Some photographs from a few days away over the weekend.. 

Again the disused power station in the background in the photograph above, with the river in the foreground.. the old the new, which has now also become redundant.

Above the River Erewash and houseboats on an evening walk..

We went for walks along the river tow path, taking random tracks away and into 'who knew where' and came across the railway tracks, a huge overhead bridge.. 

Felt like walking along something from Jurassic park, expected to see pterodactyls flying down from above... Or at the least a bunch of zombies walking along here! 

None of course came about, because, well, quite honestly it's not the time or the place for them! 

Just passing through.. 

Just passing through, we all are aren't we, wherever we are, wherever we go each and every day, just passing through, in the grand scheme of things... 

I'm still waiting or this surgery to happen, left a few messages now.. So taken the decision, if I hear nothing in the next few days, I'm off to Spain! Off back home and then.. hopefully it will happen.

I get they're waiting for my heart rate to get higher.. but it's not happening.. 

M.

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. "

Helen Keller

Anchor Church

Anchor Church.. Found this gem on Saturday, drive out for a few hours, tried for Redhill Marina for a car show, but we showed up about four hours too early! It's right by the Ratliff-on-Soar power station just outside of Nottingham. It's been closed as a power station for a year, and in another year, it will be brought down and the area redeveloped into a zero-carbon manufacturing and energy hub.

So went to Mercia Marina, near Willington, next, just adding here, I can't type Marina without having to correct it! I just type out my name!! Lols 

Had a coffee there..

Took these photographs! Zoom in required!

Then we were going to go to an Arboretum I saw signposted.. but noticed the Anchor (symbol) Church...and it was close by... Had to park on the road.. after Repton, beautiful village, I've actually added a link to Repton because of it's beautiful buildings and history.. Gorgeous.

Parked, followed Google maps and a walk around a field, down towards the River Trent, and found the Anchor Church.

Incredible history surrounding it.. taken from the link above... 

The name Anchor Church is derived from the term anchorite (from the Greek ἀναχωρέω anachōreō, "to withdraw" or "to depart into the countryside") because it is thought to have been the cell of an Anchorite hermit, St Hardulph, who lived and prayed here in the 8th and 9th century..

Lots more to read.

And from inside such an ancient place, the power station in the background..

Now!! Been doing a bit more on my ancestry the last few weeks.. 

Have added a 'new' Bonelli to our group.. and yesterday, found someone who may have some information for me... I have been disheartened before in thinking I may have found a relative of a brother I have, but yesterday I added a divorce paper belonging to my dad's second wife, from her second marriage! 

I have written, and now can do no more than wait.. time ticks by so fast, I know now a brother who is fourteen years older than me, I'll probably never find... Can find nothing from Japan online to make any connection and finding years ago than many GI babies born there were given up for adoption.. and maybe only if he came to the US, adopted maybe there, and if he did a DNA, then maybe a strong link would show up.. but learning that kids of my siblings can show as cousins.. isn't a great thing to find out now after all these years of hoping it could flag up a sibling.

But then, after that, finding a section of links I found the strangest of persons!! 

Well, I'm sure she isn't strange, but what I am about to tell you is! 

We have a DNA link, and it's from both sides, yes, BOTH sides! Which means a British person and an Italian person connected at some point to give her a DNA that links her to me, on both of my DNA sides!! 

Incredible!! Amazing! Yes, I have written to her too, and will wait, she hasn't been on Ancestry for a while... So I may go all stalker'ish on her and Facebook message her!! 

Cliffhanger! 

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 3 of 3

Today, well, okay today for me, yesterday maybe! We went back to Great Yarmouth... 

We walked along the high street, after the pier, bought a couple of Labubu's! 

You could win them on the pier, in any number of hundreds of possibilities! But decided cheaper to buy them! 

I was on the hunt for a hat! See last photograph! 

I was getting thirsty and needing a hot drink, suddenly there, on the right, Wright's Restaurant.. it drew me in, and there in the pastry area, my favourite Portuguese custard tarts... Fresh and warm and waiting, just for me! 

The babes had one each and me, I had a latte they had milkshakes, see above!! Outstanding.. 

Served warm and with an extra sprinkling of cinnamon, perfect... So good! See too two photographs.  Son had tea, not pastry for him...

After a bit more of a walk along, I bought a hat, and we turned back around again, and walked a long way along the beach road .. 

Then back to the car and back here to Haven.

We had lunch here and booked a table for tonight,  then it was a couple of play parks and back to the van! 

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 2 of 3

 

Above and below, Great Yarmouth from Tuesday.. 

There's a great perimeter walk around here, through forest, no vans, it's nice... 

Then yesterday we went to Hemsby! Wonderful Hemsby, I am so sure I have been back since when the boys were young.. kept having a déjà vu feeling...

But after wracking my mind, give up, I'll either remember or not! 

We drove in, down Beach Road where we used to stay in the chalets, in the '80's .. The plates usually with silver fish, things usually a bit not completely okay... Never dirty, but more well used, old... 

Was like walking down memory lane, made me a bit melancholy, and missed my mom, more...

Bought some rock, and fudge, and white and pink sugary sweet thing...

Found a bear, on the beach .. 

We went for a long walk along the beach, turned back around and walked back.

After the sweet store... we spent some time in a play area, then had a warm drink in a place I'm sure I've been in... Was like seeing a memory, but can't pin it down!!

Kids and I had steaming hot chocolate, very yum!

After Hemsby we stopped over for lunch at McD's in Great Yarmouth, and a few bits in the supermarket next door Asda! Of course!! 

 

Then back to Havens, we booked and collected fish and chips!

M.

Great Yarmouth Part 1 of 3

Haven holiday park! Off we went on Monday morning, following the satnav, she was determined we took a road that wasn't there! And it wasn't until we reached the end of the detour signs we saw why... 

New road being made from old road, a dual carriageway me thinks! 

We also joined a long line of cars and after maybe an hour? Of very slow moving, then stationary, we turned around .. there had been an accident and both sides of the road closed, completely.

The van is nice, basic, as in no home type things, very bare minimum? Maybe people have stolen so much in the past they just don't bother any more.. 

These photographs are from the sea life centre in Great Yarmouth on Tuesday... 

We were there quite a few hours, booked the centre before we left and had lunch there before we looked around.

In the evening we ate in the onsite restaurant, very good food, we were well fed.

Decided beforehand, no cooking week, just breakfast and fruit.

It's a wonderful Haven site, situated away from the beaches, all woodland and walks, many play areas, lots of activities.. lots of wildlife... We're down a quiet part of the site, a dead end, so no passing or turning vehicles.

We've been lucky with the weather, although it's not always been full sun, it hasn't rained at all..

M.

Collyers Nursery, Borrowash, last Tuesday, wonderful nursery, not too big, and without all the gifts, clothes, added extras.. that yes, those are okay in the bigger garden centres, and wonderful in their own right, but this is a nursery, as the name says.. 

The cafe on site, Pip Tree Cafe, is wonderful! The cakes looked outstanding, the food was wonderful, great choice of foods ... Fresh and delicious!

Also you could eat inside, or in many different areas around the café! Out in the open and undercover.

Lols like you need to know all this!! 

Bought a rose! And here it is! On my journey home by train..
 

A couple on the other side of the aisle commented on it's amazing fragrance.. it smells of an old country garden rose...

She asked me if I'd taken it for a ride out!?! Lols I said 'Yep, and tomorrow we're off to Leicester for the day!' lols 

On the tram also people commented on the beautiful smell... 

And Wednesday, canal voyage.. a boater.. absolutely wonderful.. 

The peace and tranquility.. 

The community spirit, the dogs! 

Again, the peace .. quiet, nature.. 

Before leaving I was working the locks, on my own, and helping other people.. 

Loved it, absolutely.. 

The world seems a very loud place away from the boating world.

M.

I'll see you in the fabric of the universe 

Ghostbusters 

Always chasing my tale these days..

If I Blogged every time I thought 'I must Blog' there'd be many more.. but I don't, I get all procrastinating and putting it off..

So catching up, again!! 

Had another few lovely days with son and his family, beautiful weather, and happy memories made... 

Back from #2 son's, journey back was rubbish, again! Didn't do Stevenage three times again... But this time, arriving at the station I knew a train further on had been cancelled and presumed a coach would be out on.. 

But turned out journey was cancelled up to Grantham.. someone sadly, had chosen to end their life in front of a train between Stevenage and Grantham.. So all trains comi g from London on that line were cancelled. 

My son drove me to St Alban's, and using a different line from London, was able, three trains later to get back here to Nottingham, arriving about the same time as I originally should have, actually..

Funny how I'm so adaptable on trains... All those journeys taken whilst working here, so many journeys, so many trains! I should have taken their numbers!! I say laughing, and running for an old blue anorak, beany hat and notebook and pencil! 

Carsington Water, Derbyshire.. Is where these photography were taken, last weekend.. last Saturday.. 

The day seemed brighter than my photographs! 

Was very busy, lots of people, and dogs! And cyclists! 

Would be a nice walk around the reservoir, but would be a long long walk!!  

There was a lot of trails and things for kids, would make for a great full day out for sure.

Above a squirrel!! Yep no doubting that fact! Doing a bit of a work out on the frame in the back yard, full video on my Instagram.. probably linked here on my Blog page.

Going to post this now and will post again tomorrow! 

More photographs from a garden centre and a canal towpath!

M.

Goodbyes only hurt because what came before was so special

What survives of us is love...

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