Nice Matters Award

I have jut been given the above award by Val of  There is a Season.    I am honoured and very touched. Thank you so much Val.  Here is what she had to say about me:-

Jeannette:  Jeannette shares with us her poignant poetry and stories and beautiful photography in her blog.  She has also shared her journey with breast cancer treatment.  She allowed us to follow her to her appointments.  She champions animal and hunger causes and has a large readership.  She is a joy to read and a joy to know!

 

This is what this award is all about:-

 

This award will be given to those that are just nice people, good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings.  Those that care about others, that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence on our blogging world.

 

Now it falls to me to pass it on to others whom I think deserve it.  This is so hard, I know so many of you that I cannot choose you all, but those I give it to also have to pass it on to others so, hopefully, many of you will end up getting it from someone.

 

Here are my choices:-

 

Guido:  His journal is   Northern Trip  Guido does regular hurricane reports, give us news that we might otherwise miss, posts photographs, is collating the names of the fallen in two World Wars on the Isle of Lewis, runs a permanent web cam.  Guido is a very caring person, he does regular calls for support for all those in J-Land who are ill, going through bad times or have lost a relative or a pet.  A real asset to J-Land.

 

Here is your award Guido:-

 

 

Sugar:  Sugar has several journals one of which is 

 

A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR, PLEASE...

 

Sugar created a beautiful journal in honour of all our departed J-Land pets, she gives regular tips on caring for pets, she supports cancer charities and animal charities.  She posts inspirational verses on her Praise and Prayer journal and also adds people in need to her prayer list. She also now makes some lovely graphics.  Sugar has been through many health problems but always thinks of others and does so much to make J-Land a better place for us all.  Well done Sugar!

 

Sandra:  Her journal is   Sandra`s Scribbles    Sandra always keeps us entertained with the stories of her little Grandson, Roman, and her family life in  general, what goes on in her neighbourhood  and her place of work.  She also writes of her holidays and trips abroad and has shared some beautiful photographs with us.  Always a pleasure to read and a truly nice person who has always been there for me by IM, e-mail or on the telephone. Congratulations, Sandra.

 

Sunny:  Not only does she write her own journal called 

i shall overcome   but it was Sunny that came up with the idea of starting J-Land Angels, a memorial journal to all those dear friends we have lost from our journalling world.  It was a wonderful idea and has shown what a very caring person Sunny is.  I was happy to choose her.

 

Jan:   Jan writes the journal   Serendipity .  Always entertaining with tales of the fens, photographs, stories of the old people that she has looked after.  Her journal is a delight to read and she has been a good friend to me, phoning me up when I was going through bad times.  A really caring person.  I have no hesitation in passing the award to her.

 

Lastly comes Barbara who writes Life & Faith in Caneyhead.  Barbara also started the Sisters in Christ journal where we can  all add inspirational postings such as a poem or a graphic or anything uplifting.  Barbara also sends out a daily bulletin for those in need of prayer  for whatever trouble they might be experiencing.  That way we can all remember each other when we talk to the Lord.  Always encouraging, always helpful.  She is an inspiration to many and a very worthy person to receive this award.

 

So, Sugar, Sandra, Sunny, Jan and Barbara here is your award:-

 

 

Now it is up to the six of you to pass the baton along to others.   Pick some journals that you would like to see recognised in this way and make some people happy. The maximum is seven people but you can do one or two, whatever feels right for you.

 

I wish I could have picked you all!  You are all deserving in one way or another in my opinion.  Please, dear readers and friends, take a couple of minutes to call around at the blogs I have mentioned to leave  your congratulations.

 

The Walton Horse ~ A Personal Remembrance

I was seven years old when we first met. A skinny little thing that could have been blown over by a strong breeze. I was alone. He was one of many on that garish carousel.

For a while I just stood and watched it go around and around but eventually I handed my money to the carousel barker and chose my horse. Why him? I have no idea. They all seemed much of a muchness with their prancing hooves and their gaudy colours. Maybe he was different. Maybe his face was a little kinder than the rest, not so fierce looking. I climbed aboard his hard back and soon we were off, up and down, around and around. From that moment I knew he was mine. I knew I could never own him but he was mine, as if he had been waiting for me since he was first created.

I drank in every detail of him, every chip in the paintwork, every colour, every line of his manufactured body. When the ride came to an end I stayed on and continued to stay on until my money ran out. Then I whispered in his wooden ear that I would be back tomorrow.

I was on holiday with my parents but I could tell that, in reality, they wanted this time to themselves, not have me dragging along with them all the time. So, every morning I played alone on the beach and every afternoon my Dad gave me money and told me to take myself off to the amusements.

I was not interested in the cranes that grabbed for soft toys, watches or sweets. I was not interested in the penny machines where you might win something back. No, I only wanted him.

The second afternoon I returned. I knew him immediately with that instinct that maybe only a child has. We became friends. I knew he was wooden and could never speak but I felt he could hold all my secrets. So up and down and around and around we went passing each time a grimy window where I could see the sea and the sun scintillating on the water.

I would lean forward with my arms wrapped around him, no longer holding the reins. I laid my cheek upon his neck. I dreamed he would fly me away, far away to another land where little girls were not lonely, little girls were not bullied, little girls were not afraid,  little girls did not have to experience dreadful things.  Yes, he would carry me on his back to a magic land where bad things never happened. Sometimes the tears would run down my face and  fall in drops on his shining surface. I would wipe them away from my face and from his body with my hand -  in the hope that nobody would see.

I told him how I wished my life could be, of all the things I wanted to do when I was older,  of my friendlessness. I told him how he was the only one that I could talk to and I knew that he could never tell tales on me, never get me into trouble. I could trust him completely.

So every afternoon I spent with my friend. It came to the point where, when my money had run out, the barker let me ride for free. I think he sensed my loneliness and took pity on me. I became friends with him as well but I was very shy and we only exchanged odd words and smiles.

Of course, it could not last, after two weeks the holiday came to an end. I remember there were tears in my eyes as I walked to that carousel on that last morning. It was with a heavy heart I climbed aboard. I told my painted companion that I was leaving, maybe we would never meet again and I told him I loved him. Yes, I loved him. Our parting broke my heart.

After that, there were many times when I lay trembling in my bed and I pictured him in my mind over and over again. I used to imagine he would tear himself loose from his gilded pole and come galloping to my rescue, that he would know exactly where to find me and would make everything alright. I used to dream of him at night, dream that I was on his back again riding into a golden place, a place where happiness reigned.

In fact I was to see him again and for several years. My parents liked the place and were happy to make it their yearly holiday spot.

Oh the joy of running to that carousel the following year and finding him still there. I imagined he looked pleased to see me, as if he knew me from all the hundreds that had ridden him since.

So it continued until I was just short of twelve years old. I was still telling him my secrets although life had moved on since then, some situations had changed, others remained the same. In those days, at that age, you were still very much a child. I said my goodbye to him that year with the same sinking feeling but content in the fact I would see him the following year -  convinced that nothing could part us.

Alas, it was not to be. That year my parents  decided they wanted to holiday somewhere else. I was devastated although I could not tell them why. That holiday I found another carousel but I did not want to ride it. It was not my carousel, there were no horses that were like him. Instead I went off for long walks by myself.

So I lost my gilded friend. I often thought of him throughout the passage of time. I wondered what children were riding him now. I hoped that none were as unhappy as I had been.

However, I did see him again. When our daughter was around the same age as I had first been, she was taken by us on  a day trip to that same strip of English seaside. We took her into the amusements and I stood stock still in amazement. There was the carousel looking almost as I had left it. It had been re-painted, that was the only change, but he was still there , his white coat gleaming and I knew him immediately.

Our daughter ran straight to this ride and climbed aboard. She did not pick my horse. She had no preference. I watched her going around and around as I had once done. She sat upright with her head thrown back in laughter, waving to everybody. After a couple of rides she got bored, she wanted to try other amusements. She ran off. In my heart I was so glad for her. Glad that she never went through the bad times I had been through, glad she was outgoing, glad that she needed no wooden friend to ease her pain. Glad I had made sure her life was better.

I watched her run to the next attraction and whilst the carousel stood still and I made sure nobody could see me, I went to my old companion and stood before him. I told him that after all these years I had come back. I told him I had never forgotten him.

I did not ride him. I knew somehow it would not be right. I could never recapture those times, they were memories now for both of us or that is how it seemed to me. I stepped up and touched his painted black hoof and thanked him, thanked him for making the bad times more bearable. Thanked him for the hours of pleasure he gave to an unhappy little girl, thanked him for being my loyal friend. I took my final goodbyes.

I walked away. I did not look back because I now knew that in life there is no going back, we can only go on. Whatever life holds for us, we can only go on.

As far as I know he is galloping still on his endless ride to nowhere but he is in my heart and always will be. I think he is etched deep into my very soul. Just a  simple painted horse, a piece of carved and coloured wood but he meant the world to me, so much so that I cried doing this entry and remembering with such clarity how things were.

This And That

The winners have been announced for the AOL Community Photo Challenge.  No, I was not one of those placed but when you see the winning entry it is not surprising.  A superb photo. My Dutch Cottage could not compare to it.

In my little corner of England we do not have the vast open spaces that they do in the U.S.  Living less than forty miles from London and being on the commuter belt means that this area is something of an urban sprawl.

Yes, we do have pockets of countryside and we do have some historic buildings but there are not that many compared to other places and our countryside is ever shrinking.

Also, due to my problems with leaving the house I can only take photos that are not far from my home.  As many of you know I only usually leave the house for doctors and hospital appointments and that is when I take my camera.  If things go well then I am usually relaxed enough to take a short drive around but I cannot leave my comfort zone (i.e. places that I know well) without having an awful panic attack.  I cannot even visit our daughter in her own home.

I have had all treatments known to cure or alleviate the condition but nothing has ever worked.  I do mean I have tried everything and so has my doctor.  From drugs to hynotherapy, from relaxtion techniques to spiritual healing, from counselling to acupuncture and many more besides. I have learned to live with it.  We all have our crosses to bear.

However, it was a bit of fun to enter the competition and gave me a journal entry to do and I was happy to take part in something I had not tried before.  I will probably not enter again - like I said, I just cannot compete with some of the beautiful shots I have seen sent in and my restricted lifestyle does not help matters. Also I have already exhausted all the shots I can take in this area and any picture submitted has to be a new one.

If you would like to see the winning photographs and congratulate the photographers then please visit:-

AOL Community Photo Challenge

Still on the theme of the Dutch Cottage, many of you asked me to go inside and take photographs.  This is simply not possible.  Remember, this is somebody's home.  For one thing I would think that inside photography would be forbidden.  Secondly I do not think the owners would take it kindly if we took lots of snaps and then put them here on the internet for anyone to see.  I am sure you can understand this.  Would you like a total stranger coming into your home, photographing everything and then publishing the pictures?  So, like I said - not possible.

On my previous entry I posted a photo of a property that had pargetting  (decorative plasterwork) on it.  Many of you commented that you had never heard of it or seen it.  So, today I am showing you another example.  This photograph was taken from the net.

It is of an old house in Suffolk which is now a museum.  Mike and I visited it many years ago.  A charming place and the pargetting spectacular.  It is nice to know that this skill is still going strong today.

Well, I do not really have much else to write about.  All very quiet in my neck of the woods so I will leave you today with some amusing pieces that have actually appeared on some church bulletin boards or were announced during church services. I hope they make you smile.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Bring your husbands

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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.  Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say hell to somebody who doesn't care much about you.

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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.  They need all the help they can get.

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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church.  So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?"  Come early and listen to our choir practise.

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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

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Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.  Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m.  Please use the back door.

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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use large double door.

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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: " I upped my pledge - up yours."

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Oh, before I go.  The weekend saw my hit counter top the 150,000 mark!  There was a time I thought I would never get it to 1,000.  Thanks to all of you who have read my writings, supported me through the years and got me to this remarkable figure. It would not have been possible without you.

 

Some Photos

This photo was not taken be either Mike or myself. It was sent to me in some graphics and is so beautiful I wanted to use it.

I mentioned that after I left the doctors on Thursday morning we had a short drive around the area.  It was bitterly cold so we did not stay out too long. I always take my camera with me when I venture out and and I was glad that I did, it makes a change for me to take some photographs.

I love interesting properties even if they are new ones.  If they have something unique about them then they are my cup of tea.

I decided to share with you today the pictures that I took then.  There are two shots of each property.  This first one built in.................well  you can see the date, I could not fit it in completely as it stands on a road that is very narrow and on the other side is a ditch and a fence so you cannot get back far enough.

The next property I chose because I love pargetting.  There are many towns and villages in Essex and, indeed, in many parts of England that have properties decorated with this charming plasterwork.   We came across this one by chance.  It is on a very quiet lane that does not get a lot of traffic, so when we pulled up outside, the lady of the house looked out of the window.  She must have wondered what we were up to!  I felt uneasy about invading her privacy so I asked Mike to go and knock and tell her that we loved pargetting and taking photos of unusual properties in general and also ask if she would mind us taking a couple of pictures.  She beamed.  She was very happy to show it off to us and waved us on our way when the shots had been taken.

She even took us round to the side of the property so that we could see this.

The last property is one of the oldest in this area.  It was being inhabited in 1440  but was probably built at least a couple of years before then. It once belonged to the Earl of Warwick.  Although the windows seem to look covered as if they have paper over them, they are, in fact, lace curtains. 

Can you imagine the history this place has seen - 600 years of it, countless monarchs, the plague, the great fire of London, world wars.  Far too much to mention.  It is wonderful to know it has stood firm through all these centuries and through countless troubles and is still being inhabited today.  I would love to live there.  From the other side, it looks completely different.

I wonder if a ghost or two wanders its corridors!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these photos.  Oh, I did get one more tranquil picture just as the light improved.

I meant to mention before that Daniel had his follow-up appointment at Great Ormond Street last Wednesday.  They are very pleased with his progress and how the wound is healing and do not want to see him again for two months. Great news.

Wishing you all , dear friends and readers, a great weekend.

Congratulations In Order

This coming Sunday, Krissy's husband, John, celebrates a very special anniversary.  It is two years since he had his bone marrow transplant.

He has been through so much since then but showed remarkable, not to say astounding courage.  He is an inspiration and so is Krissy who has stood by him like a rock.

I am so happy for both of them.  If you would like to give John your congratulations then please visit him. Yes, he actually started his own journal whilst undergoing some really bad times.

I know I can depend on you all to show your support. Here is his link.

too stubborn to die

 

Play The Game!

Today I have a new link on my sidebar.  Some of you will have seen it on Barbara's journal and some will have seen it on Guido's.  However, for those of you who have not visited either, I wish to point it out.  It is a word game.  For every word you get right, grains of rice are donated to feed the hungry.  You can also go to the homepage, read where the rice goes, statistics etc.  A very worthy cause and I am going to use it regularly.  Just click on the pale green graphic and it will take you there.

Well, at last we have some sunshine. Hazy but definitely sunshine and some blue in the sky.  This morning when I went to the doctors it was very overcast and very chilly.  He is very pleased with my progress but has prescribed different medication to be taken for a week to ensure my problem is cleared up completely.  So, fingers crossed that this second lot of meds works wonders as I do not want a referral to the hospital.

We did go for a drive around afterwards and I took a couple of snaps.  Only a couple of properties.  If they come out o.k. I might put them on here. I decided against landscapes in general because it was so grey and the trees so bare and bleak looking.

Since then I have been catching up on all the mail and playing the rice game.  So I need to get off here and do something with the house, like dusting and tidying.  Actually I feel quite tired.  I always do when I have had a medical appointment, it is the tension that does it.  I really feel like curling up for a nice nap but somehow I do not think any fairies will pop by and do the cleaning for me.

I am glad you liked the picture of Jack I posted yesterday. He is very handsome, just like our late Pip was.  But then I consider all my animals handsome.

Cannot believe it it nearly the weekend again.  Got a sausage casserole in the slow cooker and the smell is making me so hungry!

The Original J-Land Photo Shoot With Krissy

The theme this week is black and white.  I only have one thing that is truly black and white and that is...........................

Jack

He loves having his picture taken.

If anybody wishes to participate then please visit:-

Sometimes I Think

 

Did You Know?

The above is an early print of The Monument in London.  It was built by Sir Christopher Wren to commemorate the Great Fire of London which started in a Baker's Shop in Pudding Lane on the 2nd September 1666.

The conflagration raged for several days and by the time it was extinguished it had destroyed four-fifths of the City of London including St. Paul's Cathedral and eighty-seven churches.

The Monument has 311 steps to the viewing platform from which there is a wonderful view over London. Standing at 202 feet, it is the tallest isolated stone column in the world.  The viewing platform was encased by iron railings after it became a favourite attraction for people wishing to commit suicide.

The top is capped by a gilt bronze flaming urn to represent the fire but did you know that Christopher Wren originally intended to put a statue of King Charles the Second on the summit?  The King was not amused fearing that people would think he had instigated the inferno.  He declined the offer telling Wren "I didn't start the fire!"  The Monument stands on the site of the first church to be burned down.

The Top Hat.  Did you know that this caused pandemonium when it was first invented? Today it is worn regularly at weddings, grand occasions and the like.  It was an offence in England to wear one and nobody knows for sure whether this law has ever been repealed so, technically, it could still be an offence.

In 1797 a London haberdasher  named John Hetherington came up with the idea of the Topper.  He was so pleased with it that he decided to take a drive through London to show it off to all and sundry.  People found the sight of his hat very shocking, many booed him and it is said that several ladies actually fainted, crowds gathered and a little boy had his arm broken in the crush.

John Hetherington was arrested and charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of the King's peace in that "he did appear on the public highway wearing upon his head a tall structure which had a shining lustre and was calculated to frighten timid people."  Hetherington was found guilty and was fined the sum of fifty pounds which was an enormous amount of money in those times.  It was not until later that his new headwear caught the public imagination.

So, poor Fred Astaire "putting on his top hat" could have been breaking English law!

 

It is done all over the world - people hailing taxis (cabs).  Did you know that in England it is actually illegal to hail a taxi whilst it is in motion?  You are supposed to go to a taxi rank where cabs are waiting for passengers.

There are some strange rules and laws relating to cabs and their drivers.  Drivers are supposed to carry out a sort of rudimentary medical examination of any passengers that they carry.  They are certainly required to ask them before they board whether they are suffering from any diseases such as the smallpox or the plague!

If a passenger dies whilst in a cab then the driver is breaking the law because it is illegal to carry corpses.  Ever left something in a taxi by accident?  Then blame the driver.  It is his responsibility to search the cab when the passenger alights and hand back anything that has been left in the cab. It is not the responsibility of the passenger.

Until 1976 the law still required cabs to carry a bale of hay on the roof (to feed the horses) although, of course, nobody abided by this.  Likewise they are no longer required to carry a sack of oats or a nosebag.

It is against the law for a cab driver to make any insulting gestures.  If he drives too slowly he can be prosecuted for "loitering" and if he speeds through the traffic he can likewise be prosecuted for "furious driving."

I hope that you have enjoyed these three Did You Knows.  If you have I can come up with some more at another time.

These stories have been written in my own words but acknowledgements go to Christopher Winn and Nigel Cawthorne for the information taken from their books.

Community Photo Challenge -Hometown

AOL Community Photo Challenge

I have decided to enter the above in the amateur category. The theme is hometown. Click on the above link to learn more.

I took this picture a few days ago on one of my short jaunts out (on the way back from the doctor). I took it out of the car window.

The photo is of the Dutch Cottage, Essex, England. It has been known over the years as the Octagonal House and the Round House but is now to be known for all time as the Dutch Cottage.

Why have I chosen this particular image?  Well, it is only a couple of miles from me and does represent my hometown or the area in which I live.  The cottage was built in 1621 so it reminds me of the wonderful history we have in this country, stretching back thousands of years.  It reminds me that in this fast-paced and ever changing world there is and always should be a place for history.  I also love the quirkiness of the building.  There are only two others like it in the whole of England and one of them is a museum.

The reason it is circular or almost so?  The devil and any of his minions like to hide in corners.  No corners - complete protection from any evil.

It is owned by our local council who rent it out and I have never known it to be unoccupied in the 46 years I have lived in the area.  The tenants have to abide by one stipulation.  They have to make the property available (by appointment only) on Wednesday afternoons to anyone who wishes to view the interior.  Sad to say I have never been inside.

With its charm, its thatched roof and the beautiful trees and shrubs that surround it, it is a little slice of England and a little piece of history and it is in my area.

 

Bizarre Happenings

Taken from the Darwin Awards for Bizarre Behaviour

1. When his 38-calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California , would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire amazement.  He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honourable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat-cutting machine and submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company, expecting negligence, sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shovelled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the  space. Understandably - he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. (If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?)

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately,  the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan , at 5 a.m. flashed a gun and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a  food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away. (*A 5-star stupidity
award winner).

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline and plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

In the interest of bettering mankind, please share these with your friends and family... Unless of course it happens to be that one of these individuals is, by chance,  a distant relative or long-lost friend. In that case, be glad they are distant and hope they remain lost.

Thanks to my friend Susan for the above.

Tempestuous Tuesday

I certainly was not going to use a graphic that truly reflects the weather - awful.  No, something to brighten the day was called for.

I went to the doctor's this morning.  Getting out of the car we were nearly blown off our feet and we were also soaked by the time we walked around to the entrance.  Luckily I did not have to wait more than five minutes before I was called in to see him.

He is such a nice man, does not rush you, listens to all you have to say.  He examined me once again and has given me an ointment to use and also some oral medication - another couple of pharmaceutical products to add to my ever growing list! 

My stomach bug is a lot better but my stomach is still very tender so I am hoping that the oral medication does not set it going again.

I have to see him again in nine days time.  If there is little or no improvement after this round of treatment then he says he will refer me on to a specialist.  You can imagine how I felt when he said that!  I had hoped I was done with hospitals until April.  He could see I was upset by his remark and he understands perfectly.  He himself said I have been through so much in the last nine months that he can understand why I do not want to face anything more.  I did get a bit weepy and he was concerned because he said he missed seeing my "lovely smile" but he told me not to be too hard on myself.  I have had much to face and my resistance is low and fear haunts me at times.

I did come out feeling more re-assured but I can only hope that this treatment works and that a referral will not be necessary.  Those of you that believe and pray, please pray for me that this will work, I have had enough believe me.  I know you will all keep me in your thoughts during the next few days.  I want to come home in nine days time with NO referral if that is God's will.

Anyway, enoughof my moaning.  No good worrying, that will not help in any way.

We went for a short drive after we left the doctors.  Called in at the cemetery.  Lucky we did, all the flowers had been blown off my parents' resting place and Mike was able to rescue them and put them firmly back.

When we got home we happened to open our car doors at the same time, a gale of wind blew through our vehicle blowing my prescription down the road and Mike had to sprint after it!!

It is so dark we have the lights on, not good when the utility companies have just put all their prices up.  Roll on Spring.

Daniel started back at pre-school today.  He only has a dressing on now in case another child accidentally knocks him but usually he does without them.

Two more mice added to Leo's headcount.  Rescued unharmed and returned to the wild.  I cannot help but think he keeps catching the same ones , you would think they would have the sense to move on to somewhere safer.

Not much else to write about at this time but I will leave you with something a little more lighthearted.

Mujibar was trying to get a job in India.

The Personnel Manager said "Mujibar, you have passed all the tests except for one.  Unless you pass it you cannot qualify for this job."

Mujibar said "I am ready."

The Manager said "You must make up a sentence using the words yellow, pink and green."

Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said "Mister Manager, I am ready."

The Manager told him to go ahead.

Mujibar said, "The telephone he go green-green, green-green, green-green and I pink it up and say "yellow", this is Mujibar."

Mujibar now works at the call centre.

No doubt you have spoken to him.  I know I have.  

I hope that made you smile!

Wish me luck with my treatment, let us hope it does the trick.

Have a good week my dear friends and readers

Yuk!

I will be back in a few days.  I have a nasty stomach bug. Will probably have to put back my doctor's appointment until next week.  Not a good start to the year so far.

It was wonderful to see Daniel doing so well over the weekend.  He certainly is a tough little guy. Nothing seems to slow him down! 

He was into everything as usual.  He is by far the most fearless of the two boys.  He loves to climb on things and will find ingenious ways of getting to what he wants.  You have to have eyes in the back of your head.  He said he liked hospital because he made things.  He did, in fact, make two lovely keyrings, one for his Mummy and one for his Daddy.

Of course, all we get from Nathan now is that he wants to go into hospital as well!  Oh no, Nathan we can assure you that you do not.  He also keeps asking if he can have a plaster on like Daniel.   Daniel does not have plaster, he has steri-strips but plaster is the nearest that Nathan can get to it.

The boys are so different in personality. Nathan is the quiet one, tending to be on the shy side. Very much like me when I was young.  Dan Dan on the other hand, is very outgoing and far more adventurous.

Anway, we had a lovely afternoon with them and they made us laugh as they usually do.  They both entertained us with their dancing. The things they come out with.  Probably not funny to anyone else but a real hoot to us. We got out the bubble machine and they had a great time catching them.  They also managed to blow a few bubbles themselves much to their delight.

Sunday was just a quiet day for us.  I spent most of the time in bed as my neck and shoulder were very painful. They are both a lot better today but I am very depressed and down in myself.

I shall be arranging to see the doctor soon and discuss my medication.  I also have another problem which I wish to discuss with him but that is between him and me and I shall not be writing about it on here. I just hope it is something easily sorted out. Please keep me in your prayers.

We have gale force winds today. The sun was out earlier but has now disappeared and the sky is very grey. Ithink rain might be on the way. Well, the garden needs it, as rainfall has been very low in the last few weeks.

I had a strange comment on my last entry.    I wrote to the person concerned asking her to explain but no reply was forthcoming so I decided to delete the comment as it worried me and upset me.  I have enough on my plate right now without things like that bringing me down.

Leo gave us the present of two mice over the weekend, one on Saturday and one yesterday. They were unharmed and Mike set them free a little way from here.  Let us hope they have the sense not to come back because Leo will be waiting......

Well, that is about all I have to tell you at this time. I think this is a day for cuddling up with a book or catching up with some t.v. that I recorded.  On the other hand, maybe some music to drown out the sound of the wind.

Wishing you all a good week.

Love,

 

Reviewing Last Year In Sentences

I got this idea from Guido who got it from Linda.

The idea is to do a short review of last year by going into your archives and picking the first sentence you did on your first posting for each month.

Here are mine, not exactly gripping reading!

January

It always seems a bit of an anti-climax after the Christmas and New Year celebrations

February

Hello my friends.  I thought it was about time I put in an appearance

 

March

 

A bright sunny day for a change.  Well, once again I have had to add this entry using Firefox.

 

April

 

You can imagine I was very scared inside (I tried not to show it for the family's sake)  going back this morning although I did try and take in the beautiful sunshine and the spring flowers. 

 

May

I just had to come back today and do this special posting for somebody who has done a special act of kindness for me.

June

Today is the 1st June.

July

We enjoyed Nathan's Birthday and so did he. 

 

August

 

Today really is a scorcher.

 

September

 

Wishing our wonderful Daughter and Son-In-Law a very happy fourteenth wedding anniversary today.

October

I thought I had better do a journal update.

 

November

 

Wishing all in the UK a happy and safe Bonfire night. 

 

December

 

I just had to pop on and thank you for all your good wishes, they mean so much to me.

I hope that did not over excite you all lol.

From Becky - Thank You

Just a quick entry from Dean and myself to thank you all for the positive thoughts, best wishes and prayers said for Daniel together with the lovely comments left on this journal over the last couple of days.  Knowing so many people were thinking of us, was very comforting.  I am pleased to let you know that Daniel is back home and happily playing with his toys, almost as if nothing had happened.  Once again, thank you all very much, your kindness is appreciated.

Love Becky & family xxx 

It was nice to be able to personally add this to Mum's journal.

Daniel Update

All is well.  The medical team were very pleased with the way the procedure went.

Now it is just a question of waiting for the healing process.  Daniel is on painkillers and antibiotics.  There will, of course, be follow up appointments later.  However, the worst part is over.

I know the Lord was watching over him.  Our prayers were answered.

We would like to thank you all so very much for all your comments, for the e-mails, for the candles that were lit in cyber-space and also for real candles you had burning.  When Becky rang me from the hospital I was able to tell her about them.  She will read the comments herself when she gets the chance.

I know if Daniel was old enough, he would thank you all as well but as he is still too little, I will do it for him.

I think and have done for a long while, that J-Land is the best community there is on the web. The way everyone comes together to support one another is truly marvellous, heartwarming and inspiring.

To know that so many were thinking of us on what was a very stressful day was a great help.

So here is something from me to you.

Now, as you can imagine, Mike and I just want to relax. The weather is overcast and very gloomy but we did not get the snow that was predicted.

I have spoken to Becky today.  She and Dean are very tired which is to be expected but now the tension has been lifted from them.  I know they would want me to pass on their thanks.

God bless you all.

 

Please Hold In Your Thoughts

This afternoon my family will be travelling up to London. They will be staying in accommodation provided by Great Ormond Street Childrens' Hospital.

Daniel is scheduled to have his operation tomorrow morning, 3rd January.  We do not know exactly what time but he has to be on the ward by 7.30 a.m.

We all wish that surgery was not necessary but it is the only answer as all other treatments have failed.  He has been through so much in the last four months and, as you know, he is only two years old (he was two last August).

You supported me so much last year through my trials and now I ask all of you to hold little Daniel in your prayers and thoughts.

Please pray the Lord guides the hand of the surgeon, that He gives strength to Becky and Dean who are going through this ordeal with their little son and that Daniel makes a speedy and permanent recovery with no lasting after effects.

Tomorrow is going to be a tense day for us all as you can imagine.

I shall be lighting a candle tonight and again tomorrow morning and asking the Lord's blessing and protection on this sweet and beloved little boy.

Thank you, dear friends and readers.  God bless you all.

First Day Of 2008

Hope you all enjoyed New Year's Eve whatever you were doing.  Mike and I just cuddled and kissed at midnight.  We had a cup of tea instead of any alcohol.  Neither of us drink and we were not going to buy any just for one night.  We opened the front door to let the New Year in and the back door to let the old year out.  Then we watched the celebrations on t.v.  The fireworks in London were spectacular, the best ever. The noise of the fireworks going off around here was deafening.

So how did you spend your Eve? Did you have a party? Did you go to a fireworks display? Did you have a family gathering?  Was your Hogmanay good and are you hung-over today?  Did you just go to bed and not bother?  Please share in comments.

Once again a very Happy 2008 to you all.