I do community gardening in my Area , i get a fee ticket +1 to visit this ,it is stunning and me being like most crafters and like any thing sparkly or glittery i just lovely fairy lights etc i have been 3 years Running , the first year there was x cold thick fog which made it look very mystical The second year it was a bitter cold frost , for me who feels the cold so much it is not much fun although it was beautiful, this time it was lovely , no frost, no fog and not too cold , every year it is different , so it lovely to go every year, This is in the Town Garden in Swindon a very popular place all through the year and even more so on the enchanted Garden s every year.
The other day, my sister was going through a memory box belonging to my mum (who recently passed) when she found an old photo of me among various pictures and certificates.
This particular photo holds sad memories, and I remember my mum used to keep it hidden.
I was only four years old and had spent many months in the hospital due to nephritis. During that time, I felt very scared and confused because, back then, parents couldnt stay with their sick children. The photo was taken by a professional photographer and was published as an ad in the Daily Sketch on December 24, 1964.
Unfortunately, it was used without permission by a childrens charity. My mum was furious and very upset because the photo made me look like an orphan, which is why she decided to keep it hidden.
Fortunately, I made a full recovery after being on antibiotics for three years.
Well we are just a few weeks away from the big day, and whilst I know a lot of people put their decorations up in November I am a bit of a traditionalist and December is when mine go up.
Whilst I dont have a lot of decorations as we live in a small bungalow and have limited space, I do take pride in my tree.
Last year I bought a smaller tree with lights already integrated, made such a difference and saved the time of walking in circles with stringed lights lol.
I decided to change the colour scheme to a more Nordic look, so I decided to crochet a few decorations to go with the theme.
Every morning, on our short walk to the beach with the dogs, we pass the RNLI lifeboat station. It has been an exciting few weeks with the arrival of their new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.
This vessel can accommodate six crew members and is built to withstand even the fiercest weather conditions. The lifeboat was funded by a generous donation from Chris and Jo West, a couple who were inspired to contribute after witnessing a rescue at sea.
The RNLI does an incredible job, and living so close to the ocean, we truly appreciate the power of the waves.
I feel privileged to walk past this magnificent lifeboat every morning.
Its been a couple of months since my daughter and family have had their Weimaraner puppy Otto, The joy and his comical antics have brought so much joy and laughter, even to us who live in the midlands.
I have been inundated with what my daughter calls puppy spam.
I dont mind this type of spam from his first time out video where he really made me laugh out loud running because his long ears were flapping so much I thought he would take off.
This was quite appropriate as they live on an RAF base. When she sent me pictures the other day of Otto sleeping I really did laugh.
Ive never seen a dog sleep as he does, he really does contort his body into the weirdest positions sometimes it is hard to see where his head is.
So I thought I would share his funniest pictures to date.
Our grand daughter that lives with us sent a message yesterday asking if we liked banana mangoes. Our response to that was what is a banana mango, thinking it was some sort of exotic banana or mango that somehow someone had managed to cross.
Was it a banana that tasted like a mango or a mango that tasted like a banana. I love bananas and I love mangoes so was interested to see what on earth it was. Anyway she brought four of these banana mangoes home. Well they looked like a mango on the skin but were more the shape of a banana than a mango.
I cut it open and it looked like a mango. Intrigued to see what it tasted like so I tried it and it tasted just like a mango!! A very nice mango too. Not stringy and quite sweet. Until now my favourite mango is the Calypso mango. It too is very sweet, not stringy and usually huge.
They are always on my shopping list while mango season is in full swing. I was curious to know more about these banana mangoes though. It seems that it originated in Thailand and are fairly new to Australia. It appears there are several growers in Australia now. They also are called dwarf mangoes.
I love the Calypso for eating but I think the banana mango would be great for smoothies as the Calypso has a lot more flesh to eat.
…. Youngest granddaughter, Olivia age 12, was competing in the Nottinghamshire Schools Cross Country again last weekend. This is a series of 3 races with an accumulative score card for the total of the 3 races.
Olivia had already won the 1st race and she won this 2nd race by a country mile too! The 3rd race in this competition is in a few weeks time. As shes won the 1st 2 she can come 1st, 2nd or 3rd and still take the title!!
Shes also running in a couple more races between now and then too, and Ill be cheering her on fat the side if the course each time too! lol
Last week I wrote about the storms that have been lashing the SE of Queensland. Well yesterday was day 5 of afternoon storms with more forecast for today. Yesterday we had a rather spectacular sky with mammatus clouds overhead.
Mammatus often form in association with Cumulonimbus clouds, which in turn bring thunderstorms due to their huge mass of unstable air.
All these storms bring back memories of my younger years when summer would see hot days (weve been having daily temps of 35 to 38 deg C) with the good old summer storm in the afternoons almost daily.
There is a song with the words we watch the lightning crack over cane fields and that is what my childhood was due to living for the majority of the year in Mackay.
Mackay has a lot of canefields surrounding it and that is exactly what would happen …..we would watch the lightning cracking over the canefields.
But even if we were living back in Brisbane, we would still get those daily storms.
Fortunately we have been spared any damage but in some places this week the winds up to 146kph have done damage.
That strength wind is equivalent to what one would get in a Cat 2 cyclone. No cyclones just yet as cyclone season starts in a few weeks but the ferocity of these storms in places have ripped up trees and blown roofs off homes further to the west of us.
So we brace again for more storms this afternoon and see what it brings. Weve had no hail but streets about half a kilometre away have. Forecasts each day are for strong winds, hail, heavy rain and so far weve been lucky.
I cant believe how quickly this year has gone by. For me thats a good thing as I will be glad to see the back of 2024. However, Christmas is just around the corner and that is something to look forward to.
So crochet Christmas things are on the menu and I have been crocheting these super festive mug cosies, which I called a mug in a hug.
The plan is to fill the mugs with treat like chocolate bars and sachets of drinking chocolate and marshmallows and give them as little gifts.
They have been a joy to make because of their simplicity and not like my usual detailed creations.
It was my husbands Birthday on Wednesday. It was a bit low-key as it was mid-week. But as I am now retired and trying to remember my cooking skills, I promised him his favourite dinner, which is my veggie take on good old-fashioned steak and kidney pudding.
I used to watch my nan make it when I was a little girl and was fascinated, and I still remember how my mouth watered as she dished it up.
When I started married life it was one of the first meals I cooked, and then when we became veggie over 30 years ago I adapted it by using Quorn pieces and mushrooms.
When I was working I didnt have the time or energy to cook much, so this was my first time making it in a few years.
And my hubby can vouch for the fact that it was just as delicious as it always was. Here is a picture of it before it went on to steam for a few hours.
Well after nearly 5 years of waiting I finally got to see the US Navy Demonstration Team The Blue Angels.I originally booked to see them in March 2019 at Los Angeles but when COVID hit everything was cancelled and every time we tried to see them after that didnt work out,This year we traveled to Disney for our holiday and I looked to see if any airshows nearby featuring the Angels… low and behold there was and it was only a 2 hour drive from Disney so we made the arrangements and went.I couldnt contain my excitement and I certainly couldnt wait to get there, but finally on the 19th October 2024 I made it.
I saw them and they certainly didnt disappoint me!!!They were absolutely amazing, so much so Ive booked to see them again next March when I travel to Vegas for Red Flag
Weve had a couple of rogue storms over the past month but early this week Mother Nature let us know that from now on we best be prepared for whatever she throws at us.
All afternoon we could see the storms building over the Qld/NSW border.
The question was would it make it up this far as a lot of storms that build in that direction turn and head out to the east missing us.
Very slowly it came towards us, gathering intensity and then she let loose. Hail!
No rain, just hail. 15mins of it and although where we are we got pelted with hailstones the size up to golf ball size, just down the road they got bigger hail, what the locals are calling frozen corn.
You can see by the photo how big it was and yes, it looked like corn!! Another storm the day after but just rain and rumbles and the forecast one yesterday didnt eventuate.
Temperatures are hotter than they should be for this time of year with 4 consecutive days of 37 deg C recorded here at home.
Should be an interesting summer (starts 1st Dec here).
Last Sunday was another big day for Alfie, it was his second skills bout in boxing. This took place at Newberry and it means having completed this one, he only has one more to complete before then embarking on proper tournaments.
Whilst there are no winners in skills bouts, they do have demonstrate technique and footwork. All those who compete do get a medal for completion of each stage. I was able to watch via video and Alfie really did go for it and his coach was very pleased.
Harry did enjoy a moment on a bench in Newberry with a certain famous bear and marmalade sandwich. A win, win all round.
The latest post box topper on our dog walk is now up, and it is dedicated to Remembrance Day.
As you may know, this memorial day has been observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Remembrance Day is also commemorated in several non-Commonwealth countries. The topper is an impressive display, featuring poppies arranged around The Cenotaph, which is adorned with flags representing the United Kingdoms armed forces, along with the words We Will Remember Them.
My daughter and family have always enjoyed this time of year, whether doing spooky trails, trick and treats or parties.
This year they seem to be doing it all.
They did a spooky enchanted forest trail at a local farm a couple of days ago and have already done a few parties at the local youth clubs and today 31st they are trick or treating and going to a party.
My son-in-law as Donald Trump, Harry as Jack Skellington from Corpse Bride, Alfie I have no idea but his mask glows in the dark, and my daughter is Elpheba from the musical Wicked, which has a movie coming out soon and she is a massive fan.
Their surname is Crawley so I thought it appropriate to name them the Creepy Crawleys.