A cultural holiday in Cheshire!

I went on a cultural trip with my Fine Arts group. There were about 30 of us - mostly women. I did know most of them from previous holidays and there were a few new members We all got on well and enjoyed the visits we made very much. The people who organise these trips are really superb. They plan everything to perfection and also make sure that our hotel is excellent. The whole atmosphere is relaxed. By the end of the few days there was a continual hum of people chatting and lots of laughter. The picture on the left is one I took of some of the members at a wonderful old house with beautiful gardens. We visited an art gallery, several old houses and gardens, 2 churches and Chester Cathedral. The cathedral is really impressive and the guide, who took us around, was very interesting and had a great way of explaining its history to us.

The summer seems to have come at last and the weather is now quite warm. I have spent a lot of time in the garden planting the bedding plants I bought a few weeks ago and, with the bluebells that grow wild every year, the garden looks great. I get great enjoyment from my garden. I am a lousy gardener and I have had many failures - but the plants that survive do look good.

I am home now for 3 days and will then go back to Suffolk (I went there Easter time - and I think I described it then), In my next blog I will print some pictures of the countryside and the old house that I am staying in. I am looking forward to being in the country, relaxing, walking and reading. I will also see one or two old friends while I am there. I will be away for a week.

At the moment I am feeling quite relaxed and less stressed. Life at home can be stressful - just with everyday problems. I know I should be more laid back about things - but I worry about my situation eg. ageing, being on my own, and I also worry about my family. I don't think anyone ever stops worrying about one's children and grandchildren.

This blog is supposed to be about me getting irritating things out - but this edition has been quite mild and relaxed. But I will make one complaint.

I have an account with Debenhams and pay it off each time I get a statement. However, somehow 9 pence was still owing. I went to the Store because there was a sale on and I would also get another 20% because of having a card. However, when I handed in my card I was told it was not accepted. I found out it was because I owed the 9p!!! If it was for £100 outstanding it is understandable - but for for 9p!!! There - that's my grumble for now.

Another week-end!

As this is a Bank Holiday weekend I panicked and thought 'what am I going to do?' I had no plans, my friends seem to be busy and my family were all doing things. But I decided not to despair and be positive. Today I went on a walk with a walking group I have belonged to for over a year. Most of the members are my age - some a lot older, so the pace isn't too hard. I use this group on such occasions as this and have always enjoyed walking with them.

The walk today was around Regents Park and then on the Regents Canal tow path up to Little Venice where there was a 'Cavalcade' - there were lots of barges all decorated - music etc. The Regents Park part of the walk was really lovely - sun actually came out for some of the time and the spring flowers were just glorious. We went to Camden Lock for lunch - but that was too noisy and crowded, so I lead a couple of people to a quiet, green space that I knew. After lunch we did the 'Little Venice' part of the walk which was also very nice, but I felt quite tired by then. We must have walked for about 4 hours with a l hour lunch break in between - so I got home feeling very tired but content. I walked and talked with some very nice people saw some interesting places and I feel very healthy and relaxed.

Tomorrow I intend to do some housework and/gardening. This is the time of year when things look shabby and need perking up. And on Monday I am going to one of daughter's for a barbeque So my empty week-end will have been filled in a very pleasant way.

That is the problem with living alone. You need to be with people some of the time but there is also a need for time to one self. But if you have been on your own for more than a day you start thinking depressing thoughts.

I do get worked up sometimes, thinking everyone is doing something with someone and I am the only one alone - no-one really cares. But I do know that isn't always true. I also know that I have to be positive and, if I really want to, there are plenty of interesting things I can do. However, I still have the feeling that I wish I had someone to do things with. Not necessarily a partner, but a special friend.

I am sorry I have no pictures this blog - but there are one or two on my camera and I will endeavour to get them on for my next blog. I am still not too certain how to save the photos and move them to this blog! I usually manage to do it, so I will have to be patient.

Catching up with life!

When one retires you think that life will be gentle and calm and the days will flow on in a pleasant way. However, reality is so different. I seem to have so many things happening in my life all the time and it rare that I have a few days of contemplation and calm.

It is a month since I have had time to write. First, I had visitors (which I wrote about previously) then I went away on two different visits. One to Kent and the other to Suffolk and since I have come back there have been more visitors. As well as that I have quite a few regular activities I like to keep up with. Exercise classes, meeting friends and one or two societies.

I have a new activity. Last year I did some volunteer work with the Museum of London Archive department with the U3A and completed a presentation. This was quite a milestone for me and made me really keen on archaeology. When I heard there was a group in my local museum working on finds that were discoverd over many years, over several digs, I asked if I could join them. So I have been going on Thursday mornings just to help out. It is quite tedious work really, but a great feeling handling old shards and re-packaging and labelling them. Also it is nice to meet up with other people who are involved in this.

The history of the area is that in the '70's this old barn was discovered (it had been used for gardeners tools) to be an example of a Tudor Tithe Barn and money had been raised to renovate it and turn it in to a museum and heritage site. So I have visited this place over the years - to the museum - to listen to Sunday afternoon music concerts, to listen to talks and also on May day when they hold events. Now I am very slightly involved with it. This makes me feel good.

When I was in Suffolk I stayed in an old Suffolk Long House owned by friends of mine who have two very lovely Lurcher dogs. I go there often to look after the dogs and house while the owners are away. For me it is a wonderful experience to be out in the country in a really beautiful country village and to be with these lovely dogs. I must admit that they can sometimes be a bit of a handful (especially as I am getting older and don't have the strength I used to have when I first looked after them). I have been going there for more than 16 years - there have been different lurchers because as one dies they adopt another one. I am just very happy there. It is also a time to get away from the stresses of London life.

I still go on the monthly Sunday walks and the latest photo is above. The meeting place for this walk is at the old Tithe Barn.

Spring time!

It seems as if Spring is here at last. This morning the sun was out, sky was blue and I felt warm for the first time in weeks.

I haven't written for a while as I have house guests and they have taken up a lot of my time and patience. It is lovely to have people around for a while - but I am used to my own company these days so have learned to enjoy being on my own too. So I am now looking forward to a quieter time.

As one gets older one worries about the most mundane things and they appear so important. But when they have resolved themselves you wonder why you got yourself in such a state. Worrying takes up so much time and energy. I had a problem with my car and got really worked up about it until it was repaired. The other week I had a problem with the Internet. Somehow I got cut off
I phoned BT (my provider) and a very nice Indian talked me through and was very patient with me and in the end I got back on. There was such a sense of elation and achievement when it all worked out. Today's technical world is just so difficult for us older generation to comprehend. I do wonder what the future holds for the young people of today. How my grandchildren will cope with the technological age.

I have had problems with my neighbours for the past 4 years. They are a very dysfunctional family and have created lots of problems. Now other people have moved into the flat above them
and they also are problematic. So this week I spoke to the Safer Neighbourhood Team about them - they have been very supportive to me in the past. They seem aware of what is going on next door and are keeping an eye on the situation.

My new project. Last year I went on a project with the Museum of London archives and helped label and store artifacts from some digs. Then I heard there was a project going on in my home area and so I volunteered to go on it. I think it will be quite interesting. With the first project l gained so many news skills, got to know some really nice people and learned a lot about archaeology. So I hope this new project will be as interesting and informative. More news on this project later.

Spring is on its way!

I've just been for another Sunday walk. As you see it is still quite cold, but it has been lovely and sunny. We have had so little sun this winter that it was just glorious to be outside and see the blue sky and the SUN!! We ended up once more at a coffee shop for lovely hot chocolate. It is a great way to spend a winter Sunday morning.

I have been trying to get the picture of the Iris on this blog but something happened as I was editing it and it seems to have disappeared. But here are the snowdrops! The first sign that spring is on its way. I'll have a go with the Iris photo another time.

Another week has flown by!

A friend showed me her daughter's blog and she made it so interesting - mine seems so boring - I must think of something to liven it up.

I have been feeling quite optimistic lately and I think it is because the weather is improving slightly and also that I am exercising regularly. When one gets older you find that if you don't keep active you will seize up and lose the ability to move or think - so I make the effort to keep going. Sometimes it is quite hard to motivate myself. For instance one of my exercise classes is in Covent Garden Gym and to get there it takes about 45 minutes on the underground. When the weather is bad I just don't want to go - but I usually make myself.

One of the things that worries me about ageing is memory. I forget words and they don't come back to me for some time - so when I am speaking to someone I have to use other ways of expressing myself which makes me sound hesitant and I realise the other person is trying to help me out by putting in words. My only consolation is that the lost words do come back to me later, I always think that if they don't come back then I am starting to have demensia.

Physically I am quite well - but my joints are beginning to ache. My knees hurt when I go up and down the stairs. I have various arthritic pains. And I get tired easily. I used to be able to do so much more.

My week has been quite pleasant. Two exercise classes. Lunch with two friends on different days. a committee meeting and a lecture at the History Society.

Nice thoughts to finish of my blog - Thinking of summer holidays - ideas for Canada and California (one trip) Prague, Budapest, Poland another trip. And maybe Paris for a few days! It all sounds wonderful. I hope I manage to do some of them.

Next week a friend is coming to stay and that will be very pleasant.

This week end a Saturday morning walk and meeting up with family to go to the theatre in the afternoon, then on Sunday a walk with another group (probably about 4 miles). I hope the weather stays fine. The weather has really improved and some of my spring bulbs are beginning to show. First the snow drops and now the crocuses and then one beautiful dwarf Iris. It is so pretty!

Peaceful times!

This is a picture taken when I went on a walk two Sunday's ago. As you can see it was a cold day, but we had a good time and ended up having hot chocolate and pastries at a Patisserie. I wrote about it previously, but just wanted to publish this picture. I am afraid none of us look very glamorous.

This week has been very quiet and peaceful and I managed to catch up with things, like emails, housework etc. Tomorrow I am making lunch for some of the family. I am looking forward to that.

Nice things that have happened this week! Some friends I met on a project (last year) have contacted me and we hope to meet up early April to see an exhibition.

A cousin from California has invited me to visit her in the Summer. We are going to a family wedding in August (in Toronto) and I will then go back to California with her. That is something really nice to look forward to. As I have said before this has been a miserable winter so it is good to have things to look forward to.

A friend of my Youth Club days has just re-appeared and we have met up a few times and this week we are trying to arrange some time to get together.

On Wednesday I will be going to a planning meeting for the U3A Sunday group. This group is for people who are on their own on Sundays and want to do something with other people. We usually go to exhibitions, visit National Trust houses or go for walks in London and has been running quite successfully for several years now. I really feel pleased to be involved.

One of the problems about getting old is that you are no longer involved with things as you did when working or bringing up families. So you have to be very motivated and find interesting and stimulating things to do.

So this has been one of my peaceful, uneventful weeks, Other than the bad weather there has been little to moan about.