13/03/2011 by Aileen.

Well, we had an absolutely unbelievably wonderful time on our silent retreat at St Beuno’s. It is honestly too personal for me to talk about, but I feel a changed person, and John has changed in his beliefs too. Wonderful memories.

One of the little things that changed for me is that I have decided to spend less time on t’internet. I haven’t been posting as I have been wondering what to give up and what to keep. I’m keeping this blog as it’s a sort of diary for me, and I like reading back occasionally. Also, I just like recording my life. Paradoxically I have started another anonymous Blogger blog. My first one is religious based, and has turned out to be mostly thoughts (rather than feelings) My new one is linked, and I am recording my dreams on it, and trying to interpret them from a Christian point of view. But I’ve cut out a lot of aimless surfing. When I get up, sometimes around 6am, I used to turn on the news, open up the laptop and have breakfastall at the same time. I am trying to listen to the news single-mindedly now, and just having a quick glance at Facebook and other sites later.

Another thing that isn’t too personal is that I said to my spiritual guide that  I was very happy with my life, thank you very much, and I didn’t want anything to change. At the same time I sometimes wonder if I shouldn’t be doing something a bit more active in the church. Anyway, Fr Neville is still recuperating from his two operations, and the visiting priest challenged the parish to sort out Stations of the Cross for ourselves. So I offered to do Friday evenings during Lent. I have done one so far. Made it up myself, as I wanted to do something really relevant to our lives, and not the old Victorian stuff we are used to. About 8 people turned up, which is wonderful as people would have been to the Ash Wednesday service on the Wednesday, and there was a funeral for someone well known to the parish on the Friday morning. And our parish is tiny. 40 newsletters printed each week. The church is only 10 pews deep and we only have one Mass a week. Just to blow my own trumpet a bit - Douglas asked for a copy of the Stations as he said it was the most devotional one he had ever heard. Also, I was amazed that the woman who had buried her husband turned up, and thanked me after. She said it had ‘just finished her day’!!! (She meant it in a good way)

I drove Fr Neville to hospital on Thursday for his post op. checkup and he had good news. No followup radiotherapy or chemo. He read the gospel at Mass this morning, and was walking a bit quicker than he was on Thursday. Hopefully he’s really on the mend now.

Good birding session this week when we had really close-up and prolonged views of a goldcrest, and saw a peregrine falcon, and a flock of bullfinches. Good creative writing sessions too. Everything good. Full stop

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05/10/2010 by Aileen.

My secret blog is doing well. I got one follower on the first day, and since then I have got two more. I’ve only made three postings on it! The only thing is - they are real bible thumping people from the States, and that’s not my style at all. I think they want to convert me to their brand of Christianity.

At Viewfinders last night I took no photos. Neither did the other two women present. The men seem to get their act together. They came really prepared, with backgrounds, lighting and props. (The theme was glass) Jane couldn’t take photos as she’d got the wrong lens with her, and Kate and I just couldn’t be bothered. We chatted and just looked at what the men  were doing.

Some of the props were great reflective metallic paper, and little ‘water beads’ which reflect images like water drops. You get them at The Range in the northern part of Hull, so after birding tomorrow I will try to find it and treat myself. I would like to make my own Christmas cards this year, and somehow do a ‘glass’ nativity, maybe a silhouette crib against rainbow-like refections.

It’s about time I put up a photo. I haven’t taken much lately, but there are four swans on the lake, and here is one of them.

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03/10/2010 by Aileen.

Been to Mass. Did the children’s liturgy, and now I’m home waiting for the coffee to perc. It’s pouring outside, so no gardening, or cycling. House can wait until tomorrow, so until I put the pork on this evening I’m pretty free.

What shall I do? There are so many lovely choices. I could make a start on my TMA (tutor marked assignment) for the OU, but think I’ll wait until there is more tutor group input as we haven’t looked at Little Red Riding Hood yet. (That’s the second choice - how far has it become ‘institutionalised’ in Western civilsation or words to that effect.) The first choice is about how children’s authors might inevitably be didactic, referring especially to either Harry Potter & Ph. Stone, or Northen Lights (Pullman) LRRH sounds more fun.

So what shall I do? I bought that book on CSS coding yesterday, so am veering towards a day on the computer (surprise, surprise) There’s no point in experimenting with my photography club website,

http://viewfinderphoto.co.uk/

as the committee aren’t that impressed with what I’ve done and have asked me to go over to Clikpic. (They have a point. I find doing my own coding for a photo gallery is very, very difficult.)

I could work on the Church one, but I don’t want to lose what I’ve got already.

http://www.sacredheartstjoseph.org.uk/

I’m designing a site for John

http://www.eastyorkshirecounselling.co.uk/index.html

which is crap at the moment, and as he won’t get round to telling me exactly what he wants I might as well experiment on this. He doesn’t check it out, so if I will have carte blanche, pretty much. I’d like to make a busier looking site, with three columns, smaller font-size, and more oojamaflips in it. (News feeds and stuff) We’ll see.

Anyway, coffee is ready, and then I need to sort out a salad for lunch.

Bye, fans.

P.S. Might sort out some photos and upload some.

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17/09/2010 by Aileen.

I suppose I sound so self-satisfied. I don’t care. This is how I am. I still haven’t got over the novelty of living in the country. A duck got in yesterday and shat all over the mat by the French door. (No, our cats don’t - they’re well trained)

Today has been great so far too, and it’s only 8.50. I got up and John had done the kitchen last night. It is his job, but he usually leaves it til the morning. Then I picked an apple in the garden for our muesli. The pips are still a bit white, but the apples are delicious. Crisp and crunchy if that’s not tautology.

Surfed the net to see what’s new, had a shower and planned the day. Only before I get stuck in I thought I’d procrastinate on here.

There are some really wonderful blogs out there. I’ve just read one with beautiful thoughts on scripture and faith. It was just a blog from someone in the OU, but I was impressed. Unfortunately, she hasn’t maintained it for over a year, so I decided not to bookmark it. If I find it again I might.

This blog is just my daily doings - a sort of diary. I’d like to write a more erudite blog, especially one on spirituality, but it would have to be anonymous, as my thoughts are deeply personal and not for the world. I’m thinking of getting a new anonymous email address and starting a blog with no breadcrumb trails to anything else I do.  But could I keep up these deep and original insights? Probably not. I suppose the only way to find out is to try!

Today - wash the guest room sheets in preparation for family next week. (Unwashed since Don and Chris stayed) It’s not the washing that bothers me, but they’re plain pale cream and need ironing. (I don’t iron or own sheets. Life’s too short.)

Then I think I’ll write a piece for Creative Writing (adult education) next Friday, and prepare a contents page for my file. If I do that it’ll be a first for organisation.

Our four (littlish) lawns need mowing and it might be dry enough today.

Tonight it’s our Viewfinders Social Night at The Barn, Walkington. We have a quiz and presentation of certificates for last week’s prizewinners. Did I mention I got joint third for the photographers’ choice and the public’s choice I did? Oh.

That’s plenty of time left over. Might go to the library, might cycle with John. Will probably read. Could well fiddle around with the websites I maintain.

But if I don’t get off here, nothing will be done. Bye all.

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21/03/2009 by Aileen.

We’ve been cycling since Sunday (No, not non-stop silly) and I’m really pleased. The most we’ve done is 3 miles, so it’s not exactly triathlon status, but it’s been good. Yesterday we only did 2 miles, but it was up on bridge over M62 and WAS IT STEEP! Yes it was! John said it’s the most out of breath he’s been since last being able to walk in 1961.

It’s a lovely spring day, but I was annoyed as I left my two fuschia pots outside last night and there was a frost. Hope they’re okay. So far I’ve sown sweet peas, runner beans, mange tout, courgettes and peppers. Hope they take. (Obviously)

Yesterday  I cut Front Lawn and Top Lawn as I like to call them. Today I might cut the Wild Flower Meadow and the Cherry Orchard. (The two bits of grass down the bottom of the garden. It’s actually one plum tree on the left bit, but cherry sounds more romantic to me.

Titiana has been writing in my SL blog, so she’s becoming quite an upstart. You might want to read it here -

http://titihaystack.wordpress.com/

Anyway, I mustn’t waste this beautiful day. Nearly 9.30 am. Been up since before 6am and done a lot, but so many lovely options ahead of me.Bye.

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20/02/2009 by Aileen.

I haven’t posted since Monday. What have I been thinking of! One thing, I started another blog. Well, not me exactly, Titiana, my Second Life avatar. All you avid followers who want to read it will find it at

http://titihaystack.wordpress.com/

On Wednesday I went to Normanby Hall with my fellow birders. Saw my first nuthatch for more than five years. We also saw the G.S. Woodpecker and the Green Woodpecker. Snowdrops everywhere.

 There were also red deer and fallow deer at the Hall. We only saw the fallow deer in the distance, so no photos. I took several photos of the red deer when they were being fed (sugar beet) but it was such a dark day I had to use something like 1200 iso and the photos are very grainy. Here’s the only one I have changed from raw to jpeg.

I spent yesterday working on a sonnet for my TMA which is due in next week, and today I am going to spend the afternoon gardening. I bought a new bird table this morning as the one on the top lawn was knackered. Its been up an hou, and the birds aren’t biting yet!

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05/12/2008 by Aileen.

…and what have I done with the time. Well, I haven’t been posting here, and I haven’t been working on secret website. I cancelled church cleaning on Tuesday cos of the ice, but had to do it on Thursday. Didn’t go to Slimming World on Wed as I skidded on our road coming back from the dentist with John an hour earlier.

However, I did go birding on Wed morning, along the Humber estuary, and we saw black-tailed godwits, bar-tailed godwits, turnstones, curlews, hundreds of golden plovers and other wonderful winged things. (No Christmas angels though)

Creative Writing this morning was good fun as we played consequences and another game I can’t be a*sed to explain. I wasn’t there last week because of my endoscopy, but enjoyed hearing everyone’s triolets. Must have a go myself.

On Second Life ………….. I’ve been very busy. I’m the wicked stepmother in our virtual pantomime. That doesn’t take up too much time, but I had completely forgotten that there is an art exhibition coming up, and I got involved in it this week. I’ve been busy building my display area from scratch, and been thinking about a theme. I have a theme for one room but it’s a surprise for everyone so can’t mention it here. Just need to think of something else for the rest of my space. Designing the space takes time as it means meticulous measuring and the use of coordinates.  I’m a really careless person by nature, so, like my website design course, I find it a real challenge. I’m as happy as a sandboy though (whatever that means)

Kev and Mag coming for the weekend. That should be good. And I’m hoping to stay with them next Tuesday evening, as I have a reunion of the colleagues I worked with for about twelve years in the 70s/80s.

Will post a picture of our garden in snow in a minute when I upload photo.

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12/11/2008 by Aileen.

I spent a lovely morning pottering, when there was a ring on the bell. It was Martin. Lovely surprise. He and his business partner had driven up to Scunthorpe for an auction (via Doncaster for a racing bike!) and it was a really flying visit. Nice though.

The evening spoilt it. There was an atmosphere at the Scripture Group I go to as one of the members was in a foul mood. She is such a rude woman. Oops. I’d better write about it in my secret blog. This is my ‘face for the world’ blog. (That’ll keep ya guessing!)

Brilliant morning today. (Birding) We saw many waxwings at one location in Hull, then went to East Park where we saw other wingy things.

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11/11/2008 by Aileen.

Well, I’m so pleased with yesterdy. I meditated twice, dealt straight away with post, dusted and hoovered everywhere á la my version on Flylady   (www.flylady.net), trimmed lavender, went for brisk 20 minute walk, and tried to arrange to do church cleaning but Sheila did it last week as it seems the date was wrong in the newsletter. I also read a lot of Stark (Ben Elton) and did the first two exercises of week 6 in my A215 course.

Why I’m ashamed is that I have been reading some really good blogs. Becky Phillips’ one for example.

http://becksathome.blogspot.com/

Really deep and she comes across as so intelligent. Right, this is only a sort of daily diary, and I deliberately don’t put anything too personal on it - and being an introvert I think an awful lot of my ’stuff’ is too personal. One definition of an introvert is that they hide what they think is their ‘best’ stuff.

I have another website, which is coming along nicely. I’m keeping it anonymous as there will be some of my religious poems on it. It has the facility for a blog, but as I’m doing the site from scratch (not using templates) I’m not sure how to go about it yet. It’s one big learning curve and I love it.

Anyway, today - more gardening, making a chicken curry with Sunday’s leftovers, Scripture tonight (after a three months absense) and as it’s nice I might have a leisurely stroll round the ponds with my camera. I noticed lots of beautiful leaves and interesting fungi on my walk yesterday.

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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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