Painting pylons

Good evening.

Tiredness is catching up with me now. I went to Kingston upon Hull this afternoon. On the way to Barton to get the bus I spotted two men working on a pylon. Had to ask them what they were doing. On closer inspection I see they are covered in paint. One of them came down to have a chat with me. The third one came out of his van. 

They were such fun, telling me all about their job. I asked if I could put their picture on my blog. They offered to pose, and said, yeah, sure. 

Now I am yawning so I will cut this short. I have some photo's of Hull which I will post tomorrow. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona
 

Toxic people. Edited

 Hello. I have copied this from Lee Asher's Faceboook page. He has had a lot of aggravation from trolls. 

The Asher House

21h ·

If you ever want to do something great in this world, you have to learn how to deal with the hate that will come with it.

I recently received a message from an animal rescuer asking how to handle the online criticism and attacks she’s been facing. Sadly, this is something I hear about all the time. Many people in animal rescue and even people outside of it come to me asking how to deal with the negativity that shows up when you put yourself out there.

The truth is, it takes an incredibly unhappy and toxic person to want to hurt someone who is trying to do something good in the world. But the reality is that online bullying is real, and in the animal rescue community especially, it has caused deep pain. Tragically, some incredible people have even taken their own lives because of it.

So if you’re facing criticism right now, please remember this: there is always far more love and support for you than hate. The loudest voices are rarely the majority.

When you choose a path of purpose, you will be tested. Not because you’re failing but because you’re being asked if you’re strong enough to continue the work you were meant to do.

Take the hate as a sign that you’re on the right path.

We’re all here to help each other grow, to challenge each other to be better and ultimately to learn how to lead with love.

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Tammie from the Charity Pumpkin the Wheelie Westie, has also been suffering from online bullies. She has put a video out about it.

It does seem like there is an epidemic of hate, and it's growing. Lee and Tammie are posting about it. And of course my troll is still hounding me.

Catch ya later. Toodle pip. ilona

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EDIT.

Just found this. Someone criticising litter pickers. English is not their first language. 😆

Reply from UK Litterpicking Group.

UK Litterpicking Groups

Scott Gibbo Gibbins ·1h ·

Comments & posts such as this have no place in this group ....declined & banned . If people really think that the council street cleaners could cope without volunteers then they're seriously wrong......we do many areas that street cleaners can not, there are many streets & parks in towns that would take the few cleaners a year to do where we know areas need regular cleaning not once now n again ....so if you see Comments like this that normally ....not always ....get declined ....please don't engage with them as they are not worth your valuable time ....just report to admin & we'll happily remove comment & ban member.....obviously they do not share our values when it comes to litter . The group is growing increasingly in numbers & soo many fantastic posts & supportive comments,so keep up the great work all & huge thanks to everyone one of you & you are all so very much appreciated

Comment just come in to my blog.

Oh lol! Linda has nailed it.
You say it is an online diary but it isn’t your want applause and people saying how wonderful you are. And if there is a bit of casual racism even better.

There are some sick people about. 

When something is going wrong in someone's life, all they can do is lash out and attack others. If you are being bullied don't be a victim. They have the problem. 

Three red bags and a pile of junk

Hello. I'm on my lunch break. 

Just spent the morning finishing off the litter pick which I started at the weekend. Only one more bag and that should do it. Erm.. no. It never is one more bag. You think you've got it all, you backtrack to return to your car, and bugger me, there is plenty more that you missed the first time. 

Poor car, looking a bit mucky now. 

I deposited it at the same road sign on the bend, as they were so quick to pick it up last time. 

Job done, now it's me time. Glorious sunshine here. Got to catch a bus. See you later. 

Toodle pip.   ilona
 

An energetic hobby.

Good evening. 

Coffee Morning at the club this morning. A bit low on numbers, but that doesn't lessen the amount of noise. Lots of chattering going on. 

This is the second video I recorded on Monday, after shopping. A walk through a short stretch of road leading to a footpath, on an Industrial Estate. Oh my, such a lot of rubbish. If I am going to tackle this it will need a lot of visits. 

I went back to where I was picking at the weekend, to finish the job off. Filled one red sack to bursting point. Found bigger pieces of rubbish dumped. I walked there from home because the sun was shining and it was surprisingly hot. I wore a jacket but wish I hadn't. My pickings were too heavy to carry back to the village. I was going to come back in my car to collect them but ran out of time. Watching the sun go down as I walked home. I will go and collect the piles I have left by the roadside in the morning. . 

Another tiring day. It's surprising how much energy you need to constantly pick up cans and bottles, even with a stick. There's a lot of stretching and reaching under hedges to be done. The bag becomes very heavy. 

Now I'm going to chill with Mayze. She is waiting for me to stop typing.

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

Happy Birthday Mother

 Thinking about you. 

You showed me the right way, and you gave me the freedom to choose. 

Lots of love from your first daughter, ilona

Threats

 Rupert Lowe MP

@RupertLowe10

·

45m

Last night, there was another arrest following a credible death threat against me. The concerted campaign of hate against Restore Britain has had two consequences. I now have private security. And I am more determined than ever to ensure Restore Britain wins the next election.

It's a sad bad world. Go outside the sun is shining. ilona

Hold on.

 Wednesday morning musings. 

Insanity is a growing, nay escalating movement, designed to destabilise the world. From the top down it filters through all levels of humanity. The real organic world is being sacrificed for the advancement of fantasy and fake. We humans are in the way, we are the obstacles to this brand new world. 

Stand your ground, claim your piece of land. Hold on to your freedoms because they will crumble before your eyes. 

Enjoy your day. I have another video in the oven. See you later.  Toodle pip.   ilona

Checking out my patch

Aye up me ducks, how are you diddling. It's been a lovely day. Warm sunshine, able to do a bit of repotting in the garden. Those four little conifer trees I bought for £1 each from Home Bargains have finally been transferred into bigger pots. 

The pink litter picking cabinet in the centre of the village was filthy so I gave it a good scrub. 

I took Billy for a walk, and stopped for a chat with Paul, one of my old walking buddies. He has a new dog. A beautiful short haired German Shepherd called Bella. 

Yesterday I drove to the area where I left five bags of litter and two tyres on the roadside. I was intending to record a video there, but lo and behold it had all been taken away by the Council. I made the video anyway. 

Then I had a drive to an area where there is a horrendous amount of litter which needs clearing up. I recorded a video there as well. I'll upload that tomorrow. 

That's all for now. Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later Toodle pip.   ilona

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