Merry Christmas to all ....

Merry Christmas from Millie (who is not prepared to move away from the warm radiator)

and also from the latest addition to the family - Roxy.

There are 12 Wildflowers You CAN Pick!

At last - we are encouraged to go out in the countryside and pick some wildflowers!

Of course, you can't pick everything you see, but you won't damage the countryside if your children pick a few daisies, buttercups and meadowsweet!

Other flowers mentioned are cow parsley, yarrow and primroses.

There is also some practical advice such as pick '1 out of 20', so you leave plenty for others to enjoy and leave the roots behind.

3 Black Cats on Halloween

We have 3 jet black cats - but their colour is the only thing that have in common as they have such different personalities. Jinny is the youngest and liveliest. The hunter that will bring back dead birds and mice, inquisitive and quick. She has a squeeky meow and can be found investigating bags and boxes for food!

Bernard is probably the oldest, but we don't know his age, background or even original name as he was abandoned by his previous owners. He has only been with us for 6 months but had changed from the thin, scraggy cat who had a constant meow for food, now that we have got the right dose for his thyroid medicine. He has already sussed out the soft touch neighbours and spends a lot of time in other peoples doorstep, gardens and houses - should be renamed six dinner Sid!

And lastly comes Millie - also known as Fatty Puss. She should be a small petite cat with dainty paws and face, but is just a roly-poly ball on legs. She rarely leaves the house and if turfed out to the garden, sits in the sunniest spot that is near to the house as possible. She loves her food and will hoover up any left-overs from the other two. She has problems with her teeth, but still manages to eat well. She seldom makes a sound, is very shy and I don't think she has ever caught a mouse, but is no trouble at all.

A small contribution towards ridding the ocean of Microplastics

   

Reading this recent article in the newspaper about the amount of plastic swilling around in the seas, really bought home about  terrible contamination of the sea and its affect on wildlife. By making art out of all the discarded plastic, Rob Arnold has made an quite an impact.

Plastic is practically indestructible and once in the sea it just gets broken down into smaller pieces known as microplastics

There is a campaign this month to reduce the amount of plastic in the sea and how you can help, especially by stop using 'one use' plastic straws and bottles

Yesterday evening I went to Felixstowe - the view over the beach to the North Sea was lovely, but a closer inspection of the beach showed loads of litter, so I did my bit and picked up this amount in only 5 minutes!

 Yes, there were lots of plastic straws and bottles but also smaller broken pieces that has been washed around in the ocean. There were also odd things like a rubber windscreen wiper blade too!

I collected 3 carrier bags full of rubbish and feel happier that, at least, a small part of the shingle was plastic free for a short while!

Smelling the Roses

Another good reason to to enjoy urban walking at this time of the year is the beautiful smell of roses that waft from front gardens as you walk past!

They are still a popular plant in many  gardens and I love to stop and smell a rose as I walk past. Its often the less showy roses that smell the nicest!

Despite many attempts, I've never come across a bottle of perfume that can match the aroma of a real rose!

In Praise of Urban Walking

I know that many people love walking in the countryside, but I want to put a vote in for pleasures of walking in towns!

Today I went for a 45 minute walk around some quiet suburban roads in my home town. This included 3 roads that I am pretty sure I have never been down before, despite me living here for 40 years!

It is so interesting looking at the different styles of houses, spotting some stunning front gardens ( plus some absolute heaps!). I heard birdsong, saw beautiful spring flowers and felt safe and secure.

Most streets were empty, despite it being mid morning, with just the odd resident washing their cars or doing a bit of weeding. The only time I was stared at, was by a few cats who were mooching around. It was a real pleasure and made me feel good, whilst boosting my daily step count by 5,000!

Some really good things happened in 2016

I saw this post from Matt Strange on Facebook and had to repeat it here to remind everybody that some really excellent things happened this year

 There's an Ebola Vaccine now
Child Mortality - Down across the globe
+9% survival rate in pacreatic cancer sufferers
Gene responsible for ALS found
Volunteers in India planted 50 Million trees in 24 hours
Suicide rates down globally
The Ozone layer is repairing itself
The Rabbinical assembly issued a resolution affirming the rights of trans and non conforming individuals
MIND CONTROLLED ROBOT ARMS!
Wild tigers numbers up FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS
Giant Pandas - No longer endangered
A solar powered plane did a world trip
Global Malaria down by 60%
Measels ERADICATED from the Americas
93% of the world's children learned to read and write - the highest percentage IN HUMAN HISTORY
China plans to be completely renewable by 2020 and has a global plan for by 2050
Huge global push in renewable energy
Norway committed 0 deforestation
Manatees - No longer endangered
Wild Wolves - Back in Europe
Wild Salmon spawning in the Connecticut river for the first time since the American revolution
Columbian white tailed deer - no longer endangered
Green Sea Turtles - NO LONGER ENDANGERED
Sea World no longer breeding captive killer whales
Humpback Whales - NO LONGER ENDANGERED
Global aid - up by 7%
Americas most generous year EVER in charity and aid
China's most generous year EVER in charity and aid at $15 Billion

Yes, some famous people you liked died, and you know what - more of them are gonna go too but take some time to look at the good and beauty in this world, good stuff is happening, learn it, support it, be part of it.

Weird & Wonderful Crisp Flavours!

This year there seems to be a competition to see who can bring out the strangest flavoured crisp or snack! These are sweet potato crisps with gingerbread flavour!

The trend started last year and I loved the prosecco crisps from Tesco's, they quickly disappeared off the shelves never to be seen again. M&S joined in this year with their Bucks Fizz crisps which had a very similar taste to them - wish I had bought 2 packets now.

I stumbled across these Limited Edition Irish Cream flavoured popcorn and I have yet to try out the Christmas Dinner crisps from the Co-op - apparently they include special sprout flavoured ones!

Proud Mum Moment

I was very proud to see my son graduate with a degree in Communication Technologies last week - I never thought we would have a Network Engineer in the family!

He has worked so hard for this - he did so well to be accepted as a BT apprentice 3 years ago, when there were hundreds of applications and acted a STEM ambassador promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to younger students. And now he is going to study for another year to convert the degree into a BSc  hons.

And Jinny Makes 3!

Since our old tabby Pangur was put down earlier this year, we wanted another cat - but decided to wait until after our holiday before looking around.

There seem to be so many pairs of cats who wanted to be adopted together, but we could only have one. We wanted an affection cat - not a kitten, but a cat that had developed its personality. As we already have one timid cat, we didn't want another shy one.

So we have ended up with Jinny  - she is around 7/8 months old and came from Suffolk Animal Rescue. 

She is very lively and very nosy! She loves looking out of the window at the birds on the roof opposite.  Despite us buying a new cosy cat bed, she prefers to sleep in the washing basket.

We would like to change her name, but so far haven't come up with one that suits her.

Rollercoasters - Never Again!

I've just come back from a family holiday in Florida - whilst I was there I got talked into going on some rides on the theme parks.

Now, I love Harry Potter and couldn't wait to visit Diagon Alley and Hogsmead village at Universal Studios. I went on the 'Escape from Gringotts Bank' ride and hated it! I am not good with simulator rides where you get thrown around in from of a screen. If the warning signs say you should avoid of prone to motion sickness, then that is a signal to me to avoid!

So I should have known better when I then went on the 'Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey' ride - four minutes of torture! It was even worse and I had to spent the whole ride with my eyes shut. My legs turned to jelly getting off.

Now the Tower of Terror should have been OK as it is just drop ride - no spinning around. But I didn't enjoy this either as it was very bumpy and you get to look out over the park from a height.

I learnt my lesson and refused to go on the Rock N Roll Rollercoaster and many other rides

I know my limitations and need to stick to them!

Now this is my kind of ride - the Hogwarts Express train, great fun, a little scary and a different experience depending which way you travel.

I feel like Great Uncle Bulgaria

I've been sitting a desk all day, so this evening I have just been for a nice stroll around the neighbourhood. 

 I've added 4,500 to my daily step total, caught 7 Pokemon and hatched an egg (a Zubat, if you are interested) and picked up a carrier bag full of rubbish. And also gained a small sense of accomplishment!

Pokemon Go or Pokemon Stop and Stare?

Like everyone else I have started to play Pokemon Go! This was the scene today at the beautiful Ipswich Waterfront, where, instead of people strolling around enjoying the lovely sunshine and looking at expensive yachts, they were all clustered around staring at their phones waiting for Pokemon to pop up!

At least it gets teenagers such as Libby out of their bedrooms and away from the computer! It also is something she can do with her older brother and cousins.

We also had another walk later to the local Library ( a pokestop) where someone had set up a lure and there were around 6 or 7 cars full of young people sitting and chatting together.

Trying out the Degusta Box

I read about the Degusta Box on Faiths blog - much more with less. Every month you get at least £22 of food and drink products for £12.99 (including postage).

Using Faiths link via Topcashback  - my first parcel was half price, plus £2.52 cash back - so seems a very good bargain!

I think that this months parcel is well worth it, so I will keep up the subscription for a while. 

There were lots of items in the box that I like, such as dark chocolate, apple crisps, vitamin drinks and J2O spritz. The only item I won't use is the curry mix and I will pass it on to my son.

Can't wait for next months box!!!

My very first Sloegasm!!!!

Oh errr missus  - yes, I've just experienced my first sloegasm - a lovely cocktail of prosecco and home made sloe gin. Apparently you can also make it with Champagne or any type of white fizzy wine.

I'm typing this after 2 glasses and won't tell you how many typing mistakes I have made on this short update!!!!

Even more new things to try!!

Christmas with the Easters

I really enjoyed doing all those 50 new experiences whilst I was 50, in fact I've missed it since August when I finished!

So, I have decided as a New Years Resolution for 2016 to keep this blog going and record any new stuff that comes along.

Again, I have no idea what they might be - we will just have to wait and see!!!!

Follow up to No 11 - Tea at the BT Tower

Last year Jared & I won the chance to have tea at the top of the BT Tower. BT ran another competition for their employees and families to visit the tower to celebrate the official opening of the Post Office Tower 50 years ago, and this time Jared won 4 tickets so that Steven and Libby could come too! 

This time we got a glass of wine - not a meal, but it was still great to view London and all its landmark buildings.

Follow up to No 36

I've just received confirmation that my 3 great great uncles now have  their plaques commemorating their deaths in the First World War in place. The three brothers are side by side at the garden of remembrance at Lochnagar Crater and funding has gone towards the upkeep of this unique piece of  history.

50. Alum Bay and the Glass Vase

Well, I spent my 51st birthday on the Isle of  Wight and finished off my 50/50  experiences with a a trip to Alum  Bay and a ride on the rickety old chairlift down to the beach.

Steven then treated me to this beautiful iridescent vase from the glass studios there. It is a tall blue glass vase with green/yellow/purple overlay and looks stunning in the light.

I have really enjoyed the last year and ended up doing some fun things - highlights include not 1, but 2 trips to New York, eating at the restaurant at the top of the BT Tower and amazing  WW1 battlefield tour of Flanders.

I was treated to some great experiences by others such as the Harry Potter Studio tour from Jared, the ride round Central Park in a horse drawn buggy by Mum and an Aqua Massage from Angie!

I also enjoyed learning to crochet from Laura, making my own Christmas wreath, having my DNA tested and even cooking my first home made curry!

I tried to do some good along the way and raised £100 for the Blue Cross, bought a Poppy from the Tower of London and Crowdfunded a charity and a book launch

Although the year is over now, I hope to carry on saying YES to things I might not have done - and have started by being involved in a publicity photo shoot for St Elizabeth Hospice and impulse buying a new car! There is still a long list of ideas that I never got round to doing which I will keep and hopefully cross off  as time goes on.

Thanks to everyone involved along the way and my advice to you all is Give It A Go and Have Some Fun!

49. Visited the Constable Exhibition at Christchurch Mansion

Mum and I visited the free exhibition of John Constable paintings in Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich - which included portraits of his family, many views from his home and of Flatford Mill in Suffolk. They range from small sketches to the huge 6 foot painting of Salisbury Cathedral

Well worth going if you get the chance - exhibited in Ipswich until Jan 2016. I'm nearly at the end of my 50/50 experiences and have enjoyed doing something a bit different over the last year (except breaking my toe!)

Hoping to do the last New Experience on my 51st birthday this Sunday in the Isle of Wight - no idea what it will be at the moment!