Momentous (monumental) Moment

I'm feeling a bit irritable just now, but a young relative is coming to visit soon, so hopefully she will help me to snap out of it. We can take the dog out somewhere and have a change of scenery.

The weather looks okay for an outing at the moment, although I am well aware that it can't be trusted to stay that way. I really need to get a grip of myself when I get these moods.

It does help sometimes to tell you all how I'm feeling, it gets it out into the open and typing about it, starts to distract me, so the mood lifts a bit. Well that's my theory, so maybe if I keep talking here for a bit longer I'll be feeling tip top by the time my visitor arrives

This morning the sun was shining brightly as I filled the washing line with wet clothes, lovely drying weather I thought as I merrily pegged them all up. With that job done and after walking the dog, I went off to do some errands.

I called at the council dump and dropped off some old paint cans and other rubbish that had been lying around for weeks (gave myself Brownie points for getting that shifted)

Then I went to the Gym and handed in my notice of cancellation of membership. For about 8 months now I have been paying a substantial fee for the gym and very rarely using it, when I do it triggers my neck and back pain so I decided it was time to accept defeat. I'm very sure that I can find a better use for the money than giving it away for nothing!

Next I went into town for the supermarket, whilst there I called in the cafe for a bit of lunch and a cuppa which I was enjoying, whilst watching the rain come down in buckets and thinking "So much for getting the washing dry, it will be wetter than when I hung it out"

That was several hours ago, and it's rained on and off all afternoon, the clothes are still out there and I'm really about it. As if I don't have enough to do without the stupid weather making more work for me.

Whilst I'm having a whinge, I may as well mention that I am suffering with pain in my neck and back (again) I think it's because I was playing tennis on the Wii on Sunday evening, honestly it's ridiculous, I can't even swing a remote control device without causing myself grief. I'm not happy

Seems like ages since I posted anything on here, in fact it is just over a week for this blog. I guess that's because I haven't had a lot to write about; not that a little thing like that would usually stop me.
As regular visitors here will know, I am a master at writing waffle or rubbish as I prefer to call it. I'm not going to inflict that on you today tho' I just wanted to make my personal inkblot on the page that is Blogland and it doesn't take too many words to do that.

Whilst speaking of ink, I wonder are there people who still use "proper" pens with real ink, the very idea fills me with nostalgia.

I am recalling now my wooden school desk with its built in inkwell into which a simple wooden pen and nib were dipped and blotting paper, an essential commodity intended for soaking up excess ink, that doubled up as a convenient place to doodle whilst not listening to the Teacher's droning voice.
Later came the refillable pen which had a reservoir and a clever little mechanism that enabled it to suck up the ink, followed by the much more fashionable (but sometimes equally messy) Cartridge Pens that seemed so cool, especially if you owned one that was made by Parker or Sheaffer (excuse the name dropping, but they were the equivalent of todays must have brands)

What heady heights we aspired to in the world of writing implements, but these things were not every day purchases, they had to be requested as Birthday or Christmas gifts. How times have changed, todays kids probably request the latest laptop or computerised notebook to help with their schoolwork!

So, how many of you will admit to remembering and using those inkwells and how many are shaking their heads (or laughing them off) in bemused response to my reminiscences?

Here's an interesting little link that I found whilst looking for images of old Parker Pens http://www.penbid.com/auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=26

Started to cheer myself up already

Sunny Sunday, midsummers day and I'm sitting at the computer in my dressing gown with no plan for how to spend my time. I've just been browsing one or two other blog sites.

I have been aware that such sites exist, but never looked until now. I'm not sure if it's me that's in a negative mood, but I was quite unimpressed with what I saw. So, the other man's blog site isn't always greener (to use a grass analogy)

I feel pleased that Blog UK was the one that I was introduced to first and in which I've "belonged" since starting my Blog. I don't think that I will be straying very far in the forseeable future if this mornings impressions are to be trusted.

I'm feeling a bit flat just now; I'm going to get dressed and take the dog out, see if I can find anything interesting to photograph and generally cheer myself up

Why am I still at the computer at 1.30am? I'm tired now, and it's time that I retired to my bed but sometimes other peoples' lives are more interesting; I keep reading until way past my bedtime

Today started well, when I got up I decided that it was going to be a good day. I was feeling positive and thought that I could make an impact on the many tasks that always await my attention.

So after cooking breakfast for hubbie and waving him off mid morning, I got some washing done and onto the line to dry. I tidied the kitchen and cleaned the fridge and walked the dog, then headed off to the supermarket for food.

I don't enjoy food shopping, I find it a challenge to say the least, trying to think what we can eat for the next several days. I know that some of you (my blog friends) do enjoy planning and preparing food, but I can't share the enthusiasm, I wish that I was more inspired/inclined that way but I'm not.

So, a couple of hours and a hundred quid later I emptied the contents of the bags into the fridge and freezer and realised that it was 6.00pm and I hadn't eaten since breakfast. A quick chicken salad later and I was watching TV having done none of the things that I intended to do when I got up.

Oh well, there's always tomorrow, for now, I'm going to settle for updating my blog and finishing this bottle of cider - Cheers

Last week, I bought two large tubs of fence paint with the intention of painting the shed, it is currently taking space up in the garage as neither hubbie or myself have felt inclined to get the job started.

There are lots of other garden tasks that need attention too, but being aware of them isn't getting them done. I think I'll have to start goal setting and giving myself deadlines or offer myself some sort of incentive.

Maybe I could treat myself to a therapeutic treatment or something when the work is completed. Yes, I can feel the enthusiasm for shed painting increasing already!

I've been playing on the Wii sports game this evening, golf, tennis and bowling. I'm at beginner stage on all of them as I haven't used it much yet. My Wii fit age is 65years OMG! I'm getting old before my time. I have set the balance board up now as well, so that means more things to do such as ski jumping I kept crashing out.

If I can get into the habit of using the system every day, I think it will help with my fitness to some extent - well let's face it, I need to do something.

It's getting late now, so I'm off to bed - night night all.

Whilst out walking recently, I decided that I was going to take pictures of the ducks. Holly decided to help by rounding them up! Just goes to show the inbred traits still linger even in our coddled pets. She's never rounded up a sheep in her life, but she got those ducks waddling in formation alright. There's life in the old dog yet

and here they are, retreating into the water.

Please note, no ducks were harmed (or even scared) in the making of this photo

In my lounge stands a piano, it originally belonged to my husband's father and became ours when he died several years ago. Since it has been in our possession, I have dusted, polished and paid for it to be tuned on a regular basis but rarely have I heard it played well. My youngest daughter, son and hubbie have all tinkled the ivories to some extent but it's never been truly played - until tonight that is.

A couple of hours ago my son brought a friend round to the house who I haven't met before. They'd both had a couple of beers so were in good humour, the lad said "can I have a go on your piano?" Yes of course I said, expecting to hear a bit of a tune similar to that of my familys' efforts.

I was surprised when he started to play it rather well. It was lovely to hear the old Johanna played properly for a change. My son picked up an acoustic guitar as well, so the dog and I were treated to a half hour impromptu concert before the two of them decided it was time to go back to the pub.

An unexpected treat, don't you think it's the little things like that help to make life sweet? it certainly gave me a lift