Wordless Wednesday: younger days.

THIS IS PART OF Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday.

Brittany Day 2

We awoke to utter silence…. Honest silence!

And stunning pastoral views. We made our way down stairs to be met by a happy Ruby.

Well we were very lucky with our Gite which though basic was very comfy and well equipped.

What to do on our first day. After breakfast I took Ruby for a walk while hubby drove to the village to pick up some supplies.

The walk was lovely and the weather was glorious. I set my sights on walking to a huge water tower before turning round. Ruby and I nearly got there but not far from our goal we passed a farm. Just as I was admiring the beautiful garden the back door of the farm house opened and two huge black dogs rushed. I immediately put Ruby on the lead, turned and started to walk back, I heard the farmer calling the dogs back. They approached us, Ruby ever a lady greeted the older dog, he then left, the second dog a large Bullmastiff puppy was more persistent. The farmer called him, Ruby ignored him, me I was scared because he barking and jumping up at us, finally the puppy returned to his master and I said a rude word!

The rest of the walk was uneventful.

We spent the rest of the day, sunbathing, walking Ruby…no more farm dog run ins. We also planned where we would go during the week.

We were amazed at how quiet the area was, so quiet and at night so dark! We could see stars and planets! 🌟

Ruby’s Snow Day.

It snowed, it snowed all day

It didn’t stop or blow away.

Ruby was so very excited

Come walk with me she invited.

Wearing her coat and carrying her ball.

She was snug and didn’t mid the snow at all.

Here we are at the end of the day

Ruby all snug dreaming of her day at play.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: GARDENS, BIRTHDAYS AND CANALS

Come on I am ready for coffee!

 

Hello  everyone  welcome  to  the garden  we have a marquee  and  heaters, all the garden  furniture  has  been washed  and  I have put out cushions for your  comfort.

Well what  do  you  think  shall  we  chance  it . Now  as  always  we have  tea  and coffee  from all over  the world not to mention all our cakes  and muffins  and  as Paul  calls  them sweets! Every single  one  is  calorie  free! Plus of course  we now have spirits  and liquors  to warm the coldest of  you.

If we were having  Coffee: I would ask  you what  has been going on in your world this week, has  anything  deeply affected  you, have  you need a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry  on or  just  needed someone  to make  you laugh! If  yes  feel free to talk it out  here  with us. We will all help if  we can.

Join in !

If we were having Coffee: I would  remind  you  that  there  are lots of  other  coffee mornings  all shared  and organized  By  Diana  and  Gene’O  over at,Part time monster  

If  we were having Coffee:  Well it has been  a busy  week  and I have  quite  a lot  to report  but  firstly  let me  get  you  all settled  down  with  a drink  and something  to eat . So far  this  week  I have  been to the  gym  four  times (  not  as  much  as usual) I have today  off  because my trainer  is on holiday  in Crete  and  so I  don’t have  to go  to Core  Class …Excuse  me  while I  let  a whoop  of  joy! As  much as  I  take  my training  seriously  and I realize that  if  I  don’t  go my  back  will suffer  I am always  happy  to have a day off!

Monday  I had  to  go  to the  dentist  which  is  not much  fun  and hard  on the purse! We  do have NHS  dentists which  patients  do pay  for  but  at a much reduced  rate. It  is hard  to get on to  their  books  so  many people including us   have  to use  private  dentists  who  are much  more  expensive ! But  that is  life isn’t it.

If  we were having Coffee: On Wednesday  the husband  and I decided  to  go  for  a walk along  a  canal near  where  we live. The  weather  was lovely  and  we  saw  some cows  ducks, swans  and  lots of  narrow  boats. We  were  lucky  enough  to be  at  a lock  just  as  a narrow boat  approached  so  we sat  on  the bench  and watched  their  progress  through the lock.  We  had a chat  with  the people  on the  boat  who  said  they  had  been  living on the  boat  for  six  month  periods  but  were  seriously  thinking of  making it permanent. They had  both  given up  work  and if  they  were  not  too extravagant they  managed  very  well. They  had a little  dog   and  also  a 6 week old duck  which  they  had  adopted  the  day it had  hatched ( no  parents) and  were considering  renaming  the  boat  The  Dog  and Duck ! We had  to smile  as that  is a common  name  for a pub.

The Duck

Deep in the lock

A gull in flight

The Cows that tried to block our path

Two beautiful Swans

The lock filling up.

It  was  a lovely  day,  the  weather  was fantastic   and  we  enjoyed  the people  and  animals  we  met,  though  the  Cows were  rather large! But  I  just  firmly  asked  they  to  move  and  they  did …I  think they  were  just  showing off! After  we had  had our  walk  we had  a lovely  pub  lunch! It  was a wonderful  day out  with the husband,  who  all credit  to him  had  planned it  from  start  to  finish!

If  we  were having  Coffee : Its  time  to bore  you  with  the  weekly  garden  pictorial  update.

 

 

 

The Rockery

More of the rockery

Bushes

Flowering Bush

The old white Rose tree

Our Raised Bed

Potatoes and Beans

Close up

Tomato soldiers

Beans in the pot

The roses out the front.

As  you  can see  everything is  growing  well …. please  note  I  know  the names of  all my  plants NOT!!

If  we  were having coffee : 

I  tell  you  that o  Thursday  my  friend  L  and  I  went over  to  visit  my  sort of  sister  ( best  friends for  49yrs) to  celebrate her up coming  birthday  later  this month. Last  Thursday  was  the only  day  we could  all get together  so  we  went  to  Windsor   and  had  afternoon  tea! Just Like  proper ladies!

Girls afternoon tea

After  tea  we had  a look round  the shops !! Again it was a lovely  day  so  had fun chatting  as  we walked!

Now If  we were having  coffee : I  don’t  want  you getting  the idea   that I am an airhead with nothing  better  to do  than swan around  having  lunch  and tea  (  as  much as I would  like  to)  I am  a normal busy  woman with lots of ups  and downs in my  life. Family  , friends, life in general  throws  all the usual grief  and trials  my  way  I just  choose  to  try and  keep  them off of  my  coffee  days  with  you my  friends. I  am aware of  all the awful  things  happening  around  the  world  and near  to home  here in England. I do  mention these  things on occasion   but  mostly  I  hope I  can entertain you  with  the happier  side of  life  like  these!

Little monsters

Yum Yum

Right  Lets  go  and visit  Paul  and his  friends  they are  all having  fun here  too lets  see  what  , interesting,  thought provoking   and happy  stories  Paul  has  for us  today. Do  all stay  and  be comfortable   we love  to see  you  all.

 If we were having Coffee Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

And of course  the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time  Monster  and Gene’O’s

Drink Coffee Be Happy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Jot it January: Foggy Haikus

My big sister told  me  to lighten up  so  here I am trying!

January Haiku

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking in the fog

Damp, dull and  foggy Twilight

Short steps,long steps join,

Head home cozy for the night .

 

Cold fingers, cold toes, red nose

Mist  as  you breath out

Keep moving keep warm, eyes close.

 

This post is part of Just Jot It January hosted by Linda G Hill.

Thanks for tuning in and if you want to join, feel free to click on the link and start jotting!

 

 

If we were having Coffee: Walks, War, Friends and Flowers

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsq8LbRVa4YQhSTj1nP55NLaeJNMUTDt6pti-UtkxnEJ9QyTSH

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/dd/8c/99/dd8c9987b3072c82f2a17b16f20be64a.jpg

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would tell that I have no idea  where  the week  has gone! The  days  have just flown by and all I have  to show for  it  is  an exhausted  look on  my  face. I  just seem to have been chasing  my  tail  all week, (well I would  of if I owned one). Monday  was lovely  because I got  my first  invite  for coffee  with my  daughter in law, her  Mum and of course  the Newbie. We had a  good time  and  the conversation  flowed. The  Newbie  looked  so  smart  in his  striped top  and little  trousers… Babies  are dressed  like little  grown ups  theses  days  gone  is  the matinee Jacket and  the baby grow!

I remember  how we used  to dress our  babies,  we  kept them in  baby grows  until  they  were at  least  eighteen months. Of  course  nothing stands  still and  and  fashion most definitely  waits  for no one, not even a Newbie . Yes  time  marches  on  and  all I can say  is  he looks  very  smart  on  it!

Tuesday  was  housework  after  the gym, got all the floors  down stairs  washed  and buffed   no  mean feat  for  me ! The  weather  is still unusually  hot  for this  time of year  it is unusual  for  this part  of the world  full  stop! Here in England  we are more used  to rain  and low temperatures then more rain. .. Hark  at  me  you  can’t  get  more English  than  moaning  about  the weather.  🙂

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE:  I would  have to say  just how saddened I am  by  the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Now I do  know  this is  a very  heavy  subject  for our  coffee get together’s  and I have no wish  to ruffle any feathers but I am so distressed  by  the nightly  reports  from the BBC  and ITV  .

http://www.imemc.org/attachments/jul2014/childrencrying11.jpg

I realize  that  Israel needs  to protect  it’s  citizens  from Hamas  bombs  and terrorists yet  it all seems  so David  and Goliath . I am  not qualified  to comment  really   but as always it is the women and  the children  who  are suffering . I realize  the  men are suffering  to   but the the children  have not  asked Hamas  to Bomb  Israel, the children have  not asked Hamas  to build a network  of tunnels  under  their  homes  nor  under  their  schools.

The  children  have not asked Israel to drop leaflets  telling  them where  to go  to  be safe   then  to drop  the bombs  on that place.  The  old have seen it all before, the men and woman  have no choice  but to cope. Trapped  within  Gaza all frontiers  closed  to them. Hamas seem to be using  the innocents   as protection, again  I  say  this is only  what  appears  to the untrained eye  of mine.

Israel  have  huge shields and superior weaponry a  lot  funded  by  rich  countries  who I cannot name  because  again I have no got full command  of the facts .

Why can  we  not live together  in this world, why  can  we not share  and share alike. Why can’t neighbour   not live  with neighbour. I said  all this  to  my  friend  while  we were at  the gym  yesterday  and  she told  me I was an idealist, she smiled  and almost  laughed as if I was a child  who did not understand  what I am saying.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1937165/thumbs/n-YAMAKA-HIJAB-medium.jpg  If only .

I know  the Israelis have every  right  to live  where  they do , and I realize  if  we were being constantly  fired at  by  the Isle of Wight  we would  fight back. I understand  that the Israelis have backing  from rich  countries , I know they have contacts  with clout. I see  that  their  government is protecting  them well, I understand. I see their  grief  too I grieve  for them.

I also see that the Palestinians are  being hit harder in every way, I see that  Hamas  does  not seem to care  about  them, they appear  to be expendable …. why  , why  does Hamas   not  protect  them…. soon there  may  be no one left  alive  to even claim Gaza.

Again I say I do not fully  understand  the in and outs  , I do not want  to argue  or  hurt  anyone  either   but why, is it always  the innocents  who suffer, all over  the world in every  war zone  it is the same.

I am so far away  and yet I live in fear, I am afraid  of the future I do not want Sharia  law in this country, I do not want  war, I do not want  Russia  or China  to invade  ….. PLEASE PLEASE  COULD  WE NOT  LIVE  TOGETHER IN PEACE. 

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE : I would say, sorry  for getting  so heavy,  and offer  you a biscuit  and  say  we had  better  change  the subject.

We  had friends  round  for dinner  on Thursday evening.  We had steak, yup  good old fashioned  steak! What  did we have with the steak? saute  potatoes,  mushrooms, onions, carrots and peas. Followed  by a special  apple  pie and custard!

It was a special evening   because  we had not seen this couple  for about 10 yrs. Their  eldest lad and our youngest  had  been friends at school and beyond. But  when our lad  moved away  and  as we were all working  we just lost touch as our paths  never crossed.  Well it  may of  stayed that way  had  not the husband  bumped into one of  the couple  while out exercising  the guide dog  he walks twice a week. Well the two men got to chatting as men walking their dogs  do  and after a while it dawned on them both  that  the knew each other.

Long  story short they came round  for dinner  and I think  the meal was a success, well it was all eaten up! We spent the whole time discussing children ( no longer children) weddings, births, jobs retirement  and generally  putting the world to rights!  Oh! if only  world peace were that easy.

Special Old English Apple pie!

Teddy.

 

 

Bovine Family

 

Flowers on the street

The Hanging Basket.

Allisum and Roses growing from the pavement.

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would  offer  you some special old English apple  pie, there is just enough left  for you to have a taster ! Like it? well I shall post  the recipe  Monday.  While  we are chatting I  must  tell  you that on Wednesday I had coffee  with a friend  after  we had finished  chatting  and done a little shopping  we headed  back  to her house  and  took Teddy out for a long country walk. Who  is Teddy, well he is  the handsome  chap  up  above  the photo on the right  next to the apple pie. He  belongs  to  my friend’s daughter who was away  with her family  for a little holiday and  my friend was looking after him.

Well we set off down the road across the railway crossing  and off on to a road I had  never noticed  before. The sun was very  hot  but luckily  for us  the trees spread right across the road affording us a canopy  and thus shading our  way. Well what a treasure  trove  this road turned out to be with views  of rolling countryside, a lake with ducks  and ducklings, and a field with a bovine  family resting in the shade. there were two cows with a calf  each and most unusually  a huge bull. You can see him in the photo above  he is the sleepy  brown and white guy  to the front of  the picture  laying  down. He  was huge  and I was very pleased  that there was a sturdy  fence between us  and him!

We had a delightful  walk  and the most  amazing thing  about it  was that  although it was so quiet  and peaceful there nothing but countryside as far as the eye could  see we were in truth never any more  than five minutes  away from the hustle  and bustle  of  our  town!

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: I would tell you how lovely  our town looks right  now, all the gardens  in bloom  and the roads in town itself  are all decorated  with hanging baskets  and  pots on doorsteps  and even in one of  the streets Allisum  and Roses growing up and out of  the pavement (sidewalk  if  you are American) There is a little picture  of this above  too!

If we were having coffee I’d ask  you : would you like another  cuppa, or  a biscuit . I’d  tell you I have really  come to enjoy  these chats  and I’d  love  to hear  what you would  tell me , If we were having Coffee  Original idea  from  http://parttimemonster.wordpress.com/

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs51/PRE/i/2009/309/a/d/__Coffee_Time___by_LovingDali.jpg