Escape in a dream #PoetryByFionaCummings

ESCAPE IN A DREAM

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Chasing dreams

Chocolate boats, along ice cream streams

Toffee trains, chugging along leafy tracks

 Night skies, lit by candle wax

Under the man in the moon

Howling wolves in packs

Cherry blossom in bloom

Golden spires on top of the church

Framed by the silver birch

 Jogging Jelly tot men

I sit here with rice paper and pen

Thinking of my day

I never want this memory to go away

Where Easter chicks, played with the golden hen

And pink sugared pigs lay in their pen

A candy mouse

Hid in the gingerbread house

And white chocolate cats gave chase

Adoring the smiles upon the child’s face

As they hunted for eggs

Laughing dogs did beg

Whilst the dish ran away with the spoon

This was the magic room

Where all children’s rhymes lived under the same roof

Satin pillows full of first curls and the odd baby’s tooth

Black sheep in the nearby field

Orange’s in a dish pealed

And bananas wore pyjama’s

Bunches of carrots grew in the garden

Where Peter Rabbit, munched and said pardon

A hedgehog in a pretty dress

Monkeys making a right mess

In a local zoo

And a mystical library painted blue

Where fairy tales were told

About Red Riding Hood

And Winnie the pooh

All dreams come true

For all children who are good

For those who are naughty

There is a corner

Where you will find Jack

A body of water

Full of sprat

A tall wall with an egg-shaped man

He keeps falling off

A wizard and a tin man

A pot of honey and a jar of jam

a slice of toast and cheese and ham

writing as fast as I can

before I forget a dream, I had

where nothing harmful occurred

nothing bad

no one knew the meaning of sad

a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

and by night stars did glow

and people danced

in a world full of chase and chance

but people laughed tears were history

where was this dream

not sure, it is a mystery.

 

© Fiona Cummings

 

CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. Gosh, what a day, we went out with our lovely girl Friday. Well, my new personal trainer. Haha. We went to an abbey. Oh, my goodness.  My dear GF/PT, has one speed. Fast and she is determined to get me fit. Bless her. Love that gal. she is adorable.

 

Oh my, the hill, no, not a hill, a piggin mountain. Seriously, you know those walls you can climb up? You do it for a sport? Yep, we did that today. I seriously thought I was going to die. The heat was immense too. There were thousands of people there. The birds sang, probably telling me to get on with it. Telling their pals “Hey dicky, there’s fat Fi trying to get up the hill, Hahahahaha, look at the state of it?””

Yeah, very funny Dicky, I was dark red in colour. I didn’t think I would get to the top. It was so high, so steep. But I did it, Girl Friday thought it was funny and told me it was all in my mind, nope, I seriously was in pain. There’s a lot of me and as long as I walk on the flat, I’m fine, but not hills, sorry, mountain.

 

We sat at a picnic table and enjoyed a light lunch and a cupper. We took a flask and some food. It was lovely, I enjoyed that part. The ducks on the river made their lovely sounds and the smells were the best. Loads of people were having BBQ’s. there were so many families there who weren’t English and they had their food with their own spices. Oh, my it smelled so good.

 

Little Fella worked so very well as always. Hub sat on a tree trunk as a small child fussed the dogs, but firstly their parents or grandparents, asked if it was OK, as bless them, they knew our dogs were working. But we said it was fine as they were wresting…  it was so funny to hear the lady telling the little girl that the dog, meaning Hubs dog, was the misters, as she put it, eyes… hahaha the poor child was probably thinking, this dog doesn’t look like eyes?

 

They were a lovely family though. We drove a long way but somehow, ended up at a famous ice cream shop. Not sure how that happened….

 

I had red cherry ice-cream and Girl Friday had passionfruit. Hub had a cup of tea. 

 

We only did five miles today, but it was so hard. Tough, but a memory for sure. And I love our girl.

 

If I have not lost at least a pound in weight, I won’t be happy. OK I had ice-cream, but I climbed at least one wall. And a mountain…. And loads of steps. Hahaha.

 

Going to text my Brother in law to ask if he wants to meet up tomorrow. If he’s not working, not sure where we will go, but somewhere for sure. It’s going to be so hot again tomorrow too.

 

  

GOOD FRIDAY BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Today is Good Friday and a tradition we keep in our small family of not eating meat today, now you may say hang on, Fifi, you are a vegetarian and your Son is a vegan, yep, but Hub is a meat eater and today he eats no meat at all. Not in my house never. Even when I ate meat I wouldn’t on a day like today. It’s a tradition that has been in my family since I was born and before. I love traditions and I love the meaning of Good Friday.

 

Of course, it’s from the bible. Good Friday to some means God Friday. And because it was the day Jesus sacrificed his life/flesh for us, it is said to show respect not to eat flesh. But fish is flesh? But fish in those days was a very common food as most people were fishermen it wasn’t expensive where as meat was a delicacy, unlike today, when it is the same price in England as fish.

 

In England around Easter time, we paint boiled eggs and give chocolate eggs. Have you noticed those who live in the UK how expensive eggs are this year? For the same egg, same make, same size, one shop sold it for £2.66, another shop was asking £4.00 and on Amazon, £7.40. same size, and brand.

 

Aldi’s was the best price.

 

I remember my Mum telling me when I was little, that she used to wear a Easter bonnet, little white socks best shoes and dress and take her boiled eggs to the hill in the park to role them. Again, a tradition. I used to do that with my Son too. But it was so long ago, I can’t remember the reason behind it, I think it was a competition to see whose eggs didn’t break.

 

By the way, I took my boy to role his eggs, not dressed him in a bonnet and dress. Haha. Do you know why we paint boiled eggs?

Because it’s easier than wallpapering them. Hahaha.

 

 My Mum was forty when I was born, so she was generations before me. But how innocent those days were. Now there is Easter bunting, cards, eggs of all sizes some asking £20.00, for what would have cost us quarter that only a few years ago. Easter trees, plastic Easter toys and so on. But how many children today know the meaning of Easter? I would hope all, but now schools don’t all have religious studies, well, not Christianity anyway.

 

We have a long holiday here in England, our children are off school for a couple of weeks and my Husband and Son are off work until Tuesday/Wednesday. I hope to get out somewhere over the next few days. The weather is forecast to be beautiful for weeks, so, let’s see.

 

I hope for some of you who won’t be seeing anyone this weekend, you will find comfort in knowing that you, are not alone. So many people don’t have family who visit or friends. A good place to go if you can be your local church, I’m sure you will be made so welcome there. If not, enjoy the sun if you are in the UK, put your feet up and relax.

 

We always think of weekends spent with families, Grandchildren, Sons and daughters, parents, and some do have all of that, but there are others who don’t. and when I asked you all what you did at weekends, most of you said you were sad as you wish you could be with family. There were a few who said they go for a meal and a drink at weekends. Well, more than one drink by the sounds of it. Others said they spend time in the garden, digging etc. Some said they take their dog for a long walk. One Blogget goes horse-riding at weekends and another plays golf. One beautiful family I know of once a month have a de hairing weekend. They all line up to be waxed and shaved on parts that they can’t reach…. Now there’s a one for your imagination?

 

My baby came home today from his amazing holiday. Last Saturday he asked Shamrock to stay with us whilst he went to her house to pack her case, he had stress as couldn’t at first find her passport, she moved it last minute as she decided to tidy her bedroom that week. Her passport was always on her desk but she put it away in a box, in her robe…

 

He then drove her forty minutes away, where he parked the car up for the night. Sham thought they were going for a meal, they did, then they went for a drink to find BW had arranged friends and family as in her brothers to be there. There were three friends of our Son, two of Shams and three family members. She was really surprised. They had a great night then she thought she was heading home. She was concerned as BW had a couple of drinks, so when she learned that he had booked a hotel, she was delighted. Then the next day, she thought she was going out with us for a meal, we played along with her. Saying I had booked it and it was a surprise where we were taking her. I even text her to ask would she be back in time?

 

When our Son started to head to the airport, she was shocked, and when she learned she would be spending the next five days in a stunning hotel in Barcelona, she was even more delighted I’m sure she then wondered about her job, but BW had sorted that out too, arranging time for her to have holidays and thankfully her boss kept the secret of her being off to herself.

 

What a surprise, as I said last week, whatever happened to flowers and chocolates?

 

Hub and I walked to our local chippie today for our lunch. We sat in the sun and relaxed. It’s been a lovely day and I have just told my Son that the Easter chick and bunny have been with eggs for him. An Easter basket with vegan eggs in. Bless him he was so appreciative. And he even played along with his mad Mum who told him I had to clean up after the chicks made so much mess delivering them. I told him, they woke us up during the night, I said I thought we were being broken into. Hahaha. I’m crazy you know, I don’t smile when I am telling him these stories, and he answers now in such a serious way. But he secretly loves his silly Mummy moments. I told him this story just after he had been telling us both about the facts and engineering of certain flights and the software in them and so on. Losing me half way down the runway, as I was with him until it came to the technical side.

 

He is so clever and that is what makes moments like the Easter stories and what I say at Christmas even more funny. Well I appreciate those times anyway, my Husband just takes a deep breath when I start. Well, who wants to be boring, life can be so serious so if you can have a moment where you escape, why not? Though some would say it’s very obvious, that I, have escaped…. Just they don’t say where from.

Cowards.

 

So happy my family are all home tonight, I love it. And someone so very dear has been in touch with me that makes me even more happy, as I love her.

 

I’m excited about the weekend as we are going for a lovely walk and picnic. Next to a river. It’s forecast to be really hot though, so I think a summer dress is required. For me that is, not Hub….

 

Well Dearest Bloggets, thank you for reading and I wish you a very happy weekend.

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Sometimes it’s so good to feel grateful for the smallest things don’t you think? In a world where everyone around us seems to have everything and people just want, everything, sometimes it’s nice to kick off our shoes, sit back and just say thank you to whoever you talk to and know just how lucky you really are?

 

Sounds fatuous for those who do have everything and who have never stopped their fast cars in life to look at the scenery, but sometimes after a lovely meal, I feel so grateful for something that may be so mundane to most people, little things like a meal, I know why this is, and to be able to still after all these years be grateful for such little things, fills me with peace, but, still even though that feeling I had today again is still in my mind, there is something missing in my life that costs nothing and to get that gift I have no power. So not everything we need, want, is too expensive, just as not everything we have should cost a lot of money.

 

It’s written that we should walk as if we are kissing the earth with our feet, and for those who are fortunate to be able to walk, then yes, that is so true! Sometimes we say we will be grateful for something when we obtain what we want. like a pay rise at work, a new car, a holiday, a new house or other tangible things from people we know. But I do wonder, if we should have attitude for gratitude

 

Wasn’t its Confucius who said “I was complaining that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet!””

 

Gratefulness it’s benefaction will go unnoticed and our capacity to draw on it’s gifts, will be diminished if we don’t recognise it from time to time.

 

Will there ever be a person who is 100 per cent happy with everything they have? I haven’t met that person yet. But we can plant small seeds in our life by opening our heart to small things in life which we normally take for granted!

 

To me gratitude’s meaning is to slow down, even stop whatever you are doing take yourself to a place where you are comfortable and listen to your soul, your heart and the very smallest thing that has happened that day, think about it, you will find yourself smiling without trying. Breathe and notice what your body is doing as you, are controlling your breath.

 

To learn to meditate is something I never ever in a million years thought I would be able to do, but I’m learning and it’s amazing. I have tried to do this all of my life and failed, but after experiencing Yoga last year, I feel now it is a gift that I can open from time to time.

 

Most of you will know I lost my full vision and both my parents who were my life in less than six months. Since then, I sometimes feel I go over the top with being grateful to those who ar kind. I’m sure when I write to people who are special to me, they think I have been taken some kind of drugs that can’t be bought in a supermarket, but it came with the regret I didn’t get chance to appreciate the vision I had when I had it I was too worried about losing my sight and I never got chance to say thank you to my dear parents. So, if I have said thank you to you, in a personal letter, email or message then you know you are special to me. If I haven’t said thank you to you, then I haven’t had chance yet, but I’m sure it will come one day!

 

© Fiona Cummings

 

  

 

     

TYE TO THE TREE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

To our Beautiful Blogget and my can’t do without friend Louise, sending love today. Hope you are feeling better sweet lady. Happy birthday to Sergei and congratulations to Helen and Dan on the birth of baby Sarah.

 

It’s a beautiful day here. I’m sitting in my lounge with the sun behind me, my dog at my feet and the fragrance of lilies from a nearby vase as well as lemon oil burning from my pot on my shelf.

 

Sipping on a herbal tea, I’m chilled. I was out with Waggatail earlier and though the roads were awfully busy, so noisy, we managed to work together. Crossing over one of the roads, was a challenge as there were parked cars with their engines on. Not helpful when trying to hear if there are any cars coming… But my gal did it!

 

Two more sleeps before my baby is home from his holiday. It’s frightening now days just how many public places you can’t enter like the olden days, you would queue and pay, not now, it has to be done in so many attractions where by you book in advance and pay on line. Even today I was reading about a beautiful fountain where you firstly have to pay on line to see, then book before entering the country not to be disappointed. A fountain? What, are there walls around it? Oh my,

 

I remember the days when we went to visit churches coliseums etc in Moscow, I hated it as we used to be guided past all the poor Russian people who had queued for hours to obtain entry to for example see Lenin, and our guide would wave our passports and we would get straight in. why, because  we were foreign. Oh, and we were guests of the Russian Miners Union. We were given a driver and black car too; this would get us anywhere without being stopped and interrogated. Again, a privilege. I was a child, I had no say, now I would insist to be the same as the other people.

 

It’s a good job looking back as my Mum couldn’t walk far or stand for long, that we did get in without a wait, being in Russia was not always the best times, so at least once a week we would do something like a tourist attraction. Mind you, after 33, visits, we saw everything at least five times.

 

I was looking up our old hotel in Leninsky Prospect today, it’s still there. Gosh I get shivers when I see the name of the hotel written, or hear it in my case. I was shocked to see it now has 11 floors. It used to have 15. Haha, it did say it was renovated in 2016, may be the took some floors off? It was interesting to see that the rooms now offer a so-called pantry? Well I know they have a fridge, they used to have a TV, now you have to pay for it. The bathrooms sound a little classier now, and they provide a hairdryer? Gosh, and, toiletries, wow, I remember we had to take everything. Even toilet rolls. They used to have a square metal box on the wall, with tiny bits of hard crackly to touch paper. Tiny bits of hard sharp paper, the kind you would put behind a bit of paper to copy, Hahah, but no other toiletries.

 

Even the towels were so small, like what I would call hand towels. But we had to make do with those as to take what we needed for a month plus in the early days we had to pay, or my parents had to pay, access luggage as it was. So, to add heavy towels would be a no no.

 

That hotel was my life. from the age of nine till I was 21. Before that hotel, I would stay in the awful dark, depressing hospital, that was dirty and their walls caved in on me with cruel pain.

 

So, when we were kindly offered a gift of free hotel stay thanks to the Russian miner’s union, it was a light bulb situation. Firstly, even as a tiny child, I knew it gave my Mum some comfort to know she had to find money to travel there and money whilst being there, but at least her hotel stay was free and at least we could be together, I wouldn’t be in a jail like before.

 

We made friends over the years and it was there where I fell totally head over heels in love. He was my boyfriend for just over two years seeing him for five weeks every six months. Sadly, we ended what we had because of deathly threats back then. And one year later, he was free, most Russians were free so if only we hung on a year. But by then too late, I had made the next huge decision in my life that I couldn’t go back on.

 

Looking back, it’s probably best that we didn’t stay together, but tell my heart that at the time? In fact, tell my heart for ten years after we broke up.

 

The hotel could be the safest place and the scariest place. The Russian Mafia and KGB ruled it. I was followed everywhere. But so many memories are in that hotel. So many. A lifetime of memories in fact.

 

My heart is full of the love I had for Moscow and the people at the time. But I also have a bitter taste and pure fear. So, from one feeling to the extreme.

               

And finally, today Ivan Klyucharev was last seen at the age of 30 in 2017. It is written that he was a failed Houdini trick gone wrong. Ivan has just been found, after going missing two years ago, 80 miles from Moscow. A passer by found him tied to a tree.  He was a skeleton dressed in a hoodie. Gosh, that is enough to give you nightmares for life, isn’t it? It’s said that a tent with bolts, chains and various locks were found inside the tent nearby.

 

OK, I guess the moral of this story is, if you are going out to train to do magic, especially if it involves chaining yourself to a tree in the middle of a forest, then tell someone to alert the police if you are not back home before midnight? And, tell them roughly what blooming tree you are going to chain yourself to?

 

I mean, it must have been a remote place mustn’t it to be there for two years and only now been discovered? Unless when he first died, someone saw him and just thought he had been on the vodka?

 

 

 

 

OUT OF JAIL FOR THE DEVIL BY FIONA CUMMINGS

The devil has landed on earth. I’m sure of it. It was written that one day he shall return after being a prisoner for a thousand years and he will be released to travel to the so called four corners of the world… corners? Hmm. Isn’t earth round? But I get what it means. How will the devil show himself to us? Apparently, he will come as an angel surrounded by light. He will be released for a short time it is written. Enough time to gather his new army, I guess. And the way society is going now, his army will be huge. And then it’s written that Christ will return and save the good. Then he will destroy the antichrist. I just wondered why he would release Satan? I’m told that it’s Christs way of showing love. The bible can be complicated. I’m a spiritualist, it’s less complicated. But even I believe that the Devils presence is apparent. The Notre Dame is the latest little bit of proof.

   

Fires, floods, earthquakes, needless murders by guns knives etc. It’s all the work of Satan. He is among us it’s up to us who we choose to side with.

It’s written that mankind will have the worst bloody war and then in biblical terminology, the great tribulation will occur! God apparently will examine us and cleanse deciding who will be good enough to go to his perfect kingdom. But who is perfect? I personally don’t know of one person who is perfect. In simple terms I guess babies will be taken to the next world. It’s written that Christ will stand on a mountain and I’m just wondering if that mountain now days will be in the form of a space craft? Those who know me knows that I believe in God and Jesus but to me he arrived in a space rocket and we come from his planet, who knows, was it Mars? We sadly destroyed that planet and now we are doing the same to this land, so, when we blow this earth up, a rocket shall take us away and once again, we will start anew life. we are too perfect in the formation of our internal organs to be an accident. Our insides work like a manmade machine. We can’t be an accident. But I have no other explanation. I believe in angels. Earth ones too. Maybe they are fallen angels? Those who just didn’t make the grades to stay on the other planet, as some of us came to earth, others may be went to another planet, Mars, Saturn? As I always say, why are we spending all the money on space travel? Why?

 

It’s written that there will be lots of little wars but then one huge world war that will culminate at the battle of Armageddon in Israel and that is when Jesus will return.

Drought and famine will hit earth on a massive scale like never seen before. When there is drought, you will see something we have already seen. Huge fires, forest fires, wildfires and burning buildings.

 

Going back to the Notre Dame, it’s said today that because of humans draining the water from the ground, it’s dried the foundations of the building causing the building to dry out and start to crumble. There have been earthquakes in places that we never thought there would be. And it’s written that there will be more in the future larger and more places where we would never expect them!

 

Scary, may be, so dark has to come before light. Well I hope this is as dark as we will get, but somehow, I doubt it as no one is learning anything people still go on their way some, without a care for others.

 

 

OOPS EASTER MEMORIES AND REGRETS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. Todays subject is advice. And then I shall write my diary, so, in reverse today.

 

When people give you advice, do you listen and take notice, listen then do what you want? Advice is a noun. In the dictionary it reads.  “Definition. Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.”” But does that really tell us anything? May be to write something it’s a good guide line, but in reality?

 

Counselling, something I had to go through 16 years ago I was in a real bad place. Did it do me any good? Not really for a short time it made me much worse. I took from it though what I felt I could use. The rest was a bad memory I put in my bulging box in the loft of my mind! More than one person who tried to tell me this thing, so because of that, I thought they can’t all be wrong? And as far as I’m concerned, they were all very wrong.

 

Just some weeks ago, I listened again. Especially because one of the people I have huge respect for. I acted on their advice for a week or over, actually ten days. Then I went back to my own voices inside of my head. Was I right in doing that? I don’t know, but, if I had continued listening to them, where would I be now? to be honest, I think in the same place. And that isn’t a nice place to be in!

 

Who is giving you advice? Are they right? Should we just do what we feel in our heart, or should we listen to wisdom? If the thought feeling, is in our heart, isn’t that a power that we haven’t learned about yet? Like a soul feeling, when you get what’s called a gut feeling? Instinct?

 

When our brain just doesn’t know what to do. When we really do need help, but who knows better than we do? God? But does he tell us through our heart and soul? Is that the way he communicates with us?

 

They say all of us will need advice in some time in our life. advice from someone who has developed expertise. Well in my case all those years ago, that person had never gone through what I had experienced in my life. So, how did they know what was right? In fact, did they know? Now looking back, no, they were so wrong. At that time in my life I was so confused. I was easily influenced. I made mistakes. I don’t want to make that same mistake now.

 

 If I was to ever advise you, I would say listen to your heart but take a deep breath first and count to ten every time before taking action. Listen to people but in the end, do what you really feel in your soul.

 

For my Students who are studying English, I always say if you are reading my blogs God help you, but I receive emails from you or your professors saying you do and as I always say, perhaps you are asked to read my blogs to learn what not to say and how not to write English? Haha. Well if you noticed I wrote above (advice, and advise) so, one letter difference. The C is replaced with the S.

Advice is the information you have been given or receive.

Advise, is what you do when you instructor notify.

If you need guidance, ask for their advice. If you can give guidance, advise them on a matter.

 

And now my Diary. Well last night we were all I’m sure sad by the terrible fire in Paris. So sad and I know the Notre Dame will be reconstructed, but in a throwaway world, historical buildings hosting memories in their walls, is something that new just can’t rebuild.

 

In the UK employment hits another high as wages rise.

Those people hating our Government should read that.

Measles in the US have increased by 20% this year. That is scary. I remember when I had to get my Son injected against the MMR. I was scared stiff. Especially days after when we were told by the media, all kinds of bad things could happen and to watch out for symptoms. But then I knew people at school who were blind because they had measles or their Mothers had whilst pregnant. I had hoped my Son was OK when it came to his eyesight as he seemed to be able to see in the dark and that was or is, the first signs of RP. Imagine if he escaped RP and then went blind because of measles because I didn’t have him vaccinated? In 2019, measles have tripled globally, and we are only on month four.

 

Scientists have printed the worlds first human heart using human tissue. Amazing. Next may be the eye?

 

 Now in our press today there is lots of talk with regards Amazon reviews. Saying that there are a lot of fake reviews out there and they say how to spot the fake ones. Firstly, if there are a lot of 5-star reviews, for a make that you have never heard of, then It’s probably fake. Check out the dates when the reviews were written if they are around the same time, then they probably will be fake. Check out repetition of words and if the review looks like an advert, it probably is an advert. Check seller profiles too.

 

My Son is on day 2 of his holiday. Thankfully the weather seems to be improving. Today he is visiting a temple which sounds absolutely stunning when I read about it on Google. Tonight, he is meeting up with a friend who lives there. So, I have only three more sleeps before he’s home. I am happy though because he is. I hope. He has been keeping in touch really well to ease my stress and worry, but he hasn’t written his diary like he used to so I’m not sure he has done much. But hopefully more than he did in Amsterdam as all he did there was walk. He was telling me the other day, one day he checked on his phone and he walked 28,000 steps. Oh, my, poor Shamrock. Our Son is 6 feet 3 or 4,   Shamrock is 5 feet flat. So, his steps of 28,000, would mean Sham had to do 60,000 steps.

 

My Husband has been on the phone since 8.30 this morning and it’s now 4.pm. he had a break of ten minutes then answered emails. He is working from home today. As soon as he finishes, I shall run around doing housework as I have to keep quiet when he’s working. Our house is big enough for me to go in another room, but I use that excuse to catch up with writing, haha can’t do housework, Hubs working.

OK, who suggested ironing?

Back of the bus for you.

 

I’m going to get out our Easter things later tonight. My memories from when I went to America with my family. Me, Hub and our Son stayed with our amazing friends over Easter. It was the best Easter of my life. We were given some cute cuddlees like a rabbit that sang a song about hopping and a chick that squeaks. So, I shall be putting those out. Also remember my Halloween embarrassment? When I had all the treats in a basket with a pumpkin on the front? I opened the door to the children in my best witch’s voice waving the basket with pride in front of them.

Only for my Son to tell me hours later, it wasn’t a pumpkin basket, but one for Easter with chicks on.

Oops.

 

He cringed.

I died.

Then laughed. But remained red.

 

So, my (EASTER) basket will be out with little eggs in. this is the first year I won’t be doing died boiled eggs. Oh, no, my Son is a vegan, no dark red shiny eggs but I did buy him a vegan chocolate egg. Still though, the tradition of boiling my eggs in red onion skin then shining them with butter leaving the shells so shiny then putting them in a dish telling my Son the Easter chick left them for him. Hahaha. Even last year when he was 21, I did that.  I need some babies in my life to start all that silliness over again. Before I get so I forget how mad I really am and I just am left to be reminded just how silly I actually am.

 

And on that note, I shall say bye for now but I shall be back later. Take care. X

 

LAUGH OVER THE STOVE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good day Bloggets. I’m writing this as I’m on the phone to my bank. What a nightmare. Why can’t we just get through to someone these days without having to enter our shoe size, hair length and weight? Well, Okay, not quite, but almost there. And we can’t just answer the questions over the phone even to a robot, it has to be pushing numbers in and I have an iPhone, flat screen equals having to remember where the letters are as well as numbers, and normally I’m fine, even quite fast, but not when it comes to the inpatient bank who give you half a second to press the correct button or you get cut off after three tries. There must be an easier way? Also, when you have to select an image to get into an account, like me and the lotto the other night. No way I could get into my account without selecting shopping baskets. Well that is an image. My phone and lap top has the facility to only read letters and numbers not photographs of text and pictures. So, then kindly they give you a not so helpful audio selection which if you are lucky enough to be able to access, it’s almost impossible to hear but on Saturday when I was trying to do my Lottery, they apologised saying that audio couldn’t be downloaded. Very helpful, not, as what was I meant to do? Another website asks me to select traffic lights. Nice, again, pictures to click onto or whatever, then the audio is offered. Brilliant, except you can press AD, as much as you like but nothing happens. So frustrating. At least HIVE have got their act together after four months of us trying to sort that out, by calling and just asking if they wouldn’t mind getting someone who knows and understands how screen readers work to check any updates before releasing the updates to the public? I fear updates from HIVE as every time there is one, our HIVE doesn’t work. We have heating, plugs and lights work through HIVE. Hub bought me a great lightbulb for part of my Christmas gifts and you can turn it on and off and change the colours on it. Great, it was, then the update came and that is what has taken four months to get it so I can work it but it’s not half as good as it was when I received the bulb at Christmas. But I guess at last I can now change the colour again. But many phone calls emails and just waiting before that.

 

So, why do I need a colour changing lightbulb if I can’t see? Well just because from my eyes my world is a mixture of grey and beige, doesn’t mean my house has to be, does it?

 

I have a beautiful tiny soft silky face that keeps trying to push my keys on my laptop. It has a cold wet nose attached to it. It’s the Wagging one. Little Waggatail is craving attention today, not sure why, I have to go out later so she will get her work done for the day, but in the meanwhile, she is needing her time…. So, I shall make this blog short.

 

Hub gone to work. And my Son thank God arrived at his holiday destination last night. Not really heard anything about his holiday yet, other than they went to eat last night and are going to eat now. haha. I really hope they get to see the art galleries my Son wanted to see. As last holiday to Amsterdam, they couldn’t get tickets. Some places needed to be pre booked in advance.

 

I’m hoping he will have a great time. Sham is easily pleased she likes to relax, eat drink and chat to people she is very friendly she always makes friends with people when they are away. That’s nice. Must be the Irish in her as where she is from, the people are very friendly and hospitable.

 

My Son packed her case as it was a surprise holiday so I hope he has packed clothes that she will be warm enough in as it’s not as hot there this week as it was last week.

 

The one thing my boy told me today, over a text was he has been what they call spotlighted at work again. This is fantastic for him. They give spotlights out seldom but in six months of him working there, he has had two. They are like a pat on the back sent to his manager who then sends our boy a well-done certificate which stays on his work file and he receives some kind of voucher or money as a bonus. Not sure what he has done this time, but last time he managed to sort out someone’s computer as in desk top. Laptop and mobile as well as download software or something all remotely over the phone from England to France. So clever or scary what they can do now days all from a desk.

 

Even though I know he is abroad, every time I hear what I think is his car, I smile, but along the road is someone else’s car, so then a sinking feeling as I miss every second he’s not here, but then I have hope that he is really happy whatever he is doing!

 

In London today, climate activists will glue themselves to trains. Oh, this is ridiculous. Last time people in our Parliament stripped naked and glued their hands to walls furniture etc. personally I would have left them there for 24 hours then arrested them. They would have frozen and messed themselves if it was up to me. I agree with what the environmental activists are needing, hoping for, but the glue thing? No, not to spoil things like trains or in the parliament situation who knows, perhaps old antique furniture or walls that may be have wood on? I hate damage to statues buildings or anything. Even when it comes to animal rights, I did once chain myself to a fence, but it was metal and nothing was spoiled. They want transport in London today to stop. I understand perfectly why, but again, double standards I wonder, as how many of them have children who are seventeen and drive? How many use an iPhone and all the other tech that comes with not being kind to our environment? They say that only rebellion will prevent an ecological apocalypse and I kind of agree, but it’s up to us all to have a share in responsibilities when it comes to our beautiful world which only man is spoiling.

 

To Jill who kindly asked me how was the person I was hoping for a good outlook the other week, thank you for asking remembering, the gent is doing good thank God. I’m hoping all his mouth cancer has been cut out but haven’t had a detailed update. I just really prayed he would be OK and from what I have heard, he’s doing well. Thanks Jill and best wishes with you!

 

A person who is diagnosed with stage 1 mouth cancer has an 83% chance of survival for more than five years. Around 31% of cases are diagnosed at this stage. I hope he is one of them.

Mouth cancer mostly happens after the age of forty and the risk is twice as high in men, than women.

 

Smokers and heavy drinkers should get checked out regularly at the dentist.

Symptoms include pain in the ear or neck that will not go away. Painful tongue. A feeling something is stuck in your throat. Jaw pain or stiffness. Loose teeth. Swelling that persists for some weeks. Mouth ulcers or sores that won’t mend. Patches of red or white on the mouth or tongue. Hoarse voice,

Having any of those symptoms doesn’t mean you will have mouth cancer, just get them checked out as if you do and you have, your chances of being treated successfully are high.

 

A diet of red meats also can cause mouth cancer and sunlamps.

Well I personally don’t eat red meat, smoke drink or use sun lamps, so I pray I will be OK for this, as cancer really really scares me. I just wish I had the strength to eat only healthy food. My Son has such absolute strength when it comes to health. He’s at the gym five times per week swims twice a week he isn’t the best swimmer but loves water sports but doesn’t get much chance of that here. His food intake is big but really really healthy. And since he has become a vegan, it’s even better. Being a vegetarian is or can be a challenge though now days it’s so much easier, but to be a vegan? I have absolute respect for those people. I wish I was so strong. But it requires you doing it properly and eating the right vitamins. The good news is, that dairy free milk has more vitamins in than cow’s milk.  Same as the vegan yogurts.

 

 Next weekend is Easter, I’m trying to think of what to do for then. I would love a picknick perhaps. It’s forecast to be beautiful weather. I need Grand children to take on Easter hunts etc. Or borrow small children for the day. I hope by the time comes when I do have Grandchildren, I will be able to see to do things with them with ease. Having said that, I brought my Son up with me being blind and he had a good childhood I gave him the best life I could!

 

OK it’s Monday a quick recipe and joke.

Vegan pâté

Blend the ingredients and cook on the hob and set in your fridge.

75g walnuts

150 ml water

2 tbsp corn starch

2 and a half tbsp nutritional yeast

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp unsweetened soy sauce

1 and a half tsp miso paste

1 tbsp. garlic powder

1 and a half tbsp. onion powder

1 and a half tsp smoked paprika

Pepper to taste.

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend for a couple of minutes until you get a very smooth paste.

Pour mix into a hot pan and stir constantly making sure nothing sticks. After a while the ingredients will change, cook for another couple of minutes and then add to a flat tray pat down with a spoon and when cool add to fridge for a couple of hours to set. If you are making more double recipe but cook for an extra ten minutes.

Serve on flat bread, crackers or whatever you fancy you can add grapes on top or Cranbury sauce.

Now I have to try to cook this. Haha. And finally, some jokes that will make you laugh over your smoke alarm. Talking of smoke alarms, I know people who use them as food timers.

 

Time to stop using your oven for shoe storage and get cooking. Even the worst cooks can learn I’m sure. Even if it is just to heat a tin of beans. Yep, I have known people who say they can’t even cook baked beans…

 My friend and our Blogget Terry said it was funny us saying Hub was having turkey for Easter, she’s American and they cook ham. We do that for New Year. My Husband cooks a turkey so well. He always loves it most the day after, that is how I know he is a good cook as for some, their turkey tastes better the day before cooking. Haha have never cooked one and never will. I can’t even bring myself to cook a chicken now for Hub. So, I buy chicken breasts and chuck them in a pot as fast as possible. Wash my hands and try to forget its part of a chicken.

 

I have a friend who cooks with wine, and sometimes she even adds it to the food…

That same friend once made chocolate mousse, and an antler got stuck in the guest’s throats.

I’m not saying she can’t cook, but her child is known when trading in food at the school lunch time, the poor kid also has to chuck in an item of clothing.

Her Husband says there is one thing that is more exasperating than a wife, who can cook and won’t, and that is a wife who can’t cook and will.

 

Tip of the day

Blood sugar lowing foods include walnuts and red onions.

Did I say short blog?

 

SURPRISE SECRET BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Well what a past few weeks of keeping Mum. In other words, keeping a secret. Our Son decided to surprise his girlfriend Shamrock by arranging a lovely meal, a gathering with friends and afterwards he would take her to a hotel where they would leave the next day to get to the airport. Then they would fly abroad.

 

It was our job to play along with it I suggested I would ask Sham if she wanted to go for a meal tonight. That was yesterday. She agreed. I said I had booked it. Well I knew they wouldn’t even be in the country. We then had to keep her busy and entertained whilst Boy Wonder went to her parent’s house to pack a case. So, Hub played the piano and I sang. Hahaha. Joking, we opened a bottle of prosecco. And chatted.

 

As my boy hugged me before he left, I felt so sad as it was going to be for a week before I would see him again, but this holiday meant a lot to him. He is so kind to Sham. He has worked really hard for this. I’m waiting with beating heart to hear from him to see if they got to their hotel OK. As they are making their own way from the airport in a place they have never been before. They are real travellers now I just can’t wait until their back and I know he’s safe but I really hope he has a great time. I’m sure Sham will love her stay and they are staying in a beautiful hotel. All this for her birthday. Whatever happened to a box of chocolates or perfume?

 

I say that every year. Since they have got together, they have been to Amsterdam, Rome, Prague, the Caribbean twice and another place I can’t remember where now. Next year they are going to America.

 

Talking of holidays, well, there’s a kind of link, now whether this is true I don’t know, it’s just what I have read of late. In Disney World Florida, there are no mirrors in the bathrooms above the sinks. There is a huge mirror as you leave. Why is this? Apparently, it’s to not make the bathrooms be full of the same people for long People spend more time if there is a mirror above their sink rather than having a glance of themselves as they leave. Also, they are hard to keep clean and because there are no cameras in bathrooms, if there were mirrors apparently, they may, get vandalised. And did you know there were some things not allowed in Disney World? Like folding chairs. Musical instruments. Any remote-controlled toys are also not allowed. Wrapped gifts, if you are taking a birthday gift, it must be wrapped inside the park, as on your way in, you will have to unwrap your gift for security. This surprised me, you are not allowed to take a selfie stick into Disney World. Gosh, really? Can you imagine this, ashes, nope do not take those into the park? Hahaha. Gosh, who would? Well I guess if you are a huge fan of the place, you may want your ashes spread there, but it’s on the no no list.no weapons.  Gosh, in America, no guns in Disney World? Well thank goodness for that. So, it is an innocent place after all?

  

Well we went to the shop today to buy a turkey for Hub for Easter. I got some Easter eggs and a Simnel cake, oh, I love those. I also bought myself a treat of a bunch of lilies. They are deep purple in colour. I hope they will have a fragrance. Some lilies do, some don’t.

 

I couldn’t believe how busy the two shops were. Especially the first one. Why is it in holiday time, people panic shop and bulk buy? Could it be because family are coming so they need additional food? May be, or could it be the threat that on Easter Sunday and Christmas day, the shop dares to close? As if we can’t survive for a day? We dropped food and flowers off at home and turned around to go out again.

 

We then took our dogs for a walk through a huge park a few miles away. But it was far too cold. It was around a lake and very open so on a day like today when Jack Frost has returned to the UK, not sure if he got lost as he left us ages ago, but he’s back, and didn’t we know it? Buu’uu’uurr

 

Our walk was shorter than we hoped, we walked about 5 K, that’s about 3 miles. So, less than half what we normally do but still, it was better than nothing and then on our return home, into our lovely warm house, I popped on the kettle to make a cupper for Hub and myself, and my friend came with home made cakes…. Well, that blew my diet out of the window, but how could I refuse? It would be rude, right? I shall make up for it tomorrow on the treadmill and for dinner today I had salad only.

And two bits of cake.

Well I had to, as she made two different kinds and she will want to know what I thought of them, how could I say well I only tried one? She would think I was ungrateful or the other cake didn’t appeal…. True, right?

I like to oblige when possible. Haha.

 

Soon I shall be closing our curtains and settling in for a night of TV. Chilling with my love and my much loved, fur pals.

 

I shall light a candle for my dear friend Mark. It’s a week today since I learned of his parture from this world. I miss him so much. Seven days when we haven’t spoken, well not in real life, as I have certainly spoken to him just didn’t hear an answer back, though felt his presence for sure. I have cried to him and smiled with him as well as shouted at him this week and if he was here on earth as a human, he would have answered me back in his calm voice. Bless him. May he fly with the angels and be happy now! I just wish his friends and Sister could feel as happy as I hope for him.

 

A very happy birthday to my big Brother. And a happy holiday to my Niece and family who have left today for their sunny holiday. Tomorrow my Dearest friend and our Blogget Louise is having surgery, all my love and best wishes are sent to you Louise. Please let me know how you get on when you are able?

 

To Donna, I saw there was an email from you, I shall read it tomorrow and reply. Great to hear from you. And thank you to Christine for your lovely comments.

 

And finally, subject for today.

 

Food that really is so healthy for us that it’s almost medicinal.

Apples contain quercetin a powerful antioxidant that protects brain cells from degeneration. I know that apples are also so good for our heart too. Something about removing the fat from our heart. Apples breaks down the fat. Apples protect against colon cancer and adults who eat apples are something like 37% less chance   to have high blood pressure. Those who eat 1 apple per day also have 27 per cent less chance to develop diabetes.

 

Apricots are high in iron and potassium a mineral essential for nerve and muscle function that also helps to maintain normal blood pressure and balance body fluids so after we have eaten healthy food, then what if we have bad breath? I receive a few unusual emails and one last week asked me my advice on how to get rid of his bad breath, well, I’m probably the last person to advice you on this as I’m not a doctor or dentist, but I did read that dairy makes you have bad breath as do curry’s and coffee. But one good tip I read was to drink plenty of water as one sign of bad breath could be you are dehydrated.

 

Red wine can leave you dehydrated as well as a coating of bacteria in your mouth.

Nice

 

Well, just as I close this blog for today, I have heard from my baby. He’s landed, so, next stage when he gets to his hotel.

 

OK Monday tomorrow. The start of our week. Keep your emails coming in with suggestions and we shall chat tomorrow. I have been asked to write about memories. Well, my blogs are full of them, I fear I may repeat myself, but I shall try to write a short blog on a memory with a twist.

 

Take care cos I care.

 

 

DIARY OF HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good evening Bloggets. It’s Saturday night the 13^th day of April 2019. Our house is quiet. Only the sound of the TV and each word I type in my ear but wearing earphones not to disturb Hubs TV program, a medical drama he loves. We have just finished watching a great drama called The Widow. Oh, so far, it’s intriguing, only thing is there was a blindie cringy moment. So, a couple met who were or, are blind and are about to get a treatment that will give them back vision. The lady has been blind since she was 14. The lady sounds quite young, not sure obviously how old she looks or is meant to be, but she sounds 26 ish. And the man who is attracted to her, sounds in his late forties. Well he leans in to give her a kiss and spills his tea on the bedding. Cringe number one, then he mentions that she has to go to work, as wait for it, a piano tuner. Hahahahaha. Well firstly, why does he have to spill his tea because he is blind? And secondly, why can’t she have been a solicitor or teacher? Why a stereo typical blooming piano teacher? At this point, I must say our piano tuner is a sighted man.

 

Then it shows him coming into her flat which he doesn’t really know and he heads straight to the sofa in the sitting room… how does he know where it is?  Having said all that, it’s brilliant and we are loving it. To be continued next week, just wish they wouldn’t portrayal people who are blind as clumsy and making out we can only be piano tuners. I mean, I wonder in her spare time, does she repair cane chairs and weave baskets?

 

100 years today since British troops shot dead Sevillians in India. Awful, sad tragic. Our past is bad. Hundreds were killed and over a thousand injured. Deeply shameful and a scar are just some of the things that were said by our prime ministers of late. Sorry India, is all I have words to say, apparently Indian people started to chant anti English words. No need to kill people because of that though, is there?

 

 I went on the treadmill today. Two days in a row. I was laughing with friends on Facebook yesterday as I told them I was on the mill and the smell of smoke wasn’t good…

As for my sporty attire, I wore Designer Dior black red and yellow running shoes.

OK… Not.

I really wore cotton freebee slippers you get from hotels.

Hahahaha

  My friend was telling me off. Whilst I spoke with her on the phone over messenger. I didn’t tell my Hub he would have gone mad. You can tell I’m a serious sports woman, can’t you? Just by what I was wearing, and whilst running… Well, Okay, walking, talking to my friend on the phone…

 

I need to get focussed, don’t I?

 

In our news the taxi company Uber have made a loss.

In the UK 1 in four beds in our hospitals are taken up with people who have diabetes. And then they are told to eat a low carb diet to reverse the disease. Low carb? I wish I had a chef to cook for me the right foods. I tried today to eat the most revolting things. They are healthy crisps. They are vegetables. Oh gross. They tasted like dog treats, in fact I had to really think where did I get them from and where I found them in my kitchen? They were absolutely disgusting. I gave our dogs a few, they, especially The Little Fella, loved them. And Hub ate the rest. Did I tell you Hub has lost 11 lbs in three weeks? Oh, my he does it every time.

 

Well tomorrow a mega walk again. Not sure where. Hopefully not as long as last week. It’s going to be cold, but hopefully dry. And for Easter weekend, it’s going to be lovely apparently.

 

 Shamrock came around earlier. She has a nice surprise waiting for her I shall tell you more on Monday.

 

Going back to hope what I was writing about the other day. I have in the past focussed on hopeless hope, but what about hope that you are sure somehow you will achieve your desire? What if you have been teased with a glimmer of hope that you pray will turn into something beautiful? Well that is what I am going through right now. I can only hope. Pray that all will be just what I have been waiting for all my life. eyesight, yes that but this what I am hopeful for is not my vision restored but something else, rather than a miracle, more like a dream. I just wish it would hurry up and come true and talk to me in my sleep so when I wake I can tell myself it’s all clear now and I know all is going to be OK as waiting, is just awful, but waiting on positive days for something wonderful, and then come the negative days of thinking it’s all going to come to an ending. Cryptic? Yep, this is.

 

Don’t let something die inside of you whilst you are still living. You can plant hope in your garden. A tiny seed will become a plant which will grow into a tree that will bear fruit. Hope enables us to go forward in life where as fear leaves us immobilized.

 

I’m off to try to sleep now. I will need my strength for tomorrow. So, until the sun shines and the birds start to sing, I shall leave you now under the blanket of the stars. Nighty night.