Saturday, 25 April 2015

Is there too much information on the net.......Are you in meltdown?

Have you ever had 'overload' on information from the net? does your mind go into meltdown with all the social media that is available and do we actually have a better life from it?


I have a Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn and my personal Blog presence as well as email and sometimes I just want to wipe it all out.  But if I do that will I be missing something important?

The more you subscribe too the more stress you add to an all ready over stretched life.... but how to say NO!!!

I have just spent part of my life I won't be able to get back checking my Etsy adding a tweet answering a few messages from LinkedIn and now writing this Blog but then wondering if anyone will actually ready my Blog..... and who are the people who messaged me on LinkedIn regarding non jobs that just might interest me....Why did some one from America favourite me on Etsy was it a ploy to get me to go on over to her shop and maybe buy something because she sure as hell has not bought anything from me.

Oh for the days when life was simple.  When you had maybe half a dozen real friends (not 350 virtual friends) If you wanted to speak to your 'real' friend you either called round or telephoned to chat (on a land line which did not go off if you went under a tunnel or out of range).  If you wanted a new pair of shoes you mossed into town and had an enjoyable afternoon shoe shopping and if you wanted to change jobs you bought the local newspaper browsed the vacancies rang up to make an appointment for an interview and if you were lucky you got the job and if not you received a lovely letter in the post saying that unfortunately you were unsuccessful but wishing you luck for the future. No such thing as LinkedIn recommendations.

I maybe sounding like a 'Grumpy Old Women' but I am ......and proud of it.  I am finished with all this nonsense, I am going back to basics - so if you are a true friend you will call me and if not - I will never know.

Information is great and the Internet is good at gathering information good and bad and letting you make a choice.  I applaud this but my gripe is with all the other stuff that can make people feel anxious if they are not engaging.  Want to know if you are about to go into meltdown? Turn off your phone, internet connection for a full weekend and see how it makes you feel..... you may be surprised.

So until I decide to come back..... Enjoy your life and for the love of one another cherish your real friends.


 
Something to put a smile on your face.....
 

Beverley xx



Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Womans Institute100 years on.......

The WI will be 100 years old this year and part of the celebration is a garden party at Buck House, unfortunately I will not be attending but I have had a go at the Lady Denman Cup Competition were you have to imagine what your WI would be like in 2115.

My contribution is as follows:-



Presidents 2115

Address and Adoption of the Annual Report

 

Once again we have had a very successful and eventful twelve months due to the hard work of our members, visiting speakers and of course the trusty committee.

There was an overwhelming attendance to our video link with our sister groups during the run up to ‘Grow your own food’ month, and as we all know this is an important matter with the onset of the destruction of our rural pastures.

Guy from the Royal organic gardening organisation graced this outstanding meeting and Tess had a job finding mugs for the endless cups of decaf….

A special thank you to T.J. for arranging the trip to see the Northern Lights and helping us understand that if pollution carries on the way it is this sight will be a thing of the past and something our grandchildren will only see in text books.

We have had an outstanding growth of new members joining our daytime outings due to the relaxation of working hours and a flexible working week which has been a bit of a headache when trying to find new venues that can accommodate such a large number, but in true W.I spirit we have overcome this obstacle.

The arrival of the superfast train into our town had been a blessing in getting to visit groups in the south of England and we have enjoyed hospitality from as far afield as Newquay in Cornwall and Maidstone in Kent.

Our on line scrabble competition with various W.I. across the North West has grown and I am happy to report that our under 35s won the Princess Kate trophy for the third time this year so congratulation ladies well deserved.

The great, great, granddaughter of one of our past members Beverley Holland who was a prolific home sewer in her days brought some of her vintage dresses and accessories that have survived the years for a talk on ‘Buy it, Love it, Pass it on’ and this evoked many memories in our more mature ladies.

It is now with sadness that I have to report the loss of some of our members.  Missy who has been a member of the Heaton WI for some 50 years passed away peacefully in her sleep and her ashes at her request were interned at the new Happy Valley Nature Park. The members who attended this service reported that it was a happy and joy filled event.

Bethany and Joy have gone to live with family and Chrissy also passed on to a better place but this was a family only service.


Committee and members I propose the adoption of the Annual Report.


For:  Unanimous

         Against
 
 
I am not sure if I have nailed it but I have to admit I had fun writing it.
 
Until next time enjoy whatever you are doing.
 
Beverley xx

Friday, 10 April 2015

Dolls House - 33 years late....

My daughter who is 34 years old this year always wanted a dolls house when she was a little girl, the wooden kind, but we bought her the plastic Sindy dolls house as this was in vogue at the time and wooden houses were in short supply.  I have always felt a little bad about not getting her the dolls house of her dream - that is until now......

I came across an old wooden dolls house on the internet, it needed a little T.L.C. but I took one look at it and thought 'that's the one' and was thrilled when I won the auction and went to pick up the house.  It was better than I imagined and the history behind it was an added bonus as it had been built for a child sometime in the 50s and been passed down from generation to generation until it came into my possession.




The first thing was to tidy up the paint work which was not too hard a job.





I decided that the wallpaper could stay the same as I was sure my daughter would want to 'play' around with that herself when she had decided what the 'décor' would be.

I did however put in new carpets as the old ones were a bit - wiffy......





Curtains were then added - some of the original ones were in good order but I did make new 'Lounge' curtains.





I am really happy that at last I have fulfilled a young woman's dream even if it is 33 years late and I do hope that over the coming years this house will be passed on down the line and bring fun and happiness into more lives.


On another note I am going great guns with the sewing and have now branched out with Craft/Garden/Baking aprons which are available via my Facebook page for a mere £9.99 including postage - they are pretty stylish and useful what more could a girl want when crafting, gardening or baking.....



 
Blessings.....


Birdsong.....
 
 
Until next time have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing.




Beverley
www.bagsandmore.etsy.com

Saturday, 28 March 2015

Live in the Now....

I have just finished reading E2 by Pam Grout a most enlightening book on how your thoughts can create your reality.  I find it very hard to live in the 'Now' and find myself always looking to the future, the next thing on my to-do-list and never seem to just 'Be' as the saying goes. So this book on how I should try to enjoy each day without thinking of what I could be doing three days down the line is something I should think about.

I also came across a very apt saying only this morning Wie bald 'nicht jetzt'  ' nie' wird.  For those of you who do not speak German the translation is

                                     How soon 'not now' becomes never     

                                                                               Luther

This is a big problem in this busy world we live in.  How many times do you find yourself saying 'not now' meaning to do it later and how many times does that turn into never.  I have been saying for years that when I retire I will join a camera club as I don't have time now or I will visit all the RHS gardens when I have time but not now and if I am not careful that could turn into never.

So perhaps today is the day to start doing and not saying

                  You will not break loose until you realize that you 
               yourself forge the chains that bind you

                                                                                                Gary Renard


But it is easier said than done trying to change nearly 50 years of programming but if 'not now then never........'






Enjoy your week



Beverley


PS.... you can now find me and my bags on www.b-spoke-designs.co.uk

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

The Meaning of Dreams

Dreams.... what do they mean? I have always been a bit sceptical where dreams and their meanings are concerned.  One mans nightmare might be another mans ideal dream.  One person dreaming of losing his car may mean quite the opposite to another person.
But for the past few weeks I have been dreaming relentlessly and not good dreams always leaving me anxious on waking so my blogging friends how do you feel about dreams and their meaning and would you be willing to share your thoughts.


My last dream was of me being on holiday (for some reason all my dreams take place in a holiday resort of some description) and trying to find my way into the dining room without much success and then a person (I know it was male) told me that I had not booked in for all inclusive so would have to find my own meals but I had no money so what was I to do.... in my dream I was trying to sneak into the dining room....

What is all that about? any insights and another one that is reoccurring is my losing my car and spending the whole night trying to find it.....  Again what is all that about.

I pride myself on being quite laid back about life stuff but these reoccurring dreams are really freaking me out.  Is the universe trying to tell me something or am I just going through a stage of random dreaming.

I would love to hear your thoughts and if you are not able to leave comments on this blog you can find me on www.facebook.com/beverley.e.holland and I would dearly love to hear how you cope with this type of dreaming.

Until next time

Take care, sleep well and only restful dreams.

Beverley

Monday, 16 March 2015

Mother's Day outing.....

Is it three years since I took flowers and a card to my mum? it seems only yesterday.  Mother's day can be a happy or sad occasion as my neighbour will testify. 

Yesterday I was outside waiting for my daughter to pick me up to take me to Blackpool for a walk along the beach and fish and chips for tea Mother's day treat when I saw my neighbour who's mother died only a week ago.  I asked how she was doing.... 'not bad but I will feel better when today is over'.  I know that feeling well and remember the first Mother's day without mum, the joy at being a mum and the sadness at loosing my mum.  I suppose that's life, Joy and Sadness being opposite sides of the coin.

Now on to Blackpool..... has anyone been to Blackpool lately? I know they are trying to put Blackpool back on the map but honestly..... its Blackpool for goodness sake! Did you know they have a 'Wedding Chapel' on the front by the North Pier across from Harry Ramsey's. what is all that about?  It's not Los Vegas its Blackpool.....



I loved Blackpool as a child and we had many a happy holiday there but it is so .... I am lost for words at what I want to say without being rude to the resort.  Tacky is a much used word and not one I really like to use but I just cannot think of anything else in this case.  Old and new buildings clash side by side - empty property is in much evidence and the smell of burgers is everywhere.




One thing that I did notice is the beach is much cleaner than it was and we did have a lovely walk along the beach with the dog (yes we did pick up after him) and the tower is still a magnificent structure its just all this modern art and buildings that seem to clash.




Oh well maybe in the summer with the sun shining and the hoards of hen and stag parties roaming the prom things will look as they once where.....

Anyone for candyfloss?


Beverley xx 
www.bagsandmuchmore.etsy.com

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Spring has sprung here in the North West

It always amazes me how one minute the garden looks bare and the next it is ablaze with colour.  Yesterday I noticed the first daffodil head had popped open bright and buttery yellow among the lovely coloured crocuses and I felt a lifting of the heart and spirit.

I am not a winter person and sometimes summer can get a little too much, but I am a spring lady at heart.  I just love the colours of spring the days starting to get longer the anticipation of removing the 'vest' now come on ladies we all know everyone wears a 'vest' it is the last vestige from the days of your mum telling you to 'put your vest on or you will catch your death'..... and feeling the warming rays of the sun on your skin.

Friday nights are now back to what I call normality with Monty Don and Nigel yes Gardeners World is also on our screens another pointer that Spring has sprung and with Spring Watch to look forward to my world is complete....


 
 
 
And is it just me or does everyone notice that behaviour is better when the sun is shining, neighbours say good morning when you meet in the avenue, drivers seem to be less aggressive and even the postman will give a cheery wave or pleasant word once the dark and dismal weather is behind us.
 




I know that we can have some terrible weather right up until the end of May but for today I will revel in the sunshine and warmth of a perfect Spring day.

Happy March Sunday....


Beverley xx