PixieMum goes out west.

Right, let's get the knitting for Day 13 over. Have done half a hexipuff, then noticed had 19 instead of 20 stitches so will be undoing it. (Please insert your own mild swear word if you like) 

More success in completing one of the large Freecycle wool squares whilst having a chat on phone.

Right. Now the reason for not knitting or blogging was that I was away with the Strollers walking group. The name is becoming more and more apt, at times I found the pace a little slow and was glad to be at the front, striding ahead and then having more of a break and a photo opportunity.

Big difference this year was that I went without Ian. Now I know plenty of women of my age have no one with whom to go away, live on their own, don't wish their husbands to join them (or vice versa of course), but we tend to come as a package. However, Ian's OU maths exam was last Wednesday so there was no way he could lose three days revision so we thought it would be a Good Thing if I went without him so he could revise in peace and quiet.

Yes friends it went fine, I missed him terribly at odd moments, during the Sing Praise we have before Saturday's dinner, at the end of dinner where I suddenly realised that if I didn't go and fetch my coffee I wouldn't have any. Another time was on Saturday afternoon walked into Shaftesbury, it was odd pottering around a strange town on my own. Did consider walking down Gold Hill, but I opted out as I would have had to climb up again to return to the hotel. I had just about coped with the two walks I'd done.

The view of Gold Hill on Sunday morning after church at St Peter's Shaftesbury. It was very misty in the distance, clouds as one sees them from a plane obscuring the views.

Rather pleased that I managed to attend the 8am service, especially as it was BCP, said reverently, clearly with the correct emphasis, no servers to distract. I was amazed that I remembered all the words of the prayers so familiar from my teenage years onwards until the 1980s Series 2 and now Common Worship which can seem banal. BCP makes me think about what the words really mean, and this service, the worshipfulness, the peace and calm emphasised what is missing in my church back home. Additionally the excellent  talk by the priest, without notes, so apt, the church was celebrating Harvest Festival later at their 9.30 service so it was in that context.

Looking back over the weekend, there were some arduous walks as it was so muddy, there was slurry as we walked through a farmyard, there were stiles in a variety of styles and wobbliness and some steep inclines all of which has convinced me that I need more regular cardiovascular exercise and confirmed by the nurse discussing the results of my blood test.  I feel far less breathless than before I went away so we have an appointment next week to see what the local gym offers these old crocks. It has taken a few days to catch up as I have felt very tired, it has been suggested that I may have Delayed onset muscle soreness, nothing that time and paracetamol won't solve.

Just an example of the lovely views we encountered.

On Sunday, we breakfasted after church, group photos were taken before some departed for other destinations but the rest of us convoyed to Stourhead to find the place heaving. Had every National Trust member on Wiltshire and beyond chosen to go there on that beautiful sunny day? Admired the kitchen gardens, checked out the NT second hand bookshop and walked around the lake but no time to go into the house but am encouraged to return on a weekday.

After Stourhead, drove to my Friend-from-junior-school-days, so lots of catching up and chatting before I drove home on Monday. Both drives, on Friday and Monday were nearly two hours non stop, I used the Sat Nav successfully, before I have left it to Ian to set it.

Good night everyone.

Thames walk

Bit tardy in posting blogs lately but thought I'd mention the Strollers walk today.

We were very green, agreed to car share but regretted it. Okay, our driver C. wanted to keep up with the other driver, D.  I could have directed C. to Marlow, used to drive there regularly, OK it was 35 years ago but the M4 hasn't moved. Basically we were so scared, especially on M25 and M4. No better coming back, we will be very wary of car sharing again. I sat in back with P., but not comfortable especially as C. had removed the headrests!

I suppose I shouldn't complain, however the walk was good, I managed the steep bits. The bridges were most difficult, why climbing steps should make my legs feel so heavy and not working I'm not sure. The hilly parts were fine, only used Ventolin a couple of times.

Walk was a figure of eight, between 6 & 7 miles, starting and finishing in Marlow with lunch of smoked salmon sandwiches at  The Old Bell at Hurley. Seven of us started the walk, a couple joined us at lunch, one walked the rest of the way and his OH went home after lunch.

Views of the River Thames.

Last picture is of Temple Lock, reminded me of Teddington before all the unnecessary fences and barriers were installed.

Good day for walking, warm enough, although wore yellow Mustardland scarf, no sun but meant no sore eyes. Quite a muddy route but had walking boots on and walking stick. All in all we enjoyed the exercise, so good to be out in really fresh air, seeing signs of Spring.

All is needed now is for England to win their match against France tomorrow.

Toshiba versus Sony

Hi folks,

Well. All the photos on here will be old ones as Martha (aka DD/GroovyPixie) took some good photos of me, and a not-so-good-one of her Dad,  rushed to me saying "Where do you put the camera memory card in your computer" Showed her, completely forgetting hers was a Sony card and needed an extra widget as it is too small for the hole in my Toshiepooter.

No amount of trying using everything from eyebrow tweezers to fine scissors could extract said card from my computer. Amazingly the computer read it so I have the pictures, please admire my new picture you can see at "About me".. Oh well, here it is again in a larger format! I was catching up with the weekend newspapers after Strollers weekend.

 Martha has no card and I cannot download from my camera (a Canon) using my memory stick. Luckily I had downloaded piccies from weekend.

However, I haven't photographed the lovely white 4ply wool I bought in the Malmesbury Cancer Research charity shop and as I'm now sewing my cardigan together will not be able to picture that either. I had so wanted to use the stash facility on Ravelry to show the wool, which cost £2.75, I paid 75p for a maths book too (Maths = Ian) and when I gave the guy £5 and said put the change in the till he protested and kept asking me if I was sure. The maths book hardly opened had cost £10 new. I try to round up in charity shops or say keep the change especially when their prices are a bit low.

Last evening kind friend along the road invited me to her house, helped me with picking up stitches around the neck and I finished the knitting part of my cardigan. We chatted, we knitted and played with her new kitten. I learnt more about knitting and equipment, loved her circular gadget for wool cutting, better than scissors.

Today, started next project, socks, whilst waiting for over an hour to see Doctor for flu jab and asthma discussions. Unfortunately, having cast on, joined up last stitch to form circle then discovered I don't have stitch markers, not around when I was young, think we would have used cotton thread. Didn't have that with me at surgery either!

Time for bed methinks, but will leave you with picture taken on Sunday afternoon walk around Malmesbury. Don't know what kind of butterfly this is but it stayed still for some time. Apologies if quality is poor, didn't have time to play with camera settings.

Oh, for all those of you who like to know what a Blogger wears whilst tapping away I'm in my black M&S trousers, cream Thomas Pink shirt, black V neck Uniqlo wool jumper and an old silver, blue, black patterned silk scarf.

That's all folks, Ian has bought my coffee, in Emma Bridgewater pink hearts mug. Aaaw, he is so good.

Quick update

Hi folks,

Just a quick blog to say we have been away for the weekend, left home last Friday and back late yesterday afternoon. Reason was the annual St. Augustine's Strollers weekend away, this has been happening for 20 years now and this year's trip was one of the best.

Twenty intrepid souls stayed in a Best Western hotel in Crudwell, walked a little on Friday afternoon, some of the others went further. On Saturday the big walk was around the lakes of Cotswold Water Park, created when all the gravel had been extracted to be used in the construction of M4 motorway. So beautiful, near the mouth of the River Thames, flat walks so no steep inclines and thus I was not puffed out, able to stop for Kodak corner opportunities and to enjoy the surroundings.

Evening activities included "Sing Praise" ; our annual dinner, awards and toasts followed by a noisy game of Jenga (spelling? Ed.) Unfortunately the ladies lost this but it was amid much laughter and deep breaths whilst wood was removed from the Tower of Babel.

Sunday saw those of us able to stay on in Malmesbury, a walk around the town following the river and history before tea in hotel (will need to find name and amend this later.)

Will post a picture from water park and expand later. Coffee has been made for me.

All man made lake

Cotswold Water Park

Pictures seem to have joined up but will edit later.

Byeee folks, I'm being nagged by daughter, must go and drink my coffee.

Madeleine

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside My Window ...sunshine and a breeze. Also aeroplanes flying over, why are there a few planes by day and then just as we are going to bed about 10.30.pm the flight path changes  and the jets fly low over our house?

I am thinking .... that I need to finish this before I go to the local history library and work (voluntarily) on the digitilization of planning applications. Really enjoyable and sociable.


From the learning rooms ...silence as Ian has gone to his U3A art class.

I am thankful ...  for being able to walk 6 miles last Friday withthe Strollers group. I was amused by the cows in the River Thames near Cookham.

From the kitchen ...smell of fresh bread, made yesterday by Ian.

I am wearing ...CC dress, it has linen coloured background and red and brown patterns. Was purchased in Glasgow when we visited one Spring to celebrate Ian's birthday.



I am going ...to Richmond by train.

I am reading ... just the daily paper at present


I am hoping ... to get back into my reading groove now life is less busy.

I am hearing ... aircraft

Around the house ...silence, apart from the clock

One of my favourite things ...freedom of retirement

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ...Wednesday: Measuring for new kitchen floor, meeting of Breathe Easy Group; Induction of new vicar. Friday: hair cut and highlighted: Saturday: marriage of Stuart and Tanuka.