Stonehenge Is Epic For a Visit

Firstly it’s worth signing up for English Heritage membership as I’ll assure you will get your money back and so much more.We got English Heritage membership in particular as our son is a York University studying archaeology and there is a good concentration of properties around Yorkshire which we just love.

I’d seen Stonehenge occasionally from the road side but never close up , parking is free and simple at Stonehenge and booking is advised before attempting to visit.You can walk to the stones seeing various Barrows that litter the countryside surrounding the henge and whatever the day Stonehenge and the surrounding is stunning.

The Stonehenge you see today is 4,000 years old Salisbury is the closet Cathedral city to the stones and while I didn't visit Salisbury I will be back to do so as the area is just stunning.Stonehenge is older than the Pantheon which I have visited too when I was in Rome and it is older than the great Wall of China ( which I haven't made it to as of yet )

The route around the stones is well thought out and it is not over touristy despite being a top tourist attraction and no worries about there being a souvenir shop or ice cream shop at the stones ) as that is reserved for the the start of the art visit centre and cafe )














And there was a news report that Stonehenge was overpriced and yes it is expensive if you just rock up to the property but this is why me and my husband have a  English heritage card the same can be said for many a National Trust property also where again we have an National Trust card.The expense I think comes when visiting houses and properties that are in private house and then the cost can mount up so I say do your research and get a English Heritage card and National Trust card and where properties and monuments aren't part of these see if you can source vouchers.

The Wonder That Is Spring

Though my son didn't pass his driving test , he has got further than I ever had in learning to drive and I am so pleased that he has the confidence in his driving . While he won't have a car to go to university with as there is little  point as York has such great transport links . Learning to drive is such a great skill in life ! , it won't be long before my son is more qualified than me ! but not yet !!. It was I that found the driving school he's currently with however if if had been the first driving and there had been room he would have been learning in a pink mini with "Tammy" written down the side . I don't think that would have bothered him even though he raised an eyebrow when I told him. I managed to find another driving school where it was a lady instructor this time with a white mini.

And the path you take isn't always the easiest for instance I popped to the shops today and I decided to take the route that wasn't the easiest.

 

The weather is so gloriously today , I love Spring it's wonderful to see the emergence of the wild flowers such as the wild primroses.

 

To catch the woods reflection in the pond 

 

 

Spring is the prettiest pirate of all as it reveals its golden haul 

Close your eyes for a second then its Winter before you know 

Keep your eyes open to see it all 

The easiest route to what you need can be the muddiest of all 

The wonder that flies by as the butterflies glide by 

What a glorious day to see it all 

 

 

The ice cream you see that I'm afraid was just for me ....

 

I do love Spring as it highlights the fairies that are resting on my furniture I don't like to disturb them . I will at some point have a flick of the duster and spray and evict those fairy sleepers. I feel I'm almost getting back to me it's been 3 weeks since I lost my cat and Rollie was a very good indicator of the weather. If Rollie was outside then you knew it was the best weather ever in the whole wide world.

Keep On Talking And Talking When It Comes To Mental Health

Life isn’t always fair life isn’t sways just right but we soldier on no matter what , I can’t stress enough how important it is to talk to people about how you feel and how your situation is. And for me hope starts with a cup of tea and calorie free cake you see the air holes let the calories escalate ~ brilliant science I’ll think you’ll agree !

And hard as it is you have to help yourself by talking I’m not saying people always what to listen but there are people who do. I just chatted my problems away as I ordered my cup of tea the other day , I’m one of life’s quiet un intrusive people but I do have a place in life there is no denying that! I’ve even chatted my problems to the lady at the post office counter.

Tea 

And I love my tea I assure you that I’ve drunk quite a few cups of tea over the last few months and I’ve kept talking.Talking doesn’t always make you feel right it comfortable but I think it’s a necessary action . Even if you blurt out one sentence or talk 10 to the dozen eventually you’ll say more and slow down in your talking.

How I view My Photography

I love my photography I really do wether I am using my IPhone ( which still works despite being caught in the rain ; note to self order a waterproof cover for it !) or if I’m using my my small camera or my large DSLR I just love my photography I am told I have a good eye for it.With my photography how I go about it is I capture what ever I see in my eye but it has to grab me and really excite me as I get a really thrill from photography.Photography for me is a chance to relax and unwind from all the trials and tribulations that life might through at me , photography grounds me yet photography takes me elevates me to a throughly mindful place.

My photographs 

I would love to upgrade my camera I think most people would like to upgrade their photography kit at some time and I know that I would ! My son loves the Panasonic lumix TZ20 which he uses for his Archaeology degree but as his career progresses he will want to upgrade to especially when he’s flying all round the world on archaeology digs.My husband approaches his photography in a different manner as photography really is in the eye of the beholder the way he approaches photography is in the here and now , he’ll photograph something that necessarily doesn’t grab me.My husband I know would love a 4K Wildlife & Sports Camera he’s heavily into his sports photography taking pictures of rugby games our son plays in and also taking pictures of other games for the rugby club.

My Husbands photographs 

So photography you see is very personal to myself and my husband as it how you view it but I will always love capturing my moments in time.

This is a collaborative post.

Finding My Way From No Mans Land

I wrote this on the inset of my anxiety in dealing with my Mother s mental health issues ( Bipolar)and it’s hard. I’m on the learning curve of being the one fighting for mental health care and it’s hard not only in me but for those around me.Time is essential for me to process all that going on and it’s been hard to deal with given my own mental health issues of the past.Words are my friends and my ally and so is social media I’m not splashing it about but doing it in a manner that’s comfortable to me.Let me make it clear it’s not an issue that’s going to go away but with help advice and getting to grips with my own emotions I’ll muddle through and sometimes I’ll stride through. I can’t emphasise the need to talk and scream about your situation to get what’s right for you and those you are in need.Carers need caring about as well in what ever capacity you’re doing it.

“I’ve had a stressful morning which in itself is an under statement , I have been very very upset to the point where I could quite frankly just go walk about but I didn’t. See what you don’t see is that words can have an affect on people and though I’m strong I do and will get emotional. This morning I was all for saying stuff Mothers Day I was I really was , I try and try my hardest and I don’t like to feel that I’m not enough when I am.

What do you do if you’re in the no mans land or being the child of parents who don’t parent through either having their own issues or want you to jump through self justifying hoops.

What do you do ?

I feel like an emotional wreck.

It’s not about the hugs , it’s not about the daffodils , it’s not about the cards it’s not about the cake.

It’s about the humanity.

People simply need to be humane.

I don’t know what the answer is.

I’m doing the best I can.

I’m not 5 any more and being grown up is hard.

Humanity is what should be in no mans land.”

It was when I wrote this when I knew I needed to seek support for myself , I do like to be helpful and to empower myself and others.

Don’t let your mental health issues or those you care about define you and others , we are all people are the end of the day.