Stay positive.

Someone asked me if I am going to make a video about the Coronavirus. The answer is, no, I can't be bothered. There is nothing I can say that hasn't been said before. Two of my favourite yoootoooobers have made this one, which covers most of what I would say anyway, so I'll hand you over to Rafi and Klee, artists from Pensacola USA. Rafi not only talks about art, he also has a pretty good handle on life in general. They are fun, and have a positive slant on things.



Now I'm going to lounge in the bath, while I wait for a phone call to go and pick the car up.
Toodle pip.  ilona

I make no apologies.............

....my blog and I can put what I like on it Another new Terry video. Boogie Woogie in the Cathedral. We need more happy music. Clap your hands, tap your feet, get up and dance if you like. Thanks Terry and Eileen.



Toodle pip.  ilona

Blissfully unaware

On my chair, ready to do a bit on the computer, not the best chair, Mayze has that one. But, not content with being in close proximity to me, she wants to be right on top of me. It must be the fleecy dressing gown I have on, it's very snuggly. Oh alright, just ten minutes while I have a look around the net.

Oh to be a cat. Run of the house and garden. Food delivered to you wherever you are, at the time when you are hungry. Fresh clean water. Window sills to lounge in, and follow the sun around. Beds all over the house to crash out anywhere. Indoor toilets, which are cleaned regularly. Outdoor toilets when you fancy a bit of privacy among the plants. Company with the other cats if you want it, or hidey holes when you want a be alone. What a fantastic life my cats have.
Keep safe. Toodle pip.  ilona

It will pass.

The kitchen had a good clean today, I will try and keep it that way. I washed some bedding, a good drying day on the line. Trimmed up some hedging, filled the brown bin for collection tomorrow. I had a phone call from my friend Barry, just up the road. He rang to ask how I was. He has been busy just lately taking someone to hospital appointments. He is cutting right back on his going out now, he is staying in the village. Doesn't want to risk it. 

I did my 3 mile walk tonight, 8 till 9pm. Checked a skip and saw something shiny. Have a look with the small torch I carry. Two packs of brand new chrome curtain rings. The packaging for the pole was there, seems they don't want these. More stuff to play with.  

A lot of local events have been cancelled. Pubs are reducing their hours. Our pub is doing a meals delivery service, the shop has also said they will deliver groceries. People are going to find it difficult if they are used to going out a lot. It won't bother me because I am used to being on my own and can entertain myself. I am also very good at getting lost in my own thoughts. A bit of a day dreamer you might say. Keep calm and it will pass. 

Toodle pip.  ilona

A few minutes of funnies

Stop reading about the virus for a few minutes, and smile.



I'm going to do some housework today. I know, this is an unusual occurrence, don't faint. It is sensible not to go out unless it is absolutely necessary.
Stay safe. ilona

Footloose and fancy free

Do you like my new trainers, my friend gave them to me, she was throwing them out. Reebok eh! Still plenty of wear left in them. They were a bit tight across the bunions but I thought don't look a gift horse in the mouth, accept them gracefully. 

I thought if I slacken the laces off it would give me a bit of extra width. Trouble was that they were too short then to tie a bow. No matter, I looked in my trimmings drawer, and found these coloured laces. I bought them from the £1 store, because they might be useful for craft projects, I liked the colours. 

They are a bit short though, but no matter, just tie two together, and bingo, that works. I think I might paint the trainers to match the laces. 

Something I am playing around with at the moment. Weaving on a pink squash raquet. I have an idea. I see a tree and some flowers. 

I went to Crafty Club this morning, a few people missing. We went in the big room, it was better, we could spread out. This afternoon I took Billy dog out. Just had a long phone call, now getting my dinner, a plate of steamed veg. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

A song to lift the spirits.

Love from Terry on a Sunday morning. A new video from Terry and Eileen, filmed at Chelmsford Cathedral. This is lovely, Nicholas the Dean is lovely, and the sound of the piano is crystal clear in this beautiful building. Enjoy.



It's raining here in North Lincolnshire, but no matter. Another day dawns so let's make the most of it.
Happy Sunday.  ilona

Getting to the bottom of it

Do you think I have got enough. I am down to my last 30 toilet rolls. After buying them in bulk from a Cash and Carry several years ago, I had a amassed a very large amount, over 300 at one point. But now I am down to a measly 30.

I am going to have to be even more frugal with my usage now as the shops are being stripped bare of them. These should last several months, if I am careful not to waste any.
Toodle pip.  ilona

Spread a little happiness.

I will rattle this one off quickly before breakfast as I have plans for today. A vile comment landed in my box sometime during the night. It is one I have seen before, and as usual it went straight in the bin. No need to read it, it was pretty long, a glimpse at two or three words told me all I wanted to know. It was from a person with limited mental capacity, there's a lot of it about.

Yes, I know, the general consensus is delete and ignore, which I always do. One click of the mouse and it's gone, gone down the pan forever, just like you would do with a load of shit.

The reason I am bringing it up now, is that not everyone has a robust way of dealing with nasties as I do. The words used in these troll comments can be particularly upsetting and worrying for people who are not as gobby as me. They take it personally. Do not take it personally, the people who do this do not know you.

I can't stand bullying, and this is what it is. You can ignore bullies, they hate it, do that if it helps you. But fight back if that also helps you. I was bullied a lot when I was driving, I fought back, and I won. Nobody stopped me doing the job I loved. I beat the bullies.

There are a lot of good people in this world, but sadly the bullying mob is multiplying because of the internet. It's the herding mentality, people feel stronger in a group, more empowered to puke bile, it will always be.

There is a way that goodness can overcome evil, and I'm going to tell you what you can do. You dear reader are a valuable member of society, you do not have to put up with the shit thrown about, there, I've said shit twice, three times in fact. Don't get drawn into retaliating because it will do you more damage that it will the troll. If you don't mind a bit of a bun fight, go ahead and answer back, if it makes you feel better, I do sometimes.

Trolls hate it when you are a happy person, they want everyone to be as miserable as they are. Do not let it happen. Go about your daily business with a smile on your face. Smile when you look at the screen, smile when your fingers hit the keyboard.

Do one good deed every day, be helpful, be kind, make someone else smile. This is the perfect antidote to bullying. Leave bullies to stew in their own cesspit, they have the problems not you. Go forth with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Lots of love.   ilona xxx

PS. There is a good chance at least one troll comment will appear in reply to this. My regular troll will not be able to stop themselves.

And relax

It's been a stressful day, a bit challenging and a bit fun at the same time. I decided to change my car and found one that I want to buy, but it's not here, it's down south and will have to be brought up here. Washed my car and cleaned it inside so it looks a bit respectable. Had already had a rough quote of what they might give me, but couldn't confirm until they inspected it.

Went into the local dealer. Long long conversations, looking at numbers on the screen, crunching them. Two hours and both parties came to a decision. The bottom line number was one that I had in mind before I went in, they agreed to it, and we had a deal.

My brain was a bit pickled, glad it was over. Now to wait for new car to appear. Probably next week. Phoned my insurance people, told them about new car, will be another £30 to pay to change my policy. Local dealer will organise road tax on new car, and a refund on old car. Will be sad to see this one go, but, I have newer model coming.

Although the old one, not that old on a 61 plate, is a good one, I like to keep ahead of the game. I have not had any major problems with Ford so I'll stick with it. Think I'll go a walk now. The hard work is done, now I can relax and wait.
Toodle pip.  ilona

Mooning

Cracking moon tonight, all big and glowing.

Go outside and have a look. I'm going to bed now, Goodnight.

Ideas for assemblage.

When I took my two assemblages, one silver, one gold, to the Scrapstore recently, one of the ladies there, went to a cupboard and brought out two she had made. They were a lot bigger than mine, and the bits and bobs were assembled on a canvas, rather than inside a box like I have done. 

I was blown away by the beauty of her work. Everything was in shades of orange and brown with tinges of gold and yellow, with a metallic finish. I noticed that she had grouped certain items together, rather than scattering them randomly throughout. The strings of beads were positioned to create areas which could be filled with buttons, single beads, wheels, and bits of jewellery. It looked like a lot of thought had been put into the layout and construction. It must have taken her ages to do them. 

A closer look. There are some great ideas here.

On the wall at the Scrapstore is this very large assemblage. The pictures are not that good due to the reflections on the glass. I don't know who made this. It's in a box frame and hasn't been painted over. Another way of making art with rubbish.

Plenty of ideas to be thinking about. Thanks for popping in.  Toodle pip.. ilona

Arty crafty catchup

I made a little video this morning. Regular readers will have already seen pictures of my most recent makes. I post it on here because my blog is my online diary, a record of what I have been doing. It's 16 minutes long, and Mayze cat joins in on this one.



Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.  ilona

Meet Billy.

This is Billy, his owner is not able to walk him at the moment, so I have stepped in to take him out. Billy although quite small is a puller, and his mummy has a balance problem, so not a good combination. He is a rescue dog and gets quite excited when I turn up.

The arrangement is when I have got time to spare I will take him a walk. They live close by, so it's easy for me to pop round there. He is a happy chappie, but, he doesn't like big dogs and barks at them. Today we saw the postman in the street, Billy didn't like him either. So I have to be aware that I might suddenly have to make a diversion to avoid a confrontation. Other than that he is fine with most people and most dogs, small to medium.
Toodle pip.  ilona

Test

I've just found an alternative to yooootoooob. PBS has lots of video clips on different topics. Wonder if I can embed from there. Giving it a try.



ilona