Blogging for Peace

                     Dona Nobis Pacem

 

My Poor, Neglected Blog!

I have just realised that a complete year has passed since I wrote on this blog.

Today, I am just "signing-in" to let you know that I am still here and to thank my followers for staying on board and not deleting this blog from their lists.

Rest assured, I shall be back soon!

A Pleasant Surprise at our local Auction House

Recently, I decided to rearrange some of the rooms in my house - not just a bit of furniture moving, but a change of use. This has involved completely clearing one room so I sent some furniture, which is now surplus to requirements, to our local Auction House.

Each Saturday, there are five auctions and it is possible to buy and sell items ranging from pot plants to heavy machinery, televisions, computers and other electrical items, white goods, as well as antique and secondhand furniture, paintings, china, books and other collectable items. They also hold specialist antiques sales every month.

Many people, including myself, go to auctions from time to time, but for some people it is a regular Saturday occupation; online bidding is available, but nothing can replace the atmosphere in the saleroom - the thrill of securing a bargain and the buzz of excitement when a lot fetches far more than anyone (including the Auctioneer) expects.

Last Saturday, some of my furniture was sold and the piece for which I had been told to expect very little made more than any of my other items - we are not talking "big money" but it was a pleasant surprise!

Happy Easter

It is a little more than a year since I started this blog. A big thank you to those of you who have continued to follow my infrequent ramblings and for the comments I have received. It is an achievement to have written something, however inconsequential, which provokes a response! A Happy Easter to you all.

The disappointing, but not unexpected, change in the weather has led to a quiet weekend - some much needed tidying up; sending Easter Greetings via the various technologies - phone, text, email and even Facebook - yes, I have taken another very cautious step into the modern world - will it be Twitter next?

The Freezer - Advantages and Disadvantages

I am a relatively recent convert to the concept of mass frozen food storage.

Six years ago the freezer part of the fridge-freezer with which I had managed for about 20 years stopped working. Being reluctant to get rid of a perfectly good fridge and feeling a bit short of freezer space, I decided to replace the 'freezer area' with a chest freezer and an upright freezer which were offered to me 'nearly new'.

The additional space has been extremely useful in enabling me to take advantage of special offers and it is good to know that there is always plenty of food in the house. However, there are times when I either forget to defrost something or don't fancy what I had planned to eat!

How we dispose of unwanted items

The need to declutter, which I have mentioned in previous posts, has made me think about the various options available for disposal of unwanted items and how these have changed over the years.

Years ago, many towns had regular auctions and several antique/secondhand shops to which one could take reasonable items of furniture, china, books, clothes, etc. and then there were jumble/secondhand sales and the rag and bone/scrap metal man, who came round with his truck, for the residue.

Now ebay and other online sites have replaced many of the local auctions, car boot sales and charity shops (which are so overwhelmed with goods that they have to throw away not just rubbish but items of some value such as secondhand books in good condition) have taken the place of everything from antique shops to jumble sales and one has to go to the scrap metal yard, visit the bottle bank or recycling site, or 'go to the tip'. It is disturbing to see perfectly good furniture, etc., which could be of great help to a family on low income for example, taken to the tip or just dumped in a skip.

Recently, a few shops have opened in conjunction with the pawnbroking trade but the range of goods with which they deal appears very limited - mainly digital cameras, computers etc. and some sporting equipment.

Does it worry you that you might be 'dumping' items which could be of value/assistance to someone else or is life 'just too short'?

A Scenic Route

The remarkable weather has continued for a few more days, albeit somewhat colder, but still wonderfully sunny.

This morning, three of us took advantage of this to visit a friend in the country; we were following vague and somewhat misleading directions and became completely lost. When we finally arrived, about half an hour late, we had travelled along country lanes and enjoyed some very pretty countryside much enhanced by the cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine - all the fields were coming to life and flowers were popping up in the hedgerows - definitely the scenic route.

After coffee and some interesting conversation which involved much reminiscing, we returned via the direct route but even from the main roads, we could appreciate the views and say that Spring had arrived.

Cold weather and even snow is forecast for later in the week, so I am pleased that we made the effort to go out today.

April 1st - All Fools Day

Were you fooled today?

Our local paper ran a spoof but made it so obvious that no-one could have been taken in: perhaps, in these litigious times, this is essential, but it does rather spoil the fun!

Joking apart, what wonderful weather we have been having. Last Wednesday, which was as warm as many a summer day, we were able to turn Afternoon Tea into an informal Garden Party - perfect conditions in lovely tranquil surroundings - thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

My Lenten resolution has worked quite well and I have been feeling less tired which is a great benefit: many people have suggested that going to bed early is not difficult and therefore not a sacrifice but for me it has been and still is a matter of self discipline which I hope to be able to continue beyond Easter.

A rather disjointed post today but at least I am writing again!!

Lent

Traditionally, this is a time for abstinence; many people give up alcohol/chocolate, etc.

This year, I have decided to do something positve instead - I shall be going to bed earlier than usual - my target is no later than 2.00am (at other times, between 3.00am and 5.00am tends to be normal for me!).

New Year - New Start

A Happy New Year to you all.

The title of this piece is a statement of fact rather than a resolution.

2011 was a tumultuous year but I was able to have a quiet Christmas during which I spent a great deal of time thinking about the future.

As a result, I have taken some long term decisions which are already having a significant impact on my life: some aspects of this will probably become apparent as I write during 2012.

A very short post today, but more will follow ...

Torrential rain does it again!

Yet another event has been sabotaged by torrential rain.

Yesterday, what should have been a garden party and musical entertainment for about seventy people became an indoor event for a much smaller group of brave but rather bedraggled souls, wearing very damp clothes. The "bulldog spirit" prevailed and the entertainment went ahead. The audience participated enthusiatically and then we all enjoyed a delicious tea.

The uncertain weather seems set to continue for a while (typical British weather, some would say!) so I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for next Saturday when some friends are involved with boat trips and other activities on and around the river.

The end of the month, already!!

August 31st - I cannot believe this month has passed so quickly.

The variable weather has prevented me from getting out and about as much as I had planned and my garden remains overgrown but I have managed to get some of the other domestic problems under control and parts of the house look much better.

During quiet times I have been looking at some of the blogs which appear at random - I am amazed by the range of subjects covered - family life, beautiful crafts, delicious recipes, philosophy, politics, comparative religion, to mention but a few - and full of admiration for the uninhibited way in which difficult topics are discussed. What a talented set of people you are.

Today I have taken my first step into the world of ebooks: I downloaded Kindle and a selection of free ebooks to my computer. The whole process was much easier than I had anticipated and, although I cannot imagine life without traditional books, I feel that a new world lies ahead of me.

September promises to be a busy month but, no doubt, there will be some unexpected twists and turns ...

A rather mixed month

First the good news - the friend about whom I wrote in my last post has recovered sufficiently to return home where she is managing with the aid of carers - the drastic treatment which she underwent is keeping her problems at bay and we are hoping that the remission will not be too short-lived.

Sadly, however, another dear friend died very suddenly, without any prior indication of ill-health, leaving all of us, especially her family, "shell-shocked". A loyal and most generous person who was never afraid to stand firm and speak her mind, she is very greatly missed.

Meanwhile life goes on: attempting to keep my overgrown garden under control (the unsettled weather has produced an explosion of weeds etc.) has given me plenty of fresh air and additional exercise.

The best laid plans ...

The last few days have been rather different to what I had anticipated.

Late on Friday afternoon I received a phone call to say that the friend whom I was planning to visit yesterday was going into hospital so I "dropped everything" and spent the evening with her there.

Yesterday, I had lunch with friends (about thirty of us) - the original idea had been to eat 'alfresco' but torrential rain drove us indoors!! Nevertheless, we enjoyed a delicious meal of cold salmon with a splendid array of salads, followed by strawberries and cream.

Then, it was back to the hospital again; thankfully, she was more settled and beginning to respond to treatment.

Today, I should have been at a garden party but, unfortunately, it had to be cancelled at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances! As a result I have had a "domestic" day catching up with chores and then popped down to the hospital for a quick visit.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  I haven't got any specific events planned, but you never know ...

Returning after a long absence

Well, here I am - back again after more than two months.

Why have I been silent for so long?

At first, it was a combination of lack of time and slight writer's block - several drafts which were not finished before the topic was out of date. Then I lost my broadband connection for nearly six weeks! Total misery, being unable to research anything (how quickly one has become dependent upon modern methods), write a few words, check my emails etc.

Enough of grumbling - we have had some glorious weather during which I have enjoyed several afternoons in the garden with friends and a very pleasant barbeque.

A rather short post this time, but I am determined (all other things being equal) to write more frequently from now onwards.

Happy Easter

First a big thank you to those of you who have signed up to follow my blog and next an apology for my long silence - I hope to post more frequently, if not regularly, from now onwards. A Happy Easter to you all.

The recent dire warnings of the dangers (potential encouragement for burglars and other criminals) of publishing details of one's whereabouts make me very cautious about discussing future activities and events in which I may be involved; for the present, therefore, my remarks are likely to be about what has been rather than what might be to come.

As part of a lazy weekend, I took advantage of the glorious weather to visit Priory Country Park. This area, on the eastern outskirts of Bedford, has been developed over the last thirty years to provide facilities for sailing and canoeing (we already have rowing on the river), together with a nature reserve and a superb area for walking. Even on a holiday weekend, it is possible to find a peaceful and secluded spot for a picnic - we are lucky to have this oasis of tranquility so near to the town centre.

I came down to earth this evening when I remembered that I needed to put out my various wheelie bins ready for waste collection in the morning. We have a black bin for general rubbish (emptied each week), an orange bin for recycling (emptied once a fortnight) and a green bin for garden waste (emptied alternately with the orange bin). As part of my attempt to get rid of four generations of accumulated rubbish - anything for which there could be any possible future use has been kept - I try to ensure that the black and orange bins are always full.

A delicious smell is coming from the kitchen where my final Easter treat - roast duck - is cooking ...

Not a typical Sunday!

Here in the UK, the clocks went forward one hour but at least we are not burdened with the permanent "summer-time" of the early Seventies or the double "summer-time" of the War years.

Fortunately, the clock on my computer changes automatically - a good reminder! - so there were not too many clocks to adjust (several electronic devices had not been altered last October - no wonder my friends say that I am the most eccentric person they know!); just one problem, the winder on my watch is stuck so it will have to go back to the watchmaker who fitted the new battery last week - a boring, but necessary chore ...

The lost hour saw me rushing to get ready for lunch with friends at a delightful pub in one of the pretty villages on the outskirts of Bedford. We had delicious roast beef and yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings including perfectly steamed vegetables, followed by a wickedly indulgent treacle tart.

Driving back in the afternoon sun, we were talking about how the area had changed.

There are many pretty villages particularly to the north of Bedford where any new development has been well planned to preserve and fit in with the character of the original village - not something which can be said about parts of Bedford itself where developers ran amok from the late sixties until the early eighties.

Over the last fifty years, massive housing developments, excellent schools and a good train service have transformed a sleepy market town into a haven for commuters. However, Bedford town centre retains many original features with imposing Victorian houses in tree-lined avenues and along The Embankment overlooking the splendid gardens alongside the river Great Ouse which flows through the middle of the town.

Sorry, I will stop before this turns into a travel guide but you will probably hear more about Bedford in future posts!

What would you like me to write about?

My first blog begins with an invitation to all (or, do I mean any(?!)) followers to tell me what they would like me to write about. Please let me have your ideas.