The cheek of it !

Good morning. I'll zap this one out quickly before I go about my daily business. If an idea comes into my head I have to act on it quickly before it gets lost and buried in the grey matter. An incident I recall from last week. I was in Sainsbury's looking for offers on cat food, Bugsy likes the small tins of pate type foods. They are a bit expensive, but they agree with his dodgy tummy so I buy them for him. I don't get much at all from Sainsbury's most of it is too expensive for me. There is an odd yellow sticker from time to time, or a special offer, but that's about all. I couldn't do a whole shop there.

Anyway, the small Pate tins were on offer at 4 for �1.50, so I picked out two turkey and two chicken flavour. I waited my turn at the checkouts and when my goods were transported up the moving belt ready for scanning, the lady on the till asked if I had a Nectar Card. I answered no. She reached for a new card from the rack and proceeded to scan it before she started scanning the goods. She handed me the card and said fill the form in and send it off to register. I was so taken aback I took it.

Scanning done, bag packed, and shopping paid for, I checked the receipt. I noticed that the offer for the cat food had not been accounted for and I had been charged the full 45p per tin. I went straight to customer services to query this. It turned out that the chicken flavour was not included in the offer. I said that was very confusing for the customer as it was in the middle amongst all the other flavours. There was large signs on the shelf, clearly stating 4 tins for �1.50. The assistant had removed the signs, and handed me 30p. I asked why couldn't the chicken tins be stacked at the end of the row with a clear sign on. She said,that's how the shelf plan is. Pathetic answer I thought, where is common sense?

While I was at the desk I decided to complain about being given the Nectar card when I didn't ask for one. I was quite annoyed actually and needed to get it off my chest. How dare someone assume I want a card, and thrust it into my hand without asking. Was the woman on some kind of bonus I wondered, earning points herself for the amount of customers she managed to recruit. I was told she should have asked me first, I gave the card back and said I don't need it. My goodness, it would take me a million years to build up a substantial amount of points, the way my spending is, or should I say my non spending.

I think you have to make a stand over these things. Generally my shopping experiences in supermarkets are problem free, but occasionally mistakes are make, staff training may be lacking in some areas, and sometimes they take us customers for mugs. It's up to us to be vigilant, to keep track of prices, and make sure the offers are fair and complain if they are misleading.

I see some people walking around in a dream, loading things willy nilly into their trolleys. Ok if you can afford it, but for those of us on a tight budget, checking every price and searching for offers is a fact of life. It has to be done.

Sun shinning, I'm going out. Toodle pip.          

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Here is today's News at Ten

Good evening, and here is the news. The Craft Club this morning had a full house. There was lots of jollity, stitching and knitting, slurping of coffee, and the scoffing of biscuits. One member brought a crochet hat that she had recently finished, and the other members passed it around to try on. It was noted that it was a tad too large and if it was pulled down over the eyes it would make an excellent disguise for a bank robber.  

A member brought in a selection of small stuffed animals that she had made, all painstakingly hand stitched with such precision. It was suggested that these could be made into a mobile for a small child, but would have to be hung out of reach due to the small parts used.

The meeting closed at 12.30 and the tables and chairs were left in place ready for the committee meeting tonight. The meeting scheduled for next Monday was cancelled as most people will be away for the Bank Holiday.

My lunch today was mushrooms which needed to be eaten, and two scrambled eggs. Very filling. Then it was straight outside to finish painting the garage. There was only the doors left to do. I had two part used tins of clear varnish to use up, this was just enough to do the job. 

Next was the 'watering up' as they call it round these parts. There is no rainwater left at the collection site, (buckets and bowls to catch it in), so tap water had to be used. I have some water in the bath, I will carry it downstairs tomorrow and use it, saving some to flush the toilet. The potatoes in the raised beds are not yet showing, but the broad beans are coming along nicely. The seeds in the pots have to be moved about the garden to get the maximum sunlight on them. Close to the house first thing as the sun is rising, then moved to the bottom of the garden in the afternoon when the sun is overhead. 

My dinner tonight was cauliflower, runner beans, peas, and onions, and a portion of Tortelloni. I used to like this, but now I am not so sure, I don't think I will be buying it again. It's egg pasta with a cheese and spinach filling, produced in Italy for Aldi stores. Didn't seem to have any taste at all, in fact it was quite rubbery. One to cross off my list I think. 

Tonight I have been on the dog and bone, checking with my cat sitter the dates I have in mind for my forthcoming walkabout. Thankfully she is available, so now I am able to start planning the route. Thank you to Anon who offered me accommodation if I should ever do the Pennine Way. Very kind of you. It is very doubtful that I will be doing that particular long distance walk, I prefer to do my own thing, I don't want to be walking in convoy with lots of others. If you email me your location, I might be passing your door one day, on one of my home made walks.

It was suggested by Charlotte and Mary, that I buy a return train ticket to wherever, and do a circular walk from there. Let's say I got a train to Carlisle for instance. It would take me a day to get there, then get a room, ready to start the next day. When I landed back at Carlisle I would have to get a room because it would be too late to get a train back. Then the next day will be another day on the train to come back. Long distance walks are generally a walk from one place to another. They don't start and finish at the same place, unless you are walking around the coastline of an island. The adventure for me in getting a train out is to see if I can walk back. To have a start and finish point of some significance, like across the country on a coast to coast, adds to the challenge, to get from one side to the other. Or last year when I did the River Tyne to the River Humber, or walked along the River Trent, from where I used to live to where I live now. 

Mary, I had a Senior Railcard for a year, thinking I might have some trips out. It didn't happen as I had commitments elsewhere. I could not sit for hours on a National Express coach, it would drive me nuts with boredom. I used to drive them, and after years of tramping up and down the length and breadth of Britain in lorries and coaches, I do not want to be a passenger on the roads any more. I don't mind driving my own car, but sitting still while someone else does the driving, no thanks. I am a member of the YHA and have used them a lot, but on a long walk there is never one where you want one. There isn't enough of them. Thank you for your queries. 

So, I have decided that I will start walking from home, that means on day one I will be fresh and will be able to cover more miles, getting the more familiar roads done first. Still not sure of the destination, it will come to me soon, ha ha. 

Golly gosh, look at the time. And that ends today's news. So it's goodnight from me, and goodnight from them.   

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Tarting the place up.

Good morning. It is a bright and sunny Monday morning and I will bash out a few words before I go to craft club. I will be taking the new denim bag with me, I found some silvery beads of the right size to sew onto the red stitching, looking good.

Yesterday was spent doing a bit of this and a bit of that, mainly in the garden. I painted the side of the garage, it is now restored to it's bright yellow colour. It was looking a bit faded, and luckily I had enough paint left to give it another coat. The doors look a bit shabby, I found half a tin of black gloss paint and painted the bit above the doors and the supporting pillars down each side. There wasn't enough for the actual doors, but I have found a half tin of clear varnish which will make the dull faded wood look a bit smarter. I don't intend spending money on it, using up bits of paint is the way to go.

Looks like we might be in for a nice week, weather wise. My thoughts are turning to a long walk. I have been thinking of where to go next. To cut the travelling down I have found it easier to get a train out and walk back, that saves one day, but the last twenty or so miles are a bit boring as it is closer to home, I know it so well. So what I thought is I might start walking from home and get the boring bit over first. Do it the opposite way round. At the moment I am looking at walking to Newcastle, or to Southport, both about 130 - 140 miles away. I need to get some maps and study.

The reason I am sticking with the north of the country is that the cost of B & B's are higher the further south you go. And as I said above, to spend a day driving to the start and another day driving back at the end, wastes a day. I would love to walk further south, but I have to think of what I can afford, and the length of time I am able to get away for. Exciting times, I'm itching to go.

Anyway, got to get ready, I will pop back later with the daily news. Toodle pip.

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Keeping it clean

Howz your Saturday going? I've been out and done the Parkrun, but it isn't very warm out there, so I'm staying in for the time being. I'll get out into the garden later if it warms up. I want to re paint the side of the garage, and if I have enough paint I will do the doors as well.

I felt pretty good about the running this morning, wore my long shorts instead of trousers. Although I was a bit cold at the start, I felt more inclined to keep running for longer without the encumbrance of fabric flapping round my legs. The gloves are staying, it's nice to have warm hands. Another personal best today, knocked a minute and a bit off last weeks time. So, when I started it was 41 minutes, then 38, 36, and now 35.34. I am hoping to get it down to 30 minutes, it will take a bit of effort but it should be doable. I'm going to try some different trainers next week and see if that makes any difference. I could do with a bit more spring in my step.

I was rushing a bit this morning to get there. I am not a very good time keeper, don't like to be too early. If I have a deadline I try and get there on time, or a couple of minutes early. Most of the time I am late. On the way to town there is a 30mph speed limit through the village, then it goes to 60mph (limit for a single carriageway road), then back to 30 through the next village. After that it's 60mph for a long stretch, then there is a 40mph limit when you hit the Industrial Estates.

No matter how late I am, and how much of a rush I am in, as soon as I hit those signs I am driving at the correct speed. I can see the signs before I get there, so it is usually a matter of easing off the gas pedal and letting the car slow down by itself. By planning ahead I can reduce the wear and tear on my car, which will in the long run save me money. Even if I am driving in an unfamiliar area and I don't know where the limits change, I am always looking for the signs which tell me what speed I should be doing. It's easy to get distracted and not notice them.

During the whole time I have been driving, and over the years that has been a lot of miles, I have only been caught out three times exceeding the speed limit. That might seem quite a lot but when you think that I was driving up to 400 miles a day, that's not bad at all. I have been fined three times for speeding, and had three points on my licence each time, and all of them were when I was driving company vehicles.

The first time was not long after I passed my HGV test. I was in my first job. I was driving out of Swindon on a wide road, I thought I was out of the 30 limit, and I wasn't. A hidden speed trap got me. The second time was many years later, at 6.30 in the morning. I had just picked the empty lorry up and I was going to a depot to load it up. I was thinking about the long day ahead, the crappy lorry I was driving, and the rotten job that I didn't really want to do. I didn't slow down quick enough when I hit the 30 sign, and another hidden speed trap got me. I do think it's underhand of the police to hide behind bushes in someone's garden then jump out and order you to stop. I got done for doing 37 in a 30 limit, hardly any other traffic on the road, not a danger to other road users. Ah well, three points on my clean licence, the previous points were wiped off years before.

The third and last time was in 2008. I was driving a minibus, I had dropped my passengers off and was on my way back to base, through some roadworks on the A1. The overhead cameras got me, exceeding a 50 limit. Oh stuffin heck, not concentrating. Three points on my otherwise clean licence. They are gone now so my licence is once again clean, and I hope to keep it that way.

The moral of this story is that I can't afford to pay speeding fines now, I don't want to chuck money down the drain. I can't afford my insurance premiums to go up because I have points on my licence. So now I am extra vigilant when I am driving. I am constantly looking out for speed limit signs, always checking my speedometer on the dashboard, making sure that when I hit that 30mph sign I am indeed driving at 30mph, even lower if conditions are potentially dangerous.

I haven't passed an advanced driving test for many years, (I passed six tests altogether in cars and lorries), but most of what I learnt is still embedded in my brain. As my mind ages with my body I intend to increase concentration levels when behind the wheel. For my own safety and the safety of others, and also because it is a cheaper way of driving.

The sun has come out and I am off out into the garden. Toodle pip.    

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Free haircuts at the Back Door Salon

I look such a sight when my hair gets this long. It hangs around my face and annoys me, it looks straggly and unkempt, and adds another ten years to my age. There isn't much artificial colour left in it, the sun tends to bleach it, leaving the roots a little darker than the rest of it. I can't decide whether to colour it again, I'll think about it, maybe do it on a whim when I fancy a change. 

Anyway, it's time for a haircut, I go to the Back Door Salon to get this done, it costs me nothing. My hairdresser is a whiz with a brush and a pair of dressmaking scissors. 

Ten minutes later it's trimmed to my liking. No booking an appointment, no waiting in a queue, no time to sit down even. There you are Madam, all done, no you don't need to pay me, it's free.

Only one thing left to do, boil a kettle of water, and wash it. I wouldn't normally blow dry it, but as it is a pic for the blog I will make an effort. That's better, a bit shorter in the neck and some of the weight taken out of the top so it has more spring in it. Some of the bulk taken out at the back so it looks a bit layered, instead of a pudding basin cut. Next please, anyone else want a free hair cut?

I made too much dinner tonight and some has had to go in the fridge to be consumed tomorrow. Steamed cauliflower, frozen peas and beans, and fresh spinach, served on a bed of couscous. No sauce, no spices, no nothing added, just nude food, and I'm chuffin full.

It's the weekend, I hope you have a good one. Get off your backside and get out in the sunshine. I want to see you running, walking, gardening, cycling, roller skating, skateboarding, kicking a ball about, playing tennis, in fact anything that makes you move.  Toodle pip.

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Ten mile circular walk from Thorne.

Evening all, you're lucky I'm here tonight. I had a brush with death today and could have been laid out in a morgue. I was only two feet away from being bashed on the bonce by a golf ball hurtling through the air at 50 miles an hour. I didn't hear anyone shout, the two men who were playing were a good distance away from me. They must have hit it with such force, I was shocked when it landed at my feet and bounced a few times before disappearing into the undergrowth. The footpath went through the golf course but I couldn't find the way out and had stopped to get my binoculars out of my backpack. Anyway, I live to tell the tale, now where was I, oh yes, I went a walk today, only ten miles, because I kept stopping to chat to people. 

I parked at Thorne next to the canal. It's close to the M18 motorway and not too far away for a day walk.   

The main A614 road goes over the top of the canal, so I was able to walk along it and look down on the pub for a photo.

I had a little bimble round the town before I set off. Someone has found a new use for this Methodist Church. A timber yard and building materials supplier. The front still looks in pretty good shape, it's been fitted out with decking at the front door.

St Nicholas's Church was open so I had a look inside. 

The sun shining through the windows lights them up beautifully. 

I like the way you have to step through a little door to have access to the pews. Almost like a private box at the theatre.

This very unusual building is close to the church, but I don't know what it is. An old school maybe. It's a shame that it's empty.

There is a pedestrianised shopping street with lots of small independent traders. This greengrocery and fruit shop caught my eye, such vibrant colours. The displays were immaculate, clean and tidy, not an orange or a potato out of place. The ladies inside were happy to let me take photo's. I ended up staying for a chat, we had a great laugh. Julie and Janet were good fun, and guess what, Julie walks long distances with her hubby. 

I turned to leave and this stack of blue basket trays caught my eye. Free to a good home, now that's what I like something for nothing, giving them away, recycling at it's best. I don't need any at the moment, I have a garage full of them, ha ha.

I set off out of the town, through the woods, and picked up the Stainforth and Keadby Canal

It goes under the motorway and I followed it to Stainforth. I came across a black bin bag floating in the water. It looked like it might contain rubbish, but for one horrible moment I wondered if someone had dumped an animal in it. I couldn't reach it as it was too far away from the bank, so I watched it for a while. It was partly submerged and with the water flowing quite fast it started drifting towards the edge. I couldn't walk away from it without checking it out, so I found a large dead branch which easily broke away from the tree. I leaned over and could just reach it and pull it ashore. I was so pleased that I found only rubbish in it. Strange that it had some dirty cat litter in it though.

There wasn't a lot to look at in Stainforth. I stopped at the church and had a bite to eat on the bench outside. Then I came across the Cemetery. There were flowers everywhere, A lot of people these days put artificial flowers on graves, but I don't think that matters. The fact that someone has been to take care of it and visit their loved one is more important. There was a team of four gardeners busy cutting the grass, it looked very neat and tidy. 

I followed the road into Hatfield. This is the first view you get of the church. The front is hidden by the trees.

There is a much better view from the back.

I took the footpath at the back of the church. and came to a playing field and a park for young children, time for another sandwich. There was no one about, then five minutes later several cars pulled into the car park and all of a sudden there was lots of people about, with kids and dogs. I continued to follow the path, past the Water Park, then it joined a track and it went over the M18 close to Doncaster Services. You can see the slip road for the services as it goes off to the left. It's also the junction to get off at if you want the M180.

The track goes alongside the motorway for a while, and I was appalled at the amount of rubbish which had been chucked from vehicles and landed down the bank. You can't see it while you are driving along, but the view from the bottom reveals all. I did a little bit of road walking then after I had passed underneath the M180 I took a track to the left. I came across this horse chained to a tree. Further on there was a travelers camp, people who live in caravans and mobile homes. I suspect that the horse belongs to them, he didn't look malnourished in any way, and he had some water to drink in that blur container. The track goes through their camp. There was some building work going on, the whole camp had high walls on three sides. Why anyone would want to live there I do not know, the traffic noise was horrendous. If I was a traveler it would drive me nuts, I couldn't stay there. It was feeding time for about 6 or 7 horses, bales of hay were broken open and they were all tucking in.

All along that track, through the camp, and further along the place was strewn with rubbish. Disgusting filthy mess, that's all I can say.

At the end of the track I picked up the road back to Thorne. As I was passing the big Tesco on the way back, I stopped to pickup some things I was running out of, bran flakes, soya milk, peanut butter, and lemon curd, all Value labels.  Also found a few yellow stickers, not many though, I was too early for the final reductions. I had a �2 off voucher. Needed dry Whiskas cat food as well.

I've had a great day out, love getting into the countryside, and meeting people. I met another lady walker and we walked together for a while and had a natter, she likes to get out for a couple of hours every day.

Brenda asks if I am going to do another long walk. Yes I will be, not sure when, and I keep changing my mind about the route.
That's all for now. I'm going to get a mug of hot chocolate before I go to bed. Toodlepip.

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Those pesky cats

How do I keep those pesky cats off the raised beds? My answer is to buy some �1 plastic trellises and stretch them across the width of the bed supported by two pieces of wood underneath. This lifts the trellis by a few inches to give the plants room to grow underneath. Then scatter any odd bits of wood on top to hold it down, and make it more difficult for the cats to dig holes in the compost.  

So what's in this bed? I planted up some broad beans today. As they grow I will have to lift the trellis inch by inch and insert some thicker wood underneath to give more height. When the plants are about 6 inches I will take away the trellis because I don't want the plants to be growing through it. I will insert supporting canes next to each plant, and lay pieces of wood in between them to cover the bare ground. When they gain height and width they won't need so much wood because the foliage will be enough to keep the cats off. In my opinion physical barriers are the only way to keep cats off your freshly dug beds. Doesn't look very attractive but it works.

Household chores day today, so not a lot to talk about. A line full of washing dried in the sunshine, and all the other boring stuff one must do to keep things ticking over.

I had a lovely phone conversation tonight, I like a natter on the phone. I have been invited to a 'do' next month, at a posh hotel, I hope it's warm enough to wear a frock. My friend lives in Norfolk but is coming over this way for a family get together. It will be great to see her again, and at some point this summer I shall be holidaying in Norfolk, a village not far from Great Yarmouth. I shall look forward to that.

I'm hoping for a walk tomorrow. Might be lucky with the weather now that horrible fog has gone. I've printed a map, the start is at Thorne, not too far to drive to.

Off to bed, Goodnight.

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