Knock Knock...who's there.........Autumn!

Photo of the Day
Ronnie's field over the road from our house
taken 9th September 2007

The same field only yesterday!

Autumn Days

Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled
And the silk is in a chestnut shell
Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled
All these things I love so well
So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn’t forget.

Clouds that look like familiar faces
And winter’s moon with frosted rings
Smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces
And the milkman sings.
So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn’t forget.

Whipped-up spray that is rainbow-scattered
And a swallow curving in the sky
Shoes go comfy though they’re worn out and they’re battered
And the taste of apple pie.
So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn’t forget.

Scent of gardens when the rain’s been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked-up engine that’s been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team.
So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn’t forget.

Estelle White.

Living in a farming community, we are all aware of the seasons.
Over the past few weeks the sound of the tractors and combine harvesters travelling from field to field has brought autumn ever nearer, Autumn brings Harvest time.

When we have been out and about both on the bike and in the car the tractors travelling along the moor road carrying the bailes is also a clear indicator that the farmers are preparing for the change in seasons, and so must we.

This morning I feel colder. The warm clothes must be brought out and at some point the sleeveless T-shirts I love to wear about the house must be packed away in the wardrobe.

Only yesterday I found myself discussing Christmas with my MIL!
It is to be here, at our house. In fact, just a few seconds ago she called to say she has booked the taxi for Christmas day!

I must press on with my DIY, the stairs await!
Jon is making progress with the shed, again the roof is now sealed and we are waiting for the doors and windows.
Timing has been so spot on!

“Striving for success without hard work
is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted”

David Bly

A Day at the Races!

Photo of the Day
Scarborough Races Yesterday

Guy Martin, John McGuiness, Ian Lougher
All on Honda Fireblades!


GO!
I'm gonna wake you up early Cause I'm gonna take a ride with you
We're going down to the Honda shop I'll tell you what we're gonna do
Put on a ragged sweatshirt I'll take you anywhere you want me to
First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster
it's alright

It's not a big motorcycle
Just a groovy little motorbike
It's more fun that a barrel of monkeys
That two wheel bike
We'll ride on out of the town To any place I know you like

First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)
Faster it's alright

It climbs the hills like a Matchless
Cause my Honda's built really light
When I go into the turns Lean [Tilt] with me and hang on tight
I better turn on the lights So we can ride my Honda tonight

First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)
Faster it's alright
First gear (Honda Honda) it's alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster) Faster it's alright

The original release of "Little Honda" was in 1964 by the Hondells. That's the tune that hit the Billboard Top 40.

The Beach Boys "covered" the song later.

Shaun Muir, pictured below is team manager of the Hydrex Honda British Superbikes team.

He is also a great friend!
Yesterday we spent some time in the team Hospitality Suite at the Olivers Mount Circuit in Scarborough.

One of the riders was the fastest man at the TT Races, Isle of Man, John McGuiness!




We have a friend and neighbour who races too, Dave Woollams, (Wooly)






I captured him over the bends...




I was listening on the radio to stories of Lewis Hamilton having an argument with his team mate.

Bike Racing is quite different and the riders are very friendly towards each other, often helping out by lending tools and advice in the paddocks.


Here I captured John McGuiness chatting with Ian Lougher, both rivals in the racing world.




A while later here they are battling it out in one of the races.
Lougher is in the purple leathers and day-glow helmet.
Notice too how the coloured stripes on John's bike are the same as his team shirt!





Another of the Irish Racers, Ryan Farquer was there.
Here he was fixing a problem on his bike.




Later, on the first row of the grid! Always number 77!



The main race of the day was the Steve Henshaw Gold Cup!





Pole position was Guy Martin, Hydrex Honda's very own.
Surrounded by the team as the race takes gets on the way.




Experience the drama of the race start here....

The team watches on!

Results...
1st Guy Martin, setting a new lap record.
2nd. Ian Lougher,
3rd Ryan Farquer.


The cup is being presented by the Mayoress of Scarborough!

Now, would you get that close in Formula 1 Racing?
Would you get in the paddock and rub shoulders with the racers?

It's Friday, it's time for Fun!

Last Week's Caption Competition Winner

Chewy said...

Be careful Fido, that's Leonardo Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle you're messing with!

This Week's Photograph!

This is my favourite photograph of Wilma, she looks so calm!
As usual, leave your ideas in the comments section!

The weekend is here and we have an action packed schedule.
Lots to do and consequently lots to share so Watch this Space!

LOL!

D

Thursday

“Life ends when you stop dreaming,
hope ends when you stop believing,
love ends when you stop caring,
friendship ends when you stop sharing...
so share this with whom ever you consider a friend.”

People get these awards for being:

* clever,

* charming,

* fun,

* hilarious,

* ridiculous,

* entertaining,


Thanks Sue


I am posting this award here so all of you can cut and paste it onto your blogs.

ABC Wednesday!

H is for........

Hole of Horecum!

This photograph was taken only a few weeks ago on our way home. It is only about 10 minutes from our house. The timing is crucial as only a week later the heather started to fade and lost its vivid quality.

The Hole of Horcum is a vast, 400ft deep natural hollow measuring ¾ of a mile across.
It has been naturally eroded over thousands of years by the action of springs,
though a more romantic legend tells us that it was created when a giant named Wade,
who was in fact a Saxon chief, grabbed a 'handful' of earth to throw at his wife,
Bell - the soil missed its target and landed to form the 800ft high hill of Blakey Topping which lies about a mile to the east.

The purple moors are a wonderful sight and I never cease to be uplifted as we make our way over the area we both grew up in. It really is an awesome sight on the back of the motorbike. As the wind whistles through my helmet I ALWAYS think of my favourite poem by Alfred Noyes...
The Highwayman. I imagine I am on the back of the Highwayman's horse galloping over the purple moors.

As a teacher, this was one of the poems I adored to read aloud to my pupils and leapt with joy when it was included in the National Curriculum. Being the drama queen that I am I would really go to town with it and instill the atmosphere as I raced round the classroom to create the atmosphere. On one occasion when discussing the poem with the class we were talking about Tim, the Ostler boy who obviously loved Bess. One pupil pointed out that he may have stood a chance if he had smartened himself up, another pointed out that Bess had been badly treated as she had black eyes! LOL!

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding-
Riding-riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

II
He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

III
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

IV
And dark in the old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter,
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say-

V
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

VI
He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
(Oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the West.

Part Two
I
He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road was a gipsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching-
Marching-marching-
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

II
They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window;
And hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through the casement, the road that he would ride.

III
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
They bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her.
She heard the dead man say-
Look for me by moonlight;
Watch for me by moonlight;
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!

IV
She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till here fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like
years,
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

V
The tip of one finger touched it; she strove no more for the rest!
Up, she stood up to attention, with the barrel beneath her breast,
She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;
For the road lay bare in the moonlight;
Blank and bare in the moonlight;
And the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love's refrain.

VI
Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs
ringing clear;
Tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did
not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding!
The red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up strait and still!

VII
Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night
!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him-with her death.

VIII
He turned; he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
Not till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

IX
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat.

* * * * * *

X
And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding-
Riding-riding-
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

XI
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
And he taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred;
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

“I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea;

Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.
I never spoke with God, Nor visited in Heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot, As if a chart were given.”

Emily Dickinson 1830-1886)

9/11 remembering, that dreadful day!

Remembering is an act of resurrection,
each repetition a vital layer of mourning,
in memory of those we are sure to meet again.

~Nancy Cobb, in "In Lieu of Flowers"

Where were you when it happened?
I was with my class at the swimming baths.
We were waiting for the coach to take us back to school, so we were waiting in the reception area.
There was a TV showing 2h hour news.
It showed the planes flying into the Twin Towers.

One of my pupils asked me what was going on.
"I have no idea, but I am sure it will affect the rest of your life!"
was my reply!

A wish for you all!

"Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience;for Health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing we can't buy.

Izaac Walton 1593 - 1683


Some of you will know I had a routine mammagram not so long ago.
I was very apprehensive, for various reasons.

Being at the age I am I have had extensive tests carried out lately.....
as a result it was discovered my bone density is very good,
my blood pressure is low, excellent infact,
my cholesterol rating is 2.6. Excellent again.

I received a letter from my GP congratulating me on the results.

Having a slightly pessimistic streak in my nature I really thought there was a chance that something may show up on the mammagram.

Today I have my letter confirming I do not have breast cancer!

I am celebrating and wanted to share the joy with everybody.

Health is something we often take for granted.
Just think how different this post would have been if the outcome had been different?
But you would have held my hand and shared the moments.

I have designed this little picture, please take it and put it on your own blog and let's celebrate our Health and Happiness.

Denise

TOY STORY!

Photo of the Day
09.09.07.
Yesterday, in York!

As Buzz Lightyear would say...
"To Infinity and Beyond! LOL!

We saw Toy Story quite a while ago...
but I absolutely screamed out
when I was mentioned by name...yes...see here

As we were driving over to York on the motorbike I was thinking about what I would write about when I next updated my blog.
I figured I would call it Toy Story! Really!
Then, when I was reading David's blog I saw his title and just had to give it a go!

One of my toys, certainly remains in my memory!

Many of you know that my start in life was not the best.
I am writing my autobiography (
which you can read if you look in my profile and go to "The Amazing Adventures of Flossie Flupipe!)Consequently our many of the neighbours looked out for me as they were aware of our situation.
One lady in particular, Mrs Cripps ran regular jumble sales at the local church. Like so many other children I loved going to these events and on one occasion as I entered the church Mrs Cripps called me over. She had put to one side a baby doll for me. It was quite tall and dressed in shocking pink hand knitted clothes. Everything from a bonnet, jacket, leggings, booties, gloves. The full works! I was really awe-struck and thanked her with a profuse enthusiasm ( as I had been brought up ALWAYS to say Thank you!)
I ran home to show mum.
"I hope you said Thank you to Mrs Cripps Denise! " were her first words.
"I did mum!"
"Good! That was very kind of her you know!"
"I know mum!"

I went upstairs to my room with my new doll.
Being a typical 8 year old the first thing I did with my new doll was to undress her.
I took all her clothes off, but as I removed her bonnet I made a shocking discovery....the doll only had half a head! The back of her head had been stuffed with newspaper and concealed with the bonnet!

I could see all of the mechanisms which controlled her opening and closing eyes!
Being the inquisitive potential nurse I examined the intricate workings with a pencil!
As I poked about I heard a "snap" and part of the plastic structure snapped off!
I panicked and dressed the doll, taking pains to pack in the newspaper into her head.
I sat the doll on my dressing table and all was well......well to start with.
A few moments later, as I was looking at my doll one of the eyes rolled and looked directly at me! Can you believe it? Can you imagine the terror it struck in the heart of an unsuspecting 8 year old like myself?

The mechanism I had broken controlled one of the eyes of the doll!

from then on I was absolutely petrified of the doll.
I couldn't tell mum as she would have reminded me how kind Mrs Cripps had been and how ungrateful and thoughtless I had been to break such a lovely kind gesture!

So I was stuck with it!
I found a place for it where I could not see its face, at that age I felt it was looking at me, blaming me for breaking its eye! I wonder how it came to have half a head? Now there's a story!

Years ago I came across a book by Ian McKewan called "The Daydreamer" It was his first children's novel. It is about an 11 year old growing up! It is absolutely hilarious, I urge you to read it. One of the chapters is called "The Bad Doll!" It has me in fits of laughter as it is indeed my doll! Read a review here

A few weeks ago, when out walking with Wilma can you believe what I came across?
In a garden, somebody had used the doll's heads as cane protectors! YIKES! Back to haunt me!

A time to laugh,a time to think, a time to smile.

Last Week's Winning Caption Competition

Yup, his wifey and me have warned him about sleeping with with dogs
(I feel a fart coming on)..

Shrink Wrapped Scream


This Week's Competition



Please leave your answer, if you can think of anything, in the comments.


I thought long and hard about how I was going to deal with today, 7th September.
September 7th, Dad's birthday and the day mum died, 13 years ago.

Every year, from the first Sunday in September I think about the last few days of mum's life,
in the chronological order which the events all fitted together.

On that particular Sunday, Jon and I had gone to mum's for Sunday lunch.
As always after we had washed up I would take mum to the local supermarket for her weekly shop.

On returning to the car I helped mum into the passenger seat with my usual joke..
"Do you want a hand up love" I would say as I patted her bum when she was getting into the car.
She always laughed, and this day was no different.
But as she turned to look at me, laughing I was shocked to look and see how old and frail she seemed.
As I walked round to the driver's seat I had to fight back the tears and put on a brave face.

On our way home I shared what had happened with Jon.

That night I had the most vivid, graphic dream about mum's funeral.
I awoke distressed and upset.

The following day, Monday I went round to mums.
Had a cup of tea and a chat.

The following day, Tuesday was a teacher training day and after school I popped in to see mum. She told me she had not been feling well, chest pains.
I told her to make an appointment with the doctor.

Later that night she phoned to say she had made an appointment with the doctor,for the following day, Wednesday.
Jon was on early shift so he said he would take her.
We were laughing with mum, as she said people might think Jon was her toyboy!

At about 3am I awoke with a start.
Jon awoke too.
I told him I had a void in my soul....as simple and as graphic as that!

He told me I was worrying about mum and he would ask mum to come and live with us.
I said mum would be very touched by the thought, but she was independent and would prefer to stay at home.

What I said went something like this...
"We will have to accept it Jon that one day I will be teaching away at school and there will be a message from the office to say there is a phone call for me.
It will be Phyllis, mum's neighbour saying the curtains are closed.
I will go round and mum will have died."

I didn't sleep much after that.
The next day I went to school and Viv, the school caretaker asked how mum was.
I told her what I had told Jon , practically word for word.

And so the day started as normal.
Registration, assembly, teaching, I forget what now.

At breaktime I was just sending the class out when the school secretary came into my classroom to say there was a phone call for me.

I didn't give it a second thought, but as I was going into the office I asked Jan who it was on the phone,

"Phyllis" she replied.
My hand turned into lead and I could barely open the door, let alone pick up the receiver.

"Denise, your mum's curtains are still closed and it is 10.30."

I knew.

The headteacher, Christine said she would drive me to mum's, it was only a few miles from school.

When we arrived I let myself in and there was mum, she had died in her sleep on 7th September, on what would have been Dad's birthday.

A week later, at mum's funeral I chose this poem to be shared.



From Ye Wearie Wayfarer

Question not, but live and labour
Till yon goal be won,
Helping every feeble neighbour,
Seeking help from none.
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone.
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own.

Adam Lindsay Gordon.


We started the day today,
with breakfast at the kitchen table mum bought us when we moved here.
I cooked Jon a bacon, sausages and poached egg, with toast.
I had poached egg on toast.
I used to love mum's boiled egg and soldiers!
I used mum's lovely white table cloth,
the cutlery which we use everyday,
the cutlery which mum and dad received as a token gift
for their 30 years service with ICI.
We used the place mats which were mum's favourite...
yorkshire scenes.


I am surrounded by so many things which were mums
and in fact are part of our everyday routines and practices.

As a child, growing up there was one thing I always wanted, to make mum proud of me.
Life hadn't been good for mum and I, but mum always put me first.

The photograph I have chosen shows the love and pride in mum's face.
It was taken at her surprise birthday party at home, November 2nd 1988.

I am handing over the cake.
As per usual, in our family, somebody missed my head off!
But that is unimportant, it is mum's face which says it all!

Mum always told me, that in the event of her death there would be a letter for me.
The day she died, as I sat with her waiting for the doctor I went to the place she had told me about and sure enough, there was the letter.
It stated how much mum loved me, was so happy for Jon and I, and we were to remember her with smiles, not tears.

This is why I included it in my post,
because Friday here is a time for fun, and we had lots of fun with mum and dad.

THE BLESSINGS OF MUSIC

Music is a gift that feels our heart each day
The blessings of music heal our souls each day
Music relieves the stress in our daily lives
Music is soothing to our ears
The blessings of music heal the sick and comfort the sick also
The blessings of music
Is powerful
It is wonderful to hear
When somebody is playing something for every one to listen
His giving you his gift of music to you and others
And to you also God
The blessings of music
Music is powerful
And has a great impact in everybody’s lives
The blessings of music
Music is universal
The blessings of music
You can hear the music being played from far away
Every song is special
Every song has a different meaning and different words

Aldo Kraas

Luciano Pavarotti
1935 - 2007

For Harry Potter Fans everywhere, not forgetting Heartbeat groupies too!

Abc Wednesday....
G is for........

Harry Potter fans may recognise this as Hogsmeade


Hop on a train to Goathland Station in North Yorkshire. Goathland doubles as Hogsmeade Station in the third Harry Potter film. This station is situated in the beautiful North York Moors National Park in northeast England, Britain's smallest national park. It hasn’t changed much since the day it opened in 1865, and still offers rides on an original classic steam train on an 18-mile track through the park.

Goathland is part of the The North York Moors Railway

Goathland is also the setting for Heartbeat.
In the TV series however it is known as Aidensfield.
The shop has retained the name, due to the tourist industry.
Goathland was once a quiet little village tucked away on the moors only a few miles from us. Now it is a very busy place indeed.

Read about it here
You will recognise many of the views.

The Roads we travel

Oscar Blaketon's car!

Scripp's Garage

The Pub!

H is for...Happiness!

Photo of the Day
03.09.07.
Nephew 3 with his favourite Auntie!

Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I posses
I thank the Lord I've been blessed
With more than my share of happiness

To me this old world is a wonderful place
And I'm just about the luckiest human in the whole human race
I've got no silver and I've got no gold
Just a whole lot of happiness in my soul

Happiness to me is an ocean tide
Or a sunset fading on a mountain side
Or maybe a big old heaven full of stars up above
When I'm in the arms of the one I love

Happiness is a field of grain
Lifting its face to the falling rain
I can see it in the sunshine, I breathe it in the rain
Happiness everywhere

A wise old man told me one time
That happiness is nothing but a frame of mind
I hope when you go to measuring my success
That you don't count my money count my happiness

Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I posses
I thank the Lord I've been blessed
With more than my share of happiness.

Yesterday, David set a qustion for the weekend.
What makes you happy?
It got me thinking!

This last weekend was a typical illustration/example of the many things which account for my happiness.

Friday night, well any night really, when the chores of the day are completed, Jo the gander is safely locked away from the fox in his shed, Wilma and Elsie are fed and Ella is safe inside,then Jon and I settle down for the night together.
Simple yet content evenings spent together watching TV, listening to music or just chatting.
All of the above, each tiny detail makes me happy.
Jo, our gander is such a lovely sight in our garden, I spend many times just stopping what I am doing to watch him in our garden.
Whether he is swimming in his pond,
cleaning his feathers, or waiting at the window for some bread.
He brings me happiness.
Wilma and Elsie....
words fail me sometimes, but both dogs were rescued.
Wilma had a traumatic, tragic start to her troubled life, indeed her story made the headlines in the Dog Press, so for us to be deemed suitable owners was indeed an honour.
She still has problems which involve her own chat with a shrink and medication.
But you will know from the many photos I post here of the many hours of satisfaction and appreciation she gives us.
Elsie too, currently at work with Jon, more his dog than mine but nevertheless loved.

Ella, our cat, again brings happiness.
I love the feeling of contentment when she DECIDES she will sit on my knee and purrs with pleasure.
Simple but an essential component in the big picture of Happiness.

Saturday, or any day starts with a look out of the window at the countryside on our doorstep.
This always stirs a feeling of peace and belonging.
We have lived here, in the village for 16 years.
I love living here, our farming neighbours are a testament to the hard work of the seasons which again I capture when out walking.

The day will start with a cup of tea.
I love my cup of tea first thing in the morning.
Again, sitting at the kitchen table, in our kitchen makes me happy!
It isn't always as tidy as I would like it to be, but it is the hub of the house and I love it.
Being at home is where I feel secure and safe.
I love our house, absolutely love it.
I am currently working on a DIY project and am loving every minute of it.
Just yeaterday, whilst I was stripping away endless layers of paint and varnish from the banister I Really enjoyed seeing the original wood being exposed.
I felt I was giving the house a place to glow.
Whilst i was doing this Jon was on the shed roof...his building project.
I stopped to capture the moment and had a lump in my throat!
Sheer happiness!

After our morning cup of tea, it is normal chore time.
Jon is a self-employed precission engineer.
His workshop is only 5 minutes away.
He goes to work and I will go down to the workshop around 11 with his morning snack.
Being able to do this, and help support him with his work does make me happy as we can share the workload.
I help by delivering stuff he does and by ensuring, when he returns home in an evening he has a good meal ready, his bath ready and a cold beer in the fridge.
Sometimes Jon works very late and is exhausted when he returns home.
But when he is home he can relax.
I like to have the house looking nice for him so he can just switch off.
I love cooking, and to have it appreciated is a great feeling.

If it is the weekend and Jon has to work,
as he did Saturday morning I go about my chores at home.
One of my favourite chores is washing and pegging the washing out!
LOL! True!
To peg the washing out in the garden makes me feel very happy!

It is also a daily walk with Wilma which is a great thing to do.
We are so well placed here, literally only 5 minutes from the beach.
Wilma has a great time and I love to capture these moments.
Although Whitby is near, our little beach at Skinningrove is so secluded and quiet, unlike Whitby.
I am so happy when I walk along the beach, it is a time to think and gets things into perspective.

When Jon had finished at the workshop I delivered the job and we decided to make the most of the weather and get the motorbike out.
This is a shared hobby, we are both really happy when we are out on the bike.
We do this whenever we can, weather permitting.
The many adventures we have are well documented here.
To be out in the lovely area we live in does indeed create a fantastic sense of being totally in awe of such wonderful scenery..this makes me happy!
The fact that I am passenger allows he to look and appreciate it all along the way.
We have fun when we are out and about,
being able to share the experiences is a great form of appreciation.
We have been to France a couple of times and these are total adventures.
We just set out in a morning and drive all day, stopping to find accomodation around tea time.

When we are home though, we get back and enjoy a meal together.
Saturday night is our special night in.
I tend to do something special, fillet steak, tuna steak are favourites.
I love this, oh and a nice cold white wine.

My garden brings me happiness.
My new greenhouse is a place I love to potter.
My own tomatoes are a taste like no other.
Our garden is very well established, with 3 apple trees and a perimeter of damson trees.
Our house was built in 1956 as the village police house.
Prior to this it was the village green and orchard, hence the established fruit trees.
Each year, the last Saturday in June (my birthday) we have a big BBQ for family and friends.

It is always a happy time.

My family are a great source of happiness.
I am part of the Nesbitt's!
My mother in Law...the other Mrs. Nesbitt is a great friend.
My sister in law, Maureen and I are very close.
She has been through a rough time when her husband left in 2005!
We were all devestated!
As fortune stepped in though, a fantastic guy from Canada came into her life.
They are so happy together.
We have great laughs!

The three of us women together are a force not to be under-estimated! LOL!

My nephews are awesome!
Each of them makes me happy!
It is such a wonderful delight to be their favourite auntie!
I remind them how lucky they are at every available opportunity!

We have great family occasions.
They love my dinners.
My mashed potato is always talked about,
as are the slow cooked roasts and fantastic gravy I produce!

Sitting at the table together, is always a happy time!

My own parents are sadly not with us anymore, I will be talking about this later this week,
but the times we spent together always evoke happiness.
Jon never met my Dad, but will one day I am sure.
He had a very special relationship with mum and we often laugh about the times we spent together.

My mum is very much part of me and always will be.
She was brought up to survive through adversity.
She had a great sense of humour which was a tool to deal with life's knocks and set backs.

I could go on...but all of what I have listed is a small measure of the many things I have around me which I try to appreciate.

The modern age of digital photographs allows us to capture, keep, share and document the many things around us...
this makes me happy!
Happiness goes hand in hand with appreciation and contentment...well in my book anyway!

Family+ Friends+ Fun = Happiness!

It is great to be able to share here, with great friends I have met.
Today is special for Lisa as it is her and G's 30th Wedding Anniversary!

Lisa is a Glitter Sister, a creative group I am proud to be part of!

Lisa loves the ocean, hence her name as Lisa Oceandreamer.
Here are some pictures, just to enjoy and savour the feeling of sheer happiness on this day, and a poem which could have been written just for Lisa!









Beautiful Dreamer

by Stephen Foster




Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!

Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng.

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea,
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.

Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Photo of the Day
02.09.07.
Flamborough Head, yesterday.

Flamborough Head is one of the most spectacular areas of chalk cliffs in Britain, standing 400 feet high. The chalk was laid down millions of years ago when the last dinosaurs were roaming the earth.

The cliffs are home to one of the largest sites of nesting sea birds in England,
boasting a rare colony of gannets.
The cliff top walk is a birdspotter's paradise, and visitors to the headland include oyster catchers, gulls, eider ducks, and cormorants.
There's also a wide variety of plant and wildlife species.

As well as its distinctive white cliffs,
there are coves, sea caves and stacks along the coastline.

The name Flamborough is thought to be derived from a word meaning "the place of the flame". Other sources claim that it derives from "Flaneberg",
possibly from the Saxon "Flaen" meaning a dart, which the shape of the headland resembles.

Flamborough's lighthouse was first established in 1669, but was never kindled.


(TheOld Lighthouse, taken yesterday over the road!)

The present lighthouse was built in 1806 at a cost of £8,000.
It became fully automated in early 1996.

(The Newer Lighthouse, taken from the Carpark yesterday)

(Below..Jon waiting for me in the Carpark!)

The lighthouse shines in the afternoon sun,
Almost as though it knows the job is not done.
Old and abandoned,
Left for modern times,
Wants nothing better,
Than to be released from its confines.
Where is the lightkeeper,
Who climbed those stairs so many times?
Why doesn't the light shine its beam at night,
To let mariners know their voyage is alright?
What of the fresh paint needed on walls,
That have started to crumble and fall?
Why is it today, our history means less,
And our beautiful lighthouses,
Are fading fast.


Ann Shelton
March 16, 2003


We had a lovely afternoon yesterday.
Made the most of the sunshine..........
just nipped over to Flamborough Head!

On our way home we stopped at Hole of Horecum so I could capture the heather again!
The light wasn't too good, it was 5.30pm.
Spectacular nevertheless!




Today?
Watch this space.

And I need to ask about cooking Rump Steak.
Why does mine always end up like leather?

Autumn may be knocking at the door but I am not answering! I am hiding under the kitchen table.

Photo of the Day
01.09.07
Up the Lane

September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days.

September begins in western astrology with the sun in the sign of Virgo and ends in the sign of Libra. Astronomically speaking, the sun actually begins in the constellation of Leo and ends in the constellation of Virgo.

In Latin, septem means "seven" and septimus means "seventh"; September was in fact the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC.

September Changes

September is like no other
It's days change color and weather
No other month can say quite the same
For every day, I can feel the change

It's cool breezes start out warm,
Changing to cold throughout every storm
The leaves change and fall
As the Summer leaves and Autumn kisses us all

September maidens feel the change
Like the blue of the sky
Yet the color so deep
Unbelievable beauty

Maidens fall throughout and watch
Each raindropp changing through colors so fast
Yet one streak remains the same
Of that wonderful sapphire rain.

September, unlike any other
Holds you tight, in any weather.
Changes come, no matter where you go

North and you'll get stormy snow
South and feel the heat of summer coming
September does this, no matter what.
Change lives within, Nothing to stop

September is beautiful
And awesome all the same
It's hope for the future and the change
Comes swiftly as we sweep away

The Summer ends and the Autumn begins
Change is all around
With one maiden leaving
And yet, another comes

Born into the world
Of wonderful September
The sapphire skies live on
Through out this wonderful September

Jessica Millsaps

It is official, this summer has been the wettest in the UK, since 1956.
Ironically, the year I was born!

What does September mean for you?
Schools returning?
A new term?
A new beginning?
Preparing for Autumn?

This is what Wikipedia came up with.

* It is the start of the academic year in some countries.
* On the first Sunday of September, the regata storica parade is staged in Venice, as prelude to the rowing contests known as regattas.
* Labor Day (Labour Day in Canada) is observed on the first Monday in September in the United States.
* In Japan, Respect for the Aged Day is a national holiday celebrated on the third Monday of September. Autumnal Equinox Day is also a national holiday.
* In the United States, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15.
* In Mexico, Independence Day is celebrated September 16th.
* National Grandparents' Day takes place on the first Sunday after Labor Day in the United States and Canada [1].
* In the United States, September 11 is Patriot Day, in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
* In the Netherlands the third Tuesday in September is known as prinsjesdag. The government presents its annual budget. The queen rides to the parliament in a gilded coach and reads the plans for the coming year to the States-general.
* The equinox named the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere and the vernal or spring equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from 21 September to 24 September (in UTC). In the pagan wheel of the year the spring equinox is the time of Ostara and the autumn equinox is that of Mabon.
* In KwaZulu-Natal, king Shaka is commemorated on the last Sunday of September.
* Counterintuitively, the German Oktoberfest and the Chinese August Moon festival (more correctly called the Mid-Autumn Festival) both occur in September.
* In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September.
* In Australia, the AFL Grand Final is played on the last Saturday of September.
* September 1 is celebrated as the beginning of Eritrea's 30 year armed struggle for independence from Ethiopia which began in 1961 and ended in 1991.