Happy May day. 1st May sees the 170th wedding anniversary of Anne Pattingale. One has to wonder what the givers thought of the groom, seeing he gets no mention whatsoever!

Easter Sunday ringing featured rounds & call changes, little bob, stedman, plain hunt and Grandsire. And managed to escape without being set alight by the brazier, it was quite breezy! #bellringing

If life is all about being open to new experiences, may I present this week's new experience. Cola with orange juice. Bizarrely quite a bit better than it sounds.

This afternoon's culture vulturing was Deep Azure at the Globe's indoor theatre. Play was very good, seat the most uncomfortable I've sat on in a long time!

This morning's culture vulturing, Tracey Emin exhibition at Tate Modern. Challenging, but ultimately life enhancing.

Uk centric post. With the enthronement of a female Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday, what are the remaining posts or roles that gave yet to havd a female incumbent? We've done monarch, PM, 4 offices of state, lord chancellor, what's missing?

It's approaching the annual book buying opportunity. What should I treat myself to and why? Wgat has blown your socks off, doesn't need to be recent. 📚 #booksky. PS. I reserve the right to not pick your selection!

@mthrjo.bsky.social saw this paragraph on writing, and thought of you. From Books do Furnish a Room, book 10 of Powell's Dance to the Music of Time series.

The upside of getting the brillo pad on the frying pan is that it is shiny bright again. The dowside is I seem to have removed my fingerprints and that poses problems using my phone. Handy tips for domestic goddesses!

Sunday morning ringing was Stedman, plain hunt, Bristol, Cambridge called round with little bob and rounds and call changes. Ended up rearranging the furniture in Costa to fit us all in. #bells #bellringing

Afternoon coffee and cake isn't helping me get through my list of things to do, but it is very nice.

Ringing was rounds and call changes, stedman, cambrifge and grandsire. #bells #bellringing

Found out that I can connect my bionic ears* to my phone and play audio directly into my ears! This could be a game changer. * hearing aids, but calling them bionic ears makes me feel less old and decrepit. 🦻

Things I seem to have missed number 632: it's mother's day tomorrow. Neither of us having mothers any more, it had completely passed me by. Went into the florists and was bemused by the levels of floral busy-ness. Flowers for delivery in the week ordered. 💐

Got hearing aids today. The world is very loud. It seems I type like a herd of wildebeast rampaging across the plains...

Sunday morning ringing was Stedman, Grandsire, Little bob and a few call changes to time. Then coffee before a quarter after the service. #bells #BellRinging

A week in Europe with work, flew back today. Which meant I was not at all awake for ringing. Cop out on the treble a couple of times, plus some Stedman. 🥱

If I described someone as requiring a little less conversstion and a little more action, are you taking that comment on board or starting to hum along? Guessing an age and cultural divide at work... m.youtube.com/watch?v=0w94...

Wrapping up February's reviews, with one DNF. My first since 2023! I don't DNF very often, but this was really awful. 📚 helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/w...

Ringing this morning was busy. Stedman, plain hunt, bristol, cambridge & call changes. Now refueling with a cuppa. #bell #bellringing #ringing

Parcrl arrived, how exciting. Done up with bird tape, even better!

A fitness whatapp group I'm in sets a daily challenge. Today's was side lunges. Not in today's dress! I did squats instead!

Today we had (liturgically late) pancakes. I had mine with lemon and brown sugar, he has orange juice and white sugar. Clearly one of us is misguided (it's him, btw). Classic double act, I make batter, he cooks pancakes. I can't turn a pancake for love nor money

Reading list Books read in 2026 Book 1 Title: Edenglassie Author: Melissa Lucashenko Published: 2023 Rating: ** Why: Shelterbox book club

Some random musing on reading and visits over the last 2 weeks. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/02/22/w...

Been visiting the sun.

Sunday morning ringing featured little bob, plain hunt cambridge and call changes. Then coffee and caramel waffles, because why not?! ☕️🧇

Went to a #bellringing funeral today. Brian was a real gent. Husband's known him since he was a teen, I met him 30 odd years ago. It was a really lovely service and a great pleasure to catch up with people we've not seen in years. Some people haven't changed a bit, which is really reassuring.

That point in ringing a method when you completely run out of blue line... 😶 More memory required! #bellringing

Had a day out in that there London. Lee Miller exhibition at @tate.bsky.social Tate Britain, then saw Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall. As it was peeing it down, decided to have dinner in town, where I did not need the Afogato, but I can't resist. Pics follow.

Here’s a poem called ‘Talking Down’.

Going to see a play later in the week, based on a book, which I have read before. Do I try and read the book again first, or just go with the flow. Oh! decisions...

This week's reading matter, 2 non-fiction. The Mushroom Tapes & The Secret Painter. Both quite different. Recommend the second over the former. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/n... #booksky 📚

Success! Meeting done in 55 minutes! Hurrah. Just got minutes to write next.

An unusual Friday night in and watching old TotP. 1978 a bit early, 1989 more in my wheelhouse.

For the first time in a couple of years, I did 10 pressups in a row. Proper, on my toes pressups. Always good to prove that I'm not decrepit quite yet... #fitness #gymbunny

Simon @biggreenbooks.bsky.social, can you get this? Feel like pirates might be just what I need!

This week's finishes and an interesting evening out. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/3... 📚

Ringing's made "interesting" when one of your bells is out of action. Ringing proceeded on a not at all true scale. Stedman, plain hunt, Bristol, Cambridge, little bob & stedman. Broken clapper unlikely to be back this week either.

My week in 3 paragraphs. helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/a...

Sunday morning started with remedial action to remove a broken clapper. Ringing down a silent bell was very wierd! Then little bob, Stedman, Cambridge, plain hunt, stedman and call changes. Finished by carrying the broken bits of clapper down the stairs and into a car. #BellRinging #oops

Branch AGM this afternoon. Head down, no jobs acquired. This is the church as I put stuff in the car after the meeting. #BellRinging

Flowers to brighten your day.

A saturday morning puzzle to wake up the brain.

Just held Management Review, this is my reward! Well maybe not all of it, got PT tonight!

Doing some stitching on a slightly late baby blanket. Watched "The Great Escaper" on the side Oh my. 😭😭😭😭. Genuinely excellent, with performances by Glenda Jackson & Michael Caine.

Sunday morning ringing comprised little bob, stedman, grandsire and call changes. Then coffee and ringing AGM. Head down, to avoid getting a job!

I had a surprise e-mail this morning, with high praise for my actions as secretary, a post I plan to resign in the summer. We get so used to only hearing negative feedback that this nearly reduced me to tears. Little late for new year resolutions, but mine is now to give praise more often. 🥹🙏

I can't promise to keep this up (see last year!), but I can start with week one's reading. 2 books, 2 quite different reactions. Edenglassie didn't float my boat. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by @martinedwardsbooks.bsky.social fared much better helenruns.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/t...

Sunday morning ringing saw us attempt Cambridge, little bob Stedman and Bristol.