W.I Dinner

Last night was our W.I dinner which was at the Windmill Restaurant at Burley Marsh. this is about halfway between Mablethorpe and Skegness. As there were 20 women going it was decided to let 5 husbands drive us all there. Well it was not too bad going, although the roads were very icy. By the time we were ready to come home (Some of us more drunk then others!) it was a blizzard! It took hours to get home although Graham was excellent and we all felt very safe with his driving. On the way home after dropping most of the women off we were passed by two ambulances, a fire tender and two police cars. Graham commented that there must have been an accident somewhere. This morning we discovered that it was the president of the W.I and her husband and one of the elderly ladies. They had overturned completely into a dyke and had to be got out of the car by the fire brigade. luckily I don't think anyone was too badly hurt.
The dinner was one of the best I have had in a restaurant. I had Pate mousse, followed by Seabass and Prawns and then for dessert I had belgian Waffles with Bananas, icecream and toffee sauce.
Because we were not going to see anyone now until March they were all wanting to hug and kiss Graham. For forms sake he had to pretend not to like it !!

On a more serious note, My brother in law is not very well in hospital. He has been tested for swine flu and menengitis but they think he has a bad pnuemonia. he has been moved to an isolation unit and is quite ill. he is drifting in and out of delirium and sometimes doesn't recognise my sister and their kids. His high temperature has affected his heart. he has also been fighting with the nurses so one of his sons is staying with him at all times. lets hope he soon recovers.

sheila x

Not for ages.

I have just realised that I haven't blogged for sometime. I may have a difficulty remembering what I have done since I last wrote so here goes. (looking at the calender)
On Monday it was the W.I 's annual Christmas concert for which we sold almost two hundred tickets. We had different entertainment this year because we were very dissatisfied with last years choir( who we have had for the past 17yrs.) however although the new choir was very good they were extremely religious and so I thought it boring. We had to feed all our guest, which we did in fine style with a buffet.
On Tuesday it was back to the village hall with my jam stall for a fundraiser. my friend raised money for young carers and hoped to get enough money to take all the kids to the cinema. In the end she made £300.
Thursday was Dentist's !!!
Today was coffee morning at the village hall ,where I did yet another jam stall. My best customer, Gordon, bought four jars in case he ran out whilst I was in Australia!
Tomorrow is the Carol Service at the local church,I have said I will go because two of my friends are doing a reading.

Throughout all this, poor old Graham is working his fingers to the bone. he's very busy.

Sheila xx

a couple of babies

Lincolnshire market

After reading my daughters blog I feel the need to redress the balance somewhat. She was warned several times about the bus journey to Lincoln but thought it would be a piece of cake for a seasoned traveller like her. Huh!. Graham almost begged us to go by car but "commonsense?" prevailed and we went by bus. Firstly the bus was late coming from Skegness which meant that when we arrived in Louth, the connecting bus had gone. There were some 11 or so people left stranded. Fortunately, one of the strandees was a councillor. She demanded the bus drivers mobile phone and proceeded to phone the managing director of the bus company. She was very eloquent and the upshot was that we were all taxied to Lincoln at no cost to us! At the Lincoln market there was much imbibing of free samples. I was tipsy in the first 10 minutes and Graham got to such a state that he actually bought a bottle of Whiskey!
Coming home was another farce. The journey was horrendous and guess what? the bus was late and so we missed the connection to Mablethorpe. There wasn't another bus for an hour so we had to walk around a supermarket until the next bus came.
Yesterday we went to see the seals at Donna Nook bombing range.

catholic heart attack

A CATHOLIC HEART ATTACK

A man suffered a serious heart attack and had open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital .
As he was recovering, a nun asked him questions regarding how he was going to pay for his treatment. She asked, "Do you have health insurance?"
He replied in a raspy voice, "No health insurance."
The nun asked, "Do you have money in the bank?"
He replied, "No money in the bank."
The nun asked, "Do you have a relative who could help you?"
He said, "I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun."
The nun became agitated and announced loudly, "Nuns are NOT spinsters! Nuns are married to God."
The patient replied, "Send the bill to my brother-in-law."

christmas cakle

Here's this years Christmas cake. It's such a pity that neither me or Gina will eat it. More for Graham and Andrew!

34 days and counting!

The weather man has just forcast sleet for this weekend. Roll on Australia!

This is what we looked like before we were Posh Kids. note the buttons on Jeans coat.

Do you recognise these two?

Two posh kids from parson cross on their way to Sunday School. Graham goes hysterical every time he looks at Jeans face! Had we been this posh who knows what we might have become?

storry telling

Last night at the W.I we had a professional story teller. What a weird experience to sit there like a class of children listening to stories. But after abandoning myself to the moment I found I quite liked it and became engrossed in the tale.

smile pinki

try to watch this film if you can, It's brilliant.

village hall

Coffee morning at the village hall today. I sold £22 worth of raffle tickets for my Vodka shots wreath. I have got several more opportunities to sell tickets before drawing it so hopefully I should
make a fair bit of profit for my charity "Smile Train". I was surprised to recieve a copy of a film "smile Pinki" which has won an Oscar for the charity. Watching it had me sobbing, so I decided to redouble my efforts on their behalf.
Have just watched England play in a friendly against Brazil. England played a team of subs. and has beens. They lost 1-0.
Raining heavily and blowing a gale. Sonia is lucky to be out of it!
Sheila x

As soon as we go out!

we were only out for three hours but we managed to miss a phone call from Italy and a call from Sonia in Australia. it always happens!
We have just been to the fishing docks at Grimsby and bought some smoked fish. I bought a whole smoked Salmon which he cut in half and vacuam sealed it. I also bought a box of nine 20 inch long smoked Haddock. lovely.We looked at buying some shellfish but realised that we haven't really got time to use all these things up before we go to Australia so next time perhaps.
On the way back from Grimsby we stopped for lunch at the "Jug and Bottle" which is famous around these parts for it's carvery. We have never been before but have been meaning to try it for ages. We had roast Beef and Roast Turkey, Yorkshire Pudding, Stuffing, Peas, carrots, cauliflower,
Sweetcorn , Swedes, New Potatoes and Roast potatoes and gravy. for pudding we had toffee apple tart and custard and treacle sponge and custard. Coffee with cream and needless to say we were rather full when we came out!
It's raining and dull and I need to feed the chickens, although I don't know why. They have stopped laying!
Sheila x

Or how about this one. Elizabeth Shaw chocolate Vodka shots?

Quality street wreath

You have to click on this to see your favorite!

Apple and marzipan cake

We have ways of making you eat apples!

Not long now.

It's not long now for Sonia and if winter comes etc. can we be far behind?
I have so many lists of things to do that I am virtually paralized into doing nothing! Jean and norman came which was nice and then I had a conversation on camera with Dean, he is going to come and see us, or so he says. I won't hold my breath!
I have been busy making a chocolate christmas wreath with Quality street. it's not finished yet but it does look good enough to eat. I will put a photo on when it's ready.
Not much else to report.
Sheila x

Some ads fro Glasgow

Whoops again!

I appear to have posted my blog on Grahams site .Sorry! Sheila x

mushrooms

should we eat these do you think?

Not a lot

Well not a lot to report. We have finalised our flights to Aus. and the internal ones so that's one thing less to worry about. The apartment in Perth has been booked and it looks pretty swish so that should be alright. I don't know if Sonia passing on her panic to me but suddenly there seems to be a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. She of course will be gone in a few days time. Anyway I shall have to make a list and tick things off as I do them.
It has been upsetting of course to hear about Tammy's baby.We feel very sorry and all our thoughts are in Chicago. I hope by now that there is some good news.
Today is the third time I have tried to make Australian Marmalade. On the first two occasions the marmalade set like rock and I was unable to even cut it with a knife. Today I was determined to do it right but then this lot wouldn't set so I have had to reboil it. Such a faff for so little reward!
The village is very quiet, not a lot happening except the Halloween Ball on Saturday. We have decided not to go this year as last year We couldn't get the fake blood off our faces for days!
more later sheila xx

Is there a pot of gold at the end of my garden?

Whoops!

Sorry folks. I posted the previous message on the wrong blog.
Yesterday I went to a Lincolnshire womens lunch (Ladies who lunch!!) at the Windmill restaurant at Borough Le marsh. this is supposed to be the best restaurant around these parts and has won restaurant of the year for several years running. Anyway the other ladies assured me that it wasn't a dressing up occasion. It's a good job I didn't believe them. I have never seen so many designer labels under one roof. Imagine 150 "ladies" all trying to nonchalently guess where someones outfit came from and how much it cost!
The food was good. I had Butternut squash soup, Mushroom strganoff with wild rice and raspberry Pavlova. My neighbour bought me some raffle tickets and let me choose the strip of tickets. She won on the tickets I rejected! she won a lovely truckle of cheese and a bottle of wine.
The after dinner speaker was a female Chief Superintendant police officer. She was very funny and obviously good at her job. Her avowed intention is to be the first woman chief constable.
My friend, who has been itching to death for several weeks, was told that she had a problem with her kidneys. on Tuesday she had a scan and the consultant told her that all her symptoms were caused by a build up in her liver and kidneys of the tablets she is taking. Guess what? STATINS!! These tablets are evil and I think it would be better to die of cholestral then die from the side effects of these drugs that are being pushed by doctors for financial gain! Rant over.
love Sheila x

Letter

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made, and everything was picked up. Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, 'Dad.' With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter, with trembling hands.

'Dear, Dad.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mum and you.
I've been finding real passion with Stacy, and she is so nice, but I knew you would not approve of her, because of all her piercing's, tattoos, her tight Motorcycle clothes, and because she is so much older than I am. But it's not only the passion, Dad. She's pregnant.
Stacy said that we will be very happy.
She owns a trailer in the woods, and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't, really hurt anyone.

We'll be growing it for ourselves, and trading it with The other people in the commune, for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS, so Stacy can get better. She sure deserves it!!

Don't worry Dad, I'm 15, and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit, so you can get to know your many grandchildren.



Love your son Joshua.





P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Jason's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the school report that's on my desk.



Call when it is safe for me to come home.

pipers crisps

Good W.I meeting last night. A man who makes crisps using only local products from around the country. He refuses to allow any supermarkets to sell his crisps and so depends on word of mouth. He sells to local deli's, schools, universities, football clubs etc . He was a very funny speaker and then he gave (25 of us) 500 bags of crisps. I haven't had a crisp for about 5 months so I had to try one. I found that I didn't really like them! The flavours are unusual . Angelsey (wales) sea salt.
Salt and black pepper(india) Bloody Mary (Cumbria) Cheese and onion (Cheddar) Cyder Vinegar (Somerset) etc etc. anyway Andrew will eat them. He has them at university.
love Sheila x

Jams!

here's me with some of my jam.

slow poisoning

MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavouring.' MSG is even in your favourite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops! I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, and so did John Erb, a friend of mine, who was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario , Canada, and spent years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing, The Slow Poisoning of America.

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them. They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born.

The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. They even have a name for the fat rodents they create: 'MSG-Treated Rats.'

I was shocked and checked my cupboards and refrigerator. MSG was in everything -- in Campbell 's soups, Hostess Doritos, Lays flavoured potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the 'healthy low-fat' ones.

The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had something called 'Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein,' which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate, MSG.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don't catch on. (Other names for MSG are 'Accent, 'Natural Meat Tenderizer,' etc.)


But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items contained MSG. Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG.
But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere.

Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant -- even the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili's, Applebee's, and Denny's -- use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender : MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin -- their secret spice was MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to my John Erb. In his book The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the 'effect' it has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

'Betcha can't eat [just] one,' takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance.

Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. But how can they claim it's safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:

'The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity.' Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT , Ribeiro IA. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.

'Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats.' Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro. Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

'Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors.' Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima. Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

'Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and sub- sequent development of obesity.' Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K Kusunoki. Exp Neurol. Oct 1978.

(Hypothalamic dysfunction is a problem with the region of the brain called the hypothalamus, which helps control the pituitary gland and regulate many body functions, particularly in response to stress. The pituitary, in turn, controls the: Adrenal glands, Overies, Testes Thyroid gland)

No, the date of that last study was not a typo...it was published in1978. Both the 'medical research community' and 'food manufacturers' have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's.

So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and additing to the obesity epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada While there the official told him, 'Sure, I know how bad MSG is. I wouldn't touch the stuff.' But this top-level government official refuses to tell the public what he knows.

The 'big media' doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing issues with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won't tell you.

The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone. With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass legislation protecting those who are poisoning us.

The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to National Library of Medicine at www.pubmed.com. Type in the words 'MSG Obese' and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We, the public, do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line while waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation, blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.


Send this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop this 'Slow Poisoning of Mankind' by the packaged food industry

Jam making

I have been very busy jam making all this week in preparation for the arts and crafts fair this weekend. Lets hope I do as well with the jam as I did with the jewellery. On my stall will be jam, bread and butter.
my chickens are not laying very well at the moment but everyone seems to be in the same boat.It's moulting time and although they are eating well all their energy is going into growing new feathers. I keep telling them that they are going on holiday soon!
graham has shot a rat but another one has appeared. They are looking for somewhere to spend the winter now that all the crops have been harvested in the fields.My friend Ian has been shooting pigeons. They have been pooping on him in the garden!
Last night we had a talk from a Reuters Foriegn Correspondence which was quite interesting but our next meeting will be a temptation to me! It's a crisp manufactorer who will bring loads of free samples etc!
must go now. The football is starting. England V Bellarus. It looks as though we are playing a team of ringers.
Sheila x

Cyclist queries

Jewellery

Yesterday at the village hall we had a sale of "pre loved" jewellery. All the pieces were donated by people who never wore them. I felt like Sandra. I personally took over £100.00 in just under two hours! Is this something you would think of doing Sandra?
nothing much else to report. weather glorious and two lots of washing dried before noon!
Sheila x

Burnleys new logo

I'm back!

It's been strange not having a computer, although I have been allowed to use Grahams laptop providing I didn't do anything on it. Sony didn't have the computer for long,.. 2 days, but every thing had to be put back on. Have I got the best (putative) son in law in the world? I think yes. He has worked so hard to restore everything and put me back into business.
Susan and Trevor have just gone home. We went to Boston for the day and had a good time. We found a new pub in which to have lunch which was cheap and not bad and life has returned to boring!
more later
Sheila x

In the nick!

My (NEW) computer is on the blink so I haven't been blogging. Anyway on Thursday I went to the police station at Skegness. It was very interesting. We saw the court rooms, the cells and the fingerprinting and alcohol testing but the most interesting was the camera control room. There were about a hundred monitors all showing four views of somewhere in the county. I had no idea the extent that we are spied úpon in our day to day lives. It was funny when we asked him to put Mablethorpe up on screen. He zoomed in on a man on the beach who was doing ?? something down his trousers. He hurriedly moved the camera but we overruled him saying that we wanted to see what he was doing. he nearly fell off his chair laughing. he never thought that W.I ladies would be like us!!
There are only 7 police officers in Skegness. In winter there are 30 thousand residents and that figure rises to 200 thousand in the summer so they rely on the hidden cameras to spot the crimes and send the police to the scene.
Later we went to a country pub. The landlady thought a space ship had landed when twenty ladies trooped in! Our president was trying to get out of the back seat of a two door car when she slipped and ended up folded like a concertina in the rear footwell. We couldn't get her out for laughing and she was well and truly jammed. The landlady couldn't understand why we were coming into her pub all laughing hysyterically.
So the next day was the Macmillan cancer charity "Worlds biggest coffee morning". One of our local schools did it and it was a great success.
Tomorrow we are taking our computer to Gina's so that Andrew can back up all my files before we send it to the manufactorers.
Have just heard the news from Brisbane that Sams team has won the final! Well done!
Love Sheila x

Irish band

I didn't get up until 8am this morning. I can't do these late nights anymore! The Irish band were very good but very loud. I have gone off the idea of having them for my party. The lead man got steadily more drunk as the evening went on. A typical Irishman from Derry! We enjoyed it though and especially the bread and dripping on the buffet.
A quiet day today then. Man U v Man city on T.V in a couple of hours and then Chelsea at tea time. goodho!
My toothache is still bad and I am taking Iboprofen. I am getting fed up with it now.
More later
Sheila x

Dry Socket

After being in agony, or a drugged haze for a week, I finally went back to the dentists and he diagnosed a dry socket. (Google it) There is nothing much that can be done for the condition and it can last for up to two months! He put me a dressing of clove oil in it and it felt a little better but I am still in a lot of pain. Anyway I will keep taking the tablets!
Tonight we are out at the village hall. It's an Irish band called the "Gerri Patricks" They are said to be "Old" but very good! We shall see?
Next summer I shall be 65 so have booked the village hall for a party. As I hate discos I am on the look out for what entertainment we shall have. Shall it be an Irish band, or a barndance or a linedance or just a party night with games etc? Also I am considering having a hog roast, or shall it be fish and chips or shall it be a buffet? Answers on a postcard please.
more ;later
Sheila x

not a lot

Not a lot to report. Yesterday I went to the hairdressers for a hair cut and a walk around the shops. Today I have not been out anywhere or seen anyone.It's a good job really as I am half doped on painkillers which I am taking for toothache in a none existant tooth! The whole of the right side of my face is agony.I was sad to read my nephews blog this morning. He's having to get rid of one of his dogs. I hope it won't be too bad for him, and Billy.Perhaps with all the S...t that had to be cleaned up he ought to buy some lottery tickets!
A new film about the life of Charles Darwin comes out next week. It looks good but I'm afraid our American family won't see it as the Americans have decided that Charles Daewin was the devil incarnate. So much for democracy. Surely the people should decide whether they want to see it or not.
Love Sheila x

another day

Thats the weekend over. Enzo came and went in a blur of talking , laughing and meeting people. Oh and eating! He's very impressed by our life down here and says he wouldn't mind leaving Sheffield (or Rotherham) and buying a house down here. Our Italian has been well practiced and it caused a bit of merriment when I came out of the bedroom and asked Enzo how you said "All steamed up" in Italian. He wasn't at all sure why I was asking! I was of course referring to the windows. some of the village women were very taken with him so I expect he will be coming again.
I am still in agony from my tooth, especially when I lay down and am taking Paracetemol like smarties. I am however being very brave!!
Yesterday we picked about twenty pounds of plums and damsons so I will be busy jam making. I was approached by an Arts and Craft group from another town and asked if I would sell my jam at their next event in October. They would also like me to sell some cakes as well but I'm not convinced that my cakes would be good enough.
Tomorrow it's to the doctors to have blood taken so it's an early start.
more later
Sheila x

Hard day

I've had a bad day today. This morning a two hour appointment with the diabetic team. much questioning about what I am eating and when etc. However they were pleased that I have lost over a stone since April.
This afternoon I went to the dentist to have a stump removed. It took three injections and much cutting and poking before it could be removed with a sort of digging tool. I was trembling when I came out and that was not helped by the fact that I had to pay them £45.00 for the privilege. It's now 7pm and the injections are just beginning to wear off.
Tomorrow our friend Enzo is coming to stay for a few days. This will give us a good chance to practice our Italian. I don't know how we are going to entertain him. The village coffee morning will probably thrill him? Not!!
more later Sheila x

For your edification

As I haven't really got much to say I thought you would all like to see some handbags? my nephews ( you know who you are) might like the top two on the left. can you guess why?
Sheila x

Here we come!

Well that's it. We have finally booked the flights for Oz. Emirates on december 30th . Coming back on 6th March 2010. I am all excited now and can't wait.nothing else to report.
sheila x

the smith bros.!

Lisa,Jamie and the boys have gone and it seems very quiet. Both boys are absolutely georgeous and very well behaved. It must be two years since I last saw them and they are so grown up.
Bradley is thrilled with the chickens and kept going in the shed to see if anymore eggs had been laid!
They are going to Chapel St. Leonards in a caravan fot a few days and tonight are going to see a Madness tribute band.
Just watching UEFA super cup between Barcelona v Shaktar . and it's rubbish. I think it might be time to fgo to bed with a book.
sheila x

It's been ages

I don't seem to have been doing much, hence no blogging. Still not doing much just the usual round of shopping(food) cooking and cleaning. Last Friday was good when Sonia and Michael came. It's always good to have family visiting. This Friday it will be Lisa, Jamie and the kids. I have got to think of a menu that will suit the boys. They don't like fish apparently! They do like chicken but ?????????????? could I stand it? Gina and Andrew have gone to The Isle of Skye today. Just in time to catch the tail end of Hurricane Billy!
on Saturday we picked some lovely Apricots from my friends tree and I have made jam with them. We also picked a lot of blackberries which I turned into bramble jelly. Our neighbours have reminded me that the crab apples are almost ready so that will be some more jam to make. then it will be my own apples and my friends Pears. Is there no end to natures bounty?
The girls seem to have stopped laying or at least are laying very spasmodically at the moment. Never mind, they will soon be going on their holidays!
more later. sheila x

not raining

Just to prove that we do sometimes have nice weather!

wheat harvest.

Look how the combine dwarves our house!

Mexican wedding cakes

These are really easy to make and delicious!
Cream together :-
30z Butter
2oz Icing Sugar
now add :-
Pinch of Salt
vanilla extract
6oz S/R Flour
2oz chopped Walnuts or Pecans
Roll into small balls and bake on a tray for 15 minutes at gas 5 or 350f
when cooked shake in Icing sugar whilst still warm and repeat twice more

Aberdeen butteries

I made these scottish breads today to counteract the fish glue

Vegetarian?

I was just reading someones comment on a forum when I came across this...
On the packet of Kingsmill sliced bread I read the following... not suitable for vegetarians. I enquired why not on their help line. they said its because they add Fish gelatine.
Why on earth would you put fish gelatine in Bread?
sheila x

tired and emotional!

Well it's been a long day!

men at work

My birthday present takes shape

My birthday present takes shape amidst much hilarity

Treat!

On Friday Gina and Andrew came. I always am on tenterhooks until they get here as I know the traffic is horrendous between our two houses. my heart always soars when their car pulls into the drive.
On Saturday morning I was cake judging. I learned a lesson from last year and didn't swallow most of what I tasted and just as last year I judged a bakewell tart to be best in show! I didn't stay for the slap up meal afterwards because Gina and Andrew were here. when I got back home we had lunch and then went to the beach for the afternoon. They wanted to hire a Swan pedalo on the boating lake but Graham refused saying that if you fell overboard you would get Cholera!
Graham suggested thet he take us all out for dinner so we went to the Black Horse at Ludford. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I tasted my Rabbit in Cider and Honey. I shall dream of it for a long time.Andrews vegetarian option was so georgeous ( beetroot and blue cheese risotto) That he almost didn't get any after everyone else had tasted it.Gina and Graham had Rib eye steaks but both raved about the herbed tomatoes. We also had a Quantity of chips cooked in Duck fat. They were probably the finest chips we have ever tasted but poor old Andrew couldn't have any because of the duck.
On Sunday after a leisurely breakfast, we went to Igoldmells funfair and market, where, I'm ashamed to say that I ate a tub of cockles, a hot doughnut and a Dime bar milkshake. Both Graham and I are too terrified to go on any rides so Andrew pursuaded Gina to accompany him on a rollercoaster. She screamed all the way around, much to the amusement of a small child sitting in front of her!. I must say that some of the rides look terribly dangerous to me and resemble instroments of torture.
Once back home we had lunch, wishing it was at the black horse, and then they departed for LANCASHIRE, (POOR THINGS)
All my remaining chickens seem to be o.k at the moment.
sheila x

Last one gone

Found the last chick dead this morning!

another fatality

when I went to let the chickens out this morning I found that another of the babies had died. That means we only have one chick left now. I don't know what has caused it's death. It just looked peaceful.
sheila x

what weather!

It has never stopped raining all day. More is forcast for tomorrow and even more for the day after! we have also got a plague of hoverflies ( not us personally, but Mablethorpe). When I went to the shop and parked at the co-op there were great clouds of them, getting in your hair etc. All the cars were alive with them and it took ages to get them out of the car before being able to drive.
susan and Trevor are having a great time in Skeggy. It doesn't rain in the pub! They have been going everywhere by bus so that they don't have to drive. And it's free with a bus pass!
nothing else to report. Life is very boring
Sheila x

mucking out!

Yesterday I went and bought a powder that treats red mite in Chickens. I don't think my girls have them but they are "lopping" rather a lot. whilst at the Agricultural shop the woman convinced me that I needed to clean the shed with Jeyes fluid ,so this morning, and it has taken me all morning, I have treated all 6 hens and had everything out of the shed and washed it all with Jeyes fluid. everything is beautifully clean now! I couldn't catch the babies though. They are far too fast for me!
Nothing much else happening. Gina and Andrew are coming on Friday.

Funny

This made me laugh. you have no idea how hard I try not to sneeze






MY LIFE AS A CAR
« on: Today at 12:35:55 PM »
Quote
Please don't let me get like this - don't think I'm there yet IF MY BODY WERE A CAR... If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull ... But that's not the worst of it.. My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up closeMy traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here's the worst of it -- .......Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter - either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

doghouse

It seems I am in the doghouse because I have been running Sheffield down. Sorry about that but you have to experience moving away. When you go back you see all the changes that perhaps you wouldn't notice had you continued to live there if you see what I mean ?
Anyway it doesn't change the way I feel about all my family and friends who still live in Sheffield although to be fair I see more of some of them then I did when I lived in Sheffield!
Susan and Trevor are coming on Friday and two lots of friends have visited this week so I don't feel that I am missing anything.
Last night the W.I went to visit an open garden at East Keal. It was an old vicarage, circa 1735 and after we had walked the garden which was fantastic, we were invited to partake of cake etc in the pool house.!
Sonia has been having weird weather but it's been glorious here all day. Perhaps it's coming and we will get all the crap tomorrow. I hope it's nice on Saturday as we are invited to a garden party.
No hen news.
Love Sheila x

Back in sunny mablethorpe

Well here we are, back in sunny Mablethorpe.I thought Sheffield was the most appalling place and can't see how anyone would miss it.We stayed for one night in the Royal Victoria which used to be a top class place where only the rich stayed. It was a big disapointment and seemed slightly shabby.Anyway it was somewhere to sleep. Cherie's party was just a big family affair. There were people there who were relatives but who I hadn't seen for a long time, and it was the usual loud, shouty affair.
Next day, we went to lunch at the Grange Golf Club as a guest of Muneer. What a lovely place! there were ten of us and we had a lovely 3 course lunch, which muneer got a discount on as a member. He was also able to get members rates on the drinks which was a relief to Graham as I was paying for them as his birthday celebration! Anyway there was Sonia and Michael. Joseph and Karen, Muneer and Pauline, Gina and Andrew and of course me and Graham. We got there at 12.30 and came out at 4pm and there was constant banter which was hard to keep up with as everyone talked at once. Bliss! To be amongst those we love is just the best thing! when I win the lottery I am going to have a family holiday!
I'm out tonight with the W.I so we have had dinner at lunchtime, If you see what I mean.
No news on the chicken front. All is going nicely.
Sheila x

Another dead chicken

when I went to let the chickens out this morning I found that one of the chicks was on the floor dead. There were no marks on it but it was very stiff as though it had been dead all night. It was perfectly alright when I put them to bed so I don't know what has happened. If I carry on at this rate I shan't have any chickens left.

muffins

.

I just made these Raspberry and toasted Almond muffins. The smell of the raspberries cooking is out of this world! We will have them with the clotted cream. they are quite easy to make providing you have the ingredients to hand.

RASPBERRY AND TOASTED ALMOND MUFFINS


10zs S/R Flour
6ozs Sugar
5 oz flaked Almonds
5 0z margerine
150. mls Milk
2 Beaten Eggs
12 oz Raspberries

Toast almonds
melt margerine in the milk
Mix everything together except Raspberries
Beat well to ensure well mixed
add Raspberries
put in muffin papers and cook for 25 minutes at gas 5

sheila x

this one is the cutest

the chicks

big chicken house

I spoke too soon in yesterdays blog. All the chickens put themselves to bed in the big house without as much as a by your leave last night so we are able to close up the nursery until it's needed again. The chicks are galivanting everywhere and make us laugh how they climb through the fence that the bigger birds can't get through. If they are all cockerels I don't know how we will decide which one is for the chop!
The weather is glorious despite the weather man saying that we are going to have torrential rain.
Curry for dinner tonight so I am marinating some lamb so that we can have some Tandoori meat as well as Lamb curry and Lentil curry with rice and chapattis.
nothing else to report.
Sheila x

not much to do.

Today is very boring. thats what you get when you are old. graham is very busy with his posters and I am rattling around the house doing little jobs and reading the paper. I went into the garage and pulled a plug out of it's socket, thinking that I was helping Graham but he went berserk. I thought at the very least I had stopped his life support machine but no,it was only the plug that controls the automatic light censor. He will have to fix it and that will take time away from his posters. Oh dear! how sad. never mind!
had a phone call from gina. she's chuffed because they were throwing away their,as they thought, potato plants that had died, only to find an abundance of potatoes. They are going to sow some more now so that they can have some for christmas.
nothing to report on the chicken front. The babies are running free and oh boy can they shift? I don't think it will be long before they can all go back into the big house together with the other hens.
sheila x

Paella

Yesterday we went to a farm near Immingham. the man said he would give us some Lime for our chicken run. It was very interesting. he makes paint with no chemicals etc from lime. they are lovely colours and textures ( which he gets from the addition of horse hair etc.) brilliant!
He also sells Paella cooking utensils which he imports from Spain. I toyed with the idea of buying one but may still go back and get one. He also told us where to go on Grimsby docks to get the best fish and shell fish etc. All together a very rewarding trip out.
The weather today has been dreadful. Cold and dull and just like a November day.Away with the shorts etc and hello jumpers!
Nothing to report on the chicken front. All is well for the moment.
sheila x

Lemonade scones

I like these lemonade scones. They don't have any sugar in so can be eaten as a savoury with cheese etc or as a sweet with jam or fruit.
We have just been to pick some strawberries to have with ours!
On a more somber note. Both the hen and the Scottish chick are both dead despite my best efforts.
weather is lovely so I am off to sit out a bit before it rains.
Sheila x