doddery drivers

We live in a very hilly area of Derbyshire which makes it difficult for elderly people to go out for their shopping.This has resulted in a large number of very elderly drivers causing havoc on our roads.When I say elderly I mean ancient!!!We watched an ancient,doddery man trying to find his way out of Sainsburys carpark today and it took him forever,going this way and that,leaving other drivers in fear and trembling lest their cars got seriously damaged.He must have been 90 and could hardly reach the steering wheel.This area is full of drivers like him and it's very daunting!!There should be a sight and reactions test every year from the age of 70 onwards in the interests of road sfety.

a matter of balance...

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radio presenters on talkSPORT

I have never been inclined to partake in sport.However,I follow it avidly,particularly footie and cricket.I listen a lot to the talkSPORT channel in the hope of some gritty discussions and interviews.This usually results in my switching off as the presenters seem unable to conduct an interview without interrupting.Alan Brazil is the worst offender.Do presenters not have any training before they are let loose on the listening public? Most of the discussions are inaudible as there are usually several people speaking at the same time.Emails to the station are ignored so I'm having my moan on here.Perhaps I should stick with radio 5Live...

we are all children really!

There's nothing like a journey behind a preserved steam locomotive to bring out the child in me!The nostalgia!the smell!the excitement when the whistle blows!mums and dads with their children having a great time together.As we passed the photographers on the banks of the railway line they waved to us frantically and we waved frantically back!!(look at me - I'm travelling behind this steam train!!)We all became little children - after all, we don't wave at the 13.45 out of Chesterfield,do we? People would think we were senile! No, it takes a steam train to transform us into the children we once were and for those brief moments we rekindle the memories we made all those years ago in the days of steam!Can't wait for the next time..

a strange thing happened at cricket today...

A strange thing happened at cricket today.A group of 'cricket fans' sat in front of us and prior to the beginning of the the game they chatted among themselves about the selfish spectators who talk all the time,spoiling the game for everyone else.When the umpires walked on the pitch and the players were clapped on I was surprised to find that these 'fans' were so busy talking that they didn't seem aware that the cricket was about to begin.I'm sure I don't need to tell you that they talked all through the match.They talked about cricket venues including Trent Bridge,Old Trafford,Grace Rd etc and all the time they were missing a most enthralling game of cricket which they'd paid to see.They boasted about their trips to Australia to 'watch' the Ashes -I doubt if they saw any of it!As we were about to leave I asked if they'd enjoyed the day's cricket.'Loved it,wouldn't have missed it for anything'one of them said.You could have fooled me!!!

favourite day of the year

My favourite day of the year always falls in April.Last year it was 28th,this year it's today,17th;the day the birds begin to move into their nesting boxes.I wait for this day all year and I'm never disappointed as it fills me with hope.At the moment I have a painful back but what does it matter?This morning I watched a male bluetit 'chatting up' the lucky female he's chosen as his mate.He went to such a lot of trouble to impress- even,apparently, 'kissing' her and ruffling up his feathers proudly to show that he's the most desirable out of the bunch!!I think she fancies him as I watched them later gathering moss together and taking it into the nesting box.Love is definitely in the air!!

dialects

I've been recording the audio for a puppet sketch and was amazed to find,when it was played back,that I didn't recognise my voice at all.I've developed a Derbyshire accent after living here for 14 yrs.I had no idea and no-one has ever pointed it out to me.This got me thinking about the way our English language is altering and how many words are now being included in the dictionary.On a visit to Essex I was intrigued by the word 'sammink' and someone had to explain that it means 'something' There was a noticeable absence of 'th';it being replaced by 'v'and I wonder if this will be the accepted spelling in a hundred years.I hasten to say that this not a criticism but an observation.If I'm still around in a hundred years I'll let you know.

credit card statement

Alongside me is my credit card statement,informing me of the following.
My balance is nil.
My repayment is nil.
My repayment of nil is due to be paid on April 11th.
I must pay my balance of nil in full, or make a minimum payment of nil,a full 7 days before the due date to avoid paying interest.
An envelope has been provided for my use!!

The announcement...

Living virtually on the edge of the Peak District I come across lots of walkers and count many walkers among my friends.I met one of them this morning.I didn't initiate a conversation immediately as I consider myself to be a sensitive soul and knew she would be anxious to make the familiar 'announcement'- the amount of how many miles she'd walked over the weekend and that I don't know what I'm missing.In fact I do know what I'm missing,having trudged most of the Lakeland and Snowdonia fells in years gone by.I didn't tell her this (she didn't give me a chance)and stood,resigned to my fate, while she described every blade of grass and cowpat she'd encountered with her walking group.She didn't notice my eyes glazing over as she then proceeded to tell me for the umpteenth time that it would do me good to join -it would 'get me out of the house'!!I hesitate to tar all walkers wih the same brush but they all do need to announce the amount of miles they've walked and seem to wait for a reaction.Am I supposed to offer congratulations? I usually say 'good for you' or 'well done' Why do I say that? I've been just as virtuous doing the washing or preparing a talk! However, I do say it and I did so this morning,albeit with glazed over eyes.Ah well, that's my moan over for the day.Time to bring the washing in.

second childhood

The older I get the more childlike I seem to become,delighting in the simplest things.I still adore Rupert annuals and Beatrix Potter.I still keep a special place in my heart for Father Christmas!!I love childrens' animated films and have cuddly toys all over the house.If a dog wags it's tail on seeing me I'm beside myself with delight.Birdsong can take my breath away...I'm aproaching 67 and content with my lot so for that I'm very thankful.Second childhood? It will do for me...

bill and betty badger

I saw a dead badger by the roadside yesterday; a deeply sad moment for me as it reminded me of 'my' badgers where I lived in Fleet,NE Hants.Bill and Betty used to come every evening for the feast I'd put out for them.They came into the house,even going upstairs to my bedroom!They loved peanut butter soldiers and were happy to be hand fed with them.They also tucked into leftovers such as pizza,chips,roast potatoes and dogfood from Glen's bowl - he just sat and watched,knowing he would get some more later.Badgers don't smell at all which surprised me.They use a latrine near their sett and never do anything elsewhere so there were never any 'deposits'left in the house.While they were feeding,foxes could be seen waiting for them to depart so they could have theirs.The foxes were very nervous of the badgers and wouldn't come near while the badgers were there.Foxes are magnificent creatures with beautiful faces but much more timid than the badgers so I didn't get as near to them.They all brought out their cubs to play in the grass but not at the same time of course. It was such a privilege to watch them at play and to know they felt safe with me.Happy memories indeed.

no explanation....

We were travelling back to Derbyshire after being home to Southport and had reached the Chatsworth area.We slowed down to negotiate a bend when a car backed out of a drive in front of us.We stopped about ten feet from it,relieved that we hadn't been speeding.Immediately,we both saw that there was no-one driving it.We were close enough to have a clear view of the interior and there was no-one in the driver's or the passenger's seat.We looked at each other in surprise and decided that we'd pull in and then warn the owner that his car had 'escaped',perhaps due to a faulty handbrake.Suddenly,the car began to move forward,back into the driveway,on it's own.As we passed the house we drove slowly past,expecting someone to get out of the vehicle.No-one did,and the car remained where it was,still driverless.We've been trying to think of an explanation without success.....

when I met prince Charles...

I didn't really want to meet Prince Charles,having never been an admirer of his (I don't respect people who kill animals for pleasure and teach their children to do the same)However,he was opening the new hospital where I was a ward sister and our ward was designated as one he would visit.On the morning of his visit one of our patients died and there wasn't time to remove his body from the ward.The equerry informed us that on no account could Prince Charles visit a ward where a dead body lay behind curtains!The patients were very disappointed (I wasn't)After a while, we were told that Prince Charles was insistent that he would come as promised and he duly arrived.He wanted to know all about the gentleman who'd died and took individual interest in every patient during his visit as if he had all the time in the world.He actually had another eight venues booked for that day.I still disapprove of his hunting activities but have to give credit where it's due. I was very impressed with him that day and I'm glad I met him.

sunshine!!

It's a beautifulday!! At last,some very warm sunshine;bringing with it the real hope of Spring round the corner.The birds are starting to seek mates and there is an air of excitement in our garden!Paintpot,our regular blackbird who has a streak of white down his left side (resembling a flash of paint)has started to pay attention to his mate and is filling himself up with currants as if his life depends on it - building himself up for the paternal responsibilities ahead!The dawn chorus is a delight to hear and, as if responding to the call,the Spring flowers are making their way out of the ground to remind us that they were there all the time;just resting.All this reminds me Who is in charge...

negativity

There seems to be an innate leaning towards negativity in this nation of ours which is largely due to the media.However,the media couldn't have this influence on us if we were not so ready to see the negative side of everything.It gets me down.When I present a positive view about something my listener will often appear disappointed that I've put forward a positive point of view!I'd love a discussion on this but no-one knows I'm blogging yet and I'm a 'blogging virgin' so I might be talking to myself for some time!I'll try not to argue with myself!!