A walk to the park with my stick

Numbers were quite low at Coffee Morning. I suppose some people are on holiday now. The Pilates group always come in at 11am after their session in the Village Hall. Only two of them today when there are usually eight or more. Despite a reduction in numbers the chatter was still very loud. 

I went a walk this afternoon to the park, taking my picking stick and a big carrier bag. I filled it once on the way there and emptied it into the big bin behind the cafeteria.   

And filled it again on the way back and emptied it in the bin at the Playing Field. I also filled the litter bin up at the bus stop as I was passing. These grass verges haven't been done for a long time so I was finding lots of squashed and mangled drinks cans from when the mower machine had gone over them. 

The wind made the job a whole lot more difficult. I probably should have used the trolley but I didn't think I would find enough litter to fill a red bag. A delivery of new red bags has arrived in the volunteer pod. Thank you Candace for that. 

That's all for now. Toodle pip.   ilona

I went for a walk today.

Aye up me ducks. Flying Fanny here. No flying today, a nice steady amble along a five mile walk. No picking stick, no bag, no yellow vest. Not picking today, it's my day off. Not many photo's to show. I love fluffy white cotton wool clouds. 

I looked into the distance and thought this would make a nice picture. Quite a lot of zoom needed. Grazing sheep and a lot of seagulls. 

Bet you don't know what this is. Could be a mountain range in Mongolia. 

Don't be silly. It's a pile of rotting grass cuttings in the corner of a turf field. 

The sun is going down. 

This made me laugh tonight. A pop up in the corner of my screen. A new video has been recommended to me. Erm, I made it, I know what it's about. 

And here it is. 

Now I am tired and Mayze is pestering me for a cuddle.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Tidying up the countryside

Oh boy, it's nice to sit down after being battered by the wind. I got the 12.30 bus out to a neighbouring village. The weather wasn't too bad on the way out, some rain, but it had gone by the time I got off the bus. I was looking forward to a pleasant walk with some scenic views. The path was quite high up so the wind whipping across from the river was blowing me sideways. My eyes were weeping and my nose was dripping. It wasn't cold, just blooming windy. 

Yes, I took my litter picking stick and two bags with me. I called in to see my friend June but she wasn't in. Half of the walk was slipping about on mud. It was hard work. The picking stick came in useful as a walking pole to steady me as I went up and down the steps. Don't want to break a leg at my time of life. 

When I left Junes village I decided to stay on tarmac. I can walk faster on the road. No footpath and not much traffic about.

I didn't expect to see a great deal of rubbish, but was shocked to see the amount of bottles and cans littering the verges. It's a quiet country road. I filled my one red sack and left it in a prominent position on a bend under a road sign. The council should see that when they next come along. I carried on, heading back home, and started filling my smaller bag. There was far too many cans and bottles for me to carry and my bag was full. I had to leave some behind. The wind started getting stronger, and the rain came, and I was getting fed up. 

The pleasant walk was turning into a fast march carrying a heavy bag. I was glad to get back. I will have to go back for the rest of the litter. Can't leave a job unfinished. I will wait until the weather improves, hopefully in a day or two. 

Now I am knackered. Should sleep well tonight. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona  

Keeping you in the dark.

Good evening. 

Here is a short video I knocked up last night. It is a bit blurry because the camera doesn't focus well in the dark. 

Fun in the village tonight. The local tractor enthusiasts were out in force. They did a tour of the surrounding villages, collecting money for charity. The pub car park was full and some of them spilled over onto the village green. 

I didn't make a video because I did one last year. If you want to watch it, it is on this post from 22nd December 2024. 
Now it's time to relax. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

I went for a walk and found a table

Good evening. 

The postie brought me a letter today. From the Medical Centre. Do I want the covid and flu jabs. Also a letter from the TV Licensing people. My 'no licence needed' declaration has run out. For goodness sake, don't they ever stop. 

After my morning chores, and a hearty soup and potato lunch, I packed my bag and caught the 1pm bus to town. The plan was to walk back. First stop was the 20 21 Arts Centre to say hello to Nikki. There is a new exhibition in there, which I photographed and will write about on another post. 

There was a chill in the air but with the sun beaming down, and me striding along at a fast pace, I soon warmed up. 

I got to the big pond, it's known locally as the Blue Lagoon, I noticed this small table dumped in the car park . Nothing else. It's solidly made and not damaged. Such a shame to leave it there. I didn't have a bag to put it in. Oh well, I'll just carry it home as it is.

I carried on walking and turned left along the road towards the next village. A small white car came up behind me and stopped a few yards up the road. It then reversed back to me. The gentleman asked if I wanted a lift. I gratefully accepted because it was starting to get dark, and the last part of the walk was across fields. His daughter moved from the front seat to the back so I could get in. He very kindly went out of his way to drop me in my village. Before anyone says isn't that dangerous, no it wasn't. People know me round here because it's a regular route I take. Village folk are friendly and I speak to everyone I meet. I thanked him for the lift. 

I've just come across this video. Dr Suneel Dhand talks about the covid inquiry which has just been published. He is dead right in what he says.  He calls it an Inquiry Bombshell. 

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

Two stick weaving tutorial

Good evening. I've been out most of the day today. Drop the car in at the garage at 9am, for a service and the MOT test. Glad to report that it passed, so pleased about that. £312 paid with cash. 

While that was being done I went to the care home to see June. She is spending a bit of time there while she recovers from a fall. The physio lady came in and gave her some exercises to do to hopefully hasten her recovery. She is hoping to be able to return back home when she is a bit more mobile. I was there for three hours. Then she was taken into the restaurant for lunch and I left because I needed to walk. Three hours is a long time for me to sit still. 

I walked for two hours around Winterton. Here are a few random photo's I took. This overgrown bush is eating up the house. It really ought to be removed. No doubt it will pull the rendering off the wall when it is finally taken down. 

All kinds of houses in Winterton. Some big posh ones with large gravelly driveways. 

I like this red front door. It opens straight out onto the street. 

Is it that time again already. It sure does come round quick. 

This bungalow is on a corner plot opposite the Showground. Looks like it has been abandoned. All windows have closed curtains. 

I sat on a bench in the Cemetery to eat my cheese and pickle sandwich. 

There was a footpath I wanted to explore so off I went down the road to look for the sign. I set off across the fields heading back towards the garage. Then they sent me a text to say the car was ready to collect. I wasn't far away so five minutes later I picked up the keys and paid the bill.

While I was away I left the computer running to upload this video I recorded yesterday. I show you how to weave with just two sticks. You might want to have a go. 

This is the type of thing I am aiming for. It will be a wall hanging. Picture from their web site. 

Dinner tonight was a stir fry made with vegetables I steamed yesterday, with some added mushrooms. In  the middle of the pan I put a cheese and onion roll to warm it up. Deeeelishus. 

That's it for now folks. It's gone 7pm and I must go and get Mayze in. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Evening walk at Skipton

The show was a bit too crowded for me, so after I had seen all I wanted to see I escaped back to my car. There was time to go for another walk before bed time. I set off up the steps to the college, then past the swimming pool and through Aireville Park. I spotted a cemetery on the map, so I thought I would go and have a look at that. There was nobody about so I had the place to myself. 

Inside this building is the Book of Remembrance. Two books in fact, the first one is full. 

This is a nice idea. A branch sculpture with names on the leaves. 

It was all very neat and tidy. 

On the way back I passed this church. I didn't make a note of the name of it. It appears to be on two levels. The old door looks like it is below ground, the new door on the side is on the higher level. It would be interesting to see the layout inside, but it was closed. 

Time was getting on so I went back to my car. 

Here is a video I made. I was in bed by 9pm. 

Sunday morning and I left the Auction Mart, to find somewhere to park. I fancy a walk in the hills. 

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Nature trail

Good evening. What a change in the weather from yesterday. Today it hasn't stopped raining. I haven't been anywhere, plenty of sewing to do. Made some bunting, and finished the latest mandala. 

Here is a video I recorded yesterday and uploaded it to yooootooob this morning. 

Are you ready for the next plandemic, it's coming. These warning posts keep popping up on faycebuck.  

Black Country Live 

17 September at 10:18 ·

The Stratus and Nimbus strains - otherwise known as NB.1.8.1 and XFG - are two of the most common variants sweeping the UK at the moment. Here are the symptoms to look out for

The new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, has two variants - XFG and XFG.3, which were first discovered back in January of this year, and a GP has urged people to make three changes

They told us that there will be more nasty bugs coming along. 

Next they will be offering a brand new jabby. Your health is your responsibility, not theirs.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Perfect walking day

Good evening. It was perfect weather for a walk this afternoon. Warm and breezy. Not a good start though when I came across mountains of fly tipping. Some household rubbish but mainly the usual cannabis plants. We seem to get a lot of that around here. Reported to the Council.  

Moving on through a wooded area. 

Out of the woods, high above the river bank. Some of these views I have photographed before. You might recognise them. 

Onward to the next village. I sat on this bench and ate my cheese and pickle sandwich. 

Opposite the bench is this house. It is very run down and looks like it is derelict. The windows are rotting and beyond repair. I think someone may be living there. The house is bigger than the photographs here. Such a shame. 

Onward, out of the village, and down a farm track. This field is a glorious wild flower meadow. It looks amazing. I can just see it in a landscape painting. 

You have to admit that pylons are pretty ugly, but with a moody sky and the right angle they can look quite majestic. 

Sugar beets are coming along nicely. 

I never noticed those solar panels before. Probably because they are quite some distance away. 

Up and down the field, the seagulls are scavenging for food. 

Ready for a sit down when I got back. Eight miles, as checked on Bikehike.co.uk. 

Hedgehog news - four visiting tonight. Three of them all munching from the same plate of food on the lawn. 

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