HOPES FOR 2014

So what is for me and mine in this New Year? Hmm. Well, not everything went to plan in 2013, so I really hope that this year is a good one. Some people think I tell all on here, wrong, there is so much I don’t talk about, but just will say I am glad to see the back of 2013. I have always liked the number 14, so let’s see. For this year, I wish to get fit. Loss a lot of weight, get a publisher interested in my work/writing, my Husband to find a new job would be the best thing. My Son to find happiness I pray every day for. My dear friend in Russia to be healthy and happy and for her business to be hers and successful. For my Husband to be pain free, for my Son to pass his Maths exam and finish his course at college. For me to become the person I was and for flowers in the gardens to grow/bloom and hearts to be at peace.

So in reality, how many of those things will come true?

Hmm. I really can’t say this is where I went wrong last year; I believed all of my dreams would come true.

I shouldn’t be greedy, I had a wonderful dream come true when I met my now Husband almost five years ago. I have waited forever for a cure for blindness, and still wait. As I get older, I wonder, if in my life time it will ever happen? Then I look at technology, how much we have come on in that field and I just hope that a scientist, somewhere around the world will just even by accident, will stumble across a cure.

Just to walk free, without chains, without always worrying to cross the road to my friend’s house without a bother would be amazing. To see colour, my Husbands face and child’s eyes again.

To shop on my own. Oh I would be like a child, with a forever smile.

What are your expectations for this New Year?

And what do you think is reality? Xx

2014

My first blog of the year 2014. Well Bloggets, how was it for you?  As I sit here in the cool start of the morning, radiators clicking as I have just turned on the heating, it’s silent outside and a little after 6a.m

Our friends came over to ours last night, and we had a lovely few hours. They are a really nice couple and my friend and I chuckled as we had our own little world going on.

To cut a long story short, they persuaded us to go to the party we were invited to.

I didn’t want to go as I just feel so self-conscious, but the hosts couldn’t have been nicer and they have two Sons who are adorable.

I missed my baby so  much, but had to rise above that and my friend and I had that in common, as her daughter just turned sixteen, also was away for New year. Funny enough, she was in my old home town Newcastle.

So a bit further than my boy. The hosts were from my neck of the woods, well, Sunderland and it was lovely to be in the company of fellow North east folks.

I know where I now live, it’s considered to be the North east, but I think unless you have either a Geordie or Sunderland accent, you aren’t really a northerner….. Haha. I’m in trouble.

Well, we saw the New Year in, and did the count down and sent out our friend with some salt. In the old days, way back when I were a lass….

We used to send out a dark haired man, blonde lady and they had to have salt and coal, also something else, but I can’t remember. But our poor friend was out there and he had to stay there until the Big Ben struck midnight. Then and only then, he was allowed in.

Poor thing was cold as it was bitterly cold out there. We left, just as the Karaoke machine came out. A real shame, but Hub will not sing in public, just as he no longer will not play the piano. It’s so bad, as he is great at both and if I was as good, I would be on the street corners with my turned up hat. Hehe.

The hosts said goodnight to us and I just felt so much warmth from them, she is so lovely and hysterically funny. She should be on stage, she is that funny.

A cat wanted to be in our house the same cat our friend saw in our back garden at the back door step.

Oh I felt really sorry for it. As it looked so friendly and lost.

I hope it found its way home in the end?

This is one of many reasons I would not have a cat, because I would be a wreck when they were let out.

Our friends, the hosts of the party, have two huge cats and as I sat in their living room, she said calmly to me.

“Fiona, it’s like a zoo here. Just behind you, there is a tarantula. OMG?

They have snakes too and cat fish, as well as a hamster.

All but the cats were in tanks.

Well home and after phone calls and texts then my Son phoned me and I am pleased to say sounded very sober, we went to bed.

God, I love that boy. I only wish for this New Year, he would show the same love for me, in fact, just a fraction of love and respect, would be nice.

I so miss the relationship we used to have as it was so very special. I just don’t get how something or someone can change so much.

Well, let’s see if my faith can be restored?

So a ginormous quiche is ready to be cooked and I have lots of sandwiches to make. I prepared the fillings last night and I have a few trays of food which need cooking today, then our table will be set. We have lots of crisps and cheeses as well as pickled onions, my fave.

I could eat a full jar in one sitting.

But I can say, this for sure is the friendliest street I have ever lived in and they are all the salt of the earth.

I don’t know if our friends are still there at the party, but we didn’t hear them coming home…

A new year my friends, a new start. New hope.

All my love. Fiona. X

 

HE'S LEFT

Candles are lit, Christmas trees are on fireplace is all lit up and we are waiting for our friends.

My boy left for the night. My heart aches.

But I have my love here with me.

Though I so wish my boy had not been stolen. I have no control in him and yesterday, he made references that he was going to marry at 18.

Well, if so, I know two people who will not be going to that event. All I shall say on this subject is there is so much going on that he does not know about.

But he was my life and he has killed me this year, roll on next year.

 

END OF YEAR STATS 2013 A MILLION THANK YOU'S

United Kingdom	20717
United States	9867
Russia	1866
Germany	867
Japan	491
Mexico	452
Ukraine	440
France	172
China	126
Netherlands	59

 

OCADO

 It’s a funny thought to think that Japan is next year already, nine hours plus before us. I just watched on the TV how they gather and celebrate. Gosh, they are so quiet and well behaved. A tin like bell rang and almost whispers could be heard.

So different to our noisy lot in  the UK.

My house is quiet and one member of our family is at work. The other doing the deed of the dreaded dog run.

Just on our news now, in Scotland, a lady has been killed by a stag.

I have never heard of a threatening deer, have you?

I received a very interesting call from the place/company where I get our weekly shopping from. Oh it is the best company for groceries if you are visually impaired. They are called Coad.

The website is so easy to use. I sent them an email, as they had a duvet cover, but didn’t say what colour it was. Within two days of me contacting them, they phoned me with a perfect description and not only that, from tomorrow, live they will now put all colours on their website. It’s something sighted people don’t think about, now our computer software, only describes what words it see’s, so if it’s a picture, then sighted designers of websites, expect the public to be able to see the colour for example.

As I said to them, it’s not just for blind people but those who are colour blind.

Well, good on them, as I have contacted lots of companies, and they never change their lay out.

OK, must dash now. I have to call my Father in law to see how he is doing and get some tea ready for our boy coming home from work, as he will only be in half an hour I bet, I also bet he won’t have time to eat, though I really hope he does, as tonight he won’t be home all night, in fact until tomorrow after work he will be home for the first time next year. I’m really worried until he gets back, as he is getting a lift home at half seven in the morning, and I do worry about the drunks on the road.

I will be really happy to see the back of 2013. It’s not been a good one for sure.

I pray for a lot of changes for the next year...

With love until later, Fiji Blogget, AKA Fiona Cummings

 

NEW YEARS TABLE

Our shopping has arrived and we have a small amount of food to welcome in the New Year tomorrow evening and see us through the day without having to cook. So cooking tomorrow but after 6, nothing. My Mum used to say, start the New Year as you wish for the rest of the year to continue.

OK, so she would set the table, oh it was wonderful food, everything on there; you couldn’t see the pattern on the table cloth. She would put her tray out with drink, though she never drank, but there would be the bottle of snowball, and the new bottle of sherry, as last years had just gone where the new year’s would also be going. Down the sink.

She would buy a bottle it would not get drunk so the following year, we would go through the ritual of pouring it down the sink and open a new one.

We weren’t drinkers in our family, but eaters for sure and no one could put on a table like my Mam.

God, I miss her. I miss her kindness and love. I miss the help that I may have received with my Son, as you may know, she and my Dad died when my now 16 year old, was only one. The time when I really needed her.

She also made a huge pan of soup. It was New Year’s Day fifteen years ago, I sat and ate her soup and told her it was the best soup in the world. She told me in her very serious voice, unusually calm for her, to make the most of it, as it would be the last one I would ever get.

I looked at her in shock.

She died, seven days later.

This time of year is not a good time for me, within six weeks; I have my Dads birthday, then Mums, then their anniversary on our Boxing Day then the first week in January, my Mams anniversary of her death.

Then there is Christmas without her and Dad, so I will be glad to see the New Year go away and roll on February. My birthday month, OK, another year older… 33 this year, or shall I stay at 32? After all, I have been at that age for a while now! Haha.

OK, tomorrow night, our friends are coming here for a drink, then we are going to theirs, but shall see the New Year in on our own, quiet and probably just the two of us, in fact I’m sure of it.

I lost my boy a year ago so I guess he is starting the New Year off in the same manner.

And I am also sure, filled with alcohol. As one of them bought him a bottle of vodka for Christmas.

Bloody idiots.

Well, what goes around comes around.

I shall be waiting for that day.

From what I can gather, something is on the horizon.

OK Bloggets, again, thank you so much for yesterday’s views. We had record viewings.

You are all amazing and should be so proud of yourselves.

As if not for all of you, this page would not exist.

Love you all for that and one day I pray, I shall write books and you will all be a huge part of that.

X

NEWS VIEWS 2013

The southern Russian city of Volgograd was in a state of siege last night as troops patrolled the streets and its people struggled to come to terms with a second suicide bombing in 24 hours.

“What a real shame the suicide bomber, didn’t just go to a beach where there are no animals or people and do us all a favour and kill themselves. These bombers have no thought for their families, the people they are leaving behind to literally pick up the pieces of their lives. Happy New year to all those poor families who have been affected. Not. I hope the bombers go to hell.

 

The Duke of Cambridge is to become a full-time student of agricultural management at Cambridge University from next week, Kensington Palace says.

“Hmm. I bet he didn’t have to apply for a place?”

 

For the first time, foreign visitors using A&E services are to be charged for doing so - but they will still be able to visit GPs' surgeries for nothing.

“About time, I just hope the money raised will go to the correct place? And why not GP’s too?

 

Bangui: At least two children have been beheaded in the fighting which has gripped the Central African Republic, the UN agency for children said Monday, adding "unprecedented" levels of violence were being committed against youngsters.

“Awful, really dreadful. What more can I say?

 Well, what can I say, other than let’s hope that 2014 will be a year full of good news? What do you reccon?

 

MELTING CHOCOLATE

 OK, Boy home, so I can enjoy today again as I don’t need to worry. He and my love are all safe.

My friend has asked me to her house tomorrow for a drink for New Year’s Eve. We were invited to a party, but, we are real party poopers. We don’t really drink and Hub is on meds so can’t really take alcohol.

Also we are quite quiet people I think for me it’s since I lost my sight, I don’t have the confidence to be in crowds of people anymore. I think if you don’t drink and you are with people who do, it’s quite hard. When there is loud music, we can’t hear what is going on too. People who can see, can lip read or look at actions.

In a small group, we can hear and be involved. I think unless you are in our shoes, it’s really hard to understand. But at our last snobby place of living, we would be the only ones in the street not to be asked, here, everyone is so lovely, and we are seeing our friends in our street before the big event, so bless them.

We are lighting the Christmas pudding tonight. We were too full on Christmas day so now our boy is home, I shall find the matches.

Gosh I have been so very lazy in this holiday for housework.

I must do something for the New Year? Can’t have old dust, or can I? Heeha.

In the past two days my Bloggers have come out in force. We have had over one hundred and fifteen views so far today from the UK and forty from the US. Other countries include Sweden, France, Germany Vietnam and Serbia.

I can’t wait to see the total for tomorrow night, marking the end of the year.

You are my entire hero’s.

Did you like the poem about the chocolate bear?  I love that, so cute. Oh, I have a funny story for you about chocolate. My Hub kindly gave me three chocolate bars out of his stocking that he doesn’t like and knows I love.

He didn’t tell me he had put them at my side of the bed.

Hmm.

I didn’t know, until threw the night, I felt something attached to my back…..

Let’s just say, they didn’t go to waste. I had to eat them threw  the night, or they would have melted. One felt compelled to eat   ones given chocolate, or it would be considered rude to just throw them away?

Oh I am really excited about Thursday. We are visiting our friends in Northumberland. We can only be there three hours but I can’t wait, our friend Yvonne is cooking and she is professional. I mean her food is wonderful too posh for me to even think about. I have been spoiled this week with my friends food with the beautiful name the other day and now Yvonne. Bless her she is trying to sort out what I can eat and not. People do panicky and it’s a shame. My friend the other day did loads for vegetarians, though seven out of eight of us ate meat.

Right there is a vacuumed with my name on it right now. Love and hugs. X

 

 

A BISCUIT BEFORE BED

It’s 3 in the morning, the house is dark of course, and the doors are rattling with the roaring winds outside.

It’s wild again. We have had more storms this year than I can ever remember.

England never used to get constant freak weather conditions.

I can hear my wind chimes outside and the gusts of wind are pounding through the ink skies.

I received confirmation yesterday, about someone I have had huge doubts about. As bad as bad can be.

But I shall go to bed now, head a little more empty of those thoughts I need my strength for what is to follow today.

It’s really difficult being a parent of a 16 year old.

People say hang on there, hmm. It’s painfully difficult. For the person he hangs out with is a bad influence.

His happiness is priority for me. Let’s hope next year, moves on?

Might have a cup of tea now and some of the gift my Sons friend bought us.

Then bed. Xxx

THE CHRISTMAS BEAR BY FIONA CUMMINGS

A CHRISTMAS TEDDY

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

He looked so lovely

Even kind of cuddly

He sparkled against the fairy lights

Made smiles in dark nights

He wore a red velvet bow

He had gloves with a ball of snow

But came that fatal day

He had to go away

I removed his clothes of gold

And a label he was given to hold

Oh he looked so tempting

He was almost melting

Tears fell from his face

Should I have left him in his place?

Under the Christmas tree

But he was given to me

From whom   not sure

To taste him I would endure

Delicious I must say he was

Though to be so tempted I was cross

To eat him was a loss

As I miss that foiled friend

But I saved the head

Until the end

NEW YEARS DAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

NEW YEARS DAY

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 

It’s that time of year again

When we ask how, why and when?

The last day in the year

When people are full of cheer

The so called drink culture

We ponder over our future

Feel let down by our failure

Things we wished to achieve

People we have lost so we grieve

What is good about yesterday?

Have all our troubles gone away?

Are our bags full of bother?

 Did we manage to empty them along the roadside

Did we drown in the tears we cried?

Did we find a lover?

Or are happy with what we have

Are our lives full of love?

Are we waiting for that knock on the door?

Or a letter of dread be put on the floor

Shall our letterbox receive good news?

What are your opinions and views

On the past twelve months good or bad

Happy or sad

Have you had huge changes in life?

If so I hope all were positive

Keeping you out of trouble and strife

Another way to live

So what to do about the next New Year?

Throw away all fear

Turn on the light of life

Look for dreams

Babbling streams

A beautiful sunset

Go forward and don’t regret

Start a new

A pair of shiny shoes

Forget the blues

But how?

Give us clues?

Remove the stress from our brow

Guide us in the right direction

Learn the careless how to show affection

This time of year it’s all about reflection

We have two choices

One, sink

Two, rise high

What do you think?

Hold onto my wings and we shall fly

Looking down at trouble

Gliding over the rubble

Floating in a place of peace

Our carpets being leafy trees

A new start

Forget our broken heart

What can be fixed, can never part

So raise your glass of angel’s water

The negatives shall be slaughtered

Come along and lead the way

For a brand view, New Year’s Day

 

THE TRIANGLE

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is an undefined region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Where a lot of aircrafts ships and fisherman, have simply disappeared.

This mysterious story has fascinated me since I was a child.

According to the US navy, the Triangle does not exist. The name also is not recognized by the US board of Geographic names.

Extraterrestrial and paranormal theories have been blamed for the mystery; so of course, the US Navy will be totally against any explanation of those theories, as that is in my opinion the main reason why we have the army and so on, just waiting for another planet to turn up in our atmosphere.

I watched a program on this subject last night and it infuriated me as how pathetically matter of fact the so called experts were. Why can’t they have an open mind?

Documented evidence indicates that a significant percentage of the incidents were spurious, inaccurately reported, or embellished by later authors.

In a study in 2013, the World wide fund for nature identified the world’s top ten most dangerous waters, an yet, the Triangle, was not mentioned.

Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies do not charge higher premiums for shipping in this area. This to me is really strange?

The incident resulting in the single largest loss of life in the history of the US Navy not related to combat occurred when the collier USS Cyclops, carrying a full load of manganese ore and with one engine out of action, went missing without a trace with a crew of 309 sometime after March 4, 1918, after departing the island of Barbados. Although there is no strong evidence for any single theory, many independent theories exist, some blaming storms, some capsizing, and some suggesting that wartime enemy activity was to blame for the loss.

Flight 19 was a training flight of five avenger torpedo bombers which disappeared on December 5, 1945.

One of the search and rescue aircraft deployed to look for them, a crew with a 13-man crew, also disappeared. A tanker off the coast of Florida reported seeing an explosion

And observing widespread oil slick whiny searching for survivors. The weather was becoming stormy by the end of the incident. The weather or equipment can always be blamed for the mysteries, but if you look into all of the conspiracies and tales of the Triangles, I feel like if you have an open mind, you must, think to yourself. “Hmm. What is the true story?

It’s not just a bunch of Navy or aircrafts which have gone missing, but fisherman and pleasure Yachts too

   I guess it’s like religion to me, we are not meant to know the answers!

 

 

WHERE HAD I GONE?

Something was different about today. I woke up and you know when you have been in a sleep where you wanted to go so badly, a sleep where you need to find to disappear from reality?

I went there; I fell so deeply after listing to music in my earphones from a device my Husband bought me for Christmas.

Anyway, today was so different. I rubbed my eyes, and took a shower, cleaned my teeth and brushed my hair. I couldn’t find anything first off. It was just simply weird.

I went down stairs and went into the kitchen to put on the kettle. Whilst boiling, I was to let the dogs out, but they too were in a deep sleep so just left them.

I opened the door to the conservatory to take some bright air as I felt really odd.

My table was not the same, nothing was the same. Oh this was odd. But then I felt it, I really did.

“Hello Darling, come and sit down next to me.”

It was a voice I recognised, but a voice which was talking through a long tube, which had echoes.

A hand was held out to me. A hand I started feeling again, a hand I thought I had forgotten.

But it was cold, so cold.

I sat down as had no way of being in control

Then another voice.

“Your toast is in front of you our Fiona.

I smelt the musky smoke. I felt the love. I knew who it was, I realised where I was.

Oh God, this morning was too weird.

 It was my parents.

 Another chance. I could say what I wanted to say before they died. I knew it was all a nasty evil conspiracy. They weren’t dead; they didn’t leave me all those years ago. I knew it I just knew it.

I wanted to talk. I wanted to tell them I love them and wanted to go shopping with them and buy all the years of gifts that they missed out on. Oh this was going to be so good, so exciting and yet I felt so cross as what a waste of fifteen years?

My Dad kept a hold of my hand as he used to do at the table, when he used to annoy me as I could not use two hands to eat my meal with but he loved me and that was his way of showing his love. My Mam fed me, me that was her, way and I felt like I was that little girl again.

I needed to hear their words, I knew they were talking to me but couldn’t translate what was going on. It was a foggy glass between us. I wanted to break the glass but knew if I moved, they would disappear. I was frozen.

Numb.

Mute.

Paralysed.

Dreaming.

STUPID ME

Good morning Bloggets. Last night my friend asked me to go with her to meet with an X factor finalist, who I really really like. It was after ten at night and though so much I would have loved to, my stupid dulls self, couldn’t do it.

My Husband was not at all impressed with my ability to be so shallow in life and lacking in confidence. I’m not him, or anyone else. I know how useless I am when it comes to the outside world, I didn’t need that.

I so much wanted to go. My Husband wanted me to do it as he knew how badly I wanted to meet with him; also he wanted me to keep

 

my friend company in the car as she does a lot for us and it would be my way of paying her back a little. I just could not bring myself to cross that barrier. People laugh when I say I am shy, it’s so true not only am I shy but lack in the ability to meet and greet.

Around people I am very friendly, some say the bell of the ball as I am chirpy but really to get to that stage, takes so much for me. I never used to be like that. When I could see, and before I had the stuffing knocked out of me, I was out there like everyone else. Now I can’t see, I can’t look at them, why would they want to look at me?

It’s pitiful I don’t want it to come across as that just doesn’t know how to explain it in another way.

I step out of my house and I start to shake. No matter where I go. You have to remember, for thirteen years I stayed in the house. Then had to take my Son to Nursery school and if only you knew how hard that was?

I just hate myself so much as far as I am concerned no matter how nice people are about me, I just think they are being nice/kind and don’t believe them.

I think this is why I write so much about people giving a thought to those who don’t/can’t get out of the house, because that was me.

In some cases, that still is me.

It’s for sure an illness.

But my friend said next time this young lad comes, we will go to see him and if I have enough warning and I know in these situations it’s not always possible to do that, but I hope and pray that I will be able to pick myself up and go with her. I so much wanted to do it but failed.

Thank God my Canary, Irish you know? Is back to normal. He is singing his sweet song.

Gosh, we thought he was on his last legs bless him, as he didn’t sing for days and looked to my Son really weak.

But thanks to my Aunt who brought him a great gift full of his treats and vitamin blocks, and Teen giving him fresh water, he seams to be fine.

He for sure is making a real mess kicking his seeds out of the cage.

A lot of housework is required in our house as with being Christmas, I just have not bothered other than the basics.

Hub in the bath so I shall go and let the dogs out, then make his breakfast. I shall talk later my Bloggets and today you take care and I hope that if you have someone in your life who asks you and wants to spend time with you, that person won’t give up on you as I will never give up on you for sure. Xxx

 

JYPAMAS IN DARLO

What a funny morning I was so nervous about our taxi company not turning up again, as we were to go to our friends, you remember, the girl with the stunning name, and her gorgeous Husband, lovingly known to us as like.

Bag ready, Hubs rucksack with some wine, biscuits and chocolates in.  Coats on and ready outside to wait for our taxi.

It was already a couple of minutes past quarter past nine, not wanting to wait too long before contacting them to let them know they were late again, I was streight on the phone as we stood on our drive waiting.

“Hello, our taxi is late again.”

“Yes Fiona, it’s booked for 10.15.”

“No, no, no!”

“Yes, yes, yes, he exclaimed.

Oh my heart sunk and just as I was about to get stuck into him with the verbals, the penny dropped Hub and I realised that I was an hour a head of life.

Hub was the same as me. We had no clue of the time. I think it’s because we are not in work mode.

Anyway, we got to the station in plenty of time and from then on, it was a smooth day. Thank God for our friends in our street, who came in after a few hours and saw to the dogs.

Without them today would be impossible. My friend’s daughter, who is my adopted Niece, was waiting for us at the other side and off to their house we went, via her car.

She is a great driver by the way.

Like was waiting for us at the house and it was great to see him. I love him, he is so clever. Then their Son, Daughter in law and Grandchild were also there. I can’t believe it, my little friend from school is a Granny?

I don’t know how it’s possible, as I’m only as you all know, 32!!!!!!!

“Now now!

It was funny, as when we were walking to our train, a lady was asking if I had any children. I told her a 16 year old Son. She took a deep breath and told me I didn’t look old enough…

I told her she was my new best friend as my cheeky Hub told her to get glasses… I would laugh if she already had them.

On the way back, the guy assisting us from the station asked if we had been visiting relatives, I said our friend’s I knew at school. I said it had been 38 years since I saw one of them that was my friend’s big sister. I also said

“Thing is, I was only six months when I last saw her, hahahhha. He laughed.

 

Then Hub told him I was kidding              . He answered,

“I thought so!”

Cheeky monkey?

It was lovely to see our friends Sister, she is really lovely.

Our friends Grandchild opened his Christmas gifts from his Grandma and Granddad, Aunt and others. One of the things he received was Pyjama’s. Or as he calls them

“jypamas!”

Hahahaha. Too cute.

Our dear friend made a delicious lunch, with homemade quiche. We had a lovely day with some wonderful people for a beautiful memory.

I hope to be going on a break with our two friends in a couple of months. Love them loads and can’t thank them enough as well as our wonderful Dog watchers, though I think the girl who came in to see to the dogs was fine, but her dad was a little anxious, as Long Chops and Waggatail launched themselves at them.

Later with love. X

STORMS AND FRENSHIP

Good evening Bloggets, I am as you know going Tomorrow, to my dearest little friend’s house and I really am looking forward to it. Well, my Son was meant to stay with our dogs for some hours but not now, so we had a panic. Thank God for our friends across the road. I hate asking for help, but had to ask if they could let our dogs out. And they said they would no bother. Bless their little cotton socks. Really, they are so kind. I just wish I could do something for them. Our poor dogs will be left for hours, but can’t take them; it’s not fair on our friends, as there will be three guide dogs already there. My friend with the stunning name, her Husband Like, and their Son has a dog too. So the girls shall stay here and protect the chocolates. Heha!

Oh I am really looking forward to seeing our friends and have just learned that I am to see my friend’s big Sister too.

As children my friend and I were really close. We used to visit each other’s houses and our parents were friends. My friend’s sister and I knew each other from then too and in my little head, I had her marrying my big brother. My friend and I of course, would be bridesmaids.

Sadly it didn’t happen, if it had, who knows, I may be still in contact with my brother. I don’t know why, but he has been so much on my mind of late.

I really hope he is OK. I really miss him, but then I remind myself, I miss my big brother who was there when I was a child. From I was eleven and he eighteen, he changed. He married a woman ten years older than him with two children and he was to go to University, but married her instead. My parents never forgave her and we watched my brother go further away from us. This killed me for years as he was my hero as a child. He became so nasty against my parents and I could not deal with this as my Mum and Dad, were my world. 

On a venture to our friends and seeing all the family will be wonderful.

I have never met my friends Son and now his family, only her daughter. But tomorrow, I shall meet with the Son and he sounds a really lovely person, he is the person I tell of as being the best Dad, him and his wife are wonderful parents for young people, they are in their early 20’s and have a little boy. They are great with him and I can only commend them.

The storms here are dreadful. The roaring around the house and odd clatter of whatever falling from the roofs and fences coming down.

Let’s hope our train will be OK tomorrow?

Anyway, I digress.

Well, what a week for our pets, our Canary, Irish you know, has been so quiet of late and my Son said he was looking really ill the other day, but we have had a very low pressure here in the UK so with him being a canary, perhaps this is why?

Well, today for the first time in about five days, he sang for some minutes. Now tonight, my darling Black beauty is looking as though she is in pain with her arthritis. She is just standing here and our boy said she looked as though she could not see, just staring into mid-air.

 I know her injections are not seemed to be making any difference these days. Oh God, I am dreading learning this as a fact as I can’t see her in pain, but if I have to let her be put to sleep, I can’t even imagine my pain. I have a lump in my throat now thinking about it. I love her so much. She is my baby and worked her life for me.

The vet said when they are in pain; they do that as Labradors don’t complain. Bless her, it’s awful, as she can’t tell me she hurts and even if she could, what could I do?

Sometimes I think life without a pet would be so dull but having one is also as painful as they have to go so soon in comparison to our lives.

Let’s hope it is just because of the weather too? Blame that for everything, typical English.

I guess I should go to bed now, though I am really thirsty. I don’t know why, but I must have had five cups of tea today.

It’s wonderful having my Husband from work. God, I wish I could live like this? He is home for another ten days. Though it is wonderful, it’s also really black for me to think about the time he goes back again. I hate his job with a passion. I really don’t know how long I can stand it for. Of course we are so called lucky because some people don’t have a job, but there is not having a job and being in a jail. I am in jail whilst he suffers never being at home.

It’s not like he is abroad four or five times a year, he is away about twenty times per year. Too much and this is not counting the times he is away at other parts of the UK.

Our Christmas cards are down now, leading up to the New Year, I shall have my trees down too.

I only can hope next Christmas will be easier as far as gifts are concerned. Thank God for my friend Di and my Russian friend Olga or I don’t know how we would have managed.

Oh I have a rather controversial subject to talk about soon. So stay tuned, also I would like to write about New Year celebrations all over the world. Until then, with love and I will chat again when I return from my lovely friend’s house. Xxx

 

CHIT CHAT

Our turkey is too tempting for our dogs and keeping them out of the kitchen is a nightmare. Hub has made his turkey stew. The wild winds of the UK are causing so much damage again. Tomorrow, we are hopefully on the train to see our school friend and family. It will be a real family get together as there will be about eight of us. Let’s just hope the transport will be OK? We have booked our taxi forty minutes to do a few minutes journey, as don’t want to be caught out again with our taxi company.

Weekends are a nightmare for them and I am a jinks as twice we were to go somewhere at weekends and our taxi didn’t come.

Still some poor people in the UK have no electricity and have had no Christmas dinner heating and some water. Well, not water they would like as a lot of families woke up on Christmas day to find their houses were flooded.

How awful must that be?

If you could hear the wind outside, it’s so dangerous. I hate it. I feel for the animals too.

We spoke to our lovely friend in Mexico the other day; it was great to chat to him. He for sure is having a different Christmas to one he would have anywhere else in the UK.

 I received a beautiful card today but from whom? Not sure will have to wait for our boy to come home.

He is working hard. It’s been lovely having him home for a change.

Right, off now to see Dad in law. Hopefully he will be a little better today?

Take care Bloggets I will be back soon with more chit chat. Xx

CLASSIC STORY AND THE MORAL

Now I’m not quite sure of the moral of this story, other than you should leave naked elves alone to shiver?

A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, became so poor that at last he had nothing left but enough leather for one pair of shoes.

So in the evening, he cut the leather into the shape of the shoes, and he left his work on the table to finish in the morning. He lay down quietly in his bed, and before he fell asleep he asked God to help him.

In the morning, just as he was about to sit down to work, he saw the two shoes standing quite finished on his table.

He was astounded, and did not know what to make of it.

He took the shoes in his hands to look at them them more closely and he saw that they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them. It just as if they were intended as a masterpiece.

Soon after, a customer came in to the shop, and as the shoes pleased him so well, he paid more than the usual price. Now the shoe maker had enough money to buy leather for two pairs of shoes.

That night, he cut out the leather. Next morning he was about to set to work with fresh hope for the future when he saw that the shoes were already made.

There was no shortage of customers who wanted the shoes. The shoemaker soon had enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes.

The following morning he found the four pairs made; and so it went on. Any leather that he cut out in in the evening was finished by the morning,

Soon he was no longer poor, and he even became quite rich.

Now one evening not long before Christmas, the man finished cutting out the leather as usual. But this time he said to his wife, “Let’s stay up to-night to see who it is that lends us this helping hand?”

The woman liked the idea, and lighted a candle, and then they hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind some clothes which were hanging up there, and watched.

When it was midnight, two little elves came into the room, both without any clothes on, and sat down by the shoemaker’s table. They took all the work which was cut out before them and began to stitch, and sew, and hammer so skillfully and so quickly with their little fingers that the shoemaker could not turn away his eyes for astonishment.

They did not stop until all was done, and stood finished on the table, and then they
ran quickly away.

Next morning the woman said, “The little men have made us rich, and we really must show that we are grateful for it. They run about so, and have nothing on, and must be cold. I’ll tell you what I’ll do: I will make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings, and you can help too – make them two little pairs
of shoes.”

The man said, “I shall be very glad to do it;” and one night, when everything was ready, they laid their presents all together on the table instead of the cut-out work. Then hid themselves to see what the little men would do.

At midnight they came bounding in, and wanted to get to work at once, but as they did not find any leather cut out, but only the pretty little articles of clothing, they were at first puzzled, and then delighted. They dressed themselves very quickly, putting the pretty clothes on, and singing,

“Now we are boys so fine to see,
Why should we longer cobblers be?”

Then they danced and skipped and leapt over chairs and benches. At last they danced out of doors. From that time one they came no more, but as long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his business prospered.