29/06/2009 by Aileen.

4am and I am up having a cup of tea, with the birds in full song outside.We had an absolutely fabulous weekend. Martin and Fiona, Ali and Eric and kids, arrived on Friday, and Kevin and Mag, Don and Chris arrived Saturday. We had mixed veg soup or carrot and coriander soup for lunch followed by birthday cake. We took a chance on the weather and sat outside.

Before the fray

The family

 There was a mixup over the cake, as I wanted an OU student to make it. She posts photos of her cakes on the forum. I thought she lived in Yorkshire and she thought I lived in Kent, so in the end it would have been too expensive to buy one of her as she hand-delivers. So I ended up making the cake myself - very homemade looking as you can see. I think my soups were more successful. Anyway, we had a great lunch.

The cake

The Cutting of the Cake

 We then had the Opening of the Presents. For years John has regretted the fact that his mother gave away an early photo of him as an altar server, so unbeknown to him I emailed the priest at our childhood’s parish and traced it. The parish archivist also sent me three others, including one of an outing on the offchance that John would be in it. There he is in the front row, grinning away into the camera, with lots of other old familiar faces. He was so pleased to get it.

I also got him a genuine Australian leather hat, as he has always admired the one Martin and Fiona have between them!  (Don’t ask) He had lots of other lovely pressies. Here he is in his hat.

John in the Hat

 I’m going back to bed now. More later.

 Morning. Here we are again. Grandkids having stale bagels for breakfast and I’m uploading more photos.

Ali in the hat.

Eric, Liam and Kieran

Martin and Fiona

Kevin

Mags

Don and Chris

The big surprise for John was that we were getting outside caterers in for the evening meal. A few things were inadvertantly said, like, ‘There’s a strange man in the kitchen,’ but John didn’t catch on. We had an absolutely lovely three course meal, and I didn’t have to do anything. Even the cutlery and crockery was provided and then taken away to be washed up on the chef’s premises. I found them on the web and they work from Beverley nearby. Their site is

www.2chefs.co.uk

Here we are after our evening meal.

The day finished with a firework display which Fiona arranged. Once John knew the neighbours had been warned he was happier, as they were very loud. They were also very colourful. You only had to light one match and you got a continuous display for three minutes.

So all in all, a wonderful day!

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26/06/2009 by Aileen.

When I was cutting the grass yesterday I heard the kingfisher for the first time this year. This morning I was wandering around the garden and heard the cuckoo. Seen one a few weeks ago, but this was the first I have heard from home.

Who would have thought, six years ago, that I would be cutting the grass accompanied by the sounds of kingfisher and a noisy little reed warbler hidden yards away from me. (Might be a sedge warbler. It’s the one with the more varied song.)

Also, I forgot to mention that John did most of the power washing, and he cleaned the oven yesterday. Today he is going to clean the brass letter box. Not sure what else.

I didn’t mention the death of Michael Jackson either. It wasn’t my kind of music, but I can recognise that he was a great and talented performer. My most vivid memory of him is hanging his child over the balcony. Acting God, with power over life and death. He must have been so insecure.

Anyway, 11am and all is well. I have the sleeping quarters and bathrooms done and am waiting for the coffee to perc. Life is good.

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26/06/2009 by Aileen.

Yesterday was a really really good day.So varied. I got up without knowing the time but because I wanted to. It was 7am so that was fine.

After our muesli I marzipanned John’s cake. I discovered it shouldn’t be iced for at least a day, so that was fine too.

Made carrot and coriander soup minus the fresh coriander as I have learnt to my cost it turns the soup green. Put in some coriander seeds and will add fresh herb later. Fine.

Cut all grass except front so it would be short for Saturday. It hardly needed cutting so was easy. Fine.

Strimmed and halfmooned all relevant bits. Not much to do. Fine.

Made John’s card. Wrapped second pressie. Fine.

Watered bits of garden I am taking care of (Veg and herbs) Fine.

One bad bit - I had planted some colourful petunias or something. And I strimmed the heads off. Not so fine.

In the evening Andrew (Viewfinders) had a photo exhibition of his Everest trek in a Hull wine bar. (No, the trek really wasin Nepal) Was really too busy to stay long, but it was good. Great photos, and he had a good crowd there. Fine.

Brought home takeaway chilli burgers and chips from local pizza bar. Had interesting chat with the two men who run it about where we come from. Fine.

Nice meal with a good red wine, watching Trial and Retribution and I actually concenrated. Fine.

Ali rang. Also chatting to FIona in the morning. Fine.

Finally got round to looking at the requirements for Dig Phot final assignment, and it’s not too bad. Have put possible photos into a file and earmarked the questions I like the look of. Fine.

Today is action stations. To Tip. To Charity shop. Last minute fresh food shopping. Turning ‘Swinton’ into a bedroom.Cut John’s hair. Tidy house. Martin and Fiona, Ali and Eric and the kids are coming this evening. Kev and Mags, Don and Chris, coming tomorrow.

Fine. Fine. Fine.

Just hope the weather stays fine and we can eat outside. Twelve sitting down.

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23/06/2009 by Aileen.

I made the mistake of feeding those ruddy canal geese a while ago. Well, they have remembered. I have so many photos of them in various lighting conditions and poses. But their poo is something else. I’ve had to keep the gates closed to stop them coming to the front door, but they just sit outside and POO. It makes good compost apparently, so I collect it up. The older stuff is just like processed grass, but it’s not very pleasant to begin with.

The geese seem to remember me as well. I was walking back from the shops when they saw me in the distance and came running at me. They hiss, but this seems to be in excitement more than anything. It’s a little bit scary, but I can’t show I;m afraid in case anyone is looking at this soft Soutnerner lol.

Yesterday evening Viewfinders had an excellent time at Flamborough and Bempton Cliffs. There were only a few puffins but quite close. Lots of  gannets

Well, I have been busy this morning. I’m getting everything ready for John’s bash on Saturday. Bed linen all present and correct. One pressie wrapped. Power washed the back top patio. John is going to do the slope and bottom patio before lunch. He is getting up earlier at last thank goodness. Not quite back to normal but getting there.

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19/06/2009 by Aileen.

Our Birding tutor texted me today asking me if it would be okay if my Bearded Tit photo appeared in the Yorkshire Post. Er. Yes. I think so. However, there is a lot of discussion going on among amateur photographers as to whether it is right that newspapers and tv don’t pay their contributors. I suppose if I had a lot of really great photos appearing regularly in the mass media it would be only fair to be paid. But I haven’t, so I am delighted. I have to choose 10 photos for presenting on my T189 course, and this has given me confidence.

Today’s Creative Writing was so entertaining. We had to write a description leading up to a murder. Everyone is so clever and original. we had a good laugh. As mine is short I’ll reproduce it here

Murder Most Fowl

From the dining room came the subdued noise of forty nuns delicately stabbing their boiled potatoes and ham with their polished knives and forks.

Sister Blanche crept past, congratulating herself that her plan was working. She had been excused dinner because of a supposed blinding headache, and now she headed for the library. Great scholarly tomes scented the air with must and mildew and leather. Oblivious of the deep and ancient peace she made for a little drawer in a heavy writing desk and pulled out the rope. Two quick steps took her to the window. Reaching out, she found the old lead piping, part of the ancient guttering, and secured her makeshift ladder. It would serve as a getaway if the worst came to the worst.

Her skirts swished as she left the library and continued along the polished corridor. The ornamental dagger, gift of a visiting foreign bishop, glinted from its place on the wall. That might come in useful, she thought, and snatched it up, placing it with the revolver in the folds of her habit.

In a moment she had reached the chapel. Empty. Or so she thought. By the flickering candlelight she could make out the dim shape of the altar. She approached, and genuflected devoutly out of habit. Turning to the side chapel, she was unaware of the tall black figure who emerged from behind the altar, brandishing a brass candlestick. Hearing a sound, she swung round. You! She gasped, and picking up her skirts fled out of the chapel, along the corridor, to her escape route. But she was too late. The Reverend Green killed her with the candlestick in the library.

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17/06/2009 by Aileen.

I went out with my ‘new’ camera this morning, and snagged the following photo (among others) I am over the moon. I would have been anyway, as we had extended views of it (bearded tit) but actually getting a clear photo made my day.

 It’s raining, so I can’t (well I could) garden. I’m going to have a leisurely afternoon catching up on photo magazines. Also we’re on a really good week with the Dig Phot OU course. We’re looking at a sort of history of the photo, set in various cultural climates, e.g. Pop Art. I have made a ‘Jackson Pollock’ out of some downtrodden winged seeds, so when I get a bit more energy (up about 5.30am) I will do more experimentation. Here’s the Jackson Pollock.

There was one sad thing. Last night when we got in, Ali had left a message. Liam had fallen over in the school playground (grass) and cut both hands on some glass. He had to go to hospital and had ‘glue’ on one hand and butterfly stitches on the other.

Apparently older kids get into the playground at night. The janitor checks every morning but had missed the green glass in the green grass. Anyway, Liam showed us his bandaged hands on Skype this morning, and didn’t seem too bothered. He was hoping to have time off school, but no such luck.

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16/06/2009 by Aileen.

I woke at 5am and John was awake, so we decided to have breakfast. I promptly fell asleep again and woke around 7am. I surfed the net, then heard that it would rain later, so cut the grass. All four bits. Then I carried on washing carpets with the carpet cleaner thingy. Back to gardening, when I remembered the camera I had bought off someone on Bird Guides. The owner was going to let me know when my cheque had cleared. Well, there was the message, posted in the morning and it was now mid afternoon. I really wanted the camera for tomorrow’s birding as it had a 400m prime lens. So I agreed to collect it straight away. It was a two hour drive away, and John wasn’t keen on my driving there and back on my own, so he came with me. We stopped for fish and chips on the way home, and now I’m quite weary. But I want to check I know where all the controls are, as it’s a Canon and I’m used to Nikon. It feels good to hold, but the push button is about an inch out compared to the Nikon. I’m really thirsty after the fish and chips, so think I’ll have a second cup of tea and collect everything for tomorrow. Then I should sleep the sleep of the just!

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14/06/2009 by Aileen.

The three girls I’ve been preparing, made their First Commmunion today. The youngest one was so shy! They all looked lovely. I’d love to post a photo of them on here, but I’d better not. Instead, here is a picture of the little bags I made for their pressies to go in.

 The church looked lovely. Beautiful flowers, and there was tea/coffee and cake laid on. Also, flowers for me. I just love this parish. I loved the last, but it was enormous - I sometimes had over 80 children to prepare for FHC. (Not on my own of course - up to 12 catechists) Here, it’s much more like a family. I always seem to go for small things. I like small flower arrangements, haiku, things like that. For my photography panel at the end of the OU course I am thinking of going for a theme of overlooked things. Like weeds, rust. Things that are beautiful when you look properly. BTW I got 98% for my Computer Marked Assignment. It’s only worth 10% but that’s a good nine points under my belt.

It’s Ali’s birthday today. I can’t believe my little baby is 39. And so domesticated. She didn’t get it from me. We’ve tried ringing her, but she may actually be at Mass (!) as Liam made his Communion a fortnight ago. Or maybe out for the day celebrating her birthday. Oh well. We’ll be in touch this evening.

Last thing to post today is the following photo. Goose for Sunday lunch anyone?

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12/06/2009 by Aileen.

Martin has posted us some photos of him doing the Blenheim Triathlon last week. The one I’m posting here must have been at the beginning as he doesn’t look so happy in the others! He did it in 2 and a half hours and has raised £3,500 for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit and the Spinal Injuries Association. We’re so proud of him. He never was sporty at school, but he has always cycled.

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12/06/2009 by Aileen.

Monday. Housework done to my usual standards (!) Enjoyable evening in old part of Hull taking photos. What was sad was that a policeman stopped me and asked if I’d seen a ‘poorly’ woman wrapped in a duvet. She was a heroine addict. Police and ambulance crew were looking down all the cobbled ’staithes’ (long narrow alleyways leading to the river) One ambulance man said she was probably in the river by now. Here is a photo from the evening.

I can’t remember Tuesday. Oh dear. Oh yes, I did some gardening.Pulled up three bags full of weeds!

Wednesday. Lovely morning birdwatching, and Norma came back for lunch. We had extended views of a barn owl at the birding location, and saw a heron being mobbed by crows back here. Here are a couple of photos from the morning.

 John was on a course on Wednesday and Thursday. About Transactional Analysis, which is a model for how people interact with each other. We can be seen as child, parent or adult. He really enjoyed it, and I’m hoping his body clock will get back to normal now. He isn’t up yet, but it’s before 9am, and he has two clients later, so he will have to get up. Three days of being awake during the day should help. He had slept quite well for the last two nights, although his pain does wake him up a lot.

I caught up with my OU Photography course yesterday. Also went to the dump, the library and Morrisons. ALso made jewellery on Second Life.

Today, I must go into Hull (outskirts) for Communion presents for the three girls I prepared. Their communion is on Sunday. I also need printer ink, as my black has run out, and I have NO spare colours in the house at all. I hardly print anything out, trying to be green, but did some photos of the ‘communion’ girls recently. ALso, the camera club meet in a pub after Monday’s excursion, and the idea is to share photos. I could bring my laptop along, but it’s an enormous beast, chosen ’specially for it’s large monitor.

Anyway, shall I go wake John up? Nah. Let him sleep.

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