It has to last you

Hello. I had an idea of what I would write about today, but reading an article on the BBC news web site has changed all that. What I read has not only surprised me, but shocked me.

A few weeks ago, when the weather was warm enough to do a bit of gardening, I was out on the front trimming my hedges. It's a very relaxed community round here, people have time to stop and chat. A neighbour from up the road was passing, she was on her way back from the doctors surgery. It's also a medical centre and a dispensary, so a one stop shop for minor ailments. We are lucky to have that facility so close, I pick my hearing aid batteries up there.

My neighbour was complaining that they weren't being very quick about dispensing her medication, she had dropped the prescription off some days before and expected it to be ready. She came back empty handed, still not ready for a couple of days. Luckily she hadn't left it till the last minute and still had some tablets left from the last lot she had. Then she asked me if I had had problems getting my meds. I was puzzled, and said I don't take any. She was equally puzzled and asked, 'what, none?' I replied, I don't need any. It got me thinking, is it the norm to take some kind of medication? Surely not!

Then I just read this article.

Nearly 50% take prescription drugs. 

Apparently half of women and 43% of men are regularly taking prescription drugs, according to the Comprehensive Health Survey for England. The cost to the NHS is in excess of 15 billion pounds a year.

A few quotes from the article if you don't want to read the whole thing.

Nearly a third of prescriptions were for cardiovascular disease with more than 65 million prescriptions for tackling high blood pressure, heart failure or cholesterol levels.

Simvastatin - which lowers cholesterol - was the single most prescribed item with 40 million prescriptions.

"That half of men over 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering medicines reflects the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this group.

"Stopping smoking, being a healthy weight, eating more vegetables and fruit, and being physically active reduce people's risk of these diseases, for people who want to avoid taking medicines."

I find these statistics pretty shocking, I didn't know there were so many people popping pills. I blame all the junk food that's everywhere nowadays. It's too easy to get hold of. Jeez some people must have pretty rubbish diets. I know some of you are going to shoot me down, some illnesses are down to genetics, and yes they are, but surely not all of them. Surely some of it is down to what we put in our mouths. 

So, a percentage of the 50% who are taking meds, do so because they inherited some of their problems from their parents, but that means the rest who are being propped up with pills have ailments that are self inflicted. I'm struggling to get my head round this. I know what's bad for me, I eat crap and I am crap, so I try not to. 

A few years ago I had to have a camera down my throat, not a very pleasant experience. Things weren't working well, feeling sick, bloated, and lethargic. Somewhere on this blog is a photo of my duodenum, it looks lovely and clean, not a blemish on it. Some people thought that was a gross picture to publish, buy hey ho, you get me, inside and out. Thank goodness that my sicky state was down to my samey boring diet. As soon as I knew that, I could take steps to improve matters, vary it a bit more, make changes. Bingo, that was the answer. The cake thing last week was a reminder, OMG I shouldn't have done that, but now I am back on track. I will not buy a whole cake again. A small one maybe, but it has to be reduced, ha ha. 

Please please look after your health as best you can. It is the most important thing in your life. Love your body, love how it all works, love your heartbeat, love every part of it, and don't abuse it. It has to last you. 

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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Forgotten something?

I started this post an hour ago, boy do I get distracted on this computer. I've been on yoootooob, and you know how it is, one thing leads to,another. Anyway, I'd better get on with this. What was it doing this morning, raining, and did I do the Parkrun, yes I did, in the rain, must be bloomin daft. There was a decent turnout, I thought people wouldn't be bothered, but they did, 250 or thereabouts. Sad to say though that I got a stitch, and didn't get a personal best, I finished on 38 minutes 12 seconds. Oh well never mind, at least I made the effort. 

I had an hour in town after, needed a few things from various shops. Aldidly are having an extension built and some of the car park has been dug up to lay new foundations. It was busy with shoppers and I sat in my car for a few minutes wondering if I could be bothered to go in. I hate it when it's busy, queue's at the checkouts and you get zapped through at breakneck speed, hardly have time to get your money out of your purse before she is thrusting the change into your hand. I needed a few food items so I had to go in, I haven't got much left. Fridge and freezer nearly empty, and only a few tins. Not enough to last until I go away. 

This afternoon was spent in the garden, it brightened up and was quite warm. Planted out more broad bean plants, and a few runner bean plants. Then I got a chair outside and sat and had a can of cider, and fell asleep. 

Guess what I had for my dinner tonight, yep, veg, this time with rice. I fancied rice today. 

Remember the three final gas and electric bills from British Gas, with  nothing to pay. Guess what, I have had another one, in the words of Victor Meldrew 'I DON'T BELIEVE IT'. This time they want a whole 32p from me. I really can't be bothered to go through the whole rigmarole of phoning them so I have gone for the easy option and paid it. There was a bit of confusion over the opening reading for the electricity, maybe that's what has caused it. The computer can't cope with common sense and spews out bills willy nilly.

I forgot to get a tub of spread for my bread, never mind. Last week I bought a pack of butter for a change. I never usually buy butter, but I fancied some. I won't be buying it again, it's very moorish and I soon got through it on toast and crackers. Not good to eat too much butter. In my case it comes under the same category as chocolate and crisps and fresh cream, and cakes and biscuits, I try not to buy any.

I usually forget something when I go shopping. Take a list I hear you say, no, I can't be bothered to make a list, because there is absolutely nothing that I can't live without. My shopping is made up of a few items I buy regularly so easy to remember those, and other things I might only buy once every few months, it's those that I forget sometimes. And if I forget something I can't have wanted it very badly, or I would have remembered.

I don't have to put spread on my bread, I can use something else. I have soft cheese that will do, or I can put some lemon curd on it. What I am saying is that if I have forgotten something it means I haven't spent any money on that item, and I will make do with whatever I already have. A cheap way of shopping for me, forget half of what I went for, ha ha.

I can't understand why people have to run to a local shop because they have forgotten something from the supermarket. Why not just manage without it and save money. Chances are you go for the one item and come out with half a dozen others that you didn't really need. Best to try and keep out of shops if you want to save money :o)) So next time if you have forgotten something just say stuff it, and try and remember it next time. Then you might forget something else, but that doesn't matter because you won't spend so much.
Toodle pip.

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Another run, with a bit of walking, in the park

Oh cor blimey, this is dancing all over the page. Copied and pasted from an email, and the parkrun (not Park Run) web site. Now it's too wide, I hope it all fits. Today, as you can see was my personal best of 36 minutes 57 seconds. Not a great achievement but not bad considering I got a horrible stitch pain again, and had to do a few very fast walking bits till it eased off. parkrun results for event #59. Your time was 00:36:57. Congratulations on completing your 3rd parkrun today. You finished in 229th place and were the 97th female out of a field of 259 parkrunners and you came 3rd in your age category VW60-64. Congratulations on setting a new Personal Best at this event! Congratulations on your fastest time this year. You achieved an age-graded score of 54.85%.  You have earned 4 points for this run, giving a total of 6 points in this year's parkrun points competition.

Summary Stats

	Best	Average (mean)	Worst
Time	36:57	39:01	41:18
Age Grading	54.85 %	52.05 %	49.07 %
Overall Position	229	240.00	256
Gender Position	97	105.33	111

Best Annual Achievements

Year	Best Time	Best Age Grading
2014	00:36:57	54.85%

All Results

Run Date	Event Number	Pos	Time	Age Grade	PB?
05/04/2014	59	229	36:57	54.85%	PB
22/03/2014	57	256	38:48	52.23%	PB
15/03/2014	56	235	41:18	49.07%

I don't understand all these numbers, I don't need to, as far as I'm concerned I'm not in a competition, only interested in my own time. The overall position has a lot to do with where you are in the queue before you start. I get there late so I am somewhere near the back. The front ones are bound to start a few seconds before those bringing up the rear filter past the start line. I was 3rd in my age category, that sounds quite good.

I had a lighter breakfast this morning, half a mug of coffee and two rounds of toast. Much better for my stomach, no sloshing about and feeling full up. I didn't see the lady I met last time, but I did stop and have a chat at the end of it with two young ladies that used to live next door to me. It was nice to see them, shame they moved they were good neighbours.

I've been in the garden this afternoon as the weather has warmed up a bit here. Tidying up is ongoing, today I was on my hands and knees scraping the weeds out from between the paving stones. I'll do a bit of tidying very day then it won't get out of hand. 

I see I have a few new readers, welcome to the mad house. There's a bit of allsorts here, hope you enjoy your visits. I'm going to hit the publish button and see what happens. Toodle pip.

Oh gawd, what a mess. I squished the top bit up because half the words were lost off the edge, now a paragraph near the bottom has shrunk. I'm backwards an forwards like a fiddlers elbow. Let's see what this looks like.

I give up. I hate a messy layout, but it will have to do. 

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Skip diving again

Hands up who did the Park Run this morning. Me me me. Yes I did it. I arrived within 5 seconds of it starting, I even had to sprint across the car park to tag on to the end of the line. No porridge this morning, I reckoned bran flakes wouldn't be as filling. Fine, except that the liquid sloshing about in my stomach was a bit uncomfortable. I think I need to limit myself to half a mug of coffee next week. 

I left the fleece off this week, instead had a vest, thin teeshirt, and a long sleeved polo shirt on. I was flippin freezing, my poor hands were looking distinctly blue with cold. I should have put my gloves on, but I got out the car in such a rush, I forgot. Oh well, it's all a learning curve, I'll get it right eventually. 

I was so cold I didn't run all the way round the first circuit, I started adding short bursts of fast walking sooner than last week. I kept checking my watch to see how I was doing, at the halfway stage I was on 18 minutes, slightly faster than before, even with the walking. My walking is pretty fast. 

I've just checked my time on the web site and I'm pleased to say I completed it in 38 minutes 48 seconds, so a bit better than last week. There was a lot more runners today, and we had to wait a minute to get scanned at the end. 284 in total. The woman next to me said she used me as a pacemaker and I kept her going. She was a similar age to me, I also kept her in my sight all the way, we kept overtaking each other. I asked her how long she has been coming, she said, since it started, a year ago. I asked if she felt she was fitter for it, and she said yes, definitely. So that promising, there's hope for me then. Are there any more who want to add their times here? Let's see if we can encourage each other. 

On the way out of the village this morning I saw that there was another skip at the house which was being emptied. It has been up for sale, and they did say they would need to clear everything out of the house once it was sold. I didn't have time to stop, so I made a point of driving past on the way back to see if the skip was still there. It was. They had laid some garden stuff out on the front lawn with a notice on for people to take what they wanted. Of course I had to have a look. I was there for an hour picking my way through the contents of the skip. They said I could gladly take anything, it was all going to be dumped.

I shifted things around to see what was underneath, they had laid some heavy things on top so I couldn't see to the bottom, but I had a good rummage. The woman kept bringing things out of the house and asking me if I wanted them. I took anything that was offered because we can sell it to raise funds for the cats. A few items I will keep for myself, some I will give to friends, and the rest I will take to charity shops. 

I wish I had been there yesterday when the skip arrived, and watched as they filled it. It was very sad to see how things had been thrown in, perfectly good household items which had broken. Someone could have made good use of them.

The woman was clearly very emotional as she brought things out. She told me about the two plates she had in her hand, how her mother had served cakes up on them at the tea table when she was a little girl. It was like she didn't want to let go of them. I suggested she keep them, but she said they had taken as much as they can, and they can't keep everything. I couldn't let her throw them away so I took them from her and said I would find a good home for them. I was almost in tears with her. Her mother has gone into a care home and is not very well at all.

So now my newly de cluttered spare room is once more cluttered. I could open my own charity shop here. This is only a fraction of what there was. Some items are brand new, still boxed, and never been used. I rang my friend B, he came to have a look and took two saucepans, and other bits that he could make use of. I have some nice fabric for my sewing projects, and a fleece throw.

My car loaded up.  

I will give everything a wash and make sure it is clean ready for sale or to give away.

House clearance is de cluttering on a big scale. It would be better if people would pass on things they don't need when they are still fit and able. There's a lot to be said for sorting out your affairs before you go. Relatives often don't have the time to go through every single item and distribute it to the many different places it could go. Such a shame that people are going out and buying new, when there is so much second hand which could be put to good use. Sad, that someone's life possessions end up in a skip.
Catch you tomorrow. 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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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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It's a bum deal

This is a post for the ladies, men may read it if they are nosey. Did you know that the trend these days is to have a big bottom, so to all you big bummers out there, you are dead cool.  So if you ask anyone, does my bum look big in this, and they answer yes, you will be the envy of all the stick insects gliding along the catwalks in the fashion shows. Skinny bums are not 'in', they are no good for twerking, don't look attractive in tight pants, and you won't pull if you don't have any meat on your buttocks.

Do not despair if you fall into the beanpole category like me, help is at hand. I have found the solution in an unlikely place. No this isn't an advert for silicone injections or butt implants, nothing as remotely painful as that. All you need is a pair of Seamfree Bum Shaper Briefs, and you can buy them in a certain discount store with the initials HB. No doubt they will make an appearance in other stores soon. 

I was in there wanting to buy cat food and dog treats, and sauntered down the main aisle looking for the right section. I came across a selection of stretchy undergarments, which I guessed were to hold ones wobbly bits in place while exercising, or to improve ones body shape when dressed in tightly fitting clothes. I'm afraid when I saw these hanging up in front of me I burst out laughing. It's not very often you walk round a shop and find a bum in your face, ha ha.The temptation was too great, I had to take a photo, no, don't be silly, I didn't buy a pair. 

They are meant to shape and control your bottom. I suppose if you were a tad over wobbly they would do a similar job as a bra. If that's the case they could have called them the new Bumbra. The front bit looks like the back of a very skimpy pair of panties, I dread to think what that feels like. It certainly wouldn't keep the nether regions snug and warm in the cold winds of winter. Blimey, you would catch a chill just where you don't want one.

I've just thought of a possible use for them. I wonder if they would make cycling a lot more comfortable. I know they make padded shorts specifically for cycling but they are a bit expensive, and besides they make you look as if you have a baby's nappy on as you waddle around. Perhaps if I got a pair of Shapers they would do two jobs, give me a bit of meat on my skinny bum to make cycling more comfortable, and also I would be in fashion parading around proudly showing off my fat @rse. Ooops, shouldn't use that word, I meant derriere of course, that's the posh word for @rse isn't it. 

Anyway, swiftly moving on. I have started a new project which is going to take a few weeks to complete. I am making another rag rug, using another piece of net for the backing. I had forgotten that I fastened this piece around the trunk of an old and dying apple tree in the middle of my veg garden, to train some creeper plants to grow up the tree and cover it. The tree was too big for me to chop down. Anyway, it eventually gave up the ghost and with an almighty shove I managed to crack it at the bottom and it fell. I removed the net and it hasn't deteriorated at all in the four years that it has been outside in all weathers. With a good scrub in soapy water it is ready to begin the next phase of it's life. Some of you may remember that I had retrieved this from the back of a lorry shipping container, before it got thrown away. Re-purposing at it's best. It is slightly bigger than the last piece I used.    

This time I am not going to mix the colours. I have still got teeshirts left that I bought from car boot sales when I made the last rug, and a few in my wardrobe which I ought to let go of because they are looking worn out. I shall be grouping the colours together in splodges, like you would daub a canvas with paint. The aim is to give it the appearance of an abstract painting, only it wont be hung it will be laid on the floor. I have no pattern or design in mind, and will add splodges of different colours in different shapes as I go along. A picture may emerge from it as I assess it at each stage, who knows how it will end up.

Hey, it's the weekend, I've got things to do. Enjoy yours. Toodle pip.

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