Healthy breakfasts?

Although a fried breakfast is considered unhealthy, whenever on holiday I just LOVE a full English breakfast.  I  find it keeps me going for most of the day.  Must be all the protein.   As a treat, we sometimes take our children to La Hogue Farm Shop for a real cooked breakfast.  I love the hash browns, the perfectly cooked egg, the sausages and bacon!

Of late, because of my stroke, I have been more limited in my breakfast choices. Today I had 1.5 Weetabix, half a banana,  followed by a boiled egg and toast, with a cup of tea.  The Weetabix and banana go down easily despite my poor swallow. I think I'd struggle with a full English.

 Given a free choice, I'd prefer the breakfast shown below at http://por-img.cimcontent.net/api/assets/bin-201007/9d64a268287e96414c347f2ab6b45158.jpg even though it is supposed to be unhealthy. Hopefully I should be able to eat a full English breakfast again before too long.

http://por-img.cimcontent.net/api/assets/bin-201007/9d64a268287e96414c347f2ab6b45158.jpg

Anglesey Abbey with grandchildren - normality

Amandine and Lucien

This morning we took the grandchildren Lucien (6) and Amandine (3) to the nearby Anglesey Abbey grounds for a run around, a play with a frisby, some races and a simple picnic. What was so good for me in my present state of health (stroke) was the sheer NORMALITY of the morning. The grandchildren hardly noticed my stroke and, to them, it was the sort of thing they always do! It was so nice to just enjoy them in the same way I've always done. Afterwards I was tired but the little one is having a sleep and Lucien having a quiet time.

Lis with grandchildren

Grandchildren here

Tim cutting the lawn, with Lucien and Amandine (in background)

For the next few days we have our "London" grandchildren here staying on their own with us. Their dad brought them up and mum is joining them on Sunday when, weather permitting , we plan an Easter egg hunt in the garden. If it rains, we'll have it inside. Their dad kindly cut our front lawn saving me a job. Both our boys have been very kind to me in my recent illness (stroke). Dad joins us again on Monday when they all leave for home.

Latest Article

Barring any late changes of plan, my latest article should be published in Radio Communications magazine next month (June edition out mid May). I am currently awaiting the page proofs to check. This will be the third article in this publication in recent years.

I have had a string in Practical Wireless  as well as a few in German, Czech and Japanese mags translated before printing. One article is currently awaiting publication in the USA. This has already appeared in a book printed in the UK.

The  articles cover a wide range of subject material.

World War One - what a waste!

At the moment there is a lot in the media about WW1. With the perspective of 100 years behind me, I cannot but think this was the most pointless of wars for ordinary people. Millions dead and for what real gain?

Just 21 years later we were at war again, arguably because the settlement at the end of WW1 was so bad.

As far as I can see we only got involved in WW1 (sorry, ordinary folk were made to get involved) because our elders and "betters" had agreed nonsense alliances and stirred up hatred.

Brahms

The Christmas truce of 1914 was a real leveler: ordinary  folk just wanted to live peaceful lives. Ordinary folk were just cannon-fodder in WW1 on both sides for their aristocratic elders. Looking back, I cannot but believe this carnage should have been avoided. This was just slaughter.

The kaiser may have been bad, but I doubt the masses of Germen men and women were. This is the same nation that just 50 years earlier had seen the first playing of Ein Deutches Requiem by Brahms; a nation rich in culture. Hitler's evil was arguably a result of the settlement following WW1. Looking back at all the arguments for and against WW1, nothing has changed my views: it was a bad war that should never have started.

Unless we are careful we in the west will believe our own propaganda and get involved in a new European war over parts of Ukraine. There are always several views of a particular situation.

We must learn the lessons of history. Don't let tyrants have it their way but don't fight pointless wars. Listen to the real people, not politicians, military generals and aristocrats. Ordinary people matter most - listen to their voices.

Physiotherapy

For a number of weeks now I have been attended a physio session (90 minutes each week) at a hospital in Ely. These are group sessions (5 in the group) for people like me who have had a stroke or a stroke-like condition. There are just 2 more (of 8) sessions to go. They have been excellent.

When these end I shall continue physio but in Newmarket where there is a small charge. Up to now, all treatment has been free on the NHS. There is a small fee for referrals to Newmarket.

Beautiful weather and gardening

The back garden - flowering cherry on RHS in lawn

Today has been another beautiful day although not too warm. There is lots of blossom out in the garden - the flowering cherry tree in the lawn is rapidly losing its blossom, like snow.

This afternoon we had a trip to the garden centre to buy some rose spray to rid the roses of greenfly and blackfly as our usual treatment of soapy water was not enough.

After we got back my wife cut the back lawn. I did a little, but but my giddiness was too great to do too much.