Get your permit online.

 Tuesday morning  - first post. Quote from faceboook. 

I’ve had to spend 20 minutes online to book a slot at the tip and list off the items at the bottom and had to cover up the stickers on my van or entry is refused.

The lay-bys are soon going to fill up and serves the council right

Councils are often the cause of some fly tipping problems. Oxfordshire. 

Three comments. 

I had a permit to dispose of an old shed for my aunt, got to the tip with it, and turned away as my van is a twin wheeler back axel said only allowed 4 wheels lol, so just had a bonfire later that day the neighbours loved it lol

 Those tips are a joke the rules are ridiculous, my friend went in a small toyota pick up you know the one, tiny little back on them not designed for moving rubbish, they were disposing of a 3 piece suite. 2 ladies in it got refused because it was a commercial vehicle now tell everyone that the rules are right , they're ridiculous it was plainly obvious it was from their house.

I got stopped from getting a permit for my tipper to take my own very very occasional big items to the tip. It's amazing how much you can fit in the back of an old Volvo 700. They are just trying make it difficult for people to get rid of large amounts of stuff when doing DIY jobs by borrowing/happening to own vans. They want you to pay for a skip 

Then the conversations descend into a slanging match, between those who genuinely have a gripe about their local Councils, and those who love rules and regulations. 

Happy Tuesday everybody. Catch you later. ilona

Trapped in litter

 Late night post. Just seen this.

From UK Litterpicking Groups. 

Wildlife doesn’t understand branding. It doesn’t know what’s food and what’s plastic. They investigate. They crawl inside. They get trapped. They die. The hidden cost of convenience.

Litter-related animal deaths are preventable. One dead mouse might seem insignificant, but it isn’t.

Drowned after becoming trapped inside a discarded Mc Donalds cup, wedged upright in a hedge, filled with rainwater.

A trapped and deceased bank vole

Something to think about.

Goodnight. ilona

Confidence

 Good morning.

Looking bright and sunny.....so far. Will we have a nice day outside, or must we take cover indoors. Who knows what comes next. 

Something I borrowed from the book of faces this morning. The owner of the motorhome on the right asks why has someone come along and plonked themselves right next to them, when the rest of the park is empty. 

Came back from walk, to find out we now live in a semi-detached motorhome

Some of the comments are funny, but have you noticed that people bunch up closely to others, even when there are lots of options. In a supermarket car park I choose the furthest away from the door space, because I don't want to get my doors bashed by an inconsiderate person as they get in and out of their car. You can almost guarantee when you come back with your shopping that someone has parked within inches of you. Why, when there is all that space. 

I went to the cinema and was told sit anywhere you like it is empty. Great. Someone came in and plonked themselves within a few yards of me. I got up and moved. 

If I catch a bus I don't want to sit squashed up to someone else. I pick an empty seat furthest away from everyone else. 

If I go to the toilet when I am out, I choose the cubicle furthest away from those which are occupied. I don't want to listen to the sounds of others pee splashing into the bowl. 

It happens in men's toilets too. 😵😆😜

Why do people group together and assume everyone else wants to join them. Are people scared of being alone? It's the herd instinct I suppose. Safety in numbers and all that. 

After going through all the ups and downs in my life I have come out the other side with a renewed confidence to face things alone. I will skip Crafty Club this morning, and get lost in my own head. I am comfortable there. 

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

Five red bags

 Hello. Welcome to my blog. I hope you find something of interest here. I cover subjects which I am interested in, things that amuse me, and whatever floats my boat. 

My two bags of litter from yesterday. They look a bit lonely. 

Hey presto, now there are five bags. I've done three hours today, and there is still more to do. Someone added a tyre to it, then I found a wheel with a tyre on it. 

This litter picking lark seems to be gathering momentum. There are lots of  groups on faceboook. It is turning into a social activity, people are joining together and moving mounds of rubbish. Remember the gin bottles I found, this is what they found in Northumberland.  

A group collection in North Lincolnshire. Nice sunny day for it. 

The piles are getting bigger. 

It's not just litter that you come across,. People dump anything anywhere. 

Waiting for the Council collection vehicle. 

Oh my, look at this mess. It will need a big team to clean it up. 

 I have raided the volunteer cabinet and claimed some more red bags. I think I'm going to be needing them. Such a lot of litter everywhere. 

Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Two red bags

Good evening. 

This darn weather is confusing. It changes almost every hour. Raining when I got up. Then blow me down, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Maybe I will be able to go out after all. 

I went back to where I was litter picking on Thursday, to continue along the road that I didn't have time to finish. I found that the farmer had cut back all the grass, the brambles, and the hedges with a machine. Thus exposing the rubbish that was previously hidden. By doing that there was a lot of flattened and mangled cans and plastic bottles to pick up. Here are some examples of how hard it is to find them when they have been squashed into the ground. Good eyesight is needed, and a pair of sturdy boots. 

 

Surprising what you find. An axe head with a broken shaft. Too heavy for me to carry, and I don't need one. I left it there. Hopefully someone who needs one might find it. 

I am not picking that up. Looks like it was a deer. I saw two deer carcases in a field. Not much left of them, mostly bones. 

This boot makes a good photo, the way it has deteriorated on one side. I can imagine a little mouse poking it's head out of one of those holes. 

Ooooh, look what I found in the hedge bottom. Surprisingly not broken. I will keep that.  

Two bags filled. Time was getting on and the clouds were getting darker. I pulled a lot of litter out from under the hedges and left them in piles alongside the road. No time to bag it up today. I will go back and work my way through it. The road is almost a mile long so there is still a lot more to tidy up. At least it's a quiet road with not much traffic. Just as I set off back home, the heavens opened and the rain drenched me. Chuffing crazy weather. 

I will find a use for this. 

Now I'm going to cuddle Mayze. 

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

My words.

 Good morning. 

Chris from Always Smiling, asks a question. Happiness-with a question mark. What gives us that burst of warm feeling? I jotted down a few words. After pressing publish on her blog I thought, I could copy my words here.  

I have never relied on other people for my happiness. I look inside myself for that. For me it's completing a job well done. Getting to the end of an art project. Finding my way from one end of the country to the other, a long arduous journey, and delivering my load. Navigating my way through a particularly complicated relationship and extrapolating myself from the situation, to come out the other side knowing I was right. Looking at a clean and tidy grass verge, knowing that no one else has to look at the ugly litter that I have spent a couple of hours picking up. 

This morning I woke up to heavy rainfall. Oh well, looks like I won't be doing much outside today. And now at 11.00 it has completely changed. The rain has stopped and the sun is coming out. That's better. Change of plan. A dog walk, and finish off that litter picking I started on Thursday. 

Cooked breakfast this morning. That will keep me going.

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Competition time.

 Good morning. 

Slept like a log last night, all the way through to 7am. That's the great outdoors for you. A five hour windy walk. I think I will have the day off today. I'll finish the litter picking on that particular stretch of road tomorrow. 

Here's a thought. If you are taking part in a competition and you need people to vote for you, what do you do to boost your chances of winning? Ten years ago I entered Shed of the Year, with my self build shed/summerhouse. It was all a harmless bit of fun, so I put out the call on various social media channels asking the people I knew to vote for my shed. We were given three weeks to garner as many votes as we could. There were eight categories with four in each category. 

One of my blog readers was a school teacher and encouraged her class of kiddos to vote for my shed. That gave the numbers a boost, which propelled me towards the finals. Little did I know until the presentation that my shed beat the other three. Were we cheating? I don't know, it was a bit of fun. 

Voting for the person you want to win is how selecting usually takes place. Those with the biggest number of followers usually have a better chance. Sometimes it pays to be the life and soul of the party, to gather a large number of fans, and make promises about what you are going to do if you should win. It's important to appeal to those who might elevate you to the position of authority. 

And so it happened yesterday, apparently. A green party candidate made it to the final to win her seat in the election, somewhere around Manchester I think. Families throughout the area flocked to the polling booths to cast their votes. Mum, dad, and ten kids. Seems it was a good turnout. 

You can read about it here. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Tidying up the countryside

Oh boy, it's nice to sit down after being battered by the wind. I got the 12.30 bus out to a neighbouring village. The weather wasn't too bad on the way out, some rain, but it had gone by the time I got off the bus. I was looking forward to a pleasant walk with some scenic views. The path was quite high up so the wind whipping across from the river was blowing me sideways. My eyes were weeping and my nose was dripping. It wasn't cold, just blooming windy. 

Yes, I took my litter picking stick and two bags with me. I called in to see my friend June but she wasn't in. Half of the walk was slipping about on mud. It was hard work. The picking stick came in useful as a walking pole to steady me as I went up and down the steps. Don't want to break a leg at my time of life. 

When I left Junes village I decided to stay on tarmac. I can walk faster on the road. No footpath and not much traffic about.

I didn't expect to see a great deal of rubbish, but was shocked to see the amount of bottles and cans littering the verges. It's a quiet country road. I filled my one red sack and left it in a prominent position on a bend under a road sign. The council should see that when they next come along. I carried on, heading back home, and started filling my smaller bag. There was far too many cans and bottles for me to carry and my bag was full. I had to leave some behind. The wind started getting stronger, and the rain came, and I was getting fed up. 

The pleasant walk was turning into a fast march carrying a heavy bag. I was glad to get back. I will have to go back for the rest of the litter. Can't leave a job unfinished. I will wait until the weather improves, hopefully in a day or two. 

Now I am knackered. Should sleep well tonight. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona  

Aye up me ducks

Visitors this morning. The ducks are back. How nice. I scattered some seed on the lawn hoping they would come down from the top of the hedge. and scoff their breakfast. They didn't. They stood still for a while, like they were on lookout duty. Then they were gone. Perhaps checking the place out for a suitable nesting opportunity. 

Mayze is not interested in the ducks, or any other birdlife that happens to land in the garden. She is a contented old lady who is happy to snooze on the chairs laid out with her beds, and have her food delivered. She might wander to the bathroom, litter box, when she needs to, or sit on the window sill above the radiator.

It's looking a bit overcast at the moment, but I noticed that it hasn't rained overnight, so I hope the ground is drying out enough to go for a proper walk. I have checked the bus timetable, kindly printed out for me by Janet, I don't have a printer. When I go out I have the question, do I take the litter picking stick and a bag, or am I out for a relaxing walk in the countryside. I don't want to carry the stick the whole way and not come across any litter, but then I would be miffed if I did find rubbish in the hedgerows and didn't have any means to pick it up. It's difficult to walk by and ignore it.

I will try not to miss the bus.

Thanks for popping in. See ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona 

A nice day for getting jobs done

Hi there, it's getting late so just a quick one. 

I made soup today with broccoli and cauliflower. Instead of using the stick blender I found the potato masher in the back of a cupboard. Why not use that instead. Anyone remember these. Do you still have one and do you use it? 

It's been mostly sunny today. Clouds came over for a while then the sun appeared again. It's been quite warm as well so I was able to make a start on tidying the garden. Managed to fill the brown garden waste bin ready for collection tomorrow. 

Then I went back to the Industrial Estate next to the pond, to pick some of the litter which I found on Sunday. Pleased to report that the four bags plus other debris I left by the litter bin on Sunday has now gone. There is a short dead end road between two warehouses which is full of rubbish. There was a foreign lorry parked there when I arrived. No sign of the driver, he was probably asleep in his bunk. Very smart Mercedes Actros it was. Couldn't work out which country he was from. 

So I picked and picked and picked. I filled three bags. One of them was very heavy, it was mostly bottles. I found these black plastic things. They are used as protectors when a load has to be strapped down. They go under the straps along the top of the load inside a curtain sider. This stops the load from getting damaged. I don't know why anyone should throw them away. They are a useful piece of kit. 

Another driver pulled in and parked up in the bottom corner. I had a quick chat as I was almost finished and ready to leave. The lorry had British plates so I assumed he was English. Not so. He was a Polish driver. he spoke a bit of English. I asked him how often he gets back to Poland. He said his boss pays for him to fly back home every three weeks. He flies from Liverpool or Manchester, and it only takes 45 minutes. 

Tonight I have started a new crafty project. I am making a book cover with fabric scraps. 

Now time for bed. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Insights - Let Them.

 Good afternoon. 

The morning sun has given way to afternoon clouds and wind. It is looking a bit gloomy out there. Crafty Club this morning followed by a catch up chat with Angela in her kitchen. She is painting small items of furniture at the moment which she has rescued from landfill. A fresh coat of paint brings them back to life. 

I discovered this video yesterday, and after watching it I thought, yes, that makes sense to me. The more I simplify my life the more relaxed I become. I can detach myself from people, circumstances, and situations which add nothing to my happy life. Nada's voice is very relaxing to listen to. I savour every word, and it all comes clear. 

True freedom begins when you stop seeking validation from others. In a world obsessed with approval, likes, and fitting in, it's easy to lose sight of who you really are. This video explores why self-acceptance is essential to living an authentic, fulfilling life, and how embracing your individuality can lead to deeper purpose, passion, and happiness. If you've ever struggled with self-doubt, fear of judgment, people-pleasing or the pressure to conform, this message is for you. As Mel Robbins says in her recent book, The Let Them Theory, "(people) will have negative opinions about you and everything you do. Let Them judge. Let Them react. Let Them doubt you. Instead of wasting your time worrying about them, start living your life in a way that makes you proud of yourself.”

Awaken Insight is on Facebook. 

My name is Nada. Welcome to Awaken Insight - a channel dedicated to the exploration of life through grounded, practical spirituality and self-inquiry. Here, you'll find reflections on personal growth, emotional healing, mindfulness, and the psychology of self-transformation, intended to help you reduce suffering and cultivate a life of greater awareness, compassion, and meaning.

He mentions Mel Robbins book, Let Them', so I have been searching for more information on that. I found a web site which is a summary, and all the chapters.

Mel Robbins’s groundbreaking book, The Let Them Theory, introduces a transformative two-word philosophy designed to liberate individuals from the burden of trying to control others and, instead, empower them to reclaim their personal power.

Here is a video from Mel herself, explaining what the Let Them theory is about.

So there you are. A simple answer to all those that want to pull you down, Let Them. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.  ilona

The latest mandala is finished

Aye up me ducks. 

Flying Fanny here, aka Meanqueen, aka Fit Old Bird, aka Batty Sister, mostly known as ilona. 

This is a small mandala, five and a half inches across. The centre piece is a key ring I bought from the Arts Centre. It is hand made but not by me. I added the yellow French Knots to it, then more French Knots between the small pearly hearts. I have wrapped the hoop with yellow ribbon. 

It's been quite warm today, almost Spring like, so I went back to the place where I did the litter picking yesterday. Two more bags added to the pile, plus other rubbish which I dug out of the hedge bottom. Goodness knows how long that car bumper had been there. I will go back again to this location because there is plenty more to clear away. Let's see how long it takes for the Council to remove this. 

While I was there I had a scout around. The pond is on the edge of an industrial estate. Making mental notes about any more that needs to be tidied up. I found some fly tipping which is too difficult to remove because it's on a steep bank and some of it is on a boggy piece of ground. I think the Council will have to come out to clear it up. I will let them know. 

I don't mind doing a bit now and again when I have time. I like to see the grass verges free of litter. When the grass starts growing in the spring it will swallow up the unsightly mess, that's until the mowers come along and chop it into tiny pieces, which then makes it harder to pick up. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Restoration needed

Good morning. 

It is Sunday and the sun is shining. I have a load in the washing machine and it will be ready to hang out on the line in 30 minutes. I only ever do a short wash at 30 degrees. 

My first coffee viewing this morning was Tim Davies from Fast Jet Performance. He was a pilot, and now runs a flying school, hence the Fast Jet name. He speaks rather quickly, at fast jet speed, ha ha, and his editing is rather tight. You hardly have time to breath. You can slow him down by going into the settings and adjusting the playback speed. Or you can follow with subtitles. Or you can read the transcript while watching. 

What is this video about?

In this video I take a measured look at Rupert Lowe’s “Restore Britain” movement and ask a simple question: why does the political and media establishment react so aggressively whenever immigration, national identity, or British values are discussed openly? Is this genuinely about racism and extremism — or is it about control of the narrative? We break down what is actually being said, what critics are claiming, and whether wanting lower immigration, stronger borders, and cultural confidence is now automatically labelled as something sinister.

He talks a lot of sense. If you have been following me, and a lot are, you will know where I stand on this. There is no point in anyone sending me derogatory comments. I know what I think, and that's it. You can join in the conversations with the 2448 people who have commented on the video. Tim encourages alternative points of view. 

Now the washing is ready, and I need to clean the kitchen, and make a phone call. Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later.  Toodle pip.   ilona

Threatening letter.

Good evening. 

First job this morning was to record a video. Another letter has arrived from the TV licensing people. Each one becomes more threatening than the last one. They change the wording to give the impression that time is running out, and I have to contact them, or they will send a bogey man to my door. 

In big red letters they say, 'We are giving you a 10 day window to get correctly licensed'. But I am correctly licensed, ie, no licence needed, I have told them that many times. They say I only have until the 4th of March to act, before this window closes. If I do not get in touch my case will be escalated to the enforcement team, who will schedule a visit. Whooopeeee, can't wait. 

After lunch the weather was fine enough to go out litter picking. There is a section of road that I walk along when I am coming back from town. I see that the grass verges are always littered with plastic and glass bottles, and drinks cans. I wonder who is dumping their vodka bottles. A secret drinker perhaps. 

It's only a short stretch of road but looks a complete mess. It's also busy so a lot of traffic goes past, cars, vans, and lorries. 

I did my best and filled two bags, then it started raining. There is plenty more to pick up here so I will come back another day. This litter bin is on a road junction on a roundabout. The Council will come along and pick these up. Beyond the fence is a deep pond. People take their dogs to walk around it. I notice that there is a massive amount of rubbish where cars have parked in the layby, and people have chucked a lot of fly tipping over the fence. I shall investigate that. 

On the way home I stopped at the pink volunteer cabinet and picked up a good handful of clean new red bags. I think I am going to be needing them. 

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

Toxic litter

 Good evening. 

Just as I was getting ready to go out and do some litter picking, down came the rain. There is a song with that title. Released in 1965 by Mr Murray, as I remember. After writing many hits for other people, in October 1965 Murray had a hit single as a performer, with his humorous composition, "Down Came the Rain. Wiki tells me he is still alive at 86. 

I digress. 

There are a lot of litter picking posts on facebook from groups all over the country. It's becoming a very popular hobby. Someone posted this picture. Looks pretty harmless, but read the description underneath.  

A disgusting pile of bags of the remains of slaughtered livestock (I’m hoping not human) second dumping in this area over the past week. Reported to the Council to collect.

Needs to be reported to the police. These remains aren’t coming from a legitimate slaughter house, which is illegal.

Check out the comments here. 

Reminds me of the two dead sheep I found in plastic sacks in a wood. YUK.

This photo is from a walk I did in January 2020, in South Yorkshire. On closer inspection of this pile, I didn't move anything to see it, pigs trotters and large animal bones are clearly visible. It looks like it could have come from a slaughterhouse. 

I think you have to have a strong stomach to do this litter picking. You never know what you may find. 

Thanks for popping in. Have a great weekend.

Toodle pip.   ilona