THE CHRISTMAS TREE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

At this time of year, you may be wondering about your Christmas tree this year? Real, or artificial, so, I thought I would share what I think and see if that helps you to make a decision, I, shall try not to confuse you more than you already are!

So, when it comes to a Christmas tree, where do you stand, real or fake, smile.

 

A Nordman fir tree, has dark green pines and they say they don’t drop, but they say that about all of them. Though these are the real trees we have bought in the past, purely for their scent. Oh, they smell so lovely especially if you have a cool room for them. We kept ours in the conservatory. But to be honest, you can’t really put many decorations on, it hurts. I know… though I also think real trees look best just with lights and perhaps some Victorian decorations. Though another nice idea is to add real foliage to your tree, such as evergreen bushes, ferns or ivy and why not some real holly? Pine cones may be or some small oranges but don’t let them go off on your tree… I don’t like tinsel on real trees but that is just a personal opinion. It’s written to have a tree over 6 feet, you need 300 to 500 lights, but that’s for a real tree, not an artificial one. And if you add the real foliage the night before Christmas, then you will wake up to the wonderful smells of nature, especially if your tree is starting to look a little thin by then. And how about adding fresh flowers? Such as poinsettias or lilies? Oh, I can smell those lilies and see in my mind the reds or whites from the poinsettias.

 

Norway Spruce tree. To me, that sounds the nicest, as I love Norway, no other reason. Smile. Reading about this tree, there is no chat about fragrance, but that doesn’t say there is none. Just they either haven’t written about it, or it really doesn’t have much smell.

  

Cut noble fire Christmas tree. I have never heard of that, have you? Well today I have learned something. It’s a strong tree that has soft needles but they say you can put ornaments on it. And, the best bit, the needles don’t drop. They claim.

 

To care for your tree if you don’t want it with the roots, saw 5 cm from the base of your tree place in a stand with water keeping it topped up. Keep your tree in a cool dry place.

 

If you don’t have room in your house for a tree, then why not buy one with roots then plant it in your front garden? Remember that it could grow as high as your house, so check when you buy it how tall it actually grows. Or buy a small one and put it in a red tub next to your front door, you can buy outdoor lights or even solar power lights if you wish to decorate it. Buy some artificial berries and put them through your tree…

 

So, to decorate your tree. Every year I have memories. I think this is the first year I didn’t cry whilst putting my decorations out. Decorations can hold so many memories. I bought this when I… I got this from…. Such an such bought me that…. And my whoever gave me this from their tree. Wanting to keep in the family. I have all of those memories.  I only wished I had kept something from my Mums tree. She had a trumpet she got when she was a little girl. It was tiny. But sadly, I didn’t get it.

 

It’s nice to have Christmas music playing whilst doing your tree, just as background music. Add your lights first, then use the decorations to try to cover the lights. Then finish off if you have an artificial tree with tinsel.

 

Before you start though, decide what you are putting on the tree. Remember large items on the bottom medium in the middle, then small on the top.

 

When you put lights on your tree, if it’s going in the corner of your room, then you don’t need to put many lights on the back where you won’t see it. As long as you know you are not going to run out of lights by the time you get to the bottom, I always start from the top because then the plug isn’t going to hang from the top. Weave the lights in and out near the trunk too to add depth to your tree.

 

Some lovely looks for your tree are red, white and natural wood. To create a Scandinavian tree.

Most important if you have pets. Make sure your tree is secure and won’t fall. Don’t put those chocolates on your tree.  If your dog has a sweet or inquisitive tooth, they will reach for them and in the meanwhile may get some tinsel and that is where they will end up at the vets. Chocolate can be poisonous to your dogs but tinsel will wrap around their intestines and sadly I have known of many dogs that die this way.

 

So, if you have decided on a real tree and if you buy one with roots to plant, then after say the 26^th, remove it from your house, leave it in a porch or just in your garage. So, still in its pot. Let it get used to being outside. Leave it for a few days.   If you have removed it from its pot, then wrap the roots in a plastic bag.

 

Find the spot in your garden, most trees like a sunny shaded place. Do your research though how tall it will grow.

 

It’s a good idea to dig your hole before the ground freezes. Lower the tree in then cover with soil and leave about 4 cm to pack with mulch.

 

Water regularly especially in the first year. Remove any branches that make your tree look well, not like the shape you would like. May be in the spring give it some nice new soil on the top.

If you want to keep your tree for next year, put it in a large pot of max 45 cm

 

So, from cost to carbon footprint, what should you consider when choosing your tree?

An average artificial tree has plastic all over it. 2 thirds of its carbon footprint, as plastic comes from oil. Another quarter of its environmental impact comes from the industrial emissions produced when the tree is being manufactured. I read that a 6 feet artificial tree, has a carbon footprint of 40 kg, of greenhouse gas emissions. Which is more than twice of a real tree that ends up in landfill.

And more than ten trees that are burned.

So, if you have an artificial tree at home, you will have to use it for ten years to keep its environmental impact lower than that of a real tree

A real tree that is the same size, without roots, 6 feet, has the equivalent carbon footprint of as 16 kg of greenhouse gas.

 

The tree decomposes and produces methane gas which is 25 times more potent than a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

If you use your tree to burn to use to put around your soil, that will reduce the footprint up to 80%.

When real trees dry out, they become quite flammable. Artificial trees are safer these days. For those who have allergies, then an artificial tree is the best.

To buy an artificial tree though saves you a fortune if, you keep it for up to ten years. And to be honest, I believe after about seven years, the artificial trees are starting to look a little shabby… that may be the number of toys I put on ours though…

 

Artificial trees don’t drop their needles all over the floor. But the look, texture and smell of a real tree, is so special. But I would buy one with roots. You also have to think about how you are going to get rid of a real tree after Christmas.

 

The thought of going out with your loved ones to pick your tree is really special. I would avoid garden centres though, as they charge over the top and the trees are not as good as you get from a Christmas tree farm or even your local DIY shop.

So, a plastic tree you don’t have to go out and buy it. You can hang anything from them and they don’t drop needles.

A real tree smells  so very good and looks really lovely and if you get one with roots, you have a tree forever in your garden.

 

Well, whatever you pick, enjoy it. Love your tree. I love ours. And the memories we create with it.

BLUE EYES FROM INDIA BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. Firstly, my love to Patricia and her family.

 

 Today we say hello to The Netherlands, India, South Africa, France, Germany, Belgium, UK, US, and everyone else who is reading. We had Burma earlier this week, I would love to know who you guys are? You visit this page from time to time. I would love to know what brings you here? Japan has been this week too, it’s been a while since I saw you. Japan may have been reading, but this week is the first time they appeared in the top ten of readers.  

 

I have just got in from our small street group. Five of us get together every month. Today was the turn of our Neighbour to host. Everyone looks forward to having lunch at hers. Why? Normally because she makes delicious Indian food. But today she decided to make typical English food. I think her eldest daughter who is the same age as our Boy Wonder, so, 21, told her Mum she was very brave. I think that was a polite way of saying crazy… serving typical English food to English people. Haha. Gosh, our neighbour could cook baked beans from a can and they would taste lovely.

 

Well today she made quiche. That is a pastry base cook slightly first putting on top of the pastry some foil with either rice or those cooking beans you can buy. Not the kind you eat, just the ones that keeps the pastry from rising. But   then you remove them. Whilst that is cooking, you make your ingredients. Whisk at least four eggs. Add a little milk and tiny bit of cream. Salt, pepper and then whatever. I put in red peppers chopped finely. Mushrooms onions, tomatoes and loads of cheese. You don’t cover the top, it’s left open. Put in the oven to finish cooking obviously removing the foil etc. she also did sandwiches and two home made cakes. One was a banana loaf and the other a sandwich cake with cream and raspberry jam. She made my absolute favourite to drink. Ginger tea. She is a lovely host. It’s a nice group. I always feel good when I return home.

 

We got on to talking about eyes. Everyone in that room needs glasses. Well, apart from me, haha, aren’t I the lucky one? You would have laughed. Well maybe you wouldn’t but I smiled. One of our neighbours is sweet, she always tells me what pictures are getting handed around. Not to leave me out. So, our Neighbour who is an Indian lady, said she would love blue eyes, I told her to get blue contact lenses. When I could see, I had them. They made my eyes really light blue, I loved them. My other neighbour said she, our Indian neighbour wouldn’t suit them. I said oh, I think they would look really good. Well our neighbour tried to tell me in her little way, that my Neighbour was dark skinned. Hahaha. As if I didn’t know? Bless her though, just as I was told yesterday that a lady was learning a lot from me, I’m learning a lot about sighted people. Mainly how little they understand about people who are blind. I said I know she has, so that is why I think blue eyes would look so nice with dark skin.

 

It’s my turn to host next month. It started where by we ate small snacks… Now it’s turning into a blooming Women’s Institute cooking competition. Hopefully my stories and laughs will put me in the running for others wanting to come here as I’m not a cake cook, in fact I really don’t have the confidence even to cook a quiche, though Hub said I make the best one next to his Mum. Bless her, when she was alive, I didn’t dare cook one as I knew Hub thought so much of her quiches. But one day I did, and he went quiet for so long, too long. Time seemed to freeze. He ate another mouthful then said. “Yep, that’s up there with Mums.”” Few thank goodness for that. But not sure I dare do one for the ladies. Last time our neighbour Wendy made an amazing cake. A lemon sponge cake with delicious butter icing. Yum. So, what to cook? Well I shall tell you when we get near the date.

 

Outside it’s raining it’s cold and dark. It’s only half four in the afternoon. It’s more like 7 pm on a winter night.

    

Going back to the lady yesterday who said she is learning a lot from me… I asked her what had she learned? No, nothing with regards physics or computer science, but, now wait for this, as Bloggets, I’m sure after hearing or seeing what I have managed to teach someone with my vast knowledge and ability to explain things in lectures I give, now when you learn what I can teach you, don’t all rush at once to get in a queue to attend one of my life lesson classes….

She has learned. (How fast I can walk upstairs)

Hehehehehhhehahahehehehehehahhehehhehahhaha.

Oh, I do like to impress.

 

I often wonder why I was put on this earth, but I think yesterday my question was answered…

Yep Bloggets, I walk up stairs quickly…

 

To be honest it’s been three weeks since I went out for a walk. I haven’t seen Pip for a few weeks. I miss our walks, though I do need to walk longer and faster and do have to get into walking at least three times per week. But since I haven’t been out for a while, my legs are starting to hurt again. Remember when I was going through hell with pains? Well they went during the summer. It was like a miracle. I thought I would be in a wheelchair before Christmas. It got that bad. I didn’t know what was wrong with me then I started to do Yoga and my teacher told me my muscles had shortened. I couldn’t believe that walking made such a difference. Before I get really bad again, I need to do something drastic.

 

OK, I shall go for now and start dinner. I have made a soup today for BW. Hub will have a simple sausage sandwich. They are chicken sausages with herbs. Thursdays is my night off serious cooking as we have the pub quiz later. See how badly we can do tonight. I love to go though, I’m not too sure Hub likes or deals with the humiliation. He’s not used to failing. Hahha. I can teach him so much with regards that subject. Including how fast to walk upstairs…

 

Laters with love.

 

 

 

ON THAT BIG BRIGHT STAR #PoetryByFionaCummings

ON THAT BIG BRIGHT STAR

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I’m supposed to say goodbye

My words are in the tears I cry

My thoughts are in every pain I’m going through

Oh Darling, I so love you

This is worse than a theft

You have gone and I’m left

But I know you won’t forget

The memories we made together

I will love you forever

Each laugh we had

I shall treasure

But I’m looking back

My forward seems so black

I just don’t know how I’m going to react

When in time, I’m supposed, expected, to laugh

I so miss your voice around my every being

I miss the world you gave me for the seeing

I need the whispers you created for the hearing

I ache each night when I get into bed

The empty space I totally dread

You were the food that fed

The kindness in every word you said

You were the Dad to our children

Gave them a world that was safe to live in

And now you are in heaven

I know you will still be caring

And I hope, watching

So, for that I shall go on

As I need my family and friends

As they too, need me

But I wish you would come back to me

I miss you so much

I wish I could reach out

 And it would be you I would touch

Right now, I want to shout

Would you hear me?

If I smile or cry

Can you see me?

So many questions, like why?

Why now did you have to die?

Wait for me my Darling

However far you are

Shining I’m sure

On that big bright star!

 

© Fiona Cummings

 

 

STATS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Today we have had countries visiting my page from the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Ukraine, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, Netherlands, and Iraq. In total readers, we have seen through our doors over a huge number now, of 353,000 of you have visited this blog.

 

Only the top ten as that is all I can see or in my case hear on my blog page is as follows.

UK,136,733.

US, 122,242.

Russia, 10,917.

Canada, 9,791

Ukraine, 7,575

Au, 7,522

Germany 7,282

France, 2,258

South Africa, 1,887

Ireland, 1,444

And all the rest of the countries make up the number of 353,000

Thank you all for your emails and comments in various groups etc. Take care talk soon.

 

 

DIARY OF DOWNUNDER AND REAL LIFE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Firstly, I would like to wish a very happy birthday to my lovely brother in law. Hubs brother has his birthday, and though we are not seeing him today, we are getting together soon. Bless him, he is working all day 12 hours.

 

Happy birthday too, to Chloe Hunt. You know who you are girl… Sending loads of love, I know you will be doing something amazing. 21 today, what an age.

 

After seeing a post on a friend’s wall on Facebook, I did laugh. I am guessing it was a picture of a rather odd-looking mushroom. Her caption was who on earth discovered mushrooms and thought it would be a good idea to eat them?

Someone replied the same person who saw an egg drop from a chicken’s butt and thought, hmm, let’s eat that? Hahaha. She cracked me up…

 

There were other answers like some fun guy and my answer was whoever it was, after picking them, I bet there wasn’t mushroom in their basket?

OK, childish I know… that’s me…

One can’t be sensible and all grown up all of the time, can they?

They can?

So, it’s just me then?

 

We have a program in the UK called celebrity get me out of here. It’s set in the jungle. In Australia. This year it’s been really great, lovely people in it and at least I know all of the celebrities. But I really don’t like the animal part of it. It’s just unnecessary. One of the trials the celebs had to do was hold creatures in their mouths for 60 seconds. Then spit them out. Of course, they were alive. Absolutely disgusting. And the food they eat, oh it’s so bad. Alpaca neck and kangaroo. Just some of the foods they eat for the show, moreover what I have learned people eat in Australia absolutely turns my stomach. For example. Emu, witchetty grubs, some kind of large mouse and more.

It’s not happening.

 

A few years ago, Hub was offered a job in Australia. I’m so glad he turned it down for many reasons. I don’t think it would be a good place for us to live. I have asked my friend from Australia how she copes being blind with the snakes and spiders. She just says she gets her place sprayed and is careful. How can she relax? You are in your garden and suddenly something slithers up your leg. Oh, no nononononononno.

 

I guess there are parts of America that are like that too, but I wonder if they can kill there, like they can in Australia? And those crocodiles, oh, my word. I shall stay here for now with our horses and sheep…

 

 

Today it has been so cold. But it’s toasty in the house. Whenever it’s cold and wet outside, I always feel compelled to cook mash potato. Why is that? So, that is for dinner tonight. Most people who are normal, and I’m not, think of the main substance to cook then mash kind of fits in. me, nope, it’s mashed all the way… loads of butter. Oh, I tried using my Sons vegan butter, sorry, I’m struggling to be a vegan. He was so cross with me the other day because I said I fancied chips from a local new van. He said they are cooked in animal fat. I was like I don’t care, I could kill for some chips. (potato fries) on reflection, I’m glad it wasn’t there and I didn’t put myself through eating potatoes fried in animals. He’s a vegan I’m a vegetarian and the awful thing is, I’m not strong enough to go up to the next step.

 

Our Son started his new job today. He looked so smart. He wore new black trousers and black shirt with a smart black jacket and new shoes, pink ones.

Hahaha. Joking, they were orange.

No, really, they were black.

 

He is so cute. He has to show me what he is wearing by taking my hand and letting me touch his clothes. I’m so proud of him. He wasn’t even anxious. I thought he would be as it’s a totally different job to what he has ever done before. Today was training and only for six hours. He didn’t start until 10 am.

 

When BW, came in from work absolutely exhausted. He had a lot to take in today. He wasn’t his normal buzzing self when he first starts a job. This is very different though and personally speaking, I’m not sure the first couple of years will be up his street, but after that, he will enjoy it, he just needs to try to stick at this to get where he needs to be. My Son is a teacher, not a pupil! But he will have to learn the tools of the trade. He has the brain, just not the patients!

 

My Hub was working from home today. Oh, my he started working at 7.30 am. Why so early when he’s from home? Normally it’s about quarter past eight, but today was a new record. I love it when he is at home, I have one less person to worry about. Tomorrow though he’s three hours plus away.

 

11.35 pm Hub was up in the loft. Why? Getting a case for his journey tomorrow. I hate him going up there. Especially when our Son isn’t in the house. Gosh if he fell up there, I really don’t know what I would do? But last year he fell and his slip took him out of the hatch of the loft. That was the first time he has done that in the years I have known him. Up there is a really scary place. Our Son is afraid to go up there as is Shamrock. So that leaves the Hubster but I really hate it. Our next house we are not going to have a loft, or if we have, I should say, it’s going to be empty. The loft is only partially boarded. And it is so full of stuff. Just everything. I’m amazed our house is still up.

 

And finally, some Fi’s facts.

Mars gets its name the red planet from the iron/rust from its surface

   Have you heard of the kid’s toy called a slinky? If you put a tennis ball in the bottom of it and drop the slinky, the bottom won’t move until the top has caught up with it. I think this toy has been around since 1943.

 

The human eye can distinguish more shades of green than any other colour.

Wow, I wonder why? Or how? See, we were meant to leave it green.

 

 

WALKIE-TALKIE DIARY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good morning Bloggets. This morning before 9, I was chatting to my friend via Alexa. We have some great conversations and the other night was no exception where Hub joined in sending her messages or trying to talk live on his and her Apple watches. They were really like children on Christmas day. I must admit it was really funny. Hub discovered that he could open something called Walkie-Talkie. For those using voice on your devices, that sounds like I have made a spelling error. Smile, no that is how it’s written.

 

In just a tap you can talk to other people in your connections. It’s great if you are out shopping and you need to meet up for a coffee or just to get back home if you are car sharing. You add friends, then control when you want to have a chat.

 

Both you and your friend need Apple watch series 1 or later with with watchOS 5.

You also need to both set up the Facetime app.

 

The WT, isn’t available in every country just yet.

 

1 open the WT app on your iPhone

2, tap the plus icon

3, choose a contact then wait for your friend to except your invitation.

Your invitation card stays grey until your friend excepts your invite then your card turns yellow. I wonder who picks these colours?

To remove a friend, open the WT app then swipe left and tap on the delete icon.

To except a friend. Here we go, bear with…

1, touch and hold the top of the watch face then swipe down to open notifications

2, look for a notification from the WT app and tap it.

To talk to a friend, touch and hold the talk button.

Wait for it to connect then your friend can talk to you just like as if you are using a walkie talkie.

As long as you are both wearing your watches, you will be alerted that your friend wants to talk.

When you let go of the face, your friend instantly hears what you have said.

To change the volume, turn the digital crown.

Turn on theatre mode so you can’t get interrupted in those important meetings at work or in a difficult situation like a funeral. You don’t want the latest Christmas joke being blasted out in those situations.

If you turn on silent mode, you can still hear your friend talking and the chimes to alert you.

Why call that silent then? Hmm.

 

Download facetime if you don’t have it. Open the settings app tap facetime then turn on facetime.

  (There’s a lot of facetimes going on there, isn’t there?)

 

Now Bloggets, don’t think I have recently developed knowledge in the tech world, all the above is as if I have just taught myself a new language today. It’s just what I have picked up from Hub and what I have read on line. Believe me, there are pages of what to do and what not to do’s. I’m sure the person who writes the programs for things like anything tech, has the same minds of Plato, or Eugoxus of Cnidus.

 

A mathematician called Leopold Kroeneker, once said. “God invented the counting numbers.

 And we all know how busy his, mind was…

 

When I was studying maths, where I sent my tutor grey, I learned after six weeks, that they were relatively simple, just whoever invented them, wanted it to look difficult. And don’t misunderstand I only received a C in maths, but I can tell you it was the most difficult exam I have ever taken. Mainly because I didn’t read Braille and I had to remember up to 20 numbers in my head at a time. Am sure that is why my memory now isn’t half as sharp as it used to be. My short-term memory is shocking.

 

Gosh I have just received a phone call and it’s important, the person who called me can’t be called back. It’s the way her office works. She hasn’t left a message and I know she needs to talk with me, how maddening is that? Now I am going to have to go int the archives of my lap top and try to find another number to call her back as the call is the third one, I have missed from her. So, I shall go for now, but be back later to chat and let you know how my Boy Wonders first day in his new job went.

 

 

 

STARTING CHRISTMAS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. Well this has been a busy weekend. We spent all day and night yesterday, decorating our house outside and in. Today we went to a Christmas fair where I bought a lovely bauble for the tree. Because of course I need one of those, as I must only have about 90… according to my Husband…

 

 This one is white glittery with a hole cut out so you can see what’s inside of it. And it is a truck with a Christmas tree on the back of it. If you stick your finger in it, you can feel it. I got a toy for the dogs for Christmas too. Yep, another toy. This is an elf. I also bought a couple of Christmas plants and where the soil goes there is a star and some berries as well as a tiny reindeer. They are so small not sure where you even buy such things but they look really nice for Christmas.

 

We got mulled wine on arrival. I gave mine to Hub. It was a lovely fair inside a grand hall. It had a solid oak banister with ropes of lights wrapped around the rail.

 

  It was nice the ones I have been to of late, are more like a market where you buy food. Though there were gifts, this one was more like aunt Sally’s craft box. It will be a nice place to take the dogs in the summer as there are some nice lakes around there and lots of walks.

 

No charge for parking which around here is unusual and no entry fee either. Very quaint.

 

So, in my living room I have the big tree up. It is different colours of green with snow like pines on the ends. It’s artificial. It’s really tall and wide. I have it with blue and white baubles on and lots of toys that I have bought over the years. I have some stunning decorations on the tree. The tinsel is blue strands and white ones. There is a glittery blue star on the top. The lights are all white. I have on the window behind the tree, a line like a wire which is blue as well. Also, on there I have three light up parcels with bows. On my fireplace I have a really lovely garland. It’s lots of green foliage with gold ribbons and some baubles with cinnamon sticks threaded through and some artificial fruits like apples and pears. There are berries and other decorated twigs. There are a couple of silk roses weaved through there too and it’s all lit up. I made a garland yesterday for the front door. Why? Not sure as you can’t put a nail through our door to hang it by. So, it’s on a little table next to the chair at the other side of the room, flat with a candle in the middle. Where I am sitting now, where the piano is, there is another table they are the ones I bought last year, they look like a solid pile of books made from wood. But in fact, they are a table. So, the piano on my left and table on my right, on the table is a wooden church that lights up. On the fire hearth, is a light up item that is a coal fire with a rocking chair at one side with Santa on and he has parcels all around him. And there are two bottles at each side of it, with lights in. the bottles are decorated. I have the piano covered with cuddly toys. A reindeer, a dog, teddy bear and three other tiny bears all in different outfits. One is dressed as a king.

 

My conservatory has the small tree. It’s white. The baubles on it are gold and red. The toys are all from Germany and made from colourful glass. There is everything on there from guitars to violins to harps and drums. Clowns, snowmen and soldiers as well as a Cuckoo clock and a mouse as well as a train, a doll and teddy bears. Glass stars and bells too. I have gold tinsel and red beads and there are two porcelain ornaments. One is a white reindeer the other is a white cat. The cat has a red hat on the reindeer has a red nose.

 

There are about 100 white lights on that tree the one in my sitting room has 180. A glass angel sits on the top of the white tree.

 

Then there is outside. Gosh, we have our angel and moving bells also a snowflake. They are all lights on the walls outside and sitting on the front seat is an inflatable stocking. On the grass is a penguin and we have a Santa express along the lawn too everything lights up. I have a Santa Claus climbing ladders next to my door and we have a laser projector which has 180 green and red dots all over the house. Apparently, they even project in our sitting room. On the ceiling. And Hub isn’t satisfied. He has his finger on the buy button to purchase an almost 6 feet, reindeer which has about 360 lights… to have so many lights and we are both blind, is a crazy thought, but we love it though we are so exhausted.

 

The funny thing, on Hubs Apple watch, the fitness App he has normally says he has done two flights of stairs per day, though he does really about 4. Well with going up and down the ladders yesterday to the loft, he climbed 17 floors, hahaha, and normally he burns off 300 calories, well yesterday he did almost seven hundred.

 

So, we are beginning to look a lot like Christmas and next week we are exchanging our first gifts with part of our family. Reminds me, I must wrap them.

Gifts that is, not  our family.

 

Hub is in the gym now, I can hear him pacing on the treadmill and our Son is relaxing in the bath before he starts his new job tomorrow.

 

So, work starts tomorrow and the rest of the week we shall see what it brings. So far, I only have a meeting on Tuesday planned and another on Thursday.

 

I hope you have had a lovely weekend and will continue to have a better week ahead.

 

  

DIARY OF THE ANAGRAM BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. Well it’s Black Friday. A day when the internet hardly works and people go mad buying things they don’t need, and items that other people don’t want. Haha.

 

My friend came for a coffee and a chat, but we had to go into the conservatory as Hub is working from home, so we had to be quiet. Where as there are a few doors in between us if we go into the room of glass. Smile.

 

My Son is on a very long journey today. Though he is back tonight. No doubt he will be going straight to Shamrocks on his return.

 

Well the pub quiz last night, we did good… we got 56,

Great isn’t it?

Oh, we thought. Until we realised it was out of 104…

You may be wondering whatever made me think we did well? Well we didn’t know it was out of 100 and piggin 4!

It’s how the point system works. Some questions you get 10 points and others 14 some 1 point. Even to mark the papers, you need a qualification in maths. We swap at the end with other teams and receive our humiliating results back as soon as marked up.

 

So, if I remember the three words we were given, here was the anagram, which shamefully we didn’t get. See if you can. All we were told was it was a hit in the 80’s. no country was mentioned, just it was a hit. So, here were the three words and again I hope I have these rights.

Awaken brief otter

So, come on, get your grey matter working, what was that hit in the eighties? I can tell you if you were over the age of ten in the eighties, you will know this no matter what country you live in.

I shall tell you in a couple of lines down, now, don’t cheat, try to work it out and see if you get it.

 

Our dogs have been on the field today. Amazedly they were not covered in mud at the end of it and Waggatail didn’t role. They have been groomed and I have done the doggy doodle dance in their run. Oh, I hate that job. Armed with a bucket of disinfectant, a brush, a bag and a silicone glove. The joys of being a dog owner.

 

In our news, in the UK, Police have knocked off bikers off their machines that were trying to get away after thieving.

Well they had a choice. Stop or drop. Haha.

 

More shooting in America, in a shopping Mall. Both gunmen are dead.

A black Friday for their families for sure.

 

Okay, the anagram, did you get it? The answer is…

I want to break free. By queen.

Only one team got it right out of about six. We don’t even get to know how many words there are in the answer.

 

A busy day for us tomorrow as we Christmas decorate the front of our house. Ladders at the ready and emergency services on speed dial. Haha.

 

Well whatever you have planned this weekend, be happy and I hope it’s peaceful for you all. Please keep the emails coming and let me know your favourite blog of 2018 for me to put on our end of year blog.

Any notes or subjects you want to chat about then drop me a line at

visionsforfuture@googlemail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANKSGIVING I WONDER BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. I hope I find you all well? It’s cruising towards four in the afternoon. I got in a couple of hours ago. My Son is having clothes gate… He bought two shirts on line, doesn’t like them they don’t fit right. He’s very tall and he likes his shirts to be skin tight… well and his coats as well as his trousers.

  I keep telling him I would like Grandchildren….

 

He sent them back today and went to the shop to buy two more. Different company. Well you are not allowed to try them on so he had to buy without knowing if they will fit. He’s not happy with the fit so hast to decide whether he’s going to take these back too. He likes slim fit, no, not slim fit but nipping fit. Trouble is, he’s slim but has huge muscles, so he’s like the incredible hulk just before he’s about to split his pants. So now he’s stressing as may have to take one out of the two he bought today back. That’s three out of four in total. He starts his new job on Monday. I think he’s anxious about it as this is totally so very different to what he has done before. But he will be fine. It’s just a much bigger office and he’s not the boss this time so will have to follow instructions… he’s not too good at doing that. He’s a leader not a follower. But he needs to follow for a year at least before he will be able to climb the ladder. It doesn’t help his pal who works there telling him how hard it is.  He’s in a different section to his friend though. And I’m pleased about that as his friend is naughty… OK, his friend is 20, but still naughty. Just mischievous his pal is  a joker. And my Son is too on his own, he’s fine, but put them both together, oh, heck! When they were at college together, I did used to laugh at their stories, though I shouldn’t have, but it was innocent fun. But they are men now and can’t get away with pranks. What he will do about his shirts, I don’t know.

 

Bless him, he has just gone to the post box, I totally got soaked before and I didn’t want the letters to be wet, so BW took them in the car for me. They are for my Brother in law as it’s his birthday next week. I’m seeing him before Christmas to exchange gifts but not for his birthday. I dread to think what BW has written on his Uncles card, but I’m sure the recipient will laugh when he receives it as he  has a good sense of humour. I just know when BW was writing the card, he was chuckling. Oh, heck.

 

Hubs been to his office in my hometown of Newcastle today. He’s had quite an easy week this week for travelling but next week is a horror.

 

It’s freezing and very wet as I said I got soaked before. It’s so dark early now days. My Son puts the light on from 3pm. I’m sure it’s darker earlier this year than most. My heating is on and the house is warming up. I’ve been out since half eight so my house was allowed to cool off a bit. Waggatail is snoring, so she’s toasty. I don’t have dinner to make for Hub thankfully, as he has had food at work for once, as the staff buy a take out on a Thursday. Lucky duck. Mind you, I had a take away last night, didn’t I?

 

Well it’s Thanksgiving in America. Am I correct thinking it’s on a different date in Canada, or was I imagining that? I watched on the news that Donald Trump pardoned two turkey’s as he does every year. I wonder how the president does that. I wonder how he chooses which ones to pick, and I wonder if the turkey knows how lucky they are, or, are they? Apparently, they never live long because they are bred for consumption, so are rather large. Bless them, but does the President pick them because they are extra cute or does he look into their eyes and connects with them, and what would happen if a President was a vegetarian or vegan, then would he pardon them all?

 

Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive?

It had 24 carrots.

 

What sounds does a turkeys phone make?

Wing wing

 

Well my American Readers my dear Bloggets, have a wonderful day and weekend to follow.

 

 

  

 

 

 

WAGAMAMA BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Well I have just had the most interesting meal. My Son called me he and Shamrock were going to our local Wagamama’s. He and Sham love that place. He wanted to know if me and his Dad wanted a meal/take away from there. I said his Dad wouldn’t as he is on a fitness regime but I would… I was dying to know what all the fuss was about.

 

BW went to get some lightbulbs first for me. Oh, he said to me over the phone, first I have to go for your bulbs, as if he was doing me a huge favour… I had to remind him, it didn’t bother me if we were in the dark all through the winter. I was fine with that… I think he got the message that actually the lights were in deed for him… Oh my how confusing. It is my pet hate buying bulbs. On the phone he asked me if I wanted 30 40 or 50W? well how do I know? I said that he had the bulb in his hand, just get the same. They don’t do them anymore. This really annoys me. The lights are a year old. So, there are 12 of them in my kitchen. So, why are there not the bulbs anymore? Same happened for the light in our conservatory, OK that is older like a few years six, but surely people keep ceiling lights longer than a few years? Otherwise why not just have the cheapest of cheap fittings? Well he got them and fit them for me. Bless him. Then we sat down to this meal they brought in.

 

Sham and BW served. I waited with good expectations. Oh, my goodness. Never ever have I tried anything so absolutely disgusting. It was positively revolting. And it cost me a fortune too! Dumplings? Really? Gross. They were like soggy bread rolls with a slither of mushroom in. and some leaves. As for the so-called curry? I would give it 0 out of 10. It was sticky rice which would have been enough to feed a fly with this compressed cardboard and a splash of sauce. The cardboard was some kind of vegetable. And that was all that was on the plate I think it was called Catsu curry. Well if it hadn’t have said Vegan, then I would be sure it had something to do with a cat.

 

Seitan which I have been told is a vegetable, but to be honest, I think it is more like the cardboard box the veg may have come in. it was covered in crispy breadcrumbs. Oh gross it really was like a box.   On the website it’s written. “Fresh lively food with soul!””

 Well, not sure about fresh, as for lively, if it had been meat, it would have been jumping off your plate, I’m sure. As for soul? More like the sole of someone’s foot.

Revolting went in the bin but hey, on the bright side, pardon the pun, at least I have lights now in my kitchen… haha, now, whether they are on or off is a different story.

 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Well those of you who email me telling me that you enjoy the variety of my blogs, this one is no exception. But there is one thing that connects this blog, honestly. My fingers typed all the words. And they all come from my head, a very odd place to be, trust me. But that is the only connection. Haha.

 

It’s raining cats and dogs as we say in England. Well, you may say it too wherever you live. The etymology of that saying is said to come from old England, may be 16^th century where houses had thatched roofs where animals would lay on and when it rained, it got wet and slippy so the animals would slide off. In the 1651 collection of poems  Olor Iscanus, I hope I have that correct, British poet Henry Vaughan referred to a roof that was secure against cats and dogs in shower. One year later it was written in a Richard Bromeplaywright (It shall rain dogs and polecats) I also read though that after the floods, a poem was written in 1710 by Swift called City showers where by cats and dogs were sadly left to die in the streets. And may be locals described it rained cats and dogs.

 

Or what if in 2018, Fiona Cummings wrote since life began and the rains came down people looked to the sky to see God’s creatures to be known as dogs, as they fell down to them and to follow    would be other creatures to exercise dogs and they would be called cats? Hahaha.

 

Well it’s not a nice day for sure. But it is November, and if we had the warmth from the sun  during this month, I would be very concerned.

 

I’m hoping to get a decent sleep tonight as of late I have not been sleeping. Life is throwing interesting challenges my way exciting ones, and making my normal bad sleep Patten worse, I have been awake until almost 5 am every day for a week at least. So, my normal four hours are now about two but I hope tonight I will sleep. I’m going to take a bath and spray my pillow with lavender. That works a treat.

 For Hub…

 it does get me to sleep but after half an hour I’m wide awake. But tomorrow I’m out at half eight in the morning so need to be alert. And then we have the pub quiz in the evening. Oh heck. God help us. Last week was our worst ever. In fact, I cringed. Normally Hub is the one to suggest we put our paper in the coal fire and watch the flames burn through our shame, but last week I wanted to head for the exit. The winners got 80 out of 90. They cheat though. They are lovely people, but they cheat. I really don’t understand that you know, so you win, and? Where is the pride?

 

 Did I tell you the time before when we went it was so funny? They sat in the middle of the small room. Surrounded by quiet tables concentrating as the tension was building, we were asked a music question. Well suddenly a song bursts out from their table. It was quickly stopped, but it was the group singing that we were asked about. And in front of everyone, one of them had an iPad my friend says they come with one every week and don’t even try to hide it. It’s shocking. There are five of them though, times on average 3 beers each, so, 15 pints of beer is a lot of money for the tiny pub.

 

It’s funny as I give my answers to our friend who writes them down, Hub always goes mad with me as he says I sound so convincing. Well I am, why else would I give the answers? I know I’m right….

Well, sometimes.

Like two out of 25! But I always get the anagrams. And they are worth 10 points. So at least I contribute 16 out of the humiliating 36 that we normally end up getting. But last week we broke the record. Oh yes, we broke something. And it wasn’t the creaky old seats we sit on either, but I tell you, one day Fifi will find herself on the deck as those seats are out of the ark. They’re on their last legs for sure. You should hear the sounds they make. It’s like an old ship on a wreck. So, we broke the record of being our worst week. Haha, but so what, it’s a good night out.

 

Well I have to say of late I have been surprised by some people. The cheek of them. And yesterday was no exception. Some friends are getting together in December. One of our friends can’t be there as she has to work. But she sent everyone a text asking if one of us could put up a plate of food from the hosts home for her supper that night? Oh my, hahaha. The host replied she would. I wouldn’t have the nerve to do that, would you? Another friend came to me last week and told me she asked our mutual pal to get her a specific Christmas gift. Cheeky I thought. But when she told me what it was, I was disgusted by her. So, this other friend isn’t rich, but our friend asked her knowing she is so soft and will never refuse anyone, she told her she wanted this gift and to buy will cost our friend £57. Wow, I asked my friend who had been asked to buy this expensive gift, how much she intended spending on our friend who asked for this gift, and she replied about £15. I went back to our other cheeky friend and said you shouldn’t have asked for such a gift especially knowing that her husband has just lost his job. She replied, well it’s something I wanted and she didn’t mind. I said. I think you should tell her something like you were joking, and ask for something if you have to ask, something worth a quarter of that amount of money. She replied no, she will have bought it now. I replied no she hasn’t because she has no money. She said well this thing she can pay for over the year. I then asked her what was she buying for our friend? And after she answered, I can tell you she is no longer my friend.

 

Her answer was a scarf someone bought her last year for Christmas and she hated it. She laughed and said Fiona, who would wear such a scarf? I said you expect our friend to wear it? She replied no, but at least I have bought her something.

 

I was furious. I really told her off and told her she was no friend of mine. Now, she is still friends with our mutual friend, there isn’t anything I can do about that, but I really just came away not understanding people again. They say what goes around comes around, and I really hope it will with her. You are not supposed to wish bad on people, but sorry, I do.

 

My left foot has gone numb. My Waggatail is laying on it. Wouldn’t you think it would be uncomfortable for her? I can feel her heart beating through the top of my foot. She worked well today. I met a friend to give her a birthday card.  She has only done the route once but did good. I was anxious, but if I got into trouble my friend would have come for me. I asked her to keep her mobile on. It’s not a nice walk as the path is really old so it’s up and down. Then there are drives into people’s gardens that are so flat and where they are placed, the road is at one with the path which is the same as the drive so no edge to follow, if you don’t concentrate, you could either go onto the road or up someone’s drive.

 

My Wagga is a very sociable dog and does like to go to front doors to hope to meet people haha.

 

My Son told me the other day that we have a tree growing at the side of our house. The bit of land we just put slate down and didn’t plant up. The bit where our neighbours plonked all of their bathrooms on, remember? Well, where has the tree come from? I told him it would shamefully be a weed. No Mum he said. It’s a fully-grown tree. haha. where is Jack? maybe it is a beanstalk! Do you know of that story? Jack and the beanstalk. I loved that story when I was a child.

Once upon a time there lived a Widow and her Son Jack, on their small farm in the country.

Every day Jack would help his Mother with the chores. Milking the cow, weeding the garden and chopping the wood.

They had no money to keep themselves warm and fed, The Mother said to Jack we must sell our old cow Bess to have enough money to plant seeds for the next crop. So, Jack agreed to go to market and sell old Bess. On his way to market with harness in hand attached was Bess, Jack came across a little old man who greeted him by using his name. Jack didn’t understand how the man knew his name. Jack told the little old man where he was going, the old man said he was a good lad for helping his Mum. The man looked around to see who was watching knowing no one was, he opened his hand to reveal a hand full of beans. (Not baked) smile.

The man handed three beans for the old cow. They were magical beans. He was told to plant them and watch what would happen.

 

Jack got home showed his Mum the beans. She cried saying silly boy three useless beans for our cow? Jack was so upset seeing his Mum cry he ran to his room in the attic. He threw his beans out of the window. Well Jack went to bed. Next morning, he woke up to realise his room was not as light as normal. He ran to his window to see where he threw the beans, had grown a huge beanstalk right up to the sky it grew.

 

Jack got dressed and using the leaves and vines like a ladder, jack climbed as high as he could. Right to the sky, when he got to the top, he noticed a path which lead him to a castle in the clouds.  Jack ran to the castle the door of it opened to reveal a horrid old lady of a giant with one eye right in the middle of her head. Jack ran away to climb back down but the giant caught him saying you must be hungry, come back it’s been a long time since I got chance to make breakfast for a boy.

 

The lady turned out to be OK. As Jack ate through a huge chunk of cheese and drank his milk, he heard a thump thump. The whole castle started to shake as someone started to come closer. The old lady said oh no that is my Husband, he likes nothing better than a boy on toast. Quick come this way. She put Jack into a huge copper pot on the stove as her Husband came in. The giant man said I’m so hungry I could eat three cows. Oh, what is that I smell.

“Fee-fi-fo-fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive or be he dead. Isle have his bones to grind my bread””

Jack started to climb out of the pot. The lady said no get in as he will sleep after his breakfast. Just then as Jack was about to go back into the pot, he saw the giant coming into the kitchen with a basket full of golden eggs and a white sickly-looking hen. Well a golden girl is written about with a   harp and more poetic words than what I have summarised, but Jack took the golden girl shaped like a harp, the eggs and the sickly hen and climbed down the stalk. The giant was seconds behind him. As Jack was about to get to the bottom, his Mother came running with an axe and she was too much in shock to do anything so Jack put his golden gifts and white hen down and cut the stalk down. The giant fell and broke his crown. The golden harp girl said she would sit in his farmhouse window and sing to the birds and butterflies in the sunshine. It didn’t take Jack long to get the hen well, who laid a golden egg every day. Jack got enough money to buy back old Bess and have enough money to buy seeds for the next year’s crops.

 

He even had enough money left to fix his mother’s farm and invite all his neighbours for a meal and entertainment was provided by the singing harp. (What a boy)

And so, Jack, his Mother, old Bess, the hen and the golden harp lived happily ever after. Isn’t that the best? If you read the book to your children, then it’s obviously much better. I remember when I was a child, being on the edge of my seat with excitement. Even back then I ached, for the hen and cow. That is why the ending appealed to me.

 The end…