ABC Wednesday...J IS FOR...JACK!

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55. Here is mine for this week!

Missing

Gentle Man kind blue eyes wearing a loving broad smile.

Smart appearance, tweed jacket and matching hat.

Interests include his family, home and garden.

Endearing sense of humour and a very generous nature,

Looking after all around him.

Last seen August thirteenth nineteen eighty six

Answers to the name of John Henry Davison, Dad.

The greatest gift I ever received come from God, I call him Dad! - Anonymous

John Henry Davison came into my life when I was 7. Mum had just got a new job at the prestigious ICI, Wilton Training Centre. One of the Training officers was John Davison, or Jack as he was known. Mum was one of the secretaries. This was her first job following the harrowing divorce she had gone through, a visit from the bailiffs to strip the house we lived in, seizing goods to cover my biological father's bankrupted business debts, a nervous breakdown. Mum borrowed the deposit for a small terraced house from her 2 brothers, Uncle Bob and Uncle Stan. It needed lots doing to it, including total rewiring. We all know how single women are targeted by unscrupulous workmen, and back in the 1960's things were no different, so Jack helped Mum by making sure she was not taken for a ride. He also helped where he could, as electrics were his "thing!" The very first time he came to our house I was introduced to "Uncle Jack!" Years later I learned he had been more nervous than me! I was playing with my doll's house. He spent time talking to me and I liked him. He re-wired my doll's house, I had the best there was! Independent switches in each of the rooms, as a real house would. Over the years a friendship developed and he would visit us every Saturday. It was quite a treck for him as he did not drive and travelled from just outside Guisborough. Mum eventually introduced him to her own parents. My Grandad, a man of few words took him out for a walk! He wanted to know his intentions as Mum had been through so much. Jack assured him he had her and mine best interests at heart. Grandad was re-assured and a great friendship was kindled between them. Jack liked a flutter on the horses. He and his brother Frank would visit the races and shadow the big horse trainers. He noticed they seldom backed their own horses. Jack and Frank would bet the same horses, and win! Our family always had a flutter on the Grand National. In 1967 we all picked our choices. The family studied the form, I at 11 looked at the numbers. I figured 100 to 1 sounded good! Everybody laughed, but I went ahead. Jack took everybody's money and the bets were placed. Foinavon, my choice won! £50 was a lot of money then! LOL! My Nana really took a shine to Jack. He would sit with her and talk about this that and the other. Nana was ill and as her health deteriorated in 1970 we kew she was gravely ill. On one of his visits as Jack sat with Nana she drew him close and asked him to promise he would look after Madge and Denise....he promised. On June 17th, 1970, Nana died. On November 1st Uncle Jack and mum were married, the day before mum's birthday. We moved to a bungalow and after a couple of years we all moved to Guisborough, Dad's home. Mum and I loved this change although by this time I was at University. Mum and Dad were both still working at ICI. Dad had a very stressful job and in 1983 he suffered a massive heart attack. It resulted in him having to stop work. In those days ICI was one of the best emloyers, with very good benefits. Both Dad and Mum left with "Golden Handshakes". Mum decided to leave in order to ensure Dad had the rest he was to need. Happy with their bungalow in Guisborough, they bought a static caravan at Rosedale Abbey. They loved to visit and stay whenever they had the time. Infact, the photograph above was indeed taken in the caravan, by mum. On the morning of August 13th 1986, whilst staying at the caravan, Dad told mum he would prefer go home. He wasn't feeling very well. They had planned on going to Egton Country Show, one of their all time favourites. They packed up and set off for home. It would have been a very busy day on the roads. Holiday traffic. The Whitby to Guisborough Road in particular! As the car passed Gisborough Hall, Dad brought the car to a stop and slumped forward.He had died, literaly at the wheel. I was teaching in Nottingham at the time. I received the news later that afternoon and returned home the following day. This was to be a turning point in my life. I was to return home and look after mum. I had a fantastic relationship with Dad, he was indeed my Dad. Notice how he suddenly evolved as Dad from Uncle Jack? It was the same in our relationship. I don't know when it happened, it just did. One day I just called him Dad! Dad recounted the event to mum..he had cried at the time, privately, with pride and love. I often sit in Dad's chair and remember him. When Dad was at school he learned the poem " Meg Merilles" off by heart. This he would recite when his teacher asked the class to stand up, one by one and sing. Dad was incredibly shy as well as tone deaf, this was his contribution. Here is the poem in it's original form, for Dad!

Meg Merrilies Old Meg she was a gypsy; And liv'd upon the moors: Her bed it was the brown heath turf, And her house was out of doors. Her apples were swart blackberries, Her currants, pods o' broom; Her wine was dew of the wild white rose, Her book a church-yard tomb. Her brothers were the craggy hills, Her sisters larchen trees; Alone with her great family She liv'd as she did please. No breakfast had she many a morn, No dinner many a noon, And 'stead of supper she would stare Full hard against the moon. But every morn, of woodbine fresh She made her garlanding, And every night the dark glen yew She wove, and she would sing. And with her fingers old and brown She plaited mats o' rushes, And gave them to the cottagers She met among the bushes. Old Meg was brave as Margaret Queen, And tall as Amazon: An old red blanket cloak she wore, A chip hat had she on. God rest her aged bones somewhere — She died full long agone! John Keats

Friday Fun thanks to Tommy Cooper!

Tommy Cooper was one of my favourite comedians of all time, so here are some one liners which I hope will bring you a few smiles! Have a Good Weekend! I met this bloke with a didgeridoo and he was playing Dancing Queen on it. I thought, 'That's Aboriginal.' This lorry full of tortoises collided with a van full of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster. I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said 'Tenpin?' I said, 'No, permanent.' I went in to a pet shop. I said, 'Can I buy a goldfish?' The guy said, 'Do you want an aquarium?' I said, 'I don't care what star sign it is.' I bought some Armageddon cheese today, and it said on the packet. 'Best before End' I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said 'Analogue.' I said 'No, just a watch.' I went into a shop and I said, 'Can someone sell me a kettle.' The bloke said 'Kenwood' I said, 'Where is he then?' My mate is in love with two schoolbags. He's bi-satchel. I went to the doctor. I said to him 'I'm frightened of lapels.' He said, 'You've got cholera.' I met the bloke who invented crosswords today. I can't remember his name, its P something T something R. I was reading this book today, The History of Glue. I couldn't put it down. I phoned the local ramblers club today, but the bloke who answered just went on and on. The recruitment consultant asked me 'What do you think of voluntary work? I said 'I wouldn't do it if you paid me.' I was in the jungle and there was this monkey with a tin opener. I said, 'You don't need a tin opener to peel a banana.' He said, 'No, this is for the custard.' This policeman came up to me with a pencil and a piece of very thin paper. He said, 'I want you to trace someone for me..' I told my mum that I'd opened a theatre. She said, 'Are you having me on?' I said, 'Well I'll give you an audition, but I'm not promising you anything.' I phoned the local builders today, I said to them 'Can I have a skip outside my house?' He said, 'I'm not stopping you!' This cowboy walks in to a German car showroom and he says 'Audi!' I fancied a game of darts with my mate. He said, 'Nearest the bull goes first' He went 'Baah' and I went 'Moo' He said 'You're closest' I was driving up the motorway and my boss phoned me and he told me I'd been promoted. I was so shocked I swerved the car. He phoned me again to say I'd been promoted even higher and I swerved again. He then made me managing director and I went right off into a tree. The police came and asked me what had happened. I said 'I careered off the road' I visited the offices of the RSPCA today. It's tiny: you couldn't swing a cat in there. I was stealing things in the supermarket today while balanced on the shoulders of a couple of vampires. I was charged with shoplifting on two counts. I bought a train ticket to France and the ticket seller said 'Eurostar' I said 'Well I've been on telly but I'm no Dean Martin. I phoned the local gym and I asked if they could teach me how to do the splits. He said, 'How flexible are you?' I said, 'I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays.' I went to the local video shop and I said, 'Can I borrow Batman Forever?' He said, 'No, you'll have to bring it back tomorrow' A waiter asks a man, 'May I take your order, sir?' 'Yes,' the man replies. 'I'm just wondering, exactly how do you prepare your chickens?' 'Nothing special, sir. We just tell them straight out that they're going to die.'

ABC Wednesday...I is for Intelligence.

Mum aged 12

The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence. Robert J. Shiller

Mum was definately the more intelligent sibling! As her first marriage deteriorated and found mum and I alone in our new house it was her own intelligence which was to be a major factor in our future. Because she had applied herself at school she gained a place in secretarial college and achieved great results in both shorthand and typing. This was to come in really useful when she applied to ICI Wilton, an organisation famous for it's high standard of entrance qualifications. Mum was successful in gaining a position with them and soon was on the promotional journey which over the next few years would take her to the rank of Secretary to the main personel Officer. This experience rubbed off on me and I am a firm believer in individuals having a certain amount of choice with their own futures. Work hard, achieve and you will have a certain choice with what you do in life. ..just as mum did. It allowed us to live a decent life with a good home...oh and she was to meet her future husband at ICI, but I will save that story for next week. To see more contributions to ABC Wednesday click on the logo in the sidebar, or simply go here!

My World Tuesday!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm! I have seen this mentioned in a few blogs and so have decided to give it a go. My world..................is a tiny farming village in North Yorkshire, UK. A few miles from the coast. We live within the North York Moors and make the most of our surroundings. When I say we, I am talking about my german shepherd Wilma as we go for walks every day and my husband Jon and our motorbike, A good combination eh? As spring dawns I think a weekly photo will be fun!

Monday Monday!

Monochrome....Jon, Moi and Humber Bridge!

My odd shot Monday was taken yesterday under the Humber Bridge. We made the most of the good weather and had a bike ride out with our friends Jon and Trish. It was a good opportunity for John to try out his new motorbike, a Yamaha Fazer! When I was taking the pictures I did try to position the bridge so it appeared to come out of heads! Always fun! On our way back home John had to make a quick exit from the motorway and John and Trish missed it, hence the photo of Jon waiting on the bench, then John and Trish pulling up on their bike. As usual we had a good day. We are going to France with John and Trish in September on a biking adventure. I am sure there will be fun to be had by all! To visit more Monday Monochrome or Oddshot, follow the links on my sidebar!

Pieces of art, pieces of art!

Today I have uploaded these pictures of the sky I captured somewhere between Holland and Newcastle last June. I have been looking to have them made into canvas prints for some time. I am really excited now. Can't wait to see what they are like. The bottom one will go above the fireplace, the three above it will go on one of the walls in the lounge. Watch this space!

A smile for Friday!

Vimrod! always makes me smile!

Purple for Thursday!

We are so fortunate in having some wonderful purples on our very doorstep, in particular the Yorkshire Heather which really inspires my work. Heather is at its best mid August. Great quotations are always so appropriate to use, I feel this one by Vincent VanGogh says it all! For more Thursday purple inspirations follow the link from the sidebar.

ABC Wednesday...H is for

Homepage, my new website...see it here I have been so busy following the wedding fayre I had to take a break from my autobiography posts, but I will return asap. In the meantime check out my website and feel free to leave a comment in the guest book! To see more ABC posts click on the logo on the sidebar!

Mellow Yellow!

I adore yellow roses, probably because they were Dad's favourite too! The Yellow Rose They say a yellow with long and thorny stem, stands for friendship's of which we may not amend. They say its flower petals collect a human dew. One tear of gladness one of sorrow, in a light a sharing, to best pronounce its hue. They speak of gardens as long as lifetimes, where many yellow roses grow. Where we tread carefully, yet graciously, among the myriad of friends we know. They say the paupers gardens, are where the hardiest flowers may be. For there they grow abundant both wild and free. They also say, if I picked just one, and handed it to you my friend. It would mean a whole new garden for me! Author : Bob Morrow © I have been busy pottering away with my new website. I am particularly chuffed as I have done it all myself. Ofcourse, I had to use a yellow rose! To have a look, please click here I am adding a guest book soon! For more lovely yellows visit HERE

G is for. Girly things!

Auntie Dot and Uncle Moss were the first people I knew who travelled abroad for a holiday. It was the 1960's and a local coach company began tours to Ostend, Netherlands. It became an annual event and I would look forward to the presents Auntie dot would pack in her suitcase. On one such occasion she brought me a Traditional Dutched Doll. Along with lots of my friends we started collecting these dolls. My dutch doll really inspired me as the tiny cloggs were genuine wooden ones and I loved the detail of the costume. I think it must have been 1965 when mum and I went on our very first excursion with the bus company, again to Ostende. The shops wre fascinating and amongst the glamour of the traditional souvineers I came across a toy section. A tiny doll, no bigger than my hand caught my eye. It was simple and inexpensive. I bought it, naming it Ginette. On my return home I would play for hours with my new doll, nobody else had one. I made furniture out of boxes and clothes out of scrap material. At this age I really enjoyed making my own creations, inspired by Blue Peter. Anything I made was for Ginette. I was a very content child, enjoying playing at home always creating, something which never went away. In 1964 I remember getting my first Sindy Doll. It was Christmas and mum took me to see Father Christmas in the prestigious Binns Store in Middlesbrough. Mum bought me my Sindy Doll, and when I opened the box the smell of the new plastic really had an impression. To this day I can still picture Sindy when I come across the smell of new plastic dolls.

The Sindy doll was launched in September 1962 by the Pedigree Doll Company. Pedigree had a long history of making dolls and wanted to branch out with a teenage doll. Sindy was one of many teenage fashion dolls reflecting wider popular culture and was nicknamed ‘the girl you love to dress’. She had a girlish figure and flat shoes at first, with a head of big, curly blonde hair. She also had a promotional gramophone record, featuring The Dolly Beats – no doubt gaining inspiration from the iconic youth band of the era, The Beatles. And with fashion influenced by the likes of Mary Quant, and models such as Twiggy, it’s no surprise that Sindy became Britain’s top teenage doll.

Sindy had everything a teenager of the 1960s could wish for, including a handsome boyfriend, Paul. Although as a keen follower of fashion she had a huge wardrobe of designer clothes and accessories, I enjoyed making her clothes and remember making her a bed out of a shoe box. I loved to colour and draw, creating lots of written material for my dolls. I guess it was the beginning of the creative road I would follow later! To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here

White Rabbits!

March is here and we definately noticed a spring in the air yesterday, Saturday. However a short sharp cold few days are ahead of us, so we are hoping to make the most of what appears to be a nice day and go to York on the motorbikes with our friends. Last week we paid the balance on the Ferry Crossing to the IOM TT week, our hotel in port Erin is also paid for so come June 7th we will be heading out on holiday number 1. We have begun discussing holiday number 2, probably in the first week of September over to France, so this sounds fun. We will just book the ferry crossings leaving everything else to chance, a real advenure.....God Willing! lol! Anyhow should be fun! Our friends have never taken a bike abroad so this will be a first for them. We went with them to buy the bike pannier bags yesterday plus a tank bag. Fortunately it was Sale time, so they got the lot, together with a new jacket for £240! A good deal, so now the planning begins. Any tips of places to go in France? We have been before, twice my favoirite being Loire region, could possibly do a few wine regions...hmmmm now there's a thought. I also understand France has a very nice cider region...hmmmmm another thought! Watch this space! Written in March: While Resting on the Bridge at the Foot of Brother’s Water (Complete Title) this poem by William Wordsworth seemed to match today! Hopefully Spring is on its way! The cock is crowing, The stream is flowing, The small birds twitter, The lake doth glitter The green field sleeps in the sun; The oldest and youngest Are at work with the strongest; The cattle are grazing, Their heads never raising; There are forty feeding like one! Like an army defeated The Snow hath retreated, (we hope) And now doth fare ill On the top of the bare hill; The Ploughboy is whooping—anon—anon: There's joy in the mountains; There's life in the fountains; Small clouds are sailing, Blue sky prevailing; The rain is over and gone! ( Hmmmmmmmmm)

True Colour Thursday

Yesterday morning, through the kitchen window!

As we were having breakfast yesterday morning Jon noticed this fella in our front garden. Behind him you can just see the peanut holder which had fallen from the tree! Peanuts are obviously a favourite of his as he soon ploished off the few left. Once he had finished I collected the bag, fear a bird could become trapped in the mesh. I think the colouring of pheasant feathers is just awesome, so many browns yet the contrast with the red plumage around the head is just so beautiful. We often get pheasants from neighbours who go shooting. I am not a vegetarian and do use what we are given as I do not want to waste the bird, it would not seem right. However I always feel it is a thing of beauty which man has popped out of the sky.

Pheasant by Sylvia Plath You said you would kill it this morning. Do not kill it. It startles me still, The jut of that odd, dark head, pacing Through the uncut grass on the elm's hill. It is something to own a pheasant, Or just to be visited at all. I am not mystical: it isn't As if I thought it had a spirit. It is simply in its element. That gives it a kingliness, a right. The print of its big foot last winter, The trail-track, on the snow in our court The wonder of it, in that pallor, Through crosshatch of sparrow and starling. Is it its rareness, then? It is rare. But a dozen would be worth having, A hundred, on that hill-green and red, Crossing and recrossing: a fine thing! It is such a good shape, so vivid. It's a little cornucopia. It unclaps, brown as a leaf, and loud, Settles in the elm, and is easy. It was sunning in the narcissi. I trespass stupidly. Let be, let be.

For more Brown Inspirations visit Poopsie here I haven't been blogging much of late as I have been seriously de-cluttering my study. Once I was started I knew I had to see the job through. ie I have 3 major wedding commissions approaching and had to have my study tidy so I could work efficiently, ie know where things where! Well I am happy to say I am almost there, a couple more hours today will see it completed...then it will be in a position to be re-decorated. I think everything could be lifted out in the boxes I have been organising so the walls then can be stripped, skimmed and painted.....hmmm wonder what colour I will go for....watch this space. I had a rather scary incident in the pick up this week. It had been in for a major service & MOT last week. It was a humongous £450 but the front brake pads were replaced. On Monday as I was travelling down Loftus Bank I had to stop as a car in front had stopped to let a bus turn right. I saw the car, had plenty of time to brake but when I did so the pick up, although eventually coming to a stop was very slow. The tyres screached so loudly everybody was looking! The red light which indicates a brake fault came on. We phoned the garage and on Tuesday dropped the pick up off on our way to an afternoon in Whitby! When we returned the garage owner told us in the few minutes the pick up had been standing on the forecourt before a mechanic drove it into the workshop a substantial amount of brake fluid had leaked onto the ground...on investigation they discovered a calliper had snapped and over a perod of a few days all of the brake fluid had leaked out! I tell you, it just does not bear thinking about....what could have happened eh? Pick up is now back in the garage! Phew!

F is for......

I have decided to use ABC Wednesday as a way to help me structure the writing of my autobiography, last week was E for Elizabeth, my middle name after my nana, Elizabeth Ellen. I will have to edit A - C but I am sure I can fiddle something like A is for Autobiography, B is for Book and C is for Childhood etc etc.D ofcourse was for Denise. I have only written children's fiction in the past so my biography is quite a challenge. Last week I describedthe influence my nana had on my life, so this week I guess I have to keep to some chronological format and write more about my early years. Sooner or later I am going to have to set the scene and this means I have to tackle F for Father. To go on from where I left last week, I feel some thoughts I shared quite a few months ago are so appropriate, amazingly the title begins with an F..... here is the article. I feel it explains F for Father stuff....

Me, the blonde in the middle!

F is for family Fortunes...Dream On! Junk mail is a common place in the everyday life in the Nesbitt household. This day was no different. The letter arrived, addressed to me and I glanced over the contents before tossing it to one side. Did they think I was stupid? They were after my money, that wasall! Well dream on soldier, you’ve picked the wrong one here. I had visions of people all over the UK getting similar letters. Watchdog would be featuring it as the latest scam…hey I may even be on TV! The letter was left on the work surface and I carried on with my morning jobs. Jon came home at lunch time and as we had a cup of tea I remembered the letter. I showed it to him and we both laughed. Sure, somebody was trying to trace a Denise Nesbitt! LOL! There was a number to call…yes right! No doubt premium rate…yes yes, heard it all before. Seemed a normal number, I called. Answer machine…… I left a message. Went to the shops. On my return Jon said there had been a phone call….could I phone again! Asked for the name on the bottom of the letter….. A conversation followed, mentioning certain names, dates and circumstances…..I indeed was the Denise Nesbitt somebody was trying to trace. There have been only a few moments in my life which has deemed me speechless….but this was certainly one of them. It would seem the family of my biological male parent were wanting to contact me. I use the words biological male parent with particular care and deliberation. Notice I do not use the words natural father, because he could never be that! People often use the word “natural” as a compliment, as in being a “natural teacher” or “She’s a natural you know!” NO, certainly not a natural father, he never knew what it meant as he never owned up to the responsibility, choosing instead a life of drink and violence, having several affairs bringing about his business going bankrupt. I do remember however his mother, my nana from Hull. I also remember her grand daughter; my cousin I suppose called Pattie. Silence. I didn’t know what to say. Panic! There was a phone number given to me. I wrote it down. Eventually I drummed up the courage to make the phone call. Pattie’s mum. Brenda. Apparently nana from Hull had always wanted to know how I was getting on and in deed wanted to get in touch. Following a re-union on some programme or other she had written a letter to the BBC asking them to find me. The letter was never delivered as she was involved in a traffic accident on route to the post box. She died with the letter still on her person. Her daughter, Pattie’s mother was now finishing the quest her own mother had set out to achieve. When I spoke she cried. I have that effect on some people, but I did find myself with a lump in my throat. All these years, people had been thinking about me. Then she told me….he was still alive. Well, they say the good die young and this could not have been so true. When I think of all the lovely family and friends who we have lost and to think HE was still alive beggars belief. “Your Dad…” “No, he’s not my Dad” I spoke quickly, didn’t want to utter the words. Apparently HE has a photo of me as a young child! Big Deal eh! I thought of MY DAD, Jack, who had looked after mum and I, helping mum to build a life following the dreadful divorce and nervous breakdown…….I felt I was betraying him, by having this conversation. Panic again! Sensing my rising hysteria Brenda assured me she was doing this for her mum, nana from Hull, HE didn’t feature. “Let’s keep it that way!” I insisted. Phew! She was overjoyed, ecstatic, thrilled and emotional. I was miffed. Touched yes, people had been thinking and wondering about me. Brenda gave me Pattie’s number. “She’d love to hear from you Denise. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I called…. Tears again, Denise, it’s you…it’s you! There followed some moments of recollection, memories remembered and shared. She asked me if there was anything she could do. Yes….never ever let HIM know you have spoken to me. I begged. This was scary! She assured me. “Do you have any photographs?” I asked. She said she would have a look. I left her my phone number. To have all of this unfolding was all too much for me to deal with. That night I talked extensively with Jon……. What I intended to do…..was it confrontation? Humiliation? Annihilation? I needed some time to think. A couple of weeks later Pattie phoned me. “Pattie, Pattie who?” I had completely forgotten. “Your long lost cousin Pattie!” Oh yes,it all came flooding back. I explained how, in my own heart and conscience I could never ever have any contact with “him” How, I had a Dad, a proper Dad my own Dad who I had loved, respected, adored and now sorely missed. I didn’t want to know of “him” how he was, how he had been, I wasn’t in the least bit moved by the fact he had a photograph of me, it meant nothing. Keeping a photograph in a pocket does not display any great parental quality, it meant absolutely nothing, I wasn’t touched, moved or even bothered,. The opportunity to reflect came in the form of our wonderful holiday. In my mind, in my own little world, as we travelled around on the motorbike I pieced together bits and pieces, trying to comprehend the situation, planning how to deal with it all. I guess a bit like osmosis the important bits filtered through, the rest has simply washed away. Nothing has changed. One thing I did realise was the fact that I am Denise Nesbitt. I have no part of any of His name anymore. As a child I just had the name of a person I never knew, only feared. The name stayed until I was married, when I had a choice, when I embraced the name of Mrs Nesbitt. I remember my class of 7 year olds practising, on the first registration following our wedding they all said together, “Good Morning Mrs. Nesbitt!” It brought a lump in my throat. There may be the odd phone call from Pattie, but that is it. That’s all there will ever be. I have got this far with those who are with me and have loved me. I don’t need anything else.

"May the East fling open your windows, and fill your rooms with air; May the South send you strong sunshine, and give you the strength to dare; May the West wash rivers into your heart, and oceans into your soul; May the North share the secrets and gifts of the earth, to heal and make you whole." M. Flanders

Thanks for the inspirational quote True Colours it says it all!

To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here

ABC Wednesday....

It is a whols week since I wrote something here on my blog and I must say how touched I was to receive so many encouraging comments about my childhood memories. Looking back I wish I had used childhood memories as a theme for this round of ABC, so as it is my blog and I did originally decide to base it on things and people around me which I apprciate I am infact going to change it slightly at this early stage and base it on my childhood memories.... so this week, E is for Elizabeth, Elizabeth Elen to be precise, my nana, or grandma a term many of you will use more frequently. My middle name was after nana and our middle goose, Dolly was named again in memory of this great person. My mum's mum, (my nana) was a Schumacher. ie, her maiden name was Schumacher before she married my grandad, a farmer from Thetford in Norfolk, when her name changed to "Self" Her dad was german and moved to England when the unrest in Germany started. He was a clockmaker. He moved his family to York, where he had a clockmaking shop. When the war started he had his shop windows smashed repeatedly, so he moved his family. I wonder if I am related to the legend F1 driver? As I explained last week, mum secured a job as a secretary at ICI Wilton when I was a child. Whilst she was there she met Jack, a great friend who took a shine to mum and wanted to help her get the house sorted. As electronics was his speciality he helped with the re-wiring and other electrical stuff! Mum eventually introduced him to her own parents. My Grandad, a man of few words took him out for a walk! He wanted to know his intentions as Mum had been through so much. Jack assured him he had her and mine best interests at heart. Grandad was re-assured and a great friendship was kindled between them. My Nana really took a shine to Jack. He would sit with her and talk about this that and the other. Nana was ill and as her health deteriorated in 1970 we kew she was gravely ill. On one of his visits as jack sat with Nana she drew him close and asked him to promise he would look after Madge and Denise....he promised. On June 17th, 1970, Nana died. I rember nana quite vividly. The storiesour family recall show a family, who, although surrounded by adversity and limited funds had a rich dialogue of their exploits which remain with me to this day. I guess this is where I get my love of story telling from. Tears would flow down our cheeks as each family member recalled events, which however sad were always laughed through, with great understanding. I remember nana always in the kitchen cooking, fatty cakes, a very basic scone mixture served with gravy. I still use her green gravy jug which has been used for the same purpose for 3 generations. To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here

ABC Wednesday....

I am the blonde in the middle, with the sensible sandals on! D is for....DENISE, Auntie DOT and a near DEATH experience! I love telling stories. When I am teaching I love to use examples from my own childhood/life to illustrate a point. I have always wanted to write a book, it would be called “The Amazing Adventures of Flossy Flupipe…why? Read on! In my work as a teacher I come across many children who are going through a particular bad time at home. More and more children have to deal with broken relationships and parental problems. I know how they feel! By the age of 5 my parents were divorced. At an early age I decided to try and make my mum proud of me..... I didn't always get it right, but I tried. When parents come to me and say their child is being difficult/rude/cheeky/dis-interested because of problems at home it doesn't really wash with me, and the children know this. They too have the choice to either make their parent(s) proud...or not! Flossyflupipe was the name my mum called me, and my book is going to be about the early years of my life...............................hence the title! The amazing adventures of flossy flupipe! Enjoy! My mum was the middle child, having two elder sisters and two younger brothers. Starting with the oldest the running order went like this.... Joan, Doreen (Dot) Marjorie, Robert, (Bob) and Stanley (Stan) My nana was Elizabeth Ellen, my Grandad was Robert Charles. My grandad originated from Thetford, Norfolk and my nana came from Germany. Her maiden name was Schumacher. Her father had fled Germany when all the troubles of the First World War started. He did not support the Nazi's and wanted to give the family a better start in life. He was a clockmaker and he set up his business in York. Sadly when the war started his shop was targeted by anti-Nazi protestors and the windows were often stoned. Eventually he moved further north. Nana and Grandad had an ice-cream round which they did from the back of a horse. Eventually grandad worked in the steelworks. He was a passionate gardener and allowed me to grow some flowers. He was the character Mr Green finger in a children's story I wrote called Cedric the Caterpillar. In my story Mr Green finger grew flowers for Mrs Green finger’s windowsill...just as grandad had always done. My nana was the home maker. Her role was to bring up the children, look after the home and ensure there was always a good meal at the table. Out of the five children mum was the one who had an aptitude for learning and secured a place at secretarial college. This was to be her tool of escape in later years. Education was her passport and it allowed her to make a choice! I was to use this knowledge myself and pass the secret on to others! Mum enjoyed her work as a typist and worked in a Solicitor's Office. Her best friend, Enid and she would always enjoy their times out together. It was on such an occasion she met Jim, James or whatever! He was a roofer. Says it all! Mum was infatuated with him and took him to meet nana and grandad. They didn't take to him. As the relationship developed his intentions became apparent. Nana and grandad did not want mum to marry him. Mum married him! Now the interesting fact here is that they were married in September 1955.... 9 months later Denise Elizabeth was born! I often asked mum if she was pregnant when she got married, she always denied it.....but I still wonder. Mum married him! It wasn't long into the marriage that things started going wrong. He was a heavy drinker and a womaniser. He was also violent. I do have a fear of stairs even to this day. This is because he pushed me down the stairs, be it accidentally when I was 2 or 3. Even if it was as a result of him being drunk and careless, at that age it was quite frightening for me. He had his own business and the money management was not helped by his bouts of drinking....so he went bankrupt! Mum was home alone one day when there was a visit from some not so nice people....the Bailiffs. They stripped the home leaving only a bed and a chair. They even took my toy pushchair which nana and grandad had bought me a few days earlier. Mum had spoken to Grandad about the home situation, but his words had been... "We told you he was no good...you've made your bed now lie in it!" The stress of everything was telling on mum. As the home situation was not good to bring up a baby, moi, I was moved to live with Auntie Dot & Uncle Moss. They lived in a terraced house in Eston. I remember going for a walk with Auntie Dot and she pointed to a window in the town's hospital. My mum was waving. Unbeknown to me she had suffered a nervous breakdown. It was through mental and physical exhaustion. She was living still in Stockton, travelling extensive distances on the bus each day to work, and then calling to see me every night. Shortly after mum bought a house in the next street. She had borrowed the deposit from her 2 brothers, Uncle Bob and Uncle Stan. She left my natural father and divorce proceedings were started.. Auntie Dot and Uncle Moss met through work. They both worked on the buses. Uncle Moss was a driver and Auntie Dot was a conductress. They had no children. I don't know what the arrangements were i.e. if Auntie Dot stopped working in order to look after me, or if she had all ready stopped work. But she was there for me whilst mum worked. From the age of 5 I would get up on a morning for breakfast, go to school and after school I would have my tea and then watch television whilst waiting for mum. Mum would collect me and I would spend a few hours with her at our own house, 61 West Street. Around 9pm, Mum would take me back to 57 William Street where I would have a wash or bath and then go to bed. On a weekend Mum collected me on a Friday evening and I spent the entire weekend with her, returning on a Sunday evening ready for school. When mum had holidays I would stay with her. The arrangements stayed like this and we were all happy. here were times when I missed my mum and let it be known, but on the whole everybody had my best interests at heart and we soldiered on. One of the great events was when Uncle Moss bought a car. An Austin A35. Uncle Moss's driving had to be experienced to be believed! Being a bus driver he assumed he always had the right of way. He also had the ability to smoke whilst driving, drop his cigarette, set himself on fire, continue driving, somehow have a small fire somewhere about his person and arrive at his destination completely unscathed by the episode. One of the most vivid recollections is of him driving up Saltburn bank. Mum and Auntie Dot were in the rear of the car and I was in the front passenger seat. It was the age of cigarettes and all 3 adults were smoking. Uncle Moss, as per usual dropped his cigarette into his lap and as the smell of the singing trousers alerted and alarmed the rest of us he started fumbling around to find the burning cigarette. Of course he couldn't see as he was watching the road and burnt his fingers on the lighted cigarette which was in his lap. For a moment he lost his concentration, missed a gear and the car started rolling backwards down Saltburn bank! I was panic stricken, gasping for breath anyway as I battled to get some air in the smoke filled car as it rolled backwards! I could see the sea and had visions of us ending up in it! Fortunately Uncle Moss, still singing away managed to gain control and brought the car to a halt. He found the right gear and we carried on, be it Uncle Moss arriving home with several holes in his trousers and a telling off from Auntie Dot! To be continued! To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here

Monday Monday!

Jo, waiting for his crust!

My Monday odd shot features Jo, my adored gander who has enjoyed paddling round the garden in the snow. By looking at his prints I could see exactly where he had been yesterday in the snow. When I opened the blind in the kitchen I saw two pheasants walking through the village, it was a lovely sight. The contrast of their colourful plumage against the whiteness of the snow. Wilma and i went for a walk and I could see many prints, probably foxes and badgers, it was lovely. To look at more Monday shots click on the links in the sidebar.

My odd shot was taken on 7th February last year. Yet last Friday the scene was exactly the same, so it was an ideal subject for a monochrome project. Although we have had no snow during the night the village looks wonderful and I will indeed be taking some photographs later. I did take some yesterday but there are issues with the re-chargeable batteries in my camera and I could not load my efforts, but this will be sorted later. Today sees me embark on a mammoth spring clean throughout the house. Today it is to be the kitchen cupboards. I will show the end results but not the current oes as the place needs a good sort. I have plans for each room and am very keen to get started. With the kitchen my plans will involve NOTHING to be stored on any of the work surfaces other than the kettle, knife block, microwave and possibly the toaster....toaster not used everyday just some days. I know I will be taking stuff to the charity shop as well as the tip so I need to be organised about it all, which I do feel I am. Rather than thinking "Oh the place is JUST SO Cluttered" I am thinking, yes there are issues here and I will address them. LOL! ie tackle each room at a time. I am making progress with my new mobile phone, having managed to send picture messages to poor unsuspecting friends and family. I also play a daily brain refresher exercise, involving maths, logic, mamory and visual skills.......room for improvement me thinks, especially on the memory skills as i can't remember where my mobile is, still I know my number so I can always ring myself! LOL! I

Hey! Day 1 with my new mobile phone.

Roseberry Topping,on our way home.

Roseberry Topping is a hill near Great Ayton, on the edge of the North York Moors. The hill is popular spot for walkers and photographers, with excellent views of the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire area from the summit, and forms part of the Cleveland Way National Trail. The distinctive rocky shape of the landmark is due to a combination of mining and a geological fault, causing a part of the hill to collapse in the early 20th century.

Well I took my first picture with my phone camera as we drove through Pinthinthorpe a few hours ago. My previous mobile was terrible with pictures, always such a faff on really, this one however does seem efficient. I have downloaded the necessary software to my laptop so hopefully I will learn something new each time I have a fiddle. Tomorrow, (Saturday) we are going to Rufforth, a huge auto-jumble so I will see if there are any interesting bits and bobs. Sunday, Jon is working so I am hoping to take some pictures on the beach or around the village.

Watch this space!

Waiting!

My new mobile phone is due today, between 8am and 6pm. As I have to sign for it I can not leave the house.This doesn't bother me as I have plenty to be getting on with and looking outside and listening to the weather forecast of more snow I know I am in the best place. I am not a particularly technological wizz kid when it comes to mobile phone use, unlike Jon but I must make an effort to get to grips with various features which will help my role with Jon's business development. I do want to be able to sort out sending photographs via e-mail and this in itself should be an eye-opener. I know I am going to be reading the instructions for my new mobile phone.... here are it's specifications! Features of the Samsung Steel include: * 3G with video calling and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA * 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and 3x digital zoom * Video recording * Second video camera for video calling * Display: TFT, 262K colours, 240 x 320 pixels (2.2 inches) * Music player * FM radio * 64-voice polyphonic ringtones / MP3 ringtones * Integrated handsfree speakerphone * Personal organiser functions * Memory: 30 Mbytes plus MicroSD memory card slot (expandable to 8 GB) * Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB * WAP 2.0, GPRS Class 10, EDGE, 3G HSDPA * Triband (900/1800/1900 MHz) plus 3G (UMTS) * Size: 104 x 49 x 14 mm * Weight: 109g * Talktime: 296 minutes * Battery standby: 568 hours Phew! I may be sometime! LOL! watch this space!

ABC Wednesday......C

C is for Community. "a locality inhabited by such a group" This is an aerial shot of our community. We have been part of this community for nearly 20 years. In the bottom photographthe building on the far left is our village church. The local pub can be seen to the far right and the village hall can also be seen. We are a close community yet we dont live inside each other's homes. If anybody needs anything they can be assured somebody will know and help out. What type of community do you belong to? A viilage, town or city? To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here Have a good Wednesday! Dx

In the Pink!

 

One day when we were out on the motorbike we came across this lovely front door in a village somewhere between Malton and pickering! I just had to take a photograph! What a lovely cheerful comour! What colour is your front door? Ours is Navy Blue, Police colours. Visit here for more pinks today!

ABC Wednesday! Yes Yes I know I am early!

Continuing with my theme of writing about what is close to my heart, appreciating what is around me I can honestly say B is for BUSY BUSY BUSY! Andrew's Birthday was a great day and I cooked a lovely family dinner. Andrew loves my mashed potatoes. I cooked rib of beef...awesome. My typical day starts at 7am when we get up and I make Jon a cooked breakfast to put a lining on his stomach for the day's work ahead of him at the workshop. After Jon has left for the workshop it is housework time, washing machine loading etc etc. At 10.15 I go to the workshop, just 5 minutes away and take Jon his snack. Over a cup of tea we always play the Radio 2 Popmaster quiz at 10.30. I am on a role at the moment and have beaten Jon every day except one! LOL! After the quiz, around 11 I drive to the beach with Wilma and spend anything up to an hour racing around throwing the ball in an effort to tire her out. Home in time to prepare Jon's midday snack, usually something like a sandwich. Jon returns to the workshop and takes Wilma, I am left with Elsie who is content to lay by the door whilst I get on with whatever jobs I haveplanned to do. Yesterday I was dealing with some telephone calls re Jon's business, setting up appointments etc so I multi-tasked and had a big cooking session whilst I was on the phone. I am a huge fan of menu planning and produced... 7 beef curries 5 portions of sausages in onion & mushroom gravr, 5 chicken stirfries moroccan style 5 spicy pork steaks in sauce 5 pasta bakes 5 mince & onions These are all now portioned up and in the freezer. No more main meal cooking for 32 days which will take me well into February. Today my afternoon job is to start on my current wedding commission which I need to complete by the weekend ready for them to be delivered. Tomorrow afternoon we have a village funeral to go to. Sadly one of our neighbours died last week. It is sad and her husband is devestated, alongside other neighbours we will go to the church to support Les and his family. Thursday, we have a very important business meeting re Jon over in Darlington. We are excited about this, it is a very significant possibility for future work. Infact meeting new custiomers is always exciting, it is what business is all about. Friday there is a possibility we may have to travel to Lancashire, again regarding new business for Jon's business. All of these are important and significant to me and I appreciate them all. Working with Brides, Business, Busy busy busy. Oh and I am co-ordinating a Wedding Fayre for March. I have a new bride to meet on Friday evening and once I have delivered the current wedding commission I am working on I have another one to start and complete asap. I must admit I have not been able to find time to comment on many blogs but I do hope people appreciate what is going on right now. To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here Have a good Wednesday! Dx

Happy Australia Day

I noticed it is Australia Day today....so tonight I am going to cook this menu and we will no doubt have some Australian Wine! Spicy Australian Salmon Cutlets Ingredients: 6 Australian Salmon cutlets 3-4cm thick 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons white flour 3 tablespoons curry powder 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespsoon tumeric 1 tablespoon paprika chopped parsley lemon wedges soy sauce * Mix flour, currypower, brown sugar, tumeric, and paprika. * Pat dry cutlets with towelling and coat with mixture until covered. * Heat pan on high and add oil. When oil starts smoking, reduce heat to medium. * Fry cutlets, turning after 5 min. * Cook until golden brown. * Serve with soy sauce, and lemon wedges and a bed of steamed jasmine rice.

ABC Wednesday..Round 4!

I so much enjoyed Round 3...it was great to focus on our village. I have a new theme for Round 4........ Basically it is based on the things around me which I treasure. I felt it would help me appreciate the lovely family, friends and little bits around our home which mean so much to me.... A is for.... Andrew, our godson, we love him to bits. Andrew was 18 last week. We are celebrating here on Sunday with a family meal. Andrew loves my dinners, my number 1 fan! To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here

The Great Tony Hart has died.

I watched many many Tony Hart programmes as a child. He was a great inspiration for creativity. I LOVED how he made us believe in having a go at making something. So so artistic! He appeared on art programmes for nearly 50 years before retiring in 2001 because of health problems but was most famous for fronting children's art shows including Take Hart and Hartbeat. His agent Roc Renals said he died in the early hours of Sunday morning. Fellow artist and television presenter Rolf Harris described him as "a very gentle and talented guy". He said: "He brought huge creativity to his TV programmes Vision On and Take Hart, particularly using unexpected sources and materials. He enthused and inspired a whole generation of kids into creating their own works of art, simple or complex." His shows inspired generations of children to get involved in art. He was also instrumental in the early success of Aardman Animations, creators of the Oscar-winning adventures of Wallace and Gromit. The company was set up by students David Sproxton and Peter Lord but only went full-time when they created the character of Morph for Take Hart. A spokesman for the company said: "It's a very, very sad day. Without that programme and without Morph there would be no Aardman. "Every animator that comes through the Aardman studio has to make a Morph and animate it. It's a tradition and if they can make it properly then they are probably good enough for Aardman. "Even Nick Park made a Morph when he joined Aardman."

Black Jack? I wouldn't have a clue!

A Black casino chip for True Colour Thursday! THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO THOSE OF YOU NOT LIVING IN LAS VEGAS, BUT THERE ARE MORE CATHOLIC CHURCHES THAN CASINOS. NOT SURPRISINGLY, SOME WORSHIPERS AT SUNDAY SERVICES WILL GIVE CASINO CHIPS RATHER THAN CASH WHEN THE BASKET IS PASSED. SINCE THEY GET CHIPS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CASINOS, THE CHURCHES HAVE DEVISED A METHOD TO COLLECT THE OFFERINGS. THE CHURCHES SEND ALL THEIR COLLECTED CHIPS TO A NEARBY FRANCISCAN MONASTERY FOR SORTING AND THEN THE CHIPS ARE TAKEN TO THE CASINOS OF ORIGIN AND CASHED IN. THIS IS DONE BY THE CHIP MONKS. YOU DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING, DID YOU ? Had to share this! Well it is an understatement to say I am going to be busy over the next few days. This afternoon I have a meeting with a local hotel manager about a wedding fayre in March which I am organising. I am awaiting delivery of materials for a wedding commission I have to deliver by the end of next week, then I have another commission to undertake once current one is completed. Jon and I are at a wedding all Saturday and Evening Reception....I am taking the photographs. I have a new commission to sketch up some ideas for and meet the client probably Sunday, Friday night possibility. On Friday I am driving over to Malton to follow up six butchers re Jon's business... It is our godson's 18th birthday on Friday. I am cooking a family dinner for Sunday 25th! I am working on a powerpoint presentation as a surprise. I have lots of photos to scan! so if all appears quiet here you know I am too busy to get up to any mischief! Update! Delivery of Materials...11.30am today, so off I go to work!

Z is for...Zero Tollerance!

Being a close knit community one thing which we do is communicate anything which is unusual, strange or out of character in the village. The neighbourhood watch scheme is something we all take serious, letting each other know if something is not right, or strangers are spotted. Several farms are members of the Farm Watch scheme. Over the past 26 weeks I have so enjoyed sharing the wonderful elements which make up our village. We have been here now for 18 years and enjoy being part of this commumity. The ABC Wednesday project has allowed me to sit back and observe the elements of our village, not only observe but to apprciate and reflect. Sometimes we need to do this, so we appreciate what is going on under our very noses. I will definately have a theme for round 4, just not sure what just yet.....watch this space. To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here To see the ABC Anthology, visit here

Purple Heather

Heather on the Hole of Horcum

The Hole of Horcum. Legend has it that the huge hollow in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park that is the Hole of Horcum and is about quarter of a mile wide a mile long and six hundred feet deep was scooped out of the ground in rage by a giant called Wade, he threw it at his wife Bel who had infuriated him but it missed her and landed two miles away to the east and formed a conical hill known as Blakey Topping. What actually happened was streams that run down through the valley wore the surface away and water from underground springs gradually undermined the area. There is a car parking area on the opposite side of the A 169 at Saltergate Bank in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park . Well marked footpaths lead you over heather covered Levisham Moor and take you round the edge of the Hole of Horcum through woodland in the vale of Dunsdale and back along the base of the vale. The Saltergate Inn is just a short walk away down the hill on the A169, As well as serving an excellent pint of beer and Pub food it is also famous for its peat fire that has reputedly never been allowed to die out for hundreds of years. The Heather is at it's best in August, usually the second weekend. This had to be my purple. Rod Stewart sang a lovely, appropriate song. Oh, the summertime is gone, and the leaves are sweetly turning And the wild mountain thyme Blooms across the purple heather Will ya go, lassie, go. If ye will not go with me I will never find another To pick wild mountain thyme Will ye go, lassie, go? And we’ll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All among the purple heather Will ya go, lassie, go And we’ll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All among the purple heather Will ya go, lassie go Lassie go Lassie go I will build my love a tower By the cool crests of water And I'll cling to her forever Like the ivy to the heather, Will you go, lassie, go. And we’ll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All among the purple heather Will ya go, lassie go Lassie, go Will ya go, lassie, go If you will not go come me I will surely find another To pull wild mountain thyme All along the purple heather Will ya go, lassie, go And we’ll all go together To pick wild mountain thyme All along the purple heather Will ya go, lassie, go. And we’ll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All across the purple heather Will ya go, lassie, go. For more True Colours go here

Y is for......

You can always be assured of a welcome at our Village Hall!

This was the scene earlier today in our village hall. Thanks to Lottery grant money an IT course for beginners is taking place every Tuesday afternoon for the next 15 weeks. Here are some of our neighbours today.

This is my Mother in Law, the other Mrs Nesbitt! LOL! Judging by the photograph angle i think I should brush up on my photo skills! To see more posts, visit the ABC Blog here To see the ABC Anthology, visit here

Back to Normal?

Garden Visitor, January 1st 2008!

Monochrome Monday..... Now Christmas is over and New Year Celebrations are complete it is time to look forward and find any hints of Spring! This photograph, taken from where I am sitting now, at the kitchen table shows clearly that the buds of the cherry blossom last year were more advanced than they are today...there are some buds and indeed if I zoom in I am sure I will see more signs...it is just a case of looking! Our garden visitors are checking out the bird house and we have had many visitors throughout the holiday.

The photograph, normal colour appears much warmer. My oddshot is indeed odd because like many other people I felt the weather was getting warmer, so it was quite a surprise to wake up to find snow on the front lawn.....not such a sign of spring, but an essential part of nature's calendar.

Slowly but surely things are getting back to normal after a very hectic fortnight of entertaining and partying. We have a full month of parties, birthday celebrations and a wedding so it will be a fun month for us. After abandoning any healthy eating for a couple of weeks I need to get back on track which I hope to do so over the next few days........well when I have eaten the last of the jelly babies and wine gums which are looming in the lounge! My New Year Poem is my Bridges contribution as I do feel it really sums up what it is all about! To follow any of these projects, click on the link in the side bar. Here's to 2009!

SAILING INTO THE NEW YEAR God built and launched this year for you; Upon the bridge you stand; It's your ship, aye, your own ship, And you are in command. Just what the twelve months' trip will do Rests wholly, solely, friend, with you. Your logbook kept from day to day My friend, what will it show? Have you on your appointed way Made progress, yes or no? The log will tell, like guiding star, The sort of captain that you are. For weal or woe this year is yours; Your ship is on life's sea You acts, as captain, must decide Whichever it shalll be; So now in starting on your trip, Ask God to help you sail your ship. ~Author Unknown~