Home on the Range,with Nanny Wales.

Well I'm Back

2011-08-31T14:37:00.002+01:00

Well I'm back after much to-ing and fro-ing on the 'Great' British rail system today.
I pm, saw me leave Aylesbury Bus station, to arrive in Oxford at 2.25 well in time to catch the 2.37 to Didcote Parkway for my change to the Cardiff train. Or it would have been if the Portsmouth train hadn't been running late, and holding all other trains up, which were coming into the same Platform, my Didcote train included. When I did eventually alight at Didcote, it was to see my Cardiff train streaming away into the distance. Next train wasn't for another hour and yours truly being of an impatient nature, hopped onto a Weston Super Mare bound train which stopped at Swindon, hopped off at Swindon and caught the Swansea bound train which stopped at Cardiff Central. Almost there I thought, only to arrive in Cardiff hop off the train and see my Vale train 's backside as it left Platform 7. Damnation! nowt's ever simple thinks I, now nearly a dithering wreck of impatience, and soon to become a seething cauldron of anger when I saw the next train they had the nerve to put onto the Vale route...............Imagine two sardine cans with wheels and you may just have a slight picture of how we were packed in..........Big Notice on the doors "These doors open inward please keep this area clear" If 'Arriva Trans Wales' put more than two carriages on to serve the more than 8 stations on this route, then people may have a chance of obeying that notice. As it was people had to fight their way forwards to try and exit the train at their stops. Apart from all that its damned Dangerous!

All that aside I had a really good time, though the grand and great/grandchildren seem to be growing at an alarming rate. I have visions of a future in which I will be addressed as Shorty, or Small Breeches!

August 24th

2011-08-24T11:06:00.004+01:00

I was watching question time last week, I think it was on the 19th, and Nassim Nicolas Taleb in his interview hit the nail on the head for me, as to the causes of the global finacial situation. Might even get his Book the Black Swan to read while en-route outward and homeward bound for Aylesbury.
I put the Iplayer link to the programme on my pearltrees Here.

Looking forward to my time in Bucks but will miss my computer, of course they have a much more up to-date computer than mine but with the 2 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren I rarely get the time to use it................and in any case time spent with sons children and grandchildren are precious.
Love my grand/great/children as I do, these days however I always am pleased to arrive back home, and have to admit that the journey is a bit of a trial { I suffer with Vertigo/Labyrinthitis, to the point where I sometimes feel dizzy and disorientated while still sat down !}
Indeed this spring I frightened a poor chap 'a total stranger' by grabbing hold of him whilst out shopping one day, or otherwise I would have fallen, he wasn't well pleased I think to find himself in the 'death like grip' of some old biddy. ;0)

Not a fan

2011-08-23T22:59:00.000+01:00

Of Bill Gates but reckon for once he's got it about right ,in these 11 things students will never learn in school. which was recently posted on a forum I visit.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem.
The world will expect you to accomplish something
BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school.
You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.
Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping:
They called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault,
so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring
as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills,
cleaning your clothes and listening to you
talk about how cool you thought you were:
So before you save the rain forest
from the parasites of your parent's generation,
try delousing the closet in your own room..

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers,
but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades
and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer.
*This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters.
You don't get summers off and very few employers
are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF.
*Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life.
In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds.
Chances are you'll end up working for one..

If you can read this... Thank a Teacher.
If you can read this in English... Thank a Soldier!
And for life and everything else you have... Thank God!!

Results of failed Potato Bread

2011-08-21T13:50:00.000+01:00

Now a delicious looking Bread Pudding, but as they say 'The proof in the Pudding !'

Sat 21st August

2011-08-21T13:28:00.003+01:00

Well my Potato bread was an epic fail ! Last night I decided to make some potato bread I've made it many times in the past, and the 'children' as they then were, used to love it. So what happened ? God only know's, I made it exactly as previously, yet it turned out quite doughy......Yuk !
Still, I am damned if those ingredients that went into it will be a total waste, it is now sitting in the oven after a make over, and hopefully, I will have a lovely bread pudding for tea tonight, just had a peek and its coming along and looking really scrummy.
I should be cleaning the bedrooms and bathroom right now as I am going away for a long weekend , leaving son and daughter-in-law in charge of house , potted plants etc.
But what the hell, it will all still be there when I come back, housework must be the all-time most boring job.

Have been trying to find the cheapest route to Aylesbury [the car is out as no longer like driving on motorways]
And I have found that if I take the train and go via Cardiff Central to Didcot Parkway then a connection to Oxford, I can get a bus from right outside the Station into Aylesbury, train fare only £50 for a super off-peak return.
Cannot wait to get away, a break is just what I need right now.

Shouldn't we bear SOME of the responsibility, following the Riots.?

2011-08-18T13:29:00.006+01:00

Over last 30 years, Britain has gradually turned into a 'me first/greedy/morally constipated' society. Or that is what is being expounded in the media.
I think it goes further back than that, the 60's with its rise of feminism, civil rights issues, brought about many changes but even though the Government still rejected things like the Wolfenden report, it was during the sixties that the Counterculture developed.
No one would argue I'm sure that change wasn't needed, especially in the area of discrimination be it against race, handicapped people and certain other minority groups. But gradually through the subsequent decades have we gone to far?
When a prisoner can complain that his prison bunk being too hard contravenes his Human Rights , and gets compensation, My mind boggles. Hello! your there to be punished, you broke the Law!
I came across this in the DerbyGripe today, I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Take also into account the ending of Corporal Punishment in Schools, the stance on punishment within the home, the access to often violent reality play-station games by young children, add in parents who just don't monitor or really care what children watch.........or where they are, or what they are doing at any given time.

Consumerism Does being out of work or being one of those who never intend to work [ as the state keeps me very well thank you }have any link to consumerism, does buying or in some cases the appropriation of goods through nefarious mean, make people feel better, give them the feel good factor? We've all felt I'm sure the benefits of Retail therapy at some time or other, I sometimes indulge in it myself.......:0) Though never at someone else's expense. Watch the television or read a magazine and notice that a huge section of advertising is primarily aimed at the young. No one I am sure would have failed to notice that those 'Poor' youths involved in last weeks London Riots were sporting designer trainers and hoodies, using Blackberries and Smart Phones, yet the Media still in some cases referred to them as the underprivileged poor.
How different then when compared to what we had as children back in the 40's/50's, for a start we didn't have a democracy in our homes, more like a dictatorship with Dad as top dog Mum as nurturer and us kids as an add-on. We didn't have 'Rights' only 'Rules' the breaking of which had dire consequences. 'Getting away with it' was viewed as when the local Bobby caught you Scrumping apples, and said "what's it to be a clip around the ear or shall I take you to your parents" you always opted for the clip round the ear, as being less of a punishment. .Bring the cops to your parents door ? Shock Horror! Oh the dreadful consequences..............No we weren't perfect little goodies, as kids we tried to get away with what we could, as all children will, but we did know if caught there would be punishment.

And of course we when we became adults we wanted better for our children, but we lost the plot, most children left to their own devises will entertain themselves, but no, having been deprived in certain areas ourselves [you try eating bread and Dripping every day for your lunch] ;0) We tried to compensate by trying to give our children everything we could afford. And so have subsequent generations. So children now expect more from their parents in terms of material things.We made this rod for our backs and now reap what we have sown, of course other factor come into play here as well, slack policies by Government, to many do-gooders, no respect for authority, powers taken away from parents, teachers and Police.
Of course there will always be some people who will never conform to what I call the social niceties....But that has always been the case. And we don't and wont bear any responsibility for them.
And as for examples from high up ? Well watch this Keisler Report. Not that any examples were in.the minds of the rioters, they rioted and looted because the could !
As for the rest ! I shall ask the question again. Shouldn't we bear some of the responsibility?

Knackered

2011-08-13T17:13:00.000+01:00

Just got home from shopping Ugh ! Not my favourite pastime, So even though I've shopped til I drop, I'm still wondering what to do for Tea or rather Dinner, as I haven't had a main meal yet today, I shall probably make do now with Pie and Mash with Mushy Peas...............................But I have got a lovely custard tart for afters ;0)
Nothing much on the old box tonight, is there ever ? So will probably settle for a book which I will most
probably fall asleep with................

Today Sat 13th August 2011

2011-08-13T13:52:00.001+01:00

It's nearly a year since I last posted, I have been neglecting my Blog ;0(

To catch up, in December last year shortly before Christmas I lost my best friend, Jilly my pooch who had been with me for nearly fourteen years. I still miss her and still find myself now and then preparing for a routine each morning that is necessary when you have a pet that needs exercise, food, water etc......only to realise within seconds she is no longer here. I doubt I will be getting another dog, she was so special to me and I feel anything else would be a poor second choice. And getting long in the tooth, with some health problems would also not be conducive to coping with any extra responsibilities.
Not much has happened this year life goes on in much the same way, there are good days and not so good days. The two eldest Grand children are still looking for work after completing there degrees, but most prospective employers cannot even be bothered to reply, how depressing is that? And also damned rude.
Hope something turns up for them both soon.
I will try to post on here most days now, even if its only to say "I'm here I'm still around !" :0)

Will never tire of watching this

2010-07-31T22:08:00.001+01:00

Stavros-flatley

Jenny Wren

2010-07-31T16:02:00.005+01:00

When I was in school, for wet weather we wore our Burberry Macs {Remember them ?} Vintage Burberry they would be now :0) and just think what they would now cost. And my very first Burberry had a picture of a Jenny Wren Tab inside the collar............Of course this was picked up on by teachers and kids as my name was Jennifer, and I was frequently called Jenny Wren, which I loathed
Ironically, now as wrens frequently build nests in my garden, and they really are very entertaining birds especially when they have fledglings, my animosity towards the name Jenny Wren has disappeared...........I think !
And do you remember Clarks children's sandals, we used to wear them with white socks, or just with bare feet,they had crepe soles, that used to stick to the tarmac on really scorching days. Very comfortable, wish you could still get them now and in adult sizes, great for slopping around the place. As you can read I'm having a bit of a remiss, thinking of all that was once available that now isn't. Ra Ra skirts and the multitude of petticoats you needed to make them stick out, which in turn had to be rinsed in a 'sugardip' each time they were washed to bring back their stiffness, and the obligatory wide elastic belt to cinch your waist in, and wearing your cardigans back to front { you couldn't afford sweaters and cardigans} Toreador pants, and fluorescent socks, Pearlized shoes and pearlized stockings to go with them, in shades of Grey and Bronze and Blue...Raglan and Dolman sleeves, shirt-waisters..............Panstick { Blimey can still get that, I remember it more for its smell Yuck !} and block mascara, pinching Mums Eau-de-cologne and lavender water.
Well Burberry at least has come a long way from Macs Well I never ! ;0)

I'm in the mood for dancing

2010-07-31T13:25:00.001+01:00

Awww Bless

Society now and then

2010-07-28T15:49:00.014+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

I was born in 1943 yet looking at pictures of my town's main shopping area as it was Then I can hardly credit it when compared to the Now. Notice only one car is visible in the first picture, so in Fifty years great changes in the types and levels of transport. I can remember having our milk delivered by horse and cart , and the mad dash to be the first kid to get the horses droppings into their buckets for their dads veggie patch. They were heady day's back then, hours spent when not in school, playing  Fox and Hounds, hide and seek, rat tat ginger, no matter what the weather. Warmer months were spent out in the nearby countryside, at the three ponds or bluebell wood/primrose dell..........walking through the half mile field with its stream and other cultivated fields to get there, all the time keeping a wary eye out for the farmers, and we'd be gone all day with pockets stuffed with odd bits of string, a penknife and an apple if you were lucky and mum was in a good mood, we would pool together what money and sweety coupons we had for a large bottle of Pop, which we would purchase at Mr Kelloways shop en-route. Mum's didnt seem to worry about us then, knowing we'd return when our tummy's started to rumble. What healthy young beasts we were !
Of course there was a certain level of 'bad behaviour' from us too, scrumping apples and being 'rowdy at the sat matinee for kids, always aware though that 'Copper Moore' knew where we lived and if caught would give us an option, either a clip around the ear or be taken back to face your parents, you always opted for the clip, you knew it would be more than a clip from your parents for bringing the Cops to their door, Oh the shame of it !
Of course inner City Kids then and now, were not fortunate to have the open spaces me and my peers had. But still seemed to be able to make their own fun and games , as we did. Crime linked with kids was something neither small town or cities had that much problem with then, or did they? and its just that media coverage has made it an 'issue' these days.

More families now with both parents working, more pressures in the work places, a three tier class system [ when I was a kid there were the rich and us] more pressure from advertising to have the 'latest' in everything. High levels of unemployment and a good few parents who are not prepared to work for home and family, expecting the state to keep them, higher levels in under-age pregnancies, more children truanting from school, the lack of the ability by parents to just say simply NO to kids demands, the use of bad language by some young parents in front of their kids, and no respect for anything. And its obvious from the two pictures that children cannot play out as safely now when living in a town due to high levels of traffic. A large number of children come from homes where there is alcohol /drug abuse, they have childhoods we can only envisage in our worst nightmares. They live in a home where the respect has never had a place.

In my youth we grew up with respect , for our elders, for authority , for property and more importantly for ourselves.

Today we have lots of technology that allows kids to have access to computer games etc, mobile phones televisions in their own rooms.. They don't have to interact with their peers outside of school if they don't want to. A fair few of them don't seem to be able to make their own fun, bad behaviour often goes unpunished, swearing in public seems to be tolerated by all and sundry, some of them have no concern about damaging others property, Teachers, Police, seem to have their hands tied by legislation, re punishment.
Kids are constantly reminded of the Dangers of interaction with strangers, People who genuinely like kids are fearful of approaching them.
But most importantly there's a lack of Respect, and that something that's learnt at your parents knees, so in many cases the kids are not to blame, as respect for the individual seems to have taken a nose dive over the last couple of decades.


All in all I think my generation had the best of it, of course it wasn't all sunny days and fun we had our family up's and down's too, and we faced the same dangers from 'strangers' the difference being we as street kids knew when to recognise someone who was a bit off the norm, in most cases. So are Kids too protected these days/ or is it that you cannot ever protect a child too much?
We were first and foremost a Family, sadly that seems to have gone by the board these days, and I'm not saying that some single parent families don't raise their families as well as two parents, in very many cases it even works out better, but it does seem to me at least that the family as a whole don't seem to do things together, of course there are exceptions, but a lot don't even have an evening meal sat at the table together, where things like fears of a stranger, bullying at school, where finding out what kind of a day each member of the family had could be talked about.

Yes we had a few 'bad apples' who ended up in Borstal/Approved School/ prison, and speaking about the ones I knew locally most of them grew up in Dysfunctional families.

Well they do say a new broom sweeps clean, But

2010-07-28T12:46:00.008+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

In the UK news today, Teresa May our coalition Home secretary, plans to overhaul licensing laws in a bid to tackle drinking related crime etc. Which may include placing levy's on pubs and clubs to pay the cost of policing and clean up after late night revellers. and it seems there will be more decisions at local level about opening hours.
A Think Tank has said Government should scale back the Nuclear Deterrent Trident , lets hope they listen..but wont hold my breath..................
There seems to be a split between David Cameron and Vince Cable over the Immigration Cap........why am I not surprised ;0) I'll give em another 6 months. New Broom or No Meanwhile British Gas has made massive Profits a disgusting amount even taking into consideration their increase in residential customers.................
As politicians wrangle about Home Affairs, Young Men are still dying in Afghanistan and other conflicts around the Globe, 1.02 Billion People are Starving, Millions of People are Homeless........

Kinda puts our own problems into perspective for me

I'd say its more realistic

2010-07-27T23:35:00.005+01:00

Twiggy via last.fm

The sort of figure I never had I mean ! Although looking at Christina Hendricks I think even though she has a good figure, I'm kinda glad that in the sixties I didn't have those curves, being the 'Twiggy' era, and as all friends were madly dieting yours truly was quite smug , of course pre-Twiggy I had been out in the cold.

However Christina seems to have Government approval cos "Christina Hendricks is absolutely fabulous," says Equalities Minister Lynne Featherston.

And she would be a better role model [figure wise] for teenagers to aspire to..........rather than the emaciated Catwalk Model examples we see regularly in the news and on our screens.
Still I did really like Twiggy in her heyday :0)
Taking about figures brings to mind dieting which in turn brings to mind food.
I like this new little gadget I've put on here, you just type in an ingredient and it come up with suggestion recipes from a web site. Great for me cos I often cant make my mind up what to cook.

Watched a really exciting race today

2010-07-27T22:41:00.003+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

It was in the European Athletic's championships in Barcelona, in the men's 10,000 metres, Mo Farah romped home to take Gold with Chris Thompson taking second, I was on the edge of my seat.
This is the first time in the event since 1974.............. Wheeee !

Poor Mouse

2010-07-26T21:58:00.002+01:00

Awwww ! :0) ;0)

Outsize Uniforms for kids

2010-07-26T14:56:00.008+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

Just noticed this on AOL news, marks and sparks selling uniforms for overweight kids,

Here
Seem's we are going the way of America and their problems with obesity, as more and more parents opt for quick and easy ready /eat out meals.
You maybe could explain this by saying, as more parents both work now then easy quick meals are often all they have time to prepare...........But with so many families now with both parents out of work that argument doesn't seem to hold up..........
Is it that much more expensive to buy and make from fresh ingredient's ? Or are people simply to lazy or have they just grown up in homes where parents have not taught them the basics of cooking?
Think there was something about it on the BBC news too.

Some cards I'm working on

2010-07-24T15:22:00.006+01:00

I like Japanese Images so have made some with those, and I have started with some xmas cards too[ sorry to mention it :0)]
I do make and put bookmarks in some of them as an extra..
Mine seem to be amateur efforts when compared to some of my friends though... They really knows their stuff :0)

I'm green with envy [Click to link to Barrywales ]where pics came from.

2010-07-21T17:15:00.010+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

My friend Chris-Anne has found herself a new car a lovely little ford escort, ok its T reg , but lovely and clean and seems a good runner..............So come Saturday off we went to Cosmeston Country Park, it was beautiful, hot but with a strong breeze to compensate. We took a long leisurely walk around the lake, and had a coffee in the cafeteria. Then off to town to do some shopping and that's what I miss most, the convenience of a car, the ability to get from A to B with minimum fuss...........Boo Hoo . :0( Still if it wasn't for Chris-Anne's kindness Saturday would have been dull indeed.............:0)

Fed Up with the Politically Correct Brigade ?

2010-07-15T10:38:00.003+01:00

So where/when did 'political correctness' begin and how ?
I've been checking out these two links, origins and the place I got that link from here, they make interesting reading, though I haven't waded through all of it yet.......
Of course what spurred me on to look was the ongoing news coverage of the moat shooting, and the fact that it is to now be investigated by the IPPC and the fact they are seeming to make such a fuss in the press about the type of tazer used............ apparently it did not have Home Office approval. Excuse me but didn't moat use a sawn off shot gun ?

More to the point in this age of Political Correctness where one has to be careful what one say's in public without being accused of racism, homophobia, sex discrimination etc How is it that a social network site like Face-Book is getting away with allowing the abusive rants against the police on the' moats a legend ' page?
Looking at my Local news I see they refuse to do that.Barry and District News,
Meanwhile I see that victims of moat are to be represented by Max Clifford Hmm not sure about that at all.

Has anyone

2010-07-09T21:10:00.002+01:00

Read Anthony Browne's Retreat of Reason...............I'd not heard of it til I came across this on the web....Civitas Just wondered if it was worth a read......

Has anyone

2010-07-09T20:57:00.001+01:00

Read Anthony Browne's Retreat of Reason...............I'd not heard of it til I came across this on the web....

2010-07-09T20:50:00.001+01:00

After a long break

2010-07-09T12:32:00.000+01:00

It's been a quite a long time since I blogged anything, purely because nowt really happens here on a day to day basis, most of my friends are still working and also family are all in work, still that's a positive rather than negative............As work maybe hard to come by in the near future.
Jilly my dog as you probably know from posts elsewhere, had a tumour removed back in March /April they had not sent the biopsy away as they thought it was non- malignant, she has unfortunately developed a sore patch under her front leg/armpit which she is scratching and making it bleed, it looks much the same as the last 'lump' and I am now waiting for someone in the family to have a day off, in order for me to take her to the PDSA hospital in Cardiff...............'Damn those people who broke into and wrecked my car !
My friend Chris- Anne who still works, had a shock over last weekend as her car failed the MOT, and the mechanic said it would cost a 'hell of a lot' to repair and even then would be a long shot..............
When your working hard to keep the wolf from the door just how the hell can you come up with a few thou to replace a car.? Fortunately she found one on Gumtree which she puttered home in last night, not heard from her today yet so hope its all running well.

grrrrrr

2010-05-13T13:30:00.002+01:00

still cant get main page

whats happening

2010-05-13T13:29:00.002+01:00

couldn't get to my blog

A Beautiful Day

2010-01-17T15:07:00.001Z

Well what a lovely sunny day here in my small corner of Wales, but oh god doesn't it show the lack of dusting skills of yours truly.
The day started well with an argument/debate with eldest son, on who poses more of a threat to World Peace Islamic fanaticism or China with her heightened weapons programme..Son got quite irate on our difference of opinion,.why do kids always think their right?.,...........Then had a dingdong on the phone with daughter...over mobile phone bill.........................Seems it's not my day at all :0( Number two son was cheeky on the phone the other day.so I've fallen out with all of them, not told them that yet though !
I'm in a huff and no one in the family huff's quite as well as I do....
So Bogger the lot of em. Now where did I put that Baileys ?

No Comment

2010-01-02T14:16:00.000Z

Just saw this in the new's and am rendered speechless for once

Posted from Email

2009-12-31T11:58:00.001Z

Just trying out this email thingy, had forgotten I had it !
And it works

Ouch !

2009-12-31T11:03:00.000Z

Had the Swine Flu Jab yesterday, arm is sore and tender, but unlike T W I have refrained from poking it......on the other hand I have not come down with runny nose {I refuse to use the word S**t} temperature or the shivers. Though I am bit more achier than normal.
Did not know you had to sign a consent form because it is a new vaccine.........Hmmm !

The Mind Boggles

2009-12-30T13:15:00.002Z

Reading this new's item Little boy an experienced rider I am thinking that his parents will have this tragedy to live with for the rest of their lives, I know that if it was me I would be riddled with guilt. Meanwhile our rescue services, risk their lives because of others stupidity Idiot's.
And this ******* Why are they wasting new's print on him?

Hi Folks

2009-12-28T12:37:00.001Z

My sister has just had a crack at publishing an E-Book at Lu Lu It has taken me a while to find it, but eureka ! Just came across it and had to share with someone.

find it here

Happy New year

2009-12-27T10:05:00.001Z

Hope you all have had a great Xmas, That Woman, Seasidegirlie, Chinwagger and Grubby Macintosh.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.................:0)

My time clock is all out

2009-09-08T17:30:00.002+01:00

I mean I'm running early today, when in actual fact I thought I was running late..........I shot out of bed this morning, 'well maybe that a bit of an exaggeration' I stumbled would be more accurate..........And when I got downstairs the clock showed 11.15 .....Blimey have not been that late up for ages I thought.

So after a cuppa, a strip wash ( shower's on the blink) and a tobacco fix I logged in, now why didn't I look at the clock on the pooter god alone know's, but by 1.15 all the chores I was prepared to do had been done, and the dog had been fed....something I don't usually do until after she has been walked together with Shadow, by my son each morning at about 10/11 am, but as he had not arrived I fed her, thinking that I would give her an extra long walk in the afternoon.........

When low and behold my son walked in..........Your very late I said did something hold you up ? Well he said I didn't get up until 9 but I have to be heading towards Cardiff by 12.30............Um think your going to be a bit late then sez I, its 1 .20 now.............

Mum what planet are you on? say's he laughing at my obvious confusion, well my clock says 1.20 I replied. Batteries Mum batteries he laughed.

Well if it had been sunny I would have known by its position in the sky I said to cover my embarrassment............

Well I did do a good turn today because Son went to Cardiff accompanied by a chuckle...........

Fears

2009-09-08T12:48:00.002+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

Reading the subject of spiders and such on Chinwaggers about cat ladders and all the comment's made. Got me to thinking how we don't really know what fears some friends and family have and to what degree those fears affect them.
As I said in my comment I don't like spiders, but I don't let that fear really take hold to the extent. where I cannot even look at them, or appreciate what wonderful engineer's they are in their web building. I also have a fear of flying but again, I haven't allowed it to stop me taking trips abroad........ I feel you have to face your demons or life would be hell..........However I can sympathise with anyone who has such a dread of certain things................... because one demon I cannot conquer and that is a fear of heights.

Fat thigh's win the day

2009-09-06T13:51:00.004+01:00

Ive always had skinny legs, and it seems as though they will be my downfall. Hooray for big girls every where, long life and happiness will it seems be yours.

All Done and Dusted

2009-09-06T13:04:00.005+01:00

Well all the older grandchildren bar one, have flown the coop this week

Chelsey is now sharing a house in Cardiff with friends from Uni, Mark likewise has gone up to North Wales, where he will be studying and has a house there he is sharing. Andrew has gone back up South where he is living on campus........That leaves Richard and Sean the only ones living here, Richard flew the coop a couple of years back and shares a house with girlfriend Ying. Which leaves Sean (Chelsey's older brother) the only one still living at home, and of all the older grandchildren he was the only one who knew what he wanted to do once he got his degree........He graduated this year but as yet has not been able to get the job he wanted in the Police Force..........He has to wait for recruitment dates, and apply wherever he sees they are doing so.

All this has taken it's toll on my eldest son Richard and his wife Joy......can you imagine having to help supply that lot with bedding, furniture, basic kitchen things etc

Richard left early on Friday to take Mark to North Wales..(after settling Chelsey in her house the day before) he left with a transit van full and didn't get back till late Friday evening...........I haven't as yet seen Joy but going on previous occasions when the kids have 'gone it alone' she will be in a rather tearful state.

I'm glad that the kids are all doing something with their lives, and indeed rather proud of them all.

2009-08-26T16:27:00.003+01:00

Why doesn't my spagbol ever come out the same twice, even if I do it exactly the same.....A long advocate of the bung it in and hope for the best brigade.........I was determined on producing a lovely spag bol one day, to stick to exactly to the same amount of ingredients the next time..........I was sorely disappointed it was nowhere nearly as nice as the first batch .can anyone explain this to me ?

Off to eat my nearly nice spag bol now........:0(

Blimey !

2009-08-25T08:38:00.001+01:00

I was up and about by 7 am today, Its usually gone 8 before my nose appears over the duvet.......now something must have disturbed me as once I'm asleep even the combined snores of my two sons when staying overnight don't penetrate......I am totally in the arms of Morpheus.

The first thing that presented itself to my vision

SCREAMING AB-DABS

2009-08-24T20:11:00.004+01:00

Well what a day, at last have nearly-new pooter installed, and am nearly ready and set to go..........no more sudden shutdowns I hope and no more weird goings on in the middle of something interesting.

Trouble is all my passwords were saved in my google chrome and are resident on the old pooter, and we couldn't configure it to transfer over from one pooter to another. But its up and running that's the important thing the only thing is I haven't got sound, maybe there isn't a sound card installed will have to check that...........This took Simon nearly all day, as he fiddled with the belkin transfer tool he has, but it wouldn't transfer xp to xp only xp to vista......its lovely to be able to watch videos again without pooter crashing even if they don't have sound :0)

War and the loss of lives

2009-08-23T13:04:00.004+01:00

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Should not be taken lightly, but then we British have a quirky weird sense of humour and a particular penchant for the ridiculous, that point's none the less to the truth.

So I couldnt help smiling at this in the Daily Mash.

I'm Hungry

2009-08-22T17:00:00.004+01:00

Image by roger_mommaerts via Flickr

I didn't stop for a proper lunch today, so I am cooking a meal for this evening, Ive pushed a peace of belly pork into the oven with roasties and think I will have broccoli and sprouts with that.....I'm not a real meat lover anymore.....though cannot resist the crackling on pork, all very unhealthy of course, but what the hell ! Now do I take the time to make real gravy or shall I have some of that crappy granule stuff that can be mistaken for coffee ?

What do you do when your bored ?

2009-08-22T16:52:00.004+01:00

Why ! Watch the biggest bore of the year due tomorrow of course, todays was pretty impressive too.

Umbrella's when to rescue them and when not..

2009-08-21T20:40:00.012+01:00

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Myfanwy popped in for a cup of coffee after her morning trip into town, it's a ritual for her to go into town every morning with Angharad..She was rather wet and bedraggled as it was tipping it down, but also rather flustered........She was carrying a rather battered looking umbrella in addition to her own one..............After drying out and being now settled with her cuppa..she said "That Angharad ! We came home on the bus, and both got off at the Royal Hotel, but as we crossed the road she slipped and fell, and her umbrella went tumbling off down the road in the wind, I gave chase and managed to grab it.......but when I got back and handed it to her, she snatched it off me and stuffed it in a waste bin saying "Sod the umbrella ! You left me on the floor and some man had to help me up, a fine friend you are...........then she stormed off . To be honest Jen" Myfanwy continued "It was either chase the umbrella or collapse with laughter, she looked so funny with her legs akimbo flat on her back in the middle of the road, and you know how mad she gets when I laugh........I just cant win"

So it was with this in mind that on seeing them in town one wet day as I was driving home I stopped and offered them a lift...........Myfanwy didn't hesitate, hopping in post-haste, but Angharad looking sceptical slowly climbed in next to me into the passenger seat.....We chatted on the way home, well at least Myfanwy and I did.....But Angharad looked as if she was on a white-knuckle ride, and when I stopped to let her out scrambled out with indecent alacrity with a loud "Thank God fer that !"......and not one word of thanks....Well I didn't think my driving was that bad !

Quotations from Mark Twain

2009-08-21T14:24:00.008+01:00

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Following on from 'That Womans' exellent post in Middlingyears of poems about War, a few quotes about war from Mark Twain.

..............................................

Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out...and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel. ..And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for "the universal brotherhood of man"--with his mouth.

If the bubble reputation can be obtained only at the cannon's mouth, I am willing to go there for it, provided the cannon is empty. If it is loaded my immortal and inflexible purpose is to get over the fence and go home. My invariable practice in war has been to bring out of every fight two-thirds more men than when I went in. This seems to me Napoleonic in its grandeur.
- "Mark Twain as a Presidential Candidate," New York Evening Post, 6/9/1879

All war must be just the killing of strangers against whom you feel no personal animosity; strangers whom, in other circumstances, you would help if you found them in trouble, and who would help you if you needed it.
- "The Private History of the Campaign That Failed"

2009-08-21T12:15:00.006+01:00

Well we all know about pickpockets, but putpockets are a new initiative, funded by one of the broadband providers....so I wonder what they are getting out of it ?

Not Moaning today

2009-08-21T11:35:00.006+01:00

Well what a night ! Was woken twice by rain thundering down, indeed it was that heavy I started to wonder about the drains, not that they would affect me living on a hill, but I knew of shops and working men's clubs near me which are all below sea level and often get flooded in such weather..........Son number 1 called in this morning after a week nursing flu like symptoms.......He took the dogs to the park opposite, only for the heavens to open again with a veritable deluge.....or if you prefer precipitating/peeing it down.......I had the door open with three towels readily to hand, as I saw him making his way back. He didn't so much walk in as float in, squelching across the room with 2 pooches shaking water all over the place.........They were drenched, he had to change his shirt, 'thank goodness I had one handy'...but jeans, coat and socks/shoes I could not provide...Then he had to wait for a break in the rain to run to his van to get home and into something warm and dry................of course I found this all highly amusing.............but did manage to keep a straightish face while he was here

2009-08-20T22:02:00.010+01:00

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It was a lovely day, so accompanied by Dai, Angharad and Myfanwy I went for a walk in Porthkerry Country Park...As we walked Dai entertained us with a tale of his parrot............Angharad hasn't any love for said parrot for reasons that will soon be apparent....This parrot is a very fast learner, and a wonderful talker, he also has a passion for cheese, but the cheese doesn't agree with the parrot as it gives him the most awful upset tummy........and Dai had told Angharad never to give this bird cheese again, after he had to clean up a very messy cage one day...........And all was well, until one day when the parrots constant squawks and mimics were driving Agharad round the bend...........Slicing a tiny wedge of cheese she shoved it in the cage saying "there and don't tell that old bugger Dai"

The incident was forgotten byAngharad, until one night as Dai got into bed he turned to her and said" Now just what is it the parrot mustn't tell that old bugger Dai ?"...........oooooops !

Now Myfanwy thinks this parrot a wonderous creature, as it had her completely fooled one day........

They Angharad and Myfanwy had been shopping, and they returned to Angharads house for a coffee and a natter, Angharad went to put the kettle on leaving Myfany to make herself comfortable in the lounge, very shortly Myfanwy followed her into the kitchen saying, "perhaps I'd better not stay Angharad seeing that Dai is home" "He's in work I told you" replyed Angharad. "He's not because he just shouted through from the other room" said Myfanwy......He said " Get off your fat arse and go shovel snow, what does he mean because its not snowing ?"

Of course it was the parrot who on hearing someone come into the house had shouted the first thing that came to its beak, in a perfect parody of Dai's voice.....Myfanwy told this tale to all and sundry in the following weeks as she had been so impressed with the parrots perfect imitation.

Just testing

2009-08-20T20:40:00.001+01:00

Was just trying out this email option

My Cadoxton

2009-08-20T13:11:00.003+01:00

As I pay for my purchases, I hear a loud voice from the back of the shop. It’s Gordon our local 'Wide boy; Del boy type' whatever! Tightening my grip on my newspaper, I nonetheless hope I have cleared the till area before he arrives there, it’s not to be so. "Hello what have we here?" he booms "Jenny G the light of my life!! Tell me sweetheart are you still ACTIVE?" Now I mean! This in a shop full of people! The young man behind the counter grins from ear to ear, he knows what is coming, it’s a ritual now. Thwack! Thwack! My paper descends with practised ease, on the top of Gordon’s head. He is just one of the many characters we have here in Cadoxton When I first moved here I was entranced by the funny, odd, wacky people I found. The shop door opens and one of the Spaney brothers comes in, another Cadoxton local. Now this man I have know from a teenager, because even as a young girl Cadoxton had pulled, I cannot recount the number of times I walked down the Ash Path from Merthyr Dyfan where I lived as a child, to reach Cadoxton. A brief hug from B Spaney, and I leave, pondering how lives cross, his wife Cassie who I had never met as a youngster, had helped me when I had been nursing my sick mother.

Gordon on the other hand I had only met since coming to live in the area, he was a respectable business man, no wide boy this, it was a fallacy he liked to uphold........ In reality he’s a respectable dad and granddad, very smart and very fanciable. ...............To Some!

For seven years before we moved to Cadoxton, we had lived right in the centre of town, very handy for the shopping, but in a street where most of the residents were elderly, where traffic was busy, it served until the time we could upgrade.

Upgrade? Now that was a debatable point as far as some were concerned, as Cadoxton was to some considered (the wrong side of the tracks) the poor area.

But for us there was no hesitation, a new house in Cadoxton opposite a lovely park or an old town house crammed between rows of terraced houses, there was no contest.

Cadoxton has always had colourful characters, a close- knit community. When we first arrived, the welcome was warm and friendly in the most part, we settled. The children all eventually went to the school at the end of our road.

They decided to build an estate, just round the corner and a short distance from our street....it was a lovely estate, and the people who came to live there integrated well, but as has happened all over Britain, as houses became empty they were sold on to housing associations. Nothing wrong with that, people have to live somewhere.......but the area started to go down hill, not the estate! But our area outside, where groups of youths from the estate, gathered every night vandalising and creating mayhem in general. What a pity, this scenario now being played out in many parts of Britain, has affected the once largest populated area of our town, trouble being taken right down into the old village area at night. The characters are still there, some of them; but others have joined, they are colourful too; but colours of a different hue....Why don’t you move? I'm often asked “Why should I! I reply to leave after 35 years, an area I still love, despite its faults, no! I will not be forced out of my own home, by anyone or for anyone.”

As I type this I can see out into the park, 'Victoria Park' built in Victorian times, they are working on it, and the old band stand has been replaced, but every detail true to the original Victorian one. Hopefully they will replace the tennis courts, and the football pitch, the bowling green has always been in good condition, but the club house was in sore need of attention. The Childs play area opposite the school, need's to be brought up to today’s safety standards. I can’t wait for it to be completed, and I wonder; if Brass Bands will ever play there again, as they did when I first came to Cadoxton.

Since first writing this they have indeed replaced the tennis courts with a basket ball area, where they offer coaching for youngsters, the children’s play area is brand spanking new, and brass bands do indeed play there once more, we also have a kind of ‘club house’ really the park keepers domain, where they offer tutorials on crafts etc. We have had a Mutts dog show, and they even post a coming events leaflet through our doors to let us know what’s on the future agenda............A real Improvement and all down to a grant from the lottery fund I believe.

Angharad

2009-08-20T12:47:00.005+01:00

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Angharad

She is small, she is dark, and she is Welsh. Any other affinity to the Welsh nation must have been stifled at birth. For she is the most taciturn, ungenial person I have ever met. In my corner of South Wales I have found the people to be the exact opposite, in the majority; they rattle along in that sing songy welsh accent, at full tilt, with a witty, wry sense of humour aimed mostly at themselves.

But we have a common friend, who I will call Myfanwy...... This friend was blessed with more than her fair share of that witty humour, and dry wit, so lacking in Angharad. They made an odd couple. Though as small, Myfanwy was a perfect foil to Angharad's dark looks, being a true blonde.........But firm friends they were and still are, that friendship now spanning a half century.

It is an eventful friendship, full of ups and downs, arguments and makings up............some gems I have stored in my memory, let me share two of them with you.

The Market Stall

It is market day, as per normal this being Wales, it was wet, blustery and down right miserable weather...............but nothing stops these two from bargain hunting the many, 'some from foreign land's' stalls on the local market. Angharad was after a new dress for an approaching function, after much rattling round of hangers on various stalls she found the very thing, holding it up against herself for Myfanwy's inspection, they both agreed it was ideal. The 'Man to Pay' was stood by the very edge of the stall. Keeping the said garment safe from the wet floor, Angharad proceeded towards him to purchase her find. Did I mention it was blustery? ................Where a particularly vicious blust of wind, took the awning complete with its storage of the morning’s rain water, and dumped the lot on the unsuspecting Angharad's head, body, feet, and new as yet unpurchased dress.......

Myfanwy tried, she really did; but the huge bubble of laughter inside her must have its out!...........Angharad was furious! Flinging the by now bedraggled dress to the floor, she stamped on it; before storming off to the nearest cafe, a still giggling Myfanwy hot on her heels.........Angharad had borrowed a towel from the cafe owner to dry off, and now sat there refusing any attempts at apology, or conversation from the by now contrite Myfanwy.....she did not speak to her for two months.

Walking in the Snow

It was quite deep, and some of the buses weren’t running, nothing daunted this pair Angharad and Myfanwy so they set off for town on foot. But Angharad was nervous of falling, "just take very small steps" advised Myfanwy "and try and step into my tracks and you'll be ok."............It worked! By the time they reached town a more confident Angharad was able to step up the pace, albeit taking smaller steps than usual.........having made a few purchases, and warmed numb fingers, by holding brimming mugs of hot chocolate, they decided to walk home........They almost made it ! Just two more streets and a few more corners and they would have.............but no, a foot slipped, and a nonplussed Angharad was deposited firmly on her behind with shopping scattered in a circle around her. And what did Myfanwy do? She rushed to help of course, but not before that same bubble of laughter, that had betrayed her so many times before, escaped, and reached the ears of poor Angharad.

"Right that’s it" explodes a once more furious Angharad, "you said if I took small steps I wouldn’t fall, so I'm staying here now", and so saying she crossed ankles and folded her arms and lay back in the snow. ........A brave Taxi slid to a halt beside's them, "are you alright love?" The driver enquired. "Oh fine "came back the terse reply.”I always lay in the snow, didn’t yer know? Quite relaxing, why don’t you join me!" (All this with out so much as a smile, a turning up of mouth corners. I have yet to see Angharad smile, and fear I will end my days without witnessing such a big event.) It took the combined efforts of Myfanwy and Taxi man to gather Angharad up plus shopping, and manhandle her into the taxi cab for the short distance drive to her home.

Another two months silence!

Crochety old woman !

2009-08-20T12:39:00.006+01:00

I awoke;today I had determined a new start. I stumbled to the bathroom, quickly washed and changed, and with pooch face waddling in my wake, made tracks for the kitchen and that first morning cuppa, so necessary to my system, the kick-start to my day.

I had a lot to do, dare I risk a quick peep on the computer, and yet have the will-power to stop when I needed to ’get on', well I won’t know until I try I reasoned. It was ok; I allowed myself a limited time and logged off when my time was up.

I started to tackle the tasks, and attempted to reach the goals I had set myself. Everything was going along smoothly, to smoothly; I should have known from past experience that things don't run smoothly in this home.

Poochy barked, and again! A red car had turned into the street; the barks were accompanied by a rotary wagging of tail. If she was lighter she would take off, an animalated helicopter in the making. We knew the car, we knew the owner, and we also now knew that today was NOT the day we could now make a fresh start.........oh help!

He came in, no need to knock these days, as he knows, barks and wags forewarn me. He spoke "I've so much to do today Jen, but I can’t seem to find the impetus." I clamped my mouth shut, swallowing down the riposte “so have I, and all the impetus required". I should have been firm, I should have determined! But I am weak, and he stays.

Now I had two followers hard on my heels, the one I have learned to step over and avoid, but I cannot step that high to avoid the other, indeed if any stepping over be done, he would have no trouble stepping over me. On went the kettle again, “I’ll have to go for bread" I said, "Please make the coffee while I’m gone".

12 pm came, he remained, I made my way into the kitchen and started to clean, he followed. "I have to go to B and Q" he said; my ears pricked up, Ah! Maybe a chance here,”But it doesn’t shut until quite late" he added. False start! My hopes dashed, I tried aversion tactics, "while your here would you look at the shower for me?" I asked "it’s not working". He scurried to his car returning with the required tools for the job. So much for my tactics!

The shower is kaput; I am not allowed to use it, on pain of death. I have been warned.

One lunch, one dog walk, and 10 coffee's later, he leaves, as I see him out he hesitates and turning round with a cheeky grin says " oh just time to catch B and Q", and my mind flashes back to when this man was but a boy of nine, leaving my house, with that same cheeky grin, the same loose limbed walk, as he reaches his car another flash, and he's that long haired teenager in leathers, motorbike at the ready, (he never did get me on the pillion) .

As he drives away I reflect on our conversations throughout the day, we had as always set the world to rights, rehashed funny incidents long since past, he had ribbed and teased me , as he always does. And I am glad that I was weak, that he had stayed. Howard, my son’s friend since childhood.

Autumn

2009-08-20T11:20:00.002+01:00

Seems to be well on its way, since the beginning of this month the berries have been appearing on some of the bushes in the back garden, and the brambles which proliferate in our back lane have held blackberries this past six weeks. it's hopeless to rely on my hollies as an indication of the advance of autumn as they seem to have berries year round.

Autumn and Spring are my favourite time of the year, Spring as it heralds a new beginning, for flora and fauna, and Autumn with all its vibrant colours as it gradually sheds the cooling greens of summer in preperation for the mantle of winter............I was hoping this Autumn would be a crisp and dry one, as I dont like to see the reds, browns and oranges of the leaves drooping down in wet weather.....If the summer is any indication though I'm hoping in vain.

Theres none so blind as those who won't see

2009-08-19T16:41:00.004+01:00

Well this month has been an eyeopener. I must be the most unobservant and scatterbrained person imaginable.....The month started badly when my neighbour, said to me "Those are lovely Cherries on your tree !" Err Cherries I said " I haven't got a Cherry Tree" He laughed and said "Jen do you mean you've gone the last 20 years and not noticed the cherries on that tree?" I stood there mouth opening and closing like a goldfish......." what tree? I managed to splutter out "The dark red leaved one in the front garden he replied....That's a Copper Beech I stated, coming over all indignant at his description of my beautiful Beech as a Cherry Tree. Right I'll prove it " says he, and off he went returning a moment later with two lovely dark red cherries..........Boo Hoo! It seems my Copper Beech has been masquerading as such all these years, and is in fact a red leaved Cherry Tree...I had always wondered why it was the first to bloom each year.

And so the month has gone on in much the same vein, and today didn't help to boost my confidence at all, when I asked 'That Woman' to re-send me something only to find I had already stored it in my filo fax.

Still Moaning and the teapot is hot !

2009-08-19T12:44:00.005+01:00

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Grrrr, still trying to get something done in the garden........and waiting for delivery from Tesco.........Maybe I'll have something more positive to post about later...

With Teapot Rampant

2009-08-19T09:11:00.004+01:00

Am totally peed off with the garden having been let down yet again by odd-job- man.

If it was larger it would be like ranging the prairie every time I go down the back garden to hang washing out.......I have been doing battle with bind weed this morning and haven't even made a dent in it..........oh well tomorrow is another day and I will go into battle yet again with tea-pot at the ready.

Home on the Range,with Nanny Wales.

Well I'm Back

August 24th

Not a fan

Results of failed Potato Bread

Sat 21st August

Shouldn't we bear SOME of the responsibility, following the Riots.?

Knackered

Today Sat 13th August 2011

Will never tire of watching this

Jenny Wren

I'm in the mood for dancing

Society now and then

Well they do say a new broom sweeps clean, But

I'd say its more realistic

Watched a really exciting race today

Poor Mouse

Outsize Uniforms for kids

Some cards I'm working on

I'm green with envy [Click to link to Barrywales ]where pics came from.

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