11/04/2009 by Aileen.

Thursday’s Mass was beautiful - my favourite of the year. I was privileged to read, but was nervous and when I heard how beautifully Ailsa read the second reading I realised how bad mine was. It doesn’t matter though. Well, it does, but it wasn’t THAT bad!

On Friday Fr Neville officiated at the other church, so we parishioners held the service on our own. It was really well done. The only thing that spoiled it was that John Hall had to explain what was happening beforehand, and thanked everyone at the end. And everyone sort of responded and commented. (Nicely!) But normally the priest comes in in silence and prostrates himself for a few minutes at the foot of the altar, and at the end everyone leaves in silence. So it was a sort of sandwich. Solemn in the middle, but informal at beginning and end. Beautiful hymns (Were You There and This Is Our King) so of course I was in tears.

It’s strange, but there’s no Easter Vigil tonight, as Father Neville is officiating at Goole. (Next year is our turn) I said to someone that we could always go to Goole, but she pointed out that if we gravitated there the bishop might close our lovely little church. So I’ll go tomorrow morning instead.

Anyway, in half an hour our new Open University Island on Second Life is going to be open. I just can’t wait. I want to furnish it with all my own creations (so it might be a bit bare for a while)

I’m just cooking at the moment, so I’ll have to go. I’ll let you all know later what a great evening we have had. (Hopefully)

Posted in Second Life, Open University, church | Print | No Comments »

09/04/2009 by Aileen.

That’s Tuesday and Wednesday completed. Enjoyable coffee morning with OU crowd, where I learnt that the TMA doesn’t have to be in until the following Friday. John’s car sort of sorted, but needs two new tyres and new blades, which the garage couldn’t do - we have to go to Quick Fit. Unbelievable.

Today, it’s been raining, so earth is soft and I should be able to trim edges of grass right down the bottom of the garden. Also, I won’t have to bother watering new beans and sweet peas, and container stuff. I think the fuschias might have had it with the frost, but I can just see some new shoots, so maybe they’ll be okay.

I’m doing the 1st Reading at the Maundy Thursday liturgy tonight. This is my favourite service of the year.

Otherwise it’s going to be a lazy sort of day, as I have a reprieve on my OU essay, and nothing else planned. So this week isn’t turning out to be so hectic after all.

As I haven’t put up a photo for a while I’m posting one of the veg plot. The onions on view are from last year. They didn’t seem to grow, but when I went to pull them out a couple of months ago they seemed to be growing, so I’ve left them. We shall see.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

06/04/2009 by Aileen.

Cut all relevant grass, got car serviced (but not collected) went to library and renewed books. JOhn didn’t have his glasses but managed to choose three books (I renewed 9 - most manuals on computing stuff and 2 poetry books) Didn’t bother printing off photos but brought laptop to Viewfinders, where I had a good time. Housework done.

It’s just gone 9.30 and J’s watching Henry VIII programme, so I’m going to do a bit of my TMA.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

06/04/2009 by Aileen.

Yes, even though there’s no Birding or Creative Writing classes, it’s a busy week for me.

Monday

• John’s car being serviced
• Library books back
• Viewfinders (and I have to print off 2 or 3 photos for it)
• Housework
• Cut 2 lawns if the rain holds off

Tuesday

• Coffee with OU friends (not ‘busy’ but takes up morning)
• Carry on with OU assignment. Over 1000 words to go
• Oops! Nothing else, but I need to do lots of gardening

I’m getting embarrassed! Not that much to do after all

Wednesday

• Gardening
• OU Assignment (due in on Friday)

Thursday

• Gardening
• OU Assignment
• Reading at Maundy Thursday service

Friday

• Good Friday procession in morning (might not go)
• Church service in afternoon
•  Last minute scrabble to finish TMA and send into cyberspace

Then it’s the weekend.

Okay, it doesn’t seem much now, especially compared with ‘working’ people, but I’ve also got to fit in shopping, washing, ironing, cooking - usual stuff everyone does - and all my hobbies, like reading, photography, Second Life,  fiddling around with web designs, making things in Wings3D and Blender, (Yes, I’ve gone back to Blender as I found some really good tutorials)and any new craze that hits me between the eyes.

Okay again - I’m not busy at all. If I was I wouldn’t have the time to have a coffee and type this up at 10.10am on a Monday morning, with the housework nearly finished. But there are lots of other things I need to do. Like organise something for John’s 70th, take Sugar to the vets as she escaped this when the other two went, write or email some friends, put photos up in the ‘Swinton’ (second sitting room) etc. etc.

Aileen, stop digging a hole for yourself!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

03/04/2009 by Aileen.

Well, I only lost half a pound last week, but two and a half this week, so that’s ok.

Nice lunch last Friday with Creative Writing group, interesting talks on Photoshop at Viewfinders on Monday, no Birding this week as it’s Easter hols, last digital photography course which was too easy, but I knew it would be before I started.No Creative Writing this morning as it’s Easter.

Just as well as I was really sick during the night. Couldn’t actually get sick, but was retching and was sweating.We’d had a take away curry and red wine, but John was fine. I’m a bit washed out now (12.20pm) and have done nothing today. Well I was awake a lot last night, and didn’t wake up until 10am this morning. This is so not like me. I don’t ‘do’ sickness.

I’ve got a new project on the go… In Second Life I know the basics about making clothes, hair, and scripting, but it’s possible to make complicated things using only one ‘prim’ (Building block) You need to learn how to make 3d models - the sort that are used for video games etc. Well, I downloaded two free programmes - Wings 3D and Blender.

I had to give up on Blender temporarily, as it’s such a steep  learning curve, and I was getting the commands confused with Wings 3D. Also, I’m only using my touchpad laptop, and it’s best to have a swish 3 wheel mouse. Anyway, I’m getting along okay with Wings, although it’s much more limited that Blender. Also, Second Life only accepts objects that start out as spheres, so that’s probably limiting too.

Well, it’s creative, so I’m happy - only not today - today I’m sorry for myself. I’m getting a bit hungry, but not sure if I can face food. Maybe my darling husband will offer to make me something. (In my dreams)

Posted in Second Life, slimming, health | Print | No Comments »