Lost for words, Fred, holidaze!

This morning I read two of the four daily newspapers we have in this city.  There was an article about the need for pension reform.  I submitted an opinion as this is a topic I am very interested.  However my thought out rebuke of our present government never got to the site intended.   You have to login in, I logged in and got the usual run around with passwords to send to an email account and then send it back to acknowledge this to try and login in and go nowhere.   I thought my opinion was good and appropriate.
I think some of these sites aren't very well thought out and then the people who can get into the Login seem to be limited to people who have a conversation going on when you read the replies.  Sounds like a catch 22 or never ending story.

Fred, my strange little rescue kitty had an amazing day yesterday.  He feels he should be allowed out in the garden every day but this is unfortunate, has to go on a lead.  The stairs to our small sheltered garden were covered in ice, so not wanting to break my neck after I had left him out for a half hour to get it out of his system.  I put on my winter hiker boots.   The noise to get to Fred, it was loud but that is walking on ice. Fred didn't take kindly to it and got crazy.  He jumped up and was up in the air before I knew it he had run up the tree in the garden.  That is fine he has big claws at the moment.  I was so fed up with this carry on I decided to come in the house.  I went into the bedroom and opened the window and called to him and told him what a nice kitty he was an oohed and cooed him down the stairs.  Then I went out to find him under the stairs and by the window.  I got him free and he shot up the stairs to the back door.

However to add insult to injury he decided to hide under the futon while I exercised and in came, Rooster our visitor kitty.  Rooster decided while Fred was having a moment of doubt and shame he would take advantage of him and proceeded to pick a fight.  Fred fought back but ended up with a bloody ear.   There is nothing I can say as Fred taught Rooster everything he knows.   Sounds like kids!

Holidaze is a new word or expression I am going to use to describe how I feel after a big holiday.  I am not thrilled and could somewhat careless about the gifts and the hoopala although it is nice to have some of the family over.   I think I need a holiday or somewhere to go to not do anything for a few days.  The first place that comes to mind is Niagara, but I am not talking about the falls.   I am talking about the little town that is northeast of the falls.  It is very quaint except for  tourists but this isn't tourist season.   There is one hotel with a spa that is particularly nice.   I will think of it and hope to have a trip there this year.  Oh heaven!  The town isn't bad to walk around in either although in this season there it is quite cold with the wind off the lake.   Fur coat weather, and I know we aren't supposed to like animal skin coats.  Every old picture I have of female relatives and friends in the winter they are in rabbit and raccoon coats and I know why,  warmth.

Christmas tree, shopping, waiting for kiddo. Chekov

I have just spent about three hours decorating our Christmas tree.   It was Princess Charlotte who brought it back to England and started the tradition.   That would make it a Georgian tradition contrary to popular opinion that is was Victoria and Albert.   He just helped create modern England and give the country enough Prince's to keep it going for over 100 years.

 This year the tree theme was animals.  I have a lot of animal ornaments but fond they were mostly birds.  I managed and got carried away with silver and white bulbs and snowflakes.  Unfortunately before the tree went up I misplaced the inside part of the tree holder.   Then when I got to the end of the tree decorating, I could not find the white star for the top.   I decided to look inside an antique wardrobe that is in the dinning room and surprise, two more boxes of ornaments and the tree holder insert on top of it.  I opened the boxes and found the star for the top.   After a week of searching for the latter.

I have been collecting Christmas ornaments for about 34 years.   I have gotten more selective in the last few years as the ornaments are more exotic with a price to match.   I promised myself I would donate a bunch of them to a charity shop but before I could my partner,  the original sort and stack in plastic boxes. took over.   I have more boxes with individual ornaments them I could have imagined.

Things kind of went that way with the toy collection our offspring left.   I wanted to keep some of them and somehow the dreaded lego got kept.  A roller coaster lego set and a train lego set.   I think there is a harbour with boats as well.   I can honestly says lego isn't my favourite toy having step on it a few times when the offspring where young.   It is an very clever and creative toy.  Just annoying.

Last week we had got a DVD from the library.  The best I could say for it was after watching three hours of this show.  It was a ripe off of Chekov.  Family agony at its finest.   I have to admit that  I did watch it till the end.  It was primarily the actors who made it worth watching.  I will find the name of the show and put it in the blog.  Not tonight.  I have just got through Christmas week and have been enjoying a historical DVD on a subject that although news worthy only for the people who are in it and the subject.   It is appropriate for my state of mental exhaustion.

No more numbers -- Just events, Hit by lightening.

I would like to say that I lived through the last week but am having trouble remembering what happened.
I went over to a close friend to be told she has been given a life sentence.  It would be good if it was jail but it is her health.  I think the shock hit me so hard I was walking around in a bubble.

I have only told a few friends as her offspring isn't going to hear about this until the New Year.  The offspring is my offsprings friend.   At times like this you stop breathing.   I am a fighter and am going to be with her all the way.   It hurts and I am hoping she can make it till they have the cure and the Doctor said it will be in five years.   She doesn't think she will make it.   She has new medication and says it throbs in her body.   It is to keep her nerves and muscles working.   She has been told to gain weight and to exercise her muscles.

I will get her to swim or do what ever to help her keep fit and we talk about diet.

The disease is a problem with the enzymes in the body and they don't function properly resulting of loss of muscle control.   One thing on my friend's side is that it takes attacks the body slower in older people.

I spent the week busy doing things in the house and seeing a few people.   I saw my friend who is the travel agent.  There are days you just want to say to her what is the cheapest trip you have and go there.  It can't happen at the moment.   I am contemplating going to visit number one offspring for the Jubilee of our do lady Queen I think in June.   My Grandmother was a school girl at her GGGGrandmother Victoria's as a school girl in Hyde Park.   That is a wait and see though as travel is expensive.  My offspring has a one bedroom apartment.

I saw my other friend and went to visit her parents who have been stalwarts in my life.   Her Father is also very ill but not in hospital and it was nice to see them.   They are both in their eighties and have been married for about 61 years.    We had a nice afternoon.

It was a week of dealing with realities and not pleasant ones.   I am trying to get the house ready for Christmas but I am not sure I am that interested.   I will do it for the offspring and my partners God Mother who spends the day with us.

This week is a new week and hopefully life picks up.

34,35,36,37 Lost week, eye Doctor, Bank Manager .

This seems to have been a lost week other than getting a few nice Christmas cards from family and a lovely bird calender from my favourite part of the southern hemisphere.   It is nice to hear from people at this time of year.   I think also since I don't have any small fry to buy gifts for present buying has become boring.  It is not fun to shop for older offspring or older friends and relatives.  It is agonizing.  You find something you think is a great buy and then you look at the prize which almost gives you a fit.

Our stores are disappearing in this part of the world.  We are being left with extremes.  Our lovely old department stores have gone under thanks to the Gaps of the world and stores like them.  I think Boomer's aka baby boomers of our generation have a serious complaint.   Know one would get rid of the big stores in Russia,  even with the more democracy their stores are still there.  Although I have heard that the Russian's are very admiring of the English.  Well I am from a British culture and I am in full agreement.  There stores must be some of the best in the world.

The US especially New York have Macy's and all the lovely stores so what do we get sent up here?  The best although the clothes are not overly wonderful at the moment is Marshall's a discount store.  Next is Walmart,  the food can be cheap and they have everyday things marked down but other than their underwear , socks and swimwear the place is yuck.   Now we are losing a Canadian old fashioned store, Zeller's.  The worst is the clothes are every day but have some quality unlike the above mentioned retailer.

Now Zeller's is going and we are getting in Target.  I saw one in Australia and I was not impressed.  Now this was a little store in a small tourist town.   However, Zeller's is one of those weird stores that always seems to have what you are looking for at a price you can afford.   Now the woman who has taken over our Hudson Bay Stores's is well meaning and she has brought them up to date.  She is an American and I assume very experienced.   Maybe it is me as when I go to HBC it is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.   It is very hit and miss if I can find anything to wear.  I have a friend who has her own shop and she has good taste   For evening and some nice day wear.   I think my biggest problem is comfort if I am not comfortable and I don't feel what I am wearing looks at least good.  I am not happy.   We had the best stores years ago run by a family who had four sons, one of the brother's ran the store and they decided to close when they couldn't get a deal with the said Target.   If you ask me I think it is the the shopper's who are the target these days.   It is either poor fit, poor material, too expensive or trying to look like your daughter in the shops.   What happened to the wonderful clothes our Mother's wore, day dresses, slacks, skirts clothes that moved.  I used to watch designer clothes on actresses in movies.   They were so lovely.  Elegant and made women look attractive.

Sorry, folks I don't want to look like Posh anybody.    I will fight on in my battle for some old fashioned woman's clothing.   Jacque Kennedy, Princess Margaret, Grace Kelly even Audrey Hepburn new what fashion made a woman look and feel,  tres chic.   I do sound ancient but their is such a thing as good taste.  Too slinky too tight, too low or too high  what happened to well made or exact fit?

I saw my Eye Specialist this week.  I have a scar at the back of one of my eyes.  If I go to the regular Doctor, they freak out and I get sent to the specialist. I went to the specialist and his assistant freaked I wasn't supposed to be their to get a new prescription.  I explained what happens when I go to the regular eye Doctor.   Fortunately they now have one so I can go to the specialist office and and see the regular Doctor.   What a Catch 22!  Is everything difficult these days?

I decided to see our old bank manager.   She is very nice but a banker all the same.  I explained the  issue we had at the moment.   The economy is difficult we are in a small business and the last year hasn't been stellar.   The conversation went nowhere as it is all down to numbers.  That is fine and I was there for advice.   She looks as if she is nearing retirement.  I told her that since we had sent our offspring to high and higher education, retirement was out at the moment.   I also think if partner retires fully, his health will suffer and I am not sure after years of at least having my time to myself it will be an easy transition.   She said hers is at home and he does little things, now this has to be a partner who shared her business acumen.  She said if he does anything in the house she praises him to the hilt.  If he does the dishes he is marvellous or if he takes out the garbage he is wonderful.  He can do no wrong in small tasks.   I could imagine her doing that as well.  She has no offspring but had some lovely dogs.

I think they have to outlaw retirement or men getting old because if I have to be that thankful for an empty trash can that is on the verge of the twilight zone!

Maybe it was a good week to get out a few things that drive the females of this planet off the wall in this age of instant and forever young!

32/33 An afternoon babysitting, explaining alaska, sleep deprived. crossword/sudoku

I got to work for my offspring this afternoon.  The timetable for babysitting our neighbours offspring would only work if I pitched in and helped out.  I bought the little person over and decided the only way I could keep things on an even keel was to dig into the toys of my offspring.   For one reason or another, every major toy company is still represented and a few other as well.

The young person in question couldn't have been happier as we went and brought out a train,  a set of the Thunderbird's Island, we had Miss Penelope's car but not her or the chauffeur.   Robin Hood's forest hideaway and a few of his good men plus the Sheriff.    We also found the cars, a whole bag of them.   I worked on the track but didn't get the electric part of it out and running.   Little person tried out each car until a couple where found though worthy of attention.   What a joy to be had.   I enjoyed the perspective on the world, as little person enjoyed my ability to tell the stories that went with the toys.   On the hour went.

Eventually the real babysitter came up to claim and ended up staying here with the charge.   I went and retrieved dinner where little person was entertained by my partner who has a child like joy in amusing children.  I had to explain the partner went to a naughty school with a lot of other boys.   Little person said that school should be good.   After dinner babysitter decided to take charge to the calm and quiet of home.

Alaska, how is it possible to explain a place that big and who it is really is connected to.   I got a request from my relative in Australia,  Could I give some advice to a close friend who is planning a trip to Alaska and does the passage close.  I assumed she meant the Northwest Passage?   When are the children out of school?   I wasn't sure how much this lady knew about the state of Alaska and did she know it wasn't in Canada or the commonwealth for that matter.   I did my best to explain and warn her about the size and where you could drive and what you might see.  I did express that she must research and plan a trip of this nature several times.   She should also have a decent sized car for the trip.  However the people of the beautiful state are mostly friendly.   I have lived in Vancouver and told her it was a beautiful side of the continent.  I am just hoping I gave her good insight into a trip of that magnitude.   I have never heard of anyone going to B&B's on a drive through the state.   I did say I think they probably mostly camp.

I might have been better to recommend the East coast and Newfoundland.  I think it might be better for that type of sightseeing.   It will be interesting to hear what she does do and if she goes.

Since our visit from the film group I am sleep deprived.   They wanted our bed lowered as I had it up rather high.   I love those big pillow beds.   Since it was lowered it was hard and I wake up every night in pain.   I stuffed, a few things back under it for a trial run and if this doesn't work  I am getting a futon which is the right size not to big or not to small and putting it under the mattress.   It is my fault for buying a futon bed in the first place with its frame.    I think I have a bad case of, Princess and the Peas syndrome!   Maybe that is a good sign but you would be hard pressed to find a Princess in my family's northern lineage!  A factory owner or brewer and more than a few farmer's.

I have just read an article that says doing a cross word every day or four out of five nights  or sudoku will help strength the brain and ward of dementia or worse.   Since I am not a big fan of either I have a bit of a problem.   Memory has never been an issue in my family as far as I know.   We have had other issues.   Another thing was singing so I will have to go there.  My voice although as a young person I had a good voice that know one except my teacher took notice of, is okay.   I have only sung in church, school and at Guides.   I guess that is better than nowhere.   I can go there when no know one is in the house and Fred can join me.  Fred is the cat!

29/30/31 Too tired for words, Sunday in the rain, Animations

I am still extremely tired and not back to day to day living.   It is so much having happened it takes time to come to terms with the physical effort.   I did start the post clean up on the weekend.  The thought of the  floors being used like a studio is enough to get you going.   Out came the Beem and then the Swiffer,  now it is back to cleaning with a bucket and mop.   By the time Christmas rolls around we should be in good shape.

I have had a strange incident with a neighbour.    Since the summer have only spoken to her twice and talked about a similar health issue.   She has taken the traditional method of Doctor's as I have taken a holistic approach.   It upsets me as she is struggling and not getting anywhere.  I can't speak to her again as it was making her uncomfortable talking about the approach I take.   She is walking with a cane and in a lot of pain.  I find it very upsetting what Doctor's do to people at this age.  They don't have a method of care to proceed with to combat either pain from auto immune disease or the effects when as a result the person has weight gain which aggravates it.   It is a catch 22.   I know I need to further my studies to be able to help people in this situation.   I have suggested taking this person to the organic store and pharmacy to see if she would find it of interest.   It is better then letting yourself go down hill while waiting for the doctor  find the right pill or pills.

Yesterday, was a Sunday in the rain and I spent a lot of it in the car and driving the offspring to the her study hall.   Then went out for Sunday lunch with my partner to get back and drive over to the local grocery store then chat with neighbours to drive back down and get the offspring.  Not a great way to spend Sunday.

 I called my friend and am going to see the animation Puss, with Antonio Banderas as, Puss in Boots.
It is very funny and looks cute.  My partner said why would I go and see it.   I think the Disney shows which I think can be amazing good entertainment and not just for kids.  The cast it has makes it worth seeing also.  It is impossible to get my partner out although he did go to see friends on Saturday.      

It is good to get out with friends of the same ilk who share your taste.

26/27/28 Film crew come and gone, survival, post op

I did a 24 hour or nearly two days on about three hours sleep.   I stayed at the house until about 8 am and the crew where arriving.   One of the crew brought in some kind of light holder and let the feet down which hit the door frame to the living room.  That is not cool and the wall has some marks on it so I mentioned it.   Please handle with care.

I took off to my good friend's place and spent the day with her.   I spent some of it yawning and then eventually asked if she would like to go to one of our favourite malls.   I headed up to see my hairdresser.   I decided it was time to treat myself to a new hair cut.  My friend decided to shop.   It took longer for the hair to get done but we had some time to do a bit of shopping before we headed back to this neck of the woods.  I thought I should give my friend an idea of the film world and this is a small crew in the house.  That is twenty five people trying to put something on film.  We had the producers and the make up ladies and the kraft services in the basement.   My friend and I managed to get coffee and head for the open basement and sit on the rocking chair.  I think she found it interesting, this isn't something one sees every day a film crew at work.   Then we came upstairs and looked in what was left of my bedroom.  The best thing was my dish that is in my oven was being used for the cat dishes.  Charming and the large equipment dolly for the camera was in the kitchen.  This is a near impossibility as the kitchen is a small galley kitchen.   We then walked out through the back door and was in the view of the camera that was doing an establishing shot of the house.

We went back to my friends house and I spent the rest of the day their but went home when the house was clear.

I woke up the next day and at the moment can't remember what I did.   The basement half of the crew were still  here so I had the door closed.  I got ready as I had to go out and take care of something and return a pair of jeans I had got at our main department store.  I went to the store and tried on at least four pairs of jeans.  The fit was not good so I got my money back and then went to a small shop in the mall.  I found some nice ladies jeans but neither of them fit.  I did finally found one pair of  I thought fit.
What is it with clothing manufacturers these days.  I know I am not of the age I can wear the tight legs and low cut under the waist style at the moment.  I am thankful for what I got I can at least look respectable at Christmas when we go for a family visit.

Post op, I think letting the crew come and film is wonderful in theory but a bit close to hell in practise.  One, you need cleaning staff and two, you need a hotel room for the day to rest and spend time there.
Even the money although much appreciated, you do work and work for it.   I haven't finished yet.
Not sure I would do this again.

23/24/25 Clearing and cleaning, wayward offspring, lost kittens.

Clearing and cleaning a home you find out how much junk you have kept.  I have a bad habit of keeping magazines and worse yet books.   I always think there is something in there I will use.  In my dreams.
So I clear and I am saving the cleaning for Monday, why start now and have to do it all over again.  I am behind in the schedule at this rate.   I have a grip on what the film maker's need.  Basically I am doing set deck for them.   It is a good start on Christmas cleaning.   The best thing was when the partner asked would I make some I assume baked goods for the crew when they arrive.   That was the icing on the cake.   Sure and I won't use the expression the English use when they are given too much to do but it involves a broom!   I am a holistic cook or try to be so baking involves a little more than just opening a package.   Holistic is when you use ingredients that are for your health, like spelt flour etc.  In this city that is not cheap, we don't grow our own.  I will have to put my thinking cap on to figure this out.

It somewhat struck me it is like cooking for your offspring so they can take it to school!  Give me strength.  Like the classroom their are twenty-five of them.

I have been cut off my offspring and his partner's Facebook.  Through a series of communication or lack of communication, as getting hung up  on from a long distant call.  I decided after a lack of response when I try to communicate with said pair.  I started the ball rolling.  I am a firm believer in ignoring you offspring from time to time that way they eventually notice you are not communicating with them.   My friend and emotional support believes in cutting them off period!  I some what agree except my three have chosen professions where school seems never ending and money is in short supply.   Somehow or somewhere I feel this is the beginning of elder abuse, the more you give the more you get ignored.  Saving offspring from their foibles is not always the smartest thing to do and really one learn from our mistakes.  I think our generation of as we are called boomers, certainly heard that one from the parents.

In my travels and I have had a lot of driving this week as offspring three is doing mid term exams and for some reason I have seen at least two what appeared to be abandoned kittens.  I also have an abandoned kitten who visits my friends house.  I think we saw him a year ago and he was a beauty.
She is feeding him and her friend who lives on the opposite side of the lane has made him a bed.   I did try to capture him when I first saw him but couldn't catch him.  Tonight it was the university where I was parked near a library and looked in my rear view mirror to see another kitten running across the road down an alley.  They must know where the food might be.   I wondered if this poor creature has been abandoned by a student.    I think I grew up with too many Disney movies!  But it is still upsetting.  Our Fred, old moggy that he is, I rescued from outside my friend's house in the country where people put their pets out.  I hope that is bad karma.

Admitting, I have to admit today I actually told someone that I was heading into my sixth decade.   A little girl was trying to run her mother's shopping cart ahead where I was standing and I said to the little girl you mustn't run over old ladies.  I don't think the woman knew where to look so, it was worth it for a laugh.   Fortunately I think I can still hold my own although I do have some granny glasses!   I had a nail beautician tell me I should not where them.  I didn't have the heart to tell her they were hand made and at that time in style!

When I picked up offspring the comment came that I looked great as my hair is very long at the moment and I had on a stylish jacket.   That didn't hurt the ego, I must say!

21/22 Fred, KIDS, Forgotten alliances

Fred, since he came into my life what an I saw he assumes he is everything to me.   But worst yet he insists on sleeping on the bed.  The worst happened I think something bit me on the back of the ankle last night.  I know I should blame Fred because I let him out in the garden yesterday.   He might have picked something up or something might have picked him up.   It is annoying as he has a lovely little bed of his own by the radiator.   I am probably allergic to his hair also.   Oh Fred.

Kids,  I am not on the outs with my offspring but seem to get in their bad books, since I am probably their main benefactor I would do my level best not to get annoyed at the person who has supported me for so   long.   How looks after their cats when they need someone, who worries herself to death when they are sick or upset.  How pays out small fortunes when they need an apartment down payments?   You guessed it, me.  Who has supported them endlessly thorough long drawn out educations, me.   So yesterday when I heard the phone ring and picked it up and it was the long distance ring.  I heard a click like it was hanging up, now who had promised to phone when talking to his father.  I am assuming after leaving a nice little poem on the blog of his partner letting her know we missed her I would get a thank you, no.  I get a click and a hung up phone.  The only way to children so navel gazing as this is to ignore them.   Unfortunately the big holiday is coming and they will be looking for a gift well this year the gift will be very reduced.   The other offspring has been warned.   I have also come to the conclusion that tech media is mind field for unsuspecting parents,  the truth is they don't want to hear from us on the sites their friends visit.   Parents are to be rolled out and introduced and to vanish unless money is needed and I think that is in all nationalities.

Forgotten alliance,  this hasn't been an easy time for my partner.   He isn't young although he is an expert in his field.  Work in the last  two years has been limited leading to a lot of complications.   We find ourselves dealing with people we haven't dealt with in a few years.   It is always amazing to me when you have to deal with creditor that they can't remember how long you have actually been there client.
Our gas company thanks to the joys of democratic financial systems got bought by the British Gas.  The once great gas delivery system who kind and considerate of it clients now can't remember them.
I spoke to a young man as I have to admit I forgot to pay the bill last month due to stress.   He told me that our payment record was not good and I hadn't paid since September.   I said to him what our about our payment record since 1987?   There was silence on the phone.   When push comes to shove why do these companies forget the people who have supported them for years?  I suppose it is convenience.
It goes with any other supplier.   I feel the only revenge is to buy their shares and become a share holder then if they try this you can say well I am a share holder!  Then see what the response is.  Today's world is perfection, not.   Our Grandmother's might have had it hard in terms of household drudgery but dealing with companies hell bent on perfect bank accounts is from hell itself, also.   I would give anything to see the world turned back into say the early part of the twentieth century just for to see what manners were like.   I have pictures of my Grandmother a shy looking looking woman who dotted on my Mother, a relationship based on codependency whoever I bet people treated her kindly as she looks kindly.    I didn't get the dotting Mother,  I got the glamorous Princess who's husband didn't get it.   I was the husband's child, a relationship fraught with who is caring for whom.   In this generation we don't get the dotting parents we get to be the care giver's and we don't get the respect of what our lives have done unless their is a degree behind it.   We do get to deal with companies who can only remember us as clients when we pay them on time so they send us even more enticements for their services.   My favourite is duct cleaning.  I tell them I don't have ducts and I still get them.   Respect is a mine field!

20/21 Beach, Beam, Downton

I  was delighted to figure out how to get our Beam vacuum working.  It is amazing that after years of coping with my favourite vacuum's Sear's canister, which is in need of repair from over use, I managed to get the Beam working.  It didn't take much I had pulled out a plug that operates I think a second motor in the vacuum.   I don't know why anyone thinks they are easy to operate.  it is easy to put the switch on but then you have a hose so huge to drag around the house.  I suppose it is all exercise.   Housework is certainly a work out.   Not one that I can say I actually like.  You have to be thankful at lest the cat hair is quelled.

Beach, after a long week on the set I managed to get my partner out for a lunch to my favourite area of the city.  Our Beach is not spectacular as it is on a fresh water lake.   It is a big lake, however lunch is always pleasant as there are so many restaurants to chose from and three good ones in steps from each other.
The one we chose is in an old house but has nice big windows and a glass fireplace so when the weather is cool we get the nice fireplace to enjoy.

My partner's week was brutal with three very different sets to work on a group of caves, a beach location and a martial arts gym which had two events planned for one day.    He normally works with a crew but is on his own at the moment.   After lifting and lugging he was happy for a respite.   I was happy after choking cat hair and dust to get him to walk down to the beach and sit and enjoy the lake.

The lake did its magic and he rallied enough to walk back up and peruse a few of the shops.  His favourite is a organizer shop for the home and office.  I hit the bargain clothing shop for with any lucky Christmas gifts.   We both manage to agree on our favourite book store.  It is a love or hate affair as I hate going in and know I will always find some book I want to bring home.  I did a new book on the Bronte sister's of Yorkshire England and Withering Heights fame just one of several.

That was it of our weekend outing.   I am not looking forward to the coming week as it is the week before the film crew hit our house on the 22nd.   Now I have to find somewhere to hid all our delicate and breakable and a few treasures that is not easy in a house this size with an attic that you can't reach.
Who's idea was this anyway!

Downton Abbey has been sent to me by my son and I have watched five episodes and find it has improved a lot since the first series.   It has come to life and each character had their own life.   This is all set in the WWI .   It is so nice to have great drama to watch and enjoy.

17/18/19 Super Horse, Hickstead, Men and age!

I have to make a comment about Hickstead who passed on November 6th 2011.  He was Eric Lamaze amazing mount.   Dutch warmblood horse and a hero to many Canadian fans of the Equestrian world.
Beautiful, brave and it goes without saying the equestrian world's heart goes out to Eric for his loss.

I spent Sat mostly resting with a cold that won't go away at the moment.   Sunday I thought I would do much of the same.  Offspring and his partner were coming to pick up Rooster who I think we are changing his name in this house to Roos, the cat.   I did get to rest in the morning but had to spend the afternoon getting the house in order.  I also ended up going out to shop which was not planned but needed to get a gift for a birthday gift.

Not being totally sure if a meal was called for made my fall back recipe of Shepherd's pie.  Yes it is good enough for Keith Richard's who says it is his favourite dish.   The reason I am blurbing about this is that I went to a local grocery store which has become very popular.  I had to buy a big tray of hamburger or minced beef.  I thought at the time the beef looked a bit to red in colour as the butcher's are known to but some kind of dye in the meat to make it look more enticing.  When I got home and started to cook,  the meat  was sort of brown and looked in one part as though it had seen better days.   I can honestly say my days of cooking meat from stores where I get this type of quality is over.

I am aiming for grain fed meat and free ranch if possible.  I am a great believer in animal products that are raised properly.  I like our somewhat local Big Carrot store which is an organic based store not cheap but high quality.  I am not a snob and will go to local producer's.   I am also going back into buying veggie meat which I could have used for the Shepherd's pie.  As long as you use half grain fed meat you will get the flavour.

It turned out to be a working weekend.   So I am somewhat taking today off and trying to get rid of this cold that hangs on.   I have also to plan for our day of filming on the 22nd.   That will be a big challenge.

Last but not least I had my partner come in yesterday, this is the man who won't go to the
doctor or get an antibiotic until he has full blown near pneumonia and tell me he was old and near the great age of six decades and a year.  I somewhat ignored him since my Father and his, worked until they where six decades and five.  

I can't get it through his head that sitting around is a way to age faster and if he would eat better although I do my best to make sure he eats well, his taste buds lend themselves to sugar and fat.
It seems to be an ongoing struggle.   I am sure I can here woman everywhere saying the same thing.
The one good thing he doesn't do although once in a while doesn't hurt is consume alcohol as the more I read about it the more I think it also is a slippery issues.

14,15,16 Friends with Aging parents, Rouge Beach and Ted's.

I spent Thursday with my friend who is now dealing with her Mom who is in her nineties.  Her Mom, a really nice lady has now reached the age she can no longer run her home on her own.   After realizing her Mother needed more care she called the family together to discuss what should be done.  Her Mom had lived in her home for sixty years so they decided she should try and get a caregiver to assist her.

My friend is relieved although she says she will still be doing as much but not worrying as much over her Mother.   Someone told me that you are in your house when you are over eighty it is unlikely you will go to a smaller home.  I know this is the case of my husband's Godmother who is now in her 82nd year.   She has said to me this is where she wants to stay.   She is active for her age and can manage although I worry about her.  She is a lovely lady but like most of her generation very independent.

Rouge Beach is a place I have been fond of since I was a teen.  It was the closet thing we had to a beach in our area.  It is the mouth of the Rouge river that goes into Lake Ontario.   My partner had to go and check the Beach to film on for the show he is working on.  We drove out to meet with an official who  he had to speak to about the filming.   I decided to get out and walk along my beach where I used to go with a favourite boyfriend when I was the grand old age of eighteen.   I walked along to the far end of the beach and came back along a line of stones that had been put there.  The comment my boyfriend of the time said was that this is not a lake but a sea.  He was from Scotland originally.

When my partner, got through his film preparation he suggested we could get some lunch.  We drove over to the small village where I grew up.  It is a small area that is between two main roads but there is quite a bit of land.   I have a favourite restaurant there.  It is called Ted's after the original owner.

Ted's has also been featured in some movies.  It is a fifties soda bar  and hasn't changed much since, with my friend's I got off the bus after going to our favourite hang out place in the city.   Ted's was our gravy and fries place to go and eat.   It isn't fancy with stuffed fish and ballet prints on the wall.  

I am fond of the waitresses who are very cheerful and very attentive.  The food isn't fancy, it  is old fashioned home cooking.   Today I heard a story which is worth repeating.  Ted the original owner who opened the place in 1954.  It seems, Ted who is still around is 107 years old and drives a Mustang car.  It isn't that long ago he sold the business.   He was I think 101 and he bought himself a new Mustang car to drive around in.  He is treated like a star and people wave at him.   Such an age is hard to fathom and still have your wits about you.   Amazing.  I put it down to operating his own business and keeping fit and possible eating a healthy diet.   A lesson to ingest!
       

11,12,13 Locations, mall visit and Sunday, Rooster and Fred.

I spent day eleven in the car again although part  of that was lunch at the ancient watering hole with my partner.   I had to fly around the few stores I needed to go to.  I am looking for new clothes to wear.   I cann't do the super tight jeans or the polyester pants either and finding a middle of the road is not easy.  I keep looking.   I am a fan of Ralph Lauren and Jones of New York and Peter Nygard.  However I don't do wild animal prints or beads all over my tops or jeans.   I don't have to wear designer I just want to be comfortable in what I wear.  I would give anything for Marks and Spencers to come back although you can order online.  They have clothes that fit and look smart groceries.
I had another trip downtown and then another trip out to shop for a short time.  
Twelve I decided to go with my partner as he had to look for a house with a balcony that was wood.  This is for a docudrama he is working on. There are only parts of the city with these type of older homes.  He was also going to my favourite part of the city.   I went along and took a copy of The Lady magazine which is one of Britain's oldest woman's magazines.   It had some good articles about Downton Abbey, the UK and America's favourite Drama.
Although house hunting is interesting the driver spends a lot of time in the car waiting.  

I found one beauty which had been renovated and decided to look it up on the web.   Built in 1906 this lovely home set back on somewhat of a hill or one of the hilly roads of the area.  I can't say the renovations was my cup of tea.  The price was a jaw dropper at $1.6 million dollars.   I wonder how long or when it will sell.   We then drove down nearer to the lake and around the area.   After an hour I needed a break and time out to visit a coffee shop.   This area has several coffee shops but settle for the donut store.  Big mistake.   However we got coffee which was almost fit to drink and a bagel and tea scone.
Then I took my partner to the west end of the area and hit pay dirt.   He found a street with nine wooden houses with balcony.   I then went off for a bit of shopping and parked on the other side of the main street.

I have to say I love my 4 pm tea and rest time.  The Brits had it right everything stops for tea!

Sunday hoping to get some work done as I have the film crew coming back to survey where they are going to film.  This has left tomorrow for a blitz day of cleaning.    I did spend the morning watching a hilarious black comedy called, Wild Target.  Emily Blunt, Bill Nye, Rupert Grint and Rupert Everett.
I had not even seen an ad for it but my partner got it from the library.   He also got the History of  World War II and it is 22 hours of documentaries.  Being a history buff I will watch it all.

Offspring had to visit our somewhat local mall, there is one closer but this one is more done up.
I got begged into going with her.   I am not a fan of malls on the weekend.   I am not a fan at the best of time.   We spent a bit of quality time together and managed to wash the car and vacuum inside.  

A goddess must have a clean chariot no matter its age or her for that matter.

 

8 9 10 Rush hour driving, lunch with offspring, Halloween.

I got elected to drive my partner to meet the crew he is now working with, at a coffee shop  west of the downtown.  They are heading to look at caves.   He dropped the offspring at her part time job downtown.   I was not awake enough to drive and I was too cold to move despite an extra layer of clothes although no big coat yet.

Where did all the traffic come from?   I had picked my partner,  up the other day and although I made the mistake of taking a route which ended up being a bit more out of the way,   it was almost two hours in the car from the time I go in it,  to drive to the pick up point.   Crazy.

Our Mayor thinks the city should be for cars.  He mustn't drive around during the day.  In London they charge to drive into the city and I actually think this is smart.  That money can be used to fix roads and even help house people who don't have homes.  Not here, our City Hall is living in the dark ages.

The transit is in need of a shot in the arm, of new subway cars and we have started to get them.  We need better train service to interconnect and bus service to do the same.   People who can should leave their cars at the train and subway stations.  Let them claim the fees on their taxes.  People who do drive in the city unless they actually live in the should pay a toll.

Lunch with offspring.   Steak for her and salad for me, at one of our favourite haunts, a sports bar we have gone to since the children were young.    I was think about that and it has been going a few years.  We have lost other similar places, a couple of nice pubs to building being torn down.   There is another big one but I prefer this little bar with more television for every sport you can think of.  However they do go a bit crazy on hockey night.   I stay home then.  Give me a horse race any time or a jump off with Eric Lamase and the other Canadian Olympic Riders.   That is sport.

Offspring is in the middle of midterms.  She has had to write an essay and read one more of her colonial literature books, with the help of my partner.   This one is. E. M. Forester's, 'A Passage to India'.   It is a glimpse of a world so remote to us now but interesting.   Offspring's answer to the panic is to watch the movie and check notes and then read as much as she can.   She gets it and is very astute in literature.

We talked about our shared passion of horse riding which we would both like to do except for time and  money.   I am deluding myself if retirement comes  and I get the house a couple hours north of the city I am going to find the best stables and ride frequently.  It is great fitness and totally relaxing.   Clears your mind like nothing else.   Offspring agrees.   We talked about riding in the city, expensive, very.

We also managed to go off shopping for odds and ends.   I got a birthday card and decided to get candy for Halloween.   We now only have four kids near us and I am not sure that the three are allowed to come out across the road.   I think there are some new children around the corner.  We had two little girls and a boy but sadly they moved last year.   Very cute.    We get a lot  of children for trick or treat.  This year it was economize time, so it was fruit jellies and lollipops but ones with a chocolate centre.   The chocolates have gone up it is almost prohibitive to buy them for shelling out.   Really this is all for the little boy next door as we can't disappoint him and not shell out.   We have had two other little kids three doors down move out of town whom my offspring, babysat for and we miss them.   I guess I am getting to miss the delight of children and their expectations.   Sigh!

Offspring wanted some new ear buds as they kids call them, her ear phones where getting caught up in her pierced earrings.   Off we go to the local store for CD and DVD's etc.   I get in their and find a new DVD by Tony Bennet and it is duets with a bunch of major  musical talent.   I pick it up and wait for the ear buds to appear because their is a deal, spend $20. and get the CD for $8.   Offspring comes back and she has the same deal.   By the time we find a couple of things, we are now looking at about two deals and a $14.99 CD of the music from Tangled the new Disney animation.   Somewhere this isn't a bargain.   It looks like I wait until both come into the library.   Ear buds cost $15.99 and tax, no deal.

Freddy and Rooster, one resident and one visiting feline get quality dinner.   They are now snoozing on the sofa.  I am contemplating yoga if I can face waiting for the basement room to heat up!

Namaste!

 

   

5,6,7 Friends and Nice times tinged green!

The weekend was a time of friends.  Saturday, my partner and I drove out to visit his godmother whose nephew was visiting from Scotland with his girlfriend.

We planned a lunch at a local harbour called, Frenchman's Bay at a very nice restaurant called, the Waterfront.   The nephew spent his youth in our city and his girlfriend was on her first visit to Canada.
She was delighted with the meal, for her, mussels and fries.  The conversation was good.   After lunch we walked out to the small harbour and marine.   The girlfriend said I want to go to the north and be up in the wild.   I looked at her and said, there is one problem with that, bears.  This is not the first time this year I had to tell someone that this country has bears.   I didn't tell her about the mosquitoes, moose , black flies and in some parts of the country, cougars cats.  I think people from the British Isles have a romance with the North in North America.   However that said this lady is a social worker and a nurse who works with Foster children, now in helping with their educational needs.   I can understand that kind of stress, where when you get a break from it you can go away on holiday and be in a place that is both isolated and peaceful.   I said when she comes back I would take her to the Wye Marsh, a naturalists paradise.  It is also next to the St. Maria amongst the Huron first settlement or recreation of a fort who were inhabited by the Jesuits priests.  this isn't the far north but I am sure would please her and it is not far from one of our most spectacular bays

The odd thing is where she comes from in Scotland is a scenic area also with a lovely village and river.
It was a pleasant afternoon.

Sunday  was a pleasant time.   I had made plans to go to a dinner and dance of a small group who are based around an accordion band.   Now I have only recently found this group and was really delighted with the musicians who  are all amateurs.  They have been together since 1954 which is amazing.  A lot of their members are an age and their are a group of supporters about 52 in total.   They know how to have fun from jokes and songs to dancing.  It is a lovely to go along and enjoy their company.   They are originally from the British Isles.   I got my friend who like myself likes to get out and  have a good time.   I invited my sons in laws.  This was going to be an interesting situation for them.  They are from Eastern Europe and love to dance so I thought this was a good fit.

I was right although they couldn't come until a bit later they were immediately up on the dance floor.  They just enjoy themselves and do a Latin influenced dance.  They became the focus of the group as they totally immerse themselves in the music and the pleasure of dance.

Even the dinner was good  and very old school, the kind I had as a young person, nothing fancy.

Even my partner relaxed to enjoy himself although made a huge fuss about not dancing.   Being in charge of a film set and talking to international movie stars is okay but going to a dance is  stress enough to send him to the hospital.   I have to say although I felt otherwise I kept my cool.

It does leave mixed feelings when you go through this but I have an anecdote I go and put away  a  piece of jeweller, nothing expensive.  I have already put it on hold so it is time to start to pay it off.
I think this is a very fifties thing to do but in some respects at this age are we not our Mother's clones, in taste at least.    What is it the French say Comme se comme sa?  MY great grandfather was Parisian, vive la Paris!

four - A busy day, house and crew, social

This is a busy day.  I have some people coming to look at what I now call our house Chateau bungalow for a possible day of filming.   I don't recommend this as I did it years ago for a major film in my other house.   Their were stars and set decorators and crew the whole nine yards.   We didn't tell our neighbours but it gave them a very interesting week.  The movie was Studio 54.

The group I have coming to look at the house.  It is for a docudrama.   I am already feeling a bit concerned about the floors.  This is an ongoing discussion with my daughter and her cowboy boots.
The remuneration is good but not as wonderful as a lot of people think.

However it means I have to get the place in shape and keep it there and clean up after.   Not overly thrilled about this but I guess I am helping to keep the home fires glowing.

Social live is about to get very social as we have friends to see on Saturday from the Scotland and a nice lunch to look forward to also a dinner and dance on Sunday with friends.  This is a rare occurrence in my life but I am going to make it a more regular one.   I feel that unless you learn to get social when you reach this age and I don't care if that means church, group card games or meeting for similar interest.  I know people who do the opposite and become antisocial at this age.  Big mistake.

I am going to a dance with an Irish accordion band and can they play music.  It is traditional and even opera tunes.  This is just part of a large group of 52 people who have been doing this for 54 years.  That is dedication.   I have lived in the same city for a long time and saw and ad for them in the local paper and decided to go and find out what they were like.  I only saw the second half and thought  why not.  I am also trying to introduce my hip daughter to some of our background heritage.  These people are connected to that.   The best thing that happened was when we got to the first concert the first tune they played was the, 'Colonel Boogie March' aka 'ABridge on the River Kwi"  and my husband sings the cheeky WWII version so my daughter recognized it immediately.

I am hoping to take my son and his girlfriend to see them as well at some point.

It is no good the housework is pending if I ever want to see the outdoors today, rain or no rain.

Three Confessions, Australia, new exercise aid

I do have a confession.   I did use money to take two holidays.  The first I took in the summer of 2008  I took my daughter to Australia to visit a cousin and her family.  I went back in 2010.

It was a total break and to find a cousin who I had spoken to for about five years online.   It was one of the most life renewing things I have ever done.   Sydney was lovely with the harbour and the  culture and the restaurants but I feel in love with two other areas.

I had friends that live in the Illawara area on the south coast of New South Wales.  It is a great beach area and amazing coast and with the small city of Wollongong.  The other area is Adelaide and the area down Victor Harbor.   We stayed a week in Sydney and then travelled over to Adelaide where we were met by my cousin and a friend who picked us up and drove us the best route down to Victor.   We also got to see some of the small towns that are in the area,   Strathlbyn  and Goulwha  at the mouth of the Murray.
Then we went back to the Illawara before heading back into Sydney.  It was fascinating, the birds that animals the fauna and flora.   The Sydney Art Gallery also stunning.   Situated on another cove of the harbor with a small lunch area that overlooks the bay.    Is it possible to fall in love with a country?

Yes, so I decided to go back this time on my own to stay longer with my cousins in Victor Harbor.  I also stayed for a short time in Sydney and took a trip to the Jervis Bay area of New South Wales.  I also went around more of the Fleurie Peninsula on South Australia and got to see more of Adelaide.  I returned in March 2010 and stayed for six weeks.    I hired a car and drove down from Adelaide to Victor on the first day I arrived.  it is only an hour and a straight road.  I seem to have adapted well to driving on the other side of the road.   I spent my time resting as the air off the ocean is very invigorating.  Victor Harbor is on the Southern Ocean and is directly across from the Antarctic.   I took the trip to Kangaroo Island a boat ride off the mainland and a motor coach trip around the island.  The only disappointment was not seeing Vivonne Bay, the most pristine in that part of the world.   The rest of the island was rugged and mostly wild.  A bird sanctuary, Magnificent Rocks to amazing coves, sea lions then a wild preserve with Koala's. kangaroos, wallabies.  Back in Victor Harbor food that was so amazingly good.   This area is dairy farm and horse country.  A fish shop with species not seen in the northern hemisphere.  

So sometimes it is better to enjoy what the world has to offer then to have a perfect home.

Last but not lest.  I decided to use a video of Celine Dione's world concert to exercise to.  The music is great and looking a Celine with her wonderful figure is also inspiring.   The cats, and Fred and  Rooster alias Roostie are having there mid afternoon siesta.   I think today I will go and stretch and do yoga!
  

Two - tiara shine, used furniture and music lessons.

The glow in my Goddess tiara, that is the domestic one is losing its shine.   I can't say I enjoy housework.
I do like a clean and nice looking home.  At the moment my basement room looks like a warehouse for  used clothing.   I have a couple of opponents in my battle with house heaven, my partner and my offspring.  Both of these have their attitudes to house perfection.  One is an organizer and the other is the opposite.   I get the sense that where I live isn't my own abode.  I have never get to do a house the way I want it.  Starting with the furniture.
My partner a whiz in his work and gardener at home.   We managed to produce triple offspring in the space of five years.   All of this, the whiz was building his career and as most, people funds were limited.   I went back to work part time, clerical and stores, eventually doctor's office.   I was in a world that was a blur of non stop, working caring for kids, cleaning and cooking.   Of course the costs of raising children that includes music lesson's, sports, scouts and guides, never mind trying to dress them in a respectable fashion does not allow for furniture that is affordable.  Our house was mostly second hand other than the beds.  I did have one new sofa and it was a nice one until a cleaning lady who was over weight sat on it and broke it at one end.    Our original furniture came from my husband's bachelor paid.  We gave it to family.  I often say my new furniture went on music lesson's.

I have bought two dinning room tables one my kids decided to climb on and broke, the other I still own but my chairs I have had since we got married.   I did get some furniture when my partner and I got married.  My Mother in law picked where we went and I got to pick two small bedside lamps while she and my partner picked almost everything else.   The furniture was nice but I had wanted pine not teak but was never asked.

I did get a futon bed when I got a small inheritance from a hippy store who suggested we put the futon in the healing rays of the sun.   I have the frame and a expensive mattress now but still don't have any bedroom furniture.  It isn't inspiring because now everything looks old and it is however the cat and his house visitor enjoy  it.

I put this on my lottery win list new furniture, that goes with the car and the summer home so I will settle with clean and not worry about chic.  This isn't good for a goddess ego, domestic or otherwise!

Day one

I am having issues with my exercise routine.   I have for the last three years worked very hard at a fitness routine that includes;  dance, leg exercises, weights and endless crunches.

It has worked and I am having a hard time to keep it going although I know I can't live with out it.
The effects of not working as hard as I should have taken over also.

I have lost one of the great loves of my life.  Kurt.   He was handsome, almost striking.   He was so loved but age and ill health took over although Kurt and I went out almost as much then as when he was younger.   It was always the same we would go for a long stroll and I would have to drag him back.   He was in his years over 100 by the end.   He had lost his companion, Skipher a few years ago from a certain pedigree health issues.   I had thought, she would be around for the long run but no it wasn't to be.

The house is not the same his presences isn't here.  We have a new creature to take his place, Fred.  Fred is not of the same species.   Fred has attitude and feels he owns all of us.  I guess we are his pride.

I don't feel the same in any weather about going out.  Fred would like to go out but he wants to be free to roam.  We can't walk together.   Yes I should get another to replace, Kurt but it is a commitment.

I am contemplating getting a house where the snow and ice rule, and staying there for the summer and know that there is no way that I can live there without a Kurt replacement.   Walks are a way of life there the beach, the hills and if possible the horse riding, that is another blog.

This has got me know where to exercising although I did exercise some of my grieve over Kurt.   I think today it is a day of the dreaded cleaning house workout.   I hate housework.   I will leave this for further discussion.  You must ask what my occupation is besides, 'Domestic Goddess'.   Writer!

Six months to the third life stage or how to keep balance , humour and not be use the O word.

A week ago I had the idea to write a blog about the last six months of being in my fifth decade.   I am sure there are people in their fifth decade or just made that passage who can relate to this.  Of all the passages in life this has to be one of the bigger eye openers.   I thought the best way to approach this was to talk about the everyday and what is happening in my life at the moment.  Big and some trivial questions.

I have a somewhat darker sense of humour but I do have one.   I will try and keep that in and just observe this beginning of the end almost of a past experience.

I do not feel old but do get stuck in issues that take me a while to resolve.

Here we go and see what six months feel like and how that new era will look.