Bimbling around Barton, and a money saving tip.

Good evening. 

On with the layers again today. Still freezing cold. A visit to Barton upon Humber. I parked at Tesco, it's free, and went into The Ropewalk to look at the art exhibitions. I recognise this name, Michael Scrimshaw has a studio here, but I think he does most of his work at home. This piece is not very big, about 18 inches to two feet high. A lot of his sculptures are in metal. 

Flippin heck. It's a tad expensive. 

Me and Michael at the Open Studios Event in September 2019. 

Here he is at a previous visit in 2013. His dreadlocks must be a lot longer by now. 

I walked to the Visitor Centre on the banks of the river. Took a few snaps along the way, though it was too cold to get my hands out of my pockets and take my gloves off. How I suffer for my art. 😆

The ponds are mostly frozen, except for a small patch where a large group of ducks had congregated. The smaller birds scooted around on the ice. 

The Council have been spending money on a new boardwalk, which is a lot better than the old one which was in danger of collapsing into the water. 

A seating area with a centrepiece sculpture. I did stop to talk to a friendly couple who were taking photographs, which was very nice. Too cold to linger for very long though. 

Oh dear, vandalism rears it's ugly head. The shop is quite some distance from here. There is no reason to push the trolley this far. Someone larking around I would imagine. 

Ooooh look, I found some more trolleys. This place is not near the shop. I think the trolley dumping has happened before and someone is collecting them up. Maybe they will be returned to where they belong, at the entrance to the store. 

Now I am getting too cold to take any more photo's. Back to the car. 

I was going to pick up a few bits of shopping at Tesco, but dumbo came out in such a rush I forgot to take any money with me. Oh well, it was a cheap couple of hours. Let's go home. 

A video I knocked out yesterday. 

5,095 views 3 Jan 2026

Psssst, want to save £174.50? Get rid of your television set, and stop paying for a TV licence. Read all the terms and conditions about what you can and can't watch online. Don't break the law. TV licensing have written to me again. They say I am under investigation. I haven't had a television set for 25 years, and I do not watch any live streaming on this computer. They are welcome to knock at my door, but I won't let them in.

Look at the time. I must get something to eat. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Who calls the shots.

 WARNING  💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

Keir Starmer

@Keir_Starmer

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1h

I know people are frustrated about the pace of change. I am too. Getting our country back on track will take time, but despite the chaos we inherited, we're making progress. Wages are rising faster than prices. Waiting lists are down. Inflation and interest rates are falling. This year, Britain will turn the corner, and you will start to feel the change we promised – in your bills, in your community and in your public services.

When I was busy getting my own life sorted out, busy getting a job, busy earning a living, trying to establish a life that I was happy with, I had no interest in politics or what was going on in the world. I ignored all that sort of thing.

My dad was the news addict, his daily newspaper was read over and over again, he devoured every word until the ink became smudged and it became a crumpled mess. It ended up in the grate when the fire was laid out the following morning.

Back in the day, my expectations were that the elected Government would sort out all the rules of what would be the best course of action to take, regarding the UK's role in politics. How naive I was. Nothing to do with me. I watched wars come and wars go, and never understood who was fighting who, and for what reason. I still don't get it.

The awakening for me was when we were told that we had to get a certain treatment. If we didn't we would all drop down dead, as was shown in videos coming out of China. Enough to scare the 💩 out of anybody. I watched and waited to see what happened next.

Back to Starmer. He is still peddling the 💩. His tweeeeets are full of it. His words are spewed forth from his staff of course. He talks about inheriting chaos. What was he doing when the other side were in? Did he challenge anything that he didn't agree with? No of course not. He was just biding his time until it was his turn to take over the reigns. He knew it would come.

He said he is frustrated about the pace of change. No he is not, because he has no control over how fast or slow things are progressing. His masters dictate what happens next.

Wages are rising! Nope. How many people will be losing their jobs in the scramble for the scam net zero? What happens when farm land is lost to solar panels, wind turbines, and new sprawling house builds linking village to villages, spreading out from the towns. Don't worry, AI will be the new God.

So what is going to hit us next? Maybe this will sort out the mess. Just one of the many conferences coming down the line in 2026. Fancy a trip to Dubai in April?

TOKEN2049

@token2049

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Don't worry about what is going on at ground level. It's the big boys that call the shots. Instructions will filter down. Who has the most money shouts loudest.

As my header says, 'Love my life', and I do.

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

Wrap up, it's cold outside.

Good evening.

Today I went through all my sewing bits and bobs. Perhaps bits and bobs is the wrong description, there is tons of it collected over the years. Anything you might need for hand and machine sewing. Haberdashery I think is the correct name. Some of it inherited from a friend who passed away. Her family gave it to me. A lot of it has been given to me by the ladies in Crafty Club, and Coffee Morning. I have tidied it all up in five drawers which should make it easier to find things. 

It was sunny this afternoon so a walk across the fields got me out. Boy was it flipping freezing. Extra layers were needed. A skirt over the top of trousers, over the top of leggings, over the top of leg warmers, with two pairs of socks. Big jacket with big furry hood fastened tight around the ears. 

Every year there is a patch of sweetcorn planted along the edge of a field. I have never seen any harvested for human consumption, it is usually left to rot. There is a wood nearby so I think it is food to fatten up the pheasants before the shooting season. I could probably pick some and cook them up for tea, but I can't be bothered. I'll stick with the frozen variety.  

Not sure why they have put a wire fence around it. Maybe it's to keep the deer out. 

Keep moving, it's too cold to stand around. No sitting on the bench today. The landscape looks a bit bleak, no deer or hare sightings. Nothing to take a photo of. I looked down. Oooh, that's nice. I can see pictures in the puddles. You can find art everywhere if you look.  

I was so cold, I took the shorter route along the road to bring me back into the village. I came across my friend Brian walking his dog. He has the biggest wolfhound you have ever seen. Almost up to my waist. This is the second one he has had. The rescue knows he loves big dogs, and when the last one died they contacted him to ask if he would take this gigantic one. The dog just plods around alongside him. I will try and get a photo if I see them in daylight hours. It was almost dark when I got back. 

Now it's time to eat. The heating is on, the cats are all in, and Mayze is laid on her cushion in front of the gas fire. All is well.

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

How much do I pay for things I need.

Good afternoon. 

I have just eaten lunch. More veggies. Now I want to go out in the sunshine. A walk across the fields. 

Here is a video I put out on the channel yesterday.

 

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2 Jan 2026

It doesn't matter how much money I spend on something I need. If I can afford it I buy it. If I cannot afford it, I don't buy it, and shop around for something cheaper. If you are contemplating buying something it is a mistake to ask others what they paid for the item. Everyone has a different income. If you are thinking of making a purchase, check out prices with the person or company who is selling the item. Comparing yourself with what others pay is pointless. You need to know how much money you are prepared to spend.

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. Catch ya later.

Toodle pip.   ilona