Supermarket meander

A bit late tonight, I've been to Tesco to do a big food shop, just realised I forgot the soya milk, never mind, I have enough for a week, then I'll eat porridge. Some yellow stickers were found. 

Here's the full list.
2 boxes of Bran Flakes 88p each
3 tins of baked beans 24p each
6 tins of rice pudding 15p each
2 tins of peaches 35p each
1 jar pickled onions 30p
1 carton apple juice 65p
1pt milk 59p
1 Danish blue cheese �1.00
1 plain yogurt 45p
Flavoured yogurt (6) �1.00
Six eggs �1.00
1 packet walnuts �2.20
1 packet ground almonds �2.09
1 seeded loaf �1.00
1 frozen sweetcorn 99p
1 frozen broccoli �1.00
1 frozen peas �1.00
1 frozen cauliflower �1.00
1 pkt frozen veg sausages �1.00
Tomatoes (5 fruits) �1.00
Fresh broccoli 49p

Yellow stickers
4 bags bananas (26 fruits) 21p total
1 swede 1p
2 bags of 1kg carrots 1p each
1 bag braeburn apples (5 fruits) 2p
2 bags parsnips 18p total
1 bag mushrooms 14p
2 packs prepared mango 20p each
Yes the prices were really that low, it was gone 9pm and it was a last ditch attempt to get rid of them before they were chucked. .

For the cats
8 tins Gourmet on offer �3.00
1 box pouches �2.50
4 tins tuna fish 49p each
1 pack sliced roast chicken �1.75

Total shop �28.96.

I don't normally buy frozen broccoli and cauliflower, thought I would give them a try. Danish blue cheese was on offer, only buy it occasionally. Not had flavoured yogurts for a long while, a treat. No reduced bread tonight except a couple of white loaves. I don't eat white bread so I paid full price for a seeded brown loaf. Trying the Value veg sausages to see if they are like the more expensive brands. I will be giving some of the bananas away, share with a friend, and making up the carrots, swede, and parsnips into curries and stews and freeze them in portions. I managed to ignore the cakes and biscuits. And I gave away a couple of home made shopping bags to two very happy ladies.

That's all for now. It's midnight and I'm off to bed. Goodnight.

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My friend

My friend and I went bird spotting today. Wonder what they are? 

 We sat in the hide looking out over the marshes.

He doesn't like the sun in his eyes  :o))

Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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Dead cheap hairdo

Hi. This is my new summer hair colour. I was getting a bit bored with mousy brown, wanted to lighten it a bit. Not blonde blonde but a few shades lighter. I bought a �1 colour from Home Bargains, used it all on the one application, didn't bother to split it, dead cheap hairdo anyway, at only �1. Looks fine for a DIY job. I don't bother blow drying it, just run my fingers through it and let it dry naturally. I like the messed up look, ha ha. 

I had a knock at the door this morning. A lady has just moved to the village and needs a dog walker, as she can't take her big dog out herself. She had enquired at the kennels and was given my details as a possible. You see, people have noticed that I walk dogs. What they don't know is that it is just a hobby, to get me out and give me exercise, and to help out friends as and when required. This lady needs someone once a day, Monday to Friday, something I am not willing to commit to. However, I do know a professional dog walker who does come every day to walk two dogs. I said I will look out for her and pass the details on.

I had an hour to spare this afternoon so I got on my bike and went to meet the dog. She is an alsation/lurcher cross called Mishka. I took her for a walk to see how she was on the lead. She was no trouble at all, didn't pull but walked very fast, and was great around other dogs. I will keep my eye on the house where the dog walker visits, and try and get her details for the new lady.

Twas the Craft Club this morning, and I seem to have volunteered myself to finish off the banner for our stand at the village fete. Don't know how that happened. Everyone was give a letter to make and this morning they all brought them to the meeting. Now all I've got to do is stitch them onto the banner. I reckon  that a nice border around the edge would make it a whole lot better. I'd better get on with it.

Yesterday one of the organisers for the fete asked me if they could display my artworks in the church, the car body panels. Of course I said yes. That will be nice. I can see that I will be busy over that weekend. What with our cat rescue stall, the chat and craft stall, and I have to walk Bailey the poodle. I will be very busy, but it will be fun. It's on the 6th and 7th of June by the way, if you were thinking of coming. Hope you can. Email me for details :o))
Have to go. Toodle pip.

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Craft in St Mary's Church.

Good morning. The first job on my list of jobs to do is to post these photo's taken in the church at Thirsk. I love it when you walk into a church and there is a tapestry hanging on the wall. This one certainly has the 'WOW' factor. A joint effort from the crafty people of Thirsk, it depicts all the important landmarks in the town and surrounding area. I didn't photograph the whole thing as I wanted to get up close to show how much work has gone into it. Each individual stitch lovingly added, covering the whole of the canvas backing. The edges have been rag rugged which makes a colourful frame for the whole thing. 

There was a craft display in the church also. This amazing cake caught my eye, love the vibrant colours. Heidi has a web site, you can see more of her creations here.

There were some pictures featuring very intricate beaded embroidery. 

If you want to know more, This is a good site to read up about Thirsk. It has a live web cam pointing at the area around the Clock Tower, and a short video about the Herriot Museum. I hope you have enjoyed my little trip 'up north', Yorkshire certainly is a beautiful county.

Must keep busy and tick off a few jobs on my 'to do' list. Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.

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A day out in Thirsk

Good morning. It's looking like it will be a beautiful day, predicted to be hot hot hot. This morning I was back on the 5k Parkrun, didn't break my record, but as long as I am around the 35 minute mark I'm happy with that. I think the heat affected a lot of people, I noticed a lot more walking than usual. There was a good turnout, we regularly get 250+ runners taking part. Everyone is so friendly, I made time to chat to a few people. 

I've got some pics from my day out yesterday. I will split them into two posts, the second post being all the pics taken inside the church. They had a craft and art exhibition and it was really interesting. So, to start off, I met my sis and her hubby in the Wetherspoons pub, The Three Tuns. They arrived before me and had already sussed out where we were going to eat. They liked the look of The Golden Fleece, and it is recommended in The Good Food Pub Guide. 

Me and B I L about to step inside. I have a new sun visor, it's got half a union flag on the front. It was a 50p cap but I cut the middle out so I only have half the flag. 

Before the food arrived we noticed that there were two separate parties of ladies in an adjoining room, celebrating birthdays. I couldn't resist going up to them and asking who's birthday it was. Also introducing myself and saying it was my birthday as well. Cheeky git that I am, ha ha. The first lady was older than myself, then when I went to the second table and announced that I was born on the 16th of May 1949, I was absolutely amazed that the lady who was celebrating said she was also born in 1949, exactly the same day. How fantastic was that, we are twins. Another lovely surprise.  

Sis and B I L had the chicken, I had mushrooms and pasta with cheese. It had a fancy name but I can't remember what it was. It tasted absolutely delicious. The plate was piled high, I could only manage half of it as we had already had a prawn cocktail starter. 

I asked the staff if I could take the remainder home as I hate to see food wasted. They produced a plastic tub, and I had to sign a disclaimer saying I was taking it off the premises. That's to cover them in case I later reheat it and get food poisoning. I am pleased to say I finished it off when I got home, and I am still alive :o))

Me posing for a picture in the lounge of the Golden Fleece.

The clock tower in Thirsk Market Place. A lot of traffic goes through this town, which is a shame really. Parking is very reasonable if you want to stop to pick up a few bits of shopping. Free for one hour, 60p for two hours. The parking spaces are cobbled, and there are seating areas. We had an ice cream and sat and people watched, a favourite hobby of mine, ha ha. 

I spotted this dinky little old fashioned cinema, isn't it lovely. I had picked up a leaflet from Tourist Information, showing places of interest and suggested walks, so we did a little tour. We didn't go in the Herriot Museum because it cost �8.50 to go in, and no concession for pensioners. Someone told us about a small free museum in the same street, but by the time we had found it, it was closed. It was very small, like a terraced house, and hard to spot.

Look at this beautiful church. St Mary's occupies a prominent position and as soon as you see it from a distance you feel drawn towards it. There was an exhibition inside, I will post the photo's tomorrow.

There are several bridges which cross Cod Beck, some are road bridges, then there are pedestrian bridges. This is the one at Sluice Gate. 

A couple more shots of the Market Place.

Cars, cars, everywhere. Apparently there has been a bit of an upset in the town because some much loved trees in the Market Place have been cut down. Someone was collecting signatures for a petition, presumably to ask for new trees to be planted. I spotted a council chappie walking around with a clipboard looking at some plans. Me being nosey, asked about the trees. He said they had plans for improving the pedestrianised area, the benches in front of the chip shop and greengrocers were going to be moved to the edge and a new surface laid. He didn't mention if any new trees were going to be planted.

I had a fabulous day out, met some friendly people, and thanks to my sister and B I L for treating me. And thank you all for your kind Birthday wishes, they are the icing on the cake. I'm off outside now, too nice to be in. Staying at home for the rest of the day, going to enjoy my garden. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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What a surprise !

I'm off out today to meet Sis and hubby, I thought I will have a quick look on the computer to check comments before I go. WHAT A SURPRISE. Cakes on the google screen. I thought it must be somebody's birthday, somebody famous, oooh, I wonder who I share it with? Let's have a look.

It's for me. That's made my day. How chuffin fandabidozi. 

Catch you later. Have a nice day. The sun is shining and I'm going to have a fab day out. 

Ilona xxx

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Let me show you round my garden.

How would you like a tour of my garden, just the flowers. Don't ask me the names, I haven't a clue. These are big red ones, like puff balls. 

These pink ones are tall and floppy and need to be supported with a cane.

They are close to the back door.

And a purple variety as well.

Little white flowers in an evergreen hedge. I planted lots of evergreens when I moved in, don't like things dying off and leaving big gaps.

The crimson lilac smells lovely, yes, I know the name of that one, it's a lilac bush, more like a tree actually, quite tall. Pity it's at the bottom of the garden behind the greenhouse.

Little yellow flowers are sprouting up everywhere. Places where they shouldn't be. They don't last long, I pull the plants up when they have finished flowering.

This is in a pot, it would do better in the ground. Might move it if I can find a space.

Different shades of green, some with yellow leaves. 

This bush has big spotted leaves. The new growth is more yellow than the green leaves underneath. I trim this so it doesn't grow too big.

Tiny white flowers on another evergreen bush.

Ooops, a rogue dandelion amongst the blue flowers.

These little pink flowers are close to the edge of the lawn, and often get mowed. No wonder their numbers are declining. 

I have a really big lilac tree in the back garden. Lovely while the flowers are out, but not so attractive when they start going brown.

These little purplies are everywhere, I think they are a weed as the plant is like a creeping ivy, it swallows up everything around it. I have to be brutal and pull a lot of it up or it spreads everywhere.

My lawn is full of daisies. I don't mind, they look pretty, till I chop them off. They soon come back.

As you can see all in the garden is rosy. There was hardly anything in it when I moved in. I planted a few bushes and scattered a few seeds, now every year the flowers come back, and the evergreens have filled out the borders. Just how I like it, trim the bushes, mow the lawns, pull a few weeds out.
Toodle pip.

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