Explanations

If there is anyone left who still reads my blog, they will be wondering why I haven't posted lately.

If I'm truthful, I have completely lost the need to do it.

In my blogging heyday, I had small grandchildren and lots of funny tales to tell, two jobs and plenty of energy and things to talk about.

I suppose with the exception of a few other things I branched out into, I wrote a journal of life as it was then.... sometimes funny and sometimes sad.

However, my grandchildren have all grown up and wouldn't want to be written about and my circumstances have changed a lot and I have new interests and activities that have taken the place of the Blog.

However, no one can tell how things will turn out in the future, so I might reconsider later on. Hopefully my Blog will still be there if that happens.

It was a lovely era, I think.... but one that seems to be over,for now.

Thank you everyone who followed me.

The Waiting Game

The quality of these photos is not brilliant because I took them through the window for obvious reasons.

As I regularly put food out for the sparrows, the pigeons have caught on that they'll be getting a free dinner from the mess that the smaller birds make.... so they line up on the kitchen roof waiting like vultures to seize their opportunity.

Meanwhile, next door's cat stretches out on my small shed roof in whatever sunshine he can find and the birds carry on feeding in an unafraid way. 

Occasionally the cat jumps down and tries to seize one of them, just to let them know who is in charge. He's getting too old and very rarely does any damage to them.

So life goes on.

Eyeing The World Through My Lens.....

I've been a long time between posts as I've been in a kind of limbo with my eyesight and reading (which affects blogging) has not been too easy for a while.

This is because of the cataract operation that I had in June made my eyes very imbalanced while I waited for my second eye to be operated on. Meaning I needed my varifocal glasses for the bad eye and which I couldn't use with the good eye because of the lens implanted in that eye but I still need reading glasses for it. Anyway, everything is a bit of a mess until I get my second operation in a few days time. I'm writing this with great difficulty.

Surgery is very good in England but we have to be prepared to wait for it.

We've had some very varied weather over here from very hot to cool, dry to wet but nothing like the awful floods going on in USA right now. That is a terrible disaster which we're following on our news- reel. The TV news is full of disasters and worrying things right now and some people don't watch it anymore. However, I feel I need to know what is going on.

We were fascinated by the total moon eclipse galloping across USA.

I seem to be writing to USA and Canada readers so if I have anyone over here reading this, you'll know all about the weather etc so please excuse me.

I've had a good display of flowers in my tiny garden and the above Clematis flowered for a long time but is over now.

Bristol Harbour Festival

Every year, Bristol, being a large city with a pretty long stretch of waterfront which leads out into the Bristol Channel and then the open sea, has a Harbour Festival. It attracts crowds from all over the country and lots of tiny yachts and boats of all kinds, make their way into the harbour. We also have several tall ships with masts and canvas sails rolled up. 

One small replica ship that Bristol people are very fond of, is the Matthew that John Cabot used to find North America in 1497. It was widely believed that the sea was flat, so he was a brave man to take such a small ship out into the unknown.

Yesterday I was actually on board the Matthew while it was tethered to the wharf and I realised just how small this little ship is and this replica has actually traced it's roots to Canada and braved the Atlantic Ocean there and back just like it's predecessor. Apparently the ship rolls as well as pitches into the waves, according to the man who showed us round yesterday and who has sailed the Ocean in this ship, so it takes a strong person to overcome sea sickness. He believed in chewing root ginger when he felt queasy.

The Festival goes on for the whole weekend and as well as the ships, there are musical events, stalls and thousands of people who cram themselves into a smallish area.

I'm glad I went yesterday before the crowds arrived but of course, I didn't get to see any of the events but managed a long walk round the harbour that stretches a good few miles and had a quiet pub lunch in relative comfort with a friend.

All Things Bright And Beautiful

'Have a little peek under the bandage' my son said on returning from the eye hospital. 

'No!' I'd decided to go by the book of instructions that I'd been issued with.

The next morning, I nervously took all the padding off.

WOW! Everything was crystal clear and clean and colours looked beautifully bright.

The day before, I'd had the cataract on my left eye removed. Although I knew my sight was getting pretty abysmal, I hadn't realised quite how bad it was..... how yellowy brown everything was becoming and how indistinct everything looked.

I'd bought some wool to knit a cardigan, thinking it was a sort of smokey grey and when I looked... it was a much brighter denim blue. This was just the beginning. All manner of things are being noticed and I can't get over the pleasure of looking out into the far distance with my good eye and seeing everything clearly.

In the meantime, I have a bit of a problem. My untreated eye now seems to be redundant. I can't see a lot out of it without my prescription glasses which I cannot now use because of the good eye. Taking one lens out of the glasses makes me see double and causes me profound giddiness. I talked to my optometrist who told me he will not prescribe a contact lens and that I could put a patch over one eye.

Well, I decided to just get on with things and can see well enough with my good eye to live a pretty active life. Reading was a problem until a friend kindly lent me a cheap pair of reading glasses which I'm using to write this post.

Hopefully when the next eye is operated on, I will not need glasses except for reading. This is quite exciting as I've been very shortsighted since I was ten and have worn glasses most of that time to correct this.

Bristol Eye Hospital is really marvellous and the consultant who did the operation, put a lens of my own prescription into the eye itself after taking out the cataract. What marvellous technology.

Can't wait for the next one to be done, though I might have to wait a while.

Little Nooks and Crannies

I spent most of the day yesterday in my little garden. Cutting things back, weeding, tidying up and repotting etc.

I had a lovely time and although I was very tired and achey afterwards, I found the day passed so quickly and I hardly stopped to eat.

Looking around, I realise I have lots of strange things in little nooks and crannies of my garden but I love finding little things to add to it.

Sometimes children have called it *a secret garden* as you can search and find some hidden thing amongst the plant life. 

Other people's junk is fine for doing this.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.

I wish you all peace.

Hope to be back soon.

Colours of the Rainbow.

I seem to have been knitting in bright colours throughout the winter. I think it reminded me of Spring and Summer flowers to come.

When I was a child, I can remember that winters were really cold and summers very hot. Nowadays, we seem to have very temperate seasons with nothing very definite between them. 

I keep changing from warm woollies to lighter things and back, so I never really know what to wear or what to expect from one day to the next.

Keeps us guessing.

However, it is officially Summertime!

I like that!

A Welcome Splash of Colour

It's been a long time since I put anything on my blog.

I seem to lack motivation in that direction but I have been very busy in other ways.

I've been itching to get into the garden but when I'm at home it often rains and when it's sunny, I'm indoors at some other commitment that I go to. Being busy seems to be the answer to my wellbeing, though.

Today has been dull and the sky threatening, so I felt compelled to take this photo when I noticed the Bergenia, that livened up a very dismal patch of ground on my way back from shopping. Little things like that can lift my spirit.

I'm very committed to my Community singing group who regularly give concerts to raise money for different charities. The pace of learning new songs by heart is quite fast. This is where I feel my age! It takes up quite a large chunk of my week with communal practices and learning from CDs and sheet music at home. The words are the hardest thing for me to learn by heart though.

 I continue to get great pleasure from knitting in the group I belong to, as well as at home, while watching TV.  I'm making small brightly coloured blankets at the moment. for the local hospitals.

I've just got through another of my six monthly checks at Oncology and don't have to go again till Sept. I'm waiting for an appointment at The Eye Hospital as I was referred by my Optometrist with suspected cataracts. My hips and wrists complain a lot (my back too) and I have to coax it all to work properly in order to continue my activities.

Inside this rather decrepit body, there is a youngish person trying to get out!

Which To Choose?

I decided to go for a walk today as it was the first dry, sunny and warmish day that we've had for weeks.

Sunshine makes me think of light gardening, spring flowers and tidying up after the wind has tossed every thing about outside.

There is a small garden shop about 2 miles from my house and with no other means of getting there except on foot, I decided it would make a good change to be out in the fresh air.

So off I set and was there in record time. I'd also planned to do other shopping on the way back so felt quite pleased that I'd planned and organised my afternoon almost to the last detail.

What I hadn't bargained for was the discovery that I'd left all means of payment on the bed at home when I decided to reorganise my bag earlier that day. Whatever was I thinking of? I must have got distracted as I knew I'd not picked up the things I'd dumped on the bed.

Oh well....I took a picture of the things I couldn't buy. At least I'd left my cell phone in the bag.

The journey home seemed to take longer somehow and of course, I couldn't do any other shopping either.

Sure enough everything was tossed on the bed just as I'd remembered I'd left it. Why I didn't put the things back I'll never know!

At least it seemed to be blogging material, so here it is.

Clinging To Life

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

We're not yet out of January, so it was surprisingly lovely to see a clear blue sky whilst walking over the common today. Admittedly I was well wrapped up with scarf, woolly hat and gloves but nevertheless it was encouraging to know that the promise of Spring is not far away.

It was heartwarming to see a Pelargonium (in England classed as a bedding plant) not only clinging to life but producing flowers too. 

We've had some very heavy frosts, which are not over yet and I was going to throw this plant in the waste recycling bin. However, I think it deserves a chance to live now, so if it does survive the next two cold months, I shall repot it and take cuttings.

We could all do with a second chance, don't you think?

Westward Bound

I'd like to wish all my readers A HAPPY NEW YEAR. I'm a bit late doing this as I've been away.

Yesterday, I caught a coach from a major coach station in the east of England to get back to my home in Bristol which is in the South West.  

Nothing strange about that, you may say, as people are taking such trips all the time.

However, this journey was like no other that I'd ever experienced. 

The last passenger had just boarded the coach with great difficulty as she was quite disabled, old and frail and in a very long gown that seemed to trip her at every step. After she was safely strapped in, there was a bang when the coach next to us came too close and knocked the door of our coach quite badly. I was sitting right by it but was not hurt in any way.

There were *workers* from the station buzzing round and all giving advice as to what should be done. This caused quite a delay.

About five men tried hard to shut the door but it wouldn't lock as it was slightly out of alignment owing to a bar that was now bent from the impact.

It was decided that the door could be locked from the inside by a special lever, and with brute force, a gang of men managed to shut the door which would mean we were now all locked in.

Feeling a bit uneasy, I thought they knew what they were doing and sat back to relax for the duration of the journey which would take about two and a half hours using the Motorways.

I noticed the first thing that went wrong was that we had a very annoying alarm that wouldn't stop, because of the damage to the door. We had to put up with that noise all the way home The next thing I noticed was that the driver twitched an awful lot, making his body jerk forwards quite violently at times..... a bit like Tourette's but without the shouting. He only ever drove with one hand and coughed violently all the way home and constantly blew his nose and yawned a lot. All this didn't inspire confidence and I vowed I'd never sit in a seat near a driver again. Best not to know these things are happening and sit behind it all.

We got home to our Bus Station but then found we couldn't get the door open even when the lock was undone. The driver had to summon help from his window and several workers could not get the door to budge an inch but by now the annoying alarm was silent.

It was decided we should all make our way to the emergency exit where we had to go down steep steps and slither down from quite a great height when the steps finished.

I fortunately didn't jar my back or hips as I could so easily have caused further damage than I already have.

I was the last off the bus except for the old lady who was by then crying. I don't know how she could possibly have got off the bus through such a difficult exit but the driver was trying his best by the time I left the bus station.

I did think of her all evening after I got home and it affected my getting to sleep for a long time.

It wasn't until afterwards that I realised what a dangerous journey it was, being locked in with only the emergency exit that was facing the the *fast lane* of the motorway and would take at least 15 minutes to evacuate the coach and the elderly disabled lady wouldn't have managed to get out at all.

Anyway, all's well that ends well, for me and the majority of the passengers.

The coach in the image I used has nothing whatsoever to do with this story as I just picked the it at random.

A Peaceful, Happy Christmas

Well, we're nearly there now. Christmas cards sent, presents bought and wrapped. Most of the Christmas carol services and concerts are over and only a couple of activities left before Christmas Day.

I've had a lovely time so far but will appreciate some time to myself before the Christmas visitors. arrive.

 The weather seems very unseasonal and warmish but it hardly gets fully light and is inclined to be rainy. It could be a lot worse. though, remembering other Christmas times from my past.

I'd just like to wish all my readers a very peaceful Happy Christmas.

In The Space of a Few Days.....

In the space of a few days, I have started to enjoy Advent and am well on the way with plans for Christmas.

Since my last post, I have quite got into the the spirit of it all and was asked last Sunday, to light the first Advent candle in Church. I'm also going to sing at a few different venues with one very large choir that I belong to and a smaller group in our church.

This week I'm going to meet a friend who has come over for a short while from USA, as she and her husband are staying in a Bristol Hotel and we'll have a pub lunch along with other friends (we've done this for a few years now). I've known her since we were 10 years old at school together. She travels all over the place to catch up with her many friends in England. She's been married to an American and has lived in USA for years.

These two adorable kittens belong to my granddaughters. They are 4 months old. The grey one is a tom and the black one is his sister.

They've just been neutered and spayed but seem to be racing around as usual so can't be in any discomfort.

It's good that I can go and play with them when ever I like but don't have the responsibility of looking after them with my unpredictable health problems and circumstances.

Although they have quite a few toys, the one thing that gets them really excited is a rolled up piece of paper that they toss about and chase at full speed round the house, causing mayhem all around them.

Now they've learnt how to jump on the table, it will be interesting to see how my son gets on with the Christmas catering. I've been invited along with my daughter and grandsons.

We are fully prepared to *muck in* as son put it but hope that doesn't mean cooking the whole thing!

Mixed Feelings About Christmas.

It's that time of the year again when I suddenly realise that Christmas is just round the corner and the panic starts to seep through.

Today is Black Friday. Well we didn't have that until recently when it started to spread here from America and I, for one won't be part of it. 

I'm pleased to hear that so far, the big stores are not packed with people all fighting with each other as though their lives depended on getting a so called bargain that probably isn't genuinely a bargain at all. Some of the stores are empty of shoppers, put off by some of the scrabbles that amounted to violence during previous years.

I got out the Christmas cards this morning and looked at my list from last year. As usual I had to strike off several names of people who have died since last year. It's one of the depressing sides of ageing....people starting to pop off all around you.

On the positive side, there are all the activities and concerts that schools put on for our grandchildren. There are the choir practices for the carols at concerts and church that will be looming up. Christmas arrangements to be made with our families about who is going where and how we'll cope with the catering.

Surprises to think of.

How to go about decorating the house for Christmas this year...... if I decide to bother, though I probably will.

I like to think of the true meaning of Christmas but we've all got sidetracked with commercialism.

Of course for me, there's one very important person missing, but life has to go on. I always buy myself a present from him and can almost hear him saying, "Go on, treat yourself". He was a generous man. This will be my second Christmas.......

The Eleventh Hour of The Eleventh Day of The Eleventh Month.

This spectacular display of model soldiers in shrouds was lined up outside College Green, near Bristol Cathedral today and will be there for several days.

A Somerset artist, Rob Heard, modelled these soldiers individually meaning that each one is unique and then he hand wrapped them in silk shrouds. This took him two years to complete.

Just under 20,000 men were ticked from a list of soldier conscripts and volunteers who fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, World War 1.

It is mind blowing to think this number of men were slaughtered on the first day of the Somme. Many more would follow.

We must never forget the great sacrifice that was made then and in all the wars since, so that you and I could have our freedom.

A very humbling thought.

Scary Changes

First it was Brexit and now Trump!

Over here, it has been likened to *Brexit on Steroids!*

People on this side of the Ocean are really shocked and dismayed. Some American Nationals on local Radio were crying while some were overjoyed.

While I completely agree with democracy, and we must have that at all costs, I really hope that our fears are unfounded and that it will all work out well.

In the meantime, I will miss the Obama family and the way they conducted themselves in an upright way with grace and dignity.

A Pink-fleshed Apple and Bloggers Who Are Not Blogging!

I've just been to visit my son who shared an apple with me and the flesh was pinky red. It tasted halfway between being sweet and also being sour. At times it tasted either way, but was very good. He was pleased that he got two apples from a small tree that I bought him for his Birthday last June.

I was inspired to write about the lack of Blogging going on right now by Addy, one of my Blogging friends, (and I can't for the life of me get the link in my post as the way to do it has all changed since I last did one.) She may be found in my side bar under the name of Alcoholic Daze! Maybe this is why people are not Blogging so much these days.... everything is getting too difficult.

I know Google + has prevented me from commenting on some people's blogs as I really don't want to change over and some have even got different systems that also prevent me from commenting. It used to be so easy!

I started to write a blog in 2008 when my granddaughters lived with me. There was plenty of material to write about in those days because the children kept me busy with lots of amusing little episodes to share.

However, as children grow older, privacy must be respected and they really don't like being written about now, even when disguised heavily.

I suppose in those early days, I put in three posts a week and made some good blogging friends.

They were virtual of course, because we never really get to know a person this way, but never the less, when people I felt close to stopped writing over the years, I really missed them. Some of them have died, which is even worse.

There were others that came and went but generally people are not writing very much these days.

So what has happened to everyone?

is Blogging going out of fashion?

Good Things Happen

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

We're now definitely experiencing the beginning of the Autumn/Fall. 

There is that cold nip in the air early morning and early evening and the nights drawing in. The sky looks very grey. I'm staving off putting the heating on, though, as it isn't October yet. It seems more acceptable to turn it on in October unless there's a late heatwave.

I'm quite pleased that I've got through my first year of bereavement unscathed. I've done quite a few things that I set out to do in the house..... had the outside painted, the kitchen damp problem hopefully righted, faulty window hinges replaced, changed phones..... all things that people do everyday without thinking, but a bit daunting when having to arrange it all by myself when not used to it. I've kept the garden up together put different curtains and fittings up that didn't require me to drill in to anything. I'm really pleased about that.

It's good to know I can manage.

I've also rejoined the community choir I used to belong to before having to resign so that I could look after Harry. Rejoining involves giving up a bit of time for practice and performances that they do. However it's all optional and I can do as much or as little as I need to do.

I've been on several holidays and made a couple of new friends here at home.

My youngest grandson has just gone off to university which has made the family very proud of him. My daughter, older grandson and I went with him this last weekend to settle him into his new lodgings which seem very suitable and the other students and their parents were very nice people.

So things seem to be working out, thankfully.

Busy, Busy!

 

I've been keeping very busy with knitting.  It has helped me to keep my mind off thinking about the anniversary of Harry's death which has just gone.

Now I've come round full circle..... a whole year of Birthdays, Anniversary's etc without him.

I seem to have knitted a few baby things for various people over the last few weeks.

This one was for my great niece who has just celebrated her 1st Birthday and the turquoise one is for a neighbour's new born son but I have two more to do in that style and maybe the same colour for other baby boys.

I'm also knitting twiddle muffs for patients with dementia at our local hospital. Apparently, they love to fiddle with things and inside the muff there are various things incorporated in the knitting to twiddle with.

So all in all, I seem to be quite busy.