09/09/2010 by Aileen.

Oh I was without the internet from Sunday, and most of Saturday, until Tuesday. It doesn’t sound a tragedy, but it was for me. I kept wanting to Google to find out what was going wrong. Virgin were no help. We don’t have their router and after a while fobbed me off and said I should buy their router to get their assistance. Martin was sure the router wasn’t broken, so I kept trying to reset it. Eventually, when I came to a certain option (click yes if ‘fixed IP address’, or cancel if not) I tried clicking cancel. Suddenly - online. Yay.

Back to the weekend. Don and Chris came up with daughter Charley, and they relieved me of my car, which I never use as I prefer John’s. We’re rarely out to different places at the same time, so a second car is unnecessary,

Anyway, They treated us to a slap-up meal at Skidby Mill House Restaurant, and we had a great time.

Birding started yesterday, and we saw lots of unusual waders, including Little Stint

.

 Today is going to be hectic, as I have to print and mount ten photos for our photo exhibition. (At Skidby again by coincidence) It’s already gone one and we haven’t eaten. I went to PC World to top up on printer ink and get some good paper. Then did a big shop at Morrisons.

I am committed to a science experiment with the OU in Second Life, but daren’t log in until my photos are done. They need to be set up tomorrow. I also need to make refreshments for the exhibition opening.

Then, on Saturday, my Children’s Literature course is open online, and we can see the questions we need to answer.

So after kicking my heels all August, things are beginning to happen. Come back August, all is forgiven!

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27/03/2010 by Aileen.

I planned a really productive Saturday, as you can see from the screen shot of my desktop….

However, the post has just been, and my new OU material has arrived. It’s ‘Design and the Web’ and promises to be a really enjoyable non-technical course. I just HAVE to look at the DVD now although the course doesn’t start until May.

Other news…

Dentist last Tuesday. Teeth were fine beforehand, but I’ve had a mild on and off toothache ever since. I went back to the dentist on Thursday, as I don’t want it flaring up over Easter, but the dentist couldn’t find anything wrong. Oh well. It does seem to be settling down.

Other health news. I discovered a lump! Me and my poor boobs. I went to the doctor, and she said it’s only small, and doesn’t seem anything serious, and as I have a checkup in Castle Hill in April I can leave it til then. If she makes a new appointment it might muddle up who sees me etc.

Good meal on Friday to ‘celebrate’ the end of term for Creative Writing. Nice to see old friends who have left the course owing to ill health.lots of travelling, and/or increased costs.

Looking forward to next week when all the family will be here, please God. First time we will number NINE, but I won’t have to cater forAlexander the Great.

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05/03/2010 by Aileen.

Whatever I do I always feel slightly guilty. Must be my Catholic upbringing. (Sorry, nuns)

Yesterday I meditated, cycled,  washed curtains. The house was clean and tidy. But I spent a lot of time on the computer and I think the balance was wrong. Right, I need to sort out new computer, and delete a lot of the rubbish I brought in to it from thebackup. I also decided to sortmy photos. Some had lost their tags for some reason. Anyway, I focus on what I didn’t do. Didn’t ‘help’ anyone, didn’t do any gardening. Well the list could go on and on obviously. I didn’t climb Everest, for instance.

Cycling was good yesterday. John came too. It was a lovely spring day.

Today I’ve deleted and tagged photos. (Not the same ones obviously) I’m down to 10,226 now.  I have some that go back to 2001 (before that was film camera) and they are all organsised. I’m working backwards and forwards, and I’ve got back to December 2009. There’re a hell of a lot in between.

Looking forward to staying with M,F and A this weekend. Well, Sunday to Tuesday.  I’m having my hair cut in a minute, ready for some glamourous granny photos with Alexander. I’m never in photos, but I intend to remedy that now.

No Creative Writingthis morning, as poor Stella is ill. That’s why I’m writing on here. Windows cleaned and net curtains back up, but still wondering what am I doing with my life!

Well, it’s not that bad. I’m really happy. But should I be doing more? Like pressing on with my kid’s book. Or gardening. Oh hell.

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03/03/2010 by Aileen.

Oh I don’t seem to be writing here much. I’ll have lots to say after the weekend, as we are staying with M,F and Alexander the Great. He’ll be 4 weeks old and I’m gonna take lots of photos.

In the meantime, talking of photos  - Viewfinders was good on Monday. We had a project called ‘Numbers’ and people  brought along their interpretations. I left it too late to do any, but was really impressed by the ones we saw. Jane had photo’ed her dad’s collection of miniature vases, David L had some wonderful closeups of weathered wood andrusty bolts on the beach. There were others equally good. The next project is ‘What is it?’ and I am determined to do it this time.

Took lots of photos this morning. We birders went to Normanby Hall in Lincolnshire, and saw woodpeckers and others. The most spectacular were the peacocks who were displaying. Snowdrops everywhere. No nuthatches though, which we were hoping to see. And just a distant view of a jay, when there were several last time we came.

John’s out at a Councilling meeting, so I’d better start the casserole.I thought he would like that when he gets home around 7pm.

I’ll just upload some photos, then say goodbye.

Oh I forgot. My laptop packed up last week. (One reason why I haven’t been on here much) and I got a new one on Saturday. Toshiba Satellite A 500-1GL. It has a smaller screen than my Vaio had, only 16″, but will be easier to transport when we’re away. Also, it has a better specification for the Intel bit (whatever that is) The Vaio was duo something, this one is i3. It has Windows 7 on, and I love it already.

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25/01/2010 by Aileen.

Is it really so long since I posted?

Wednesday  13th - had my followup to mammogram. Scan this time. Everything looks fine but I need another followup in three months.

Friday 15th - I rang Stella the previous night to say I might not be there. I was still coughing and hadn’t got into the swing of going out since the snow. However, I woke full of the joys of spring, and had a great time with the others. Such talent. Such a laugh.

16th/17th - Kev and Mag came to stay, as they were dropping Andy off at Uni. We had a good time. On the Saturday afternoon I had a tutorial at Sheffield. Useful, and I put faces to two more names. Sheffield is sooooo hilly!

17th - 22nd - John and I had a Course at St Beuno’s (former Jesuit seminary which puts on courses and retreats) on Myers-Briggs Personality Types, Prayer and Shadow. Sr Ann Morris was excellent.

It’s funny, I explained to people over and over again that I was the one originally interested in MBTI and other psychology stuff, but John got interested and followed it further, so he is now a counsellor. So we went for John’s professional development, but by no means was I a hanger-on. I’ve actually studied MBTI much more than he had. In the end, he got a lot out of it spiritually, which was an unexpected and blessed outcome. I also got loads out of it.

Saturday 23rd. Just remembered the previous night that I was going for a walk with my OU friends. We met at Pocklington, drove to Millington, and walked about 5 miles, ending back in The Gait Inn at Millington for a pub lunch. Scampi and chips. Nom, nom, nom. The uphill bits made so breathless I couldn’t talk, but I recovered quickly on the flat and downhill bits. Two of my companions are struggling with their MAs (for different reasons) and one is not enjoying her literature course.

Sunday 24th Church. Such a friendly bunch of people. Prepared two kids for their First Holy Communion. It’s so lovely teaching them as they’re lively and inquisitive and fun.

Today - back to my usual Monday optimism. Great plans for the week. I have a TMA due in on Friday. Also, Parish Dinner on Friday night. On Wednesday we’re going birding to Potteric Carr - always a special place. I haven’t seen the birding crowd since before Christmas, so it will be nice to get back.

I’ve been on the Wii-Fit for the last three days, and am taking exercise seriously. It’s such fun. (Is that a paradox or a groan comment?)

Last but not least - Fiona is still doing well. Not long now until little Angus is born. (No, he’s not going to be called Angus. That’s what John keeps calling him, and now Ali seems to be saying it. I remember John’s mother kept calling Ali ‘Mary’ for ages. I used to seethe. Luckily Fiona and John have a much better relationship than Betty and I did. The difference  is - Betty thought she would get her own way eventually. Also, I didn’t speak up, whereas Fiona is assertive enough to say if she wasn’t happy with the teasing.

Oh well. I decided at St Beuno’s that I’m spending too long on the Net, so I am cutting this time down drastically. I’ll post photos of the Welsh countryside and others later. Maybe tomorrow as I have Viewfinders tonight. We’re photographing ‘liquid.’

Bye all. Have a good week.

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26/11/2009 by Aileen.

I’m so sorry, everyone. My hotmail seems to have been hijacked, and everyone I know is getting spam purporting to come from me. I’ve changed my password and updated my anti-spam and anti’virus stuff, so hopefully you won’t get any more.

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23/10/2009 by Aileen.

I haven’t posted for a while. I’ve been busy with A363, trying to keep a week ahead. And I have. And I’ve even done most of the exercises. I had the beginnings of a story for the first TMA, but thought it had to be 3,500 words, and it’s only got to be 1,500. SO I’ve shelved that story. I’ll use it for my ECA - which I have finally discovered stands for End of Course Assignment (I think)

Ali, Eric and boys back from a good holiday. Martin and Fiona fine. Fiona is 24 weeks pregnant now, and is in a ‘low risk’ category. Praise the Lord.

Wet and windy here, and the weather isn’t much better. Michael cancelled birding on Wednesday, as we were going to Spurn, and if you look on a map of Britain you’ll see why. It’s the bit that sticks out by the Humber Estuary. You drive along this little track with the North Sea on one side and the Humber on the other. Great place, but then, I’ve only been there when it’s dry.

I’ve been working really hard on learning how to make a photo gallery using CSS. I’m nearly there.

Famine Supper at John Hall’s tonight. Hope it’s tasty. Oh no, that’s not the idea.

See ya.

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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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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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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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