Photographs from Saturday and the Crompton Steam fair .. 

I was checking the location of the fair on Google Maps and it said the fair was Friday and Sunday and closed on Saturday! So I changed that on the open and closed section... while we were parking! Crazy eh!! 

Was a great day, parked up in the car park and got a lift to the site on a tractor drawn trailer type thing, it had a roof and seats and open to the elements... Was great fun! 

Walked around the classic cars, and Del Boys classis Reliant Robin!! And bikes first, then grabbed a coffee from one of the many food waggons, had a sausage bap at the same time actually! Just remembered! 

Had completed the wrong shoes on!!! Very pretty bright red sandals, all shiny and glittery! But not great for walking on stony ground and freshly cut long grasses!! 

I bought some new DM's! And they were new! On a stall with good quality used ones, a few new ones were there... Samples he said! 

They've a deep sole and a front zip! Wonderful, I had already picked up one of those metal signs, advertising Kraken rum, for #1 son, and on paying I said, how about a bit of a deal with this metal sign... He said 'I'll throw it in as a gift from me'! So that was very nice, brand new boots and a metal advisement sign for thirty pounds!!!

 

This passenger had been waiting for a long time!! 

And did you see in the Bubble car above? A cute little dog resting there .. 

Watched a parade of classic bikes in a ring, mountain bikes going through some tough courses... 

There was archery to try, and dogs to win prizes, a miniature dachshund won, being led by a small boy.. tractors parading, trucks on parade! 

Oh and a couple of planes!! Tanks and army displays!

Lots of food wagons, places to sit and eat, and fairground rides!! 

Now today! I'm back down south at #2 son's, interesting journey down! 

Quick and easy, three trains, Notts to Grantham Grantham to Stevenage (St. Evenage), the Stevenage to WGC..

Hardly any time between and easy to negotiate the platforms.

Got to Welwyn Garden City, just missed the first bus option it's doors were closing..  

So walked to next and the bus I wanted was boarding, right number on the bus, I told him my stop, he had to find the code.. everyone in front of me had just tapped cards and sat down ..

Off we went, I realized early in it was a different route than the other bus, but I'd never taken it before... 

Soon I found not only different route but we were leaving WGC heading out to Old Welwyn on I thought it would turn around, but no!! It carried on! And before I knew it we were off to One worth, the Stevenage! And I saw this..

Back to Stevenage! Where I had been earlier! At this point I thought to jump-bus! but off he left, I was already messaging son, and eventually he said 'just get off at the next stop.' 

I did, walked to Sainsbury's, and got some lunch and a drink! Son came for me! Oh dear! Rescued again! Reminded me of the time he had to come and rescue me from Reading, in the middle of the night when I'd had to get out of a placement! After calling for a back up! 

What a day!! Stevenage!! (St. Evenage).

M.

She sits at the edge of the ocean just to think as she watches the waves break.

She's done that more so as she's gotten older, and the way life has thrown so much at her.

Because that's the place where shallow ends and deep begins.

JmStorm

Well, I didn't take my Atenolol since I have come back to England, two days.. irregular heart beats is norm for me... Dr Google mentions far worse things, 'beta-blocker rebound phenomenon, also known as beta-blocker withdrawal syndrome' so many things could happen after 16 years on the medication.

So! Lanes yesterday morning into Heathrow, we arrived above about 5:50am and we were in a holding pattern until six, and then we, with others landed one by one... Always cool looking back down the landing runway at the on coming flights landing one by one and we make our way off the runway and towards the bays... 

We had taken off on time, more or less, easy boarding, priority boarding and is in economy boarded side by side...

This section I was in was about a hundred seats, and there were four of us only! 

Very empty long haul flight, very nice for us, and very private jet feel about it! 

Using the bathroom I never I had to line up, And always one of the four empty, also the largest toilets on a plane I have ever seen!! 

JFK is a nice airport to wander around pre boarding, nice and easy, security was quite a long time, still having to separate liquids and electrical items, some shoes still had to removed, but my sandals were okay ..

We were off the plane at Heathrow walked straight through security, and out into the arrivals hall, there was a lot of walking, somewhere... Maybe to get to security, because as I walked towards the central bus station I remember thinking I'd already walked miles and miles since getting off the plane, and having been on an overnight flight, lost five hours... Somewhere... That it was very hard going!! 

But I was at the bus station at 6:35 which was amazing, and just missed my bus! 

So coffee was the only answer, not sure if it was a heart or an onion on the surface, but it was good coffee.

I went and sat quite near the door to the bus stops, and just after seven my bus came past, I actually thought to wait inside, in case the driver was going to take a break, being so early... Then something told me to go check, my gut I guess... Glad I did, it was the 6:30 bus running late!!! 

So I arrived at 10:00 to Tony's, long old ride, many many stops, not at all, thankfully! But for £3, couldn't complain! 

So very tired though yesterday, the travelling of flight and bus, the missed hours .. when I got off the bus, my body was at 5am! I did get maybe 3 hours of broken sleep on the flight, and an hour yesterday afternoon, but ten o'clock last night I was out like a light.... Well, you know, lots of waking up.. but mainly just over and out!

I wrote this earlier the other day... So seems a bit added on! Rather than added to..

Life changes us; people, circumstances, traumas , change us.. I wonder when we realize we are not who we were..

I think I've said before about the different faces we show different people, not in a bad way, just how we are different to and with, different people .. 

And we can only really truly see our own faces.. but do we recognize the shift. . . The change, do we make different choices when we're different!

Is this why we probably have all thought differently about past situations as we change through our lives ..

I dreamt Monday evening, that I was lost, and my watch was broken.. strange dream, and a broken watch is quite meaningful... 

M.

If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.

Rick Riordan - Author

Couple of random blurry in movement photographs...

I forgot to post my last Blog on my birthday! Hilarious! 

We've been busy!

We went to my aunt cards game in the morning, was a good time as always.. It can be sad too, less people are going, and less people are here to go any more ... 

Then we were home and a cousin came to take us to her mom and dads out on Long Island... 

Where we were last weekend also...

Only there a short time before we headed out to a favorite place of theirs, and mine! Bayside Clam and Grill! The very best fries, states side ever ever ever! 

There were nine of us.. Was absolutely wonderful!

On the drive there, real close to the restaurant passing deer and turkeys! 

Too late to get photographs! 

Like the following night, watching a young cousin play baseball, passed a car whose wheels were on ... Wrong!! I was so busy wondering why a woman was on her phone, two hands, neither on the steering wheel, then realized too late, she was watching the car with the crazy wheels!

This is my photograph.. it's not great, not even good! It's awful! It's the silver car on the left!

Okay, it's called a negative camber... 

I'll let you Google it! 

The baseball was wonderful, sitting on the bleachers! No wood, and not too high... The romantic in me visualized the ones I've seen on the movies... Creaking and a fire hazard!

It was fun, seeing these young players, can't believe it's the first actual game I've ever been to!

Saturday afternoon was a surprize party for a cousin! Fantastic! 

There were about seventy people, maybe a few more! A huge bouncy slide for the kids, and some of the adults! Food, lots of amazing food, and drink! No humidity and wall to wall sunshine... A beautiful day.. 

Yesterday, Sunday, back to my aunt's and some R&R... 

Same today, my last full day which is rapidly passing by..

I have a lottery card to go get changed for another one, it was a winner! As were two others I received for my birthday from cousin's, I also won the £15 Postcode lottery on my birthday and received a money present for my birthday! 

Just need a big win to buy my house! And I'm set for life! 

Going to press pause now..

M.

A poem to end

Part and parcel of wishes and dreams

Often thought and sometimes lost

Excitement, adventure and treasure 

Memories return, memories made

A poem to end where we begin

©MB

 

July 17 2025

Well, here I am world 66!! Mixed emotions today! End of working life... Beginning of time for adventure!

Yes I can still work, or volunteer of course and I will do something I'm sure, think I'll go crazy otherwise! Crazier? But! after I've got sorted out! I say laughing!

Above Hungarian cheese cake from The Tulip bakeshop... We came here last night after dinner at Sempre Fame Barbeque Restaurant, both in Floral Park, and my aunt and I ate our desert back home, she quite rightly only ate half .. I of course! Ate my whole slice! Very yum!! Absolutely delicious! 

Yesterday's screenshots.. that's it, after over four years of counting down! The time is past... Such is life! 

Moral of this story is, DO NOT COUNTDOWN!

We're back to Long Island later with my cousins, but for now, the sun is coming out after a drizzly start to the day... It's nearly half nine now, and we're off out soon to my aunt's card club, in church! 

I need to change, it's cold in the church, and pack, for the weekend.. 

M.

Time travels fast, is fleet of foot, and passes us by... by night, and by day, if we let it

Hold it's shirt tales, fly with it, keep your eyes open and do not miss a beat!

©MB

When I fished my Blog, just now .. I finished my coffee also, and looking down into my cup, a feather .. signs eh! Last night, I was watching the New Snow White film .. it's lovely... Maybe not for everyone... But my inner child loves these movies .. fairytales, hopes and dreams .. 

Anyways!! So I was watching above movie on my Kindle, and stopped... Thinking back to when Franco and Barry and I were here, and we were out front one evening late, enjoying the warm evening and running around like crazies trying to catch fireflies... 

So I got out of bed, it was around 11:30pm maybe.. crouched down and looked out of my bedroom window into the dark outside.. and there! Immediately! A firefly! Just for me, down where we chased them before, and just the one. Courtesy of Franco, I felt.

I waited about ten minutes, but no more .. I always look out of window, but hadn't seen one for years...

And like the feather in my coffee grounds above.. just small gifts, just for me.

Now I am getting around to what happend the Sunday before last.

I knew we were going to visit where I grew up, I was looking forward to walking around where I was used to walk.. 

I thought, I'm going to see what's for sale around there, so I Googled properties for sale! And I clicked on a house down our street, they were all laid out pretty much the same when I was there, two up, two down! We had a mangle house out the back, two story! 

I clicked on street view to see which house it is.. I hadn't zoomed in on the front door, it was, after all, just one of the houses in our street ..

Not sure if you're ahead of me by now? I'm sure some of you are ..

It isn't just one of the houses down our street, it is our house!

WoW! 

Our house, my house! My grandmother, my great grandmother.. it's our family home.

And now I am digging myself a big pit of despair and disappointment as all I want is to be back in there again, wrapped up in warm memories and familiar places...

The chances of my house being for sale? Right when I go to look on property for sale there? 

It's meant to be right?? I am laughing in my head! 

I can dream, and I do love to dream, to plan, to imagine..  

But I am well aware I'll be upset when it sells, if not to me... 

And the big, big thing about being there, later, parking up near my house, walking around the small parade of stores, walking up our street.. I actually, since coming back in October, I actually felt like I was home.

You know how I have happy days and those sad days, I spill them here regularly don't I..

Today I woke up sad, maybe the firefly from last night? Now the feather in my coffee cup, the tale of Snow White has it's ups and downs, as fairy tales do...

It's my birthday tomorrow! That's it! Retirement! It's a big stepping stone in life isn't it? I hadn't really thought about it, only in a joking way, as my countdown app on my phone told me the years ticking off, I put the app on about four years ago! Now it's down to hours .. 

Less time, as I screenshot and place here, than I realized! Also confused about the actual countdown time!?! Should be more than that, a few hours more!?! 

As for me here it's 10:55am here, as I write.. 13 hours to go until my birthday! And if I'm being exact... Plus 3hrs more for being born in Cali!

Not posting until later, when I'm sure my birthday will have arrived in the UK before I do! 

And now, need to re-set my mind! 

Look where I am and with whom. Only as my eyes well up... I guess, it's really what's missing is what hurts isn't it. 

M.

But know this - despite the distance and time put behind me, whenever I glance at the rearview mirror

I still hope to see you.

J. Raymond 

A part of a poem from The Kindred Project

Been a while I hear you say! 

Yep! I know! Where did I leave off! 

Okay! Not even left England! 

So! Had my breakfast and chatted again to to another passenger who was on my flight, we discussed how our new flight was already 1 hour behind schedule, she asked me when I was leaving the hotel and I said I was on the 8:30 happy Hopper bus. 

We met up outside as we boarded the bus and she didn't feel very well so we sat down together and we checked in together we both had issues that needed to be sorted out at check-in because I could not check in now as I was flying Virgin Atlantic and not Delta. 

We went through security together and I found a pair of seats we could sit down together, she really was not feeling well, and worried about not being able to fly.. anyway you don't want to know all the ins and outs but thankfully L. felt better and it wasn't long before our gate number came up, I say laughing not long was about 3 hours in the departures hall.

It wasn't just us two, we were also joined by another girl and the three of us talked and kept each other company until our gate numbers came up, L. and I seem to have so much in common it was spooky, even a family name joins us somewhere in the past I am sure from Naples, and that can't happen every day.

I really only was just being me helping and being there and supporting someone who really did not feel very well at all, I worry about people, I care about people and I really was just being me. And when she felt better she said I had been her guardian angel at the airport which was so lovely of her but as I say I was just being me and happy to help somebody, I guess also we always hope that there would be someone there for us too, I have been lucky to have Angels supporting me also...

L. was wearing a beautiful Crystal necklace around her neck that she had made for her trip to England, to Glastonbury! And suddenly she took it off and gave it to me as a thank you... I will treasure it always, it is filled with positive energy and I will re-energize it every opportunity I can. 

Talking about coincidences and strange things that happen quite often to me, I still have not told you the strange thing that happened to me the other weekend I promise I will in my next Blog, because since then there have been so many strange coincidences the girls at the airport strange links, family names, even where L. lived when she grew up, where she lives now we have traveled in the same circles.

And at the last minute as we three stood, two of us in one direction and S. in another..

S. and I found out that we both live in Nottingham! She had asked me about helping her with a book she wants to publish, I gave her my number as she asked and she hasn't messaged yet so I'm hoping that we got the number right when I told her.

Our flight was good I didn't see L. again on the journey though.

I did see all of the south shore of Long Island as we came in, low and slow ... Was wonderful, Fire Island, my cousin's, where we stay at weekends.. beautiful view beneath... So often it's the city which is also amazing to view on approach, especially at night, or winter months and it's dark already. 

So the flight itself was really good the food was wonderful, I watched two movies and I slept in between. I was sat next to two girls, a mom and her daughter who live in North Carolina, only a small hold up when we pulled up to disembark, but then we were all off straight through to security, and maybe 10 minutes insecurity through the passport control all you had to do was stand look at the camera no passport and gate opened! 

The very fastest I have ever been through JFK in my life I have spent up to 2 hours getting through security previously so this was fantastic. 

I went straight through and out to the taxi rank where I did have to wait at least 20 minutes jumped in a cab and straight here to my aunts.

So much writing I am speaking into my phone so apologies for anything that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, although that could be said of most of my Blogs anyways!

So I arrived here a whole day late, at the weekend we went out to cousins in Long Island that was really nice, days spent surrounded by cousins four generations! 

I heard from the pre-surgery team and I have to have a echocardiogram before my surgery now, as it appears I can add bradycardia to my list of heart issues, no one seems to have noticed the sellotape and staples that hold my heart together. Maybe some super glue too! 

My first echocardiogram appointment had been made for the day after I return, and it was at 8:00 a.m. everything about it was impossible especially as I checked with Dr Google who says an echocardiogram after a long haul flight can be misleading, so it has been rescheduled now for the following Thursday. 

We have had mostly sunny weather a couple of days where it has begun cloudy or foggy but the sun has cleared that away and two nights ago we had a small and I mean small compared to last week, a flash flood we had 4 inches in an hour, it rained for a few hours with a lot of thunder but by the morning only a few puddles remained and yesterday was a clear day. 

My aunt and I went out for a walk at the weekend near my cousins and it was way too long of a walk I was not happy I was panicking, it is strange how I have walked and supported so many clients over the years, but walking with my aunt was a whole different ball game! 

I felt like I needed more support than she did! 

I did vow to never walk with her again, but somehow she persuaded me and we went out for a short walk yesterday afternoon, literally to the end of our block, and we turned around came straight back, we sat on her steps for a while but it was so hot and humid.

The photograph above, the (unwanted) Spotted Lanternfly.  It destroys where it stops .. and travels like an unwanted hitchhiker!

My list of things I should not eat seems to grow daily, but while I have been here I have very happily been eating every single thing I shouldn't, and I just don't give a damn!

I'm going to make a cup of tea and I'll be back! 

Just adding the photograph and link to the Spotted Lanternfly..  before me telling you about eating foods I shouldn't!! Let me make it clear! The Lanternfly is not on the menu!! 

I went off on a tangent then, checking out part the Latin name for the above invasive species, 'delicatula,' is a fungi!

Not edible maybe! And as I say! Not on my menu!

Okay, posting now .. 

M.

In shared laughter, stories told,

Family time, a treasure, bold.

Hands held tight, in love's embrace,

Precious moments, time and spaqce.

Above the well trod path leading to the taps in the cemetery.. walked by me and my gran.. 

And somewhere in the above is my grans grave.. when I'm back I must find out the plot number, it must be noted somewhere, the exact place... And put up a headstone... She should have one.. I want that for her.

And now though, back at Heathrow airport, arrived about nine, same lady on the bus from yesterday, do that was nice... Like seeing a friend...

Checked in, again, but more difficult, as I changed my flight yesterday, they had already, but there was an option to change again free of charge, so I took an earlier flight, it's a Virgin Atlantic, so my Delta App is no good 

There was a very early flight available, but my body clock is already out of sync, up yesterday about 4:30am I went to sleep last night about 8pm ... Then awake again this morning about 4! So, yes actually I could have? Or not .. would have had to be have been here about 3am... And taking into account the time I might end up going to bed tonight, 10pm US time.. that'd be 24hrs!!! 

Arhhhhh, I can't do that!! 

I'll try and sleep on the flight, it's delayed an hour, but hey! Fingers crossed! 

M.

Go as far as you can see. When you get there you will see how you can go farther.

Thomas Carlyle - 1795-1881 - British Historian-Essayist-Philosopher-Mathematician-Teacher

A few photographs from Sunday morning... Had a run out to my home ground... My old haunts, my growing up... 

Above and two below are Ashlyns school where I had my final three years of schooling.

Beautiful school, didn't really think of it as such at the time, at all, ever! 

Went to Northchurch first though, parked up in front of the small parade of shops... The final cherry tree has now disappeared.. sadly.

They had been planted in 1959, someone told mom and I that, when we asked where have the other trees gone and why! Can't remember why they went now..

There is a Simmons Bakery there now too! Purchased a lovely cup of coffee and ate a gorgeous pastry filled with pistachio cream! Very very yum!!

From there parked on New Road and walked up to the Grand Union Canal... 

The hedges and trees around the canal, around St. Mary's primary school where I went, have grown so much! It's crazy!! Literally cannot see what you used to be able to see!

I wanted to see our old house up above the canal, the only way is by the cemetery.. 

I looked for my grans grave, but it's completely consumed by plants, trees, just a bunch of overgrowth! 

I want to find out the exact location and clear it up... I'm sure there's not even a headstone! 

I remember it from walking up to the house, but from this side, and the overgrowth, it was impossible...

I found the tap, the watering cans, the same as they ever were, when her, my gran, and I, used to water the plants on family graves... Of which I now have no idea who or where they are ..

The old wooden cross above, it caught my eye primarily because of what's resting there... Can you see it in the second photograph? It is a massive moth!

More photographs in the morning from Sunday, just need to get y'all up to date now..

Okay! My flight today, Heathrow to JFK, arrived here about 7:00, approx, checked in very easily.. walked up and through security, straight through real easy... Then purchased a book and water .. bit early so thought a good idea ..

Then! Wham! Flight delayed, about two hours, then eight hours, then seemed to change to four hours. I double checked that and realized the 16:00 departure was for tomorrow! 

Got up and checked the screen, flight cancelled! Period! 

So!! After kinda standing there completely lost as to what to do next, I needed someone to ask! Went to the Delta desk, which was heading out to the gates, bit of a wait there, but left with a plan! 

I headed back into the departures area and had a nice unexpected brunch of salmon and scrambled egg on sourdough bread with a very nice café latte, mostly free, the coupon had to be used today, I did have to add on a little..

Next, free bus travel to an airport hotel, that wasn't without issues, I was told I had free hotel accommodation in the Ibis, but not which Ibis, there are three here in Heathrow, so I found the bus stop, and the driver was so helpful.. she said her bus only went to two, so it could only be a choice of two, she left the airport, only me on board, dropped me outside the first Ibis, I ran in, found I wasn't booked in there and ran back out and back onto her bus, and only then did she scan my free ticket.. dropped me at the next and correct, hotel.

I've had a free lunch already, chicken curry, and a salad, and chocolate brownie... Phew, three meals already today! 

I have changed my flight, feel a bit nervous having done it now, but it said I could, and I have, but can't check in as I should be able to, so will get to the airport earlier even, to get that done, but at least I'll be flying now at 13:00 not 16:00, so I can arrive earlier and not feel I have lost two whole days before I can even start my visit!

Love hanging out at the airport, not done a enough of that all those years travelling for work!! 

M.

I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved. I've been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight, and the smell of coffee.

Brooke Hampton