29/06/2008 by Aileen.

Martin skyped me on Friday evening (on chat in case John was in the room) to say he was coming up for a flying visit. Fiona is in Ireland at her Gran’s 101st birthday and as it’s J’s 69th birthday on Tuesday M decided to come up. He arrived before 10am on Sat but had to leave at 6am on Sun as he was going for a bike ride with his business partner. We spent a really lazy Saturday just chatting and watching tv. It was good. Tried to book up for a meal at a pub with a good reputation, but it was fully booked. I bought some steak and marinated it well but it was a bit uninteresting. Not the butcher’s fault - it was tender - I just cooked it too slowly.

Today (Sunday) was even lazier. I was responsible for the Children’s Liturgy but when I tried to prepare it on Sat evening I totally lacked inspiration. I think the book we follow is ‘carp’. I thought I’d sleep on it and get inspiration during the night, and I woke up realising I was looking at the wrong Sunday - today was actually the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. As I went to the scripture group on Tues I should have remembered. Anyway that gospel was no problem to adapt for kids. My problem is that I haven’t been too keen on this pope. When he was elected I actually cried. I was listening to a French programme and heard the word Ratzinger, and was hoping I had misinterpreted it, but no such luck. Why I was so against Ratty is that he spoke out against meditation a few years ago saying that it was non Christian (the type of meditation I do - with a mantra) Also, of course, all the other things he spoke out against when he had that particular job (forget title) in the Vatican. He was called God’s rottweiller. Anyway, he produced an encyclical very early on, all about love. I’m warming to him.

I haven’t been able to upload any pictures lately so I’ll try now. Bye.

IT WORKED!!!

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27/06/2008 by Aileen.

I don’t seem to be able to upload photos any more. Need to find it if the problem is at my end or with the webmaster (if that’s the term for 1 & 1)

Anyway, I’ve spent 2 hours on the web and it’s now 8.20 am. Am actually in the mood for shopping so am going in to Hedon to collect replacement coffee machine (no Creative Writing as it’s the hols) then back to Hull for a much needed haircut. As I’ve lost over a stone since January I might treat myself to something to wear.

I also need to drop off LOTS of packaging at the rubbish dump as we got a new tv and tv table yesterday. It’s like being at the cinema as it has a 40″ screen. I notice all sorts of details that I didn’t previously. Like a toast rack on a table. Camera work also seems more obvious - which sounds bad, but what I mean is I am appreciating the depth of field that the cameramen (persons!!!) are using. I can see their skill. One bad thing - every little blemish on someone’s skin also shows up.

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26/06/2008 by Aileen.

Filled my car with petrol the other day. Which must have doubled its value!

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24/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve had such a lovely day. I met Tess for the first time. We’ve chatted on the OU forums, Facebook and (recently) Second Life. We seemed to have so much in common - write poetry, sense of humour, similar personalities, religion, nature, as well has having similar family histories. Well Tess came to my house today and we found we really did get on in Real Life. We both had cameras (another thing in common) but were so busy talking we forgot to take any photos.

Then this evening I had my camera club and we went to this wonderful land owned by a man who manages it for wild life. Two bird handlers were brought in and we took lots of piccies. The owl below was tame, but I went off on my own and found a ‘real’ barn owl. Unfortunately, although it was near me it was flying too fast for sharp pictures.

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22/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve just finished one of the most achingly beautiful books I’ve ever read in my life. The Other Side of You, by Sally Vickers. After the first page or two I fell in love with her elegant style, but as the story developed I appreciated lots of other things - the original plot, the culture, the structure, the philospohy, the understanding of human nature, the depth.

In other words, I recommend it.

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20/06/2008 by Aileen.

Norma suggested that if I at least take off the flower heads of the weeds it would stop them propogating. So today I went round this top raised bed affair and lopped off all the tops of the weeds. That took all of two minutes, so I went back with my dandelion uprooter and got all the weeds up by the roots. After that I mowed the top lawn and dead headed the Albertine rose. Yesterday I powercleaned the front gardenand mowed the grass, so I am feeling pleased with myself. I am going to sort out someone to do some gardening for us tomorrow. I know when I’m beaten!

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19/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve been really reluctant to write lately. Don’t know why.

Had a good day last Friday when I met my creative writing colleagues at Burton Agnes. It was raining so we spent a long time over coffee when we met at 11am, then dispersed to look round the house. It’s a lovely size to look around. Quite often I feel weak and sick looking round castles etc. and need to sit down or go out into the fresh air. This place was fascinating and had some wonderful furniture, artefacts and paintings. We met for lunch at 1pm and after that the sun came out, so I spent ages snapping the gardens and going for a walk in the woods. A couple of the photos are on my website.

Sunday was sad, as Éamonn announced that he was leaving the parish for another one. The priest from the next parish is taking our one under his mantle. Will have to write about this in my secret blog!

On Tuesday evening I went to the talk on the sacraments by Fr Michael. Really good. I am going to buy a book/books by Huebsch when I have googled him and seen what he has written. (Fr Michael gave us a handout which was simple and profound at the same time - and in modern language.)

Birding on Wednesday was quite good. Saw lots of waders. I prefer little woodland birds, but the avocets are lovely. We saw a swan carrying cygnets on her back. Norma came back for lunch and brought some delcious homemade chocolate biscuits. I had ONE after Slimming World and John’s nearly scoffed the lot.I lost half a pound, which was disappointing as I put on the same amount last week. My fault for eating every scrap of the pork crackling on Sunday (plus fish and chips one day and some alcohol a couple of nights.)

As all the hard copy photos are now sorted I have been sorting and tagging (and deleting) my digital collection. Must add some to my web (and label the family according to Norma.)

Well, that’s a very uninspiring post, maybe they all are. But it’s a good record of my life for future years. I have written (much more searching) journals, but cannot read my writing. Let’s hope the kids can’t when I’m dead and gone.

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11/06/2008 by Aileen.

This week’s been panning out wonderfully. Monday was really hot, and I can’t remember too much about it. Tried to sit out in the garden for a bit but it was too hot. Did housework and gardening I think.

In the evening we (photographers’ club) went to Garten-on-the-Wold to a Norman church. Every surface was decorated. The only church I’ve seen that is more highly decorated is St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. And that’s the truth! It was a beautiful evening, and we snapped gravestones and inside the church. Will add them to my main website.

We then went to the villlage pub, which was an experience and a half. It was tiny, and there was one punter when we arrived - two when we left. The landlord was so glad to see us, and kept reading us jokes from an enormous tome. His stock really needed replenishing. We kept asking for things (like coke) and he was out of stock. In the end we had to ask what he did have!

On Tuesday evening, I went to the Scripture group as usual, but forgot there was a special series of talks on the sacraments, by Fr. Michael. It was really inspiring, and I hope to attend all the course. Father’s talk reminded me of the inspiring stuff I heard nearly fifteen years ago when I did a diploma in pastoral theology. It made me homesick for the time when I was really involved with the church, and I had some influence in changing peoples’ attitudes to God, hopefully for the better. So many parents on the First Communion course said that they had not thought about religion since they left school, so obviously their thoughts hadn’t grown as they had matured. They were surprised that the Church had moved on and that their secret opinions were not too heretical after all!

Anyway, back to Father Michael. He spoke about our dignity, as sacraments (signs) of God. We are made in ‘his’ image. All creation mirrors his glory, but we, unlike the animals etc. can reflect on it all, and consciously give glory to God for it. It was so inspiring.

Oh oh, I can feel a poem coming on with word plays about reflecting and images.

Today I went to Flamborough with my birding group. We saw puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, gannets and others. More photos for the website when I get round to it.

In between my excursions I have been sorting photos. Most of them are in albums, but I do pull some out sometimes and don’t return them. For example, when I was looking for photos for Martin’s ‘This is Your Life’ book. We also have all Betty’s (John’s mum) photos to slot in. John is great at remembering dates, so between us we are gradually conquering the mountain.

Tomorrow is free, so we may go to Hornsea Freeport and buy Ali’s birthday present. Then have fish and chips in Hornsea. Friday should be fun. The creative writing group has finished for the summer, but we are meeting up at Burton Agnes (old house) for a wander, a coffee, some writing and lunch. (Not sure of the order)

The only bad thing so far this week (I’m talking personally, not of the wide world!!!) is that I put on half a pound this week. As I lost three pounds last week I can’t really complain. I also won the raffle there for two weeks running. Last week it was all the ingredients for a potatoe based pizza and very nice it was too. This week it was an assortment of ’slimming’ foods. All good stuff except the dried apricors which I dislike.

Night, night!

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08/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve been looking at other people’s blogs and if they have a cat it seems that it is almost mandatory to say it’s crazy. We have three cats and none of them are crazy.

Ellie is very beautiful except that she carelessly lost her tail. She is a longhaired tabby with the sweetest expression, but she is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. If she is locked in a room she thinks she’s a rabbit and tries to burrow her way out. She used to have an even more beautful brother, called Abe. (Well they were Abelard and Eloise actually) Abe was a smoky grey colour and the most beautiful cat in the world. When he was about 8 months he came running in one day in great distress. I ruosed to Jshed him to the vets but he died as we got there. We think he had been hit by a car as he had internal injuries. He was a real little baby and used to ‘paddle’ into my lap. He was definitely ‘my’ cat as opposed to John’s.

After he died I used to see Ellie sitting in the garden looking around. I was sure she was looking for her big brother, so I went out and bought two more kittens. (Well more like rats - they were skinny little tortoiseshells.) We called them Sugar and Spice.

Sugar is a timid little thing although she is marginally braver than Spice. If people with gentle voices are visiting, like Trudie and Al, she will venture out before too long.

I’m sure no one believes we have a pair of tortoiseshells, as Spice NEVER comes out when we have visitors. But what she lacks in bravery she makes up in brains. She is so interested in John’s Scottish History studying, and at night she cuddles up to John in bed and practices her reading.You can see her working things out and would speak to us in English but probably doesn’t want to shock us.

So none of them are crazy, but they are such wonderful individuals. Watch this space for a picture or three. Most of my photos are on my main computer, and it is HOT in the conservatory so I’m not going out there now. Not for anyone. Bye bye.

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07/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve just written in my other blog as I have been feeling bored and am at a loose end. (Don’t know if I mentioned it but I have started another blog to be nasty in)

Anyway, it must be very therapeutic as I feel fine now, and am about to go out shopping. Will have to take car as I am going to local garden centre as well. I cut and strimmed all four lawns (get me - they’re only small) and planted up 2 hanging baskets, planted 6 tomato plants and 2 peppers this week. I previously planted onions and potatoes and find some potatoes are sprouting near one of the compost bins.

Because we have four strips of grass I have named them.

• front lawn
• top lawn
• cherry orchard (it has a plum tree in it)
• wild flower meadow (I let it go wild when we first moved in)

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