DIARY OF NEW YEAR

Good morning Bloggets. Well, it is five in the morning here in the UK and I’m downstairs as The Little Fella barked the house down, so I thought it was my Son coming home from his New Year’s celebrations in our town.  Oh no. It wasn’t so what better to do than to talk with my Bloggets.

 

Our street and avenue of all sorts is so quiet. This is the most silent of all years. No cars or peoples voices. I hope your New Year start was a good one and spent how you hoped to spend it.

 

Yesterday our youngest daughter went on a search for the bakers we saw on line. I was so excited to learn of this. Bakers a short walk away. Yummy.

 

Well, turned out there were no bakers at all, so Google was rubbish.  

 

I prepared some food for New Year’s Day. Then we got a lift from teen as it was pouring. To our cinema. Bless him he took us in two stages. Hub went with little Ems and the little fella and I went with our eldest daughter. We went to see a movie that was audio described called Sisters. Sounds innocent.

Wasn’t.

Ems told me there were about eight people in the theatre so no coughing over the embarrassing parts, and there were a few, but in general, it was funny. Just came out thinking I have not lived. Well, not that kind of life anyway, the best part of the film was hearing the girls laughing.

 

Came out of there and the smell of the winter was new for this year as it’s been so mild and wet, not freezing like it was when we stepped out last night. Then we went for a meal, that was lovely and we saw my sweet friend Geordie. Then the ten, twelve minute walk home and quick change to go to our neighbours to see the New Year in.

 

And here we are in two thousand and sixteen 2016

Gosh, what will this year bring? Can anyone guess?  I think this is the first year I have not even tried to make a guess as 2015 proved, to me that you just never know!

 

A year can make, break change end and start all in twelve months.

 

Today we are going to chill. I think the kids are going ten pin bowling. If it’s open. Sadly then tomorrow they leave. It’s gone really fast. Just glad that the trains look OK and transport will be problem free. At least tomorrow we have all day with them as they aren’t leaving till half four then we are away.

 

Happy New Year Bloggets. X

HAPPY NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM FIONA CUMMINGS

As we close 2015 and welcome 2016, I wonder how your year has been. For me, firstly the best thing is my Son and his evil ex-girlfriend broke up. Three years of dangerous hell. She for sure was the worst person I have ever met in my life. So on the break up, I can’t tell you how relieved I was.

 

 All three kids did so well at school and college. Teen received great marks from his two year course and our eldest girl got a fantastic result with her end of school and entered a scholarship into the Cathedral. Our youngest girl got all a stars, A’s and B’s for her exams. So Teen finished college entered full time work. Our eldest finished school and youngest has two years to go but got the best results anyone could ever hope for. She is a genius. Teen has done amazing as he now at eighteen has reached a fantastic position in the work place and has three great results from courses he has participated in.

 

I really enjoy helping out at Hubs office and think I have made some lovely friends there as well as I hope, made a difference to the staff in making some of their workload lighter. I never river thought I could do such a thing. The first day I went to the office. I was terrified. I was shaking. I felt sick.  I wanted to be in a small side office and close the door. Not speak to anyone and just put my head down and work. I didn’t want to be seen and that was the very first time I have been in a working environment. Now, I love to go in. I love to speak to the girls and boys. Well, men and women… I feel so happy when I’m there as they are all lovely people it’s a very friendly and family feeling there.

 

I have written many poems that I have been privileged to have read out at weddings, funerals, birthdays, retirement parties Christenings and more. And I have enjoyed meeting you all in person or through online groups I’m in and emails. The blog page has really cuddled us all together into our Blogget family. I can’t believe we are now plus one hundred thousand views. You have all done me proud. And as I have said many times, when I started this, it was kind of a diary I wrote never ever thinking anyone would read it. Now you all have and best of all, you come back. I still ask myself why? I just am so delighted that you do. If you didn’t this blog wouldn’t exist. I hope we grow old together and stay young in spirit as we learn from each other every day.

 

As a lovely friend said to me today, we have laughed and cried together and we have indeed. Gosh, this year when we lost our darling Long Chops, as you know her real name was Suki, and we opened a page to name another guide dog puppy Suki in honour of the best guide dog I have ever known, seen and loved for sure. My poor husband and I pined for her and you opened your hearts to us. For that we gained strength and felt your kindness through the words that you sent to us.  

 

Yu know in this day and age, we really forget that there is kindness out there. Well you all restored our faith in humanity. For our name a puppy with your kindness, for Guide Dogs UK we have raised Total raised£2,155.63

• Gift Aid£220.00

 

So coming to the end of this year. For those who have suffered loss, for those who have been ill and still are, I hope that next year, in a few hours, you will start to feel better, that treatment will begin to work and your heart will heal. Your mind will be put at ease and that soul mate will put out their hand to shake yours and introduce themselves to you. I hope your dreams come true for 2016.

 

I hope the very best for you my dear Bloggets. Success and cures. Answers and results. Happy New year with all of my love. Love and friendship and time gone past. This is for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTCryF1J54Y

 

DIARY OF THE COSY CAR

 We have been joined today by countries such as, Isle of Man, Italy, Brazil, UK, Germany, US,   Portugal, Cyprus, Canada and Russia. Welcome all of you old and new.

 

 So what kind of day have I had? Well, I missed my boy as he was at work all day. He was due in at nine, but I received a phone call to say his blooming car was in trouble again. This time dangerous consequences. He had smoke coming from the tire. He thankfully pulled over and took a look. His wheel was wobbling. His tire had come off. Oh great, more money, but worse, he was five miles away from home in the pitch black on a road he wasn’t sure where he was.

 

Oh I won’t bore you with detail. I was so stressed that my heart was killing. It was pouring with rain, the winds are wild and he wasn’t near home there is obviously no way I can jump in my car and go and get him, this is one of many times when my eyes condition really gets me down. I know it makes him a stronger person and so much more independent than those who have parents with sight, but we do feel like we are failing our kids when this happens.  At the end of the day, or should I say night in this case, he is eighteen. A kid.  Thankfully our girls are not showing interest in driving. I know if teen hadn’t have driven, he wouldn’t have received his chance of this promotion and experience in life.  But oh boy, the cost and stress of it all? I wish he had hung on and bought a decent car. Icy weather, faulty brakes, and now goodness know what has happened to the wheel and tire!

 

So before the drama of the car, our eldest daughter arrived early this morning. At least she remembered to get on the blooming train today. So she brought breakfast bless her and she was a lot more awake than me for sure. 

 

After breakfast we all exchanged gifts. They bought us some lovely liqueurs and chocolate coffee truffles. Teen got a tasty liqueurs coffee flavour. Ours was Christmas pudding flavour. Well, if you old Bloggets remember Wagga and the coffee beans? We were bought two lots of chocolate coffee beans over a year. Some months apart. And Wagga stole them both. One was upstairs she sniffed them out as she never goes upstairs, this day, she decided to. Another time Hub was bought them for his birthday and they were left on the table in the conservatory and she stole them ate them all. She was blooming hyper for two days, both times.

 

When we were sitting eating the chocolates, they were wrapped in paper, but Wagga had that look on her face. She was adamant that they were for her; she was going to get them no matter what.  

 

We should have put them in a cupboard. Hub in bed now so not sure where he has put them. I should open the doors and let her run free and follow her? Hahahah.

 

We bought the girls some beautiful books. They love to read. Our eldest has her own house so she got a vintage looking biscuit barrel, as she is into vintage kind of things and it was bright yellow to match other items she has in her kitchen that colour. She got a printer so that will be useful for now and university next year and both girls received oil burners. With cinnamon oil and fluffy sock boxes with creams in. They got a scarf each with musical notes as both of them are singers for their Cathedral and both play music, so the scarfs have musical notes on them.  The little one got a lovely perfume called Red Jeans and a blue tooth speaker.

 

So a cosy day where we watched a great movie ate chocolate and the girls and Hub did karaoke whilst I cooked dinner. They had a three bird roast. Turkey with chicken and duck with a stuffing of cranberry’s and apricots. I made another stuffing of simple sage and onion and we had roast potatoes, parsnips, mushy peas, and sprouts.

 

The dogs are snoring, kids all in bed with their electric devices and I have closed the house for the night and I’m off to bed now, I’m shattered. A sleep in tomorrow I hope?  Hope your day has been peaceful until tomorrow, New year’s eve, yep, the day Teen is meant to get his car fixed, the day no one works, but we hope to go to the cinema to see a comedy and then to our neighbours house. Poor Wagga not sure if she will go to the cinema, though I hope so but if it’s raining like today, don’t know. Then tomorrow night will be the first big test for the Little Fella, remember he can’t be left alone? They say he’s OK if he is with another dog, we have not dared to leave him yet, but we are out at our neighbours, so he will be left for a couple of hours whilst we see the new year in.  I hope we don’t come back to a chewed up house? Smile.

Hmm. I might not be smiling and I think when teen finds out how much his car will cost, again, he won’t be either, but he has a fun night planned. And thank the Lord he isn’t with IT. That has been the best thing about this year. The witch is out of his life. The Evil one has gone. Sadly not far enough but out of his heart. I doubt she will have found another as no one will have the horrid little toad. So a year to celebrate and I’m sure those parents with children who are dating those who are no good for their kids, will empathise. Goodbye to old rubbish. X

A ROYAL CHRISTMAS

The Royal Christmas card this year was taken in the grounds of Kensington Palace. Glossy hair on Kate that is, not her receding Husband and two little royals who made sure that this year’s Christmas card wasn’t as perfect as I’m sure intended but in my opinion, the two little mistakes, made the card.

 

Baby Princess Charlotte, pictured in a pink cardigan floral dress tights and (One shoe) the missing shoe can be seen on the grass next to Prince Georges toy train, also on the grass.

 

Now apart from those two so called imperfections, personally as I said, I think make the card, I feel like the baby Princess, should have been in clothes that looked more Christmassy? Like tartan or velvet, or at least red? As for the setting? Grass? In winter on a Christmas card? Hmm. No, we need snow or at least forests with pinecones. Scarfs and big coats on, not summer pinks and florals?

 

Prince George was the star of his school in London when Santa delivered a card from The Duchess Prince William and the baby Princess and little Prince. Now our cards get delivered by the post man, but George, Santa, himself delivered.

 

They say that the card from Prince Charles and Camilla shows that they are madly in love. They have known each other for over forty years. After Di, the Princess of Wales, I find it difficult to forgive Charles, but I guess he was forced into the marriage with Dianna.

 

 Christmas 2015 is over now, but we will always have the memory of it. As we will for next year too. I hope your Christmas has been one to remember in a good way.

 

JUST BEFORE BED (FIONA CUMMINGS)

Just before bed some words from me to you.

Yes, you.

The very last things you do before bed has a significant impact on your mood and energy level,  The next day, as it determines how well you sleep and if you sleep well, when you wake up,  you should be in a much better frame of mind.

 

Successful people understand that their success starts and ends with their mental and physical health. This is why bedtime routines are a key factor for so many successful people and this is why a lot of people read just before bed.

 

Now successful doesn’t always mean to go out to work and earn a fortune or be able to boss people around all day, to be able to carry out your day and go to bed at night with a sense of achievement. Whether it’s a big contract that your company has been trying to sign up with  for a while or whether it’s because you have been able to take your child to school without them crying, or perhaps you have been able to get your ironing pile down to that big fat zero, whatever it is, you have been successful.

 

So to have a ritual before bed is a good thing. Yu will go to bed with a healthy mind and be contented. To be content has to be good for your heart. If your heart is healthy, your mind will be too.

 

To be able to relax when you put your head on your pillow, is an amazing feeling. I know a lot of Bloggets read my words just before bed. And some of you have said that it helps you to sleep. Well, hopefully this isn’t because you are bored? Smile.

 

 To fuel greater creativity, and passion, in your lives is truly food for thought. You will fill your brain with knowledge if you read before bed especially if your choice of words is informative even in a jovial way. So whether you are reading fiction, or ancient philosophy, you are removing your own stresses wiping out any negativity from your daily lifestyle. Get away from your stresses by escaping into words that you can’t plan or invent in your head. To read words which appear in front of you erases worrying thoughts and daily deeds.

 

 Before you read, write a to do list. So your needs don’t enter your mind if you know that they will get done, you don’t have to remember as its written down and in order too, like cleaning out bedroom drawers. It’s kind of tidy?

 

If you can go to bed with your partner same time, that is a great way to communicate with each other. No TV, no children seeking your attention and no dogs bringing you their toys. Just the two of you. Your time with each other. And just before bed, if you can spend time with your children, then you will go to bed guilt free. Unless you have teens, then guilt is oftern replaced by worry, then turn to your book, or other kind of wordy escapism.

 

Try to write down at least one thing that you are appreciative of, something perhaps that has made you proud?  Think positive and all will fall in place.

 

So if you are a workaholic, stressed parent, or an entrepreneur, if you suffer from chronic sleep deficits, if you have a consistent habit of going to sleep each evening, experts say that you will have a healthy sleep.

 

Just before bed, I hope you feel the love and peace and are safe and warm. Goodnight with hope. X

DIARY OF THE GIRLS

 Well all I know is the eldest daughter has missed her train. Little one coming not sure about Alice. Teen off to work and house is quiet. Still in shock about yesterday’s stats. Once again thank you all.

 

I can’t believe the weather. It’s boiling out there. I went to the shops as Hub waited in for Emily coming from train station. I could have walked for miles. It was so warm; I went out without a coat and really could have sat out in that sun. So different to the awful rain storms we have had.

 

My Waggatail was fabulous. Each step I smiled and sure that passers-by would think there was a sandwich short of a picnic going on in my head, as I don’t want to think what I looked like, just I felt so privileged to be able to get out of the house. I have been in for some days now as rain and winds been dangerous. As the day progresses, the winds are to be gales and rain is forecast for tomorrow.

 

Dogs love their new toys and as soon as I returned home, feeling proud of my girl she and the Little Fella went crazy around the lounge. I’m glad my Waggs is feeling better.

 

What will the next few days have in mind? I really don’t know we haven’t planned anything but a house full of teenagers? And, two hyper dogs. After yesterday’s long walk for them, I thought they would be exhausted today, but no.

 

Funny when I was at the shop, I was talking to one of the members of staff and she said that I was lucky as she had to work and I was off so could go anywhere…. Yep, really? Nope. I have to be trained routes, have the confidence to go places I can’t jump in a car and drive somewhere. So many people don’t realise what life is really like for someone with sight problems. We go where we know how to get to. When we go, we don’t sight see on the way, we could be anywhere. It’s a, to B for us. We can’t relax, we have to concentrate listen for everything and expect anything. Be prepared for the worst, but when the best happens, like me today, I got to our shop without any incident and back, I bought what we needed and I was delighted. I appreciated the fact I did something that sighted people do in a heartbeat. For us it’s so much preparation.

 

Days of learning the routes with someone from Guide Dogs, teaching the dog the route too and remembering it. Every single step. Before we leave the house, we have to put our dogs in the garden to do their doggy doodles, get the lead, collar and harness as well as the dog bags. Remember our mobile phones for emergencies.  Then we are good to go.

 

I’m sure we will be going on some adventure this week with the girls. Until later, take care cos I care. X

JUST BEFORE BED (TRAGITY IN A YEAR)

Words before bed. Gosh, what a day. Or should I say evening. An odd night for sure.  I learned many moons ago never to make plans. Just wait to see what happens. I know of people who live by the diary ticking in the right places they seem so organised. I admire those people. Their life always seems to be in order. Mine is chaotic. It’s rather simple on the surface but within, it’s a mess.

 

 So here I sit agitated. I so badly want now to take down the Christmas decorations. I mean, Christmas is over. It’s not called a New Year tree. If the girls weren’t coming tomorrow, I would be getting those boxes from the loft for sure. And how bare does the house feel after that? At least I would be able to dust. Right now, we have cleaned every day of our holiday and you wouldn’t think it. Our dogs are so messy. And they create dust. This is a fact. As for wooden floors, you can see or feel every single bit of dust, hair or anything that comes in on people’s shoes or flies’ in when the door is open.

 

If you have a carpet, you are none of the wiser. I can’t imagine how dirty that must be though if looked at under a microscope. But you don’t crunch your way around your lounge. I think I have vacuumed at least twice every day and now I’m getting on Hubs nerves. He said I’m going crazy. Perhaps I am, though having said that, I think I went there many years ago.

 

The girls are coming mid-morning for a week. So there will be presents given to them tomorrow. If they get here without needing to be rescued by a lifeboat…. I hope teen is off work on Wednesday as that day is the worst. Forecast heavy rain.

 

Just before bed. I’m thinking of those who are unsure about their properties right now. Earlier in a blog I wrote about the floods then I put a blog on here with a link to let you hear and see what it’s like here. It’s so mild in temperature. But the rain won’t stop. An is scaring me is we have had a power cut every night for three nights now. It’s not everyone around here, it’s just us as our ceiling lights work, and just our plugs don’t. Now I thought it may be the outside lighting, no. As for two nights they haven’t been on. And we still have had power cuts.

 

So what else could it be? What do we plug in during the evening that we don’t during the day? Well, nothing but we do have a small new freezer. Where it’s plugged in, is a rather new socket. Put in by a qualified electrician. But, we have never plugged anything in there before. But, why are the lights going off or I should say plugs, only during the evening? If it was the freezer, surely it would blow all of the time?

 

So just before bed, for all those who are uncertain not sure of their direction right now, I would like you to know I’m thinking of you and here are some words I hope will help.

“Spread your wings and allow the winds to carry you off in the right direction. Allow your dreams to dance during the daytime. You can spend time living for others. Doing what they want, going where they tell you, but once you realise that you don’t want to go in their direction, or the route they are trying to force you to go in, you learn your own pathway and you will find your own way for the first time in your life. Learn of your direction and find your destiny. You will hear the beautiful music if you stop and listen. Then sing to the tune and follow your rhythm. Find a clear pathway that will lead you to tomorrow. For tomorrow is a brand new day a day where by you don’t know what will happen? No matter how much you plan it. Change could occur at any given time.

 

Right now in your life may be the worst. But if that is the case, it can only get better. Twelve months from now, it will be a bad memory. And you will be able to look at what you have this time in a year. As long as you have love and peace in your heart. I pray you will be safe and healthy. I pray you won’t experience fear or dread. I hope you find comfort a place to wrest your head. Your heart still beats and for that I’m at ease with. Listen to your heart and put your trust into it. This tragedy will end and a new day will dawn.

Fiona Cummings

RUN FREE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

RUN FREE

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Painted on smiles

Laughter’s for miles

Fake yesteryears

Palms full of tears

Living a lie

Asking yourself why

Putting yourself through pain

Playing the game

Outside you are fine

Indoors you may pine

A half glass of wine

Looks mighty fine

Then a bottle

Needles like a nettle

Bleeding on sharp metal

Hiding the cuts

Ignoring the tuts

Keeping your curtains shut

Sitting on your own

Not answering the phone

Drowning in fear

No one is near

Sleeping rough

In silence

Life is tough

Such violence

Bruises hidden by cuffs

Daily challenge

A broken marriage

Don’t tell a soul

Feeling the cold

Last bit of coal

No matches left

No time to regret

Burns from the cigarette

Make a run for it?

Go far

Follow the shining star

Where you can’t be found

Get off the ground

Look back and be proud

You will be one of the crowd

 

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings

FLOODS UK

So here it is. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35190474

100,000 THANK YOU BLOGGETS

Pageviews today

158

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Pageviews all time history

100,000

100,000 FIONA CUMMINGS

Twelve. Yes, twelve. Twelve views to go then we have reached 100,000. I can’t thank you all enough. I’m in total shock. I must say a week ago I really thought we would be about two hundred off.  You have done me proud Bloggets. What a team. And thank you all so much for your recent emails telling me why you read my blog page. Some are honest and say because you are nosey and just like to know what is going on in my life, whether it’s because you know me have met me, you are my friend and it saves a phone call smile. Some say because you too either have my eye condition or have poor if any sight. Some read because they are alone and they feel like our family of Bloggets are all connected in some manner.  And the scary emails said as I have known since the start of my writing, you are a teacher or head of a school and your pupils read my blogs if studying English. There are some who read my blogs from a country shall I say that isn’t really in agreeance with world news entering the country, so you read the news blogs and some just like a laugh. “Em, two people wrote and said that, oddly they didn’t describe what exactly they meant by that comment!!!”

  

There are some Bloggets who enjoy my poetry. There are loads that don’t too. Especially my dark poetry. I must say, it’s been a while since I wrote any dark poems. Hmm. May write one tonight. Looking back, some of my poems are really really deep and I think meaningful, but others would say depressing. Hahaha. But, some say and have written to me expressing their feelings saying that I managed to put in words how they feel. And this is what I try to do. I think for others how they may be feeling. Sometimes it’s good to read about sadness as when one reads about happiness all of the time, they think that they are the only person in the world who may be feeling sad and down at that point.

 

My chocolate poems I must say have received a lot of mixed opinions. I shall write some of them at the bottom of here.  I loved them it was and is, my dream to get those published and the illustrations to me would be so pretty. So colourful. A child’s Christmas book for sure or Easter? When I write the chocolate poems, I see in my head so many pixies in so many colours. You will understand at the bottom what I mean. Please don’t think I’m seeing colourful pixies just for the sake of it? It’s nice as a blind person someone who once was fortunate enough to be able to see, to have memories of colours still, though my colours in my imagination are fading.

 

Occasionally you read my blogs to read about facts. Fifi’s facts are mainly read by those Bloggets in offices who only have a short break. There was one time when I received a lot of messages saying that you read my blogs in your lunch hour at work. So many times I would write with this in mind.

 

I have written recipes. I have opened my heart to you all and reaching one hundred views, you also have opened your heart to me. Each and every one of you, are so special. You all made this page work. Many times I have thought about ending writing my last blog and I receive so many kind words from you all and how after that can I? I must say, I spend more and more time writing my blog page than I do anything else. It is a full time job. A lot of people ask me why I don’t make money from this. I could advertise, well, the fact is, for those who use a screen reader, when the page is covered by adds, it’s very difficult to read. You are half way through a blog and suddenly there is a huge advert and sometimes your screen reader stops talking so you think you have something wrong with your computer where as its just showing a picture. So I want this read to be easy and that is where I also thank those readers who can see, and that is the majority of you. As sometimes not so techno Fi presses a button that makes the writing tiny. I’m totally oblivious to this and wouldn’t know unless I’m told by you. Then I try to change whatever I have done. Oh, boy.

 

OK, I could go on and on about why you read these blogs. But you know why and you know as long as you want to read, I will do my best to continue writing. Thank you from all countries who have visited. Now, here is the chocolate poem. The first in the series I have written. You have to be a child at heart for these. X

 

CHOCOLATE IN THE AIR

BY Fiona Cummings

 

For a while it remained a mystery

Whatever could that delightful smell be

I found out it came from the nearby factory

Which made chocolate dreams come true

To all children like me and you

I imagined little elves worked in there

And one naughty one in particular

Opened the window

 Allowing the aroma to escape in the air

He was the mischievous naughty Norman

Who has the job title of Forman

The other elves don’t get on with him

 Too well

 Especially whom they call Noddy

 With the biggest silver bell

When it is break time Noddy shakes his hat

His bell rings so hard it wakes the factory cat

Who sleeps in an outside shed

And has a fresh daily  dish of chocolate milk

 And the most comfortable cosy bed

A log table with a cloth of silk

Is ready so  the elves can be fed

With little toadstools to sit on

And be given dishes by the cook Alvin

Caramel cups

And strawberry spoons

Chocolate fountains

And bubble gum balloons

Every day there is a birthday party

Because there are so many elves at the factory

Each one having their celebration

Sounds of laughter and jubilation

Leaking from the walls

Everyone wants to visit there

 But we are told not at all

As it is a secret haven

A chocolate heaven

  When I open my back door

The smell in the air I adore

 

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings 2015

 

EASTER AND THE ELVES

BY

Fiona Cummings

Easter time is upon us

The elves are making such a fuss

Panicking getting everything ready in time

Making chocolate so delicious  so fine

 Noddy has rang his bell so much

Trying to keep the elves awake

All day and night they are making fudge

And wonderful chocolate cake

Naughty Norman the mischievous Forman

 Had words with the cook Elvin

He got caught tasting a chocolate bubble

So now  he is in deep dark trouble

Silicon moulds are all ready

For delicate hands so steady

That job is for the purple hatted Ellie

Who makes the nicest strawberry jelly

Mee ows can be heard out the back

From the beautiful ragdoll cat

Ellie hears this and hides a truffle

Under her purple hat

If she gets caught she too will be in trouble

But she absolutely loves that cat

Who else works at the factory

Oh yes there is Melanie

Who is known for her  Irish melodies

She is the sweetest elf who works there

With her velvet green hat and her carrot hair

She works alongside her Daddy

Lovingly known as Paddy

It’s his job to wash up the pots

And then there is Tixi

A silver haired pixie

Who has been there the longest

And says she is the strongest

All the others laugh

As she is so small she uses a coffee cup for a  bath

But she carries heavy trays

And pushes  machinery out of the way

When not  in use

If a jar lid is too tight

She is always the first to offer to make it loose

Then there is Carter

He is the new starter

His nose does twitch

And his taste buds they itch

So much they desire

The chocolate dust

The  Easter bunny for him is a must

Then there is Pam who’s  making the white chocolate lambs

Oh the smell from our nearby chocolate factory

Can be smelt from the extractor fans

Oh it’s on its way

I can’t wait for Easter  Monday

I shall look at my chocolate goodies

The chicks and the milky bunnies

And thank the Elves

For making delights so yummy

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings 2015

DIARY OF ALAND ISLANDS

 Åland Islands have you heard of such a place? Well I hadn’t until today and today is the day someone from there has decided to take a read at this blog page. I truly hope that they return and join our family of Fifi Bloggets. All I can tell you is I think one of the languages they speak there is Swedish.  It is I think a region in Finland.

Aland’s economy is heavily dominated by shipping, trade and tourism. Fishing and farming also attribute to Alands. Religion? 73% of people who live there I believe are Christians. So please come again and allow us all to learn more!

 

Hub playing tennis on his new Apple TV. He loves it. Teen in home from work telling me as he came through the door that he was almost killed. A lady, not what he called her, decided at the last minute to come  into his lane. I don’t understand driving really, but he said there are two lanes both going in the same direction. One is for overtaking he was in the slow lane she overtook but decided last minute to come into his lane without indicating and gave no warning or indication that she was going to do that and there was loads of space for her to drive in the fast lane to give Teen room, but she chose not to. I truly fear him driving.

 

Just found out our girls coming late morning tomorrow. We said to them on the phone, we will either send them a taxi or a boat to collect them….

 

David Cameron our PM is in our city today. Looking at the floods. Could he not have saved money, given the money to the poor people who are now in schools sleeping and who have their houses to sort out and just watch the news? Smile… I know that if he hadn’t have come, we would be saying oh, he stays in his ivory tower so poor man can’t win…

 

Our brother in law was almost stranded at the weekend but thankfully got home safely. Old Dad doing OK considering his Son and best friend has very little time left in the UK, before he emigrates. I hope it continues. After seeing this weather in England, I bet our Bro is rubbing his hands together thinking, thank goodness no more weather like this? Mind you, I couldn’t stand the heat either. Au gets so hot, when one can fry an egg on the bonnet of a car, time to cool down I think.

 

Our dogs came back after a long walk and they both are totally shattered.  Hub had to clean them. Oh my word what a mess? They were covered in mud Wagga was the worst.

 

A lovely morning with my little family. So good to see them so end of day turning now into evening. Tips of the day? If you are feeling negative, do you know you send out negative vibes so people will treat you differently? Think positive and others will behave in a completely different manner.  Do you know if you are angry, it does you more harm than the person you are angry at? The best way to cheer you up is to cheer someone else up. I really believe that. Ten years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So go on, do it if you dare? And some words. Your limitations may just be in your mind! Later with love. X

NOAH'S ARK

Good day to you my Bloggets. I’m saddened to report that the floods are really out of control as far as we don’t have say obviously in what will happen. I have learned though that in parts of the US you are also having similar weather.

 

I don’t know how many helicopters have flown over our house this morning. But I lost count after so many. They are flying in machinery and sand bags also trying to rescue farm animals. Thank God for our army who are also working hard? Now, that is a talking point. I totally respect the army when it comes to saving lives and preventing deaths. Rather than fighting in wars. They are heroes right now. And no one is getting killed. Bless them they have been working as hard as other parts of the UK have also been affected. There is more rain forecasted tomorrow and Wednesday is to get really really bad. It’s coming through drains too. So far touch wood, we are OK. I think we are luckily a little far out of our town to be in trouble. Two miles away though its hell. I so feel for the people who have to evacuate their houses. For the animals too. My Niece said today that I would have been OK on Noah’s ark. She’s kind of right, but I couldn’t just take in two of each animal. I think my ark would have sunk.

 

Teen got to work safely thank goodness. I thought the roads would be blocked his way but no. I know the motorway yesterday was closed for twenty miles. One thing that surprises me is people are not getting told not to take baths? I mean all that extra water down the drains won’t be good?

 

Our busy road is so quiet. My lovely dog walker has just been and she said to do two miles from where she came from took her one hour. It normally in our busy traffic would take ten fifteen minutes, if there were no cars on the road, or few, it would take about seven minutes, so one hour?

 

But bless her off they are with their eight dog paws and two wagging tails. She was due to come Wednesday but with the rain to come down more heavily, she picked today. And though it is very dull, so far it’s dry. Well, the sky, not the ground.

 

 Our girls coming tomorrow, not sure how we are going to get them out of town? That is if the trains are in action. 

 

OK, will go for now but wherever you are, sending lots of love and please be safe? Always make sure your mobile phone is fully charged. If you have any jewellery passed on to you, if it’s sentimental then put it on. Wear it. As one minute you could be OK next thing flooded.

 

Thank you all for your kind well wishes. And guess what? Only 99 views to go before we make it to the big one hundred so please share and keep reading. Thank you it’s so exciting, will we make it for the end of the years stats?

 

With love  

APPLE TV INSTALLING

Update on our installing on Apple TV. I bought it for Hub for Christmas and Teen and Hub were in the lounge whilst I tried to escape the tech. Hub came in. Teen set the language on Spanish? Hahaheheheheh Oops.

I had to go in and translate the lingo. Smile. Calm the situation down.

Well with teens tech we managed to do it and now, only after twenty minutes of installation, Hub is playing tennis. Oh yes Bloggets, he can’t see a thing and he is swinging and flinging in my lounge just next to the Christmas tree, what is he flinging as a bat? The remote for it. If he leaves go it will be right through the Telly.

 

I’m not sure how he does it but he used to love the Wii. He has down loaded bowling too, well, that is a one where the remote may leave the hand.

 

So all done now but I won’t go near it, things like that scare me. Haha. I know one thing, this game of tennis, keeps making sound effects like a till. I said he thinks he is Pat Cash.

Well, that made me laugh.

 

Thing is, what if the till sounds are telling him that he is being charged a fortune for playing? Hehehehehe.

The best thing is, Poor Wagga, who I’m pleased to say is feeling better now, is watching the TB and her little head is going left to right and then she decided to go to Hub and try to chase whatever he was throwing. She took a while before she realised that he wasn’t leaving go of anything for her to retrieve.

 

Hub has won too by the way. At least we think he has as there is a lot of cheering. Haha.

 

With love x

APPLE TV

Good evening Bloggets it’s still raining. But so far we are still OK and I hope that will continue. I have left the boys in the lounge to fix up our Apple TV. Now for me, I would think that was a television. No. It’s a tiny box you can download things from.

Don’t ask.

Boy’s toys.

 

 My washing machine has not been off all day. And there are another two loads to do.

 

Thankfully Waggatail has been OK no more being sick.  Little Fella did really well today out with Hub they went to the local shop but Hub went the long way. Our Little Fella hasn’t been that way yet and Hub came back so proud of his new guy.

 

Teen up in the morning at five for work. Then its family day for us. My boy will be back at three in the afternoon though. I just pray he will be OK getting to work and back. He is so young to have such a responsibility. Its great Hub is off work for another two weeks. I hope in the meanwhile we have time with our best friends. I wish we lived closer to JB or I should say she lived closer to us. WE don’t see enough of each other and she is a laugh.  We are blessed to have lovely friends and my first text of the day was from our bestie like, he wanted to know if teen got home OK during the night. Bless him. Mind you I also received a text from Hubs ex asking if all was OK with the floods. I thought that was really sweet of her.

 

Thank you for your emails of late I really appreciate all of them.

I will answer them as quickly as I can. Tomorrow before our family our dogs are going for a walk. Our kind dog lady is coming but depends on the weather. Really she would come out in all storms but she isn’t young and I feel bad about that. They say it’s not going to rain tomorrow but Tuesday and Wednesday is going to be worse than the past two days. Oh my word. Hub was saying the other day he doesn’t know how there is so much rain in the sky.

 

Hoping to go to the cinema when the girls come. We have lots of nice Christmas presents for them. I expect they will be tired and will enjoy the peace as over Christmas is really busy for them as they both sing in the cathedral choir. So Christmas time is their busiest.

 

To round up this year. It was one of the best Christmas days ever in my life, but the lead up to it? Oh wow, that was full of stress. So many reasons why. On top of all the normal things like decorating the tree, wrapping gifts and before all of that, shopping for presents. Most of it we had to do on line but thankfully our friend Julie came and helped us to shop for a couple of things for teen and Hub. 

 

I bought hub a ring. Also his Apple TV that he is playing with now. I just hope they can install it OK. Hub bought me a new computer. As this one is really on its last legs, and you know when I use this, I have soft wear to make it talk, well when I opened the lid of my new lap top, it spoke. I was overwhelmed. Teen got lots of lovely gifts. He was so pleased with them all. Even simple things like some nice slippers, bless him, you would think he had won the lotto.

 

He received some awful pop he adored when we went to America to see our friends. I can’t remember the name of it, Hub buys it for teen. Tonight teen said each drink reminded him of his wonderful time out there. He really misses our friends and so do I. It was the best holiday of my entire life, though France this year was beautiful too as all the family were together. Teen and our two girls, Alice and Emily. It marked the ending for so much too.

 

OK, I detect trouble in our lounge so will go and try to calm the situation down. Oh God. Really, I can’t leave them alone for more than two minutes. Why is life so difficult? It’s not like on the movies. You know, when its Christmas Eve and Dad goes out cuts down a Christmas tree, after going to his shed where he has been working on a project for months and has made the child a rocking horse? Under each arm, the Dad comes in the house to the child’s delight and together they hang toys form the tree. Hahheheheh. Why is it never like that in my house?

Laters. X   

teen with the key

Good afternoon Bloggets. Well, thankfully teen came home safely. I was so worried. It was all over our local news that the army had been called in for the floods and the river in our town was about to burst its banks. As Teen was in town, reports were coming through not to go out of your homes and other reports were saying that one minute all was well and next thing, buildings were atact by the water. Some pubs were under water as far as furniture was concerned. Teen got in early that was three by the way. Yes, that is early for him. He said the town was so quiet. I have never known it to be like that on Boxing Day.

 

As the cars passed by our window, it was as though they were driving through lakes. And today, it’s sunny in fact a lovely day but more rain is forecast for the next few days.

 

Hub cooking soup with the leftover turkey. It smells lovely though I won’t be going near it. Why do vegetarian soups not smell that good?

 

Waggatail I hope is feeling better. She was sick yesterday three times. I can’t tell you how much we have cleaned the floors but luckily she makes that awful sound a dog can do so well before hand.  So we know to run with equipment.  I really don’ know what is wrong with her but if she is sick one more time, she is at the dreaded vets. 

 

Christmas is officially over now, if not for our girls coming on Tuesday, I would take down the decorations. I like to put them all up on the first of December but once the big day is over, I like to take them down. Odd? I know.

 

OK, Hub just leaving the house now to go to the local shop. I hope it’s open? It’s mainly to work the Little Fella, as with being a young pup well, a young guide dog, he needs to work or he gets bored. As for Wagga, she isn’t up to playing wild party games with her new brother. I think she ate a bone biscuit too fast on Christmas day and that is what has bothered her; I hope it’s only that.

 

Well, what are you all up to? Sales? They look quite good this year, though haven’t bought anything. Though I do have a voucher and I’m dying to use it. But that involves reading out a code on the plastic, and I have to wait for the right time to ask for some sighted assistance. I also need teen to burn some boxes. He said he will, but when?  I hope today as he is back at work tomorrow and all week. Such a shame he has so far to travel. Did I tell you that they asked him to go back? Well he is trained now to be a supervisor so really he doesn’t need to do this, but he is. It’s crazy as the money is rubbish he gets more where we live. It goes on area. Cost of living. Also it costs him a fortune for petrol.

 

OK. Just found out something my Son has lost his key. Again. Great. Where In the middle of town? At his friend’s house? In a taxi? On our drive? Oh my goodness. This is two keys he has lost to our front door. Well I’m not giving him a third. I’m so cross. I ask him not to take it when he goes out but he takes no notice.

 

So now stressing over the missing key. Anyone can get in. So mad with him. Off now to shout. X

 

JUST BEFORE BED FLOODS (FIONA CUMMINGS )

Just before bed. As the rain continues to fall in the UK and floods threaten us all but for some that threat isn’t an option, but something that is happening. The wind is wild, the rivers are flooding water is forcing buildings to crumble and people right now are homeless. They can’t get into their houses and their items at home are so damaged they are unable to be recovered.

 

 Imagine if that was you? I would totally panick. I really would be so afraid. As for the animals?  The cows in the field, sheep and horses. The wildlife like hedgehogs and as for the lakes with the ducks and swans on? I know it sounds stupid, but what happens there? If the water is flowing vastly out of control over the burst river banks, what happens to the birds on the lakes and rivers? We have a lake not too far from us, about a three minute walk. It’s scary right now. Our city two miles away has roads flooded. My Son is out in it, so no sleep for me tonight. But at least I have a warm bed to go to. Poor people who don’t right now. And do you know that they won’t be able to get their houses insured easily if at all after this disaster? Oh gosh, I just feel so sad for those people, and the children who received their Christmas gifts knowing that they are in the house that is under water right now.

 

Photographs all visual memories. Tactile and audio memories. Wiped out. But they still have a memory. I know this sounds harsh, and I’m not saying it’s OK, but no flood can remove your smiles from yesteryear.

 

So tonight just before bed, I would like to send love in the direction of those who are suffering tonight. For those people who have nowhere to go other than some kind of community centre for the night. For those who are disabled, I feel for them. For you if you are the person or people I’m talking about.

 

I hope that you will be alright and find some kind of silver lining out of this. Perhaps it’s one moment of human kindness you will see that you wouldn’t have if the rain hadn’t had come. I know you wouldn’t swap the kindness for a dry and safe house, there are no words I can say that express just how much I feel for you. I just hope wherever you are, you will find some kind of goodness out of the badness.

 

Just before bed, if you are safe and warm, no matter how sad or alone you feel now, you are far better off than so many people right now. The simple things in life are the best. Someone can have a load of friend’s family and possessions, but in a moment of a natural disaster, it can all go. You could have no one just yourself for company, basic items but be safe healthy and warm in winters.

 

Just before bed I want to send those who need support some love and I pray this will never happen to you again.

 

With love. X