Down to the Woods

I have lived in this house for 18 years and never entered the local woods.

I heard tales of needles, heard people on dirt bikes and at one time the police helicopter spent a LOT of time hovering over the woods.

A wood has the capacity to be a very scary place, think of Grimm's tales.  Bad things happen in woods..... or so the tales go.  So although the wood clearly provides an excellent habitat for the local wildlife I have never felt the urge to enter it for some reason.

Until this weekend.

One of my goals for this year was to make some sloe gin and for that you need sloes.  I did some research and found that sloes are in the wood.  I asked my husband whether I should go sloe hunting in the woods one day.  His response was to wait until the weekend and we would go together......  that says something I think.

So on Sunday we went off like an aged Hansel and Gretel into the woods to search for sloes.

And do you know what it was nice, really nice and not at all scary.

The sun was shining, which always helps and although there was a lot of rubbish at the point where we entered the wood once you got some way in the paths were clear and the dappled sunshine through the trees was a delight.

We saw a family out dog walking and some girls on horses.  We did some tree spotting, saw some butterflies, scared a bunch of rabbits at the edge of the wood and generally had a lovely walk.

When we came home I said that I was sad that we hadn't gone into the woods before.  It genuinely had not entered my head before to do so and that is all about the myth of the wood and the tales that people have told both locally and historically. So now on a nice weekend morning we have vowed to have a walk in the woods, to see the changing of the seasons on our doorstep and enjoy this space that is visible a stone's throw from our door.

Oh.... and we collected a small bag of sloes as well so a result on all levels don't you think?

Loving Classic Cars

On Fathers Day we took ourselves off to Harewood House to visit the Classic Car Extravaganza.  That wasn't it's official title, but it could have been.

I like cars, as a child I would spend hours in the driver's seat of my Dad's car pretending to drive.  When I was 14 my Step-Dad had an ex-army long wheel based Landrover that he let me drive around a field up near Leeds Bradford Airport.  And whilst that nearly put me off driving forever it didn't put me off cars.

So when we were browsing the Yorkshire Post on Saturday and saw that there would be classic cars at Harewood it was an obvious choice.

It was absolutely full to the brim with fancy new cars and a massive range of old vehicles, I'm sure not all of which would be called classic.  Mini Metro.... classic....? I think not.

I sat behind the wheel of cars I will never ever be able to afford.  Cars that cost more than a house.

 Some of them I could barely see over the steering wheel and could not get out of without some help.  Yes, fancy electric BMW that was you.

And on one, the Jaguar F type, I adjusted the seat for me and then the battery seemed to go flat so when I got out only children could get in.  It was funny to see big blokes trying to squeeze in and then having to admit defeat. No photo of that fun unfortunately.

The classic cars were in fantastic condition which is a testament to the owners who lavish time and money on them.

There were some lovely little minis.  

This was one of my favourites (I love the Gulf blue).  

I only saw the one Fiat 500 but what a beauty. 

This french number was voted the most beautiful car by car designers at some point in time.  When it came out it must have been so futuristic.  It was in great condition throughout.

Then there was the classic Aston Martin.

The General Lee, for all you Dukes of Hazard fans

An escort RS, taken for my husband who had one when they first came out.  

He is more of a petrol head than me

And a Lotus (Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious) which we liked a lot.  Ignore the dippy red-head...

I actually have an MG midget but it needs restoration and that takes time, money and more importantly needs space.  So one day, probably when I have finally retired from work, I might get to be one of the people sat with their pride and joy in the sunshine while people like me pass by and oooh and aaah at their cars.  I look forward to that day.

Whoops..... how to increase your blood pressure

Yesterday I bumped my husband's car.

I was driving as he was wearing a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours...... no don't laugh....

We approached a roundabout there was nothing coming and so I accelerated.  Unfortunately the chap in front of me didn't move.  I think he was on the phone.

Husband yelled "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?",

I slammed on, everything in the boot crashed into the back of the back seat.... and I nudged the back of the car in front.

I fully expected him (other car driver) to pull over and accuse me of all the usual.  However, he didn't, he just kept on driving.

When we passed him on the motorway he had a phone thingy in his ear and was clearly speaking to someone.  The first thought that went through my head was "did I actually hit him?"

But when we got home there were marks on the front of the car. Not major dents but evidence none the less.

My husband returned the heart monitor......

He is expecting a call from the hospital any time soon.........

The New Regime..... part 2

I have discovered what it takes to make me happy at home..... music and sunshine.  Not much to ask now is it?

I have managed to connect the ipod to a music box thing in the living room and so now a selection of songs can blast out at me and the cats as I pootle about doing jobs (what am I saying...... I'm working really hard....obvs).

My husband has also sorted me out my own itunes something or other..... identity ...... profile ...... whatever.  I can now do my own playlists and buy music and just generally have fun with the tunes.

So now when I am at home doing anything I can sing my heart out and nobody can complain because cats just don't have a vote.... no sir....I've heard them sing and they are way worse than me.

Today the sun is shining, the bedding is on the line and I am enjoying a bit of Ed Sheeran.... who is asking me to 'Sing'.  That boy knows me too well........

Take one technical idiot..... mainly in York

Ok, so I have finally figured how to get photos into my blog so I am back.  Believe me there have been some sweary words spoken in this corner of the house over the past weeks.  And it was a really simple solution..... cue more swearing.

Anyhoo......

We went to see the Tour de Yorkshire.  It was good but cold, very cold.  The peleton came so close to the barrier where we were stood that it took your breath away.  They were going fast, how they don't all constantly crash is a mystery to me.

I had a technical blank moment and put my camera on the wrong setting.  I got several arty shots of the road, some of a couple of cars and literally four photos of the cyclists.  This was the best one....

Earlier this year I joined the National Trust.  We have never been members before.  We have always been in English Heritage, less for a small child to destroy in a castle was always my thinking.  But now the child is grown and the thought of a day out with the parents does not fill her with the joys.  Our cue to join the National Trust and check out some houses and tearooms.

The day after we got our cards we visited Nunnington Hall.  We didn't have time to do the house but enjoyed the tea room very much.  We will return to the house in the near future.

This is the beautiful sculpture in the courtyard in front of the entrance.

I had to go up and have a conversation with her
and compliment her on her loveliness.



The next visit was to Goddards in York.  Goddards is the home of the Terry family of Choccy Orange fame.  There were two 'chocolate' families in York, the Rowntree family and the Terry family.  The house was built and owned by Noel Goddard Terry and has only fairly recently been open to the public, having been the offices for the National Trust for a long time.  There was a very nice menu for the tea room but on this occasion we didn't partake as we had just had lunch.  However I was tempted to help myself to a sherry - £2 in the Honesty Box - almost rude not to.

It is a beautiful Arts and Crafts house, own by the one family, with lovely gardens which would be just fantastic on a warm sunny day.  And there were a selection of outdoor toys that you could have a go with as well.  I definitely recommend a visit if you are in this area.   This is the link if you are interested: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards/

Finally I had a day out shopping with friends in York.  We were on our way back to the station when we passed Betty's.   Should we call in?  Of course we should.......

This is a bit of a rubbish picture but believe me those cakes looked fab.  We went instead for a selection of macaroons.  A fantastic sugary pick-me-up before returning home to find my husband waiting at home in the garden.  He hadn't taken his key, thinking I would be home well before him......  Oh dear, well what do you expect when the cake calls?

The new regime

So I have finished work.  Well, I say finish 'work' I haven't worked so physically bloody hard for ages.


Day 1 -

• Cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom, literally (daughter walked in and said "Oh, it's bright in here!") You've got to ask just how mucky it was before..... no don't ask that.
• Mowed the lawn at the front, put weed and feed on the back and blitzed all the dandelions with spray.
• Sorted the house insurance.
• Chased the car insurance
• Did two loads of washing
• Cooked tea
• Hoovered all round

Felt saintly and full of the joys of being at home

Day 2 -

• Ironed for two hours (felt like about 5)
• Changed the daughters bed
• Did more washing
• Sorted my wardrobe (winter coats to the back, summer stuff to the front)
• Went out and bought more wooden coat hangers
• Sorted the flowers that I received last week into new smaller vases with fresh water
• Sorted some magazines to give to a friend
• Chased the car insurance
• Thought about doing some crochet
• Hoovered all round

Felt out of sorts and fed up with being at home

So that's it, the highs and lows of the new regime after two days. 

At least the flowers are cheering me up!

(Can't get blogger to upload a photo so this is a tiny one of one of the bunches I received.)

I discussed with my husband the fact that I felt guilty about doing something that wasn't a 'job'.  He suggested I make a list then aim to do two jobs a day.  After that take time to myself.


Luckily there isn't 'point gable end' on the list but there are some biggies.  I might sneak 'knit a cardigan' onto the list or 'crochet a shawl' or even 'read ten chapters of current fabulous book'.... It might make being at home a bit easier I think.

Robin Hood got nut'in on me.....

The daughter and I have been doing archery.  We had a two hour session at a centre near York (GTS Adventure).  The sun was shining and we were paired with a couple of girls a similar age to my daughter.  The instructor, Grant, was ex-army and an excellent teacher.

"Ok raise your arm to shoulder height with your palm facing the floor and hold it there"

Hang on..... I've been painting, my shoulder is stiff, "hold it there" are you mad? 
But, it is ok and I manage to master the holding of the bow. 

"Now pull back the string until your finger touches the corner of your mouth,

keeping your elbow high"

Oh....my......God......that's bloody hard.........

"Now let go"

The arrow hits the target with a satisfying "thwunk"

Oh, I got this.

Two hours later we have had to change the rules of a competition as none of us can aim precisely, although we can all manage to hit the target.  We have laughed, picked arrows up from the target and several out of the ground.  No-one has been injured.

Grant has been polite.... "Nice shot"
And not so polite..... "Hmmm, that was a bit s**t" (he was right it was).

We have had a brilliant morning and by the end of it my arm and shoulder have eased out and I am buzzing with the joy of the few that I got right in the centre of the target.

It is only driving home that I realise that the end of my middle finger is completely numb.  I must have twanged it with the string so many times.  Three days later and the feeling is just about returning.  Who cares, it was totally worth it.

When I mention it to my husband he points out that in the years prior to the battle of Agincourt every man and boy had to practice with a bow shooting arrows for a minimum 2 hours a day.  He asks how I would have coped.

I reply by sticking two fingers up at him.

Counting Sheep....

What do you do when you can't sleep?

 

A combination of age and circumstance mean that I am not sleeping.

 

I asked around......

 

Sally counts sheep

Brenda steps into the en-suite for 5 to re-set her head

Sue makes a cup of tea

Elaine reads her ipad

 

None of these are working for me.  But I read somewhere that

regulating your breathing with a sleeping person helps, so that was my plan.

 

I'm awake, husband is obviously asleep.

Ok, here we go

 

In..out..in..out..in..out............................

 

Hang on he's stopped breathing?

 

I do a further 4 breaths in and out before he breathes again.

 

So now I'm even more wide awake.  Bother. 

And now I'm concerned about him. Double bother.

 

Not such a good idea then..........roll on 6.30 am.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm too old for this.....

This weekend we decided to do a bike ride. And we went at it hell for leather.

I can't remember the last time I got on my bike, but I have to say that despite it languishing in the garage for ages...... I bloody love my bike. 

I got it about three year's ago and it is a sit up and beg style but with 21 speed gears.  It is a 'comfort hybrid' and it is comfortable.  Very.

When I was younger I did a lot of mountain biking, proper stuff on proper trails with pumped thighs and a seat that I barely sat on.  But times have changed and now I sit on the saddle which is designed to accommodate you sitting on it.

We cycled from the North end of Bridlington, past Sewerby, to the North bay at Flamborough.  When we got there we couldn't go down to the bay because they had just been filming the new Dad's Army film down there.  So we sat at the top, ate our lunch and enjoyed the day.

 

Realistically when we got there I had had enough. 

About 6 miles of rolling hills on legs that were not used to cycling is about enough.

But of course once there you have to get back...... bother......

So we cycled back on the road,

into the head wind

and when we got back my legs were like jelly and my knees were killing me!

 

 

But this was the view in the late afternoon sun looking towards

where we had just cycled, even though I felt old and knackered

I did feel like I'd achieved something....

And we had really enjoyed the day out.......

So the question is... am I really too old for this?

Last weekend.... now what did I do?

Question from my Mum, what did you do at the weekend?

It was Wednesday and I had completely forgotten.  I think I did something on Saturday but I can't remember what. 

Mum then goes on to tell me about how long she spent on the phone to the credit card company telling them that you don't spell 'Jennifer' with two n's....... oh wait you do.  She is reminded of this after some time on the phone and has to apologise profusely to the person at the other end who is about to change her name on her card.  It's genetic.

So I looked at my camera and remembered that on Saturday I was at the Superleague Grand Final.  It was a day out, on a bus, with lots of other people..... how did I forget that? 

This was the view from our seats.

Not bad.  I enjoyed the atmosphere more than Wembley.  Being at a game where you don't actually support either team is much more relaxing.  I didn't get a single headache.

On Sunday I went to a vintage fair and got this fantastic glass vase..... bowl..... bon bon thing for £3.

Three quid....I'd spend more than that on  a magazine.  Absolute bargain.  And it is lovely and quirky and looks like proper blown glass at the top.  Rubbish photo but you get the idea.

Finally when I got back from the fair and getting the car washed I found that Husband had been to the supermarket and brought me flowers.  I like him... a lot.

The colour of these is really lovely.

So I did do something at the weekend.... thank God for phone photos.