Had some friends round for lunch .....

Another fabulous day. Got my car back at 12.15, and decided to go to New Quay. The heater is still crap, so wasted £20 as I expected. Brian hasn't a clue how much it will cost to clear out the heater rad, it depends how long it takes really to remove all the dashboard etc.

Emma had a great time again - it's lovely to see her having fun on the beach, I ought to go more often really - it's only 20 minutes if I get a good run. Would you believe the bloody tide was in again though? How come when it was high tide two days ago at the same time of day - it should be 4 hours difference today. Oh well, plenty of sand again, so no worries.

I bought some chips - mainly for Emma, I only ate a maximum of 8 of them, I was everso good, honest, but I don't particularly like proper chips, I prefer "fries" from MacDs, the french-style skinny ones, so it wasn't too much of a temptation. I had the most fab time throwing bits of them up in the air for the Black Headed gulls, I wish I had taken a loaf of bread with me, it's fantastic the way they catch them in mid air. I was grinning from ear to ear, good job nobody else around! (I guess I wouldn't have grinned if one had crapped all over me though) Sitting out on the harbour wall, it was really warm. Bought a few bits in the pound shop too, a flashing Santa (no, not that kind of flashing...!) He has a candle which flashes on and off, I don't know how long the batteries will last, but they are rechargeables anyway, bargain for a quid! He's busy flashing away now in the front window. ;o)

Busy day today

Left for town with Eileen at 9am to try and get a parking space, only just made it too! We hit Marks & Spencer food department (well she did, I didn't really need anything from there) Then we went up to Morrisons, had a coffee and did the big shop. Hopefully that's it now, I should have enough veggies and stuff to last till after Boxing Day, if not will have to do without! Actually, it wasn't too packed, but I'm sure it will be a nightmare from the weekend onwards down there, to be avoided at all costs. Eileen insisted on buying me something for Christmas, so I ended up with a lovely pink scarf and matching gloves, plus two slices of Lemon Cheesecake, (ooops) and a bag of clementines! Lovely of her though.

Came back, quick bite to eat, then set off for Pats. She is away all week, and I offered to go over and do all her bird feeders etc in the garden. There were a few with some peanuts in, but no bird seed or fat balls of course, so having stocked them all up and put loads of seeds out on the three tables and in a couple of hanging feeders too, I took Emma over the Dingles woods. It seemed strange to be there without Pat and Ben, but it was breathtaking down there today. Everywhere was frosted and iced up, I thought it maybe a bit muddy, but the ground was frozen solid. Beautiful day again though, but a tad chilly to say the least! Can you believe it's like minus 3c, and Emma still went in the water and sat down?!

Had a quick cuppa before making my way back, I didn't want to leave it too late because the lanes were lethal, no grit lorries go that way, and some stretches were just a sheet of ice, did a couple of slides round corners, which was a bit hair raising, (there were plenty of "oh shiiiitssss" in the car I can tell you!)

Left my car up at Brian's on the way home, to save me going out in the freezing cold first thing again. Only hope the new thermostat will fix the heater a bit, but as I've said, have my doubts.

Still cold

Another freezing cold day, but beautiful blue skies and unbroken sunshine. I decided to go the petfood warehouse that I've not been to in ages, and buy a 13kilo sack of sunflower hearts, as they work out cheaper than keep buying the small bags. So I set off, taking a picnic lunch with me (low cal of course...) Needed a couple of other bits too. Of course, he didn't have any, so I ended up buying 3 x 1 kilo bags which was dearer than I'd been buying them from Wilkinsons for months anyway. I was going to walk Emma along the river and have my picnic down there, but decided it would be lovely to go to the beach, we've not been for ages, only a few miles further on.

So I got to Aberporth, and of course, the tide was in (as always) Still, there's lots of sand anyway, and Emma had a great time, huffing round like a two year old. It was freezing cold but it didn't stop her going in the water. The last photo below has white patches on it, that was frost and ice at 2pm!

Came back and booked my car in for Thursday with Brian, the heater is so crap I was frozen in the car as well as out, needed a blanket wrapped round me. He's going to change the thermostat to see if that helps, but I don't think it will. I wouldn't be that lucky, it will probably mean a major job clearing out the heater rad which means taking half the car apart by the sounds of it, but I can't drive like that for the rest of the winter, will be useless if the screen freezes up inside (has been known)

Taking Eileen shopping tomorrow, we are going early, hoping to get parked up in town, her husband is hopefully coming home on Thursday.

Called in at the vets to pay my bill, hoping to catch a glimpse of you-know-who, but no luck, sigh. Oh well, roll on Valentines day..... ;o)

Brrrrrrr cold cold cold!

Coldest night so far last night, minus 5c recorded on the thermo by my back door. Water stayed frozen all day, even though the sun felt warmish on my back when I was outside worm hunting with Diddy. Saw the Red Kite overhead, quite low, against the beautiful blue sky, but of course, by the time I'd run in and grabbed the camera, he was about a thousand feet up! Still, undeterred, I took the opportunity of snapping some of the other birds around. I've got three robins squabbling around, also three pairs of blackbirds, one of which is my Jake, he's still going strong (the one with the broken foot) There's also a male with a white patch on his head, so is probably related to the missing White Cheek that used to come here. The robins are plaguing me, every time I step outside the door they are appearing from all directions waiting for a mealworm or two.

Rang Kate up and took Emma up the farm for walk with her and the two dogs, it was blowing a bloody gale up there, couldn't believe it, not a breath of wind down here, it's a lot higher, never realised how different it could be 2 miles away, and I'm sheltered here from the north easterlies. Terence lent me his woolly hat! It was okay in the field though, just going up the lane was a bit bracing! Had a good old chat over a coffee and a piece of home made chocolate cake - shriek, well how could I refuse when it was thrust in front of me??? Good job I was way down on the calorie allowance yesterday!

Blue tits on the porch feeder

Robin on the bird table

Starlings waiting for me to go in

Kite is up there somewhere!

Two robins call a truce for a moment



Jake

Jake again, clearly showing his broken foot.

Male and Female Blackbird (not Jake) and Starling

Sheep in the field next to the garden.

Starting the day with a smile...

Something that amused me no end, and I ended up with a giggling fit. Probably just me though being stupid, but still....

My budgie Chippy, who talks quite well, sometimes mixes up words, and what comes out of his beak is so comical at times. Like he mixes his name up and for ages has been calling himself Chippy Mortosi, which is the start of his proper name, mixed with toast and don't know where he got the "i" from, but it makes him sound like he's an Italian, lol. So today, as I walked in the room to uncover him, he said Chippy O'Shit - so he's now changed nationality to Irish! hahahaha, sorry. It's the only naughty word he has picked up thankfully..... :oD

Butter wouldn't melt..

Christmas MeMe

Cant' be bothered to blog other stuff at the moment so thought I may as well do this.


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? - Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial? - Artificial, I bought it last year, white fibre optic job

3. When do you put up the tree? - I did it today, because I had to get something else out of the loft, so grabbed that at the same time

4. When do you take the tree down? - Usually New Year's Day, to me, Christmas is well and truly over by then, and I'm not superstitious!

5. Do you like eggnog? - Not sure if I've ever had it, if it's the same as Advocaat then yes, yum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? - Probably my dolly, Susan, with blonde curly hair, or maybe Paul another year, who was a life-sized baby doll, and mum had knitted him a blue romper suit!

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? - No

8. Hardest person to buy for? - My mum, she's got everything she needs apparently!

9. Easiest person to buy for? - Emma, anything edible is fine by her

10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? - I can't really think of anything

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? - Mainly by mail, one or two email

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? - The Snowman

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? - Never before the first week of December, usually later, most of my stuff has to be posted though, so can't leave it too late.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? - Yes, quite a few!

15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? - Christmas Cake/Baileys with ice

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? - Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? - Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea, always makes me smile and sing along.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? - Stay at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? - Nope, I know Rudolph, Donna and Blitzen, no idea of any others, is that bad?

20. Angel on the tree top or a Star?- Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? - Christmas morning always!

Tuesday 11th Dec

Today went to the shops (again) trying to find a bit more stuff to get for my mum for Christmas, just about got all I am going to now, just bought her lots of what I hope will be useful bits and pieces.

I also bought loads of suet pellets in Pets at Home, the birds are loving them at the moment, and I have three robins squabbling and chasing each other here at present, and I'm sure one of them is my Bouncer. He is sitting waiting for the mealworms which Diddy hasn't been bothering with, and today he came whizzing right up to me as if he was going to take one from my hand, but swerved at the last minute and waited on the fence. It's sad when another one appears and chases him off though. Of course, because I was getting rid of them as Diddy decided he doesn't like them after all, now he decides he does want them, and scoffed loads today!

Diddy is still very much up and down, but has been outside the last two days as it's dry at last, and had a full crop again when he came in tonight. He somehow managed to get very wet though and I sat him on my lap and dried him with the hairdryer (which he loves, have done it before, but a long time ago) Anonymous, you will be pleased to know I've relented and thought to hell with the new carpet, and am letting him come in the living room at teatime now, he loves to share my evening meal! Tonight he has had half a hard boiled egg from my salad, loads of cheese cubes and grapes. He's also eaten loads of proper bird seed today, yet he wouldn't touch them for ages. I just wish he wasn't so thin, there is nothing but skin on his breast bone. I have joined a Pekin Bantam forum which I found thanks to Google, so am hoping to get some help with various things from there. Sometimes, he just doesn't want to eat anything, and other times he eats and eats. Bit like me though I suppose.... He's just been in here sitting on my lap for a while, he thought he was going to roost on me for the night I think, but I've put him in his little den now and up on the perch. He has carpet on the floor out there now, I forgot to mention, I did that a while back using the old carpet tiles that I used to have in my hall. I put newspaper down on top though to keep them fresh-ish. He also has the electric oil-filled rad (as do my birds up in the aviary now, I am dreading my electric bill, but still, can't let them suffer) I think they cost around a £1 a night to run, but the one for Diddy keeps the chill off the kitchen too so it's worth it.

Last night we had the hardest frost of the winter, even the water down by the back door was frozen solid, and the screen wash froze in my car inside the garage. Lovely not to have to scrape ice off the car for the first time since I've lived here, the four quid a week for the garage is worth every penny for that I think. I had to phone the council about getting something done re the drainage in there though, when it rains, the floor floods and won't drain away, and the car is standing in about 2 inches of water, need wellies to get in it! They are coming in January to take a look for me. I don't suppose they will make it water tight, in fact, it's hard to actually see where it comes in, but I just want some drainage holes drilled in the floor somewhere.

Took Emma round the reservoirs before we came back and took some more snaps with the Nokia phone camera. I then decided that I would have time to take her to the vets after all, so shot indoors on the way through and grabbed her heart pills which I haven't given her for a few days. I'm pretty sure it was them that has been upsetting her tummy, she has had the most awful smelly wind apart from the other stuff she has presented me with! Since no pills, no stinks! Anyway, explained all to the lovely Damien (swoon) and he has given me some others to try, hopefully will be kinder on her stomach, and are certainly kinder on my purse. A months supply from them will be about £18 as opposed to £24 for the others, but again, I've found somewhere online where I can get two months supply for £21 so will go for that option if they are okay for her, will need to get a prescription from Damien though before I can buy them. I've to take her back in a couple of months for a check up though so will sort out the prescription with him then if necessary. Ah well, that's about it for now. Got to wrap up a couple of presents as I'm off over the ex's tomorrow and have a gift for Cylene.

Oh yeah, almost forgot - The Diet...

Thanks to Karen's comment on my earlier blog, it's just reminded me. Well I'm not one to gloat. But in this case I shall make an exception. I'm not due an "official" weigh in until Sunday, but I do jump on the scales almost everyday, I can't help it. This morning, I had lost exactly 13lbs since I started. One more pound to make the stone I wanted to lose by Christmas! Yay! I must control myself tonight - do you know that 4 mince pies contain almost the entire calorie allowance for one day???? I am only going to have a light meal before I go to allow myself to have two pies. Even that is going to be hard. Oh so hard....

But to say I'm chuffed is an under-statement. It's been killing me it really has not to buy any cakes or biscuits. I have had a box of Roses in the cupboard for two weeks that the the old lady next door gave me, but haven't been tempted with them. I'm okay with choccie, it's just bloody cakes! Anyway, I've dropped down to my normal size jeans, the size I've been wearing for the past couple of years, and they are getting very loose on me now, so if I can keep this up, I will be getting my big bag of too-small jeans back out of the loft really soon, and will be regretting that I sold all my size 12/30 waist Levis at the carboot sale this year...... :oD

Time for another catch up

There's not enough hours in the day (or night) lately. I seem to have an endless list of things that (a) have to be done (b) ought to be done (c) got little chance of being done at the moment and feel guilty because of it.

Christmas is obviously weighing on my mind, I need to get more presents, write my cards, get organised. I haven't a clue what to get mum. What do you get for an 80 year old, who goes out once a week shopping but otherwise has little contact with the outside world? She doesn't need anything. No good getting her anything to wear, or smellies, she has a wardrobe full of both which she doesn't want. No good getting her anything electrical, she ends up in tears because she can't get how to work it (like last year it was a Freeview box, and I ended up bringing it home again...) She doesn't need anything for the garden, or for her bird feeding, she has it all. She watches tv soaps and little else, reads The Sun (sigh) and does all the puzzles in it every day. It also has to be things that don't weigh hundreds of pounds as I will have to post it, can't get up there for sure now. The last time I sent her a parcel for her birthday, it cost over £10 to send.

I need to write out all my cards this weekend if I have time. I managed to get my sponsor dog with the Dog's Trust parcel wrapped and posted today, but that's about it really. Have got a couple of other things, bits and pieces but that's it. I dread going into the main town to do any shopping now, certainly doubt if I'll risk it this weekend anyway.

The weather has been so awful this week, rain and gales, virtually every day. My back fence is hanging in tatters and needs replacing. Everywhere is flooded. The river Towy at Carmarthen yesterday is about to flood the fields, and the Teifi in the park at Llandysul ditto. Another few inches and the playing fields will be under water. My back garden where I feed the birds is just a slime patch, I daren't walk on it, else I will end up on my backside for sure. I just have to chuck handfuls of food for the birds on any bit of grass I can find.

Been too much on the telly this week to be on chat I'm afraid, the last Nature of Britain, and Hands on Nature (this weeks was brilliant, Chris Packham was just up the road at New Quay - Nic you missed your chance!) It was probably filmed ages ago though, how comes he gets to see dolphins in the harbour just like that when I've been there a hundred times and only seen them once????

Last night wind farm meeting, got home to find that Emma had pooed everywhere, I was only out just over an hour. It was runny. Sorry if you are eating. She had dripped all up the hall, in the bathroom, in the bedroom, and onto my duvet cover on the bed. It took me near on an hour to clean up. This morning I could still smell it and found some that I couldn't see on the hall carpet last night. This is the second time this week, she did a load when I was in the shower the other morning too. I think it's the heart pills, it does say one of the side effects can be upset stomach, but I don't know why it's taken this long to do it. I guess I will have to go and see Damien next week. That's if my cold sore has gone of course. Which is another story. I have had one for over two weeks now. It almost went, and now has come back with a vengence, and looks bloody awful. Great, being as we have our Christmas do tonight and I shall be meeting up with dozens of people. Just my luck. Have just been down the hall to dump off my contribution to the raffle and the mince pies (courtesy of Tesco, no way was I going to make them!) I am hoping to be able to walk down the hall, so I can have a few glasses of wine tonight. I shan't be walking if we get anymore hailstones though like we've had today. The forecast is for sleet and snow over the next few days. At least it's been mild up till now, but looks like that's all set to change.

Other news, Diddy boy not too good. He was eating mealworms as I have already mentioned, but he's not bothered about them anymore now. He has been going outside a fair bit, and having a scratch round, but his crop is nearly always empty, and I can see him now behind the gate in the kitchen, with his head down. I am really breaking up thinking maybe I should have him put to sleep, but then sometimes, when he's outside, he seems fine, perks right up, runs even if I find a worm for him. But he is soooo thin, I don't know how he's still alive. He just doesn't want to eat anything.

Oh well, best get on, doubt I shall be on chat tomorrow either, because of X Factor Semi, and Strictly Come Dancing etc, but maybe will make it on Sunday.

Here's a couple of photos I took with the Nokia camera round the park, takes a nice piccy I think, comparable on the net anyway with those from my proper camera, but haven't printed any to see yet.

Yesterday at Carmarthen

Llandysul park today

More spooky occurrences?

I'm seriously beginning to wonder about me. I've had a terrible night's sleep due to something that happened, well a couple of things really, in the last day or so. Let me explain.

Three years ago, a friend and I fell out, bigtime. I won't go into the details of why here and now, it's very involved, but suffice to say, it was, at the time, irrepairable, and to be perfectly honest, I was very relieved, I'd been looking for a way of easing myself out of her life for a long time, and took the opportunity with both hands. I couldn't cope with the pressure of our friendship, or the financial burden it was becoming at times. To be honest, I was having the piss taken out of me bigtime, and being soft I couldn't do anything about it.

Enough about that bit, anyhow, our paths crossed again earlier this year at the Doctors, and I didn't want her as an enemy, so I was friendly, and we chatted briefly, then I met up with her for a walk with the dogs on Saturday, and quickly realised that nothing had changed, and I still couldn't be there for her, and I had moved on. We left it that I would give her a ring sometime, and I never did. So apart from one brief sighting of her a couple of months ago across the park where I walk Emma, she had been far from my mind.

So that sets the scene. On Monday night, I had a dream, that I met her on a walk with Emma. I was walking up a hill, not anywhere immediately familiar, and we met at the brow of this hill, it was a road, and she was with her cocker, Sophie. I was surprised that she'd been able to walk that far, because she is disabled, that's all I can remember of the dream, apart from we chatted, exchanged how are yous etc. I think the road was one in her village, where I walked with Irene and her dog before she left, but it was quite vague.

Okay so now move on to yesterday evening. I was setting up my new mobile phone, transferring all the phone numbers from the old one into the new, systematically going through each one. I got to her numbers (she was last in the list alphabetically) and thought I won't be needing those anymore, so didn't put them into my new phone.

So that's twice right, she'd entered my thoughts for one reason or another.

At 21.45 last night, my phone rang. I have caller display - it was her!!!!! I was so shocked, I didn't answer, just sat there looking at the name, and waiting for the ansa to kick in. She left a message. A short, tearful message. Sounds like she has split with her boyfriend (if you could call him that) although just guessing at this stage from her mumblings. Wants me to be a friend to her, wants me to ring her, needs someone to talk to.

Excuse my language, but oh fuck. What the hell should I do? I really don't need any more complications in my life, my health has deteriorated in the three years since I stopped being her "home help", and I couldn't cope with it now for sure. But at the same time, I don't want to be a complete bitch, it's not in my nature. I just don't know what to do.

I'm really freaked out at the way this has happened too, apart from the decision. I will have to think it over today before I do anything at all. Any comments or advice appreciated folks.

1st December already!

Another week gone by and very little achieved! Weather as usual first in my thoughts, been pretty awful, it was mild for a few days and very grey, then it turned cold, then it rained. And rained. And rained a bit more. Today I was going to face the crush and go and try and get some inspiration for Christmas presents, but it was peeing down and blowing a gale first thing so I decided against it. Instead, it cleared a bit about 12 ish, so I thought I'd take Emma to the seaside, we didn't get to go out at all yesterday. Ho ho, what a mistake. Well no, not strictly true as we got a walk and some fresh (very) sea air. The tide was right in, and my god it was blowing, the waves were coming right over the wall, the boats in the harbour were getting thrashed around, glad I wasn't out on the sea in it, was making me feel sick just looking!

Anyway took some photos, not as spectacular as actually seeing the spray going 20 feet into the air but still.

So what else this week? Well the first thing that comes to mind - and don't read this bit if you are eating or will be eating soon - I wormed Emma on Wednesday afternoon. No, thats not the bad bit. That came later at 10.30 pm. I wondered why she hadn't been to ask to go out at 9 oclock like normal, opened the living room door to find her in the hall, surrounded by two huge piles of spew. All she had eaten all day by the looks of it. After scolding her for not letting me know she wanted to go out, and clearing it up, she then presented me with another two piles, then another, I made her go outside for the last ones. In an hour and a half, she threw up every ten minutes till there was nothing left. I won't describe in detail however, will spare you that at least. She was so poorly, I was going to phone the vets if she did any more. She didn't want to come to bed, so I put her beanbag on the kitchen floor and turned off the light, went to bed myself (then midnight) Of course, I laid there expecting her to come scratching at the door so couldn't sleep, it didn't feel right without her in the room. Next thing I could hear her vomitting again. Oh I forgot the diarrhea. Luckily that was outside, twice. I had to clean her up though. Isn't it fun having pets? After that last puke though, it seemed she was okay, and we managed to get some sleep.

She hasn't really been herself until today, was sick, just a little bit yesterday, and hasn't wanted her choccies or treat biscuits, very unusual for her, but today is back to her normal piggy self thank goodness.

Other than that, not much to report, can't really remember what I've done though, only watched tv and messed around on the laptop, had some more problems with that again, lost some of my graphics so I couldn't view icons etc, but think I've sorted that out now.

Had a nice surprise on Thursday night at the wind farm meeting, Helen came rushing over when I arrived with a beautiful crocheted throw she had made me, double bed size, to thank me for doing her dvds for her (I copied the ones of her and her son's parachute jump and all the photos) It must have taken her hours to make, how lovely. It will be too hot for me on the bed but it looks great on the sofa, especially as it's beige, so right colour for the room.

Well that's about it for now, all my telly stuff to watch tonight as usual, loving the X Factor, and Rhydian Roberts in particular.