Ten good reasons why ..............

Hello. There are a lot of things going on around us which might cause us a lot of worry and upset, whether it  be inside our friends and family circle, or outside in the big wide world. It is very easy to be affected by what we see, what we read about and what others tell us face to face, because we all have feelings. Quite often it is difficult to control what we feel because our emotions are personal to us and part of our genetic make up. We can appear to be in control but we can also be caught off guard and become angry or sad pretty quickly when something negative happens. We don't always have a choice about how we feel.

But..... I also believe that in some circumstances our emotions can be controlled and we can learn how to deal with situations which may have a less than desirable outcome.  There are times when I feel that whatever I say or do will not make any difference to how a situation pans out, so it's best to take a back seat and do nothing. This is not to say I am not a caring person because I am. I do feel hurt and sadness, I do have empathy for someone who is in a bad place, but I am not going to beat myself up about something I have no control over whatsoever.

If something has affected me I will try and identify the solution. If I can't do anything to change things, to turn  a negative into a positive, I have to put my own feelings first. My coping strategy is to switch off.

So here are my ten good reasons why I might bury my head in the sand.

1. I can't do anything about it.
2. It's got nothing to do with me.
3. I don't want to know what happened.
4. I don't need to know what happened.
5. I need to protect my sanity.
6. It's not my fault.
7. I can ignore it.
8. It doesn't affect me.
9. I am not responsible for the outcome.
10. I don't need the stress.

You may have your own coping strategies. In these modern times in a fast moving world it would be very easy to absorb all the turmoil and upset we see around us. There has to be a cut off point, a time when we think of ourselves. It's not being selfish, it's a matter of self preservation, putting our own health and well being first.

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

I saw an angel

Hello. I'm not too keen on walking through a city centre at night, especially if the route takes me past pubs and clubs. Hull was absolutely heaving last night, there was an event on at Queens Gardens, right next to the Radio Humberside building. I couldn't get parked anywhere near so had to leave my car 15 minutes walk away. Also large parts of the central area is being dug up and new surfaces laid in preparation for the City of Culture celebrations which take place next year. It's one big mess with barriers and big holes everywhere. Avoid if you are thinking of going shopping there, it's a navigational nightmare.

I arrived with 15 minutes to spare, and after banging on the door and gesticulating to people drinking wine inside, they let me in. I was led upstairs through the empty offices, looking for Tom the technician who was setting this up for me. He appeared and took me to the studio that we were going to use for the link up. I sat on a high stool and facing me were three monitors all showing my face looking back at me. In the centre was the camera lens and Tom said I should look into that, not at the screens. I was fitted with an ear piece and a mike, very soon I could hear what was going on in the studio in Australia, although I couldn't see them. A few sound checks were made and we were ready.

Here is a link to the interview I did last night, which went out this morning on Sunrise TV.  I'm not sure if everyone in the world can get it, or how long it will be available for.

Walking back to the car the roads around Queens Gardens were quieter as all the people were let into the show area. As I passed a side street I could see what was happening. Zip wires crisscrossed the area, suspended from the roof tops of the tall buildings. Angels were flying through the air depositing lots of white feathers on the crowds below. I tried to take a photo but they didn't turn out very well, so here is a video from a previous performance, found on yoootooob.



For more pictures and video go to Hull2017Angels  It was a spectacular performance. Glad I was there.

This morning I had a look at the car boot sale, and picked up a few bits and bobs. Four wooden table mats, not for use on the table, I might be able to make something with them. Matchsticks, body scrubs, and three puzzles in a box, all for crafting purposes. Also, not on the photo, a lampshade for the table lamp I am covering with crochet. the original one is too big, I found one for 50p.

I called in the Cash and Carry while I was passing on the way home. A 2kg bag of musli was 60p, worth a try, I thought.

 I also found Aldi Bran Flakes, two boxes for £1. These are normally 88p each. I bought seven boxes, so £2.66 saved. They are two months past their sell by date, but I don't care.

It's time for dinner now, so I'll say tatty byes. we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Happy food, and happy skip diving

Hello. It's a bit blustery today, but as yet, no rain. I have just eaten this happy meal, so I am very happy now. The face is a cheese and onion bake, two in a packet for £1 from Tesco. I didn't bake it, I grilled it. Fridge almost empty again so I'll nip to town this afternoon for a top up shop. 

I thought I would get my three miles done early today in case the weather turns nasty. Half way round something stopped me dead in my tracks, a skip was being loaded outside a house, the occupants are moving on. Had to have a nosy. Two chrome bar stools snaffled, and a wooden picture frame. The stools will be cleaned up, seats re covered, and I will find a good home for them. I will remove the picture, it is a bit grubby, sand the frame and paint it for my own use. Quite a good find I thought, I like skip diving. I was reluctant to dig any deeper into the rubbish because there was a strong stink of dog poo, yuk, it was 'orrible. 

I need to finish off my walk now, as I made a diversion back to the house to get my car and pick up the chairs. I need to go and do a bit of shopping in town, then have a bath, and tonight I need to be at  Radio Humberside studios in Hull for 9pm. No, I'm not on the radio, they are going to link me up with a TV station in Australia for an interview on their morning programme, Sunrise. They originally asked if I could do it at 11.30pm so it would match up live with them, they are 12 hours ahead. I said no, too late, so they are recording it an hour or so before it is due to go out.

Right better crack on, things to do. Thanks for popping in, have a good weekend..
Toodle pip

Walking Group update

Hello. Tonight I have updated 18 names on the Walking Group page. Thank you to...
Lisa, Vickey, Laura, Jill, Vampire Heart, Hazel, Hilde, Ellen Anderson, Amy Florida, Cherie, Gillie, Sally C, Julie, Sue G, Jules, and momsav.

Susan q I don't have any previous miles for you. I have a Susan from Massachusetts. I have added you to the bottom of the list,  let me know if you are the same person and I will add your 577 to this record.  Thanks.

e, I don't have any previous miles for you. I have added you to the bottom of the list.

If you send your comment to the Walking Page it won't show on the list, but I will still get it. I click publish after I have written it down in my notebook and it stays in my published folder, but for some reason it will not allow any more comments on that page. If you want to see confirmation that your mileage has arrived, best send it to the normal blog post of that day.

Some good mileages are coming in, I'm pleased that you are all making an effort, you should be proud of yourselves. Carry on walking ladies, you're doing just great.
Toodle pip

They should be ashamed

Hello. I haven't said much about the referendum and the bloody aftermath which has been unfolding in this last week or so, but now's the time. Today is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, commemorations are taking place throughout Britain and France. The bloodiest battle ever in Military history took place, almost 20,000 British soldiers were killed on the first day. These men gave their lives for their country, a country that is now torn apart by a bunch of nasty, self obsessed bullies that will do anything to claw their way to the top.

The way our political so called leaders are behaving is an embarrassment to the country. They should be ashamed. We had a referendum, the people voted, and since then all hell has broke loose. Tempers have been boiling over and  the verbal punch up has been gathering momentum ever since. Our so called cabinet ministers who are supposed to be familiar with the democratic system have been scrapping among themselves, showing their true colours.  The media has been delighting in all this mayhem and is guilty of whipping up hysteria resulting in vicious name calling which has descended into bitter arguments more reminiscent of pack animals ripping their prey to shreds.

It seems every politician is a target for name calling and derogatory remarks about their appearance. That is called bullying, which then permeates right down through the pecking order from top to bottom, and ends up gaining momentum littering social media. Shouldn't they be setting an example by acting in a civilized manner? They should be ashamed.

Pessimism, doom and gloom, and glass half empty is a sure recipe for failure. Pessimism cripples ambition. Bullying destroys confidence and creates a hierarchy of self obsessed individuals, who are blinded by their own personal ambitions, oblivious to the wider picture. There is no room for this behavior in politics. You were voted in by the people to serve the people. We look to you for guidance, you are erasing any respect we had for you.

The country has a window of opportunity to build a better Britain, but will it happen? I doubt it, they are too busy squabbling among themselves. I want to slap their stupid backsides. I want every politician to apologize to every colleague they have hurt with their condescending and patronizing remarks. For goodness sake get your acts together. How can we look up to our leaders when they are no better than a bunch of kids in a playground fighting over the football.. They should be ashamed.

Uploaded ten years ago. Let's not forget.



Thanks for popping in.
Best wishes, Ilona