One to go!

On 24th I wrote here that things come in threes. 

Connie (bless her) repaired the grandfather clock (the hour hand had fallen off - and Connie found the pin in the inside base!). Then a man came and repaired the stairlift - so I can ow wizz up and down with heavy loads and sometimes just because I am tired. 

But the printer is still not working. A new ink system arrived and was fitted by Nicholas, but the machine still does not work so I need a new machine which I will order on Monday. I feel like a man without an arm without my printer and need to get working on Christmas cards for the 

Christmas Market at St. Peter's. 

Never mind. Worse things happen at sea, as my Old Mum used to say. I have good health, food, a warm home and good friends with a wonderful family.

Ready for winter

Church-sitting this morning, when a chap rode his bike from Charter Avenue and was pleased to find the church open to visitors. I gave him a quick tour then chatted to the lady and gentleman tending the Canadian Jewish airman's grave from the First World War. And a few minutes with to Kristy and Jenefer in the new garden. Home for lunch.

The front porch has been great throughout the summer with spider plants spawning like there was no tomorrow. But earlier this week I realised something had to be done for spiders had taken up residence (and I guess that's why they are called spider plants). The plants were looking more than a little tired. At 2pm I started work - clearing the old plants and polishing windows and shelves. I had some baby spider plants starting growing in the greenhouse in Vermiculite, so they came into the porch together with just two of the original spider plants. Then the Amaryllis in the water jar which I planted up a week or so ago - in good time for Christmas flowering - was moved from the dining room to the porch. But there were spaces that needed filling.

B & Q are good for plants but you have to search out the lively ones. Home with some bright reds, mauves and greens, re-potting in the greenhouse and all was done and dusted at 6.30pm.

I think it will be two boiled eggs for supper this evening and a shower - and an early night.

Barkingside Eco Fest

Just back from the Barkingside Eco Fest - a community celebration of the environment - at Ken Aston Square in Barkingside. Met Debbie and lots of friends who are involved in recycling and the environment in the Borough. Here are some shots:

(1) Alan Howe of Barkingside 21 with Habiba Ahmed, Organiser of the event, and Rose Lee, a volunteer.

(2) Francis Castro, Hainault Forest Project Manager, with Julia Coulson, Senior Nature Conservation Ranger.

(3) and (4) Debbie Lee, Redbridge Recycling Liaison Officer, who dressed at the Litter Detective, accosting passers-by to ask them if they had dropped litter that day. Debbie is seen here with Cecelia Rufus of Redbridge Equalities and Community Council - whop had not dropped any litter!

A journey from Derby to the Costa del Azahar!

Yesterday I learned about the range of butterflies in the British Isles and discovered that Derby has a Silk Mill. I also improved my knowledge of the main attractions offered to those who visit Portugal, the Channel Islands, Whitley Bay and the Costa del Azahar (wherever that is!). And all whilst stood standing at the ironing board in my kitchen. For these facts were displayed in full  - and often vibrant - colour on a range of tea towels that were under my iron.

Let me make one thing abundantly clear at the outset of this minor outburst. Whether or not you iron your tea towels is a matter for you and you alone. It is of no concern whatsoever to me. Honest! Further and what’s more, I will not tell a soul if you do not iron your tea towels. Your secret is safe with me.

This past weekend I was on the St. Peter's Church Tea Towel Rota. As someone commented, I had drawn the short straw as tea towels were in action on Saturday at the New Garden Workers’ Lunch and the Sarah-Jane Lewis Concert (where refreshments were served in the interval), and again on Sunday at the Harvest Lunch. But I did not mind in the least for it is an honour to be a member of the select band of ladies and gentlemen who wash the tea towels - and towels, too, in case you were wondering. 

Now do not mention this in the hearing of my family, but on my return home late on Sunday afternoon, I popped the tea towels and towels into the washing machine and even dried them on the outdoor washing line - all on a Sunday! And later I ironed them too - but not the towels which are still not dry, hanging limply on the line in the garden on a grey Monday.

And all the facts mentioned in the first paragraph were revealed to me as I ironed away the twenty tea towels, now washed with Glowhite (what else!).

Happy days indeed!

Threes

I have heard it said that things come in threes. True!

First the minute hand dropped off the grandfather clock - a family heirloom dating back some 200 years. Connie is calling tomorrow to fix it.

Then the switch controlling the chair lift snapped - and I will have to wait till I can be here all day for the engineer to call - looks like Thursday.

Finally, the printer is playing up. I am advised that I need a new ink unit and if that fails, a new printer.

I tried to discuss all this with Socks but he was off mousing.

More of Norway!

I found some more photographs from my visit to Richard and Stine's home on then there side of the fjord from Oslo. These were all taken at their lovely home - showing the rock garden, the raised beds ready front year's planting and the wonderful skies over Oslo. I say 'found' but I never really lost them - it's just that I have been a bit busy since returning home with the sad story of the gravel and other things! Enjoy - as I did!

A tale of Ilford

I am back from  shopping in Ilford. But I must tell you what happened!

First I went to Boots the Chemist to stock up on Berocca, the food supplement and energy release tablets which also improve mental performance - and I need a lot of that!  Richard, my youngest son, recommended these to me so I have one every morning - for I always do what Richard tells me. But I wait till they are three for the price of two, which they were today. I also put a box of Vitamin D tablets in the basket - a lady who knows told me that I need to take these now that I am 84 as they will help my bones - and, again, I always do what this lady tells me for she knows, you know!    

At the pay desk the lady told me that I could have another Berocca and one more Vitamin D - for the same price! Thus Berocca was four for the price of two and Vitamin D two for the price of one. How about that! So back I went and returned to the desk with my additional stuff. As the lady at the desk had been so kind, I told her I was 84 - and she stood standing there in amazement. In fact so amazed was she that she called another lady over so that they could both have a good look at this old chap who owes it all to Berocca and Vitamin D.

Spotting that there were some fruit bargains outside, I bought some grapes and peaches - all to be cut up, boxed and frozen later today - and then went in to Lidl for their Chicken Kiev, some butter (to make apple crumble for freezing) and a freshly baked baguette for my lunch. Here I was accosted by a tall man who knew my name. “I am Gareth,” he told me. “You featured on my DVD when the fruit shop on Ilford Broadway was threatened with closure.” And indeed I did! “I came to your home with a copy of the DVD,” said Gareth and then  asked how I was - and I told him. He too stood in awe and amazement at my age and how fit I look - which was all a bit embarrassing as I stood standing there in the middle of Lidl with ladies and gentlemen rushing  y with the bar gains. The DVD incident was some eight years ago he told me. We could have chatted all day - but life has to move on so I bade him farewell. 

Off to Poundland (A Mars a Day Helps you work rest and play), then to the Bank and Wilko - the latter for Treats for Socks as Shirley gave him a month’s supply in a week while I was in Norway for she spoils my cat something dreadful. 

And here I am back home - but I had to tell someone so now you know. Have a good day!

Relaxing in Norway

Back from a week with my youngest son, Richard, and his lovely Norwegian wife, Stine, in their beautiful home across the fjord from Oslo. As both were working, I spent a relaxing week in and about their home. I read two complete books - including one that has been on my mind to read for almost a year but needed the space to take it in small bites as it was hard going at times.

I took my camera - but left the disc at home that takes 500 shots! So I will only publish just these three. The first shows the lane leading to their home with Oslo in the far background; the second is the area of decking outside their front door and the last is the view of Oslo in the background. The house is a marvel - all designed by Richard who did much of the hard work himself. The weather was very mixed - brilliant sunshine one moment then lashing rain.

I am a little nervous in a country where I do not speak the language, so I only ventured out alone twice. First I went to the shopping mall, travelling by bus. I made some purchases successfully.

On my last day I went by bus and ferry to Oslo, spending the afternoon around the Town Hall and waterside. I love the gardens near the Town Hall. On one of our first visits, Yvonne and I picked French Marigold seed heads which I dried. We had the flowering plants for a number of summers afterwards! I picked three heads on Friday and have dried the seeds at home - I will plant them up in the spring as a reminder of Norway.

Richard and Stine met me in the late afternoon. We had dinner at a new fish restaurant near the ferry terminal - delicious!

One evening Richard and I walked to the water's edge, sitting by the changing huts where he goes swimming all year round - breaking the ice if need be. Brave lad! Heavy rain had filled some of the rowing boats with water and men were bailing them out. The view across the fjord to Oslo is breathtakingly beautiful.

On my return Richard came with me to the airport. The board stated that my flight to London Stansted would be from Area F so off I trotted. On arrival the board told me to go to gate F23 where there was a long queue which I joined. On reaching the check-in desk the lady asked me if I really wanted to go toe Dubai - for that was where the flight would take me. My flight would not board for an hour!

I duly lined up again and was checked in to gate F23 where I sat waiting - only to be told that there was a gate change to F14.

Heather very kindly took me to Stansted and met me on my return. A kind daughter indeed!

A good relaxing time - I look forward to my next visit!

Return visit

On Tuesday I went to the matinee at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre. I promised myself a return visit when I was last there but that was some 30 years ago! 

But I got there finally . . .

'Jesus Christ Superstar' first hit the boards at the Palace Theatre in 1972. I recall that we went as a family at Christmas. This performance was in modern dress in part and traditional dress in other parts - a mix that worked. I had forgotten quite how moving and intense the final scenes are. I came away shattered but with a sense that I had seen and heard something memorable. The players were magnificent.

To Borough Market - where else!

I went to Borough Market last Wednesday for three reasons. First, to buy some fruit from the Kent Farm stall (the Discovery apples are delicious and taste like the ones my dad grew in our garden back home!). Second, to buy a set of the postcards by Rosie Brooks in aid of the Market Trader Support Fund and thirdly to see the new drinking water fountains. These have been installed to encourage visitors to fill up plastic bottles with fresh water rather than throw the plastic bottle away and buy a new one. Soon Borough will produce their own reusable plastic bottle for this purpose - and I will buy one or two of these as gifts for folk who I know take water with them. And I bought a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie from Mrs KIng for my dinner on two evenings - but Mrs King does not like me taking her photograph so for once I did not do so!