Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Ros Curtis

Ros Curtis

Writer and traveller

Sparks began to fly

 
I can’t believe it! I’ve just had my first car insurance renewal and it’s gone up £300 plus! Taking the total of running the damn thing to well over £1,000 a year and that’s not counting the petrol.

Is it worth it I ask myself? Probably not. 

If only I hadn’t given that planter at the garden centre a little nudge and trashed the front wing of the car last winter.

Read the rest of this post »

I'm no number cruncher

Why did I do it? It was bad enough when I changed the electricity supplier but I went and  changed my bank account to take advantage of the cheap travel insurance that comes with it, and it’s been an exercise in number crunching ever since. 

As a result I now have a box full of letters -  each one bears a number pertaining to the current account, the savings account, the credit card, the discount shopping card and the loyalty card.

Four cards for one bank account and each card has a pin number and security details, to be registered for internet banking, and they are all different. Help!
I was never much good with numbers failing the 11 plus exam twice on maths. I’m useless at adding up.

Read the rest of this post »

The old codgers guide to washing up

What is it with men and washing up?  

 Halfway through my morning cuppa The Grump is hovering over me trying to grab the cup. Before it’s even cold, the cup is washed, dried and put away neatly in the cupboard.

I shouldn’t complain, if I linger over my lunch, he’s whipped up all the dishes, washed and dried them and cleared up all the crumbs

His desire to wash dishes reminds me of my father, who would have run a mile had he been asked to do anything around the house when I was growing up. 

But I suppose boredom comes with old age and dish washing beckoned him.

He meant well but never wore his glasses to wash the dishes and consequently they had to be re-washed as soon as he had vacated the kitchen.

Read the rest of this post »

It's never too late to follow your dreams

It’s amazing what you can achieve, even when the odds are stacked against you. 
All you need is a little time on your hands to ponder what’s been missing in your life, then take a leap of faith to fulfil your dreams. 
Our mate Dave Dene has changed his life in the last 12 months. 
He used to play guitar with The Denims, Shakin' Stevens backing band, way before Shaky was discovered.
The Denims were possibly the only Welsh band to audition at London's famous 2is coffee bar in 1964 
where so much British talent was discovered - Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Joe Brown, Eden Kane, Screaming Lord Such and Mickie Most to name just a few. 
After their audition Dave was approached by a representative of Van Morrison and they were given the opportnity to tour as support band to the Irish R&B band 'Them'. 
The boys declined as at that moment in time as they had grand plans to follow The Beatles to Germany on the wave of British pop. 

Read the rest of this post »

In the pink

Kids_169

Last night I woke up at 3am absolutely freezing.  After fidgeting around trying to get warm for 10 or 15 minutes I got up and fished out my ancient dressing gown - fondly known in the family as my pinkie - and went back to bed wearing it and nodded off right away.

I’ve had my pinkie for 32 years and it’s still going strong.  My mum bought it for me the Christmas I was expecting our Rachel and it has seen me through 31 winters. My daughters have grown up with it and I’ve snuggled all my grandchildren in it when they were tiny.

It’s practically a rag now but it was the most beautiful present my mother ever gave me. It’s made of the softest wool, knitted like the finest baby shawl. When it was new it had swansdown around the neck and cuffs, with satin buttons down the front.  The material was so fine it floated when I walked but it was as warm as toast.

Read the rest of this post »

How to lose friends and alienate people

Scales
I could hardly believe my ears, the Slimming World consultant said I’d lost weight for the SECOND week running!

I didn’t expect that, I usually lose some, stay the same, then put it back on, in a never-ending circle.

I couldn’t stop smiling all through the class and even stayed for the raffle.

I don’t really mind the diet, the meals I’ve made so far (apart from the odd eggy ones) are not bad, even if they do take hours to prepare and cook from scratch. 

All the recipes are for four servings and the secret is to have your meal and then freeze three. Unfortunately, I usually make enough for a family of five and freeze enough for tomorrow’s lunch.

Read the rest of this post »

For once the recession has done us a favour

OUR local garden centre was closed for some time and someone came up with the brilliant idea of turning the whole area into allotments.

The plots came complete with green house, shed and water butts.

Ever since our Duane picked up an application form, the Grump has been buzzing around planning the layout, starting with fruit bushes, a crop of potatoes then a whole kaleidoscope of delicious healthy, free food. 

Of course, he’s no newcomer to growing his own. When the kids were small he had an allotment as well as half of our garden being taken over with wigwams salad beds, even parsley for our rabbit Humphrey. 

But it’s all in the preparation you see, the Gump reminisced, the soil has to be in tip top condition, turned over and hoed before planting.

Read the rest of this post »

The Rules of Retirement

Retirement is not all it's cracked up to be...
My husband Norman, the grumpiest grampy in living memory, had been trying to persuade me to retire for a year or two, and when I finally agreed to sell and buy a small retirement apartment near our three daughters, we expected to continue life at a leisurely pace. 
Theatre trips, picnics, days trips and holidays were all part of the plan. No chance!
I also planned a healthy lifestyle. Swimming twice a week, walking in the park, lazing on a summer's afternoon on the banks of a river. Not exactly happening at the moment.
Ever since we moved in it has been a struggle to find time to cut my toenails! My dream of rising late, giving the flat the once-over and off for the day, has gone straight out of the window.

Read the rest of this post »