Monday 17 November 2014

It all happens in our village

Hey, how ya diddlin? Miss me yesterday? No thought not, it was my day off, empty head, day of rest. Quite the opposite of today, I've been running around like a blue arse fly, never stopped, feet didn't touch the ground, ha ha. Well they did get a bit of rest when I sat down at the craft club.

First thing this morning I had to do a dog walk, I didn't have to, I volunteered. My friend Joyce has had a cataract operation and she is not supposed to tilt her head forwards while bending down. Very difficult to pick up dog poo if you can't look down while scraping it up with your hand inside a plastic bag. So I am doing the morning walks for her because that's when Bailey the poodle does his ablutions. Three squats and he should be empty.

I really enjoyed that walk around the village, it was very busy for a Monday morning. The council men were filling a few holes in the road with tarmac, looks a right state now, a real bodge job. The bin wagon was out blocking the road while the men ran around pulling the bins to the back of the lorry. I had a little smile to myself, the operatives were all of slender stature apart from one who was a young portly chap. He must be new I thought, give it a couple of months and he will be as skinny as the rest of them. There was folks rushing to work, and other dog walkers to chat to. I love it when the doggies get to socialize as well. You sniff my bum and I'll sniff yours, ha ha.

On the way to the Chat and Craft at the village hall I passed a large rubbish bin on wheels, which was overflowing. The lid wouldn't shut and the contents looked quite interesting so I couldn't resist a nosey inside. There was a large storage box with a leatherette type covering and several strong shopping bags which had plenty of life left in them. I fished them out and took them with me. Two of the bags were snaffled by the ladies, and I stripped the cover off the storage box. That will do for a crafting project. I wish people wouldn't dump useful stuff.

While I am talking about village life, I'll tell you a funny story, well I thought it was funny. Open Reach, the company who are putting in all the cables for our new faster broadband, has spent the last two weeks installing a large green electrical junction box thingy. It's outside my friends house, on a main road, opposite a long straight side road. A couple of days ago a driver who was not paying much attention to what he was doing, overshot the junction and ploughed straight into it, totally wiping it out and demolishing a wall at the same time. No, that bit isn't funny, the driver is ok by the way. My two friends, him and her, don't live in the house any more, they have moved to another street. Someone told them about this new installation a few days before, so she went to have a look at it. Apparently they didn't put the box in the right place and it was partially over the entrance to their driveway. She got on the phone, and after pressing many buttons she got through to the reporting damaged boxes department. This is before it happened don't forget. She explained where the box was, and was asked if it was damaged. Her answer, 'no not yet, but it will be'. She said this because they will struggle to get their caravan out and it might get damaged in the process. Well blow me down, she was right, it did get damaged. My friend must be clairvoyant, I think I will ask her to read my palm if she can see into the future, ha ha.

After lunch, which was a banana sandwich with lemon curd, no time to cook something, I went to Helen's to help her with the newsletter deliveries. I was pleased to do this as I really need to do more walking. I've been thinking of my next long walk, which won't happen till the spring, I have a hankering for another long one. The bus pass holiday was different, and fun, because I had more time to stop and chat to people, but I did miss clocking up the miles. It felt like cheating, like I hadn't achieved anything. Oh yeah, I did one day of 20 miles, big deal. I climbed a couple of hills in the Lake District. It was nice and all that, but it wasn't a challenge. So roll on next spring when I can get out again for some long walking days.

The time coming up to Christmas is the time of the year I least enjoy. I try and be outside as much as I can, weather permitting. From now on there's going to be chaos at the shops. Shelves of essentials are cleared to make way for the ever expanding array of Christmas paraphernalia. Roads in and out of car parks will be blocked and there will be jostling in the aisles as shoppers barge their way towards the checkouts. Let madness commence. Glad I have opted out of it. I just sit back and let them all get on with it.

Had a nice surprise when I checked the blog tonight, Jason has sent a comment. Thank you  :o)) I'm chuffed.

Some good news, we re homed a black and white cat called Lucky last week. He came to us because his elderly owner was moving into sheltered accommodation and couldn't take him with her. A lovely couple have adopted him, they live in a village location, with plenty of open spaces around his new home.
Toodle pip.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Ilona.
    I love the way you write and am of a similar mind to you. phew waht a day you hadmine was a bit liek that as well this morning.
    take care
    Rachel

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  2. I'm worn out. I'd guess the installation company might be suspicious that your friends purposefully ran over the box? Dumpster diving? Really......

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  3. You did have a busy day, Ilona! I just love your positive outlook on life and the everyday events.

    "Lucky" definitely had a lucky day to get a lovely new family. I hope that someone will tell the elderly lady that her cat is safe and in good hands.

    Have a wonderful day.

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    1. Hi Barb. We are still in touch with the elderly lady, she will be pleased to know her kitty has a nice new home.

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    2. That is great that the lady will know about her cat's good luck.

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  4. Now am all caught up with your antics, excursions, crafts, beautiful photographs and tours, thoughts and sensibilities.Very much enjoyed it all. Rocky outings had me smiling and teary too.Your neighbours and friends are very fortunate to have you close by. Troll patrol handled deftly,wittily and no nonsense.(atta girl)Normal village life is made interesting, inciteful and amusing and a day brightener to read.Though don't use curry much will try to experiment more.Maybe your friend's common sense and psychic abilities should have been heeded, what's with people?Could have been prevented and saved time and expense.Curb freebies and rummaging are right up my alley.Your point on Christmas well said and taken.It can be a trial for many. The whole thing has morphed out of proportion from it's original purpose and celebration in my opinion.But it will soon be over.I haven't put the bird feeder out yet and now it's snowed, so the seed heads and berries will have to provide this year.Heartening to know that Lucky has a new loving home.Bye for now, regards, Destemona.

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    1. Hello. Thanks for your update, great to read your news.

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  5. interesting post!
    great for the kitty getting a new home!
    banana with lemon? hum have't tried that one!
    maybe now i will, grin,
    have a great week!

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  6. I occasionally have a banana and bacon butty, like when there is only one rasher of bacon left. A Jamaican Nurse I used to work with, had one of these almost every morning.
    Could do with a dry spell and get the water table down here, my hens' run flooded yesterday morning, now they have their very own 'boardwalk' to keep their feet dry!
    Glad Lucky as just that!

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  7. Here in the States we have a "swap shop" in a large shed at the garbage and recycling dump. It is the most fantastic thing....
    Everything is free (but you must have proof of residency in the village) and you can bring things you dont want and take what you do. Books, ski equipment, household good, toys, furniture, wonderful as it would all have ended up in the landfills otherwise. Maybe something to ask for at your village.

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  8. We avoid stores like the plague close to Christmas...you need elbow pads to get through the crowds.
    Jane x

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  9. Not been in for a while as I am travelling back and forward to my brother who is in the last throes of cancer, its awful to see him going down, his whole body has the cancer now and the chemo he gets is just really prolonging his agony, most days he is in bed now and having more and more morphine tablets and drinks. I am so pleased the cat has found a loving home and that you can at least keep in touch with its previous owner, that must be some comfort to her. I a surprised your bags didnt sell Ilona, they looked so good and just the thing to keep in the car pockets for shopping trips. As for christmas, my shopping is all done, sent a parcel to New Zealand yesterday and thought I might have to get a bank loan, the postage here now is so huge I think my daughter will have to have money into her bank in future, I do not make a big thing about christmas, it comes and it goes for me these days. I do not have grand children so that makes it easier I suppose,

    Danneke

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  10. 'Lucky' indeed to fall on your mercy...sad for his elderly owner, though. Can imagine how I would feel if my dog had to be rehomed...

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