One journey - two jobs to do.

Good afternoon.

I wanted to get some shopping in, mainly cat food and cat litter, and I also wanted to pick one bag of litter. Why not combine two jobs with one journey. I wanted a quick pick, one where I didn't have to walk very far. I have done a couple of picks at Flixborough Industrial Estate before, so I know there are some grotty areas. It didn't take long to fill my bag. There is enough work there to fill ten more bags. I shall be going back there at some point. 

One broken hard hat. Two bottles of pee. Eight glass bottles. One fire extinguisher. 

All bagged up, and dropped with my pickings from Friday. 

 The Retail Park was quite busy. £130 spent in two shops. All stocked up again. Now I'm going to make some dinner.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

The highs and lows . . . . .

Good Morning. 

I have gone over this before in previous blog posts. 

People often ask me can you block the nasties from posting comments on your blog. By nasties I mean those who criticise me, what I do, what I say, and how I look. The nit pickers who come solely to pick a fight, those who are looking for a verbal punch-up. I see this Blogger Bashing is happening on other blogs as well, not just mine. 

Keyboard warriors think they have the right to say whatever they like. It's just attack for the sake of upsetting decent people. They say they have a different opinion and should be allowed to voice it. I say I am not interested in your opinion, if it is opposite to mine. Start your own blog and you can spout off as much as you like there. Or find another blogger who you are more aligned to. 

I haven't yet found a way of blocking undesirables. These are the options you get when organising how you want to display your comments. I prefer them embedded on the page just below the post, then people can refer back to it as they compose their comment. 

The options of who you allow to comment. 

Open to all, anyone can say anything. 

People with a Google account. They can still remain anonymous if they choose the 'Unknown' option.

Only members of this blog. I don't know what people need to do to become a member. I don't join other blogs, and I don't want to have to sort out and monitor the membership details of this one. The only way I can stop the nasties is to click 'Only members', then everyone is excluded. I do this sometimes because I need to distance myself from those who cannot control their warrior impulses. Everyone is still allowed to read the blog. I hope genuine readers understand this.  

Yes, I always moderate. I read the comment first and decide which to publish and which not to. If some Bloggers never moderate, they will need to constantly check comments. I haven't got the time to do that, nor am I able to go online when I am away from home. I see some very rude and insulting comments  on other blogs, before, or even if they are removed. I moderate first, not after. I've never tried 'Sometimes' so I don't know what happens there. 

Bloggers can put any message they like here. Long explanations are not really needed. 

Oh the joys, the highs and lows, the fun and the angst, of Blogging. It can make or break you. Me? I'm a survivor. I can weather the storm.

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your Sunday. I may venture out later, if it doesn't get too hot. 

Toodle pip.   ilona
 

I made a book today.

I went out today, to the Ropewalk Arts Centre at Barton. I noticed a Bookbinding Workshop advertised in the current edition of their brochure. I fancied that so I paid my £55. I was lucky to get the last place. 

Eight of us sat at a long table, with the teacher at one end telling us what to do. We were given a box of bits, tools, glue, needle etc. We could make a portrait or a lansdcape book. I chose portrait. There was a selection of coloured papers which we could chose for our cover. Some of the ladies didn't want me to take a photo of the room, so I could only take this one where I was working.  

Here is my book. Two different papers for the front and back cover. 

It was fun. The ladies were jolly, we had a laugh. We finished about 2.30pm. I didn't realise how hot it was today until I stepped outside. Then I went in Tesco for a few things. I couldn't get out quick enough, it was freezing cold in there. The checkout lady was wearing a fleece jacket. A young girl was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I was shivering.  

Now going to chill with a glass of wine, then get the hedgehog food out.

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Bloody beautiful

Beautiful flowers for the weekend.

As I was rummaging about in a hedge bottom for bottles and cans at the picnic area car park, I looked up. What is this vision of loveliness I see before me. 

This litter picking lark has it's perks.  

I have a plan for today. I will post about it later. 

Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Choosing your place.

 Relationships are very strange, aren't they. Most people have to belong somewhere, whether it be with a small group or a large group. Face to face, or virtually online. Friendships might progress into something more solid, or maybe fizzle out into nothingness. 

Clinging on to a relationship, or a friendship, which isn't working can be folly. Best to let go and move on. Three score years and ten is not long to be on this earth in the grand scheme of things. To be in a place which doesn't feel right, is a good enough excuse to do something about it. 

If you need support, you can cling on to whoever or whatever will provide it. Then you feel safe. You have a cushion to fall against to soften the blow. If you are brave enough to go it alone then you have the confidence and tenacity to face up to the truth, and that is, life has a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

What we do in the middle of it can have repercussions either way. If we hand over our lives to others then we are reliant on them for our happiness. When influences become too loud, then we tend to cave in and follow. Go with the flow because it feels safe. Perhaps going in the direction of my friends is a safe bet. Maybe I will follow. Or maybe I won't. 

But then there are compromises. How much of your own life will you compromise for the benefit of others, and to the detriment of your own? Why not be a leader, instead of a follower. Then you keep your integrity intact. Others may stumble, maybe you won't. With clearly defined goals you build your own future. You get to choose which way next. 

How do you know you're  in the right place?  

Enjoy your weekend. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

This is how I do it.

Yesterday I did my first proper litter pick for about a week. It's been too hot for me to be outdoors for any length of time. My friend commented the other day that I was wearing too many clothes, as I had very little bare skin showing. I replied, yes probably, but I don't want to get sunburn. She said, but you could cover yourself in suncream. I said, I can't be bothered to go through the rigmarole of putting it on and washing it off. 

I went to the Industrial Estate, and a bit beyond, to check out my patch. Yep, more litter has appeared over the last week. Full to the brim, or so it seems. 

First thing to do is release the red bag by removing the clothes pegs which hold it onto the sides of the garden sack. Then gently pull up the bag and give it a shake. The rubbish drops into the space at the bottom giving a few inches at the top to tie it up. A perfectly filled bag.  

One bag was enough, it was getting late. I took it to my normal drop off point at the pond, and found a horrible mess next to the bin. 

A young lady was just finishing her dog walk. She said a lot of people were partying around the pond  over the weekend. This fly tip is their version of tidying up after themselves. I left it for the Council to clear away. The conversation with the young lady ventured into other topics. Yet again I met someone who is on my wavelength. She works as a psychologist so I felt completely at ease sharing my ideas with her. 

I deposited my bag at the other end of the pond next to the bin there. I have got a good relationship going with the Council workers, I didn't want them thinking that the messy pile was anything to do with me. 

I understand that people want to go out and meet with their mates on a sunny weekend. If they arrive in cars, why can't they take their rubbish home with them. 

It's a bit cooler today. I have a few jobs to do around the house and garden.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Doggies with wheels.

Here we go, doggies on wheels. On a hot sunny day, the Pumpkin Charity set up their workshop/fitting centre indoors. People brought their furry friends to have new wheels fitted for the first time. Those who have been using them for a while, came to have any adjustments needed. 

Such a lot of happy dogs of all breeds and sizes. From the smallest to the biggest. It was a delight to see. I spoke to several owners and they said how their dog got used to its wheels fairly quickly. 

I am quite emotional when I see happy animals. What could be better. I want to greet them all. My friend Becci brought her little sausage dog to the Coffee Morning this morning. It always wags it's tail when it sees me because he knows that I have a bag of treats with me. I probably know more dogs than people in my village. I always have to say hello to them. 

Now got to go out and put the hedgehog food out.

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Disability Dog Walk 2026

Good morning.

I'm catching up with the photographs from the weekend. Sunday was the Disability Dog Walk at Lincolnshire Showground. It was a gloriously sunny day. Too hot for some humans, but the dogs were well catered for. Shaded areas under trees. Paddling pools full of water and plastic balls if the doggies wanted to take a dive in to cool down. Water bowls for drinking were constantly topped up. Inside the hall was a cool area, with trade stands and a wheelchair  workshop, where they could get fitted with their own personalised set of wheels. 

Look out for this van if you travel around the East Midlands area. They are probably going off to deliver a set of wheels for some lucky doggy. 

Park your bum on a deckchair and watch the doggies play in the pools. 

Here we are gathering together for the walk. Pumpkin is the centre of attention as always. 

Photo opportunity before they set off on the walk. 

Here we go. 

I followed. It was lovely through the cool woods. 

More fun to come. The stage was set for music. The kids bouncy castle was very popular. Plenty of food available from the indoor cafe. 

I found an elevated mound to sit on while I ate my sandwich. Who should come along but Tammie and Pumpkin, to record a piece for the media. 

Oooops, I was spotted. 

Now I must get ready to go to Coffee Morning. 

I'll be back later with some more photo's from the event. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Hall Farm - The Artists Studios

And for the last post from the Hall Farm visit on Saturday, we take a look at the Artists Studios. 

Michael Scrimshaw has a multitude of talents. He make sculptures large and small, he paints, he sketches with a pencil. He is inventive and his designs come to life, sometimes in the most spectacular way. A collage of some of his work. His wife Helen is the whiz in the kitchen. Her business is producing tasty jams and chutneys. 

James Sutton is an artist/sculptor who works with mainly stainless steel. He is currently working on a life size group of pigs. It's a commission which will be installed on the Isle of Man. 

He does large and small scale pieces. 

The pieces he buys in, then assembles them into individual exclusive artworks. 

First he draws a diagram. 

I bought one of these flowers, which is now in my garden. A single rose is £40. 

Also in the workshop out buildings are antiques collectors and dealers. 

There is also a furniture restorer, a bespoke furniture maker, and a pottery designer/maker. At this Open Day there were people selling plants, garden decorations, and hand made arts and crafts. 

It was a lovely day out. People were so friendly and relaxed. 

Today it is another too hot to do anything day. I will potter around the garden trying to keep in the shade. 

I have still got the Pumpkin the Wheelie Westie photo's from Sunday, which I will post here later. 

Drink plenty of water. Put bowls of water out in your garden for the birds. I spent an hour last night sitting outside watching the five hedgehogs cavorting about on the lawn. It was magic.

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona