Sunday 11th October

I can't remember when I did my last blog, but it must have been a few days ago. I have just finished getting our small former dining room floor clean as we are having a wooden floor laid tomorrow .......at last! We seem to have spent the last couple of days moving things from one place to another. Last night we went out with friends for a chinese banquet in Manchester. It was pretty good and we ate far too much, of course. When we drove into the city centre there were so many police around that we wondered what was going on, but then remembered that there had been a demonstration in the afternoon. We didn't see any trouble, thankfully.
Today has been parade day - it was Harvest and baptism at church this morning and then I was invited to a standard service in the afternoon. It was good to see al the kids taking part but also rather sad. The service was dedicated to a 7 year old brownie who had died last december of a brain tumour. Mum and dad were there, but how they coped, I don't know. The guides had made up a lovely song which was very moving.
On to happier things - my Jasper is growing very tall and takes full advantage of this. His latest trick is to grab anyhing he can off any surface he can reach, which is pretty well everything! Today he has removed a bottle of wine from the wine rack, a hammer from Kev's toolbox, a milk bottle, thankfully empty and various pieces of paper, socks, hankies etc. Goodness knows what goes into his little tum but he's impossible to catch.
Well, the smell of coffee has just drifted across my nostrils, so i must go for my injection of caffeine.

Tues 6th October

Have you had one of those days? It has rained hard all day - my washing basket is full,but I can't wash because I can't get things dry- the drier is behind all the bookcases in the garage. Don't ask me why we have our bookcases in the drier, it would take too long to answer. Jasper has been a bit of a hooligan today. he shreds everything he can get hold of and the house looks like a litterbin a lot of the time. Kev's out tonight and I had a million, well four, things to do and I have done 2. I haven't done my homework for art yet - looks like I'll be up late.
I had a lovely weekend. I had to go to a National Conference for the Trefoil Guild and I didn't really know anybody very well, if at all, so I was quite apprehensive. However, the drive down through the Peak District was lovely. All the trees were just beginning to show their autumn colours and the sun was shining. - just my kind of day! The conference centre was OK, at least I had my own room and the sessions were interesting. As always with guide functions, we stayed up far too late and had plenty of laughs. I did miss the younger people though, as most of the Trefoil are over 60 in age if not in spirit. Last night I had another meeting in Manchester and have two more this week, so I'll be absolutely sick of meetings!!
This afternoon it was praise and play for the little ones. Some of them have moved on to school this term but we have several new ones who are quite small. I took my 'harvest' bag with me and took out a banana, onion, potato etc. Where does all the food come from? Tesco's, of course!!
Well, I'd better get my homework done as Jasper is having a little nap. I've just discovered a jazz programme on the radio so I'm enjoying that while I am writing.

Monday

Gosh! My life is so exciting....not! I didn't sleep well last night, which is very unusual. I had to get up at a reasonable time as we had to try to get Jasper an appointment with the vet to have his anal glands cleared. No appointments available until tomorrow at ten. Then we went shopping for a new fridge freezer as the one we have is leaking all over the place - there's a story to this which I won't bore you with. Jasper went to doggy day camp for 4 hours while we shopped - it's like a doggy nursery where they all play together and have fun with lots of toys etc. in a big arena. Jasper loves it and he gets loads of exercise. Kevin has gone out with the boys and I have either been on the phone, playing with Jasper or trying to make a new rota for Sunday School. I'm also trying to organise a Christmas Carol Service for my 60+ group and a nativity play for the sunday school. No time to read or paint today! Still, tomorrow is another day!

sunday

Today has been quite a pleasant day. The weather is lovely - the sun is shining but there is an autumnal nip in the air. I love autumn days like this, especially in the Lake District, though it's rather nice here where we live.
I'm sitting with my feet up with a little spaniel sleeping at my feet. He's been in my bad books recently as he chewed a hole in our brand new carpet - I think it was payback for having been in the kennels. Then this morning he chewed up and swallowed one of my earrings. Add this to 1 ruined duvet, 2 pairs of sandals and various cloths, this pup is proving expensive. All is not bad though. he did very well at his puppy class and has 'graduated' from his second class.He has learned a lot and I have to keep reminding myself that he's only a pup.
I'm quite pleased that I have remembered to write this blog even though I have nothing much to say. Watch this space!!

hello again! ....

I have just been reminded by a friend that I haven't written my blog since April. I'm not surprised as things have been a bit hectic since then. We have had a lot of problems with the house which means we have a new carpet, curtains and chairs. We had a couple of our chairs recovered and we're still waiting for them. In the meantime , we have had to decorate downstairs which means the hall and stairs look as though they need painting too - it just goes on. In all this time Kevin has been recovering from his knee injury and our little pup has been making his presence known. Kev is doing well but needs another operation and the pup has been neutered.
September sees the launch of the Centenary of girlguiding, so there have been lots of planning meetings and celebrations to sort out. Our County had a day in one of Greater manchester's biggest parks where 8000+ girls enjoyed all sorts of activities and shows. It was excellent! The saturday afterwards I had organised an activity day for manchester's 60+ members and we enjoyed archery, aerobics, a photography session, a BBQ and a centenary challenge. It was a beautiful day at our campsite and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
We are having a few days in St Anne's on Sea which is just south of Blackpool. It's more sedate than Blackpool and a favourite with pensioners! As Kevin has just retired, we felt that it was appropriate to come here. We're staying in a lovely small hotel which is very comfortable and where the food is excellent. We've had a day in Blackpool, but that is a really tacky place. Anyway, we've recharged our batteries and ready to go home. jasper has had his first taste of kennels, so we hope he's enjoyed it. He has a 'test' on Saturday to see how much he has learned at his puppy improver classes. He does OK at the class but has his moments at home _ like eating my new EXPENSIVE Mephisto sandals aaaaagh!!!
Well, I shall have to go and get myself beautiful for this evening's meal. From now on it'll be back to me cooking, sadly.

saturday 26th April

Well, it's been an eventful couple of weeks in our household. My dear one fell downstairs and has ruptured one of the big tendons/ligaments in his knee, so he is in plaster from the top of his leg to his ankle and cannot do a thing. He's now got a cold so is feeling rather fed up. This all means that the house is a tip because we were going to decorate the little bedroom , where Kevin has hundreds of books, papers etc etc. that is now half empty and the rest of upstairs is full of all sorts. In between all this I've had lots of meetings, coffee mornings,and, tomorrow, the annual sponsored walk I organise. It's a mad life! Next week we get our new pup, Jasper, to add to the chaos. I'm going to have to make this short and sweet as I have things to do -- like sleep!!

Spring! April 6th

I can't believe that it is so long since I wrote my blog but I have been incedibly busy. I should be busy now but I've not got the energy! Why have I been so busy - well, I've had to organise a few things and I can see light at the end of the tunnel now. My back bedroom is full of 650 knitted hats for premature babies which I've got to sort, pack and deliver to special care baby units, there are bags of crafty things for a stall and lists of things still to do! The girlguiding centenary starts in September, so we have lots to do for that. Enough of that! We are trying to get the house puppy proof. We're having the drive done, the lounge stripped and plastered and plan to decorate the little bedroom. Our little pup is growing and we're going up to see him during the holiday and the visit after that will be to pick him up. I'm so excited although I was the one who said we shouldn't have another pup!
I've got the TV on and they are talking about Jade Goody again. I was so sorry that a young woman should die leaving two little ones, and I sort of understand her reasoning re. the media but the media circus is milking this story. I'd feel better if they were making donations to cancer research to help other people, but I'm afraid that it is just profit they are interested in. I haven't seen such hysteria since Diana died. I absolutely hate this cult of celebrity worship - what values are we giving our young people. Thank heavens for prominent people like Michelle Obama who visited a school in London and told them that its good to be smart and to work hard towards their goals.
I'm reading a book now about a woman who has adopted six children with special educatonal needs, mainly Downs Syndrome. I loved my Downs children when I taught them, but to have so many to look after long term is incredible.
The weather has been glorious this last week and today is lovely too. We went a lovely walk yesterday in a country park near Rochdale. I suppose that I need to get going and do some gardening.
I've tried to put some pictures on this blog to liven it up but failed again! I'll just close now.