Back later

I am having a sewing day, listening to the radio, have had to stop sewing because the tears are pouring down my face. Those poor poor people who's lives were brought brutally to an end when their plane was shot down. The evil in this world is beyond comprehension, I hope and pray that it doesn't escalate. What a terrible day this is, very sad.
Sending lots of love to their families  xxx
I'll be back later.

Charity shop bargains

Good morning. A quickie post today, a lovely sunny day and I want to go to town. I mentioned that we browsed the charity shops in Driffield on Tuesday, this is what I bought. I haven't been wearing slippers ever since the last ones dropped to bits and were no longer repairable, but I came across this pair and snapped them up for the winter. They are size 7 mens slippers, too big for my size 5 feet, but with a pair of thick socks they fit snugly. I love the way they come almost up to my ankles, more like bootees than slippers.  

They look brand new, or hardly worn, the soles are clean and show no signs of wear.

The velcro fastening make them easy to slip in and out of, and fully enclose my foot for maximum warmth. A snip at £3.

It was the colour of this tablecloth that caught my eye, a pretty pale lilac with a sheen to it. It's a massive circular cloth, perfect condition, for only £2. Good for a sewing project I think.

And the third item is a lightweight scarf. I like the soft pastel colours, and it can be worn as an accessory rather than something to keep my neck warm. Had to have it at £1.

The Dove Hospice shop in Driffield has some lovely things in it, a big shop, well laid out, no squashing between railings crammed full of clothes. I'm chuffed with my bargains.

Thanks for the interesting comments yesterday, and welcome to the new readers. I'm off out now. Toodle pip.

Genes or choices?

Quite a few emails land in my box every week, I try and answer them all, eventually. I like to hear what you are getting up to, and it's nice that my blogging efforts are appreciated. I've picked this one out to reply here, I know who sent it but I shall leave the name off, I don't need to identify the writer.

Hi Ilona,

I am almost 4 1/2 years older than you are and I am wondering if your diet and lifestyle are keeping you off all medications?  I am pretty fit but have had to take a statin to control my cholesterol and now fosamax to help my bones.  I also take vitamins.  I am also warned that I am pre-diabetic.

I know you eat a vegetarian diet and I do not.  Also you walk SO far.  I do 2 miles every day but that's it.

I am not sure if it is your lifestyle or your genetics which keep you so healthy!

Thanks.

Hi. So I am 65 and you are 69, not much between us. It's difficult to say why one person appears to be healthy and another has problems, there are so many variables to be taken into consideration. I suspect that genetics do play a big part in our makeup, we can inherit the wrong genes from our parents and grandparents, but they are not the whole reason why we become ill. There has been talk in the press lately that people should take more responsibility for themselves, because self inflicted illnesses brought on by unhealthy lifestyles are costing the NHS millions. You only have to walk down the High Street in any town or city to see that there are more overweight people around these days, and that can't all be put down to genetics. True, some people may be prone to put on weight through some malfunction of certain organs in their body, and those people do genuinely need help from the medical profession, but now they are talking about offering gastric bands to more and more people as a cost cutting measure, meaning they won't have to spend so much money at a later date when people become incapacitated through excess weight.

Leaving all the genetic reasons aside why some people are not as healthy or more healthy than others, I believe the rest is down to lifestyle choices. You've heard the saying, 'You are what you eat', which makes sense to me. The body is like a car engine, you've got to put the right fuel and lubricants in to get optimum performance out of it. You've got to drive it right as well. If you thrash it around and neglect the servicing, you get a shit ride and eventually it will grind to a halt, just like a body would, given the same treatment.

Another factor which I think affects how the body performs is how you cope with the stresses and strains of every day living. Some people don't give a stuff about anything, they sail through life with apparently not a care in the world. Others will worry about every minor detail, however insignificant it is. I am somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards not giving a stuff. I have been a worrier in the past, worried what people think about me, not any more. That was when I was young, I am older now and more able to cope. I do think about what is happening to the world, the violence, the nastiness going on all around us, but I can't do anything about it so I try not to dwell on it, and can only hope that what goes round comes round.That might seem like a 'burying my head in the sand', attitude, but I think of it as self preservation.

Of course, mental attitude can also be linked to genetics. I think I take after my father, he had a carefree nature, if anything bothered him his answer was to go to the pub. Mum on the other hand was a worrier, oh my goodness did she worry. I'm not sure if that was what sent her to an early grave, but it couldn't have helped. Father died too early as well, but that was mainly through alcohol and tobacco abuse, something that won't affect me.

I believe that most of us, and I'm talking about able bodied here, have choices. We can choose what we put in our mouths, and we can choose whether to get up off our backsides. Nobody force feeds us with crap, it is all out there in the shops, we don't have to eat it. Nobody ties us to the settee and tells us to watch TV hour after hour, we can choose not to switch it on, or in my case, not to have a TV at all.

To sum up, I can fall off the wagon, I am not perfect. I can have a packet of crisps, or an ice cream or a choc bar, but to keep things in perspective, these are treats and not everyday food items. Remember the advert years ago, A Mars a day helps you work rest and play'. Ha, they got that wrong didn't they. They should make an up to day advert now, A Mars a day will make you fat, rot your teeth, give you spots, and bring on the diabetes.

Regarding my level of fitness, I was always active. I did a manual job for many years. As well as sitting in a lorry cab I also loaded and unloaded it. I physically lifted five hundred bicycles out of box trailers. I roped and sheeted wagon loads of timber or beer barrels. I chained massive lumps of machinery down on my low loader. I multi dropped fifty parcels, or catering deliveries a day. I delivered three piece suites and carpets to furniture shops. I was up and down inside tipper trailers pulling the fly sheet over and fastening it down. It was chuffin hard work, but now I am so grateful that I chose that career, and didn't opt for an office job.

Who knows what the future holds for me healthwise. I've tried my best, I won't worry about it now, just wait and see what cards I've been dealt. Keep on doing what I am doing. Try to keep to a healthy diet, try to keep busy, and keep on using my brain for as long as it functions. That's all I can do.
Thanks for reading. Going to get up off my backside now and go for a walk. Toodle pip.    

Visiting Driffield

Hello, I've been out today, my friend Helen had a bit of business to see to in Driffield, and she asked me if I wanted to come for the run out. A free day out, how nice, an offer I couldn't turn down. The bit of business was selling a box full of small china ornaments that she had inherited. We found the address without too much difficulty, but it wasn't what we were expecting. We pictured a shop in the town centre, how wrong we were. In a quiet part of Driffield, not far from the town we pulled in the driveway of a very large, beautiful half timbered house, set in it's own extensive grounds.  

The owner greeted us at the door and we followed him inside to the rooms he has set aside for his business. 

After introductions Helen set about unwrapping the ornaments, each one carefully enclosed in bubble wrap. Across the corridor I spotted the showroom, I was amazed at the sight of thousands of tiny china ornaments all sorted, and placed carefully on the shelves, and priced up. I asked permission to take photo's. 

 During the unwrapping and chatting process we found out that they also do B & B.

When the deal was done, we were shown around. The rooms were stunning. They have kept the renovations sympathetic to the style of the period, it's like a stately home, they should be charging for guided tours.

Fabulous big bathroom. 

All the rooms were huge, you could have a party in them. 

 How about eating your breakfast in this room.

It's also the lounge where you can sit and relax with a glass of wine. 

 We were invited to take a stroll through the grounds before we left. Hey, look at me, Lady of the Manor.

There is a pond with a boardwalk alongside it.

And a little bridge to go into the woods on the other side, and benches to sit down.

Look at that setting, isn't it fabulous. It must be amazing to live in a house like that.

Absolutely stunning, I love it, I want to move in, ha ha. 

Well what a bonus that turned out to be, we didn't expect to see anything like that. Afterwards we had lunch in the Secret Garden Cafe in the town centre and had a mooch in a couple of charity shops.

The Crested China Company has a web site, you can take a look at it with this link. The Highfield Bed and Breakfast also has a web site, but unfortunately the link doesn't work. If you want to book a stay there, send an email to the china company.

One last picture. Helen spotted this mummy duck with her babies on the edge of the stream alongside the car park. The youngsters look really cute all lined up asleep with their beaks pointing in the same direction.

That's all for tonight, it's getting late and I'm tired. I've had a lovely day, thanks to my friend for treating me. Goodnight and Toodle pip.

Switch it off !!!

Hello, I was wondering what to write about tonight, when KittyKittyWeaselFish came up with the idea. She asked the question :-

Hi Ilona, 
I'm massively impressed by your electricity bill - I try to be frugal but mine's not even close to that! Any tips you can share?

Of course Kitty, only too pleased to help. First of all, there is only me here so I don't have to nag anyone to switch things off when they are not using them. The first thing that comes to mind when I switch something on is, this is going to cost me money. Do I need it, and can I manage without it. I am obsessive about checking wall sockets and light switches, is there anything on which is not needed. I think the easiest way to explain is to go through the house room by room.

I am sitting in the living room. The computer is switched on, obviously. I usually have it on most of the day because I keep going back to it in between other tasks. I have it in front of the window to make use of the daylight hours for as long as possible. It is a small net book so I imagine it takes less energy than the big computer upstairs, which I now only use briefly at odd times. It's 8.15pm, still light but it is fading. For the lighting in this room I have one of those bridge shaped Christmas lights, you know, the up and over one with seven candles on it. I will put this on when it starts to get dark. I also have a desk light next to me which I use when I can't see the keyboard or I am doing some sewing. I don't use the main ceiling lights in this room. I have a music centre / radio, but I don't put it on very often, I like quiet. I can use the cross trainer without switching it on.

The kitchen has a strip light in the ceiling, it doesn't work. Not sure why, haven't checked it. Instead I use a small plug in table lamp. That gives me enough light. My gas cooker has an electric clock on it. I don't need a clock in the kitchen so I don't plug it in. I have an old microwave that is still going strong after many years. I use that to heat a mug of water for my coffee in the morning, and to warm up the home made stew I have made. I charge my phone and camera batteries in the kitchen. I have a slow cooker which I rarely use. The fridge freezer is smallish, three drawers for the frozen food. I sometimes use the toaster. If I need a bowl full of hot water I use the kettle to heat it.

My bedroom. I don't use the main ceiling light, I have a small bedside lamp. Only on for ten minutes when I go to bed. Usually fall asleep before I have read a couple of paragraphs. I got rid of the clock radio alarm years ago, now I have an old fashioned wind up clock. Why do you need a plug in clock in the bedroom when for most of the time you are in there, you are asleep.

Appliances. I wash my clothes when they are dirty or smelly. Towels, tea towels, and bedding gets washed when needed. Only me here, and I don't do a dirty job or work up a sweat. I use the Dyson maybe twice a month, clean all carpets right through. They pretty soon get covered in cat hairs again, I just keep on top of it, not obsessive about housework. In the summer I have an electric lawn mower, and occasionally strim the edges. I have a small hair drier but very rarely use it, I let my hair dry naturally. I sometimes use a stick blender or the food processor. Sometimes I use the sewing machine. I never iron clothes, I don't buy clothes that need ironing. The only time I use the iron is if I am sewing and need a piece of pressed flat fabric.

I don't leave anything plugged in on standby apart from the fridge and the computer. I switch the computer off overnight. I only have the light on in the room I am in. I am always switching lights on and off. In the winter when it gets dark early I carry a wind up torch with me and use that if I need to get something out of another room.

I don't have a dishwasher, or a dryer, or a television set, I don't need them. I hope I have covered everything. There is probably something I have missed out, if you have any questions please ask. It is now ten past nine and starting to get dark. I will put the candle Christmas light on.

I don't need lots of gadgets, the less I have that needs an electricity supply, the better. I deliberately don't buy gadgets because of the cost of running them. Always think, plug in, switch on, and it's costing you money. I think it would be difficult with teenagers in the house, because they love their gadgets, but that's another story. I can only tell it from a singlies point of view. Thank you Kitty for asking.

Sunday snippets

I'll kick off with a thanks today, lots of thanks in fact, to those who read and those who comment. I am chuffed that you are interested in my travel notes. I like to share little snippets of our wonderful island. I try to capture the diversity of it but my photo's don't do it justice, it is far better in the flesh. Thank you for coming along with me, you are very welcome.

What's the recipe today, says she who doesn't do recipe's, I just post ideas, you can make of them what you like. I have an abundance of courgettes from the six plants in the garden, so it's courgettes all the way now. There are still a lot of broad beans to get through, and when they have finished there will be tons of runner beans. Along with the potatoes, these four vegetables will save me a load of money, I won't need to go shopping so often. Here we have one courgette and a handful of  broad beans softened in a drop of oil over a low heat for a few minutes. Added to this is garlic powder, then just before they are ready I added some soft cheese and garlic. You can guess that I like garlic. Served on a slice of wholemeal bread. It was scrumptious and so simple to make.   

I've started work on the picture, on the back of a piece of fabric. I will show updates as I go along as it will take ages to complete.

My gas and electricity bill arrived from Ebico last week. The amounts are pretty low, as you would expect at this time of year. I like this way of paying, with a quarterly bill, pay for the actual energy I have used, after I have used it. No penalties for paying this way, I will not have direct debit on my utilities. My bills for three months are as follows.
Electricity. 131 kilowatt  at 15.91p = £20.84 plus vat at 5% = £21.88
Gas. 145.08 kilowatt hours at 5.15p = £7.47 plus vat at 5% = £7.84
This is what I expected. I'm pleased I left British Gas and got rid of their standing charges.

I have a new brochure from North Lindsey College, they keep sending me one ever since I did a course a few years ago. I keep looking through it to see if there is anything of interest, but often the price is too high. However, I see there are some new courses and the price is a bit more affordable. There is a sewing club starting in September, £40 for six weeks. That's not bad, £6.66 a week, it would get me out, give me something to do, a cheap source of entertainment is the way I look at it, as well as learning something new. There is also an art club, upcycled textiles, and drawing skills which I will consider. Think I will get myself enrolled on something.

Right lunchtime. More courgettes and beans. Have a nice Sunday. The sun has come out here after a rainy start. Toodle pip.

Eating strawberries on Sutton Bank

Good morning, bright and sunny here in North Lincolnshire. I landed back at 6.30pm yesterday, my little family were pleased to see me. Yesterday was a scorcher, almost too hot to walk any distance in it. Lucky then that I stopped to take a short stroll on my journey home. 

Sutton Bank is on the A170 between Thirsk and Helmsley, in North Yorkshire. It is a notorious black spot for large vehicles losing traction and getting stuck on it as they try and climb it. They also need to think very hard on whether it is a good idea to go in the opposite direction down hill, as continually using the brakes can lead to brake fade and they might find they cannot stop. Modern vehicles are much better equipped for tackling such a steep 1 in 4 incline as they are generally equipped with lift axle's, diff lock's, and retarders.  Lorries are not banned from using it, but they need to make the decision whether the vehicle they are driving is capable of negotiating it safely. You wouldn't try it in a fully loaded truck, but an empty light weight trailer with a lift axle would probably be ok. The detour to avoid it is quite long so planning your journey is important, best to take a completely different rote when you are miles away to miss it out altogether. 

Car and caravan's are banned from using this section of the A170, there are big signs at the roundabout before it and at the bottom, NO CARAVANS. A red circle means you must not. As I was crawling up it in my small engined Meriva, in second gear, what did I come across, a car and caravan stopped just round the corner on the hair pin bend. Silly people, can they not read! That will cost them, getting a tow up to the top.  It was lunchtime as I got there, I got a £2.20 ticket out of the machine for two hours parking, and had a bite to eat before I went off bimbling.  

Inside the visitor centre is this rather impressive and quirky wooden sculpture. Two figures standing back to back, and the whole thing has been sliced through vertically with a chain saw. 

I set off to see 'The finest view in England'. It's not far from the White Horse where I was on Tuesday, the Cleveland Way long distance footpath links the two places.

The paths are flat, and are easily accessible to wheelchair users and mums with buggies. Children can look for the wooden sculptures along the way. 

Here we go then, follow the path.

Keep going, a bit further.

Through the trees.

And we are there. The road below is the A170, the one I came up on. Flat for quite a long way before it becomes very steep.

There is a viewing platform which gives you a couple more feet in height. 

I walked along the Cleveland Way for a while and took some more photo's from different angles. The water down there is Gormire Lake.

There is a footpath to go down there, and come back up in a circle, but I didn't have time to do that. It looked very steep and overgrown.

This is Whitestone Cliff, or it's other name, White Mare Cragg. Overhead there were light aircraft taking off from the nearby Yorkshire Gliding club. They tow the gliders up to a good height before they cut them loose to admire the views from above, before they glide gently back to the airfield. 

This is what you must do when you are sitting on top of Sutton Bank, and admiring the best view in England. Take strawberries. Especially big juicy sweet Scottish strawberries.

Oh my, they are divine. And all the more sweeter when they are bought on a yellow sticker, ha ha.

I've had a lovely four day break. Thankful to my friends for looking after my little family. Both Newcastle and Durham are lovely places to visit, well worth another look. Far too much to see in Newcastle in one day. Liz at the B & B was very welcoming, and it is conveniently situated to look round the area using the great transport links. Broom Farm Guest House is here.

Oh well, back to normality. The veggies are growing and need watering. The bags need unpacking. I don't need to go shopping I have enough in for a few days. Stuff the housework, the day is mine. Sunny again, I'm going to enjoy my garden. Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip.