Sunday 26th August 2007

Today is the anniversary of the birth and death of my lovely daughter she would have been 42. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her. I only hope she is in heaven with her dad.
It had been a nice few days since Lucy came with her dad and Chun on thursday, Stu also joined us and we had a nice family meal together, well I hope it was, as I cooked it. The Lucy stayed on as the others went off to do their own things. Friday Lucy and I went into Dudley to have croissants at one of my favourite cafes, the only really good one in Dudley, but unfortunately when we got there it was closed for holidays. So after a little walk around the farmers market and an ice cream for Lucy we caught the bus and went to Haden Hill park. It was a lovely day and after a little walk around the park we went inside Haden Hall. In all the years that I have been going to this park, nearly 66, I don't ever remember going inside the house. I do remember many years ago when I was courting Eric, his sister Betty used to work there on a saturday morning, serving teas, but most of the time the hall was usually shut up. It was really interesting the rooms were all set out in the furniture of the times around 1900 and there were a few rooms with very excellent wax work figures in costumes relating to their positions in the house. One room was made to look like a hospital with a wounded soldier, blood and all, and a nurse and a model would could have represented Florence Nightingale looking over him. Another was a bedroom with a serving girl knealing at the bedside as if in prayer. All the rooms were beautifully furnished and china cabinets filled with the most lovely porcelain. All in all it was really worth while, the only drawback was the tea rooms were not open due to lack of staff so we could not get anything to eat, therefore after an hour in the playground we had to come home for a late lunch. We made coconut pyramids later, well Lucy made them I only supervised, which she and the children from next door ate at one of Lucy's "tea parties"
Yesterday I arranged to meet Rob and Chun in town to collect Lucy from me, but I was encouraged to stay with them as Rob wanted to take me to Bourneville to a tour of the school building with the Carillon. We were fortunate to go on a day when there was a concert by a famous Belgium carilloner playing. The tour and talk was very interesting and the guide told us how the carillon came to be put in the tower of the school by George Cadbury and how the number of bells were increased after his death, in his memory, by his wife. The bells can be seen from the road, as the are in an open area only covered by an ornate roof. We went right up to the top of the tower where the Belgium gent was playing and we had a very close look at the machinery, the keys and also the bells. What a great thing. Just on our doorsteps and something you hardly notice when you go by on the bus. I stayed overnight at Robs and today we went into town and met up with Stu for lunch at the lovely burger bar on the canal side in Brindley place. I got a free glass of wine for being a little cheeky to a waiter, maybe a bit flirty, I'm not sure if a 66 year old should be like that with a young man, but I do like a little fun. I shall have to finish her as I'm very tired, but will continue tomorrow.

Thursday 22 August 2007

I was thinking I should write something but I haven't a clue what to put down. Well here goes. Since the last time I have started a gym, called Gymophobics, it's for people who are not keen on gyms but who want to get fit, lose weight or inches. I want the LOT. Its a very pleasant place in Dudley and has only been opened since April. My friend Yvonne put me on to it, she went after being immobilized by a foot operation in January and she wanted to get fit. She has lost inches, not a few, and pounds, so I thought I would give it a go. They are a very pleasant lot, the girls who run the place are very informed as to what you need to achieve the goals that you want. They supervise you all the way and are there all the time to encourage and advise. Most of the ladies are like me FAT and want to do something about it. We have a laugh and some of the girls are passing around a very erotic book, there's a waiting list apparently for it. Its all fun but you have to keep up the programme or they soon pounce on you. I am finding it really great and are determined to lose inches especially but we shall have to wait, I will keep you informed and I won't tell fibs. We have an assessment every eight weeks so it will be a little while before I know anything.
Toads was last night and we shall be starting to do two days a week soon, as the panto isn't too long now.
I am looking forward to the next few days, as Robert is bringing Lucy over, she wants to stay so we can do some baking, I have a few things in mind and I hope she will enjoy it as much as me.
I don't know what I shall be doing on bank holiday, probably not much as the local transport is almost non existent, they say use buses and trains but when you get a holiday, they do too. When Eric was alive he loved to go to the Severn Valley Railway on his days off, but he found it extremely difficult as what buses were running never started till nearly lunchtime and then he had to catch a train to Kidderminster and by the time he arrived the day was nearly over. Then when he got back to Cradley Heath there was only one bus every hour which he normally had just missed so many a holiday he just stayed at home, spent time in the garden and went next door, we have a pub there, and had a pint. I shan't be having the pint but I shall probably be in the garden.

Saturday evening

Well I went into the Dudley Guest hospital on November 3rd 1952 if, as you remember from my last blog, to have my tonsils out. I think if I remember rightly there were four other children in the ward, all seemed much younger than me. As soon as we got to the ward we had to get undressed and into bed and our mothers had to leave. There wasn't much to do I think there were a few books to look at but as I have already said the other children were much younger and did nothing much except cry understandably but it was very miserable for me. The next morning the nurses came round and gave us a pot will pills in. Now up to this time I had always had trouble swallowing tablets, although I must say I never really had taken many, but one by one they went to each child and if they didn't swallow the pills, with the tiniest drink of water they were offered, the nurse shouted at them. So when it came to my turn I was determined not to get a telling off so I pushed all the pills in together and drank the water down so fast that I thought I would choke but they were gone, what a relief. I'm sure there were only a couple of tablets in the pot the nurse gave us but at the time there seemed to be far more. The other children seemed to go to sleep quite quickly but I lay awake for what seemed like hours and one by one they came for them and one by one they were brought back still asleep. I was the last and by this time I was getting myself into a panic, so when they came for me I pretended to be asleep as they put me on a trolley and wheeled me out of the ward. I do remember them putting a mask across my face but nothing until I woke up with a very sore throat a few hours later. The other children all seemed to be awake, most of them crying again, but I suppose like me their throats were hurting. We all slept on and off through till the next morning when we were given cornflakes of all things, but eventually things improved and we got jelly later. That night was November 5th, bonfire night and the hospital had arranged a firework display for a little child who apparently had been in hospital for a long time and so we were able to watch through the windows at the show. I think we were allowed home the next day, what a blessing, I think I was even glad to think I would soon be able to go back to school. Still a few days later we had a bonfire and fireworks at home, as dad had said they would wait for me to get home before having our own November 5th.

Wednesday July 15th

Well I'm here again but haven't a clue what to write as the last few days have been so what boring except for last evening when I went, as usual, to Toads. We were rehearsing again but last night we started at the beginning and went straight through, lines, songs and dances, the first half. It's getting there. There seemed to be quite a few away last night as holidays seemed to have all come together, but we soldiered on and it was very satisfying. I've decided. although I have known for some time, that I'm very unhealthy and so I am going, tomorrow, to the gym to have a talk with someone with a view to getting a bit fit, and hopefully, lose some weight. I have been getting a few palpitations lately so now's that time to do something constructive about it. I keep thinking that I must start writing about my childhood again so I will start where I left off last time, when I had said that I had passed my eleven plus and had to start at the grammar school. It was two but rides away and I had never really gone too far one my own but the first day it seemed alright as we did not have to start till ten o'clock and by the time I had to catch the bus the early morning rush had finished, no flexi time in those days. But the next day and all the days after, it was really hectic and sometimes one or two buses passed us by full up. Remember in the early fifties only a few people travelled to work by car, so the bus was the only way of getting to and from. I think from the first day I hated it. The only two people I knew, as the school was quite away out of my district, were put in another class, and I was quite shy back then and very nervous. I struggled on for a bout six weeks, when one saturday Val and I were at the cinema when she suddenly mentioned that I still had not been called to have my tonsils out. I must tell you that the school doctors in those days used to look at all the childrens tonsils and were quite eager to get them removed. I think my mom had been told that mine had to come out when I had been about eight. I didn't think much about it at the time, but on the monday morning I was told by my mom that I wasn't going to school but was expected at the hospital, later that day and was due to have my tonsils out the next. Do you know I think I was quite relieved in some way, thats how much I disliked Rowley regis grammar.

Very late Sunday/ early monday morning 12/13th

I know I know I haven't written anything for days, but I really haven't done a thing worth writing about. Unless you call washing, and cleaning the windows and the house worth it. Today though, the community thing in the park did eventually go ahead with, not as forecast, good sunny weather. Not a spot of rain, in fact it was a lovely afternoon. At one point the sun on my back was positively HOT ! The park was very nice, I had not been there before and it looked great although as Val was having a tiring time just getting to where the action was, we couldn't look too much at the beauty of it. Although I did see a very nice lake further on from where the show was staged. There was a good fair and lots of difference stalls. Val got a head, neck and hand massage and we looked at the stalls. I did get some samosas and onion bahgis (not sure how thats spelt) which we ate on the park. Our little bit of entertainment was due at 3.30pm and we all met up, those who came, at 3 pm. We were ready and were introduced but unfortunately someone who was working the machine for our backing music seemed to have some difficulty. Then Craig and Carl had to go and have a look, and after quite a long while during which we were standing on the stage with the man from one of the local radio stations keeping up some banter, they announced the machine was Kaput. So they had a chin wag and decided to try and play our tape on the tape machine in the radio van, which although wasn't good, it was better than nothing. We sang some Beach boys, Abba and music from a selection that we did in our Musicality show. I think it went down well although Val said that it was hard to hear us, and she was at the front, so I don't know if those further back could hear anything. At any rate I think we enjoyed it, It was a good laugh, well I thought so, as I have said before I always enjoy being with the others from Toads.

Tuesday

I've had the last two days at home, not doing much. Except of course a bit of housework, I did cut the lawn this morning and then went to the shops for a few things. Other than that no much until TOADS tonight for more rehearsing. We are supposed to be doing the event in Victoria park, Tipton on Sunday,which was cancelled from a few weeks ago due to the rain. I hope there will be enough of us, as it seems that quite a few seem to have other arrangements, still I'm sure those of us who do turn up will sing their hearts out. Rob sent me a text earlier saying something interesting about the new IMacs, so I suppose there are some new ones out. I'm too scared to look as I really want another computer,although I love this strawberry Mac that I have now . I know I'm going to look anyway but I can't afford one. Still I can dream.

Sunday evening

I've just been too busy since my lat blog to do any writing. Friday I had a phone call from Val saying a trip to the vineyard was planned. So ofcourse I wasup for that. We had a god day, the sun was shining and it was a pleasant ride to Halfpenny Green. The craft shops were busy and again I went to my favourite and got more Christmas presents. I am very good at getting my shopping early as my funds do not allow me to go and buy lots all together. We looked in the glass engraving shop. Lovely things, some not too expensive, when Val spied a beautiful glass lamp. It was very heavy, not at all fussy but very nice. We were surprised when the engraver told us the price and that was that, with a little help from me, she bought it. It holds either and tall thin candle or a short stubby one and although I wasn't there when she lit it I'm sure it looks fabulous. It really was a bargain. We then had a look around the other shops there, and I of course found my way to the garden centre, but it seems as if it was too late for ordinary garden plants although they did have lots of insect eaters which although they are interesting are not for me. and there was also lots of herbs, which I am ashamed to admit I don't really know how to use, except of course, the usuals like parsley, sage, etc. But most of these were things that I wouldn't know how to use, like pineapple sage and clemetine sage, myrtle and such like. Still it was nice to enjoy the smells. I'm always happy among plants. Saturday I had a text from Rob asking if I wanted to join him and Chun on a trip to Wolverhampton. We had said a few says ago that it would be good to have a look around that art gallery there, as Rob had been a little while ago and had seen that a new extension was being opened. So again I escaped the house work and met then in town where we spent a lovely time in the art gallery. I was really impressed. The pop art section was so interesting with clothes to try on from the sixties, I think I've still got some similar at the back of my wardrobe ! The young girls there seemed eager to try them on and Rob had a go at a fur trimmed mock sheepskin. The when we went into the georgian rooms Chun put on a beautiful dress.( Photos will all be on flikr shortly ) and a hat that nearly broke her neck it was so large and heavy. We also tried the new cafe in there. The food was good although it would have been nice if they had used the dumb waiter to transport food up the stairs instead of having us carry the trays. Not because they were heavy but because the stairs were not really easy to negotiate carrying them. I might make a mention of this on their web site if I can. Today has been another good one with Stu coming and spending it with me. He went and had a pint with Rob Hadley and then came back to a delicious, although I say it myself, dinner. We then had a little after lunch aperitif, some whisky liqueur that I bought back from my Scottish holiday, and a good time was had by us both.

Thursday

Today did not start well. I made my usual coffee and found the milk and 'gone orf'. So although I wasn't planning on going out, my hair was a mess and I really didn't feel like it, I grabbed my bag to go to the shops. As it wasn't a bad sort of day really, I was alive and well, I decided to catch a bus and go to Dudley. I did need some fruit and I thought, "why not". There was only the ironing waiting at home. So the bus duly came and as it was passing my sister's house, I phoned her from the bus to ask what she had planned for the day. She was just leaving her place to go to Bridgenorth to get something for a friend, so I asked if I could tag along. Bit of a journey for fruit and milk, but what a nice day we had. We called at a farm on the way and bought strawberries, raspberries, melons and milk and went on to Bridgenorth where we had to get a tee shirt printed. Then we had a mooch around the shops after lunching at a lovely fish and chip shop. Val seemed as if she was a regular as the little man, who didn't look much fatter than a chip, made she and I very welcome and served us himself, although they were very busy. Then as I have just said we looked around the shops, mainly charity ones where we both got a couple of bargains. If you never bother with these shops, you should as there are some real gems to be had if you are lucky. I bought a brand new skirt for £2.99 and Val got a lovely blouse and a beautiful cushion. Then we headed home calling at another farm shop for more more strawberries and fresh cream, flowers and green gages, one of my favorites, which you don't get very often. Then we really did come home in time for Val to go to her slimming group. Heaven knows why she's as thin as a chip, and so home for me and a gigantic bowl of strawberries and raspberries, grapes and greengages finished off with just a little cream, (believe that if you will).