December | 2020 | Not Just a Granny

Archive for December, 2020

Family traditions

Posted in family and relationships, Fun Stuff, gratitude, Holidays, It's my life, tagged Christmas traditions, family traditions, starting a new tradition, traditional family events on December 18, 2020| 4 Comments »

As a child you grow up with traditions and learn about others, whether they be religious or seasonal, familial or foreign and they all seem to be set in stone with certain rules that govern how they play out. I learned something quite profound one day…..traditions are not set in stone, they can be amended or tweaked and new ones can be created…!!! 😁😁

My mother had quite a few traditions, one of which was decorating the Christmas tree. A few days before Christmas a tree would mysteriously appear in the lounge (sitting room for the Brits 🤪🤪), and if a real tree, it stood in a bucket of sand. 🎄

In the build up to Christmas day we learned that Father Christmas aka Santa would be visiting on the night before Christmas and leave us lots of presents….and he would decorate the tree, so when we woke up on Christmas day, magically the tree would be adorned in all its glory.

As we got older and learned that ‘Santa’ was actually Mommy, we got to help with the decorating. I remember the excitement as Christmas eve got closer and the anticipation built….and then her Christmas boxes would come out from wherever she was hiding them and glory be….we got to open them. Oh the beauty of all those shiny balls, the tinsel glittering in the light, the quirky little characters exclaimed over with delight and then the decorating began as we tried to balance them out around the tree with much laughter – the baubles going higher the taller we grew. And finally with a flourish we pulled tufts of cottonwool off a fat new roll, threw them all over the tree with wild abandon and voila, the tree was covered in ‘snow’. 😃😃 Too much fun.

Being the eldest of 4 daughters I got to help my Mother decorate the tree in secret 3 times to surprise and delight my sisters on Christmas day…and of course the day brought a pile of presents too. 🎄🎁🎁🎁🎁 Needless to say, my Mother did things in a big way, and half the house would be decorated too ☺☺

When my daughter was growing up I carried on the traditions of my childhood and decorated the tree and lounge the night before Christmas to delight her in the morning. As she grew up and learned more about Santa’s secrets, she also got to decorate the tree. As it was just the 2 of us, we used to decorate together.

Now she’s grown up with a family of her own, she’s started a new tradition….the grandparents are invited over earlier in December for an evening of laughter, dinner and decorating the tree. Last year we all gathered together and my contribution was a 1st Christmas decoration for Jamie; an engraved ceramic star

This year I found a delightful little wooden decoration in Shepton Mallet; a picture of a snowman – he loves snowmen. ⛄⛄

Unfortunately this year, due to tier 3 restrictions the paternal grandparents didn’t join us, but we had a fun time decorating the tree.

This was Jamie’s first time ever decorating a Christmas tree. He got the idea straight away. Mummy gave him the first bauble, showed him how to open the string, and he went straight over and hung it up with very little instruction on how to do it. We’re so proud of him. ☺☺

Of course not yet 2 years old, he got impatient with taking the decorations out one at a time and turned the box upside down and all over the floor 🤣🤣🤣 – and THEN proceeded to jumble them up.

But he was dissuaded and one by one the decorations went up with the assistance of Mummy and Daddy.

And finally when every last bauble and ball was up, he helped Daddy put the star on top 🎄…..👏👏👏👏 hoorah!! Its Christmas 🎉🎉🎉🎁🎁🎁

Once the tree was done we settled down to have a superb Christmas meal….fully vegetarian.

A newly established family tradition.

I bought my boobee an early Christmas present; a Peppa Pig set of plate, bowl and cup. He’s currently obsessed with Peppa Pig, so an easy buy 🐷🐷

Another tradition my Mother had was making a Christmas pudding….every year she would buy the fruit mince the bread crumbs, the eggs, suet, the sixpences and 50p (all carefully boiled to sterilise them) and then the mixing began. We would fight to mix and once it was all done, fight again as to who would get to lick the spoons and the bowl. When the grandchildren came along they were encouraged to participate and I have the loveliest photo somewhere of my Mother, my daughter and 2 nieces gathered round the table mixing the pudding. Possibly the last pudding my Mother ever did since she passed away a couple of months after my daughter’s 4th birthday. Moving forward, my daughter doesn’t like Christmas cake, Christmas pudding or mince pies….weird child, but more for me 😁😁🤶🏻🥧🥧🥧

Oh and without a doubt, you can be sure that on Christmas day….we all vied for the 50p!!! A veritable fortune in those days 💰💰💰

P.S. did you notice the spelling of merry in the header photo…🤪🤪 only noticed after the package was opened…. a new tradition? 😉

Read Full Post »

Great!!

Posted in Fun Stuff, Inspiration, Personal Development, tagged descriptive words of the English language, english language on December 17, 2020| 2 Comments »

4 years ago, after the orange swamp thing was voted in (I mean seriously wtaf???) and entered The White House, I decided that unless it was the title of something like The Great Wall of China for example, I was not going to use the word ‘great’ to describe anything.

That awful aberration of a human used it for everything, and he revolted me, so I determined to avoid it.

I’ve been about 95% successful… occasionally the dreaded word has slipped out…much to my son-in-law’s amusement and he doesn’t let me hear the end of it 🤔🤔🤣🤣

Besides that, just about every TV presenter or chat show host, or quiz show host and the general public use the word ‘great’ to describe just about everything. Just watch the Breakfast Show in the morning on BBC1….the word ‘great’ is over used by all the hosts.

Enjoyable, amusing, amazing, fantastic, impressive, superb, stunning, admirable, lovely, splendid, tremendous, pleasant, thrilling, exciting, wonderful, exceptional, remarkable etc etc

We have literally hundreds of descriptive words in the English language, that with a bit of imagination and ingenuity, the word ‘great’ could be avoided.

I saw this gif the other day…thought I’d add it to the post 😁😁

Read Full Post »

Covid-19 and the future

Posted in around the UK, Health, news from around the world, Travel, tagged Coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, Covid 19 on December 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

I recently read a very very interesting article by/about virologist; Nathan Wolfe. He published a book in 2011 – The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age.

Whilst I know a few of my friends are Covid-19 deniers, it’s a very real thing, and not going to be the last viral pandemic we face. In the past few decades (and earlier- think HIV) we’ve had multiple outbreaks of deadly viruses: Ebola, SARS, avian flu: H7 & H9, Zika, Mers….and these are but a few that some of us have heard of (e.g. registered on our radar), and yes, the oft declared ‘winter flu’.

Covid-19 is not going to be the last major pandemic. Of course a lot of people will deny this and say its doom-mongering, doesn’t exist etc etc, but the reality is that we are cutting down the jungles (Think palm oil, cattle, soya etc.) at an unprecedented rate in the last 30 years+ and these viruses are going to affect us.
Deny it if you will, and mostly people who haven’t yet been affected are the most likely to, but these viruses are very real. And of course we have all the gurus with their videos etc etc. But, Covid-19 had the potential to kill many more than have died, and as annoying as it is, lockdown is the reason it didn’t. Yes, its been catastrophic for the economy (estimated cost to the worldwide economy according to Dr Wolfe is $8trillion) but what’s the balance? Would you have been okay with the virus running rampant and killing more people? Your family? Friends?

The UK government dilly-dallied and considered going that route, but fortunately (or not) they finally got their act together and 23.03.20 we got lockdown. If only a couple of hundred people died in your country, be grateful. As you likely know, the UK hasn’t been that fortunate.

As more people are affected by climate change (yeah, yeah to the deniers…whatever) and starvation in Africa, and India, Indonesia, we’re going to see more economic migrants seeking food and water….and on the flip side of the coin, we have the rapacious west gobbling up resources, living more consumeristic lifestyles, demanding the latest and best of everything; creating more billionaires who get wealthy on our demands and create more destruction, cut down more jungle (Bolsenaro) and as our populations grow and grow creating more demand for cheap cheap cheap everything; food, clothes, houses, cars, fuel, TVs, phones, holidays, flights….
But what do the experts know?
(And this doesn’t even take into account the devastation we are causing with our throw-away plastic).
We are the architects of our own destruction.

And as the world is now experiencing a 2nd wave of infections, and a mutant strain of Covid-19 has started spreading in the UK, I wonder where we’ll be a year from now, and how effective are the vaccines going to be?

I’m going to have to order the book.

Read Full Post »

Architectural discoveries

Posted in around the UK, career, It's my life, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged architecture, travel uk on December 14, 2020| Leave a Comment »

I’m working in Croydon for the next 9 days, so not holding out for too much of interest on my daily excursions. A very built up area, most of the houses are rather large or sprawling bungalows and lots of apartment buildings.

However, I did spot this little gem….Heron Croft circa 1493. How awesome is that!! I warrant the area was a tad different back then.

I can almost picture a stork nesting on that chimney

After getting rained on twice, I said ‘@#$% it’ and returned to the house. Not a good start and only managed 4kms….oh well…onwards

Read Full Post »

Sunrise walk on the Isle of Thanet

Posted in around the UK, england coast path, gratitude, historical houses of the uk, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, photography, seaside towns of Britain, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged isle of thanet, long distance walking, sunrise photography, sunrise walks on the east coast, walk1000miles, walking the English coast on December 13, 2020| 3 Comments »

Got in a very respectable 15.9kms this morning. Starting off with a fantastic sunrise….red sky in the morning and all that

I headed up the coast to Stone Bay via Broadstairs where I stopped off at my favourite tearoom The Old Bakehouse for almond croissants (best ever) with a cup of coffee, which I enjoyed on the promenade, and fed the sparrows some toasted almond crumbs.

Almond croissant from The Old Bake House, Broadstairs

Enroute I strolled past the Dickens Museum – although he didn’t actually live here, it was the home of one of his characters in David Copperfield; Betsy Trotwood.

By the time I reached the end of Stone Bay the wind had come up and that promised storm blew in…with a vengeance.

Before heading back to Ramsgate, I bought some bird seed and scattered it amongst the bushes for the wee sparrows.

The wind was so strong along the foreshore that my walking poles were blown backwards and I had to plow into the wind.

Despite the wind and cold and rain, I had a fantastic walk. The harbour looked very different when I got back from when I left just after 7am

And tomorrow I’m back to work. I don’t feel as if I’ve had a proper break.

But I did have a most wonderful afternoon with my lovely family…Christmas tree decorating. I’ll write about that tomorrow..

Read Full Post »

Granny’s Joy

Posted in family and relationships, gratitude, me and Peanut, tagged being a granny, love, my grandson on December 12, 2020| Leave a Comment »

There is nothing more precious to me than hearing my grandson from behind the door saying “G’anny” when I ring the doorbell and then seeing that beautiful little face lit up with a smile. And a cuddle follows close behind ☺☺💙

He is my absolute joy….

Read Full Post »

Goodbye Shepton Mallet

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, Domesday Villages of England, historical houses of the uk, It's my life, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged domesday book town, english history, exploring Shepton Mallet, Shepton Mallet Somerset on December 12, 2020| 4 Comments »

And suddenly I was on the home straight with just 19 hours to go and I’d be on my way. My final break was taken in town and I followed some of my more favoured routes and managed a decent 6.8kms, albeit with a reduction in my time off again 🤔🤔🤔

When I first arrived in Shepton Mallet 12 days ago my heart sank…it looked dull and grey with no defining features beyond grey walls and grey houses, a massive Tesco store and the distinction of being mentioned in the Domesday Book….and the oldest prison in the country looming large…and grey 🤨🤨

But as usual I set out to explore and managed to find lots of interesting nooks and crannies, a great number of interesting houses, some of which are Grade II listed.

The Merchants House – 17th century Grade II listed

Three other houses of historical interest:

Longbridge House : with links to James, Duke of Monmouth and the Battle of Sedgemoor July 1685. Now a B&B. With parts dating back to the 14th century the house is best known for being where the Duke of Monmouth stayed before and after the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685.

Old Bowlish House : I was delighted to note the old English spelling…first house name I’ve ever seen in old English. Built around 1618, this Grade II* clothier’s mansion was modernised by the Georgians c.1735 and the Victorians c.1860.

Old Bowlish House – note the old English spelling

Downside House – Georgian House 5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms…I’ll have one of each 😃

exciting finds, although I’m pretty certain there were quite a few more dotted about. After all, in its past, Shepton Mallet used to be a very wealthy town built on the wool trade

I found and walked a small section of the Roman Fosseway, and explored the greater countryside, walking many sections of the East Mendip Way. I discovered the wonderful viaducts, one of which carried the old railway – now disused. I explored the beautiful Collett Park and stretching myself I walked to Downside, Bowlish and Ham Lane.

Exploring Shepton Mallet – Collette Park

I squelched along muddy public paths, slipping and sliding and climbed some interesting stiles 🤪🤪🤪 One of my favourite sections was between a steep field and the small holdings along the River Sheppey where I met lamas, horses, goats and chickens.

This was my favourite stretch of the walks

I walked along narrow roads and lanes and prayed that the tractors that had left their treads in the mud right at the absolute limits of the lanes, didn’t decide to come either up or down the lanes while I was walking along…they didn’t. Whew! I would probably have had to either climb under or over …or resort to climbing into the hedges that towered along the sides.

I managed to find many items of interest after all…I thought my options were out, but no.

Some houses had little plaques remembering past residents who went off to war and never returned

Although the architecture is mostly solid grey stone

I did find some older painted houses, albeit peeling and covered in mould….the reason for the stone houses was more apparent. The town is mostly located in a very deep wedge between hills, the Mendip Hills, and a great number of houses are built right on the rivers edge.

Mouldy peeling paint – note the crown decoration

This house is also built right on rivers edge next to the Fosseway

An optical illusion- on Cat Ash the houses are actually adjacent

I found what used to be a Priory

I’m totally intrigued by the bricked in doors and windows of many of the older houses, and am curious to know when and why they were sealed off.

Addendum – Many thanks to Grace for sending me this link in the comments. The reason why windows and doors were boarded up…governments eh 🤪🤪🤪https://www.amusingplanet.com/2018/04/why-do-many-historic-buildings-in-uk.html?m=1 anything to squeeze more money out of their citizens.

The church was beautiful albeit locked so I never got to go inside 😔 and the market cross is beautiful

And after yesterday’s walk and 2 weeks of indoor walking I’m now closer to my 2020 target of 2020kms. Hoorah. It looks like I may just reach my target by 31.12.2020

As usual, saying goodbye to the pets is sometimes the hardest part of leaving

And so ends my sojourn to Shepton Mallet. Its been quite a stressful job, and I’ll be glad of my 48 hour break before starting all over again on Monday in Croydon 🤪🤪 thankfully only 9 days….

At the moment I’m in transit, first train and nearly in London ….1 tube ride, the HS1 to the coast and a taxi ride away from the Airbnb where I’m staying this weekend.

Read Full Post »

The Narratives Behind the Pictures

Posted in gratitude, Health, other peoples blog, tagged Covid 19, humanity, pandemic, photography on December 11, 2020| Leave a Comment »

This is a piece I’m sharing from another blogger. Its incredibly poignant and shares a glimpse into the lives of people during this awful pandemic. I’d recommend clicking through to her blog to see the whole piece it’s so beautiful, albeit really emotional.

I left this comment onthe writers article…..”Wow, what an incredible piece, so poignant and emotional. I’m in tears. As a Granny myself, the image of the grandmother hugging her granddaughter really tugged at my heart. I’d have been devastated if unable to see my grandson. As it is I didn’t see him for 7 weeks during the 1st lockdown. I also so felt for the young man watching his grandmother’s funeral.”

I have previously written an article to talk about an exhibition depicting lockdown experiences in Britian. These pictures from the online Hold Still exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery provide a very touching narrative of the lockdown. I wrote an article setting out my favourite pictures from the exhibition. In this article, I have selected […]
The Narratives Behind the Pictures

Read Full Post »

Stiles and Kissing Gates

Posted in around the UK, Fun Stuff, long distance walks - solo, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, walks around the UK, tagged 101 walks, country walking long distance walking, hiking the byways of the UK, stiles and kissing gates, walk1000miles on December 10, 2020| 1 Comment »

The highways and the byways of England. Personally I’m not a fan of stiles, some of them are murder to get over, especially when carrying a heavy backpack, and most particularly towards the end of the day… and I’ve often just sat down on the sticking out part and refused to budge 😖😖😖

But eventually I have to just get on with it and drag myself over.

Country walking – albeit different it’s not a favourite 🤪🤪

Now, give me a kissing gate and I’ll be happy…even though some of these are so narrow I have to take my backpack off and sling it over separately – at least I don’t have to climb over it.

Unfortunately, if you’re going to be daft enough to go traipsing across the country, there is no doubt that you are indeed going to encounter more than your fair share of stiles…

Now this is more my ‘style’ – sorry couldn’t resist the pun 😁😁😁

Read Full Post »

Sunrise on the coast

Posted in around the UK, england coast path, Fun Stuff, gratitude, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged coastal walks, long distance walking, sunrise at the coast on December 10, 2020| 3 Comments »

I really miss watching the sunrise on the coast. Sunrise is always lovely but when you’re living in a town or city, the view could be obstructed. I’m usually based in towns in the countryside and my routine doesn’t allow me to get out, so when I’m back at my base I try to get out every day.

I’m hoping there’s good weather on Sunday and I get a repeat of this ☺☺