What Next?

I was looking at my blog trying to work out how I changed the layout for something more personal when I read the comment under the title 'The story of me and what life has thrown at me good and bad and where I go from here' - Mmh I thought - that's the question, where do I go from here? Truly I have no idea. I am still recovering from the stroke, unable to drive (yet) and still wobbly and a bit dizzy but able to sit behind a computer all day if I have to! Until I am fit and well again, or at least as well as I am going to be, which could in reality take years rather than months for all I know, I will just have to wait and think and dream about what may or may not happen to me. It is said that people make their own luck. Well, I'm not so sure cos I certainly have tried, believe me. But back to 'where I go from here'. My ambition is to travel. I devour the programmes on the telly which show you far off places which you know in your heart you are never going to get to. However, there are a lot of very accessible places now, lots of them off the beaten track and and available to those who have the drive and of course, not forgetting, the money. I have the drive!
Strangely enough money is not at the top of my list, it's second. A companion to go travelling with is at the top. I have a very good, lifelong friend who lives in Denmark. We are of a similar age, have similar baggage and similar tastes. We both want to travel. She has been to many countries in the world already, either luxurious or not. She is always a possibility.
A great book for the would be traveller is 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die by Michael Bright.

I have ticked off about 20!!
Well back to work for me, but it's nice to dream.

Something to Write About

The days can be long here even though I am working from home 2 days per week. Because I cannot drive, I have to rely on others to take me 'out' for the day. One such friend is Denise who runs a farming contract and very busy livery yard with her husband, about 7 miles away. She bought a beautiful cottage in the tiny, undisturbed village of Alwinton, north Northumberland which she lets out during the year to paying guests. You can visit the cottage at http://www.fellsidecottcheviots.co.uk/index.html Alwinton is the most awe inspiring area with its peaceful, lazy attitude to life and is well worth a visit, especially if you love walking. I travelled up there with her on Saturday so she could tidy and change the beds for her next incoming couple but I also had another reason for going. Recently, she had discovered a red squirrel had been visiting her garden and I was looking forward to trying to catch a glimpse of this shy creature. Denise took along a feeding box and some feed which for once, was especially designed for red squirrels and not their insidious cousins that are relentlessly creeping north. The garden is a delight with its many shrubs and the red squirrel feeder was quickly attached to a tree along with the bird feeder. Many birds visited that day - robin, dunnock, sparrow, blackbird, blue tit, coal tit, great tit and in the field pigeons, herons, and crows. Although I sat in the dining room watching intently for the red squirrel I was to be disappointed but Denise walked into the room and saw a glimpse of red tail disappearing into the foliage. I had been thwarted but the neighbours confirmed that the red had been seen running along the fence on several occasions. I guess Denise has to add 'red squirrel sightings possible' to her website now.
Apart from a lovely day at the cottage, the countryside around was spectacular with the trees changing colour, especially beech trees which range from vivid yellow to a glorious orange.
Meanwhile back at home, I was thrilled to see a robin in my garden on two occasions today. I had a visit a few weeks ago on the one and only miniature conifer I have in the front garden, but the robin's visit was fleeting. Today it had a short feed before being scared off by something. I have had the usual starlings and sparrows along with a blue tit and collared doves but am now hoping the robin will continue to call. It may not seem so special to many people but it is many many years since I had a robin in the garden so, despite 5 cats and a small dog, I don't think I am doing too bad!