Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Reading round-up: March 2026

image from Freepik

The Way to Icy Death (Pitkirtly Mysteries Book 30): Cecilia Peartree

Devices and Desires (Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Book 8): P.D. James

Original Sin (Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Book 9): P.D. James

A Certain Justice (Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Book 10): P.D. James

The Blitz Detective: Mike Hollow

The Blitz Detective Investigates - The Canning Town Murder: Mike Hollow

Well, March was certainly a much better month for reading than February was!  It's amazing how many books can be got through when doing lots of train travel 😉  

As you can probably tell by the fact that the latest Pitkirtly book is number 30, I really enjoy these stories by Cecilia Peartree and have worked my way through all of them to date.  I had a little look through the books stored on my Kindle and came across the Inspector Dalgliesh ones that I hadn't yet got round to reading, so they also helped pass the time sitting on various trains!

Mike Hollow is a new-to-me author who popped up in my Amazon recommendations, so I thought I'd give him a whirl to see whether I liked his writing.....which I do, so he's yet another author for me to add to the list😏 I'm a bit naughty, to be honest, because I've got masses of unread books on my Kindle but get so easily get distracted by a lovely shiny new one!  All I can say is that it's a bloody good job that they are in a digital format otherwise we wouldn't be able to move in the house for stacks of books 😄  

 

The wanderers have returned...

image from Freepik.com

 We've been south visiting family and got back home this last Sunday, a day later than planned due to the weather 😏  Still, at least this time I didn't have any gout flare-ups!

We decided to break up the journey more and so we had a few more overnight stops than we would normally make.  By the time we got back home again we were decidedly sick of hotel rooms!  We're thinking of flying from Kirkwall to Edinburgh then picking up the train to Leeds next time we go south, and perhaps trying the Caledonian sleeper again for the journey back to Inverness.  The worst part of the journey is the ScotRail section between Edinburgh and Inverness.  Although we always book seats, quite often different trains are used and it is a busy route at the best of times with all the tourists.  It's certainly getting less easy to travel as we get older 😖

We stayed in a really nice hotel in Leeds, Hyatt House, staying in one of their king bed studios with kitchenette.  We're hoping we can book a similar studio with them next time we go to Leeds.

It was good to catch up with family, although we didn't get round to meeting up with old friends this time ~ hopefully we'll be able to do so next time we're south 😊   

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Reading round-up: February 2026

image from Freepik

Slimming World March/April 2025

Gardeners' World July 2025

February really was a rather shameful month for reading, yielding a grand total of just two magazines and no books whatsoever 😳

As I mentioned in a previous post, I just haven't been able to get going with anything these last few weeks.  This is a situation that just pops up out-of-the-blue for me from time-to-time and I know that it will pass.  In the meantime I'm trying not to beat myself up over it all and hopefully will find more joy and enthusiasm for getting on with things soon. 

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Pootling about

If you substitute tea for coffee, then the above meme can certainly be applied to your's truly 😉 February was a wishy-washy sort of month, where I didn't really get anything much done to be honest.  I just seemed to have "stuff" whirling around in my head but couldn't seem to get my arse in gear to get on with things.

I know the fact that we had a bloody rat in the walls and roof space again didn't help matters, although I shouldn't really complain too much I suppose as it was the first one for a good five years to try to make itself at home.  Mice are bad enough, but rats really creep me out *shudder*  John, our pest control guy, said that it's been a really busy time for him with rats in particular ~ he said that the good summer had lead to quite the explosion in vermin numbers.  Then, of course, we had a long spell of really bad weather which lead to the buggers looking for cosy places to shelter.  Adrian found what he thinks is the way it got in and has now, hopefully, blocked that route off 🤞 When we eventually have the living room refurbished, we are seriously considering having a concrete floor laid like we did in the downstairs bathroom, which will hopefully stop the vermin getting through into the walls. Plus, of course, we will be able to get a damp-proof membrane and some insulation down beneath the floor.

However, that day has been pushed back even further now as we've had another major expense crop up *sigh*  We have a long garden wall which runs alongside the shared driveway and it became horribly apparent recently that it needed some serious renovation work.  I'll be sharing more of this latest little tale of woe in a future post!

It's been hard to work up the enthusiasm to do much of anything, to be honest.  My reading goals have drastically slowed down, as have the crochet and sewing projects I had been planning.  Oh well, hopefully better weather will soon be with us and perhaps then I'll feel a tad more cheerful 😏 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Little words of wisdom

 

Reading round-up : January 2026

image from Freepik

Gardeners' World April 2025

Gardeners' World May 2025

Gardeners' World June 2025

Slimming World October 2024

Slimming World November/December 2024

Slimming World January/February 2025

City-Chic Knitting Patterns for Fashion Dolls: Susan Dunlop

Urban-Chic Knitting Patterns for Fashion Dolls: Susan Dunlop

As you can see, I'm still working my way through that pile of magazines 😉  I mentioned in last month's round-up that I was considering taking out a new subscription to Slimming World magazine as I was really enjoying reading through them ~ I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you, my lovelies, that I went ahead with that plan so I won't be running out of magazines any time soon😏   

Still weeing for Britain...

 ...albeit slightly less than in my last weight-loss journey post 😉

Having lost a further 8lbs since my last post ~ 15lbs in total so far ~ I am now a quarter of the way towards my first target, which I am very happy about as I'm sure you can imagine!  Ultimately I have a huge amount of weight to lose, but breaking that down into interim goals does make it a little easier.  It's less overwhelming aiming for smaller goals than to be constantly thinking about the "big picture", in other words just taking baby steps along the journey 😊

Obviously I don't look any different at the moment, but I have noticed some changes within myself.  I'm feeling less bloated, and my feet, ankles and calves are very much less swollen than they were.  I guess I've been retaining a lot of fluid.....which would, of course, explain all the weeing since altering my eating habits😏  I think I'm due for  another of my regular appointments with the Nurse Practitioner at my GP surgery soon, and it will be interesting to see if this is having any effect on my high blood pressure.

Whilst, as I say, I don't look any different my clothes are already feeling a little looser, which I'm pretty sure is because of being less bloated.  My jeans and dresses are suddenly a tad longer than they were ~ a slightly less swollen stomach to hold them higher, I presume 😄

It's been a very good start, I think, but I'm well aware that the weight loss will slow down ~ I just have to keep taking those little steps one-at-a-time.  I'll be back with another update when the next 7lbs has gone. 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)