The Poet!

Happy New Year to all my followers and apologies that there hasn't been a new post in 2011 - until now!
The postman has just delivered our copy of The North Magazine, which is a celebration issue of 25 years of their published poetry. They have made a selection and have chosen one of Duncan's poems to be included. We were informed that he had a poem in this edition back in December and were both excited and curious as to which poem it would be. I was surprised by their choice - we had both speculated on this - but the chosen one is a very good choice! However, he did write this many years ago; years before he ever knew me I think. He has written more since, and even better poetry and today's post has made me determined to encourage his gift even more.
My husband is a very talented man as well as being, actually, the nicest person I have ever met! I feel I can write this as he is out at the moment and won't be able to stop me from pressing the "Publish Post" button! So, well done, Duncan and just keep on keeping on. I am very proud to be your wife - and not just because you're a published poet but because you are you!

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.