No Comment!

Love it or hate it Face book is an incredible success. Over the past few days people on my "friends" list have joined in a campaign to help prevent violence against children by changing their profile picture to a cartoon character from childhood, thus promoting the happy times and memories these characters conjured up. I don't know HOW this helps against child abuse but was prepared to believe it as it was a very good cause. It was incredible! Every time I logged on to Face book I saw Beryl the Peril, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Bod, Sleeping Beauty.....such a lot of fun and so colourful and yes, it did evoke memories of childhood; in my case Harry's childhood as I was Buzz Lightyear! "To infinity and beyond!!!" That character has memories for both me and Harry.
Now reports are coming in suggesting it was all a paedophile hoax and it was designed to help inter action between children who would be drawn by the cartoonies and the predators. Well, again, I don't know how that would work either. Maybe I am just too gullible. I enjoyed it and as far as I'm concerned, it was innocent.
Another thing I fail to understand, while we are on the subject of Face book, is when you join a 'social inter action' site how can you have a setting that won't allow anyone to "Like" or "Comment" on what you write or post? And why would you want to? Is it because you believe only your voice is worth listening to and no one could add, or even should want to add, anything to your declaration? This is not social inter action is it?
Not many of my "friends" have adopted this setting. Maybe they're just not my friends!

Greed?

I am an unashamed fan of cookery programmes. I watch Nigella, Nigel Slater and Jamie Oliver with great interest and enjoyment; each have a great knowledge of food and what marries with what, each has a very different style. Jamie's 30 Minute meals are excellent and even though it may take me a bit longer than the expert it's still good to get a well cooked, fresh meal in under an hour! Nigel is slower and more ponderous in his delivery and presentation; his recipe books are very well written, his command of the English language drawing all of your senses in as you read. And Nigella? I was caused to think about my enjoyment of Nigella's programmes by someone commenting that she thought Nigella encouraged greed and wrong moral values in her presentation of food.
Mmm! She is certainly unstinting in her delight in butter, olive oil and all things chocolate. Is it immoral? I have thought about it for awhile and I rather think that I will continue to be a fan, despite the fact that I blame her for my increased weight! She enjoys food and she delights in all aspects of it, as indeed do I, but she is also an antidote to the society which increasingly seems to suggest that enjoying food is a sin and we should be concentrating on maintaining a stick-like figure at all costs! Maintain? I have never been stick-like!
Food is to be enjoyed in all its varieties. Yes, we must guard against over indulgence but not banish all expressions of excess. A bit of what you fancy does do you good. I tend to think that the overindulgence is just Nigella's adopted style which has become her "way"! She is a larger than average woman who delights in food and has a rather large appetite. Rather like me!

Hallelujah Praise, Duncan's 2010 Snowman!

It's becoming a tradition! Last year we had Hudson and this year we have our own praising snowman. December is here and we are in the worst snow that we've had so far and it's still coming down. The study and our bedroom are very dark as the skylights are covered and the whole landscape is a beautiful wonderland - as long as you don't have to venture out. Our next door neighbour is stuck in Bradford and is unsure that she will even get a train home. Danny Lane is impassable so we are stuck! Trapped in our home and I must say I like the feeling. I know I am fortunate that the fridge and freezer are full enough to keep us going for a few weeks and I can always make bread when we run out. We even have a tin of Marvel in the cupboard if the worst comes to the worst! Oh here I go, exaggerating - we can pop to the "Pop-In" our local store up the hill if we need milk!
We are proud to see Harry on Tees TV commenting on the peaceful student protest about fees in Newcastle. He spoke very well, not an 'um' or an 'err' at all. Very articulate for someone who had a microphone thrust in his face as he marched along! (See the link on Face book)
So we are homebound! I may get round to a few more blogs. I may even do one on the state of the butter/butter dish that you will have seen if you are a Face book friend!

You DO bring Me Flowers!

I am so grateful that Duncan loves flowers and more specifically, that he loves buying them for me. There aren't many days that I don't have some blooms in a vase in our lounge, and we both get real pleasure from their beauty and, in my case, their perfume. Poor Duncan is a martyr to his hay fever in the Summer months!
I know some people would argue that flowers should be left growing in the ground and not picked to grace someone's living room, but now that we really don't much that we can call a garden, my vase, of roses, in this case, are even more dear to me.
My only regret about our wedding day was that I allowed myself to be talked into having artificial flowers that would "look just as good" and that I could "keep for ever"! Well, they did look OK but they smelt of...nothing, and they didn't feel like have the delicate silkiness that real petals should be to the touch. And as for keeping them forever... they disintegrated into a dusty heap in a box on the top of the wardrobe years ago, and they still didn't smell of anything - well nothing pleasant! But that was the only regret in an otherwise wonderful day. And I have had many, many flowers since that have made up for it.

My sister had real flowers! Red gerberas were the choice for bridal bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets and spray on the Pastor's hat! The fact that my sister lives in Turkey and got married at the hottest time of the year (August 21st) meant that to have anything but wilted blooms was an impossibility! Added to that the fact that they arrived from the florist jumbled up in a plastic supermarket carrier bag meant that the flowers were not the desired centrepiece that Chris had imagined!
But, as Chris always says..."This is Turkey!"

PS You should ask her about the wedding cake!

In the Wars Again!

So I had a "Frozen Shoulder" and it was very, very painful. I had hardly any mobility and I suffered excruciating pain. The physio, Karl with a K, suggested that I needed another steroid injection as the first one had had no effect. The doctor gave me an injection and the effect was almost instantaneous. The pain was vastly reduced and I could move my arm and it no longer woke me in the night if I rolled on it! Fantastic and I was very happy...... until I bent down to put my boots on last Wednesday and suffered the most searing hot pain down my right buttock and into my thigh! I put the other boot on and experienced the same pain. Terrible!
The next day I was in agony, not knowing what to do with myself so I stayed in bed and dosed myself up with Cocodomol. Spaced out or what!
I noticed that my leg was numb and when I went to go upstairs my leg gave way and I fell down in a crumpled heap in the hallway!
The numbness intensified and by Saturday there was no improvement so I rang the "Walk-in Centre" who gave me an emergency number to ring. I was so very impressed with the service. I was asked several questions and told a nurse would phone me within the hour. Ten minutes later Melanie phoned and she was lovely! She asked me lots of questions and led me to do a self examination which, in turn, led to her saying that she wanted me to see a doctor and that someone would call within the hour to tell me where to go and when.
Less than ten minutes later and I had an appointment booked at the hospital for less that an hour's time. The doctor there was very reassuring and he examined me and prescribed stronger painkillers and unsuccessfully attempted to get advice from orthopaedics. He sent me home and said he would check on me later. Sure enough, at about 9.45pm he phoned to see how I was. I saw my doctor on Monday and have been referred to physio again (so look out Karl with a K!)and have even more pain killers!. A trapped sciatic nerve the cause of my pain and numbness. Wonderful, caring service from the NHS! I salute you Calderdale Care!

Farewell Jack!

So we say a fond farewell to Jack Duckworth, and I must confess I did shed a tear! I think his exit was well managed, and seeing Vera return for him wasn't as tacky as it might sound! Or am I just sentimental? Probably. After all I have grown up with the morose signature tune, which hasn't changed over the many years of broadcasting the programme. The tune that sends Duncan running for the cover of the study and a copy of Private Eye! But love it or hate it, Coronation Street, or Corrie,as it is affectionately known, is part of the British way of life - well it is up North!
Jack has mellowed over the years, as I suppose we all do. He took over from Stanley Ogden, well he did in my thinking, as the lovable rogue who was always having to avoid the tongue lashing of his wife. Ah, and could we ever forget Hilda of the permanent rollers? Or the three birds ascending her chimney breast and the DIY serving hatch that grew in proportion as Stanley failed to get the hole straight? And what of Elsie Tanner? Len Fairclough? Jack and Annie Walker, Minnie Cauldwell and of course, Ena Sharples! They, and many more, are part of my growing up.
So I do say a fond farewell to Jack and am pleased he danced his way off the set for a final time in Vera's arms.

My Recipe Book

I'm sure everyone has one - a book crammed with recipes found over the years and jotted down for future use. I am going to do some baking as we are going to Birmingham for a few days to see Graham and Annie and also to benefit from a few days' ministry with Apostle Andre and Prophet Nola who are visiting the UK.
So, I went to my trusty recipe book to decide what I should bake and it made me think and caused a bit of a trip down memory lane! As the date shows I began the book in 1982. I remember buying it in Habitat in Oxford when I was visiting my college friend Linda for a few days prior to going on to my sister's in Worthing. Happy days! I wonder what you are doing now, Linda. I so loved our times together, you were such an inspiration to me. You taught me the value of black pepper for one thing!
I started very neatly (as always) but as you can see, the splashes from countless ingredients over the years put paid to that. In fact, I think a new recipe might be: "Put entire recipe book in pan with a glug of olive oil and fry for 20 mins stirring all the time to prevent sticking!" There are so many different tastes on each page now.
So, I decided on the cakes to bake and then the other page, the menu page, fell out, revealing Harry's interest in food from a very early age. As you can see though, Harry was in charge of the menu!
He always was the boss, in all his imaginary games: School games - he was 'Mr Harry Corker, Head Teacher' with a string of letters after his name. Army games? Captain Corker at your service! Life boat fun - see Coxswain Harry Corker for info!! Looking at this menu brought the memories flooding back. I am in the garden at Glebe Gate and Duncan has just lit the BBQ (and, of course, it has begun to rain, the two actions were always synonymous!). I am in the kitchen getting the lamb "cutlers" ready in the mustardy coating that was so good on the BBQ and preparing the Banana Donkeys, as we called them. Happy days, happy days.
These bits of paper from the past are so precious, and I have drawers full of Harry's fantastic childhood drawings. But to come across such a treasure by accident, having forgotten all about it - priceless!
PS I hope he manages to use the apostrophe with more accuracy now!!

Teacups For Michelle!

Michelle loves teacups! She loves many weird and wonderful things but teacups come pretty high up her list of favourites! When I saw this novel in Waterstones I thought of her and knew I must read it!
It is actually a very good read and I recommend it for its content as well as it's cover!
After all, we know we should never judge a book by its teacups!

My Lovely New Pen!

Anyone who knows me will know that I have a passion for stationery and I particularly like pens - fountain pens, and I have quite a beautiful collection. I use them all, in rotation, and they each have different coloured ink - black, dark racing green, violet and Eclat de Saphir (or very BRIGHT blue to those non French speakers!)
So you can imagine my delight when Duncan came in with a present for me today! He had been to Harrogate on a trip that I should also have been on but was poorly and stayed in bed! My "Get Well" present snuggled up in it pretty tin immediately made me feel a bit better.
Now, I wonder who would really appreciate a letter written with my beautiful, new pen????

Mail from ZA!

Look what we got today! Waiting on the doormat when we returned from the physio was another post card from Michelle! Lovely, lovely.
I presume she will be enjoying her time at the Summit in Simonstown today but I must get on with another letter for her. We are so pleased we are keeping in touch with her. She is a very special young woman and we love her dearly.

Now That's What I call A Chorley Cake!

Look at the size of this whopper! Yummy yum yum!
We were in Hebden Bridge this morning as I had my aforementioned appointment with the physio and on the way back to the car we stumbled upon (and into) this beautiful baker's shop where these Chorley cakes of Frisbee-size proportions, beckoned to us through the glass!The loaves were too good to resist, as were the rhubarb and gooseberry crumble tarts and when Duncan spotted the hot pie emporium we were lost and a piping hot pork pie was also added to the bag! Only a small one as I was determined to reserve a little self restraint! Well that lasted until we got home and the pie was cut and tasted. MMMMMMMMMMMMM. THE best pork pie I think I have ever tasted! We were sorely tempted to get back in the car straight away and fetch more!!
Anyway, the main import of the blog - what was the physio's conclusion? An acute frozen shoulder! He examined and tested me and manipulated me to a certain extent (OUCH!) and has suggested exercises I should do until my next appointment. (One of which is that Duncan should massage my shoulder! Yes! Result!)He is also going to contact my doctor to arrange for another steroid injection. He was so nice! Informative, caring and helpful; he had a lovely manner and was careful not to hurt me too much!
So, as I said in my previous blog, I am not moaning about tha NHS, far from it, I am delighted by the way I am being cared for. And cake to boot on the way home!

Comparisons are (not necessarily) Odious!

I loathe these adverts! They are very long and played by actors who can't - act that is. The one I particularly dislike is the Man Friday Beach one as we see rather too much of this unpleasant little man in order to make our comparisons!
But - yes there is a but! Last week we got our quote/bill for renewing our house and contents insurance with another, equally poorly advertised, company, and it was a huge amount of money; so Duncan did what the advert says - he went and compared! The result? We are paying over 400% less for the same insurance! Yes, well over 400%!!!
So eat your pride and turn the volume down but DO compare! It does make sense!

Waiting!

This is not a moan about the NHS, really it's not. I am full of admiration for the service, especially after living in a country that has no such service and where you can't just turn up and get treatment!
The problem with my arm continues to be very painful and I am awaiting a call from the physiotherapy department at the hospital. The problem is that I have been waiting for 8 weeks now and the pain is not getting any better, in fact the reverse and I can't remember the last time I had a full night's sleep as every time I move the pain wakes me! The other problem is that I don't think that manipulation is the answer as the ache/pain is pretty constant. So I phoned the doctor's to make an appointment to discuss this and was told that the first available appointment with any doctor was in 2 week's time, much longer if I wanted to see my own doctor!
So, I'll wait.
Looking on the bright side, I wonder if I can expect to be called to have my tonsils out soon - I was told I was put on the waiting list - when I was 10!

Birthday Meal

We went to the Woppy Springs for steaks and all the trimmings and it was lovely. Lovely food and great company. Margaret and David have been following the Slimming World plan since they had a chicken meal from the plan when they last visited us! They have been good and stuck to the plan and Margaret has lost a stone! She is demonstrating the absence of several of her chins on one of these photos!! Obviously I can't be friends with her any more as I haven't lost an ounce!!!!
Great evening, as ever with our dear friends and we look forward to the next time.

PS If you scroll back to April "Looking Forward", you will see another photo of Margaret to compare. Well part of Margaret!

Look What We Found!

Look what we discovered in Hay on Wye yesterday! We were in The Poetry Bookshop and were really pleased to see they had a copy of this masterpiece!! Duncan was very shy about it, hence the secretive photography!!
Mark, your graphics and art work live on!

Church Sunday October 3rd.

We had an awesome time in church on Sunday. Stuart led worship and the presence of God was overwhelming. This church, this body, is the only place we want to worship and yes, a two+ hour drive is a long drive, but not when you know what's at the end of it!

Happy Birthday Duncan!

Just thought I'd share my Birthday Card to Duncan!
I made it this morning and I'm afraid only some of you will understand it! If you want to have a really good laugh - and you are not easily offended by the odd expletive - then check out Eddie Izzard's Lego funnies on U Tube. This card is based on 'Darth Vader in the Death Star Canteen'! I do repeat - beware language though!!

Michael - Our Hairdresser!

Just realised that my previous post didn't show you the man himself! So here he is with an old print of the salon in yesteryear and another one with an old customer of the present!!

We've Got Mail! Again!

Would you believe it? This post card managed to wend its way from Eastern Cape South Africa where Michelle and her family have been on holiday and when it arrives in Yorkshire the rain smudged all the writing!
Michelle is like me and loves to use a fountain pen and I suppose this is one of the penalties (no pun intended!).
We can still read the message though, and we are delighted to receive it! Thank you, Michelle, we love you! XX

Been a Little Bit Poorly!

My left arm and shoulder continue to give me a lot of pain and I still need help dressing! Then I did my back in - it went into spasm and I could hardly move without acute pain. Duncan was rubbing "Deep Freeze" ointment into my back on a regular basis to give me some relief as it literally froze my back and I couldn't feel anything until it wore off! The fumes knocked Duncan out but he still persevered! Then, as my back was beginning to recover I had a really bad upset stomach, and I mean REALLY bad! I won't go into any more detail as I can't spell dia.. dihor....NO! Can't spell it! Sufficient to say I was very poorly and had to spend the day in bed (between trips to the loo!). So that did for my back again! Today, Friday, I am beginning to feel a bit better and we are looking forward to seeing David and Gay this evening.
The picture? Well, when you're feeling low what better way to pass the time but to watch Coro on catch up! Have to wear the earphones as Duncan can't stand it!!

The Tools of His Trade!

After 40 years in the trade, in fact 40 years in the same salon, Michael Goldthorpe retired on the last Friday in September.It really is the end of an era. Michael met Liz, his wife as she sat in the chair having a hair cut at the hands of the master, and they married and have been happy ever since.
We were honoured to be among the guests in the salon to say farewell; honoured and sad. People speculated just how much hair had been cut over the years; and the steps up to the first floor shop - one person estimated that Michael would at least have climbed Everest the number of times he had climbed those steps!
We drank a toast to his health and said farewell; our sadness was alleviated by the fact that he is still going to work Fridays and we are booked in for next week! So the legend lives on!

Towels Come Home!

Well you saw them being bought on the Turkish market and now you see them insitu! I am so pleased we chose to have an all white bathroom; now we can have a blue/green/orange or bright pink bathroom depending on the towels!
Look good don't they?!

Frankly I'm Puzzled!

I appear to have lost a Follower!
Now you may think this is careless, and I don't know how it can have happened, but my blog used to have 28 followers and now there are only 27! I appear to have lost, or temporarily misplaced a Follower.
What did I do?
Is it because I am, I suppose, writing under false pretences as we are no longer "in Cape Town"?!
Have I offended?
I am puzzled.
So if anyone sees a lost kind of person, who could be my lost Follower would you please re-direct them to Currys in Cape Town.blogspot?
Many thanks.

Stop Press News!

Hear all about it - Turkish resident sells all her tops on E Bay!!!!

Turkish Market

I love the Monday Market in Hisaronu! It's a riot of colour and copies! None of the branded towels you see above are actually genuine; well they may be but they're seconds - very good seconds though and every year we buy a new colour combination for our bathroom. They are cheap and this year's choice is pink! The stall holders are very friendly and this one threw in the hand towel for free!

It Has To Be Said!

Sometimes you think things and never get round to saying them. For example, I know that I want to say such a lot about what a fabulous holiday we are having and will want to say it when we are leaving and saying goodbye. I also know that I won't be able to say anything because I'll be crying too much! It always happens; six years on the trot and I don't expect this year to be any different.
So, while we still have over 3 days to go before our wonderful holiday is over I thought I'd write a blog dedicated to my sister (as she cooks the tea! Curry tonight! Yum! She's a good cooker is our Chris!)
She's 62 and looks younger than me and she and Phil have been and are being very courageous with their lives. Living in Turkey has enough challenges if you live in the little English enclave near the village but pioneering out here in Turkey Proper (where they slaughter goats!) is another thing entirely. Phil designed this beautiful house and Chris has made it a home. She wanted all the best fittings but as they were badly treated by their builder they have had to make do with the "economy range" and she has made do and with a cheerful face on it!
They are popular and gregarious people and consequently they have a lot of friends who want to visit. I think the wall to wall sunshine and the sparkling pool may have something to do with it too, but the point is, they have A LOT of visitors from June through to the end of October. Visitors mean work and cleaning in this heat is not a barrel of laughs but as we found the place spotless, I am sure all their visitors do too.
So I'm saying it now. I'm saluting you now our Chris and Phil. Well done and thank you. We're proud of you and we love being here. So instead of the blubbing,the deep intakes of breath and the sighs which will come on Wednesday night, I've for once articulated, a little bit, how I feel!


PS Shame about the windows!

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day!

So, picture the scene...Duncan and I in the shade on the terrace beside the pool having our early morning quiet time. Lovely!
I am about to go and make a cup of coffee when Duncan says:"Can I read you something?"
So I sat down again and noticed, on the opposite hillside, a man, a woman and a goat. I was drawn by the bright pink of the woman's dress. As Duncan began to read I was transfixed by the scene before my eyes...they led the goat beneath the tree and they slaughtered it as I looked on, unable to believe what I was seeing.
Duncan read on and eventually I stopped him, not having heard a word and said:"I think I've just seen a woman slaughter a goat!"
Unusually it seemed to be the woman who went in for the kill. We are guessing that she is the head of the family, husband deceased.
The photo shows the said goat being skinned and as I write it is most probably sizzling on a grill.
I know, I eat meat and meat doesn't originate in the sterile pre-packed, cling-filmed, 'polystyrened' packages in Sainsburys but even so...quite an experience, and all before breakfast.
Chris and Phil wanted to live in "Turkey Proper!" I think they are!

Duncan Diving!

Phil taught us to dive on our second trip over here and we can still do it. Well, I would be able to if this silly left arm and shoulder would allow me to swim underwater! The year we learnt we had "The Grand Diving Competition" on our last day and Christine was the judge. (Biased!)
We had the best of 3 dives each and the main criteria for perfection was how little we splashed Chris on her sun bed beside the pool! It was a close thing but in the end Duncan won (Fix!) and I was runner up! We both got posh, personalised certificates though, of which we were (and are) inordinately proud!

Chris My Sis

Well we don't look very alike do we? I'm white and large and Chris is brown and small - well the bits you can see here are! We are so like our parents although not a mixture - Chris is all our mother, Mag and I am all our dad, Frank; a bit of a mixture in the old genetic pool would have had us a bit more evenly distributed!
This picture was taken on a trip to Hisoranu to Desire the jewellers. I lost a little sapphire from a ring Duncan bought me several years ago and he is replacing it for me - at a VERY reasonable price; I think we would be paying 3 times as much in the UK.I love this jewelers and Chris and Phil know the owner quite well so we get "Good price!"
We then went for pizza at our favourite Pepinos before returning to the freshness of the pool and a cool down!

Cheers!

Everyone here was commenting on the fact that I don't appear on any of the photos! So, here I am, cooling off in the pool with my sister and a long, cool drink! Bliss!

Everybody Having Fun??

Oh yes!
A selection of activities on view here, some more obvious than others! Duncan in the pool and just his contented self;
Chris and Phil on the lap top looking at Kindles (More later on this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!);
Chris feeding and patting (?! don't ask!) her pets and Phil getting a gadget to work!