20/05/2010 by Aileen.

I forgot to say I’ll miss David, but I suppose that goes without saying. At Creative Writing we sit in a square, and David always sat at the top right hand corner. He would grin slyly at everyone seeing inuendoes (clean usually) in everything. Well, like a family we have in-jokes. Women drivers, taxi drivers, Xanthia, all subjects of past writings.

I didn’t want to go to Creative Writing last week as I thought it would be so sad, but I needn’t have worried. Sheila, who always sat next to David and was a special friend of his, moved into his place, so we wouldn’t have to look at his empty seat.

There were a few absentees as well. Christine was at a funeral, and Jim had taken his wife for a hospital appointment. (See, we’re all old codgers) But Mary had brought her sister along for the morning as her sister was visiting from Surrey.

That’s what’s so nice about the group. It’s so open and friendly. John has been along. On Friday, Terry, who used to come but did’t rejoin this term as he was on a long cruise,  popped in to ask if anyone wanted a lift to the funeral. The week before Pauline, who doesn’t come any more as she is ill, managed to pop in an see us, and so did someone else, but I’m b***ed if I can remember who!

Next term we might have to relocate to the Adult Ed Centre, as they have a vacant room, but I can’t see it being as friendlya venue as the Methodist Hall.

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18/03/2010 by Aileen.

That’s the cats. Sugar and Spice have been ‘done’ with not too much hassle. Ellis is going today and, famous last words, she will be easy to catch. We’re a bit worried about her, as she is so thin under her fur, and she gets sick quite a lot, although perversely enough, she hasn’t lately. She’s fourteen.

Anyway, it’s a morning of gardening for me, vets in the afternoon, and then I’m doing a CRB form for someone who wants to do Chidlren’s Liturgy.

I’ve finished my OU TMA. 4 poems and a commentary. It’s not due in until Friday, so I am quite free today. Oh, I have to write a fantasy story for the writing group tomorrow.

My I Belong book is being revamped by Redemptorist Publications. New illustations. I hope they don’t change the text too much. I gave up all rights to it, so haven’t much say. I’ve asked if I can write an adult book to run alongside it, but I’ve suggested this before and told no, as I’m not ‘famous.’

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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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11/12/2009 by Aileen.

REGULAR READERS of RAMBLINGS will know that I spend Mondays wearing myself out with moppin, dusting and vacuuming. Well this Monday I made the Christmas cake, which was such a major production for me I didn’t do any housework. At Viewfinders we did close-ups with a Christmas theme, but I forgot my tripod so the photos are rubbish.

On Tuesday I went to Donna Nook for the day.

Wednesday - we had the excitement of the ‘break-in’ through our garden into Colin’s. I also made twenty Christmas cards and wrote a Pantomime scene for Creative Writing.

Thursday - by coincidence we had our annual security check first thing, and then a police officer called about the break-in. I managed to do a little housework.

Today, we should have fun at Creative Writing. We each have to write a scene for Cinderella, and will put it together this morning. We then have our Christmas lunch, so John is coming along. It’s usually good pub grub at The Nag’s Head in Preston. (Village near Hedon!!!)

Bye all. Off to shower.

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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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14/09/2009 by Aileen.

Can’t wait until 11am. We’ve done so much in the garden this weekend. Since John’s got his new painkillers there’s no stopping him. There’s a corner of the garden I haven’t named yet. It’s terraced, and a cul-de-sac. At the moment there’s a plastic plant pot at the end, but it’s crying out for a little statue or single seat. Anyway, it was covered in my friends, the nettles, so John cut them down, then I loosened the soil and he’s got the roots out. Unfortunately he can’t reach all of them, so he will either have to get out of the wheelchair or I will have to do it. And I’m not really strong enough as the soil is quite compacted.

However, I managed all four bits of grass. I hadn’t done the bottom bits since the accident, and the longer I left it, the worse it looked. In the end, it wasn’t too bad at all, but it all looks in really bad condition.

Anyway, while I was meditating this morning I had a great idea for a story. (Yes, I know this is a distraction, and I did try to dismiss it, but it kept coming back). It’s about a photographer woman who gets stranded by the tide and is rescued by a weirdo birder who rows her to the island he is living on for the summer. So she’s captive. Lots of logistics to work out, but I like it. Great chance for descriptions of island, plus character development. And suspense. Can’t wait.

Oh well, back to housework now. I need to go to the dump to get rid of yesterday’s weeds (too many for our two compost bins). John has two clients today, but we’re hoping to do some more gardening.

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06/08/2009 by Aileen.

It makes sense now. I got 71% for the story and 92% for continous assessment which brings my mark to 82%.

This is much nearer what I was expecting. Thought 71% was the overall and couldn’t understand it.

Hey, three marks off a distinction isn’t bad. The story was probably a bit too chick lit. I’m still a bit peeved at not getting a higher score for presentation though. Maybe I sent in a draft copy!

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06/08/2009 by Aileen.

A215 results were out today. I got 72% and a Grade 2 pass. It might sound daft, but I really thought I would do better than this. My five pieces of course work gained 88%   95%   94%   96%   95%

I don’t think it’s the sort course where you do worse on the exam, as the conditions for writing are just the same and we had ages to work on it. Of course there’s a different marker, and creative writing is so sbjective.

Looking at the breakdown of the marks I got ‘good’ (between 70% abnd 84%) on language, voice and ideas, but only a ‘clear pass’ (between 55% and 69%) for structure and presentation of the story, and the analysis and presentation of my commentary.

My presentation was spot on as you can’t go wrong with this. (the typefont, line spacing etc) and with four more marks I could have got a distinction. How could I not have got four more marks for presentation?

Actually, I think I might query this. I know it doesn’t really matter, but I find it puzzling that I didn’t do better.

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11/07/2009 by Aileen.

We’re off to the Swinton for a few days, to celebrate John’s 70th, but he is paying I should be rushing round tidying the house up for the neighbour, but no, here I am prevaricating. I’ve just made a thank you card too, for Jim, who lent me £20 yesterday when I found myself 20 miles from home with no money and very little petrol. This double dactyl (Google it!)  tells the story!

Heckety peckety

Aileen B Urquharty

Travelled to Hedon

Without any purse.

Gentleman Jiminy

Characteristic’lly

Came to her rescue

Before it got worse.

Anyway, must sort out house. Will have to leave the garden.Ironing and packing to be done. Hey it’s only a couple of hours away. I could come back each night to change!

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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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