tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9002460973262410682026-06-09T10:39:33.648+04:00Life with ChickenrubyDiary of a 49 year old, married woman, living in a different country to her husband, with 5 adult kids and 2 grandchildren. Writing about anything and everything that takes her fancy.
Focusing on daily life, a well travelled cat and dog, a passion for gardening, arts and crafts, house renovations, expat life, travel, days out, occasional cookery posts, construction photography and anything that annoys me that I need to rant about.
chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.comBlogger2896125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-31929517367942864182026-06-09T01:14:47.826+04:002026-06-09T01:14:47.826+04:00The best bits of May 2026The best bits of May in photos in no particular order.A visit to Northern Ireland to see the grandchildren.I waved a cheery bye to the vet and said 'see you next year' after Pushkins jabs. The vet looked at me hopefully as Pushkins is now 18.A visit to Fairytale Farm with our granddaughter.New lights in garden and everything in full bloom.A visit to the RHS Malvern Spring Festival and some ideas chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-42712574010010462652026-06-06T16:08:26.583+04:002026-06-06T16:08:26.693+04:00Week 22 2026 - One daily Positive and Project 365The negativesAlways sad to say goodbye to the family. We should be used to it after years of living abroad and our children choosing to live in Northern Ireland and Australia, we could choose to move to Northern Ireland but then we'd be leaving parents and another children and their family behind plus all our friends, my job and have to move house again and I just can't be doing with all the chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-87832226095696705842026-06-05T09:00:00.000+04:002026-06-05T09:00:00.191+04:005th-7th June 2026 - Post Comment LoveWelcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-29062863839843773922026-06-04T17:55:56.103+04:002026-06-04T17:55:56.103+04:00Word of the week - ToleranceTolerance is the capacity to endure, accept, or allow something.Patience is the capacity to endure without becoming annoyed or upset. I had to fight to get a full cup in Starbucks at the services this week. I got a grande latte paper cup, poured my latte into it and watched them look at a less than half filled cup and then look at me as if I'd created the problem and then rather chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-84804505952430611732026-06-02T10:34:56.470+04:002026-06-02T10:34:56.470+04:00Days out in my campervan May 2026The post this month is about the campervan rather than where I've been in it.We belong to the caravan and motorhome club. It costs around £66 a year and the facilities are brilliant. We spent the May bank holiday at East Freshwater in Wales and decided to take the blow up awning as there was two of us and the plan was long walks and chilling at the camp site and not taking the campervan off the chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-85986312522576606432026-05-30T09:00:00.000+04:002026-05-30T09:00:00.115+04:00Week 21 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365. Northern Ireland.The negativesI've not stopped all week and I'm absolutely shattered. Eldest grandson has been in childcare most of the week as it's not half term in Northern Ireland. I'm behind with my reading and I ache from head to toe.The positivesThe weather has been perfect in Northern Ireland, in the mid 20's. I got to spend lots of time with the grandchildren. I've finally caught up with all my blog chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-4931472116134397222026-05-29T09:00:00.000+04:002026-06-03T01:10:23.887+04:00Post Comment Love - 29th - 31st May 2026. Northern Ireland.Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-70023148934019201302026-05-28T11:12:06.727+04:002026-05-28T11:12:06.831+04:00Word of the week - MovingI'm in Northern Ireland visiting my Son, DIL and two grandsons for the week.They're moving house and I'm here along with the outlaws helping out with lifting, moving, cleaning and childcare.It's been a little tense at times with 5 adults trying to make decisions and the occasional fighting over who is getting the grandchildren hugs lol.I've been sleeping in my campervan on my son's drive for the chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-68794421931319952312026-05-25T09:00:00.000+04:002026-05-25T09:00:00.117+04:00My Garden in May 2026Peter has been working hard in the garden in May. I've been supervising.He's painted recoated the shed and the raised beds and set up a watering system on the raised beds for me.With the extension pipe fixed on the wall in the back garden it's made it a lot easier to water the garden now. I've been using this Ikea planter for the over run from the waterbutt and fill up the watering cans and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-75885562892477934662026-05-23T14:47:11.130+04:002026-05-23T14:47:11.220+04:00Week 20 - One Daily Positive and Project 365The negativesThe cat is on a curfew after a serious fight this week which took 3 adults in their pyjamas at 10 o'clock at night out in the street to break it up. Me, Peter and the next door neighbour, Claire.The positivesSad news from two friends this week. Two friends that have been my support network since Stephanie died, both worried about triggering me. I feel sad, the news was too close to chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-57561681657279471092026-05-22T09:00:00.000+04:002026-05-22T09:00:00.115+04:00Post Comment Love - 22nd - 25th May 2026Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-81307506235273270352026-05-21T09:00:00.000+04:002026-05-21T09:00:00.166+04:00Word of the week - SupportTwo friends who supported me when Stephanie died experienced traumatic events this weeks and were worried about telling me in case I was triggered by their news. My PTSD wasn't triggered, that is under control now, but I was upset by the news, it was too close to home and I realised that for the first time in a long time I had to deal with the upset by myself, my support network to turn to chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-1465797857996473362026-05-21T00:46:05.192+04:002026-05-21T00:46:05.192+04:00My Garden in April 2026There was a lot of tidying in the garden in April.The garden furniture was cleaned and returned to the patio once it had been jet washed and all the pots were taken from their winter storage and the cloches and fleeces put away and everything put into place for the rest of the year. Still looking for a home for the orange buckets with the bay tree cuttings.The temporary metal framed green house chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-48738226528763512262026-05-16T13:09:12.264+04:002026-05-16T13:09:12.342+04:00Week 19 May 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365The negativesBeen having too many late nights, so rectified that with setting an alarm and getting into bed by 9.30pm a couple of nights.The positivesI've joined in with some classes at the gym. I'm not one for joining in with things or having to be in places at set times but I've been enjoying the classes and I've been booking ahead to make sure I go regularly. I went running again, it was hard chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-5771052410702412462026-05-15T09:00:00.000+04:002026-05-16T19:56:22.962+04:0015th - 17th May 2026 Post Comment Love - Mental Health Awareness Week 2026Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-26445341134696026992026-05-14T09:00:00.001+04:002026-05-14T23:51:03.882+04:00Word of the Week - Joining in and improving my mental health.I don't like joining in with things. So I've picked Joining as my word of the week.I do a lot of things but I'm not a fan of joining in with things. I get apprehensive about joining in with groups of people and activities that are already established.I've got a lot of friends but not many live locally, not many have the same interests as me and not many are available with family commitments to chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-88222350022308507462026-05-12T00:56:00.004+04:002026-05-12T00:56:34.166+04:00Days out in my campervan in April 2026We're not actually having many days out in the campervan, just weekends away. Which is ok with us as I aim to spend at least one night a month in the van this year. I'm booked for May and July/August, but struggling to fit something in for June, at this rate It'll be a night at a campsite near work. I take the campervan to work once a week to give it a run or when Peter needs the car as it'schickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-44429105495723094212026-05-09T09:00:00.003+04:002026-05-12T23:20:41.470+04:00Week 18 May 2026 One Daily Positive and Project 365The negativesThere was no mobile signal on the campsite which we knew about at time of booking but there was wifi but it was rubbish, kept kicking us out and was very slow. It wasn't a big issue really but annoying as it is supposed to be a benefit of our annual membership.I feel I'm lacking purpose at the moment having spent 6 months training for a marathon that was run 4 weeks ago now.The chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-77415051713430048812026-05-08T09:00:00.001+04:002026-05-08T09:00:00.117+04:00Post Comment Love 8th - 10th May 2026Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-79124084852505847262026-05-08T01:52:00.002+04:002026-05-09T01:33:59.121+04:00Word of the week - PurposeI've made lots of plans this week and I've got lots of things to look forward to over the next few months.My diary has been full of coffee dates this week and is getting booked up for next week also. I went to The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 after work on Thursday for a couple of hours and we're going again on Sunday with my friend who is staying over on Saturday night. But before that it's chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-80432829965640642232026-05-07T01:47:00.001+04:002026-05-07T01:47:22.327+04:00Days out in my campervan in March 2026I only had one camping trip in March, a weekend in Wales.I stopped a night in Barry ready for a parkrun and a visit to watch Barry Town play football on the saturday before heading off to Newport in the evening ahead of visiting my nephew and his family on the Sunday before heading home via visiting a friend in Monmouth.The campsite in Barry was approximately 3 miles outside the town so on chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-41497978847114650192026-05-02T20:54:00.004+04:002026-05-12T23:20:59.904+04:00Week 17 April 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365The negativesI injured my knee running on Tuesday, I'm struggling to walk and driving has been hard.The positivesThings have been going a bit mad (for me) on tiktok with a couple of videos and the messaging which has been quite entertaining. I love chatting on WhatsApp to my son in Australia throughout the football.Saturday 25th April Out for coffee with Peter in the morning then train to chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-19670437099531393732026-05-01T09:00:00.001+04:002026-05-01T09:00:00.134+04:00Post Comment Love - 1st - 4th May 2026Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-79784163656391954282026-04-29T20:10:00.002+04:002026-04-29T20:10:14.112+04:00Word of the week - Can't. I can run a Marathon ... but I can't ...... squeeze a tube of face cream so I've had to buy it in a pump. It actually works out cheaper.... open the medication I need for my hiatus hernia caused by the training for the marathon, so I've bought sachets which I can only open with a pair of scissors. It does cost a lot more but I can't carry the large bottle with me anyway.... I struggle to open the cover on the milk, the lid on new jars,chickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-900246097326241068.post-35735020816123106722026-04-28T01:44:00.000+04:002026-04-28T01:44:11.924+04:00The best bits of April 2026In no particular order:Our next cat. Been hanging around our house and garden for quite a while now despite Pushkins seeing it off on a regular basis, although at the time of writing not seen for a week or two.Enjoying the sun, but why she has to sit here, I do not know.Watching us while we do the garden.Not helpful at all.A visit to Brockhampton Estate.A day out at countrytastic with child2, Dilchickenrubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731936852696584642noreply@blogger.com2