Mary's Moments

Nice time

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:30:00 GMT

I've had a nice time over the weekend. I'm sure its the first weekend I've been out and about since Christmas. I met up with my friend Denise yesterday. We went for a couple of drinks and caught up with all the news, and did a bit of shopping. Nothing drastic. I bought a long pink jumper from of the sale rail in H&M, £7. It was my bargain of the day, it will look great with leggings. It was reduced from £25. I don't suppose I would ever had gone in there if I was on my own, Denise was looking for a hat for one of her Grandchildren. I also had to pick up a library book which I had reserved at The Forum. I was really surprised, Denise told me it was the first time she had been there. I've spent a lifetime in libraries as my Father introduced me to them from a very young age. I've always loved being surrounded by books. I also bought a bag from one of the craft stalls at The Forum, it wasn't expensive, but its very unique. As it is corduroy, I will use it as a summer bag. We were out for over 4 hours, and have promised ourselves we won't leave it so long till the next time, although we are planning to go out walking, maybe Whitlingham or somewhere similar ........ no shops. ;o)

I'm enjoying Mothering Sunday. I've been out for lunch with my other half and my eldest son. My youngest son is at his girlfriend's home in London for the weekend. I have another Mother's Day to come tomorrow when he gets back. ;o) I received a lovely gift from my eldest son, a CD of the music from Les Miserables. I was listening to it late last night, I felt as if I was back at the theatre again. Its really hard to put into words how much I enjoyed seeing Les Miserables.

Nothing else planned till the end of the month. March 30th. I going to London for the day with my friend Rachel. No shops. We plan to visit St Paul's Cathedral, and hopefully the Tate Modern Gallery.

My week so far

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:06:00 GMT

At the start of the week I weighed myself. Big mistake, I've found I'm nearer to 11stone than the 10 stone I was towards the end of last year. I'm sure it is just the lack of exercise over the winter months, I have been this weight before but managed to get back on track. I've not been riding my bike (only once since Christmas), and I've only been swimming twice. I just need the warmer weather to get things back as they should be. I find I keep looking at myself side view in windows, and don't like what I see. Rachel and I did go swimming on Tuesday afternoon, I managed to swim quite a few lengths of the pool, but the water was still very cold, thank goodness for the steam room and sauna, although I was disappointed that the spa wasn't working yet again. I'm not sure how long for this time, I think they should charge less when all of the facilities are not available, of course, that is never going to happen. I'm cycling to work on Monday and Tuesday, so maybe that will give me the kick start that I need. On the plus side of all of this .......... my clothes still fit, well, most of them anyway, I have a couple of pairs of jeans which are a tiny bit tight and I have to undo the button now and again, but what's two pairs of jeans out of a whole wardrobe. I'll keep them aside for a guideline. When they fit, I'll be happy.

I visited the Undertakers and the Crematorium on Wednesday as part of my Final Lap training for work, obviously this is not something I want to talk about in great depth while on my blog, but I found it very interesting and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to go there. I will add that this part of the training was not compulsory, but the choice of the individual.

I shall be out and about at the weekend. I'm meeting up with my friend Denise on Saturday, we have not seen each other since the new year. On Sunday I'm going out for lunch with the family.

Race For Life

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:36:00 GMT

I shall be taking part in the Race For Life on Saturday 1st May at the Norfolk Showground. It will be the fourth time I've taken part in the past five years, only missing once when the lady who runs with me was expecting a baby. It is a fun day, and we need to raise as much money as we can. If anyone wishes to sponsor me, you can do so by clicking on the link on my blog page. I am not asking for large amounts, if a lot of people give just a little, I hope to reach my personal goal, and who knows, with your help we may be able to raise over and beyond. Thank you.

Les Miserables

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:08:00 GMT

I was at the Theatre Royal last night to see Les Miserables. It was wonderful, I really enjoyed it. One of the best I've seen, along with my all time favourite, Phantom Of The Opera. I went on my own, but soon got chatting with the people on either side of me while waiting for Les Miserables to start. I had wondered if I would be able to follow it all, but it was easy, not one part of it slipped my attention. A first class evening out. If I could afford it I would go again, I know its fully booked, but if people call early in the mornings they do sometimes have cancellations. I think, should I decide to go again, which is very likely, I would like to see it in London. I would just like to add, Gareth Gates was very good. Several people have asked about that.

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself at the moment. My credit card bill came today, I've just been to the bank to pay the bill, all of it. Which means I now owe nothing and I can up my savings starting from next pay day.

Under the weather

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:05:00 GMT

I've been feeling under the weather this week. I've really had enough of this cold weather. I know that Winter time always used to be like this, but I must have been made from sturdier stuff back then. ;o) I'm thinking back to the days of no heating in the bedroom and ice on the inside of the window. I have had a bad back for a couple of weeks, it hurt when I had to lift or carry anything, I have no idea how it happened, I'm on the mend now, but it got worse before it got better. I was getting quite a fetish for Deep Heat. Lovely stuff, I really enjoy the feeling.

What I was saying about the cold ........ I have to wrap up warm or I get a pain in my head. I never used to wear at hat, but I wear them all the time when I'm out now.

I'm having a nice quiet weekend at home in the warm.

Looking forward to seeing Les Miserables at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening.

Dreams and other things

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:37:00 GMT

In an ideal world I would have gone to the Speedway museum today, but the person who would have given me a lift, had to be given a lift as he didn't feel well enough to make the journey himself, so I had no way of getting there. I have been feeling pretty put out, not because nobody could take me, but mainly because I have no way of getting there under my own steam. Much of my day has been spent at home thinking of what might have been. Not having transport means that places which are a little bit out of the way become impossible for me to get to, and its no good travelling by rail on a Sunday as I would never get there. Its quite ironic. I choose to travel by train as I don't travel by bus very well, I am often travel sick, and most of the train journeys involve getting a bus for part of the journey. A bit of a no win situation.

Anyway, I'm going to the cinema with Rachel tomorrow afternoon, so my time off work has not been totally wasted. The weather has not been good enough to travel far, and I was pleased just to go to The Rosary to see my Great Grandfather's grave on Thursday. I can't remember what I did on Friday. Although on Saturday I sold two gold necklaces that had been in my jewellery box for years, and bought myself some boots with the money I received. I know I shall make more use of the boots. ;o) So today has been my only wasted day, but I am well rested.

I had a really crazy dream last night, and I mean REALLY strange. It makes me wonder what on earth goes on in my head sometimes. I'm certainly short of a few brain cells. There was a man who lived in the sewer on the road where I live. (yes, you did read it right). I always took sandwiches out to give him, as I didn't want him to go hungry. I got to know him quite well through taking food every day. I invited him in to use my bathroom to clean and tidy himself up. When he came out I looked up at him and saw that he was one hunk of a man. Then I woke up. ;o) It sounds like a fairy tale, frogs turning into handsome prince's and all of that. If anyone out there understands dreams I shall be really interested to know what you think .......... other than the fact that I have lost the plot. ;o)

This morning

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:16:00 GMT

I shall be glad when this morning is over and done with. Today is the day I go for my breast screening. On the plus side my appointment is at 9-22am, so it won't be long before it is over and done with. My brother is coming to pick me up from home, so I don't even have to worry about getting myself there. It would be wonderful if one day there is an easier way to have this done, without having to have your boobs put into a vice. ;o) However its a must do, I don't feel frightened like I felt the first time I went ... just apprehensive.

It never rains but it pours

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:47:00 GMT

It never rains but it pours. We have had the stair rail fixed, now we can't get out of the back door. I think we will need a new lock, there is a man coming to check it for us tomorrow. My other half is not wasting any time getting the job done as he likes to go out the back for a smoke. It was a bit of a pain putting out the rubbish earlier. I had to go out of the front door into the street, go along the track and through to the back yard. Twice, as I had two black bin bags and quite a bit of rubbish to go in the recycling bin.

Other than that I've had a quiet day. I listened to the game on the iPod. I thought there was a chance that Norwich might lose, but they came through in the end. I'm looking forward to March and the start of the Speedway season, I've missed it a great deal over the past five months. It would be nice if I could get to a few more meetings this season. We shall see.

Happy Valentines Day everyone x

One of those weeks

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:51:00 GMT

Its been one of those weeks again. My youngest son had a fall on the stairs yesterday when the bannister that had started to become loose, came off completely. At the time he hurt himself, but mostly it was shock at what had happened, as he had just got out of bed to get ready for work. He still went, a little bit late, but they are very understanding. This morning a man came to fix it. You should have seen the size of the hole in my wall. If my other half was any good at DIY things wouldn't have got as bad. Plus the fact he doesn't like to part with his money either. Its like flogging a dead horse to get things done in this house. I'm still very cross. ;o(

My youngest son has just gone to the train station to meet his girlfriend. He has taken one red rose with him.. There are more roses (and chocolates) waiting for her when she gets here. On Sunday they are going to Paris for 4 days. Isn't love grand.

Meanwhile I am hoping for a quiet weekend, no plans, I hope to be up a little earlier than I have for the past two weekends though. This time last year I was in Ely for the weekend. I don't know where the time has gone. There was snow then too.

The Marquee

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:35:00 GMT

I'm off to The Marquee this evening to see my son (the band, Project Multivitamin). I've never been there before, no doubt it will be a bit of an eye opener for me. ;o) I missed the morning again ........ same excuse, I must have needed the sleep. I have a few days off work the week after next, Looking forward to it. Most of it anyway, first day of holiday, appointment for breast screening. Its a must do, but I really don't like it. ;o(

Quiet Saturday

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:03:00 GMT

I am having a lovely quiet Saturday. Only two of us at home, as the others are in London watching the Millwall game. I had a lazy start to the day, but have just about caught up with things now. As far as I'm aware I won't be asked to go into work on a weekend for a while, I need to have a few weekends just for ME. I'm meeting Rachel for a coffee and a chat later. It could be a long coffee, as both of us have a lot going on.

No mornings/cinema

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:25:00 GMT

I've had a lovely lazy weekend ........... with no mornings. I wasn't needed at work, so I made the most of it and got my rest in. I went to the library Saturday afternoon to pick up my reserved books, came straight home again and listened to the Norwich game on the radio. Any shopping I needed came from Tesco on the corner. The pavements near my house have been very icy, and I really don't like it very much. The road is full of potholes. I have to be very careful if I've cycled to work.

This afternoon I went to the cinema with my eldest son to see Edge of Darkness. It was very good. Something happened to me today for the first time. I'm not sure if it is the start of things to come, but when I got my cinema ticket at the counter I was automatically given a senior citizen ticket. I had not been aware of it till I questioned my son about why his ticket cost £2 more than mine. I'll never here the end of this one. My excuse is that the girl at the counter was very young and wasn't a very good judge of age .......... I'm sticking with that one. ;o)

Iffy

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:55:00 GMT

Its been an iffy kind of week one way and another.

Firstly my birth certificate isn't as it should be and I've had to make an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar for late next week. Its a long story ....... but I just want things to be as they should be. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Rachel and I planned to book a theatre break in London for April, but she was not able to have the time off. Its fitting in with everyone else, Even if she hasn't had any holiday for about six months. Hopefully if I have enough hours left we will be going at the end of March instead. We really need to go before May as the prices go up then. We want to see "The Lion King".

On the plus side I don't have to work this weekend, so I should be well rested. No plans, apart from picking up some books I have reserved at the library. I shall need to go food shopping, but if I'm feeling lazy, which I will be if it keeps snowing, there is always Tesco on the corner, and of course Sainsbury's is only just along the road a short way. I guess I'm lucky really, having both shops so near to home.

Busy week

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:26:00 GMT

Its been a busy week one way and another, although I hadn't intended it to be. A quick visit to the bank just to pay in a cheque turned into a three quarters of an hour stay, however they sorted out a few of my direct debits, and I now have a little less to pay out each month, also a few changes which will be to my advantage. I think if I sifted through a few more of these monthly payments I could also get a better deal with some of the utility bills as well.

My visit to the regimental museum didn't bring much information. They only have basic information, and not individual persons records. Although I did find out that my Dad would have enlisted at the barracks in Norwich, and his service number indicates that he enlisted before war broke out, very likely as early as 1912/13. Which would make him only 15 or 16 years of age, but I suppose its possible. I now have to wait to hear from Balkan Dave ;oD, who has a website which is quite in depth covering the soldiers who were in the Balkans during the first world war. More on that later.

In a few days time ........ I shall have my first full birth certificate, up to now I have only had the basic small one. However its done the job for the past 53 years. I just happened to be at Churchman House at the time and decided I would have it. I had gone there to find out details of a death, An Uncle who died at the age of 2 in 1903. I kept wondering what had happened to him, and decided to find out once and for all.

Changing the subject ......... I went to Clark's 70% off sale today. I got a nice pair of shoes reduced from £45 to £13-49. The place was heaving with people though, every time I bent down I bumped into someone. If it was a woman we laughed about it, however many of the men were having a good moan. It wasn't just me being awkward, everyone was having the same problem. We all seemed to be after the same kind shoes as well, so they have to be good. ;o)

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred

mary44uk@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:02:00 GMT

All I keep thinking of this evening is Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk

I've been to the regimental museum today to try and find out more about what my father was doing during the first world war. It was very interesting and well worth a visit. Also a reasonable entry fee. I have to apply in writing for the information I require, and it could take a few weeks as the people who work in the records office are volunteers. I know my father went to the Balkans, and which medals he got, but if the information is available I would like to know where he went to enlist, and whereabouts in the Balkans he was.

I also went to the library today for the first time in about a year. Actually, I think the lady said it was April, I've had 55p to pay since then. I didn't know. I think I must have reserved a book and never received the email to tell me it was available, and of course eventually forgot everything about it.

I need to visit Churchman House during the next few weeks as well. There is more information I would like. I'm finding all of this family history combined with local history very interesting.