A new location to pick litter.

On a whim I thought I would have a look at Bagmoor Lane to see if there is any litter to tidy up. I think I did a walk down there many years ago, but forgot what it was like. I know there is a riding school down there, and a farm. I found a car park for this place. 

All around the edge of the car park There were hidden litter. Enough I thought to fill a bag. Not very good if you are wearing a skirt, a bit rough on the legs to wade through brambles and nettles. Yes, there was enough. 

A scramble into the woods. More bottles and cans to be found. 

Fifteen bottles and two nitrous oxide cannisters. All bagged up and dropped off at my usual bin at the pond. There is more litter to be picked down there. It's nice and quiet and peaceful. The car park is mainly used by dog walkers. I will come back another time. 

I recorded a short video this morning. Another letter has arrived from the TV licensing people.  

 Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Not for sale.

 Katie is not for sale. 

Katie is not for sale. She is a free spirit. Someone has not done their research. LOL. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Give it some Jeff ;-)

 Jeff Banks

1h ·

Finally Keir Starmer is no longer Prime Minister. Good riddance!!! He is arguably the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. History will remember him for nothing which is exactly what he is. A hollow vessel full of nothing. Unfortunately he leaves behind the detritus of a failed administration.

Abandoned waspy women and their pensions.

VAT on private schools.

Half baked underfunded and poor quality committee of Grooming Gangs. Designed to fail.

Penalised Farmers.

National Insurance increases leading to youth unemployment.

Immigration out of control.

Failure to smash the gangs and stop the boats.

Zero growth.

Massive borrowing.

Net Zero fallacy.

Two tier policing.

Distopean restrictions on free speech.

Appointment of an appalling cabinet with little or no expertise in running anything outside a political bubble.

But now we live in the equivalent of a Banana Republic where somehow a man who was only elected to parliament one month ago becomes Prime Minister next week.

I think we are in for a bumpy ride and must continue to hold this government to account.

Looking Dapper, Jeff. Say it like it is.

(1) Facebook

Catch ya later. Toodle pip. ilona

Result !

 Good evening. 

Some good news. After putting in a second report to the Council about the horrendous dead animal fly tipping, and then ringing them up this morning to verbally report it, I'm pleased to say that it has now been cleared away. 

I went to town this afternoon to visit the Arts Centre, then pick up some supplies from Aldi, and when passing the said layby, I stopped to check. Yep, all gone. The stink was still there though. It needs a good dose of disinfectant. I think I spooked the woman at the Council a bit when I said it could be human remains in the bags, and would need a police investigation. She left me hanging on the phone for a few minutes, no doubt to speak to her superiors. When she came back she said she had reported it as an emergency, and a crew would be dispatched immediately.  RESULT. 😆😁😂 Just tell it like it is. 

A bit of a drama in Aldi this afternoon. I had gone through the checkouts and was packing my shopping into my bags, when there was a scuffle at the self scan checkouts. I looked up to see a young man dash towards the door. He had long black dreadlocks down his back. Am I allowed to say he looked like a Rastafarian. Know what I mean. 😜 He had tried to grab something from a shelf and leg it without paying. A quick thinking member of staff manage to scupper his plan, and he ran for the door. Once outside he disappeared through the car park. Nobody chased him because he hadn't managed to steal anything. 

Be alert at all times when you are out and about. 

I wanted to do an hours litter picking but it was too hot. As I passed my drop off point I was pleased to see that my two bags from yesterday had been collected. 

A baby hedgehog has appeared in the garden. I saw it yesterday and it has been again tonight. It didn't move for a while but when I dropped a handful of food right in front of it's nose it began to eat. It has had a drink of water, but I need to put a shallow bowl out because it's little legs can't reach into the bigger bowls. 

Thanks for popping in. Thanks for your comments. Toodle pip.   ilona

A day out !!!

 Just seen this. Fancy a day out on Saturday? 

Please read before you travel to HumberFest!

Gates open at 11:00am, so arrive early and make the most of the day!

To help everyone have a safe and enjoyable experience, please check what you can and can't bring before you arrive.

Bring:

• A folding camping chair

• Valid ID (Challenge 25 will be in operation at the main entrance and all bars)

• Sun cream

• Empty Reusable Water Bottle

Free tap water refill points are available across the festival, so you're welcome to bring an empty reusable water bottle.

No food or drink may be brought into the festival.

Other prohibited items include:

• Dogs

• Gazebos

• Drugs

• Weapons

• Glass bottles or containers

• Bags larger than A4 (Excluding Family Bags).

• Large umbrellas

• Professional cameras

Searches will be in operation. Prohibited items will be confiscated and entry may be refused.

Thank you for helping us keep HumberFest safe, clean and enjoyable for everyone.

Is this a joke? This is Rip off Britain on steroids. Is this normal for Festivals? I don't go to them. Horrible fake music that is an assault to your ears. I need to take my own food and drink, to ensure I am putting something healthy into my body. None of this street van food muck with questionable ingredients for me. What is a Professional Camera? 

My response to this . . . . . Trying to remain ladylike. . . . . . No thanks, I won't bother. (stuff it) 

Catch you later. Toodle pip.  ilona

1 + 1 = 2 bags

Good evening.

I've been tidying up on the Industrial Estate this afternoon. These two trailers have been dumped on the road at the top end of the pond, about two weeks ago. No one saw them arrive, probably came in the middle of the night. They are parked close together. The biggest fly tip you have ever seen. They are falling apart and full of rubbish. The press have been taking photographs, they have used a drone to see what has been loaded inside of them through the roof. It will be interesting to see how they are going to tow them away being as they have no brakes and no lights.  

This is the bag I filled yesterday.

And today I have added another one. The halo is a steering wheel cover I found. 

I checked the animal carcasses fly tip, hoping that it might have gone. It hasn't, it's still there. I rang the Police to report it, but the woman who answered the phone said I didn't need to ring them, because they will get notification from the Council about it. It needs to be gone now, it's a massive health problem. The Council take their time. At least they come and collect my red bags within a couple of days. 

Three hedgehogs on the garden so far tonight. I watch them run about. They seem to follow the same paths. I know where they are coming from and know where they are going to when they have finished eating. 

I am going outside now to spend the last hour tidying up. Must keep the hedges trimmed.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Trying not to be sick

 If you think litter picking is straight forward and dead easy, think again. There are some stomach churning gruesome sights to be found. An assault on the nostrils can be vomit inducing if one does not make a hasty retreat. 

I went out for an hours picking this afternoon, along a short stretch of busy road. Filled one bag, that's all I intended doing. There is a pull in for drivers to take a break. It's pretty wide, an artic can easily fit into it. There are some concrete blocks which form a barrier. It's what was dumped behind the blocks which is a problem fly tip. A very big problem which needs first the Council to come and inspect it, followed by the police to investigate as to how it came to be tipped there. A dozen black bags of animal carcasses. 

I have put in a report on the Council web site. I have a reference number. 

Questions need to be asked. 

Where were the animals stolen from. Difficult to tell what they were, pigs or cows. 

Where were they killed. Obviously not a legitimate slaughterhouse. Back yard maybe.

Were they stunned first, possibly not. Halal maybe.

Bag left for collection. 

I spent some time in the garden today. A hedge needed trimming. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Just before midnight

 Crikey, I must go to bed. Here is the video I mentioned earlier. 

Catch ya tomorrow.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Still getting back to normal.

Good afternoon. 

Just popping in to let you know what I am doing. Sewing. I made these flowers. Don't know what I am going to do with them yet. I might attach stalks to them, add some leaves, and display them in a vase. Or I may stitch them onto a dark background and frame them. 

And I made a strip of mini bunting. Would look nice on the front of a shelf or hanging in a window. 

The power went off here last night at 11.30pm, which was rather unusual. I was about to go to bed. It was still off this morning when I got up at 6.30am. I'm pleased that the electricity company managed to fix it. Most of the village was without power, all the street lights went out. I hope this is not going to be a regular thing. 

I went to Crafty Club this morning. Knit and natter, Stitch and bitch. It was all rather jolly. We celebrated Jane's birthday, with cake. 

It's hot again today. I need to tidy the garden. A video is in the oven, coming out soon. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Getting back to normal

It wasn't quite so hot today so I was able to go out and do some litter picking. I need to keep busy. Having missed about two weeks, I knew that rubbish would have started to pile up again. I picked at two different locations on the Industrial Estate. 

Working underneath the trees gave me some shade. First I went down the whole length of this path and pulled out all the litter. Lots of bottles and cans as usual. This is where the factory workers walk, cycle, and scooter between work and home. It is two weeks since I was last here, it really needs checking weekly. 

Total haul two red bags, and 17 glass bottles. Dropped in my usual place awaiting the Council to come and collect. 

Now I am feeling a bit tired. 

Thank you for your comments. Trying to get back to normal. 

Too many people dying at the moment. Most disconcerting. 

See you soon.   Toodle pip.   ilona

Goodbye Sis.

My sister Anna Maria, passed away this afternoon in St Giles Hospice near Lichfield. She was 72. She has been having cancer treatment for almost a year. It came as a shock to me as I didn't find out about it until earlier this year. She stopped communicating with me for three and a half years. Thankfully we were able to put our past differences behind us over the last few months. 

This is why I keep saying, don't be cruel, don't be hateful, don't be a bully, There is nothing to be gained by taking your anger with you to the grave. My sister badly misjudged the situation. I hope she has found peace. 

Thank you for your comments. 

Have a good weekend.    ilona
 

Waiting

 Good morning

It is Friday. 

Thank you for your comments. I will not be publishing them, they are personal to me. 

Now it is a waiting game. In limbo. Waiting for news. 

Sorry, this is cryptic. 

I see that Ann Widdecombe has passed away. Very sad. A true patriot.

Looks like another hot day. This limits what I can do outside. 

Have a good day.

ilona

Emotional

 Good morning

Just briefly. . . .My head is not in the mood for blogging. 

Having a short break. 

Need to step away. 

Great sadness within my family.

Need to gather my thoughts. 

Back soon.

ilona

New media - old media.

Good morning.

It is Tuesday and the sun is shining.

I am seeing several videos that are talking about the same topic as Andy is talking about here. There is a consultation going on within Government about what news related channels we should be allowed to see. The controlling of the masses rumbles on and on. 

The Government, any Government, are looking at powers to suppress free speech, and push us all towards their state approved narrative. Yoootooob content creators are being stripped of their algorithms, and are being pushed further down your list of suggested videos. For some creators that will mean their business will shrink, fewer views, less income. 

Join the dots and you will see why this is happening. Andy explains, in his easy to follow narrative. You can read the transcript as he is speaking. 

The UK Government is considering new media rules that could force platforms like YouTube to give establishment broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 a privileged position in search results and recommendation feeds.

That means independent creators could be pushed down, hidden from viewers and made harder to discover — even when people have actively chosen to subscribe to them. But when the Government starts deciding which media organisations deserve to be seen first, we are no longer dealing with a free marketplace of ideas. We are dealing with a managed information system.

Daniel, the Black Belt Barrister also covers this subject. 

So why are they doing this? Obvious. The richest 1% are on a mission to control everything. If you are keeping up you will know why. 

Thanks for popping in. Now I have things to do. 

Look after yourselves. Toodle pip.   ilona

How many cans in the bag?

Hello.

This video was uploading while I was at Crafty Club this morning. It shows the extent of the littering I was about to tackle at the Football Ground yesterday. 

First pull out all the cans from underneath the trees. Today I only want the cans. 

Then start filling the trolley. There are 100 cans in this photo. Yes, I counted every one. 

There are 200 cans in this photo. Not full yet. 

Now the bag is full. Guess how many cans. I struggled to tie up the top. 

Then I added the one bag to the other three I picked on Friday. 

I am now using these labels to confirm that this is not fly tipping. The Council will come and collect these, today or tomorrow. 

I may not go back to the Football Ground for the rest of the litter. It is hard work to bend down low and scramble underneath the branches. A long reach picker stick is needed and I haven't got one. 

Monday afternoon and it is warm and sunny. A Billy dog walk for later when it has cooled down a bit. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

No pride

 The aftermath. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.  ilona

Let's go to Winterton Show

Good morning. It is Sunday. 

The weather today will be cloudy and windy, so says my computer. It was very windy yesterday when I drove to Roxby village and left my car there, to walk to Winterton Show. It's a four mile circular walk along open fields. Very pleasant it was too. 

I spent a couple of hours there. Didn't take many photo's because I have seen it all before. 

Here is a post from July 2024. Lots of photo's there. 

And July 2025 I see the entrance fee has gone from £10 to £15 this year. 

And July 2022. 

That's a natty little kitchen at the back of a tiny pod, pulled along by a gorgeous trike. 

Decorated floats circumnavigate the ring. Give the kids a wave. They are loving it. 

Out of the wind inside the big tents. It was very hot under cover. I thought about taking a stand in the craft tent. I'm glad I didn't, it was stifling in there. 

The wind was still raging as I walked back to the car. I met a dog walker and we agreed how nice and warm it was, even with a breeze. 

I don't think I need to go again next year. I am running out of new places to visit within half an hour from home. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Stop and breath

 Good morning.

Someone put a report in on the UK Litter Picking page. They have been monitoring two laybys on the A453 in North Leicestershire, for two years. They have taken photographs and gathered video evidence of the litter problem there. Over that time they have contacted every environmental agency and every authority they can think of to come and sort the problem out. This has led to a lot of dead ends where no one is interested. The litter picker has reached the end of her tether, she feels that she has exhausted every avenue available to her, and is about to give up. I sense the despair in her lengthy report on this situation. 

The hardest thing to do is stay motivated when everything seems to be against you. I should know all about that. The messages you pick up are telling you to give up. To stop. But you carry on in the hope that it will all come right in the end. The obvious is staring you in the face. Life would be so much easier if you just gave up and settled for a less meaningful life. Where you just got on with doing what everyone else was doing. Just throw the litter down and add to the pile. Walk away from it, not your problem. 

I didn't walk away from lorry driving. I stuck with it, and in the end it did work out well. But not everyone has my resolve. Women did give up when it all became too much. Everyone has their breaking point. How much anger, conflict, and misery can you take before you eventually crack and say, I'm out of here. 

Self belief has a lot to do with it. In any situation you can only give as much as you have in reserve to see you through to the end. When the tank is empty you stop giving. Oh, you can try to push on further through the barrier which is screaming you to stop. With each push you become weaker. The end will come when your world totally collapses and you drive yourself towards insanity. 

This has happened to me when I have endeavoured to make relationships work. I stuck with it, but only for a certain length of time. Eventually I knew it was never going to work. Then it was time to move on, to save my sanity. 

To the lady who has been struggling to tidy up the layby's, to anyone who is stuck at a dead end in their life, to anyone who is on the wrong track, there is nothing more important than your own mental and physical health. It would be nice if everything we ever did ended in success. We can try our best, we can change direction, but there will come a time when we need to stop and breath. Every morning is the start of a brand new day. Embrace that feeling. 

Enjoy your weekend.  Toodle pip. ilona 

The easy option.

I was in the mood for litter picking today. I had my eye on the grottiest spot you have ever seen. Thought I might give it a go. There is a big car park at the Football Stadium, and along one side of it underneath a row of trees, there is humungus amounts of litter and fly tipping. I noticed it last week when I was there so I thought I might make a start on it. 

I parked my car and did a walk around the whole perimeter to see what the rest of it is like. I decided not to tackle that awful mess today, and found enough litter along this edge with easier access, to fill three bags. There is my car, the trolley is out, and I started by pulling all the rubbish out first. 

Someone from the Football Ground stopped his car to thank me for tidying up. I said the litter is much worse underneath the line of trees around the corner. He said that the car park has been sold. They will be building houses on it. I think that will be a long way off, so I will keep it in mind to at least make a start on picking some of the litter up.  

Funny what you find. Right next door to the Football Ground are lots of fast food takeaway establishments. Someone obviously didn't like the look of their sausages. 

I thought about dropping my bags off next to four wheelie bins by the layby just before the motorway roundabout. I checked it out first. Oh my goodness, the whole area was covered in litter, and the bins were less that half full. No time to pick it up. I decided not to add to the mess that was already there. 

And so I dropped my bags off at my usual place, where I know they will be collected by the Council. 

Have a good weekend. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona