You have heard me all rabbiting on about Weeworld in the past, but I thought you would all like to see the latest happenings on there as they are so cute!  First of all, let me introduce you to two new faces on Weeworld, they are aiming to be one of the most powerful Weemee’s in Weeworld and are hoping for lots of votes! Remind you of anyone?

Then lots and lots of Weemee’s have been getting into the Halloween spirit (Whoooo!) by dressing up in very scary costumes and of course the Weemee bods and powers that be have been running one of their competitions to see who’s Weemee is the best Halloween dressed.

Here are a few of the ones they have been featuring on there.

You can also choose a scary backdrop for your Weemee as well. Me and my Weemee? Oh, she is too old to mess about dressing up for Halloween, she is scary enough without the costume and make up!  Mind you my Weemee might dress up for Christmas as last year we could all decorate our rooms and there was a competition for the best Xmas decorated room.

Its all good fun isn’t it? Mind you, we will soon be getting Avatars on the Xbox 360 and they look really cool! I am hoping that they will be usable not just for Xbox live but also for any programs, websites and forums that you want to use them on.

Well that’s all for now folks, keep blogging won’t you?

TG 

Our bus station.

 I have not been blogging recently because I have been so busy with other things. Such as? Well K returned from respite complete with a suitcase full of washing, so I had that to plough through (not ironed yet as I had only just done a load of ironing just before her return, once in a week is enough for me thank you! I hate ironing so it will have to wait until I am in the mood!)

Anyways, what’s with the title I hear you ask, did you become inebriated?  Did you go on a bender celebrating K’s return?  No, it isn’t actually referring to me or K for that matter. Let me explain. I was supposed to go shopping yesterday morning more or less straight after K had exited to the day care centre, but as we needed to buy quite a few items ( Yes, she’s back with her lists!) I could envisage me having some problems carrying it all home, so K told me to leave the shopping until she returned so that she could also carry some of it in her backpack.

So I then got on with other things until her return. We then went into town and did the shopping and we were on our way up to catch our bus when the incident that warrants the title occurred.

An elderly lady walking up to the bus station on the opposite pavement to us fell on the floor. Of course without hesitation, K and I dashed over to help.  I tried to lift her up by myself as she didn’t look as if she weighed more than two penneth of copper, but I couldn’t manage,  so I had to ask K to hold the ladies other arm and we both then assisted her to her feet.

Immediately I could smell her breath. Hmm, she had obviously been drinking!  We both took an arm and I asked her which bus she needed to catch, intending to escort her to the relevant bus stop and we began walking in that direction.  At the top of the road she changed her mind.

“Perhaps I had better take a taxi.” she said. Hmm, a wise decision in my opinion as she really was unsteady on her feet even with both of us holding her arms.  So we promptly turned around and walked her the other way in the direction of  the taxi office which is about 60 yards or so from the bus station.  We escorted her there and then saw her safely into the taxi.

“ I can’t understand it.” she said, “I’ve only had three halves of lager, and I am used to drinking. I have never felt like this before.” Hmm.  She was quite small and thin, so I ventured an explanation to her.

“Have you had anything to eat today?” She replied that she hadn’t had any food.

“Well that won’t help then.  It will have gone straight to your head!” said I.  She was adamant that she had never fallen down or been dizzy before and that the only drink that she had consumed was three halves of lager. I was very sceptical about this myself but then I do tend to be a very sceptical person.

Once we had seen her safely into the taxi we then had to speedily retrace our steps back to the bus station, hopefully before our bus left.  As luck would have it we hadn’t missed it, as by this time in the afternoon it was becoming quite cold, and I absolutely hate standing around waiting for a bus in the cold.

So, what do you think?  She was about 70 years old at a guess, certainly older than I am and very scrawny in build.  She was only small in height as well. Could she have really only had three halves of lager?  As for our good deed, I always go and help anyone I see in difficulty. You never know when it might happen to you and the tables be turned and you need assistance. I do it without thinking about it and always have done, and I have brought my children up to do the same.

Well I am off now to play some Fable 2. Yes, I have my mitts on it at last. I will probably post later with some pictures of my heroine in the game and some photos of Albion and the game itself.  Its wonderful to have something to play at last!  Mind you, this Friday Fallout 3 is also out so then I will have to make a decision as to  which one to devote my time to. This after having absolutely zilch to play all year practically! 

TG    Keep blogging won’t you?

Xscape in the Braehead Shopping Centre where we went ten pin bowling.

On rising on the Thursday and after breakfast had been eaten by all concerned, it was decided that the weather was just too cold and damp for the proposed trip on the ferry across Loch Lomond.  I was a little disappointed, but our hosts were in charge of the itinerary and as we had already enjoyed such a fantastic time so far, I swallowed my disappointment and agreed with their decision.  They had decided that it would be better if we all went to Xscape at the Braehead Centre in Glasgow which would obviously be warmer and drier!  This was a very popular choice with the children as they had been asking to go there all week.

So let me see. Technogran, she with the arthritic knees and dodgy back was about to go………….Ten Pin Bowling!  I hadn’t done this for at least 40 years if not more!  Well, I thought  to myself, I just hope that I don’t end up looking a complete fool, or worse end up throwing myself down the bowling alley by getting my fingers stuck in the ball!  So we all piled into the car and set off to Glasgow for a memorable day out. (Or in this case, in.)

Xscape turned out to be a huge Shopping Plaza complete with other venues inside it such as the Ten Pin bowling alley.  Because the children were on holiday the place was obviously packed with families.  We donned our bowling shoes and after being assigned a lane, began bowling.  Because it was so long since I had done any bowling I was very rusty but at least I was able to ‘bend at the knee’  as I let go of the ball!  We played about 6 games in total bowling against each other, and K held her own as well.  She gets really serious about competitive things such as this,  and I only wish now that I had taken some photographs of everyone bowling then you would have been able to see the concentration on her face and the looks she gave when she hadn’t hit anything.  And guess what?  I ended up making two strikes and actually won one of the rounds as well!

Afterwards, we came out of the building and walked around the side to view some of the naval ships which are being built at the Clyde shipyards and I took a Panoramic shot of these.  Then we returned home. This was followed in the evening by a wonderful meal out that they had booked previously at one of my son’s favourite public houses where they serve a carvery, and we were also accompanied by Cl’s Mum for the meal.  Inside it was absolutely packed with people and no wonder! There were three different meats to choose from, Turkey, Beef or Ham with generous sized portions of each piled onto your plate by the chef, then a ‘help yourself to as much as you like’ array of vegetables such as cauliflower in cheese sauce,carrots,turnip,peas,cabbage,roast potatoes,new potatoes,Yorkshire puddings,seasoning balls,etc, complemented by cranberry sauce, mustard sauce and as much gravy as you could manage to fit onto your plate!

The price for all this food?  £3.50 a head!  I kid you not!  Everyone laughed when I said to them “ I’m picking this pub up and taking it home with me!”  No wonder it was so busy!  For any of you who might be contemplating a visit around that area in the future, the public house in question is called the Stonefield and it is situated on the Dumbarton Road in Milton, Dumbarton. They are also doing a Christmas Fayre menu of two courses for £5.00, three courses for £7.95 and on Christmas Day the whole works for £36!  Not only that but its one of those public houses where you feel instantly cosy and welcome.  I tell you if I could have picked it up and carried it home with me I would have done!

The Stonefield public house,Dunbarton Road, well worth a visit!

Then we all returned back home, K and I to begin our packing for the following days return back home, and my son and his family to relax in front of the TV.  So the end of another very enjoyable day.

TG 

Stirling Castle.

On the Wednesday following breakfast, we all packed into the car to undertake the promised visit to Stirling Castle. This journey took quite some time to make, but at last we arrived at the castle, parked the car and ventured in.  The weather forecast had stated that it would be raining in the morning and then brighten up in the afternoon, and this encouraged us to don raincoats for this visit which we were glad of as the forecast proved correct.

There was lots to see, and as R had recently visited the castle with his school, he took charge of conducting us all on the tour.  As you approach the castle you pass by a statue of Robert the Bruce which set K off looking for one of William Wallace ( very big Braveheart fan!) but we didn’t see one of him and she was quite disappointed.

First of all on entering the main courtyard, we made our way to the battlements in order to take in the stunning views from that vantage point, and then we ventured into the Great Kitchens which were very interesting.  Figurines depicted what life would have been like in the kitchens, and dotted about each exhibition were books that you could read about the meals that would have been cooked in the kitchen at the time.

We then made our way to the Inner close and the Chapel Royal where there were some fantastic tapestries to be seen  hanging on the wall in here.  Following that we went into the Great Hall which is the largest ever built in Scotland.  It really was magnificent and it didn’t take much imagination in order to visualise the long tables filled with food and the King and Queen sitting on the two thrones on the top table. There were five huge fireplaces, two on one side and two on the other with one behind the thrones which were used to keep the Great Hall warm. Of course my grandchildren and K took turns at sitting on the thrones and pretending to be very royal!

Next we made our way outside and down the walk to the Tapestry Studio, where a lady was busy making a tapestry that would end up in the Chapel Royal and join with the others already displayed there. The room was filled with different coloured bobbins of silk and the guide told us not to talk to the lady or disturb her. The tapestry she was working on was sideways on, and a picture on the wall depicted what the finished tapestry would eventually look like.  I was really full of admiration for those who work on these tapestries.  What patience they must have!

Then we retraced our steps back up to the Inner courtyard to go around the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regimental museum which is housed there.  This was really interesting when you realised that the regiment had been involved in some really major battles which ranged in history and time from fighting the colonials in the American war of Independence right through to  World war one  and then two.  My Dad, god bless his soul, would have been enthralled with it all.

We made our way into the gardens and took in the Castle Exhibition which was housed there and was really interesting, then we paid the gift shop a visit where I bought another fridge magnet of the castle as a souvenir.  It was decided that we wouldn’t have something to eat in the castle cafe but instead go down into the town of Stirling itself so we all climbed back into the car and went into Stirling for some dinner.  It was still raining and as we had spent quite some time in the Castle  and it was now well on in the afternoon, we all decided to call it a day  and return home.

As we left Stirling, I turned around to look back at the castle up there on the hill and marvelled at how similar it looked to Edinburgh Castle.  Over to the left of the castle in the distance on the top of another hill is a monument to William Wallace, and my son and his family plan to visit this sometime in the future.

I had really enjoyed the day as I absolutely love looking around old castles and ancient buildings.  I love their history and only wish that if only their walls could talk, think what stories they could tell!

TG    The following day we had the cruise on the Loch to look forward to, that was if the weather was kind so see if we made it or not.  See my photos for more shots of the castle and our visit.

On the Tuesday following breakfast we set off to visit Ardlui which is situated right at the top most end of Loch Lomond.  My son warned me that it was a quite a long journey up there and it certainly was.  It was also a good job that we all took our raincoats with us because on our eventual arrival at Ardlui we encountered some drizzly rain, but this didn’t dampen our spirits in the slightest.  My son decided to pack his fishing rod into the car as he planned to do some fishing in the Loch whilst we were there.

On our way to Ardlui we made a detour and paid a visit to Helenburgh on the coast where, after parking the car on the front, we all stood on the pier to watch a naval submarine making its way out to sea from the nearby naval base.  We did discuss taking a ferry ride but the water was very choppy and it was quite cold as well,so this idea was then discounted and planned for another day, hopefully when the weather was more favourable.  R took a tumble down some very slippery steps which were at the side of the pier and covered in seaweed.  He soon recovered though as he hadn’t hurt himself too much. 

We then returned to the car and continued our journey to Ardlui through some absolutely breathtaking countryside which was dotted here and there with isolated farms, gorse and bracken, and hills and dales.  We were really amongst the mountains here, and with no other car in sight!  I actually got out of the car at one point to take some panoramic views of the surroundings as it was so beautiful.   Nor could I believe the size of the cattle which were grazing up here!  They were absolutely enormous. This was obviously mostly farming country and my son told us to keep our eyes open for glimpses of deer but we didn’t spot any.  We did see lots of grouse and pheasant, one which nearly got run over by the car as it was stood in the middle of the road!

Following the unfruitful fishing, we continued on following the edge of the Loch to where there was a Mobile Home and Holiday Villa park situated complete with lots of boats moored up there.   What a wonderful place to have a holiday home I thought to myself.  So peaceful and quiet and complete with absolutely stunning views!  I could just imagine waking up in a morning and looking out of the windows at that view!

We then made our way to some local shops where I bought my usual fridge magnet souvenir and my son and my granddaughter tried on a Tam-o-shanter hat complete with ginger wig which was quite comical.  There were lots of little souvenir shops dotted around this area and quite a few holiday parks as well.

It certainly turned out to be a fair drive there and back again, but well worth it for the fantastic views alone, and I could well understand why people would own holiday homes around the area of the Loch as it was absolutely breathtaking.  I ended up with my head spinning trying to take it all in!  I thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the damp and drizzly weather.

The Holiday Homes at the edge of Loch Lomond

TG    Tomorrow we had a visit to Stirling castle to look forward to!

As soon as we had unpacked our suitcase and enjoyed a quick tour of the house, we were whisked off to Balloch park a favourite haunt of my son and his family.  It is situated right alongside Loch Lomond with some stunning views visible from its paths.

We parked the car and then began our walk.  It was chilly with a fresh breeze coming from the direction of the Loch itself but at least it wasn’t raining.  Its a lovely park containing many different types of trees complete with babbling brook and a small castle in the middle.   We also found a lovely little bench which was really cute and of course, K tried it out for size!  We had included Sandy their dog in this outing, and she was having a whale of a time running in and out of the trees, splashing into the brook  and investigating everywhere and everything.

It was by now about 4.30 to 5.00pm and the light was beginning to fade slightly by the time we began our walk along the lower path which runs parallel to the Loch itself. There were many ducks swimming close to the edge and the grandchildren nearly had a close encounter with some swans which came onto the shoreline to investigate them.  They obviously thought that the children had bread and titbits and were getting very close!

Rh went right to the edge of the pier which was partly submerged and ended up with wet trousers, much to his Mum’s annoyance. There were loads of boats moored here as you can probably make out on the aerial map.  We had all worked up quite an appetite taking this park walk, so Cr decided to go to the nearest cafe and get some food for everyone. taking K with him ( who naturally eagerly volunteered to accompany him at the mention of her favourite subject)  so Cl and I sat down on a nearby bench to wait for their return whilst the children played at the edge of the Loch.

Some quite considerable time later there was no sign of their impending return, and as we had become quite cold sitting on the bench, we decided to go in search of their whereabouts.    As we reached the road they were just emerging from the cafe with all the food.  I had a chicken and some chips and  K had chosen a battered sausage of some description with chips so she was in her element.  We decided to take them to the car and devour them inside where it was warmer.  Cl and I had become frozen through, and whenever I get so chilled it tends to take me ages to thaw out.  The children seemed oblivious to the cold though as children tend to be.

After eating the impromptu tea, we made our way back home to a lovely warm house and a relaxing evening inside.  A quick warm shower to help thaw out and K and I were soon sat in pyjamas and dressing gown for  a relaxing evening with the family. I had a surprise gift for my two grandchildren,  I had taken them my old webcam up as theirs never seemed to work correctly and so they spent most of the night setting that up on their laptop and trying it out. Once we retired for bed, I slept like the proverbial log!

“Tomorrow we are taking you to the north of Loch Lomond to Ardlui.” they informed me, “its a fair drive out but its worth it and is one of Cl favourite spots, and I’ll try some fishing whilst we’re there.” Hmm, another Vista packed day tomorrow, better not forget to take the camera then!

Balloch Park

TG 

As usual, I was full of trepidation as we finally exited the door at 8.10am to begin our epic journey to Scotland. How I wish I could stop being such a worrier!  On arrival at our train station, I was already beginning to get rather anxious and tense. The train arrived and our journey to Leeds was on time.  This was followed by more tension as the train before ours was due was running late.  By the time ours arrived I was very wound up and panicky!

“I won’t calm down K until I am on that Glasgow train!” I admitted. This state of mine was caused by the fact that you can’t use the Advance tickets on any other train, at least not unless the reason for you missing that particular train was entirely the train operators fault.

When we arrived at York, things went a little awry as a station employer advised me to use the lift to access platform 5 where the Glasgow train was due to  depart from, probably because I had the suitcase in tow, and silly me took their advice and used the lift despite the fact that we had never used it before as we always previously cross platforms via the overhead concourse. Well, the lift was of course full of other passengers and promptly went down and not up!  Panic stations! We found ourselves in some sort of underground corridor which we had never used or knew existed before!

We rushed up this and then accessed the Platform 5 lift.  On emerging from the lift there was no sign of any Platform 5!

“Excuse me” I said to a passing station employee, “ Can you tell me where platform 5 is?” the person just walked past and ignored me!  And then as we rounded the corner we spied it.  Hurrah!  So quickly estimating roughly where carriage E might possibly stop, we moved ourselves down Platform 5.  A few minutes later the train arrived and we climbed on board to take our allotted seats and store the suitcase in the luggage rack.  A very kind gentleman assisted me with this task, as our suitcase would have to go quite high on top of someone else's and I couldn’t quite lift it up there.

Two ladies were sat in our reserved seats, so we had to inform them that they were ours and although they didn’t seem too pleased, they then vacated the seats for us.  Why do people do this? Okay I’ll admit that we have sat in reserved seats on occasions, but only once I know that they persons they were meant for have obviously not made the journey.

Now I could relax at last!  K and I settled down for the long journey up to Glasgow, me with my novel to read and K with a copy of Metro to look at.  We had packed a lunch to eat on the train and some drinks and I also bought a tea from the trolley and K had a packet of crisps and a drink of orange juice.

It is a very enjoyable ride up the East Coast line as you take in the fantastic views of the sea on your right hand side.  K kept having to make her toilet breaks practically every stop that the train made as she finds it impossible to go when the train is moving.  Don’t worry!  She knows not to flush until the train is out of the station! (This means that she is usually gone for quite some time as well.)

At last we arrived dead on time in Glasgow Central station.  Down the platform I caught sight of my eldest son and my granddaughter waiting for us.  With lots of hugs and kisses Cr took over the suitcase and led us to his car parked in the station car park.  It was so lovely to see them in the flesh instead of on a webcam on  messenger!

Where we stayed in Scotland

The journey to their house took about an hours drive.  We greeted Cl and my granson who were watching for us at the door. “We have lots of things planned for you Mum.” my eldest son said, “ and if you feel up to it, we’ll take you to the park later once you have unpacked.”  So after a tour around the house and a look outside the windows at the fantastic view of the surrounding mountains, we were whisked off to the park for our first taste of the beautiful scenery around where they live in Alexandria.

To be continued in part two.

TG 

K and I have been out spending again!  Two new long sleeved t-shirts apiece from Matalan, plus another pack of socks, black for me and white for K, and she also purchased some ‘skinny rib’ polo neck jumpers in grey and black just like the ones that I bought on Monday!  I did ask her when I bought mine if she wanted some, but she declined, however when she saw me try mine on at home she promptly changed her mind, and so we have had to make a return trip today.

As it felt quite nippy in the wind this morning, we (being the air on the safe side types) donned our sheepskin coats for our shopping outing.  By the time we arrived at Matalan the wind had calmed, the sun was shining, and we were overheating rapidly!  Tell you, we are getting summers weather now, and winters weather in summer, its all change!

My eldest grandson’s Mum works in Matalan and she very kindly got a discount for us on our purchases.  I also had a chance to speak to my grandson as well as he works there on a Friday.  He has grown even taller since the last time I saw him in the flesh.  He doesn’t visit me much now he is a teen, he is far too preoccupied with his mates and his interests. He is a very handsome looking young man though, and greatly resembles the actor who played Peter in the film ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.  He took quite a lot of ribbing about that resemblance at the time that the film came out.  Every time he sees me, he always says he will come over.       I keep in touch with him on Messenger and have promised to buy him a webcam for Xmas as he loves the funny effects that I can do with mine.

Following that, we went up into town and visited W.H.Smith's where I bought a new paperback to read.  Its a new author that I haven’t tried before (I am scraping about with my Crime novels at the moment, waiting for Simon Becketts new one to come out next year.) and if its a good read, then I shall probably buy the others in the series as well.  I love crime novels, especially when they are also about forensics.  I have become very interested in this subject as I have become older (don’t know why!) and I am currently really enjoying Silent Witness’ which is back on the BBC, and happens to be one of my favourite programs.

Then home, new purchases sided away, dinner made and devoured, followed by writing this blog.  Talking of dinner, K said on our way home as I was discussing the impending meal that she didn’t want any vegetables, but I convinced her of their worth and so she then changed her mind and had some broccoli and cauliflower.  Why is it that they always want to eat McDonalds stuff but not fruit and vegetables?  In this even K,  who absolutely adores her food, is no different to the rest of her generation.

Well, that’s all for now, I am off to begin reading my new novel.

TG 

Well it has been a very busy week here in our household as we have been preparing ourselves for our forthcoming journey up to Scotland next week, beginning with having our hair cut on Saturday, K  her usual very short cropped style, and mine a very short (for me) style as well. I had gone to the Hairdressers armed with a picture of how I wanted mine to be cut, but when we arrived there, K spotted a picture in one of the magazines of Posh Spice with her new hair cut, and on seeing it, I decided to have mine done in the same style.  Mind you, mine looks nothing like Posh’s hair. hers is nice and thick and mine is getting thinner and thinner by the day!  Oh the ravages of growing old! I also had it coloured as well to cover the greys.

I have been busy sorting out which clothes we will be taking with us and making sure they are all washed and ironed ready for packing in the suitcase.  I have also been doing some rigorous checking and planning  (following the ‘this train has been cancelled’ incident that occurred at our local train station on our trip to York (see this post)  If the same incident occurs this time, then we can catch the next train and actually hook up with the York train at Huddersfield, so we would then be boarding it earlier than the planned route, but at least we now have a back up plan if there is a repeat performance!

On Tuesday we went for our flu jabs and typically arrived in the doctors surgery half an hour before our allotted times, so after about 20 minutes had passed, the nurse who was doing the jabs asked us what time our appointment was for as she was concerned that we had been sat there for so long and perhaps we had been missed.  I didn’t feel a thing when she gave me the jab and neither did K,  but my arm is rather sore and tender to the touch now as is K’s.

K went to her day care as usual on Wednesday and I busied myself with more washing of dressing gowns which we had forgotten to include in the previous wash of ‘Items of clothing to pack’ and I also gave the flat a really good clean and tidy round.  Of course K  will no doubt have been informing everyone not to touch her arm where she had the jab.  Today we had to go down to town for some shopping and it was beautiful outside.  I hadn’t taken my camera with me unfortunately or I would have taken some pictures, as on our return journey we walked back on the bottom road and all of the ponies and foals were out in full force with their heads over the railings waiting for some kind passer by to give them some of that juicy looking grass from the side of the road!  Of course K and I crossed over and obliged each one with a generous handful.  One of them tried to nudge the other one out of the way as I gave it some grass.

“Hey!” K said to it, “ Stop seeking Attention!”  LOL.

That’s all for now folks as its dinner time!  Take Care!

TG

Keen to make hay whilst the sun shines I wanted to go down to town this morning, both to make our appointments for our flu jabs at the Doctors, and also take some more pictures around the town.  K was none too keen on the idea which came as no surprise to me. “It will do us both good to get out into the fresh air” I said, “You’ll be okay as long as you put a warm jumper on.” (She has a cold at the moment.)  So despite the usual mutterings and grumbles under her breath we set off on a trek down to town.

It was a beautiful morning, cold yes, but nice and crisp.  We went down to the doctors first of all to make appointments for our flu jabs.  Now at this point I must fill you in on the usual pantomime that takes place every year without fail when we try to do this simple task.  K has had a flu jab for as long as I can recall, she qualifies because of her condition and in addition, if she ever did get the flu  she would be very ill indeed. Yet every year I usually end up having an argument with the receptionists about her right to qualify for a flu jab, and in fact last year I ended up getting so angry that I saw our GP about it.

And then of course there is myself.  I don’t qualify because of age but because I am a carer, and every year without fail I have to complete a form stating this fact. Why on earth the doctor’s can’t have it recorded on my notes that I am a carer I can’t quite figure.  However when she mentioned that I would need to complete the carers form again this time,  I politely informed  her that I qualified for the flu jab anyway as I had recently had a heart attack.  She peered at the computer in front of her and said, “Well I can’t find that qualification down here!  We have to be strict you know.”  Now it just so happens that in my hand was a leaflet that I had picked up from the reception desk about having the flu jab, and if only I had glanced inside it states one of the qualifying criteria for having the flu jab as being Previous heart attack .  Don’t they ever read their own leaflets?  Anyway needless to say, I had to stand there holding everyone else up in the queue whilst I completed the carers form.

“You won’t have to do this next year” she assured me, “because you’ll be sixty five!”  Oh goody!  Do they honestly think that there are those of us who try to get a flu jab under false pretences?  Anyway, we are having our jabs next Tuesday. (Don’t worry, already added to my new Windows Live Calendar and my mobile!)

We then made our way through town, and I took some pictures of the Halloween temptations in the local bakery shops and also some very peculiar fruits that were on display in our town grocers shop and which I have never seen before in my life.  They are called Dragon Fruits and it stated that they were from Israel.  I was sorely tempted to buy some just to try!  One of our friends in the bakers shop saw me taking pictures, and she quickly grabbed one of the masks from the window and put it on just for a bit of fun!  Tell you, we are all slightly bonkers in this town. 

Then onwards to the canal basin to take some photos of the narrow boats moored there and it really was full of them as well.   I also took the opportunity of taking some pictures of two mallard ducks which were enjoying the sunshine at the side of the canal.  We then continued onto the park . It really was beautiful in the Autumn sunshine.  I wanted to take a panoramic picture of one of my favourite subjects the Spiders Web climbing frame, and I thought it would be a good idea to incorporate K in it, so I asked her to sit on the tyre swing which is at the side of the climbing frame.  Well, she tried to sit on it and failed miserably as you can plainly see, and as I was by now in full flow of panning my camera to get the correct shots for the panoramic picture, she had to stay there shouting “Help” and  suspended over a puddle until I could rescue her.  It does look funny and I have been in stitches ever since every time I look at it!

For all her troubles and the near dunk into the puddle which was underneath the tyre swing,  I treated her to an ice cream on the return journey home.  I really hate wasting a sunny day and it probably won’t be long before the weather becomes so off-putting that I won’t be stepping out of the door at all, so today was all the more enjoyable for that reason.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of our trek today.  Keep blogging won’t you?  TG 

Yesterday after taking one look outside the window, all thoughts of going out were instantly dismissed, and I spent yesterday doing mostly housework jobs and general tidying around the flat. K went off to day care in the morning, despite my insistence that I thought it wise not to go as she is full of cold at the moment.

Is this the same daughter who myself and her social worker have spent the last two years begging and pleading to  attend Day Care and who flatly refused to entertain the notion?  Now she is not going to miss a day’s attendance no matter what!  Illness, rain, snow, hail, hurricane, nothing will keep her from her day care! What a turnaround!

So back now to today.  Well it was still throwing it down this morning, but this time I had very little choice in the matter as we needed some food for today's dinner and additionally daughters ‘must have’s or my life will end items ’ were quickly piling up on the shopping list.  So after she had left and I had made a quick sprint outside with my paper refuse bag and K’s empty Alco pop's bottles for the Recycle Refuse guys, who put in a sudden appearance just as K had left, and who always seem to catch me on the hop these days, I then steeled myself for the journey and set off.

By the time I reached town I was absolutely soaked. Into Sainsbury’s, carefully consulting the shopping list written by K. I didn’t miss anything, but by the time I reached the checkout, the basket was really heavy. The lady in front  of me couldn't find her cash card, her little girl must have put it somewhere she confessed. Could her shopping be kept somewhere whilst she went home to search for it?  The little girl in question was with her. She looked about three years old. Hmm, none of my business I know, but who in their right mind let’s their three year old have their credit card to play with??

So through the checkout, rushed to the paper shop for a lottery ticket (don’t know why I keep bothering with this, as even if I was the only one playing I wouldn’t win) then checked the cashpoint and got some cash out, dashed up the main street just as it was beginning to pour down again, bumped into someone who used to live next door and who is going in hospital tomorrow and obviously needed to let me know this despite the fact that we were both stood in the pouring rain, sprinted up to the bus station with bag now feeling as if it weighed an absolute ton!  Blast and damn!  Just missed our bus that drops you off outside our flat so I quickly changed tack and ran for the other one which entails a walk through the estate.

By the time I unlocked the door, I really was akin to a drowned rat. Not only that, the bag was so heavy to carry that it had set off my backache again.  Grrr!  My face probably resembled thunder!  I am going to have to partake of a serious talk with my daughter about this!  When I am going shopping alone then items which are not deemed essential will have to wait until we go together.  Or I shall end up looking like an Orang-utan with arms down to the floor and rounded ‘Quasimodo’ back!

Here is a transcript of the shopping list for anyone who can’t quite make it out complete with  translation by me of K’s writing.

Shopping List

cook oil                                                                   onarer Juice          (orange juice)

bum wipes (Andrex Moistened wipes)                      Hot cholalke         ( hot chocolate)

Dcaf coffer (decaffeinated coffee)                           Cholalke morse     (chocolate mousse)

2 dircks (2 drinks)

Spunchs  (bath sponges)

peppers

Tuna

Sweetcorn

Cholocike milk

TV Guide

do not forget to go in A for Bottoms (This refers to the fact that my games supplier Adey has promised to lend her some Bottom DVD’s.)

cothsweets (cough sweets)

Tiches (tissues)

Beef stew a Dumplings

As stated previously before I don't intend to  make fun of K as I love the way she is prepared to have a go at spelling any word she needs. So that’s my day so far! And of course as I finish this, the sun is shining and the blasted rain has stopped!

TG