27/06/2008 by Aileen.

I don’t seem to be able to upload photos any more. Need to find it if the problem is at my end or with the webmaster (if that’s the term for 1 & 1)

Anyway, I’ve spent 2 hours on the web and it’s now 8.20 am. Am actually in the mood for shopping so am going in to Hedon to collect replacement coffee machine (no Creative Writing as it’s the hols) then back to Hull for a much needed haircut. As I’ve lost over a stone since January I might treat myself to something to wear.

I also need to drop off LOTS of packaging at the rubbish dump as we got a new tv and tv table yesterday. It’s like being at the cinema as it has a 40″ screen. I notice all sorts of details that I didn’t previously. Like a toast rack on a table. Camera work also seems more obvious - which sounds bad, but what I mean is I am appreciating the depth of field that the cameramen (persons!!!) are using. I can see their skill. One bad thing - every little blemish on someone’s skin also shows up.

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19/06/2008 by Aileen.

I’ve been really reluctant to write lately. Don’t know why.

Had a good day last Friday when I met my creative writing colleagues at Burton Agnes. It was raining so we spent a long time over coffee when we met at 11am, then dispersed to look round the house. It’s a lovely size to look around. Quite often I feel weak and sick looking round castles etc. and need to sit down or go out into the fresh air. This place was fascinating and had some wonderful furniture, artefacts and paintings. We met for lunch at 1pm and after that the sun came out, so I spent ages snapping the gardens and going for a walk in the woods. A couple of the photos are on my website.

Sunday was sad, as Éamonn announced that he was leaving the parish for another one. The priest from the next parish is taking our one under his mantle. Will have to write about this in my secret blog!

On Tuesday evening I went to the talk on the sacraments by Fr Michael. Really good. I am going to buy a book/books by Huebsch when I have googled him and seen what he has written. (Fr Michael gave us a handout which was simple and profound at the same time - and in modern language.)

Birding on Wednesday was quite good. Saw lots of waders. I prefer little woodland birds, but the avocets are lovely. We saw a swan carrying cygnets on her back. Norma came back for lunch and brought some delcious homemade chocolate biscuits. I had ONE after Slimming World and John’s nearly scoffed the lot.I lost half a pound, which was disappointing as I put on the same amount last week. My fault for eating every scrap of the pork crackling on Sunday (plus fish and chips one day and some alcohol a couple of nights.)

As all the hard copy photos are now sorted I have been sorting and tagging (and deleting) my digital collection. Must add some to my web (and label the family according to Norma.)

Well, that’s a very uninspiring post, maybe they all are. But it’s a good record of my life for future years. I have written (much more searching) journals, but cannot read my writing. Let’s hope the kids can’t when I’m dead and gone.

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11/06/2008 by Aileen.

This week’s been panning out wonderfully. Monday was really hot, and I can’t remember too much about it. Tried to sit out in the garden for a bit but it was too hot. Did housework and gardening I think.

In the evening we (photographers’ club) went to Garten-on-the-Wold to a Norman church. Every surface was decorated. The only church I’ve seen that is more highly decorated is St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. And that’s the truth! It was a beautiful evening, and we snapped gravestones and inside the church. Will add them to my main website.

We then went to the villlage pub, which was an experience and a half. It was tiny, and there was one punter when we arrived - two when we left. The landlord was so glad to see us, and kept reading us jokes from an enormous tome. His stock really needed replenishing. We kept asking for things (like coke) and he was out of stock. In the end we had to ask what he did have!

On Tuesday evening, I went to the Scripture group as usual, but forgot there was a special series of talks on the sacraments, by Fr. Michael. It was really inspiring, and I hope to attend all the course. Father’s talk reminded me of the inspiring stuff I heard nearly fifteen years ago when I did a diploma in pastoral theology. It made me homesick for the time when I was really involved with the church, and I had some influence in changing peoples’ attitudes to God, hopefully for the better. So many parents on the First Communion course said that they had not thought about religion since they left school, so obviously their thoughts hadn’t grown as they had matured. They were surprised that the Church had moved on and that their secret opinions were not too heretical after all!

Anyway, back to Father Michael. He spoke about our dignity, as sacraments (signs) of God. We are made in ‘his’ image. All creation mirrors his glory, but we, unlike the animals etc. can reflect on it all, and consciously give glory to God for it. It was so inspiring.

Oh oh, I can feel a poem coming on with word plays about reflecting and images.

Today I went to Flamborough with my birding group. We saw puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, gannets and others. More photos for the website when I get round to it.

In between my excursions I have been sorting photos. Most of them are in albums, but I do pull some out sometimes and don’t return them. For example, when I was looking for photos for Martin’s ‘This is Your Life’ book. We also have all Betty’s (John’s mum) photos to slot in. John is great at remembering dates, so between us we are gradually conquering the mountain.

Tomorrow is free, so we may go to Hornsea Freeport and buy Ali’s birthday present. Then have fish and chips in Hornsea. Friday should be fun. The creative writing group has finished for the summer, but we are meeting up at Burton Agnes (old house) for a wander, a coffee, some writing and lunch. (Not sure of the order)

The only bad thing so far this week (I’m talking personally, not of the wide world!!!) is that I put on half a pound this week. As I lost three pounds last week I can’t really complain. I also won the raffle there for two weeks running. Last week it was all the ingredients for a potatoe based pizza and very nice it was too. This week it was an assortment of ’slimming’ foods. All good stuff except the dried apricors which I dislike.

Night, night!

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04/06/2008 by Aileen.

Oh I do love my life so much. We had a wonderful morning’s birding, seeing turtle doves and many little passerines. Also a few butterflies. It was really warm. I love the sun beating on my face/back.

Against my principles I went to Tescos on the way home and stocked up on odds and ends. Some things I just can’t get locally.

J and I spent time on the garden in the afternoon. I planted 6 tomatoes and 2 peppers and finally planted up 2 hanging baskets. John cleaned the patio which gets filthy with the ducks.

Then at Slimming World I found I lost 3lbs (although it only counteracts the 2 and a half pounds I put on last week.)

It is a ‘balmy’ evening. We have just come in from the garden and have the french windows open. Telly’s just gone on as J likes The Bill. I’m happy to write my blog and surf the web.

I can’t remember if I said, but I started a secret blog. I’ve written about someone I had ‘issues’ with in my last parish. I felt bad writing negative things about a church community, as it is a bad advert for religion, but not many people will stumble upon it. It will be interesting to compare the two blogs eventually, and see my dark side next to my persona. ‘Will the real Aileen please stand up!’

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29/05/2008 by Aileen.

I had a really restless night - the collywobbles. I woke at 2am thinking it was the morning and I found I had the whole night to get through. I slept on the sitting room floor as I can toss and turn there. Also, John had the light and radio on (as usual) as he had a lot of pain (as usual.)
I got up about 8am only to fall asleep again on the settee, and eventually went back to bed. I feel a bit better now, and am getting used to the idea that I’ve spent the day doing nothing. J is out at a meeting, so I have an evening on my own.

I feel like I did when I was a kid. All the time in the world and I can please myself with what I do. My mum was always accusing me of being lazy, as I always had my nose stuck in a book. Probably that’s why I’ve grown up feeling guilty if I ‘waste time.’ Anyway, I still feel a bit weak, so am enjoying the evening on my own. Haven’t eaten much. I tried a smoked salmon sarnie for lunch, but it was too rich so one of our cats was lucky.

I think I was ill as I have had so much food over the weekend, and it has caught up with me. We had two pub meals and the party barbecue, plus lots of nibbling and drink. And this is after dieting since January. I think my poor system just couldn’t cope.

And I put on 2 and a half pounds at Slimming World last night. In less than a week! Disgraceful.

I’m still a bit woozy so hope I’m back to normal tomorrow. Things to do. Places to go. (Not. But I like to have the option.)

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15/05/2008 by Aileen.

I can’t quite believe it, but last night before Slimming World I thought I might not have lost any weight, owing to two take-aways and a large roast during the week. So I got two pairs of light weight trousers - weighed them - and wore the pair that was all of 20 grams lighter. I needn’t have worried - I lost 1 and a half pounds.

My TMA is almost finished. I could send it off as it is, but I want to re-arrange it a bit, polish up the ending, and generally make it more elegant. I have about 200 words to play with, so I could just about add another point (if I could think of one that was definitely relevant.)

Lovely day today by the looks of it. John has probably been driving the neighbours mad by power washing our patios for the last couple of days. The bottom one hasn’t been touched since we moved here nearly five years ago, and the bit he’d done is looking lovely. I might take a photo of it while it’s only half done.

Although I want to get on with my essay and post it off I really need to go to the tip, get some readymix cement if there’s such a thing for sticking back a couple of bricks on a garden wall, and maybe get some tomato plants etc., if I finally decide it’s too late to grow from seed. Imight hedge my bets and do both. You can never have to many tomatoes. Or courgettes. Well maybe you can have too many courgettes. They grew like billio last year. Want to try peppers again, as they failed last year.

So stop rambling, Aileen, and load up the car with cardboard, etc. Oh no. I can hear John getting up. That means another coffee and another hour gone. So much for my good intentions.

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28/04/2008 by Aileen.

I have a lovely (ordinary) week ahead.Well that ’s if everything goes to plan. Who knows what’s ahead?

Anyway, it’s back to studying my OU Foundation course. I’ve built in time every day.

Monday - Housework, study, prepare tomorrow’s scripture, print pictures for photo club, photclub

Tuesday - Mass, church cleaning, study, gardening (?) Scripture session

Wednesay - Birding at Far Ings - will probably stay the day as it’s quite far, study, Slimming World, ‘blind’ man coming re new blinds.

Thursday is free so lots of gardening/studying, and prepare Creative Writing homework (the beginning of a play in the style of Harold Pinter!)

Friday - Creative Writing, Mass, study, prepare Children’s Liturgy.

John’s quite busy with counselling/supervision this week, and I’ve just remembered - he wants me to go to the doctors with him on Friday morning as the wheelchair spaces are usually taken, so I might be late or not go to Creative Writing. Bit annoyed, but he always accompanies me anywhere if I ask.

I forgot about Sat/Sun so here goes…

Saturday Visit to Leeds Art Gallery with my tutor group. Might psych myselfup to do some shopping as well

Sunday Mass with me doing Kids’ Liturgy. Eat, drink and be merry (And the same when I get home!)

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25/04/2008 by Aileen.

Two childish things this week - well the only two I’m going to report.

At Slimming World on Wednesday I was half a pound away from losing a stone (since Christmas). ‘Go and have a wee,’ said the weigher-inner. ‘I just have!’, I wailed. ‘Go and have another one - and take off your watch.’ Result - I lost the stone. So everyone clapped and I got a shiny silver sticker - just like the kids do at school.

Then, today at Creative writing I hadn’t done my ‘homework’ which was to write a terza rima poem á la Shelley’s Ode the the West Wind. So when Stella was talking about learning agreements I wrote the following - while trying to look interested in what she was saying.

I think I am a writer
‘Cos I’ve got writers’ block.
It really is a blighter.

Oh please don’t think to mock
This very sad condition.
I just stare at the clock.

If you’re in my position
You’ll know it’s very sad.
But there’s a strong tradition

Of poets - mostly mad -
Who find their Muses missing,
So I am really glad.

I don’t deserve a hissing.
I do deserve a kissing.

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13/03/2008 by Aileen.

A wonderfully empty day ahead that I can fill exactly as I like. Sun is shining and I lost half a pound at Slimming World last night. Not much but it is 9 and a half lbs in 9 weeks.

Will make some soup this morning. Will start studying Stauss’s Don Juan this afternoon as I’ve finished Medea. (Or she finished me more accurately)

Will do my creative writing homework this evening.

I might do some gardening, but am more likely to try de-cluttering my desk a lá Zen Habits…

http://unclutterer.com/2008/03/12/creating-a-minimalist-workspace/

Rest of the time will just disappear. Chatting with John, surfing web, generally being my disorganised self. I love being retired.

Yesterday was good. Birding wasn’t cancelled despite high winds and we saw quite a lot at Far Ings, Lincs. See Michael’s blog on

http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/

I was actually the first person to see the red throated diver, not Michael G., but I thought it was a pale greater crested grebe and didn’t say anything. My photos weren’t up to much either. Might take some garden photos today for my website.

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15/02/2008 by Aileen.

Brrr! John came home from the dentist yesterday and suggested we go for a cycle. Like a fool I said yes! It was FREEZING! Grrr!

Today we’re off to Beverley for lunch and maybe look round the Minster, as we’ve never been inside. John doesn’t know it yet but I’m bringing my tripod.

Maintaining my 3lbs loss this week is top priority. Tea instead of latte. Boiled spuds instead of chips, salad instead of (whatever delicious roasted veg. is on the menu) Wish I hadn’t had that scampi on Wednesday now!

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