Dreaded lurgy.

Hello family, friends and followers.

I like to think of myself as a nice person on the whole and I never intentionally upset anyone, but I must have done something to someone, because they are clearly sticking pins in an effigy of me at the moment :-). This past month, I have had the dreaded lurgy big time. It all began with a cold, which thankfully did not hang around for too long, but that then lead to me having the stomach bug which was doing the rounds. I therefore felt it was only fair to pass it on to poor Keith. That bug really wiped me out for a few days, so imagine my horror when I woke up on the Sunday morning to find I was covered in Hives and no I do not mean the bee kind. I have allergies anyway, so sat and racked my brains to try and figure out what had I touched or eaten to cause this reaction and to be honest I am so careful I could not think of a thing. I ended up seeing a GP, who put me on antihistamines and said she thought my body was reacting to the bugs I had had. This was something I was ready to accept and so began taking the tablets for a week. During that week, I got another flippen cold and this one has left me sounding like a fog horn when I cough and joy of joys yesterday the hives were back. After taking the tablets for a week, I was told to stop to see if the hives came back and oh yes they have come back, so I am back on the tablets again. I have a feeling I will end up having more tests to see if I am reacting to something I am normally alright with. In the meantime, I will cut things out of my diet, to see if that works. I have a high intolerance to Nickel and this is not just due to cheap jewellery, which affects me also and the buttons on jeans, mine is also internal, so it affects the things I can and cannot eat. Over the years I have been able to work out my levels of how much I can tolerate on a daily basis, but maybe things have changed and I will need to change again. As we all get older our bodies and systems change, and perhaps this is what has happened to me. Anyway if it is just a case that someone has been stick pins in effigy of me, could you please STOP it now.

All over the world the weather we have all been experiencing has been crazy. I have friends in Australia who have been on fire watch due to the devastating fires, which has torn through large parts of the country killing wildlife and destroying peoples homes and livelihoods and yet in the UK we have been getting copious amounts of rain causing flooding over large areas of the country. Yes we live on a boat, but it does not mean we are safe. We have had friends caught on rivers. Thankfully they have been safely moored up and have been waiting the floods out, but some boats have been lost. Farmers have had to rescue their animals from flooded fields and many people have been flooded out of their homes. It seems Mother Nature has been kicking off and telling us we need to do more to protect her. Where ever you are in the world reading this, please stay safe and look after your neighbours.

Winter is galloping before us and Christmas is now top priority. I am well ahead of the game at the moment, because I have presents and cards to post and drink to buy, then that will be it for us. We do not go over the top for Christmas, because one we do not have the room for it and two it is just one day. I think the commercialisation of the festive season has taken away its true meaning, although for children it is still so important. I am not overly religious, but there is something so wonderful about going to church at Christmas and singing carols and seeing the Christmas message delivered. Christmas for us will be a quiet affair this year, but we will still have a lovely time and will be in touch with family.

Ok I have rambled on enough.

Pop back soon xxx

It is coming.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Yes, whether you like it or not Christmas is coming. You cannot have failed to notice that the shops and TV are ramming it down our throats. I for one never go with all the hype. I do what I want to do and spend what I want too spend and that is that. The same goes for the stupid Black Friday, which in this country lasts for weeks and is not on a Friday. Unfortunately the gullible, will queue up for hours on end to get what they think is a bargain, when really they did not need or want the item at all. In a way the same goes for Christmas, we over indulge with food, drink and the buying of presents, when really Christmas is all about being with the ones you love and that is not always family. This year for us it is so very much more special, because we have two Grandson's to buy for and that is indeed bringing us a great deal of joy. I hate with a passion the amount of advertising that is done, to try and encourage you to spend money that we do not have. Well it will not and never has worked on us. We buy what we can afford and no more. I will never get into debt so that I can enjoy Christmas. I am of the opinion, it is better to spend a nice card than to get into debt over buying presents, which will end up at the back of a cupboard or draw. So many presents end up as presents for someone else the following year, or got to charity shops. In some respects it is nicer to receive and gift voucher of money, because then at least you can get something you really need. I personally think that all the advertising begins way to early and the shops put out their Christmas things to early as well. Christmas Carols in October is so wrong.

Christmas for us will be at home. I am already buying bits and bobs of food and stashing it away for the festive period, but we will not go overboard. We are not having a Turkey, we have a Chicken instead, which will be enjoyed with all the trimmings. We like to nibble over the festive time and this is usually done in front of the TV.

We should all remember not everyone enjoys the festive season, due to loss, illness or family rows. They reckon that more family rows break out at Christmas, than at any other time of the year, this I can understand. After all many do not see their family from one end of the year to the next and then suddenly they are all plunged together under one roof with pent up annoyances. That is why sometimes it is better to spend it alone under your own roof. In a day and age when you can use the internet to contact and see family, no one is truly alone.

I am pretty much sorted as far as cards and presents are concerned. I have posting to do in December. As for the food and nibbles, that is also under control. I need to find the tree and decorations to check they are fit for purpose again this year. I do enjoy decorating the inside of the boat and seeing it lit up with all the fairy lights.

Pop back soon xxx

Raining and bugs

Hello family, friends and followers.

Now as much as we always need rain to keep the canals and reservoirs topped up, I think I can say we have had more than enough now. Here it has been raining all night and it is absolutely pouring down still at almost 9am. I sincerely feel sorry for the areas which are flooded out and all the mess that the people are going to have to cope with once the water subsides. I can only imagine what it must be like and it does make me realise how lucky I am. On the other side of the coin are fires in Australia, which have been devastating to those living in the fire ravaged areas. I have friends living in those areas. Thankfully at the moment they are safe, but constantly on fire watch just in case they have to leave their homes. Mother nature is hitting back big time at the moment and we should listen.

I do not get poorly very often thankfully. The last time I had a stomach bug was a few years ago when I lost 5kg over 20 days. So to get another stomach bug was not welcome on Monday. This one was with sickness as well. It is very unlike me to stay in my pj's and cover myself with a duvet and have a hot water bottle, but that was me for three days. It did mean that I was waited on for a couple of days, but now Keith is experiencing the upset tummy. I am not one for being sick, I have never liked the feeling, so I am now grateful it is now at an end and I feel more human. Today I am actually making myself some Potato and Leek soup for lunch woo hoo. I know how to live.

So before the stomach bug hit, I did some Christmas shopping. We have a wonderful market on Saturday's which has a brilliant card stall. I always buy my cards, paper and calendars from him. So with cards bought, there was only one thing to do and that was to get them written out. I like to be ahead of the game. Whilst out we enjoyed a Wetherspoons breakfast, which set us both up for the day. The rest of Saturday was spent watching TV and of course doing the cards. Sunday well, I did very little, because it was Sunday. We did watch the second part of His Dark Materials on BBC1. We have seen the movie The Gold Compass, which was adapted from the same book, so we are seeing some similarities, but we are both enjoying the new series and look forward to seeing how it progresses. After that at 9pm on ITV was Ant and Dec's DNA Journey, which continued on Monday. What a brilliant and very interesting programs. So incredible to think how close their lives are and it is clear too see how close they still are, which is wonderful to see. Of course this coming weekend I's a Celebrity Get me Out of Here is back on ITV yayyy. I cannot wait, because I love watching it. Yes I know some will think why do you want to watch people eating bugs etc, but I do. It is interesting to see people coping out of their comfort zones.

Here we are it is Thursday and as I have already said it is pouring down. On board it is snug and toasty. I feel a film day coming on again, because it is definitely not a day to be going out. There will be no food shopping down today.

Where ever you are in the world, stay safe out there.

Pop back soon xx

Garden visitors.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Autumn has certainly been throwing lots of rain at us. Sadly in some parts of the country, they have flooding, which is so incredibly sad. It must be devastating to watch your home fill up with water and you know there is absolutely no way of stopping it?
Here the water level has been up, because our boat has been listing towards the pontoon, which has meant we have let the ropes off a little to allow us to be on the level again. The garden has been getting a good watering, which I am thankful for, because all of the plants will bed in before the Winter begins. So far the plants are still looking healthy, so I am guessing they are rooting in well.

Wildlife always amazes me at how quickly it gets to grips with a new environment. We already have birds enjoying what we have to offer.

Over the Winter I will be putting food out for the birds, because they need all the help they can get. Our bird feeder hangs over the water, so we are not encouraging the rats, because we do have a rat issue here.

We also have the enjoyment of Wood Mice. This little darling has found our log pile and seems to have set up home. We also have at least one under the walkway at the top of our garden. They are so very cute and love their antics. I am not the slightest bit bothered by mice or rats, because I grew up with them on the farm. Of course I would not like it if they came onto the boat, so they will encouraged to stay outside where they belong.

I am still struggling with pain, even though I am back on my medication, so I am going to see my GP next week, to see what she reckons. I have a thought as to what I think it maybe, but will wait for it to be confirmed. I know I have the Costochondritis, which I manage very well when it flares up. I also know that another condition can go hand in hand with Costochondritis and it is that which I think I maybe suffering with, but we will wait and see what happens.

The weekend is almost here. Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

Pop back soon xx

Making plans.

Hello family, friends and followers.

With Halloween and as of tonight Bonfire Night over with, we will all be focusing on Christmas. Yes I know it is only November, but even I have begun to make plans for Christmas. I have bought some of my presents and will definitely be sorting out my cards, food and of course drink for the festive period. We have decided we are staying home this Christmas, so I will be cooking Christmas lunch. We will probably not have a Turkey, because for just two of us, they are too expensive. I am thinking Chicken with all the trimmings and then we can have a Chicken Curry for Boxing Day yayyyyy.

Due to the weather being a bit wet, we have not done anything else in the garden. The plan is to see how everything we have planted does over the Winter. If we then need to replace anything we an do in the Spring, before we head off cruising. At the moment we are really happy how it has all turned out.

Keith has fully recovered from Shingles. I think because we caught it early, he has had a good recovery and of course the Anti-viral tablets and eye gel helped hugely. Fingers are crossed he gets nothing else, anytime soon. As for me well I had a week of doing very little, because I have felt so tired and my joints have been very painful. I have been back on my medication and that has settled everything down, but I have an appointment to see the GP, to try and find out what is going on. I know I have Costochondritis, but this time the whole of my body was affected and I just felt worn out all the time. Anyway we will see what happens when I see the GP.

On Sunday evening, I got to dog sit our neighbour's handsome Spaniel. I looked after him on his own boat until Monday afternoon. It was lovely walking a dog again and he was so well behaved and absolutely no trouble at all. Towards the end of this month it will be a year since we let our darling boy Paddy walk over the Rainbow bridge. I cannot believe it has been a year already.

Yesterday (Monday) my Windows 10 laptop decided to die. The hard drive has packed up, so I using my old Windows 7 laptop, until we decide whether to replace it with a newer version and whether we have the funds to do so. It is an expense we could do without at the moment, but hey ho.

Today was ladies who do coffee day. One the Winter moorers come into the Arm for the Winter, I organize for all the ladies to get together for a coffee once a month. When you are used to be out cruising all year, being on a mooring for the Winter can cause cabin fever, so I set up the coffee club, so us ladies can get together for a good old natter I  town for a couple of hours. It is fun to be able to have a laugh and a natter over coffee away from our boats. With Christmas coming we will no doubt organize something fun to do.

I hope that those of you who pop in to read my ramblings are keeping well?

Pop back soon xxx

Rockery planting.

Hello family, friends and followers.

It is almost the end to another week, as we walk slowly towards Christmas. Yes I have finally mentioned the festive period. Quitely I have been getting on with Christmas preparations. I have fired up our small freezer, so that I can begin to stock it ready for Christmas. This morning we went out and did a bit of pressie shopping for two very special bundles of joy. Christmas is all about children and whilst I hate the fact that businesses and the media begin the Christmas hype way to early, there is something wonderful about buying small gifts. We do not buy presents for each other, and I always used to say we do not buy for the adults, I would only buy for the children, because as you no doubt know, it is a hugely expensive time of the year. We do not expect gifts from anyone, I would much rather have a nice card or company at Christmas.

As you will know we have moved to another mooring and have been tackling the garden. The last bit to be tackled is the rockery, which we have built on the steepest part of our plot.

This morning having arrived back from doing some shopping, we were greeted by a parcel, containing five Heather plants, which we had ordered through Amazon.

The plants were very well packaged and came in their own little bag. I took them out of the bags and discovered five very healthy plants.

I did not waste anytime in putting the Heathers into our rockery. Thank you to Garden Dreams for our lovely Heathers. For now the rockery is finished, because I want to see how everything grows and survives over the winter. I am so loking forward to seeing how everything blooms. If certain things fail then I will of course have to replace them, but things are looking good so far.

Pop back soon xx

Rockery building day.

Hello family, friends and followers.

After an overnight frost, which is th second frost of the Autumn for us, we have had a beautiful day. The sun shone and all was well in our world. Well almost. I am feeling a little bit pants at the moment. My Costochondritis has flared up again and I am suffering with my other joints. It is back onto the medication for me for a few days. I am not one to dwell on being poorly and I most definitely cannot sit around unless I am dying, so with the sun out, we got on with the garden and in particular our rockery.

We cleared the plot for the rockery when sorting the garden out, so it was already for working on.

The first three rocks went into place and set us on the path for the rest of the rockery. Luckily all the rocks used were already in our garden, left by the previous moorer.

The first row being completed. We shared the digging, but Keith did most of the lifting of the rocks.

It did not take us long to finish putting the rocks in place, I then got on with putting in some plants. Despite all the rain we had on Saturday, the soil was remarkably good. We are really pleased with how it has gone and look forward to seeing the plants thrive. 

After lunch, I felt so worn out, that nothing else was going to get done on the garden today. So it is feet up and TV on.

Pop back soon xx

Relieved comes to mind.

Hello family, friends and followers.

I sit here on a very soggy, dank and miserable Saturday afternoon, thanking my lucky stars for all the wonderful people and things I have in my life right now and having been told some dreadful news this morning, it has made me realise that life is short and it is for living right now. Live each day as if it maybe your last and love the ones who love you back, because tomorrow is not certain.

The weather has not been the best, and so there has been no gardening for a day or two, but that has given me the chance to get on with baking, sewing and tidying. As you will be aware if you read my ramblings, we came home early to our new mooring because our generator died on us whilst at The Black Country Living Museum. Well yesterday (Friday) we had a visit from an engineer from Fischer Panda. he had come to do a report on the generator, because he like us thought it had seized. On arrival, he suggested he try a few things, one of those things was to change the fuel pump, because he suspected it may actually be the problem. Fuel pump changed it did not cure the problem, but then the engineer decided to try another fuel pump, because he was not convinced. Hey presto the generator started, this meant not only had our original fuel pump fail, so did a brand new one the engineer tried. To say that we are relieved the generator is fixed and it was a small thing, well small compaired to the whole thing seizing is an understatement. The generator was out of warranty, so we could of ended up with a huge bill, but instead we wait to hear what we may or may not have to pay. Because we were outside of the warranty by three months, we may not have to pay anything, so fingers crossed on that, because we still have five new leisure batteries to buy. A huge thank you goes out to the Fischer Panda engineer.

With the weather being so dreadful today, it was a good day to sit and watch the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. England v New Zealand. Wow what an incredible match. England played their socks off and definitely deserved the win. Tomorrow we look forward to Wales v South Africa. Who knows we may get an all Great Britain final.
With it being so wet, I am staying inside and battening down the hatches for the whole day. The TV is on and the fire is lit, so all is well in my world. We are also one step closer to getting our landline phone connected. It has only taken two weeks :-(. Hopefully all will be sorted out next week.

Pop back soon xx