A Sunday Amble

This is Elvaston Castle and its gardens , the castle itself is Gothic revival and is a fabulous backdrop to a relaxed afternoon . Yet this magnificent building is on the buildings at risk register , it would be a fabulous wedding venue , there's a cafe there and a gift shop here . There's so much that needs doing it is in the hands of the local authority who don't really have the money for its up keep , the car park is pay and display and you can't go round the house . But oh the solid state beauty of the place that is crying out to be saved ...

Ever Feel As If You're In An Ealing Comedy

It started when I was at sainburys in the cafe just getting something simple to eat , I mean life can't be complicated with 2 soups and 1 jacket potato can it now ? it's less confusing say than the E U referendum . Well obviously the answer is yes a simple visit to a supermarket cafe that saw us ordering 

2 soups

1 jacket potato with Tuna Mayonaise 

3 chocolate orange iced frappes.

Now I don't have that much fish as I have an intolerance to the stuff > sobs quietly in a corner but I manage it with antihistamines.

Any how when the order arrived there were 2 soups but no jacket they'd forgotten it and to be fair we hadn't noticed when we were paying .

" it's the universes way of telling you it knows you're on a diet "

Then my son found a piece of cardboard in his soup do that had to be changed and we were refunded no quibbles .

Oh how we laughed as I shuffled off to get a meal deal to eat at home.

I thought the day couldn't get any worse (you cling onto that small morsel of hope that whispers in the wind past your ear or in my case a slightly hysterical laugh.) My husband certainly received an email he'd received a parking ticket whilst picking our son up ( he'd pulled into the Carpark and waited longer than he thought ( it used to be one of those car parks without cameras and you could drop people or pick them up. So rightly so as they'd installed cameras he was fined £60 for this oversight on his part ... my only error that day was to leave the lid off the tea canister .

Then I thought tea solves everything then crash bang wallooooop

And the very same mistake moment the cat brought a dead mouse in arrrghhhhhhh.

No it wasn't a Dick Van Dyke interlude my old kettle decided to blow up on me ( it was only  2 months old ) so straight to Currys to swap it for another one and Currys were fabulous they even priced matched it as we found the kettle pictured below £10 cheaper at Argos.

So new kettle In hand I was ready to take on the world > then I got a virus which I have just about got over .....

Ever feel as if you're in an Ealing comedy ?

Win Tickets To Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally And Festival

The committee of the Barton Under Needwood Steam Rally and Family Festival were proud to present The Midlands Air Ambulance with a cheque for £5,000, the proceeds of the 2015 event held at Needwood Rise Farm near Barton Under Needwood. We'd like to thank everyone who attended last year's event for their support and hope they will join us in 2016 when we will, once again, be raising money for The Midlands Air Ambulance.
This year's event will take place on 16th and 17th July at Needwood Rise Farm DE13 8AP, near Barton Under Needwood just a few minutes off the A38. All profits will, again, be donated to The Midlands Air Ambulance. All the organisers are volunteers who spend their valuable time putting the event on. Please see our website for details.
http://www.bartonsteam.co.uk/
Two years ago, to help families, we decided to introduce free tickets to the event for accompanied children. This has proved such an overwhelming success we are very happy to announce that children will, again, be able to come along with adults and be admitted completely free of charge. In line with this we have increased the number of attractions for families as well as retaining all the aspects of our steam and transport heritage which the enthusiasts love. More good news is that we have managed to hold last year's adult admission price to a very reasonable £6 with free parking. Fees are payable for certain other attractions. Those who enjoy camping or caravanning can stay with us the whole weekend at a cost of £25 for up to two adults and their children under 16. Should you wish to camp for just one night the fee is £15. Camping charges include pitch fees and admission to the rally and can be booked online.

This year we have some brand new attractions and some of your favourites from past events. The Air Ambulance will be bringing its "pod" on both days so that you can view it and hear about their vital fundraising. On Saturday only you can meet a meerkat , Oreo, and his friends. Due to their popularity the fabulous live falconry display will take place in the main arena on both days. The rope agility course, suitable for all, will be attending for the third year. For the children we have the ever popular miniature steam engine rides and model railway rides. We are pleased to welcome back the Nuneaton Dog Training Club with their displays of dog agility over a specially designed course, bring your dog along for them to have a go. Also returning is the amazing demonstration of chain-saw sculpture. Marvel at our magician, watch the brilliant balloon modelling and laugh at the clown. New this year is a gun dog display which will be taking place in the arena on both days. You can relax with a drink in our fully licensed marquee while enjoying our live bands. Pop into the craft marquee where you will find stalls, exhibitions and working craftspeople. Visit the trade stands for an opportunity to seek out some bargains, collectables and antique tools. Children will love the kiddies fairground area with rides and the opportunity to visit the ice cream van or old fashioned sweet stall. Hot and cold foods are available all day with extra catering stands attending this year.

Once again we welcome a variety of large steam engines and miniature steam, some old favourites and some of which will be visiting the rally for the first time. You may even have the opportunity to try your hand at steering one of these magnificent machines. We have an excellent variety of vintage tractors, classic cars, motorcycles and bicycles of yesteryear. You will also be able to see a fine collection of historic commercial vehicles and stationary engines many of which well be working to illustrate how they were used in days gone by.

A full programme of arena events will take place both days including parades of all of the classes of vintage vehicles mentioned with tractor balancing and adult steering. Gates open at 10 am each day. The event finishes at  5pm. Our arena events start at 11am each day. Programme of arena events will be weather dependant. Exhibits in attendance are correct at time of printing.

There is the opportunity to win of of two pairs of tickets for the steam rally which I will send out when the 2 winners are picked.

Barton Under Need Wood Steam Rally Competition

Happy #NationalBikeWeek

Riding a bike is great for your mind body and soul , the environment and your community !!

I really really love my bicycle with the basket I amble to and from school on it ding dinging my bell when ever possible , it really doesn't matter the over familiarity with my route it matters I'm using my bicycle . Yes it is a rather expensive bicycle and yes you could have a small weekend away in Paris with what I paid for it but I care not. On occasion I do take my bicycle called Myfawney further afield and I've even been out in the rain in it < oh get me.

Upon my cycling journies I'll see 

Mr T has a shiny new mountain bike and all the gear you can shake a stick at , inevitably I've been gifted the old mountain bike which I will take for a Spin.

Spare mountain bike update it needs adjusting as one I walked into the pedals and two the seat is too high.

So I took my beautiful Pashley out instead !

I Was A Stranger And you Took Me In

Appreciating things even the little things in life is what matters and that is very much grounding me at the moment , at times I still feel like part of my jigsaw fit is missing . It is nearly 2 years since I had my breakdown and I think I will and won't be ok ( possibly ambilvance) I will and always be an introvert and I like being an introvert as it gives me breathing space in making sense of my feelings.

I am a wonderful person and I have empathy for others , what I dislike is people not having empathy for others I wish more people had had it for me at the time of my breakdown 2 years ago. And I don't have any contact with y Father for various reasons and that can bother me at times but I know I am better off without that hassle in my life.

So the little things it can be from spotting the tractor as I cycle home on my beloved bicycle with a basket, to my son tidying his room ( as he was bored ) to me actually doing something that needs doing round the house as I do tend to struggle with certain tasks in hand.

And I'm reminded in this life I arrived as a stranger and was welcomed in various ways.

" I was a stranger and you took me in "

That's a beautiful phrase in a stained glass window I came across last week in Sudbury Hall church . The window pays homage to the evacuees of the Second World War .

So you can be a stranger to life but someone , somehow will take you in some capacity.