My authentic self.

Phew it's been a hot one today. I visited my friend June this afternoon while this video was uploading. 

Just got back from a Billy walk. It's too hot to walk a dog in the afternoon, so early evening it has to be. 

Some blurb from the video. . . . .written by me.

I tend to open my mouth not knowing what is going to come out of it. Like putting my big foot in it and upsetting someone. When typing something, I can at least put my thoughts into some kind of order, before I press the send button. Even then some mistakes can occur. I often take chances with communication, because you never know how the recipient is going to take it. If you fear offending someone you would never say anything. And so, people will draw their own conclusions about you, of which you have no control over.

A summary, not written by me. . . .

AI-generated video summary 

Quality and accuracy may vary. 

Meanqueen Superscrimper discusses the challenges of being authentic while sharing updates about litter-picking activities on social media. Despite encountering criticism and negativity from online communities regarding personal communication styles, Meanqueen Superscrimper emphasizes the importance of standing one's ground, staying independent, and continuing to pursue meaningful personal goals.

That's a pretty accurate summary I may say. 

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

Fitting it all in.

 Even with longer days, there doesn't seem enough time to fit everything in. 

Yesterday I went to town. Had a chat with Nikki at the Arts Centre, and met a lovely couple in Church Square. Another chat. Spent £70 on shopping at Aldi. In the afternoon I went a walk to the park. Took my picking stick and a bag and found some litter. 

Couldn't decide which photo's to post here on the blog, so four it is. Bluebells and wild garlic in abundance. 

There is a lot going on this Bank Holiday weekend. I have yet to decide what I am going to do. The big one is Truckfest at Lincoln but I won't be going to that. 

I have recorded a video this morning so that will be out on yoootooob later.

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

Sorting out a mess.

I had planned on going to Aldi this afternoon, but didn't get there. I stopped off at the Industrial Estate to have a closer look at this picking job that someone had started but not finished. I had to do something about it. I counted ten bags, some of them had very little in them. A waste of bags in my opinion. 

Inside this little brick shed there are lots of discarded drinks cans. Did someone run out of time, or was it too much work. I can park my car right next to it, so that's easy enough to get stuck in. 

I didn't need my trolley, but used three of the red bags inside the grey garden sack. It helps keep them upright when filling them. 

Now you can see the difference. My three against the remaining seven. All the cans have been bagged up. 

Time was getting on, so I left the seven there. I will pick them up and sort them out another day. 

The Council still haven't collected the others that I filled, so I have parked these at a different litter bin. So that's three places they have to pick them up now. They're going to be cursing me, making all this extra work for them. 😆 Don't be mad with me. Only doing my volunteering job. 

I didn't make it to Aldi. Will have to go tomorrow. 

Time to put the hedgehog food out. Five turned up last night. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Future craft events

 I am sorting out my drafts folder. A place where I store things until such time that I might publish them. As we move from April to May, some of these events have already passed us by, but it looks as though they are to be repeated in May. There is a web site with up to date information on dates and places. Based mainly in South Yorkshire, but covering the whole Lincolnshire/Yorkshire region.  

Make sure you organise your 'going out' diary. I have already missed an event because I wasn't paying attention. I must remember to make notes on my desk calendar. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

How did it go yesterday?

I had a lazy litter picking weekend, a one hour local pick on Saturday morning. Then I bunked off and did my own thing. Yesterday was back to the grindstone. Back to a quiet corner of the Industrial Estate, to have another go at a big grot spot. Head down, fighting my way under the bushes. 

Someone decided that they were never going to take a bath ever again?  😬😮😁

That's enough for today. Three bags, all in the same area. Now to drop them off at the big pond litter bin to be collected by the Council pickup truck. 

Opposite the bin is this fence. I'll just do a quick tidy up to finish the day. Oh no, chuffin heck. You can't see this litter when you are passing in a car, or even if you stop to do a dog walk around the pond. It was all buried in between big rocks. I have to get it out. Another red bag was filled. 

Someone forgot to put barbeque sauce on the food. 

23 glass bottles found.

So, three bags turned into four. Added to those I picked last week. The Council have a tidy pile to chuck on the back of the truck. Hopefully all gone today. The bag of dumped food is still there next to the overflowing litter bin. 

I had a scout round before coming home. These bags have been here for almost two weeks. Someone has had a halfhearted go at tidying up. They have not been filled to the top. The brick shed next to it is full of rubbish. This is in the middle of the Industrial Estate, and not near a public litter bin, so the Council will not bother to stop. I might come back to this if it is still here in a weeks time, open the bags, fill them, and move them to a more prominent position so they will be seen. North Lincs Council have left me a pile of fresh bags, so I have plenty to keep me going. 

The weather is a bit cooler today, the wind is blowing. I'll get some cash from the Post Office, and pay a bill, then I might stay around the house. 

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Angry people.

Just a quick in and out tonight I cooked this video up this morning. It's about angry drivers on the road. They have no patience.

I filled four red bags with litter today. Pics to come tomorrow. 

No ducks in the garden today. But, tonight six hedgehogs appeared for their supper, all arrived at the same time. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

My third eye.

Good morning. No Crafty Club today. People are busy doing other things. Some are away on holiday. The sun is shining. Lovely.

I like taking photographs, and spend time looking for some interesting subjects. I delete a lot and don't use them. I tweak them on the computer, with cropping, contrast, and saturation.

 Getting the right angle for a shot is important. I came across this scene and took about ten shots from different angles. Whittled them down to three. I couldn't decide which angle works best. I like the different colours of the trees behind the farm buildings. 

The blue hose reels match the colours of the doors in the building. Still a little bit of blue in the sky, but the clouds are coming over. 

I like the uniformity of the way the water hoses are lined up. 

New types of drinks cans found discarded at the side of the road. Plastic. Would make dinky little tee light holders. Cut a hole in the top, and hang them in a tree. 

Baby ducks getting stuck into the new £3 charity shop mini pond. Picture taken through a window. They haven't been back. I live in hope. 

These boots did appear on the blog. I have massively tweaked up the contrast. New title for this picture, Don't let the grass grow under your feet. 

Camera always in pocket, just in case I come across something interesting. Canon SX740 HS. 40x optical zoom. 

Have a good week. Toodle pip. ilona

Melanie Philips knows

Another trip to the Lincolnshire Showground today. There are two halls and today there were two events taking place. I always find someone to chat with, even at the Baby Fayre. 

I like the quirky name of this company. 

Melanie Philips always talks a lot of sense. I watched this video last night. She hits the nail on the head in this interview. 

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS INTERVIEW: Why the West misunderstands the threat at its core The role of fear, denial, and political correctness Why leaders refuse to acknowledge what’s happening The growing crisis of antisemitism in the West How Western governments have failed to defend their own values And the dangerous consequences if nothing changes

Melanie wrote about this 20 years ago. It was always the plan. 

Now I'm going to watch my favourite yoootooobers. I see that the Camper Vibe girls are back at their house in Ireland. Those Happy Days are still touring the US. The English Couple have now got a caravan installed on their piece of land. Come Along Dear have posted a video about their recent Scotland Trip. By the Curb are not happy with their trip to Germany. Vandemonium chats about motorhomes. Always something to watch. No licence needed. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Visit approved.

It's been a lovely hot day today. I really must cast off some of my layers. I always have this problem every spring. What to wear, will the sun be shining all day. Will it be windy. Should I be cautious, maybe carry on wearing a vest until it gets really hot. 

I did a local litter pick this morning and I wished I hadn't put so many clothes on. I was so darned hot. 

This afternoon I visited a friend. She wasn't in, but all was not lost. I had a smashing chat with her grandson who lives nearby. He is fitting out a van and turning it into a campervan. When it's finished he is going to have some adventures in it. Looking good so far, but still a lot more work to do on it. 

I knocked up this video. You might chuckle if you watch it. 

 Now I'n going to put the hedgehog food out. There were three last night. Sad to say that the ducks didn't come back today. I hope they have found a good place to eat and sleep. 

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

It's obvious.

 Do as I say, not as I do

It's a sunny Sunday morning. I am sewing. The ducks have not yet arrived for breakfast. The garden is full of pigeons and other birds. A crow has been. I am staying local today.

Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Lucciano and Frankie.

Start the weekend with a smile on your face. 

The duck family have been here most of the day. I bought them a bigger ceramic bowl from a charity shop. Filled with water, the babies can get in and splash about together. 

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona
 

Aye up me ducks

Encouraging wildlife into your garden can bring so many benefits. I am watching mummy duck and her ten ducklings who have moved in. They are foraging, they are paddling in the water bowls, now mummy is having a snooze in the sunshine while her babies potter about in the grass. 

I am not going to get anything done now. They came yesterday, stayed overnight and are here for breakfast. I hope they stay a little while longer. 

These three photo's were taken peering through the hedge into the neighbours garden. The sun stays longer later there. 

These photo's are from last night. They are still here today. Mum knows where the best food is, with plenty of water available. Doesn't have to be a pond, bowls will do. I have been watching the babies having a bath. 

Now I need to go shopping to buy some more wild bird seed, and more kitten food. They like that. The hedgehogs come nightly as well expecting food. 

A video I knocked up yesterday. Why being brought up in a working class family is the best start anyone can have. 

The ducks are back. Must go shopping.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Bagging it up

I went back today to carry on with the job I started yesterday. Look what I found. There were three trucks parked overnight here. One of the drivers just chucked their rubbish on the ground. Good job I turned up to pick it up. It wasn't the driver I spoke to, he showed me the waste bin which he keeps inside his cab. 

I filled one bag , and set to pulling out all the litter from underneath and around the bushes. Now to bag it up. There is still a lot more. I'll save it for another day. 

I dropped off my two bags and some glass bottles at the collection point. Look what I found hidden behind the litter bin. There was an Asda carrier bag with the handles tied together, so I opened it to see what was in it. Mostly unopened and uneaten food. Shocking that someone would throw this away. 22 eggs in four boxes. It was only a few days out of date. How strange. I wonder why they didn't eat it. 

It was a lovely warm day to do this. No one to disturb me in a quiet corner of the Estate. 

I've had visitors this evening. Mummy duck and nine ducklings. She escorted them all around the garden. They loved the water bowls. I'll post some photo's tomorrow. 

Toodle pip.   ilona 
 

New grot spot tackled.

Among all the grot you find when you are litter picking, there are also some hidden surprises. The dominos have scrubbed up nicely, but sadly the metal tin has rust deterioration. I will donate it to the Rural Life Museum in the Park. 

I like the dinky set of two measuring spoons, will keep them, maybe for an art project. Could use them as key fobs.The brand new red and black shackle I found in a sealed plastic bag. It's big, it's heavy, I like it. Will keep it until I find a home for it. 

The stainless steel bowl has cleaned up nicely. Maybe I will add a chinstrap so it won't fall off my head.  😎😄😵

I did a couple of hours yesterday afternoon, lovely sunny day again. First at a spot on the Industrial Estate which has already been picked several times before. One bag filled and larger pieces of junk pilled up for the Council to collect. Then move on to the other end to tackle an absolute shit hole which I have been watching. 

A driver was sat in his cab, parked up for the night. We chatted, then I pulled out a big pile of grot from under the bushes. Will I be able to get all that into the red bag? The driver got out and helped me to squash the drinks cans flat. Nope, it didn't all fit in, so I will go back today and bag up a load of plastic bottles. There is still plenty more to go at, it will take me a week to clear it. It's quite close to the pond so it needs picking up. 

Almost forgot to mention. . . . . .Some of our chatting was about 'the current situation' and how it is evolving. Guess what? He is pure blood. He offered his fist so I bumped it. There are a lot more wide awake people about than you realise. 

I see my last pile of bags has been collected, so now I start another pile. Lots of glass bottles have been found today I bagged them up separately. I now have five locations on the Industrial Estate to keep me busy. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Coffee before I go home

A few last pictures from a day out at Countryside Lincs on Sunday. This show was mostly aimed at children and families. It was lovely for me to see so many smiling faces. Plenty of catering vans dishing up all kinds of cuisine. The queues to get food and ice cream were never ending. I took a pack up. Lots of games for the kiddywinks to play. Cookery demonstrations. Wood carving demonstration. BMX show. Pony riding. Mini beasts for the children to see close up. Take an Alpaca for a walk. And I wandered around talking to people. Lovely relaxed atmosphere. 

Sorry, not able to film at the show. Too windy, and people don't like a camera pointing at them. 

Wednesday afternoon . I've been to Coffee Morning, now I am going outside in the sunshine. The garden is looking lovely because I spent most of yesterday tidying it up.  

Toodle pip.   ilona