Trolley dolly

Hello. My legs are like jelly tonight. I got the 1.09pm bus to town, and walked back. I came a different route from last time, just for a change of scenery. I got off the bus at Sainsbury's and walked down Doncaster Road towards Berkeley Circle. Oh my, what a scruffy road, dropped litter everywhere. I walked through this park, and found an abandoned shopping trolley. I walked past it then changed my mind. I can make a detour to B & M Stores, and take it back. Some lazy person shouldn't have taken it that far away from the store. Come with me trolley, I will see you safely home. 

Out of the park and onto the road. I bet people wondered what I was doing.  

I came across another B & M trolley, a much bigger one. Someone had pushed it down a bank and into a ditch. I tried to pull it out but wasn't successful, it was too heavy. I will tell someone at the shop about it, maybe they can send a man to haul it out. 

Now getting closer to the Retail Park, which is next to the Football Ground, I found another trolley on the edge of a housing estate. Oh dear, this one looks like it is dead. 

Oh no, now there is another one. Tesco is across the road. Well I am not taking this one back, they can come and get their own. 

This is getting ridiculous. More trolleys on the housing estate next to the Retail Park. Two from Aldi, which is next to Tesco. Another one from B & M. 

I don't believe it. A Tesco and an M & S trolley next to the playground. There's no way I can move all these.  

At last, I delivered my lost trolley to the front door of the store. I went inside, through the exit door and was told off by a cashier on the till.  You can't come in that door. I said, I don't want to come in. I just want to tell you that some of your trolleys have been abandoned on the housing estate up the road. Perhaps you could send a staff member to collect them. She wasn't interested. 

I don't know why I bothered. I was just trying to help. They must waste loads of money replacing trolleys that have been lost or stolen. I'm thinking of starting a business. Collect all the lost trolleys, take them back to where they belong, and ask the store manager for £5 for every one I return. 

The Christmas decorations are coming down from the loft. This garden looks a bit full. 

With making that extra detour to take the trolley back, I was running out of time. The last half a mile was along a track next to a wood, up a steep hill, and it was getting dark. Spooky. Just made it, good job that I know that route. I've just checked the distance on Bikehike.co.uk. Eight miles, no wonder my legs are wobbly tonight. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Janine and Liam on the road.

Good morning. Not much happened yesterday. Sewing and dog walk. 

In an hour of so I am going to the Coffee Morning. I made some more bunting, I wanted to use up the Christmas themed fabric I have. I sold some last week, so I am hoping someone will buy these I have ready now. 

Someone asked me for links to videos I watch on yoootooob. They are fed up of the boring stuff on the old telebox, and want something new to watch. 

I think it's possible to put the internet through to a big screen on the wall. I don't have that facility, but my desktop computer has a big enough screen for me anyway. I choose the full screen setting and it's like watching the tele. 

I will put a few suggestions here over the coming months. If I have an hour to spare, or half an hour, some of them are about 30 minutes, I have a drink or a bite to eat, while I watch. 

Liam and Janine have been churning out some fascinating travel vlogs over the years. I think it's Janine who does the editing, Liam is the practical hands on brains of the duo, and he talks a lot. 

They are at the moment on their way to Lapland for Christmas. Driving overland through several countries and visiting some amazing cities and towns. They take us on mini tours when passing through places. On full screen it's like having an exclusive documentary beamed straight into your living room.    

If you look into their channel you will find trips all around the UK. They spent several months driving a Tuktuk around India. They walked the Camino trail from France to Spain, and they have documented their self build campervans. They have car camped in the smallest of cars, and lived in a converted furniture box van. Plenty of entertainment in their vast archives. 

Just a note about adverts on yoootooob. For a lot of content creators producing videos is their job. Some will sponsor products or services. When the video is interrupted by adverts I click through them. At the end I will let the adverts play out and mute the sound, and scroll down to read the comments until they have finished. I don't get any revenue from any adverts which appear on my channel. I don't ask for them, they put them there. I always click the like button on other people's videos, and usually leave a comment. 

Now I must go. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Eat out or take your own?

So what do you eat when you are out and about? For the last seven years of my driving life there was no nights out. I did either 12 hour days or 12 hour nights. I prepared food in my own kitchen and took a pack up with me. I have never been a fan of transport cafes and did not partake of truckers breakfasts, a sausage, bacon, and beans fry up. I don't drink tea, awful stuff, and if I wanted a coffee I took a flask with me. I prefer cold drinks.  

It has always been cheaper to take my own food rather than buying it out. And I still do that. These days it's not about saving money, I can afford to eat in the best restaurants. I am fussy about where my food comes from and where it is prepared. 

I took these photo's of the fast food trailers yesterday at Lincoln, and I have to say that there was nothing on their menus to tempt me. Freshly made burgers, I wonder what they put in them.  

I have no idea what this one was selling. What is a Crispy Katsu or a Japanese Miso? 

Oh no, not cuddly little lambs. 😭

Readers from other parts of the world might like to compare prices. 

Now that looks quite healthy, but I wonder what those brown crinkly strips are. 

More price comparisons. I think Golden Fries are chips. Smashed Patties must be a posh name for burgers.  

On this trailer you put in your order at the front hatch after choosing one of these. Then go round the back where the staff will construct your meal and present it to you. I wonder what's in them. I didn't ask. 

No actual food on this stand, just sweet treats. All loaded with calories and sugar. Tempting but no thanks. 

Maybe choose a pudding when you have eaten your burger and chips. This reminds me of many years ago, 55 to be precise, when I worked on Blackpool Pleasure Beach selling donuts and waffles. Our waffles had a squirt of watered down jam and a dollop of synthetic cream. They've come a long way since then. 

I sat on a picnic bench and had a chat with a young lady who was feeding her little boy with chips. I ate my cheese and pickle sandwich, and my Bakewell tart, and listened to the Carol singing. 

This morning I went to Crafty Club. This afternoon I have taken Rocky dog for a walk, but I can't get Billy out because Carol is not there. I will go tomorrow for him. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Lincolnshire Food and Gifts Fair

There are plenty of food and gift fairs on at the moment in the run up to Christmas. Today I went to the Lincolnshire Showground. It was very busy. There are two exhibition halls, Exo Centre and Epic Centre. There were 150 traders selling their wares. The area between the two halls was covered by a massive tent with fast food traders on both sides, and seating in the middle. I took a few photos. Don't you just love all the colours. 

I didn't buy any beer this time. I can get it from a local micro brewery. 

Plenty of nicknacks to choose from.  

This lady makes candles, lampshades, and bags. 

I bought some strawberries from these two lovely ladies. I have never heard of Dyson Farming before. I didn't know James Dyson is involved with food production. Check out the story behind growing strawberries out of season under glass. 

Many different kinds of gin on offer. Not for me, I don't like gin, but very colourful.

I had a chat with my new friend Monika who I first met two weeks ago at a previous Craft Show. She makes some beautiful Macrame art pieces. 

I arrived back home just as it was getting dark. Smashing afternoon out. I'll post the food pics on tomorrow. 

Thanks to those walkers who have checked in. You are doing really well, far better than me. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

One month left.

 Here we are at the start of the last month of the year. It's time to check in with our walking miles. How have you all done? My calendar tells me that I will not reach the magical 1000 miles by the 31st. But I've done ok. I am on 802 miles. That's fine by me. I am dividing my time between other activities I enjoy  doing. It's all about balance really. 

Picture from way back. Me with red hair enjoying a Magnum ice cream. I joined a sponsored walk. 

Today looks a bit dismal. I see rain, and it's blowing sideways in the wind, but I don't care. An afternoon of fun is arranged. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona