Birthday

Sunday Musings After My Birthday

~ beetleypete ~ 58 Comments

I found another gadget on the new car this week, Automatic Lights. Just turn the main light switch to Auto, and the lights come on when the sensor decides it is dark enough. For now, we have left it on that setting, but it’s good to know it can be overridden if you want to decide when to switch them on.

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As predicted, my birthday was quieter than usual. I received some nice cards, and Julie bought me some new Australian Sheepskin slippers, plus a nice bottle of red wine. I also got a bottle of wine from one of my step-daughters, and a delivery of chocolate truffles from one of my cousins. The children of my blogging friend Eddy Winko sent me some more chocolates and lovely hand-made cards, all the way from Poland.
In the evening, Julie took me to the Turkish Restaurant in Dereham, and we enjoyed a delicious meal.

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The weather in Beetley warmed up significantly, but that meant we lost the sunshine and blue skies, which were replaced by rain. Just as well I didn’t want to go out for the day on my birthday, as it was quite miserable. A contrast to last year at this time, when I was wearing shorts.

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Ollie is still doing well, and has not flagged at all on his walks this week. His appetite is good, and he has been playing with his toys. All very positive, for his age.

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Whatever you are doing today, do it with a smile.

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World News: 16/03/2023

~ beetleypete ~ 98 Comments

The only news I am interested in today is that it is my birthday. I doubt that will feature on any BBC broadcasts though.

My cards have been opened, along with some gifts sent in the post. When Julie gets home from work this afternoon I will get presents from her, and then we will go out to a restaurant this evening.

As the old saying goes, ‘That’s all the news that’s fit to print!

Sunday Musings Before My Birthday

~ beetleypete ~ 71 Comments

Thw weather continues to act strangely. Snow during the week, then freezing temperatures followed by heavy rain. Now we have 14C today, and there are flying insects over on Beetley Meadows. The forecast for next week is yet another return to Winter. I suspect it is going to be some weeks before things settle down.

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Ollie continues to scamper around and play with other dogs. Earlier today he was chasing about with Henry, a happy little black Poodle. Then they were joined by a Yellow Labrador for a while, and were running in circles. When Ollie is fit and well, it makes me happy.

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I am breaking tradition next week by having a very quiet birthday on Thursday. Just an evening meal at a restaurant, and a subdued celebration.

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We are still discovering things on the new car. Yesterday I found out that it does not have an alarm, and what a mysterious switch with a red light was for. (Adjusting the door mirrors remotely) I also discovered how to have a permanent indication of the range in miles available from the existing fuel. I have always found that to be more useful than the normal fuel gauge. The user manual contains no information about the large multi-function screen that includes the radio and satellite navigation, as well as many other features. This appears to be because it is not fitted (or an option) in most countries where the model is sold. It would have been nice if they had included a user guide for those of us in the countries where it is fitted!

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It is going to be busier than normal next week. Due to the ongoing strikes by school teachers, we will be looking after our 8 year-old grandson from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday evening. No doubt he will enjoy playing with Ollie for a while, until he returns to his electronic games and You Tube videos.

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Most of Sunday has already gone here, but I hope you enjoy what is left of yours.

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Thoughts On The Month Of March

~ beetleypete ~ 77 Comments

Today is the 1st of March. It is my birthday on the 16th, so this month always has meaning for me. We are also collecting a car today, so fingers crossed that it all goes well. I had to insure it yesterday, and the telephone renewal went very smoothly indeed.

I take heart from that. These days, I take heart from anything remotely positive.

On my birthday, Julie has to work. So not much chance of a day out, especially with the possibility of snow that is predicted now. (Though that might not happen.) But in the evening we are going to a local Turkish restaurant to celebrate, and I am very much looking forward to the food there.

71 is not a ‘celebratory’ year, as it does not end in a 0. But I am celebrating living this long, something I never expected to happen after a life in very stressful jobs, a bad diet, and heavy smoking until I was 60.

March this year is also when the clocks go forward, near the end of the month. When that happens, it starts to really feel like Spring is here, and Summer is around the corner. I begin to anticipate those longer evenings. Daylight until 9pm, and hopefully much warmer temperatures too.

For many years, I have seen my birthday as the start of the year, rather than January the first. It is when I become another year older, and potentially another year wiser. It is also another year closer to the end of my life of course. But that holds no fear for me, as everything must end eventually.

Welcome, March. ‘In like a lion, out like a lamb’, so legend has it.

11 Today!

~ beetleypete ~ 66 Comments

Our beloved dog Ollie is 11 years old today. He will be getting fresh-cooked chicken for dinner later, and some extra treats. He has a present of a soft toy birthday cake too, which he loves!

Julie has also bought him a ‘canine-edible birthday card’. (The things you can find online these days!) It smells of bacon, but he won’t eat it. He definitely does not associate rice paper with food.

Baby Ollie. His first photo.

Big strong Ollie. The most recent photo.

Sunday Musings On The 15th Of January

~ beetleypete ~ 75 Comments

The week has been dominated by weather. Bad weather, constant rain and strong winds. The combination has caused something to happen on the roof, resulting in a leak that is finding its way down the chimney of the wood burner, onto the stove top. So now as well as walking Ollie in slick mud and getting regularly soaked, I have to wait for a roofer to call me on Monday to discuss whether or not he is interested in doing what might be a ‘small job’. I cannot go up ladders any longer because of Vertigo, and it annoys me that the condition has stopped me from investigating the problem myself.

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Ollie started shaking his head again on Friday, so we are back treating him with the ear-gel. It has almost run out, and I suspect an expensive trip to see the Vet is on the horizon.

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The central heating is still deciding when and if it will work. Another job next week is to get a company in to try to solve the problem once and for all. Naturally, temperatures are set to go back to below freezing from tonight. Winter tests houses, and also tests my patience. January is often the most expensive month for us, and we can be sure that many things will go wrong at once.

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Yesterday was Julie’s birthday. I took her to The Chequers Inn for dinner. This is a 17th-Century Inn with great character and original features, specialising in large portions! Just over 30 minutes away by car, it is in the small village of Thompson, south of Beetley. There are some photos of it on this website.

Home


This evening we are meeting up with all of her family at a pub/restaurant in Dereham. So she will get to see everyone at once and continue to celebrate her birthday.

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Whatever you are doing today, and wherever you live, I hope that your Sunday is a happy one.

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Sunday Musings 21 Days Before Christmas

~ beetleypete ~ 53 Comments

Well I have the presents I am giving Julie as the last one was delivered yesterday. Now all I have to do is get around to wrapping them, and buying her card.

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Talking of Christmas Cards, this is the first time I am not posting any to family, friends, or contacts. The price of stamps is getting ridiculous, with our privatised Royal Mail paying out fortunes to greedy shareholders. On top of that, the ordinary postal workers are striking for better pay and conditions, so cards may not arrive.
(I support the postmen and women 100%!)

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Yesterday, we went into Norwich to celebrate our grandson’s eighth birthday. It was held at a family-friendly restaurant that includes a huge play area for children. As well as the birthday boy and his young sister, the whole extended family was there. A happy celebration indeed.

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Ollie has had another good week. No head shaking or scratching, and his skin and fur in pretty good condition. I hope he manages to avoid any medical issues until the new year, if at all. He will be 11 in February, a grand old age for his breed.

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No weather moans this week, I have already posted about the leaves starting to fall.

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Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope you have a peaceful Sunday.

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Happy Birthday, Mum

~ beetleypete ~ 54 Comments

This is my mum photographed in 1994, at her 70th birthday celebration. Now I am the same age she was then.

She died in 2012, and if she had been alive today, it would be her 98th birthday.

As far as I am concerned, it will always be her birthday. She is never forgotten, not for one single moment.

Sunday Musings On A Birthday Week

~ beetleypete ~ 63 Comments

Anyone who has read my blog this week will already be aware that I was 70 years old on Wednesday. My week started on Monday, so this is the last day of celebrations. Given how much I have celebrated already, I think a quiet day will be the decent thing to do.

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It has been a great week indeed. Two meals out, a trip to a nature reserve, and lots of nice gifts and cards received. After Wednesday, the weather improved too, and it has been lovely and sunny since. Then last night, it was rounded off in style. Julie took me to a restaurant in North Tuddenham, having arranged for my four step-children and two of their partners to come too. So we had a table for eight, a very nice family celebration, and I had a ’70’ balloon! I received more gifts and cards on the night, along with the news that all of Julie’s children have given some money so that we can go out again soon, and enjoy another meal on them. There was also a box of twelve 70th-birthday themed cupcakes, home-made.
This has been my best birthday week ever!

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Of course, the world news is far from encouraging, and the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. I confess that the last thing I expected to be happening in my 70th year was a new war in Europe. And just when I am at my lowest income since I left school, the price of everything has sky-rocketed. Oh well, no point complaining about that. The rich have always got richer, and the rest of us poorer. Just read any history book.

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Ollie’s moult has to be seen to be believed, with his fur all over the house necessitating daily vacuuming more seriously than usual. We are trying to get him booked in to the dog-groomer next week, as a good wash and brush up will take care of at least some of the shedding fur.

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Regular readers will also be aware that I still don’t have my renewed driving licence. (Sorry regulars, here I go again.) Next week marks the beginning of my first full week of not being able to drive legally until my licence is sorted out. I am trying not to be too annoyed about that, but it’s not easy.

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I hope you all have a lovely Sunday. And if you can, go for a drive somewhere nice. You will appreciate the freedom of being able to do that, believe me.

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