When I was in the city centre this morning I was surprised by the number of school age children that were wandering round, mostly without an adult. Now I know that the schools have not broken up for the Easter holidays yet because most of them finish tomorrow.
It is quite normal to see children of all ages hanging around in the shopping centre in school hours during the week but they all disappear very swiftly if a policeman is spotted. I do know that the authorities have an inspector who patrols the shopping centre with the police from time to time and stop any school age child whether with a parent or not, to find out why they are not in school.
Sometimes it is quite obvious that these children are playing truant and the fact that they are carrying their school bags is usually the main clue. As most schools don't appear to have a proper uniform now, it seems to be black trousers and navy sweatshirts for most of them here, it makes it hard to tell which school they attend.
If we did not attend school even for one day, the school inspector was round staight away to find out why and we would never dream of not attending. Today's parents don't really seem to care whether their children attend or not.
In my last job dealing with long term unemployed, I came across a large number of 18 - 24 year olds who had not worked since leaving school and the main reason was down to literacy and numeracy problems. When questioned, most of these youngsters had 'bunked off' school because nobody had told them how important education was. Many of them had been thrown out of home at sixteen because of their behaviour, a lot of them also had criminal records and some even had a drug habit.
I think this shows how badly our society is broken and the cracks are showing at an ever earlier age.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Fussy eaters.....
Thinking the squirrels would like a bit of variation to their diet of peanuts, I bought a bag of maize kernels for them last week. These are supposed to be the 'most popular squirrel food' in the USA and they weren't cheap either.
When I got home I went out to fill up the feeder box but decided that maize kernels on their own might be too much of a change all in one go, so I mixed them half and half with peanuts. It wasn't until a couple of days later that I noticed that there seemed to be more maize than peanuts in the box. This is quite easy to see from the kitchen window because there is a perspex front on the box. I hadn't really taken much notice when the squirrels were feeding to see what they preferred so I decided to watch the next time they came to feed.
It seems they prefer the peanuts because I watched while two of them took it in turns to dive into the box and both of them actually threw out maize kernels onto the ground. This explains why the wretched wood pigeon, who is already the size of a small turkey, has been seen trampling on my white hellebore under the bird table.
My squirrels obviously have delicate palates because apart from the peanuts, the only other things I have watched them eat are shoots from the honeysuckle, the occasional rose flower and a couple of yellow crocuses (they don't eat the purple ones!).
So now I want to know how to dispose of a kilo of maize kernels!
When I got home I went out to fill up the feeder box but decided that maize kernels on their own might be too much of a change all in one go, so I mixed them half and half with peanuts. It wasn't until a couple of days later that I noticed that there seemed to be more maize than peanuts in the box. This is quite easy to see from the kitchen window because there is a perspex front on the box. I hadn't really taken much notice when the squirrels were feeding to see what they preferred so I decided to watch the next time they came to feed.
It seems they prefer the peanuts because I watched while two of them took it in turns to dive into the box and both of them actually threw out maize kernels onto the ground. This explains why the wretched wood pigeon, who is already the size of a small turkey, has been seen trampling on my white hellebore under the bird table.
My squirrels obviously have delicate palates because apart from the peanuts, the only other things I have watched them eat are shoots from the honeysuckle, the occasional rose flower and a couple of yellow crocuses (they don't eat the purple ones!).
So now I want to know how to dispose of a kilo of maize kernels!
Monday, 29 March 2010
Bad design
Being quite a fanatic about having everything spotlessly clean in the kitchen, especially the cooker, I have a good session stripping it all down at regular intervals so that I can get into all the little out of sight corners.
This was a job that I decided to do this morning because it was raining pretty hard and I didn't really need to go out. I also wanted to bake some bread so I prepared the dough and while it was resting and rising, I started to give the top oven a good wipe out.
Now my arms are pretty long but when the door of the top oven/grill is pulled down and open, I can barely reach the back and when I do, I can't get any power or pressure so that I can clean it as I would like. I get into all sorts of gymnastic poses until I'm almost hanging upside down but all to no avail and this is not good for someone with arthritis and back problems.
There are also some very sharp edges where the shelf runners are and I have to be particularly careful that I don't cut myself (as I have done before).
The other problem with this cooker is the bottom oven! Yes, it has a glass door so that you can see how things are baking but in order to look into the oven I have get right down so that my nose is about nine inches from the floor and as I'm not as nimble as I used to be, I'm afraid of getting stuck down there!
I often think that the people who design these things so badly never have to clean or use them. They may look good, but that's as far as it goes.
This was a job that I decided to do this morning because it was raining pretty hard and I didn't really need to go out. I also wanted to bake some bread so I prepared the dough and while it was resting and rising, I started to give the top oven a good wipe out.
Now my arms are pretty long but when the door of the top oven/grill is pulled down and open, I can barely reach the back and when I do, I can't get any power or pressure so that I can clean it as I would like. I get into all sorts of gymnastic poses until I'm almost hanging upside down but all to no avail and this is not good for someone with arthritis and back problems.
There are also some very sharp edges where the shelf runners are and I have to be particularly careful that I don't cut myself (as I have done before).
The other problem with this cooker is the bottom oven! Yes, it has a glass door so that you can see how things are baking but in order to look into the oven I have get right down so that my nose is about nine inches from the floor and as I'm not as nimble as I used to be, I'm afraid of getting stuck down there!
I often think that the people who design these things so badly never have to clean or use them. They may look good, but that's as far as it goes.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
A case of bad timing
Now that I have finished the spring cleaning I am looking forward to starting in the garden. This was something I wanted to get started this week, but after seeing the weather forecast up to Friday, I don't hold out much hope of anything being done before Easter. We are due to get rain and it seems, quite a lot of it too.
As we have had some fairly good weather over the last two weeks, together with milder temperatures, everything has suddenly got the message that spring is finally here and so the plants have come on in leaps and bounds. There are signs of new green leaves everywhere and the spring flowering plants and bulbs all seem to be opening at the same time. Usually when the daffodils and tulips open, we get fairly strong winds that flatten them down and spoil the display so hopefully, the rain won't do that too.
A short time before Christmas, I bought an evergreen honeysuckle to plant in the garden but left it outside the back door in the large pot that it came in because the weather wasn't very good. As plants don't grow too much during the winter, I knew that this would not be a problem. I have kept it watered over the last few weeks but in just about five days, it has put out several very healthy shoots and really does need to be planted in the ground as soon as possible. I have a feeling that I will be out doing that between showers this week!
As we have had some fairly good weather over the last two weeks, together with milder temperatures, everything has suddenly got the message that spring is finally here and so the plants have come on in leaps and bounds. There are signs of new green leaves everywhere and the spring flowering plants and bulbs all seem to be opening at the same time. Usually when the daffodils and tulips open, we get fairly strong winds that flatten them down and spoil the display so hopefully, the rain won't do that too.
A short time before Christmas, I bought an evergreen honeysuckle to plant in the garden but left it outside the back door in the large pot that it came in because the weather wasn't very good. As plants don't grow too much during the winter, I knew that this would not be a problem. I have kept it watered over the last few weeks but in just about five days, it has put out several very healthy shoots and really does need to be planted in the ground as soon as possible. I have a feeling that I will be out doing that between showers this week!
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Small pleasures
This afternoon after lunch, Eden and I have had a baking session to make Easter biscuits and hot cross buns. We have made Easter biscuits before but it is a very long time since I made my own hot cross buns because I never seemed to have time when I was working.
It's always fun to cook with Eden especially when she gets a bit impatient to get on with the bits she likes best such as rolling out the biscuit dough and cutting out the shapes. She reminded me not to put too much casia oil in this year as last time I had a slight mishap and ended up putting in more than twice as much as I should have so they were a trifle 'hot' on the taste buds to say the least, but they all got eaten anyway.
Another thing Eden just can't wait for is for whatever it is we're making to finish cooking so that we can try one just to make sure that they're OK!
Well the Easter biscuits turned out absolutely fine so she can take some home because only she and Amber, her sister, will eat them.
When we had made the biscuits we made the hot cross buns which also turned out well too, so when they were cool, I made some glaze and covered them. Eden took some biscuits and buns round the the elderly gent around the corner and when she came back we tried the bun that wasn't quite as round as the rest.
I had forgotten how much nicer the home made ones are compared to shop bought. They were slightly crisp and well rounded instead of flat and soggy and they didn't stick in a lump on the roof of my mouth either.
So, I've put some in the freezer and Eden will take hers home tomorrow to put in the freezer for Friday.
It's always fun to cook with Eden especially when she gets a bit impatient to get on with the bits she likes best such as rolling out the biscuit dough and cutting out the shapes. She reminded me not to put too much casia oil in this year as last time I had a slight mishap and ended up putting in more than twice as much as I should have so they were a trifle 'hot' on the taste buds to say the least, but they all got eaten anyway.
Another thing Eden just can't wait for is for whatever it is we're making to finish cooking so that we can try one just to make sure that they're OK!
Well the Easter biscuits turned out absolutely fine so she can take some home because only she and Amber, her sister, will eat them.
When we had made the biscuits we made the hot cross buns which also turned out well too, so when they were cool, I made some glaze and covered them. Eden took some biscuits and buns round the the elderly gent around the corner and when she came back we tried the bun that wasn't quite as round as the rest.
I had forgotten how much nicer the home made ones are compared to shop bought. They were slightly crisp and well rounded instead of flat and soggy and they didn't stick in a lump on the roof of my mouth either.
So, I've put some in the freezer and Eden will take hers home tomorrow to put in the freezer for Friday.
Friday, 26 March 2010
He'll wish he'd never asked me that!
It's easy to tell that there's an election coming up because one of the prospective candidates for my area sent me a letter with a questionnaire attached.
I looked at this thing over and over again because years ago I did vote for this particular party but the questions really didn't relate to me or what I thought the next government should prioritise.
For several days I puzzled over this and thought that maybe I should put all my ideas, grumbles and proposals in a letter. After all, I think it's terribly rude not to respond when someone asks you what you think.
Then I realised that I would end up with a very long letter which would probably be thrown in the rubbish bin anyway. Well, do you think any would be politician would really take serious notice of one of the peasant electorate, especially an opinionated old duck like me!
In the end, I tried to answer the questions but as with all questionnaires it only asked ambiguous questions so I had to make jottings and notes in the margins in order to correctly give him my opinions.
I doubt very much that I will hear from him again because the most important question was 'would I be voting for this party in the election?' and the answer to that is 'I doubt it very much because you don't really give a toss about what I think'!
I looked at this thing over and over again because years ago I did vote for this particular party but the questions really didn't relate to me or what I thought the next government should prioritise.
For several days I puzzled over this and thought that maybe I should put all my ideas, grumbles and proposals in a letter. After all, I think it's terribly rude not to respond when someone asks you what you think.
Then I realised that I would end up with a very long letter which would probably be thrown in the rubbish bin anyway. Well, do you think any would be politician would really take serious notice of one of the peasant electorate, especially an opinionated old duck like me!
In the end, I tried to answer the questions but as with all questionnaires it only asked ambiguous questions so I had to make jottings and notes in the margins in order to correctly give him my opinions.
I doubt very much that I will hear from him again because the most important question was 'would I be voting for this party in the election?' and the answer to that is 'I doubt it very much because you don't really give a toss about what I think'!
Thursday, 25 March 2010
How much is a pothole?
Yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer doled out several million pounds for councils so that they can repair potholes in the roads which were caused by the freezing conditions this winter.
The 'experts' say that this amount of money will barely touch the problem because the roads have been left to get into disrepair for the last thirty years or so. Then of course the councils try to put the blame onto the utilities because they say that they are continually digging up the roads which weaken them.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believed that the reason we pay so much in road tax every year and the reason we pay all that duty on petrol is to ensure that the roads are kept in a state of good repair and that new roads are built where required.
For goodness sake, surely the government is taking enough revenue from motorists every year to fund repairs to the roads to keep them in good condition. After all any idiot can see that the motorist is not exactly a dying breed, just look at the M25 or any rush hour in any city centre.
That's the problem with governments though, they are very quick to squeeze as much as possible out of us but what do they do with all the money they collect. They're not too slow to feather their own nests and sadly, the voting public will grumble about them but will let them get away with it when the election comes.
The 'experts' say that this amount of money will barely touch the problem because the roads have been left to get into disrepair for the last thirty years or so. Then of course the councils try to put the blame onto the utilities because they say that they are continually digging up the roads which weaken them.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believed that the reason we pay so much in road tax every year and the reason we pay all that duty on petrol is to ensure that the roads are kept in a state of good repair and that new roads are built where required.
For goodness sake, surely the government is taking enough revenue from motorists every year to fund repairs to the roads to keep them in good condition. After all any idiot can see that the motorist is not exactly a dying breed, just look at the M25 or any rush hour in any city centre.
That's the problem with governments though, they are very quick to squeeze as much as possible out of us but what do they do with all the money they collect. They're not too slow to feather their own nests and sadly, the voting public will grumble about them but will let them get away with it when the election comes.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Going digital
Today our area has reached the first stage of digitalisation of the television signal so of course the set has had to be retuned. We go through the final part of the process in two weeks time when again we will have to repeat the retuning process.
Because my television set is not too old and has Freeview built in, it can easily accept the digital pictures as it has been doing since I bought it. Not too long before I bought the set I had to have a new aerial because the other one was so old that a bit had broken off and rain was getting into the lead and had travelled all the way down and was only about four feet from the set itself.
So, I was ready and set for the digital process when it started but increasingly over the last six months or so the sound kept disappearing and the picture broke up and pixilated very regularly especially when certain cars went past the house. This has always happened right at the most inappropriate moments so very often I have missed an important part of the dialogue and end up not knowing what's really going on.
Sometimes it has been so bad when cars sit outside round the corner somewhere with their engines running that I have jumped up and even opened the front door to see if I could find the culprit and give them a mouthful of prudently selected vocabulary that I rarely use and certainly not in public!
I was beginning to think this digitalisation process was going to be a waste of time and that I would have to cough up for Sky or cable which I can't afford, or I would have to phone the helpline and complain bitterly. But lo! I have retuned my set, I'm sitting down with a cuppa, the commuters are driving past on their way home and so far I haven't had any problems with the sound or the picture.
Let's hope it stays that way!
Because my television set is not too old and has Freeview built in, it can easily accept the digital pictures as it has been doing since I bought it. Not too long before I bought the set I had to have a new aerial because the other one was so old that a bit had broken off and rain was getting into the lead and had travelled all the way down and was only about four feet from the set itself.
So, I was ready and set for the digital process when it started but increasingly over the last six months or so the sound kept disappearing and the picture broke up and pixilated very regularly especially when certain cars went past the house. This has always happened right at the most inappropriate moments so very often I have missed an important part of the dialogue and end up not knowing what's really going on.
Sometimes it has been so bad when cars sit outside round the corner somewhere with their engines running that I have jumped up and even opened the front door to see if I could find the culprit and give them a mouthful of prudently selected vocabulary that I rarely use and certainly not in public!
I was beginning to think this digitalisation process was going to be a waste of time and that I would have to cough up for Sky or cable which I can't afford, or I would have to phone the helpline and complain bitterly. But lo! I have retuned my set, I'm sitting down with a cuppa, the commuters are driving past on their way home and so far I haven't had any problems with the sound or the picture.
Let's hope it stays that way!
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Fluffed lines or bad actors?
Yesterday evening the film unit for the TV drama 'Casualty' was filming just around the corner. We had been warned in advance by a letter which told us that the filming was due to take place from 6pm and would then move up the road a little way where filming was expected to finish around midnight.
Of course they apologised for any inconvenience especially as they would have a lot of vehicles in the area and they would also be using very bright lighting. They have used the area before but it was some years ago in daylight and I actually saw the episode because my grotty cottage and car were in the background.
I have long since given up watching the drama on a Saturday night because I think NCIS or CSI New York is much better. Besides, I used to be a nurse and I got fed up with it because they have far too many 'major incidents' and egotistical doctors and nurses so it wasn't very true to life.
Anyway, when they filmed here years ago, they spent all of two days one weekend setting the scene and having 'run throughs' because I went out and watched for a while. What amazed me was that when the episode was shown it lasted for all of FORTY FIVE SECONDS!
Last night they started filming at 6pm as stated in the letter but they did not finish until 2am because I was woken by the doors of vehicles being closed outside the house at 2:30am. and looked out to see them packing up their gear.
I expect when this episode is shown it will probably be on the screen for fiteen seconds. Perhaps if they had better actors they would have all been home and tucked up in bed by midnight!
Of course they apologised for any inconvenience especially as they would have a lot of vehicles in the area and they would also be using very bright lighting. They have used the area before but it was some years ago in daylight and I actually saw the episode because my grotty cottage and car were in the background.
I have long since given up watching the drama on a Saturday night because I think NCIS or CSI New York is much better. Besides, I used to be a nurse and I got fed up with it because they have far too many 'major incidents' and egotistical doctors and nurses so it wasn't very true to life.
Anyway, when they filmed here years ago, they spent all of two days one weekend setting the scene and having 'run throughs' because I went out and watched for a while. What amazed me was that when the episode was shown it lasted for all of FORTY FIVE SECONDS!
Last night they started filming at 6pm as stated in the letter but they did not finish until 2am because I was woken by the doors of vehicles being closed outside the house at 2:30am. and looked out to see them packing up their gear.
I expect when this episode is shown it will probably be on the screen for fiteen seconds. Perhaps if they had better actors they would have all been home and tucked up in bed by midnight!
Monday, 22 March 2010
The bread that never was.
As I make my own bread, I thought I would have a bash at making some by the sourdough method which is the way thay most artisan breads are made. This is method is particularly popular in France and also in the USA where it was the method of choice used by the early settlers who had to carry all their supplies with them.
If bread is made by this method you need to start making it a good few days before you want to eat it, but once you get going you don't need to buy yeast and it takes longer to rise. The end result is far superior to the soggy stuff that you buy in the supermarket which sticks to the roof of your mouth and is full of unnecessary additives.
Well, I got out my bread cookery book and followed the instructions very carefully to make a 'levain' which has to be left for about three days. After that time it looked and smelled exactly as the description in the book so I followed the instructions for the next stage which meant it had to be left for a further three days.
At each stage, the dough looked and smelled the way it was described in the book so I now had the 'chef' with which to make the bread dough. Again following the instructions to the letter I added the right amount of water and flour and kneaded for the right amount of time and put it to rise. The dough looked and felt absolutely right and should have taken about two hours or so for the first 'rising' before being ready to 'knock back'. I left it covered with cling film in a lightly oiled bowl as the recipe had said.
After FOUR hours, the darned stuff hadn't risen so I checked it. It was very elastic and full of air bubbles and smelled as dough should but it hadn't risen one tiny little bit. After a further two hours still nothing had happened so I gave up and threw the lot out.
I'll have another go one day but until then I'll carry on with my tried and tested method and at least that way I'll know I can have a sandwich or piece of toast!
If bread is made by this method you need to start making it a good few days before you want to eat it, but once you get going you don't need to buy yeast and it takes longer to rise. The end result is far superior to the soggy stuff that you buy in the supermarket which sticks to the roof of your mouth and is full of unnecessary additives.
Well, I got out my bread cookery book and followed the instructions very carefully to make a 'levain' which has to be left for about three days. After that time it looked and smelled exactly as the description in the book so I followed the instructions for the next stage which meant it had to be left for a further three days.
At each stage, the dough looked and smelled the way it was described in the book so I now had the 'chef' with which to make the bread dough. Again following the instructions to the letter I added the right amount of water and flour and kneaded for the right amount of time and put it to rise. The dough looked and felt absolutely right and should have taken about two hours or so for the first 'rising' before being ready to 'knock back'. I left it covered with cling film in a lightly oiled bowl as the recipe had said.
After FOUR hours, the darned stuff hadn't risen so I checked it. It was very elastic and full of air bubbles and smelled as dough should but it hadn't risen one tiny little bit. After a further two hours still nothing had happened so I gave up and threw the lot out.
I'll have another go one day but until then I'll carry on with my tried and tested method and at least that way I'll know I can have a sandwich or piece of toast!
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Fabulous riches or obscene wealth?
Well beyond the dreams of ordinary hard working mortals like you and me, I read yesterday that the president of Barclays bank will receive a sixty three million pound package. His name is Bob Diamond and he is fifty eight years old so there is no way on this earth that he will ever require that amount of money during his lifetime or even ten lifetimes!
I cannot understand why some people are paid such mind blowing amounts because there is not one human being whether it is a sports person, film star, banker, president or prime minister who is worthy of such large sums. Why is it that some people like film stars very often demand huge amounts of money for a film because they can't really 'need' the money and neither can they spend it all.
Through all of my working life I only ever earned enough to get through each month with very little left after paying rent and bills so I have no savings. Being a woman and living alone has not been easy but at least I have a clear conscience because even if I had been offered such an enormous sum of money for my services, I don't think I could have accepted it. There are so many people who have so little but it doesn't mean that their contribution through work or anything else has no value.
Fabulous riches for me would be about two hundred and fifty thousand pounds as that would enable me to buy a bungalow with a garden near to my grand-children. Then I could spend a lot more time with them and teach them cooking, gardening and other things during school holidays because they grow up so quickly. Having that amount would also leave me a little bit of money that would last me for the rest of my life and allow me and the grand-children a few treats occasionally.
I cannot understand why some people are paid such mind blowing amounts because there is not one human being whether it is a sports person, film star, banker, president or prime minister who is worthy of such large sums. Why is it that some people like film stars very often demand huge amounts of money for a film because they can't really 'need' the money and neither can they spend it all.
Through all of my working life I only ever earned enough to get through each month with very little left after paying rent and bills so I have no savings. Being a woman and living alone has not been easy but at least I have a clear conscience because even if I had been offered such an enormous sum of money for my services, I don't think I could have accepted it. There are so many people who have so little but it doesn't mean that their contribution through work or anything else has no value.
Fabulous riches for me would be about two hundred and fifty thousand pounds as that would enable me to buy a bungalow with a garden near to my grand-children. Then I could spend a lot more time with them and teach them cooking, gardening and other things during school holidays because they grow up so quickly. Having that amount would also leave me a little bit of money that would last me for the rest of my life and allow me and the grand-children a few treats occasionally.
Saturday, 20 March 2010
They're coming out!
Now that the weather is coming from the south-west I know it's bringing rain, but it is also making the temperatures rise considerably because the bitter wind has gone. In fact, over the last couple of days it has been as warm as it is usually at the end of April.
This has had the most amazing effect on everything around, the birds are singing much more and I have also seen them collecting nest materials. Yesterday as I walked over Castle park I noticed the daffodils are beginning to open, there are dandelions and daisies opening on the grass, chickweed is flowering too and there is a small clump of cowslips in bud on the verge by the ambulance station car park. In a very sheltered spot opposite the ambulance station there is even a horse chestnut tree with the 'sticky buds' well open into leaf.
Now the hawthorn bushes are showing the very first tips of green leaf and it is possible, on close examination to see the tiniest flower buds on them too. I even discovered a few rogue Tete-a-tete daffodils flowering in my garden and the large humble bumble bees are out and about raiding the pollen from the mahonia on the homeware store car park.
With today being the spring equinox, it's almost as if mother nature has lifted a baton and started the overture that we have all been waiting for. If the weather stays mild, within a week or so I think we will be dazzled by the spectacular display as everything wakes up from it's winter sleep.
This has had the most amazing effect on everything around, the birds are singing much more and I have also seen them collecting nest materials. Yesterday as I walked over Castle park I noticed the daffodils are beginning to open, there are dandelions and daisies opening on the grass, chickweed is flowering too and there is a small clump of cowslips in bud on the verge by the ambulance station car park. In a very sheltered spot opposite the ambulance station there is even a horse chestnut tree with the 'sticky buds' well open into leaf.
Now the hawthorn bushes are showing the very first tips of green leaf and it is possible, on close examination to see the tiniest flower buds on them too. I even discovered a few rogue Tete-a-tete daffodils flowering in my garden and the large humble bumble bees are out and about raiding the pollen from the mahonia on the homeware store car park.
With today being the spring equinox, it's almost as if mother nature has lifted a baton and started the overture that we have all been waiting for. If the weather stays mild, within a week or so I think we will be dazzled by the spectacular display as everything wakes up from it's winter sleep.
Friday, 19 March 2010
My 10 rules for politicians in parliament....
If you read my blog yesterday you will know that I said I would draw up some rules for politicians who hope to be elected for government in the elections that will take place sometime this year. I have listed them below!
1 - Politicians will not be paid more than the average national wage which is said to be about £25,000 per. year and in order to earn this they must attend parliament EVERY day except weekends when they can return home.
2 - Holiday entitlement is a maximum of three weeks in the school summer holidays plus all public holidays and bank holidays.
3 - Politicians will have to achieve targets in line with other administrative workers and have a six monthly appraisal. Anyone who slips below standard will be fired immediately.
4 - While serving in parliament, all members will live in the flats and bedsits provided as they will no longer be able to claim for a 'second' home. Rents for these flats and bedsits will be in line with what the general public pay.
5 - If required to travel either abroad or to any part of the country on business, all tavel will be by the cheapest mode of transport and overnight stays will be allowed in B & B only.
6 - No other expenses, apart from those mentioned above can be claimed.
7 - Anyone sitting in parliament, either house, must be resident and a full tax paying citizen with a British passport.
8 - Any member who makes rude or detrimental comments about any other member will be made to sit on the naughty step as will anyone who interupts or shouts out without putting their hand up when they want to speak.
9 - When asked to give and interview on the radio or television, members must answer the questions put to them by the interviewer and not ramble on.
10 - Politicians MUST NOT tell porkies! Anyone found being economical with the truth will be put in stocks outside the parliament building so that members of the public can throw rotten fruit and vegetables and whatever else they like.
1 - Politicians will not be paid more than the average national wage which is said to be about £25,000 per. year and in order to earn this they must attend parliament EVERY day except weekends when they can return home.
2 - Holiday entitlement is a maximum of three weeks in the school summer holidays plus all public holidays and bank holidays.
3 - Politicians will have to achieve targets in line with other administrative workers and have a six monthly appraisal. Anyone who slips below standard will be fired immediately.
4 - While serving in parliament, all members will live in the flats and bedsits provided as they will no longer be able to claim for a 'second' home. Rents for these flats and bedsits will be in line with what the general public pay.
5 - If required to travel either abroad or to any part of the country on business, all tavel will be by the cheapest mode of transport and overnight stays will be allowed in B & B only.
6 - No other expenses, apart from those mentioned above can be claimed.
7 - Anyone sitting in parliament, either house, must be resident and a full tax paying citizen with a British passport.
8 - Any member who makes rude or detrimental comments about any other member will be made to sit on the naughty step as will anyone who interupts or shouts out without putting their hand up when they want to speak.
9 - When asked to give and interview on the radio or television, members must answer the questions put to them by the interviewer and not ramble on.
10 - Politicians MUST NOT tell porkies! Anyone found being economical with the truth will be put in stocks outside the parliament building so that members of the public can throw rotten fruit and vegetables and whatever else they like.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
The trouble with politicians.....
This morning I started my spring cleaning so I have been listening to the radio all day from about six forty-five. Every time the news has come on at the top of the hour I have been tempted to throw the radio through the window. The reason for this is because of one of the main stories about someone who was made a Lord but who doesn't pay tax in this country as he is only resident here and his main home is Belize. However, he makes huge donations to one of the parties so the other lot are banging on about this on every bulletin. What they fail to mention are those who make donations to their party, who have also been made Lords and don't pay tax in the UK because they too only reside here and have their main home in another country.
I really feel these politicians behave much worse than children and if I had my way I'd go and bang their heads together. Lets face it, they haven't got a clue when it comes to running the country but they're really switched on when it comes to lining ther own nests. Corrupt they are, the lot of them.
It isn't just one party either, it's all of them. We have an election at some stage this year but I think it's high time the rules were changed regarding anyone who sits in parliament whether it's the House of Commons or the House of Lords so tomorrow I will draw up a few and put them on my blog.
I really feel these politicians behave much worse than children and if I had my way I'd go and bang their heads together. Lets face it, they haven't got a clue when it comes to running the country but they're really switched on when it comes to lining ther own nests. Corrupt they are, the lot of them.
It isn't just one party either, it's all of them. We have an election at some stage this year but I think it's high time the rules were changed regarding anyone who sits in parliament whether it's the House of Commons or the House of Lords so tomorrow I will draw up a few and put them on my blog.
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
What happened to natural fibres?
This morning I decided to get a couple of T shirts because the summer stock is now in the shops and if you don't get what you want early on, then you're left with weird colours that you don't like or you can't get your size.
There is really only one shop in the city centre that caters for old fuddy duddies like me because most of the shops are 'designer' shops with fashions created for the young and rich. The one I went in doesn't cost a fortune either but sometimes their styles and colours seem a bit 'strange'. Anyway, I found couple of T shirts and browsed around looking at the rest of the summer stock but hardly any of the skirts, trousers and tops were made from natural fibres.
In the summer I like to wear cotton next to my skin because it's much cooler and softer than these awful man made fibres and I don't care if I have to iron it instead of giving it a shake when it comes out of the washing machine and letting it 'drip dry'. Clothes made from manufactured fibres may not require ironing but they always look crumpled and although I may be an old crinkly, I don't subscribe to the 'crinkly' look.
In the winter wool and wool blends are far better than the polyesters and acrylics and again are much more comfortable to wear. I know natural fibres such as wool and cotton take more time to care for properly but I much prefer them to synthetics.
There is really only one shop in the city centre that caters for old fuddy duddies like me because most of the shops are 'designer' shops with fashions created for the young and rich. The one I went in doesn't cost a fortune either but sometimes their styles and colours seem a bit 'strange'. Anyway, I found couple of T shirts and browsed around looking at the rest of the summer stock but hardly any of the skirts, trousers and tops were made from natural fibres.
In the summer I like to wear cotton next to my skin because it's much cooler and softer than these awful man made fibres and I don't care if I have to iron it instead of giving it a shake when it comes out of the washing machine and letting it 'drip dry'. Clothes made from manufactured fibres may not require ironing but they always look crumpled and although I may be an old crinkly, I don't subscribe to the 'crinkly' look.
In the winter wool and wool blends are far better than the polyesters and acrylics and again are much more comfortable to wear. I know natural fibres such as wool and cotton take more time to care for properly but I much prefer them to synthetics.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Getting ready
I have made plans to start my spring cleaning at the end of this week because the weather looks set for change. Anyway, spring is just around the corner but on the radio this morning there was a discussion about 'how far behind the flowers and trees are' this year because we have had the coldest winter for 30 years. RUBBISH, RUBBISH, RUBBISH!!!
For once we have had a PROPER winter with plenty of very cold, dry days instead of it being mild and very wet. The mild winters are the ones I hate because I never know what type of clothes to wear. If I think it's a bit chilly and dress up warm then go shopping, I end up coming out of the shops because they all have their central heating on maximum and there's nothing worse than standing at the till with perspiration dripping down my face.
This winter however, I have been able to wear some of my thick socks and jumpers which generally only get to see the light of day once or twice during mild winters and I still have several jumpers in the drawer under the bed which haven't been worn for years. Every so often I take them out to check the moths haven't got to them but I find that moths don't like man made fibres, they only eat the wool ones.
Having a cold, proper winter is hopefully good news for gardeners and probably farmers too because many of the bug pests that we are usually bothered by will not have survived the cold conditions, whereas the plants will have enjoyed a good long rest.
So it's spring cleaning this week and hopefully the garden next week, so let's hope the rain we are due will be short lived.
For once we have had a PROPER winter with plenty of very cold, dry days instead of it being mild and very wet. The mild winters are the ones I hate because I never know what type of clothes to wear. If I think it's a bit chilly and dress up warm then go shopping, I end up coming out of the shops because they all have their central heating on maximum and there's nothing worse than standing at the till with perspiration dripping down my face.
This winter however, I have been able to wear some of my thick socks and jumpers which generally only get to see the light of day once or twice during mild winters and I still have several jumpers in the drawer under the bed which haven't been worn for years. Every so often I take them out to check the moths haven't got to them but I find that moths don't like man made fibres, they only eat the wool ones.
Having a cold, proper winter is hopefully good news for gardeners and probably farmers too because many of the bug pests that we are usually bothered by will not have survived the cold conditions, whereas the plants will have enjoyed a good long rest.
So it's spring cleaning this week and hopefully the garden next week, so let's hope the rain we are due will be short lived.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Lost and found
Like many other people, when I have been shopping I put things away in a place where I know I can find them when I need them. Obviously groceries are kept in the kitchen cupboards and cleaning products either under the kitchen sink or under the stairs. But it's the things that are not used frequently that sometimes cause a problem.
Now usually I am a very organised person, but note that I said 'usually'. For instance, all guarantees for any item that I have bought, together with instruction manuals, are kept in a top drawer in the kitchen and they are sorted every once in a while so that they are mostly up to date. Spare batteries are all kept in a cupboard in the front room, there is a tool box containing a small hammer, screw drivers etc. under the kitchen sink where I also keep a few screws, the odd picture hook and so on.
This morning I went looking for a new toothbrush head for my electric toothbrush and I always keep these with a few spare toiletries in one of the top cupboards of the wardrobe but they weren't there. I knew I had bought some a few months ago and I also knew that I hadn't used them so I took everything out of the cupboard but there was no trace. Then I checked the other cupboards and places where I keep my 'spares' but still no sign. I checked all the drawers and anywhere else where any normal person might put spare toothbrush heads but there was no sign anywhere.
In the end, I gave up looking and as I was going shopping anyway, I put them on the list thinking that the others would turn up one day, probably somewhere that I wouldn't expect to find them.
Before going out, I went to check the light bulbs which I keep under the stairs because I had used one some time ago and had not replaced it and needed to make sure that I have enough spares. Guess what I found in the basket where I keep the bulbs....the toothbrush heads!
I will be very careful next time I put my shopping away.
Now usually I am a very organised person, but note that I said 'usually'. For instance, all guarantees for any item that I have bought, together with instruction manuals, are kept in a top drawer in the kitchen and they are sorted every once in a while so that they are mostly up to date. Spare batteries are all kept in a cupboard in the front room, there is a tool box containing a small hammer, screw drivers etc. under the kitchen sink where I also keep a few screws, the odd picture hook and so on.
This morning I went looking for a new toothbrush head for my electric toothbrush and I always keep these with a few spare toiletries in one of the top cupboards of the wardrobe but they weren't there. I knew I had bought some a few months ago and I also knew that I hadn't used them so I took everything out of the cupboard but there was no trace. Then I checked the other cupboards and places where I keep my 'spares' but still no sign. I checked all the drawers and anywhere else where any normal person might put spare toothbrush heads but there was no sign anywhere.
In the end, I gave up looking and as I was going shopping anyway, I put them on the list thinking that the others would turn up one day, probably somewhere that I wouldn't expect to find them.
Before going out, I went to check the light bulbs which I keep under the stairs because I had used one some time ago and had not replaced it and needed to make sure that I have enough spares. Guess what I found in the basket where I keep the bulbs....the toothbrush heads!
I will be very careful next time I put my shopping away.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
The best present - EVER
When I woke up this morning I came downstairs and made a cup of tea for Eden and myself and went back upstairs to drink it in bed. She was already sitting up in my bed and she had made a card for me for Mother's Day and bought me a present too even though I'm her Grandma.
The card she made had flowers with button middles and was very unusual. It will definitely be saved later on in my little 'memory case' but it was the present that left me quite overwhelmed.
She had bought me a book, but not just any book. This one is called The Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.
About fifty or so years ago, my mother gave me a hardback copy of this book which had been given to her by her father when she was a child and he had just returned from serving in the Khyber Pass.
I read the stories over and over again but some I couldn't finish because there were quite a few pages missing and some had also been torn which was not surprising considering it had been around since 1920 something. I can remember the illustrations too because I thought they were so beautiful and when I needed some space away from my brothers and sisters I could always escape everything by engrossing myself in this book. This was the most precious book I had ever been given so I treasured it greatly. Although I took great care of the book, I left it at home when I got married and moved out thinking it would be safe there. How wrong I was.
My sister had a couple of children and my mother looked after them while my sister was at work. My mother was a cook and used to make wedding cakes and fancy birthday cakes at home for people, so she wasn't able to watch my niece and nephew continuously. They managed to get hold of my books and they were completely destroyed as was my blue teddy bear and the first doll I had been given when I was four years old. I remember being heartbroken when Mum told me what had happened but what was done was done.
I had been telling Eden about this book and we looked on the internet and found out more about the author and it seemed that you could still get secondhand copies too but I didn't do anything about it. You can imagine my absolute pleasure and surprise when I opened the present and found this book today. Although it is a paperback it has all the stories and even the illustrations. All exactly as I remembered them but this time all complete, so I will at last, find out how some of the stories ended.
Now I can read the stories to Eden too, even though she's twelve and could read them for herself and to me, because it's a pleasure that we have both enjoyed since she was four.
The card she made had flowers with button middles and was very unusual. It will definitely be saved later on in my little 'memory case' but it was the present that left me quite overwhelmed.
She had bought me a book, but not just any book. This one is called The Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.
About fifty or so years ago, my mother gave me a hardback copy of this book which had been given to her by her father when she was a child and he had just returned from serving in the Khyber Pass.
I read the stories over and over again but some I couldn't finish because there were quite a few pages missing and some had also been torn which was not surprising considering it had been around since 1920 something. I can remember the illustrations too because I thought they were so beautiful and when I needed some space away from my brothers and sisters I could always escape everything by engrossing myself in this book. This was the most precious book I had ever been given so I treasured it greatly. Although I took great care of the book, I left it at home when I got married and moved out thinking it would be safe there. How wrong I was.
My sister had a couple of children and my mother looked after them while my sister was at work. My mother was a cook and used to make wedding cakes and fancy birthday cakes at home for people, so she wasn't able to watch my niece and nephew continuously. They managed to get hold of my books and they were completely destroyed as was my blue teddy bear and the first doll I had been given when I was four years old. I remember being heartbroken when Mum told me what had happened but what was done was done.
I had been telling Eden about this book and we looked on the internet and found out more about the author and it seemed that you could still get secondhand copies too but I didn't do anything about it. You can imagine my absolute pleasure and surprise when I opened the present and found this book today. Although it is a paperback it has all the stories and even the illustrations. All exactly as I remembered them but this time all complete, so I will at last, find out how some of the stories ended.
Now I can read the stories to Eden too, even though she's twelve and could read them for herself and to me, because it's a pleasure that we have both enjoyed since she was four.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
A good ticking off!
Having Eden with me has been great fun as usual. However, she has been chiding me for all sorts of things again! We went over to the newsagents before breakfast to get the newspaper and lottery ticket. The weather was bright and sunny with barely any wind so I was enjoying looking for whatever signs of spring that I could see.
There was a dunnock sitting in a tree just above head height and it was singing it's heart out. I stood underneath and said to the bird "what a pretty song that is" knowing that I would be told off for talking to the birds in a public place! Eden hastily moved me on as I was pointing out where other birds were sitting and singing.
When we got to the homestore car park she kept on telling me to keep walking and tried to hurry me past the shrubs. She knew what I was going to do so I did it! I stuck my head into the middle of the mahonia bush and inhaled deeply. Then I got a spider's web stuck on my face but oh the smell, just like lily-of-the-valley and I don't care what other people in the car park think anyway.
"You're an embarrassment Grandma" she scolded and walked along as if I didn't belong to her. She thinks I'm quite mad but I keep telling her that I'm just eccentric.
Very often when we are out shopping I will be talking to her only to find she has gone off leaving me in the middle of a shop or the pavement talking to myself and then she has the audacity to blame me when she's the one that's walked away!
I don't know how she would react if I was a 'boring old grandma', perhaps she wouldn't be so keen to spend a lot of time with me and we wouldn't have half as many laughs.
There was a dunnock sitting in a tree just above head height and it was singing it's heart out. I stood underneath and said to the bird "what a pretty song that is" knowing that I would be told off for talking to the birds in a public place! Eden hastily moved me on as I was pointing out where other birds were sitting and singing.
When we got to the homestore car park she kept on telling me to keep walking and tried to hurry me past the shrubs. She knew what I was going to do so I did it! I stuck my head into the middle of the mahonia bush and inhaled deeply. Then I got a spider's web stuck on my face but oh the smell, just like lily-of-the-valley and I don't care what other people in the car park think anyway.
"You're an embarrassment Grandma" she scolded and walked along as if I didn't belong to her. She thinks I'm quite mad but I keep telling her that I'm just eccentric.
Very often when we are out shopping I will be talking to her only to find she has gone off leaving me in the middle of a shop or the pavement talking to myself and then she has the audacity to blame me when she's the one that's walked away!
I don't know how she would react if I was a 'boring old grandma', perhaps she wouldn't be so keen to spend a lot of time with me and we wouldn't have half as many laughs.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Time to dig up the roads!
Well spring may have come just that bit closer today but so has the roadworks season. Why oh why do the powers that be have to start major roadworks on main roads just before the Easter holidays?
I went over to collect Eden this afternoon and ran into no fewer than three very major roadworks which had traffic queued up for a long way in every direction. These weren't just simple holes in the roads but works which stretched from 100 yards to over half a mile and the notices say that they will last anything from four to six weeks. All of this is taking place on a journey of twenty six miles.
At this time of the year I am fully aware that councils start to repair the potholes caused by frosts, snow and rain after the winter weather has departed but they haven't even started on his work just yet. No, this is the start of the 'lets-see-how-many-motorists-we-can-p**s-off-by-digging-thumping-great-holes-and-trenches-on-major-routes' season!
The season will last at least until after August bank holiday so I suppose we had better get used to it. Perhaps we should all write to our MP's and ask the goverment and local councils to issue a timetable and map of all planned roadworks so that those of us who are likely to encounter them can make alternative arrangements to our travel plans in order to avoid these disruptions where possible.
I went over to collect Eden this afternoon and ran into no fewer than three very major roadworks which had traffic queued up for a long way in every direction. These weren't just simple holes in the roads but works which stretched from 100 yards to over half a mile and the notices say that they will last anything from four to six weeks. All of this is taking place on a journey of twenty six miles.
At this time of the year I am fully aware that councils start to repair the potholes caused by frosts, snow and rain after the winter weather has departed but they haven't even started on his work just yet. No, this is the start of the 'lets-see-how-many-motorists-we-can-p**s-off-by-digging-thumping-great-holes-and-trenches-on-major-routes' season!
The season will last at least until after August bank holiday so I suppose we had better get used to it. Perhaps we should all write to our MP's and ask the goverment and local councils to issue a timetable and map of all planned roadworks so that those of us who are likely to encounter them can make alternative arrangements to our travel plans in order to avoid these disruptions where possible.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
A new challenge
After browsing round the shops this morning I have decided that I need to take myself in hand and get rid of a lot of weight especially before the summer comes. Most of the excess is due to some medication which has made me balloon out and although I am constantly being told 'don't worry, it will settle down', I don't believe it. I don't need anyone to tell me that I am now very obese, I have never been so heavy in all my life, not even when I was pregnant and I can't stand it anymore.
I don't believe in fad diets or any diet come to that. Throughout my life I have always had a varied, balanced and healthy diet and believe in all things in moderation. Now I am going to have to tweak my eating habits and pay more attention to portion size, which is always a bit of a problem living alone, because I hate waste.
There is absolutely no point whatever in giving up the odd chocolate bar, biscuit or glass of wine that I enjoy now and while there are certain foods that I have to be careful about anyway, there are a lot that I can enjoy more of without feeling too guilty.
Luckily I enjoy salads but I think I will have to be a bit more adventurous and inventive with the ingredients and I am also going to keep a record of what I eat too.
The other factor to help with weight loss is exercise and although I have a few health problems, I will make sure that I fit in a good amount of walking every day. I don't do swimming and I have never been a 'gymbunny' so I will stick to what I enjoy.
There! Now I've put it on my blog I will have to make sure that I am successful and hopefully by summer there will be a new 'streamline' grumpy-grandma so watch this space!
I don't believe in fad diets or any diet come to that. Throughout my life I have always had a varied, balanced and healthy diet and believe in all things in moderation. Now I am going to have to tweak my eating habits and pay more attention to portion size, which is always a bit of a problem living alone, because I hate waste.
There is absolutely no point whatever in giving up the odd chocolate bar, biscuit or glass of wine that I enjoy now and while there are certain foods that I have to be careful about anyway, there are a lot that I can enjoy more of without feeling too guilty.
Luckily I enjoy salads but I think I will have to be a bit more adventurous and inventive with the ingredients and I am also going to keep a record of what I eat too.
The other factor to help with weight loss is exercise and although I have a few health problems, I will make sure that I fit in a good amount of walking every day. I don't do swimming and I have never been a 'gymbunny' so I will stick to what I enjoy.
There! Now I've put it on my blog I will have to make sure that I am successful and hopefully by summer there will be a new 'streamline' grumpy-grandma so watch this space!
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Looking back and going forward
Well the weather still has not warmed up as I found out this morning when I made my weekly trip to the farmer's market. Thinking that it would feel a bit warmer outside because there had been no frost last night due to a light covering of cloud, I just wore my fleece and a pair of gloves. However, the further I got along the road, the colder I got because the wind was bitingly cold. The weather forecast had said that the temperatures would be about 7 degrees C but no mention had been made of the wind and the wind chill factor which made it about zero degrees. By the time I reached the market I was really regretting not wearing my hat so I didn't hang around too long.
When I got home I made some hot coffee and sat down to thaw out. I decided to sort through some old photographs because I am writing a memoir for Eden and I have taken quite a few photos of her as she has been growing up. A lot of these have been taken in my back yard and over the years the whole thing has been re-designed and replanted several times.
In some of the pictures the garden looked quite beautiful so I spread the best pictures out on the table and then picked those that I liked the most and noted down the plants and flowers that looked the best. Now I am in the process of re-designing the garden yet again so when the weather does get warmer, I will be able to start yet another makeover in time for the summer!
When I got home I made some hot coffee and sat down to thaw out. I decided to sort through some old photographs because I am writing a memoir for Eden and I have taken quite a few photos of her as she has been growing up. A lot of these have been taken in my back yard and over the years the whole thing has been re-designed and replanted several times.
In some of the pictures the garden looked quite beautiful so I spread the best pictures out on the table and then picked those that I liked the most and noted down the plants and flowers that looked the best. Now I am in the process of re-designing the garden yet again so when the weather does get warmer, I will be able to start yet another makeover in time for the summer!
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
The mystery of the disappearing water!
For the last few days I haven't ventured out into the garden because if I do, I want to get stuck into clearing up and pruning and as we are still getting frosty nights and biting winds, it's still a bit too early. All I can do is gaze longingly out of the window and wish and wait.
A few days ago while I was stood at the kitchen window watching Squidge I noticed that there wasn't that much water left in the bird bath so I made a mental note to fill it up when he had gone home. Anyway, I forgot and when I looked out yesterday before going to the surgery, I remembered that I was going to refill it but noticed that it was frozen so thought I would do it when I got back, but again, I forgot.
This morning when I returned from doing some shopping I noticed that the bird bath looked almost empty. I was a bit surprised because hardly any birds have been in the garden since the beginning of December to use the bath or drink from it and I was fairly confident that Squidge couldn't have drunk that much. As the garden is completely enclosed I knew that no larger animals could get in so I went out and filled it up.
About two hours later I noticed that although I had filled it up almost to the top, there was very little water left in it again so I went outside to investigate. Squidge hadn't been around since early this morning so I knew it wasn't him. I hadn't noticed anyone's cat in the garden either but when I got outside the mystery was solved. There was a large wet patch underneath the stand and on closer examination I saw a very fine crack in the middle of the bath itself.
The frost must have caused this so now I will have to go and buy a new one (or make one) and until I have replaced it, Squidge will have to drink from the water-lily tub which he often uses anyway.
A few days ago while I was stood at the kitchen window watching Squidge I noticed that there wasn't that much water left in the bird bath so I made a mental note to fill it up when he had gone home. Anyway, I forgot and when I looked out yesterday before going to the surgery, I remembered that I was going to refill it but noticed that it was frozen so thought I would do it when I got back, but again, I forgot.
This morning when I returned from doing some shopping I noticed that the bird bath looked almost empty. I was a bit surprised because hardly any birds have been in the garden since the beginning of December to use the bath or drink from it and I was fairly confident that Squidge couldn't have drunk that much. As the garden is completely enclosed I knew that no larger animals could get in so I went out and filled it up.
About two hours later I noticed that although I had filled it up almost to the top, there was very little water left in it again so I went outside to investigate. Squidge hadn't been around since early this morning so I knew it wasn't him. I hadn't noticed anyone's cat in the garden either but when I got outside the mystery was solved. There was a large wet patch underneath the stand and on closer examination I saw a very fine crack in the middle of the bath itself.
The frost must have caused this so now I will have to go and buy a new one (or make one) and until I have replaced it, Squidge will have to drink from the water-lily tub which he often uses anyway.
Monday, 8 March 2010
What a waste!
Being a person with a conscious I really hate waste and always have done. This was instilled in me at a very young age because coming from a large family with not much money to got round, we were not allowed to waste anything and I really mean anything. Food was put on the plate to be eaten and there were no fussy eaters in our house, we were rather like a crowd of locusts. If anything was served up that we didn't like it was either sit there until it was eaten, close your eyes and swallow quickly or go without!
Paper was another valuable commodity too. Newspaper was 'recycled' in the most inventive ways (I won't go into details but those old enough to remember the outside loo will know what I mean) and it was also torn into strips and mixed with grass cuttings on the compost heap.
We wasted very little because in those days a lot of groceries were purchased loose such as biscuits and tea and all vegetables that were bought went straight into a shopping bag. Plastic carriers weren't invented!
Now I re-cycle as much as possible but today, after one of my visits to the surgery I realised that I would be taking a trip back to the pharmacy with a carrier containing no fewer than thirteen boxes each with twenty eight tablets inside and they will all have to be destroyed.
This is because the nurse I had seen a month ago increased one lot of the tablets I have to take, even though I had protested that they had given me very bad side effects, also her calculations were a long way out but she wouldn't listen. This morning when I crawled in there I saw another nurse (who is replacing the other one) and luckily, she listened to me. She changed my prescription and when I told her how many tablets I had been precribed she did raise her eyebrows and whistle. Unfortunately, any medicines that are unused have to be destroyed and this is at great cost to the NHS and the taxpayer.
Let's hope the new drug doesn't give me the same unpleasant side effects, besides, I've only got a small quantity until we see how effective they are.
Paper was another valuable commodity too. Newspaper was 'recycled' in the most inventive ways (I won't go into details but those old enough to remember the outside loo will know what I mean) and it was also torn into strips and mixed with grass cuttings on the compost heap.
We wasted very little because in those days a lot of groceries were purchased loose such as biscuits and tea and all vegetables that were bought went straight into a shopping bag. Plastic carriers weren't invented!
Now I re-cycle as much as possible but today, after one of my visits to the surgery I realised that I would be taking a trip back to the pharmacy with a carrier containing no fewer than thirteen boxes each with twenty eight tablets inside and they will all have to be destroyed.
This is because the nurse I had seen a month ago increased one lot of the tablets I have to take, even though I had protested that they had given me very bad side effects, also her calculations were a long way out but she wouldn't listen. This morning when I crawled in there I saw another nurse (who is replacing the other one) and luckily, she listened to me. She changed my prescription and when I told her how many tablets I had been precribed she did raise her eyebrows and whistle. Unfortunately, any medicines that are unused have to be destroyed and this is at great cost to the NHS and the taxpayer.
Let's hope the new drug doesn't give me the same unpleasant side effects, besides, I've only got a small quantity until we see how effective they are.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Sidetracked!
This morning I had a quick look through my grocery cupboard just to check the 'best before' dates on my dry goods. Finding some ground almonds and glace cherries with a shelf life that runs out in June I decided to knock up a quick cherry and almond cake.
After I had make the cake and put it in the oven I thought I would make a 'starter' for some bread because when made by this method and without yeast, the results are supposed to be far superior even though it takes a few days to complete.
Thinking I would come back to deal with the rest of the cupboard later, I got out a cookery book just to check the different sourdough methods as they vary so much from one country to another. Then I went through a couple more cookery books comparing recipes and then on to a few more. By this time, the bread had been forgotten about and instead I was deciding what new recipes I could try in the future.
I had become so carried away reading and looking through various cookery books that I lost track of time completely until several hours later when the light started to fade.
Fortunately, I did remember to take the cake out of the oven but the cupboard and the sourdough starter have been abandoned for another day!
After I had make the cake and put it in the oven I thought I would make a 'starter' for some bread because when made by this method and without yeast, the results are supposed to be far superior even though it takes a few days to complete.
Thinking I would come back to deal with the rest of the cupboard later, I got out a cookery book just to check the different sourdough methods as they vary so much from one country to another. Then I went through a couple more cookery books comparing recipes and then on to a few more. By this time, the bread had been forgotten about and instead I was deciding what new recipes I could try in the future.
I had become so carried away reading and looking through various cookery books that I lost track of time completely until several hours later when the light started to fade.
Fortunately, I did remember to take the cake out of the oven but the cupboard and the sourdough starter have been abandoned for another day!
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Strange behaviours!
Opposite where I live there is a row of terraced three storey houses (or Barratt hutches) and they have the posh title of 'town houses'. They were built about five years ago and all but the one opposite me is rented out, usually on a six month lease and all of them are let furnished.
Because they are on short rental leases and very expensive, it means that there are always a lot of new faces in the area as they are all multiple occupancy.
Last night, fairly late in the evening as I was going to bed, I was disturbed by a lot of banging of car doors right outside my house and just to be sure that no-one was damaging my car, I took a look out through the spy hole in my front door. (We do have a lot of problems with 'undesirables' and also vandalism by the local youths from time to time so I am always alert.) However, it was a large vehicle with half a dozen young people in and they were taking bags into one of the properties across the road so I thought they were probably new tenants.
What puzzles me is why these people move in under the cover of darkness as almost always without fail, every time someone new moves into one of these properties, they move in very late at night. What is even stranger is that when they move out six months later, they need a large van to remove their possessions or they make half a dozen trips in a car, whereas when they move in, they only have one bag with them.
Because they are on short rental leases and very expensive, it means that there are always a lot of new faces in the area as they are all multiple occupancy.
Last night, fairly late in the evening as I was going to bed, I was disturbed by a lot of banging of car doors right outside my house and just to be sure that no-one was damaging my car, I took a look out through the spy hole in my front door. (We do have a lot of problems with 'undesirables' and also vandalism by the local youths from time to time so I am always alert.) However, it was a large vehicle with half a dozen young people in and they were taking bags into one of the properties across the road so I thought they were probably new tenants.
What puzzles me is why these people move in under the cover of darkness as almost always without fail, every time someone new moves into one of these properties, they move in very late at night. What is even stranger is that when they move out six months later, they need a large van to remove their possessions or they make half a dozen trips in a car, whereas when they move in, they only have one bag with them.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Temptation!
This morning I took a walk over to the garden centre to look to see what sorts of plants they had that might be suitable for a large tub which I will be planting up for the elderly gentleman round the corner. It will fill up a space on his patio which doesn't get a lot of sun even in the summer.
Although it's very early in the season, the garden centre has a good selection and throughout the year they bring in plants as they are coming to their peak or at the time appropriate for them to be planted.
Oh how I wish I had a large garden and a large pocket to go with it! Every time I go there I look at the various plants and mentally arrange them in the 'garden in my mind' but sadly, I'm the only one that can see it and there definitely is not enough room in my tiny back yard.
At this time of the year they have a really good choice of spring bulbs which are planted in small pots ready to be put into containers and these are all beginning to come into flower. This is a great idea because you can actually see what colours you are going to get. I made a mental note of what they had and all the colours then came home.
This afternoon I went round to see the gentleman and I described in detail what I had seen. I suggested that we put in a small slow growing conifer and an ivy plant that he has in a pot in his kitchen. These would give us greenery the whole year round. Then I told him that we could put in summer flowering annuals in a month or so and when these finish flowering in the autumn, I could get some ornamental cabbages to give colour through the winter. Then next spring, I could get some of these little pots with the bulbs in and once planted they would come up year after year.
I think I described all these bulbs far too well because he said he would like some of every variety and colour! Then I had to tactfully explain that the tub wasn't big enough for everything to fit in but at least we have a year for him to decide which colours he would really like.
Although it's very early in the season, the garden centre has a good selection and throughout the year they bring in plants as they are coming to their peak or at the time appropriate for them to be planted.
Oh how I wish I had a large garden and a large pocket to go with it! Every time I go there I look at the various plants and mentally arrange them in the 'garden in my mind' but sadly, I'm the only one that can see it and there definitely is not enough room in my tiny back yard.
At this time of the year they have a really good choice of spring bulbs which are planted in small pots ready to be put into containers and these are all beginning to come into flower. This is a great idea because you can actually see what colours you are going to get. I made a mental note of what they had and all the colours then came home.
This afternoon I went round to see the gentleman and I described in detail what I had seen. I suggested that we put in a small slow growing conifer and an ivy plant that he has in a pot in his kitchen. These would give us greenery the whole year round. Then I told him that we could put in summer flowering annuals in a month or so and when these finish flowering in the autumn, I could get some ornamental cabbages to give colour through the winter. Then next spring, I could get some of these little pots with the bulbs in and once planted they would come up year after year.
I think I described all these bulbs far too well because he said he would like some of every variety and colour! Then I had to tactfully explain that the tub wasn't big enough for everything to fit in but at least we have a year for him to decide which colours he would really like.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Pesky Rodents
Now I am really grumpy! This is due to be woken up several times last night by blessed rodents chewing under the floorboards downstairs. At night when it is quiet the noise is exaggerated and I came downstairs on three occasions to jump on the floorboards to shut them up.
Over the past twenty five years that I have been living here, I have been bothered on the odd occasion by an unwelcome visitor under the boards but usually they disappear after a few days.
However, since my neighbours moved in next door, I have been disturbed almost every evening by what I think are mice scuttling about under the floorboards but now they seem to be looking to find a way in. I don't know whether the neighbours' cats are responsible for introducing them but I know the neighbour the other side has the same problem.
I don't like the thought of these beasts sharing my living quarters so quite a long time ago I invested about £25 and bought one of those sonic pest controllers. It has been plugged in and switched on since I bought it so obviously it doesn't work. It is supposed to work up to twenty five feet radius which would be well into my neighbours house so that's another fallacy.
Hopefully, these beasts will be deafened by my bulk jumping on the boards above their heads so I'm hoping that they will soon pack their bags and move somewhere else leaving me to peace and quiet and maybe a good night's sleep!
Over the past twenty five years that I have been living here, I have been bothered on the odd occasion by an unwelcome visitor under the boards but usually they disappear after a few days.
However, since my neighbours moved in next door, I have been disturbed almost every evening by what I think are mice scuttling about under the floorboards but now they seem to be looking to find a way in. I don't know whether the neighbours' cats are responsible for introducing them but I know the neighbour the other side has the same problem.
I don't like the thought of these beasts sharing my living quarters so quite a long time ago I invested about £25 and bought one of those sonic pest controllers. It has been plugged in and switched on since I bought it so obviously it doesn't work. It is supposed to work up to twenty five feet radius which would be well into my neighbours house so that's another fallacy.
Hopefully, these beasts will be deafened by my bulk jumping on the boards above their heads so I'm hoping that they will soon pack their bags and move somewhere else leaving me to peace and quiet and maybe a good night's sleep!
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Spring is slowly coming
Today I walked over to the farmer's market and all the signs of spring are much stronger despite the bitterly cold wind. The mahonia on the car park of the homewares store is now fully in flower with very large lime green flower sprays which gave off a promising whiff of delightful lily-of-the-valley type perfume, even though they weren't exactly bathed in warm sunshine.
On Castle Green, the blue tits and great tits were cheerfully twittering to each other and flitting from one tree to another while Mr and Mrs blackbird busily turned over the leaves under the hedges and where the gardeners had just spread out some mulch on the flower beds.
After finishing my shopping, I walked back the same way but this time took a bit longer so that I could really see if there were more signs of spring and I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the trees and shrubs have buds on them and some are showing obvious signs of growth. The hazel catkins have been waving their tasseled branches about for a month or so and even the hawthorn bushes along the edge of the school have very large buds along their twigs. The robins and chaffinches in the Jew's graveyard have also been breaking into song during the last week.
When I got home I went out into the back garden and managed to take some photos of the camelia and crocuses. The honeysuckles are starting to break out into leaf so hopefully it will be a bit warmer next week so that I can go out and get started with my springtime chores in the garden.
On Castle Green, the blue tits and great tits were cheerfully twittering to each other and flitting from one tree to another while Mr and Mrs blackbird busily turned over the leaves under the hedges and where the gardeners had just spread out some mulch on the flower beds.
After finishing my shopping, I walked back the same way but this time took a bit longer so that I could really see if there were more signs of spring and I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the trees and shrubs have buds on them and some are showing obvious signs of growth. The hazel catkins have been waving their tasseled branches about for a month or so and even the hawthorn bushes along the edge of the school have very large buds along their twigs. The robins and chaffinches in the Jew's graveyard have also been breaking into song during the last week.
When I got home I went out into the back garden and managed to take some photos of the camelia and crocuses. The honeysuckles are starting to break out into leaf so hopefully it will be a bit warmer next week so that I can go out and get started with my springtime chores in the garden.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Sunshine, dust and cobwebs galore
I've had a busy couple of days sorting out items to go to the scout's jumble sale and it's all bagged up in the hall ready for collection this evening. Of course, there are people who make a career of de-cluttering other people's homes and they charge a lot for it too but I managed on my own so it cost me nothing.
The problem now is the whole place will need a good spring clean because with the sunshine that we've had today every single cobweb, no matter how small, is even more visible and exaggerated. I'm not sure if it is because there are less things in every room or if it's the angle that the sun comes through the window at this time of year. Anyway, I will have to get stuck into some serious spring cleaning.
Now that I have removed a lot of the ornaments and vases etc. I have made myself a promise that I will not buy anything in the future unless it is something that has a use and is not purely for decorative purposes. If I aim for the minimalist look, as long as my home is comfortable and inviting, I will spend less time on chores and more time doing what I want to do, or sometimes, nothing at all!
The next job will be tackling the garden because there is quite a bit to be done out there. The garden will be done on dry, sunny days and the spring cleaning will be done on cloudy or wet days so by Easter, everything should be finished and I will have a lot more time to write.
The problem now is the whole place will need a good spring clean because with the sunshine that we've had today every single cobweb, no matter how small, is even more visible and exaggerated. I'm not sure if it is because there are less things in every room or if it's the angle that the sun comes through the window at this time of year. Anyway, I will have to get stuck into some serious spring cleaning.
Now that I have removed a lot of the ornaments and vases etc. I have made myself a promise that I will not buy anything in the future unless it is something that has a use and is not purely for decorative purposes. If I aim for the minimalist look, as long as my home is comfortable and inviting, I will spend less time on chores and more time doing what I want to do, or sometimes, nothing at all!
The next job will be tackling the garden because there is quite a bit to be done out there. The garden will be done on dry, sunny days and the spring cleaning will be done on cloudy or wet days so by Easter, everything should be finished and I will have a lot more time to write.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Blind as a bat!
This entry will be very short and sweet today because I can't see a darned thing and you will have to forgive any spelling or punctuation errors. The reason for this is that I had to go for an eye check and because they wanted to take photos of the retina I had to have eye drops. My sight will return to normal but only after another six hours!
Coming home was very tricky as I couldn't see properly and even though I had sun glasses on, I was squinting like mad because the sun was shining so brightly today. Even crossing the road was tricky so I made sure that I used the pedestrian crossing which not only has traffic lights but an audible signal too.
I was going to change my blog layout, but until I can put my contact lenses back in tomorrow so that I can see properly, it will have to wait another day.
The moral of this is look after your eyes, you only get one pair and I look after mine very carefully. Today has shown me how precious sight is because I don't think I could cope with such limitations for very long.
Coming home was very tricky as I couldn't see properly and even though I had sun glasses on, I was squinting like mad because the sun was shining so brightly today. Even crossing the road was tricky so I made sure that I used the pedestrian crossing which not only has traffic lights but an audible signal too.
I was going to change my blog layout, but until I can put my contact lenses back in tomorrow so that I can see properly, it will have to wait another day.
The moral of this is look after your eyes, you only get one pair and I look after mine very carefully. Today has shown me how precious sight is because I don't think I could cope with such limitations for very long.
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