Colour is my thing.

 Oh WOW. I have just discovered this lady. I love textile art, and her work is top class. It's the spirals and circles which caught my attention. Her bio states . . . 

Goddess of Fibre Alchemy, Teacher and Textile artist passionate about colour and texture.

Check out her Faceboook page. It's full of colour. Very inspiring. 

She has an Etsy shop but there hasn't been any activity on there for a long time. I can't find her name anywhere so I can't add any further information. She lives in Winchester, England. Her Facebook page is up to date, last posting, 15 hours ago. 

Now I have an urge to do some stitching.

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona

Entertaining

 Is the coast clear? Is it ok to come out now? Have they gone? 

This post has self combusted. It is no longer here. It has disappeared. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

 

New box - or self build?

Good morning. The sky has turned back to grey again.

This picture of a new build housing estate popped up on my screen. Is it AI? I don't know but I suspect it is real. The story is about how our hedgehog numbers are in decline. They can no longer move about freely between gardens. Apparently they make the concrete boards at the bottom with holes in, so they can incorporate Hedgehog Highways in their layout. So that helps I suppose. 

But my first impression of this picture is, what kind of a hell hole is this for humans to live in. I can't imagine living in a box like this. I bet the walls are paper thin as well, just like the fencing around the miniscule patches of grass masquerading as a garden. There will be many more of these boxes in the planning pipeline, and some people will be glad of a place like this to live in. If that's what they want so be it. 

I watched this video last night. A woman who has self built her cob house on a patch of land she bought in Portugal. Now that would be my kind of project, if I was several decades younger. She has the tenacity and gumption to do her own thing. I admire that. 

My building skills are minimal, but at least this is still standing. Solid as a rock and dry inside, after 11 years. 

Which is it for you? A tiny box crammed in a small plot, or lots of free space to roam?

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Jacob asks, are you ready?

Good morning. It started off very foggy this morning, no not my brain, that's as clear as the sunshine in my heart. The fog outside is struggling to lift, it may be hanging around for a while, but for now I have plenty to do. Six jobs on a list means that it is a multitasking day. 

I an preparing a post about my visit to Market Rasen yesterday. With a bit of research it is becoming quite interesting. The computer is useful for research. 

Anyway, I've gone off on a tangent, again, and watched this video. Jacob Whelan has it spot on. He articulates what I am thinking. His editing skills go straight to the point, cuts out the dross. If you listen to the end he says everyone who is totally reliant on AI, and digital technology, is going lose their ability to make rational decisions about their lives. 

20,938 views 10 Oct 2025

No one is prepared for 2026 and beyond. AI is changing society in ways that no one predicted, and as time goes on, it's only going to get more substantial. Let's think about what's happening. AI infrastructure is being developed all over the country, and leading companies and investors are investing over $500 billion dollars into ai technologies over the next 5 years. As ai becomes more prevalent, there will be more job losses, and as infrastructure scales, our power grids and water supplies will be pushed to the limit. But beyond that, ai will continue to impact critical thought and spirituality. The way we do things and everything in our lives is about to change forever. Are you ready for what's coming?

 

On to the next job. See ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Walking the line.

 We saw these yesterday as we were crossing. 

Humber Bridge

23h ·

Don't be alarmed if you see people walking the bridge cables throughout this week. That will be our Engineering team carrying out planned cable inspections.

Photo from their facebuck page. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

The pleasure of becoming whole.

A lesson in psychology on this Wednesday morning. This struck a chord with me. If you make it to the end there are some useful tips. Worth 23 minutes of your time. I think I am on the right track.  

Carl Jung warned that the nicest people are often the most lost. Not because they lack intelligence — but because they’ve been trained to betray themselves just to be liked. In this video, we expose the hidden danger of people-pleasing, why it’s rooted in fear and identity loss, and how Jung’s shadow work leads to the only real cure: becoming whole.

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

In balance

 Good morning. I sometimes wonder if there is any point in documenting my life here. I make sure I have plenty to do, I go out and visit places, I like meeting people, I make art, I enjoy photography, and I live in a village with a good community spirit. So why do I need to tell everyone about what I do? And who would be interested?  Because there is more to me than just having a good time. There are a lot more important things going on in the world. My life is just a grain of sand on a beach, insignificant and irrelevant, but combined with all the other grains of sand, it paints a bigger picture. 

It's about keeping my life in balance. I don't live in a closet, I don't bury my head in the sand, I watch and observe what is going on around me, and in the wider world. Dividing my time between simple pleasures, and more complex issues, gives me the balance I require. It gives me purpose, a reason to live. 

Life is fascinating, people are fascinating. Unravelling the complex issues in the political world is the best murder mystery novel you can find yourself engrossed in. A book that you can't put down. Every day a new chapter begins. And it's all played out on my desk top computer. 

Yesterday I went out. Today I will stay local. This morning I caught up with what is going on in the wider world. Being able to switch from one to the other is part of the rich tapestry of life. Staying locked inside a bubble is not conducive to the natural expansion of the brain, and therefore it stifles the ability to adapt when a new direction must be taken. Unblock the blockages by constantly moving on. 

The point of this blog is not just about, oh I went out yesterday and had a good time. This morning I read something which struck a chord, made me think, so I will share that with you. 

Alice Weidel is a new name to look out for. She has fire in her belly. She has recently given a speech at a conference in Hungary. She could be talking about what is going on here in the UK. 

Alice Weidel

@Alice_Weidel

·

May 30

"The wind of change is blowing stronger in Europe and throughout the Western world. The future belongs to free, patriotic citizens and sovereign nations." My full speech at #CPACHungary2025!

Read her tweeeter feed, watch the video, and see the difference between her and our sadly lacking in passion and empathy PM. 

Now for breakfast and back to posting about my day out yesterday.

Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Reading Mr Emerson

 I am liking these quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”
“Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.

 Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

I'm away to sit with my friends at Crafty Club. I have some donated wool and fabric to give away. A good start to the week. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Welcome home.

 Good morning. As much as I dislike facebuck, my fingers quickly scroll past the dross, there are a few short video clips which prompt me to hesitate for a minute. They are the ones which trigger my  sentimental slushy side. Some of them are about animals. Sean and his sheepdog Kate. The beautiful partnership between man and dog. Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset. Frannie and Gracie, the two little dogs who run out to greet Dan the Postman when he arrives. 

Now we have surprise reunions. Those returning to their families after long periods away. Lots of emotional scenes. I blub every time one of these appear on my screen. 

I watched live last night as the spacex crew returned to planet earth. The parachutes opening, first two, then four. The gentle drop into the ocean. The rescue boats coming out to meet them. The dolphins cavorting in the sea, curious about what is happening in their territory. The hauling of the capsule onto the deck, and the securing down. Then the opening of the hatch and the four were helped out. 

Welcome home. 

Now to get ready for Coffee Morning. Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona

Wise words from Emmy.

Good morning. I am listening to Emmy while I eat my porridge and chopped apple. 

I thought I had a hard time at various stages of my life, but I never contemplated ending it all. Listening to Emmy's story puts everything into perspective. I had it easy. The way she addresses her audience is unique. She says 'Hello my friend', indicating that she is speaking directly to you. If you watch some of her videos you can feel the warmth in her gentle voice. She doesn't play to the audience. She offers an intimate conversation between two people. 

If you are struggling with anything at all, maybe listening to Emmy would help.  

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.  ilona

Adding this PS. 

From a recent video.

Most of my subscribers know that I am a professor of psychology and psychotherapy, and an author, with over 50 years experience in clinical work, teaching and training. In view of the many challenges I have had it seemed a good idea to say a few words about my background and reasons for posting. Having held back on giving advice, as a psychotherapist and a teacher, I felt it was important to pass my knowledge, expertise and experience on in an honest and direct way. I also wanted to reach a wider public as I am concerned about the way the world is affecting people. I will do a video about my books at some point too.

Good news

 It was a good laffff today at Crafty Club. The chatter was very jolly. I told a couple of trucking stories.  Someone suggested we form a choir and sing a song. Lisa brought a laptop and put some words on the screen. Pat had printed the words out so we all had a song sheet, and off we went. The first was an Abba song, then I suggested, Always look on the bright side of life. And that's how it ended at 12 o clock. Everyone departed in a happy mood. I think we should have a proper practice rehearsal and perform a song on the stage at the next Christmas Fair. We could learn a dance routine as well. 

Me and Billy got blown about a bit as we did a 40 minute walk around the village. The wind has really picked up tonight. I went out and checked on the summer house. I added a few bungee straps to secure the door shut. The roof over the porch was lifting up when there was a particularly big gust. I could see that might be a problem, so I got my step ladder out and put some bricks and a big block of concrete on the top. The weight should hold it down. I've just been out again to check it. It seems to have done the trick. 

I am seeing some exciting news coming through on the channels I monitor. It seems the farmers protests are spreading. The truckers started it in Canada. The Dutch farmers are all out, and now the French and German farmers are following suit. They are using a mix of vehicles, mainly tractors, with many trucks backing them up. 

Every Town, village and city is seeing the farmer protests in Germany as hundreds of thousands of people in Germany rally to support them. The Globalists are failing to stop the coverage in the media despite their agents within MSN attempting to do so.

À cette heure, plus de 150 tracteurs sont en route vers l'A62, près d'Agen, pour bloquer les deux voies. L'axe Bordeaux-Toulouse est actuellement quasiment impraticable.

Translate. At this time, more than 150 tractors are on their way to the A62, near Agen, to block the two lanes. The Bordeaux-Toulouse axis is currently almost impassable.

This evening hundreds of farmers will spend the night on the highway in Agen.

Breaking News: Sirens wail and horns blare out in a strong show of force. French farmers protests are gaining traction as more join in and begin to block roads. The demonstrations are growing and could fully go International as people push back against the globalists and their infiltrated governments.

No news about it in Italy, but it is starting here too:

Wise words from this Scottish farmer as number of farmers in Scotland start a tractor protest convoy against the government who are wilfully destroying the farming industry through neglect and restrictive policies.

Keep it up lads and lassies.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Research notes

Anyone who is keen to learn more about what is going on might find these pages from the conference brochure helpful. Insert the names into your search engine and do a bit of snooping. It will all become clear, and then you can get on with the rest of your lives. Knowledge is power.

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Change your life

Eating my breakfast on this sunny morning, watching the latest Liam and Janine video. This is worth a shout out. Those Happy Days is a documentary of their van life adventures. Clever Janine does all the editing. 

They have just won an award and are keen to talk about it. Recently back from a six month tour of India, they are now UK based for the summer, and are planning lots of adventures. Catch up with them here at Brighton. Morgan is a repurposed furniture van, their second vehicle, after they outgrew a smaller van. 

Yes, they are influencers, in the nicest possible way. They have worked hard to create a full time job for themselves. They have sponsors, which they don't push in your face. They strive to create a good mix of interesting and varied content, based on entertainment. 

Their enthusiasm for living a great life is infectious. People say I am an inspiration. If they see that in me that's good, but I say, don't do as I do, make your own inspiration and make your own life. 

We can't all be a Liam and a Janine, but we can allow some of their magic into our lives and make our own plans. 

Catch ya later.    ilona