This morning I set off for the charity shop, the manager was off today so Elaine, the assistant was there to greet me. I said I hoped she wasn't going to have me steaming for hours and she said I could go in the shop. Had a great morning, learnt how to use the till and almost remembered the other bits you need to do, like make a note of gift aid items, mark a list when donations come in and everything you sell you have to find the appropriate button on the till to say which category it came under. I also put things out on racks when they were priced and priced up lots of cd's. An enjoyable four hours today. The other new volunteer likes to be out the back so she was steaming and measuring and marking up bedding and curtains.
I came home for about an hour and had some lunch and then I made my way to the Floral Hall at the other end of the town. My ankle was sore but I took my time. We did have a bit of a storm last night and from the look of the puddles everywhere, including our drive, a lot of rain in the night. Going past the park the flood there looked more like an actual pond!
I arrived at the Floral Hall where I was going to see Abdul and Victoria, there is a sensory garden next to it.
The film screening was not what I had expected, it is like a social afternoon with tables and the bar open, most of the tables were taken and when I had my drink I was wandering around trying to see if there was a spare seat anywhere. Ended up with two friendly ladies as we settled for the film. There was a hitch and it eventually started running on maybe the fourth attempt! They stop it in the middle for an interval when the raffle is drawn and people can nip to the loo or get more drinks. I won a large box of Maltesers, not good for my willpower!
When I came out it was dark and the moon bright, I walked along the front, got a pensioners fish and chips from a little chippie on the front for £3.30 and sat in the moonlight. It was very cold tonight but I wasn't sitting for too long. Tried to get some pictures of the moon, but my little camera struggles at night.
My ankle felt a little easier on the walk home. Up until then it had been a good day, I really enjoyed the film as well But when I got in Tina said some 'little darlings' , not her exact wording, had broken the gate down in the walled garden, damaged the outhouse and had rooted around. We don't think anything of importance was stolen but she reported it to the police and an odd job man is going to come tomorrow to make the gate secure. Rather took the edge off what had been a pleasant day.
This morning I had decided to go to the start of the Trans Pennine Trail and see if I could manage the walk to Hornsea Freeport, then get the bus back home. I had to call in the hairdressers on the way to the beach as I had lost my appointment card. I had remembered correctly but it is sensible to check. The start of the trail is near the sea, cutting through the remembrance garden I spotted this lovely plaque which is actually behind the memorial.
I hadn't realised how long the trail is but have to say if the signage is anything like it is in Hornsea no one would ever make it to Southport!
A lovely morning so off I went.
The first part of the trail is less that a mile, it was pretty quiet, a few dog walkers. I asked one lass if there was a way onto it from the town, but basically you have to make your way to the start.
I arrived at the roundabout near Tesco and had no idea which way to go from there. Asked a local who had no idea. I had almost decided to walk to Freeport up the main road when I saw a sign on a small street off the roundabout. Started walking up it and asked a man who said it was part of the trail and you joined it again at the top of the road. Again, no signs, I knew I had to go by the cemetery so I found a public footpath. A little way along it there was a small sign saying it was the Pennine Trail. The man had said it was close so as I walked and walked I suspected I had gone wrong somewhere!
I climbed one lot of steps which said there was a route to Hornsea via the mere. Will try that another day, the field was flooded up there.
Then carried on becoming fairly sure I had gone wrong.
Those two ladies who had an extremely noisy dog came down some steps soon after I started along this section, in hind sight, if I had asked them where I was I would have saved a couple of mile trudging! A good way after that bridge was a bench ( they were few and far between) and as I had been walking for over an hour by then I sat down and was hoping someone would come along. I had thought to make a flask, so I had a drink. A young lady came along and I asked her if I had missed Freeport. She said I had to go back well past the bridge and go up some steps to the cemetery (ring any bells?) So off I set again. Took this picture when the bridge came back into sight.
Almost back to the beginning of this section I found the steps and after walking along the entrance to the cemetery and veering off I was there.
Didn't take any pictures there, had a bacon sandwich, did a little bit of shopping and caught the bus home!
Had a couple of hours indoors, wrote a couple of letters and then set off for hair cut and colour. Lovely young lass called Shannon was my hairdresser, was there getting on for a couple of hours but very pleased with the result, just a bit more colour that recently.
It is actually slightly darker that it appears as I was in direct sunlight.
Haven't done much else except get tea, my ankle is twinging, it has walked that far in a very long time!
Holbv later.
After such a great sky last night thought I would set out in time for sunrise this morning and then hang about at the gym to have my two weekly check with the instructor. As I set out at 7.30 am and it was grey and drizzly I knew that the likelihood of a lovely sky was minimal, but I was ready so went anyway. There was a glimmer of red on the horizon when I arrived which instantly disappeared. This blurry effect adds a bit of atmosphere. (Believe that and you will believe anything).
I had a damp walk on the beach, took a few pics, mostly out of focus as it really wasn't quite light, but these are the best of the bunch.
I took a book with me as my appointment at the gym wasn't until 9 am. I had lost a tiny bit of weight and the bmi and body fat had gone down a bit but she is still fussing about my blood pressure being a bit on the high side. I didn't do the treadmill or rowing machine as my legs were a bit sore from the gardening yesterday. I did all the exercises using the ball, the band and the wall. I walked along the front and then took a circuit round the town so that I could call in and make an appointment at the surgery. going next Monday, will get the blood pressure checked and also mention the numb foot which has been really bothering me.
After lunch it has brightened up and blue sky had appeared so I set off to walk to Tesco with the trolley. I am not good at distances but about half a mile I should think. I took a large bag of plastic carrier bags to recycle and then got some basic shopping and walked home. I could have caught a bus but was feeling fine, so after this mornings circuit of the town I have done more walking today that in quite a while. On the way out St Nicholas church looked grand in the sunlight.
On the way back I took a picture of the entrance to the cemetery . Such lovely little buildings at the entrance, I am supposing that they were originally for caretakers, should check with Tina really.
Flopped for a while when I got back then started to draw a pattern for six tiles that I am going to paint and mount and have in the back of the fireplace in the sitting room. Taking this picture in artificial light you can barely make out the pattern which I may get painted tomorrow. The bird is a copy of the one on my curtains and the leaves are like the ones on my chairs. Get your magnifying glasses out and you may be able to make some of it out!
Then again, maybe not!
I went down to get my tea, was going to have a baked sweet potato with cheese and some vegetables. Put the microwave on to finish at the same time as the veg. BUT, opened the microwave and it was empty....oops, never done that before. Amazingly it is still working and I remembered to put it in the second time.
May write a few letters tonight and probably put Lewis on.
Dry today, although for a while it was threatening to rain, but I went out fairly early to make an attempt at finishing clearing that bed at the front of the house. That proved over optimistic but will explain as I go along.
So many roots from this bed that had been left to it's own devices for more years than anyone can remember. I filled this pink trolley thing four times and it was really heavy too!
I kept getting attacked by brambles and this vicious plant with massive thorns, these are branches I trimmed away to try and get to some deep roots.
The iris type bulbs have multiplied so much that I was removing them in chunks as the were well established. So they no longer looked like single bulbs!
One root of a bush or maybe a tree had me sweating trying to remove it, I think the roots reached Australia! It doesn't look that big but I had to give in on this one before I bent every garden tool we own!!
Although I was working for a bit over three hours I sadly have still not finished clearing this one bed. Bodes well for getting the whole garden under control - not.
Lifted a good number of edging stones so that we should be able to reset the edges down the drive, eventually.
Had an easy afternoon and watch a couple more of the lectures about Leonardo da Vinci which are really interesting. When I was preparing dinner I realised that there was a great sunset out there, it had brightened up this afternoon. Rushed up for the camera, the first one from my sitting room and the second from the utility.
I had a second attempt at the parsnip and cream bake, still not completely set but absolutely delicious.
The last Vera tonight :-(
I had thought of finishing off the flower bed today, but going out early to the charity shop and to get some groceries soon put paid to that idea, drizzly rain and freezing wind! There was a Fairtrade sale at one of the churches, the other end of town, so Darren kindly gave Tina and I a lift there. We both bought quite a few things, I got this nice cake server set and a couple of pairs of bamboo socks.
I had picked up a small pair of butterfly earrings when Tina spotted these, so I opted for the Pat Butcher ones!
We walked back through the town to the parish house where The Lions were holding a coffee morning. We had a cup of tea and a toasted tea cake and some goes on the tombola. I won some chocolates that I have given to Darren and also this cute dressing table tray.
Tina has bought Fairtrade chocolate for Darren already and we bought some cake for him at the coffee morning, so he did quite well too.
I hung a few more pictures up this afternoon and sorted out a few more bits for the charity shop. then I gathered up offcuts of flooring and went out to the greenhouse to put some of it down. Have put heavy things here and there to flatten it. There is actually another piece indoors so may go out and re-arrange it tomorrow.
One more picture of the amaryllis, still upright and all four flowers in bloom.
Last night my knee was really painful and this evening my ankle has decided to twinge in the most unpleasant way, well, actually the heel but it is all related!
Tissues ready for Casualty in a bit!
After I had finished the blog last night I turned round to find the amaryllis had keeled over. Holding it up so it didn't break while I tried to find something to support it, scissors and something to use to tie it to the support caused me quite a lot of anxiety! But I managed it and this evening it is still upright and the fourth flower is open. It is very tall.
This morning I left to walk to the leisure centre in time to see the sunrise, except their really wasn't one as there were too many clouds. Still took some pictures as it started to rain, had a very damp bag to take into the leisure centre today, and that was before going in the pool!
On the way home I went into a hairdressers and made an appointment for cut and colour next week. A different one this time so will see what it turns out like. As I approached the house I saw the ladder outside our gate, realised the builders mending the museum wall wanted access again, and also realised that I couldn't get out of the back door to open the gate as it was completely blocked off with stuff from the kitchen and utility room. So decided to go in and get the key and go round and find the workmen. Got inside and was greeted by a present from one of the cats, that really set the day off well.
Went round and talked to the men and gave them the key, they were going to climb over from the museum side and then open the gate so that they could get their wheelbarrows in.
We had the men coming to finish off the flooring in the kitchen, utility room and downstairs loo. Tina had to pop out a couple of times so I settled down to reading after making them a drink. When Tina was in I caught the bus to Freeport, just for an hour, got some bits at Pound Stretcher and some liver for my tea and some meat for the weekend. The sunset was looking good so I walked up to the higher car park and the large puddle meant I got some reflections!
When I got home the flooring guys had gone, it is really good to have the final rooms sorted as we have had the fact that everything would have to be moved again at the back of our minds.
I had my liver for tea and have finished reading Goodnight Mr Tom, which was delightful The play is supposed to be touring the country after the London run, must check if it is coming near here.
