January

We have had quite a few red morning skies in sunny Surrey this month.  On a recent Sunday morning  when I walked across the frosty lawn to take this pic, it made a delightful crunching noise.  

When it's cold like this the air sounds different and the birds are silent saving all their energy to fluff up and keep warm.  The garden is barren but I can see my mini daffodils pushing through the soil and my honeysuckle has sent out some shoots.

The allotments have had spectacular sunsets.

We had just one evening of snow, washed away by heavy rain next day.  A fleeting glimpse of Narnia.  The recent high winds took a fence down behind my allotment, which was swiftly replaced by the local council, I went up last week and covered the paths in woodchip - 6 barrow loads.  My onions and garlic are doing ok but celeriac hasn't got bigger than a parsnip so not expecting much there.  I bought my seed potatoes last week and am storing in the garage until time to chit.

When anyone is at the allotment and decides to  put the kettle on (there's a donated wood burning stove) and make the shelter cosy, they often send out a little message to us all on our whatsapp group saying 'kettles on' - this is in addition to our regular Thursday evening 'gathering' where anyone can join in who owns a plot, bringing snacks to share,  a bottle or a flask.  We have a pizza oven, a gas bbq and a fire pit, all donated so we are always cosy and often cook our dinner on the Thursday nights and share.  The shelter was built by the Stewards from free donated wooden pallets.

I got the Thomson and Morgan 161 bulbs for £9.99 offer!   some will go in the garden but most on the allotment.  There are 2 beehives on the plot at the very end of the site and although they are likely to travel miles to get their nectar, I thought I would do my bit for bees in general so am growing more flowers than veg this year.  The hives are owned by retiree plot holders who went on a bee keeping course and bought all the correct safety equipment to comply with our Town Council regulations.  although the hives are theirs, they share the experience, we can all come and observe (they even have spare beekeeper suits to borrow).

Our allotment group has started a monthly walk (heading to a suitable pub for lunch and then either walking back or getting lifts off others who have just come for the lunch only, dogs can come too) which I am going to join in March when I am retired.  I am looking forward to walking in the woods and fields with everyone.

I have had several days out in Brighton recently. I spent a large chunk of the day this time in Waterstones looking at travel books and didn't venture near the sea at all - too cold!   I treated myself to some Afghan earrings from Yashar Bish recently , a shop that sells Turkish and Afghan rugs but also has a small selection of jewellery and some fabulous glass lamps.

This is Yashar Bish....

There is a lot of art like this on walls and buildings. It changes frequently.

I have new eyebrows! mine were almost non existent after years of attacking them with a razor in the 70s when it was trendy to draw them in higher and take our eyeshadow up to the original brow line!  They never grew back well so I have had microblading, small hairlike cuts filled with semi permanent ink, the tattoos will last for 6-18 months before topping up.  This is after my first session, I had a second session to fill any gaps which is currently healing.

We had our 6 monthly trip to the chiropodist.  It's so important to care for feet!  

I took advantage of a recent promotion on Eurostar and booked a trip to Paris for hubby and me in the Summer at a knockdown price (549 total for 2)  for 3 nights with hotel and breakfast.  Paris  has been on my list of things to do for a long time, there is an awful lot to cram in but I will do my best! I love train rides (I think hubby will enjoy this too).

Hubby is busy looking at a trip to India for Spring- he  does the research, booking and itinerary. I leave him to it.  Can't wait to find out what he has planned for us.  Applying for an online visa for India is challenging (for me), uploading pictures that the site will accept has proved difficult in the past but I am hoping it won't be too stressy - this is the only challenging bit in my opinion.  Drivers who don't turn up to get us to the airport, internal flights that involve a massive scrum to get through security, busy traffic with no apparent order, monkeys swinging from power cables above your head as you walk, none of that is stressy by comparison! 

On 24th February I will become a State pensioner and stop working.  I have resigned from my job and currently working notice.  My allotment, garden, house decorating and catching up with friends will take a lot of my time, not to mention, gym, swimming, listing things on Vinted and all the travel we would like to do.

Thank you for stopping by.  

More Zanzibar and end of 2024

 A few more pics of  Stonetown, Zanzibar .

 

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As there was no public transport from our hotel location, we hired a guide who drove us, showed us around but we asked him to make the guide short and leave us for the rest of the morning to explore alone as we wanted to see everyday life rather than tourist hotspots.

At the beach: (it is illegal to take shells from here, but I wouldn't anyway, they are far prettier where they belong and are much needed homes for fish and crabs).

After we had got back to our routine at home, before we knew it was the run up to Christmas.  We didn't have much time for decorating but I did make my wreath for the front door and decorated our fake tree with my vintage baubles.  Hubby puts the fairy lights at the back of the housed so we can enjoy them from the conservatory.

We did small secret santa pressies this year as we wanted the family gathering to be focused on spending time together rather than spending money  (I got a rubic cube).   We had roast chicken (much cheaper than a turkey 2 chickens for £8) plenty of veg, all the trimmings, pigs in blankets, mince pies and some nice wine.  We watched Gavin and Stacey on tv - I think the whole of the UK was watching!  and I shed a few tears at the ending :)  This is the last time they will film for this much loved series.

We went to London to see the shop windows and Christmas lights.

I will be working late shifts 31st Dec and 1st Jan so will take this opportunity to wish everyone who follows my blog a Happy New Year 2025.

Betty 

  

Zanzibar

 Hello Blogland. Here I am in Zanzibar, Tanzania.  You will need a cuppa and spare time as this is a long post!  The journey here took about 15 hours,   travelling via Dubai then  a 1 hour road trip to arrive at this beautiful, Sun soaked paradise with white sandy beach, tropical climate and relaxing surroundings!

We live close to the airport, and our son (who works there) knows the flight timetable so well, he sent us the  pic above of our flight taking off, view  from our garden! 

We are staying all inclusive on Pwani beach, with a beautiful room, with wonderful staff, great food... and a fabulous beach!  I have never swum in a sea that is literally as hot as a very hot bath!  Its weird.

This is the new me. I had my hair low lighted back to my natural dark brown and left the  grey that has crept in at the sides, no point in fighting it.  I'm also testing out dark eyebrows before taking the plunge shortly to have them tattooed.

The necklace I'm wearing is Indian gold. Hubby bought it for me in Dubai about 43 years ago!  I don't wear it often as it's so special.

The hotel is in an undeveloped area. There is no transport infrastructure outside.  But everything we need is here.

We spend most of our time on the beach..there's a coral reef about a mile out, sandbanks to explore at low tide and swimming in a gentle. Hot sea when the tide is in.  We also have a lovely pool.

As we are staying all.inclusive we are enjoying a huge variety of food including local dishes and quite a few very nice vegetarian curries at breakfast, lunch and dinner!

When the tide goes out you can walk with a hotel guide to find starfish and coloured fish.  They also told us the local women plant and harvest seaweed, a government initiative to create employment, the seaweed makes soap and beauty products sold to tourists.... I stayed by the pool but hubby bravely waded through the shallows to take pics.

There are Masai people here who have done their best to sell us trinkets on the beach, the hotels create work for them as entertainment (authentic dancing, acrobatics).

Lady harvesting seaweed to make soap

We have visited Stonetown, the biggest town and market on the island.  We went to see the house where Freddie Mercury lived.  We also explored the narrow streets and the market.

Above: a great way to recycle plastic bottles!

Freddie Mercury's family home

Doors here are interesting, some of the houses in Stonetown are over 100 years old.  The carving of flowers at top of doors indicates how many families shared the house; doors carved with chains down each side indicate the house/premises of a slave trader.

We visited a spice garden and learned the medicinal uses for some of the plants growing on Zanzibar. In particular, iodine and aloe Vera.

Mangoes

ginger

mace

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red dye for lipstick

We're still here!.... if you read this far, congratulations,  it was a long post.