Odds and ends

Mothers’ Day

How is the best way to spend Mothering Sunday in the UK?  At sixes and sevens, of course.

Partner-who-loves-tea didn’t get these!

 But she did get home with four new pair!  

I should point out that she hasn't bought any shoes for ages - she isn't quite Imelda Marcos!

Mac and Annabel

As I write there is a scratching noise coming from under the bed in the study.   It's Annabel but heaven alone knows what she is up to.  Mac, meanwhile, is downstairs playing with his favourite toy.

You lick my head, I'll lick yours...

 Spring

The air temperature is still cold but we have had a day or two of sunshine and a day or two of clouds combined with a day or two of rain – typical British weather really.  But Spring is most decidedly on the way – the Daffodils are out and everywhere is sea of yellow.

A Monday Meander

Chronic Pain

 I wish I had thought of this reply when arguing with the Dept. of Work and Pensions before I retired. 

If the drier goes can the toaster be far behind? 

A couple of years ago I upset the Gods of Gadgets and everything went belly up within a short space of time.  One of those things was the boiler.  Fortunately a nice little man fixed it.  Now, however, it has packed up again – this time for good.  (He did warn us his fixing would only keep it going twelve months or so).  Yesterday the tumble drier groaned to a halt as well.  No heating and no tumble dryer and cold rainy weather.  Not a good recipe for getting clothes dry.  What concerns me even more is that this could be the start of another spate of gadget deaths.  I wonder how I offended the Gadget Gods this time – it certainly wasn’t consciously done.

Pensby

I live in Pensby on The Wirral peninsula in Cheshire, England, the UK.  Pensby is non-place in that it has few facilities and little history (having in the 18^th Century simply been a scattering of a few houses, farms and a Hall). Its two main facilities are the Library and the Post Office.   

This month the library opening hours have been reduced by 50% so that it is now closed on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday afternoon and Sunday.    

The number of books available is also being gradually reduced.

 

When Partner-who-loves-tea and I went into the Post Office this morning there was a questionnaire on the counter asking for views on changes to Post Office opening hours.  To my amazement they are planning to increase the number of hours the Post Office is open.  Having checked that the Postmaster is happy with the proposed changes of hours I shall give them my support.   

However, one of the main things I get from the Post Office is special commemorative stamps.  If the changes go ahead as planned they will no longer be available from our Pensby Post Office.  The counters will also be open and no longer screened.   Whilst I like that idea in theory I worry that the large amounts of cash in a Post Office could invite the sort of armed robbery that has occurred in our local off-licence.  People are rarely physically hurt in these robberies but the mental and emotional anguish they cause the staff is considerable.  Ah well, perhaps I’m just being an old fogey and worrying too much.  I hope so.

A Parcel from Li

A student from China, Dai Li, has become a friend of mine over the past year or so and she is kind enough to remember to write me postcards even when on top of Mt Fujiyama on her holidays.  In December she sent me a parcel which arrived yesterday.   

It had a photo of her, taken on Christmas Eve, some lovely postcards (including a wooden Giant Panda), pretty envelopes (also featuring Giant Pandas) and two stuffed toy Giant Pandas.  Part of the delay in it arriving was caused by it having been opened by the Chinese customs.  Perhaps they took the ‘Contents – Giant Pandas’ literally!  

It makes you :-)

 I'm Watching You!

Some more of Mac and Annabel

Mac on a rug in front of the fire with a hand to stroke him.  What more could a cat want?

 

It’s the Year of the Sheep so Annabel is meeting the sheep that belongs to Partner-who-loves-tea.  (I can’t get used to calling her Partner-who-tends-minds).

Oh goody!  Mice!!

Helping write the blog…

...and helping send postcards.

Now this is one serious selfie!

"If I get up this close am I still in focus?"

"No - but you still look sweet".

Have a Lie In, Put the Kettle on, or say hello to a Pig.

 Photo courtesy of Nikola Hristovski

"Throughout March it is National Bed Month in the UK -  time for a lie in before learning about the importance of a good night's sleep!  Organised by The Sleep Council, the month aims to remind us all of why a sound sleep is good for our health.

Forget the old saying that if "You snooze, you loose."  It's thought that a good sleep has amazing properties that make you healthier and happier, and can even add years to your life!

At the Sleep Council website, you can find out all about the essentials you need to have the perfect sleep, and of course, the right bed should be your number one priority.  In 1988 a ground breaking study found that by switching an uncomfortable old bed to a lovely new one meant an extra 42 minutes of sleep!
You can put your own bed through an MOT at the site and find out if changing it could lead to better sleep!

I love it when I've changed the bed linen and it has that lovely spring fresh smell.  There's no better time to snuggle up under a cosy duvet!  There are also lots of hints and tips on how you can improve your night time regime and get more shut eye.

So lie back, relax, and have much more than forty winks this National Bed Month! "

This week is also Time for  Cuppa week, organised by Dementia UK.  

"Time for a Cuppa - Mmm, is there anything better than a cup of tea? No matter what, it just seems to make everything better!  And that's what Dementia UK are working to do: make things better for both people with dementia and their carers. There are around 820,000 people in the UK with dementia.  People with dementia gradually lose their memory.  This can mean forgetting all sorts of things, like who people are, and activities like washing, cooking and other things.

If dementia has touched you, there's no denying that it's heartbreaking. But Dementia UK can offer support that will ease and soften the load.  All they need now - is you!   Either in a small or larger gathering, round up some people to enjoy a nice cuppa and a good old chinwag.  And what makes every cup of tea?  A delicious cake or biscuit of course!

So ... once you have requested your fundraising pack and registered your event online you'll receive a pack of delicious recipes and lots of information about how you can make your event a success.  Remember to ask each person for a donation - every £15 raised will pay for the Dementia UK helpline to provide special support for a carer.   Find out more about Time for a Cuppa and information about making your donation by visiting the official website.

Why not set up a crossword competition too?  Statistics show that doing crosswords keeps the brain active and helps prevent memory loss.  Now what that clue to 1 across again ..."

And today is also National Pig Day in the USA!    National Pig Day???   Yes, that's right!