13 March 2012
The last couple of months have been fairly hectic in the usual Songsinger fashion.
My beautiful new Mazda 2 Sport is just wonderful but the picking up of it was rather marred by the fact I had to rush back home for the gas man to fix the fact that the boiler was working but not giving any hot water. Not funny. On top of that we had the sad news of OH's ex-wife's serious illness and the impending arrival of a grandchild. Her death on Leap Year Day coincided with an urgent message from the care home concerning Fil (thankfully all sorted) and the due date for the grandchild which passed without result.
Yesterday, after much tension and lack of sleep, OH and I went to said ex-wife's funeral and were thankful when daughter rang at 9.30 to say she had had contractions all night and therefore would not be making the long journey up the M6 which I admit, I was dreading on her behalf. The ceremony was a humanist, not the first to which I have been, followed by a buffet in a local inn. It all went off better than we could have hoped and OH circulated amongst friends he had known for many years whilst I was regaled with tales of local interfering from one man who simply could not pick up the signals from my lack of interest.
The whole event wiped us out mentally and physically so we were both abed and asleep by 10 pm.
Good job that we were awake having cups of tea at 5 am as a text from daughter at 5.15 told us the wonderful news of the safe delivery of a little girl at 3.55 am, weighing in at 6lb 6oz. As yet unnamed we hope to see her before she is a week old!
The last couple of months have been fairly hectic in the usual Songsinger fashion.
My beautiful new Mazda 2 Sport is just wonderful but the picking up of it was rather marred by the fact I had to rush back home for the gas man to fix the fact that the boiler was working but not giving any hot water. Not funny. On top of that we had the sad news of OH's ex-wife's serious illness and the impending arrival of a grandchild. Her death on Leap Year Day coincided with an urgent message from the care home concerning Fil (thankfully all sorted) and the due date for the grandchild which passed without result.
Yesterday, after much tension and lack of sleep, OH and I went to said ex-wife's funeral and were thankful when daughter rang at 9.30 to say she had had contractions all night and therefore would not be making the long journey up the M6 which I admit, I was dreading on her behalf. The ceremony was a humanist, not the first to which I have been, followed by a buffet in a local inn. It all went off better than we could have hoped and OH circulated amongst friends he had known for many years whilst I was regaled with tales of local interfering from one man who simply could not pick up the signals from my lack of interest.
The whole event wiped us out mentally and physically so we were both abed and asleep by 10 pm.
Good job that we were awake having cups of tea at 5 am as a text from daughter at 5.15 told us the wonderful news of the safe delivery of a little girl at 3.55 am, weighing in at 6lb 6oz. As yet unnamed we hope to see her before she is a week old!
10 April 2012
Easter was a beautiful time and one that I always treasure as far as my church is concerned. The choir always do a service of contemplation on Good Friday morning with suitable readings and music and we were pleased this year that more people came to the service than we had expected. Then there is the joy of Easter Day with all the wonderfully evocative hymns and the church filled with Easter lilies and this year, daffodils.
On Saturday we went to visit the lovely grand-daughter and I cannot believe how much she has come on in such a short time on earth - at three and a half weeks she is holding her head strongly and hardly needs any support. She is a joy and we were able to take her and her parents out for lunch which was splendid.
On Sunday after church we visited Fil whose elder brother has just died at the grand age of almost 98. We took photographs of Orna which I had printed and put into a little album and he was very interested although it was fairly obvious he had no clue to whom she belonged. Curiously, he understood the name instantly which is more than most folk of our acquaintance but sadly, his brother's death did not seem to impinge at all. For some reason unknown to the carers, he had put his pyjamas on under his trousers which was odd - but then this horrible dementia is odd and robs people of their dignity.
Easter was a beautiful time and one that I always treasure as far as my church is concerned. The choir always do a service of contemplation on Good Friday morning with suitable readings and music and we were pleased this year that more people came to the service than we had expected. Then there is the joy of Easter Day with all the wonderfully evocative hymns and the church filled with Easter lilies and this year, daffodils.
On Saturday we went to visit the lovely grand-daughter and I cannot believe how much she has come on in such a short time on earth - at three and a half weeks she is holding her head strongly and hardly needs any support. She is a joy and we were able to take her and her parents out for lunch which was splendid.
On Sunday after church we visited Fil whose elder brother has just died at the grand age of almost 98. We took photographs of Orna which I had printed and put into a little album and he was very interested although it was fairly obvious he had no clue to whom she belonged. Curiously, he understood the name instantly which is more than most folk of our acquaintance but sadly, his brother's death did not seem to impinge at all. For some reason unknown to the carers, he had put his pyjamas on under his trousers which was odd - but then this horrible dementia is odd and robs people of their dignity.
8 June 2012
Having a grand-daughter, although so many miles away, is such a joy to me and I have loved knitting little garments for her. I am glad to say that her Mum, my step-daughter E, was delighted with them when they came to visit on the Saturday of the Jubilee weekend. Knowing that she approved made the projects worthwhile and I now have a new project to work on, commissioned by E so I am thrilled with that.
In the meantime, Ranger has indicated that he would quite like some hand-knitted stuff for himself and owing to the fact that he is quite big I asked if socks would be OK. He said that they would and here they are:-
It was rather like knitting with sewing needles and cotton but once I got into the swing of things it all worked well. The specialised yarn has produced it's own pattern of stripes so I was careful to knit the second sock to match the first and I only hope he likes them!
The Jubilee weekend gave us an opportunity to have a rest - poor OH has had a bit of a roller-coaster in the last few years and following the sad death of his ex, the birth of our grand-daughter and his responsibilities at work, the month of May did not disappoint and the Chairman of his company died suddenly, throwing him into further turmoil. We had intended to do some work in the garden but the weather was not conducive and indeed today he has come home and switched on the heating as the house is so chilly! Flamin' June indeed!
Having a grand-daughter, although so many miles away, is such a joy to me and I have loved knitting little garments for her. I am glad to say that her Mum, my step-daughter E, was delighted with them when they came to visit on the Saturday of the Jubilee weekend. Knowing that she approved made the projects worthwhile and I now have a new project to work on, commissioned by E so I am thrilled with that.
In the meantime, Ranger has indicated that he would quite like some hand-knitted stuff for himself and owing to the fact that he is quite big I asked if socks would be OK. He said that they would and here they are:-
It was rather like knitting with sewing needles and cotton but once I got into the swing of things it all worked well. The specialised yarn has produced it's own pattern of stripes so I was careful to knit the second sock to match the first and I only hope he likes them!
The Jubilee weekend gave us an opportunity to have a rest - poor OH has had a bit of a roller-coaster in the last few years and following the sad death of his ex, the birth of our grand-daughter and his responsibilities at work, the month of May did not disappoint and the Chairman of his company died suddenly, throwing him into further turmoil. We had intended to do some work in the garden but the weather was not conducive and indeed today he has come home and switched on the heating as the house is so chilly! Flamin' June indeed!
23 February 2012
The time has come to finally change my car. My much-loved Astra has now reached the point of no return in repairing having cost over £1000 last year in replacing tyres, mending the heater fan, MOT, service etc., with the final insult being that the fan on the heater has broken for the third time in as many years following a few days of snow. The repair would not be cheap - another full-day job at the garage and this, on top of the fact that the clutch cylinder went as I was driving down-hill last year costing over £600 to fix decided me in a resolve to get a better vehicle.
OH has done a brilliant job putting in floor to ceiling wardrobes for my myriad clothes and we decided to visit Matalan for coat-hangers which are the exact size for the interior. That we returned with OH having bought a new car is now a cause for merriment at the garage in Stockport which we found, quite by accident, as we were supposed to be looking at a VW for me! He was lucky enough to decided on a car which was already in the show-room whereas I had to return the next day to order the one I had decided to buy and I have to wait a fortnight for mine!
Huh! Still, OH is absolutely thrilled with his new buy and was able to give it a real work-out last Sunday as we went to Liverpool to the Phil for a concert so he is now completely au fait with it all - so he says.
The sun is shining, an old friend has phoned for a chat and Robinson is not quite so creaky as he was earlier in the week so all is well.
The time has come to finally change my car. My much-loved Astra has now reached the point of no return in repairing having cost over £1000 last year in replacing tyres, mending the heater fan, MOT, service etc., with the final insult being that the fan on the heater has broken for the third time in as many years following a few days of snow. The repair would not be cheap - another full-day job at the garage and this, on top of the fact that the clutch cylinder went as I was driving down-hill last year costing over £600 to fix decided me in a resolve to get a better vehicle.
OH has done a brilliant job putting in floor to ceiling wardrobes for my myriad clothes and we decided to visit Matalan for coat-hangers which are the exact size for the interior. That we returned with OH having bought a new car is now a cause for merriment at the garage in Stockport which we found, quite by accident, as we were supposed to be looking at a VW for me! He was lucky enough to decided on a car which was already in the show-room whereas I had to return the next day to order the one I had decided to buy and I have to wait a fortnight for mine!
Huh! Still, OH is absolutely thrilled with his new buy and was able to give it a real work-out last Sunday as we went to Liverpool to the Phil for a concert so he is now completely au fait with it all - so he says.
The sun is shining, an old friend has phoned for a chat and Robinson is not quite so creaky as he was earlier in the week so all is well.
19 November 2012
A difficult day today as it is my birthday and the first without a greeting from Si.
Friends are enormously supportive and I have had cards with loving messages, texts and emails from which I have taken much comfort and I am coming to terms with the fact that for some reason I am still here on earth so I must make the most of everyday. OH has taken the day off so that we can go out for lunch together and I will not be alone - he is such a sweetheart!
A difficult day today as it is my birthday and the first without a greeting from Si.
Friends are enormously supportive and I have had cards with loving messages, texts and emails from which I have taken much comfort and I am coming to terms with the fact that for some reason I am still here on earth so I must make the most of everyday. OH has taken the day off so that we can go out for lunch together and I will not be alone - he is such a sweetheart!
22 November 2012
At least we now have an acknowledgement from the Council that the collapse of the wall is their responsibility and yesterday the security gate which had been across our drive-way has been removed so we can once more put our fairly new cars on the drive instead of leaving them at the mercy of the bin-men and careless drivers on the road.
Today has been another day of ups and downs but turned out quite silly which was lovely.
My good friend A has been a bit absent in my life as she looks after her two grand-children but recently, her baby-sitting requirements have changed so that she has a couple of days a week free and she wants to spend one with me! We do not exchange gifts for birthdays but treat each other to a lunch in a restaurant about ten miles away so today she treated me and the food was wonderful and the conversation even better.
At least we now have an acknowledgement from the Council that the collapse of the wall is their responsibility and yesterday the security gate which had been across our drive-way has been removed so we can once more put our fairly new cars on the drive instead of leaving them at the mercy of the bin-men and careless drivers on the road.
Today has been another day of ups and downs but turned out quite silly which was lovely.
My good friend A has been a bit absent in my life as she looks after her two grand-children but recently, her baby-sitting requirements have changed so that she has a couple of days a week free and she wants to spend one with me! We do not exchange gifts for birthdays but treat each other to a lunch in a restaurant about ten miles away so today she treated me and the food was wonderful and the conversation even better.
7 December 2012
I am so grateful that Simon encouraged me to continue with this website as it has proved it's worth after the garden disaster.
I managed to convert the Garden Story and Comparisons (after much muttering!) into Word documents which I was then able to send to the Chief Engineer at the Council who is over-seeing the proposed re-build of both pathway and our garden. He acknowledged this saying that it gave them a good idea of what the garden had looked like before.
OH and I both know how much we have both invested in this garden so it was good that at least they know about it!
I am so grateful that Simon encouraged me to continue with this website as it has proved it's worth after the garden disaster.
I managed to convert the Garden Story and Comparisons (after much muttering!) into Word documents which I was then able to send to the Chief Engineer at the Council who is over-seeing the proposed re-build of both pathway and our garden. He acknowledged this saying that it gave them a good idea of what the garden had looked like before.
OH and I both know how much we have both invested in this garden so it was good that at least they know about it!
11 December 2012
I have just watched a documentary concerning "climate change" which has predicted that as the global temperature has increased by one degree over the last hundred years that we are likely to have heat-wave summers such as we apparently had in 2003 within the next 40 years.
As the first tornado recorded in the British Isles was over a thousand years ago I do wonder at our small view of a tenth of this period being representative of how things will develop in the next small portion of time and as OH often points out, Northumberland, as it was then, used to have a thriving wine-growing industry in the 12th century so what does any of this prove?
Another hour of my life I will never get back!
I have just watched a documentary concerning "climate change" which has predicted that as the global temperature has increased by one degree over the last hundred years that we are likely to have heat-wave summers such as we apparently had in 2003 within the next 40 years.
As the first tornado recorded in the British Isles was over a thousand years ago I do wonder at our small view of a tenth of this period being representative of how things will develop in the next small portion of time and as OH often points out, Northumberland, as it was then, used to have a thriving wine-growing industry in the 12th century so what does any of this prove?
Another hour of my life I will never get back!
15 January 2012
Another year starts and after a Christmas which was characterised by a great many bits of distresssing news I am hoping that the longer days will bring a bit more peace and quiet to the house and it's occupants. Robinson has become extremely picky about his food and will now only consider eating the very expensive sort which comes in both pouches and small tins and some days I fear that he will burst!
Trying to buy a light-coloured bookcase over the Christmas period proved impossible but OH managed to put up these lovely shelves for my music books and I think they are lovely.
Yesterday OH decided we would visit Wilmslow so that he could buy a painting on which he had set his heart. What an awful place it has become! The car park had disabled spaces but the access to the pavement alongside had no dropped kerb so I was wheeled (bounced rather) in the road. It became quite obvious that whoever designed the dropped kerbs had never been pushed round in a wheel-chair as the inconsistency of the provision for access to either cross the road or simply wait at traffic lights was remarkable.
When dropped kerbs had been installed, they were as badly maintained as the lumpy pavements in that the individual bricks had settled in a haphazard manner which made the whole thing very scary and at times a catapulting experience. Shan't go there again!
This morning it was minus 2 in my car and the windscreen was frozen inside as well which was interesting once I had sat in the car to defrost it - about a mile into my journey to church dribbles of water started running down the windscreen on which the wipers had no effect - that's because they were inside and not out! Still it was worthwhile as we had a visiting Archdeacon who was lovely and had actually been born a brought up in the village so he felt at home.
Another year starts and after a Christmas which was characterised by a great many bits of distresssing news I am hoping that the longer days will bring a bit more peace and quiet to the house and it's occupants. Robinson has become extremely picky about his food and will now only consider eating the very expensive sort which comes in both pouches and small tins and some days I fear that he will burst!
Trying to buy a light-coloured bookcase over the Christmas period proved impossible but OH managed to put up these lovely shelves for my music books and I think they are lovely.
Yesterday OH decided we would visit Wilmslow so that he could buy a painting on which he had set his heart. What an awful place it has become! The car park had disabled spaces but the access to the pavement alongside had no dropped kerb so I was wheeled (bounced rather) in the road. It became quite obvious that whoever designed the dropped kerbs had never been pushed round in a wheel-chair as the inconsistency of the provision for access to either cross the road or simply wait at traffic lights was remarkable.
When dropped kerbs had been installed, they were as badly maintained as the lumpy pavements in that the individual bricks had settled in a haphazard manner which made the whole thing very scary and at times a catapulting experience. Shan't go there again!
This morning it was minus 2 in my car and the windscreen was frozen inside as well which was interesting once I had sat in the car to defrost it - about a mile into my journey to church dribbles of water started running down the windscreen on which the wipers had no effect - that's because they were inside and not out! Still it was worthwhile as we had a visiting Archdeacon who was lovely and had actually been born a brought up in the village so he felt at home.
1 July 2012
A few weeks ago OH wanted a day out but the weather forecast was pretty dreadful so he just had a much-needed day off lazing at home. On Friday we decided that whatever the weather we would venture out to his place of choice which happened to be Blackpool. Not a venue which delighted me but I was glad to go along and we were blessed with dry conditions which in this summer of rain, had to be a bonus.
It was very windy although sunny and also very quiet. I should have remembered from the days when I lived (and hated living in) Paignton that Friday is changeover day which would account for the large numbers of people, warmly wrapped in anoraks and scarves, pulling along luggage but it didn't twig until we were having lunch and commented on the fact that there were only about four other people eating!
As a Lancastrian (although Liverpool is now "Merseyside" no-one of my generation will ever forget that basically it is in Lancashire) I have always loved the scenery, from the flat sea-shores and dunes to the lovely green hills and bleaker Pennine landscapes and have delighted in showing my southern-born OH the views from many a happy child-hood day out and the drive home via Lytham and Preston was no exception. He must get very fed up of me saying "We used to . . ."
Bless him!
A few weeks ago OH wanted a day out but the weather forecast was pretty dreadful so he just had a much-needed day off lazing at home. On Friday we decided that whatever the weather we would venture out to his place of choice which happened to be Blackpool. Not a venue which delighted me but I was glad to go along and we were blessed with dry conditions which in this summer of rain, had to be a bonus.
It was very windy although sunny and also very quiet. I should have remembered from the days when I lived (and hated living in) Paignton that Friday is changeover day which would account for the large numbers of people, warmly wrapped in anoraks and scarves, pulling along luggage but it didn't twig until we were having lunch and commented on the fact that there were only about four other people eating!
As a Lancastrian (although Liverpool is now "Merseyside" no-one of my generation will ever forget that basically it is in Lancashire) I have always loved the scenery, from the flat sea-shores and dunes to the lovely green hills and bleaker Pennine landscapes and have delighted in showing my southern-born OH the views from many a happy child-hood day out and the drive home via Lytham and Preston was no exception. He must get very fed up of me saying "We used to . . ."
Bless him!
16 November 2012
It is safe to say that 2012 has been a year that both OH and I would rather forget.
Five people who were involved with us in one way or another have died this year, the last and most heart-rending being my beloved son, Simon known on this web-site as Ranger, at the age of nearly 33.
He was found in his flat a few days after he had fallen into a coma and died on 2 September 2012 and the ensuing horror is something that both OH and I want very much to forget. Simon was a very special young man who had many problems with his mental health as well as his life-style but his death was very sudden although I am assured that at the end it was peaceful as he had pneumonia and would simply have fallen asleep. As a Mum it was important to me to know that he did not go to his Maker suffering and I have taken comfort in that.
I showed a photograph of him to a good friend this week which my ex-OH had sent to me and she commented that "he could have been a film-star" so I thought I would show it here.
It is safe to say that 2012 has been a year that both OH and I would rather forget.
Five people who were involved with us in one way or another have died this year, the last and most heart-rending being my beloved son, Simon known on this web-site as Ranger, at the age of nearly 33.
He was found in his flat a few days after he had fallen into a coma and died on 2 September 2012 and the ensuing horror is something that both OH and I want very much to forget. Simon was a very special young man who had many problems with his mental health as well as his life-style but his death was very sudden although I am assured that at the end it was peaceful as he had pneumonia and would simply have fallen asleep. As a Mum it was important to me to know that he did not go to his Maker suffering and I have taken comfort in that.
I showed a photograph of him to a good friend this week which my ex-OH had sent to me and she commented that "he could have been a film-star" so I thought I would show it here.
17 November 2012
So just when we thought things could get no worse, the Tuesday following Si's funeral the Council's path collapsed into our garden and the view from our dining table is just spectacular!
So just when we thought things could get no worse, the Tuesday following Si's funeral the Council's path collapsed into our garden and the view from our dining table is just spectacular!
25 November 2012
In the week following notification of my son's death I was privileged to receive gifts of flowers and plants so that the azalea which Si had bought for Mothering Sunday several years ago was moved to a corner of the windowsill and not really looked at until a couple of days later.
I discovered in the week of the funeral that this plant, which should be in full flower in spring, had a solitary flower-bud which must have been forming in early September. Since that time, although the plant itself is looking a little bit bedraggled there has been at least one and sometimes more than one bloom on it and that gives me pause for thought - a message perhaps?
In the week following notification of my son's death I was privileged to receive gifts of flowers and plants so that the azalea which Si had bought for Mothering Sunday several years ago was moved to a corner of the windowsill and not really looked at until a couple of days later.
I discovered in the week of the funeral that this plant, which should be in full flower in spring, had a solitary flower-bud which must have been forming in early September. Since that time, although the plant itself is looking a little bit bedraggled there has been at least one and sometimes more than one bloom on it and that gives me pause for thought - a message perhaps?
3 December 2012
Well, the thrush has returned! I am so thrilled as I have only glimpsed him from afar since the last winter when he came to feed and I have now managed to identify that it is a song thrush which is even better. I am pretty certain it is the same visitor whom OH tried to photograph a few years ago when I was visiting R and it is good to have that link.
I went to the dentist this morning because he needed to check on a crown that was fitted recently and which has caused me some difficulties as it does not seem to be as neat a job as he usually does. Anyway, he has filed off a few rough edges and I have to go back in January to see whether or not it has settled down, if not he will scrap it and start again.
Afterwards I thought I would go to our nearest big supermarket to get some different cat food as Robinson is so picky about what he wants to eat and as I was already out in the car I went straight from the dentist. The weather was extraordinary as I drove over the hills with the sunlight slanting from the side and the valley to the other side almost disappearing in the silver curtain of lashing rain. The drops of water were illuminated like diamonds and the effect was dazzling with the pewter-grey clouds behind. Then the rain stopped and there was a glorious, vibrant rainbow arching over the distant fields - absolutely wonderful.
Well, the thrush has returned! I am so thrilled as I have only glimpsed him from afar since the last winter when he came to feed and I have now managed to identify that it is a song thrush which is even better. I am pretty certain it is the same visitor whom OH tried to photograph a few years ago when I was visiting R and it is good to have that link.
I went to the dentist this morning because he needed to check on a crown that was fitted recently and which has caused me some difficulties as it does not seem to be as neat a job as he usually does. Anyway, he has filed off a few rough edges and I have to go back in January to see whether or not it has settled down, if not he will scrap it and start again.
Afterwards I thought I would go to our nearest big supermarket to get some different cat food as Robinson is so picky about what he wants to eat and as I was already out in the car I went straight from the dentist. The weather was extraordinary as I drove over the hills with the sunlight slanting from the side and the valley to the other side almost disappearing in the silver curtain of lashing rain. The drops of water were illuminated like diamonds and the effect was dazzling with the pewter-grey clouds behind. Then the rain stopped and there was a glorious, vibrant rainbow arching over the distant fields - absolutely wonderful.
17 December 2012
The church grows still; a beautiful building which has been modernised without losing any character and with more than 350 people seated, becomes silent; the oboe plays an A for the instrumentalists to tune; conductor and soloists walk in to applause and the concert begins.
Well it would have done were it not for the air-hostess style of safety information given by a lady whose microphone assaulted the ears with a scream and a caretaker casually dressed in not-too-clean jeans who reduced the audience to giggles.
Still, from then on the wonderful, joyful and uplifting music of Handel's Messiah salved the soul and made Christmas begin.
A privilege to sing.
The church grows still; a beautiful building which has been modernised without losing any character and with more than 350 people seated, becomes silent; the oboe plays an A for the instrumentalists to tune; conductor and soloists walk in to applause and the concert begins.
Well it would have done were it not for the air-hostess style of safety information given by a lady whose microphone assaulted the ears with a scream and a caretaker casually dressed in not-too-clean jeans who reduced the audience to giggles.
Still, from then on the wonderful, joyful and uplifting music of Handel's Messiah salved the soul and made Christmas begin.
A privilege to sing.
18 March 2012
Well, thankfully, we did get to see the little one although she had been back in hospital for a little help with feeding. It was so good to take her back home and I was able to sit and cuddle her and give her a bottle which was just brilliant - quite took me back to when my own son was small.
She is not just small but tiny!
Well, thankfully, we did get to see the little one although she had been back in hospital for a little help with feeding. It was so good to take her back home and I was able to sit and cuddle her and give her a bottle which was just brilliant - quite took me back to when my own son was small.
She is not just small but tiny!
