When good things happen!

I love buying books! We have our own allocted shelves in the snug - Jon's to the left, mine to the right. To say they are full is an understatement, but the matter will be addressed when we re-model the house as we are having more shelving built in the lounge. This will allow us to continue acquiring books. Looking at my collection I see a vast amount of "Grow your own" themed books. Trouble is, I read such books and THINK I have carried out what the book has set out to tell me. Most of the time such books leave me feeling overwhelmed with advice and an uncertainty about WHERE to start. Each year I set out WANTINg to grow something but the helplessness sets in and I find myself achieving very little, just a feeling of failure. I read the results of others and the despair grows.........
however...............
The other day I was reading through a few blogs and indeed left a comment on one saying I needed to buy a diary! The next thing I knew a lovely person was offering the Sarah Raven's Diary as a swap! Straight away I responded and today a wonderful parcel arrived. What is more the diary sets out simple, manageable tasks for each month so I now can see a plot to my garden plans for 2011! How wonderful is that!
Watch this space for future revelations!

New Year Resolution Update:-
1. Not to use any plastic carrier bags and to really cut down on packaging....done this! Now have a piece of plastic bag on my keyring to remind me as I leave the house.


2. Eat healthily....Back on board with Slimming World - only gained 2.5lb over a month - this is the first gain since joining in September - I can live with this after such a fantastic Christmas and New Year - bring it on!

3. Sew....Bought something - will be experimenting soon - whether or not I share just yet is very touch and go!

Y is for Yorkshire

 

 

 

Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom.Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform. Throughout these changes, Yorkshire has continued to be recognised as a geographical territory and cultural region The name is familiar and well understood across the United Kingdom and is in common use in the media and the military, and also features in the titles of current areas of civil administration, such as Yorkshire and the Humber and West Yorkshire.

Within the borders of the historic county of Yorkshire are areas which are widely considered to be among the greenest in England, due to the vast stretches of unspoiled countryside in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors and to the open aspect of some of the major cities. Yorkshire has sometimes been nicknamed God's Own County.^[ The emblem of Yorkshire is the white rose of the English royal House of York, and the most commonly used flag representative of Yorkshire is the White Rose on a dark blue background, which after years of use, was recognised by the Flag Institute on 29 July 2008. Yorkshire Day, held on 1 August, is a celebration of the general culture of Yorkshire, ranging from its history to its own dialect.

I was born in North Yorkshire and although I spent 10 years in Nottingham, I returned in 1986 when my Dad died. I love the yorkshire scenery, people and dry sense of humour so I thought for ABC Wednesday  I would share some yorkshire fun!

 

Yorkshire people are a very particular breed: they can be dour, they speak their minds and they are hard working, friendly and kind. Yorkshire people refer to their county as 'God's own county,' and indeed can boast some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain.

Yorkshire man takes his cat to the vet.
Yorkshireman: Ayup, lad, I need to talk to thee about me cat.
Vet: Is it a tom?
Yorkshireman: Nay, I've browt it with us.

A Yorkshireman's dog dies and as it was a favourite pet he decides to have a gold statue made by a jeweller to remember the dog by.
Yorkshireman: Can tha mek us a gold statue of yon dog?
Jeweller: Do you want it 18 carat?
Yorkshireman: No I want it chewin' a bone yer daft beggar.

A Yorkshireman's wife dies and the widower decides that her headstone should have the words "she were thine" engraved on it. He calls the stone mason, who assures him that the headstone will be ready a few days after the funeral. True to his word the stone mason calls the widower to say that the headstone is ready and would he like to come and have a look.
When the widower gets there he takes one look at the stone to see that it's been engraved "she were thin".
He explodes, 'Blimey man, you've left the "e" out.'
The stone mason apologises and assures the poor widower that it will be rectified the following morning. Next day comes and the widower returns to the stone mason, 'There you go sir, I've put the "e" on the stone for you.'
The widower looks at the stone and then reads out aloud, 'E, she were thin.'

Thinking Aloud!

New Year is here and like the rest of the planet I have been THINKING about making some resolutions. Notice I use the word THINKING!
Christmas time has been a pretty good time and I have been eating various snacks and treats which I wouldn't normally choose. I am now back on my diet so I will aim to eat healthier in 2011, attending Slimming World each week. Quite a few of the classes were cancelled due to the bad weather, but come Wednesday 5th I will be there. I would think there will be quite a few new members!!!!

I want to do something new. THINKING alond the lines of sewing!!!! THINKING remember! I have a couple of sewing machines - one is a really good one which I bought from a tabletop sale at a local residential home. An absolute bargain - but have I used it? No! Do I KNOW how to use it properly? No! However I KNOW somebody who DOES so I just MAY have a word with my friend and neighbour Margy!

2011 is a very significant year for me as I am taking my early retirement agreement. The Teacher's Pension scheme is one of the better ones and the current financial mess regarding pensions makes me rather nervous of future developments and plans - so I am taking mine on my 55th birthday! Yes I will loose a small % of the lump sum but the annual pension will equal this out and a bit more in the 5 years before I reach 60!

We will have been in our house for 20 years, come 28th June and we need to do some repairs and updating - I am looking forward to this and it WOULD be a good learning curve for my sewing development! Jon is a wizz with DIY so it would be a good joint project! Hmmmm yes, I like the sound of that!

2011 then - I will have 3 basic aims:-
1. Not to use any plastic carrier bags and to really cut down on packaging.
2. Eat healthily.
3. Sew.

Anybody else making any plans?