Most of my readers will be aware that I am a stroke survivor. Without having any of the symptoms mentioned in the F.A. S.T. stroke awareness adverts; just the mother of all headaches ( which wasn’t unusual for me). I suffered a massive stroke in 2007, which has left me disabled wheelchair user, with left-sided…
Category: General
This is a true story:- I never believed in ghosts or ‘things that go bump in the night’ until we moved into a property which was almost 100 years old. It started on the day we moved in. The carpet on the upstairs landing had some swear words written in the carpet pile which I…
It is common knowledge that I suffered a massive stroke 14 years ago that has left me with a left sided wealness meaning that I use a wheelchair to get around and only have one working arm and hand. What some may not be aware of is that my husband, Alec put his own life…
Anyone who reads my posts, will be aware that I am a disabled stroke survivor. I was lucky enough to be able to move into an adapted bungalow at the beginning of March. Previously I spent most of the days sat in an armchair watching the television. The move has enabled me to start doing…
I survived a massive stroke back in 2007. As I have recently moved into an adapted bungalow, I am looking at ways of getting some independence back. One of the tasks I wanted to be able to achieve was to make myself a hot drink when my husband wasn’t at home. He was concerned that…
Fremington ( where I live) is a village situated around 3 miles from Barnstaple, North Devon. Recently I have noticed several scarecrows appearing in random places around our village. The idea is to cheer everyone one up during the lock down; they have certainly put a smile on the faces of myself and my husband….
During this period of lock down, for many of us, the kitchen has been a place where we can fill some of the long hours and do some cooking, even dig a few of our recipe books out and have a go at making some new culinary creations. But for some of us, the food…
To help fill my time during the current lock down, I have been writing posts relating to the virus. Explaining it to children here Activities for the virus here. I have also been busy writing an e book to help parents entertain their children during this difficult time. Buy it here I have been promoting…
I am a stroke survivor and have recently gained the courage to go out alone using my electric wheelchair ( rather than with a friend or relative). To help fill my time I contacted a local primary school to see if I could be a reading volunteer, as I used to be a child minder …
In the hope of inspiring other disabled people to become more independent I am sharing my experience of travelling on the bus on my electric wheelchair. I survived a massive stroke just over 12 years ago and now feel that I need to start getting some independence back. I have been into town a few…
Another fun post today. When I was a child I remember my slightly older cousin telling me that she had stayed up to “see in the new year.” The first time that I saw in the new year, I was so disappointed as I didn’t see anything! I presumed that because my cousin had stayed…
As the weather was chilly, but bright and beautiful for mid November I went to visit a friend’s horse. Once I was wrapped up warmly I gave Luke the apple I had brought from home, he happily munched it cleverly spitting out the core. I then gave him a few carrots. Being close to Luke,…
I am not going off of my theme of parenting tips and advice as stroke can happen to anyone, of any age; even children and babies. When I was a child , my uncle suffered a stroke in his forties. I thought that this was unusual as stroke only happens to old people, doesn’t it?…
This time when I went for my riding lesson at the Calvert trust, Exmoor, Kerri, my usual instructor was on holiday. I was introduced to Carolyn instead. As usual I rode Teddy a 21 year old piebald (black and white) gelding. After being hoisted onto the saddle, without having the small panic which I had…
Most of my readers will be aware that I am a disabled stroke survivor. It is also common knowledge that I have been planning on going out alone in my electric wheelchair. A friend suggested that I contact driving miss. Daisy, Barnstaple to see if they could help with this,(It is actually run by someone…
As the weather was so good instead of my usual riding lesson in the indoor school at the Calvert trust, Exmoor, I went for a ride towards the lake at Wistlandpound. I was hoisted onto the saddle of Teddy, my usual horse. Kerri my instructor needed to tighten the girth on Teddy’s saddle, which meant…
The Pilton green man festival this year was on Saturday 21 July ( it is always on a Saturday in July) The green man festival is a charity event which benefits the community of Pilton, Barnstaple, which is where I grew up and went to school. Pilton street, which is the high street of the…
Once again I went to the Calvert trust, Exmoor for my riding lesson. I was hoping to ride around the lake this time but as it was raining heavily I opted to have another session in the indoor school. Usually when I am hoisted from my wheelchair into the saddle I have a tiny…
I have decided to write this post in the hope of inspiring other disabled people to have a try at riding. As the title suggests this was my fourth attempt at disabled riding at the Calvert trust, Exmoor. Once again I rode Teddy a 21 year old pie bald (black and white) gelding. After…
Just before Christmas I was watching a television programme where a 4 year old child told a joke to an elderly person. “What wobbles in the sky?” “A jellycopter.” This took me back to when my sons were young and would tell jokes to adults, (so to cheer everyone up now that the Christmas festivities…
Woolly dolls are something I learned to make, as a child ( a school friend taught me) and I used to make, with my older child minded children. To make a woolly doll, you will need: wool, thick wool works best, a hardback book ( a ladybird book, is ideal) and scissors.. After choosing your…
As a parent and grandparent I feel that it is important that children are fed good wholesome food which is free of additives that can affect behaviour. This is one of the reasons that I am writing this review. Besshill farm shop is in Arlington approximately 10 miles from Barnstaple, the farm is easy to…
This craft could be undertaken by both adults and older children under some supervision I made mine some years ago at a family workshop group. All that is required is a picture of a Christmas theme (I used a candle) there are many free downloadable images available on google imagines (check for copyright). A…
Thanks to Shannon from education.com who got in touch with this brilliant blog, after reading it myself I knew I had to have her as a guest blogger! Knowing the letters in your name, and the order they go in, is an important sign of nursery readiness. But it’s not as easy as you might think! Children need…
As the title of this blog suggests this is my third attempt at riding for the disabled at The Calvert trust, Exmoor. This time I had a bit of a shaky start when I was hoisted into the saddle, usually Teddy my horse stands like a statue, but for some reason today he was shifting…
On Sunday morning I went to visit Luke an amazing horse, who is owned by a friend. I started my visit by giving Luke a few treats of carrots and apples which understandably he loved. I enjoyed listening to him munching, as well as breathing in the wonderful smell that horses have ( this is…
The small cars, big hearts mini rally began in August 1994 when 3 mini enthusiasts went for a drive around north Devon. They had such a good time that the following year invited more drivers along. Now in it’s 22 year “The Grand Tour” as it is known is famous around North Devon. Over 200…
Regular readers will be aware that before I suffered a stroke 10 years ago I rode thoroughbred horses belonging to friends every weekend. Since stroke I have tried riding for the disabled at the Calvert trust, Exmoor. My second go at this varied from the first in that this time I wore my left stroke…
I have always enjoyed watching the birds in the garden. As a child my grandfather gave me a book about birds so that I could read and learn about those I saw. When I moved into my own home after getting married, my dade me a wooden bird table with a roof we only put…
This weeks post goes back to 2004, I was working as a very busy registered child minder and loving every minute of it. I lived within walking distance of a park, but more often, than not, would drive the children roughly 10 miles to the next town where there was an amazing park complete with…
The subject of this weeks blog, is a suggestion, from Erika; thanks Erika. Before I start, I want to point out that I am very bias towards child minders (as I worked as one, for 14 happy years, only giving up due to ill health) Child minders usually work alone, in their own homes…
I have been a horse lover for as long as I can remember always hoping to get my own( read more about this in my e book Equestrian dreams available to down load from Amazon) so when a friend asked if I would like to assist with bathing her horse I jumped at the chance….
This weeks post is going away from my usual topic of parenting/child minding tips and advice. Recently I have been fortunate in that I have managed to lose a stone in weight quite quickly and when a friend asked how I had achieved this I decided to blog about it. I have never had a…
A second light hearted post this week with an aim to hopefully make everyone smile. One of the many things that I miss since having to give up my beloved child minding is hearing the funny innocent things that children often come up with, luckily I still see many children and these antidotes come to…
Whilst child minding; I often heard the children say funny things. Once, whilst I was covering a topic on healthy eating we were making fruit kebabs and I asked “Where do grapes come from?” A 4 year old shot up her arm and told me “I know Karen; Tesco!” On another occasion; while walking through…
Back in 2004 I launched a campaign to get the out dated play equipment in Rock park, Barnstaple up graded. I have now been made aware of a campaign to save Westacott park. Westacott park is a small park on Westacott Road in the Whiddon valley area of Barnstaple. When I lived in Whiddon valley…
For as long as I can remember; I have always wanted my own Horse. I wished for one every time I blew the candles out on birthday cakes and asked Santa for one each Christmas. I even came up with an idea that if I married a rich farmer when I grew up then I would…
Living in north Devon; I am very fortunate to have some wonderful coastal and countryside walks on my doorstep. Many years ago now; when my boys, were of school age I decided that we would go on a cycle ride together to a lovely place called Fremington Quay. The weather was pleasant; without being too…
You don’t need to spend a fortune to keep children amused doing art and craft activities. When I was childminding; I used to use the back of junk mail (which is often blank on the reverse) as drawing paper. The inside cardboard of cereal boxes is great to use for painting. Put an old adult…