9 11

Hub and I went out to sit on our bench in the front garden. Sitting with our cup of tea, just finished doing the clothes washing, guessing and hoping I had the right colours, emptied the bins, recycle ones as we have to put glass in one, plastic in the other and paper into eh other. I was rather pleased to find our bin had been at least put back in our drive. OK, not next to the garage, but, in front of the gate, so at last, three calls to our council and a year later, we got through to them. We actually shivered as we drank our tea, the weather has really changed. Then our neighbour came to talk to us. Then another one, then before we knew it, six out talking for two hours. Haha. A real friendly street. They are obsessed by the transsexual who has just moved in…So is teen. Haha. I bought my dogs a new bed. OK, it’s not the conventional kind of bed, it’s an exercise mat. Hahaha. Not a plain blue or green one, this one has exercise ideas on it. Why this kind of bedding for our dogs? Well, it’s simple. They stink. I am sick of washing their bedding. This a, has no smell and b, can be wiped down. It’s eleven in the evening and teen still at his gf’s. I hope he won’t be much longer, as he is working tomorrow morning. He told me he has some news about what he is going to do, wants to talk about it when he gets in, but he best hurry, as I am rather tired now. Well tired of some people’s attitude to war. I’m sitting in our living room and Hub has unseen footage of 9 11 on. It’s like the end of the world. I must say, it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Some friends on facebook, are saying they want war. How can anyone want war? As I said, what good has any wars done since the 60’s. This program Hub has on, oh God. People are crying and in total panic. Can’t people see what I see? We kill, to be killed. Let’s live to be loved? x

ELISHA, LOOKS LIKE HE WAS LISTENING

Good afternoon. Well again a lot of things going on with teen and the person he is being controlled by, sorry, dating right now, not going to go there. Hub and I have had a nice day. Just doing domestic stuff but nice. I was a little on the grotty side last night, as I had arranged to go out for the day somewhere I really wanted to go to all year, and sadly, though there was transport, and a guide, I had to cancel. Hubs work spoke again. My wall light arrived today; it is painted cream with gold small cut off stripes on it. It’s like a candle. It is for the living room, and I thought it would look really nice on the cream and gold wall paper. Oh I love it in here this is where I’m sitting now. Before after doing a lot of work, Hub and I enjoyed a coffee, oh, by the way, must tell you a great story about that soon, but not just yet, hahaha. Believe me, it’s worth waiting for. Anyway, we sat in our lovely conservatory, and I played a CD I have just bought from Amazon UK. It is all Latin American songs. You feel the rhythm in your feet, your heart dances and your face wears its finest smile. Our Canary, Irish, loved it. Oh he was funny this morning. He was so obviously flirting with a dickey bird outside. To hear him, was a hoot. No, Hoot as in laugh, not an owl. He’s a canary. Irish. Haha.. He got louder and louder and waited for his girlfriend to respond. She did but was very shy. He wasn’t. OK, must go for now. Shall chat later, just received a call from teen. He was due home for tea tonight, but last minute, he has found out he has to stay at the Mothers for his meal, so his dinner will sadly be no more here, I can’t eat it, as its meat. She is off to her boarding school tomorrow. . . Teen did tell me before he put the phone down in a huge hurry as he went around the town; he had chosen a course at college. God help us? What will it be? At least he has picked something, well, someone has. We shall see. Just so happy he is going. Thank my friend Elisha for her prayers. Looks like they have worked. Xx

APPLES AND BINS

D Hub on the phone and teen arranging party at gf’s Dads house for his birthday, that is in three weeks… I hope teen has a great day? Sure he will. How much alcohol he will be given and will voluntarily drink? Who knows. He is coming home tomorrow, as his gf, is starting her boarding school on Sunday. I really feel sad for kids who are sent to those schools, though of course it is much different to the ones we went to, but still away from your parents, still don’t have your own room/space and if you need some love, who is there? Well, she will be mixing with the Hurray Henneries, so competition for teen, though she says she loves him and would never cheat… I’m sure teen will exchange his baby blues, for green eyes of jealousy though. He still has not decided on what to do at college. He said the people at college were not much help, I suspect, they told him the facts, rather than a load of bull. He and I had a lovely lunch yesterday though, it was like old times, though we no longer have that deep soul connection like we once had. My friend online today, asked about bin gate. Can you remember my blog on our bins? He wanted to know, if my bin had been put where I asked for it to be placed. I have not dared to go and look yet but will do in a bit. Oh if it is on the street again, I will be furious. I should sell it for scrap metal, if it is blooming metal, and say it has gone missing. Then when they bring me my free bin, as they do here, I shall sell that one get another and then, they may get the message, if it is windy or even if not, we can’t always find the blooming thing. A simple request, to place it eighteen foot towards our garage. I know it will mean the lazy bin men will have to do some work, but it’s good for them. Sitting in that dirty van and pushing some buttons, is so bad for the health? Thrombosis will kick in, then they will know? Going to do some on line shopping now. Oh boy. How many apples will I get this week? Last week, it read buy one, get one free. So of course, one thought two bags for the price of one? Oh no. I received two apples. Hahahahaha. My friend, who also is a VIP, put in her trolley two bottles of alcohol and at the end of checkout, read her bill and it was crazy, so she realised that for some reason 25 bottles were added. Not quite sure how that many though? Though if you knew my friend, she would be rather happy with that? Hahahah. Love her really and she knows it, just kid her. (Joke with her) OK, later gators, I shall be back X

SYRIA

PM Cameron and his coalition Government failed to pass a motion that would have authorised military action, against Syria in principle by 285 to 272 votes This I’m sure, will cause shock waves across the US and Obama administration, there will be some bruises in the US, but, no blood from us so far, and let’s hope we will continue being strong and not puppets to the US doing everything they say. We used to be Great Britain, there is not much left of us now to be great, but what we can be is against any more wars, please? Now, that, would be great! Let’s hope today’s news will not happen, we have said no to war, but there is one fool, who want’s it still and is pushing for a re vote. That is our Chancellor, who hails the decision to recall Parliament, despite its leading to a huge defeat as MPs rejected military action What an idiot he is. Please Prime minister, please, I know you read my blogs, don’t listen to that buffoon. Listen to us who want peace. Anger on anger does not, never has, worked. Of course it’s dreadful what is happening there, but really, what will be gained by another war? Killing more people? Removing/bombing Syria’s armoury? What, second hand faulty equipment from Russia? My dearest friends are from America and Russia, no disrespect to the two nations, but, I’m so passionate about peace. I’m sick of wars, most of my life, we have been at war. What have we gained? I guess one thing. Keeping down the population!

LIFE GOES ON BY FIONA CUMMINGSLife goes on

Life goes on By Fiona Cummings A beautiful butterfly Chose not to fly In stead With wings of red Kissed the sky He sat in a treetop Catching a raindrop On a fragranced bloom Like on an air balloon Waiting for take off Along came beside him a moth Before I could blink An owl I’m sure it did wink Then a tiny finch Last space on the branch he did pinch Sitting there I wondered why Then the heavens opened straight from the sky I ran under a tree And tried to hide Under huge yellow leaves Watching fingers opening From the hands of the trees As though drinking fine wine Were the oaks and the pine Relief from the sun I guess it can’t be fun? All day in the burning heat Rain must be a treat A starling washes his feet In a nearby puddle A lady fights with an umbrella Getting herself into a muddle I wanted to shout and tell her To come and share my tree My dry house Where there’s no need for a key As these trees have history And a good memory Secrets they keep to themselves Till the day they die and become shelves Then books are placed on them And they live on As nature intended Life it goes on

NEWS VIEWS BLUES AND TRUES

Here is some news which interested me today. In November 2011 a business man from the UK, paid £10 plus VAT to set up his personal 0871 line - so to call him now costs 10p, from which he receives 7p. The Leeds businessman told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme that the line had so far made £300. Phone Pay Plus, which regulates premium numbers, said it strongly discouraged people from adopting the idea. “I bet they do? Now, then, where is my phone? He said: "I don't use my normal Leeds number for anyone but my friends and family." Once he had set up the 0871 line, every time a bank, gas or electricity supplier asked him for his details online, he submitted it as his contact number. This story I love. Life may have started on Mars before arriving on Earth, a major scientific conference has heard. New research supports an idea that the Red Planet was a better place to kick-start biology billions of years ago than the early Earth was. Wow, I could have told them that when I was eleven. Really I so much believe that we came from a planet which we as aliens if you like, probably spoiled it up there to so had to come down here, just as we have now wrecked earth and will have to go back to Mars again. A full circle. News from Russia. (Smile) On Monday, Police seized Konstantin Altunin’s satirical painting, depicting President Putin wearing a pink and white night gown, touching the hair of Prime minister Dmitry Mededev, who is wearing nothing but a push up bra and panties. The artist has been reported to have flown in hiding in France hahaha. Oh come on, it’s funny? Health news Broccoli could help prevent osteoarthritis A compound found in broccoli could be key to preventing or slowing the progress of the most common form of arthritis, according to new research. Now why can’t scientists find huge benefits in chocolate? Scientists have grown miniature brains in a lab, hoping to understand more in neurological disorders And the other day, a friend was telling me he watched a program on the TV, whereby they grew cells in a dish like utensil, the shape of a heart and the creation, actually started to pump like a heart. Amazing, now, come on please, eyes/sight, for the blind. For those who want them. Leading me onto this dreadful story I’m sure you have heard about. In China, a poor young boy, aged six, was playing out near his parents farm when an woman attacked him, by gouging out his eye balls, which were found not far from the little boy, who was found by his parents, in a pool of blood. The child is in hospital but will be blind for life, say Doctors. His uncle has spoken to the press and said the little boy keeps asking Why is the sky always dark and where is the dawn? There is an award for over £10,000 For any further information though the person suspected of doing the evil attack, has been arrested. Steeling parts for body parts is really disgusting. I know I am so lucky, my loved ones are OK and don’t require any organs, but to do that to a child, is simply barbaric. What do you think should happen to her? I think if it is one hundred per cent proven, she should have her eyes removed and use them to either do research or use parts from them. At least, let her be blind for life, like the little boy.

AUGUST STATS

United Kingdom 14126 United States 6922 Russia 1798 Germany 637 Mexico 383 Ukraine 244 Japan 237 Netherlands 64 Canada 49 France 49

EXCITED

My Son has just called. He went to college and now on his way home. Half a day there and now believe it or not, I'm going out with Wagga to lunch with him. So pop on some colour on my face, my clothes where by teen won't say when he see's me coming. "Oh my God!" Shoes and then dress my dog. Haha. Later Gators. x

TODAY'S THE DAY

Good morning, today is the day my Son should be having an interview with college. Is he/will he? Not sure. Also now, I’m not bothered what he does, as long as it will be something. I think I know why a certain person won’t want him going to college, because he will be with young girls. Well, he is totally in love, so doubt that will matter, but hay ho, one just doesn’t really know the future? It’s a little after six and Hub has just left for the capital. He got in after a 12 hour shift yesterday, three hour train journey and over an hour taxi. The rest of the time in meetings in Peterborough. So by he gets in tonight, he will be tired. He is doing a refresh course on media. He is having a mock interview over the phone, then he will go into a room of loads of cameras and many questions being fired at him, to see how he copes. Hahah. I mean what a load of rubbish. He has been doing such things for years; once you have done all that, why need to do a refresh? Never mind, I think he will enjoy it. His old PA is coming back to work after her baby soon. But the PA, who has been doing the job in the meanwhile, has done a good job, so thankfully there will not be a load of bother for the old PA to return to. Oh yesterday whilst waiting for my gardener to come, I went out to try to de- head the roses a job I love, but is lethal when you can’t see the horrid sharp thorns. I love dead heading though. What is all that about? My Husband may be seeing his daughter this weekend. I’ve left the ball in his hands. I kind of hope he does, though will miss him as we have not been together this week, but it’s been a while since he saw the girl too. Did I tell you how well she did in her exams? Oh my word, I was so happy for her. Three A stars, three A’s, five B’s and one C. Amazing, even to take 12 GCSE’s is great, though about three of them, in the Mother from hell’s words, were soft subjects, so what, still 12 and still nine out of the lot, were difficult subjects and fantastic results. Again, to talk to her, you would never think she was that clever, but on paper obviously, she is. I hope Hub was proud, as his daughter has his brain and I’m sure he was responsible for most of the hard work she put into her exams. Thing I have learned though, you can try with your kids but at the end of the day, it’s up to them. OK, later I will be back with a difficult subject, but will try today to get in a happy chat about life too. So, my diary up to date, a serious subject which will make you think for sure and a happy ending. Later gators. X

GOD LOVES DEATH?

Well, teen and I didn’t get to 24 hours, without a row. Sadly, he spent one hour on the phone to a person that stupid fool sent him to see. With regards to his education. I just wish he would stop listening to absolute rubbish from people who have not got a clue? They are messing with a young lads head and mind and crushing him in the meanwhile. He is listening to everyone but us. It’s crazy, even my x is annoyed about the other side of teens life. I can’t say on here what was said from him, but it did make me wonder, if he, can see what they are doing, how can’t teen? We think we have found a gardener at last. Hub said he has someone lined up. Our weeds are taking over. Our dogs have all been naughty today. Little Wagg is really defiant and even LC would not do as she was told, but when BB ignored me, it was just too much. It’s been a hard day back to the norm. So many, too many phone calls and stress in the house. I so would love somewhere to run away sometimes. Just to be on my own. I hate it when Hub is away, I get incredibly lonely, but there are times when real life catches up on me and I just can’t take much more. Another friend of mine is very ill right now, as is her Husband. This makes me really sad. I’m afraid to loss them to death. They are a lot older than me and both, from fit to failing, in a matter of weeks. It’s the speed of the Drs Here. Three weeks ago, my friend felt so very ill. She made an appointment with the Doctor. He said to come back after a week. She did then, he said wait for five days then get a blood test. She did. There was nothing wrong, so after still feeling ill, they made an appointment for her to have another blood test after another week. She did and four days later, today, she saw the Doctor again. He said she was lacking in vitamin D? What? This is why she is dizzy and feels like she is going to faint? This is why her voice has aged ten years over the past month? Well, now she has to wait another two weeks, before going back to the Drs and chatting about it all again. I would not care, but she is never in the house. She is always in the garden. If she feels no better in two weeks, she then has to wait for an appointment with the hospital. I just wonder what ever happened to Doctors knowing their stuff. Really, GP’s do not know anything now. I remember going to see a Doctor about a suspicious mole I had, she took a book, from her drawer. To look up my mole. Too many specialists now and not enough know it all Doctors. My friend was telling me the other day a story about her local card shop. She frequents it most months and this time, there were new girls on. She waited for assistance in the shop for ages and then knowing she was being ignored, she shouted Excuse me; please will someone be able to help me to pick a card? Well, the person behind the till was rude to her and at last someone came. She said to my friend “You stand there and I will go and get your card. What kind do you want? My friend said “No I will have to come with you, it’s a sympathy card and I know what I would like, but you will have if you don’t mind to read the cards for me. She was not pleasant about it, but took her and her attitude was awful. She then picked a card and told my friend that would do. My friend asked for it to be read out. Well there were lots wrong with it, Firstly there were too many flowery words and the person it was for, was not a close friend or relative, but an acquaintance so just a basic card was required. Then my friend asked what was on the front and it had a cross. My friend didn’t want a religious card either. It was too much effort for that woman to help her out for a minute. Its things like that which put a lot of people off the so called blind world/way of life. Thank Goodness my friend was strong enough to stick up for herself but as she rightly said what if she had been a new blind person? To be made to feel a fool, then as though you are in the way is just awful. I was saying to Hub yesterday, how absolutely selfish some people are. I mean, he has two brothers and a Father, we never see them. For months we have struggled with the garden to say the least, his Father wins competitions for his fruit, vegetables and flowers he grows, and he can’t be bothered to come and snip some weeds for us? Also his other two brothers both have vegetable patches, so they are keen gardeners. Who do they think does our garden? Who do they think does our decorating? Hangs our pictures up and does our shopping? Well, at the end of the day, we do. Hub and I. But it makes us sad to know just how much we are, on our own. My Son had his exam results the other day. It was all over the news about result day, an yet not one person from the family, asked how he did. Not even my aunt. It’s as though we could die, and how long would it take before we would be found? I was looking at a website for blind people the other day and how many people across the world feel like me. There were so many cries for help. I had to stop reading as just wanted to help them and I already have for now a lot of people and only have so much I can do. All I can say is whoever is reading this, please, think about others who may require help? A lot of people are rather selfish and think, oh, I’m not asking as I will be bothered forever once I start. Of course, no one expects you to do a full time job, but a section of your heart would be nice, then one day when you may need help, perhaps someone will find a part of their heart to help you when you need it? When my Yam was in Mexico on holiday, her Husband had just come out of hospital. We were worried about him, there was a very kind family, who invited him to dinner, then came to see him another day. Just two days, but us knowing that, made us, feel peaceful, knowing there was some kindness in the world given out to our DD/English living in America stolen Dad. Haha. This trouble in Syria has me really worried, as if America and the UK strike, it for sure will be world war three and that will be the end of the world as we know it. One of our x MP’s the other day said an interesting thing. OK, we are up in arms about chemicals being used to harm and kill people, so what does bombing their country do? We will still kill people. My husband said it’s like watching someone in a playground being bullied and doing nothing. I said of course one to one, I would fight for that bullied person, but, if I was told by doing so, it will cause gangs to be created; I would have to walk away. Of course it’s barbaric what is going on there, as is it is in so many other countries. There is so much anger in the world now which doesn’t end in words or simple actions. There is open gun fair and chemicals being used. For what? I just wish we could keep out of other countries and use our soldiers to keep our country safe from crime. Anger breeds anger. A person online yesterday said a fascinating thing. One day the world will become so intelligent, as we evolve, we will learn that wars never work out and we can, all live in peace. Just in time for the world to end with our crazy way of past life. Just in time for a couple of people to visit mars to start life all over again. Like Adam and Eve. Interesting. So what can we all do to be in peace? Use chemicals on our own people? Bomb people/countries? Shoot people who are Mothers, Fathers, Grand parents, Sons daughters, new born babies and innocent animals? Or, disable all weapons of destruction, seek out the evil people who love wars/fighting, and love our neighbours. Believe me, I’m not innocent. I have so much anger in me and I’m known as fiery Fi. But, I would not do any of the above to anyone and I always try to help people when I can and if I don’t like a place, I don’t re visit. I turn the other cheek. I remove that person who has caused pain from my life, by losing contact, not killing. The people who still want death, arrest them make camps for them and walk away. Let them die in their nasty world. So you shoot someone, afterwards, how do you feel? Where are you now in the world? Jail? Still fighting? Where are the flowers in your life? Where is the laughter? Where is the love? Do you really think your God is happy with you killing someone? Really?

TALKING RUBBISH

Good morning Bloggets. I hope I find you well? Here I am in my conservatory. Waiting for Hubs birthday present to arrive. His birthday is not till October, but, I really panic about buying him gifts, as he is so hard to buy for and he always manages to find me such unusual things, I’m rubbish at present finding, so have to look ages before the event and of course it’s always over the net, so, have to leave room for disasters to occur. I really hope this one will be a success. Of course he won’t be getting it until his birthday, it’s small, so I will be able to hide it in my drawer. Sadly he will be in South Africa on his birthday, so will have to give him it when he returns. Oh my Lordie. You have no idea how wound up I am about let’s say, people who are challenged in the brain department. You know, if there are people out there with genuine problems with learning, then my sympathy extends, but when you just get idiots on the phone or in shops and people who on paper, are very clever but act so flipping thick, it really annoys me. What are they doing in work? OK, I called the council. A year ago, I phoned them to so called register with them that Hub and I are quotes, disabled. Of course we have to wear that badge, as we can’t say “Please ask the bin/rubbish collection people to put our bins/trash cans, back in our drive as we can’t see them when they are left on the paths and when it’s windy, they blow down the street, so there is no way to retrieve them. We have to be disabled and fit into a box. Well that would be OK, if that box didn’t leak. I have called them twice since my first call and today the third. How hard can it be? It gets written down on the so called system each time, but what happens with that system? God knows. Must get thrown out in the rubbish. So todays call to a wonderful spoken man, sounded very bright, first three words. After then, well he still had his perfect English accent, but the words he used in the wrong order and the way he was perfectly unable to listen, annoyed me so much. (Me) “I called a year ago for the first time to ask if you could ask the bin men to leave our bins/boxes back in our drive in front of the garage door, as we can’t see to bring them back. Still they are getting left on the street and path.” (Council man) “Do you have your reference number? (me) “No, sorry. (Council man) “Oh. Not sure what we can do now.” (Me) “If I give you my name and address, you will find me on your system.” (Council man) “Oh yes, we could do that, couldn’t we?” So I gave my details over and he could not find me. I said my sir name again, this time spelling it. He asked if the registration could be in another name? I said well, though I spoke to the council, he could try my Husbands first name and of course, we have the same sir name. I asked after a few silent seconds. “Is it under his name? His answer. “No, it is here. It’s in your name… OK, so why the heck he could not find it before? I told him I needed the bins put in front of the garage. I said we can take them to the top of the drive on the road, but need them brought back to the garage. He replied “Just so I have this right, you want them collected from your garage and left on the street? “No. The other way. We can take them to the place where everyone else leaves them, but we can’t find them to retrieve them so if the men could bring the bins back to our drive in front of the garage please? “OK, so I will write a note. Bring bin from garage and leave on path near drive.” No, bring back to drive. Then he said “They can collect from the garage too. I said, we can manage taking the bins, we just sometimes can’t find them and if we leave them next to the garage door, the bin men won’t collect them as they have to be outside the drive as we have tried leaving them before and they don’t collect. We are only asking them to bring back. Oh my God. This conversation went on forever. I can’t wait until our next bin day; they will probably put the whole bin on the waggon and drive off with it. Then another thing that really makes me cross. We were told that we would be entitled for a full refund, for our theatre tickets that was cancelled. I phoned up about it today, as of course, they didn’t call me about it. How come when we pay by card over the phone, the money gets taken immediately, an yet when you are due money back, it takes up to four working days? Did that then tried to sort out teens other two exam results, but, the schools are not answering the phones until they are back, though there will be teachers/staff at the schools. My boy is off to work now; he has a short shift today and tomorrow a long day with a double shift. Now I have to call my grocery shop, to tell them we are food missing, though we were charged for it. I just hope I get through to someone who can speek English? If I had shopped on line at a shop in Delhi, OK, fine, of course I would expect to talk Indian…. But considering it is a shop a mile or so away, in the UK, one hopes to talk with someone English speaking! Doesn’t help our phone is simply appalling. It was working well, until Hub set up again after the holiday, his work phone. Now it is crackling. I get cut off and it is not pleasant to talk through a monster crunching on the crispiest cereal down the phone. Haha. Well, that is what it sounds like. OK, grumble over with now. Well, for now, I’m sure there will be more later, if not on another day? Hahahahahahaha. Remember turn your frown upside down. X

STREET GOSSIP

Well, back to work today and here I am back up to my normal rubbish not being able to sleep. I’m sitting in the living room; the smell of paint is still rather over powering. The room is full of echo and it still has that feeling of massif achievement. My day was interesting yesterday. We went out to our neighbours, J. He was having a BBQ. We just had a drink there, I didn’t demolish a bottle of wine like the first time I went, Hub shared one with me. Our friends brought one to us yesterday, so we had one in thank God. It is one of those BBQ’s where by everyone takes what they want to eat or drink. Well, it’s too hard for us, so a drink was OK, but getting to know the street, was better. There is a really nice lady who I get on well with and another one who comes from the same neck of the woods as me, who I just got to know tonight, what a blooming funny person she is. OMG? Hahaha. She had Hub and I in stitches. You can’t beet the northern humour. Well, what did we learn about our street? Firstly, the local Gypsies are looking with great interest at our red bench that Hub was given for his 20 years’ service at his work. What a cheek. I pray they leave it alone. Then, we have found out our neighbours, the nice Indian family from next door, have new additions. Their Mother and Father are over here now, looks like to live. So in that house, there are about seven. There are two Chinese families in the street. They live so their gardens back onto one an others. So they have knocked the dividing fence down, and now they share a long garden. Just three doors from us, on the other side of the road, there is a transsexual. He/she, comes out all dressed up, wig, make up, high heels and over the top dresses. The other night, a silver ball gown. Oh there were lots more to be shocked if you are easy shocked at, but couldn’t possibly say. Then there is us… Haha We came home, a minute later I received a text, saying “Mum, I’m ten minutes away. Please can you open the door, as I’m in my PJ’s? Oh well, that will go down well, with the street for an audience? Teen was brought by his girlfriend’s Father. My Son came in and could not believe the difference in the house. He was almost tearful. His voice was really emotional. He just kept saying, wow. Wow, I can’t believe this. It is wonderful. Amazing. Class beautiful. Then the best one “Mum you both have done really well for blind people. If I was to have a house, I would do my lounge just like this.” He was nice, calm and happy. Thank God the opposite to what he was when he left. We talked about his time at the music festivel. To me sounds like hell, to him it was an adventure for sure. Some very scary moments and shocking prices for food and drink, but he really did see his hero’s in the music industry, for this I am glad. It’s great to have him back safe and more than anything, happy. My poor Husband has his awful eye pain back really bad. His eyes are always in pain, but they flare up from time to time, and now not good. I hate it when he is not well, as it makes me feel unwell too. My friend in the US, DD, American/English Dad, has to apply cream to his head, where there is cancer cells. The cream brings the cells to the surface and then they can get to them with ease. Sounds great, I just pray it works. Today, I have so many phone calls to do. Lots of emails to answer and think about how to help Teen get over this part in his life, without making out it’s my idea. This is his choice, it has to be. OK, more later, take care. x TEEN HOME

ON REFLECTION

Hi our last day together before back to work. It’s been a busy two weeks here. What with the house, teen’s exam results and all going on with people he is in touch with and friends either in hospital or receiving bad news. So a lot of people to think about. On reflection, we have accomplished so much and for that I am grateful. Hub and I are exhausted not only physical but mentally. But we have done it and apart from one morning when my friend was a great help, we have achieved it on our own, not by choice, but by the opposite of having no choice. I am so proud of our house now. It is my house and I really feel so much better about it. OK, it’s not Northumberland, where I feel like I was taken away, of course for good reasons, but Northumberland is a place where my heart belonged, but it was also a place, where in the bad winters, we could have died and no one would have cared. Hub and I went out to do some gardening, and before we could say Jack Robinson, two of our neighbours were out and armed with garden secateurs. Next thing, three other neighbours were sitting on our old couch that has been rained on and even last night, two cats, were making out on it. Hahahaha. Yack? ell, the neighbours were quite comfortable. Great hearing from my teen today and he is home tonight. I told him to stand on the drive and I would hose him down…. He told me that he stepped in the mud as it was everywhere and before he knew it, it was over his boots. He also said he was going to a house and doing all his washing, before he came home. Perfect, life could not get better. He is home tonight, I have two days with him before he is going to college to talk to them so I pray, he will do something there. Loads to chat about as so much to tell you, but that will come tomorrow when I am working as normal. Till then, take care, as I care. xx

HOLIDAY BLUES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Thank you for all you have done It’s been amazing all the fun When the rain came down Boy did we run How you can make it possible To turn my frown upside down You are a joker like a clown How excited I get Just going into town As I know we will have an adventure Being with you is such a pleasure Finding you was the hidden treasure Now it must come to an end I can’t pretend I’m going to miss you Because I truly love you But life continues Back to the blues Hard work and goodbyes The end of our holidays But there is always next time And I shall spend it with you As you are forever mine And I will always be with you

LIKE A WONDERFUL NAME

Good evening. Oh what a great day. Our lovely friends came for the day. Our friend with the stunning name and her adorable Husband Lovingly known as Like. I have laughed so much today, My Hub and Like, are so incredibly funny. They are a double act. Like is so intelligent and has a wonderful sense of humour. My friend with the stunning name has been my dearest friend since school, since we were six. I met her the same time as I met my Hub. Last week our other friends from school came to see us too, and again, we just had a lovely day. We ended up of course at our Louis’s restaurant. He was absolutely hysterical. Like and Louis were funny. The restaurant was packed. Oh what a great day we all had. So good to see them, I really hope early next year, we will go to our wonderful place where we went a few days ago with them, as it’s my birthday same time as my friends, so close to valentine day too, ha. Oh our living room now is so nice; really pleased with the very hard work it took to get like this. My boy hasn’t text me today, so really wishing now he would. It’s been red hot here today, though last night rained all night again. Tomorrow is our last day until Hub is back to horrid work. It will be our first lay in too. Until then. xx

THE LIGHT

Hay everyone, I’m delighted and kissed the feet of PC world, who operated on my little Lap top and he has come home, all fixed. Thank God I sent Hub to pick it up, around the corner but impossible for us to walk there, as one, we don’t know where it is, and two too many carp arks to cross and the worst road in our town to go over. So a taxi driver took him, waited fifteen minutes as my Hub rightly wanted to turn it on in the shop. As he did, it came up with a nasty message. To cut a long story short, it was not totally fixed. A lot of people would just have brought it back, but as we have to rely on taxis and money, haha, we are more cautious Now it’s home, and my poor Hub, is out again to the town this time, on his own, I hate that, as really don’t like the dangerous Brian about him, as he just has no patients and crosses roads when he thinks it’s clear, rather than waiting for the little green man to sing telling us it’s safe. He has gone to the bank to get money out for our decorator, as he is here today, as last night’s storm, has soaked everywhere, so he can’t do the outside paint work. Oh my word let me tell you about the storm. The wind was so still and the air was so thick. The rain came, like zillions of drops. Tiny sharp sounds. Then the thunder and fork lightning. Oh that was scary but I shall tell you something funny, Hub had his IPhone on we were in bed and he had one of his applications on, which detects lights. He was like a little boy with his gadget. The blooming phone, detected the lightning. I could not believe it. Never thought it would work. I was terrified. The sounds of crackling which went on for about two minutes at a time. We have an oversized tree in our front garden. About thirty foot tall, too close to our house and closer to our poor neighbour’s house. WE really are going to have to get it taken down, as it’s sadly getting dangerous. I hate removing trees, as they were in most cases, here before us. It’s beautiful too, red leaves on it. The trunk is as wide as me, hahah. This storm went on for two hours. Then half way through it, the wind started. Oh God, we thought the top of the house was going to blow off. It really was like the devil was at war. People think I’m mad, but, whenever there is a huge amount of fighting as in wars, or chemicals being used, or like the leak in Japan, when that first happened, the weather went mad and that is what happened last night with the chemicals in the world which now are being used to hurt and destroy people. Some would say it was God getting angry trying to tell us humans to behave. Hub said where we live now, is one of the worst places for thunder and lightning, as we are low down. Or something to do with the geography of the location. I was of course thinking of my boy at his festival in a tent, with trees around him. I waited to hear from him as his phone was turned off. Thank God, he did honour his word and text me at pumpkin hour. This morning he text me and said last night in the rain, he was dancing in it, but forgot his coat, so they were soaking. I imagined him in his wellys, dancing… hahahah. Today, he can’t find their program. They have lost it. Oh so at half eight, my new sofa arrived. Then my painter came. Oh, let me tell you, it’s rather funny, as the decorator really doesn’t like me anymore. I am the one who dared to tell him to come to work. He had no intention of finishing the job this week, but the fact is, it’s bad enough when you can see with furniture everywhere but when you can’t, it’s impossible. I hope they are doing a good job. We won’t really know till someone with sight comes in, then they are paid though. I trusted him as before he was great. Now, with his mind-set? Not sure. I really hope so though because I’m sick of getting ripped off by people. Our drive looks like a scrap yard. There is stuff everywhere. The old couch, a chair, wood and three radiators. Oh, and two black garden bags full of rubbish. I spoke to my x yesterday on the phone. Telling him about teen’s exam results, as want him to know, he is still a part of teens life. That was an interesting call… Let’s just say, there is a connection error going on there. Perhaps I should introduce him to PC world? OK, I guess I should make my painters a coffee? Or perhaps not, depends if he talks nice to me, hahaha. Really it’s so funny, he was so nice the past twice we have had him working here, but this time? Oh boy. His wife left him and I think he hates women now, as specially those who tell him what to do. Well, come on, he says he will take four days may be five to do the job, all finished for Thursday, now it’s Friday and he is still working, only because it rained last night, or this would have gone on till next week, I mean the new couches are among the wallpaper paste. He didn’t come till five yesterday and did two hours the day before and nothing the day before that. If he came like he said all day Sunday, from eight till six, then the same on Monday half of Tuesday, he would have finished. Not my fault he is lazy? So a sharp stick waved by Fi Blogget, has been whacking some butts. My poor friend Beanie got the shock of her life yesterday. She has not seen her Dad for a couple of days nor has anyone around him. She walked in his house, and found him in bed, dead. Poor girl, that is just awful. She was a great daughter, did everything for her father, took him shopping and anything he has needed over the years since her Mum died early in life, she has done for him. Like everyone, she will I’m sure have some guilt, as we all do when our parents die. I was there for my Mum when my Dad died, doing all her house work and more. My x was great for her; he did her garden and shopping. We went to see her four times a week, and took her on a break. But we left her for over a week to go on a holiday which was booked before my Dad died, only a month after he did go. I feel so bad for doing that, even after fifteen years. Sadly guilt is a curse. Let’s hope, my friend knows she has done as much as she could and can jump over any pain which may be waiting for her. Have a happy weekend and I shall be back to talk later. Our friends are coming on Sunday, so that will be lovely. Off to sharping that stick. X

DOXFORD HALL PART 4

Doxford hall 4 Our last breakfast was next to the fireplace in the restaurant. I was so sad to be returning home, as specially known the decorator was not doing what he said he would do. I also knew there was a lot of hard work to return to. After we said goodbye to our room and the lovely staff in the restaurant. We sat in the grounds waiting for our taxi and there was a table with our name on, ha, not really but we sat there an enjoyed a delicious cup of tea and homemade biscuits. We had no clue exactly what were our surroundings, apart from countryside. A couple of ladies came next to us and began talking about how it used to look in comparison to now. They were talking about the fruit trees that would explain the blooming wasps. Poor Long Chops was not quite understanding, how there was so much grass and she was tied to us… Poor baby. Oh if we could have let her off she would have had her holiday in ten minutes. Though there was a fountain/water feature outside the entrance of the hall/hotel, so I think the staff would not have liked the sight of LC enjoying her very own spa… hahaha. Taxi arrived and Gordon took us back to the train station. Rachael said goodbye to us, she was the receptionist, such a friendly jolly girl. I tell you it really is a place of love and romance as well as pure indulgence. Now OK, we could not do the sights of Northumberland, just had to listen to the other guests in the hotel talking of their days out, places where they visited, but what we did have, was love for each other and a understanding of life. An achievement of going on holiday chain free though would not be possible without Daniel, Rachael, Lee, dear Jane and others. One day perhaps, God willing, I may be sighted, with a cure or miracle, I will be able to take Hub to see the sights, but for now, I am grateful as there are thousands of blind people who never leave the house. We smelt fresh air and had the best food. Slept in the finest beds and laughed at our observations, as specially the mint gate and the telly on off gate, that was great, as we entered rooms, everyone spoke. Then like a TV button, it went quiet, then, the button was turned on again and everyone started to chat. I just find it funny how people seem to do it all together. The smells and lifestyle of my holidays will live with me. x DOXFORD HALL PART 4

GCSE's

Good afternoon to you all. My Son came in very late last night, he had worked till after ten. He was rather anxious as the night before his exam results. This morning he was up at the crack of dawn, out to school and Hub and I got up and sat in the kitchen, waiting for his return. Hub said it was like waiting for the dentist. Time went so slowly. What would he get, but more importantly, how would he react? He had to leave of course to go to Leeds festival with the girlfriend and her family. He was told ten they would pick him up. He had not even packed. As by now, it was after nine, he would not have time to spend with us. Oh my Lord. At last I heard his voice, talking to his girlfriend on the mobile. Out side of course. She was crying to him down the phone, as she did not get the results she wanted. Two hundred and sixty thousand pounds of education, all for a couple of A's, B's and C's. If I were her parents, I think I would be crying too. My Step daughter, has done amazing. She has got herself three A Stars, three A's, five B's and one C. But no money was spent on her, education, but her childhood was seriously interrupted by the constant pressure of the meaning of study. I tried so hard with teen but he just didn't want to learn or study, though towards the end of his studies, he put his foot down. We told him he could not pack it in last minute. he had to study for hours and at least six months before exams. But he knew best as every teen does. So he walked in the house, as low as I have ever seen him, and for the past eight months, he has been the unhappiest I have ever seen him in his life. Oh I felt so sorry for him. I wanted to hold him and tell him it would be OK. And I am sure it will he is the most intelligent person I know of that age, and even older. Just won't apply himself when it comes to sitting down with books. His teachers told him he was an A star student, if he would realise what he had to do to get to it. Sadly for teen, the realisation came too late for these exams. But for sure not too late for life. My boy received B's and C's. Without years of study and money, so if he applied himself, he would for sure be an A student. So he failed big time the two most important exams. English and Maths. But as we said, he can always take them again. He is acting like it is the end of life. Of course because of the latest stupid influences, he was sure he could pass everything and walk straight into a managers job. This is the rubbish he has been told. Well this is a lesson, for the poor kid. Not to believe what he is being told. I am proud of him, I know he will one day be proud of himself just may take time. Then after he shared his disappointment with us, he had to rush to get ready to go to the dreadful festival. I am absolutely worried sick about him. I know too he is going to a night club tonight. Again, he is sixteen and not allowed by law. Hub was distressed in the way the poor kid was rushing around trying to get ready as the gf was on the phone telling him to hurry as they were outside the door. Teen even had heart pains. He was in such a state to be ready for them, even though one, they were not due till ten and it was half nine. B, he has waited for his gf so many times one day almost two hours in the rain, as she chose her designer dresses to take away on her pompous debate weekend. We just wish he could wake up and smell the coffee. It was going to be a VIP ticket for the festival, with showers and the tents were already for them. Well, just like the Mother could get teen to be a maniger at the age of eighteen, the last I heard from teen was he had put up the tent, and there were no showers. Again some b.s going on. I spoke to him as when he left the house, Hub and I were really concerned, as he was almost crying. Poor thing. I feel so sad for him. No grand parents to ask how he did today, he has one aunt but she hasn't bothered to call and ask and I sent a message to my brother in law, to ask if he will message teen, for support, but nothing. Even his Father has not answered my messages asking him to contact teen, so I pray that Teens Dad will remember without me prompting him, and give him a call. He should be out with his mates tonight, not with a bunch of Hooray Henrys. He should be home to cry if he wants' to and feel loved and support from his family. I love that boy with every bone in my body. All I hope for is he will enjoy himself this week and will be allowed to see the bands he, wants' to see and won't be encouraged to drink though I am sure that is not possible to wish for that. So what will he do now? Well, I think A levels is out of the question for this year, but there is next year. In his youth, there are many years a head of him. He is a bright lad and has a good heart, just it has been blocked by poisonous blood. Blue blood. I saw him broke today for the first time in his life. I really don't know how to help him, other than believe in him and I so do. Once he get's over this stage in his life, this phase, he will grow to be a strong young man. I just hope his young head will not be filled with anymore crap, and come back to the real world. A world where by money can't always talk. He is obsessed by being rich. I told him today, money can't buy happiness or love, health or true friends. Love can buy warmth and shelter. A home and if my love for him would be measured in money, he already is a millionaire. I just pray, he will go back to the teen he once was. One who no one could influence and change him. I pray that he will continue education for the next year at least. I pray that he finds himself and knows how much I love him, as at the moment, he has built up a wall that I can not knock down. I also beg to our maker that he will be looked after over the next few days, as there are all sorts of horrors at places like where he is now. x

DOXFORD HALL CH 3

As we stepped outside the car and I inhaled the stunning fresh clean Northumberland air, I knew I was home. Home to my beautiful an yet sad historical land of belonging. A place where I grew up a very unhappy child, but a place where I felt the most loved. For the next two days, no more bad air from the fumes of cars and of my new place of living, but the salted sea air. A man called Daniel, met us and gave us a guided tour around the beautiful house. Oh if you could go there you like me would fall in love with the place. It's not like a hotel, though it is a four star spa, it's home from home in a dream. As we walked past the restaurant passing the cocktail bar and library, we were shown the drawing room where Hub first brought me as his new bride three years ago. The happiest day of my life. The beautiful furniture framed the stunning hand crafted staircase, which one man made, carving lovingly exhibiting his talents, as it took him eighteen months to perfect. As we passed through the fragranced corridor, I of course asked what the beautiful smell was. It was not fresh roses from the garden but plug in air fresheners. They were stunning I wish we could buy them for our stinking beastie girls. We opened our heavy solid wooden door and enjoyed the beautiful immaculate bedroom. Oh I ventured into the bathroom and saw the fantastic spa bath. The luxury of the bed and comfortable seating in the room was a good start to relax. Daniel was great kind and helpful. We got a rough idea of our surroundings. We decided to do Sunday lunch. Down into the restaurant. It was there where we met with Jane. She was the waitress. What a character. Sadly for the hall, she is leaving this Friday. She is off on a adventure of her own. All the way to India, to live. She will be a real miss to the place because she was so jolly and at one with the customers. Oh Bloggets, the meal was amazing The chef has won lots of awards for his absolute skill. I had Roast onion soup with the most wonderful melt in the mouth cheese biscuits. You know sometimes when you get home made soup, the chef never puts enough salt in it? Well this was perfect and you could taste the cream in it too. I had Sunday lunch without the meat and oh wow, wonderful. Two huge Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and new potatoes with herbs and butter. Red cabbage and parsnips. Carrots and other veg. Hub had a fish starter and the Sunday lunch with pork. That came with the cracknel off the pork. Then he had a white chocolate with berries. A dark chocolate mint straw and wafers. I had a cheese board. You got loads of cheese, celery grapes and seven different crackers. Butter in a silver tiny round dish with a cute lid. Home made chutney too. Then we had coffee. All for a little over £40. For both of us. Oh and I drank gallons of lovely clean fresh water. Water without lime scale. We went rather full to our rooms, took a rest, then strolled in to the gardens and took a seat on the veranda. We were in a room named after a north Umbrian village. It was given to us because it was very close to the door out to the back of the hotel. Perfect for walking LC. Oh now then, that was a funny story, we headed for the door, we were told that we should push a button to open the door, but one of us would have to stand at the door, because it would lock after us… Hahaha. I was the person who was the door keeper. First though we had to open it without setting off the fire alarm. We were told the button was close to it so be careful, as the girl on reception chuckled. She asked if we wanted someone to come and assist us. We said no as we like a challenge. Hub could not find the button. I thought he had found a window rather than a blooming door. But he hadn't it was the door. I took over telling him, to move a side and let the professional door opener in. Scared to hear that sound you don't want to hear on your first day in such a fine place. The sound of the horn which brings the fire engines out. We heard a click and realised our door was about to open. Just as it did, I with joy, pushed it wide open and lead hub out, keeping hold of the cheeky door which was dying to close on us. I acted all smart, laughing with Hub as I said I was the one who opened the door. Just then, I almost went flying down the unsuspected step down into the court yard. Few, that was close! Haha Imagine what we looked like to anyone watching? A door opens and falling out of it is a fat blind lass, with a guy and a guide dog… Haha. Then time for evening meal. Oh really I was not at all hungry, but the food was again, delicious. For dessert, I had home made ice cream. My BF, would have jumped over twelve Nana's to get to it. It was rum and raison and plain. But allow me to assure you, there was nothing plain about that ice cream. Hub had the cheese board, but that was different to mine through the day. More exotic cheeses. He had duck too. And said it was the very best duck he had ever had. He had soup for starters but I did not fancy that as it had a poached egg in it… Too weird, though again, he said it was simply stunning. Well then we entered into the cocktail bar. Laughing about one of the waiters who was there three years ago and I am sure, bless him, he was the tart man, remember I told you about him? You can't? well, he was a young new starter and I ordered a delicious fruit tart. He came with it to me and placed it on the table. He said those words to me, the words a lady does not want to hear. "Tart. I answered "I beg your pardon? Hahaha. Who was he calling a tart? He is a sweet guy and so helpful too. Oh but as we sat in the bar, we ordered our cocktail, and it sounded really nice. Mine had rum, lime and other interesting things in it as well as soda and mint. Now then, between the bar lady and the waiter who helped her, this is how the conversation went. Bar person "Can you go to the kitchen and get me some mint please. Waiter, "Some what, mint? Bar person "Yes, some mint. Waiter "What was that, mint? Bar person "Yes mint. One minute later, Waiter "The kitchen didn't have any mint. Bar person well I shall get it from down stairs. Well when the drinks came, I tasted it and turned to hub and said "Mmm, can you taste the mint? So now that is known as Mint gate. Well, then to our room and into the shower, to play the game of "Guess what bottle we are using ? Was it shampoo, conditioner, shower gel? Or anything else. I just washed my hair until it got foamy. Went to bed and phoned Teen before bed, to see if A, he was in and B, how he and the dogs were. The next day, we ventured out to breakfast. Again, a lovely breakfast/meal. They even gave me some vegetarian sausage with my tomato, potatoes and mushrooms. Hub had the lot I am talking, full Northumbrian as they called it. Beans tomatoes potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms and fried bread There was toast and more. As much tea and coffee as you wished for. Then into the drawing room to chill and off to the swimming pool where again, the pool man, gave us a guided tour. We enjoyed the water and then into the spa pool too. We didn't do a treatment this time. But we felt so fresh and happy. Back to our room then after a shower and check up with the decorating, we went for afternoon tea. I had lemon and ginger tea, Hub had normal. I had two kinds of sandwiches and cream scones. Home made jam and clotted cream, for the scones. Then there was yummy cakes. Ginger, cream tart with strawberries and a chocolate brownie. Again well fed. A chat with the friendly staff and back to our room for a snooze. Before we knew it, time again for our evening meal. It was interesting to listen to the people in the drawing room, talking about the beautiful places the had been. The coast around there, is known as the sugar sands. As it is so white and wonderful. A lady told in a very posh voice she had visited all of the castles and other historical places of interest. The reception of the house, / spar. Is the original. The rest, took the past owner eighteen months to build. Then his wife developed cancer so he sold the building for six million. He gave all the money to cancer charity. The original part of the house, used to be an old peoples home, so when the owner bought it, he kindly flew in via helicopter, Local fish and chips for all the OAP's. He sounds a great person and thank God, his wife is still fine and well. The sounds of the birds, trees hushing in the gentle breeze and through the night, one could hear the foxes calling. I imagined how it would be if this was my life now. All the grounds to explore. Ladies to clean our house and my own chef… Then friendly approachable staff like Lee, who came to try to help my lap top to recover. He was so funny. He came to our room and stood and watched me walk across the room collecting things to assist him with my unwell little techno troubles. He told me he was enjoying watching how I went about things in the room. Hahaha. That was funny, as loads of people watch us. When we were escorted in the restaurant, to our table, the constant chatting, went so quiet. People don't know they are doing it, sometimes I would love to stand and make a speech, saying Yes, guys, we eat too you know? Hahaha. At least Lee had the honesty to tell us he was watching… Oh well glad to provide some kind of show. What a nice guy he was. If I could just get you to go there for one night and day, you too would fall in love with the peaceful paradise of Doxford Hall. Next chapter tomorrow. x

SO FAR

Here I sit again writing from a borrowed computer. So my fingers are not used to this keyboard. With introductions, Keyboard, fingers, finger, keyboard…. Now they know each other, let's see how they get on writing this blog? Still no word from the hospital where my beloved laptop stays rather unwell and with a very high temperature. We say "No news is good news!" It's a little after the pumpkin hour and I have been to bed, got up again and done some ironing. Now to de stress myself, I am talking to you all. Teen been away since we returned from our holiday/break. Came home for half an hour and back out to work. Arrived late in the evening, told me he was getting up early and off to school to collect his exam results. Then back home to a good old home cooked breakfast with his Mum and Step Dad, whilst we mull over his results. Then off to a nice place to celebrate. OK, not quite. Back to tell us very quickly his results and straight out with the girlfriend and her family. For about five days of drinking illegal alcohol and doing God knows what. He is off to a music festival. Oh he let me know tonight that they, as in the gf, her sister, her boyfriend, and her Father and his gf, were all going to a nightclub. Did the Father ask my permission? Of course not. Same as the Mother didn't bother asking if it would be OK to give a so called counsellor all teens details and arrange for a visit whilst we were on our break. Who am I? Just his Mother. So for the next week, I'm going to be out of my mind with worry. I'm emerged in so much rubbish. Recycling and sheets of paper. Boxes and huge bags, as we are upside down with the decorating. I'm sick of all that has happened with that. We hoped that our break would be stress free. In stead, the painter did half a job. So we are left with half a house done and furniture everywhere. One good thing is we have our bedroom done. It's lovely. Very warm and homely. He is a great painter, but because of personal reasons, his life is upside down, so his work is too. Hence, our half finished work Our joiner sadly can't do his part of the work, as his Mother died a couple of days ago. Shame for him poor thing. Our Plumber wanted to come tomorrow, but the decorator is not finished, not even almost finished. Then the plumber is off on holiday for a week. So a flipping nightmare. A lovely lady from church, the one who makes the delicious cakes, is coming to look at our garden on Friday with her Husband. Not because it is an exhibition/show garden, but they are looking to see if they may be able to keep it tidy for us. They may feel it's too much for them, let's wait and see. So my hall got finished today, it is pale cream, with one wall bright red. That is the wall with the mirror on. I will look for a bright red light shade and have some red accessories. Today, my friend Beanie came and worked hard bless her. First taking me to PC world to leave my pc in I hope and pray capable hands. You see if my lap top has to go back to its factory setting, which means I loss my software which makes my computer talk. Nightmare, as that is £800 to re buy. I can't just go into a shop and purchase a laptop, and start working it. I have to send away for the software which costs the above. That on top of a lap top cost, is simply too much. So I pray, they will fix it. Then Beanie took me to buy some cushion covers for our new couch. I bought one that is like fur. It is cream. The other two are cream velvet and the last one, is cream, with gold. Same as my wallpaper. Then into the paint shop. To find out my wall paper which should have been ordered two weeks ago, was not in as promised, so will get it tomorrow. I bought some paint. I had a Fi Blogget moment. He asked me the most ridiculous question. "What would you like your paint in?" My face showed shock as I could not believe the foolish question and answered as though to say, you crazy man, "What would I like my paint in? A tin!" Hahahah. Hub was there and said Oh my God. It took a while to click; he meant gloss or mat finish. Oh well. Hub has had a couple of weeks off work, and I think he will be glad to get back to work. As it has been hard work here. Well, our painter was to take four max five days to finish. Today is day five, and he has not even started the papering as yet. Because he didn't order the paper when he should have done and because he started an outside job when he should have been doing ours. I guess the moral of this blog is, not to rely on anyone but you. If you want to do a good job, do it yourself, if you can't do it yourself, pray you find people who one, want to work and two who will honour their word. On the plus side, our bedroom is lovely and it was awful. Now please be with me over the next few days whilst my Son is with that blooming irresponsible family. X

DOXFORD HALL 2

So much to tell you. Unfortunately, I am without the necessary tools. My lap top is in hospital receiving a thorough examination. So, thanks to a borrowed lap top, I will attempt to give you an update on my week so far. All ok with our decorator as he did turn up in the end. Our train journey was lovely and smooth. Our driver was waiting for us at the train station and we began our 20 minute journey to our romantic retreat. I will write much more about the location and history of the hotel where we stayed when I hopefully get my poorly lap top back. All I can say now is Hub and I were made to feel as welcome as we were 3 years ago when we went for our Honeymoon. I shall write more about all the characters who we met at this fine hall in my next blog as there is so much to tell you about them. I will also tell you about what we got up to and the night mare to which we returned. x

DOXFORD HALL CH 1

OK, so last night, teen came in at quarter past eleven in the evening. We had gone to bed; we were exhausted, because of all the moving of the furniture, bedroom drawers, glass unit, sofa’s chair, TV Unit, piano and even more ornaments

Also, all of the stress about the painter and, Teen would not answer his mobile apart from once when I asked him to come home to help us to move things.

 Well, we did it on our own, little does teen know, but we were going to give him a good some of money for looking after the dogs, but now it’s halved and if he does a bad job when we go away to our break, it will be half that much again.

I was sure Teen was not going to come home last night, so this morning, if he had not have been at home, we would not be able to go away. We also would not be able to get any money back on the break either.

Or the train tickets.

Nightmare I just wanted to sleep.

Just close out the world, as if the teen didn’t come home, the painter would not be able to come, if, he did  bother to come, after all my calls to his switched off  phone and it just going onto answer machine.

Then the other half of the electric work that had been done would not be able to be continued. Then the joiner would not be able to do his stuff and the radiator would not be able to get fixed by the plumber and our new sofa was due/ is, due at the end of the week, so no decorating, no nothing.

 Teen did come home, but I was really cross, because he just strolled in not even a

“Sorry Mum I am so late. Sorry I didn’t come and help you. Just streight to bed.

Oh, he did complain that we had put all his shoes from the shoe rack in the porch that will be painted, in a bag.

He angrily told us he would be annoyed if his good shoes were spoiled.

Flipping cheek. The one time I did get to talk to him, was when he told me he could not talk, because he was helping his girlfriend to tidy up after her premature birthday party. He had the audacity to say

“Mum, it’s unfair to make the poor girl do the work on her own?

What, but it’s alright to make his parents do all the work in the house?

I had a good chat with teens Father yesterday, rather interesting, but it was good to hear.

Well, we woke up very early this morning, as had to disable the bed, Vacuum the bedroom and get ready to supposedly go on our break.

Eight o clock came, no painter like promised. Quarter past eight, still nothing and at last teen got up, though complained saying he would have to go back to bed after waiting,

Half an hour. I told him he could not go back to bed, as the painter may come at nine, or even ten! He did stay up though, and was great.

Hub could not take any more stress. Our house was upside down and he can’t cope with me moving one item of furniture let alone two full rooms.

I joined him. Left teen complaining that there was not fresh chicken or fish in the fridge.

I told him, there was fresh bacon, sausage, vegetables and salad. There was loads of food in the freezer. It was only two meals in the evening he needed to cook. He is a great cook too by the way.

So Hub and I on the drive, waiting for our taxi. Hub not wanting to go as he was completely worried about what we were going to do about the painting?

Our taxi came.

Thru the closed locked front door, we heard teen shouting the best words we have heard in a while.

“It’s not your taxi, but the painter.

Oh my God. Thank our maker. We are blessed. OK, Hub said I kind of over reacted, as I literally jumped up and down on the driveway, it’s OK though, as our drive is as good as a golf course with all of its pot holes.

So I knew I couldn’t cause any more damage with my fully figured bulk.

The painter told us, he had a new phone, and he thought he gave us his new number. He didn’t I can assure you.

Happy faces we were then on our way. Can’t wait for my next adventure. x

WILL HE WON'T HE?

 So tomorrow the painter is due.  I have been trying to phone my painter for two weeks, since he said he might want our couch and chair. I wanted him to say if he wanted it or not, or I will give it to charity.

He has had his phone off.

I asked my son if he could help us to move furniture. He didn’t want to; He was at the girlfriend’s house. Well, one of her houses. Her fathers.

So he left when we were still in London, though I asked him to stay until we were on the train.

God knows how long the dogs were left.

We Hub and I have filled now eight boxes of ornaments. Took pictures from the walls. Light fittings down and Hub did the wires from the electrics.

I have washed and vacuumed everywhere. Hub moved the heavy bedroom drawers. I moved the things not so heavy.

I have been asking teen to come back all day, by text, but when he is at her house, he does not answer the phone. I had to call the Father and I didn’t want to, as don’t know him, never will, but, really needed help.

He has been there for three days now.

He knew we wanted him back to look after the dogs whilst we went away.

Well He spoke to me and said he can’t help us as he was helping her Father to put away all the party gear, left over from her birthday party, I must say now, her birthday is not for two months…

Well, it is now nine o clock, he is still not here. Nine in the evening by the way.

Hub and I have moved the piano and one chair.

We have worked all day yesterday and today, not to mention before I went to London.

Tomorrow morning, we are to go to Northumberland at half eight in the morning. Eight the painter was I hope is, due.

Is he coming?

God knows.

I am so worried he doesn’t turn up.

I don’t know what we will do if he doesn’t.

I know one thing; never again I will ask him to paint for us. So sad, as he is good and it’s hard to find someone so good as him. I mean, he still may turn up, but if he doesn’t, our break in my old place of home, will be so spoiled and we only had the three days to have our break.

I spoke to my x today and he too is not impressed with Teens choice of girl.

She and the Dad knew I needed teen home but are deliberately leaving it till as late as possible.

I mean, how pathetic?

Well, in the end, so what, Hub and I did it on our own.

Will we get away OK tomorrow? Will teen bother coming home tonight? Will our painter turn up?

 

TOTAL STRESS

OK, the stress level, has now gone through the roof. I shall tell you all in my next blog, but you will think, how do you get yourself in these situations? I am asking myself that right now. Hub and I are meant to be going away for two nights tomorrow, so a huge three days of the summer we have spent together on  a break. Let’s see if it will happen? So far, I fear the answer will be no. I really am furious with life right now. More later. x

HEARTS FROM THE PAST BY FIONA CUMMINGS

HEARTS FROM THE PAST

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Spending time with friends today

Made us sad seeing them go away

Many years ago there were four of us

Each other we shared a trust

We don’t see much of each other

But so at ease when together

 To think we have known each other since childhood

Seen so much bad and good

Shared a lot of life when young

There to love and share such fun

As kids we went to boarding school

Learned the cruelty and strict rules

Had no family around us

But cared for our friends without making a fuss

Many years passed us by

Personal lives hearts did cry

Then reunited once again

All recovering from life’s pain

Now so happy

The four of us married

A different world

We don’t have gold

But something more wealthy

A common bond ever so healthy

If only we knew way back then

Years later we would be more than friends

Life is so real we don’t pretend

We share our hearts till the very end

How special are our friends

 

LONDON PART 2

So, the show, the person from the TV show Sex in the city, spent the whole production, drunk and on drugs. “Acting of course. Half the time I could not understand her. The rest of the actors/actresses, were fantastic. We could just about follow it, though we do not know if the old man got shot, and if so, who by? All I can say, is there was a big bang like a gun shot. The guy, who had the other main part, was fantastic. He could really sing too, but only sang two half  songs. Why? Not really sure. It was a rather dark production and full. Probably the people who were meant to go to the other show, ending up same place as us?

At the end of it, a huge guy with an Australian accent asked if he could show us a taxi? We thanked him, I thought, well the lady who was meant to come for us, must have been busy.

He took my hand, and he had the biggest hands. We went out of a side door, and he got us a cab immediately. This is the great thing about London. Taxi’s come regular.

Got in the cab. I said to Hub, nice staff?

Hub said, he was not staff. He was a member of the public…. Hahaha. Where had our lady gone?

Got back to our hotel. Found the lift no trouble. Found the floor no bother. Found our room? Em, no!

We went down one set of six steps

, rather than two sets of three.

Well, back up again, retraced our footsteps to the lifts and just waited until we heard something we recognised.

Then guess who came along?

Yep, our two sweet old dears.

Oh we talked to them, talked and talked… They were so cute. The older one, told  us she was celebrating her 87^th birthday. She said she goes to London every year on her birthday,  goes to a show and St Martin in the fields. It is a church where she lights a candle for her Brother who died in the war. She has managed to come for 32 years.

At the end of our  chat, she grabbed our faces, and kissed the living daylights out of us. Hahahaha

Then we dared to ask her to show us to our room? OMG?

How really odd that was they were guiding us in such a funny way, but the most wonderful elderly people. We got in our room closed the door and just stood in shock.

We ordered room service and our sandwich was delicious. Then Hub hit the mini bar.

Guess what he took from there, as I told him off, as the prices are really shocking?

A couple of chocolate bars. Hahaha.

Guess how much they were? £6 for the two of them. Would cost under a pound here/home.

Oh but I did enjoy mine.

You should have seen the tray the food came on? Oh I simply love hotels.

Next morning, we were woken by the clock radio next to  us on our bedside table. I thought it was time to get up?

Naha. Hub looked at his watch and it was before seven.

I turned  it off after pressing ten buttons. Ten minutes later, back on again, ten minutes after then? Back on again.

I pulled the plug out. As I did that, I realised that it would have battery back up.

It did.

Just as I found a button that really shut it up? Fifteen minutes later, hahahahaha. My mobile alarm went off.

We got up, showered in what I can only say, was  like a horse trough. It was so skinny. Hub asked me to get in the bath and relax? Horror, he wanted to see me stuck.

He and I laughed thinking about the fire brigade coming to pull me out.

We went to breakfast and guess who was there?

Hahaha. The two Nana’s.

Adorable they were and yes, more kisses.

The staff at the hotel, was amazing. Oh my word. There was a member of staff for every move and nothing was a bother. The building was so huge and all as we say in the UK, higgledy piggledy.

I’m sure it looks rather grand, though as I said, our room was far from clean.

24 hours a lot can happen. Love being with my Hub.

Later gators. x

 

FRIENDS WHO DO LUNCH

We have just got in from a fantastic lunching with two beautiful friends from our first school. Oh it was so good to see them, now we are sad to say goodbye to them, but I hope to see them again very soon. They are dear friends, and have hearts of gold.

We went to a pub on the river, well, not really on the river, but alongside it. We had a meal, it was OK, but I could have had a bag of chips, just the company was great.

The boats went by; the sun was out to welcome them and a great time which went too quick.

Back to packing more ornaments and that now is my living room totally empty of all things small. I have tried to call the painter, oh God now there is stress. He is not answering again.

He just turns off his phone. He is due on Sunday morning. At 8 o clock. At nine we are going on a two day break. Leaving teen kindly looking after things for us.

We are giving him money for it and have asked a couple of neighbours to watch out for things…

When we returned home yesterday, there were some very odd things we discovered.

I won’t say anymore on that subject, only, before the turn of the year, he was the most honest person alive.

So we have things everywhere the house is in a right tip. I need this guy to come so badly. I have called him a couple of times, no answer. What a nightmare? I mean tomorrow, we are meant to move the huge piano and move out the couches for this man coming the day after. All my pictures are down and I have started to tear off the wallpaper.

Please God, let him turn up? He said he would and he is a great painter, but since him and his wife have split up, I am sad to say, he is not quite so reliable.

My boy is away till tomorrow. I really hope he is coming back then, all I need now, is for him, not to come home, our train is booked for just after nine on the Sunday morning.

Six boxes upstairs in the guest room and stuff everywhere, no teen to see to the dogs and no painter to do our house? Not what I need for a chilling holiday?

We are to meet with our friends from where I used to live when we go back to Northumberland, but she is seriously ill, as is her Husband, oh poor sweet people. I really hope they are or will be OK? He is waiting for a heart operation, she has been so ill for weeks, and the Doctors are doing nothing, we fear she has cancer.

Glad to say my DD in the US is on the road to recovery and a kind lady has looked after him a couple of days, I still wish we lived closer to help him. I feel so bad he is on his own when he has had such a huge operation.

Right, going to try this painter again. I shall write part two of London later. xx

 

THEATRE? LONDON PART 1

OK, this is our night in London. This is a blog; you will really think is an  impossibility. I think I need a week, to really believe what happened.

We took a taxi to the train station. No trouble. Got on the train and went on our journey to the capital. Arrived in London and a taxi to the lovely Greek restaurant Lemonia. Oh if you go to London, please go there, some say there is a café with the same name, if so, and make sure you get the restaurant. The food is stunning. We had stuffed vine leaves, sorry for my Greek friends, I don’t speak the lingo…

Olives like you just can’t buy in the shops.  Humus that was the best I have ever had.   Halumi that was my favourite, a grilled cheese and a delicious Greek salad. Hub had salmon that he really enjoyed it melted in his mouth and it had a very crisp skin. The waiter was fantastic too and went over his job description for helping us to know what was on the menu and even took us to a taxi/black cab at the end of the lovely meal, that we ate outside.

Went to our hotel. It was the Hilton Waldorf.

    Almost before our cab stopped, there was a member of staff opening the door for us to depart the taxi.

He took us to the reception, well, that was funny, as he decided the stairs were not very good, so put us into a dreadful lift. You know one of those for wheelchairs?

We were the only two in the lift, apart from LC of course, well, the lift stood still. Hub and I just looked at each other.

Then above our heads shouted a guy

“Put your finger on the button?”

“What blooming button? Hahahahaha

Next thing I know, the walls are moving, and we are staying still

Oh God, let me out of here and give me the flipping stairs?

The receptionist was really helpful. We went to our room with an Australian. A  French lady took our details for the stay, a Polish lady asked us of our requirements, and I had to keep reminding myself, we were in England.

Of course we were in an American hotel, hence the jazz music, throughout the hotel.

Got to our room, the sink was cracked… Made sure we told them as didn’t want the bill for that…

I tell you, for such a high class of hotel, it was not very clean.

Lots to explore though. I love that.

Hub did his usual, made me a cup of delicious tea. A shortbread biscuit and a lovely chat.

 Then time to dress for our theatre. Now the fun begins.

 Managed with ease, to get out of our room, walk up the two sets of three steps turned left an right in the right places and LC, took us to the lift.

In there and in Braille, read ground floor. But, an American got in with us, and said he would help us to go down to reception. Very kind of him, though, we were doing OK on our own. Then it became too surreal.

American guy

“I shall help you to go to the ground floor, but can I just go upstairs first to the fourth floor?

I’m now thinking, well, what do we do whilst you are on the fourth floor? He then got out the lift saying it was nice to meet us, and he won’t be long to   help.

Just then, the doors closed and off we went back down. To the third floor.

Where we started.

Then at last the ground floor. We managed to find reception, and whilst Hub took LC, to pollute the streets of London even more than what they already are, I asked for a taxi at seven, as our show, Gypsy music Leola, spelt wrongly sorry, was to start at half seven.

I went down the steps to wait for Hub, as was concerned that he would not know when to turn into the hotel, as outside was sooooooo noisy.

He came back in like a clever man and we went to the bar in the hotel. We met two adorable old ladies. Real characters, slightly eccentric.

The sweetest souls. Sadly they don’t make them like that anymore.

We got up from there, and walked to the door, we got the taxi earlier, and thank God we did…

The driver dropped us off at the street where the theatre was. We got out and walked thirty steps as that is where the driver told us where the theatre was.

Went in, on the right we heard the bar. The middle seemed to have a glass floor. To the left, was a normal tiled floor.

Hub and I followed where we thought there was a desk.

We waited in a line. I was impressed as there was one of those awful rope separators and we managed to find the back of the line.

Got to the front, I was so surprised in our ability to find in a huge hall which was so noisy and full of people the desk.

Only to be told, we were in the cinema.

Oh God. How embarrassing.

The sweet girl told us, that she would take us to the theatre. I thought it would be the next door. Oh, no such luck. We walked and walked. In the rain.

Got to where we should be, I thanked the girl and we spoke to a lady. Big smile on my face all excited to see the production.

To be told the show, was cancelled.

 

Oh No! God!

My heart sunk. She said in a jolly voice, don’t worry, you can come free to see it another time?

I said we have come a long way to see this show. To cut a long story short, she said there was another show we could see.

Relieved, we said yes, though it was a lot more money.

Hub went to get out his card to pay, and she said

“You are going to have to go to another theatre.”

Nooooooooo!

Yesssssssss

We asked her to take us to a taxi and she spoke to her manager and came to our rescue. Telling us there was not enough time to take a cab, she would walk us there.

I know why now, she told us.

She was getting loads of grief from people wanting to see the production, so by taking us to the next theatre, she was escaping.

Five minutes later, in the rain again, we passed a sweet shop. She asked us if we wanted any sweets. I said I was OK and it was best we got there, and then we passed a burger bar. She asked if we wanted to go there, if we were hungry? I said no, best to get there ASAP.

She then told me to use my

Wait for this one?

“Wand” meaning white cane, to feel for the steps.

Well, by this point, we had been walking ten minutes and I knew that LC needed the toilet as we are not sure she went earlier.

Oh God, that is all I needed, Long Chops to sit down and show her tea to the lady and London.

OK, up steps, down steps, weaving through street café’s.

She told us we were two thirds there. We were walking at some great speed. Would we make the show we knew nothing about?

I asked the lady, did she know anything about it?

She told me the next blow to the head.

The star in the show, was someone from

“Sex in the city.  

  Oh that American cult shows on the telly. I blooming hate that show, oh God, what the heck were we going to see?

Got to the theatre, ran through the door and got to the desk.

We were escorted to our seats and I am not kidding, we sat for three seconds when it began.

Oh my Lord. What a show!

Part two to follow