If your happy and you know it clap your hands.

        This blog is over a few days so bare with me folks

Thursday night clapping and the street performed admirably, tin pans saucepans bells and rattlers, and the rattler makes appearances at the Fox's games I suspect.

Yes I remember as a child the big tents that were assembled on the big greens up Shelthorpe, yes Shelthorpe an estate council built where I grew up. The Billy Graham gospel spreaders, all came every summer and that was the song they belted out, If your happy and you know it clap your hands. Well we clap now all for different reasons, to appreciate fine women and men doing their bit for mankind in which being proud to count myself that I am doing my bit, and feel immensely proud to be part  of, be it clapping or being part of a fabulous team.

Yes getting back to Shelthorpe, it may have a reputation now, but believe me it was the best place to grow up.  Always adventures to have whether 20 or 30 kids camping out in home made tents up the fields, or competing with neighbouring streets to build the biggest bonfire on November 5th. Standing guard in case rival street kids tried to trash your bonfire stash, or set light to it before the day. Chucking big spuds into the fire to cook, eating them when the fire was just embers, they were scorched black but the best baked potato's in the world.

All the boys in our group had jobs delivering stuff like meat bread groceries on big butcher bikes, us girls would get a croggie in the front basket we thought we were so hip, we progressed on to Lamberetta's as a passenger if we were lucky enough to have a boyfriend who had one.

 Are summer holidays back then, were spent hiking up to Swithland to the chalets there and pitching tents, wonder if the chalets are still there. Going in big groups to Blue bell wood hiding in the Rhododendrons, sharing a bottle of water and jam sarnies. Yes happy days, glad I passed these adventures on to my two, as they love adventures whether its Nik following the  Tour De France, well the Spanish part with his bike all over the northern part of Spain,  and Rebekah, hiking in the lakes camping and going on retreats all over England and dragging me to Stone Henge  for Soltise to catch the sun rise at 3am in the morning, which I have to say was magical. I like to think that some of my spirit was passed on to them.

My I have digressed, today has been nice , my friend and colleague called and we sat in the garden discussing our joint patients, but then as usual the banter the laughing kicked in, laughing is so good for the soul, and  just as I need my favourite flower bloom friends to socialise, I crave laughing and conversation where there is no barriers, where between friends you can talk utter rubbish, but in tune with you, that it doesn't matter because its about the chatting and the company, that they know when you are faking it and have no need to ask you are you ok they know folks if you have that you are so lucky.

Not sure now whats on the agenda as the Tin Pan Alley came to an end, I have not got a plan as it has taken over from hum drum things like, clean out my cupboards, spring clean the house, oh decorate, well not going there again. No need something to challenge me........but with a nice ending.

My friends have been getting emails about flights that were cancelled are available to re-book for June July...mmm spose I was lucky I did get away to Thailand, and should be grateful, but I don't want to waste time, days months years thinking should have done this or that, ahhr well not to dwell, sorry sounding a bit down don't know why, its the laughing for a few hours today made me realise how much I miss it and not realised I haven't for a long time now, not since my lovely soul mate started her struggle, yes folks I can fake it with the best.

Dan the bingo man has sent me a message asking when is the Bank Hol street party is it Monday..? so replied Sat Sun Mon I don't mind what ever the street wants, but then text back  I'm free can do all three, is that greedy..OK, so bit of luck and weather a party maybe on.

Watching a documentary about Sex trade and women who sell their bodies, its so sad people who have to do this, how they are judged. I think because working the job I do lets me invade their world sometimes, believe me they are not all poor, they were all sorts of human race, but people take different paths to deal with what ever but all for the grace of god go all of us.

I can't believe how shops are selling half price summer clothes on line, and even Tesco's. do you think they will put on hold this years fashion, and introduce this years trend next summer who Knows. All I know there will be no Bikini's on my shopping list, but am trying to get a little bit of exercise walking.

Watched an interview with Jean Claude Van Dam, he was so right if you have sports car at 30, keep it in good nik, just because you turn 50 or 60 dont think you should do the same exercises now that you could do at 30. Just like the sports car it would need a new engine new bits and bobs if you thrash it, so listen peeps when trying to keep old age at bay, walk swim, oh and the best exercise LAUGH that will keep you young in heart and mind.

  SO LAUGH LOVE AND BE HAPPY most of all just don't be serious you get wrinkles