The Last Days of Summer?

Well, good  morning everyone. How are we all today?

I've had a busy week which culminated in hubby and I attending a local music festival, Weyfest   (http://www.weyfest.co.uk), for the first time last night.
I had heard of the festival before and, in fact, had organised to volunteer there a couple of years ago but life got in the way and I had to cancel my plans. Anyway, as a spur of the moment thing, we decided to go along and see how it was and.....it was great!

It had the same vibe as The Cambridge Folk Festival which we went to a couple of years ago and really enjoyed. It was not too busy, there was plenty of free parking and ample clean loos. There were lots of stalls selling the usual festival hippy clothing which I love (obviously!) and there were hardly any queues for drinks, food or anything else.

We were very surprised to discover a Doctor Who exhibition of sorts in one of the outhouse buildings and couldn't pass up the photo opportunity....

...and the music was supplied by Eddie and the Hot Rods and 10 cc. We have seen both bands before but really enjoyed their performances in this much more intimate setting. I'm not sure if any of you remember the 10 cc hit 'Donna'? It was their first hit I think and it was memorable due to Lol Creme's falsetto. Well, Lol Creme is no longer with the band but they have an all round musical genius called Mick Wilson who sings vocals among many other things in the group. Towards the end of their set it has become customary for the group to sing 'Donna' acapella  and it really is a brilliant thing to see and hear. Four voices in perfect harmony singing a classic song. Fantastic.
Eddie and the Hot Rods are great to see live. Still full of energy and enthusiasm after all these years....their main hits were back in the 70's! Here's a sneaky peak of the biggest hit which I recorded last night....

Well, that looks interesting! I haven't put a video clip on my blog before so I've no idea if that's going to work but we shall soon see.

Moving on, we have accepted an offer for our house and have made an offer on one we like and, at the moment at least, things seem to be going fairly well. The house that we want is, indeed, the house that I was having seconds thoughts about last week. Hubby came to see it with me last weekend and loved it, which was a relief, we made our offer on the Tuesday and it was accepted so it would appear that we will be moving to Clanfield. Hooray!!
I'm trying to keep a lid on my excitement as I am aware of all the things that can, and may, go wrong but a little bit of me is already in organising furniture for rooms and thinking about what I would like us to have in our new home. We home to be all moved in and settled before Christmas which would be fantastic. Keep everything crossed for us please.

On Wednesday I worked my last shift with one of my favourite young men. That young man is Sam and I have worked with him, on and off, since he was 9 I think. He is now 18.
Now, last Saturday Sam was very poorly and ending up in hospital for the night but, Sam being Sam, he bounced right back and was home again the next day, a little weary but much better. I very relieved to see him on Tuesday and on Wednesday and see that he was back to his old self...loving his keyboard, his Prox Talker and his iPad.
I was given these when I left on Wednesday evening...

Thank you Sam xxx

How many of you have done the ALS/MND ice bucket challenge? Loads, if not all, of you I expect. I was feeling very left out as nobody had nominated me but then good old Sam did the honours and I couldn't refuse. To be honest, I was really excited and couldn't wait to have that bucket of ice thrown over me. Mad, I know. You might be able to see the video here:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154521431160191&l=768721623376140885

But, again, I've no idea if that link will work. Sorry for being so rubbish with my IT 'skills'.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. All of a sudden the summer is almost over and I will be returning to work on Monday after being off since the beginning of July. I think a trip to the hut may be in order, especially as the sun is doing it's best to shine and I have various bits and pieces to take down there including the beach shoes that are now clean and dry after our last visit. If I don't take them back to the hut they are likely to get lost among bits and pieces that we will, hopefully, soon be packing up.

I do hope the videos that I have put on here work. once again, apologies if they don't.

Have a wonderful day all.

A xxxx

It's A Wonderful Life!

Hi folks,

Happy weekend to you all. For those of us in UK, it is a bank holiday weekend so we have an extra day to our weekend with many people not having to return to work until Monday. Although, in truth, many, many people will be working anyway as shops seem to open regardless of bank holidays and so on.
It is also the last holiday weekend before Christmas which a slightly scary thought.

So, my week has been quiet compared to previous weeks and I admit to feeling more than a little down in the dumps which is not usual for me these days to be honest.
I seem to have spent endless hours scouring the internet for properties to go and see and trying to get viewings for said properties only to be told that they are already under offer, aren't on the market yet despite being advertised or that the seller has changed their mind and withdrawn the property from sale.
Our house is under offer which is good but it adds to the pressure of finding a new home and I know that where we go to needs to be the right home for us for now and for the future.
None of the properties I have viewed  have inspired me although we are going for a second viewing on one this evening but, if I'm honest, my heart's not really in it so I think that tells me all I need to know.
I know the right property is there for us but we just need to find it.....actually, what I need is Kirsty and Phil from Location!Location!Location! to come and sort it all out for me. Now there's an idea!

                                                    Sensible for a change....coffee in a pub instead of g and t!



Yesterday, after going to have a scout around the area that we would like to live and after trying out another of the local pubs (hubby's determined that we live near a decent one), we came home and decided to watch a film. I had recorded, or thought I had recorded, Dead Poet's Society, and we decided that would be the perfect watch. Unfortunately, somehow or other, I had recorded Good Morning Vietnam and not what I had thought I had recorded. How bloomin' disappointing. However, 18 months or so ago I recorded It's A Wonderful Life, a film made in the late 1940's starring James Stewart. We decided that we should watch that instead and I'm so glad we did. What a brilliant film. I would recommend it totally. Not only are the characters extremely likeable, the story will make you think about your own life and how you may have influenced lives around you without realising it.

Two years ago, on 25th August 2012, our eldest daughter got married and 2 years ago today, 23rd August 2012, my godson got married. It was an exciting time for all but especially for my best friend and I. Our children were getting married within 2 days of each other. We never would have imagined that in a million years.
We went shopping together for our respective mother of the bride outfits and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The wedding days came and went and a wonderful time was had by all.
I cannot believe that it's two years ago! Now my godson and his wife have a beautiful baby girl and my daughter and son in law are so happy together that I know they are were made for each other. I truly hope that both couples have a wonderful celebration of their special days.

This morning, in an attempt to get my bottom into gear, I took Harvey for a lovely walk. The sun was shining and it was just lovely to be out and about in the fresh air. The harvesters have been busy and haystacks have taken the place of the fields of corn and crops that were growing over the sunny summer months. Haystacks in the fields are a sure sign that autumn is on it's way...that and the drop in temperature that has been quite dramatic over the last week or so. So dramatic, in fact, that I have even worn my thermal bedsocks. Not a particularly pleasing image I am sure but, seriously, my feet get soooo cold and once that happens I get cold all over. I am the one who goes bare foot whenever I can and who hates wearing shoes!


                                                        Views from a haystack!

Which leads me on to something that I read about the other day that really appeals to me....walking on hot coals  for charity! Yes, our local children's hospice, whom Jack and I ran for last year in a fundraising event, have announced that they are inviting 100 people to take part in a 'walk on fire' event in October. It's obviously a fundraiser but the idea of it just makes me want to do it. It's not something I think that I can ask for sponsorship for because it's just something that I want to do and I will very probably fund it myself but I do want to do it. I put the proposition to my son and he wants to do it too.....or at least that is what he implied. 'Sign me up!' was his texted reply and it was late at night so I will need to speak to him again in the cold light of day.
We are also doing a 5k dye run in late September I think. You run the 5k and get sprayed with various paints and dyes along the way apparently. Sounds like fun so I think I really ought to do some kind of training, especially as I haven't jogged a step since the half marathon back in March.
I am acutely aware that I have put on half a stone since then and I'm sure that carrying that extra weight is adding to my lethargy. My fitness regime is nonexistent so perhaps that is the way forward. In the words of one of my childrens' favourite books when they were little, 'No more cakes, no crisps. From now on it's healthy living', as spoken by Mrs. Large to the Large family!

                            

Have a good weekend everyone.

A xxxx

Mental Health Ramblings

Morning all,

As you will, no doubt, be aware, since the very sad news broke that Robin Williams had committed suicide, there has been an outpouring of tributes to the great man and the happiness that he brought to so many people. There has also been a deluge of advice for people suffering from depression and mental health issues. Some of the 'advise'has been derisory, famous people making throwaway comments that are so hurtful to anyone in a fragile state of mind. I fail to see, for example, how committing suicide is selfish. This was one of the remarks made on the radio by a sports commentator and ex professional footballer Alan Brazil.

Anyway, a look back at my previous posts will allude to my own mental health issues, issues that I have had for many, many years. My problems generally stem from anxiety but I have all the classic character traits for someone who suffers from mental health problems - low self esteem, lack of self confidence, painfully shy, an overriding urge to please everyone.
People who know me who are aware of my problems are usually, initially, surprised when I tell them just how bad things can be. They tell me that they would never have guessed that I felt so bad, that I always seem fine. It's amazing how adept we become at covering things up.
I wonder if Mr. Williams had those same insecurities? He most certainly had the ability to please everyone, that is for sure. Was his showmanship and non-stop 'manic' comedy a cover for his crippling self-doubt? Almost certainly. And then, of course, we learn that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's which must have been a hammer blow. How could he carry on pleasing people if his body and mind were going to become uncontrollable? Oh, it doesn't bear thinking about how awful he must have felt - how desperate.

During the councelling sessions and doctors 'chats' that I have had over the years, I have always been asked if I have ever felt that life is not worth living, have I considered suicide? I can honestly say 'no'. I have never felt that way and I realise how fortunate I am to be able to say that.
Yes, getting out of bed every day can be a struggle, yes, my mind plays tricks on me and my body and scares me into thinking I'm going to drop dead any minute or get some horrible disease, yes, I worry and fret uncontrollably at times about everything and everyone but I have never thought that I would be better of being dead.
I know that I am very, very lucky. I have wonderful family and great friends. I am, believe it or not, very robust and healthy despite it all! I have no money problems, I can work, I can drive and I have everything to live for. I cannot begin to imagine how terrible you must feel to decide that your life isn't worth living and I hope I never do.

The consensus of opinion for people like me who suffer, from time to time, from day to day, from minute to minute, with life is to get help, talk to someone, don't suffer in silence. That is great advice but so very hard to do when you are in the depths of despair. My experience has been that people aren't sure what to say, feel uncomfortable and even, sometimes, tell you to pull yourself together. If only it were that simple!
When the dark cloud descends and all you want to do is hide from everyone until you feel better the last thing you need is someone who thinks that you are feeling sorry for yourself and that you should carry on as normal as that will be good for you. That is  not how it works. Depression is an illness. Your mind is broken and needs fixing and it will take time to heal much like a broken leg takes time to mend and, once you are mended, try to change things so that you don't make the same mistakes again and end up in the same situation months later. Again, that is easier said than done but if nothing changes and you keep doing the same things you will end up in the same place again. Take it from someone who knows. I read somewhere that if you keep putting 10w through a 3w bulb the bulb will keep blowing. Use that analogy for your mental health. Your 'bulb' will keep blowing if you don't change what you put into it. I hope that makes sense!

Well, I wanted to get that out of the way because the whole Robin Williams thing and the fallout from it has been playing on my mind. Apologies if this is a bit random but I had to try to put into words what I am feeling.

Have a great day everyone.

xxxxx

Mother Nature

Hi everyone,

It's Sunday and I am having a lazy day. The weather is peculiar...we have got the tail end of hurricane Bertha which has seen this mornings weather range from torrential rain, gusting winds, sunshine and blue sky and the odd rumble of thunder. The rain was so heavy that I had to put off my dog walk until it stopped or at least got lighter. Harvey didn't seem to mind too much because I let him sleep on the bed because I felt so guilty!

He doesn't look too distressed does he?

So today has seen me return to cooking/baking which is something that I occasionally enjoy and often get the urge to do. It's actually really baking that I prefer but when I bake cakes I end up eating them (or most of them) and that's no good for the waistline which still hasn't recovered from our holiday excesses.
Today's delights will be a low fat lamb casserole - Hairy Bikers stylee -, a Manchester tart and a batch of pecan blondes.
The casserole is in the oven and I'm keeping everything crossed that it turns out ok. I have very limited success with casseroles and stews. Mum was brilliant at both. I have not inherited that gene.The npecan blondes will be baked later and the Manchester tart is done.....

 In actual fact I have made two of them so I hope they taste nice. I can't bear to throw away food so they are going to be eaten one way or another. I may have to make an urgent dash to one of my daughters to see if she fancies any!

While I have been walking the dog over the past week I have been struck by how wonderful the wild blackberries are this year. My diet is being supplemented every day by the blackberries that I find. There also seems to be a glut of damsons and plums. I think the warmth and the sun of the summer must have been perfect for the summer fruits.
Now, I would like to say that I have collected all of the damsons and made jam but I would be lying. I find damsons so fiddly. They have a lovely taste but the stones seem to big for the fruit somehow. However, the stones don't seem to put the dog off of eating them. I have to drag him daily past the fallen fruit otherwise I think he would hoover up every last damson and then have a really bad tummy.

I have also been quite taken with the beauty of nature again while I've been walking. It really is amazing what you can see when you really stop and look around you. The same goes for listening too. If you're out walking try just stopping for a minute, closing your eyes and really listening to the sounds that are around you. We become very good at blocking things out but listen hard and hear what you've been missing.
For example, when I was walking the dog the other day I was bumbling along and all I thought I could hear was the traffic from the local main road. When I actually listened properly I heard the traffic plus my footsteps on the grass, the dog's name tag jangling on his collar, the rustling of the plastic bag I was carrying, insects of all kinds chirruping away in the hedgerows and grass and other dogs barking in the distance.
I find it really therapeutic to just listen properly from time to time.
The same applies to things we see. We often take so much of what is around us for granted that we don't see everything there is. If I sit on the bench in my garden I will see the house and the flowers and that's about all I take in but I am disregarding the blossoms, the colours of the flowers, the scattered remnants of the dog's bones, the bushes in various states of growth and the overgrown hedges and so much more.

Earlier this week I walked Harvey around the lake where I used to go when I was training for the half marathon earlier this year and where I haven't been for months. I was awake early again and it was a beautiful morning so we were out and about by 6.45 am. It really was a joy to be out at that time. The dog loved it and so did I. I was so aware of my surroundings and I took a few pictures to try to capture the feel of it but photographs never really capture moods that well.

There is no news on the house move front. We have had viewings of our house and a couple of offers which have been rejected and I have been to see some houses too but I know that we can't make an offer on a property until we have an offer on ours. I'm still excited about it all and not stressed and long may that continue.

Oh, and on one of my walks I saw this....

I'm intrigued by it because I have not ever seen anything like it before and it was the only one like it in the area so if anyone knows what it is please let me know!

Well, I think that will be all for now. Stay happy and healthy everyone and enjoy every day.

Remember to listen!

Here endeth the hippy lesson!!

Much love xxxxx

We Shall Remember Them

A very early good morning from me to you,

Yes, I am back in the land of 'no sleep' for the time being I think. It's 5.51am as I type this and I have been awake for a couple of hours although it feels like longer. I have already loaded and put on the dishwasher, fired up the tumble dryer, sorted out the airing cupboard.....and eaten some Pringles! Admittedly, it was only a few Pringles but, even so, Pringles at this time of the morning. Ridiculous.

Our latest news is that our house is on the market, we have had a few people looking around at it and the feedback, according to the estate agent at least, is all positive. We have had a couple around for a second viewing but I haven't heard anything else so we will have to wait and see how it goes.
Hubby and I spent Sunday afternoon looking around the local areas to where would like to move to and I viewed a couple of properties near to my beach hut but neither of the houses that I looked at were what we are looking for. One of them was immaculate but in the wrong area and the other, well....car tyres in the lounge is all you need to know.
I think the reason for my disrupted sleep pattern is due to the excitement/turmoil of the prospect of moving and the mountain of thoughts that are going through my head. Goodness knows what I'll be like if we actually sell this house. I'm really excited and positive about it all and I don't feel stressed but there is no other reason for my 'insomnia'.

Yesterday, August 4th 2014, saw the centenary of the start of World War 1, the war when so very many young men gave their lives for their country and, in a way, for us. The Lights Out campaign was organised, I believe, by the Royal British Legion and the idea was that as many people as possible across the UK switched their lights off for an hour between 2200 and 2300 and lit a candle as a mark of respect to those who gave their lives for us.
I dutifully purchased my candle, and couple more for 2 of my daughters, a few days before the event and I lit it last night and put the candle on my windowsill. I love candles,as do my girls, and I don't ever need an excuse to sit in candlelight and reminisce so last night was the perfect way to honour the fallen.

At about 10.30pm I took a drive around the local area to see if anyone else had switched their lights off. It was hard to tell really because there were no candles that I could see but there was certainly an air of quiet and calm and many houses were in complete darkness. Now, obviously, many folks go to bed at about that time so it's hard to tell but I like to think that the houses in darkness were taking the time to pay their respects.
Not so impressive was the drive through town and the area where the bars and clubs are that the youngsters frequent. There was no sign of Lights Out or respect there as far as I could see. There was the usual collection of lads walking around with bottles of beer in hand, young girls in short skirts and skyscraper heels clinging onto each other as they struggled to cross the road trying to avoid the traffic without falling over.
It struck me that most of them had no idea about the poignancy of the hour. They had probably not heard of the Lights Out campaign and I just felt sad for a minute. I heard myself give a disapproving 'tut' and a shake of the head and then told myself off for being such a misery guts and being so judgmental. I'm not sure why I felt that I had the authority to judge those people. They were just kids out having a good time and enjoying the summer evening. The sobering thought was that, 100 years ago, most of those lads with beers in hand would have been going off to war, to engage in battles that they couldn't imagine and see things that would live with them forever. Most of them would never come home. We are the lucky ones. I cannot imagine watching my son go off to war, not knowing if I would ever see him again, not having any contact with him, thinking about him all the time and trying to live a normal life.

On to lighter things and, after my viewings of the two properties that I mentioned earlier, I spent a wonderful afternoon at my hut with my dog. The weather was, once again, glorious. I had tea and biscuits, we went for a long walk and several short ones, I finished my latest book and then drank more tea. It was sublime.
We stayed so long that I had to go to the local shop and buy some dog food because it was way past his tea time and I was nowhere near ready to go home. I also brought a sandwich and some raspberries and cream. We went back to the hut, dog was fed and I ate a punnet of raspberries and a carton of double cream and sat about for a bit longer before we made our way home. It was a really lovely day.
I'm always surprised when my dog behaves himself and I'm not sure why to be honest. He's a good dog and he's never happier than when he's with people so for him to spend a whole day with me, right by my side, must have made a pleasant change for him.

This post is a bit all over the place for which I can only apologise. It's a bit like myself at the moment! I've just remembered that we went for a walk around Guildford castle grounds the other day because I wanted to see the WW1 flowerbed that I had heard about.
Isn't it sad that we take local things for granted? The castle grounds is a place that I spent a lot of time at when I was young (I remember playing draughts there on a giant draughts board) and I don't go there often these days but on the day that I went last week the sun was shining and the grounds were full of people having their lunch and a break from the office.

The list of names on the photo above is part of a monument at the castle grounds that lists the names of locals who were in the armed forces and who lost their lives in World War 2. One of those named is a relative of mine and to see his name there fills me with a sense of sadness but also a sense of pride.
I have little knowledge of what my relatives did in either of the wars and I was always hopeful of finding a hero amongst them. I know that one of my grandfathers spent time in India with the army but I don't know any more than that so to see my family name every time that I go to the castle and to know that the name is there for everyone to see and as a testament to my great great uncle's bravery and sacrifice makes me proud. Maybe I have found my hero.

Oh, and I have found the armadillo pics that I couldn't find for the last update! This little chap visited us when we were on our hols in Florida.

So I think that's it for now. Time for a cup of tea me thinks. Hopefully I will be back with good news re the house selling/hunting situation very soon. Keep everything crossed for me please!!

Have a great day.

Much love xxx