ZERO GOODNESS.NEW APP

 The other day Matt told me of a new app that he had downloaded onto his i phone.

It's called Yuko and you can scan any item in the food shop and it will tell you if its a good buy nutritionally and gives you a score that tells you content, sugar, fats etc. 

 

 This is the app if you feel like trying it.

I scanned some M&S scones and found they had zero goodness in them, also some of Lidl food was the same.  it is free unless you want to upgrade.

No wonder we all feel l tired and under the weather. We are getting little to none nourishment from our food. 

Have fun, I'm sure you will be surprised at how little goodness there is in most food.

Briony

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BOOKS

 

 

Matthew, son, likes nothing more than to trawl the charity shops and he is really good at finding good reads.

This book above is one of his recent finds and I can recommend it.

I get a bit fed up with murder and mystery books but this is a little different.

Set in my home town of Brighton at the beginning of the second world war, I was hooked from the first page and finished it in 2 days.

I couldn't see it in my local library and so you may have to hunt it down but its such a beautiful touching story.

 

Here are the latest finds that he bought in on Tuesday.  They look equally interesting.

 

Pleased to say that the weather now is just to my liking, sunny but with a breeze and no indoor fans needed, lol

 

Briony

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CROCHET CHALLENGE

Well I am still alive filling my time with crochet, jigsaws and reading mostly.

Not so much crochet in the hot weather but back on it now its cooler

 

 

 

As you can see I have finished the centre piece and am now working on the outside bits, these are proving to be the most challenging bits of crochet I have ever worked and several times I have thought about abandoning the whole thing. 

 

 

 

I have to complete 8 of these,  This is only part of the section.

 

Here are the other 7 part made pieces

Wish me luck as I keep going to try to finish this throw.

 

As for life in general, I miss my cats enormously and would love another but I am trying to be sensible and hold back.

I have trouble walking and changing trays and bending down would be too much.  never the less, I do miss them all.

Penny and Matt are wonderful and I couldn't ask for better kids, they are bricks. 

 

All I am hoping for now is that the heatwave doesn't come back. lol

 

Briony

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Burning the midnight oil

 

 

 

In order to try and get a good nights sleep I am burning the midnight oil doing crochet. It's almost midnight and I'm hanging on as long as I can before I retire. 

Just lately I'm not sleeping well so last night I tried this and it seemed to work, I actally got a full 5 hours, good for me.

I have the radio to keep me company and I'm yawning so I think I'm almost there. lol

Briony

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At last, it’s been a few years

 

I mentioned to Matt the other day that all the Time I’ve shared my life with cats I’ve never been able to have a Vase of lilies because as you  probably know they are poisonous to cats.

I happened to mention it to Matt the other day he came in with a large bunch of lilies for me

I think you’re agree they’re beautiful

Briony

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Yesterday again

Matt cut back the Jasmine on the back stairs and loaded into bags ready for us to drop to the tip on the way to coffee. 

I don't know how this Jasmine suvives as it is planted in a tiny hole surrounded by concrete and doesn't get that much water,  similarly my clematis is the same, they must be very hardy.

 

 

sorry about the quality of the picture,  that's my camera skills coming out, lol

 

 So much to get rid of but a good job done.

 

Today is a staying in day, I'll probably do a little crochet and read.

Briony

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MONDAY

 Monday has arrived again,  the days seem to fly by to me now even though I'm not doing that much or going out often.   Penny and Matt take me out two or three days a week as I can just about manage to get down the stairs and into the car. 

I have purchased a small buggy that fits nicely into the boot of each of their cars and so I can get around the shops with them.  Picture me whizzing around Tesco in this, lol

 

 

 Small enought to fold into the boot of their cars and comfy enough for short outings.

Matt (son) came up this morning and cut the excess jasmine away from the back stairs, now when I sit in the kitchen window I can see who is walking up and down the road. Nosey, lol

Then we went up to waitrose for a coffee and danish and he went around and picked up a few bits of groceries while I sat like a lady of leisure in the cafe.  

I've had my evening meal and am now about to see if I can find anything worth watching on the tv.  

Don't know about you but I'm finding it more and more difficult to find something interesting to watch.

I don't like futuristic stuff,  not keen on sloppy romance, Sc fi isn't my bag either,  talk about fussy, lol

 

Stay safe

Briony

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Turned 80 and no cats.

 Well here I am again giving blogging one last go.

Four weeks ago I had my 80th Birthday. 

And last week I had to have my last furry friend put to sleep.

I am now catless for the first time since I was 10 years old and it feels wrong.

This house, that was once filled to the brim with laughter,  tears and cats is now containing just me.

Rowan had not been that well for a while but was still useing the tray and eating well so I left her to it, but last Friday she refused to eat and i was having to hold her water bowl up for her and I knew it was time.

You can guess how upset I was even though I knew it was coming.

I'm still crocheting away and reading a lot but moving about is not so easy.

nevertheless I a going to try to blog each day with an account of the day,  you may find it interesting or you may be bored, lol

But I'll give it a go.

Today I have managed a bit of washing and washed my hair, all things that were done without thinking are now carefully thought out.

I'm now going to get on with my new crochet project and maybe do a little reading.  

 this is the current throw I am making,  Janie Crow's  Fruit Garden.

Quite complicated  and I had to buy the book of instructions but I'm enjoying it so far.

I'll post more pictures in future posts.

Briony

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RETURN OF THE FOX

 The last home visit from the fox was in May and he hasn't been in since.

But a few nights ago as I was sitting on my computer he snuck in again without me noticing, I was engrossed in something or another.

When I finally looked up, there he was at the top of the landing looking down at me.

You can just see the corner of the desk where I was sitting and the top of the stairs where he was sitting looking at me.

Just shows you how stealthy they are, he was silent. 

Excuse the stair lift and walker. lol  

necessary these days.

He was a beauty, very large and in good shape.

I shouted and he ran out.

Matt has a theory that it could be the same one that came in before only now he's fully grown.

I think this is likely as there are other foxes in the area and they will rush out of the gate as soon as the back door is opened. 

 

So it's locked cat flap all the time now and poor little Rowan is limited to sitting looking out of the flap  only when I'm in the kitchen.

 

It doesn't bother me that he comes in and if I was sure he wouldn't poo or spray I wouldn't mind but I can't risk that as the smell would take ages to get rid of.

 

I know this sounds made up but I can assure you it is'nt. 

 

Briony

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SUNDAY SUNSHINE

 Just noticed the sunshine on the Temu flowers.

Little tip.  if you want something, go on Amazon and then fnd the same item on Temu,  you can usually find the same thing but much cheaper.

I love these Peonies

 

 

 

Have a lovely day

Briony

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9 MONTHS LATER

I'm still here doing plenty of crochet between the naps, lol

For anyone still out there here is my latest crochet blanket.

 

 

 

It is called  Macaroon Blosson Afghan and consists of 96 individual rounds connected together.

The yarn used is Scheepjes Stone Washed and it is lovely an soft. 

 

 

 

Work in progress

 

I have to date made 17 so a good few to go.

but I shall get here as they are really enjoyable to make. 

Hoping everyone out there is still in good health.

Myself, I'm not able to get out much due to arthritis but the kids take me out 2 or 3 days a week so I'm not complaining.

 

Briony

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CHECKING FOR A GUN

 Penny (daughter) took Tom's passing badly and to try to get some comfort has resorted to mediums.

Personally I would't bother but if it helps her then I am all for it.

The last one she went to see told her that he was happy and that she could see that I was still in the land of the living.

She told her that I was not going anywhere soon and she would have to shoot me to get rid of me, lol

 

Thus, I think it might be wise to have a snoop around her house next time I'm there to make sure she hasn't got one hidden at the back of a drawer or something, lol

Briony

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TOM'S TAPESTRY

Some of you may remember how Tom loved to do tapestries.

The last one he completed was rolled up in the spare room and so the last time my eldest son visited I gave it to him.

 Not sure if you recall this one.

My son had it professionally framed and  put it on one of the bedroom walls.

 I think Tom would be happy with this don't you?

Briony

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WALKING STICK FASCINATION

For some reason Rowan has taken a fancy to the end of my walking stick.

I usually leave it leaning against my wool basket when I'm sitting down in the evening and she love nothing better than to cosy up to it.

 

It must be the smells from outside that she enjoys.

 

 As long as she's within smelling distance she's happy, lol 

By the way, the carpet isn't thread bare, its supposed to look like that. 

Briony

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ANOTHER COUPLE OF THINGS

 This is getting to be the old girls blog, lol but its speaking the truth and knowing that a lot of you out there are in the same boat.

When did road side kerbs get so high, lol

I find myself faultering when stepping off of the pavement onto the road as thought the kerb is a foot high.

I often used to watch old people doing this and wondered what was so difficult, but now I know.

The other thing is, involuntary grunts. 

Where did they come from?

I find myself making all sorts of noises at any small action. ha ha

 

Anyone identify with these two things,

I'm sure there are more I can dredge up. lol

Briony

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REMEMBER

I'm sure amongst the chaos of the world at the moment that this is what we could all do with.

 

Easier said than done.

I'd never be able to get up, that's if I could get down, lol

 

Remember when you were young, just laying in long grass staring up at the sky oblivious to anything, listening to the insects and birds.

Heaven.

 

Briony

x 

 

 

Thankyou

 I'd like to say thankyou to all of the people who have either read or responded to my post yesterday.   I didn't think there would be anyone who had had the patience to wait for the long promised post.

I really must try harder to post more but as I don't get out as much now I always think that my little life bobbing around indoors would not be of much interest. lol

Last night was as usual, not good, waking up every couple of hours but I'm getting used to it and after I let Rowan out of the hatch  (not left open all night after the fox fiasco) I get into the reclining chair and have another couple of hours after which I feel ready to take on some breakfast.

She's currently roaming around making her usual noise and this also I'm getting used to.

I really don't think there is anything wrong as she's eating and drinking normally and going out to have a sniff around,  she's using the tray normally as well.  I think she may have just found her voice after being the down trodden one when all the gang was here.

She used to always poo on the carpet in the hall in the open where she could keep an eye on the others as they used to trap her in the bathroom where the tray is, so I think she is relieved to be on her own but probably also missitng watching them

Hard to think that she will be 18 years old in a few weeks.

As for the ends of wool,  I just can't bring myself to throw them away, lol

I'll go on you tube and see what others are doing with them.   Watch this space there could be a great piece of art coming this way.

Penny as just rung to make sure I'm okay and is feeling a lot better today so that starts the day of on a good footing.  

Now for a little bit of washing that needs to be done and then sit in the sunshine while its there and crochet.  

That's all for today.

Briony

x

 

 

 

Wool Ends

 I'm finding it difficult to think of anything to blog about these days that doesn't appear that I'm moaning, thus why there have been no posts.

Lots going on here regarding health.   My daughter has been diagnosed with Rhematoid Arthritis and has other issues to deal with,  Matt is at this moment off work with his back and I'm still walking around like the old couple on the road sign, all bent over. lol

Although its now two years since Tom died we are all three of us still finding it hard to accept.

We laugh a lot and then we get upset a lot but the main thing is that we are there for each other and that is such a comfort.   We talk on the phone or online every day and I go out with them each week for a coffee and shopping.  They are wonderful kids and I am eternally grateful for them.

Lord knows how older people manage on their own.

On the crafting side I am thankful for my crochet, it is such a leveler and keeps me sane.

I still have the 'Blue House' blanket on the go although it is now almost finished, I am on the sewing up stage.

 

 

Excuse cat biscuits. lol 

And the other one I'm making is 'Sushine and Showers' both designs by Janie Crow.

This is made in strips and sewn togethether.

 

 Regarding the title of this post,  I wonder if other people save all the wool ends like I do but don't have a clue what to do with them. lol

Here's the ice cream box crammed full.  Surely there must be something I can do with these.

Any suggestions.

Briony

x

 

 

BACK AFTER A RATHER LONG BREAK

 It's been over 4 Months since I last posted on the blog.

Since Tom died things have taken a little getting used to and I've had my ups and downs.

Sadly I am down to only one cat now.  I lost Rupert a few months before Tom died and since he went three of the others have sadly had to go to sleep.

Willow was having fits and the last one was horrible to observe and I thought it kindest to let her go. Had she gone out and had a fit I may not have beene able to find her.

Then Princess's kidneys failed and it was kindest again to let her go, she was listless and not eating.

Then poor little Mummy Polly's back legs went and she was having a job to walk straight so another terrible decision had to be made.

So that leaves me with just Rowan who I'm sure misses the others.

She is 16 1/2 so I'm bracing myself for the final one to go and hoping its not too soon.

 She was never vocal but since they've gone she's done nothing but cry.

I feel as though slowly everthing is being taken away.   I am getting less and less mobile with arthritis but maybe this is just what happens with old age. lol

I am still fairly happy with life though and enjoying my crochet, reading, and all the other things that can be done from a chair.

Let's hope I can get down to some regular posts.

Briony

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Crochet in the kitchen

 Feet up, caftan on for comfort, sun’s out, some crochet on the go. What could be better for a Sunday morning.

Hope the sun is out where you are.

Briony

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