Wednesday 13 January 2021

Peregrinations …

 

Nothing like entering the 14th year of blogging, and a few decades with a few extra years of birthdays …


 

Christmas Narcissi - Cornish style daffodils
Peregrinations of a snail-like life … but the main thing all is well – just desperately slow to get going … there’s no rush – so why stress myself … a decent post will follow soon!!

 

 

Some great friends sent me some cash to enhance my meal options … nothing like a trip to Marks and Sparks for one of their dine-in meals … good choices they had available for me.

 

Extra prawns for my salad lunch

I have plenty to gobble down for a few meals … and I’m looking forward to lunch, and to this evening!!

 



My choices … I love Mediterranean meals, rather than a salad: that I’ll have for lunch, I selected some green veg … some extra prawns for some time … and then the citron tart – one piece eaten last night! 

 

Paella


Tonight I’ll enjoy the above or some parts of them … and the King Prawns chargrilled, chicken and chorizo Paella … with Arborio, saffron infused rice, red peppers and peas …

 

 


Variety of green veg with a zingy sauce
I have some Prosecco and a decent bottle of wine – so I will slump and just enjoy myself … not too much alcohol … but something depending what I feel like …

 


I managed to 
eat one piece
last night!

So that’s the start to an interesting birthday year … what will this coming year hold for blogging and life … a conundrum to ponder, without getting agitated about the future …

 

 


A word has come through from a local group – but it’s via the great medium of tv quizzes … and is most definitely appropriate for now … and our future … 

 

‘Respair’ = fresh hope and recovery from despair … a word we need to hold close to our hearts …

 


 

Snowy lady - in Canada

Well from a damp south coast … better than many of the snow-bound ones I’ve experienced … I shall wander along my lonely path …

 

 

… I am lucky as I have an optimistic and positive approach to life … and just look forward to whenever some form of normality occurs … in the meantime – stay safe, look after yourselves, and all the very best –

 

 

Virus adapted tulip ...
so pretty!

Today is St Hilary’s Day … and features heavily in our culture, as too my life … I remain true to my name …

 

 


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories


37 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Many Happy Returns, Hilary!!! Am a bit tardy - somehow I thought it was tomorrow (same day as Mac1's), but I guess I just tied you to that date so that I at least was in the right month. Oh yes, I have been known to be a month out on folks' birthdays. Some of them family...8~0
Cheers, my dear. YAM xx

Inger said...

Happy St. Hilary day and thank you for teaching me a new word today. You know English is my second language. Peregrinations, what a lovely and useful word. I never picked it up or even saw it before. More awful days lie ahead for the United Stated, but we will make it through, of that I'm sure. Americans are basically kind and caring in my experience. And I think our president and his cohorts sort of blew it, encouraging the riots at the Capitol.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's nice your friends helped you get some really nice meals.
Fourteen years - that's awesome!

John Holton said...

Happy birthday and happy blogiversary!

Liza said...

Happy everything to you! Your meals look delicious and now I'm starving.

Anabel Marsh said...

Happy St Hilary’s Day! 14 years s a good blogging record. However, I surprised myself by looking at my very first blog (long defunct) and discovering it started in December 2007! So I’m not far behind.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I saw it was your birthday - I hope you had a good one with your yummy food and a glass of wine.

Joanne said...

Happy St. Hilary's Day and here's to another positive year. All of your posts are quite decent, my friend. Always spritely, filled with energy, jam packed with word goodies and correct grammar. Your posts are a goal I wish to attain - that shining brass ring.
Yummy food treats - cheers to eating well in January and raising a glass.
Respair - that's perfect! Let's indulge.

Botanist said...

Good food and a glass of wine. A great combination for an anniversary ... or any day, come to think of it!

Janie Junebug said...

When you started blogging, did you have any idea you would continue for so many years? How do you think your blog has changed and developed?

Love,
Janie

Hels said...

After finishing high school, I planned my peregrinations to cover all 193 countries in the world. At first it went very well, covering a good proportion of Britain, Europe, Turkey, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. South East Asia, India, China and the South Pacific countries were greatly enjoyable, and the USA and Canada were wonderful.

But now in my old age, I am slowing down. And Africa and South America are still unexplored :(

retirementreflections said...

Happy Birthday, Hilary!
And congratulations on your 14th year of blogging.
Wishing you a positive year ahead.

Susan Scott said...

Happy Birthday St. Hilary! Your cheerful and optimistic outlook shines through. Sounds like your birthday was delicious. Keep warm, I believe rather chilly in your neck of the woods.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yam – thank you … no worries – birthdays can stretch out … well I’m happy to have extended ones! Yes – it’s the right month … and I hope Mac 1 has a happy day today …

@ Inger – I do know English is your second language … now, I’d have liked to have spoken another language. Not quite sure where ‘Peregrination’ came from … these things seem to sit in my brain and appear at odd times – appropriate for the way life is now …

I sincerely hope all will go well for the USA and elsewhere in the world … particularly at the moment … and then as life proceeds in the world …

@ Alex – yes it was a lovely surprise … much better to choose my own mix of food for meals … and it was delicious and will be. Yup – I know … amazing to me – 14 years is a long time ago …

@ John – thanks so much for both …

@ Liza – sorry I made you feel the need for some food … the meal was delicious …

@ Anabel – thank you … St Hilary’s was a good day to be born – or named on. Oh well done … you’re far ahead in the blogging world … and your present one is a delight to read …

@ Diane – thank you … I can’t work my way round FB … so I’ll have another look today … thanks for your wishes there and here … yes yummy food and the glass of prosecco were a good end to the day …

@ Joanne – thank you … my teachers would be amazed at your comment! I’m just glad I entertain other bloggers and enjoy what I’m doing here. Supper was delicious … and today I have tasty left-overs … left overs will probably last a few days … then back to good normal food and the occasional glass.

Respair … is a good word – I’m glad someone let a group here know about it … in a few weeks I hope life will look to be becoming easier …

@ Ian – thank you – yes it was a good day generally, considering life as it is now. I enjoyed the delicious supper – I don’t often buy that sort of food … so treats yesterday and for a few days …

@ Janie – absolutely not … choosing what I wanted to write about and thus ‘name’ the blog was the biggest challenge I had – always a generalist.
But I was very lucky at the beginning … a commenter set me off on my way – just being me, not specialising, keeping content as interesting as I could for any readers … and then I was lucky again … the blog just developed to where it is now – which thankfully people enjoy …

@ Hels – you have certainly peregrinated … way more than I have and what wonderful journeys and experiences you must have had. It must be so interesting to have those memories … sorry you’re not going to get to (or unlikely to) Africa or South America …

@ Donna – many thanks … life goes on tied in to the blog garnering another year … thanks re the year ahead … I hope for us all – it will be easier and positive.

@ Susan – thank you … that’s a lovely comment – I just thank goodness that I’m optimistic and cheerful as life progresses along. You’re right … delicious supper. Actually not too bad at the moment – it’s damp and warmish – considering other birthdays I’ve experienced – which were really freezing.

Lovely to see you all … and thank you for all your wishes re the aging element and the blogging future … all the best everyone – cheers Hilary

Jemima Pett said...

Happy birthday, Hilary, sorry I'm late :)

Hope those special foods were worth the wait. I'm having great fun making the most of my Oddbox veggie box - some of it really makes the brain embrace new ideas. Who would have known that roast radishes were delicious? I hate them raw, so doubt whether pickling them would work. But pickling is the new bread-making, I gather!

Keep up the good work, and thank you for supporting my blogging efforts. Truly appreciated.
Jemima xx

Keith's Ramblings said...

You clearly had a delicious birthday Hilary! The one thing these difficult times can't put a damper on is blogging! Here's to your 15th year!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Happy birthday, chère gourmande. Your friends are obviously blessed with great wisdom to give you cash instead of one more knick knack to dust and move around from time to time. Looks like Marks and Spencer has a great selection of meals too, especially for a single person who is probably less inclined to prepare interesting feasts for one. As for slumping with wine, I have no doubt that you can slump with the best of them. My most memorable Prosecco was in a garden in Australia with delightful company, great cheese and honeyeaters flitting around the foliage. Of life's memorable moments this one surges to the front row. Again, happy birthday, Hilary. May there be many mire and may I share them all with you. With love from southern Ontario. David

Jz said...

Isn't it lovely when you have something nice to eat that you do not have to cook yourself?
Happy Birthday!

Computer Tutor said...

Happiest of birthdays, Hilary. It's good to have a reason to celebrate. Your birthday dinner sounds delicious! Love those two words--peregrination and respair. Keepers.

Liz A. said...

There's nothing at all wrong with a few simple days and simple pleasures. It's been that sort of a time, hasn't it?

Sandra Cox said...

Happy St. Hilary's Day and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. So glad your friends remembered you. Hope your day was outstanding.
Thank you for introducing the word respair!
Here's to a year of good health.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

A birthday was had how wonderul is that birthdays are special so I hope yours was as well.

Dan said...

Stay true to your name Hilary. Those meal plans sound delightful. I think that's a great way to improve your immediate condition. Happy Birthday!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jemima – lovely to see you here … I enjoying spreading my birthday greetings – so no worry.

My selections were and are excellent – enhanced with fruit salad and Cornish cream … I’m a very happy elderly! I’ve looked at the Oddbox veggie … but have decided that much as I love cooking … I’m doing so much less of it now-a-days … I cook quite simply. Roast radishes – I’d heard of them … but not sure if I’ve tried cooking them … I have them all the time – I love them! I also can’t be bothered to pickle things … or make bread … but then I use so little and hardly eat bread: strange but true …

Thanks for your support – and I enjoy my visits across …

@ Keith – I did have a delicious birthday and am continuing to do so. Yes I can’t but believe the blog is a life-line in the time we live now … I’d intended it to be the life-line as I grew older, but certainly didn’t expect this.

Actually it’s my 14th year … but quite honestly as age hastens – who worries!

@ David – many thanks … yup – it was that very sensible choice, or a hamper … most of which I wouldn’t use now … so I was delighted to indulge myself c/o M&S. I do prefer cooking for myself … but occasionally will purchase a meal … so it was wonderful to find just the kind of food I enjoy.

Sadly – yes I can slump with the best of them … South African days well behind me now! Your evening sounds delightful … and certainly I can remember a few similar outings … and here too … though I’d love to get to Australia at some stage.

I hope I’ll be around for a couple more decades and some years … and perhaps I’ll be able to get back to Canada at some stage … thanks so much for your wishes …

@ Jz – thanks so much … it is absolutely lovely to have something out … and things I haven’t cooked – though I enjoy cooking … so for my birthday this was a real treat …

@ Jacqui – thank you … it was surprisingly happy – considering I was in lock-down … but being able to get out for some delicious M&S food – it was/is good!

Excellent you enjoy the two words … Keepers as you say …

@ Liz – yes … there’s no choice … so this birthday made a real change – I was very appreciative …

@ Sandra – thanks so much … and yes St Hilary’s day – strange but true; the day was perfect in the situation we find ourselves in. Respair is a good word isn’t it ...

@ Jo-Anne – thank you all well for ‘my day’ …

@ Dan – I can’t see me changing now … and Laura’s offer was a wonderful suggestion … which I took full advantage of … and still am! Good birthday time it was considering all things …

Lovely to see you all here … and thanks for your wishes re my birthday day and the future … here’s to us all for an easier and happier year ahead …

RESPAIR to you all … cheers Hilary

Deborah Weber said...

What a lovely collection of things to celebrate - many happy wishes Hilary! And repair is a fabulous concept - let's really lean into it.

Pradeep Nair said...

Happy Birthday, Hilary. Glad to see the progress with blogging as well.

Sandra Cox said...

Are those daffodils birthday flowers? They're quite perky and pretty. Party on!

Victoria Marie Lees said...

Thank you, Saint Hilary, for teaching me a new word. Respair. I need to remember that one. We all need to remember this word. The flowers are gorgeous and the food makes me hungry. Time to make dinner. All best to you, my friend, in 2021!

Rhodesia said...

Congratulations on 14 years. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your posts and wow, I have learnt so much over the years. Keep up the good work.
Stay safe and keep well, Diane

Debbie D. said...

Happy Birthday, Hilary and happy blogging! Prosecco is lovely and your meal looks delicious. All the best!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Deborah – thank you … I too was delighted to hear about ‘Respair’ as a word and especially its meaning …

@ Pradeep – thank you … surprisingly it was a happy birthday … and to know the blog is ever progressing happily along …

@ Sandra – the narcissi were a Christmas present for my SIL and bro … they are special as they come from Cornwall … delicious scent …

@ Victoria – I know St Hilary … pretty special! Though Respair is so much more interesting than me as St Hilary – that beggars belief ?!… The Narcissi are just lovely aren’t they … while my meals were quite delicious …

@ Diane – thank you … I’m so delighted you enjoy the blog and its varieties around life. I’ll keep going along the same route – no need to change …

@ Debbie – I did have some Prosecco with some of the other meal offerings … in fact I’m finishing off things today! A long-lasting birthday …

Thanks so much to you all for commenting and for your birthday wishes … stay safe all of you – all the best - Hilary

bookworm said...

Enjoy the remainder of those meals. That was the perfect gift, wasn't it? "Respair" - only time will tell what headway we in the United States can make with the mess we are in. I wish you on the "otherside of the pond" well. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

Denise Covey said...

Hi Hilary! Glad you're still enjoying birthday treats. Prosecco. Citron tarts ... I drooled my way through your post. Now I join you in ‘Respair’. Who knows what 2021 holds?

Nick Wilford said...

Sounds like you had a lovely birthday. "Respair" - sounds like something to hold on to. Here's hoping this time next year we're all in a better place.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alana – thankyou … I’ve been enjoying the left-overs – and yes it was the perfect gift and a fun one to have. Respair … I just hope we can raise ourselves out the various morasses the world is in at the moment … and bring ourselves some cheer …

@ Denise – another year … well why not boost my self-morale! M & S choices were delicious … and I shall drool thinking about my hermitess day with such goodies. As we all seem to be saying … I just hope it’s a more caring, thoughtful world …

@ Nick – yes even though I was on my own – it was a good day … while knowing about ‘Respair’ - as Spring gets nearer … we all have more hope – while I sincerely wish recovery from all those in despair …

Thanks to you three – good to see you … we’re on our way to finding out about the future … take care and with thoughts to stay safe - Hilary

Lynda Dietz said...

Happy 14 years of blogging and happy belated birthday! What wonderful things to celebrate, and what terrific friends you must have to get such a fun gift of splurging on yummies that you can enjoy and never have to dust or store on a shelf. I love consumable gifts! Best wishes for the upcoming days and years.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Lynda - thank you ... yes 13 full years and into my fourteenth - seems amazing to me. Yes my god-daughter's parents are very special and it was such a generous thought ... exactly never have to dust off! Just guzzle and enjoy ...thanks for your wishes.

@ Lisa - from the next post commented: "I like that word too, Peregrinating. I thought of the bird, and the story of Miss Peregrine and her Peculiar Children. Love it."
@ Lisa - Glad you like the word … ‘Peregrinating’ … I have to say I hadn’t thought of the bird, or the story about Miss Peregrine and her Peculiar Chicken. – thank you …

Stay safe to both of you and all readers - Hilary