Moving on

 

Hi Hi folks, here we go with another entry after last week's offering and its comments so thank you very much for that because we are working towards a wider range when comes to topics that I post about on here.

That's around the many changes that have occurred in my life over the years, changes in the extent to which some things that interested me the have changed and the belief that working through my emotions journalling  makes more sense.

Ducks and Swans have been a favourite thing of mine to just sit out and watch, be they in a parkside lake or like in this picture I took recently, swimming on our local canal.

  Generally I tend to favour using a telezoom because you can move from something like a duck or swan  capturing it and its reflection to more of a portrait at the twist of the zoom range rather than having to change from a 90mm to 210mm fixed length lens.

May Bank Holiday edition

It's a May Bank Holiday next Monday and I have things to be doing not least a few things for the local community which at least keep me fitter than if I didn't  even if the weather as ever is all over the place as it was on Monday with strong winds and all that.

Charming considering this coming weekend people in part of the North-west Midlands are out celebrating over1000 years of the history of Staffordshire which in its original form is the home two large urban conurbations at its far ends and was ranked as the fifth most populous County in England.

From Flash to Enville and from Gnosall (but sadly have they have no Gnu's) to Uttoxeter it is a country rich in contrasts, countryside and industrial heritage.

 In Lichfield, the county has a most wonderful cathedral.

Naturally we are moving into Summer now so out comes our games kit as we get new clothes  ready for the great outdoor season to get a bit of a tan and let our skin get fresh air around it after hibernating although some parts of me easily get a tan....

Summer day out

Wednesday two weeks ago was a little different for me in that rather than studying, I went out for the day not least to get away from all that stuff since the beginning of the year which I think has had something to do  me feeling generally flat.

We started out later than we were told via a somewhat odd route arriving twelve o clock so I went for a cup of tea as I was feeling a bit thirsty even though having felt a migraine coming on I had gotten through a carton of apple juice  with my tablets I take to control it.

I went with Grumpy to a restaurant s for a Haddock and chips lunch which was very tasty. I opted for the 8oz fish as that was plenty big enough for me.

I've know this place for years and while a few years back and  current owners really have brought it back as a premier restaurant getting fresh fish in and cooking to order.

In the afternoon I wandered around taking pictures, watching Codmore's traditional non pc  Punch and Judy show, shouting with the mainly young audience at naughty Mr Punch and playing on the beach. Grumpy went to groan up places and read a book.

We did have one brief heavy shower around a quarter past Three so I went into a small shopping arcade and looked at some clothes and arta & craft shops.

We went back a slightly different way via Tarvin, and Midlewich before being dropped off  just a few hundred yards from home tired but very happy from being away from stuff that takes me out littlespace.

Vacation time

It's that time of the year all ready I guess and I'm thinking back to Summer 2004 which in a way is a along time ago but is still quite vivid with me so this is what it was back then:

 
There's just something about Summer vacationing for me and after last years OCR course I'm thinking about changing work as one thing I found was I didn't feel I was part of the organization, indeed looking back on what I said to one the external course people back then  it's as if I'm very isolated and feel vulnerable.

 
One thing I want to find is where I went, cos it seems to me that I've lost something of who I am and what matters the most to me in the last ten years since I've been working for my current organization.

 
As I've always like the seaside I might just find some clues as it was always a happy place for in the past, you know, my childhood. Can it be that long ago since I saw it? 

 
It sounds silly but I have this pent up feeling inside of me that wants to play with the sand, I don't know why but I just do.

 
One girl I saw seemed so carefree the last time I was on vacation running about with her t shirt and skirt or was it one of these new Skort thingies that look like this.

They're by Gilberts I believe and girls in school I gather wear these rather than the traditional pleated Netball skirts and they have a built in undershort. It's all different from our day but time doesn't stay still does it?

Looking ahead

It's summer not that you'd associated this time of year with just what it is bouncing off the windows this morning as I get on with typing this up.

Summer brings thoughts around Holidays and times away very much in mind as in the past we'd go on a picnic together towards the end of the month out of doors so you'd have to be a little discrete when it comes to how you show your little side with all the "muggles" about with family and that but it was fun.

That would include taking lots of tips such as those shown above.

Foot spray was certainly something I and others used in the office  to cool and freshen up our feet

Packing should I be getting away in July is another with restrictions on the absolute number of items I can carry and the weather.

Like most of 2018 it was so hot it was thin tops and light gingham dresses on near enough all the time apart from outdoor sports.

I suspect it'll be looking at the long range forecast and hoping for the best.

Think Pink!

Sometimes  you come back with things you didn't expect when you see people.

Unfortunately seeing people wasn't possible this year with being very poorly although up to the last minute when I realized a firm decision was needed I had everything arranged and had spent a small fortune on things  to share with others.

Way back in late June a few years back I did get a dark blue gingham school summer dress that I quite liked not least for how Junior it made me feel, which as far as I'm concerned is quite a good  thing and I had been thinking about something in a more classic pink.

Having a few things come Sunday reminded this one with two pleats at the front I like - I'm big on pleats - that caught my eye from a friend which having put it against me, seemed to be just perfect so I paid her for it in notes of the Bank of Purrland.

May Summer Musings

I can't speak for everybody but blowing on a Dandelion head and making wishes is something that I can recall from my actual childhood apart from making daisy chains during the summer months and actually that scene sat cross-legged on the school fields pulling them with the girls and making them has just come straight back into my mind this last rather sunny week over here.

I did get out a bit last week although I wasn't well this last weekend sadly, watching the wildlife about and the cows in the field apart from getting some sun and exercise in so I'm in the best shape to fight off an infections and that.

The clean air and quietness seems an odd bonus to me with this Covid-19 emergency but I'd like to keep some of that personally.

July weekend edition

Golly gosh, it's been a bright warm week here where I've been out of doors visiting the woodlands nearby, seeing quite a lot of bees, birds, the odd butterfly and dogs while about with plenty of summer meadowland too.
Quite a few people have been working on their gardens as we have too putting in new features like our ducks, putting compost down for the new plants and pulling up the weeds not just in the garden itself  but also at the edges and between the paving slabs with the literary cat putting in an appearance
I've been on my swing in the front corner side garden a good number of times too with just a top and shorts on going whee through the air which just so relaxing apart from spinning the odd record like this one.

Actually I first bought that in August 1995 and it is quite valuable as it was available for a very short period of time.
I've been using my Chromebook quite a bit as it save the time, especially the heat generated from the main laptop for chat and talking with my BFF although the new one will need to be set up in few days, just as soon as the hand book comes  then gradually adding the various programs and that I need before I can phase the old one out, confident by that point I know how to do things on it.
Things I have got arranged are my tickets to catch a train so I can get a lift to camp and back at the end of the month and printing the quiz questions with answer sheet off.

Dripping wednesday

We're still in Firefox here as Pale Moon is still playing up on its 32 bit version this week but anyway back to business .

 While it's not quite fall yet, it isn't the last days of summer either with temperatures  being lower and yes it is raining quite hard as I type this having been out delivering  Newsletters this week that thankfully came earlier than they needed to as usually its a rush job.
Thus my coat is drying in two halves, the main coat near the radiator for all over heating and the detachable furry hood right by my gas fire being turned around frequently as it takes absolutely ages to dry out otherwise.
Holding an umbrella with a bit of a breeze while carrying a bag with another hand posting the newsletters through peoples letter boxes isn't the easiest of things even if you have super co-ordination which I sure don't.
I still haven't had an appointment for a blood pressure results consulation where it should be detirmined if I need to take medication typically tablets to reduce it or not. 
To be honest I'd just sooner take something and be done cos I know it runs above the norm and given I get things like miagraines apart from be anxious that are likely to raise it above that when I'm going through them which must put additional pressure on my heart and that.

Letter writing weekend

A scene from the past? Well I'd be in some very serious trouble for cheating like that and I recall well at boarding school a classmate too who wasn't the popular kid in class for bragging and being somewhat priggish did try the concealed note trick for an exam and got caught out.
It brought a smile upon my face!
Another great story was the kid aged 14 who was in an electrified wheelchair who writing his Geography homework about Japan wrote of his extensive trips and personal knowledge that he sure couldn't of had although Ronnie was a gas to be with. He'd been clearly caught out plagiarizing a book from the library as there was no way he'd of gotten the bottom of the seabed!!!
As my Papa knows whatever my failings are I'm never that dishonest as hard going as studying can be for me like this weekend where I was working on understanding the types of writing, the typical format and structure of each and the style and tone doing exercises in rewriting from supplied information letters and articles in all  five of them.
That's to develop competence and confidence in using them in everyday settings to help me do more for myself and my BFF, Lucy, support each other in our studying in addition to generally getting our lives together.
After that I listened to some music to relax and chatted cos too much studying and no fun isn't any good for me as much as having to settle down and do some structured activity is.

Seasonal habits

I was looking at a TB  related site  a couple of days back when I saw an entry that piqued  my interest.
Well it won't long before the weather starts to get warmer which overall is good thing but it means we get warmer and in our attempt to cool down we perspire especially if we'd been doing anything physical such as playing or riding your bike.
So it makes sense to have a good wash and change the clothing nearest to our skin feel fresher and -and there's no nice way of putting it - reduce the chances of stale sweat smelling near others.

 Changing may also make sense if our play has lead to us getting a bit dirty and we're going to be sitting down to eat as people don't generally like dirt and especially mud being brought back in the house.

Choo choo's Pt.2

Another place we visited a few times in the 1970's was the Vale of the Rheidol which is a steam train line running from the Welsh university town of Aberystwyth to the Devils Bridge some 12 miles downline.
I'm sure the engine we went on was called Owen Glendwr who I think was something of a hero to the Welsh fighting English occupation of their Country.

 The countryside in that part of Wales is very mountainous and really beautiful.

Seaside arts and crafts

One of my favourite activities as a child was collecting Seashells, you could either find them yourself  or buy ready made collections of which I had a number at the time.
They also when you hold them to your ear have the most calming sound.

Souvenir

I went away this week and by way of souvenir, here is a picture of where I stayed.

 As you can tell it was very sunny indeed with all the flower in full bloom in the guesthouse gardens which is something I enjoyed waking up and rushing downstairs to sit out in in the morning. I'd always pack some short sleeved  t shirts and pull on skirts to put over my swimsuit as well as hardier clothing for walking and something more formal foe evening dinner with fellow guests.