Interference.

 This is maddening. My videos are being littered with an A I generated explanation, inserted underneath the brief description which I put under the title. What is the reason for this? Probably to gather material for the biggest database in the world. It's called harvesting. Everything we say or do will be stored electronically. It can be dragged up months and years into the future. This is the way it's going folks. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

AI-generated video summary 

Quality and accuracy may vary. 

The speaker is having a coffee and reflecting on the day's mail, including a car tax bill and a letter from HMRC about their tax code. They are also dealing with a text from Tesco Mobile about their 3G network being switched off, which they find frustrating. They are feeling overwhelmed by the constant push towards digital and are considering a simpler lifestyle.

Frugal sewing and frugal soup

Good morning. Here's a video I knocked up yesterday. Redesigning old clothes, making a new gilet. How to make a quick soup with half a tin of peas. 

This is what I did with the other half tin of peas. The green deal. A piece of toasted seeded bread, a chopped up avocado, warm up the peas with some spinach. Pile it all on top of the toast. Everything gets eaten here. 

Now I must get on. Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

A mans best friend.

 Good morning. In 2009 I wrote this blog post about a man and his horse. I came across him one day while out on a walk. I asked what is it's name. I am no good remembering names so have long forgotten it, I also don't know the man's name. He lives here in the village and I see him about sometimes. I always ask about his horse. 

He tends to walk to the shop in the morning to buy a newspaper. The man, not the horse. He used to stable it in a paddock on the edge of the village, then he moved it to a farm about two miles away. I sometimes walk that way and used to see him drive to and from the farm. He once stopped to ask if I wanted a lift. When I explained that I was walking for exercise he didn't stop again, just gave me a toot and a cheery wave as he went by. 

I saw the man yesterday as I walked to Crafty Club. He had been to the shop for his paper. I asked how his horse was. He struggled to answer. I could see he was holding back the tears. Slowly he explained to me what happened. Horse died in October last year. It was ill with a couple of problems. I know very little about equine ailments so I listened to his story. One ailment was treatable and it was on medication. Then it had another illness. The vet tried to treat it but it was not successful. The horse died during the night, so at least the man was spared the trauma of it being humanely dispatched. 

I asked the age of the horse. It was just coming up to it's 30th birthday. He bought it as an ex racehorse when it was four hears old. It didn't want to run races so it was no good to it's previous owners. I would say that horse couldn't have had a better retirement. What a beautiful animal he was. 

A sunny start to the day. I did a village walk yesterday afternoon but it was so cold I cut it short. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Monday morning musings.

Good morning. I've had to close the back curtain because the SUN 🌞 is shining and I can't see the computer screen. The Breakfast Club were waiting for me when I got up at 7am. Oh dear, best get the bird seed scattered then. 20 minutes later after a good scoff they took flight over the tops of the nearby houses. 

I see they have got the landtrain out again at the park yesterday. It has been in the shed all winter getting spruced up for the forthcoming summer season. It is half term holiday this week for the kiddywinks so it will be out every day. It cost £2 for the round trip, tickets available at the shop. 

A quick flit around the internet this morning. What is happening, what is everybody doing. I have to say that Cro is putting some interesting posts out. His Sunday Newsround seems to be stirring things up a bit. I see he is being monitored by Traveller who is keen to point out Cro's misinformation. That makes me laugh. Bloody misinformation. Seems like the whole world is ready to pounce on anyone who dares to voice their own thoughts on anything out in the public domain. 

I still haven't figured out how to activate my goooogle account. Truth be known I have stopped going around in circles trying to sort it out. It does mean that I can't comment on blogs which ask you to sign in with your account. Some might say that's a blessing because they don't want to hear from me. Perhaps it's not a bad thing for me, because it keeps me from getting drawn in to some of the bickering I see going on. I prefer be on the outside looking in rather than in the thick of things. I can comment on other blogs which allow a name to be inserted into the pop up box.  

I've been watching some videos on re using old clothes and turning them into something more modern and fashionable. The Japanese are particularly good at this. It has given me an idea for a sewing project. I like patchwork, small pieces of colourful fabric sewn together. Maybe I could make a garment that I could wear using this method. 

Must go now. I need to wash my hair before I go to Crafty Club. Thanks for popping in. The sun is out here, whooooppeeeee. Toodle pip.   ilona

Breakfast club

What was it that Tammy said? 

The ducks are telling their family and friends where the buffet is located.

They most certainly are, Tammy. 

On time as usual. They landed in next doors garden at 8am. 

Nothing much happening here, lads and lassies. Let's go next door. Now where is that hole in the hedge. 

Cue me rushing out with a bag of seed and scattering it on the grass. Then I watch through the window and see them playing follow the leader, the serfs waddling behind. They appear on my side. Seems that we have a foreigner in the camp. 

Their behaviour pretty much mirror humans. If you can't find what you want close to home, you go and look elsewhere. Life is often better on the other side of the fence. 

I think there is a hierarchy among ducks. Two of them were fighting. The male had the female by the throat and wouldn't let go. A sharp bang on the window interrupted their shenanigans and he let go. 

As for the rest of the day. I've watched a Dan and Steve Come along Dear video. There will be a gap now while they get on with their work. I've just scoffed a fantastic lunch. My fave, avocado on brown seeded bread, an egg, and grated cheese. Now I need a coffee. If I stop faffing about I should get a couple of hours walk to the park.

Thanks for popping in. I hope your Sunday is good. Toodle pip.   ilona