage, but that is better than paying a load of rent which I won't see one penny of again. You mention pulling yourself together, Gam Kau. That is up to you. Don't beat yourself up if you don't quite manage to get things right. You fall down and you keep getting back up, and you try again. I made some daft decisions when I was younger, everyone does. As long as you admit to yourself you are on the wrong track you think oh chuffin hell, I shouldn't have done that, and you change direction and get yourself on the right track.

Good luck to everyone with finding the right way for you. There will be a few dead ends, but eventually you will get there. Thanks for reading. Toodle pip.  

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Not a bimble along the River Hull.

It's been brass monkey weather today, although it started out bright and sunny, there was a bitter cold wind blowing across the fields. The shorts didn't come out of the bag, and I kept my jacket on all day, mostly with the hood up to keep my ears warm. My cheeks are rosy, I have wind burn, not sun burn, ha ha.

I went over the Humber Bridge to Beverley, around the ring road, and parked on the north side at Hull Bridge near Tickton. My idea was to head towards Driffield, following some of the route I had planned on taking when I came back from South Shields in September. I didn't get as far as Driffield today, so I will have to go back again another time and do a bit more. 

Hull Bridge is a narrow footbridge, it used to be a road bridge, until they built the bypass which runs alongside it.  

There's the bypass bridge over there.

The Crown and Anchor pub next to the bridge.

I set off alongside the River Hull. The water level is very high, flooded in some parts. It's twice as wide as it should be.

Past the Nature Reserve, the water splits into two, I took the left channel, the Beverley and Barmston Drain. This goes in a straight line and meets up with the winding river further on. In a field near Aike I spotted these cute fellas. I say fellas, some of them could well be female, I'm not sure how you tell which is which. They saw me approaching the fence for a photo, they were curious about me as much as I was about them. 

Hello guys, you look very handsome. I love talking to animals, I'm sure they understand me. 

This one made me laugh, isn't he lovely. 

I would love one of these in my back garden. This one is pretty.

I had a lovely conversation with this horse. 

He is now my best friend, ha ha. Yes, a 'he'.

It was time for lunch, not many places to sit down so I kept going past the water works, and Tophill Low nature reserve, and arrived at Hempholme Lock, where the river joins the drain. On one side there is a weir. I sat on that low wall on the left, to eat my cheese and spinach sandwich and two boiled eggs.

On the other side are two lock gates which look as if they haven't been opened in a long time. 

This view was pretty much what I was seeing all day.

A bit further along there were lots of boats moored up. This one looks as if it was wrapped up for the winter.  Big 'Keep Off' notices were plastered across the entrance.

At this point I crossed over the river, so I could continue up the other side.

At Emmotland I took a track which joined a road, then turned right down another track onto the road. Then I stayed on the road past a huge camping and caravan park, next to the Water Sports Centre. Still on the road I turned right for Burshill, and headed back to the river, and then followed it back to my car. The hens look like they are having a good time in their dust bath.

I got back to the car at 5.45pm. Have checked the mileage, a bit more than last week, at 16.65. The  problem with walking in this area is that there aren't enough footpaths to complete a circular walk, some road walking is necessary. Also there are long stretches of water with very few places to cross, so studying the map and planning the route is important. If you get it wrong you could end up going miles out of your way because you couldn't cross when you wanted to. It's very flat and the wind was very cold today. Some of it wasn't very pleasant, especially when it rained sideways. It was good exercise though, which I needed to do. I hope my legs are still in working order tomorrow morning, I've got to go and run 5k in the Park. If it's raining I won't go, I'm not running in the rain, I'm not that daft, ha ha.
Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip.

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Worth getting out of bed for.

Hiya bloggy pals. I rolled out of my pit a bit earlier this morning, to get myself down to the start line for the 5k Park Run. If anyone is wondering what this is, read up on it here. It's for anyone, young or old, singles and groups, runners, joggers, and walkers, dogs and buggies allowed. Best of all, it's free. You know me, I like free stuff. 

My day started at 7am, (start time is 9am), with a mug of coffee and a pan of porridge. Half way round I wished I hadn't had such a big portion of porridge. I faffed about getting dressed as I wondered what the best attire would be. First I had to select a well fitting bra. I may have mentioned this before, but my chesticles are definitely not the size of melons, or even satsuma oranges, I would describe them as two fried eggs that disappear under my armpits when I lie down. Nevertheless they do need some support if I am to hurtle round a course at 90mph, only joking. No, small as they are, it's chuffin uncomfortable if I run without a bra. 

I don't have any fancy pink or green running gear, and it was a bit chilly first thing, so I opted for a vest and three layers on top, and a thin pair of cotton jog bottoms. I didn't want to shiver while standing around waiting for the start. As it was, I arrived five minutes before the start, just enough time to ask someone what happens. 

There is no checking in, what you have is a card with a bar code on, which you print off yourself after putting your details into the web site. I thought that was a good idea, saves waiting in a queue to report in. There is no need to carry anything apart from your bar code, and any essentials. I didn't need a drink, though some did carry bottled water. I had a small pouch with my camera, phone and car keys in it. There was ample parking at the start, if you are going to do this check out the parking where you are. You don't need to turn up early, a few minutes before the start time is OK. 

Everyone getting ready for the off. 

A few announcements were made. There seems to be regulars that go, some of them have a competitive edge, but most seem to just do it for the fun of it. Some were limbering up, others stood around chatting. Everyone seemed friendly, and I think if you went every week you would soon get to know people. At the end I had a lovely chat with a young lady who pushed a buggy around, complete with sleeping baby.

The course was all on the park, mainly on tarmac, with a short distance through woods. There was two laps to do. I set off at a steady jogging pace, and let others streak past me. I like to pace myself from the start, I am not a sprinter. I checked my watch as I started. At the half way stage I had done 19 minutes, but at that point I felt a stitch in my side, which got quite painful. I went into walking mode for a few minutes till it wore off. Damn, I wish I hadn't eaten so much porridge. The second lap was intermittent walking and jogging.
I checked my watch at the end, 41 minutes.

When you arrive back you are handed a plastic tag with a bar code on it. You pass the tag, and your printed bar code, to the next checkpoint which clocks you in and puts the information on the web site. I have just checked my account, and it tells me I took 41 minutes and 18 seconds. I was number 235 out of 260. I didn't enter it to win any races, so I am pleased with that.

My impressions are I think this is a great way to start getting fit. You can do as little or as much as you like. You don't have to finish the whole course if you don't want to. I would say don't be afraid of 5k, it sounds a lot but isn't really. Have a go and try to do the distance. There are marshals along the route, if you start to feel unwell they are there to help. I did the Race For Life when I was 47, and ran the whole distance, I thought it was a doddle. Now I am 64, I am not going to be as fit now as I was then. However, I can begin to work my way up again, and this seems a good way of getting started.

What I have learnt today. Wear less clothes than you think you need. Turn up five minutes before the start, leave some warm clothes in the car to put on when you have finished. Don't try and keep up with anyone, even if you are with a friend and they want to go faster. Let them get ahead and meet up at the end. I don't have proper running trainers, mine are more fashion trainer boots, but they are comfortable for this distance. You don't need the right gear, wear anything, it doesn't matter what you look like. Listen to your breathing, choose a pace which is not going to knacker you in the first ten minutes. Stop and walk if you have to. Concentrate on your breathing and what you are doing, shut everything out around you. Watch where you are putting your feet, don't want to trip up. If you are doing it for fun, relax and slow down, but try and push yourself in short bursts. If you are going to walk the whole way that's not really fair as you will get in the way of runners. You can walk anywhere at any time. Try a bit of running.

Have a look on the web site and see if there is an event near you. I shall keep going and try to improve. I can monitor my progress on the web site. If you already do the Park Run, let me know your times. We could all meet up on here at the weekend and check in with our times, and compare notes. It only takes up a couple of hours to do it on a Saturday morning, worth getting out of bed for I think.  
Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip.

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Pssssst, any bad habits?

As the title says, have you any bad habits? The reason I ask is that bad habits could be costing you money, and if it's money that you can't afford to waste, then you need to break the habit. As well as emptying your purse, bad habits can also be detrimental to your health. Maybe it's time to look at what you do in your daily life. I am constantly scrutinizing mine. Changing bad habits for good habits could give you a better quality of life.

For instance, whenever I am in a large building and need to access the upper floors, like the hospital audiology department at the hospital, I always use the stairs. Bad habit using the lift, good habit climb the stairs, = better for health.  When I park in a supermarket car park, (only use the free ones), I park well away from the shop. Bad habit to cruise around looking for a space to squeeze into closest to the door, good habit to walk a bit further, and choose a quiet spot where you aren't going to get your doors bashed by the person in the next space when they get in and out of their car. Less likely to get your car damaged so kinder to your pocket in the long run.

More good and bad habits.
Bad habit, stick a pack of dishcloths or J cloths in your supermarket shopping trolley. This is a lazy bad habit which is costing you money. Good habit, cut up old towels, tablecloths, pillow cases, and sheets, into handy size squares. Find a second use for them. When you have finished using them as dishcloths, relegate them to floor cloths and other dirty jobs.

Bad habit, pick up a newspaper and a bar of chocolate on your way to work. There is nothing in the newspaper you need to know about during the working day. A bar of chocolate every day will make you fat and sluggish and will block your bowels up. Good habit, wait until you get home and get the news from the radio, television, or the internet. Chocolate is a treat, no more than once a week, and only as a reward when you have earned it.

Bad habit, getting the hoover/dyson out every day. Uses lots of electricity, and surely your house doesn't get that dirty that quickly to need cleaning every day. Good habit, actually look at the floor. Small spillages can be swept up with a dustpan and brush. Make a rule that shoes are taken off when anyone enters the house. Animal hairs are a nuisance I know, get used to them. Put throws on the furniture which can be taken outside and shaken.

Bad habit, leaving it until the last minute to get ready and go out. Leaving yourself short of time means you have got to drive faster to get to that appointment. Driving fast often means not concentrating fully on what you are doing because you are worried about being late. This way of driving is going to cost you more money. Harsh acceleration and braking means more fuel is used, and more wear and tear on your car. The brakes wear out quicker, and so do the tyres. Good habit, Give yourself plenty of time to concentrate on your driving. Smooth acceleration and braking is kinder to the car, and will cost less in petrol. You also have a better chance of getting there in one piece, and in a better frame of mind. Good for your health, less stress.

Bad habit, driving past filling stations even though you will need to top up your tank soon. You watch the needle hover on the red, you are looking for the cheapest deal. It never comes and you have to stop at the next garage you come across because the car is about to splutter to a halt. You end up paying premium price because you have no choice. Good habit, you keep your eye on the fuel gauge when it gets to the quarter full mark. You start looking before it becomes an emergency. Supermarkets are generally the cheapest places for fuel, fill up when you get your shopping. Get to know the best places in your area and fill up when passing.

Bad habit, bottling things up. Something is not right in your life but you are reluctant to talk about it with anybody. You battle on regardless, putting on a brave face so people around you have no idea that inside you are suffering. You try to hold things together, try to carry on with your day to day routine. This is bad for your health and well being. Good habit, there are some worries which need bringing out into the open. When things begin to fester, and your worries are beginning to impact on how you function, then you should seek help. A good friend or family member may be the first candidate, but if that is not possible, there are professional organisations with caring volunteers that you can turn to. Letting go and getting it off your chest is the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

Bad habit, is to get all your shopping in one supermarket. Yes it's convenient, but it will cost you more. Good habit, know the prices of the items you buy on a regular basis. then if you have a choice of supermarkets shop around for the best deal. Cherry pick at a range of different shops.

Bad habit, using your oven far more often than you need to. If you are batch baking all well and good, but an hour of heat in the oven is more expensive than fifteen minutes on the hob. Good habit, make meals in one pan, or use the microwave or slow cooker.

Bad habit, drinking fizzy drinks every day. They are bad for you, even the diet ones. You can become addicted to coca cola. Good habit, drinks made of mainly water with a splash of fruit juice. Don't buy them ready made, get a carton of juice and make it up in a bottle.

Bad habit, going to the sandwich bar every day for lunch. If you are skint you can't afford it. Good habit, save pounds by making your own lunch at home and taking it with you. Home made food is far more tastier than mass produced stuff anyway, and you know what's in it. Access to a microwave at work? Batch cook your own ready meals and take them to work. Take soup in a flask, or salad in a plastic box.  

These are just a few of my suggestions, there are many more. It's all about habits and doing things differently. Challenge yourself, turn a bad habit into a good habit, for the sake of your purse, and the sake of your health. Bye the way, your health should come first every time. If you bugger that up you are in for a rough ride. Money problems can be solved, if you mess with your health you are stuck with it.
Have a nice weekend, I'll be back tomorrow. Toodle pip

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Crafty chat, and stuff

It's been a busyish sort of day. When I wake up in the morning, usually about 7am, I prop myself up to a sitting position in bed, and contemplate the day ahead. This is the time when my brain is refreshed from the nights sleep. I close my eyes and let my mind wander, and think about what I am going to do to fill the day. I sometimes doze off again and take an extra ten minutes of shuteye. Then when my plan is formulated I am keen to get up and get started. 

This afternoon I made three more bags. 

Claire mentioned Morsbags, yes I have heard about those, in fact I found one once, stuck in the hedge while out walking. Someone must have dropped it. It was made of cotton, and a bit flimsy like you could stuff it in your pocket. I suppose all kinds of fabric is used, mine are very strong as I use thicker fabric. 

Crafty chat this morning, we were up to full strength, twelve members at present. We are thinking of having an exhibition of our work at some point, then people can come along and see if they would like to join. Once again people brought stuff to show. This is a smallish quilt, possibly for a cot, or a throw over your legs while sitting on the sofa. I love the contrasting colours.

It's got a very interesting backing on it. The stitching is perfectly neat.

This might be something to try for the future. Layers of torn tissue paper are fused together with pva glue, then hand stitching is added, and it is folded to make a writing case.

 It looks very effective, like parchment paper.

The inside is covered by stickyback clear plastic, the sort you buy on a roll. It's got pockets for the paper and envelopes. You could put some hand made cards inside. A nice gift idea. 

A piece of ribbon attached with a button and tied around it to keep it closed. Might try this myself. Spose you could use any paper really, but the tissue paper is good because it goes crinkly with the glue.

I took the rag rug to work on. It's getting there, I'm working my way round the outer edges now. 

Last night I watched An Island Parish, while on the cross trainer. A delightful documentary programe about the Island of Sark, on BBC 1, on a Friday night. It lasted 28 minutes but I did the extra two minutes to make it 30. Boy was I sweating when I got off. I must say it did make the training a lot more interesting. Someone asked if my constant bobbing up and down while watching a fixed screen would give me a headache. The answer is no. It isn't like reading a book where you can't take your eyes off it or you will lose your place. You can glance around the room if you like and still keep up with the story through the headphones. Also there is a lot you can do to minimise the bobbing. Because you are using your whole body you can almost keep your head still and take the ups and downs with your knees and hips. A bit like skiing or ice skating. If you went down a ski slope as stiff as a board you would get a headache, so you use your legs like springs to cushion the bumps. Anyway, this is going to make exercising a lot more pleasurable.

And lastly, here is Heidi, practicing for her audition at Britains Got Talent. Don't you think she is a clever girly. I'm trying to teach her to stand on her back legs, and juggle three balls with her front paws, while singing 'What's New Pussycat'. 

Today I paid �1.50 for my crafty club, and I am pleased to say I have had six no spend days. Not spent a bean since last Monday. I will have to go to Tesco sometime this week, my fridge is bare. I am running short on a lot of things, so might go to town as well. No fresh veg left :o(( Tomorrow will be scrambled eggs and something out of the freezer or cupboard. Just remembered, I've got some stewed apples that I cooked tonight. Free food from my neighbour across the road. A spoonful of yogurt on that will be nice, and some for breakfast on my porridge. Anyway, must go, training time, got to find a programe on the iplayer.
Toodle pip.

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Genius idea for keeping fit.

I've made a start on the decluttering, but it is going to take a while. I can't do it all in one go, the task is too daunting, so I am going to chip away at it bit by bit. When it's finished I will post some new pictures.

I got a bit preoccupied today, I thought of a way to make exercising on the cross trainer a bit more interesting. I am not spending as long on it as I ought to, because it's boring, and I should be upping my game. Anyway, I won't tell you about my genius idea because it will spoil the video for you. See what you think. So simple, why didn't I think of it before.



I had to put the heating on to strip off and make this, ha ha. Don't worry the heating was soon switched off when my many layers went back on. Brrr, it's blowing a gale outside.
Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.

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Doesn't she scrub up well :o)

There's only one thing for it today, stay indoors for some pamper time and home comforts. The weather is horrible, lashings of rain and gale force winds. Step outside at your peril. No, best stay indoors. 

I've spent some money today, central heating and hot water needed.

A full body exfoliation, that's a good scrub up in my language, a lounge in the bath, and a glass of vino. Aaah, bliss.  

All sparkly clean from top to toe.

Then downstairs for some comfort food. Lentils, swede, sprouts, potatoes, and onion. Can't beat it.

Enough for two more days. I'm going to carry on with the rug now. The rain has eased off so I might venture out for half an hour. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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Are you walking tall?

Have you noticed how a lot of people walk around with slouched shoulders, stooping forward, like they just want to get from A to B in the shortest time, and without any hassle from others who might interrupt their concentration, locked in their own little world. The cold weather might have something to do with it, as this time of the year is when you are weighed down with lots of layers, and yards of scarf wrapped around your neck. It's hardly surprising that you don't want to take the force of the wind and rain full in the face, so the natural instinct is to get your head down and march on.

I have to admit I am often guilty of this myself. If I am in a hurry I get my head down and lean forward, in the hope that I might arrive at my destination a few minutes earlier and save a bit of time. Of course that is nonsense, my strides are still the same length no matter how upright or bent my body is. I caught sight of my side profile in a shop window recently, my posture was terrible, I looked ten years older than I actually am. My shoulders were rounded, and my head was sticking forward, I looked a mess. I immediately stood upright, pulled my shoulders back, and lifted my head up. I looked and felt 100% better, now why can't I hold my posture like that all the time.

Now, I am trying to remember to walk properly, and to help me do this I am singing this song to myself in my head.



I've also found a couple of useful videos.





I'm determined I am going to do something about this. I don't want to end up with all kinds of back, neck, and shoulder pain in my old age. I need to correct my posture now. Has anyone else got this problem?
Tell me your stories. See you tomorrow.
Toodle pip.

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Cheers, bottoms up

There's been a big mopping up session going on today at the bottom of the hill. Thank goodness that this mornings high tide wasn't as high as last night, and didn't make things worse. The pub was flooded along with several houses close by. When I went a walk down there, people were assessing the damage, the water had brought all kinds of rubbish up with it, as it breached the banks and covered the road. Several horses had been moved up into the village to higher grounds yesterday, and this morning they were walked back down to their fields which had luckily escaped the deluge. Some fields however are still covered in water, we now have ponds where there were no ponds before. One of the paths which I sometimes use is under water. Looking at the pictures of other areas, it seems we have got off lightly. Not good for the people who have to clean up, but it could have been much worse.

Moving on.......Austin asked me if I brewed my own wine. He noticed that I had paid �5 for a bottle at Aldi, and said I could make it myself much cheaper, at about 20p a bottle. Hello Austin. There is a reason for me not brewing wine, and it's the same reason why I don't bake cakes, and biscuits, and I don't make jam from foraged fruit.

I enjoy a glass of wine, but on the whole I don't drink much alcohol at all. I limit myself to one bottle in maybe three or four weeks, that way it stays a treat and doesn't become the norm. I only buy one bottle at a time, as and when I fancy a glass, and a bottle lasts me three days. If I had lots of bottles of home made wine in the house, I would be very tempted to have a glass every night, and could very easily come to rely on it as a comfort drink. This is not a good idea, excess alcohol does all kinds of horrible things to your body, screws your head up, pickles your organs, and is very bad for your health all round. I saw what it did to my father, he died at 46 through drinking every night. So, I would rather not put that temptation my way. I will carry on buying one bottle of wine from a supermarket, as and when I feel like a glass or two.

So where's the connection with not baking? In the same way, eating excessive cakes, and biscuits is not good for your health, there is too much sugar in it. I love cake, but, I don't want to bake them because I would scoff them as soon as they were out of the oven. I would rather not put temptation in my way. Cake once in a while is a treat, maybe for a special occasion. I sometimes buy cake when it is reduced to pennies on a yellow sticker at Tesco. Then when I get it home I find I have too much. So to get rid of the temptation I give most of it away.

Home made jam is much better than shop bought jam, but I don't collect berries and make it because you need to add a lot of sugar to it, and sugar is bad for you. Sugar rots your teeth and piles the pounds on your hips, I never buy jam for that reason.

I hope that has answered your question, a bit long winded I know. To sum up. I don't want 50 bottles of home made wine at 20p a bottle in my house. I would rather have one bottle at �5. Basically I am weak willed with anything that tastes nice. I have to be strict with myself because I don't want to be storing problems up for myself in the long term. I recognise my weaknesses and like to stay in control of them. Oh gosh, don't I sound boring. I'm not really  :o)
Toodle pip

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Body heat

There's a lot of talk at the moment about the rising cost of gas and electricity, and with winter approaching keeping warm is on everyone's mind. Naturally people are worried about how they are going to pay their bills, and are looking for ways to cut down their fuel consumption. I think there is another way to keep warm apart from turning the heating up. We all know about insulating our homes, wearing more clothes, taking a hot bath, and having hot drinks throughout the day, but I think there is a way of acclimatising our bodies to deal with the drop in temperatures.

If you think about where people work, indoors, office, shop, factory, all these places put their heating on for the comfort of their employees. No one would be happy with sitting at a desk in an office all day wearing a coat and hat. On the other hand, they go to work wearing lightweight clothes and expect the heating to be turned up because they are cold. Surely there should be a happy medium, wear thicker clothes and turn the heat down a notch or two. I think central heating set to a tropical level is making people soft. Their body then gets used to having heat blasted at it throughout the day so when they go home, they have to turn their central heating up high because they would shiver.

If your body gets used to being mollycoddled with constant heat, it forgets how to cope when it gets cold. I expect in five hundred years time people will all have their own heated personal bubble. It will be kept inside their heated garage, it will have wheels, so all they have to do is step inside and take themselves to work, where they will park it inside an underground heated park, and get the elevator up to their heated office. They will have no contact with the awful British weather, and their skins will be a sickly grey colour and their lungs will be under used and need extra supplies of oxygen. Their immune system will be zilch, they won't have one. Fantasy maybe, but you never know what will happen in the future.

Now look at the people who have hard lives living in cold climates, those that work outside, work the land or keep livestock. Think about the intrepid explorers traipsing through miles of snow and ice, those who live in cold countries. What have they in common, they move about a lot, and their bodies generate their own heat. They get acclimatised to their surroundings, and become toughened up to cope with cold.

Now I'm not about to tell you what to do, you can draw your own conclusions, but what I will say is, you can get out of your chair and move about, at least for ten minutes every hour. All right, I will tell you what to do. Don't sit all night every night glued to the goggle box, huddled under a blanket. Get up, walk around the house, walk the dog, go for a walk even if you haven't got a dog. Get your arms and legs moving, dance and jump up and down if you can. Generate your own body heat and keep it trapped close to you underneath your layers.

OK don't jump on me, I know there are people with limited mobility, and they will have to devise their own methods for moving the able parts of their bodies. If anyone is confined to a chair but can stretch arms and legs, then do it.

I am so glad that I had a lifetime of working outdoors, doing a physical job, I now find that I can cope very well without much heating. The only time I suffer is when I spend time in a building which is centrally heated. Some of my friends houses are stifling hot, I can only manage about twenty minutes. On the other hand I visit someone who doesn't put their heating on and we both sit there in our coats, ha ha. He is fine and so am I. The library is too hot, the bank is too hot, and the shops are too hot, I have to come out. My sinuses get blocked and I feel groggy and start yawning.

I don't live much differently in the winter than I do in the summer. All the interior doors in my house are open, I like all rooms to be the same temperature, don't like shutting myself in a hot room then having to go into a cold room. I move about a lot in the house, constantly up and down, doing something or other, and keeping busy. All I do is wear more clothes. I'm about to double up on the curtains again, as I do every year at this time. Get the spare sets out of the cupboard, and hang them over the ones already up.

So are you going to give it a go, move about more, go out more, go on, worth a try.
Toodle pip    

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What's up Doc

Good evening. My sore ankle/heel has been slowly improving over the last two weeks. On Tuesday morning as it was still a bit red and sore I made an appointment to see a doctor, just to get it checked out, and to find out what was causing it to hurt. The first available appointment they had was for this morning. By the time this morning arrived it had greatly improved, but I decided to keep the appointment rather than cancel it, so I could get the correct diagnosis, rather than guess what it might be. Mystery solved, it's Achilles Tendonitis.

I've just been reading up about it here, and apparently it takes a few weeks for it to get better. Anyway, mine isn't too serious, it should continue to improve with resting, and putting a cold compress on it. I can walk about as normal on the flat, wearing the soft pink trainer type bootees. Think I might need to wait a bit longer before I can put my proper walking boots on. Onwards and upwards. 

Lunch today was a mushroom omelette. Very nice, I put some garlic puree and a knob of Danish Blue cheese in it, made it very tasty.    

 

I fancied some pasta tonight. The topping is one large chopped onion cooked in sesame seed oil, frozen broad beans from Tesco, sultanas, linseeds, fruit juice and water added, and what ever spices I have. I chuck anything in. I have made extra so that's dinner sorted for tomorrow.

Sunflower update. There seems to be more flowers appearing each day. Some of the earlier ones are dying off now, the petals are falling and they are looking a bit sad. This was a bloomin good buy for �1, though I don't think I will be growing them again next year. They need gallons of water, every day twice a day, three times if it is hot. They are quite high maintenance, what with erecting a framework to fasten them to, and lashing them to the garage wall. Also if I go away it is down to someone else to look after them. They are quite a topic of conversation round here, as they can be seen from the road at the front of the house. People are amazed at the height of them.

Toodle pip

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