Everything at the park is glorious.

Hello. What kind of a day have you had today. It's quiet here in the village. People have gone away for the Bank Holiday Weekend. Today it hasn't been quite as hot as the last few days, so I was able to take Billy dog for a walk this morning. He goes crazy when he sees me at the door, and won't keep still while he has his harness put on. 

It was still sunny this afternoon and I thought I would take advantage of that. A walk to the Park. I took a picker stick and a plastic carrier bag with me and picked up the litter along the way. I filled the bag twice. The trees are gorgeous right now.  

Bluebells and wild garlic carpet the ground. 

An area close to the Hall has been cleared and replanting is underway. Look at this stunning colour. 

Kneeling down next to the perimeter wall to get these two shots. 

Back home for dinner. Broccoli and cauliflower, with spinach and ricotta tortelloni. Quick and easy, one pan, five minutes. 

Now I have to water the pots in the garden. I use a watering can, not a hose pipe. 

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Keeping the place tidy

After much faffing this morning, I left it too late to go for a decent walk. I needed to get out though so I thought the next best thing is to do some litter picking. No need to walk fast, just saunter along and spot the litter stuck in the hedge bottom along a busy road. I put my yellow vest on, I didn't want to get splattered on the tarmac. There is a footpath on one side, and as the litter is on both sides it involved a lot of crisscrossing to pick it up. Luckily there is only one bend in the road, so I had to be a bit careful at that point. 

I filled my bag four times and emptied it at four different places. These bins are at the back of the cafe at the park. 

Mr Peacock came to see what I was doing. I think it was hoping for a bite to eat. 

Exiting the park I see the snowdrops are out along the edge of the wall. 

I had to give up litter picking on the way back. It was difficult to see it in the dark. I emptied the last bag into the bin at the end of my road. 

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

Litter buggers

I sometimes talk about litter and fly tipping because I get fed up of seeing it. We have a wonderful countryside and it is often blighted by dumped rubbish and wanton littering. People chuck their rubbish anywhere they please because they are lazy. Out of sight out of mind. 

I took a slightly different route on my walk on Saturday, I expected to see some rubbish. Yes, there was fly tipping, bin bags full of bottles and cans, and some littering as well. It was an ugly sight. Some of it had been there for a long time. I rearranged the masks into an artistic collage draped on the brambles. 

If you look closely a used condom adds a touch of authenticity to the scene. It proves you can still enjoy a bonk while not actually looking at your partners face.

 

While I was constructing this masterpiece a big four wheel drive pulled up, an officer of the law opened his window for a chat. He asked me if I had seen any quad bikes around. Apparently they come here for a blast through the woods and across the fields. I said no I hadn't . 

I made a comment about the awful mess and what I had found. He said it is a well know spot for men to come to after picking up their chosen prostitute in town. They drive out to the countryside to complete their business. 

I noted that he was part of the rural law enforcement patrol, as it said on the side of his truck. In the back seat he had a life size plastic sheep. I wondered what he used that for, a decoy maybe, while looking for sheep rustlers. I told him about the dead sheep I had found. He said he had heard about that. 

Litter, or trash as people call it, is widespread. The German in Venice Beach, Los Angeles reports that a whole train load of Amazon parcels have been robbed. They used bolt cutters to open up the containers, and open up the packages, discarding what they didn't want. My goodness, what a disaster. Makes you wonder how many parcels go missing in transit. 

Now I must go to the Post Office to get some cash. I need to take my car keys to the garage and get them to check the batteries. For some reason I can only open and close the locks with one click. To fully lock the car I should click twice. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Dumping ground.

I had a little job to do this morning. Go in my car to a place where I found some fly tipping yesterday. I have passed the place before, it's at the entrance to a field, on the other side of a fence, next to a manky festering swamp. It's been there for a long time and it's covered in years of fallen leaves. I have a look in case some new rubbish has appeared. I did report this once but nothing was done about it. 

My friend mentioned to me a couple of months ago that she needs some plant pots, and could I look out for some. The same friend, who loves her garden I might add, who asked me to look for some wire. 

Yesterday, among all the rotting brambles and weeds, I saw plant pots. I hopped over the fence for a closer look. Yes, quite a lot of pots. I opened a black bin bag and it was full of pots. Too many to carry. I still had half an hour left of my walk to do. It was dark when I got home. 

This morning I went back with my car and picked them up. My friend is chuffed. Seek and you will find is my motto. 

I also found some new fly tipping yesterday. I didn't pick this up, might do if it is still there in a weeks time. Nothing of use. Cardboard packaging and a microwave oven.

 

The council have started issuing red bin bags for those who want to volunteer to do litter picking. I have seen full bags left at the side of the road awaiting collection from the Council truck. I will ask if I can have some. Red is a better colour as they can be quickly distinguished from the black ones. 

A doggy awaits me for a walk, so I'll bid you cheerio for now. Thanks for popping in.

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

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

What title shall I give this one?

Good Morning and Hello Sunday. Thank you for your contributions on the previous post, even those who expressed annoyance about the content. There was a distinct air of anger from some of them. You can bash me all you like, use me as an outlet for your anger if it makes you feel better, but it won't silence me. The haters always have the option of not coming here again. Exercise your free will, your choice. 

Thank you to the people who sent personal messages via email, you have a good understanding of the plandemic situation. Hang on to your beliefs. Knowledge is a useful tool to help you navigate through your life. 

My thirst for knowledge will not be dampened. I have been called selfish among other things. This is far from the truth. I am deeply concerned about the future for our children and grand children, even though I don't have any. Just because I chose to remain childless does not mean I don't have empathy for our future generations. Families do matter, children need a stable environment to flourish and prosper. The fear that we are projecting onto them at the moment is likely to have a lasting effect. Yes, some of them are resilient and will move on, but some of them wont. Nightmares about being forced to wear a mask will take a long time to fade. 

I walked past a playground the other day and thought how lovely it was to see the park buzzing. Kids screaming and laughing and having fun. Parents supervising, and not a mask in sight. 

I prefer to live in the now and the future, no point dwelling on the past. Yes awful things happened. My mother was left homeless wandering the streets of Hamburg with a child in a pram. Her house flattened by British bombs. Her parents were sent to Auchwitz, I never knew them. My family was decimated by the war. Don't let a dictatorship like the Nazi's happen again. Now I am getting emotional because I feel for our kids future.

Don't direct your anger at me, that is futile. Instead stop living in fear, no one is going to live forever, death is something we all will have to face. Cherry pick your news and information from different places, do not be blinkered by believing everything that is in main stream media. I think I have waffled on long enough about that, now it's down to you. Choose which path you want to take, and take responsibility for your own lives. 

And breath.......

What did I do yesterday? A comment came onto our village facebook page that someone had found litter at the carpark picnic area. It's a quiet place on the edge of the village. I went to have a look and to pick it up, there is a bin nearby. The crop of sweetcorn is taller than me in the adjacent field. 

Ready for the bin.

Alas, I found not only the litter, but a whole lot of flytipping as well. This is just some of it, no need to bore you with more pictures. I sent an email to the Council, they will need a truck and some operatives to pick it up. 

Looks like it could be a nice day weatherwise. I did a 6 mile walk yesterday and my mileage is well up. It will be a Billy dog walk later. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Killing three birds with one stone.

Hello. The weather hasn't been so good today. Although it has stayed dry there was no sun. I spent the morning sewing while watching catch up TV. After a lunch of beans on toast I took Rocky for a walk around the churchyard. While I was out I noticed some litter which needed picking up so when we got back he went indoors, while I got my stick and bag, and went straight back out again to tidy up. I needed to be outside walking, a good excuse to take some photo's for the blog, and the litter needed clearing away, so three birds with one stone. If Rocky could walk further and faster I could have made it four birds with one stone and picked while he ambled along beside me. 

So, a few Autumn pics of the village. This is the old Vicarage, and that is Jim on his bike, the handyman in the village. He does a lot of lawn mowing and other jobs as well.  

Looking across the Village Green, I zoomed in on Joyce as she was passing with her poodle, Bailey. She goes out every day about 1pm for the afternoon walk. Next week she has a luncheon to go to, so I will walk Bailey on that day so she needn't rush back.

At the top of the hill I decided to go down it a short way, because that is where people chuck rubbish out of their cars. There are no houses at that point and they think they can't be seen. The pedestrians have probably bought something at the shop and by the time they have got to the top of the hill they start discarding the wrappings and empty cans in the hedgerow. We shouldn't be getting so many carrier bags being thrown away now.

I've got a full bag so I empty it into the big bin next to the pub, the council come on a Monday to clear it out.

A scout round the churchyard, especially where the kids gather at the gate and I find some sweet and biscuit wrappings. The grass is carpeted by crunchy golden leaves. This wonderful big tree is near the door of the church. 

Next it's up the High Street past the cottages, and checking the bus shelter. Nothing in there. The lady who runs the B & B. has the job of clearing it out, she gets paid a small amount once a year. 

Turning left just before the Chinese takeaway and I am dismayed by the amount of rubbish dropped on the corner. Kids hang out there and any food which doesn't get eaten is thrown on the ground with the plastic boxes, and the plastic forks are then stamped on and broken into tiny pieces. Drinks cans are also discarded. I found a smashed beer glass, probably lifted from the pub. So I pick it all up and put it in the large litter bin, which they can't be bothered to use. The contractors are still here, digging up the pavements and putting new gas pipes in. Glad they are not coming down my street, such a mess.

In front of the Medical Centre we have a communal herb garden. Anyone can take some for their cooking. Such a nice idea.

There is a snicket from the Medical Centre to the Village Green which usually has a few bits of rubbish lying around. It's the route a lot of children take coming from and going to school. There are plenty of fallen leaves here. A big difference to when we have the Summer Fair in June and everything is lush and green. 

It's a popular place for dog walkers as well. There are bins to put dog poo in here, and thankfully most people use them.

Ah well, I've eaten my dinner, a second portion of yet another veggie stew. I had two thirds of a swede in the fridge which needed using up, so it got chopped up and put in the big pan, along with an onion and a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. I also added wholemeal pasta to bulk it up. Just the thing to come home to in the dark evenings. Time to take Rocky out, so I'll sign off.

Catch you soon. Thanks for popping in. toodle pip

Have you got your bag?

I've got steam coming out of my ears here, should have asked Nellie to write this post. She isn't around so I will get it off my chest while I have a few minutes. It's in the news again, free plastic carrier bags are to be phased out at the checkouts. It's been in the pipeline for years, but we seem to be moving a step forward and there will be a charge of 5p per bag to be introduced next year. Read all about it in the Daily Wail.

While you're at it, read the comments following the article, that's the reason I have steam coming out of my ears. I am all in favour of reducing the amount of bags that are given away willynilly, and all in favour of re using what we already have, but a lot of people just don't get it. The whinging and moaning is pathetic. Here are some of the reasons why folks are angry, and my answers.

Just another ploy to make more money out of people. No. You can buy one bag for life usually around 10p, and when it is broken they will exchange it free of charge for a new one. 

Let's add to the already high cost of living. You don't need to buy plastic bags if you don't want to. Take re usable bags with you every time you go shopping.

These bags come in handy as bin liners, that's recycling isn't it? No, you throw them out in the rubbish, one use in a bin isn't recycling. 

Don't forget to launder your re-usable bag after every use, to kill the nasty organisms they pick up. For goodness sake !&?!@!+! cough splutter. !!! So all the food you buy is unwrapped?

I go to the supermarket after work, does that mean I have to go to work with a bag every time I go out? You can get bags that fold up very small, just put it in your hand bag, they take up very little space. 

Why should we pay to advertise the store? You don't have to. Buy a bag that doesn't have a logo on it, or make your own. 

I wouldn't pay 5p for a bag and will shop elsewhere. Your choice. You don't have to pay 5p every time you shop, just get a stronger bag for a one off payment and you can use it over and over again. 

I can't be bothered to remember to take bags with me when I go shopping. You can pay for them every time you shop then if you have the money to throw away. Your choice.

At this point I had to stop reading, it's doing my head in, ha ha. 

I've been looking for vids on the bag for ;life subject.

Here is one with a bit of humour.

An easy tutorial to make a tote bag. 

I do it slightly different to this. My handles are shorter, but you can make them longer if you want to sling it over your shoulder. I also tuck the ends of the handles into the top seams if the fabric isn't too heavy and bulky. I make a box bottom by stitching across the bottom corners. Have a go at this one if you own a machine and see how you go. 

One I made last week.  

Anyone up for making their first bag, do your bit for the environment, and your purse. If you don't want to pay for your bags every time you go shopping get into the habit now of taking them with you, putting them back into the car every time you empty them so the are always there. If you don't drive, keep a fold up bag in your handbag. You can fold up the 10p plastic bags for life very small, and put them in your pocket. Do your bit for the planet, please get organised, think, 'have I got my bag', every time you step out of the front door. Thank you.
Toodle pip.

Here is the news, sorry it's a bit soggy

It's been a boooootiful day here in my neck of the woods, not far from the east coast of middle England. The morning fog lifted to give way to lots of sunshine. I had a little potter in the garden, then took a chair outside and sat doing some sewing. The birds were twittering, the wood pigeons were cooing, the cats were strolling around, and the children were having fun in their garden a few doors down. All was lovely. 

This morning I went out and did a litter pick. I noticed a few cans lying around the other day, so off I went with my trusty picking stick and a big carrier bag. There is a snicket which goes from the posh houses onto a dog walking area which we call the hills. By the way a snicket is an alleyway, or a ten foot, or a path. Just beyond that is a wood, and I spotted something in the bushes. I get really annoyed when people hurl things into the undergrowth hoping no one will notice it. I pushed my way through the brambles, big boots are a necessity for litter picking, and found a bundle of Parish Council Newsletters. Now, I know that they pay for the exact amount to be printed so every house in the village gets one. There are 44 houses which haven't received the latest copy which went out two weeks ago. Obviously someone got fed up and couldn't be bothered to deliver them. 

How chuffin annoying is that. Given the location that they were discarded they should be able to find out who did it, and give them a right rollicking. Well I would.

How ironic that there is a mention from the chairman about entering the Best Kept Village competition, and hopefully winning it this year. We usually come second or third. We won't win anything if folks keep chucking the newsletters away. Aside from creating more litter, people won't know about the competition and won't be helping to tidy the village up to give us a good chance.

It would be great if we could win it, I shall be stepping up my litter picking, and keeping my eyes open for any other little tidying jobs that need doing. Some of the road signs could do with a wash. The phone box needs a wash as well, and the bus shelter. We have a new man to look after the graveyard around the church, he seems quite keen. I shall be asking people to tidy the road in front of their house as well, failing that, I will be doing a bit of road sweeping myself, ha ha.

I am relaxing with a can of cider tonight, full up from my steamed veg dinner. I shall watch a catch up programme while doing a bit more sewing. Have a nice Sunday.
Toodle pip.

If you go down in the woods today

There was a job that needed doing yesterday, so I got off my bum and did it. Our lovely woods, which at the moment are looking a bit bare and bleak, have been trashed by a gang of yoofs, and turned into a rubbish dump. I think they must have been having a party, bottles and cans everywhere, what a mess. I hate to see it like this. They have no respect at all for our countryside.

They had a bonfire, the charred remains look awfull.

I found a garden spade without a handle, must have used it to dig up this tree to put on the fire.

They have chopped down quite a few young trees. How upsetting to see the destruction. I have no problem with people using the woods for recreational purposes, but why can't they tidy up and take their rubbish with them. And why do they have to destroy and flatten everything in their way. I do despair sometimes. There will be nothing left for future generations to enjoy.  

It took me two hours to pick up all the mess, and carry four heavy bags up the steps to the top. I counted 50 small green beer bottles, plus loads more bottles, and lots of cans. There was aerosols, evidence of substance abuse, and food wrappings. I have left them at the end of the allyway near the posh houses, someone else can deal with it now. The council bin man will probably pick them up next week when he comes to empty the dog bins. If somebody wants them moved before then, they can ring the council. 

 

This was a lunch from last week, didn't get round to posting the pic. Raw mushrooms, beetroot, potato salad, cheese, and Italian five cheese ravioli, reduced on a yellow sticker of course. Very nice.

Last night my favourite dinner, steamed sprouts, brocolli, carrots, and potatoes. Delish.

 

Looks like the makings of a nice day, better get my skates on and get out there, best not waste it.

Toodle pip.