31/12/2007 by Aileen.

2007 is nearly over. It’s been a wonderful year. I love living up here in Yorkshire. Although I loved teaching it’s great being retired (and obviously having a pension to enjoy - it wouldn’t be much fun without that) Christmas was great this year. Ali and Eric did us proud. Fantastic food and company. The grandchildren were little darlings(or maybe I’m biased.) It was great having Martin and Fiona there as well, although poor Martin was suffering. He gave it to Fiona, and then John got it. He’s ahd two days in bed. I escaped. I haven’t had so much as a sniffle in the four years we’ve lived here. I’ve got Barret’s Oesophagus, and now I have a little lump in my armpit, but never a sniffle!

Going to Royal Marsden on Thursday with lump. Well, I can’t go without it. Doctor says he would be very surprised if it was anything sinister, and I agree. I feel so well. I only asked to go down to Royal Marsden (Surrey) as I had a benign lump removed there five years ago, and I think they’re the best. Might as well get the best diagnosis, and I get to see brother Kevin and family. (Well maybe not Cara, as she’ll be with her beloved horses)

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL!

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31/12/2007 by Aileen.

Today’s the day I’m going to be brave. I’m going to tell my OU mates that I have a website, and ask them to click on it to boost my numbers. It’s 22 at the moment, and I don’t know how as I’ve only told John and a friend in the States! Maybe Resi told her family. We all grew up together in glorious anarchy in Pimlico, a mile or two from Victoria Station, London.

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13/12/2007 by Aileen.

Well, I have made my Christmas cards this year. They’re not wonderful, but they’re mine. I bought some magazines for ideas, but not one had religious themes. Also, the freebies they gave away were all pastel in colour. To me, Christmas has to be jewel colours. Red, green, blue, silver, gold, white. I won’t be buying any more card magazines.

I got my second TMA (tutor marked assignment) today. Only 76% but I was expecting worse so I’m pleased. Ready to start the next one now. Hope to get more next time as it seems very straight forward. We shall see.

Lovely day yesterday at Potteric Carr. (Yorkshire Wild Life) Saw two bitterns, two water rails, a kingfisher (twice) siskins, a redpoll and the usual suspects.

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06/12/2007 by Aileen.

Had a really super lazy day today. Sent of TMA last night, (I’m doing an Open University Foundation course) so today was completely free. Made cards for all creative writing group. Started next OU Block. (History) Did the whole unit in one day. (Although next week’s unit is meant to be longer) Got 88% for TMA02 but won’t get it for this one. Forgot to read the guidelines and spent too much time on part one at the expense of part two. Never mind.

Tomorow J and I are going to my Cr.Wr. Group’s Christmas lunch. We will then fill in a couple of hours - don’t know how yet - until we go to his Counselling people’s Christmas lunch. Dieting has not gone well this week!

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06/12/2007 by Aileen.

Well, site is up and running although far from finished. As no one knows about it (exceptJohn) it doesn’t matter. I intended to create it all using my own HTML but it was taking forever, and I only know basic stuff anyway, so decided to go with a template. I like it but need a ‘pinker’ (not orange) sunset for ‘logo’. Also, my links have crossed wires and are leading to the wrong sites! Advent today and we had a letter from Bishop Arthur read out. He spoke about the Body of Christ. I suddenly remembered going to a Christmas show as a kid and seeing white puppet skeletons dancing against a black backdrop to ‘Funeral Dance of a Marionette’ The bones were articulated and kept flying out and joining up again. I thought that is what it is like if Christians don’t bother going to church. They are disjointed and can’t be so effective. End of homily!

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01/12/2007 by Aileen.

At last! My very own web site! Well I have launched a rubbishy one that I designed from a template. Today I will delete the content and start from scratch with my own html. As it is the 1st December this seems a very fitting date to start. Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent when Christmas preparations begin in earnest. Spiritually as well as materially. Well, I have bought a few presents, and we’re all going to Ali’s for Christmas, so maybe I can concentrate on the spiritual side for a change.

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