DIARY OF CAGES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I asked a question yesterday. Who would you like to have dinner with and why? Before I give my answer, here are a few of our Bloggets answers. From my Dear Philomena, Nostradamus. So, a brief description who Nostradamus was. Born December 1503 and died at the age of 62.  That’s a good age for those days!   He lived in the beautiful Provence, France. He was known to treat the Plague and he was an Author and studied the stars, also known for his prophecies and was a Physician.

So, our Blogget would like to dine with him… So, she can know what her future holds I guess. That would be lovely, I am really wanting to see a good person who can tell me what our future holds. There are sharks out there though. But a good fortune teller though? My love says he wouldn’t want to know, so if I found out, I would have to keep it to myself. But it’s one thing I would love to do this year.

 

Another Blogget and friend, Vikki would like to dine with Jesus. I imagine that would be a great conversation, but if that were me, I would want to save him from dying. If I were to go back in time I would know of his future and have to tell him. But I guess he kind of knew.

 

James from Australia would like to dine with Marilyn Monroe. Haha. Not sure James how much culinary experience you would have!

 

For me, one more Sunday dinner with my parents. Sadly, I never had that goodbye talk with them. I feel forever robbed. My Mother in law I got chance to hear her words at least a week before she died bless her. And those words will be in my heart forever.

 

Thank you to Karen for your kind words today and to all of you who have contacted me by email, I shall get around to answering you within the next day. I have been busy this morning just house stuff and again dealing with a total buffoon! Some people make me laugh.

I have a meeting tomorrow and an important phone call this afternoon. I don’t like this grown up world. I have responsibilities right now for others and I’m having to sort out life in a professional way. It’s out of my comfort zone but it’s my job right now to try to get it all sorted.

 

Our Son is at work until late so two meals to cook tonight. One for Hub coming home and the other for when BW returns.

 

My Son got that whatever done to his car to make it sound like a racing car. Oh my… he wanted me to sit in it and put my foot on the pedal to rev it. He video’d it. Haha. Oh, how I dream to drive. I very much doubt driverless cars will happen in our life time. I do wonder if it’s just something that is a phase talked about that won’t really happen. Unless some miracle happens and I get my vision back. Again, in my life time not sure I will but could get enough to see faces and for me that will be great. I think I will be in shock when I see how old we have all become. My baby was a year when I saw him and my Husband was 12. At this point may I tell new Bloggets that Hub and I knew each other at school when I could see and we are the same age…

 

It will be lovely to see our wedding photographs though. It’s coming up to our Wedding Anniversary. My Son asked me yesterday if we are going to renew our wedding vows? I said may be but nof for a few years. May be when his little girl can be my bridesmaid? Haha. I didn’t have bridesmaids when I married Hub, I guess if I was to do the vows, it will be small abroad perhaps.    

 

I have just read a lovely blog from our Blogget and friend Kelly. She has just started writing blogs and they are so good. Her words today were all about stamp collections. Now, let me explain, she teaches her children from home and one morning and I say morning as it was 2am. She was looking on eBay and noticed that there was a stamp collection from all around the world for a ridiculous amount of money. So cheap. She bought albums and when her stamps arrived she told her children to gather around the dining table and take the stamp albums as they were to put the stamps in and learn about the countries as they removed the stamps from the envelopes. She went on to write about how many countries the children researched and I can tell you I am sure they learned so much that day. But what memories too. A kitchen or dining room table is the focus point of a home in my opinion. Especially when you have children as she does.

 

It's more difficult now days to get us all around the table at the same time but if possible, I still do. But as a child, our Son always ate with us, now his work interferes with that but even when Hub and I are eating we sit around the table. I really don’t like the thought of families who sit in front of the TV not talking to each other not even appreciating the food as they are concentrating on what is on the screen.

 

If there is no TV, you have to communicate. And it’s around our table where we three have some really interesting conversations. I hope when my Son has children, he continues this tradition. My boy is now talking about making his Dad and myself Grandparents in four years. Hub will be a fantastic Grandad

 Though right now we are hoping for our boy just to be settled and happy before he starts thinking about bringing a new person into our world. Gosh, I can’t imagine myself as a Grandmother…. They are meant to be old, right? And you all know, I’m still only 32….

Stop it…

 

I am starting to pack away my ornaments. We don’t have enough boxes. Then the removal of our pictures on the walls. Reminding me of when we last moved house. We were lucky we had some help on the last day from someone who gave his time for us. The packing etc I did on my own as Hub was abroad, but the heavy stuff was over to the big boys.

 

I was so sad when we left Northumberland. Hub wants so badly to move back there. But my Son has a life here now and there is no way his girlfriend will move away from her family and who can blame her?

 

There is a part of me though who can predict the future and I can see Hub working full time in London. If I ask him now, he will say absolutely no. He dislikes the capital so much, but let’s see. Read this blog in five years’ time and see where we are?

 

Now in the news, Donald Trump and the children in cages. Part of me wonders how much of it is Propper gander. I am praying that children haven’t been removed from the arms of their Mothers. I am hoping that children are not in baby jails without parents? I also don’t understand why the people/families at the boarders just couldn’t be sent back to Mexico? Why arrest them? Or, did they get over the boarders and were then arrested? Oh, it’s awful whatever.

 

Hub and I were watching the news last night and were so sad to see the children or hear them as they were recordings of crying children. Again, how much of that was real?  For us it reminds us of boarding school. To me that was a jail and to both of us, at such young ages to be away from our parents. I just can’t understand why Donald Trump would do that and this is why a part of me thinks it’s media making things worse than it is.

 

Also, President Trump announced yesterday he was going to have a new army. A space army. Oh, my, why? Don’t get me wrong if I was an American, and it was only the choice between the two main candidates, Clinton and Trump, I would vote for Trump. But I do wonder about some of his ideas. The reason I would have voted for Trump is because he is what he is. He says what he thinks. As for the other lady Hilary, well, she to me is 100 per cent fake. As you know, I can’t be dealing with fake people. There is enough badness in our world without such people.

 

But, those poor children, please let it not be true?

 

In Wales, a woman died after getting trapped in an airing cupboard… Awful, but if it was an airing cupboard like I know of, heck, how did she get in? Apparently, she was naked and the handle on the inside broke off. Most airing cupboards don’t even have handles as there is no need for one. Normally. Obviously in this case, there was. When I read more into the story, it’s tragic. She realised she got stuck. She pulled down the wooden shelves and tried to smash the walls and door down. One wall after the plaster was a brick wall. The other one she got the plaster off making a hole but then the inquest said they think she must have thought she had hit another wall but it wasn’t, it was the back of a picture. So, if she continued to smash away, she would have got out, but it gets worse, she pulled off a pipe and tried to use it for a handle and water started to shoot out at her. Oh, my that is so bad…

 

In Scotland, each person drinks 10 litres of pure alcohol per year. I’m not being funny, but I am surprised it’s only that?

And all over the news it’s world cup. Yawn. Every night on our TV. We have 12 weeks of this.

 

OK, next blog a little lighter. Now I have to put on my serious head and make this dreaded call. And then I am sure a lot of emails to be sent and received. The person I’m going to call is lovely, it’s the person/people we are dealing with who are not so good.

 

Keep well. Later Gators.

 

 

 

 

DIARY OF SLEEPING ALIVE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I had a beautiful sleep last night and have had a great day. Sleeping is a huge issue for me that has shadowed me all of my life. But last night I fell a sleep with the angels and danced on the clouds.

 

Hub had a hard day in the Capital. He was shattered when he got home. His train was delayed. Our trains in the UK right now are simply awful. I don’t have a clue what on earth is going on but Hub has done a load of travelling of late by train and every single one has been delayed or he has had to get off because of no conductor has been available for that train journey. This is after everyone has got on. Last week he was on three trains rather than one and it’s not just a case of getting off and on the next one along, it involved crossing bridges and going to different platforms. Now, I will say this for the station staff. They are amazing and without their help we wouldn’t be able to do what we do as far as travel is concerned. As once we go to the desk at the train station, as long as we pre-book, a member of staff will walk with us to our train. That is perfect. But once on the train, obviously they go. And then there is an announcement saying all off?  And then what.  Hub gets off no bother, but then has to hope that a member of staff has realised what is going on. Many times, Hub has come home and there hasn’t been anyone there so has had to get to where he needs to catch his transport which luckily is not far from the station but when it comes to getting off a train, walking along a very noisy busy platform and over bridges to other platforms, knowing which one and where to go is a total nightmare as obviously we can’t see the board with information on.

 

It’s stress he doesn’t need.  And for our sake I pray we will always have the staff at the stations as they are just amazing. I’m not really sure if they know just how important they are in our lives. Now next month we are travelling to our friend’s house and coming home is for me so stressful as there are no staff at the station where we are travelling from. It’s outside and scary. As it’s often empty of people too. You could scream and no one would hear you. Hahaha. Not that I have tried screaming and I hope I never have to…

 

It’s been a lovely day. Productive and I have spoken to a couple of friends via phone or Alexa. I was saying to one of my friends how technology has moved so fast especially over the past ten years. Gosh, I remember my old Nokia mobile phone and I thought that was high tech. And now we have iPhones with so many helpful Apps. But Alexa is so futuristic. We complain about her but to think we can call friends and not hold anything or dial any numbers and hear their voices through speakers. I can sit in my chair and ask what time it is. Oh, when I first went blind it was hell for time. It took ages as in five weeks to get a talking watch. Not knowing what time, it was sent me crazy especially when I had a baby to feed.  I liked to be organised and have everything ready for him. Mind you, after losing my vision, I’m not too sure that organisation was much on my mind. Just taking time to breathe was a good start. Trying to control my panic attacks. There really isn’t enough help out there for those who suddenly lose their sight. I have spoken before about the poor Policeman who was shot in the eyes and obviously went blind. When I met with him. He was a broken man an yet he was doing all this charity stuff. I guess to get out of the house, but there was no one there to hug him. To tell him they were going to be there for him. That is the biggest fear. Who is going to look after me? The fact is, once we have been looked after, we then develop our own wings and want to learn to fly on our own as we meet people over the years who tell us it’s possible to do this and that. Though difficult in some cases, it’s possible but we can’t be pushed into doing things we are not ready for and this Policeman was really pushed. No one stopped and said it’s OK to grieve. It’s OK to cry. It’s normal to be terrified. I wish I had more time with that man and I know if I had, then he would still be here today, but he hanged himself. He was young. He could have met the lady of his dreams. He could have laughed again but he didn’t wait to find out and I totally understand. I really do as when I woke up blind that morning I have never been so afraid in my life as I was then and I honestly didn’t know how I was going to survive I had to for my baby. No way I was going to leave him but if not for him, I had nothing. I was in agony. My parents were not strong enough to be supportive. I at that time had no friends. There wasn’t such a thing as an on-line group. And if there was, I didn’t know how to use a computer/desk top. I didn’t even know that such software existed as what I use now. Jaws. Thank God for the people who invented Jaws. And thank God for those dreaded days at school of typing lessons. Now I know where to put my fingers on the keys and I can type obviously not needing to see the keys. I urge everyone out there even if you have perfect sight, to learn how to touch type. I put my eight fingers on the home keys and I can type as fast as the next person. Every letter I type reads out to me. I can type over 130 words per minute.  I can read what I have written by using the voice on my software. I love the monotone voice too, it’s kind of non-obtrusive. I think if it was a human voice, it would annoy me and I would spend time analysing it. As if one’s brain hears different tones, I can’t imagine how you would be able to concentrate as well. One notes you are not expecting anything or smiling at a very high expression or deep voice, it’s what it is and there is no expectation of the shock of what is to come.

 

I never know where my blogs are going. And todays blog is no exception.

 

I filled in a form today an on-line Google form and I must say I was impressed. It was totally accessible for those of us using screen readers. Well done Google.

 

I have spoken on the phone to a total loser how he has a job doing what he does, I really don’t know. I’m meeting with him on Thursday and I hope to have better news about him as so far, he has really proven to be inadequate. But to compensate I have also been dealing with a lady who has reversed my thoughts of office staff. She is thorough and knows how to get a job done as well as knowing how to talk over the phone and in real life. something I fear we are losing. I mean, this guy today started swearing… blaming his computer. You just don’t or shouldn’t do that when speaking with people over the phone.

 

But it’s been a lovely day I sat out with my dog and Son whilst he washed his car the weather was stunning and the smell from our roses is simply the best. The roses them selves don’t look that wonderful and to touch they fall. But oh, wow, the smell is so very sweet.

 

It’s been a very busy day nonstop and brain work was involved. I was just saying to a friend today because I don’t do talks now days, haven’t for over a year, I am losing the ability to speak in a manner I enjoy, in other words my words are not flowing as kindly as they used to. Hub gets home and we talk but he is too tired to get into the normal intelligent conversations as we used to enjoy but not only that he’s my Husband I don’t have to speak in a tone or use words with him I had to whilst given talks. So, keeping my brain alert is something I need to work more on.

 

OK, just before I go a thought.

Why do take away Pizza’s come round, in square boxes and are cut into triangles?

If you could have dinner with only one person from history who would it be and why? I shall give my answer tomorrow but let me know who you would like to be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS IN THE MORNING? I LIKE MINE WITH A STORY

Good day Bloggets. An early start for us all. Shamrock and Boy Wonder have headed off about an hour’s drive, to get his car made noisy. I know, people normally take their car to the garage to stop it from being noisy, but not our lad. They will spend the day in the big bad city and then come home. I shall hear his car for sure.

 

Hub working in the capital. It’s LF’s first trip to London. I hope he will work well as LF hasn’t had any practice in that route. I think Hub has a meeting with Microsoft. He’s all over the place these days, so much travel.

 

Bringing in the stupid little recycle bins in this week, our glass one has gone missing. Last time it was our paper one. I don’t for a minute believe that out of three bins piled up one has gone missing. I believe someone needed a new bin so has taken ours.  Hopefully, it will return soon ad whoever has it, will know it’s not theirs. They are so expensive to buy now days.  Bin men around here are so dam lazy. Thinking back to the old days our bin men used to come into closed gated gardens and pick the old metal bins up over their shoulders and by hand tip them into the waggon then bring it back to exactly where they found it. Now days, if your bin isn’t on the edge of your drive, they won’t collect it. They wheel them to the lorry now and the machine does the rest. Then the men wheel the bins a meter or two back to the end of the drive. In open space, well where they are going to blow away. Or taken by whoever. And for a rubbish bin now days it’s at least £35 or $47 to replace them!

 

In our news, Meghan Markle’s Father talks about when he had to say no at his daughter’s wedding. He says he was too ill to walk her to her Husband to be. Our Prince Harry. Well I think as far as she is concerned, she had the best person to replace her Father if there had to be any other than him, a future King of England is an honour and I was touched by Prince Charles’s offer. He went up in my opinion.

 

And  now for a good story.

A man had everything he lived in a log cabin, near a lake surrounded by forest walks and magnificent nature. But he wasn’t happy.

 He went to ask a wise woman how he could find happiness? She replied go as far west as you can and look for God and ask him.

He walked for a day, he walked for a week and a month and he walked for a year. He wondered all along how he was so unlucky. He came across a path leading to a big bad looking wolf. The other path took him past a skinny tiny wolf. As he passed the skinny wolf, the wolf said. Where are you going? The man replied I’m going to meet with God. The wolf replied. When you meet him please can you ask why I am so much smaller than my brothers? The man agreed and off he continued. He came across a tree without leaves, it was small almost like a stick. The tree asked where the man was going, he told the tree who replied. Please can you ask God why I am not taller stronger and why do my leaves blow away so easily? The man agreed and continued.

 

The man came across a beautiful blue house. Surrounded by the most vibrant coloured garden. Inside the house stood a beautiful lady. She asked him to spend the night have some food and enjoy his rest.

 

The woman cooked a feast. The man told the lady where he was going and why? The woman said what a beautiful story, when you meet God please ask him why I am so lonely? He replied of course I will. He went to bed and next morning he set off on his walk again, he walked for a day, for a week, a month and a year. He eventually came to the end of the world where God was sitting on a cloud fishing… The man said. Hello God, can you please tell me why I have no luck? God replied. “You have all the luck in the world, you just need to be more observant. Look around you see what beauty there is.”” The man began to ask the other questions he had been asked but God put his hand up as he knew what they were going to be. God whispered into the mans ear. And the man with answers headed off back to the beautiful woman’s house. The woman was so happy to see the man. “God told me why you are so lonely. You must get married””

Of course, she replied. Will you marry me? He replied I can’t as I must get back home and find my luck but the first good man I find, I will send him to you. He continued to walk to the forest to find the tree. “The reason you are small and have no leaves, is because buried below you is a chest full of gold stopping your growth and preventing nutrients.”” The tree replied. Of course, it all makes sense. The workmen left their tools over there, if you dig up the chest you can keep the gold?  The man replied, I can’t I must get back to find my luck but the first strong man I find, I shall send to you.  He continued to walk to find the wolf. He said to the scrawny wolf. “you are skinny because you should eat the first big stupid thing you see.”

The wolf did…

What a silly man!

 

I guess the morel of this story is appreciate what you have. Look beyond the grief, sadness, depression, situations and reach out to find everything that will improve your life.

   

And finally, a recipe for possibly a breakfast?

This is for two people. Whisk 4 eggs. Take a large pan, put some butter in, and fry off sliced mushrooms. Then add spinach and pour over your eggs. Stirring all the time, then add cheese. Keep stirring until it looks like scrambled eggs.

 Adding salt and pepper.

Enjoy.

 

#FATHERSDAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Dear Bloggets. Today is Father’s Day. For all you Dad’s out there, a very happy one. Hub has had a lovely day so far. Our boy made his day with an amazing gift. More on that at a later date. All I can say is wow.

 

We have just got in and now time to write then once again like the wheel, make dinner. It keeps coming around.

 

I went on our exercise bike earlier too. I feel so much better afterwards. And our friends came this morning for a short while.  The weather is lovely out there. I just don’t like the idea that the summer is running away chasing Autumn. When the summer is tired the Autumn will stop running and then winters turn to visit us. After last winter, I’m no way ready for more of it.

 

BW at his office again, today he has loads of paperwork to do and phone calls. Computer work and more. He’s tired though and ready for a couple of days off but tomorrow he and Sham will leave early to go to a place about one hours drive from here. He is getting something done to his car. I think he’s crazy. It’s to make it sound like a motorbike. Or even a truck. Right now, his car sounds so lovely. It’s really quiet.  Why do men like noisy cars? I should say of a certain age. In my days, back in my day, if it was making such a sound, we took it to the garage. Now kids are paying a fortune I’m talking £400 to make it sound as if it’s broken.

 

Gosh, Bloggets, so much is going on in our life right now, and it’s all good. I said there would be huge changes in our lives as a family and I wasn’t wrong. But it’s the break we have been looking for, for years.

 

It’s taken a lot of hard work and it will continue being hard work for many years if not forever, but I hope it will make life easier!

 

Apart from all that, we have arranged to visit our school friends at our friend’s house. It’s a long way away, but one train only. It’s weird we were kids at school like six plus and now some are Grandparents. I wonder if Mr. Clock will be there? He really does tick me off. Haha. But the others are great.

 

So, todays subject. Fathers. I always say anyone who can, can be a Father, but it takes a good man to be a Dad. My Sons words to his Dad were so sincere. My Husband really is a good Dad, though the opposite of a parent to me. I worry and show it. Hub is calm and worries under his breath also has more faith than me as far as our boy being OK in life. Though there are things he really would change same here, only I’m verbal about it, he’s not. But he’s very proud of BW and will be there for him for advice and being the one with the knowledge as far as BW is concerned. If BW needs any advice it’s Hub he will go to.

 

My Dad was a wonderful Dad. He wasn’t my birth Father but he adopted me from the age of four weeks. I don’t honestly believe he could have loved his blood child any more. He had so much love to give, but because of the age difference, he was more like a Grandfather kind of character.  Though will always be my one and only Dad. As far as my so called natural father, I guess he will be keeping warm down below where the fires never go out.

 

A Dad is someone you can trust who will be there whenever you need them and someone you will want to show you love by words, a card like today or a gift. BW has done all of that and I know it will be reciprocated many times over. As far as parenting, Hub and I are totally different. Like good Cop bad Cop. We want the same for our Son but go about trying or fighting for it in a different way. For those out there who are sad by days like today, who may never be a Dad, as far as I’m concerned, if you look after anything even a pet, you are a Dad as a Dad means trust. Love. Helpful and most of all, always there.

 

Some funny stories now. A Mum was telling her little boy Jack all about the baby sister in her tummy. You can’t predict when the baby will come Jack, you were expected on September 17^th, and you arrived on September 11^th. Then the little boy replied. “Oh, I’m so lucky, I was born on my birthday.””

 

A Grandmother cooked her Grand Son pancakes. Two were perfect one was a little over cooked as in slightly brown. The little boy said. I don’t want that one as it’s a little too ripe.

 

Two little boys were playing. One hurt his toe. His Mum asked which toe did he hurt? He replied. “The one that goes to market.””

 

And finally, a lady was telling me yesterday a really funny story about her little boy. There is a word he can’t say she told me. And I can’t help but cringe inside at the thought of him saying it when in public. He asks for his blanket, he’s only two, but because he can’t say blanket, the word he can say is

Wank it.

 

Out from the mouths of babes.

 

 

 

  

DIARY OF NUTS AND THE SNAKE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

My last interview was today and now I am free to enjoy the weekend. It’s cool today with some rain though, but still we have braved it and sat out with a cupper and some nuts. Bahahaha. They are some nuts I bought at the fair. Did I tell you about them? Oh, my days!!!

Well the first ones I opened were chilli and not as in cold but blooming actual chilli’s. I liked them and I guess they prepared me for what was to come next. Well I bought seven bags for £10.00. The bags are quite big but what is inside of them is rather small with a big punch. The second bag bear in mind bag shmag. I don’t have a clue what flavour I’m about to eat… were shocking. What the heckers had I bought? Oh, boil an egg on a banana boat. Few urg. My Son said they were Japanese peas? Say whaa’aa?

 They had I guess mustard on them. They were really hot and crunchy. I like them but they really do make your eyes water. I wonder if you can cook them in a stew for example? Or are they meant to be eaten just as they come… in a bag from the market. Hubs taste buds didn’t cope too well with them. And when I asked our boy if he wanted them he declined without even thinking about it. Cowards…

 

There are some normal nuts in that bag of goodies, I’m sure.

 

Well Bloggets, I’m going to cook something I have never cooked before in my life. celeriac. Apparently, I can mash it like turnip/mash potatoes. Or roast it. To be honest I’m a bit scared. I’m not the most adventurist when it comes to cooking. Hubs already said he’s fine with some lamb moussaka from last night.

I told him, he can have some of this celeriac with that… he said he’s OK. I replied, I’m sure you are love, but you’re still getting some of this. If I have to induce it so does the rest of the family…. I can see me putting what may be left in the pan in a soup! I shall let you know what I thought of it. Moreover, what the boys thought of it. I hope to be wrong about my first thoughts on the veg. the benefits of such a vegetable are amazing but if it’s so good for us, it will be awful. Why is it that things that are the best for us, not just good, but the best, tastes so bad? And here’s a good theory, what if those vegetables are not good for us, but we are told they are so we buy and eat just to keep the farmers companies etc in business?

 

 I can tell you I’m in our lounge. Hub is in the conservatory listening to his sport. The window is wide open in here. I’m blooming freezing. So, why is the window open? To try to get rid of Walter the wasp. So much for me saying a few months ago we won’t be getting many if any at all this summer because of the bad weather we have had over the winter? We have loads and they are huge wearing biker boots and leather jackets, they are that hard.

 

My poor little Waggatail is terrified of them. She comes to me as if to say. Protect me Mummy. She cuddles right in. Bless her.

 

They are the first dogs I have ever had who don’t chase them and try to eat them they are both scared of them. We have two wimps for dogs, or are they sensible?

 

OK, going now to put the lotto on. This could be my lucky week?

 

So, until later, I shall end with some news that got my attention.

(Mother of 2 was cut out of 27-foot python after she was eaten whilst gardening.)

This awful story was in Indonesia. The lady went missing and where she was gardening an enormous python was found hardly able to move. Her tools and sandals were found nearby. The python had a huge bulge. It had eaten the woman head first. The villagers cut open the python and sadly her body was clearly seen. Oh, my, can you imagine such a thing?

 

               

DIARY OF LULLABIES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. I hope I find you all well. Hub and I have  had almost  an hour in our conservatory with the birds singing in the early evening and as I gave Hub an Indian head massage, I had the wonderful Olivia Newton John singing through the speakers. It was a chill time for us all. I love her singing and songs. She was someone as a child I looked up to as a lady and stunningly beautiful person who I wanted to look like and as we both grew older together her many years ahead of me, but she always looked so very young. she matured into someone who’s words to some of her songs touched my heart as I felt the same way about nature as she expressed in her lyrics.

 

This weekend I hope will be one of relaxation as it’s been an interesting week for us all. This weekend in particular Hub will I hope be able to forget work for once and just enjoy sun and love.

 

My Son is working hard at work. His boss is very pleased with him so far… But she has got him to do all of the book work on the computer but to be honest, that suits him. He tells me of his work and I’m so impressed by him. Most nights he has come in though, he has spoke about quitting and normally when he starts a job, he loves it. I think he has just been very tired too. He’s been up most mornings at 4.30 am. And last night he started a bit later but didn’t get home until almost eleven in the evening.  He has two days before he has time off making it seven days in a row.

 

My Son doesn’t have a microwave at work to heat his lunch up so I have been trying to be a little adventurous with salads but there is only so much healthy salads one can eat, right? So tonight, I baked a quiche and made some vegetarian sausage rolls. When I went to the fair yesterday there was a sausage stall. Some of the sausages were vegetarian. I bought some. They were quite herby to smell so I wasn’t sure about them, I decided to wrap some pastry around them after putting them in the oven for a while and I can tell you, they were delicious. Gosh, if I am ever lucky enough to go again to one of those stalls, I will for sure buy more of them. In the quiche I put 6 eggs. Loads of cheese, three big tomatoes, half an onion and a few mushrooms with a little pesto and black pepper with a small amount of salt. I hope that will be nice. And I pray BW will enjoy it and not feel bad about eating eggs and cheese. See, I just can’t do vegan. I have been kind of this week with salads and cuscus, but as for all week? My imagination isn’t that good.

 

This morning I did an interview and I have another one tomorrow. Hub couldn’t understand how calm I was, to me, why should I be anxious? It wasn’t me who was applying for a job. Smile. Interviewing to me is so easy, I even to be honest don’t mind being interviewed. Now, going out myself well, with my faithful Waggatail, that’s a different story. I went to post a letter with her today and it always amazes me just how I get from A to B.

 

Waggs is working really well bless her. It hurts to think she may only have two and a half years before she will have to retire. I’m dreading that day. I will never forget the day I had to hand over the harness of my last guide dog, she was my first guide, and her last walk with me was the best one she ever did. I swear, she knew it was her last. Where I live, our dogs work until they are ten. And even if they still work well and are fit and healthy, they still retire. Why? Because the boss feels a guide dog should have a life after work. Also, they may want to keep working for us, but who knows how they are really feeling? I mean, they are seventy at the end of the day in their world. There are some wonderful volunteers who take on retired guide dogs and give them a happy few years before they go to the big field in the sky. But thank God I can keep my babies. The Little Fella and Waggs will be staying here with us.

 

If you could see Hub now. He is on the floor making Waggs wild. I have shouted twice already. Not at Waggs, but Hub. LF is sitting in the corner just observing everything and every now and then, he tells his Dad off if he is too mad with Waggs. But the rougher you are with her the happier she is. Where as LF, he is too timid and delicate. Hahaha.

 

Waggatail loves her Daddy and the feeling is so mutual.

 

Well, tomorrow is another day. And another day will be tomorrow. Only a couple of hours away. Until then, I shall bid you night night. And talk again when the sun comes back on a new day.

A lot of days in that. I’m tired. Smile.  Remember.

I hope your pillow will be a fluffy cloud and the angels sing sweet lullabies. Know that the stars have come to wish you sweet dreams and the moonlight is there to guide you to that path of dreams.

© Fiona Cummings

 

    

 

THE CURRY CHRONICLES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Hello Bloggets. At last I can write to you all. My day started off at a silly time this morning. BW came in at ten to seven and Hub left for work as I got up at half seven. My neighbour and her friend who I have never met before today, asked me to go to a huge craft fair. I never say no to places like that. The friend was fantastic. A lovely lady who knows what she wants and gets it.

 

Gosh the fair was absolutely packed. And not being able to see was today interesting as we went around tasting all the lovely and some not so lovely foods, we stopped at a Thai lady who was so proud to tell me the food she was about to give me to try was a recipe from her Dad. It was really tasty. Full of chickpeas. I bought it. The lady handed it over to my neighbour’s friend who took a shopping trolley on wheels. She was very organised. She is a very practical lady there in her wellies and rain coat, me in my good shoes, fancy black jeans with lace with matching black blazer and black Michael Kors handbag. Hahaha I just don’t do appropriate dress for unappropriated occasions.

 

Well I bought a tiny box of fudge for Hub. Some sausages for him and some vegetarian ones for us. Oh, then there was the nut stall. You know the nuts that I am trying not to eat now? well. Then there was that stall. I had to try for experimental purposes. That’s all I’m saying…

 

I got Hub some chocolate covered coffee beans and I bought a gift for our lady who walks our dogs as it’s her birthday in a few days. It was a glasses case. My neighbour said she wears glasses, the dog walking lady not my neighbour. It has dogs on it and when you open it it’s beautiful inside. Thick soft velvet I have never seen such a posh glasses case.

 

Strange gift, but I’m a very strange person. I also saw what I am going to get Hub for Christmas… Not a glasses case… something magnificent. Oh, there was a wonderful bronze stall that had life size Labradors. Sadly, I didn’t find out how much they were. There was a stall selling wood carvings of chickens and elephants. Hahaha. There were other things like owls. But I thought it was funny from small owls and chickens, to elephants.

 

Then the cheese stall. Yum. I bought the kind Hub likes and some for me and our boy. Mind you, he’s wanting to become vegan, so not sure he will help me to eat it.

 

I also had to pass a stall that sold salt and pepper sets and I couldn’t go home without one. They are like shells and they were an OK price.

 

We sat and had a delicious coffee and my neighbour tasted some prosecco. Oh, and I bought a Parkin cake to bring home. Ooooooo that is so tasty. Have you had parkin cake before? It’s something that the WI tend to make a lot of. When I used to give talks to the WI, we were always fed Parkin cake.

It’s made with oatmeal, ginger, butter, treacle, golden syrup, brown sugar, an egg and self raising flour. Its traditionally eaten on

Guy Fawkes night and originates from Northern England.

You may find the link at the bottom of this blog of some interest.

 

There was a stall selling beautiful scarves. The Ladies bought some of those but I’m not a scarf kind of gal.

 

There were handbags purses and boots from South Africa, so obviously real leather. They smelled amazing, but I didn’t want to think of what animals they could be made from. This evening as we were going to the pub quiz, my neighbour who comes with us, said the boots had the animal fur/hair on still. Gross. There were cookery demonstrations from cooks from Australia. Again, I didn’t want to know…. And lots of soaps and hand creams to try. The creams, not the soaps…

 

There was a lovely stall selling paintings of animals/wildlife. And there was an elephant my favourite kind of picture. Something I don’t have, is a painting of an elephant, but it was awkward to carry and not cheap.

 

The different smells were wonderful and it was in the countryside so fresh air. Though we were blown around the place as really the winds were wild.

I’m shattered now but in a very good way. A wonderful day I’m so grateful for. I hope I get invited again. My neighbours friend told me I was an education. Hahaha. Me, why? Because this lady has never been with anyone blind before and now she knows what blind people are all about… To which I told her, just like her, blind people are all different. But she was lovely and very funny. I really hope I meet her again.

 

Now there I am with all my bags deciding Hub was going to have sausages I was going to have an easy curry and BW would have the same I would just add things to it for him. Hmm. So, Hubs sausages were fine, as for our curry? Heck. This is when being either able to see or have something described in a better way comes in handy. I opened all my bags of goodies, put them away then found the last bag. The curry bag…  expecting to find my tray of curry inside. Hahaha. Em. Nope. It was a piggin jar to make curry with. For £6.50? Well I guess it was a nice sauce but the jar is tiny.

How I was thrown off was because the Thai lady was saying in broken English that serves two… Well I have never heard of a jar serving two before, have you?

 

Tonight, the pub quiz. In this wind we just stood at the end of our avenue of all sorts and let the wind take us there.

We did rubbish tonight. But again, a good evening so the anagram was, and I was no where close yesterday with this. I guess you have to be English to get it as they are English. But we are not told at the time of the nationality. If you are not from England, see if you can get at least their first name? Us four didn’t. and I will tell you why when you have a go at guessing.

Foot entrance

Those are the letters to play with. A person was the clue. Man woman? At that point we didn’t know. Oh, it’s too difficult. Come have a go.

Foot Entrance.

I had to laugh and it’s naughty of me it’s bad and I feel awful doing it, but our neighbour is a clever man, but anagrams he just doesn’t get. So, he would say in last nights case for example. Foot Entrance,

 Phillip Schofield. Firstly, I never knew our presenter had two L’s in his name and secondly, the clue for the anagram honey is that you take the letters given and mix them up to make a name…. He always puts letters in the answer that aren’t even there. And it’s so comical. I mean, how on earth can you derive Phillip Schofield out of Foot Entrance?

 

I laugh at the way he is so sincere with his answers and his wife is so strict with the way she tells him he is being silly. And the fact he has been known to throw a letter Q and W in a word that doesn’t even have those letters in. Bless him. I need to stop laughing though, it’s awful. I mean I laugh as quiet as I can but sometimes I’m in mid flow of drinking my lemonade. And it all can go wrong.

So the answer is..
Fern Cotton

Anyway, I shall leave you with the link below and hope you have a lovely weekend.  

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkin_(cake)

 

 

 

YOGA YA WHY NOT BY FIONA CUMMINGS

I’m going to type this as fast as I can. I have little time but wanted to write some words. After a lovely morning with the ladies, where we talked about the world every subject you can imagine, ate and drank cups of tea, we all decided we are going to start a Yoga class… My friends Husband is a teacher of Yoga and his wife, my friend does it so knows about it… Now Bloggets, the thought of me doing Yoga? Let me tell you I have just spoken to my Husband on the phone who is in transit from work and his response to me doing Yoga, was… “Oh, hell, I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall when that is taking place!””

Cheeky thing…

Mind you, I will agree it will be a sight like no other.

 

Yoga is something I have always wanted to do but never been brave enough. As now days I struggle lifting my leg up to go up a step, God help me doing some of those moves, but my sweet friend reassures me all will be fine…

 

At one point my neighbour who is slim, got down on the floor and spoke of down dog.

At this point I’m thinking, my Waggatail isn’t even in the room… but she went on and by this point it was obvious that it was the name of one of the moves. I mean, do you call them moves even? Positions? Whatever, there was no way I was having anything to do with a dog. Hey. Who knows, in a few weeks, I may be getting down with the dog. The question is, how the heckers will I get back up again. But I am super excited. I hope we do it even if I am the youngest ish, OK, not quite, I am in the middle of all our ages, but one thing I do know, I am the most unfit. I want to do this though, I really do. I used to be known as Flexible Fi…. OK. I joked with you all and called myself that… I’m now known as Flabby Fi… hahaha.

But I hope to at least be able to move better and I want to learn how to meditate. I need this for stress relief.

 

My friend is from India and she was telling me about dentil work she needed doing. Sounding like what my Hub needs. He was quoted £5000, hence why he hasn’t had it done yet, she had it done in India and it was a thousand pounds. And that was a 24-hour job that my Husband has been told it will take three months.

 

I’m fascinated in just how well behaved her children are. All three. Their quite grown up now, her youngest is 17 and eldest twenty. I’m so interested to learn about different cultures and how they are with their children.

 

Day three of my Sons new job. He’s enjoying the early starts but not so the nights. He feels when he gets home half day, he has lots of the day left where as when he starts at lunch time he’s lost a full day as doesn’t return home until after ten at night.

 

Well my Husband on his way home now thankfully. It’s been a long three days. I hope there are not many more of these times away. Though he sounds as if it was a pleasant trip.

 

Right I have to dash as I have emails I need to deal with. I am furious about one of them. Someone needs dealing with. I have to be professional, but I’m rather tempted not to be. Tomorrow I hope to have lots of interesting things to chat about as I am out in the morning. So, on my return I shall write to you. Happy birthday to Penny and Jackie.  Later with love.

 

 

MOSS BROS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Hello to Peru, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Spain. So far, they are my top ten Bloggets of the day. Spain? 118 views from you today, and over 200 from the UK and over 300 from America. I wish I knew who was reading in Spain, as normally I get about nine readers per day from your lovely country.   In total blog countries now, the gap has really widened. Remember it was quite tight in parts? Not now.  Poland is still hanging on though.

 

I have to tell you something I read today on Facebook. My friend kindly transcribed it to me as it was written in a picture/text format rather than in word and my screen reader doesn’t read pictures or pictures of words, only actual word… She is my angel eyes and always makes sure I am included in FB posts. Bless her. Anyway, here is what was written and it’s as though it was written for me.

 

Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes, that’ll be boring. Spend

 thirty seconds in my head, that will freak you out.

 

My Husband has often said to me he would love to spend a day in my head… I tell him he wouldn’t survive the 24 hours. My head is a place no one should visit. It’s a car crash. Someone once told me they can tell by my writing, what a state my heads in. Bahahaha. Thank God they continued to say they love to read what I write otherwise I still would be wondering whatever did they mean? As their emails kept coming, I learned they liked the diversity of one day reading a diary, next a poem and next a recipe. Oh, talking of recipe’s. hmm. I will have to see what my Son makes of his lunch  I was tired. I should have done his lunch earlier but I didn’t because I wanted to know what he thought of the sauce I made for his lunch today. And he didn’t tell me until he came home at ten in last night. He said it was ten out of ten. It’s ginger and spring onion. I made him a dish with bulgur wheat and Quorn chicken. It sounds revolting in fact my Husband said Bulgur wheat should be renamed vulgar wheat…

 

My baby loved it. He’s like my ex, he loved everything I cooked. My Husband does too as long as his dish has a face… My Son wants to change from a vegetarian to a vegan but I’m struggling with that thought. So, this is as close as I can get.  Well tonight through sleepy eyes, I made rice and when it was almost cooked, I put some asparagus in with it to steam. Again, vegetarian chicken cooked in herbs and the rest of this sauce that was left in the fridge. Oh, and some mushrooms I fried. It would have been OK until two things happened. Firstly, my boy told me his new place doesn’t have a microwave. So, cold rice? Well it got worse, as I learned that the rice wasn’t well, rice, but barley. I think. Oh gosh. And he couldn’t eat that cold… So, I am hoping he will eat it at home as he starts at five in the morning and is finished by 1 pm. Even hot I do wonder about barley? I hate making cooking mistakes.

 

Sham came around last night at half ten I just hope BW got some sleep as he has to be up at four. I guess Sham is off work today. Otherwise she has to be up at seven so an early start for her too.

 

Hub called he sounded happy and that makes me happy. For my Son Hub and furry ones to be happy is all I ask.

There’s a lot of happy’s going on there.

 

We are expected storms over the next few days. It thundered last night and I was just glad it was one huge rumble and not all night, I hate it I’m scared of it. What a wimp I know.

 

My shopping is coming tomorrow at a slot I don’t like. Between 8 and nine. Now, I’m hosting the elevenses ladies get together. What we eat and drink, will be in that shop, so I hope we don’t have a disaster like the last shop who we missed.

Or I should say, they missed us… 

 

My friend has just asked me if I will be ready to go out on Thursday at half eight in the morning. So, no rest for the wicked.

 Now for my foreign students who are wondering about that phrase, I read it derives from the bible – Isaiah 57. Gosh I hope I have that correct… No doubt you will tell me if I’m wrong. The eternal torment that awaits sinners in hell.

Heck… when I Annalise that phrase, it’s not very nice, is it? Maybe I should just say, I don’t think I will have much rest this week? Bahahaha.

 

I had a dreadful night. I went to bed about 1 am. Stayed awake until after three this morning then kept waking up to check the time. I don’t want BW to sleep in for his new job. He gets mad when I do that but fact is, he has slept in before three times and only woke on two of those occasions because I woke him. Sham stayed until he went to work.

 

Thirty hours before Hub is back home. It’s too long. I really do not like his new job. Back to the bad old days when he used to be away a lot. Obviously, it’s not as bad as that, as he travelled abroad, us still three days from home is too much. We spent too much time in our lives apart. Coming up to our wedding anniversary in a few days. He said to me the other day, he has never been happier in his life as he is with me… This shocks me as why? I’m just me and nothing else. I guess we are soul mates and I have said before I feel like we were together in another land. From we were young children we loved each other, but circumstances tore us apart for 28 years. Hence now we have some making up to do.

 

I’m going to have to take my dog out, Waggatail is too hyper. We have nothing to do and it’s cold today, but she needs to work otherwise she will go crazy as will I if she doesn’t stop finding every single toy and trying to put them on top of my lap top. You have no idea how many words I have had to delete, well letters as no words made sense. One day I should write a blog called dog toys. And let her do her stuff see what she is capable of writing.

 

BW went to get a suit after work. He went to Moss Bros. The first lady who welcomed him was lovely but then another lady took over and she was very rude. My BW walked out as he was disgusted by the attitude of the woman. It’s sad really as it used to be a good shop but looking on line, it has really bad reviews now.

 

He’s going to a black-tie event. He was going to hire a tuxedo but now he’s just going to buy a suit. For one event one night, it wouldn’t be worth him buying a tux. But he would have hired one if not for that person. At least if he buys a black suit, he has one for funerals. Not that many people where black suits now days, not that many people wear black for funerals even… I hope it will be a very long time before he needs a black suit. Haha. And he will never need a tux.

 

If he marries in the future knowing my Son he will want to wear a nice colour not black. Again, hopefully it will be a very long time before he marries.

Having said that, if he finds the right girl I guess he’s 21 now, it’s not too young.

 

My good friends Son has just met a lovely girl. My friend is delighted with his choice. I am sure if he decides tomorrow he’s marrying her, my friend would be very pleased. But he is 24. How old is the right age to marry? It in my opinion depends on so much, at the end of the day it’s a number and if it’s the right person, then love conquers all. The only thing is, the stress of life when the honeymoon is over bills and not being able to do what you did when you weren’t married.

 

Just before I go some words.

All this talk about clothing. How did the farmer fix his pants?

With cabbage patches.

What do you call a jacket that’s on fire?

A blazer.

 

Sorry…