Seven words

Thank you ChrisH for the tag - I shall return the compliment one of these days -look out-

Seven words that describe me? ( well I can think of some I had better not put here)

MOTHER - well that was pretty obvious really, mother to three strapping sons now all head and shoulders above me which is no mean feat seeing as I am hardly small...but its not just them is it? Its all these animals that I also fill that role for - over the years dozens of rejected lambs, rescued kittens, old dogs - you name it - I've mothered it! However I think my best mother moment was in a chip shop in Dawley surrounded by nine year old boys dressed in football strip whilst I ordered chips for 11. The woman behind the counter asked - 'are they all yours?' 'Yeah - course they are!' I replied - daft woman - I wouldnt have been in a chip shop in Dawley if I had 11 kids more like a rest home for the bewildered.

LEONINE - Having Leo as a birth sign gave me head start with what was once a mane of red hair. Always shoving to the front to lead from an early age - I TRY to stand back now - (sometimes!!) Should anyone confront or threaten my offspring I can be formidable and can roar enough to reduce anyone to a shuddering heap. The roar comes in useful for persuading sleepy bodies to present themselves for breakfast before having to play 'chase the school bus!'

RESILIENT - have had to be ever since I unexpectedly became a single parent with a nine month old baby and a new mortgage. The solicitor haughtily looked down his nose and gave me two weeks to think over my future - a) I could sit at home, be a mum, whinge for maintenance for the next 17 years OR b) get straight back to work pay my own bills and stand up for myself - I went back after 2 weeks with a job in junior management in the Court Service and a child minder. The solicitor nearly choked - see you in Court mate!!

FAIR - I will put up with a lot of cr*p but what I will not suffer from anybody is being 'unfair' in what ever mode of life - kids, school, playing, relationships, work - whatever .......I like to think I have a balanced outlook on life and treat others as I would wish to be treated myself - Just FAIRLY.

BUSY - it's my mother's fault - she never sat still either, always someting on the go. I get home from work and we gather around the dining table by 6:30pm, then the next three hours are MINE, all mine. Jam making, sewing, painting, drawing, walking, writing, OU, Parish Council, Village Hall, local history, whatever happens to be the latest craze, this week has been pickling cucumbers and making baby hats. Its my 'playtime', my way of relaxing and sod the ironing pile - that's for Sundays!

SHY - Ohhhhhhhhhhh yes I am! Dreadfully and painfully - I can still blush at 54 - I detest the smart ar*e that remarks 'Ooooooooooooo look you've gone all red!' One day I will slap - I will, I really will! I tend to avoid social gatherings like the plague, I would rather stick pins in my eyes.

HAPPY - that's me - as happy as the proverbial pig in sh*t. I suppose that's tempting providence a bit now.....

And now here's the good bit - sharing - so this tag is passed on to the rest of the Welsh Border Gals - Twiglet, Wipso and Friko, my mate Bodran, Calico Kate, Celtic Heart and Cait O Connor.

Quick quick quick before the rain....

At 7:30am I was up and at the dining table sewing away like a whirling dervish and 'crack' the needle hit a pin and broke. It was the old machine and luckily there were some spares in the box on the side but do you think I could get the old one out? Nope! So there I was with the mole grips attacking an antique sewing machine - still in the old PJ's - what a sight! Knowing that if there was a chance of fine weather for more than an hour today we had got to 'do things' with sheep I needed to get some sewing in first whilst the shepherd snored peaceably on his weekend off. I made one dresss that was so lovely I thought I could do it all again with some other material but this second run has been a disaster - I even managed to sew the shoulder seams up on the outside - (Wipso and Twiglet you can fall about now!) and even now there is something wrong with the neckline - Shepherd very rudely asked if there was supposed to be a chimney on the back - he got slapped. The thing is I am not letting myself loose with all the lovely material and the new machine for PINK dresses for a special little girl until I have finished this dratted dress and at the moment I reckon I might be making school uniform in about 5 years time.

The sun carried on shining so we were off to worm sheep, inject the whole flock with blue tongue vaccine and get very hot, trodden on , bunted, sworn at - shepherd has had an accidental dose of blue tounge vaccine - hope he doesn't get swine flu as well - his poor immune system will wonder what on earth is going on. A few years ago I injected myself with Heptavac 7 in 1 - I presume I am still covered for braxy, black leg, strike, tetanus and the three other I cant remember - I had to go to the Dr's because my neck went stiff - all he did was laugh!

Then it was mad dash round the garden - cutting back the jungle, trying to regain a lawn instead of a wilderness with lions hiding in it , well there is a colony of moles - blast their furry little bodies. Steptoe's yard has surpassed itself - we are well into lettuce, courgettes and sweet peas, the peas in the bath are flowering, the runner beans went mad and the potatoes are very happy indeed, the carrots in a bin labelled no. 7 look very tidy.

Before the front lawn was attacked the first spots started to fall - why is it that when the first spot of rain falls it gets somewhere pretty inaccessible like under the arm? So weird. So that was that - rain stopped play! AGAIN! Meanwhile back at the sewing I wonder if I put a dart down the back it will get rid of the dowager's hump look? Grrrrrrrrr!

The Tatty Cat RIP

Had a horrible job to do tonight. Go down to the vets while he very gently put our old cat to sleep, bless her. She went blind in May but coped admirably with her affliction seeing as how she was 17, but on Monday morning I found her pacing the floor in circles. Non stop!! She went outside and ended up in the muddy stream still pacing in circles. Twice we rescued her from the mud and had to confine her in the house. Strangely enough she was still eating, drinking and using the litter tray between pacing the circles. We took her down to the vets on Tuesday and he looked askance at her behaviour thinking she may have had a stroke. The blood tests all came back today - all clear and as fit as a flea! We discussed the predicament - he could not stop her pacing the circles unless she was heavily drugged but there was no apparent reason for it. The kindest thing was to gently put her to sleep. Perhaps it was a brain tumor or a bleed, we shall never know. But as I stroked her as the medication did the business i thought at what a lovely life she had had over the 17 years. We found her nearly dead in the road, an abandoned kitten, covered in fleas, lice and suffering with cat flu, we took her home and she lived in a wastepaper basket. The vet didn't give her much hope - 24 hours at the most - bah!

She grew up with the boys and played roughly with them, she would bite bare feet and hands, scratch heads and do Evil Kinevil stunts around the walls. She loved to chase the boys and she never tired of doing it. When T was expecting our first grandchild she chased her around the furniture one night much to our amusement.

Every night she would wait at the gate for the shepherd to come home rain or shine and follow him up the path to be rewarded by any spare milk from his lunch box. She new the sound of every family car and would be on the doorstep for each of us but it was the boss who got the full treatment - every single night until she went blind and couldn't find the way.

The matriarch of our collection of cats, all rescued from here and there around the county. She was a lovely cat, never aged, never ill - just so happy to be here. She was a gem, bless her. we will miss her.

another hectic week

No sooner had we emptied the dirty washing into the washing machine then it was Monday and back to work and then the 'fun' started, as eldest son found the company he works for had gone into receivership followed closely by next son's doing the same. A few sleepless nights for us all wondering how mortgages were going to be paid, new baby clothed and fed etc etc but two weeks on and everything is still all chugging along as normal. On the proverbial wing and a prayer but I guess life is like that at the moment for many.

The arrival of a grandaughter on 3 July was a surprise to all of us that decreed from the roof tops 'It'll be another boy!' Quite a surprise for all families involved. I have never had anything to do with girls and the colour pink so it looks like being a shock to the system. (Have lashed out on a brand new sewing machine - it does singing AND dancing in the intervals - honest! Had a lovely time in the material shop choosing patterns and materials)

Saturday 4th July PARTY NIGHT

Whilst we were recovering from the arrival of young Penny there was the annual summer street party to organise and many prayers went up in the hope that the weather would stay fine for the evening. Prayers were answered - and blessings abounded because this time theme was Tarts and Vicars and there were quite a few variations to that theme including a 'vicar' on a blow up horse - 'The Vicar on Dibley', the Pope arrived, a nun dressed from head to foot in white that from a certain angle opened to show a red body stocking, there were buddhists, Father Ted characters, Tartan vicars and an awful lot of local men that really got to grips with their inner tarts - I think they enjoyed themselves a little too much = the eyeliner, lipstick and false frontages all had to be compared and duly commented on as if they were judging stock in the market or the mechanical gubbins of a tractor. It was absolutely hilarious and some of them were still shedding glitter five days later.

We are lucky to have amonsgt our neighbours a fully qualified and registered children's enterainer who kept all the littlies engrossed in baloon scupltures, walking on stilts, unicycles and later does fire eating as a sideline.

The party went on as usual until dawn with the stragglers leaving at about 4:30am, then the fairies appear from 7am to fill bin bags and recycling boxes and by 8:30 the bonfire is re-stoked and some kind soul wanders about with orange juice and bacon sandwiches - the fairy was a tad late this time - couldn't get his eyeliner off!

On Sunday we went on an expedition to deliver some chickens to Bodran in North Wales. The directions she sent me were peppered with 'Well I think its that way' 'There might be another turning' etc etc. We havent got a sat nav so we got the trusty road atlas out and oft we jolly well went. No problem whatsoever - we were there in little over two hours - delivered said chickens and had a wander around their hillside estate with the pack of gorgeous dogs and the happy couple -( well they really, really are aren't they?) Eventually we decided to head for home and being so puffed up with how simple all this navigation business is we decided to follow Bodran's scooter route home. Dear God the woman is either brave or insane! It took us the best part of five hours. Parts of it were vertical with a sheer drop down to middle earth. I was shaking by the time we got home and collapsed into my bed to have nightmares all night about that road between Bala and Llangynog.

Then of course its Monday and back to work and ooooops bless my weary soul - havent done the weekend washing or ironing - havent got time - too much going on in the countryside for mundane jobs at the moment.

Helping out with granny duties now - entertaining a two year old by long walks around the village in the valley each evening. Two year old in his jim jams under a blanket - me wishing I was in mine as well! Then a story and a cup of milk - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Both of us!

Fruit picking today in the very heart of rural Shropshire at Wistanstow for a restful couple of hours, gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries whilst the crows argued in the treetops, a couple of butterflies danced in front of me and the perfume of the hedgerow flowers and the ripe fruit was indeed a heady mix. Rhubarb and ginger jam just finished, gooseberry and elderflower done, raspberry and strawberry tomorrow and then its back to the sewing machine manual - hell its a complicated looking contraption - nice man in the shop did give me 30 minutes tuition but I've been to bed since then - oh well!

I fell asleep to the sound of the rain yattering on the conservatory roof, thank goodness it wasnt the street party tonight.

Best Foot Forward and all that ....

Totally in awe of ElizM and her 'stroll' along Offa's Dyke we were inspired somewhat to do a bit of 'yomping' ourselves along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. The weather was glorious we were in the right kit so off we went. We happily bombed along and then would return by courtesy of the little Puffin shuttle buses - which meant we could walk farther without the worry of the return .

Sunday we were high above the sea between Broadhaven and Newgale, Monday -Tenby - Saundersfoot, Tuesday - St Davids - Solva, Wednesday- St Brides, Marloes and Dale, Thursday - Bosherton Lily pools and Friday Littlehaven via the beach at low tide.

Some of the path is a teeny bit scary, slippery with a sheer drop - I had to buy a walking pole for the extra reassurance. Dearly beloved assured me that according to the signs on the posts only men fell off - women were therefore safe.

We met dozens of like minded souls of all ages, everybody happy to have a natter, noted many lone women walking.

Kim our 12 year old lab came too, she loved every minute of it, fawned around everybody we met - stared the very sandwiches out of our mouths and learned to drink from a bottle! Now she does it all the time - who says you cant teach an old dog new tricks? Total embassment when without warning she leapt into the stream in St David's Cathedral grounds cheered on by a school party who though she was hilarious and was part of the entertainment.

By the end of the week we were suntanned, much fitter but had feet like pig's trotters and guess what? We cant wait to go and do it again - and needless to say Kim will come too!

Phew - I think we needed that!

As the last A level exam finished the bags were packed and we simply ran away for a week.

The sun shone down from a cloudless blue sky from dawn until dusk. Our 'home' a rustic cabin high above a wooded valley looking out to sea, silence surrounded us - we spoke in whispers and watched the birds sitting on the treetops below us. The sea was warm and inviting, gentle wavelets just crept onto the clean white sand. We wandered along clifftops for mile upon mile drinking in the scenery, marvelling at the perfumes of the wild flowers along the route, stopping to take pictures of pyramid orchids as we passed. A couple of old donkeys enjoyed some fuss, why do donkeys always look so melancholy?

When we ventured into the town (to buy thinner clothes - yes really!) the clinking of the masts on the boats in the harbour was matched only by the clinking of ice in the glasses of the beige and grey brigade sitting in the hotel gardens beneath gently waving palms as they awaited their call to lunch.

As soon as necessary purchases including gallons of sun cream we were off to find little villages that spilt fisherman's cottages down onto the tiny harbours all painted in the colours of sugared almonds with scarlet geraniums falling out of tubs and window boxes. Stone churches stood with their doors wide open a welcome few minutes away from the sun to read about fishermen and their dangerous lives.

As evening fell we found a gem, a hidden away hotel, perched on the side of a cliff with such an amazing relaxed atmosphere, room ran into room and nothing matched except the vases of wild flowers on the tables. It felt as though we had simply wandered into a large family home along a wood panelled hall a hotch potch of art works of every medium including beautiful stained glass looked down at us, the interlopers, a piano stood in the french windows - covered with sheet music and photographs and a muslin curtain billowed gently in the sea breeze hiding a big fat black cat fast asleep on the step.

We ate freshly caught and cooked sea food outside in the garden almost overcome with the heavy scents of pinks and roses, the sunsets over the sea were amazing and as we sat with other diners we realised that we could not understand any of the languages around us. We hazarded a guess at Scandanavian origins, Italian for others, definitely French in there somewhere.

Eventully replete we could be found wandering back along quiet lanes with high hedges full of honeysuckle, wild roses and fox gloves to our verandah above the woods for a last drink and to watch the owls and listen to the foxes far below along the rippling stream. As we sat there at peace with the world, the silence was only broken by the distant thud of tank fire and occasionally the stacatto sound of machine guns that would drift towards us on the breeze.

PS we were in Pembrokeshire, South Wales - just 139 miles from home! No - we couldn't believe it either.

hurtling along .....

.......................through May and before we know it it's June!

My 'gardening' exploits are the talk of the neighbourhood. The designated area is now known as Steptoe's yard for obvious reasons. Two unwanted tractor tyres hold my potatoes and runner beans. Old tin baths are resplendant with peas and French beans while a collection of sheep feed buckets hold courgettes, lettuces, leeks, squash and tomatoes. Metal wastepaper bins are full of sweet peas and a dustbin has been sown with carrots. A large galvanised water tank has radish, rocket and lettuce plus a patio rose. Toby planted an old car wheel very carefully with radishes then got excited and threw two handfuls up in the air over us both - bless! You can guarantee at least a couple of folk leaning on the fence in the evening having a bit of a larf - but bless 'em they have crept back and left me some spare plants - I think they are trying to see what they will end up in. Thanks to the weather everything is growing like mad, these photographs were on day 1 - it's a lot different now!

The shepherd has taken up fishing with a vengence, I end up as the ghillie but in these beautiful surroundings I don't mind, its just the precarious balancing on a slipping bank with a net full of a writhing fish starts making me feel less than comfortable. He can't do a thing wrong this year the fish seem to jump at him shouting 'take me - take me' (nice change for the poor old shepherd)

The swans have had six cygnets this year but dear me she has been a careless mother in the past - sometimes she has hatched nine only to finish up with two. Fingers crossed.

The street party season is upon us again - so we just have a nice little local one just to get some practice in so to speak. - look what the drinks table is - a cable reel. Its catching on this recycling lark. It was a lovely evening and as dusk fell we all had a go at playing the violin whilst the more musical played classical guitars. A tiny little girl sat with her arm around our dog telling her long and convoluted stories about unicorns, Kim listened to every word and never moved but probably had nightmares.

nother practice party next weekend for a joint birthday, I think trout is on the menu - well there's surprise.

I have decided - Big groan from the dining table whenever I utter those three words - it usually means work. But no - nobody else is involved just me. I need to finish things wot have been started. This week I finished my course of physiotherapy on my shoulder, I sent in my last assignment for OU course -( we'll see if that comes back with 'whimsical' splarted all over it.) I have rooted out two half made garments that I got fed up with and have restyled them and FINISHED them all bar the hems. THE IRONING BASKET IS EMPTY! Now just the bathroom to do, scrub the patio, a lot of work on a local history project and then I can go on holiday before a new grandchild makes an entrance. Never a dull moment here.




Mountainear - its still flowering - pic taken today!