27/07/2008 by Aileen.

We had a lovely holiday in the Borders. We flitted between England and Scotland daily. No mobile or internet access and I survived. Can’t believe it.

The week consisted of picnics, a barbecue, two pub meals, and lashings and lashings of coffee and tea. Oops. It wasn’t just food. We had lovely weather, and I took millions of photos, but I haven’t uploaded them yet.

The grandchildren are here now for a few days. They have been so good. They gave us a show yesterday, and were going to continue it this evening, but got involved in Midsomer Murders. (Sush, don’t tell mum and dad.)

They have also had the paddling pool out and done colouring and cutting out.

We’re a bit worried cos we haven’t seen one of our cats since we came home over twenty four hours ago. Sugar and Spice are really shy, and always disappear when we have visitors, but usually slink in during the night. We haven’t seen Spice at all. If she doesn’t return tonight (it’s now 11.40pm) we shall have to put up notices. I think she’ll return but John is upset,imagining the worst.

He actually asked the grandchildren to say a prayer tonight, and he’s the great unbeliever!

Anyway, here’s hoping for tonight. Tomorrow we’re probably going to Honeysuckle Farm where the kids love jumping on the hay bales. We may take in the seaside (Hornsea) as well.

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19/07/2008 by Aileen.

Well I didn’t really take care of you this week did I little blog. Off on holiday today and probably no internet connection as we’re selfcatering in the wilds of Cumbria, ‘though on the map it looks like Scotland.

Had a dissatisfying week. I really miss my ‘term’ activities as with nothing to do I realise that I’m not contributing much to the world at large. Just reading and playing around on the computer. Really hooked on Second Life.

Looking forward to being with family over the hols and taking lots of best selling photos! Only I won’t sell them, I’ll just know that if I wanted to I could be a household name in photography.

Anyway, Cumbria, here we come.

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13/07/2008 by Aileen.

Oh my poor little blog. How are you? I’ve really been neglecting you lately. You have to understand I get ‘fads’. A bit like Toad of Toad Hall. I’m not saying you’re a fad - don’t believe that for a minute. It’s just that something else is taking up my attention this last week or so. And that’s Second Life. If you’d been there you would understand. It’s so alluring. I’ve met all sorts of interesting people there. Not only people, but dragons and elves. There even was a dalek at a party there the other night. But don’t think it’s all it’s all clubbing and drinking. (Yes there are virtual drinks too) It is also a great outlet for creativity. I am on a huge learning curve here. I’ve learnt to put together clothes that express my personality, and experiment with clothes I would never dream of wearing in RL. (Real Life) I’m beginning to learn how to make objects, and eventually I want to learn the scripting language so I can really control what I do.

I got to hear about it through the OU who hope to put on tutorials and things in SL. It has great potential as a vehicle for learning, and I think it is definitely the thing of the future.

But don’t worry little blog. I haven’t forgotten you. I’ll make up for the last few weeks’ neglect, I promise you. I just need to finish the two books I’m reading (Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry and Alone by Lisa Gardner) I also have a pile of ironing lying in wait for me.

Oh well, tomorrow is Monday and time once again for my fresh new start. See you then!

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11/07/2008 by Aileen.

We live in the Howden ad Haltenprice constituency so should have voted yesterday. We intended to cycle round to the village hall to vote, but didn’t get round to it.

I’m not a political creature. My first reaction was good for David Davis for taking a moral stand. I usually think the best of people. Then of course, I heard all about ulterior motives and got confused. Not that I’ve ever voted Conservative in my life. Mind you, it was a foregone conclusion. There were 26 candidates.

There was

Freedom 4 Choice,, whose candidate said (if I got to represent Yorkshire folk) I would be the happiest bloke in the world, and had at least two apostrophes misplaced.

Miss Great Britain Party. Enough said.

Christian Party, whose headline read ‘26 Candidtates’ (sic)

Tom Darwood, a carpenter from Essex (not Nazareth) and claims he could be future king and is to become the ‘true’ Archbishop of Canterbury and ‘true’ Pope.

David Icke (enough said)

Monster Raving Loony Party (enough said)

Someone who stated he didn’t actually want to be elected. (!)

and several others.

England really is an interesting place to live in!

Maybe I should have voted for DD after all.

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07/07/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve been vaguely dissatisfied with how I am just busy doing nothing recently. I’m not knocking it. I know lots of people who would envy the chance to have so much leisure, and I have been very very stressed in the past from too much to do. However…. the time has come to evaluate what I am doing with my time. And I have decided I really must start to do something constructive. In September I start a Creative Writing)) course with the OU, but there is the long hot (?) summer stetching out before me. So I have resurrected the kiddies’ book I started a while ago - nine chapters done - and done some organising. (Re-reading it, setting up OneNote for character references and ideas, printing it off.) ((Anythng rather than write lol))

The Cr. Wr. course forum looks very good with really friendly helpful people. So more procrastination there! However, if I promise myself to write for an hour a day I know I will end up doing more. So that is my New Year’s Week’s Resolution.

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04/07/2008 by Aileen.

This is Naughty Nick from Viewfinder Photographic Society who looks as good as gold but is a little devil.

And here is a view of groins at Spurn on a warm June evening of lovely clear light.

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04/07/2008 by Aileen.

John resigned himself to being gappy and we went to Sandhills where he was suitably impressed by everything on sale. In the café he had a full English breakfast while I had a tuna jacket (again - but this one was lovely - better than the Debenham’s one) I thought he would never get through all that food, but I watched longingly as it all went down his throat, ending with the two sausages.

We bought two padded meal trays, a plastic lined picnic blanket, food, a bonsai tree (for J’s study area) and two little books for Liam and Kieran.

I don’t know why we call it J’s study area. He’s supposed to be doing a counselling course but hasn’t started it yet. Spends his time playing cards there, or watching things on e-bay. He says he has no intention of buying - he just likes watching interesting items and seeing how much thy go for eventually. Daft I call it. Second Life is much more sensible

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03/07/2008 by Aileen.

John went to the dentist yesterday and had a temporary tooth put in. It came out during the night, so he has to ring the dentist at 9.15 to arrange an appointment for (another method) I was going to treat him to a late birthday meal - only lunch at the Sandhills Garden Centre in Hedon - but I suppose he won’t be seen in public without his front tooth again. Men are so vain!

Why I have to go back to Hedon, about 20 miles away, is that when I went there last week to collect my coffee machine I chose the week the shop was closed for the summer holidays! I was going to ring beforehand to check opening times, but didn’t get round to it.

I think I’ve discovered why I can’t always upload photos to my blog. It depends on how I access the site. If I go through the shortcut on my toolbar I can’t. As I’ve accessed through my website today I’ll try to upload a couple of photos. Watch this space.

Nope. Didn’t work. I’ll have to contact the administrators.

Lost another pound at Slimming World last night. At least, I didn’t lose it there I shed it during the week.

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01/07/2008 by Aileen.

John’s 69 today. It hasn’t been that good a day. He lost his front tooth last night on a bit of french bread, so he wouldn’t come out for a celebratory meal. We also had a row (not about his not wanting to come out). However, we’re friends again now so that is good.
Yesterday evening I went to Spurn with my photography club. It’s usually very cold and windy there, but we were blessed with a wonderful mild evening. I didn’t even have to wear a jacket. There was beautiful light, although the sunset was disappointing, and I will upload some photos, a couple here and more on my website.

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