Ye Olde English Posy

This blog contains postings from Sylvia's blog "Ye Olde English Posy", which she kept on AOL until her death in May 2008. As it was not transferred to Blogger before AOL Journals shut down in October 2008, only a few entries are left on-line, and none of her images.

A tribute to Sylvia is available on Silent Keyboards.

"T" - Photo Hunt #125

Hello - it's Photo Hunt time again folks, courtesy of our dear friend Krissy. This weeks' theme is the letter "T"; either an object in the form of a T, or something beginning with the letter T. My entry isn't the most innovative, because I'm stuck indoors at the moment, with a streaming cold and conjunctivitus.

It's not all bad news though, wait for it...................I've ordered broadband! Only drawback is, until I receive the equipment and set it up, I have to pay local phone charges for every minute I'm online. When I finally join the "jet set", there'll be no stopping me. I intend to make more regular entries, along with lots of pics. The past year has been very difficult, one way or another, and time in very short supply. 2008 may not have got off to the best start, but I'm going to make sure the rest of it is something to look forward to. Starting with my journal.

I'm very happy in my new home, although hubby is not so sure. But there again, he didn't like Nash until he left there, after 25 years! It's such a nice bungalow, in a lovely setting. My kitchen window looks out onto the green, with ornamental cherry trees and seats for us "oldies". Don't think of myself as old yet, but many of our neighbours are; as this is part of a sheltered housing scheme. It's ideal, as we have a lovely Scheme Manager, Linda, who is a great support for me in my caring role for hubby. I'm so used toshouldering everything though and don't like asking for help, even more accepting it.

All in all, life is so much better - I no longer wake up in the mornings, with feelings of dread. Our old home was becoming too much of a burden and too far from any services; shops, doctors etc. Life is for living, you only have one chance and it's great being able to look forward, once again.

Here's hoping life treats you all fairly this year. Take care. Thanks for dropping by my friends.

Mothers Day, Moans and Markets.

I have a new game ‘ere – “Hare and Tortoise Broadband” – 1mb speed for £19.99 a month. Me dial-up speed wasn’t much worse. When I ordered broadband, I got ‘em to check out what speed I could get on my line. A very helpful gentleman (talking to me all the way from India, I think) asked me to hang on for a minute or two, while he made said check. It was worth the wait, as I was told I could get the highest speed aol offer – 8mb. Wow!

Truth is though, I bought a tortoise and have settled in for a long wait; checking me speed daily, in the forlorn hope a hare has made it past the winning post. Only aol can be bright enough, to get money out of me by telling fibs.

English Spring

Treading along this spring-green path,

Its’ flowery banks restore my laugh;

Vibrant bluebells and primrose coy,

Turn all sadness into joy.

Tiny violets, white and shades of blue,

Form pretty carpets of a subtle hue.

Scents so sweet waft on the air,

As daffodils their trumpets blare.

Cherry wears her wedding gown,

As confetti blossom flutters down.

Young hawthorn, known as “bread & cheese”,

Provide the crown for a May queens’ frieze.

Heavenly choirs fill the sky;

Birds in chorus, sing a lullaby.

A subtle palette of verdant greens;

An English Spring, my soul redeems.

                                                            © Sylvia Boiling

Had one of me rarer moments – a brainwave!

The grandkids get £1 from the tooth fairy, if they place a lost tooth under the pillow at night.

Well, I can put 12 teeth under me pillow – every night! Why 12? That’s how many I have on me upper denture. £12 a night = £84 a week, tax free! When I get an extra tooth added to me denture – the one I lost in the New Year due to a bone marrow infection - me tax free income will rise to a massive £91 a week.  I might be daft, as well as toothless, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat. If the fairy comes visiting ‘ere for a week; I shall buy me a hearing aid with the proceeds!

The neighbours have been telling me about me new home. It’s on the site of an old Victorian workhouse – no changes there then!

Moved ‘ere in the forlorn hope of getting the chance to put me feet up occasionally. Smaller home means less work – wrong!

I now have to bath hubby daily, on top of me other chores. Well, that little job is doing me back in, amongst other things. As it’s a long wait, to get a shower installed by the Housing Association, son is coming to the rescue and installing one for me.

Mother’s Day I had roast lunch, cooked to perfection by son, and entertainment provided by our two grand daughters. Pair of tikes they are, but I love ‘em to bits…………

All-in-all, the recent house move was the best idea I ever had. I love it here. The neighbours are lovely folks. I have the best of both worlds – town centre, surgery, local hospital, dentist etc. on the doorstep; plus a street market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The farmers market is held on the first Tuesday of the month and every Saturday there’s a bustling little flea market, held in the old cattle pens at the lower end of the High Street, about 3 minutes walk from my place.

The local Carers group (which I’ve been a member of since it was set up, a few years ago now) hold social meetings twice a month in the community centre, as well as outings to the theatre, garden centres, shopping trips and wonderful lunches at Bletchley Catering College (£6.50 for a 5* three course meal and the best service in town!).

I’ve joined the local U3Ascrabble club; often pop down to the sheltered housing bingo session, on a Tuesday evening. One of me neighbours  said she daren’t tell her sister what a whopping amount the jackpot is – her sister recently won £1,000 at a bingo club in Aylesbury – our jackpot is £5.50p!! Our bingo isn’t about the size of prize, but good company and plenty of laughs…..and it’s all on me doorstep.

I’ve lived in the sticks all me life, until I moved here 3 months ago. I’m so lucky, because this little community is akin to village life.  Our bungalow is lovely – set in a close, with a large central green.  Soon it will be warm enough for the locals to have their natters, sat on the green, under the cherry and almond blossom trees. We’ve even got our own post box and litter bin! Who could ask for more? Not me. As the saying goes, “I’m as happy as a pig in muck”, despite hubby’s failing health. At least he’s content and has settled down here. Life’s good, now I’ve finally got used to taking a day at a time.

Take care folks and thanks for dropping by.

Breaking News!

I've done it folks - finally got "broadbanded"! 4 years of dial up are now a distant nightmare.
Will be back soon with all me moans, groans and tales of woe. In the meantime keep laughing you lot.

Black/White - Photo Hunt #126

A flying visit again folks - am waiting to get broadband up and going - in the meantime am having to pay local phone charges, whilst online.
Here's my entry for Krissy's weekly photo hunt. This week's theme is black/white (or greyscale).
Take care.


Sylvia.

A Close-Up / Photohunt #124

Hello and welcome to my entry for this weeks' photo hunt, courtesy of  our dear friend Krissy: Close-ups of my miniature world, which took me over two years to build, decorate and furnish. Enjoy.

It's good to be back and will be even better, when I finally get around to ordering broadband. Was busy after house move and then became very ill, just in time for christmas! A tooth filling caused an infection in the marrow of my upper jaw bone. Long story. Haven't been too well since I had that filling done last August, but thought the cause was stress. Never realised it had anything to do with, what I thought, just a sensitive tooth. Sunday 23rd December intense tooth pain took over. Managed to struggle through Christmas Day at our sons place, then tried chasing an emergency dentist. (Couldn't track one down on Christmas Eve). On 27th, after loads of hassle and enough pain to flatten an elephant, I tracked down dentist in Aylesbury. She took xray and told me to see my own dentist. Well, he finally returned to work on 3rd January and xrayed the tooth again, he gave me the verdict; put me on massive doses of antibiotics and arranged tooth extraction. Roll on Christmas - I seem to have missed the last one!


Here's the next one..............

And another.........

Bet you're already getting bored..................

Not far to go now...........

Only one more,  then I'll sign off, promise (sighs of relief)............

Thanks for dropping by, take care, keep well.

Happy Christmas All!

From my new home............

See you soon....take care....and if you can't be good this Christmas - be careful!.............. Keep smiling.
Sylvia

Halloween/Orange - Photohunt #121

Hello and welcome to another Photo Hunt, currently run by our good friend Val. This weeks subject is "Orange or Halloween".
Orange was easy peasy: Snapped one of the wonderful autumnal sunsets, from the back bedroom window. Halloween was a bit hit and miss though - Holly was dressed like a witch from hell and had a tantrum to suit her outfit, so no pics of her. Finally got young Jasmine to stand still for a couple o' seconds and got one shot. Kids! I love 'em though - little monkeys they are.


It's a busy time here. Hubby has improved, but remains poorly. We are now top of the housing transfer list. The next 2 bed bungalow in Buckingham, that's going begging, will hopefully be ours. There's so much to do, am wondering why folks bother to move house? Must be like me, in their dotage or brain dead (I'm both by the way, just in case you haven't already worked that fact out).
Keep laughing, keep well. Many thanks for calling by.

A late autumn / Photohunt #120

Hello and welcome to this weeks' Photo Hunt - "Autumn": Courtesy of Val. 



Autumn in England is very late this year, with a noticeable lack of colour. Everything's still partly "in the green" and the early leaves that turned, were brown instead of gold or bronze.


We mustn't grumble about the lack of colour though, as the days are sunny and very warm for late October. The sunrises are beautiful: A true season of "mists and mellow fruitfulness". The mists are layered and rolling across the landscape. Sunsets have been breathtaking: All the colours of the rainbow light up the sky, as the sun sinks low on the horizon.
Take care folks, hope to catch up with the latest gossip from here soon.

Windy Windsor!

Wednesday I were let loose and took off to Windsor, wiv me mates from the local carers group. Oh we ‘ad some laughs. Being relieved of our “caring hats” for a few hour’s, was a treat in itself.

After coffee and the usual trip to the loos, we made for the information centre. Didn’t take us long ter plan the day. Caring is a weary an’ tiring role to play, all we wanted was a rest. Carol ‘ad the right idea, a tour round Eton an’ Windsor, on an open topped charabanc. It were more than a bit draughty, but that added ter the fun and laughter, as our ‘air stood on end in the “breeze”.

 

We ended up at “Browns” fer a bite o’ lunch an, a good natter,

an’ rounded off the day wiv a trip down the Thames to Runnymede.

Welcomed aboard the ferry, by the Captain and his merry crew; we were given the option o’ sitting upstairs - after we’d passed under the bridge and they could “raise the roof”!

Well, me mate and meself  left it ter the last minute boarding, we’d  bin sat on the embankment, getting a breath o’ fresh air: Only to find most o’ the seats downstairs ‘ad already bin “bagged”, by a large and vociferous lady - masquerading as gang leader and commander in chief, o’ 47 elderly folks. “Fat Controller” was claiming sole rights o’ passage for ‘er lot – an’ all the bum rests!

Looked like me and me mate, plus a few other stragglers, ‘ad standing room only; til the crew pushed the boat out and could raise the roof upstairs. As we were resigning ourselves to not getting a seat, one o’ the crew came along, an’ asked ter speak ter the person in charge of the “elderly folks”. What a revelation, a frail little old lady tottered ter ‘er feet and made ‘erself known as said person! “Big fat Controller” shut the mouth she ‘ad ter match, an’ plonked ‘er backside across a 3 seater bench, looking a bit peevish.

 I felt braver now: “There’s a seat going spare, which this nice person is going ter share wiv us”. Suddenly Fat Controller was our mate and moved over ter make room. We even got a smile out o’ her. As they say, there’s nought as queer as folk!

Just wanted ter share me day wiv yer all. Take care folks and beware o’ large women wiv big mouths. Keep laughing.

Slings & A Shot From Holly

The original entry contained images of children, which I cannot link to



Well, I thought it was about time I kicked me bum into gear.

Wednesday last week I went to the butchers. Seriously now, I underwent extensive surgery on main nerve in right arm, plus work on the carpel tunnel in hand and finally got a ganglion removed from under the tendon sheath on third finger. Am typing this left handed, with great difficulty. Next week I go back to hospital on Thursday, when hopefully all dressings, stitches and bandages will be removed. Can’t wait to get back to normal, driving me little car and regaining me independence. It’s not been an easy time, hubby remains very poorly and I’ve still been his carer 24/7. No help whatsoever with Ron’s care; but the nurse from the early onset team, who assessed him two weeks ago, is coming over, along with a new consultant, tomorrow morning. God I hope they don’t walk away from the situation, like everyone else has in the past.

Intermediate Care comes along every morning to help me wash and dress; but being the fiercely independent so-and-so that I am, I’ve usually done most of it meself. Find I can’t wash me back properly though, or wash me left arm with me left arm. The saga of me bra is for women’s reading only: Soon worked out how to put that on, without having to ask other folks to do it. If I lay it on the bed to hook it up, then gently pull the strap over my right arm, put head through, then left arm through other strap; I can pull the bra down over me boobs. Job done! There’s a dodgy moment when pulling bra down though – at a certain point in the procedure, bra becomes a temporary tourniquet!

A friend is doing the heavy housework and changing beds etc. Don’t know what I’d have done without her. Mealtimes are a nightmare. If you’ve never tried cooking with one hand, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Our two little princesses came to see us on Sunday. Jasmine’s a right little giggler, bless her. She got really excited when I produced a bottle of bubbles. Holly went down the garden and picked some orange blossom, which she arranged in Jasmine’s cup. I let her borrow me camera, to take a pic and showed her how to give it soft edges and add text. She was happy too. So was I, love my grandkids to bits.

Must say bye for now, need to put me sling back on. Take care my friends. Keep laughing.

Natural Magic

Natural Magic

Think of the beauty that nature empowers:

Carpets of bluebells under green leafy bowers,

Clumps of wild primrose from thickets they peep,

The wonder of snowdrops when nature's asleep.



Down by the river, as a swan glides along,

Hear the sweet music of a nightingales song;

Catch sight of a fallow deer, as it is stood,

On tracks made by badgers, deep in the wood.

Banks of sweet violets where rabbits abound;

A coppice of hazel where nuts can be found.

Meadows of cowslips and daisies in Spring;

Autumn the mushrooms in a fairy-like ring.





Hedges of elderflower, hawthorn and rose;

Later the blackberries, crab apples and sloes.

Spruce, pine and fir in their evergreen cloak;

Trees of horse chestnut, beech, lime and oak.



Homes for the slow worm beneath a big log;

Dewponds of lillies with pads for the frog.

Heartsease and heather are the butterflies seat,

There's a world full of magic - just under your feet.

(C) Copyright Sylvia Boiling 2006

April Showers

It was early morning, around 7am, when glancing out of the window, I witnessed a delightful sight: A family of Greenfinches, fluttering in the still bare boughs of my apple tree. It's raw, snow has fallen in the past few days, hail storms wreaked havoc and Jack Frost has been keeping a nightly vigil. Despite the weather, this happy, colourful, little band of Greenfinches were enjoying a family outing. The first fledglings of the year.



Often I had gone this way before:

But now it seemed I never could be

And never had been anywhere else;

'Twas home, one nationality

We had, I and the birds that sang,

One memory....

(from Home by Edward Thomas 1878-1917)



Back to the subject of hail storms, we drove into an horrendous one on Sunday. Only minutes before, we had been parked on the verge of a delightful and scenic country lane. Sunshine poured into the car, as we sat and ate our lunch of sandwiches and bananas, washed down with a cup of strong coffee; followed by a welcome cigarette and a read of the local rag. It had been so relaxing, but it was time to hit the road home. Looking into the interior mirror, as I pulled away, the sky behind us had turned to the colour of ink. Just a couple miles on, the inky skies caught up with us and the heavens opened. As huge hailstones smashed into the car, we heard what sounded like a gunshot......a large hailstone had cracked the car windscreen! I'm still waiting for Autoglass to come and fix it, they were coming today, but it's been raining cats and dogs and the car is on the driveway. It needs to be dry, when the new windscreen is put in, otherwise the glue doesn't set and the new screen would likely blow out!




The bluebells with the grasses mingle;

But soon their azure will be scrolled,

Upon the primrose cloth-of-gold.

Yes, those are early lady-smocks,

The children crumple in their frocks,

And carry many a zig-zag mile,

O'er meadow, footpath, gate and stile;

To stick in pots and jugs to dress

Their cottage sills and lattices.....

(from A Defence of English Spring by Robert Bridges (1844-1930)

Updates from the geriatric ward:

Hubby is much improved, his confusion less (probably 'cause I aint bin nagging 'im so much!) Me? I be ready for the knackers yard: Still have that dratted bursa on me elbow and since this mornin' I be 'aving a job standing and walking - I got pain in me groin and leg. Sore lumps under me arm are nothing to the pain in me neck though; given to me by folks who were going to wave wands and actually get me some 'elp and support wiv hubby. Looks like I be back to square one, as they 'ave done nothing, 'cept chops about it and push the whole issue back onto my shoulders. The National Health Service be a disgrace to the Nation. The local Mental Health Team seem to be giving 'emselves a permanent holiday - trouble at the mill, so I bin informed. No support at all for hubby now, so it seems.



Our daughter's turned up trumps though. She's coming over on a reg'lar basis to change bed linen and keep the upstairs cleaned. I'm so thankful to her, but feel guilty, 'aving to admit I can't cope with the physical work. If I was a dog they 'ud put me down and give everyone a break; as I aint, yer'll 'ave ter put up wiv me moans and groans occasionally. Promise not to lose me humour though - am takin that ter 'eaven wiv me, when the time comes. 'Ere's me epitaph, for those of you who haven't read it afore: "Here lies a poet, no blood in 'er veins; Please? - cover the grave, whenever it rains!"





Time to go and check the "minced beef special", that's simmering on the hob; put the kettle on for a cuppa and stop hubby's snoring! Take care folks, thanks for dropping in; there's always a welcome on the mat and time for a natter at my place.