What's in my breakfast.

Good evening. It's been hot hot hot again today. Coffee Morning at the club this morning as usual. I was late and it was already busy. Everybody was talking ten to the dozen. It's hopeless me trying to have a conversation so I sit alone away from the noise, and turn my hearing aid off. I take some sewing with me and if anyone wants to talk to me they can come and sit with me for a few minutes. 

My porridge container was low, not enough to make up one serving. This is what I put in it. Start with basic porridge oats. Then add nuts and seeds. 

Whizz it all up in the Kenwood, and store it in a plastic box with a tight fitting lid. This will last a couple of week, sometimes longer if I have something else for breakfast. Two desert spoons of this in a bowl, add water and a splash of milk. Some honey to sweeten if needed. 

Add frozen fruit, or a banana if I have one. Very nice breakfast to start the day. Who likes porridge, and what do you put in it? Do you have porridge in the summer? 

I went shopping this afternoon to the retail park. I had planned on going to Aldi as well but I couldn't be bothered. I got most of what I wanted at Home Bargains and The Range. I browsed a charity shop and look what I found. The rucksack on the left is the one I have been using for ages. I wanted something a bit brighter. The new one, and it is brand new, was a bargain at £3.50. I'm chuffed with that. 

It's 7.30pm and cooling down a bit so it's safe to go for a walk now. Tomorrow is check in day for the walking group. The 1st of August already. Time is going far too quickly. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.  ilona

Looking back.

 Something I said in July 2013. . . . . . . Check out the comments. 

So, how many more people are you planning on inviting in, how many more can you fit onto our tiny island, because I think it is not far off sinking. We, the United Kingdom, are full up. We have no jobs, we have nowhere for them to live

So what happens next Mr Government Ministers? Open the doors and welcome everyone in with open arms? It's a recipe for disaster. There will be anarchy on the streets, more riots, more plundering and looting, gangs roaming free robbing and killing.

Comment from Carrie. . . . . So much misinformation in the post and in many of the replies.

Something I said in April 2016. . . . . . .Check out the comments.

We (the UK) need more houses, jobs, hospitals, and schools to accommodate newcomers, the Government tells us the country is bust, no money. We already have a lot of homeless people living on the streets, people waiting for medical care and operations, and classrooms of unacceptably high numbers of children. I can't see how we can take in more without improvements to all these services. People will keep on coming, whole armies of them, it's like a great tidal wave that can't be stopped.

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What is happening today is a continuation of the master plan. Those with the money have the power. They are the enemy we need to fight, not each other. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Sandtoft Gathering part 2.

So what else did I see at the Trolleybus Museum on Sunday. I didn't realise how big the site was. I have only seen it from the road, but there is more to it than just the sheds and hard standing. There are grassy areas to spread out on when they have an event. And plenty of free parking space for visitors. 

Anyone remember the prefabs that were put up after the war. Temporary housing that was only going to last a specific length of time until the building got underway of brick built houses. I remember there were some in my street where I grew up on a Council Estate. 

Step inside and have a look what a 40's tiny house was like. There are similar houses at the Black Country Museum in Dudley, and Beamish in the north east near Durham. Both of which I have visited and written about in this blog.  

See the boiled eggs on the table. We had a boiled egg every Sunday teatime, with bread and butter. Then we had jelly and tinned fruit afterwards. Love the detail in these pictures. 

There was a display of classic cars to look round. Beautiful limo that would be perfect with a bride sitting in the back.

Fancy a Cadillac. I wonder if Elvis had one of these. 

This one was very unusual, it was hard to tell exactly what it is. I had a word with the owner. He lives in the Gainsborough area, he is a bin lorry driver, and he built every bit of this by himself in his garage. It started off as a Range Rover Discovery, he stripped it down to the chassis, and every component is constructed from recycled and second hand materials. It has lorry air horns which he could not demonstrate because the blast is so loud it would send people in a state of panic. All the welding, the metal sheeting for the body, all made by himself. It is road legal, taxed and tested and insured. 

The engine is pristine clean. All fitted by himself. Sorry, I forgot to ask his name. He was fascinating to talk to and showed me a picture of a lorry that he has at home which he rebuilt. 

I bet it's a fun vehicle to drive. It would be great belting along on a deserted beach. Can just see it now, hair flowing in the wind. 

A look at the static vintage buses. 

It was a great day out. Lots of transport people to talk to. Lots of men photographing everything. I was the only female who had a camera permanently in my hand. 

I met a couple who were from Burton on Trent, but now live at Long Eaton. Guess what, they went to the same school as me. I left in 64, they were there after that. We had a lot to talk about. 

I chatted to a very smart gentleman who was very well turned out. I told him so. Shirt and tie, smart trousers and jacket, polished shoes. I asked him if he had dressed for the event. He said no, this is how I normally dress. We chatted he is an insurance salesman and likes to keep a certain standard of dress. I must say, he was dapper, for an 80 year old. 

The ticket I bought is valid for one year so I can go back again anytime. The museum is a charity, and is run mainly by volunteers. It was founded in 1969. I hope they have many more years ahead of them.

Check out their web site here. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Visit to the Trolleybus Museum

The Trolleybus Museum is a couple of miles from the M180 not far from Doncaster. I had a great day out there on Sunday. Can you see my original driver number on my badge, proudly displayed on my rucksack. Yes, still got it after all these years. 

Here is a video and a few pics. Front seat to watch the trolleybuses going around the circuit. 

I well remember those with the drivers cab separate from the rest of the bus. Most of them didn't have power steering and I had to almost stand up to turn a corner. I have a memory of driving a school bus, taking kids home at the end of the day. We were a bus short, normally had six, a big school. One day we only had five so the kids had to be shared out on the other buses, which changed the route. We went all around the villages. The guard in the back was shouting through the window to turn right. I was half way round and hesitated, and looked back to ask if he was sure. In a split second I took the corner too wide and we leaned over with one wheel in the ditch. The kids thought it was hilarious. They had to walk home. I found a farmer ploughing his field and ran over to him to ask if he had a chain and could he come and pull the bus out. He did thank goodness. Funny when I think of it now, but not funny at the time. I got some stick about that. 

Mr Plod doing his duty. I bet he was sweltering in his uniform. It was a hot day. 

Remember the bus conductors. Wouldn't it be nice if they could bring them back. 

ERF, my favourite truck. Many drivers would curse the twin splitter gear box but I liked them. 

Bus ticket memories. Lovely to see these preserved items as a reminder of how things used to be. 

There was a collectors haven in the sheds. Any bus you want to complete your collection. 

These models are hand crafted. Made by the same man that I mentioned at the Winterton Show. 

I'm going to split this show report here, and put the rest out tomorrow with another video. 

Here is the link to the web site which lists the dates of special events. 

Thanks for popping in, come back soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Fun on the buses.

I've had a cracking day today. I have wanted to go to the Sandtoft Trolley Bus museum for ages, but never got round to it. Always putting it off when something else crops up. I wrote this on the calendar a while ago so today was the day. The sun was shining, in fact it was very hot. I was going to go for a walk as well after the museum visit, but I was there for quite a long time, and it was too hot to walk. 

 I'll be back tomorrow with photo's and a couple of videos. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Hull Minster

The area around the Minster was away from the main Hullabaloo of Pride. A little pocket of calm. It's a pity that the ugly pole supporting the bank of spyware on the top has spoilt the photo. I tried different angles but to no avail. If I knew how to do it I would photoshop it out, but I am not that proficient at turning truth into fiction with the click of a mouse. 

Inside, the craft stalls were set out with plenty of room to view what was offered for sale. There was a £2.50 charge to enter, which I thought was fair. It was a pleasant atmosphere with the stall holders happy to talk with their visitors. Half of the Minster was given over to the Craft Fair, the other half was open to anyone who wanted a few quiet moments to soak up the ambience of a traditional place of worship.

 

A small side chapel for quiet prayer. 

I always look up at the ceiling. The panels on this side are all the same.  

Turn around and the panels on this side are different colours. Amazing. 

I made my way back to the bus station through the multicoloured throng of the crowds, which, by this time, had multiplied. Oh please, let me get out of here. The older I get the less I want to be battered by a million bodies walking in front of me. I need space. 

So that was the day out yesterday. As I look out my window this morning I see a blue sky. Best not waste it. Make sure you enjoy the good weather if it comes your way. Have a good Sunday.

Toodle pip.   ilona 

A look at Hull.

 Well howdy folks. Today I went to Hull Pride, on the bus. No, I tell a lie. I went to Hull alright, but I didn't know Pride was on till I got there. The plan was to go to a Craft Fair at Hull Minster. The advert  kept popping up on my screen and I thought, must go to that. 

So when I got off the bus at Paragon Station the place was awash with rainbow flags and people dressed in crazy fashions. It was very busy. The sun brought everybody out. Plenty of stalls to browse, lots of eating and drinking outside on the pavement, loud music blasting out. 

I went in Ferens Art Gallery to view the Open Exhibition. Took a few photos. A woolly wall hanging. 

A patchwork woolly jumper. Small pieces of knitting, stitched together in a random fashion. 

Lovely intricate embroidery. 

A country scene. Needle felting. A very lifelike hare. 

On my way to the Minster I had a look around Hepworth's Arcade.

Then I went to the Marina to see the boats. 

The Deep is a popular tourist attraction for those who like to explore marine life. 

I don't know who the person on the plinth is. Perhaps gooooglie The Deep. 

After fighting my way through the crowds, I did get to the Minster and the Craft Fair. I will put the photo's on the next post. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona