St George's Day

 

Happy St George's Day

St George, the patron saint of England is known as a heroic knight in shining armour slaying a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon. Click here if you would like to know more.

∼ Be safe and well ∼ 

Polly x

Earth Day

 Happy Earth Day 

🌏 Be safe and well 🌍

Polly x 

A Nice Day Out

Our U3A bus pass group outing last week was a tad convoluted. We went to Epping but there isn't a direct bus from Chelmsford so we went via Ongar. And then to get home the Ongar bus is only every 2 hours so if we had gone back to Ongar and got the timing wrong there would have been a 2 hour wait, so we went to Harlow and caught the bus from there! Ongar is a nice place but we didn't stop, just caught the connecting bus to Epping.

where we strolled around, had coffee and cake and did a bit of retail therapy.

Many people describe Harlow in a derogatory manner. I don't know it well, only having travelled through it, and visiting the hospital when my grandson was born. It does have a very nice smart  shopping mall

with a lovely water garden. I think there is a notice asking people not to feed the fish but I think they do because these came up to us very quickly.

We visited an excellent art gallery.

The Gibberd Gallery is a lovely, restful and peaceful gallery away from the 'hubbub' but close to cafes and eating places. 

Piglet has a history. On the 8th January 1985 he was stolen from his plinth in the children's library at Basildon. The following day he was discoverd on a grass area at the rear of the building, missing an ear. After repair he was given to the gallery.

There are lots of exhibits and they hold regular exhibitions of all kinds of arts and crafts.

Everyone had a lovely day out and we caught a direct bus back home.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

An OK Read

Oh William by Elizabeth Strout

Lucy Barton is a writer and widowed. Her ex-husband, William, whose third wife has left him, remains a hard man to read. “William”, she confesses, “has always been a mystery to me”. Another mystery is why they have remained good friends after all these years, despite their divorce and subsequent remarryings, they just are. They know they can rely on each other, and at the same time can be brutally honest with each other. So Lucy is both surprised and not surprised when William asks her to join him on a trip to investigate a recently uncovered family secret. At the age of seventy-one William has discovered that he has a half-sister. As he struggles with changes in his life and what this revelation might uncover about his mother’s past he wants Lucy there by his side.

The journey gives each of them opportunities to look back on their lives and ask the question: Why are we drawn to the people we marry, is it ever really possible to truly know anyone? William’s mother, Catherine had been a very large presence in their marriage and had clearly kept secrets. Lucy had kept much of her early life hidden away and her family’s rejection of her marriage to William left a lasting scar. William had kept plenty of secrets during their marriage, including multiple affairs. Above all they learned the sad realisation that often we understand ourselves too late in life, and perhaps never comprehend those close to us.

I know there are many fans of the Lucy Barton stories, perhaps I should have read those first because I found this book club choice a little tedious.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

U3A Easter Meeting

The meeting was very well attended and very well organised.

There were quizzes on each table and guessing items around the room.

Look at this package of deliciouness,

unfortunately I didn't guess the correct weight

nor did I guess the name of the bunny or the correct amount of eggs in the jar.

I didn't win the raffle, and my table didn't win the quiz.

All that chocolate and I didn't get my hands on any of it!! :-( 

I forgot all about making an Easter bonnet.

The winner was the one with the blue flowers on the brim.

Despite not winning any chocolate it was a lovely afternoon and the sandwiches, as usual, were utterly delicious, all from M&S. We also had yummy cakes, orange drinks and cups of tea.

Visiting the toilet before leaving I found this, another toilet twinning, I think lots of churches support the scheme. This one is to be found at Bagnontenga Village, Burkino Faso, latrine no. 94019. Supporting toilet twinning helps to flush away poverty.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Muddy Walk

The U3a walks have started again. Last Friday we did a 5 mile walk. I wasn't confident that I would manage it without having foot problems - I have Morton's neuroma in my right foot. A few months ago I bought a pair of knee high wellington boots, they are excellent, extremely comfortable and totally waterproof, but I have never walked more than about 3½ miles in them. I needn't have worried, my feet were fine.

Despite a gloomy forecast the weather was glorious, not a drop of rain, and mostly sunshine. However parts of the walk were muddy, very muddy.

After meeting in the pub car park our walk started around the corner from the pub the other side of those brambles. Most of my fellow walkers were surprised that I was wearing wellies instead of walking boots but only a few minutes into the walk the terrain was a quagmire, ankle high mud, there was very little solid ground and many people got slightly wet feet. I couldn't help feeling a little smug!!

 The walk should have taken us alongside a scenic abandoned railway line but our leader said it was cordoned off  because it was almost impassable.

I forgot to charge my phone the night before! so I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked. Our leader took this one and posted it for us to use.

Despite the mud we all enjoyed the walk, and our meal at the pub afterwards 😋 My feet were warm and dry throughout.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Spring

I forgot to do an Easter post! 

The lovely lady at the hospital did a beautiful display.

It's her way of helping to cheer people up. She told me that a few members of staff sit with her for a while and talk about their problems with the NHS.

oOo

Spring is springing and the weather is improving.

Our walk this morning was delightful, bright blue sky, warm sunshine and darling birds singing.

It's the time of cherry blossom and magnolia, such beauty.

The arrival of spring, more daylight hours, slightly warmer weather, birdsong, and getting out into the garden. I'm feeling better about being back from holiday.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell
Alice Raikes takes a train from London to Scotland to visit her family, but when she gets there she witnesses something so shocking that she insists on returning to London immediately. A few hours later Alice is lying in a coma after an accident that may or may not have been a suicide attempt. Alice's family gathers at her bedside and as they wait, argue, and remember, long-buried tensions emerge. The more they talk, the more they seem to conceal. Alice, meanwhile, slides between varying levels of consciousness, recalling her past and a love affair that recently ended.

Although some of it is a bit grim it is also a compelling read that moves through different time zones and multiple points of view.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Holiday Roundup

Oh dear, I'm back home, missing my daughter and the glorious weather. When we landed at Heathrow at 5.15 pm the temp was 6deg, later I was warming my pj's on the radiator!! I 

oOo

Back in Oz we were hoping to visit the Gold Coast but the weather had been bad with high winds resulting in many of the beaches being closed. 

After a delicious breakfast at Espresso Garage we went here

how good is this, a beach in the middle of the city

enjoyed by all!

It's a lovely walk in the Southbank area

Ibis are found all over the place, they are considered a nuisance and have the nick name of 'bin chucks' because they are always scavenging in rubbish bins.

We've had a great time together and created lots of happy memories.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Out And About

We all love a market so a visit to Redcliffe market was a must.

Unfortunately it was a miserable day, with lots of rain.

I nearly bought this cushion cover!

oOo

I like going into the city, travelling on the ferry. Last time I was here the ferries weren't operating due to severe flooding so I used buses, this time I used the ferries, which I prefer. With help from my daughter and google maps I correctly navigated my way from the ferry terminal to the Queens Street Mall. I wandered around for a bit.

Kitten D'Amour is an Australian fashion brand selling beautiful vintage clothes

            look at these lovely pantaloons!

After a bit of retail therapy it was time for coffee and cake. Afterwards I bought a gift for my friend M, then visited Anzac Square

which is always a lovely place to visit.

You wouldn't know it's in the heart of the bustling CBD.

It's quiet and peaceful.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x