Finished.... my first attempt at quilting

For such a long time now I've wanted to try my hand at quilting. I was inspired by the quilts my sister-in-law (Vicky) has made. Vicky has made many, many quilts and has given them as presents to friends and family. Each one has been lovingly hand sewn and they are, without exception, beautiful and are destined to be treasured heirlooms used and handed down through the ages. So... after many false starts I finally cut out the pieces and began to piece together my first 'baby' quilt. This little quilt is just about big enough to cover a cot or to use in a pram or pushchair. It's a very simple design but even so it took me quite a while to plan the blocks and borders and to choose colours that would blend together nicely. I'm really pleased with the result... although it's obviously a beginners quilt with lots of little mistakes - I've a lot to learn and many hours of sewing to do before I can achieve anything as beautiful as Vicky lovingly makes. But I've made a start and I plan to begin another one, for my granddaughter which I hope she will treasure. I'll enjoy choosing the fabric and piecing them to make a special gift for her. It may be some time before I post another picture of a finished quilt... but I'm on my way...

Views and News from Glatton (May 2010)

8th May 2010 It's a first for me and a reminder that there's so many wonders of the world to experience - yet to be revealed.... I have just witnessed the majestic flight of a red kite for the first time ever! I hope I may be lucky enough to see more of these beautiful birds in the week I'm visiting the shire of Huntingdon - perhaps a little closer, perhaps for a little longer - ideally when I have my camera at the ready so I can save a record in more than my memory bank. If memory begins to fade I hope my photographs will serve as a reminder of happy times, exciting times, passing moments and snapshots of my life and times for future generations, that may wonder what life was like way back when....

I still have to see a live badger for the first time although I can confirm two more 'firsts' for me (during the last twelve months) - my first sighting of a woodpecker - in the tree outside my dining room window and first viewing of a red squirrel - in woodland, next to Killhope Lead Mine - beautiful.... but I digress

Meanwhile - back in Glatton I've been watching a family of robins, mum, dad and two youngsters in Joyce and Den's garden. I'm surprised that both male and female are around together with their youngsters.... is this usual or am I mistaken..?

9th may 2010..... It's a beautiful day today much better than the horrible cold, wet, day it was here yesterday. I've just got back from taking Pixie a short walk and guess what.... I watched swallows darting low across a sunny field with horses and grouse looking on.... it really must be the start of summer - long may the sun shine and I have the luxury to "stand and stare" ...just as the poem...even if, today, it was horses and grouse rather than sheep and cows...

Eventually home time after a week in Glatton seems to have arrived very quickly. I've had a great break, seen some lovely countryside and even enjoyed a visit from Andrea, Stan and baby Branna, driving down from Stamford. We all went next-door-but-one to the pub where I was treated to a great lunch. The pub was busy with locals enjoying a pint and good food - the service was friendly and attentive. But the time has come for me to say farewell to Pixie, Joyce and Den and to thank them for the opportunity to spend some time in their lovely home..... if Pixie needs company when you go away again... just call me and I'll be happy to journey south once again.

Trip to London on a shoe-string

My recent trip to London for the day cost a total of £18.60...!
£11 return bus fare via Northern Express from Feethams, Darlington to Victoria Coach Station, London.
I spent £4 on local bus fares (two journeys at £2 each)
£3.20 on two wonderful coffees "to go"
40p to get into the toilets at Victoria Coach Station...

My friend Rosemary and I set off at 0045 on Saturday morning and we arrived at London Victoria at 06.00. It was a great time to arrive as it was very quiet and we were able to get into lots of little arcades that would become packed with people later in the day. We saw some wonderful things... it would have been very easy to spend a fortune. But we settled for a coffee to go and a scrumptious piece of strawberry cheesecake from a fabulous patisserie. Rosemary treated herself to a lovely piece of amber with silver which she'll make into a necklace. Later we walked to Kensington Gardens and took our shoes off while we sat on the grass and watched the world go by. Then it was time to make our way back to the coach station for 4 o' clock and the journey home. I was so impressed with how much cleaner London appeared compared with my last visit albeit ten years ago - it was litter free and graffiti free and everyone we spoke to was very helpful and nice.... from the community policewoman who actually took us to the first bus stop we needed to find and even explained how the ticket machine worked - to the stall holders, the toilet attendant, the shop assistants.... it was altogether a lovely day and we'll try and make another trip as soon as we can. I'd certainly do the trip again.... it may seem madness to spend 12 hours out of 24 on a bus.... but it makes a trip to the capital possible if there's something special to see or experience. All for under £20.... it's got to be worth it...

Tales and Tips from the allotment

Above is my (very small..!) allotment all bedded down for the winter, November 2009, below is the same plot at the beginning of Spring 2010

After what seems like a long-long winter it's time to get back to planting and growing again. I've cobbled together a cold-frame and seeds are already sprouting. I need to improve the quality of the soil in general and so today (Sunday 25th April) I'm on a mole-hill hunt. The field next to the allotments usually has a fine crop and I'm hoping I'm not too late to fill a wheelbarrow with lots of spadefuls of beautiful soil - broken down to a fine tithe by those hard working little critters...! It'll take a few trips over the next few days to collect enough to improve what will be my beetroot bed. Meanwhile... it's on with the boots and down to the garden I plod...

On the left is a picture taken at the beginning of Spring 2010. My allotment was a virgin plot this time last year so I feel this is the real beginning of my attempt to grow some nice things for myself. The strawberry plants look good and have come through the winter well. The raspberry canes are beginning to send up new shoots and the blueberry bushes have survived the snow and sub-zero temperatures. There's lots of planting to do, especially dwarf beans, onions and shallots. I'm hoping to grow a small number of cauliflower and Brussels sprout plants. I've planted courgettes and potatoes in containers as there's not enough space to plant directly into this little plot - and I also plan to plant out one or two tomato plants when the weather is a little warmer.

Making the most of Tesco Rewards Tokens

My local supermarket is Tesco. I use a Tesco Clubcard card if I purchase goods from the store or petrol from the garage. Using the Clubcard generates 'rewards' which can be spent in the form of Clubcard Vouchers in-store or exchanged for Rewards Tokens.

Clubcard Vouchers can be spent at face-value in the store - so a £5 voucher can be used to buy wine, flowers, groceries, etc and sometimes twice the face value can be used to purchase specific items, clothes, dvds for example, so £5 becomes £10....!

However, Clubcard Vouchers can be exchanged for Rewards Tokens and I think these are excellent value for money. Rewards Tokens are issued for up to four times face value and can be used for family fun days out, activities and sports, annual memberships, books, magazine subscriptions and much more.

Recently I have received tokens (as a present) in the form of cinema tickets and have given tokens (as presents) in the form of annual magazine subscriptions, meals at a lovely Italian restaurant and entrance fees for a family of six at a theme park...! (£17.50s worth of vouchers generated £70 towards entry into Lightwater Valley theme park making a day out possible rather than price-prohibitive).

Now I'm saving my tokens, which arrive quarterly, for Christmas. I know I'll be able to exchange them for gifts I couldn't otherwise afford.

I don't get all my groceries from Tesco but I do try to purchase my petrol there and my utility bills also contribute to my Tesco spend. As a result I feel the reward tokens are a genuine bonus.... they do feel like something for nothing. I don't think I'm having to spend 'more' just to get the tokens. If you haven't got a Tesco Clubcard I really do believe it's worth getting one and using it each time you shop there. The pounds do mount up and over a year I probably 'earn' approximately £30 in rewards which is £30 off the cost of something bought in store or £120 if exchanged some of the hundreds of 'Rewards'.

Making The Most of Free Education

I'm taking advantage of two six week courses currently being held at my local Comprehensive School. One course is to help parents / grandparents / carers help their children with homework.

Methods have changed so radically since I went to school that it's already apparent I'm no help at all to my granddaughter if she asks me questions about maths for example. If I try to show her how I would tackle a problem I just confuse her because she doesn't understand the way I try to work things out. I've just had one lesson so far and it's been a real eye-opener. There's terms such as Mode, Mean, and Median that are totally new to me - so it's good I've made a start but I've got a lot of catching up to do..!!

The other free course I'm looking forward to begins next week and it's about making the most of my digital camera. I'm hoping to be instructed and inspired to improve the quality of photos I take. Watch this space for some improving pics...!!

Both these courses are taking place literally on my doorstep. One takes place during the day, the other is an evening course. But, isn't it great that they're absolutely free - for anyone, of any ability. I'll update this post as the weeks progress to let you know how I get along.

Benefits of being over 65 (or over 60 if you're a young age pensioner)

Free local public transport (well free rides on the buses....)
I'm still a novice at finding my way around using my local bus services - but I know I'll be taking advantage more this summertime than ever before. I've been making plans during the dark days of winter of journeys I want to take to Durham, Newcastle, Barnard Castle, Richmond, Bishop Auckland and into the Dales. It's all possible with a bit of planning to travel to some lovely spots all free of charge. Who knows how long this benefit will continue into the future so I think it's important to enjoy to the full while it exists.

Free swimming sessions provided by local authorities for over 60s and 18s and under (in Durham) under 16s elsewhere
Later today I'm taking my granddaughter and one of her friends swimming. I'll have a dip in the pool too then retire to the viewing gallery to keep an eye on them for a while. For all of us our swimming will be totally free of charge - what a fantastic bonus. The schools are breaking up for half-term for a week tomorrow - so I think there'll be more swimming in the coming days.