30/04/2012 by Aileen.

Yay. Sunny day. At last. Hygienist this morning, so as I’m out I might go to the gym. Bugger the housework. I’m supposed to have lost half a stone by the end of April, and I’ve managed about 4 lbs. If I leave the doctor’s for a couple of weeks I should have lost another three. Then I won’t have to go on blood pressure tablets. (Always assuming my blood pressure is down).

• Last week - birding at Tophill Low where we saw over 40 species and dodged the showers. We saw over forty species, including the first swift of the summer, two pintails, and barn owl.
• Fish Trail walk with my OU friends. Dodged the showers again. coffee in Ferens Art Gallery, Good lunch in (I forget name)
• Creative Writing - good to see everyone again, although Dot is in hospital.
• Decluttering like mad as we are going to have the conservatory refloored etc. (Had subsidence which is now rectified).
• OU Tutorial at Leeds Met. Got lost going there as usual, but it’s my last one ever.
• Lovely First Communion session with lovely kids and parents.

This week is a bit different

• Hygienist today, plus gym if I can steel myself
•  Tuesday - Hair Cut
• Wednesday - Birding
• Thursday - up to Scotland for Liam’s confirmation.
• Friday - Home
• Saturday - to Essex for Jamie’s baptism. Hopefully a nice meal with brother Don and family at hotel.
• Sunday - Baptism
• Monday - Home again, home again, jigggedy jig.

Bye all. Shower now, and a bit of housework until my hygienist appointment at 9.30.

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16/04/2012 by Aileen.

Well, first, a correction. The Maundy service at York Minster was in the morning, and I was thinking there would only be twelve people receiving the money, but there were millions, so I didn’t see Pat. I texted her with ‘Hail, O Great One’, but it didn’t send. Serves me right as I texted it in church waiting for our own service to start. The church was our sister church in Goole, and I got there very early, everyone was chatting anyway, so I just decided to be wicked for a change! The Good Friday service was back in our church in Howden. It’s my least favourite service of the year, as it’s so desolate.

Now for my big confession. I didn’t go to Mass on Easter Sunday. I can’t believe it. It wasn’t deliberate, but I feel bad. What happened was - Martin rang to say he was coming overnight. I decided I couldn’t go to the evening vigil Mass, as it would cut in to our evening together, whereas if I went to the 9.30 am service it wouldn’t disrupt our time so much. In the morning I felt a bit dehydrated after a good evening wining and dining. I was going to Mass, but then Martin said he would leave at 5pm, so I thought, I’ll go to the 5.30pm Mass at Hessle, twelve miles away. Anyway, we had a good day, just chatting really, and in the evening John said it was 5.30. I had missed Mass. Also, I realised that as it was Easter Sunday there may not even have been an evening Mass. Hessle is the only place around with an evening Mass, so I was stymied. I still feel really bad that I missed such an important feast. The biggest day in the Christian year.

Why Martin came on his own was that he was dropping Fiona and kids off at Luton airport. She, her parents, brother and his family, are camping in France for a week (or more) Martin doesn’t do camping, and more importantly he had an important business deal to see to, so he didn’t go. Actually, he was going to fly out a couple of days ago, to surprise them, but I haven’t heard yet if he did.

He left on Sunday, and on Monday John and I went up to Renfrew until Friday.  We had the usual great time with Ali, Eric and the boys. The weather was so showery, but we dodged it. Mostly we chilled at home, but we had lunch one day at The Art Lovers’ House in Glasgow, and another day we went to Excape, where Liam and I had our feet nibbled by piranhas (or some such fish). Ali is a fantastic cook. Although she’s vegetarian she does some lovely meat dishes.

Back to good old Yorkshire, and now I’m stuck in to my penultimate TMA for the Literature course. Not sure if Imentioned it,but I dropped to 72% last time, as I didn’t realise the essay was meant to be a close analysis essay, and I just did a thematic one (The concept of HOME in Wuthering Heights). I won’t make the same mistake this time, but the texts don’t really grab me as much as older literature, so I won’t be able to wax lyrical. We’re looking at ‘The city both offers and restricts possibility’ (Lehan) and have to discuss this with reference to either at least two of James Joyce’s short stories, the film, Metropolis, and at least three New York poems. (A minimum of five texts). I quite like James Joyce, enjoyed Metropolis, but don’t want to write about it as it involves different skills to analyse, and I am just beginning to warm to MacKay’s poetry. The others are either way over my head, or too short to be able to write much.

Now, Monday, I am going to do the house in the morning, a bit of gardening in the afternoon, but mainly do my essay, and go to Viewfinders tonight. And John and I are on a serious diet. I was 11.12 before we went away, but crept back to 11 stone on returning. Back to 11.13 this morning and it can only get better!!! I will do an hour’s walk as well today (did 55 minutes on Saturday) and if my essay is going ok I will go to the gym tomorrow. essay due in on Thursday, and it’s 2,000 words. What takes forever is the referencing.

Bye.

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05/04/2012 by Aileen.

My friend, Pat, is receiving the Maundy Money from the queen this evening in York Minster. Look out for a tall woman, wearing bright colours. My guess is purple, or maybe red. The monarch is also supposed to wash the feet of the twelve, (Maundy comes from the Latin for command - something like Mandate - (as Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to show Christians were supposed to serve others. The last monarch to wash feet was James 1st.

John has just finished reading Thomas Payne’s The Rights of Man and was really impressed by his ideas for tax etc. Also, he said most religions are started off by sincere leaders, but politics takes over and there are wars and subjection and stuff. Sorry, rushing out to shop, so no time to think of beautiful succinct yet poetic language.

Bye.

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26/03/2012 by Aileen.

Here we are again. Monday. Plans and plans and plans. First, I need to record what a lovely weekend we had last week. It was Mothering Sunday, and Martin and Fiona, with the two little ‘uns, came for the weekend. we just chilled really. Ate, chatted, went to the playground. Bonded with the grandchildren. Alexander knows us really well now, and Olivia was all smiles for everyone. ALi, Eric and the boys sent flowers, and we chatted. Skype is so useful, even though it is still inclined to break up.

Only bad thing, the grandchildren gave me a present of a lovely cold. I don’t know. I have had no colds since moving to Yorkshire in 2003, then I get one this January, and another last week. I passed it on to John, and now he’s suffering. Generous family, we are.

Talking of health, the doctor told me weeks ago, that I need to lose half a stone, and see him at the end of April, to assess if I need to go on to blood pressure tablets. I haven’t been to the gym for well over a fortnight (what with the cold and being unmotivated busy. So I’m starting a new regime today. No, really I am. An hour’s walk Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, and gym Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. (It’s the Easter hols, so birding and creative writing have stopped at the moment). Also, dieting, which is going to consist of no sugary items and very little fat. That means no biscuits, and not smothering my bread in lashings and lashings of Olivio(or cheaper equivalent).

Gardening. Dear reader, I am getting rehooked.  The gardeners have said one bit is ready for planing up, so I went a bit mad and bought a whole lot of yellow and blue perennials. Most of the stuff there is in that colour scheme already (wisteria, day lilies, altstomeria, potentilla, iris, doronicum, geum) so I bought veronica, campanula, salvia, echinops. Oh and parsley, as I might as well put it there as elsewhere. There are chives there already. It sounds lovely doesn’t it. Well, it’s a bit of a wilderness at the moment, but hopefully it will all grow up and fill out. I think I have a gardening blog somewhere, so if I find it I’ll resurrect it. Otherwise I’ll post photos on here.

Talking of photos - here are the youngest two of our grandchildren at the playground last weekend.

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13/03/2012 by Aileen.

Well, I didn’t get around to writing for the last two Mondays. Last Monday I went darn sarth. Stopped at M and F’s, but only saw Fiona and Olivia as Alexander now goes to a nursery group on Mondays, and Martin had a meeting. Went on to Kev and Mag’s and had a very pleasant evening there, discussing gardening with Kevin and websites with nephew Andrew. He works for a SEO company now. (Search Engine Optimisation) On Tuesday I had a quick look round Kevin’s allotment. It makes my veg patch look pathetic. Then, on to the main purpose of my visit to London. I met up with Moya, Barbara, Anne, Ann, and Teresa. We all worked together in St. Cecilia’s North Cheam. It was lovely catching up on everyone, although of course, there were many unhappy bits, like bereavement and illness.

Correction. I did myself down. My OU marks on this course are slightly better than I saidin the last post. They are 85%, 88% and 90%. Just waiting for the Wuthering Heights mark now. We’ve gone on to 20th Century Literature, and are reading James Joyce Dubliners at the moment. I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying it. Don’t think I could read one of his longer books, although I just love his sparse and ironic style.

Gardening. Dear reader, I have resumed interest in this pastime. I’ve dug over most of the veg patch, which was absolutely smothered in brambles and netttles. All I planted last year were a few potatoes, and we had some outsize lettucy things, but I didn’t dare eat them in case they were poison. I do wish I had taken a photo of the plost before I started digging, but never mind. I’ll photo stuff as it grows.

Other things going on as usual. Enjoyable Creative Writing, but it’s stopped now until the summer term. Good birding. I’ll put up a few photos in a minute. Viewfinders last night, and WI tonight, so we need to have our main meal at lunch time. I’m gonna boil up the chicken carcase in a mo, and make a chicken curry. And then spend the day gardening (unless I decide to go to the gym)  John is going to power wash the patio and stone work, but I won’t hold my breath. It probably depends on the weather!

Here are some birdies I’ve taken lately.

Blue Tit

Robin

Great Tit

Female reed bunting.

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27/02/2012 by Aileen.

I stopped doing ’servile work’ on a Sunday a few years ago. And it means Sundays really are special. Mass with a lovely community, good roast (cooking doesn’t count) and then play. It’s really restful. However! I’ve been quite disorganised for the last few weeks, and decided I really must get plenty done this week, so I gave myself a head start yesterday (Sunday) and changed the sheets, and vacuumed and dusted the bedroom. I usually leave that room until last, as John doesn’t exactly get up early. So here I am. Wasting time on the computer instead of capitalising on my head start.

Last week was good. Walk in Humber Bridge CP with two other WI members on Monday, (Hence not being organised last week) By coincidence I had been there the previous week with my birding friends, and knew to bring seed, as there are really tame bullfinches there. We enjoyed watching them, had a short walk, and finished with a coffee in the Country Park Hotel.

Oh, I forgot. I got 90% for my TMA on Wordsworth and De Quincey. I’m over the moon. That’s 80%, 85% and now 90%. Don’t suppose I’ll get 95%  for Wuthering Heights!

Another thing I’ve done (such a time gobbler) is to improve my web design skills. I’ve put rounded corners on some elements in the church website, and I’m really pleased with them. Also, given the site a mauve theme for Lent. Anyone using Internet Explorer won’t see the changes, but if you use that - shame on you. It’s the crappiest browser out.

www.sacredheartstjoseph.org.uk

This week, tour  around a photo place tonight (if I go - I’ve been too tired lately) Snowdrop Walk in Burton Agnes with OU friends, gymn three times, plus Birding and Creative Writing. I’m getting itchy for the coast, so maybe John and I will have an outing there before too long. Also, I think a visit to Ikea is long overdue, but John isn’t so keen on that.

Well, I’d better go. I’ll just upload some bird photos then I’ll hit the week. Bye.

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11/02/2012 by Aileen.

Oops, I didn’t post last week. And a lot happened. On the Friday I went to Hedon for Creative Writing. It was fine where we live, but Hedon had a fair covering of snow. I skidded into the kerb just before reaching my destination. It was a blessing in disguise, I think, for two reasons. First, it delayed me about five seconds, and I crawled for the last few yards. On turning left into my destination a woman was coming out, pushing a bicycle. If I had skidded then she would have been minced meat. The tyre looked fine to me, so in the afternoon we motored to Oxford for Alexander’s second birthday. Martin looked at the tyre and said it was almost illegal it was so bald, so on Saturday morning we went to QuickFit for a new one. We had a great party. My brothers and their wives, and Rob and Charley were there too. Andy nearly came but at the last minute went to the Natural History Museum with a friend down from Leeds. Of course Caroline is always too busy with the horses to get away. Anyway, we left at 5.30 as I had duties at the church, and the snow was just starting. It is amazing how quickly it fell, and we had a nightmare journey home. I was so glad we had the new tyre, as skidding was minimal. The journey took six hours (normally three and a half including a coffee break). I didn’t want top stop as I thought the Service Stations would be really thick with snow, but I was almost wetting myself so had to near Derbyshire. John couldn’t drive as he’d been drinking. Anyway, we got home about 11.30pm, and were mighty glad to tumble in to bed. We had had a lovely day, so it was all worth it.

As it happens, I didn’t go to church after all, as I thought the roads were too bad. Canal Side was really iced up. So we could have stayed a bit longer darn sarth.

We had a lovely few days in. I didn’t go birding, as although it was to Potteric Carr, and I love that place, I didn’t fancy trailing around in the snow with wellingtons that are too big for me. (The previous owners left them, and my little ankle wellies would have been no good). Didn’t go to Creative Writing either, as there was more snow. I took the car out today, so will go to Mass tomorrow unless there’s a big freeze overnight.

Well, I must put up some photos. I didn’t take many at the party. Too busy talking and eating. The snow scenes are from our garden. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Birthday Boy. Blurred, but I like it.

Sister-in-Law Mag with Olivia.

Brother Kev, with John

Nephew Rob, son Martin, Brother Don

Alexander with birthday toy

Rose in our garden

our garden and view

view from bottom of garden. It’s a little island.

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01/02/2012 by Aileen.

It’s about time I uploaded a few photos. First one is what I found in the garage the other day. The remains of the Christmas turkey. No maggots but rather green and fluffy.

Next three were taken when I went birding today. Didn’t get any special bird photos, but I took a couple disappearing into the distance, a bench and its shadow, and a close up of an icy puddle. I did intend to take ice photos for January, but didn’t get round to it, and today is the 1st February. Oh well.

I had the results of blood tests today. Kidneys ’spot on’, liver fine, and cholesterol 4 point something. Delighted, as it was six point something last time. I had to go as my blood pressure is a bit up, but I persuaded the doctor that I am going to the gym, and I can get it down on my own. He said I weigh 11st. 7oz (he didn’t take enough off for my heavy clothes!!!) and I need to lose a half a stone. I’m seeing him in three months time.

Down to Oxford on Friday for Alexander’s second birthday. We’re staying overnight. Home on Sunday for First Communion programme and Children’s Liturgy. Bye.

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30/01/2012 by Aileen.

Well, St Beuno’s was a lovely as ever. Peaceful and spiritual, although we learnt lots about the Enneagram. Fourth time at St. Beuno’s and we’ve done at least six workshops on the Enneagram. We hope Myles is going to do a follow-up. We bought an M & S curry from a service station on the way home, and were both sick as dogs through the night. It might have been the curry, but we were sitting next to a lady who had been ‘taken ill’ at St Beuno’s, so might have caught it off her.

Last week was spent in recovering! Then I went back to the gym. First time since before Christmas what with visitors, a bad cold and St. Beuno’s. I’ve made up for that as I went three times last week!

Today dawns dull and gloomy. However, I have lots to do. I had to get a few days’ extension on my OU essay, but submitted it yesterday. Lovely essay, but I don’t think I answered the question. Anyway, I’m free now, so today is my usual dash round the house with duster, vacuum and mop, then Viewfinders tonight. Tomorrow I have a ‘review’ at the gym. Wednesday, we are venturing as far as Scarborough for Birding, then I have an ECG in the afternoon. (Oh yes, my blood pressure is a bit up, and I’ve had ‘bloods’ taken, and need an ECG - hence my forays to the gym!) Thursday. I’m sure I’m doing something on Thursday. Must be. Same for Friday.

Oh, I forgot. I met my OU friends last week for a look round York Art Gallery, a quick walk in the rain round a bit of the Wall and a scrumptious lunch. When we left I went shopping, and I can hardly believe it, but I tried on three tops in Debenhams and bought them all. It’s not often things fit me and look nice on me, so I had to take advantage of the opportunity. I also bought a top in Per Una (M & S) I shall have to get rid of some of my old stuff.

Bye all. Have a good week.

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16/01/2012 by Aileen.

Yes, I know it must be annoying, but I’m full of the joys of spring as usual. Lovely time at church yesterday, when the First Communion preparation got under way. Four really lovely little children, although one had his birthday party, so will not start until next week. I’m really really looking forward to this year.

And I’ve decided to give myself a project for my photography each month. January = frost, so I ought to get started as we’re halfway through already. February = signs of spring I think. Or I might limit it to snowdrops?

This week John and I are away at St Beuno’s http://www.beunos.com/ on an Enneagram course.

Anyawhat? Here is one site that explains it http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/intro.asp

Lots of opportunities for photography in the beautiful welsh countryside. (Except, of course, we’ll be working!)

St. Beuno’s is the lovely sort of monastery where they filmed The Great Silence just over a year ago. We’ve been there several times for retreats and workshops. Last time it was for an eight day silent retreat. We weren’t very good at keeping the silence, but it was a wonderful experience. Looking forward to a great time as usual.

Well, that’s enough for now. Things to do, places to go. Byeeeee.

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