A series of short, random entries about my ordinary life!
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Pottering in the Puget Sound
Monday, 18 August 2014
A wonderful wedding
At the weekend. Andy's niece Hannah married Marcus in their local village church at Holcombe Rogus in Devon. After a traditional service, we drove through the beautiful Devon countryside to a marquee in a hay meadow. With a "village fete" reception theme, the marquee was decorated with bunting, floral table runners and jugs of flowers. There were also some delightful personal touches: scrabble tiles spelling wedding themed words, a pop corn bar and home made fudge favours in hessian bags. Straw bales surrounding fire pits for warmth in the evening added to the delightful atmosphere. It was a perfect day!
Monday, 11 August 2014
Knitting Nancy
Although the torrential rain yesterday provided an opportunity
for de-cluttering, my efforts didn’t
last long because, to my delight, in a bag of craft materials, I came across
Nerea’s “Knitting Nancy” (Cue moment for nostalgic reminiscing!). A length of tubular weaving was still attached so I considered knitting
a bit more, despite wondering what to do with the woollen snake when it was finished. I seem to recall coiled pot mats were the
inevitable product of my childhood labours although I didn't have anything as
grand as a painted bobbin: 4 nails in a wooden cotton reel had to suffice
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Phooning about
So what is a phoon?. Well for the uninitiated, it’s a one
legged, Bruce Forsyth, type pose and isn’t as easy as it looks to maintain
without wobbling.
A local cacher had set up a flashmob event and as luck would
have it, I was able to attend. It was great fun to be part of as other cachers
are generally a friendly, enthusiastic crowd with a shared, common interest for
the lighter moments of life!
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
The Day of the Triffids re-created
Until a couple of years ago, I hadn’t realised how extensive the invasion of Himalayan Balsam had become along river banks. And then I went on a geo-caching adventure to an island in the middle of the River Tyne at Hexham and I saw the evidence with my own eyes as I hacked my way through head height plants. Yesterday, a caching friend and I re-visited the island, taking the same route and indeed, adopting the same bush-whacking techniques. The novelty soon wore off and I began to reflect on the urgent need to control this vigorous, flourishing immigrant plant!
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Happy Anniversary
Can it really be 29 years since Andy and I were married? In many ways, it seems like yesterday when I
was that youthful bride in my cathedral length veil and wild silk dress (long
sleeved and high necked as appropriate for a church wedding back then) but in
others, it feels like a life time ago as we’ve enjoyed so much together. Like every
couple we’ve shared sad times, but there has never been a moment when I’ve
wanted my life choices to have been any different. I feel very blessed to have such a happy
marriage and family.
Virgin-ing on the ridiculous
Recently, I witnessed some horrific behaviours from
disgruntled travellers while enduring the longest journey I’ve ever made to
Reading. Making 3 passes of Penrith
Station (the initial pass followed by reverse and forward manoeuvres) before
getting off four, and onto five trains at Preston station is tedious by anyone’s
standards but signalling and re-routing issues aren’t the fault of the platform
staff. Abusive behaviour directed at
them is inappropriate. But, that
said, Virgin platform staff must improve communications and demonstrate greater awareness
of the needs of travellers, instead of relying on fellow passengers (like me) to
help the less agile!
The train leaving from Platform 3, 4 or 5 is possibly the one you need |
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Feeling thankful
Recently, I took part in a FB initiative to be thankful for
things each day and post them as my status.
I usually don’t bother with these types of campaign but as FB can be
full of destructive and negative comments and this year I was determined to
celebrate the small things, I was happy to take part. And it’s proved to be a hugely
positive and affirming thing to do. It’s
been revealing just how many beautiful things
happen each day that we can enjoy, be that a smile from a stranger, early
morning birdsong or a wonderful view
Flowers on Carlisle Station to cheer up train travelling! |
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