Last few hours of 2021

It's been very warm today. I had a drive out to the coast. I fancied a walk on the beach. I've taken a lot of photo's which I will sort out tomorrow. For now just three on this short post, it's too late to write a long one. My brain has gone to sleep. Do you like my new friend. 

Here is his pirate ship coming back into the harbour. 

This place has a very long beach, I have been here before. It is 1 hour 20 mins drive from my house. I won't say where it is, I'll let you guess. Four hours walking today. I won't bother checking the distance as I reached the magic 1000 miles just before Christmas. 

Don't forget it's check in day tomorrow for the International Walking Group. 

I'm yawning, I don't think I can stay awake until midnight, Happy New Year everyone.

We'll catch up tomorrow. Toodle pip.  ilona

Pigs in shit.

There are a lot of charities, it's difficult to choose which to support. I think we all have our favourites. I dropped on Goodheart a few years ago after reading about a sheep farmer who couldn't bare to take his animals to slaughter, so instead he found a home for them at a sanctuary near Kidderminster in the West Midlands. He delivered his sheep there himself. From that moment he stopped animal farming and went over to growing crops. 

Here is a little video about what they do. 

I send them donations in the post with a cheque every so often, when I have some cash to spare. I won't sign up for direct debit. I can look back at the cheque stubs to see when I last donated to spread it out over the whole year. I alternate donations with Bransby Horses at Saxilby near Lincoln. 

Today marks 3 years since Apricot and Amber arrived with us They were previously used as breeding sows. Although Apricot was never able to have babies, she kept her best friend Amber company until they came to retire happily at Goodheart

Goodheart post updates on the twiiiteratta. I love this picture. The look of bliss on their faces. Happy as pigs in shit. 

Now tell us about your favourite charities. Do you fundraise, or do you send a personal donation? Who do you donate to? 

A quick reminder, don't forget it's check in time for the International Walking Group on Saturday the 1st of January. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.

Toodle pip.  ilona

Arty crafty catch up vid.

A bit late with this post because I've been out. 

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.  ilona

A police matter

 I didn't tell you this story when it happened a few weeks ago. It's a bit gruesome, so be prepared. You know how I hate to see fly tipping, that's rubbish dumped anywhere where it shouldn't be. I look in the bags to check that it isn't puppies or kittens, or any other live animals, just in case I can save them. I also look for anything that could be useful to someone else, I have been known to take things home with me, or go back later in my car to pick something up if it is too heavy to carry. 

I spotted two black bin bags half hidden behind a tree on the edge of the wood. I opened the top of one of them, it wasn't tied very tightly. The putrid smell coming from it hit me as I tried to work out what was inside. At first glance it looked like a dead animal, perhaps a large dog. I have a photograph, I won't put it on here. 

I tried to open the second bag but it was double bagged and I didn't want to get too close, so I gave up, presuming that the contents would be the same as the first one.  Luckily I had gloves on. When I got home I reported what I found. Council workers went to pick them up. 

It turns out they were dead sheep. That's all I was told. The police were informed. Although the bags were heavy I think it was just the fleece and possibly the head and legs that were left. They had possibly been butchered for meat. 

It was horrible to find them, but I am not surprised. Were they stolen live from a field and taken elsewhere for slaughter, or were they killed in the field? 

Everything is at risk of theft these days. All I can say is that the moral fibre of the human race is in decline. There has always been an element of crime, most of it we don't get to hear about, but now we have the internet it appears to be accelerating. 

I think I might go out today, if I can get my arse into gear. Thanks for popping in.  

Toodle pip.   ilona

Spooky.

Twas the night before Christmas, all was well in the graveyard. No sound was heard except the hoot of a lone owl. 

Then a ghostly figure appeared. 

It was peaceful, oh so peaceful. 

The ghostly figure appeared again. It was time for me to leave. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Naughty girl

Good morning. This is what I came down to this morning. I drape a fleecy cover over the sofa to try and keep it clean and free of cat hairs. This does not suit Mayze and I have to constantly re arrange it and tuck it over the top of the cushions. Now look what she has done. Determined to make a nest. Naughty girl, but she is a sweetheart. 

Oscar is generally out all night, he has shelters in the garden and can get into the summer house. If it is freezing cold or raining, he will stay inside, but it's up to him what he wants to do. He is always waiting to come in for breakfast. This is his favourite chair, or he has a bed upstairs in the spare room. 

Breakfast is served outside the backdoor if the weather is dry, or inside if it is wet. On the menu is Whiskas, Felix, Sheba, and Felix As Good As It Looks. Sometimes I get the posh Aldi version. All in pouches. There is also a selection of dry nibbles available throughout the day on a grazing tray. Whiskas, Purina One, or IAMS. The treats are an occasional tin of tuna fish, or half a slice of cooked ham. 

After that they go out and play. They come mooching back about lunchtime, looking for some more food. Sometimes I give them half a pouch if I am around, or they can nibble from the dry bowls. The evening meal is served anytime between 5 and 7, depending on what I am doing. 

Mayze doesn't like the fact that she was here first and Oscar is a latecomer. She hisses and grumbles when he is around. Oscar is a little bit shy but knows that I don't stand for any of that nonsense and I make sure he can walk around freely where ever he likes. I am a slave to my cats. 

It's a bit miserable today but not as bad as it has been. I have a Billy walk this afternoon, then a coffee chat with my friend. 

We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Small picture finished

Here is a little something I knocked up over the last week. It's inside a six inch embroidery hoop. Felt lollipop trees with a button in the centre, and some button flowers. The tree trunks are pipe cleaners. The back is tidy, covered over with a piece of pale green felt.  

Now I fancy doing some needle felting, haven't done any for a long time. It's miserable and wet outside so I will entertain myself indoors. The cats are snoozing. 

Thanks for popping in . We'll catch up soon.  ilona

The end of Christmas Day

 I allowed myself four hours for a walk today. I went at 12 and was back by 4. I was well wrapped up because it was cold. Furry hood to keep my head warm. The intention wasn't to do more miles, it was to meander, to stop and take in the winter scenery. I dawdled, I gazed, and I listened.

I took a different path and sloshed through the mud. I walked with my legs far apart as I straddled the mud, trying to get a bit of grip on the tufts of grass on each side. I should have taken my walking pole with me but I forgot. 

On the side of the track I noticed a bundle of new wire. A bit like fence wire but not so thick. I picked it up and managed to scrunch it up and get it into a smallish plastic bag. That will come in useful I thought. On the way home I remembered that my friend Angela had said to me once she was looking for some wire to make an animal figure. She wants to grow a bush inside it and trim it to the shape as it grows. I dropped off the wire at her house, she was chuffed. 

I found four black bin bags of fly tipping. Assorted rubbish inside. I had gloves on so I looked through it. Struck lucky, two pieces of packaging, bubble wrap bags, with a name and address on. I photographed what I found.   

I've made a big pan of stew tonight. I had a couple of spicy bean burgers which were too hot for me so I put them in the stew. The whole stew was then spicy, so I put a spoon of sugar in it. That's better 

As Christmas Day comes to a close I look forward to the days getting longer and the start of a new year. Maybe I will spend less time working on the computer, maybe I will concentrate on doing more of what makes me happy. 

Thanks for sticking with me. Those who don't like what I put on my blog, it's ok to drop out. I have gained quite a few like minded friends, some on here, and a lot on the yoootooob channel. Welcome if you are new. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Right for you.

 There are a lot of people hurting right now. They are fearful of what is happening and fearful of what might happen. The world is being turned upside down and there doesn't seem to be any end to it. No let up. Relentless. 

People are searching for answers, trying to make sense of it all. They feel so helpless, feel like they are at the mercy of some immovable force that has their future all mapped out. It needn't be like that. 

Look to your own future. The answers you need are inside you. Listen to your heart, listen to your head. Do what you think is right for you. 

Happy Christmas Day.

ilona

The village is lit up

I've been out and taken a few snaps tonight. We seen to have more lights than in previous years. People are really in the Christmas spirit. This first one is always the best in the village. The big reindeer is a new addition to the display. 

It's a pleasure to walk around in the evening. Catch ya soon. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

My Christmas message.

To all my Blogger and Yoootooob friends. I hope you have a lovely Christmas, and a very Happy New year. 

Thanks for reading and watching and listening. You deserve a medal. 

Catch ya later. ilona

How I cut back on my utilities bills. Part 1

I had a request for a money saving vid talking about the cost of utilities. Unfortunately I went on a bit too long and it got chopped into two. Here is the first part. 

Part 2 is just out of the oven. Catch ya later.   ilona

How I cut back on my utilities bills. Part 2.

I don't half make things difficult for myself. Let's see if I can get these two vids the right way round on the blog. This is the bit that got separated from the first part. I have not yet managed to put two vids on the same post. 

Catch ya later.  ilona

Memories

It was a bit chilly this afternoon, but I went for a walk anyway. The tracks along the field edges were extra muddy. I don't bother washing my trousers from one walk to the next. No point when I am going to walk through mud again. 

I came across a coalman doing his heave ho, getting a sack of coal on his back. He said it's ok to take a photo. He said he has been asked before, people seem to like taking photo's of him doing his job. I suppose that's because there aren't many of them about now. 

Three sacks to deliver to this customer. Good job he is a big lad. Can't see a six stone weakling doing this job. 

There was a woman with him, she was talking to the customer. He handed over the money and she made a note in her book. When they came out I asked her if the lad was her son. She laughed and said no. She said she was the driver. She said she is 75 and had to come out of retirement because they are short of drivers. She used to have an HGV licence but gave it up a long time ago when she had kids. If you know anybody who wants a job tell them to phone the number on the truck. 

This reminded me of a story, something that happened a long time ago. We used to have coal deliveries when we lived in a council house. We had a small brick built room just outside the back door. A bit like a shed. The bags would be emptied on the concrete floor. 

I must have been about eight or nine at the time. We were having Sunday dinner sat round the table. I must have said something to upset mum, can't remember what it was about. Perhaps I was cheeky. The next thing I was being dragged into the coal house, and my dinner was thrown in after me. Maybe I was complaining about the food. The door was shut and I sat crying in the dark. I think she let me out when they had all finished their dinners. I didn't get anything. 

That memory has stayed with me and seeing the coalman today brought it all back. I can laugh about it now, but it wasn't funny at the time. Don't think mum was a bully, she wasn't. She just brought us up to behave properly and watch our manners. 

That's all for now. I'm waiting for a video to upload then I am going to bed. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

 

Something Christmassy

Hello. The weather is a bit better today. Egg and beans on toast for brunch, now I'm off for a walk. I will leave you with Nico. Have a little singalong with him. 

I've got a vid in the oven so that might appear later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Risk assessment

Did I tell you why I decided not to take up the 'offer'? I don't have to explain to anybody, but with more pressure being put out every day I want you to know that I am not a selfish and stubborn old biddy who has cotton wool in my head. 

Right from the beginning I smelled a rat, it didn't make sense. Why, when there are other treatments which are proven to work were they not allowed to be used. Surely every doctor who has these treatments available when faced with an infection which appears to be rampant, has a duty to try anything. That didn't make sense. 

People were told to wait for this new treatment. The Government panicked, moving elderly people about, shifting them out of hospitals to put them in care homes which didn't have the facilities to cope with them. Videos emerged of people dropping down dead in the street in China. Fake as it turns out. The UK followed China's example of locking people in their homes. 

The new treatment arrived. They pushed it out as quick as they could because people were so traumatised by what they had seen and what they had read about. I wasn't convinced by the plan to administer this treatment to the whole world. Something fishy going on. I decided to wait. 

Giving people informed consent so they could make their own decisions never happened. This was a new treatment with hardly any data to back it up. They made a stab at listing a few adverse reactions that could occur, because they didn't know the long term implications. All they said was that it is safe and has been tested. Not quite true. There is a yellow card system in the UK for reporting adverse reactions. It is said that only 10% are being reported. This yellow card data is important to assess the safety of the product for long term use. I will add here that the treatment was given a licence for emergency use only. Today it is still an experiment, and will be until early 2023. I may make a decision then, when all the data is gathered. 

I am not convinced that what has happened in the last two years has been about health. I have given this a lot of careful thought and come up with my own risk assessment. The best way forward for me is to avoid going into crowded places. This has worked well in the past. I can't remember when I ever had flu, and it is several years since I had a cold. I don't wear a mask because I stay away from people. I don't take any medication, I don't need it. I take vitamin D and C daily. 

As I said, the treatment is an ongoing experiment and I don't want to be a part of that. Another thought crossed my mind. What if I had gone along with it and lined up with the rest. What if I became ill after that. How would I know if I would have become ill anyway, or, if it was the treatment which had caused me to become ill. I don't want to live with that question hanging over me. 

In light of what I said, if I become ill it won't be from something foreign being put into my body, and if I am careful and live a near reclusive life, I should be ok. This is my risk assessment. The benefits of waiting to see what happens next outweigh the the worry of  what have I done to myself'. 

Everyone should do their own risk assessment. Do what you think is best for you and your situation. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, good eating and exercise. 

 At the beginning I called it, 'an offer'. The front pages of several newspapers today have turned it into 'an order'. There is a branch of the Government which has a budget to spend on pushing the agenda. So taxes are being used to bully people, or are Big Pharma paying for it. Either way, something is not right. 

 I am not an anti vaxxxxer, I am pro choice. I am against health passports, because it divides people and is discriminatory. It won't end there. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.  ilona 

Mistake.

 Several people with yoootooob channels were out on Saturday in London talking to members of the public about the rally for freedom they were taking part in. They were gathering a few clips to put on their channels. Katie Hopkins and Alex Belfield were there plus a few others. The mood was good, people were enjoying the rally, and were happy to talk about their experience of why they were joining in. 

Today one chappie has had his mugshot plastered all over the main stream media because he made one slip of the tongue. He got his words mixed up and said utopia instead of dystopia. An easy mistake when you have a camera shoved in your face and the pressure is on to say something meaningful. 

This kind of mistake fits in very well with the agenda of the pro vaxxers. They scour the tweeterata for juicy bits to provide ammunition for yet another attack on free speech. 

The man made a mistake, me and millions of others know what he meant. To put the record straight, he doesn't want his kids to to be waking up in some kind of dystopia. To me that is the sign of a caring dad. 

Catch ya later.  ilona

Spreading kindness

This man is kind to animals. I like him.

Murky again today. I am sewing. Dog walking later. 

Enjoy your Sunday.  ilona

Foggy walk video

Hello. It's been another foggy wet day today. Only done a two mile village walk. That's enough. Have a butchers at this video I made yesterday, it's just come out of the yoootooob oven. Fully cooked.  

I've had a natter with my sister today on the phone, and another call later on with a friend. I've started a new sewing project, a small picture in an embroidery hoop. 

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

I haven't the foggiest ;o)

It wasn't the best of days to go out for a walk today. It started off foggy, and remained foggy for the whole day. I drove for about an hour to the village of Elsham. I was going to go to Barnetby but the place I have parked before at the Station now charges. So I plumped for the Village Hall at Elsham. No charge. 

Elsham has some seriously big posh houses. I walked up the road to find the church. There was a lane to the left so I went to explore, and found a fishing pond. As you can see it was shrouded in mist. It was very quiet and eerie. Love the reflections in the water. 

I found All Saints Church. It sits quite high up at a road junction and is surrounded by woodland on one side and trees at the front. Only one decent spot to get a picture. Sadly the door was locked. 

I left the village along a quiet road. This is where the A15 trunk road goes over the top. It took me several shots to get a whole lorry in the frame. This one is heading towards Barton and the Humber Bridge.  

As you can see, the views are lost in the mist.

You often see s sign on the grass verge saying Road liable to flooding, and it is very rare to see a flood. Well this one is flooded. Luckily there is a raised pavement on each side. Several cars went through it very carefully.

No, it isn't the Blackpool Tower. It's the radio and telephone mast at the corner of what used to be Elsham Airfield. More information here. 

It was getting dark as I was coming back to the village. Loss of daylight plus fog brought visibility down to a few yards. I have a new torch which I can attach to my clothing. Better to be seen than to be knocked down. 

Seven miles walked today, and no one to talk to. I didn't see anyone. I made a video which I will upload tomorrow. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Enjoy your weekend. 

Toodle pip.  ilona

Pass.

I found one of them covid testing kit thingys on a grass verge near a bus stop, a couple of days ago. No idea how it got there, did somebody chuck it or had it fallen out of someone's pocket or bag. Strange thing to find. The box had been opened, and was soggy wet as it has been raining here on and off. I removed the instruction leaflet and tossed the rest in a litter bin. I was curious to know how it works. 

The booklet had several pages. Crikey, it looked complicated. I am not normally one for reading instructions. If I buy anything new I get it out of the box and play around with it, twiddle with a few things and hopefully it will do what it is supposed to do. 

I can't see me coping with one of these kits. It looks like a right palaver with all the bits and pieces involved. I think I will pass on that one. 

This new wave of fear which is spreading like wildfire is getting me down a bit. Is there no end to it? Daft thing to say, I can answer my own question there. No there isn't. I will just shut my eyes and ears and get on with my life. 

I will just add here, that the lies coming out from the Government and Main Stream Media show no signs of slowing down. In fact they are ramping them up. I now don't believe anything they say. Thankfully I am not alone and there are others who are waking up. This Government should be taken down. I only hope that I am alive when they are prosecuted for crimes against humanity. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Nearly there.

 Only one picture from todays walk. There is a Christmas wreath on Angie's bench. I suspect it might be Trevor, her husband, who put it there. I sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the sunshine, in the peace and quiet. 

Six miles covered today. Not long now and I will be on the 1000. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Martin Lewis speaks

Good morning, (only just) soon to be afternoon. This is Martin Lewis talking about online scams. He has been trying to convince the Government to include this in the Online Harms Bill, but to no avail, they won't listen to him. 

Martin has been fighting scams for four and a half years ever since his own photograph has been used by scammers to fleece people of their life savings. Listen and watch his passion in this video. 

What struck me when listening to this was the obvious parallels between the sophistication of scammers who use technology to reel their victims in, and the techniques used by Governments around the world in order to achieve the same level of compliance. 

Scammers choose people who trust them. They gain trust by lying to their victims. Martin says, every day there are vulnerable people having their lives destroyed. That rings a bell with me. Jobs lost, businesses destroyed, and suicides. All part of being scammed. 

Fraud is the biggest single crime in the country. Yes, that resonates with me. Martin was asked what is causing this rise in scamming. His reply was that Government won't upset Big Tech. And I say, a good answer. That's why they refuse to be drawn into it.

Now it's 12 noon and I am going to go out into the sunshine. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.    ilona  

New boots and a new area to explore

Go Outdoors, the big camping and outdoor leisure shop is on the other side of town. I don't go over there very often. Today I decided to buy a new pair of boots. To make it worthwhile going I had a look in Halfords but didn't find what I wanted. I also passed the Arts Centre so popped in to pick up an application form for the Open Exhibition in January. 

There are some big shops at Lakeside Shopping Centre but I didn't need to go in any of them. I had picked up the cat food last night at Skippingdale so don't need any more. Fully stocked up for eight weeks now. 

I decided to go for a walk around the lake. I used to come here years ago with my then boyfriend, he used to jet ski. I walked his dog while he whizzed about on the water. I thought about having a go myself but that would have been daft, being as I can't swim. This first picture is where he launched from. 

There wasn't any laid out paths back then, it was all a bit rough and overgrown. Looks more organised now. 

The lake is just across the busy main A18 road from the Steelworks. There's no getting away from the constant humming of the traffic. 

I came across a man sat in his parked car, the path is wide enough to drive down. He was surrounded by a dozen or more squirrels. I was surprised to see so many, so I had to ask him why they had all gathered around him. The story is that he is the water bailiff  for the area. He comes every day to check on things, stays two hours and brings seeds and nuts for the squirrels. He says he is there at the same time, and they are ready for him. His wife makes him a pack up to eat while he is there. What a lovely story. 

I walked so far around and got a bit confused when the path split into two. Luckily another walker came by and I asked her which way to go. My old map doesn't have all these new paths on it. 

There is a newish housing estate nearby, When I got closer to it I met several dog walkers. One chap had three retrievers, they were going ballistic running about. They each had a harness on and were colour coded. Pink, green, and yellow. I thought that was funny. 

There are sections around the edge which are like sandy beaches. I bet the kids come in the summer and build sand castles. 

I got home just after 3pm. My new boots. Exactly the same as my last two pairs. They are a perfect fit and won't need any breaking in. The price was £117. Aren't they lovely. I don't need to wear them just yet because the ones I am wearing now are good for another six months.  

I bought this pan set. The oblong shape will fit better into the boxes when I am packing things for camping. 

And a dinky little kettle. Got everything I want for camping now, just need some longer days. 

All in all, a good day. I needed to get away from the computer. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.   Toodle pip.