01/01/2010 by Aileen.

Don’t feel like writing, but I just had to do that binary header!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL.

Lazy few days since coming home. It’s been really icy. I tried to go to the shops on Monday, but the canal side was treacherous, so we made do with what we had in. I intended walking to the Doctors for my tablets - 2 miles away - but as I had spares in I left it.

Tuesday, tried again. Different shoes. I got as far as next door, but was sliding all over the place, so gave up.

Wednesday. Took car as I felt safer in that, and did a shop.

Thursday. (New Year’s Eve) We heard Fiona is doing well. She looked and sounded very perky on Skype. 36 weeks pregnant now. She won’t be allowed to go over 40 weeks cos of her age. Martin Junior’s head is in place, but he’s not ’settled’ yet. Don’t know what they’re going to call him. John keeps calling him Angus!!!

Up in Scotland, Kieran broke a snooker cue so had to sit on the naughty step. Ali said for two hours, but I doubt very much if she or Kieran could sustain that.

Today, I overslept, due to a lovely meal and wine, and would have been very late for Mass, but remembered there was an 11am one in Goole, ten miles away. I really wanted to start the New Year well by going to Mass, so I’m glad I made the effort.

Unfortunately, the rest of the day (it’s gone 5 pm now) has been just lazing about. I made a top in Photoshop for Second Life. Will post a piccy when I get round to it.) Think I’ll read a photo magazine so I can  get rid of it. It is a bank holiday after all.

No New Year’s resolution to talk of. Basically I’d like to lose weight by exercising, not dieting. John and I bought a Wii between us for Christmas, but John got it and it’s the Sport one, not the Fit one. Think we buy the Fit component separately.

I did a bit of the Sport programme and have a fitness age of 61. I’m 65 but that’s digraceful. Must have a go soon, and improve on it.

I like to have a sort of motto/mission statement each year, and think this year it will be ‘Just Love.’ This will mean two things.

a)Just simply get on with doing the loving thing

b) the loving thing has to be ‘just’ - connotations of the Third World etc.

I think a long version would be the quote

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. …

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28/12/2009 by Aileen.

Wed 23rd

Snow everywhere. Bought a chicken at the butcher’s in case we couldn’t get away. Fiona had checkup at hospital. The OU had theirsecond pantomime on Second Life, and it was really good. I was supposed to be in it, but there was a mix-up and didn’t have a part.

Thurs 24th

Fiona didn’t hear from the hospital, so all is well. We decided to drive to Scotland. No holdups, and worst bit was on Pennines towards Manchester. (Decided to go the long way and stick to motorways) Hotel wasn’t expecting us, but there was room anyway (unlike Mary and Joseph) Had a great time at Ali’s all evening. Lorraine and Claire came, and we had a wonderful selection of homemade food.I had terrrible acid all night with my throat burning me. Had to sleep sitting up. Took an extra tablet.

Fri25th

Woke at 9.20 after hardly sleeping a wink, so rang Ali and said I couldn’t go to Mass - which started at 9.30. She said it was 10 so I rushed, but when we got to the church there was no one in sight (carpark is round the back, but there was no visible activity, so she drove to St Mirin’s Cathedral and we got there as the first hymn started. We also left as the last hymn started! Ali was annoyed as it was meant to be a children’s mass and they sang Adeste Fideles (yes, the Latin version) I think she was wrong about it’s being a children’s mass. It wasn’t a Sunday, and they probably had different arrangments for Christmas, probably with a children’s Vigil Mass.

Anyway, back to the house where we opened the pressies,  ate, drank and were merry. Eric did the cooking and it was super.White Christmas! Good job John brought his cycle attachment, as the roads were icy. We left the car at the hotel each day, and just pushed over the road and round the corner to and from Ali’s.

Sat 26th

Got up late, pushed round to Ali’s, had fun again. After lunch Ali’s phone rang and I answered. It was Martin, ringing to say he was in Edinburgh and was on his way, but keep it a surprise. (He and Fiona had spent Christmas Day with her parents)

Poor Martin arrived much later. Plane was lating taking off from Heathrow, and missed it’s slot. Then it couldn’t land at Glasgow as bad weather had shut it, and was diverted to Edinbough, then Glasgow was reopened, so he eventually arrived. He said it would have been quicker to drive. Anyway, everyone was so pleased and surprised. We chatted, watched telly and played games.

Sunday 27th

John and I set off for home at 11am. Not as icy as before, and we were home in about 6 hours. (Stopped for Burger) So lovely to be home.

Monday 28th.

Here I am, back to my familiar routine. Only house doesn’t need cleaning as I did it before we left. I was a disgusting 11st 4 this morning, so I’m going to start exercising in earnest. For starters I’m going to walk to the doctors for my tablets today. It’s about 2 miles away. I don’t intend dieting - just going to eat less fattening things. Partly, it’s cos I want to cook more. Ali just throws things together and makes wonderful concoctions (doesn’t get it from me!) but I’ve decided I would like to have more varied food, so will make an effort. So. It’s exercise, exercise, exercise.

John and I got a Wii between us for Christmas, so this will be a start. Only nuisance is - John got it, and it’s Wii Sports, and I think it should have been Wii Fit. He says we can add Wii Fit to the basic kit. In the meantime - it’s walking and arerobic DVDs.

Anyway, have a good week, everyone. Here are a few photos from Christmas Day.

Ali through the hatch

Liam

Kieran

Brothers

Ali’s homemade cup!

Aftermath!

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12/10/2009 by Aileen.

It’s Monday, so it must be housework. And Viewfinders. And lots of plans for the week ahead.

First, on Saturday we had a really good Day School for the OU. Nice people. I surprised John by managing to pay in a cheque to the PO, get the paper, and get the outstanding wall lights from Argos.

Sunday, I ‘did’ the children’s liturgy, and had to do a fair bit of shopping in the Coop on the way home, as I’d forgotten I was out all day Saturday. In the late afternoon I just had to get some fresh air. John wouldn’t come out, so I went for a walk. J said, yes, safer than cycling as it was windy, but I fell down a rabbit hole on the way home. I didn’t end up in Wonderland, so no ideas for a story.

Anyway, tonight at Viewfinders we are going to Hull Fair. That’s not the kind of photography I usually do, so it should be fun. Hope the weather stays fine.

And today, I’m starting A363, Creative Writing, in earnest. I have a plot for my first assignment. I just need to transform it into a concrete story.

And as I was 11stone 2  this morning, I am also going to cut out biscuits and exercise more.

And…. and….. and…..

Oh I love Mondays.

BTW Fiona is over half way through with her pregnancy. Yay!

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08/10/2009 by Aileen.

All went well at the Breast Clinic yesterday. So glad I didn’t ask to go to Royal Marsden, Carshalton, where I was operated on before. The Castle Hill section is friendly and efficient, and SOOOOO much nearer. Anyway, nothing suspicious, the bleeding is probably due to the car accident. I’m gonig back in three months as a precaution.

I wasn’t going to put in a claim after the accident, as I’m glad to be alive, and don’t believe in the litigation culture we live in. However, I was stiff and in pain for three weeks after the accident, and I had that funny turn a week later when the doctor gave me an ECG, and I’ve been worried about my breast for nearly a fortnight now.

The shortness of breath that is being investigated is not to do with the accident. I’ve noticed it for months.

Anyway, slight setback with the decorating. Emil was so apologetic, but he’s had to go to Bulgaria on business, and will be away for a few days. He said he wouldn’t have started the room if he had known. We have another living room, but the TV point is in the out-of-action room. We don’t really miss TV, but John watched a video on his Mac last night. I’m working hard on the websites I maintain. There’s a lot of history and pictures to put on to the church one.

I seem to have a lot of fiddly things to do at the moment, mostly on the computer.

Finish two Look assignments for Redemptorist publications

Produce an application form for First Communion parents in the parish

Polish up my Friday creative writing assignment

Produce a bit of work for the Day School on Saturday (tutor wants it tomorrow)

Prepare Children’s Liturgy for Sunday

I also want to produce a sort of job description for the children’s liturgy as we are getting two new helpers, and as one of the Safeguarding Officers I think we need this. Must check with Barbara.

And I have to go to Argos in Goole for lights. We (John) looked everywhere on the internet, and we’ve (both) looked round shops, but Argos has our favourites. Cheap too!

But I really must Carpe the Diem. I often miss photo opportunity because of my favourite word (banana manana). Yesterday it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and decided to wait until the evening, and go up on the Wolds for some sunset pictures. What happens? It clouds over.

I AM NOT GOING TO MISS AUTUMN TREE PICTURES THIS YEAR!

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20/08/2009 by Aileen.

Off to Hull this morning to sort out some Building Society stuff. Then we’re going on to York for lunch, as Hull doesn’t have a Pret a Manger! (No, we wanted to do York Designer Centre too)
I think John is finally getting back to normal after a year! He has seven clients on the go at the moment, and we went for a cycle ride last night.
He has an MRI scan on the 10th September, to see what treatment, if any, he still needs. He has a slight suspicion he still has an abscess, but is feeling fine. (Apart from his constant pain!)
I haven’t heard about my blood test, so assume it was normal. This means I have to have a Spyrometry (or something) test to see why I am so breathless.
Oh well. Onwards and Upwards.
Oh, I’ve been working on the church website. I can’t do that much as Paul still hasn’t given me the details, but what I have done is on here
www.sacredheartstjoseph.org.uk
It can only get better!

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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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06/07/2009 by Aileen.

6am on a lovely sunny Monday morning. We haven’t done much since the granchildren left. On Saturday I just got the sitting room back to normal so I could relax in it. Can’t relax surrounded by mess. I had a row with John as he was doing nowt to help. Right, he’s going back to 20 hour bed rest, but it’s what he doesn’t do in the four hours up that was getting to me. (At least, my projection of what he was going to not do, based on previous experience) When he’s done this before he spends the daylight hours in bed, and gets up for the telly in the evening. I thought this was a waste of his life (yes, I know it’s nothing to do with me) and had a row about how he was going to use the time usefully. Anyway, it’s sorted now

I always chill on a Sunday, being a day of rest. Great idea, God. I didn’t watch the tennis. Not interested.I mostly set up an opening page for a pretend new website. Well, there will be a website, but the template is already in place. What it is - our parish website hasn’t been updated for about ten months, when Father Neville arrived, and I eventually had to courage to approach the man who set it up and asked if he wanted help with it, or could I take it over. He is really busy and asked if I could take it over, so I am just waiting for the password so I can get into it and change it. Father Neville is quite happy about it.

I forgot that the site will have to be radically changed, as Fr Neville has two churches to look after, and  all their information will have to be available too. So quite a lot of work. But hey, it’s play!

The other church related thing is that Fr Neville has asked me to be one of the Child Protection Officers. Barbara is going to be the other one.

Anyway, back to today. Housework this morning. (John has to be up as he has a client) Maybe some gardening. Website ‘revision’ here and there. It’s frightening how much I have forgotten.

Viewfinders tonight. (Oh, and I think I’ll be doing a website for them too!) We’re going to a farm to photo two Alvis cars whatever they are.Ooh, I might get a good shot for my OU panel.

I’ve seen Trudie’s panel and her photos are really lovely. Very imaginative.

Well, breakfast nearly finished. Time to meditate, then Action Stations.

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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.

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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06/06/2009 by Aileen.

Well, I usually do a local shop, and the day sort of goes. Today I’m off to Everingham church with my local church. I don’t know much about it, except that it has wonderful architecture. Should get some good photos. I think it’s on private land, and it’s being opened up especially for us.

Other news - John’s drainage wound seems to be almost closed up, but as he says, we’ve been here before. Anyway, it does seem to be improving so all that bed rest is working. It’ll be so nice to get out together again. Yes, I know we went to Scotland last week, but it didn’t seem to do much harm.

Anyway, I’d better go and get ready. Barbara i s driving three of us there. I think there’s a mini coach going too.

Oh, I forgot. I’ve discovered a new way to make clothes in Second Life and it’s so addictive. You take a photo of a garment (from an online catalogue or somewhere) and shape it in Photoshop to fit some templates. It’s really cool. I’ll see if I can upload a piccy in a minute.

The other thing I don’t think I mentioned is that I have finished A215 - Creative Writing. It was a wonderful course and I’m going on to do Level 3.

 I didn’t make the hair or shoes. So I have a new target now.

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