First wives club - You don't own me

This is my favourite song at the moment. I heard it a few weeks ago on the House of Fraser advert and I could not think for the life of me where I had heard it before, then a friend told me that it was of course in the film 'First Wives Club'. I actually prefer the version done by Bette Midler, Goldie Horn and Diane Keaton.

Marmite is missing something.

Hi friends.

A few weeks ago Marmite and Paddy went to the vets for their check-up and vaccinations, which they have yearly. On checking Marmites teeth it was discovered she had Gingivitis, which explained her smelly breath for the past few weeks. Marmite has a combination of wet and dry food, this is because if she has dry food alone, it upsets her stomach and whilst we have kept her wet food down to a minimum, it appears this has aided the Gingivitis. The vet gave Marmite a long lasting antibiotic injection and told us if her breath stopped smelling we did not need to take her back. After a few days her breath was smelling much sweeter, which was a great improvement on what it had been like, although because she eats a fish diet, her breath is never wonderful. Her tooth fell out at the beginning of the week and so far she seems non to bothered by the lack of her tooth.

We reckon she will need to go back to the vets in the New Year for some dental work, as she has another lose tooth at the back, but we will keep an eye on her.

Marmite's reaction to losing a tooth, was to sleep on the side bed in the back cabin where the stove would keep her toastie all afternoon. She is not one for being cold or even the slightest bit chilly, so if the stove is lit the back cabin is where you will find her.

 

Wet and windy Thursday.

It is a tad breezy and now raining hard. Great day for doing the inside jobs. I have done the washing, which today was the bed linen. We sleep in our back cabin cross bed, so yes we sleep in a cupboard. It is wonderful, because every morning, I roll the bed up and push it into the cupboard and shut the door. There is no making the bed for me. It is however fun trying to make the bed up having stripped the bedding off for washing. I can see in my later years I am going to have to find new ways of doing the job, but for now I get on with it on my hands and knees. 

Washing done and hung in the back cabin, which now looks like a Chinese Laundry, I then turned my attention to cooking the dinner. Stewing steak, with Mushroom and Carrots. Later on I will add dumplings, which is a must during the Winter months. There is nothing nicer than dumplings all plump and fluffy on top of a stew. Having fried off the Onions and meat, I added the carrots, stock, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Covered it and put it in the oven. The Mushrooms will be added later along with the dumplings. I wish this blog had a smelly button, so you could experience the smell wafting around the cabin right now.

Next task was to put the broom through, to brush up the tumble weed of dog hair floating along the floor. With Mog and Dog shut in the back cabin, I gave the floor a wash as well. The Other half had gone into town, so with the boat to myself, it was great to get these jobs done before he comes home. 

So with my morning sorted out, the afternoon was a lot quieter. I sat knitting my dishcloths and watched films. Mog has lost a tooth and looks a little sorry for herself. 

May I please ask if you are kind enough to leave me a comment, that you put your name on it, because I do NOT publish anonymous comments.... Thank You. 

Happy Hump Day.

Wednesday and we are half way through the week and Christmas is getting closer. I still have cards to finish, but there is plenty of time. Actually there is 16 sleep till Christmas I have just been informed, so maybe I need to get a move on :-). 

This morning I got on with boat jobs. I checked under the floors and put down new disposable nappies to keep the condensation to a minimum. It is amazing how much difference it makes. After that I was in the hold sorting coal out and putting back the shelf under the cratch, which fell down a while ago. With the fires stoked and pets fed all was well in my world. 

It is at times like these, I am so glad I live on a boat. I watched the news with sadness in my heart for all those who have been flooded. Of course living on a boat does not mean we do not have issues when flooding takes place, but at least we float. I cannot imagine what the people flooded out are going through this close to Christmas. My thoughts are with them.

Christmas has arrived in the Saltisford Arm.

Today the Christmas tree went up in the Saltisford Arm. Ian our site manager put the tree up and decorated it. Thank you to James at Barn Close Nurseries for the beautiful tree.

Christmas comes on board.

Hi Folks.

It is that time of year again when the decoration come out on the 1st December and the boat gets decorated.

This year we have a new smaller tree. Sadly our old 3ft tree died at the end of the festive period last year and so this year we have a new 2ft tree. I adore Fairy lights and now we are on a landline over the Winter, I can have them all on over the festivities. 
We always put our decorations up on the 1st December and the festive mood begins to kick in good and proper. 

We shall remember them.

Don't let me die

-·=»‡«=·-<< ~~*~~ -·=»‡«=·- ~~*~~ >>-·=»‡«=·-

I Scream in fear as I feel the pain

Please do not let my life be in vain.

I know I am hit, but cannot look.

What part of my body has the bullet took.

Distant explosions of the enemy I hear.

I know death is something I will never fear.

I let out a cry, for my buddies to hear

Please someone come I am laying here.

Echoes loud as my voice is carries in the night.

I must look such a frightful sight.

Blood is seeping, I can feel its run.

I am scared to think what the bullet has done.

My chest hurts I know it is bad.

But yet I have no will to get mad

I lay here alone my body is racked in pain.

I know now my life will never be the same.

Vulnerable all alone where is everyone

Will I see another day of sun?

Scared will I be left here to die alone.

This is when I wish I had my mobile phone

Helpless I lay here, with a mortal wound.

I can only think my life is doomed.

Waiting for the moment of death.

Is my time coming for my last breath?

I am too young to die, hear my plea.

Can someone please come and find me

I let out one last feeble howl

In case my mates are on the prowl.

Someone come I do not want to die.

I want to be able to look upon the sky.

Footsteps are coming in this direction.

Shout's of hey you, said with affection.

Patched up, morphine given for pain relief.

My thoughts of death now seem oh so brief

I guess my prayers were heard today.

Thank you god for allowing me to stay.

My thoughts turn to those who will never see the sun.

For them their duty has been done.

God bless all those who died today.

In our memories you will always stay.

-•=»‡«=•-<< ~~*~~ -•=»‡«=•- ~~*~~ >>-•=»‡«=•-

Top Cat.

Marmite makes clear she is the top cat on the boat. Mind you Paddy would probably say, he just likes sleeping on the floor :-)

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MAMMOGRAM

Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, and even if they have had them before, there is fear. But there is no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared for the test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice exercises right in your home.

 

EXERCISE 1: Open your refrigerator door, and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat (just in case the first time wasn't effective).

EXERCISE 2: Visit your garage at 3 a.m. when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor sideways with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Switch sides, and repeat for the other breast.

EXERCISE 3: Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Have the stranger press the bookends against either side of one of your breasts and smash the bookends together as hard as he/she can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next year to do it again. You are now properly prepared!

A day in Coventry.

Hi Folks.

Yesterday we had a day in Coventry. There was a good reason why we made the bus journey into Coventry. We had been invited to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire for an interview. We were glad we set of early. We caught the x18, which is supposed to take you on the quick route via Leamington-Spa. Both Leamington-Spa and Coventry are festooned with road works, and when the bus arrived in Leamington-Spa the driver did not know which way to go around the diversions, so he had to ask another bus driver coming in the opposite direction. Our driver then still got it all wrong, so we ended up going around the diversions twice. We did eventually make it to Coventry and thankfully were not late arriving at the radio station.

We were made very welcome by everyone at the station whilst we wanted to go on the Vic Minett Show.

It was interesting to see behind the scenes and to be part of a show. Vic is so lovely and a great laugh.

After we had finished with the radio, we headed off into the city for lunch at a Chinese buffet before walking around Coventry.

Beautiful building.

Coventry has such a wealth of history and some very impressive buildings.

The old Cathedral is a magnificent building, which is undergoing more work.

Recently Coventry felt a huge amount of sadness when a double decker bus crashed into Sainsbury’s killing two people. The out pouring of grief is still evident.

We very much enjoyed our day in Coventry.

Warwick Mop Fair.

The Warwick Mop Fair is on again for the next two weekends.

Today children with special needs were allowed to try out all the rides.

It amazes us how they fit all the rides into such small places.

A Good Day.

Hi folks.

Sometimes days go amazing well and others are quite honestly pants. Yesterday was a good day in so many ways.

Firstly our new Christmas Tree arrived. Sorry I have mentioned the C word in October, but we needed a new tree and ordered it before the prices go up, as I am sure they will do with the day fast approaching. So the tree arrived and we unpacked it. We have bought a fibre-optic tree and normally when we buy anything online, we can guarantee that it never works, so it was with some trepidation that Keith plugged it in and flicked the switch. There was great excitement when the tree lit up . So we will be having Christmas decorations up again this year at an appropriate time nearer to the day.

So with a great start to our day, we thought that was the excitement for us, but no it got better. At 3 pm we had an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau. We wanted to find out about what we were entitled to with Keith being 63 years old had received a letter suggesting he could get the Winter Fuel Allowance. Joy of joys he is entitled to the allowance and to top off the day, he is also entitled to a bus pass. There does seem to be some perks for getting older. His bus pass will arrive in a couple of weeks and the fuel allowance begins at the beginning of December. Not only that we did not have to pay for the photograph for his bus pass, the woman did it there and then on the computer. I do think in many ways the internet is a drag, but it does have some pluses and that was one of them. We had no form filling and we did not have to get a photograph done .

The wonderful day ended with this stunning Sunset.

Making the most of the weather.

Hi Folks.

Yesterday we had thought of going out, but with England playing Australia in the Rugby World Cup. We decided to hang fire and stay on the mooring to watch the match. Not much to say about the outcome really. England lost and are out the Rugby World Cup end of. The press of course are making a huge thing about it, but at the end of the day it is just a game.

So this morning we decided to go out for the day on the boat up to Radford Semele. The Autumn sunshine was lovely and warm on my face and the sight of the Autumn colours really put a smile on my face.

It felt more like a Summers day.

The only give away really was the changing of the leaves on the hedgerows and trees.

Really strange shaped boat at the bottom of the Cape of Good Hope locks.

More stunning colours.

We had a quiet journey to Radford Semele, where we winded at what is now a very shallow winding hole, so it took us a few goes at getting round.

We moored up for lunch, which was a Casserole and Dumplings, which went down nicely.

After our lovely lunch we set off back to our mooring, with the sunshine still warming us.

Back up through the Cape Locks and then back home.

Coming home really makes me appreciate out lovely mooring, because we have the peace and quiet here. It was so evident on our trip out today that the towpaths are no longer quiet places, where you can moor up and enjoy being outside. There were to many cyclists racing along the towpath, they were coming into contact with walkers and dogs, which cause their own problems. It was chaos out there and so our mooring is an oasis from the world.

Last of the big spenders.

Hi Folks.

I have had the best of days.

It all began in bed at 7am this morning….. Oi get your mind out of the gutter .

In bed at 7am we were discussing what we were going to do for the day, and the suggestion was going out for the day whilst the weather was so nice. Next decision was where were we going. Coventry, Stratford-upon-Avon or go mad and catch the train into Birmingham. We opted for the train into Birmingham.

We walked up to Warwick Parkway and paid £13.90 for the both of us return and within second of arriving on the platform the train arrived. We had a lovely journey in to Moor Street Station.

I love going on trains.

We arrived in Birmingham at Moor Street Station which lies behind Selfridges. The station was opened in 1909 and still has many of its existing beauty.

Station entrance.

Now a cafe.

Lovely platforms.

We left the station and walked into the city.

Birmingham is a magnificent city with its vibrant atmosphere.

The brand new library is stunning.

Of curse we could not go to Birmingham without being by the canal. We actually sat and had a cup of tea at Gas Street Basin, which was so quiet.

Perfect day for a walk.

Nothing was stirring, not even the water.

At the Mail Box which is home to the BBC.

Keith enjoying the view.

Interesting.

The Cube’s sculpture Gerda, created by artist Temper. Gerda was born into a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria in 1919. At her mother’s insistence she escaped Vienna and, after trekking across Europe, arrived in England as a stowaway. Her mother, meanwhile, remained in Vienna and was sent to Auschwitz. Gerda went on to make a life for herself in England. She worked for the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a medical orderly and was awarded 2 service medals.

The Lovely People sculpture of Gerda can be found on level 6 of The Cube, next to the Adee Phelan hair salon. Her story, along with the stories of the remaining six The Lovely People sculptures can be read on the large plaque on entry to The Cube on level 6, opposite The Club and Spa. They make you think.

Lunch was eaten at The Big Wok our favourite place to eat in the Chinese Quarter.

The title of this post is because the only things we came back with were some White Card and 2016 calendar, which we bought from the indoor market and I then went to Primark and bought a pair of Winter PJ’s and some socks. I am not a big spender on anything, I can never see the point. The calendar was only 75p, and yet I have seen the same calendar in Warwick for £1.50, so it was a no brainer to buy it today. I also do not see any point on spending a lot of money of PJ’s.

All in all we had a fabulous time and look forward to going back to Birmingham by boat some time soon.