Cheap and juicy

I'm on a countdown getting my new boots broken in ready for the big walk. I have decided to keep them as they feel pretty much ok anyway, so now I need to walk a few miles in them every day. Today I got the bus into town, then walked the two miles to the shopping centre on the other side. I needed to get an ink cartridge for my printer from Computer World. While I was up that end, I checked to see if there were any offers on cat food at Pets At Home. Oh bother, boxes of 48 Whiskas pouches for £10.49 and I couldn't get any because I only had my small backpack. I also found some bags of cat litter for 99p in Poundstretcher, the clumping kind which I usually have. I think I'm going to have to go back there in my car and stock up. 

I got the bus outside Morrisons, back into town, and started walking home. I was about halfway home when a little red car stopped and two very nice people asked me if I wanted a lift. The elderly couple live in a bungalow next to the village green, and they are in the habit of waving to me whenever I walk by. Well, I couldn't say no could I, after they had very kindly stopped. So I got home a bit quicker than I had planned. I should have walked six miles today, but I only did four. Never mind, I will go out tomorrow. 

I found some tins of fruit reduced to 19p, in Poundstretcher, they are out of date at the end of the month. Only room for three in the backpack, but a few pennies saved, eh! I don't particularly like grapefruit, too bitter for me, but not to worry, it has oranges in it, and it's good to eat more fruit. I have an idea.   

Empty a tin into the plastic wotchamadiddly.

Zap it with the stick blender, and add some water, and there you have a very large fruit juice drink. I cheated a bit and added a spoon of honey, just to take the edge off the grapefruit. It will keep a few days in the fridge.

Even if you can't find any reduced tins of fruit, you could buy the cheaper Value or Saver versions, and make your own juice drinks. Just make sure you don't buy the syrupy ones with lots of sugar in them. Some of the carton fruit juices are quite expensive, this would be a cheaper way of getting fruit down you. You could always make ice lollies out of it as well, or freeze it in ice cube trays for summer drinks. Good eh! 57p for lots of juice.
Toodle pip.

Inventive recycling

Cats are not bothered where they puke up. They don't rush outside when they feel the need, and they don't rush to the litter box to discharge their slimey mess. No, it's just anywhere they happen to be. What causes them to be sick? Bugsy has fur balls and they get jettisoned onto the carpet. Sometimes he pigs out and scoffs his food so fast that he immediately brings it back up again. Sometimes he eats grass and that emerges again quite quickly followed by some snot, often on the kitchen floor. I haven't seen the other two be sick, maybe that's because they are ladies and are more refined than a fat and lazy ginger tom, ha ha.

Garcia was in last week, he said, c'mon gimmee some food, so I did. Five minutes later he jumped up on the worktop in the kitchen and the chuffin lot came back up again, all over my plastic worktop protector mat. Yuk. Only one thing for it, chuck the whole lot in the dustbin. The mat had seen better days anyway, and was due for changing. 

The easiest thing would be to buy a new one when I was next in town. Could probably pick one up from the £1 shop, but no, my mind doesn't work like that. If I can save a pound I will. So I had a look around to see what I already had in the house, which could be adapted or modified to do the job. 

I seem to have more plastic lids than I have plastic boxes, don't know how that happened. Never mind, I now have a use for a spare lid.  

I put a piece of hardboard on the dining room table to protect it, got a stanley knife with a sharp blade, and cut the edge off the lid.  

Look at that. It makes a perfect mat, and £1 saved. I like it when I can think of other uses for things. It reduces the amount of stuff I have in my house, stops me spending money, and stops me from robbing the planet of raw materials.

Don't buy new, adapt and modify. Anybody got any more ideas for inventive recycling? Toodle pip.

Do as you think best.

Hi. Anon has posted this comment, and I would like to add my own take on the points she has raised, the main one being how I have been able to lead the life that I decided, in retirement.

I guess you're acting as a bit of a role model for retirement to me actually. Reason being because I've recently discovered that all my family have been assuming that I will be a carer to my mother (and blow my own life in the process) - whereas I have always assumed that retirement meant "leading My Own Life" at last and enjoying myself after all those years of having to earn a living. I'll take courage from you and the way you lead your life on this.

Can I maybe hope that you might do a post on the theme of how you've been able to lead the Life YOU decided in retirement, rather than having to "dance to someone else's beat" - as all hints on that would be more than welcome?

My situation is slightly different from Anon, my father died when I was in my late twenties, and my mother died when I was 37, so the question doesn't arise about who will look after them. Before mum passed away so suddenly, me, my sister, and brother, all took turns at looking after her. I don't know how that would have panned out had she lived for another twenty years. We all had our own independant lives to lead, my brother left the country and found a partner, my sister was married with a family, and I was well into my career. It might have been the case that I was expected to be the stay at home daughter. I suppose I have been let off lightly but I do feel sad that my mother was not around long enough to see how our lives have turned out, and I am not able to thank her for all she did for me. I wish she had had a few more years.

I find the term, 'dance to someone else's beat', rather fascinating. What does it mean exactly. We all have to dance to someone else's beat when we are young, because as children we have no life experiences to guide us. As our personalities develop, our sense of self worth kicks in and can go in many directions, depending on how we are brought up. At one end of the scale, a person who has been constantly belittled and bullied will never be able to assert themselves. On the other hand someone who has been allowed to do exactly as they like with very little parental guidance, will find it a lot easier to speak up for themselves. I think a person has to look at their life as a whole, to determine where they are on the scale now.

In my case, my mother had a set of rules. We got a telling off if we were naughty, even a smack when we were very naughty, but she also gave us lots of love when we were good. We were taught manners, and not to expect to be given everything we wanted. As a child I grew up within clear boundaries, when I started working, the boundaries were still there, but then it was up to me whether I stepped over them or not. I started making my own rules in life based on what my mother had taught me. She was a strong willed woman, choosing to stay in a bad marriage untill we were old enough to understand what a separation would mean. I saw how unhappy she was, I think we should have left the house long before we did. She found us a new place to live which was, to be blunt, a slum, but it was all she could afford. I started paying for my keep the day I started work at 15. Mum at last was able to claim her life back.  

Thinking about 'dancing to someone elses beat', when did I ever do that? If you don't have the talents required to become self employed and make your own living, you have to live by the rules of your workplace, up to a point. Throughout my whole life, if I didn't like the job I was doing, I moved on to another one. The world is changing and it's not so easy now.

From a relationship point of view, there were times when I was so besotted with a boyfriend, I would go along with anything he asked, again, up to a point. The trouble was that I was judging boys by their appearance, who wouldn't want to bag the best looking eye candy to dangle over your arm. Later I realised we had absolutely nothing in common and it was time to get out. Often I would chuck them before they had a chance to chuck me. When you dance to someone else's beat you give away a part of you, and it can't go on forever.

There was a period of about three years when I did dance to someone else's beat, I was a bloody idiot and I should have known better that to waste my precious time on someone who wanted total control over me. I went along with him for a while, I played his game, thinking he might change. But of course I now realise that you can't change how a person behaves, you can only change how you deal with it. I had to leave him for my own sanity. Beware of mind games, beware of control freaks, you will never win unless you get out.     

I am often amazed at how many people find themselves in a situation that they don't want to be in. They go along with other people's plans, because it is what is expected of them, just to keep the peace. I am a firm believer in sitting down and making time to talk a problem over, be it with a partner or a family. If it can't be resolved then the two parties should agree to go their different ways. No point in dragging out the agony. Everybody is entitled to lead the life they want, but it may not tie in with what someone else wants,  I'm not saying don't make any compromises, it wouldn't do if we were all hard nuts in this world, out for what we can get. There has to be a bit of give and take, but if you are doing all the giving and someone else is doing all the taking, that is not the right balance and a swift end should be brought to the situation. Resentment only festers anger, and rather than drag out the agony, then find you have just wasted the last ten years of your life, is going to make you feel pretty bitter.  

Now, I don't dance to anyone's beat, I have got a pretty good beat of my own, thank you. Gone are the days of my silly  heart ruling my head, now I make sound, sensible decisions, based on what I have learnt from my life experiences, and my simple aspirations. Basically, I just want to be happy.    

Anon. I hope you find the strength to do as you think best. Your decision is one you will have to live with. Best wishes. Ilona

It's about priorities, simple really

It had to be done. After squelching my way around Weardale this week, in soggy boots and soggy socks, it was time I invested in some new footwear. My old boots looked like these new ones when I first had them, they have served me well, so I wanted a similar pair.

The nice people at the Trespass shop showed great patience as I tried on several pairs before I made my final choice. As I sit here writing this I have the new boots on. I have 14 days to wear them around the house, and if I don't like them I can take them back. They feel quite good actually, I'll let you know how I'm getting on with them in a weeks time. I need to get used to them in readiness for the big walk. The cost? Not too bad, £60, supposedly half the recomended retail price.

I had a letter from Santander today, after paying off a chunk of my mortgage recently. Technically I am mortgage free now, as my emergency fund in the bank exceeds the balance I still owe on the house. I could write a cheque for the remainder and say bye bye mortgage, but it would leave me skint. I am going to leave it as it is at the moment, my piddly monthly payments are easily manageable. I need to keep a bit of cash. My pussies might need veterinary treatment, council tax is about to start again after the two month break, my RAC renewal is due next month, my computer might break, I need to put money aside for a new car in a couple of years time, and I need some cash for holidays and days out, while I am still fit and able.

Although my finances are looking quite healthy now, I shall still be exercising the same amout of self restraint when it comes to my day to day living expenses. No need to go bananas just because I have got money in my purse. It is all earmarked for something, none of it is spare cash. Tonights dinner was steamed potatoes, carrots, and parsnips, topped with half a tin of baked beans with garlic puree stirred in. About 30p I reckon.

It's all about priorities, each and everyone of us has a choice. I choose not to eat out, go to the pub every week, walk about with a cardboard mug of coffee in my hand, buy newspapers and magazines, have takeaways, sit outside the coffee shop in town, buy new clothes when I don't need them, visit the hairdresser, and buy new makeup. No Sireeeee, I don't need all that stuff.

What makes me happy is a new pair of walking boots, a car which will transport me on trips out, and a bit of cash to pay for some nights in a B & B. This will enable me to go out into the countryside to enjoy all the best things in life. Simple really.
Toodle pip.

Stanhope and a bit of the Weardale Way

Good morning, only just, it's nearly lunchtime. Uploaded the pics from yesterday. The weather wasn't quite as bad as the day before, at least I could see my hand in front of my face, ha ha. After another filling breakfast I said goodbye to my landlady for the past two nights, Hazel runs a very nice B & B. The Fossil Tree is located in the Market Place, ample free parking. I can recommend this for a very convenient stopover, it's very popular for the Coast to Coast cycle ride. Just behind it is Stanhope Castle, this view is taken from the Market Place, it is privately owned and protected by high walls.

So, where did I walk to today. I decided to do an anticlockwise walk south of the river, and crossed it over these stepping stones. There is a ford here, cars could cross as the water is only a few inches deep, but there is a barrier at one end preventing access. It's a two minute drive by road around it.  

Down a tarmac track, past a farm, and I came across a shepherdess taking her flock for a walkies. A trail of tasty treats and they were happy to follow, the stragglers being kept in order by a happy border collie. She parked them in a field, closed the gate, and went off to collect some more.

A bit further along the railway line crosses the river. This is part of the Weardale Railway, it's a summer only tourist attraction. Here is a link to the website if you want to explore more.

http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/

Leaving the river, I followed the Weardale Way, as it veered off to the right towards a disused quarry. There are quite a lot of remains of the old quarries in these parts. As you can see the fog isn't quite as thick as yesterday.

It was while I was skirting around the edge of this quarry that I came a cropper. I carefully climbed a ladder stile over a wall, and lowered myself down the other side. At the bottom was a bog, but no matter, with my left foot on the bottom step, I stepped out over the top of the mud hoping to make a patch of grass. The distance was doable, trouble was, I hadn't taken the slippery wood into consideration. You would have laughed your socks off if you had seen me. Left leg went sideways and I toppled splat into the mud. Oh heck, I was blathered, all up my trousers, my bottom, and my jacket. Yuk. Luckily I had my waterproof trousers with me so I was able to change into those. I had to wipe the mud off my jacket with some tissues the best I could. Oh well, these things happen, ha ha.

This must have been quite a big quarry when it was working.

This was interesting, Bishopley Limekilns. I couldn't get any closer, there was fencing all around it.

A little bit of the history, you might be able to read it if you click on it.

There are plenty of little stone bridges, with fast flowing waters.

This is Harehope Quarry. I walked around the bottom side of it.

Then I arrived at the entrance and found this unusual quirky wooden bench.

The old quarry has been transformed into an outdoor pursuits and educational centre. Here is a little blurb taken from their web site.

Sustainable living in a wonderfully natural environment

The Harehope Quarry Project is located on the edge of the village of Frosterley in Weardale, Co.Durham. We are a workers co-operative offering environmental education, field studies, rural skills training, community development, and community arts.

Based in a former limestone quarry in the North Pennines the project presents a unique environment for study, relaxing, volunteering opportunities, community events and a meeting place with a difference.

Harehope Quarry is a multi-faceted project. Our aim is to practically demonstrate a more sustainable way of living. We promote integrated and sustainable rural development through a range of social, economic and environmental activities.

If you want to read more, here is the link. http://www.harehopequarry.org.uk/

Another river crossing, now I am heading towards Frosterley.

Very quiet at Frosterley Station.

I walked through Frosterley on the main road, then crossed the river to take a minor road back to Stanhope. The river and the train line ran alongside on my right. A quick peek at Stanhope Station. There was a little bit of activity, I think they are getting ready for the opening. Maybe the trains will be running for Easter in a couple of weeks time. 

I arrived back at my car at 4.30pm and went to the public lavvy to change into a decent, clean pair of trousers. A quick sandwich and I was on my way back, only stopping when I got to my big Tesco to pick up some food. Not many yellow stickers because I was too early, didn't want to hang around waiting.

Here is a little map taken from bikehike.co.uk. 10 miles walked, a very interesting and pleasant walk, apart from the falling down bit that is.

Catch you later, I'm hungry, my stomach thinks my throat has been cut, ha ha. Must eat. Toodle pip.

Quick hello

Hi, I'm back at base, after a nice walk today. I'll get the pics sorted for tomorrow. I'll take this opportunity to catch up on your questions and comments.

Nancy asks if we can take dogs on our footpaths throughout Britain. Yes it is is generally accepted that dogs are allowed, however there are some rules about passing through farmland. Dogs must be kept under control and on a lead when walking near farm animals. We are near lambing and calving time now, so common sense says keep the dog on a lead. A farmer can put his livestock into a field where a public footpath runs through it. Cows with calves are very curious, and have been known to charge at and even kill a person who walks too close with a dog. The advice given in these circumstances is to keep out of the field, or if you have to cross and the cows start to get agitated, let the dog go. It will probably be able to get away, and the owner probably won't get trampled. A farmer has the right to shoot a dog if it chases after sheep, so keep it on a lead. Owners of big dogs might have the problem of getting it under or over a stile. You don't see many walkers with dogs actually, some breeds are not able to do a long distance. Most people stick to local walks with a dog, maybe an hour or two.

FCF asks when I last went abroad. I went to Spain about ten years ago, that's if you don't count the Scilly Isles, ha ha. I went to Salou, with a trip to Barcelona. Before that I went to Orlando, Germany, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Niagra Falls, Toronto, and 17 theme parks in Ohio and Pensylvania. I am happy to stay in this country now, but Las Vegas was amazing, I loved it.

Welcome Janine from South Australia, glad you found us.

Hi Brenda, I didn't go to Durham, I really need a day or two there, maybe another time, when I have more time. Yes, I do have a fold up umbrella, it comes in quite usefull while walking. I used it today briefly.

Hi Mary, yes I do realize how lucky I am to be able to walk freely around our beautiful island. There are a few areas out of bounds, and a few privately owned pieces of land, but that still leaves vast areas available for walking. Every time I am out on a trip, I am gratefull that I have legs to walk with, and eyes to see with. My mantra is, 'Live with an attitude of gratitude'.

I see there are some new readers, thank you for popping in.

Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

Just poppin in

Good morning. Just poppin in before the day's activities, lounging in bed with a cup of coffee, tele on, waiting for brekkie at 8am. I've just been over to Mike's blog to read his write-up on the walk yesterday. You might like to go and have a peek for yourselves, There's a few more pics of the fog, and a couple of the nice views when Mike did the reccy for the walk last week. Thanks Mike.
http://northernpies.blogspot.co.uk/

The weather is still not good today, I might change my mind as to what I'm going to do. Brenda has suggested a visit to Durham. I wasn't thinking about a city day, but I will make up my mind after breakfast. I have printed a map out for this area and was rather looking forward to a bit of a ramble here without having to drive somewhere else. Hmmmmm, watch this space.
Toodle pip.

A walk from Westgate to Rookhope

There is a distinct lack of photo's on this post, because unfortunately there wasn't very much to see on the walk. There was a bit of mist first thing this morning when we met up, but as we climbed higher we disappeared into heavy fog. My new walking friends told me that the views are usually spectacular around here, but today was a real pea souper, there were no nice views.

After a hearty breakfast I drove the five miles to Westgate to meet up with Mike Knipe and his gang, all 36 of them. He never knows how many are coming, today was a good turn out. I was instantly relieved of £4, this being the fee to join the walk. Here is everyone getting ready for the off.  

I didn't bother to take a map with me, so it's an easy day for me. All I have to do is follow the leader,  I wasn't taking much notice of where exactly we were. We set off alongside a river and headed for Rookhope.

 

There are remains of a lot of old mines around here, Mike gave us a little talk, telling us about the history of the place. 

We were all given a map and a description of the route. I saw that it says we pass through a nature reserve which is a bit soggy in places. Ha ha, I like Mike's sense of humour, soggy, it was a quagmire. I was hopping across big clumps of grass, hoping to avoid the soggy bits, which didn't work and my right foot got wet because my boot leaks.

Time for lunch at Rookhope.   

There are relics of old mines lying around all over the place. Not much in bloom at the moment.

Making our way up a muddy bank.

We got back to the cars at 3.30pm. Nine miles was covered, reaching a height of 1770 feet above sea level. It was a shame about the fog, would have been nice to see some good views. Never mind, the company was excellent, they're a friendly lot up north, and made me feel very welcome. If anyone lives around the Durham area and wants to go out on a walk, check out the council web site for the dates and places to meet. Thanks Mike, see you in blogland.  

I had an hour or so to kill, so I took a ride a few miles up the road, and down memory lane, to Wearhead. It's about 25 years since I was last in this area, driving my tanker lorry to the Water Treatment Works. I thought some of the place names were a bit strange, Daddry Shield and Ireshopeburn. Just before you get into Wearhead, before the bridge, there is a house on the left close to the road. It was a tight turn into the lane up the side of the house with an articulated truck. I found it without too much bother, and the memories came back. I loved it up here in the hills.

It was getting foggier so I thought it best to get back to Stanhope and have a little tootle around there, before I go back to the B & B. I parked in the Market Place and saw that the church was open for visitors, a good opportunity to call in for quiet reflection and to give thanks. Two ladies were inside, and I had a wander around admiring the stained glass windows. I found myself invited into their converstaion, and I mentioned that being in church made me think of my mother and my brother. I feel that I can talk to them in a church, and they might hear me, and they will know I am thinking of them. March the 4th was mothers birthday, March the 20th was when she died, and March the 29th was my brothers birthday. I hadn't realised at first, but one of the ladies was the vicar, she was very kind. I was there for quite a while, and when I came out it was too dark to go anywhere else, so I came back to my room.
I was hoping to go for a walk tomorrow, I'll see what the weather is like when I get up.
Toodle pip.      

A walk around Barnard Castle

Hiya. Today I visited this French Chateau. It was built in the 19th century and stands in stunning gardens and parkland.

It is regarded as one of the most significant museums outside London, so no, it's not in France.

It certainly has the wow factor, doesn't it. I came across this magnificent building by chance. I drove up the A1M and came off at Scotch Corner, taking the A66 westbound. I had planned on visiting Bowes, but took a wrong turn and ended up at Barnard Castle.

This is The Bowes Museum, which was built by local mine owner, John Bowes and his French wife, Josephine. I didn't go inside the museum, it was £8 to get in and I only had an hour or so, so it wasn't worth it.  

Wonderful carved squirrel sculpture in the garden.

I really liked Barnard Castle, there is lots of Georgian and Victorian architecture. This octagonal building is the Market Cross, also known as The Butter Market, built in 1747.

The castle was closed, so I had a walk around the outside of it. It stands on a high rock overlooking the River Tees, and is mainly ruins.

This is the County Bridge. I decided to head out to Bowes, a few miles away. I needn't have bothered,there wasn't much there to look at.  

It's a lovely area, lots of fast flowing rivers. I took a very minor road, which was very pot holey.

I wanted to have a look at a massive waterfall called High Force, but unfortunately the path was closed for maintenance work. Never mind, I will have to come back another time.

 

So here I am in my room at the Fossil Tree B & B, in the Market Place at Stanhope, Weardale. I am meeting up with a group of walkers tomorrow at Westgate. The leader is Mike Knipe, his blog, Northern Pies, is over on the sidebar. Should be a good laugh, I haven't met Mike before, so it will be fun to meet him and his pals. I'm going to watch a bit of tele now, a novelty for me, ha ha. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

Breakfast sorted for six months

Aye up then, what's going on here. I come back from town and this is what I find. What do you think this is, a free drop in centre for cats. Cor blimey Bugsy, I left you in charge, you are supposed to see them off, not invite Micky and Garcia in for some free nosh. No wonder my cat food bill is sky high. I don't know Bugsy, can't leave you alone for five minutes. Well it looks as if I'm going to have to open another pouch because Micky has scoffed the lot. Don't come crying to me Bugsy, when there's none left.

I called in at the Cash and Carry, wanted a few snacky things for a trip I have coming up. Hey, look what I found. Three catering size bags of Crunchy Nut, and Bran Flakes, for £2 per bag. I took 2 CN and 1 BF. On the Tesco web site the Crunchy Nut is £2.68 for 500grm, and Bran Flakes are £2.09 for 500grm. I can't be bothered to work out the total saving, but I think I got a fantastic bargain. This lot should last me six months. It's a short date but will be ok, I'll store it in an airtight box. I'm chuffed.

Here's me getting a free face mask. I'm not sure that these things do any good, but it was given to me so I might as well slap it on the old mush. It says rinse off with warm water, so I had to boil the kettle. I don't pay to keep the tank full of hot water, when I only want a piddly little bit. Skin suitably freshened I applied a sachet of pro collagen eye renewal, then finished it off with dollops of moisturiser. That's me duly beautified, ha ha, and pigs might fly.   

I'm going for a walkies tomorrow. Not the biggee walk, but a practice one. I'll take some pics.
Toodle pip.

Kitty Capers

Good morning. Sunday again already, how the weeks fly by. You may have noticed I was missing yesterday, another spur of the moment decision, wake up, nice day, got to go out. I went off down the motorway to visit family in the Midlands. My sister was babysitting her grand daughter Macy, and her hubby was flying from Gatwick to Heathrow, on the computer. He has all these simulator gadget things, the aircraft cockpit comes up on the screen. It's his hobby, he likes being a pilot. 

 I spent a couple of hours sat at the dining room table, suitably protected from splashes and scratches, while Macy did some colouring with felt tip pens, and painiting a pot hippo, then cutting out and sticking pictures in a book. Then we all trouped outside and filled five flower pots with soil, and Macy popped in the sunflower seeds. Nana told her how to look after them, and check them every day, water them, and see how they grow.  

Next stop was Uncle Stan and Auntie Pat. Both seem to be getting on fine after they both had major surgery about a year ago. Uncle is a sharp as a button, he is looking forward to his 90th birthday in June. Although he has had to slow up a bit, he is still painting every day, he wants to have another exhibition and has booked the library for December. He still has a few people coming to him for haircuts, I think he likes the company, and to keep in touch with the business he was in for most of his life. A very enjoyable day out for me.

We have received two new photo's from the owners of Archie and Alfie. You may remember these two were the kittens from Heidi, the mum cat I decided to keep. Just look at them now, they have really fallen on their feet here. From being found under a shed, with their sisters, to living the life of luxury. They are much adored by their adoptive family.

I thought you might like a little chuckle. This cartoon is from a Collection of Great Cat Cartoons, edited by S Gross, very kindly sent to me by Elaine. Ha ha, I'm all for the father taking responsibility for bringing up their offspring.

My Uncle gave me a gift yesterday, a small book called Simon's Cat, Feed Me, by Simon Tofield.

Lo and behold there is a web site also.
http://www.simonscat.com/
There are also a rook of videos on yootoob, made me laugh. Go on, have a titter, it's Sunday.






Oh my goodness, so many of them, go and have a look, hilarious. Enjoy.
Toodle pip.

Don't let it kill you

I heard a snippet of news on the car radio yesterday afternoon, they were talking about smoking in cars being a kind of child abuse. Anna Soubrey, junior minister for public health, is calling for smoking to be banned in cars where children are present. 

I remember travelling in my aunts car when I was young, she was a smoker, as was most of the family. My mum and dad both smoked, my brother and sister, both took the habit up. My grandma smoked, in fact I think most people that I came into contact with smoked. For some reason, I was born a non smoker, thank goodness, but it's amazing that I haven't died of lung cancer by now, being exposed to all that passive smoking. 

My dad died at the age of 46, dropped dead in a shop. Thirty a day full strength Capstans, and  ten pints of beer a night helped him along. My mum died far too early at 64, herself a smoker for may years, and overweight. My sister has given up thank goodness, but the beer and fags got my brother. He died eighteen months ago of stomach cancer.

I used to go into people's houses where the air was thick with tobacco smoke, and I hated it. Relatives came to our house and lit up while mum made a pot of tea, they all sat around filling theirs and my lungs with copious amounts of cough inducing smoke. Gasping for breath, I had to escape outdoors. Then I started going to the 76 Club in the High Street, a long narrow cave with a low ceiling, a bit like the famous Cavern Club. Couldn't see anything in the dimly lit room, and being poisoned as well. I used to come home reeking of stale tobacco, and hurriedly removed my clothes minutes after I had returned home. The next morning the vile smell still lingered in my hair.

I even dated boys who smoked, I must have been mad. I tried to feel sexy when they kissed me, but all the time I was feeling sick. It really was like kissing an old smelly ash tray. Not that I ever have. Then, I can't believe I am saying this, when I was 21 I lived with a smoker for a short period of time. The things you do for love, eh! I must have been bonkers. Turning my face away from his to get away from the fag breath, and just occasionally pretending it didn't matter, and hoped he wouldn't take long with his love making. That relationship was doomed from the start. And smoking used to be advertised as being sexy! Not in my book it isn't.

Thank goodness smoking has been banned in public places now. They have all moved outside, huddled round the door, shivering and stomping their feet to keep warm. As you can guess, I am very much anti smoking. This in not a rant, a witch hunt against smokers, people make their own decisions about their lives. Apart from all the anti social implications of the dreaded weed, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want to jeopardise their health by inhaling tobacco smoke. It just seems a no brainer to me. Maybe that's because I've never even tried it. I know someone who had a health scare last year, he was lucky and survived. He was told to give up smoking. He did for a while, a very short while. He is back smoking again. Why oh why do people have so little regard for their body that they are willing to compromise their health, and opt to take the risk of dying earlier than they need. I will never understand.

Yes, I think smoking should be banned anywhere near children, in cars, even in private homes. It's not fair to poison children in this way. They aren't all as lucky as me to be born a non smoker, many will follow their parents example. I've found a bit of info for you, if you are interested.

Take a look at this lady, she made me cry. 

Now read this.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/anti-smoking-ad-activist-dies.html

I am reading a lot of good things about Allen Carr.

If you smoke, please try very hard to give up.

Toodle pip.