31/07/2009 by Aileen.

This treasure hunt I mentioned yesterday - our kids were young then. Kids weren’t allowed in pubs in those days, so they sat outside and we passed chicken in the basket out the window to them. I should also say it began to rain.

Of course, at Open Evening I read all about it in their Monday news. Oh what terrible parents.

This reminds me of what I wrote about my parents when I was a kid. I said they loved going to the pictures. Mum never let me forget it. Yes, they did like going to the pictures but it was only two or three times a year.

A teacher I knew used to say to parents, ‘I won’t believe what your children say about you if you don’t believe what they say about me!

Anyway, how can I improve on yesterday? It was good - lots of gardening done - but I didn’t do the ironing, and the guest room sheets need to be done when they are damp as they show every crease. (No, I don’t iron our sheets, only the guests’) Also, although I made stock from the chicken bones, intending to make potato and kale soup, I didn’t get round to it and now I have to throw out the stock. We had sausage and chips instead, and the pan afterwards was just covered in fat.What is it that makes sausages so appealing? They’re disgusting when you think of it.

So, it’s more gardening today. I seem to be working my way round the edges. I daren’t consider the middle bit. Must do the ironing too. Kev and Mag coming for the weekend.

Tonight we’re Viewfinder’s Social evening, at Gilly’s Balloons!!! Should be good.

Also, I think John want to go to Staples at the edge of Hull for office supplies. He’s treasurer of his counselling group. I’ll stock up on bird seed while I’m out, as the little blighters are going through it like billio.

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30/07/2009 by Aileen.

I so want to write something here - something lovely - but I think I’ll wait a while. I’ll tell you all soon. Promise.

Anyway, in spite of the showers I’ve been gardening a bit. I’ve cleared (sort of) the long thin bed outside the back door. I’m going to call it the Landing Strip. So now we have, a front lawn, a top lawn, a cherry orchard, a wild flower meadow and a landing strip. Pretentious or what!

Yesterday we had two of John’s former colleagues for lunch. And very tender they were too. No, seriously, they both worked with him years ago in the Civil Service. I first met them when we were on a treasure hunt. This couple started off on the Treasure Hunt, but never ended up at the destination pub. It was the beginning of an office romance. They now have adult children! I don’t know where the time goes.

John is well but these anti-biotics leave a constant metallic taste in his mouth. He hasn’t got his hospital appointment yet.

Oh well, the showers stopped us going for a cycle today, but it is sunny at the moment, so I think I’ll finish off the privet hedge. (Or is it box?)

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27/07/2009 by Aileen.

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27/07/2009 by Aileen.

This is the first ‘normal’ Monday I seem to have had for ages. Last Monday was the ‘I Felt Like Crying’ post, the week before we were on holiday, and I can’t remember before that.

Anyway, Kieran and Liam had been staying with Martin and Fiona for the week, and M and F returned them very late on Saturday night. (1.15 am) (They had been to Fiona’s brother’s new baby’s christening.) I overslept, so couldn’t go to Mass, but I was wondering whether to skip it anyway, as M and F didn’t have very long with us. We had roast chicken, with kale and runner beans from the garden and then M and F set back down for Oxford while we took the grandchildren up to Penrith so Ai and Eric could pick them up from there.

Over the Pennines (A66) we got stuck behind two ‘abnormal loads’. John just couldn’t overtake them before the end of the dual carriage way. Well, there was a narrow strip of road with lorries coming towards us. The biggest oncoming lorry pulled right in to the verge and stopped. The first abnormal load lorry missed it, but the second one scraped all along the side of the stationary vehicle. Oh dear. The sound! And the big flecks of white plastic that went swirling round the road! My camera was at my feet in my bag. If only I had had it in my lap. What a photo!

So today, it’s tidy up the mess in the kitchen and do my ‘normal Monday’ whip around everything in the house. I might do some gardening as I seem to have the bug again, but it’s a bit chilly!!!

Then, this evening it’s Viewfinders. We’re going into York. Should be good.

If I don’t do any gardening I’m going to set up a picture gallery on my secret website.  Oh, and I have another commission from Redemptorist Publications for some children’s Sunday leaflets, so might have a go at them.

Bye, world. See ya.

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23/07/2009 by Aileen.

Well, John still had a bit of a temperature on Monday and Tuesday, and felt really weak. He kept saying to give it another day before calling the doctor. He absolutely dreaded the thought of another few months in hospital.

On Tuesday, I thought this is silly and called the doctor out. I was dismayed to see a young girl on the doorstep instead of the older man I expected but she was fab. She said she wasn’t sure what to do and would ring Stoke Mandeville for advice. She rang back later in the afternoon and had actually spoken to the surgeon who had cut out the abscesses. He said there was no point taking a swab as he knew exactly which bacteria were involved and he recommended two antibiotics. John is on them for three weeks, then he has to go to Stoke to see Mr Wan. He has two options, neither of which seem to involve a lengthy stay in hospital so John is really relieved. Almost pleased. Yes, he IS  pleased that at last something is being done.

His only problem now is that the antiobiotics taste foul. Oh, and he can’t drink alcohol with them!

I had a good day yesterday. Cut the grass, trimmed edges and stepping stones, and tackled a hidden away corner at the bottom left. Yes, I know the front garden is a mess, and that’s what people see, but this is a sweet little bit where a winter flowering jasmine was getting choked with laurels and stuff. I freed up a flat headed hydrangea and trimmed back some cotoneaster and box/privet. But I didn’t trim the latter back too much as it has some lovely fragrant white blossom.

The grandchildren are having a great time with Martin and Fiona apparently. They’re off to the London Eye today, followed by the Natural History museum and the park. They sure will sleep tonight!

Oh, and my new (third!) website, is coming on a treat. I seem to have got the knack of postioning things with CSS now. I’d love to tell you all the name, but it’s my little SECRET.

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20/07/2009 by Aileen.

… and then John therapied me!

I’ll do this chronologically. Coming home from the Swinton I seemed to have the whole summer stretching ahead of me with lots of lovely hours to fill with as I liked. I emailed the man who does the parish website to say I could get on with it now.

I forgot that on the Friday morning I had a coffee morning in Hedon with the Creative Writing group. We had a lovely time and Stella has an amazing house and garden both full of character.

Right, I’m free now I thought. I knew that sometime over the weekend Ali and Eric were bringing the kids down, and John and I were taking them on to Oxford for a week with Martin and Fiona. She rang and asked if they could come on the Friday. That was really lovely, but I had to rush round sorting out bedding again having only just finished putting it away from the last time.

We had a really lovely weekend, just pottering really. Kids cycling around Kieran can almost cycle. On the Sunday there was no one to do Children’s Liturgy so I had to do it unprepared. That was fine, but the kids deserve better. Ali and Liam came and Ali thinks our church is ‘mental’. Well it is so homely and warm and welcoming. Very unlike the enormous St Mirrin’s in Paisley.

Anyway, we had a quick tea with M and F, and left the four of them going for a cycle in the woods while we drove home through torrential rain. Then, the first thing that really upset me kicked in. John wasn’t well coming home and only just had enough strength to get out of the car and in to bed. He had a temperature. He had been sick on the Saturday night, but put it down to stuffing himself with choccies. (If anyone has an addictive personality John has!) I was going to call the doctor at one stage, but  paracetamol, a wet flannel and the fan brought his temperature down.

I didn’t sleep well during the night, and got up for a cup of tea about 2am, so I overslept this morning and was woken by the postman delivering a new tripod. Haven’t had a chance to open it yet.

That’s cos I had to take John’s car in towards Hull for a service. I dropped off car and drove to chemist at Brough for more paracetamol and a proper thermometer, as I can’t get on with our one. (Strips that change colour.) My mobile rang, and it was the garage saying Motability refused to sanction the car service as it had been done recently. I obediently returned the courtesy car and drove home fuming about the wasted morning. It was nearly 11am.

John (quite rightly as it turned out) said the car hadn’t been serviced, it had had a ‘visual check’ to make sure the body work was ok. This is where I nearly cried. I had been near to tears on the way home.

I said no way am I going back to Hessle today with the car, so the service is now booked for Friday 7th.

Of course the real reason  iam upset is that John is unwell, and we’re not sure if the abscesses are returning. I have said I’m ringing the doctor today. We need to know. It’s just that he dreads going back to hospital for weeks. I’m hoping our local doctor can take a swab and if the wound is infected can put him on anti-biotics to clear it up. The worst scenario is hospitalisation.

Anyway , although I was trying to be strong for John I was near to tears, and he had to be strong for me! He’s the one who sorted out the garage. (Not their fault - Motability’s) and re-arranged everything, even though he is still a bit unwell. Proper thermometer registered 38 degrees which isn’t too bad I think. I still use farhenheit in my mind.

Anyway, (again) It’s now 11.40 and the house is a tip after the weekend. I’m having a coffee, and John must be ill as he only wanted tea. (And two hobnobs!)

Final anyway - I’ll be in touch.

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15/07/2009 by Aileen.

If it had been The Swinton

1. the rice would have been moulded into a timbale shape.
2. the chef wouldn’t have just chucked the turmeric in to add a little colour, he/she would have measured it carefully.
3. he/she wouldn’t have had to subsitute mushrooms for carrots
4. he/she wouldn’t have just swamped the wok with Thai 7 Spice
5. three big prawns would have rested on a neat bed of veg with the sauce drizzled round the edge

As it was, I ladled a glorious muddle of taste onto our plates and we had a really delicious meal. I looked at several recipes online, and the nearest to my creation is

http://www.waitrose.com/recipes/index.aspx?recipeuid=3c13380f-5aea-4d1e-af66-5cf144fbd271

Night, folks. See you in the morning.

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15/07/2009 by Aileen.

And didn’t we have a lovely time! Arrived late-ish on Saturday so just chilled until dinner. Rich food.

Sunday.  Full ‘Swinton’ breakfast. Saw the hotel’s birds being flown in the morning, and we explored the extensive grounds in the afternoon. John brought his cycle attachment, and it was just as well. What was described as a gentle slope was actually quite difficult as the front wheel doesn’t grip very well - all the weight is at the back in the wheelchair. Took photos! Another rich meal.

Monday. Went to Fountains Abbey. What was so annoying was that there was a service taking place in the ruins as we arrived at midday. I said to John I bet it’s to do with St. Benedict as it was his feast the day before, and it would have been transferred to the Monday. Anyway, after a café lunch and stroll round the grounds we eventually ended up at the abbey, and I found a service sheet. It had been a Mass in honour of St. Benedict. I’m so annoyed I didn’t inquire what the service was. I’m a Benedictine Oblate (sort of attached to Benedictines as I like their brand of spirituality - moderation in all things basically) so it would have been really nice to have taken part. Also, I didn’t make Mass on the Sunday as there didn’t seem anywhere to go locally. Anyway, back to a rich evening meal again. (Oops! Sorry St. Benedict)

Tuesday. In the morning John went clay pigeon shooting and I took photos of him. I got a shot of the target breaking in two. From there we went to Thorp Perrow Aboretum and saw the birds of prey display there. Unfortunately I felt sick all day. Too much to eat I think. I only had tea and toast for breakfast. Couldn’t enjoy the day too much. I didn’t even have the energy to get down low to take photos of the falcons etc.

I tried to eat the evening meal, but had to leave the table and go to bed. It was a shame, as it was a good day otherwise. John really enjoyed the shooting.

Today. Home again. I’m wondering what to cook for the evening meal that would be up to Swinton standards. I have prawns in the freezer and kale and spinach in the garden, so Mr Google might come to the rescue. (You can see I’m better. Thinking of food again!)

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11/07/2009 by Aileen.

We’re off to the Swinton for a few days, to celebrate John’s 70th, but he is paying I should be rushing round tidying the house up for the neighbour, but no, here I am prevaricating. I’ve just made a thank you card too, for Jim, who lent me £20 yesterday when I found myself 20 miles from home with no money and very little petrol. This double dactyl (Google it!)  tells the story!

Heckety peckety

Aileen B Urquharty

Travelled to Hedon

Without any purse.

Gentleman Jiminy

Characteristic’lly

Came to her rescue

Before it got worse.

Anyway, must sort out house. Will have to leave the garden.Ironing and packing to be done. Hey it’s only a couple of hours away. I could come back each night to change!

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08/07/2009 by Aileen.

…. that I wouldn’t know what to do with myself after T189? Well,

1. I am now responsible for the church website (once I get the password)
2. I am also probably going to design one for Viewfinders (might use a template if it is going to be a complicated one)
3. John wants his site updated and a poem written for him about being married to a counsellor
4. I have promised a surprise poem for an OU student’s hubby.
5. I’ve just bought myself a new site (£3 a month with Super Green) which really will be a secret one.

Life. Isn’t it wonderful?

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