The fog is lifting

 I didn't get around to writing a post yesterday. Crafty Club happens on a Monday morning. After that I had a natter with my friend for an hour or two in her toasty warm kitchen. The TV was on and we watched and half listened to the live shenanigans going on outside the Crown Court. What a circus that was. The verdict came. Guilty, ten and a half years. That's that then, now can we get on with our lives. 

After lunch I went off to the litter bin where I leave my bags. I want to tidy up the area once the bags have been taken away. Not going to happen today, they are still there. Plan B. I could see litter strewn down the edges of a long road. Get a fresh bag, go for a walk, and pick it up. There wasn't enough to fill the bag. I know what I will do. Go to one of the overflowing bins and top it up from there. Then leave it beside that bin. That looks a bit better. Dark by now so no photographs. 

I enjoyed a second portion of the loverly stew I made the day before. I ought to write something on the blog. I wasn't in the mood. The thoughts going through my head were a big jumble. I tried to look at the events of the day from different angles, and I keep coming back to how great swathes of the general public are consumed by bitterness and anger. Not only on the Brand subject, which incidentally is my mothers maiden name, but every aspect of the news at the moment is dominated by a sprinkling of fact, plus tons of word salad to fill in the gaps. 

What I think of the charges, the trial, the verdict, and the sentencing, doesn't matter. I see the whole circus for what it is. This is just another distraction meant to occupy brain space in people's heads so they are temporarily blinded from the other more serious injustices which are going on.

I went to bed at 10.30pm last night. I wasn't really tired, but sought solace under the covers. Let me sleep to escape this crazy world. I was up again at 11.30pm to make a drink. A mug of Horlicks might send me to sleep. Crank up the computer, which it is said is the worst thing you can do. My posts on UK Litter pickers are very busy at the moment, I like to keep ahead of the game there, and reply to any comments which are appropriate. 

I clicked on a 33 minute video from a random yoootooober. I usually give it a couple of minutes, then move on if I have no interest in the subject matter. This man spoke clearly and concisely so I stuck with it. An ordinary guy, a hardworking family man who wants to do the best for his family. He then continues with the story of how the street where he lives, the area around his house, has become a litter magnet. So he watches and observes. He picks the litter up. 

His eyes tell him that large groups of men, large being 20 - 30 - 40 ish, constantly walk past his house several times a day. It turns out that a local well known hotel has been filled with newcomers. This man is very uncomfortable with that and does some investigating. The men hang around the playing field and the children's playground. What he says should raise concerns for everybody. 

Surely the invasion of our country should top every conversation as the situation is becoming more apparent, but no. Over the garden fence gossip, has been manufactured by those who have an agenda to use their power for world dominance. 

The Brand story will rumble on and on, until the mainstream media, all media, dig out the next juicy word salad, in an attempt to blindfold those who able to work things out for themselves.  

Eight ducks for breakfast this morning.

Let sleeping cats lie. All had breakfast, now it's snooze time. Mayze on her bed on the table. Oscar with his back to the radiator. Mickey curled up on the duvet. 

All is well. The fog is lifting outside. All we can hope for is the fog lifting from peoples minds. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

My earnings today, 65p

Dog walk, litter pick, sewing, cooking, what else is there to do on a Sunday. 

I spent an hour this afternoon on the Industrial Estate. I wanted to add one more bag to my pile, and take a photo while there was still enough daylight to do that. Two of the litter bins are full to overflowing. I saw the Council workers on Friday, three of them sitting in their cab taking a break. I don't know why they didn't empty these and take the rubbish away.  

Ooooh look, I found my wages. A whole 65p. Lucky me. 

I usually check this spot once a week, but it is harder to find enough litter now to fill a bag. I walked a bit further across the road and found enough to top it up. I will give this corner a miss for a while, maybe come every 2 or 3 weeks. 

4pm and the sun is going down. Just enough daylight left to take this picture. Birds have been pecking at the bags in search of food. They pull the litter out. When these have been collected I will go with my garden tools and tidy this area up. 

Ten ducks came for breakfast this morning, and four came for lunch at midday. 

All cats are in at the moment. Oscar likes his freedom so he may want to go out later. 

I did a Billy dog walk today. Carols granddaughter came to visit to show their new baby. Elsie is five months old, a sweet little thing. Both her parents are doctors so she will be well looked after. 

I made a loverly veg stew tonight. Potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and half a tin of mushy peas. It was blooming lovely. There is some left for tomorrow. 

I just fancy a glass of wine, but I haven't got any. Oh well, cider it is then,

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Hidden camp site

 It took the Council almost a week to collect my latest pile of litter pickings. I didn't want to add any more to it until they had cleared it away. If the bags are there too long wild birds and small animals start to pull holes in them as they search for food. 

I was at the back of Tesco yesterday and picked two bags. I ran out of time and went back today to finish the job. 

No time to bag the glass up, I will come back for that. 

Today I explored a bit further round the back of the store. I found a camp. What a mess. 

Access to pick the rubbish up is going to be difficult. I would have to drag my trolley through long wet grass along the edge of the field. Some of it is too heavy for me to move. Not sure if I want to tackle it. It needs a team of people.

73 glass bottles bagged up today. It's a good job that I had some extra strong bags found on the Industrial Industrial Estate recently. 

It was dark when I dropped it all off at my collection point. 

Think I'll have the day off tomorrow. 

Getting a bit worried, Oscar hasn't reported back in tonight, 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Quick vid

Hello Saturday midday. I'm just going to whack this video out, before I get on with my jobs for today. I have to say, that the videos are uploading at super fast speed now I have fibre broadband. This took 12 minutes. 

Have a good Saturday. I am going to finish a job I started yesterday. Large amounts of glass bottles and cans found hidden in the undergrowth at the back of Tesco. I bagged up the cans, now I have the bottles to pick up. 

Catch you later. Toodle pip.   ilona

 

Amusing

It was pointed out to me that there has been some comments on another blog about my video in the bath. It is a blog that I don't take much notice of, there is nothing of interest to me there. So of course I had to have a look to see what people are saying about me. Sue has made it quite clear in the past that we are not on the same wavelength, so I don't know why she reads my blog. 

The comments are a source of amusement for me. You could say they made me laugh out loud. 😂😝😉I won't copy and paste them here, you can read them for yourself.   

One comment said I am trying to get people to read my blog. Nope, you got that wrong. I don't care if people don't read my blog. 

Blogging in the bath sounds silly to me. Yep, it is silly. I am a fun loving person and I can laugh at myself. 

Bath blogging, how terribly bizarre. True, it was meant to be. 

Bath blogging is no different from telling the world on your main vlog that you are starting another vlog on your hobby and support us because we need the money. I think you are getting mixed up with Frugal Queen. She has started a quilting channel. Pay attention. I never ask for money. 

It was all very discrete, no nudity, nothing wrong with it really. Just a change from the norm. I'm sure it was tongue in cheek. Correct, it was just for fun.  

The reply to this. Yes yes yes, of course you would say that. Nothing wrong with it and discrete? More like, 'look at me look at me' My response would be, no thanks mother. 

Here's a question for all of your readers, and some of my readers, if you don't like what I write about on my blog, why do you criticize and moan about me on other peoples blogs. Why are you so bitchy? 

You don't want to see me in the bath, so how about a photo of me in my bikini. Taken 11 years ago, and I am still the same size now. Nice figure, fit and healthy. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Looking for a job?

 A lot of transport companies are looking for drivers right now. If anyone fancies a life on the road they should be applying now. This advert has appeared on tweeeter. 

Leicester Heavy Haulage

@LeicesterHeavy

Leicester Heavy Haulage are looking for HGV Drivers. There is no requirement for experience in transporting Abnormal Loads as all training will be provided to the right candidate. Anyone interested should call 01530 262266 or e-mail sales@leicesterhh.co.uk.

This is an old picture, they now have a fleet of new modern trucks.

I pestered them for a job, and eventually Brian Rodwell, the owner, gave me a trial for two days to see if I could handle a flat trailer, roping and sheeting, strapping and chaining loads down. I moved portacabins and lengths of steel. Back in the office he asked how I did. I said, yes, I can manage the job. He said, ok, can you start on Monday.

I moved on to bigger and bigger loads. My first tractor unit was plated for 38 tonnes, which could be increased to 55 tonnes when I carried abnormal and heavy loads with a movement order. Eventually I moved up to a 75 tonner.

I left after three years. I wanted to work my way up to the 165 tonner, but I could see it was going to take forever. It's a job where drivers never leave, and I was a late starter. I was going to run out of time. I moved on because I wanted to gain more experience on other work. Different trucks, different loads, different equipment.

This was the best job I ever had. Every load is a learning curve, and that's what I wanted. I don't want to stand still, I want to be constantly moving on. If I had my time again, I would do exactly the same thing.

Thanks for popping in.

Toodle pip. ilona

Patrick spells it out

 A MULTI-STATE SPONSORED INVASION?

Patrick Christy lays out how he says the crossings work: support on the French side, then unmarked coaches and police escorts waiting on arrival in Britain. If even half of this is right, the British state isn't stopping the boats, it's running the shuttle service.

Who signed off on this, and why are we paying for it?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Patrick explains what he has seen on his visits to France.

Of course there are people who will say this is a conspiracy theory.

Good luck to you in your future life.

Enjoy your last days, weeks, months of freedom, because they are coming to an end.

Toodle pip. ilona

What a beauty

I completely forgot to go to the Post Office yesterday, I was distracted. It's not every day that a beautiful beast like this is parked outside your house. Oh wow, I had to go out and speak to the driver. I needed to get the lowdown. Where is the vehicle based, what is the load, where has the driver been, where is he going to next. 

The delivery point is down another street but it is difficult to get to. Too many parked cars and nowhere to turn round. Calum did well to reverse into my street, unhook the forklift truck from the back end of the trailer, lift off long lengths of timber, and take it to the site. He came back and re attached the forklift truck back onto the trailer. Here he is tightening up the straps on his load. 

Here is a snippet of information from the company web site. 

Over the past 50 years we have grown to become a national road transport business with a vast team of talented employees and an extensive fleet of modern vehicles. Our head office is in Aberdeen, but we have depots in Dalgety Bay, Grangemouth and Poole. Today our fleet is regularly involved in trips to Ireland and continental Europe. We operate a daily trunk route linking the North of Scotland to the South of England

A picture from the company web site. 

It was great chatting to Calum. He loves his job and after leaving North Lincolnshire he went on his way down to Suffolk, then Brighton, then London. He expects to be away from his home in Aberdeen for up to two weeks. His workload reminded me of  the weeks away from home that I had, tramping all over the UK. That's what I loved about it. The freedom of the road. 

I delivered three artworks to the 20 21 Arts centre this afternoon. I had a change of mind at the last minute. I have entered the button heart and the chemtrails in the sky, and added a mystery one which is pictured somewhere on this blog. I will be going to the opening of the exhibition so there will be some photo's to post of that. Of course there is no guarantee that any of mine will be accepted. It all depends on what the judges are looking for. I hope I am lucky. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

History repeating itself

 Classic comedy 1972. How true it is today. Have you got it yet? 

Back from Coffee Morning. Now going to town.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Midweek mirth

Remembering the old comedy routines. Dick Emery was a masterclass at jovial titillation. 

It's good to look back on what was funny in 1973, lest we forget. 

Richard Gilbert Emery was born 19 February 1915. His parents were the comedy double act Callan and Emery. They took him on tour when he was only three weeks old and gave him the occasional turn on the stage during his childhood. He was called up to the RAF and rose to the rank of corporal. On leaving the RAF, he returned to the theatre as a comedian. He had a very colourful personal life which you can read about here. 

Now I'm off to Coffee Morning. Catching up with village chat. 

Toodle pip.   ilona 

Fannying around

 I wish they would stop fannying around. In the meantime thousands are arriving every day. What a farce. 

Shabana Mahmood MP

@ShabanaMahmood

·

50m

This country welcomes those who seek a new and better life within it. But there is an expectation that they will play their part, contribute to their community and become a part of our national life. Settlement should not be automatic. It should be earned.

Home Office

@ukhomeoffice

·

1h

Anyone seeking settlement, regardless of when they arrived in the country, will first need to meet four non-negotiable conditions: A spotless criminal record - up from the current threshold of a 12-month suspended sentence English spoken to a high standard with an equivalent to A-Level English as a foreign language No debt owed to the taxpayer A record of sustained National Insurance contributions

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Why should they play their part when everything is given to them. Don't need to work, just go out and rob shops and houses. Our puppets are just following orders.

Toodle pip. ilona