Another year gone, another 1000 miles.

That's me done for this year. 1000 miles completed.



There is a big response from this on my yooootooob channel. Methinks the challenge is going to be a part of many new year resolutions.

Tomorrow is the final check in day for 2018. Let's have all your total miles, please. Give yourselves a big cheer and a pat on the back, you have seen it through to the end.

Tomorrow is also where new members can register their interest. We have no hard and fast rules. Those that are reasonably able bodied should try for the 1000 target, but don't worry if it is beyond you, choose a lower figure, and do what you can. The purpose of this is to do some exercise, which is better than sitting on the sofa and doing none.

So, tomorrow is the start of a new year, and a new 1000 mile challenge. You need to check in on the 1st of every month throughout 2019. Don't worry if you miss that date, you can go back to it at any time. Good luck everybody.
ilona

Starting a new business.

Cookery courses for sale. How to make a three course banquet style lunch from left over, past their best, fruit and vegetables scavenged from the market bins on a Saturday night. Sorry vegetarian only, if you want meat, pick up some roadkill on your way here.  

Ten places available, £500 each. Accommodation can be provided in the summer house in the back garden for an extra £100 per night, sorry no toilet facilities, bucket provided. Sorry, no beds, bring your own mat and sleeping bag. Breakfast not included, but can be arranged at £50 per person, left overs from the banquet lunch. Bring your own sauce and cutlery.


Bookings now being taken for January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Send cash (non refundable) in plain brown envelope with booking. 

ilona

Happy New Year from Terry.

Having a relaxing break from blogging, so here is another foot tapping party piece from Terry. Yooootoob is my entertainment of choice. It's free, pick the bits out that I like, and ignore the boring stuff.



ilona

What does a singleton do on Christmas Day.

I'll do a diary. I got up at 6.30 am, because I was awake and if I go back to sleep I have a fuzzy head when I wake up the second time. First things first, a mug of coffee. I sat at the dining room table looking out over the garden, and what did I see, Oscar was on the outside table looking in at me. He came in and I gave him his breakfast. Extra treat, some chicken on top of the Whiskas.

Heidi was on the window sill in the living room, ooops, she has been sick overnight. That happens when she finishes off any left over food which Oscar didn't eat the night before. Mayze had her breakfast in bed as usual, she has chicken. No sign of Micky, he had a bowl of food last night, in the house. It was freezing cold so I let him come in for half an hour to eat it.

Then I spotted Micky, he has taken over the cat shelter at the bottom of the garden, Oscar has been pushed out.

Two paracetamols, ribs still a bit sore. Porridge for my breakfast with frozen berry fruits. Text from Simplesista, a friend and blog reader from Bradford. That was nice, we will have to meet up again sometime.

10 am I went out for my walk, misty and cold, but walking at a brisk pace warmed me up. More people than normal walking about, everyone was smiling, saying Good Morning, and Merry Christmas. Friend walking their dog, a treat from my pocket was scoffed, the dog not the friend, ha ha. Kids out playing on their scooters up and down the street.

Ooops, missed a phone call while I was out so I sent a text back. Sister rang me, they have just arrived at Adams for the family Christmas dinner.

My lunch. Mushrooms, rice, and an egg, on a slice of seeded bread smothered in cream cheese. A glass of red wine, followed by a blueberry muffin.

12.30 pm, Take Scruff for a walk. He doesn't want to go far, in case his daddy comes back. I gave him his lunch which was in the fridge, and sat with him for a while. Watched a bit of tele. Not sure when Barry will be back, I'll go and check on him a bit later. Lovely dog.

2.30 pm, some shopping bags to cut out, want to shrink my stash of fabric.

I'll add more to this post later.

4pm. Cut nine shopping bags out, now having a coffee. All cats inside, Heidi sitting on top of a radiator, Mayze still in bed, Oscar on his chair having just scoffed his tea/dinner.

5 pm, no light on at Barry's so I went to check on Scruff. He beat me to it, just got back. Quick chat and back home. Micky saw me coming and met me at the front door. I normally feed him outside, but today he can come in.

Fed the other cats as well, all hungry again. Made my dinner, steamed veg, with mayo.

Angela sent message, come round if you like.

I am a dirty stopout, 10.50 pm, and I've just rolled back in. Wine was drunk, cheese and crackers scoffed, chocolate devoured. Nice night with a friend. Goodnight.  ilona

Christmas Eve.

Managed to get in at the Doctors this morning, ribs still painful so I thought it best to get checked out.  I don't like running to the Doctors for every little mishap. Nothing broken, just bruised, she advised to take paracetamol to eliminate the pain so I can breath more easily. Hopefully it will begin to heal itself in a few days.

After lunch I have to collect a few things for my friend, from her house, and visit her in the care home. She has been there for two weeks, and is staying another week, then she should be able to go back to her house if the carers can be arranged.

It's a sunny day, but not so warm, still need wrapping up when outside. I have 20 miles of walking left to do and eight days to do it. Looking like I will make the 1000.

I hope all your plans will come to fruition and you will be where you want to be over this Christmas period. I am happy to be with my fur babies.  Merry Christmas to you all.  ilona

My Christmas video

Trying to ignore Christmas, it's very difficult when it is everywhere in your face. Made this video yesterday.



Just think, in a few days time it will be all over, and I can breath a sigh of relief knowing that I have survived.   ;o)  ilona

Blimey  1.1k subscribers on yooootoooob.

Oh so funeeeeeee

I couldn't stop laughing at this. Stick with it, slow to get started, subtitles, but oh so funny.



ilona

Bored

Can't find any enthusiasm for anything, I don't like this time of the year. The waiting for Christmas, it bores the pants off me, heading towards the end of the year, and cold damp weather. I shall be glad when it's all over. I say that every year, I want to hibernate. Let's just get the shortest day over, and turn around and go back towards spring.

Carol singing last night on the village green around the tree, only it wasn't around the tree it was around the beer and hot food tent. I went along to show support and have a cup of hot mulled wine, only it wasn't hot, it was luke warm. Such was the demand, the heater couldn't keep up with it. Not many carols were sung, I tried but gave up, because most people were eating and drinking and chatting. Christmas songs were played over the speaker system, no one taking any notice. At least it wasn't raining. I made a video but it was crap so I binned it.

I've been going into my friends house and feeding her fish while she is away. Came a cropper, tripped over one of the many plant pots around her garden. Went sprawling, bashed my shoulder and ribs, ouch. Sore for a day or two but getting better now.

Cat news, Oscar is coming in a bit more often now, sometimes stays in all night. I am the door person opening and closing it whenever he gets up and wants to go out, and looking for him in case he wants to come back in again.

January the 1st will cheer me up, a new start, a brand spanking new year, and lots to look forward to.
ilona

Give us a tune.

Found these two on yoootooob, Terry and Brendan are both brilliant pianists. Sometimes they play together, and sometimes on their own. The pianos are at shopping malls and train stations. They dress in a variety of different disguises, the unsuspecting public think they are just random people stopping to knock out a tune. They must be making a fair bit of money from their videos.



Fantastic.   ilona

Me, the International artist, ha ha.

Yes, I have posted about this before, this is a photograph taken by my friend who bought the wall hanging for his girlfriend. He said she will love it because she is into arts and crafts. It is now in New York, he has gone to visit her and taken it with him because it's a Christmas present. But, it will be coming back in the New Year, when she comes back with him to start a new life here. It will hang in her sewing room which he has been preparing for her. I love a happy ending. 

I was going to go to a free motion sewing workshop last week, but I had to cancel because of an impending disaster that I had to get sorted. The disaster didn't happen, thank goodness, but I missed the workshop. I hope there will be another one next year.

I need more practice, so here goes. It does seem weird that I can sew in any direction and not turn the fabric round. I am having trouble with regulating the length of the stitches, they are very tiny, and the the speed of the machine is difficult to control. Anyway, I'll keep at it.

Coloured in with felt tip marker pens.

Windy and raining again, looking like a day indoors.  ilona

No yellow stickers in sight

It's cheap veg time again, even without the yellow stickers. It's the time of year when the supermarkets are trying to get you through their doors in the hope that you go potty and spend spend spend. Tesco have these veggies for 29p each. There's carrots and potatoes as well, but I didn't need those. Loss leaders are what they are called. Other supermarkets are doing something similar so have a look where you shop. 

I reckoned it was about time I treated myself to a new mug. After all, I have been using the one on the right for twenty nine and a half years, it's time for a new one.

Trust Heidi to get in on the act.

I like a big mug of coffee in the mornings.

I spent £40 in Tesco today and used an £8 off voucher.   ilona

Look what I found, blast from the past.

I've been down Memory Lane, looking at old trucking videos on yooootoooob, and found one that I am in. I have a small part, it was filmed at a Truckstop where the drivers were entertained by the ladies of the T45 club, which was for British Leyland drivers, sadly no more. I was asked to take some Lady Truckers friends with me.

I have this on video here and made a film of my part in it with my camera, and put it on my channel, it's also on here. The quality isn't that good, you may or may not have seen it. So here is the full programme. If you just want to see my small part, three minutes long, move the slider at the bottom across to 33 minutes 15 seconds.  Look at the big hair, ha ha.



Those were the days. Fantastic memories.  ilona

Oooooh.....that smells better

Heidi's poos are puke inducing if not removed from the litter box pretty soon after she dispatches them. In the time it takes for her to cover them the obnoxious smell has drifted throughout the house. Some means of masking the pong with another fragrance would help, so I bought this reed diffuser kit. It was £3 from Dunelm. They have got a good selection in there, I chose a cheaper one

In the box is a slimline bottle of perfumed oil, and on the outside are seven reeds. I had visions of the bottle getting knocked over or just falling over. What it needs is a wider base. 

I have a few of these round mayo jars, washed and put in the cupboard in case they might come in useful. Put the slim bottle inside, and pack the space out with an unraveled body scrub, luckily it is a lavender colour. Then I got six beads and threaded them on wire and pushed them into the top to keep the body scrub in place. 

Perfect, a more solid, heavier base which shouldn't topple over. If you wanted to do this you could fill out the space with sand, shredded fabric, buttons, beads, wool, or anything else which might look decorative. 

I had a look in at the Cash and Carry on the way to town. Found a few things. Mini oatcakes, made in Orkney, 20p a packet.

This is something to add to soups and stews, sauces, rice, pasta, gravy, and any meals. I've just opened it, its in granule form and smells nice. Worth a try at 20p.

Two boxes of granola, 60p each. I put a spoon of this in my mini chopper with the nuts and seeds, to bulk it out a bit. These two boxes will last ages.

It's very windy and freezing cold today. I've been out for my walk, in case I don't get chance later if it deteriorates further. I've brought a big jacket which is thick and heavy, with a furry hood, out of the wardrobe. I need extra protection from the bitterly cold wind. The weather changes from day to day, it was sunny yesterday. Oscar is snoozing on his chair, Heidi is on top of the microwave, have no idea why she likes it there, and Mayze has burrowed her way under the top cover on the bed. I'm doing some arty stuff.  ilona

A taste of Christmas..........

.....this is all you are getting on this blog, just a taste. I took my camera out with me last night to take a few snaps of the decorations that people have put up. This one has gone over the top, all the windows have lights in them. It has the WOW factor as you approach it. 

Aaaaah, that's nice.

Some people must have had to climb ladders to reach up high to the roof.

Looks like a fairy grotto.

Oooooh, very posh, simple but nice.

This looks welcoming, come on in and have a mince pie.

Some have gone to town smothering bushes and trees in their front garden with millions of lights.

And this is the star of the show, it appears every year. Mind you, last year it was vandalized and the owners said they were in two minds whether to put it up again. Pleased they have, it looks lovely, I bet the children like it. This year it has a new addition, a singing dancing Santa.

A random snap because I felt like it. Tree overhanging the footpath, looks like it has snow on it, but that's the flash lighting up the branches.

So that's my three mile walk in the dark. Something nice to look at while I am plodding along. I've just totted up my miles, 18 days left, and 47 left to do. It's looking doable.   ilona

Don't be so fussy.

Now that Oscar has his place in the Tightwad Towers household, he is trying to change the rules in his favour. Since he first appeared in the garden he has scoffed anything I have put down in front of him, that is now changing.

I have pandered to the whims of my two girls, Heidi and Mayze, by providing the food that they like. It has taken a while of trying different food to find what they will eat, things are running smoothly there. But now Oscar is starting to get a bit more picky. He jumps up on the worktop to steal Heidi's food while she is still eating it.

Yesterday I bought a large box of Whiskas, £9, because Oscar has been eating that, he has also been eating Felix, so I put either of them down for him, plus a bowl of dry Whiskas nibbles. In the last few days he has started to sniff and lick them but turned his nose up and walked away.

This morning he was waiting at the door to come in, his food from last night was still there, he looked and walked away. I thought fair enough, so I took it away and put down a fresh bowl of wet Felix,  and dry food. Quick lick round the bowl, and he walked away. Then he comes fussing round my legs to tell me he doesn't want that, have I got anything else.

I stroked him, made a fuss of him, and pointed at the bowl, it's that or nothing. So now he has gone outside in a sulk. I don't know if he will try his luck elsewhere. We shall see what happens later. If he is hungry he will eat the food. I am not rushing off to the shops again to buy something different.

Fussy cats are as bad as fussy kids, I think, haven't had any kids but that's what I hear.
ilona

PS, By the way, Noel's book is now out in audio, all read by himself.
PPS. It's Noels birthday today, he is 51. So Happy Birthday Noel.

Becoming the Supervet by Noel Fitzpatrick. Book review.

I have just finished this book and feel that I want to read it all over again, but I have to hand it back to the library because there is a waiting list for it. I am very tempted to buy it, and as you know I don't buy books. It is beautifully written, full of emotion and passion, written by the wonderful Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who is a world-renowned neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon. 

He documents his journey from the humble beginnings as a boy working on his Daddys farm in Ireland, through his school years, and further education, right through to his TV show The Supervet, and his animal hospital. I love the way he refers to his parents as Mammy and Daddy throughout the book, his family mean so much to him, and it shows in the love he has for them.

Noel knew from an early age that he wanted to become a vet. As a boy his beloved sheepdog Pirate was always by his side as he worked with the animals on the farm.

His vet training took him all over the world, as he relentlessly studied hard taking advantage of the highest level of training available to him. He pushed himself to the limits of physical and mental exhaustion to gain the qualifications he needed to follow his dream. Basically his work came first before everything else.

His beloved Border Terrier, Keira is the love of his life, and has been by his side as he has dealt with the ups and downs of his amazing career. He set up Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, one of the most advanced small animal specialist centres in the world.

I have to admit that I can't watch The Supervet, I tried when it first came on the TV, but it turned me into an emotional wreck seeing the poorly animals and their distraught owners. I feel the pain of the poor creature in distress, that's why I avoid reading any stories, articles, or looking at pictures about animals in pain, because it affects me for days, weeks, even years later.

Anyway, back to the book. It's brilliant, and Noel Fitzpatrick is my superhero. I laughed, and shed a tear or two, but the book is about love, hope, and compassion and the bond between humans and animals. It's heartwarming, inspiring, and to be honest, it would make a brilliant film.

For Fitzpatrick Referrals click here.
For Noel Fitzpatrick home page click here.
For Humanimal Trust, Noel's charity, to bring together human and animal medicine, click here.



ilona.

Your breakfast Madam

Room service, your breakfast Madam. I hope chicken is to your liking. 

Thank you slave, this will do nicely. Don't disturb me again, I shall be taking a snooze after this.

Very well Madam. Let me know if you want any lunch. I have a slice of the very best salmon in the fridge. Your favourite.

ilona

Excuse me

Erm...excuse me Oscar. You know when I said you could move in, I didn't mean that you could do exactly as you like. There are house rules you know, and as a newcomer I expect you to abide by them. The first one is that my chair is definitely off limits to cats. No the cushions are not there to make it more comfortable for you to snooze on, they are for me to relax and chill out while I am watching my favourite yoootooob channels. I'm just going into the kitchen to make my dinner, and I want you to go and lie on your own chair before I come back. 

Still there, oh alright then, I will manage with the smaller less comfortable chair. I know my place. The things I do for these cats.   ilona

The Village Christmas Fair

A good time was had by all today at the Christmas Fair in the Village Hall. I took a few pics before it got busy. This is our Crafty Club stall.

June and Pat in charge while I am flitting around.

There were raffles, tombola's, cakes, toiletries lotions and potions, candles, hand made Christmas decorations and novelties, pottery, things to buy and prizes to win.

Ho ho ho, I sat on Santa's knee and we had a cosy little chat.

A rather blurry picture of the school choir who gave us a selection of Christmas songs.

I had an idea, walk around the hall wearing my bags, to bring in extra sales. My mantra, 'Lovely bags, lovely bags, stop me and buy one'. It raised a laugh, and it worked.

The super sales team, Pat, June, and me.

Sales were good, difficult to tell what would sell and what wouldn't. I sold two items that didn't sell a year ago, but, no cutlery decorations sold, and only three flowers on stalks. A bit disappointing, but never mind, there will be other opportunities. The bags sold ok though. I didn't think they would, because a lot of people already have one or two. One lady bought five early on because she wanted first choice of colours. I was able to give a nice donation to the cat rescue.

Lots of people said they saw me on the tele last night, they all said how good it was. Maybe I'll get to see it at some point.

Raining tonight so no walking.    ilona

Tonight on the tele

I should be on BBC Look North tonight. Filming done. It starts at 6.30pm, I shall go to a friends house to watch it. This is Jo the presenter. Lovely lady.

I did the yellow sticker run last night. Had to wait for it to come out, but it was worth it.

ilona

Making re usable gift bags.

I've been busy making small gift bags for the stall. Various sizes and colours, cotton fabric. The idea is to cut down on wrapping paper and sellotape, less waste. These bags can be used over and over again. Easy to make, instructions in the video. 

The video is a bit long, too much waffling, you may want to fast forward it a bit.



Now I've got to get ready for some people coming tomorrow, seems I'm going to be on the tele tomorrow evening, Look North I believe.  Toodle pip. ilona

A very nice wall hanging

I'm still sewing. I have nowhere to put my Christmas tree mat, my tables are full of crafting stuff, so I thought it might look good hanging on the wall. And it does. It looks really nice. 

I stitched a channel on the back, used the hem of an old sheet I had been cutting up.

The thick wire going through it was a spoke from an old patio umbrella. It sticks out about an inch at each end and with a piece of cord tied on to it, it's perfect for hanging. The wire can be pulled out and it can be used flat on a table if preferred. Good eh!

Raining all day today so it's carry on sewing. Oscar has just come back in, filled his face, now on his chair cleaning his face. Mayze has gone back to bed, and Heidi is on the kitchen windowsill. All is well.  ilona