HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

This is it! The beginning of another year, whoopee! of we go again!

I'm happily unemployed, free to create, free to use my days as I wish, and free to eat my meals at the time of day I want.

So, with my poet's head on I have spent the day revising some of my more silly poems ready for a public airing on the 7th February, when I shall be part of the entertainment at Beckenham Methodist Church. (More about that later) Suffice it to say that Aunt Martha is to come out of hiding.

And, what have I cooked today. Well, so far nothing. David made the porridge this morning, we had lunch at withering spoons in Bromley (extremely good value) and now it's 6.30 p.m so I think a snack is about to appear. I dare say I could rustle up a couple of pieces of toast.

Actually, watching the news has put me off my food. The emotional gatherings of people all over the world, solidarity against the outrage of the cold blooded murder by terrorists of writers and cartoonists in their offices in Paris. I feel so sorry for all those people of the Islamic faith, who are decent, respectable citizens. 

Oops! What? It's not burnt, it's just caught. It'll scrape off!

There was an old lady from Penge,

Who went on a trip to Stone Henge,

She put on her mac

And went there and back

In her brand new Mercedes Benz 

Love and hugs

Jane x

What Went Wrong - Back to Work

Well, it was a brief retirement! Of course, I'm still a pensioner, although my pension has been reduced to a very small sum, but back to the wall, in order to be able to pay the rent, both David and I have been forced to find employment. BUT, you know what? I've really enjoyed working at Debenhams in Bromley.

Today is 'feet up' day. I worked Christmas Eve, and Boxing Day, (yesterday) with Christmas Day off, and I'm back on Monday. So it's a relaxing weekend for me. My contract comes to an end on 4th January, so only one week left (or not), because, life in the lap of the Gods, there is a chance that I may get an extension and be able to stay on.

And David has been working at Marks and Spencer's. His contract ends today, so we should celebrate when he gets in at about 11 a.m. He has worked nights in the run up to Christmas, and though very tired, he has survived the experience, and proved there is work in the old dog yet.

So, I'm not going to expand on what has brought on our dire situation, but suffice to say that if we could sell our little Cretan house, life would be much easier. And until that time we shall have to keep taking the tablets, and make sure we are healthy enough to earn some dosh.

Naturally, this change in our lifestyle has played havoc with our mission to loop the London loop. But we managed to get half way around, and we shall continue our quest at some point, I have no doubt. And, Valentino, my cello, is feeling very neglected at the moment. The Beckenham Ladies Choir, which I sang with, has now disbanded, so that leaves my poetry circle activities, which I am trying to keep up by proxy.

I shall try to get into a regular rhythm with this blog in the New Year. So until then, I hope you, dear reader, have had a happy Christmas, and I wish you the very best for 2015.

It's the first time I have felt as old as my great grandmother Selina Royston, in this picture. Better get the wrinkle cream on!

Love Jane x

The London Loop

Help, I'm turning into a LOOPY!

Give me a mission, and I can't put it down. Tomorrow David and I will embark on stage 6 (and maybe even stage 7) of the London Loop. In posh terms that is the London Outer Orbital Path. Sounds good doesn't it?

Well, it's great fun. We head out, once or even twice a week, with our packed lunch, and our pack-a-macs, usually on the bus, but sometimes on the train, or even the tram from Beckenham. David is armed with the official map, taken from the Loop web site, and the directions (which are not always correct). And I have my sturdy stick (to ward off man or beast should that ever be necessary). Here are a few pics to give you an idea of how lovely the green belt surrounding London really is.

 We set off from Erith and followed the Thames estuary ending our first 9/10 miles at Bexley, and a welcome pint.

 From Bexley (stage 2) we headed for Petts Wood, and quickly located Wetherspoons, where we downed a well earned beer. About 7 miles.

 Stage 3 began at Jubilee Park, Petts Wood, and followed the river Cray, a beautiful spot, to West Wickham. 9 miles (a good 9 miles because we walked on to Hays).

Stage 3, in search of a pub at Coney Hall, and great disappointment, we even continued walking to Hays for our 'pat on the back' pint. But no luck there either, and we ended up so tired that all we really wanted was to get home, boots off, shower and sleep.

 Stage 4 was West Wickham to Hamsey Green, with fabulous views of London in the distance.
Another 9 miles.

And guess what? The pub we expected to find at Hamsey Green has been pulled down. Not good! Not good at all! We ended up in the Bricklayers on Beckenham High Street.

From Hampsey Green we completed stage 5, which took us to Coulsden across the downs. This was, for me, the most beautiful walk so far because it crossed open countryside, lovely flower filled meadows, and a very pleasant woodland area.

So, that brings us to tomorrow and stage 6. Coulsden to Bamstead Downs, a mere 4.5 miles. Bring it on!


And in between all that walking about the English countryside I have done hours of cello practice, and even spent a very rainy afternoon at a family barbecue.

Oh, and I wrote and entered a poem in the Proms Poetry Competion, and wrote a poem for another competition. If there was any bad news during the last few weeks, it was the first rejection of my novel from the publisher I sent it to. It's not the end of the world, I'll just have to try again with another publisher.

And now to get an early night so that I'm bright and breezy in the morning.

Watch this space to see how we get on with the LOOP. If you fancy doing it yourself take a look at the web site for all the details. CLICK HERE if you want to become a little LOOPY!