Well, I think I spoke too soon, on hoping it was spring!.....
today its gone quite cold again and the wind!.... very, very strong.
Infact a shopping street in our town had to be closed today because some tiles blew off one of the properties into the road. Luckily as far as I know, no-one was hurt by them. But - you never saw so many policemen, traffic wardens and other officials. Police cars with blue flashing lights blocked each end of the road for hours. And all for a couple of roof tiles. Wonder how many we`d have seen if it had been something really serious?!
Don`t get me wrong, I know they had to do their job to keep people safe, but.... if did seem a bit of an excessive quantity of them.
And.... to top it all, the television camera crew arrived as well !
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
An Early Spring
Is it spring?
It can`t be spring already, can it?
We`re still in January, but it doesn`t feel a bit like January, it hasn`t been really cold once, ok, I admit that people living here, who`ve not been brought up here, may think it`s cold being on the East coast, but there`s been no frost, hail, sleet or snow. The weather here especially these last few days has been exceptionally mild, sunny and really springlike.
The birds must be feeling it too because they`re tweeting and singing away in the trees. At Pensthorpe where I enjoyed my Sunday afternoon walk the wildfowl on the lakes were starting some of their courtship displays. It was a joy to watch.
It can`t be spring already, can it?
We`re still in January, but it doesn`t feel a bit like January, it hasn`t been really cold once, ok, I admit that people living here, who`ve not been brought up here, may think it`s cold being on the East coast, but there`s been no frost, hail, sleet or snow. The weather here especially these last few days has been exceptionally mild, sunny and really springlike.
The birds must be feeling it too because they`re tweeting and singing away in the trees. At Pensthorpe where I enjoyed my Sunday afternoon walk the wildfowl on the lakes were starting some of their courtship displays. It was a joy to watch.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Black & White beauties
I wonder why it is, that standing (or sitting) watching swans on the lake is such a relaxing pastime? These looked so graceful just floating on the water in the sunlight.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Peace & Tranquility
I found great peace and tranquility on a walk this afternoon. Will share more photos from it later this week, but here`s what I thought was a beautiful scene.
Friday, January 25, 2008
A taste of Spring
I just had to share this sight of spring with you, which I came across unexpectedly in our church this morning. I just turned round from shutting a door and it caught my eye. It brightened a dark corner and said so clearly Spring is coming.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Blue flower.
I`ve had a busy week, so no time to really think what to write on my blog. But, so that you don`t all think I`ve disappeared off the face of the earth, here`s a picture of a flower I took sometime last summer. Don`t know what it is. Maybe a reader does?
It was such a pretty shade of blue, and so dainty. I love dainty flowers.
It was such a pretty shade of blue, and so dainty. I love dainty flowers.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
An ordinary day
What shall I write about today? It`s not been a very noteworthy day. It`s been a rainy day, so apart from going out for a while this morning and doing a bit of essential shopping, I`ve not been anywhere.
I got some nice local caught cod from the fish shop, then went over the the greengrocers and got some potoatoes, went home, made some batter and cooked some delicious fish and chips for lunch for myself and a friend who came over today. Then we had a good old natter and caught up with each others news.
I got some nice local caught cod from the fish shop, then went over the the greengrocers and got some potoatoes, went home, made some batter and cooked some delicious fish and chips for lunch for myself and a friend who came over today. Then we had a good old natter and caught up with each others news.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Gift
I had a nice surprize gift last week. A work colleague had been on a round the world cruise during the last few months, and brought me back four thimbles from various places they`d stopped at. Here`s one of them.
It`s quite unusual in that the design is in relief on the outside of it. You can probably see that clearer in this picture.
It`s quite unusual in that the design is in relief on the outside of it. You can probably see that clearer in this picture.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Reader wanted!
With all the ups and downs of last week, I think my mind wasn`t concentrating on all it should be. Sitting in our church service yesterday morning, it came to the first Bible reading. Everyone had sat down at the end of the hymn, the Minister sat down too, and was looking round expectantly.
It was probably only a second or two in real time, but it seemed liked minutes then it struck me, I should have found people to do the readings! I hurriedly grabbed the Bible from the pew in front of me and sped out to read the 1st. lesson, hoping it wasn`t difficult and wouldn`t have a lot of hard names in it. Thankfully when I got to the lecturn the Bible was open at the right page, saving me finding it in the one in my hand, and it was a passage I`d read before. But, then I realised there was another reading after the next hymn which also needed a reader! I couldn`t go back to read the other passages, that would look too obvious that something had gone wrong.
Racking my brains what to do, as the hymn started I touched the person in front of my on the shoulder, quickly explained what had happened and asked her if she could read the other passages. To my immense relief she instantly said yes. Normally she would have been out with the children`s group, I was so very lucky that she wasn`t this week.
Lesson to myself - Write things down in a list.
It was probably only a second or two in real time, but it seemed liked minutes then it struck me, I should have found people to do the readings! I hurriedly grabbed the Bible from the pew in front of me and sped out to read the 1st. lesson, hoping it wasn`t difficult and wouldn`t have a lot of hard names in it. Thankfully when I got to the lecturn the Bible was open at the right page, saving me finding it in the one in my hand, and it was a passage I`d read before. But, then I realised there was another reading after the next hymn which also needed a reader! I couldn`t go back to read the other passages, that would look too obvious that something had gone wrong.
Racking my brains what to do, as the hymn started I touched the person in front of my on the shoulder, quickly explained what had happened and asked her if she could read the other passages. To my immense relief she instantly said yes. Normally she would have been out with the children`s group, I was so very lucky that she wasn`t this week.
Lesson to myself - Write things down in a list.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
New Baby
What a lot of things have happened this week. Along with the disappointments and sad things of this last week, there have also been some exciting and happy things.
The biggest of these being that I`ve got a new "baby". it will need taking care or, feeding, exercising and cleaning. But I know it will also give me hours of enjoyment.
No, don`t get alarmed/excited, I`ve not just given birth!.....
a new car!
And here it is.
Isn`t it beautiful.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
R.I.P
I was going to show and tell you about something new today, but that`s going to have to wait now until tomorrow, or the next day, because something very sad happened today and I feel the need to write about it.
My little canary died while we were out this afternoon. He hadn`t seemed well for a few day the other week, but then picked up and was back to his normal self. He was as lively and chirpy as usual yesterday. This morning when I got up and uncovered his cage he just sat there fluffed out and not looking well. He slept most of the morning and was asleep on his perch when we went out this afternoon. When we came back he was on his floor and had died.
The place seems so quiet, so empty somehow without him.
He wasn`t that old either, we`d had him just over 3 years. He was such a tame and clever little chap. He`d know the minute we started to get a coat on to go out that he would get a sunflower seed, which he`d take from our fingers to eat; he knew when the butcher came that he would give him one too; and when other various people came to the house he seemed to recognise them and who would give him a seed too. At dinner times, he knew that when we had our pudding he would get his tit-bit of apple or lettuce and would sit quietly while we had our first course and as soon as we put our knives and forks down would start jumping about and tweeting for his.
He loved his bath, and would ask for it by dipping his head in his drinking water then going onto his perch and shaking his feathers. He was the most intelligent canary that we`d ever had.
He was such good company, the house never felt empty with him in it. As soon as we came in and opened the door, we`d call out to him. He was only small, but he was such a big part of our lives. I`ll miss him so much.
I think there`ll be tears in the pillow tonight.
My little canary died while we were out this afternoon. He hadn`t seemed well for a few day the other week, but then picked up and was back to his normal self. He was as lively and chirpy as usual yesterday. This morning when I got up and uncovered his cage he just sat there fluffed out and not looking well. He slept most of the morning and was asleep on his perch when we went out this afternoon. When we came back he was on his floor and had died.
The place seems so quiet, so empty somehow without him.
He wasn`t that old either, we`d had him just over 3 years. He was such a tame and clever little chap. He`d know the minute we started to get a coat on to go out that he would get a sunflower seed, which he`d take from our fingers to eat; he knew when the butcher came that he would give him one too; and when other various people came to the house he seemed to recognise them and who would give him a seed too. At dinner times, he knew that when we had our pudding he would get his tit-bit of apple or lettuce and would sit quietly while we had our first course and as soon as we put our knives and forks down would start jumping about and tweeting for his.
He loved his bath, and would ask for it by dipping his head in his drinking water then going onto his perch and shaking his feathers. He was the most intelligent canary that we`d ever had.
He was such good company, the house never felt empty with him in it. As soon as we came in and opened the door, we`d call out to him. He was only small, but he was such a big part of our lives. I`ll miss him so much.
I think there`ll be tears in the pillow tonight.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Waiting Over
I didn`t have long to wait this morning before the phone call that I`d been waiting for came. And with it came the news that I hadn`t been selected for the job this time.
Was I disappointed? In lots of ways yes, because I know that it was work that I could have done and would have enjoyed doing; it would have been a help in my home life too. But yet when I came out of the interview yesterday I knew that I`d let myself down, I`d as usual shrunk into my quiet self, I`d become (as so often) tongue-tied and `struck dumb`, and didn`t showing my true abilities. I suppose too that my upbringing, being that one doesn`t talk about oneself, or what I can do still affects me, and I find it very difficult to talk about myself.
Yet, I`m proud of myself that I did have the courage to apply for the job and to go for the interview. My confidence in myself is growing to how its been my whole life. Even a few years ago I wouldn`t have plucked up the courage to even show an interest in the job even though it would be work I could do. And as for going somewhere I`d not been before I would have found all excuses under the sun not to go. So, although I wasn`t successful in being appointed, I feel its another small success for me in confidence building.
Was I disappointed? In lots of ways yes, because I know that it was work that I could have done and would have enjoyed doing; it would have been a help in my home life too. But yet when I came out of the interview yesterday I knew that I`d let myself down, I`d as usual shrunk into my quiet self, I`d become (as so often) tongue-tied and `struck dumb`, and didn`t showing my true abilities. I suppose too that my upbringing, being that one doesn`t talk about oneself, or what I can do still affects me, and I find it very difficult to talk about myself.
Yet, I`m proud of myself that I did have the courage to apply for the job and to go for the interview. My confidence in myself is growing to how its been my whole life. Even a few years ago I wouldn`t have plucked up the courage to even show an interest in the job even though it would be work I could do. And as for going somewhere I`d not been before I would have found all excuses under the sun not to go. So, although I wasn`t successful in being appointed, I feel its another small success for me in confidence building.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Today was the day
Well, I was fortunate enough to be shortlisted for an interview for the job, which I wrote about here, and have today been for that interview.
I found it quite a scary thing to do, but after an initial feeling of lots of butterflies in my tummy all doing somersaults for a few hours when I got up this morning and making me feel rather unwell, I managed to set off for the interview feeling fairly calm.
Two of the interviewers I hadn`t met before, but I was surprised to find one that I did know. How would that affect my chances I wondered, would it help as she knew what I was capable of, or would she feel because she knew me (and maybe not the other candidates) that she would have to be more critical?
One question which I was asked that stumped me most on how to answer was (and that was asked in the section the person who knew me had to ask) was - what kind of people irritate you the most. What kind of answer would they expect to that, I wondered. I thought for a few seconds, then came up with an answer, of aggressive people.
Now I wait.
I found it quite a scary thing to do, but after an initial feeling of lots of butterflies in my tummy all doing somersaults for a few hours when I got up this morning and making me feel rather unwell, I managed to set off for the interview feeling fairly calm.
Two of the interviewers I hadn`t met before, but I was surprised to find one that I did know. How would that affect my chances I wondered, would it help as she knew what I was capable of, or would she feel because she knew me (and maybe not the other candidates) that she would have to be more critical?
One question which I was asked that stumped me most on how to answer was (and that was asked in the section the person who knew me had to ask) was - what kind of people irritate you the most. What kind of answer would they expect to that, I wondered. I thought for a few seconds, then came up with an answer, of aggressive people.
Now I wait.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Relevant Words
Attending today, as I guess many people have, a Covenant Service at our church, it seemed an even more personal service for me today.
To quote part of the words spoken:
And the response we made:
That seemed so relevant to me, as I await an interview this week for a job, and the outcome of it.
To quote part of the words spoken:
Christ has many services to be done: some are easy, others difficult....
some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests,
others are contrary to both .....
And the response we made:
I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things, wherever you may place me, in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me and when there is none, when I am troubled and when I am at peace.
Your will be done...............
I willingly offer all I have and am to serve you as and where you choose.
That seemed so relevant to me, as I await an interview this week for a job, and the outcome of it.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Resolution
Well, it may be a few days late to be making new year resolutions, but I think I`m just going to make one for this year. Not a whole list of them like I have some years and then not been able to keep them.
So....
....my resolution for this year (which I`ve started to do).....
is....
..... to be more organised, and to keep my workroom/office tidier.
So....
....my resolution for this year (which I`ve started to do).....
is....
..... to be more organised, and to keep my workroom/office tidier.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thoughts from Records
Touching and reading some books this afternoon, I suddenly was stuck by the realisation that what I was handling was over two hundred and twenty years old. That someone that long ago had handled the same and written in them, and here I was all these years later reading what he had written. I suddenly felt very priviledged to be doing so.
What I was looking at were some old church records.
One of the things I found interesting, gave an insight into the life of people in the 1780`s, was that alongside the names on the registers they had also given the trade or circumstances of the person.
Amongst the, to be expected, Labourer; Farmer; Sailor, etc., I found a lot of more unusual jobs - Mantlemaker; Twine spinner; Besom maker; Caulker; Watchmaker; Tide waiter (wonder what that involved?); Rope maker; Coal heaver; Chopper (wonder what he chopped and why); Shop maid, Cutler. A few had Pilgrim against them, one even had Gent - which set me wondering why he should have that description.
A large number were Servants, Invalid was written against another name, then I came across the one that seemed to me an even sadder description against several names - Pauper. And one even said gone to the Workhouse.
Actually handling books and seeing the handwriting in them, as against just learning history from printed books, really brought home to me the hard times that people had as against our lives today.
It also set me thinking, that maybe we should do the same with the records we keep in this day and age, so that people in years to come could look back and think... what did a dustman, traffic warden, check-out girl,.etc.... do?!
What I was looking at were some old church records.
One of the things I found interesting, gave an insight into the life of people in the 1780`s, was that alongside the names on the registers they had also given the trade or circumstances of the person.
Amongst the, to be expected, Labourer; Farmer; Sailor, etc., I found a lot of more unusual jobs - Mantlemaker; Twine spinner; Besom maker; Caulker; Watchmaker; Tide waiter (wonder what that involved?); Rope maker; Coal heaver; Chopper (wonder what he chopped and why); Shop maid, Cutler. A few had Pilgrim against them, one even had Gent - which set me wondering why he should have that description.
A large number were Servants, Invalid was written against another name, then I came across the one that seemed to me an even sadder description against several names - Pauper. And one even said gone to the Workhouse.
Actually handling books and seeing the handwriting in them, as against just learning history from printed books, really brought home to me the hard times that people had as against our lives today.
It also set me thinking, that maybe we should do the same with the records we keep in this day and age, so that people in years to come could look back and think... what did a dustman, traffic warden, check-out girl,.etc.... do?!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
The Seamstress
I share with you today, something sent to me.....
'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
Again, the seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble. 
'Is this your thimble ?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'Yes.'
The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.
Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, 'Why are you crying?'
'Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!' 
The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. 'Is this your husband?' the Lord asked. 
'Yes,' cried the seamstress.
The Lord was furious. 'You lied! That is an untruth!'
The seamstress replied, 'Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt. 
Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney.
And so the Lord let her keep him.
The moral of this story is:
Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honourable reason, and in the best interest of others. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.
Signed,
All Us Women
One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, 'My dear child, why are you crying?'
The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family.
The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.
The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family.
The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.
'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.
The seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.
'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
Again, the seamstress replied, 'No.'
The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.
'Is this your thimble ?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'Yes.'
The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.
Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, 'Why are you crying?'
'Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!'
The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. 'Is this your husband?' the Lord asked.
'Yes,' cried the seamstress.
The Lord was furious. 'You lied! That is an untruth!'
The seamstress replied, 'Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.
Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney.
And so the Lord let her keep him.
The moral of this story is:
Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honourable reason, and in the best interest of others. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.
Signed,
All Us Women
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Fresh start
This new year, I`ve not made any resolutions (not yet, anyway), but somehow its made me want to have a clean start. Wanting to really sort all the house out, there seems so much stuff everywhere that I have the urge to tidy it all away and make a new start. So I`ve started in my office room. Papers have been flying everywhere! The shredder has been working overtime and the recycling bin has been filling up.
I`ve also decided to pick up again in doing my daily Counting my blessings blog, but again have started a fresh one instead of carrying on with the one I abandoned last year, as I felt it was becoming boring and repetitive.
I`m also changing something else for something new.... but you`ll have to wait till next week to hear about that!
I`ve also decided to pick up again in doing my daily Counting my blessings blog, but again have started a fresh one instead of carrying on with the one I abandoned last year, as I felt it was becoming boring and repetitive.
I`m also changing something else for something new.... but you`ll have to wait till next week to hear about that!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
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