JUST BEFORE BED PILLOW TALK

Just before bed some interesting quotations I have been reading. Some from me and others from people like Eleanor H Porter Pollyanna 1912.

Freidrich Nietzsiche  and Charles Calad

People who say they sleep like a baby, usually don’t have one. Sleeping is no mean art:  For its sake we must stay awake all day. You lose such a lot of time just sleeping when you might be just living you know? The bed is a bundle of paradoxes, we go to it with reluctance, yet we quit it with regret; we make up our minds every night to leave it early, but we make up our bodies morning to keep it late.

 

Most people do not consider dawn to be an attractive experience, unless they are still up.

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the Doctors book. ~An Irish proverb.

 I personally like that but if only it was possible? There is no cure like a laugh from the stomach and as for a long sleep? Gosh, my memory isn’t that good.  So now I need to find that chemist that will hold a prescription for those two medicines.

 

Just before bed, I hope your pillow is soft and your blankets warm. Your room is safe and your sleep is deep. Your dreams are kind and you wake with gratitude and may the morning sun, shine for you. Goodnight Dear Bloggets.

WINGS OF LOVE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

WINGS OF LOVE

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Fly free my little bird

Your song was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard

I hope it will not become blurred

Fly free sweet canary

No longer caged or in an aviary

Though I loved it when you sung

You were in a prison as your cage hung

 Now it’s the adversary

Where souls run

You fly free

Use your soft wings to go high

 Into the rainbow sky

 But remember me

As I will never forget you

Beautiful bird you now need your wings

To see the most amazing things

Drink from chrystal clear water

And eat the freshest fruit

Tiny little songster so cute

 You belonged to me

But now you are free

Where you were one

Singing your song

All alone

Now a part of a chorus

Sweet sounds so gorgeous

 

© Fiona Cummings

DIARY OF WINTER WINGS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 Good day to you all Bloggets. It’s a rather odd day today for me. I had to be out of the house before quarter to nine so I came downstairs, put on my coat and shoes as had to let Wagga in the garden before we left and no way I was going to go out without a coat.

 

So, in winter Jack Frost visits us with his wintery coat of snow, ice and wild winds. Well, he left and moved on to another country but sadly his cousin is here Colin Cutter. Seriously just to step out there today was like being cut and having your wounds open to the elements. My teeth were chattering as I walked Wagga to the dog run.

 

Back in our house, I turned the heating on. As I closed the back door, it was like being cuddled by a giant lovable bear. Oh, I didn’t want to go out, but needs must. As I entered the living room, the sound of silence hit me. I though can’t see a thing, looked to the left of the window as if I could see, and in my mind as I looked, of course, no cage was there. Oh how I miss my little canary. He was Irish you know?

 

Now those of you who think I am mad, I shall confirm your feelings with those who know, I am mad. During the night, to which I didn’t sleep at all, I heard a bang like a bin lid. Where our poor canary Dean ended up being buried. Then, a higher pitched sound higher than our bird, but a bird for sure. He tweeted as if in panic and then nothing. It was about four in the morning. I’m sure it was just a cat pouncing on a poor bird, but who knows? Could it have been our Dean letting me know he was flying free now with the angels? I doubt it, but having said that my first guide dog Hannah, AKA Black Beauty, definitely came back, as did my first pet dog Kara she came back for weeks.

 

I’m so tempted to get another bird. My darling Hub wants me to. He said last night that the house has lost its soul. Sounds silly to most of you I know. But he was my white noise. As I have said before the radio gets on my nerves I’m not the kind of person that can have it on in the background as I listen to it with great care and concentration and if there is talking I don’t just listen to the words/interview, but I have to analyse the person’s mind set… Odd. That is me. If it is music, or singing I’m a huge critic of that too. But Dean, was just a sweet sound that I didn’t have to study.

 

Even when he wasn’t singing, he would walk around his cage like a gentle clock of time. Tick tick, his little feet would go. He was calming, that is what he was. There will never be another one, even if I replace the bird, he, was himself and a real character.

 

I had to call the big office to get some information sent and bless one of the members of staff who is a friend of mine too, she was so lovely as were my friends on my social network. He was a pet, no matter how small.

 

We have now lost three members of our loving pet family in twenty months. My first guide dog BB, Hubs wonderful guide dog LC and now Dean.

 

Moving onto a bigger beastie girl, not that she is big, but Wagga. As she guided me today, she was really good. Coming back was a challenge, but not disastrous. And in the buildings today she was brilliant. It was windy but not enough to be a blind person’s fog. I still could hear. It was bitter cold though.

 

On my return, I was exhausted. Put all my paperwork away and took off my coat. Put on the kettle and had a soothing cup of tea. Waggs is so quiet today, after her huge walk yesterday where June told me both dogs ran their little socks off but Waggs kept going under a tree and laying down until she caught her breath. Each time the gate opened onto the field, both our dogs ran to see who was coming on next and if he or she would be a nice friend to play with. Knowing waggatail, most likely to see what the dog or human was carrying, and if it was round and if they were going to throw it for her.

 

Going to start dinner now. Not sure what I will cook yet see what I feel like doing as I enter the kitchen. I feel like a home made broth its that cold. Also soup makes you feel better I feel.

 

Until later with love as always. X

SO SAD

 

 Well I had a lovely weekend so it has to come to an ending with a bang. I’m so upset. Cried today. Two reasons. One because that day came I was dreading. Just before teen went to work he went to our window and said the words. “Oh no!” I asked what was wrong? He repeated the words and again went quiet. I thought someone had driven onto our front garden and knocked down our newly planted apple tree. Much worse. He then said.

“Dean is dead!”

Oh no, our beautiful canary. He was laying on the bottom of his cage. I’m devastated because he was such good company. Each day when I was on my own he would sing and it would be like white noise. If I put on some music I look for faults in the musicians or a song the words get on my nerves or the singer is screaming not singing well something, but Dean, our canary, Irish, bless him, he was just right, if someone was here, he was annoying to others because you couldn’t hear yourself think, but me on my own? And he was teens little pet. I’m going to miss him so very much. My heart is hurting and I have a lump in my throat. Some will say it’s just a bird, to me he was much more.

 

I hope there is a bird heaven and I hope he is flying now freely and has the best food and fresh water. I am so very sad.

 

WORDS FROM A ROSE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

WORDS FROM A ROSE

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

The rose

So meaningful

Who knows

How powerful

You can’t suppose

Incredibly beautiful

Something you chose?

Or given to you

Yellow

For bravery

Red for passion

Ivory

For a wedding?

White for fashion?

Pink to get well

The rose

Such a stunning smell

Who knows

You can’t take for granted

It was planted

Some are scented

Those, are my favourite

As the petals fall

The bloom gets so small

But I always recall

How a rose made me feel?

Though my vase is empty now

Thinking about a rose becomes real

Just a single rose

Can say so much

A longing for your touch

I love you so much

I’m sorry for your loss

Just a rose

How much will it cost?

Can you put a price on it?

For a rose says so many words

Turns a simple plain vase

  Into a vision

 And sense of indulgence

A rose

Can we suppose?

I don’t think so

In my garden they grow

But when I’m giving one, I know

This is more than a flower

A rose, has this power

 

© Fiona Cummings

DIARY OF A FAMILY DAY

 

 Good evening Bloggets. As the night is about to get chilly and I have to close the house for the end of the day, I wanted to come along and sit for a while to have a chat.

 

It’s been a really lovely day. Infect this weekend has been so different. We have actually relaxed. It’s not like us at all. And today was spent having a lovely family day just the three of us out for lunch. After having a bit of a lay in, we got ready to go out, Hub got dressed up and looked in my mind really handsome. He wore some lovely black shoes, same as what Teen wears, loafers I think they are called, haha. With some black chino’s and a really trendy shirt that Teen bought Hub for his birthday last year. It’s black and white check with really polished black buttons. I stupidly wore a white blouse… Hmm I say stupid as we all went out for Sunday lunch me white blouse and lunch don’t go together very well. Mor on that subject later…

 

Though Teen didn’t get in until after four this morning, he was ready for a meal out with his Ma and Pa. Smile.

 

Well, of course we took The Little Fella. So he and Hub got in the front of Teens car. Me? In the back. A two door car… Well, getting in wasn’t exactly lady like and as for getting out? I almost needed a tin opener.

 

Seconds away from having to get rescued by the fire brigade, “That would be nice!!!!” I linked Teens arm and Hub and the LF followed. It was to a lovely pub not too far from us but too far to get to on our own as no busses there and no path to walk there. It’s an old country pub with very low beams from the ceiling. An old stone floor with a log fire, not that it needed a hot crackling fire today as it was sunny and warm.

 

Teen had for starters, thick bacon with egg and fried straws… Not too sure what that was all about but for a starter? Hub had scallop’s and prawns and I had delicious baby button mushrooms with a blue cheese sauce and stunning slightly toasted thick homemade bread with loads of seeds on. For main course, Teen had turkey Sunday dinner with roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and veg, Hub had the same with lamb and I had the same with a vegetarian tart it was really lovely, but, here it comes… There was a tiny jug of gravy, so I went to carefully pour it on my Yorkshire…. Hmm. Just to learn, that it wasn’t gravy, it was tomato sauce… That was OK, Yorkshire and a thick tomatoes sauce I coped with, it was the fact that as I cut into the Yorkshire, and brought it to my mouth, it fell.

Right on my white blouse. Great… I do it every meal. Hub never ever does this.

 

Anyway, I would do my curry thing on it when I got home… Toothpaste, leave it overnight and then put in the washing machine. Works on curry, let’s see if it works on tomatoes?

 

My Mother in law if she were alive bless her, would go mad. The vegetables were enough for one person. They were delicious too. Hub and I were remembering when we took her and my Father in law out some years ago where we used to live, my Mother in law asked the waitress for more vegetables. The girl was stunned as if to say, no one asks for more veg? When my Mother in law continued by saying. “Come on, what’s a few veg?” Hub says it was her pet hate and she found it dreadful when eateries skimped on the vegetables. Well I wish she was with us today, not only because I miss her like mad, but because I was starving… The roast potatoes were really gorgeous really crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

 

For dessert, Teen had a chocolate brownie, Hub a sherry trifle and me an apple crumble with custard. I joked as the custard came in a jug like the gravy/tomatoes sauce, smile, dare I pour it?

 

There was a mixture of clientele from normal respectable families though they had screaming children where again I know I have gone on about this before, but parents don’t seem to tell their children off now for being noisy. I mean today there was an old lady who was obviously the grandmother, and she sat and let her kids scream. Gosh, no way I would put up with that from my Son. He was told to be respectful and quiet when out. The parents were educated and respectable, so should know about manners. But you don’t tell kids off now. Freedom of whatever. Brattishness.

 

There was a right snooty family in. And a few normal gents… And… Us…

Haha.

 

Well, good job we were not in a hurry. The whole meal took two and a half hours. Two and a half hours for three courses. Hub said it’s because we are so used to rushing now and nothing is calm anymore. We are a now society. He’s right. It was nice to eat and not have our plates removed from us as we took our last spoonful.

 

Well, that was Hubs version, I just think the cook was on a go slow.

 

We came out and home. LF was a good lad. He lay as still as anything during the meal as he should.

 

Got home made a coffee and relaxed in our noisy garden. Talking about how we are so lucky to have such good neighbours all around us. We are blessed as they are all so respectful and they are always really quiet. Just a shame the road does not copy.

 

Tonight we spent time singing and playing piano. Teen is out again, he has cleaned his car today and been to the gym right after his meal, he did have a coffee first then pick up his friend, so at least he had a fifteen minute break in between. Oh today was so good driving along in his car, well, not me personally, but being driven, with the knowledge that Teen wouldn’t go one way in the front and leave me in the back travelling along to another avenue, as the car parted like the waves haha. Seriously, it’s good to know that we are now in a safe car. Though his little old car never let him down as far as starting, just stopping it we had trouble with… The breaks were really not good.

 

As I close this blog I can tell you floating in our house tonight is the fragrance of the chocolate factory from a short distance away. It smells amazing.

 

OK, bank holiday Monday here tomorrow so Hub and I are at home no work teen is working half of the day and he will get double pay, this is good as now he is working part time, his money is very low. So I bid you a farewell until tomorrow. X

 

 

 

DIARY OF SHARING A KISS AND WITH ME BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 

Good afternoon Bloggets. Here I am in my favourite room where one can pretend one is in a hot country… My conservatory, which is in winter cosy and summer. Ha. That’s a joke, the warmth is appreciated. I’m sitting on my favourite sofa propped up by my favourite cushion. It’s cream fleece on one side and suede on the other. To my right is my favourite coffee table that is all mirror, it’s solid and square with a beautiful lamp, and yes you may have guessed it, it’s my favourite lamp.  It’s crystal and has chunks of cubic glass coming from the stem. It has a large square shade on it I think it is cream. In fact, I’m sure it is. Next to it is a crystal dish Hub brought with him when he moved in with me eight years ago gone the 23^rd of this month. And on each corner of the table, are porcelain coasters shaped like hearts with different slogans on with regards friendship. My friend Julie bought me them some years ago and they look great as the point of the heart fits into the corner of the table.  

 

There are a few plants in here and another lamp. It has a windowsill all the way around apart from the top end where the opening doors are. The windowsill is dark wood and I have so many ornaments. A lot of wood, dark wood. An elephant of course, actually there are two. A lovely carved Buddha I bought Hub a couple of years ago. A box with elephants on some other animal I think it’s a hippopotamus, smile. Oh and my favourite is a bear I bought in America. It’s a huge flat carved bear with open arms holding four other round disk like carved wooden coasters with bears on. I have a large modern angel and a white lady in old fashioned clothes. A little boy with a fishing hat on holding fish next to flowers rods and a bucket. There is a stunning old fashioned milk float with old milk bottles on the carriage and is being pulled by a horse with a man sitting in again old fashioned clothes and I have another horse made from the same whatever it is, but this one is so colourful. It’s a fairground horse on a bronze pole. I have a china horse my Son bought me when he was little. It’s galloping. I have a green dish with fruit on, a huge green Denby dish we put fruit in and a green tortoise which reminds me, I also have a colourful wooden tortoise. And a green slate square dish with a slate lid to match and on the centre of the lid is a gold lizard.  I have green porcelain pots for plants and my walls are green. The other cushions on my sofa are cream with green and brown and my sofa is brown leather. We have a hostess trolley in here with a lamp which is with a mirror stem and silver silk shade. Next to that is a wine rack which has piano keyboard on the sides it’s all carved from solid wood. On top of that are all of my silver ornaments. I have a tiny silver and mirrored pot with a tiny crystal hand bag on and a lovely silver embossed pot with lift up lid. A tiny silver grand Father clock which is miniature and a small clock that is a fishing rod with a pot full of silver fish hooks and a pair of wellingtons for getting in the water, waders?

 

I only have two things on the walls. One is a silver wall light like a holder of three candles. The other is a dark wood kind of lacquered picture of a snow fox. A chandelier on the roof which has many lights from it.

 

The table in here is crone like mirrored legs again with a glass top and has four leather brown chairs around it that I got with my Husbands brother a couple of years ago. The floor is tiled and kind of cream in colour some say taupe. We have a stereo in here too.

 

The birds are singing so loud outside but are being masked by the road which drives us crazy. I noticed though there are some lovely smells in my garden now, that should have been out in Spring but I guess they needed waking up by a rake. And my gardener came a few weeks ago to do that job. So the smell is lovely and keeps floating in here.

 

I have just made a huge salad for boy wonder to come home to from his job. It had everything in it and was so healthy. I made some bread rolls so they were nice and hot from the oven and served it with some homemade mayonnaise and hummus. Some Greek cheese too and barley. Hub is working from home today so I made him come for some lunch. He wouldn’t come from his room if not for that. He started working at half eight so by half one is time for a break from the phone and computer only for ten minutes though then off again, but at least he walks from the office upstairs to down here.

 

Just as I took the rolls from the oven teen walked in so perfect timing. Teen loved his lunch but reminded me he also needs some fish or chicken and will be home for more food in a hour or so… Me personally I am stuffed and had the least of all of us but I don’t eat during the day  on week days, only weekends.

 

My treat is on Sunday as I have booked Sunday lunch at a local pub. Roast potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings are on my list. To have a Sunday lunch made for me will be such a treat. A day away from the kitchen. I will buy some ham tomorrow and that will do for a sandwich for tea in the afternoon for the boys. After a large lunch there will be no need for me to cook. Teen can have his pasta if he wants to make it…

 

His car thankfully is working like a dream. Let’s hope it stays like that. At least the breaks work and that old car worried me so much because they didn’t. It took about twelve seconds after putting your foot down before it stopped.

 

I went with him to pick it. We had a nice day it was miles away where we ended up getting it. All the way there I had teen music. Oh heck. All the way back too… Double oh heck.

 

I have a theory. If they cut out the bad language, there would be no words left only music. Then his music would be OK. As the music is fine, it’s just when the so called singer starts to groan on with bad words. I can’t bare it.  When you look at Apple music, almost every song in the charts reads “Explicit.”

 

It’s a long weekend here in the UK as it’s bank holiday on Monday. Wherever you are in the world, remember this.

Slow down on your journey of life or not only you will miss the scenery, but you will be so flustered you will forget where you are going and why.”

“Happiness is like a kiss; you must share it to enjoy it…”

Bernard Meltzer

 

DIARY OF BLIND TO THE CHAIR BY FIONA CUMMINGS

It’s cold and wet today. How much more of this country can I stand? Answer, until I win the lottery, I have no choice. Everyone I know around here is going away for the weekend, as it’s bank holiday. Teen came from work and he said that so many people are going to France as they called in his shop to buy jerry cans or whatever you call them to put petrol in, as France are on strike as far as petrol is concerned. He has sold so many that they had no big ones left so he sold one man, 12, tiny canisters… How long will that take to fill? Haha.

 

Gosh, to get away would be so lovely. Or a walk along a beach. Mind you, we would need our winter coats on as no way you could go out there without a coat, and I’m not a lover of coats. Often I can be seen in winter without a coat. Not if it’s this cold…

 

Windows, doors cupboards and work tops all items lifted off and a good old clean as well as our cooker, fridge and other white goods. I have vacuumed the floors and mopped them with a cherry fragrant liquid.

 

Don’t worry, it was meant for floors and work tops… Not to drink. Though it has been known.

 

I ironed this morning and put more washing in. Just as I got the basket down to nothing, my washing basket was overflowing. So soon when all dry, my ironing basket will be full again. It’s a vicious circle. By two this afternoon, teen had had three meals. Breakfast, brunch, lunch… So I was washing and putting dishes away, wiping my clean work tops again and again… All plants are watered and groomed a Wagging one.

 

As for the dog run, well my name is not on that today, Hub can deal with it, as with the rain, it’s not the best place to be. Seriously, whilst others are planning their weekend break, we are planning on, picking up poop. Haha.   

 

Oh, continuation of skinny jean saga. All week I have been in but one morning. Not dared to go to things like the dog run to clean until after seven in case my person comes to return the parcel. Today was the last day he was to come. He didn’t. I called the company, oh, it has not been logged at their end. Why? Because when the shop contacted them, they the collection people, didn’t trust the post code. They said it was too long… hahhhahaha OK, so say so and confirm with the shop? No, don’t be silly, that would be too sensible. So they just ignore. And when I confirmed the post code, it was the one they had. The one I have always had… Same amount of letters and numbers as everyone else in the UK.

 

So now I continue to wait. It will be either tomorrow or Monday. Great…

 

I hope Teen will be kind enough to pick up my painting from town on Saturday? Then to get it hung on the wall along with my print of my angel. I can’t wait to get them. I was told it would be a week. Why is everything so blooming long? Over three weeks ago I made an appointment to see my Doctor. I was told three weeks. When I was there yesterday, I was told another couple of weeks for a blood test. Then ten days later another Doctors appointment to get the results from my Doctor.

 

I couldn’t believe it had been eighteen months since I saw her? Gosh, I would have guessed about thirteen months. She was as ever really lovely, and, gosh, guess what? So were the receptionists. I was in shock. I think after the last time I went to see the nurse; the man I was talking to was so shocked how they were he complained. He was one of those gentlemen who don’t say much, but when they do they mean it. And he was so cross in how they were. As I have been back since to see a nurse and they were find, a little odd in how they showed me where there was a chair, but at least they offered. As for this time, much better but it’s really odd how people just can’t deal with telling someone without sight, where the chair is? Hahaha. Oh, it’s a laugh.

 

I have been reversed like a lorry ready to offload, pulled by the sleeve and pushed into chairs. Also people frees. They get to the chair and can’t speak.

 

So if you can’t see. Guess what that means? You can’t see the chair… Yep, to someone clever like you, this is obvious. But putting your thoughts into reality, is something else. One thing not to do is push someone into the chair. We don’t know what way the chair is facing, if we did, then we can do the rest, honest. So, how to communicate with us, that is the question. Well surprisingly enough, it normally involves using words and one very brief bit of contact.

 

Tell us that is the back of the chair whilst placing our hand onto the back of the chair. Same with a car. Say which way the car is facing, our hand on the back of the seat and bingo, we are in. A lot of emphasis is spent on cars, the roof. We can normally sort that out as long as we know which way the car is facing. It can be done in such a calm way too. No fuss. Gosh the lady in the Doctors it was as if I was ball room dancing with her. She put my arm through hers almost up to my arm pit. She held on for life. With the hand I was linked through she put my hand in hers and with her other hand, she placed it on top. Hahaha. It was as if I was being escorted. But that is an improvement on being told over there like they normally do.

 

We like to take your elbow, place your hand on the back of the chair and we can follow your arm down to the end of your hand where the back is… Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

 

Teen loving his car thankfully. Oh it’s so quiet in comparison to the other one. Sadly, for the next year he is in debt with it, so his money is going to be very low. Only good thing about that is, if he has no money, he won’t be able to afford to see his so called father. Every cloud has a silver lining.

 

 Teen has given his car a name… I can’t remember what it is, but it was a beautiful name. I don’t get why men do that? Name their cars? What’s wrong with. Car?

 

Well I’m going to put my heating on… Seriously, its bitter cold. So until later, stay well fit healthy and happy. Be true to yourselves. Those who love you, love them more, as love is hard to come by. X

TALKING ON THE TELEPHONE

Good afternoon Bloggets. Well whilst I’m writing this, I have some gentle classical music playing in my right ear. I’m on the phone, on hold whilst I wait for someone to answer me.

 

Nothing yet today has worked. Emails are not getting answered fast enough for me as have deadlines to make and need answers.

 

OK, I’m through to a lovely lady… On hold again. She has gone to see how she can work out something for me that is so simple… God give me strength? Smile… We do live in a very odd world.

 

She came back, now away again… haha. I have been on the phone for thirty-three minutes… My Hub wonders what I do during my days… This call is for him as much as myself. What would he do without me? Smile…

 

Hub is in the south today and he said it’s freezing. It is here too. This is summer? No way you can go out there without a coat on.

 

Teen at work today He has already been home for his first feed. Bare in mind he had cereal, toast and two eggs for breakfast two and a half hours earlier. He will be back at two for more food. He had at eleven, rice veg and tuna. I wish people the gym would shut up about him not eating enough… They sit down to six sausages six raw eggs and goodness knows what else for breakfast… they drink gallons of milk per day. They eat steaks and two plus chicken breasts too each day as well as loads of tuna. Well, bully for them. We can’t afford it and not only that, I don’t want my Son having a heart attack. It’s disgusting. Never do they mention fruit. Or, salad. To eat every two hours is driving me crazy. As well as costing the earth already. He said as he left, he needs to start to eat better and more, well he can go and get a better paid job and buy more food, then on his way home from the shops, pop into one of his healthy friends houses and cook there as my kitchen is always untidy because I spend ages cleaning it for him to come home and get out dishes and pans again…

 

Still on the phone… This woman now is annoying me hence the tension in my writing. The incompetents in people is so annoying.

 

And I can’t stand the chit chat. Just give me your answer and go onto the next person. I don’t care where you are going on holiday or the fact you have a chocolate Labrador. Really, jog on.

 

Still waiting for a person to come and take away my skinny jeans that I got last week. Someone comes takes them back then I get my money put back into the bank. Allegedly. But they don’t say when they are due. I spend my life waiting.

 

Dean, my canary, Irish you know? Smile. Is screeching at the top of his voice. The other night, there were birds singing on the TV and he was copying every tweet they did. I felt so sorry for him. He was waiting listening to what they were singing about, then copying.

 

OK, it’s official. I’m cross now. She has gone off again. Who gave this girl a job? She has to keep going and asking her boss questions. If I were her boss, I wouldn’t be impressed. Little Nicki knocky nine doors, tapping on the door asking if it was OK if she took a breath? She has a strong Liverpudlian accent too…

 

Oh that was funny, she caught my software talking and she asked me what it was. I just said the little man in my computer… I was deadly serious and it went quiet… Oh, talking of little men in my computer, wait till I tell you this? You will get the connection, honest… hahaha.

 

Hub let the dogs out last night. He came in sounding a little shook up… He got my hand as if I don’t know how to get around my home. And guided me like a little girl up the garden path.

 

“Listen?” He exclaimed, still gripping onto my hand. Oh my word… What was it? We still don’t know now, but Hub ran in the house leaving me standing there listening to this very odd sound coming from next doors fence. Now it’s a high fence with evil prickly thorns sticking through the fence. But this breathing was coming from the fence. Not separated by thorny shrubs and a fence… It was between the fence and shrubs. Or, had the thorns been removed to put this animal cage in. It was like a human breathing really heavily. But not noisy. We feared it was a dog as we heard a puppy in that garden some days ago. Was it in a kennel? Did it have a little thing to stop him barking? I blooming hope not, I’m going to get teen to look and if there is a kennel there, I will be climbing over that fence and pinching the dog, bringing him back and then what? I really am not a fan of people getting dogs and leaving them out all night. How do they know the dog is OK? Our dogs sometimes, rarely but sometimes wake us up during the night, they want to go out or they feel sick or they have been sick. Or they just can’t settle so we go down, calm them and they go fast asleep. To keep a dog in a cage, is awful. OK in a room as a pup to stop it chewing but over night outside? We used to have a neighbour at our other house in Northumberland who kept his dog outside tied up. It was so cruel. It was a cute little dog. He cried all day. There was no shade in summer and no protection in winter. I contacted animal welfare but they said without a photograph, they could not do anything about it. So one day I got the ladders and shouted on the neighbours as they had a load of people around. I was listening and heard them saying how cute the dog was, showing it off to their guests. I asked teen who was eleven at the time to look over and he said that the dog was running free. So for show. I leant over the fence probably looking into a huge conifer. And shouted. “Excuse me, can you tell your visitors how your dog is never ever off a bit of rope and doesn’t have shelter or shade? Even when you feed it, you keep it on a rope.

 

Well, she was a Police woman and I really disliked her. As she did me. One day when I was walking linking my Husbands arm where we used to live, teen was walking a head. He turned as he heard a sound. It was that neighbour. She walked right in between Hub and myself, barging through us even though I had linked Hubs arm. I didn’t know that it was her. I was in shock. By the time Teen told us, she was gone. Wow, I can’t tell you now what would have happened but way back then, I was soft.

 

OK off the phone. Forty nine minutes. All to be told no. Stupid people. I need some chocolate now. Quick before Teen my fitness instructor comes home… Really I have not had any for two weeks but I need some kind of fix today after that rubbish on the phone. X

 

 

DIARY OF THE ART

Sitting here starving. Our shopping is due tonight. Only thing is, I have not had a reminder that it is getting delivered. This is scary. Have I booked the correct date? Haha. Oops… I hope so as we are running short of things other than the basics that I can get from our local shop. We have a huge shop across the evil road but not a chance I’m going there.

 

On Saturday we may have to but I hope to encourage Hub to go by bus as he is all for crossing that road. Me? Not at all. The cars drive some up to 70 mph. And they come from both directions it’s a very wide road and there is no crossing. All it will take is for Waggs to have a panick attack right in the middle of the road, or for me to do a stumble. I have only fallen twice in the past four years but both times have been spectacular.

 

To go by bus, you have to walk about six minutes away from the evil road, so in the other direction. Time you walk there; you could almost be at the shops as it’s about a ten minute walk. So to walk and wait for a bus then stop at one stop before we get there will be on average 14 minutes, but at least we will get there in one piece. But Hub says it’s silly and he is fine with crossing…  Reminds me, we need to renew our wills… Seriously, we do. We wrote our last will five years ago when teen was little so needed a guardian for him and the guardian was also in the will. That guardian now doesn’t exist and Teen can look after himself. Well. That is the theory. Hopefully, he will not need to until he is fifty. That will be good. I’m not ready to leave this land. Waiting for sight first so I can start to really live and see life.

 

Teen today is at the beach with a lovely friend. This friend is at University studying medicine. Stem cell research. We had a nice discussion and was reassured that for my eye condition, RP, there will be something very very soon. I hope so.

 

I had a lovely day today. My friend Arty came. I have not seen her for three months. She has just come back from the Caribbean and on Thursday, is heading off to France on a holiday for artists. She wanted to see my angel painting, but I don’t collect it until Friday. I’m so excited about that but now need to learn who will put it on the wall for me? I don’t have enough jobs to phone for the joiner who said he would do little jobs for me. I can’t ask him out for that only.

 

Teen said he will put the pictures up.

Em.

Love ya Darl, but no, “My name is no!”

Love a bit of Meghan Trainor.

 

Arty and I went for a walk in our local park. The smells were stunning. Waggs was let off on the field and whilst a lady was walking her tiny dog, who had a ball, Waggs showed the little dogs Mum how good she was at retrieving other dogs balls. At least she brought it back to the lady and waited patiently until the kind lady through the ball again for her, whilst the ladies little dog lay down on the field.

 

Waggs worked well back home, in fact, she was OK getting there too.

Artie and I had a cupper and a cheeky biscuit, whilst putting the world right.

 

My eye is very sore today but Arty said that it’s not black. It has a lump but no colour. Even the cut is small. I was really lucky. Just wish it didn’t hurt every time I blink. Yesterday was a little annoying. Especially as Wagga and I did so well for a couple of hours, just the last bit that went very wrong. As for the letter that I had to post, I was furious. It was for Hub and long story short, but I know of the outcome with the letter, and it just annoys me. I disliked the receiver more so, when I got over friendly with the post box.

 

Had a nice chat with a friend on the phone today too.

OK must dash and sort out tonights dinner? Delicious Indian food. I’m not clever enough don’t be impressed. It will come from a take away, rather than a jar. Haha.

 

Tomorrow I will be spent on the phone, I have work to do and insurance to sort out as well as organise myself for Friday. I’m at our library for most of the day. With a Wagging one.

 

Also excited as looking at a break for Hub Teen and myself. It will be a lovely time just the three of us to get away from work, and, work. I’m praying our lovely Hermione can baby sit Waggatail. As for Little Fella? That may be a challenge. I hate leaving our dogs but last year I was rather chilled about Wagga and of course, we had our darling LC then. Gosh, she only lived about a month after we got back from France. Oh it’s so sad. I loved her so much. She was spectacularly special. Still waiting for paper work to say we can name our puppy Suki after her thanks to your very kind donations to Guide Dogs and my Husbands Just giving page. I will never forget you all.

 

Right really must dash and get dinner on the go… Now, where’s that number? Haha. X

DIARY OF LOST BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 

Good afternoon dear Bloggets. I don’t have a clue of the time I’m sitting on my sofa with a shattered guide dog on her bed not too far from me. My house is peaceful, Teen out right now at the gym, so time to chill. Me time, when I love to chat to you all.

 

Well, today I was dreading this morning and I had every right to do so… An early start, Wagga had a big job to do getting me to where I needed to be safely. I couldn’t afford for her to make any mistakes I was so grateful for her as would not be able to go to the places I needed to today without her. And she didn’t let me down. After I left the house she did try to head to the other side of the road to go towards the park. Once I corrected her, all was fine. Gosh our busy road today was ridiculous.  Weekends it’s not as bad but during the week is dreadful. There was a car every half of a second passing me either one way or an other and most of the time, two cars going each way. So loud, I get so disoriented. But praying no one would talk to me and there would be no distractions, I kept calm. She was great didn’t hit me into anything she stopped at each road and weaved me in and out of narrow lanes and avoided overhanging greenery.

 

I had to force myself to do this journey today I have found myself having to do at least one thing per week that is totally out of my comfort zone. Not enjoying it, but it’s essential.

 

 Well my meeting went well and then off to a couple more places. Wags still doing perfect. Half way to my next stop, I did stop in my head that is, not my legs, and think, what am I doing? Putting trust in my dog? I still get like that even after having two guide dogs. At the end of the day, they are animals.

 

All my jobs done but have to go back tomorrow to one place that should be OK. We popped into the shops and then got home. All fine, then I remembered that I had to post a letter, so as soon as I got in, I picked up the letter, turned around on my heal a headed out again to the post box. Normally I go to the one which is miles away, this one is no more than a two minute walk. Well, firstly Wagga didn’t stop at the road, it was a very slight ramp, so I had not realised that I had gone down the step.

 

A car came around the corner fast, but luckily I pulled Waggatail back to the kerb. It wasn’t close but she should have stopped at the kerb. I corrected her and we crossed. Gosh, this road was a forever road, one of those where I think to myself. Are we crossing this straight, or on an angle?

 

A car purred not far from me waiting with kindness until I got to the kerb. I felt such pressure. I was probably twenty seconds crossing this road, but it felt like one hundred!

 

It’s difficult to explain, but where I was to cross, there is a road behind me, one to the right, one slightly angled to the left, one to the left and straight ahead. So if Wagg took me on an angle, it would have been very easy to go down the wrong way.

 

Well if we had of gone the wrong way and Wags walked me along the road, that would have been terrifying. But she found a kerb. I turned right and she wanted to head to our church. Perhaps she has some confessions to make?

 

I turned to my right asked her to find the way and thankfully she got me to where I needed to be. But where was the post box?

 

She was sniffing the grass like crazy. I was saying to her find the post. She took no notice. As I lent down to her to lift her head as correcting through the lead wasn’t doing any good, I wacked my eye right into the top of the post box. It was so rusty. At least she had found the box.  She was sniffing as she knew she had found it, bless her, it was all my fault. I thought she was being naughty sniffing. Oh the pain. Anyway I tried to wipe my eye with the back of my hand. It was bleeding and the lid of the post box went right into my eyeball.

 

Long story short, that was enough to get me in a fluster to get home. We got lost. It was ridiculous we were not more than two minutes from home.

 

I stopped and listened. What could I hear? I walked forward to try to find the main road so I could start again, but what if I had crossed without knowing? Or if I had not gone across the road where I needed to be and was heading towards the other side then I would get even more lost.

 

Then Waggs thankfully stopped at the step. I put my foot forward and found a kerb. Did not dare step down it.

 

Turned around again, I did not recognise anything at all. No smells, sounds nothing, I felt something above my head. Oh as I put my hand up to feel what it was, it was someone’s porch… No, I was in someone’s blooming garden. I went to leave and walked across grass to try to find a path or drive. Oh it was dreadful.

 

My heart was pounding, I felt sick. Bless Waggatail she avoided obstacles just her satellite navigation was broken, smile.

 

I called my Son who was at home in bed… Phone rang and rang. Then I phoned Hub. What could he do at work? Nothing. But it was just a voice to try to calm me down. Bless one of the girls in the office, she answered as Hub was in a meeting. She was sweet she is a lovely lady. Hubs office is miles away an hour so obviously she couldn’t do anything and I knew this I as I said just wanted a familiar voice. Well, I got to a path and just waited for someone to pass.

 

At last a bike went by. I shouted excuse me. They continued riding by. I shouted again and she stopped answering. “Fiona, are you OK?”

 

Few, oh thankfully one of my neighbours. Well, I felt such a fool. I was right at the top of our street. How stupid of me. I was so embarrassed. I had been out for two hours walking different places doing fine, and got lost in my own street. It’s days like this I totally hate myself.

 

Once I knew where I was I was fine to get back. Waggs is just very unpredictable she can be fantastic one moment then rubbish the next. She had crossed a wrong road; it was the road to the park.

 

She stopped me from bumping into anything though though we did tour around someone’s front garden. Can you imagine, you are sitting in your lounge minding your own business when this woman with her dog comes walking down your drive, walks across the grass and then starts to reach up to your porch roof? Haha. Nutter…

 

    Anyway, all safe waiting for the next adventure… A quiet life would be OK. X

DIARY OF BEDTIME

Good evening Bloggets. Sorry so late today it’s been a strange day. It’s rather late now but earlier I was privileged to listen to my Husband playing piano as he rehearses for a wedding we are going to where he is playing and singing. Gosh, he is amazing. I wish I could play like him. No, sorry, I wish I could play full stop… Well, after he played for an hour he asked me to sing with him. Heck… Oops. Lyrics? In fact, tune? Haha.

 

Turned on the microphone and I was away. Have you ever seen two guide dogs and a canary, Irish, go for cover?

 

Hub has some great tunes lined up. When we get there, it will be interesting to see what piano is there? Gosh I hope it will be tuned? Haha. Imagine if it’s not? Things will start to go very wrong.

 

As for what I’m wearing for the wedding… I have a dress I bought last year that is too posh so I have never worn it. Question is, will it fit? If not, I have a suit. But it should be nice weather so that will be hot. Gosh it’s so easy for men, chuck on a suit, shirt and tie I have to think about shoes hand bag, hair and make up.

 

As for Teen he bought a beautiful suit he wore for an interview last year it’s stunning, I am sure he won’t get in it. He is massive now. I hope he will. Or it’s trousers and a shirt for him, as this will be the second suit he has bought that cost a couple of hundred pounds and he has worn both of them only once before they got too small.

 

Today has been cold and wet. Windy too. Fed up with this weather.

 

Hub tried to get rid of some weeds and we watered the garden as you know even if it rains you still need to water your plants.

 

Our dogs went out for a walk with June. When she told us of the dogs on the field, gosh I’m glad I didn’t know about them at the time, as I can’t remember the breed, but Hub said that they are rather dangerous. Well innocent Little Fella doesn’t know anything dangerous or bad bless him. He has not long turned two and as a guide dog, you are placid and most of them don’t know how to be aggressive.

Thankfully. Smile.

 

Teen worked all day and out playing now… Haha. I really don’t know what he does at nights, he could be anywhere. At least I’m meeting his friends now and I must say they are nice lads.

 

 

Teen had me weight lifting again. Hey, I’m getting better at it… One thing he did tell me that I was a little worried about. My legs apparently are blue. They have been for a while. Really? Hub is worried. The thing is, if you can’t see, how do we know these things? If we have a mole that we should get tested out? Blood in urine etc.?  Well tomorrow morning I’m dreading. I will tell you more tomorrow, if Waggs manages to get me there and back safely.

 

Right now, I’m waiting for our washing machine to finish. What is in it? Our bedding. Hahaha Oops. It’s very late. Our washing machine is taking the biscuit. Poor Hub is tired and has to get up for work at silly time. They are not finished yet and then they have to be dried. Not to mention putting on the bed after that? Hubs not impressed.  Well how was I to know they would be in so long? I mean, normally its on for an hour and a half. This has been two hours and twenty minutes so far.

Still going strong.

 

OK will go for now and close the house for bed. Even though it may be a while before we get there haha.

 

    

JUST BEFORE BED I PRAY SHE WILL BE OK

Just before bed I wanted to tell you about a young lady I know. She is blind and has had a tough life. Sadly, not much luck with her parents the way they have treat her in the past, of course I only have her side of the story. But from what I gather it wasn’t pleasant what went on in her past. She had problems that are so personal I won’t go into. At last she met a loving man who proposed to her. They were really happy planning their wedding when I on a weekend break received the sad news that her poor fiancé had died overnight. He was so young in his late twenties. She was heartbroken of course.

 

After about a year her life started to improve. What always amazed me about this girl, she never gave up. She is a true inspiration. She has lost so much but continues with a smile. She gets out and about with her white cane. Nothing stops her. This has got her into a lot of difficulties in the past but she is a survivor.

 

 She at last started to see her Mum again which meant the world to her. Her father and herself were closer than ever. At last, she was heading in the right direction.

 

She has applied for lots of jobs and at last she was excepted into a university to become a social worker. She was so happy to receive that news.

 

Remember I’m not going into her private life of her many troubles over the years, her blindness was just one of many issues she suffered. The loss of the first man she fell in love with too and the relationship between her parents and herself were at times so painful but all this was going to be better along with her studies now.

 

Well a couple of nights ago, she sadly fell from her balcony from three floors. She has severely injured her back, her head has injuries, and broken her leg and broke nine ribs.

 

The surgeons say that she may never walk again.

 

So University? I mean, that of course is nothing in comparison to her health but for so many years she has tried to get a place in Uni.

 

Her Mum had breakfast with her the other day for the first time in many years this young lady felt complete. To be blind is or for sure can be a dreadful state to be in and to not be able to walk also will have heart ache. But to combine the two things? As a blind person, or to be ridiculously politically correct. A person who is blind, I can’t imagine what it must be like to be blind without being able to put your feet on the ground? We see where we are going by what is under us. What we feel.

 

I pray all will be OK and she will prove the Doctors wrong. I hope that her and her parents find strength at this difficult time.

 

It’s almost like a higher being is playing cruel games with her but I hope this was a necessary event to have to happen for her course in life, cruel though it seems. As long as she walks again. Please?

 

Just before bed, I hold my hands together and ask those who play with our lives to give her a card dealt with positivity and love.

 

Goodnight God bless. X

DIARY OF A CRAZY FRIDAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. Here we are again it’s the weekend. Today started quite early and it involved me having to organise so much paperwork, addresses, stamps and bank books. Cards for payments and my beautiful paintings from my friend in the US.

 

To our town with teen. My friend Artie told me of a framing shop in our city, she thankfully gave us the address if not for that it would be impossible to find as it’s down an alley way as the buildings are so close together and seam to mingle with second hand jewellers and fancy boutiques with the fragrance of Mediterranean food, sounds of china clashing and cutlery clinking from a near by café!

 

In the shop, two steep steps up and passing piles of picture frames. The counter was as if some old backing from a wardrobe, which tipped slightly as I put my hand on it. It was a dusty shop with an elderly gent behind quietly spoken, he asked me what I was looking for? I handed him the huge envelope with my painting and print inside.

 

He showed me what he had as far as frames were concerned. I told him black was too much for a delicate angel picture. He agreed. Anyway, I ended up with a silver one for my big painting. It is embossed all the way around. I got it mounted and decided not to have glass in it. My other angel which is a print, and a totally different angel, I have got glass in that it’s mounted in the same way with a very very white background and the frame is the same.

 

We were shown another frame made from drift wood. Just as Teen was saying to the guy it would look good with the ocean and rocks, I was imagining a sailing boat or fishing boat, with rocks and a tall white lighthouse with red. Such a mixture of blues with some white spray from the tide. The sand coloured rocks with greys and piled pebbles leading up to the lighthouse. Even some small fishing cottages at the side too. Oh the frame was stunning but not for an angel!

 

The price of the frames were really reasonable. I was happy with that. Now I need to pay someone to put them up, but only of course when I get them. That will be next week and Teen has very kindly offered to collect them for me. It’s a good job as if I was to get a taxi, it would have to park miles away and how would we find the place? Not to mention, getting back to the taxi.

 

Anyway, out of there and on to the bank. Gosh not been there for so very long and bless them they still remembered me.        

 

Away from there and how could I resist? Our bakers. Bought some nice pastries it’s been forever and a day since I was there. Only once since our darling Long Chops, Hubs old guide dog passed away.

 

Well, all smooth, even running, sorry, walking quick through our town. Teen walks so fast. It was miles to the car. Thankfully the weather was nice. The town was packed!

 

Then the fun began. Gosh, so much to do today and the stress

built up. Important business to do, a letter to post as well and how wrong was that? Just found out a very important letter for Hub was on our printer and he asked me to find the letter then find the other two parts of the letter which should have been all together. Well when I looked, there was one part of the letter on the printer and two parts on the other machine. Hmm. I put them both together. Then put them all in an envelope and wrote the address from a file on my computer. Asked Teen to check the address to see if it was clear enough. He said it was, looked for a stamp, well two and got him to stick them on so our queen wasn’t on her head. Smile. All ready to go, took Waggs to post them. Hub has just told me I sent the wrong letters. Great. Who’s in trouble?

 

I’m so fed up of where the letter was going. The quicker all that rubbish is over with, the better. I want that business to be over. History. I asked Hub to go and find the letter that I should have sent? He can’t find it. I said well I must have sent the right one, he said no. So I replied. Where is the letters I should have sent? If not there, has the letter monster eaten them?

 

Anyway, now have to go through loads of files and paperwork. I hate paperwork. All bits of paper that we can’t read unless we put on the printer to scan and that is a total nightmare. As it only reads part of it. If we could see, we could go through the files we have in two minutes. Because we have to use a scanner, it takes up to forty minutes on average to do what we need to do.

 

So guess what we will be doing tomorrow? As this letter has to be sorted out before Tuesday. The letters I sent were for the same company, only were from last year not this year. I said to Hub why did he not put the old letters away back in the folder then there would be no confusion, right? Mind you, still where is or was the two missing letters? As they are not there now and were not there before. Confused? I am.

 

After a fifty minute journey this afternoon, time to talk with a rather odd man. Again, loads of paperwork and to be honest, not a nice conversation. He was a little twerp if you want my honest opinion… Anyway, away from him, a trip to the post office and again loads of forms to fill in, then back to the man and fifty minutes back home… Totally exhausted.

 

A lovely friend of Hubs from many years ago phoned today, we had a nice chat. A wonderful person I have so much respect for. I told Hub to call this friend and he said he will on Monday…. It was so nice to have a pleasant conversation though.

 

Catch up with emails and entries into my diary for work as a couple of meetings I have to attend. A talk for my volunteering has been written down and as for housework? Out out of the window. Which reminds me, I must try to clean them this weekend. That will take a full day. Upstairs and down. Don’t worry, inside, not out. Fifi won’t be climbing up ladders.

 

Gosh, as for dinner tonight? Well, it didn’t happen…. It was funny to see teen ask what was for dinner? I told him rice and chicken from last night… His reaction was interesting, but he really enjoyed it. As for Hub? Haha. Sausage rolls from the bakery. Me? Hmm. It’s eleven in the evening and I have just realised I have not had anything since lunch and that was pasties. For breakfast cereal. So I’m not hungry, but know during the night I will wake with a pain. Never mind. I would not eat now anyway. Still not eating after seven.

 

OK from my totally hectic day I don’t want to see anymore letters or silly little men for the next few days. But to give you perhaps a chuckle today I received an email to ask if I could write a poem for a lady to give to her grand Son… Saying what? Well, all about why he should not get a tattoo. Smile. I asked if I could write this in my blog, and she laughed and said yes, as long as I don’t publish the poem or say names. Now, where to start with this one? I must say it makes a change from retirement poetry, birthdays, weddings and funerals. How many words rhyme with Tattoo? Hahaha.

 

Have a lovely weekend and if I get chance I will talk tomorrow. For L from France, I will answer your email tomorrow as I have some research to do before I reply. To my Bloggets in Italy, it’s great to see you in such large numbers coming to see us… All of you, wherever you are from I see your countries and feel closer to you. Take care and again thank you to UK and our cousins across the big pond who turn up each day reading whatever rubbish I publish. Hugs to you all. X