Good Morning October, come in and take a seat!

Photo of the Day
1st October 2007
Autumn fruits from our garden and up the lane

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather.

David's weekend project....What do you like best about blogging?
Well, in my case it is being able to share my life and what I do.
We are isolated in our village, being in a rural setting.
This never worries me as I am quite content.
Infact, not quite contenet, very content.
Being able to document my daily comings and goings helps me articulate my happiness and appreciate the people I share my life with, including the new friends I have made in the blogging world.
No matter where we are or who we are, values remain the same.
My priorities are my family, my home, my friends.
This is what my blog is all about.

For many many years I was a primary school teacher working her way up the promotion ladder.
I was successful achieving Deputy Headteacher status.
I loved my job but realised I was other things too.
We have many roles in life...daughter, wife, daughter in law, auntie ....I wanted to focus on being a good wife, daughter in law and auntie.

I love the challenge of maintaining a good life on a reduced income.
I did bring home £2,000 a month ($1,000) and we regularly had a large overdraft.
Now we live on Jon's earnings as a self employed engineer and we do not have an overdraft, I manage the money, hence my efforts in the kitchen.

It is priorities and I embrace the challenge.
Being able to share and learn with my blogging friends keeps me appreciative and focussed.

Sharing the past couple of days and what a couple of days they have been
I have kept in touch via the comments but here is what we have been up to!

Phew!

Do I ache this morning!
What a weekend!

On Saturday I went for the daily walk with Wilma, but took along a bowl to collect some brambles.

When I returned home I picked some of our elderberries, plums and apples.
I decided to have an experiment.....

I cooked the apples, not too much as I like them crunchy!
Then added the stoned plums, brambles and elderberries.

I always keep some short crust pastry in the freezer,
so whilst I was working in the garden I defrosted the pastry then made a pie.





The red syrup you see is a sugarless jelly crystals, no sugar was used in the pie!




Delicious!

I said to Jon, this would be called Autumn Pie! LOL!

Jon was fitting the doors in the shed which he has worked on whenever he wasn't working..
just look at it now!




Getting back to Saturday, I worked in the garden all day, whilst Jon worked on the shed.
I will show pictures of the garden later in the week.
To be honest our garden does leave feeling overawed at times and I have to tackle it in small projects as it covers one third of an acre.

When the phone rang at 4pm I knew it would be Nick, from hospital radio.
It was an Environmental Focus this week.
My focus was "Foods for free"

I shared my recipes and had a good chat with Nick.

Saturday evening we were both exhausted.
The lamb which had been in the slow oven all day tasted wonderful.
I added some raspberry jeely crystals to the lamb stock, together with some bovril beef extract...try it!

Awesome!

Sunday...up early as I cooked Jon a good breakfast.
Really easy in the Aga...popped the bacon and mushrooms in the top oven, boiled the water and put in pan, cracked open & dropped an egg in...1 minute later, perfect poached egg!

After breakfast Jon fit the doors which turned out to be a tricky job, hence us not going out on the motorbike.

I set to planting my bulbs...
WELL IN EXCESS OF 300!

We had the radio playing, my favourite garden accessory!
A solar radio!

BBC Radio 2 was celebrating its 40th birthday!
I urge you to click here
and listen to the music...Ed Stewpot was amazing! Bringing back so many memories!
I was singing as I pegged the washing out between planting bulbs!

I had a trip to the rubbish tip in the pick up and finished the weekend with a take away pizza.
We were both exhausted!
I ache this morning but can't stop today as it is DIY today and my sister in law is coming over to help me!

We are hoping to have a day out on the motorbike this week which will be a nice little break!

I will be back with my garden pictures and ofcourse there will be my K photograph which I captured over the weekend! It was delicious! LOL!

When I say captured, I mean on my camera!

Watch this space!

Dx

No more cooking until 8th November!

Photo of the Day
29.09.07
My Meal plan, 5 minutes ago!

He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life.
But where no plan is laid,
where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.

Victor Hugo

This is what my meal plan looks like.
My scribbles show how i list everything in the freezer then alocate to each day, Monday to Friday. It took me about 10 minutes, whilst I had a cup of tea this morning, but will save me endless hours in the next few weeks. Basically I had 27 meals, so 27 days are now covered.
I don't count Saturday or Sunday as we usually have a special meal on a Saturday (joint of lamb in slow oven as we speak) and a take away on a Sunday.

Yesterday was a good day for this that and the other!
The Doctors.....right. My middle finger on my right hand is not right and I need to see a specialist. I will also have my little finger on my left hand looked at. Both will need some work done on them but obviously at different times! LOL!

Whitby was great as ever, be it cold. Managed to park right in centre and bought a fantastic jumper in the Oxfam Shop. Navy Blue! My favourite winter colour.
Glasses, sorted to a fashion. Slight adjustment, will see how they go! LOL Pun!

Visited favourite wet fish shop and bought selection of fish for fish pie.
Returned home and Jon was talking about th doors for the shed...so to cut a long story short we went on the motorbike to the DIY store. Saw what we wanted, I saw the staging for my greenhouse.....but was out of stock and discontinued. Had a word with duty manager, ie could I buy display items...yes, no probs and a reduction!
Drove home (yes in the rain) left bike in garage, got changed jumped in pick up and returned to store. Items for greenhouse...what was £49.99 - now £20, £29.99 now £10, what was £24.99 now £12! Thank you Kevin at B&Q! Jon gets his doors, we drive home. Jon jumps in bath I cook massive fish pie which Jon then has a portion for dinner and I freeze remainder!

Today, just about to take Wilma up the lane then I am going into my greenhouse and sorting staging and planting up my bulbs.
Am being interviewed on hospital radio at 4pm and will be able to share interview at a later date via pod cast! Am talking about food for free (hedgerows) and am going to focus on the humble bramble (blackberry.)

here are some recipes I will be sharing!

Blackberry or bramble jam

to make 1.5kg / 3lbs

Ingredients

1kg / 2¼ lbs of ripe brambles with a few that are still red to help with setting

750g / 1½ lbs of sugar

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Preparation

In a bowl layer the brambles then alternate with a layer of sugar and so on until all the berries and sugar are used up leave over night.

The next day add the lemon juice.

Place in a saucepan and bring up to a boil until setting point is reached.

Leave to cool and pour into jars and seal.

Bramble Scones

Ingredients

450g (1lb) Self Raising Flour
110g (4oz) Butter
110g (4oz) Sultanas
50g (2oz) Sugar

50g (2oz) frozen brambles, green parts removed
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

Preparation

Preheat oven to 190°C: 375°F: Gas 5.
Rub the butter lightly into flour, lifting the mixture to add air, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the sugar and sultanas.
Add the salt and bicarbonate of soda, mixing in enough milk to make a soft dough. Fold in frozen Brambles.
Pat or roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1.5cm (½ inch) thick, cut into 4cm (1½ inch) rounds.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.

Bramble Liquer

Ingredients

Equal measures of

1. Gin or Vodka
2. Brambles
3. Granulated Sugar

Preparation

Drop the brambles into a 2ltr plastic lemonade bottle.

Add the gin and sugar.

Give the bottle a good slow shake.

Place in dark cupboard.

Gently shake it every day.

When all the sugar has dissolved thoroughly it is ready to drink, but obviously the longer left the better it is.

Vanilla & Bramble Custard Sauce

A lovely change to white sauce.

Servings: Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
5 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla

1cup of brambles, all stalk bits removed

What is really nice is to use sugar which has been left in a jar with a vanilla pod for a couple of days.

preparation

Bring milk and sugar to a simmer in a saucepan without stirring. Whisk yolks in a bowl until blended, then gradually whisk in hot milk mixture. Return to saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens enough to coat back of a wooden spoon.

Immediately pour sauce through a fine sieve into a metal bowl and place bowl in a large bowl of ice and cold water. Stir in vanilla and whisk custard occasionally until cool.

Either use straight away or chill until cold. Or freeze.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Right must dash!

Lots to do, may even fit in a bike adventure tomorrow!

Watch this space!

Phew! Is it Friday all ready?

Congratulations Flassie!




This just seemed so apt!
I don't think anybody would ever dare to venture into our house!
Elsie sleeps downstairs, by the door and Wilma sleeps at the top of the stairs!


This Week's Caption Competition features our other German Shepherd, Elsie.
Now what do you think ahe was thinking?

Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun
Roll out the barrel, we've got the blues on the run
Zing boom tararrel, ring out a song of good cheer
Now's the time to roll the barrel, for the gang's all here

Yesterday I had a cooking session after I had taken Wilma up the lane.
This is the one day every so often when I cook for the freezer.
I slow cooked a beef curry, lasagne, chicken & veg in a white wine sauce, mince & mixed veg, and shepherds pies.
At about 12 noon I received a phone call asking me if I could teach on the afternoon.
A class of 8 year olds.
The school is only 5 minutes away so after some frantic reorganisation of my cooking, ie I put everything into the slow oven, I got changed and by 1pm I was teaching!

I returned home after school and picked up where I had left off.
The freezer is now full and I don't have to cook for at least another 3 weeks.
I will sit and do the menu plan sometime today.
This saves so so much time and money.

The weather is still dreadful.
It rained heavily during the night and the skies are looking very grey. I am sure there will be more rain today.
This is annoying as there are jobs in the garden I want to do, but the next dry day we have I will get out and plant my bulbs.

Today I am going to Whitby to do some shopping.
I got new glasses last December and something is just not right. To be honest I feel as though I need new glasses! This is so ridiculous so I am going in to the opticians to see if we can sort something out.

We have no immediate plans for the weekend.
The weather forecast is not good, so we will just have to see if there is any chance of going out on the motorbike.
I am not holding my breath.

Tomorrow I am on the hospital radio again.
I am now doing a monthly environmental feature.
Tomorrow I am talking about "Food for Free!" so I will share with you the idea sheet I will be preparing.

I want to pick some brambles this weekend too, it all depends on this weather.
I have this idea of making apple and bramble scones.
Trouble is, when I do bake and the scones come out of the oven I always want to sample them! LOL! Not good for my diet!

I have lost 9lbs since joining our local Slimming World Group.
Basically it is down to eating a good selection of vegetables/pasta OR meat/fish.
I do tend to eat a lot of vegetables with eggs and it seems to be working.

The reason I decided to cut down on the food I was eating was due to my winter bike trousers feeling too tight. They were very uncomfortable especially when I was on the bike, so the next time I put them on, (and lets face it, the next time we go out on the motorbike it WILL be time for our winter gear!) I should feel a difference!

So Friday all ready, another busy day in the Nesbitt household!

What are your plans for the weekend?

A thought for Thursday...

Our dogs will love and admire the meanest of us, and feed our colossal vanity with their uncritical homage.
Agnes Repplier


Like many other bloggers I too am taking part in today's campaign against abuse, in my case animal abuse and in particular puppy farms.
We always imagine it is happening somewhere else, away from our current situation.

However, for us it is a subject much nearer to home, in fact it was Birmingham.

Five years ago we lost our German Shepherd, Inca.
Like all of our dogs she led a long and happy life, she was 15 when she died.

We always have 2 dogs so we set out to find a companion for Max.
Now Inca was indeed a beautiful dog and in her early days she had been a show dog.
This stopped when she became ill and had to be spayed, this is the point we bought her through a contact our vet passed on to us.

When we started the search for another German Shepherd we contacted the German Shepherd Rescue Society, in Newcastle.

A few days later Alison, the manager contacted us to say she was travelling down to Birmingham to collect two 5 month old bitches.

We went up to Newcastle on the following Saturday.
In a run, inside a kennel where the two puppies.
They would not come outside.
Jon went into the kennel and brought the two puppies outside.
They were clambering to get away from the human interest.
We went inside the compound and again the two dogs cowered.

One of the dogs already had a home to go to, we said whichever dog was left we would happily give a home to.
We left our details and travelled home.

We hadn't been home long before the phone rang.
It was Alison saying we had been approved as owners following checks with our vets.
The other puppy had gone to its new home.

We set off immediately and travelled to Newcastle.
We brought our new puppy home.
That night we named her Wilmaha, Wilma.

She found a corner in the kitchen and stayed there for the best part of 2 weeks.
She soon trained in the garden.
Over a period of 6 months she eventually found the courage to come and look at us as we sat and watched TV, a few more months and she would stay in the lounge for a few minutes.
This slowly increased and she would lay on the carpet and stay in the room.

A neighbour who breeds German Shepherds told us the story of Wilma had made the front page news in many dog journals.
She had been bought in order to breed from.
She had been reared in a back yard with no socialisation or mixing with other animals or humans.

We also heard that her sister and mother had been so distressed they had been put to sleep.

We knew we had a difficult journey ahead of us, but 5 years down the line Wilma is here, currently at the top of the stairs having a nap waiting for her morning walk.

Her previous owner was prosecuted but these days that counts for little.
Only this week in our local press a man who previously had been banned from keeping animals caused endless suffering to yet more animals.

Puppy farming is horrific.
It is the result of greed.

To read more about it, read about the work of the Hope Foundation.

A DOGS PLEA
BY:ANONYMOUS

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no
heart in all the world is more grateful for
kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for
though I might lick your hand between blows,
your patience and understanding will more
quickly teach me the things you would have
me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice
is the world's sweetest music, as you must
know by the fierce wagging of my tail when
your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and
wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no
longer accustomed to bitter elements.

I ask no greater glory than the privilege of
sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot
tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp
and play and do your bidding, to walk by your
side, and stand ready, willing and able to
protect you with my life, should your life
be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am
very old, and I no longer enjoy good health,
hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts
to keep me going.

I am not having any fun.
Please see that my trusting life is taken
gently,

I shall leave this earth knowing with
the last breath I draw that my fate was always
safest in your hands.

ABC Wednesday!

J is for.............


JANNDENISE




This was just amazing!
We were out on the motorbike on Sunday.
I took the camera.
I went out with one intention.........
to keep an open mind and to observe, from the back of the bike and lok out for "J" subjects.

I was getting a little worried by the time we reached Scarborough....so I went for a little walk along the harbour!

and look what I found! LOL!

Rain, rain go away!

Photo of the Day
25.09.07
View from my Study Window.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me.

When I look back on the weekend I am amazed at the lovely weather we have had and how we managed to fit our jobs in so successfully.
Jon has made great progress with fitting the window and one of the doors into the shed and I managed to work on my shrubbery.
Then there was the bike ride to Scarborough!

Yesterday however saw a deluge of rain!
Monday morning , the start of the new working week saw me pegging washing out.
I always have the washer on at night, so when I get up I can peg the washing out.
I had washed a white load during the night and was all set to peg it out and load the next load, the dark coloured stuff, mostly Jon's work clothes etc.

The weather soon put a stop to that and as I resigned myself to finding places round the house to dry the clothes the rain stopped and the sun put in an outstanding appearance.
I rushed outside and pegged the white washing on the line.
The sun stayed out for just over an hour.
In the strong breeze my washing was soon dry, when lo and behold the rain returned.
I rushed outside like a woman possessed and got all the washing inside!


It always makes me laugh really, I see the washing of my neighbours billowing in the breeze then frantic door slamming as we all rush outside to rescue the washing! Then, we watch for the sunshine and rush out again to get the washing back on the line, Sometimes this happens 2 or 3 times before we give up!


I took Wilma up the lane but the rain caught us out and we returned home soaked!

Today the chimney sweep is coming to clean our chimney, so the AGA will be lit by the weekend I would have thought.

Yes, winter is creeping in!

David has set another topic for us to think about...best childhood friend?

I had a good think about this (in the bath) and my choice would have to be our neighbour John Cooper. He was my best friend from the age of 6 to 11, when his family emigrated to South Africa.
We had great adventures.
We invented our own games and exploits.
I guess it was in the days when we could allow children to "play out" in the streets and surrounding areas. Having said that we didn't go far, usually just in our back yard or the alley way.
Our favourite game was secret agents.

The programme we watched was "Man from Uncle" back in the 1960's.




We both had old transistor radio aerials which we would extend and say those immortal words from the programme "Open Cheannel D, Come in Mr. Waverley"

I had an old small brown case which I kept my secret agent tools in, infact we both had such a case come to think of it.

We would search local jumble sales for bargains.
I remember on one such visit as my mum sat with John's mum, Nancy, who I referred to as Auntie Nancy, (infact come to think of it in those days we referred to every woman as "Auntie")
and on our way out Mum shouted "Don't forget me fur coat!"
Well, we were then on a mission and sure enough I found a fur coat at the Salvation Army Jumble Sale.
I was so chuffed and ran home to show mum.
Ofcourse there had been a reason why somebody would donate a fur coat to a Jumble Sale, but mum wasn't taking any chances and it found its way to the rubbish bin...fleas and all!
We had roller skates which we used to skate up and down the local streets, again a thing of the past.
When they were packing up to go to South Africa Auntie nancy called me in.
They had an upright piano which had pride of place in the front room.
I had always liked the piano, No I couldn't play it but liked the look of it.
"Would you like the piano Denise?" she asked.
"Ooooooooooooh yes please Auntie Nancy!"

The piano was pushed next door to our house.
"What do you want that for?" Mum enquired (well more or less her exact words!)

And so, we got a piano.

My uncle Moss had an Austin 35 car.
One night he came round and asked mum if he could borrow a wire from the back of the piano.
He went away with a wire and over the next few months I noticed more and more notes on the piano would not play! I was trying to teach myself to play the piano, but my progress and development was hampered by the amount of keys which could not play. Eventually it went to the rag ad bone man! LOL!

We heard via the odd letters and Christmas Cards from Auntie Nancy and John, I often wonder what they are doing now.

I certainly remember the happy, carefree times we played together, inventing our own games and making our own toys and games.

Being an only child I guess I was quite resourceful and independant, but nevertheless looking back it was an incredible few years of adventures with John Cooper.

Thanks David...a good topic!

Tickets Please!

Photo of the Day
23.09.07
Whitby, today!

The Wheels On The Bus

The wheels on the bus go
round and round
round and round
round and round
the wheels on the bus go
round and round
all day long.

We have had a busy 24 hours!
I worked in the garden yesterday afternoon and last night I cooked roast lamb for dinner.
Jon's ssiter was staying the night so we had a lovely meal together.

After lunch today Jon had done what he could in the shed build so we decided to go out on the motorbike.
Initially we were heading towards Teesside as Jon wanted to have a look at some patio doors for his shed.
However, as we rode towards Teesside we could see the black clouds, as well as feeling spots of rain on our helmets. Looking towards the sky we could see blue clouds over the moors, so we turnrd round and went to Whitby!

I was glad i took my camera as the vintage bus just pulled up for a few minutes, but enough time for me to take the photograph!

We stayed in the Whistestop Cafe and chatted to a couple of our biker pals before heading off to Scarborough.

It was sunny at Whitby, often meaning it will be dull at Scarborough.
However we were in for a pleasant Surprise.....Scarborough was glorious.


We parked the bike and had a walk along the harbour.




There were a few boat trips in action!



Speeds for all tastes!




There was lots of really interesting views.
In the picture below, the hill in the background is Oliver's Mount race circuit where we were last Sunday!






We sat by the Seafront and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine.








I love Scarborough.

On the way home I had a good think about what I have to do this week.
In the Garden.....
I have to weed my dry stone wall and possibly plant up some more succelents in it,
Weed the front bird area and plant up some bulbs in containers there,
Sort out the gravelled area which runs along the front of the house,
Plant up other bulbs in the shrubbery and possibly the dry stone wall.

DIY
I need to press on and complete the final bits of stripping the stairs.
Try to strip the paint from the kitchen door surround.

Business
I have a design to complete for customer approval early this week
I have to order materials for another commission.

So I think I have enough to keep me busy!

Still, it was good planning on the back of the motorbike, in the sunshine, returning home from Scarborough!

Are you going to Scarborough fair? parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seams nor needlework, then shell be a true love of mine

Tell her to find me an acre of land, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand, then shell be a true love of mine

Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And to gather it all in a bunch of heather, then shell be a true love of mine

Are you goin to Scarborough fair? parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine

Up the lane!

Photo of the Day
Handale
Yesterday

Take me home country roads,
to the place I belong!

I thought I would give you a change from a walk on the beach with Wilma.
I thought I would take her for a walk in our village.
I wanted inspiration! I also wanted a new picture for my header!

We left our house and walked just a few yards to Handale Bank.

As we turned up the lane I let Wilma off the lead.
I could see nobody was around, so we had the place to ourself!

A few of our neighbours greeted us with a cheerful smile!


and some shouted from their houses!




If you look behind the large white barn you can just make out the red brick roof of our house!

These horses belong to our neighbour.
They are racing horses in training.
They often gallop in the field next to our house.

In the background you can see the sea.

The new addition!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

As we walked I checked the hedges for berries.

I remember picking rose-hips when I was at junior school.
We picked sacks!
I think we received a badge in return!

The elderberries will be ready very shortly!

The perfume of this honeysuckle in the crisp Autumn air was astounding!

Next time we come I will pick some brambles!

When we returned home I had a good look round the garden and planned a few jobs which will certainly keep me busy over the next few days.

Nephew 1 is coming over to pick the apples off one of the trees, so I will be making chutney ready for the Village Harvest Supper and Auction, not sure when it is, but it wont be far away!

I have my bulbs to plant too and I need to cut back some of the shrubs.

Jon has been very busy with the shed build and has made great progress!

The weather has been wonderful today and I really enjoyed being outside.

Tomorrow we are hoping to go out for a bike adventure so watch this space!

I came across this poem today, it just suited!

Nature Nature is quite today.
Nature seems to be enjoying in itself.
There are many creatures playing with the nature.
Nature makes a sweet sound.
Everything is lost in the nature.
There is a melodious song playing in the nature.
Nature itself sways and makes us sway.
The world itself is lost in the nature.
The music is also mixed with the nature.
God also takes rest in the lap of nature.
Nature is our mother.
We are its children.
Nature loves us like our mother.
Nature does not take anything from us but gives.
We play and frisk in a cheerful way with the nature.

Pushkar Bisht

Last Week's Winner....

david mcmahon said...

Just don't pull the pin - it could be a grenade!

I did have a laugh at all of the comments and must say Flassie deserves a special mention!

This week's picture!

A little different this week....what do you think Wilma is dreaming about?


Today is a special day, it is International Peace Day.

This is my commitment....



and this is my poem...

P IS FOR Peace I want you to share
Everything that is nice, all the time, everywhere.
Always know I want you to find
Colourful blessings, of every kind
Etc etc what more can I say


This is my humble contribution, For International Peace Day!


With Love to my friends
Denise

I often share songs which we sing in primary school.
Without a doubt this song seemed so appropriate on such an international day of peace.

Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream
words and music by Ed McCurdy

Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
and the room was filled with men.
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again

And when the paper was all signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful pray'rs were prayed

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing 'round and 'round
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd never dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.

Progress Jim, but not as we know it!

Aesop said..
"Little by little does the trick."


Photo of the Day
20.09.07
Our banister 5 minutes ago.

My DIY project is continuing, but wanted to give a glimpse of progress.
The wood of the banister is finally revealed.

It is indeed a slow job, but as the layers are stripped back to reveal the natural features I feel the house is beginning to breathe.

Watch this Space!

ABC Wednesday!

I is for......

Ireland.

Just by the Giant's Causeway Ireland

When Irish eyes are smiling, 

sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring. 

In the lilt of Irish laughter 

you can hear the angels sing. 

When Irish hearts are happy, 

All the world seems bright and gay. 

and when Irish eyes are smiling, 

sure, they steal your heart away.

With Jon being self-employed we can not book holidays in advance, we are more spur of the moment travellers. So one day in May last year Jon found himself with a few clear days. It was a Monday lunchtime when Jon told me this. "Do you fancy going to Ireland? He asked me over lunch!This was completely out of the blue to me and a surprise. The North West 200 Motorbike Races were due to take place that weekend and we had always said we would like to go.

Neither of us had ever been to Ireland before so I said I would phone our friend Kenny. He was the authority on travelling to various places of interest, especially Bike events.

I phoned Kenny and asked him how we went about getting to Ireland, ferry ports etc etc.
It just so happened he had organised a trip for the very times we wanted to go...and somebody had dropped out! There was room for one bike and 2 passengers...everything was booked. The return ferry tickets and the bed and breakfast accomodation! "The only thing is Denise, you will be the only woman with 13 bikers!" Well, it is a tough life and we have to do these things, so we went along.

We set off on the Thursday for the ride up to Scotland and travelled over to Belfast.
We had 4 days in a heatwave! (remind me what they are!)



Returning home was a different matter. On the Sunday as we left Belfast, the skies looked black. As we drove off the ferry at Stranraer the heavens opened and we endured 4 hours of torrential rain, only stopping once for petrol. As I got back on the bike I asked Jon if he wanted a break but he said he didn't think he would be able to get his gloves back on if he took them off...so we pressed on!

When we reached Scotch Corner I started singing aloud on the back of the bike as I knew we were not far from home.

We arrived home around 7pm.
It took a week for our bike gear to dry out.
It is a wonderful feeling to arrive home, somehow manage to extract yourself from soaking bike gear, have a bath and put lovely dry clothes on!

It is part of biking!

We had a wonderful time with our pals, needless to say we had many laughs, lost directions and waiting for people!
The Irish people were so friendly and all in all one of the best holidays we had. We would like to return one day!

Next year we are going to the Isle of Man TT Races. It is our first visit but it is our 20th Wedding Anniversary and we wanted something special!

Here are just a few pictures to give ou an idea of the fun time we had.

This was race day. Ideal conditions.

Approaching Stranraer on our return! See the difference!

Thursday, meeting in the Carpark just before we set off!

Waiting to go on the ferry!

Michael Rutter poses with my duck!

We visited the Joey Dunlop Museum.
Here are some of his racing leathers.

Michael Rutter in action!