40's style in Lincoln.

Now I am fully awake after a good nights sleep. Sunday morning. So did you guess where I went  yesterday? Yep, Lincoln. I parked at the top of Steep Hill on Wragby Road. A side road off it, upon reading the signs no restrictions on a Saturday. 

A pleasant walk down to the castle and cathedral, a taxing walk back up later on. There was a forties event on at the castle. Free to go in. I love to see people dress up in their vintage costumes. Walk straight in, no charge. 

The first person I spoke to was wearing a yellow vest with a lanyard around her neck. Had to say hello, a fellow solo litter picker. What a nice lady. Hello to Jackie. Lincoln litter pickers post on Instagram. I must say, walking all around Lincoln centre, it was very clean. I noticed several purple bags of picked litter awaiting collection. Well done Lincoln Litter Pickers. 

I also noticed a young man dressed in orange overalls emptying the bins with his picking stick. I asked him if he was a volunteer, and no, he is paid by a company who have a contract with the council to keep the place tidy. Good idea I thought. Access to the bins by a vehicle is almost impossible, so this job has to be done by hand. 

A stage set up inside the grounds. Lady belting out 40's songs. Lots of applause.  

Man playing with guns, woman drinking a cup of tea. 

I'll show you how to take this gun apart, and put it back together again. 

Interesting set up for a camp. 

Woman selling home baked cakes. I bought one, £4.50, gulp. Supporting a local business. 

People queuing up to climb the steps to the walk around the walls. I have done this before, no need to go again, plus I don't like shuffling forward in a queue. 

This lovely couple happily posed for a photo. They drove themselves here in their vintage car which was on display at the front of the Cathedral. 

Chatting around the vintage vehicles. Twas a great atmosphere. 

The Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society selling their memorabilia. 

Rides on a horse and carriage if you fancy that. 

Lots going on in Lincoln today. More snap happy photo's to come.

See ya soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Good evening

Saturday night and I am sorting my photo's out. I took rather a lot today. I've been out. Here's one of them. Can you tell where I've been. 

I've had a smashing day, about an hours drive away. There was an event at the castle. I'll post some pictures over the next few days. 

Baby hedgehog is still coming for food, and he can reach into the bowls of water. So small, I could almost fit him into the palm of my hand. He seems to find his way around the garden quite well. 

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

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