Here is a summary of latest things I’ve done, omitting routine stuff.

1. Went to see Anonymous (ruddish)
2. Re-joined gym (go girl)
3.  Won an Olymus SZ-10 (yay)
4. 2 and a half hour walk with OU friends (puff)
5. Submitted first TMA for new OU course (phew)

Oh, I can’t leave it at that. I’ll have to chat on. I was prepared to hate Anonymous (it says the Lord of somewhere or other wrote Shakespeare anonymously) but John actually fell asleep during it, and I was totally confused by the frequent time shifts. All the men looked the same to me too, with long wavy hair. We saw the Three Musketeers recently with the grandchildren, and that was really good fun. No confusion. To be honest my history is ruddish. I need to revise a lot this year, as the Reading and Studying Literature course I’m doing puts writings in context. We’ve ‘done’ Othello and The Duchess of Malfi already, TMA on Duchess due today, submitted a couple of days ago, and now we’re on to Oroonoko. It’s all the long 18th century at the moment, and I don’t know about those times. Don’t even like the fashions lol.

Gym has been on the cards for ages. I haven’t been for three years. John was in Stoke Mandeville for a few months then. The following year we had our car accident, and I was so stiff for weeks and weeks. No excuse since then. Kept meaning to go back, but never thought I had the time. Anyway, I went to the doctors yonks ago about my breathlessness, and after several hospital tests that all came back positive (by that I mean negative) she said go for brisk walks three times a week and then go back to her. Well, I didn’t go back, as I wasn’t always doing the walking regularly, but lately I have been. And as I got up to 11 and a half stone recently I thought I really must do something about it beside half hearted cutting back on calories. I went swimming at Nuffield’s last week, did 20 lengths no problem, went on Monday for a health check which wasn’t too bad, except that my blood pressure was 171/90, and went on Tuesday for a personal programme. Did another twenty lengths on both days this week. Gave it a miss yesterday as I had a long walk along the Humber with my birding friends, but am going to start the programme today, after my 11.45 dentist appt. (I’ve lost a filling.)

Winning the camera was a surprise. At the WI we were asked to submit photos for the East Riding Wild Life calendar. I’m not usually organised enough to enter competitions, but the committee knew I like photography and kept reminding me, so I felt obliged. I put in a butterfly and a robin, and it was the robin that won. It’s a bit of a joke among photographers that robin photos appeal to the general public. (I didn’t win the prize voted for by the technical people, but by WI members). And in birding circles peole who ooh and aah at robins and cute little garden birds are called robin strokers!) Anyway, here are the two photos I submitted. I actually think the butterfly is the better.

[1]

[2]

The camera I won is a compact. Olypus SZ-10. It’s easy to carry around, and has some really fun settings, like making a line drawing photo. This should be good for people portraits. They can then be handcoloured or photoshopped. The camera can also produce effects like popart, punk and sparkle. Here is a watercolour effect of a rose bush from our garden, and a line drawing effect of a hydrangea.

[3]

[4]

Oh well, everyday life calls. Shower, clean teeth, dentist, gym. John’s doing lunch.