P stands for Paella

O is for Out and about

I live in a leafy suburb of Liverpool England  UK.
We are lucky to live in such an  outstanding  area of learning excellence.
 There are several faith schools which always achieve good results  through the national curriculum and also some private schools which are now grant maintained.
 Thanks to Government funding, this gives all children an equal chance to go to a school that will suit their needs.
We also have the Hope University Campus,( part of Liverpool University). just around the corner from our home.
This a lovely place to just to walk through with our grandchildren on the way to school.
One of our favourite places to go is Calderstones Park , it is in open parkland with a beautiful  secret walled garden.
 There is a large lake with swans and ducks paddling around, eagerly awaiting  little chubby 'kiddy hands.' proffering chunks of bread and cake.
 Also there is a café, serving delicious home made cakes, hot and cold drinks and an assortment of ice creams and ice lollies.
Across the road from our home is Childwall Woods, also a lovely place to walk after a hearty Sunday lunch.
 We can walk across the woods to our local church, Childwall Priory Parish Church, it is dated back to the fourteenth century when it was a Priory for an order of monks.
 Eventually it was extended and remains as the wonderful building it is now.
Just across the road is the  Old World Pub  called The Abbey, good place to meet the Parish priest for a pre dinner pint!

The local school two of our grandchildren attend is called Bishop Eton and is affiliated to the the Bishop Eton Monastery next door. This is a Roman Catholic faith School and the children have a fine education, as I can see, when I do homework and reading  with Olivia aged 8 and Christian age 5, Grandpa takes them to school 4 days out of the week and they  sometimes come home here for tea, which is always a riotous occasion as they let off steam after all the lessons and oral exercises in which they participate.
We have lived here for 27 years and although we really should downsize it would be such an awesome operation,  I don't think we could orchestrate it without heartache........
So, Perhaps we are destined stay here ! 

My thanks to the outstandingly   clever Denise Nesbitt for devising ABC Wednesday and the observant Roger  for his objective administration.        

N is for Neighbours

Neighbours

 Everybody needs good neighbours

 with a little understanding

 you can find the perfect blend

 Neighbours should be there for one and other

 That's when good neighbours become good friends.

These are the lyrics to the world renown soap opera
  'Neighbours' 
  It is based in Ramsey Street Australia,
The tales evolve round the comings and goings of the
neighbours, all very interesting and heart warming too!
Several of the character sprang to fame in the music industry
 including Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

We have wonderful neighbours and have shared many joyous occasions
 including special birthdays, Christmas and New Year parties and so on,

The most special neighbours are the family who live next door,

 'The Nygaards'
There are the two boys aged 22 and 17,
 then Mum and Dad Karl and Anna.

We've been friends for 21 years from the day they moved in when the elder son was just
 eighteen months old. Within a short space of time we would be invited around for meals,
 Anna is a lovely cook, she is half Italian and creates some stunning Mediterranean dishes.
When they visit us I often make one of my special Lamb Curries which they love,
 or even a good old British roast.

The Nicest time is the Summertime, then all kinds of Nocturnal events occur,  ladies rustling up delicious salads, bowls of steaming hot buttered New Potatoes with perhaps some marinated chicken or beef and king prawns.
 The menfolk stand around the Barbie having a beer and a good Natter and offering tips to the Notable  Chef de Barbie of that Night.
Naturally  the ladies will enjoy a few glasses of a Naughty little Napa Valley Rose.` 
    
We have a great little café called The Neighbourhood which serves all  sorts of delicious meals and snacks, people often meet there to discuss local issues too, which is important too my thriving Neighbourhood.........I really can't think  of a  Nicer place to live .  

.
My thanks to the Nurturing Mrs Nesbitt for making ABC Wednesday happen and the Noble Roger for Negotiating his way around and keeping us all Neat and tidy in our literary endeavours.
   












                              

M is for Mother love,

I cannot describe the joy I felt when my first daughter Kirsten was born, there was this tiny little being humming quietly, taking in her first breaths of humanity.

How did her daddy and I manage to create  such a model of perfection,  she had an auburn cast to her curly hair and the brightest blue eyes I ever did see.

My GP, (Doctor) was a Scotsman called  Murdoch McLeod,  he looked after me all through the pregnancy, His appearance was a bit scary, he  had a shock of red hair and huge bushy eye brows. 
Despite his scary appearance he was a marvellous Medical Practitioner.
For the first two weeks of Kirsten's life he would call round to make sure Mother  and Baby were making  good progress, I also had a Midwife looking after me,
 this was  during  the  70's  when there was such excellent  Care  in the Community,
 How things have changed ! 

My dear mother Margaret came to stay with us and she cooked marvellous meals,  to sustain the new Mum and Dad, whilst getting to know this tiny little miracle of birth.

There was a lovely song around then by Elton John and the first line was
  
'Blue eyes, baby's got blue eyes, like a deep blue sea watching over me'

I used to nurse my little miracle and sing this song  whilst feeding her, and she stared at me intently, with her beautiful blue eyes.

Moving Moments and Marvellous Memories

In the following years I gave birth to two  more little miracles, Ingrid and Astrid, thus making the family complete . 

Now we have our three Marvellous Daughters, who have produced four Mischievous grandchildren, two Pugs and five cats...thus, the........

. Making of our Marvellous Family.

My  thanks  to the  marvellous Mrs Nesbitt for creating  ABC Wednesday and the  merited  Roger for his administrative skills.

Love

I dedicate the lyrics of this lovely song to Leslie and Lorne   to celebrate their forthcoming marriage.

Love is lovelier the second time around 
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps love,  like youth is wasted on the young

Love's more  comfortable the second time you fall 
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love  comes but once, and yet
I'm so glad we met the second time around.

Leslie and Lorne's  forthcoming marriage  brings to mind when my first marriage collapsed,

 
I found myself  alone with three adorable little girls  to raise, I didn't think I would fall in love again, yet I did,  just a year later....
We didn't marry for a few years as we wanted to go slowly so that the 'girls' would get used to Ian and him to them, We both maintained our own homes but spent weekends together until, one daughter asked Ian when he was going to marry 'our Mum' ? 
Whoosh ! It all happened then, engagement ring on finger and 10 months later we were married....27 years  on and still happy,

So, all best wishes dear  Leslie and Lorne for a long and loving marriage.


  My thanks to the Lovely Mrs Nesbitt for compiling  ABCWednesday and the lexical  Roger for being such a long suffering administrator        

Kitten Cat, Kippers and Knapsacks.

This is my beloved Kitten Cat Princess Chloe. She is a most wonderful pet, companion and a very clever, 'Lap Top Kitten Cat'.
As many of you may know, I am a very keen Scrabble player, as soon as I'm tapping away at the keyboard,she appears from nowhere, sits on my lap and stares at the screen.
Whilst I am trying to knit together my latest set of letters, hoping to form a killer word, that'll knock out my opponent.
Nearly each time I win a game she'll be sitting on my lap, I guess she's my lucky charm!
 Sometimes she bops the keyboard with her huge white mittens (paws), as if she's putting a crucial letter in.
  She is nearing her twelfth birthday, yet still plays like a Kitten Cat,

Kippers

I love kippers,
As I live in Liverpool. which is just a short ferry trip across the Irish Sea to The Isle of Man, we had many childhood  holidays there with our parents,
. Apart from the most endearing times  spent there, I can always remember  the delicious aroma of grilled Kippers,  at breakfast time,  wafting around the cosy boarding house, where we stayed for our annual two weeks idyll,
Before the Kippers   were served we had the choice of, a huge bowl of steaming hot porridge or Kellogg's Cornflakes, also, there was a choice of the ubiquitous Great British Breakfast, consisting of juicy rashers of bacon, sausages, black pudding, potato cakes and fried eggs, Lots of warm toast was served with this King sized feast.

Kippers are,  as most will know, simply, smoked  Herrings, a great delicacy in The British Isles.
At the end of our holiday we always took home with us a large box of them which we shared with friends and family.
Lots of places in the UK produce Kippers, not surprising  as we are an Island surrounded  by  seas,
rich in sea food, including shoals and shoals of silvery Herrings,

 The Kippers  from Craister, a lovely little seaside town in Northumberland  produce the most delicious Kippers too, when ordering them on-line I vary between the two, as I really can't make up my mind which are the most tasty!

. The Craister  Kippers are bigger than the Manx (Isle of Man) but equally as mouth watering, Therefore, the only way to find out is, order some !

Knapsack

As a youngster I was very much involved in church activities, being in The Brownies, attending Sunday School and so on, These activities including a trip to camp and the annual Sunday School outing,
 As I got older I joined the Church Choir, The Girl Guides and then became a Sunday School teacher, also I played Badminton in the Church Hall.
All these activities required my trusty  Knapsack in which I could pack the necessary equipment to  help me  in the particular pursuit of the day, 
Kudos  ruled the day as we all competed to have the most fashionable bag.
Mine was made of fawn canvas and had blue piping around the various pockets.
The greatest fun my lovely Knapsack and I  had, was when we went up to the
 Lake District for walking trips, we always sang as we walked along, this  is what we sang...

I love to go a' wandering
Along a country path
And as I go I love to sing
my Knapsack on my back.....

Val-deri val-dera 
Val-deri
 val- de  ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

My Knapsack on my back,

My thanks to the kindly Mrs  Nesbitt for making ABC Wednesday happen and to Roger the administrator, for Keeping the close KNIT family of ABCW's together.
http://abcwednesdays

Isaacs Byre

For my ABC Wednesday offering I would like to tell you about a most 'interesting' holiday cottage we stayed in at the end of January 2014. I have written about it previously but felt I should tell you more about 'Isaacs Byre', it really was a most 'intriguing' place to stay. Most of the ground floor, apart from a large double bedroom and separate bathroom, was in open plan style which flowed from the front door to an 'integral' fitted kitchen a dining area and a sitting area with large comfy sofas. All this looked through a complete wall of double glazed windows that opened onto a small patio and the most 'inimitable' view of the rugged countryside. The most 'interesting' feature of the place was an 'immense' log burner, the heat that emanated from it could only be likened to Dante's 'Inferno'! 'Isaacs Byre' is 'immersed' in the middle of a tiny hamlet called Garrigill, North East Cumbria. 'Irksomely' we drove past the place four time before we found it! We settled in quickly and enjoyed the 'intimacy' of our warm and cosy dwelling. The cottage is Eco friendly and the water for the place is drawn from the ground and heated via an electric boiler. There are six hens that will provide the most delicious new laid eggs for breakfast, unfortunately, they were not laying during our visit but maybe better luck next time we visit. We did however, manage to get some from the local deli, in the nearby village. During the second evening, there was a blizzard but we weren't bothered, it was 'infinitely' more pleasing to sit in front of the blazing log burner, watching the farmer with his dog rounding up the sheep to put them 'inside' the adjoining bar for the night. Whilst I imbibed a large Brandy and Soda, dearest husband 'Ian' cooked supper, a delicious 'Italian' styled Vognole.... Linguine with clams in white wine, chopped shallots, garlic, parsley and finished with some fresh cream...... 'Indulgent' and 'intoxicating' but who cares, we were on vacation ! My thanks to the 'intelligent' and witty Denise for creating ABC Wednesday, and to Roger the 'infallible' Administrator.

H IS FOR HEARTHSIDE HOMILIES

,

Home is where the   Hearth is...

This is one of the most favourite places in our home, it's where we all gather on family occasions before and after dinner or indeed, most evenings at present, whilst the weather is so cold and damp.
 Many Happy Hours have been spent sitting together regaling tales of yester year, recalling funny little anecdotes of the mischief our three girls used to get up to when they were hormonal teenagers, to save further blushes I shall say no more! 
The Hearth is as old as the house, approximately 62 years old, and the brickwork is typical of that era in the fifties, Many people have removed the fireplaces but I just love it. 
We do have a lovely cream coloured French Limestone Fireplace with more a more contemporary finish but it still has a  Hearth .

This my first attempt at ABC Wednesday so I hope you are all happy with my  humble attempt,
Many thanks to the most humerous   Mrs Nesbitt  and the Honourable Roger Green  for making ABC Happen,,,, 

   

 

Snow and a Spooky Occurance

 

 

Here are the snow pictures just before it went dark, they're not really very good, taken with the Blackberry,  slightly out of focus, but I wanted to show the colour of the sky,  hopefully there will be an improvement  when I get my new camera in action,

  One afternoon we decided drive out to view the scenery from Cross Fell, on the top of The Pennines, which I believe is quite stunning, As we were tootling along I noticed a strange looking  white cloud which seemed to be furled across the top of the fen......

.One moment were driving along in bright daylight then, suddenly we were enveloped in a swirling cloud of huge white snowflakes....Ian managed to turn the car around drove us gingerly back to the cottage.

There was an eerie howling wind to accompany the enormous snowflakes, now splattering against the windscreen, in a menacing manner.
 Ian parked the car and  got out to open the front door and put the lights on in the cottage.

 Whilst I was sitting waiting for him to help me out the car, a weird feeling overcame me, as if  someone or something was watching me..... I turned my head slowly and there was a huge black woolly face with enormous amber eyes, staring at me.  It was a sheep, an exceedingly large sheep!...
'That's strange', I thought because the sheep were in the field surrounded by a stone wall, at the rear of the cottage....
 It had it's chin resting on the wall and stared and stared and stared...
 Just then the lady who lives in the cottage next door, came over to the car and explained that the sheep was a pet, called Lamb lamb, she'd rescued her as an orphaned lamb...an d had bottle fed her and raised her indoors, with her sheepdog  Jess.
 Jess treated her like her own puppy, however, as Lamb Lamb grew and grew, she was given a large out building to live in, but she still insisted upon muscling her way indoors, whenever she could, to sit by the fire with the dog.
After this encounter with Lamb Lamb,, each time we went out or returned home, we had welcome committee of said sheep and her adoptive mother Jess the sheepdog.....
 You could here her hooves clip clopping across the yard to greet us and to have her head tickled and of course a stroke for Jess, who spoke to me by woofing gently and standing on her hind legs.
 I don't know what the sheep in the field must have thought of this cossetted beast... or do sheep think ? Or did Lamb Lamb want to join the flock who knows ?
 I should think if she had any sense she would rather stay with Jess and the family or end up as some ones Sunday lunch...
.Oh! and did I tell you about the the three little Piggies that shared the barn with her, but then, there lies another tale!

Holiday in North Cumbria at the top of the Pennines

Recently we had a delightful holiday in a tiny hamlet called Garrigill near the highest market town of Alston, reckoned to be 1500 feet above sea level.
The cottage that we stayed in was called Isaacs Byre, which is a converted cow shed, if you care to take a peek, or those who haven't already, here is the link...www.isaacsbyre.co.uk
It was the most quirky little cottage, In a corner, in the centre of the sitting room was the biggest wood burning caste iron stove I have ever seen, I swear it would create enough energy to fuel The flying Scotsman (train) from Penzance to John O'Groats
. It had two large comfy sofas and a decent sized TV, one thing I hate is a fiddling little TV in a holiday let.
The cottage had been lovingly restored by the present owners, who lived in a larger cottage next door.
We were welcomed by Judith-ann (owner), bearing a large pot of hot tea and some delicious home made biscuits, very welcome after feeling the lowering change of temperature.....
I shall not be typically British and  complain about the weather, because it was mid winter in January, in one of the coldest parts of England, so what would one expect?
Well, it all lived up to my expectations, a cosy little cottage in the middle of nowhere, a well stocked fridge and wine rack, a few good books to read in front of a roaring log fire, and then ..........

'The wind was blowing , the snow was snowing...what did I care, I'd got my love to keep me warm'

  Oh boy! did it snow.....
.huge snow flakes twirling around in a fluttery routine then dashing against the panoramic double glazed windows.
 The poor sheep, huddled together, against the ancient hand built stone walls, being typically British sheep and baahing in unison about the weather  Ha ha !

 Himself laughed at me when I expressed my concern for the sheep being cold.. 'Good grief' said he, 'Maybe we should invite them in for a cup of tea and a warm, in front of the fire'.
Eyes raised to heaven, I retorted,' I thought the farmer would put them away in the barn at the top of the field' Mr funny face !

Then, just as if  by magic, the farmer, in his tractor and his trusty sheepdog Jennie, appeared, leaping alongside him, in gay abandon, yapping at the snowflakes....rounded up my little woolly friends and locked them in the warm dry barn.
The farmer gave us a cheery wave as he and Jennie, trundled back to the Farmhouse..

.Oh I do love country living...., I'm sure I wasn't mean't to be a Townie!
 Di..(more to follow)

 This the first time I have actually managed to publish some pictures, I tried to put one of the snow, at the end  but it didn't appear, I'll try again when I write part two....where are you Anne when I need you ?..xxx

Return of Ms Trubes

As I have 'cleverly' managed to link myself up with my face book site, I thought I had better explain to my FB friends that this is my blog site, 'Trubes'..... for those of you not familiar with blogging, it is an application where people write about anything and everything, as long as it not offensive. Also you can publish pictures etc along with your writing.
For varying reasons I stopped blogging for a couple of years , primarily because of health issues making me semi house bound, therefore giving me little inspiration to put pen to paper.....however, after a couple of good holidays and family fun, plus a few request from some of my Blogging friends, I'm at the starters blocks again..... sooooh........

Watch out, Watch out, Trubie's about !!

My husband Ian, whom I used to refer to as DT...(Darling Trubes,)and  as most of you  know is DT  I may as well use his proper name, I digress..
.Anyway, he gave me a fab camera for my recent birthday, it's a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 so, now I really need to learn how to transfer my pictures on to my PC then put them wherever I wish, usually FB or this site (Trubes).
 I do have a friend (where are you Angus?), who is brilliant at all the 'techie' stuff so I shall be picking his brains to get me 'up and running' again.... No good hiding Angus, I know where you live..ha ha ! Look out for the e-mail..x
I can transfer pictures from my blackberry mobile to my FB but not sure how I can publish pics from the Blackberry to my blog site....

All tips will be very welcome, particularly as I have so very much to tell !

Di..xx

The Pedalogue arrives

On Wednesday, the 22nd of August, my dear blogging friend, Leslie, arrived in Liverpool,  to fulfil a long promised plan to say hello to me and our wonderful city.
I was so excited, Leslie was all I had imagined, and more !
 She is an amazing lady and has the most engaging smile, along with a most delightful and interesting personality.
We met at The Albert Dock, on the spectacular Liverpool waterfront.
 Leslie had her dear friend, Kathy with her, as her travelling companion. They had been travelling around South Wales, catching up with family and friends.
As many  of you know, Leslie hails from Vancouver on the west coast of Canada, she is a retired foreign laguages teacher and has many interests, including, photography and reading, She still teaches students, privately in her home, I guess this may fund her travel activities!
Like many people who live in British Commonwealth Countries, she has many forebears in the UK, and is very proud of her heritage.
She loved The Albert Dock and spent a lot of time looking around it. The dock is just part of the regenerated docklands of the city.
 It is now a thriving tourist area and has many good restaurants, hotels etc.
There is The Beatles Exhibition, a great favourite with our Japanese visitors, who flock there in their thousands to pay homage to their favourite 60's group.
There is also The Tate Modern Art Gallery along with the Liverpool Maritime Museum..... so much to see and do, but I digress...
We met for dinner at the bustling, Italian Restaurant, Gusto, .....
.
 Gusto by name and Gusto by nature.
Italian waiters swivelling around the tables, taking orders, pouring Chianti and flirting with the ladies, young and old!
The kitchen is in the centre of the restaurant where one can watch their particular choice of fare being prepared....
 Needless to say, in central position,  is the ubiquitous, Pizza oven.....
.I'm sure they don't need central heating, in the Restaurant, as the heat emanating from the oven, must warm the cockles of many a heart !

We  talked and talked and talked, exchanging tales of familes and friends, travels and amusing anecdotes, whilst, enjoying the typical, rustic, Italian food and wine. We had various pizza breads for starters, then, went straight into the mains....
 I can't quite recall what everbody ordered, but Leslie and I had a delicious Risotto each and Darling Trubes enjoyed  a hearty Salmon and seafood Tagliatelli,  I think  Leslie's friend, Kathy, had lasagne.....all the fare was declared delicious, I passed on dessert but I know Leslie enjoyed a very chocolatey, gooey  concoction, drizzled in Nutella. I settled for my favourite, a shot of luscious creamy, espresso..... All in all...delicimo!
I wish we could have spent more time together, but those few precious hours will be cherished in my heart and memory  forever....
Thank you Leslie, for taking the time to visit us in our beloved City, I look forward to the time when we can meet again, as I surely know, we will !

Count your blessings

2012 started quietly after spending Christmas with our eldest daughter, Kirsten and family, down in  Bramley, Surrey.
  It was a wonderful , particularly spending time with our darling grandchildren, Molly, aged 7 and Freddie, then aged 5. Kirsten and Dean made us so welcome, we went to a Carol service and crib blessing in the village church, then, most of the congregation tumbled over to the Jolly farmer pub, directly opposite the church, for a bit of Yuletide cheer.
Delicious Christmas dinner ensued the following day, lots of fun with the children, playing with their new toys.
On Boxing day there was a party at Kirsten's for friends and neighbours, so a good time was had by all.
 We motored home the day after to spend some time with our middle daughter Ingrid, her husband Mike and two grandchildren Olivia, almost 6 and Christian 3. our youngest daughter Astrid and fiance Ian joined us to celebrate our second Christmas, which was equally as enjoyable as as the first
January and February came and went and instead of March roaring in like a lion, it meandered in like a  frolicking spring lamb. From all accounts we had the hotest march on record, the thermometer reaching great heights.
We were fortunate enough to have booked a holiday in Northumberland and stayed at a delightful inn called The Coach House at Crookham, recommended by  a blogging friend Cherie. Visited many places of interest including Bamburgh Castle, Craister, a delighful little fishing port, where we visited the Smoke House and purchased some juicy North Sea kipper to bring home.
On May the 25th our darling youngest daughter, Astrid married her love, Ian, at The Rookery Hall Hotel, in mid Cheshire. It was a most moving occasion, in a pretty setting, amisdst the rambling hills of the Cheshire countryside, Our four grandchildren and two of Ian's nephew were flower girls and mini groomsmen, very well behaved too I may say! Astrid looked gorgeous and young ian most dashing in his morning dress. Such proud parents all round.
After all the merriment and laughter, in July, my dearest  cousin Joy, passed away, very suddenly.
This hit me like a sledge hammer, she was more like a sister to me, we virtually grew up together.
I miss her so much...RIP..dear Joybells..

This brings me up to August....it was said that,  'August is a wicked month', but it wasn't for me because I met a very special blogging friend, who had travelled all the way from Vancouver for a grand tour of the UK, I know many of you will know who I am talking about...... Watch this space....yes,  Anne, as Welshcakes would say, 'patienza' there's more to come !  

Mrs Nesbitt's space

Exactly one week ago today, we actually met Denise from 'Mrs Nesbitt's Space' Blog Site. As arranged, we called in on our way home from our trip to Northumberland.

What a warm welcome we received too!

Aye, there's nowt like Yorkshire hospitality!

It was quite a long drive from Berwick on Tweed to the tiny village of Liverton, in North Yorkshire, but so worth it to meet Denise.
As instructed, I phoned Denise to say we had arrived in the village; Apparently, all the houses in the village have the same Post Code, just to confuse the nice lady on Sat Nav !
We turned into Denise's lane and there she was, standing in the middle of it, waving an enormous Union Jack. I roared with laughter as she flagged us down....I felt like royalty, particularly as close friends call me 'Lady Di'....
We met the hens, May, Bev, Margie, Eva, Olwyn and my God Daughter hen, Mabel.
Freida the Alsation was particularly pleased to meet us and gave us both a jolly good licking.
We didn't really meet the other Alsation Elsie, as she has behavioural problems and is not averse to taking a chunk out of you, when she pleases. Apparently she is a one man dog and adores Denise's husband, Jon.
Unfortunately we were too late to meet Jon but will do one day soon, when they come down to Liverpool.
Elsie was a rescue dog, I do think it particularly brave and kind of Denise and John in doing this, anyone else may have given up on her, particularly as she gave Denise a nasty bite on her lip.
We were served us a delicious lunch of Chilli Beef, Curried Vegetables with lovely large, Yorkshire, baked potatoes, smothered in butter....Absolutely delicious. To follow she had made especially, for moi, my favourite cake....Lemon Drizzle.
We sat and chatted and laughed, it was if we had known each other for ages!
Eventually, we said our goodbyes and left for the second part of our journey home.
As we were leaving Denise presented us with, six delicious new laid eggs from the hens, each with the hen's name on it, a goody bag containing two delicious hand made beef pies, from her local butcher, a bag of the scrummy yorkshire potatoes, that we sampled earlier and, last but not least, was a little China spoon rest with a hen painted on it.
Such kindness, particularly as Denise knows how much I love new laid eggs.
The china spoon rest, takes pride of place beside the kettle, in my kitchen, so each time I have a 'cuppa', I am reminded of our meeting, and smile to myself!
The Meat pies, were delicious and were devoured, with baked potatoes and mushy peas for supper, when we arrived home.
Thank you, so much, Denise, for making our meeting such a memorable occasion. It was surely 'The Icing on the Cake', after our delightful holiday in Northumberland....which I am just about to write about.....Watch this space!

Meeting a favourite blogger...at last

I have been blogging now for about four years, and Oh what joy it has brought to my life. I have made so many on-line friends and really enjoy reading their thoughts and the daily doings, of their every day lives.
Towards the end of this month, DT and I are going up to Northumberland for a mini break to celebrate our twenty fourth wedding anniversary.
Now then, which favourite blogger lives in Northumberland, you may ask?
No one, I shall answer, the person in question, lives approximately ninety miles from our destination....Have you guessed yet?
More clues...
She lives in a pretty little village, keeps hens and walks her dogs down country lanes and is friends with several horses in nearby fields.
Got it yet?
Final clues...
There's nothing she likes better than donning her biker gear, jumping on the back of her husband's motor bike and taking a glorious drive over the North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby to get Fish and Chips for tea....
Ok...I'll tell you....
It's good old Denise from Mrs Nesbitt's blog....'Not so much of the old' Denise may, quite rightly say, which was endorsed by my Grandaughter Olivia last week.
I digress...back to the plot line...
Last week, I was chatting to Denise on the 'chat corner' on Facebook, about our forthcoming meeting, when up popped a little motif instructing me look at a video that Denise had made for me, or so I thought!
I pressed the video motif, and lo and behold!....
There was Denise sitting in her kitchen, (live), talking away to me. I don't know how she did it, nor does she, I suspect, but we were talking via Facebook on the Web Cam. Unfortunately I couldn't hear her, as Web Cam stuff is all new to my simple mind.
As we were both scrabbling around to find a note book to display messages to each other, Olivia came to look at the goings on, on screen, observe the two zany ladies, and piped up with....
'Grandma, Is that lady as old as you'? 'Errm, no, I said, not at all, I think she's a bit younger than me, (Knowing full well that Denise took early retirement, from her teaching job,earlier this year).
Olivia, then retorted, 'Well, you both look the same age, she looks just like you, you've got the same coloured hair but without the walking stick'! I do hope Denise is not offended at being deemed to look like an 'oldie with a walking stick', who, is actually, a good few years older than her. Of course, I was highly flattered....
Sorry, Denise...you know the old adage...'From the mouths of babes, come words of wisdom'.
Anyway, I'm really excited about meetin one of my favourite bloggers, at last!
Hopefully, I shall meet Lelie from Vancouver, Canada, next year, when she visits the UK. Leslie's blog site is called 'The Pedalogue', you can access it via the sidebar on the right side of my blog. Her blog is full of lots of interesting things, including some wonderful photography.
Incidentally, Denise has made me the honourary Godmother of her hen called Mabel, (don't ask), but there lies another yarn or two! We have also been invited for lunch at Denise's, so I am so 'eggsited'...(get it?..eggsited?)...hen...eggs...Sorry, I just can't help, blame the weather..I just can't get out at present due to the vile weather!
Another coincidence...

We are going to stay at the Coach House in Crookam, Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland.

After reading Cherie's (of Cherrypie blog), account of the Coach House and the area surrounding, I have felt compelled to visit...So there again, another friend made, via blogging, giving good advice of places to visit etc.
Cherie's site is most interesting, she must have visited the length and breadth of the UK. She writes most eloquently and interestingly,She is also brilliant photographer. Again, you can access her site, from mine on the right hand side toolbar.

Sorry I can't mention all of my favourite bloggers, but you all bring so much interest and fun to my somewhat, at times, sedentary life...
I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart...

Your friend in blogging,

Di..xxx

New set of wheels

Hurrah...
At last my motorised wheelchair has arrived and what a palaver it was, to actually be deemed suitable for said, 'set of wheels'
Firstly, one has to be assessed in the home for suitability and then a test drive at the Wheelchair Sevices Centre. All this stretched over a period of eighteen months. I got so fed up being stuck indoors, except when DT could take me out and push me around in the manual chair.
I hated being pushed around, particularly when people looked kindly at me, then proceeded to ask DT of my well being instead of asking me.
Why do people who hardly know you, want to know all the personal details of one's incapacity? After all, you wouldn't stop an apparently, able bodied person, passing by, for their full medical history!

Hurrah!

How things have changed...Now people smile at me and chat, stand aside as I zoom along and more importantly, don't want my medical history. I have yet to go out alone, I'm just building up my confidence. It's easy on a straight path but if there isn't a ramp to go up or down one has to adopt a particular system...For a medium type kerb you have to position the chair eighteen inches away from it, place 'joy stick' in top speed, then broom broom...up and over you go. If the kerb is more than about four inches you have to go over in reverse. This a bit scary, bearing in mind, you're at the mercy of passing motorists!
This why DT has been escorting me, acting like a pseudo traffic cop, sticking his hand up in the air, when required, to slow down the oncoming traffic, whilst I get used to operating each required manoever, with precision... I'm thinking of having a special 'DT lollipop crossing stick', made for him!
So, at present. I'm still wearing 'L' plates...So warning to all neighbours and friends... Keep your children and small animals in until the 'L' plates are removed....

May 'till September.

So much has happened during the passed few months it's difficult to know where to begin, so I'll try and pick out a few bits and bobs from each month.....So, here goes....
In May, I was presented with a new wheelchair which, although, still manual, was a much more comfortable ride and much easier for DT to manoeuvre around the ubiquitous pot holes, broken paving slabs and ridiculously high kerbs. At this time we were eagerly awaiting yet another chair, this time, an electric one which I could operate myself, with a little joystick...this comes later!
Why I couldn't have the electric chair, there and then, instead of all the 'faffing around' by the bureaucratic regimes, in the Primary Care Trust, Lord only knows...such a waste of time and money!
Any way, it's full steam ahead as DT whizzes me around the pavements, it's so good to get out and have some fresh air, We have a lovely park, about ten minutes walk from our home, called Calderstones. our dear little grandaughter, Olivia, likes to come along, with a bag of bread, to feed the ducks on the lake. when she gets tired, she likes to hitch a lift and sit on my lap, for a ride home. Poor DT huff and puffs then, because it's uphill all the way, He's such a kind and loving, Grandpa and husband, our world is enlightened by him each day.
We had a lovely holiday on the Isle of Anglesey, on th tip of North Wales.
Our accomodation was a traditional, white, rough stone Welsh cottage....It was divine, it overlooked three fishing lakes and was just a five minute drive from a gorgeous beach on Benllech Bay.
We would go daily, either to the little 'Fish shack' to buy delicious fresh Anglesey crab and lobster, or to the local butcher's for the wonderful Welsh lamb that he purveyed.
Anglesey is the place where Prince William and Princess Catherine live, sadly, we didn't see them, but apparently they did shop in the local places, also there was a great gastro pub on the beach at Red Warf Bay, where they frequently dined, sadly, again, we didn't bump into them,,,,who knows...maybe. one day we will, as we do go toAnglesey quite often, as it's only an eighty minute drive there.
Right now, there is what I have been up to, in the summer....more to follow soon.

Di...xx

The blessed back First posted on 15th May 2011

My! How time flies.
I've just looked at my last post and I can't believe how long it is since I wrote something....Many fellow bloggers have been in touch to enquire of my well being and I am so touched by their kindness and warm thoughts.
I have spent the last year by visiting three different hospital out patients departments to be prodded, stretched, scanned, x-rayed and operated on, for four, skin biopsies.
Only to be told that, the Rheumatoid Arthritis is in remission, whoopee whoo...good news!
Swiftly to be followed with the news that I have severe Osteo Arthritis in my hands and feet...Hmm! though Di, 'I can live with that'.
Then came the killer blow...several discs in the base of my spine are crushed, thus causing severe pain in my back and down my right leg.
Every cloud has a silver lining....I was referred to the 'Pain Clinic', for advice on my medication. So now, I am a registerd 'Junkie', taking Morphine, Pregablin and several other drugs to control the skin disorders etc.
I thought, I would be able to have an operation on my spine, but apparalently it is too dangerous, ie total paralysis. I am still unable to walk very far with out the 'blessed back' seizing up, forcing me to retreat to the chair again, so frustrating but c'est la vie.
So, here I am dear readers, still stuck in 'the chairs' (see previous post), and not able to drive my lovely Honda CRV, pick up my beloved Grandchildren, tend to my garden etc!
But, hey! another 'silver lining! I have got my kind and caring husband,three marvellous daughters, four fab granchildren and a lovely comfy home. Oh, and not forgetting my lovely cuddly cat, Chloe!
What more could a girl want?

I am truly blessed.


I promise, this is the last of the 'health reports', I shall go back to writing little humorous anecdotes to hopefully amuse and entertain you...promise!

Di.xx

Musings from the Chairs

At present, I have two essential chairs:
The first one is a delightful leather bound recliner, placed strategically in the front bay window, so that I can watch the world go by, and, enjoy my lovely new wide screen HD TV.
The TV was a gift from DT to alleviate my displeasure at my recent immobility.
I'm having a lovely time, shouting at the blethering Polititians, trying to convince us that, they're 'The man for the job!

The second chair, is a wheelchair, that I now have, in order to be perambulated around in, by DT.
Annoyingly, at present, I am unable to walk unaided, without either, falling over or swearing, due to searing pain, using words, even DT hasn't heard before!
The falling over is due to Peripheral Neuropathy and the pain is caused by multi- facet disc bulge, in the lower part of my spine......
Yes ouch!

It's a whole new world, sitting in a wheelchair.

As DT is pushing it, I am cautious, in putting my seat belt on.
On reflection, Knee pads and a Crash Helmet, should be worn too!

Once he has gently helped me into the chair, and ensured that I am comfortable, he takes off at the speed of Jensen Button, at a Grande Prix.

Not, taking into account the pot holes and uneven pavements ahead,..... Oh No!
It's full speed ahead with DT, with me hanging on for dear life, as he whizzes me along.
As I sit with my back to him, he can't hear me shrieking warnings of forthcoming perils ahead.
Although, judging by the amused looks on the faces of people passing by, the whole world could hear me....
Hmm......Selective hearing methinks!

The Chair is shortly to be modified with a power pack which greatly assists the person pushing.....Lord help me, I may be taken out one sunny day for a walk around our lovely local park, Calderstones in Liverpool, and end up in Oxford!
Well, I could always pop in, on Anne in Oxfordshire, for a 'nice cup of tea and a piece of cake' (with apologies to Worzel Gummidge)!

The back problems have nothing to do with the ongoing Rheumatoid Arthritis, which also gives me grief.
I'm determined the wheel chair is only a temporary measure and I am determined to be 'up and running', (well, walking gingerly), very soon.

Sorry about the major moan, but sometimes, just sometimes, a girl needs to 'off load' !

Footprints.

This poem is dedicated to Leslie and DL who are undergoing a trying time.

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.

He noticed that it also happened at the very lowest and saddest
times in his life
.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about about it.

"LORD", you said that once I decide to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me".

The LORD, replied, "My precious, precious, child, I love you, and would never leave you. During your times times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,it was then that I carried you".



This is one of my favourite writings, dear Leslie and Lorne.
I hope you both derive some comfort and strength from it.

Di.xx

Leslie can be found on her Blog site 'The Pedalogue'.