That Sinking Feeling

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Ever had a sinking feeling, when everything seems to get you down?

While I was feeling in that kind of mood not long ago, I was half listening to the radio when something caught my attention. A councellor was giving a little talk and explained that when things start to get one down, it was a good idea to make a list of things that made one feel happy and concentrate on those things for a while.

Apart from the usual things like family, friends, pets and personal faith, what makes me happy?

I think that content is  a better word than happy, as happiness tends to be fleeting and contentment lasts much longer.

I started to think about it and made a little list and these are the things that came to mind.

* I am contented when I have a few hours to myself after a busy day at school.

* The start of a school holiday (though this tends to wear off as the time goes on and I might even start to get bored!)

* Spending time with a good book and no interruptions.

* Looking out of the window and watching the birds feeding.

* Snuggling between clean sheets.

* The smell of clean washing.

* Sitting by a fire and watching TV, when the wind howls outside, feeling safe, warm and secure.

* The way the sun shines on a flower or shrub and how intense the light is in the Spring sun.

* Settling down to uninterrupted sessions of photography, writing and crafts.

* Receiving a letter from a loved one who has not written for ages.

* A Saturday evening sharing a take a way and a bottle of wine with my other half.

* Getting on a bus to the sea using a free bus pass!

* The satisfaction felt after doing a dreaded household chore.

* Singing my favourite praise songs with friends in Church.

I could go on and on. Have you noticed that most of these things cost next to nothing? Am I easily pleased or what?

So go on, what things make you happy? 

Photostory Friday is hosted by Cicely and MamaGeek. Why not pay them a visit?

Wordless Wednesday.

A Serious Conversation!

Millie aged four, announced unexpectedly, "Granny I was in Mummy's tummy, one day. How about you?"

"I was also in my mummy's tummy a long time ago," I replied.

She looked at me incredulously and asked the inevitable question.

"Which mummy? I haven't seen her."

I replied, "My mummy died because she was very old and so did my daddy. They are in Heaven now and that is why we can't see them."

Millie thought for a bit and replied, "I buried some one once but I can't remember who it was. Who was it Granny?"

I had to think for a moment. Was it the Japanese great grandmother? 

Then the penny dropped!

"Oh...... that was Rick and Dean's daddy, last summer," I replied.

Millie nodded and I expected some more very difficult questions because the whole thing had been very traumatic for all the family.

The conversation was obviously going to be carried on.

"Granny, why is Buzz Light Year doing that?" She asked as she continued to watch the video that was still on, but had been temporarily forgotten ........

Footnote for newcomers:- My son in law died last September and the children went to the funeral. Rick and Dean are Millie's cousins.

A few minutes later on her way to nursery with her Daddy, she continued her conversation. See Sam's Blog for more. (I hope you like Morris dancing!)

Poet's Walk

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Let me take you to a favourite place, where Harry and I have walked many times, in many different kinds of weather. It is one of our favourite walks.

Clevedon in Somerset where the sea is a brownish colour, not because it is dirty but because of the mud in the Bristol Channel. At high tide the water reaches 8.9 metres or more and the tides are treacherous. There is no sand on the accessible beaches but lots of pebbles, stones and rocks.

There is a lovely coastal walk known as Poet's Walk, so called because of the links with various poets of the past. 

On occasions while walking in this place, we have seen sparrow hawks hovering motionless stalking their prey.

This is the path that leads to the scene in the first picture.

There is a little church on the left hand side that cannot be seen from this photo and in the cemetery are some very old gravestones.

Several poets came to Clevedon in the past. Coleridge stayed here in 1795 and Arthur Hallam was buried here in 1834. Hallam was Lord Tennyson's dearest friend and he wrote a poem for him, that I have written out below. Although Tennyson could not bear to visit his friend's grave for a long time, he did call while on his honeymoon in the year 1850, for a fleeting visit.

You can see the coast line of Wales on the horizon.

Break, break, break 

On thy cold grey stones O sea!

And I would thy my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me.

O well for the fisherman's boy,

That he sings to his sister in play!

O well for the sailor lad,

That he sings in his boat on the bay.

And the stately ships go on 

To their haven under the hill;

But O for the touch of the vanished hand,

And the sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break 

At the foot of thy crags, O sea!

But the tender grace of a day that is dead

Will never come back to me.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Photostory Friday is hosted by Cicely and MamaGeek. Do pay them a visit.

Wordless Wednesday.

What! Knot fishing?

Netting ventured.... Knotting gained!

The Empty Silence.

I am almost afraid to say this, but my kitchen roof seems empty and strangely silent.

None of this makes any sense at all because Harry and Sam didn't find any rat runs when they were underpinning the end of the kitchen. The concrete they put in was well over a metre deep and shortly after they did that repair, the problem got really bad. The rats sounded like they were having a party. Thumping and running around and desperately scratching the ceiling and sounding as though they were coming through at any time.

I was furious with the men.

"It's worse than it ever was before," I shouted, "You have opened up a highway!"

I was so upset I threatened to leave and stay in a hotel or something. I had an offer to stay with a friend fairly locally and an offer to go to Canada! I tell you I was sorely tempted.

However, seeing that the menfolk were almost as upset as I was, I took pity on them and stuck things out.

As the time went by the noises got less and the smells started in earnest. Incense sticks were burnt one after another during day time. However, even the bad smell seems to be fading now, though I have got bundles of incense sticks to still use up. The woman in the shop where I bought them, must have been puzzled by the quantity I bought. Well I wasn't going to tell her about my problem, was I? You don't actually tell people things like that, do you?

Could it really be that the rats were trapped up in the ceiling, right from the start and had to die off?

It was some days later when we suddenly heard the silence. Does that make sense to you, hearing the silence? Well that's the way it seemed. We noticed the absence of scurrying and jumping about.

I am wary of saying this, as I know that rats are intelligent creatures. They might at this very moment be plotting a new way in! Maybe they are getting new recruits lined up ready for attack! I don't suppose they want to give in gracefully after having 6 years of free lodgings.

I am really scared that I might hear another noise up there in the ceiling. I would be so disappointed if that happened. The work is not even finished yet but is it really possible that the first lot of concrete did the trick? Or are they just waiting........ waiting to strike again when I least expect it?

I am just beginning to hope now, that they have really gone.... but only time will tell........

Keep hoping for me too.

Footnote:-  I wrote this post a few days ago and can you guess what happened a night ago while I was preparing the evening meal? Something scampered across the ceiling! My spirits plummeted. 

I decided to post this anyway because it gave me so much pleasure writing it and I'd like you to know just how much control these rats have on my moods.

Oh well..... back to the drawing board. Roof next!

Construction On The Beach

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Weston Super Mare, such a grand name isn't it? However, if you went there right now you might be disappointed. Not only has the pier been burnt down, but the sea defenses are under new construction. Much of the town is low lying and during high tides, shops and homes are in danger of flooding.

For most of the summer there were cranes on the sea front and I took some great pictures of them. It was very interesting to watch these giants picking up large, heavy equipment.

There was a kind of beauty in all this heavy machinery and I was snapping away quite happily, much to the amusement of my long suffering husband. He ought not to be surprised by now that I always take my camera and a notebook and pen with me when ever I have a day out. There is usually some very good blog material on such a trip.

Don't you just love this crane and the rust tinged chain?

This photo reminds me of Little and Large! Remember the comedians?

When these alterations are completed by the end of the year, Weston will be a great place to visit. The pier will take a little while longer to rebuild but there are plans for a really good building to replace the old one.

It is amazing when we go back after a long time and see the way that the work is coming on and what seems like pointless digging and heaving about, suddenly becomes part of a new structure that looks really good. While visiting we have stood for ages just watching all the men at work. This seemed more interesting than anything else, at the time.

Can't wait for it all to be finished. I dare say I will be posting photos...........

Photostory Friday is hosted by Cicely and MamaGeek.