My visit to Chichester

Good day to all who browse this blog. I have just been down to Chichester for a week. My brother Anthony had an operation and I went and looked after him, sad to say it meant that I had to leave Glyn, not good.
While I was down there I managed to catch up with a few old friends, Brenda, Lin, Linda. It was very good catching up with them all had some good natters.
Tony is now on the road to recovery so have come home to look after the old man once again.
The weather was kind to me while I was away which made it all the better. Must admit it is lovely to be home.
I am looking forward to going on holiday in August with the children and grandchildren.

Peace perfect Peace!

My peaceful place.

You know every now and again you find a place that is so peaceful you have a job to go past it! Well this is my place. I leave for work 10 or 15 minutes early sometimes just so that I can stop here. It is on a B road between Usk and Chepstow. You get all of 1 car every 5 minutes or so along the road (except in the rush hours when you perhaps get double that number).
There always seems to be a plethora of birds singing all the year round and just sitting listening to them is such a joy.

Wild flowers such as Primroses, Cowslips, Violets & Bluebells are all there in abundance.
Behind where my bike is parked there
is a path that leads to a stream with a bridge over it and there are logs that have been made into seats the other side, you can't even hear the traffic from there, what there is of it!!
I always call here if I come home from work this way as it really is my chill out place. It is a forestry commission picnic site and therefore has a name which I forget (senior moment, but will write it down next time I am there).
It is a place that I just feel at peace with God and the world and so close to nature. I also find it is easy to wonder at God's creativity where there are so many of His wonderful creations in one small area.

Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg

Well now after being (as many of you will know) fascinated by the Welsh language since I was a boy I am now having a go at learning to speak it!
Here I am at 60 years of age trying to come to grips with a new language??? Actually I only started last Thursday 14th May and I am finding it quite fascinating.
I was pointed to a web site by a welsh speaking friend (Lois) who still does not know what she has started!
You do not learn to read or write in welsh, just speak it. I can therefore do it at work as it is all in down loadable mp3 format. Just put it on a mp3 player and away you go.
Below is the link to the web site so that you can have a go, believe me it is quite easy once you get started.
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/home/
Below is the link that will take you directly to the downloads (I am doing the southern version)
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/lessons/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11
I am on lesson 2
Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg, by the way, means in welsh I AM TRYING TO SPEAK WELSH! I do not know if it is spelt right but that is how it sounds.

Well who would have thought it!

Well who would have thought it. After having Oscar for all these years we discovered at 1830 last night that HE is a SHE and we have to call her OSCARINA.
She proudly produced an egg and we expect at least 2 more before she finishes. Of course it is infertile as there is no male involved HA HA!
Is that a virgin birth?
We started to guess that something was different a couple of weeks ago when she started cooching (Welsh slang word for cuddling) up to me and bit Sue quite hard, something she had never done before. Though of course we never guessed at the time but hindsight is a wonderful thing!
So let me introduce you to OSCARINA though I should imagine that we will have a bit of a problem getting her to say it after she has been calling herself Oscar for all these years.

Allotment update

Well thanks to good weather and a star named Rob Evans! I managed to get up there yesterday under the watchful eye of my beloved Sue and just about got it up to date.
The runner bean sticks are up and ready, all beds are ready to be planted and just one bed, the fruit patch needs forking over around the bushes that are there already (see below).
Runner beans in pots ready, 4 rows of potatoes in, a row of cabbages in, tomatoes & cucumber in grow bags in the greenhouse.
I got 2 gooseberry bushes in the fruit patch to go with the 2 blackcurrant bushes already there.
Rob helped me with all the heavy lifting that had to be done putting the slabs down in the greenhouse etc.
Showers and sunny periods today and my bald patch got burnt enough yesterday!!!!!!!!
Again Many thanks to Rob Evans who has the plot next to us!

Off Sick

I am a bit peed off really as I tore some muscles in my shoulder whilst delivering to Next in Truro on Saturday last. Not too bad on Sunday, Sunday night I had a job to sleep or get comfortable as the pain was quite bad! Hoping it heals by Thursday so that I can get back to work?
Tried to rest it over the next few days but in the end had to go to the docs today (Thurs) and he laughed and asked if I really expected it to heal in 5 days?
As I said to him "you can always hope". Well he has signed me off until next Thursday and said it should be OK by then!
I AM BORED ALREADY! any suggestions as I cannot even get up the allotment. We are going out later to get peas, runner beans etc. to start off in the greenhouse but there is so much more I would like to get done up there. Well at least most of the heavy work is done so it is only pottering and I have no doubt Sue will have to come up to "keep an eye on me".
Well happy days at least the sun is shining.

Sharon, Danielle & Natalie, Race for life

Sharon, Danielle & Natalie are doing this years Race for Life in Memory of Sue (Mike's late wife) & Natalie's Late Grandmother Lee Bourne who's passing was announced in an earlier post.
It is on 31st of May in Milton Keynes and all donations will be very gratefully received.
As this is a charity close to all our hearts lets be generous!
Donations can be made (very simply) online, the link is below, it must be easy because I did it!
We look forward to some pictures and a report from Sharon when it is done!!!!
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sharonhowe1

March 2009 Holiday in Splatt

Having been back nearly 2 weeks now I thought perhaps it was about time I posted about it. Mind you pressure of work has also had a lot to do with it being delayed!

I think it is safe to say it is the best spring holiday, weather wise, that we have for some years as we only had one shower and that was during the night.

Consequently we went out most days, some to look at National Trust places and others just to take in the sights and enjoy the fantastic weather.

The holiday was marred a little by the fact that we had to come back a day early (missing 2 days really as we would have gone somewhere on the way home) as Tony (Sue's brother) was to have an operation on the Friday, especially as the op was cancelled at the last minute and Sue was already on the train going to Chichester when she received the phone call.

This is possibly the nearest you will ever see Sue to a bull! Still I suppose she gets enough from me?

Godreavy Island & Lighthouse (near Hayle)

These pictures were taken at All Saints Church, Dunterton. Illustrating the difference a lens can make! The left one was taken with a fisheye & the right with a normal wide angle!

All Saints Church, Dunterton. Again taken with a fisheye lens. notice the curve of the tower!

I just love using this lens. Ha ha!

I found whilst out for a walk on the nature trail this very small fly who seemed to be so photogenic that I just had to try to get it with the macro lens (above & below)

A mother and her 2 sons. I hope they will be luscious steaks in the not too distant future. Ha ha!

http://www.splattfarm.co.uk/index.htm

More Karis (how she grows)!

Tresmeer (North Cornwall Railway)

As many of you will know I have always had a healthy interest in railways so recently we have been holidaying at a place called Splatt in Cornwall.

Next to the cottage we stay in intrigued me as there was a disused railway line and station. The station house is still lived in.

Me being my usual nosey self wanted to know more, so here we go.

Above picture. Up Railcar at Tresmeer c1960.

Tresmeer was part of the North Cornwall Railway that ran from Meldon Junction to Padstow.

The Stations In Order From Meldon Junction To Padstow

Meldon Junction.. Maddaford Moor Halt.. Ashbury.. Halwill Junction.. Ashwater.. Tower Hill.. Launceston..Egloskerry.. Tresmeer.. Otterham.. Camelford.. Delabole.. Port Isaac Road..

St. Kew Highway.. Wadebridge.. Padstow.

Of course this line became a casualty of the Beaching Axe with the last train running over the line on 28th January 1967.

Above picture. Railcar at Tresmeer just before closure c1966

Above picture. As the station looked in the 1960's. The goods shed, far left is also a dwelling house today.

The above two pictures are as Tresmeer Station is today. These were taken by me (from the bridge shown in the top two pictures) on 24th March 2009. Note the station sign (arrowed) in the top picture still surviving after all these years!

Above. The very last train to run over the line waiting to leave a very wet Padstow station to return for the last time to Meldon Junction on the 28th January 1967.

If you want to see more look at. http://www.northcornwallrailway.co.uk/

Link to the cosy cottages we stay in.

Very comfortable and welcoming. http://www.splattfarm.co.uk/index.htm

Sarah

Lets go back a few years to when I first met Sarah. She was working at a Next in Salisbury. We seemed to hit it off straight away as she had a sense of humour. Lets face it you need one to be around me.
Sarah is a very pretty girl who has a wonderful personality and is very easy to get along with.
Well as time went on she became delivery manager and moved to the new shop on the retail park when it opened.
While she was there after a while I noticed Sarah was losing weight, that was fine to start with but it just went on and on! I was starting to feel that she may have some sort of eating disorder? As I only go to the shop to deliver periodically I supposed I noticed the difference more than those who saw her every day. One day I got there and she was looking really drawn and ill and again I spoke to her about it.
Well to cut a long story short the next time I went Sarah was off sick!
Unfortunately at that time I lost contact with her as I had no phone number or anything. I thought & prayed for her often.
Well I was delivering to Cotton Traders at Wilton yesterday and to my great surprise and delight Sarah came up to speak to me as she was there having gone out to get a bit of fresh air.
Next have terminated her employment as she has been off so long which I must admit I was disgusted about when I heard it from her work colleagues, as were they!
Well it is a eating disorder but Sarah has now put on a stone since she has been off work and is now looking forward to the future. It is still going to be a battle and an uphill struggle.
I am still praying for her and would ask all those who read this to do the same.
We can at least keep in touch now as we swapped phone numbers and she is going to look for me on Facebook so hopefully keep in touch that way as well.
Sarah may be coming near us to a clinic in Bristol as an in patient for a short while so I will obviously go to see her and take Sue to meet her.
Well God Bless you all
Glyn

The Late Lee Bourne

Is is with some regret that I have to report that Andy's Mother (Louise's partner) passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness (cancer).
Our thoughts & prayers are very much with Andy & Jojo and their families at this sad time.
If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me a photo and I will add all to this post?

24/01/2009 The late Berkely John "Jack" Dowdle (Updated)

I am sorry to announce the sad loss after a long illness of the much beloved Berkely John "Jack" Dowdle. My ex father-in-law, Sue's uncle & my children's grandfather.
I have very fond memories of him and have had a lot to be thankful to him for over the years.
After an accident, some 2 years ago now, he spent much of the time in a nursing home in Trowbridge and I know he will be very much missed by us all.
Rest in peace Jack.

If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will add to this?

Pictures of Karis from Lindy & Nick

These were all March 2009

Siskin (updated 16/03/09)

Now up to 7 of these very pretty birds started to come into the garden during the recent bad weather. They seem to like the thistle seed feeders and so far have stayed.

Although smaller than the 8 to 10 goldfinches that are resident with us they do not take any crap from them and more than hold their own when the goldfinches try to chase them off the feeders. It is quite funny to watch them at times.

This is a male and as is usual in the bird world the female is nowhere near as colourful.

March dates to remember

We only have one date that I know of this month and that is
12th Joel (Martyn's son) Is 2
31st Nicky is getting OLDER (all of 38) lol

18/02/2009 Lainie's Big Night

It is called Lainie's Big Night because it is the first one that she has ever spent away from Stella.

How it came about was Stella was spending the week in Chippenham with "her new man" (Richard) and thought it would be nice to spend some time as just the 2 instead of the usual 3!

We were only too happy to agree to have her for the night, but at the crunch Stella was not too sure.

As it turned out everything was fine and Lainie could not have been happier having a sleepover with nanny & grampy. It made her feel like a big girl and as usual she was as good as gold.

Stella on the other hand was apparently a nervous wreck!!! I think they enjoyed the time alone even though Stella had a hangover the following day.

Lainie & Nanny then went on to make Welsh cakes and Rock cakes in the morning as I was going to work, so I saw very few of them, as Lainie had to show them to mummy!

I just want to say what a joy Lainie was to have around as Nannies shadow and look forward to repeating it in the not too distant future?

03,05 & 06/02/2009 Snow in Trevethin

Snow drifts on the bridle path in Lasgarne Woods

Snow plough at last

Snow on holly leaf

Outside back door

The garden

One snowed in car

Well this was the sight that greeted us on the 3rd of Feb. a sight to behold for those snow lovers like Sue!

Thankfully the snow plough got to us by mid afternoon but too late for me to go to work. Such a shame that lol.

We managed to get out to attend Jack's funeral on the 4th but early morning on the 5th in it came again! On the 6th we had a blizzard so alas I only got to work one day that week. Still I did enjoy the enforced holiday he he!

As I look out of the window now there is still traces of snow to be seen on the mountain tops across the valley over 2 weeks later.

21/01/2009 Karis Annie Hornby

If you had told me 5 or 10 years ago that Lindy would have children, you would have had to pick me up off the floor from laughing!!!
After the sad miscarriage last April (see earlier post) she had a very healthy Daughter born to her and Nick by C. Section at 0559 on 21st January 2009.
Mother and Daughter doing just fine as we understand from the 6 week check up that Lindy had last Friday.

Karis Annie




Karis & Lindy (Just call me Rudolf)

14/01/2009 Diabetic Clinic

Would not normally put such a mundane thing on here but it was a milestone as perhaps you will understand as it unfolds.
My average B/S was 7.9 and a bit high so I have been put on yet more tablets to try and get it down. I am now just 1 tablet a day short of going onto insulin!
This is where the Dr had me in tears as she told me the fantastic news that N.I.C.E. have just passed a new synthetic insulin that does not induce hypo's so therefore it can be prescribed to ONLY those people whose livelihood depends on their licence, eg. LGV & PSV drivers.
It is apparently very expensive but as a LGV driver I qualify and can get it prescribed. As prescriptions are free to me it is great news and a great relief hence the tears.
I can only say THANK YOU Dr. BALBOA for the news and the hug!

Catch Up

Well it has been some time since I have posted anything on here due to lack of interest among other things. Now I thought that I would keep it up to date as short term memory not so good and I can remind myself of all the good things and bad that has happened over the years.
I will try to get them in chronological order as far as I can?
SO HERE GOES!