We all suffer at some point in life. My husband is suffering right now, he has gone and torn a muscle in his side and is in pain. It happened when he bent over in the garden to place a plant the other day. He has a hernia on the other side and must wait in a long queue for his operation. He also has a painful hip (wear and tear)

As for me, I suffer from general anxiety disorder, each time I have to face a crowded place like a supermarket or a crowded bus, I go into a panic mode!
I prefer going into an empty church during the week, rather than on Sunday mornings when there is a full congregation.

I am not anti social or anything like that, because I do have friends, It's just that I like quietness. I am slightly hard of hearing and sometimes people think I am being stupid when I say "sorry can you repeat that please." One of my sons has a heart problem and he has a pain when he walks too much. He suffers pain.

I am so glad that I can study with the OU by distance learning, because this suits my mental health really well, although tutorials still freak me out quite a bit!

So please don't worry dear reader because everyone suffers sometimes suffering is part of the human condition and you are by no means alone!

 I have been reading in unit 5 science about the technological inventions of 21st century, like the amazing functions of the smart phone (launched in 2007). It is just like having a mini computer in your pocket it is so versatile.

There are many applications or apps you can use on the smart phone, such as music player, radio, social media, texting, video calls, gaming, camera, phone of course, maps, watch a movie, on line shopping, banking, e-books and the internet. Some people use medical apps to help them to keep a check
on their health.

 A lot of friends keep in touch with each other on face book, Twitter, Whats App and others.
I think there are many benefits of having a smartphone  for keeping in touch with family and friends.

However, you can become too dependant and can experience extreme anxiety if you loose your phone or if you can't remember where you laid it down.

Having a smartphone for me, it has been a life line especially out in a Rural area. I would have to travel 30 miles to the town or city so I can ring home if I miss my bus to say I will be late.

 I can also buy something on line, if it is not available in the shops.because we do not have too many large shops around here so I do not always want to travel to town in the freezing cold winter!

I also keep a lot of my homework from Uni on the smartphone, including essays and important documents and notes!

On the whole I think I use my Smartphone more often than I use the computer!

Do you agree? or do you think it is a mixed blessing or a nuisance?

Je me sens assez mal ces derniers jours. J'ai eu des courbatures et des maux de tête horribles. ⚡😖 je ne sais pas ce que c'est exactement. 😟Je n'ai pas du tout mal à la gorge, mais j'ai mal au cou et à la tête. J'espère que je n'attrape pas un autre virus. Tout a commencé au début du "grand froid"  en ce moment. Je me sens tres froid!😖🌨

Studying unit 5 science in french language. Not only do I have to learn french but also science too! I was not very clever in science at school. However, I do like the medical side of this unit, having worked in the medical field myself if only in a minor role. I really enjoy finding out all about DNA and genetic engineering, gene editing eradicating diseases. This is very positive and exciting for the future! There are also ethical questions to take into consideration. I am surprised I am finding this unit so interesting. Well it's never too late to learn!

J'adore faire du vélo sur les routes de campagne près de chez nous. Je pédale avec mon amie le long de l'aiguillage du retour, en passant les champs, les cheveux au vent! À un moment, nous devons rouler sur le bord de l'herbe au lieu de la route, car la piste est trop caillouteuse ! c'est un peu précaire pendant un moment mais tres amusant !

Bientôt, nous sommes de retour sur la route droite et lisse, qui mène au prochain village, nous passons sur un pont où en-dessous coule un ruisseau bouillonnant, puis nous suivre un champ de moutons et passons devant l'ancienne gare qui a été transformée en maison. Nous pouvons voir le banc devant nous au sommet avec une vue incroyable au coucher du soleil.

En descendant de nos vélos, nous marchons le reste du chemin jusqu'au banc, pour nous asseoir un moment et regarder le soleil commencer à se coucher.  Nous regardons des volées d'oiseaux et voyons, et passer un lapin ou deux. Certains oiseaux de nuit chantent doucement dans les arbres.

Il y a des campions rouges sauvages, des soucis jaunes des marais et des fleurs de lys sauvages blanches qui poussent à côté des haies. Après un bref repos, nous remontons nos vélos prêts à repartir vers le prochain village.

Au coin de la rue, nous voyons un petit pub de village illuminé d'un panneau "The Bell" à l'extérieur, il y a quelques tables, nous tournons à droite ici et nous nous arrêtons pour nous reposer. À l'intérieur, un feu de bois brûle vivement, dans une grande cheminée. Seuls quelques clients à l'intérieur car il est encore en début de soirée. Le pub a l'air vraiment vieux, un bâtiment de type cottage, avec tous les vieux boiseries et poutres en chêne d'origine. 

L'ambiance est chaleureuse au pub, un couple de vieux mecs vient s'asseoir et échange une conversation animée en rigolant un peu ensemble. Quand nous avons fini de manger nos sandwichs et de boire, nous payons et disons bonne nuit au propriétaire et retrouvons nos vélos à l'extérieur

Nous devons maintenant allumer nos feux de vélo, car il commence à faire plus sombre. De là, nous roulons à gauche jusqu'au carrefour et tout droit sur la route principale qui ramène à notre village. Alors que nous rentrons le village, il n'y a pratiquement pas de circulation sur la route et nous ressentons le besoin d'aller plus vite pour rentrer avant la nuit. 

À ce stade, nous volons très vite en descente, c'est assez exaltant! dans la brise fraîche du soir, qui sent le mouton et l'herbe des prés. Ça sent bon et doux!

Maintenant, nous attendons avec impatience une bonne tasse de thé!

I love riding my bike down the country lanes near where we live. I ride with my friend along the switch back, passing the fields, hair flying in the wind. At one part we  have to ride on the grass verge instead of the road, as track is too stony!   it is a bit precarious for a while but fun! 

At last we are back on the straight smooth road that leads to the next village here we pass over a bridge where runs a bubbling brook, then riding on past a field of sheep and past the old railway station that has been converted in to a house. We can see the bench up ahead at the top of the hill. 

There is an amazing vista from there at sunset, so we dismount and walk the rest of the way to the bench, to sit for a while and watch the sun starting to set, usually it is still light, we watch flocks of birds and see a rabbit or two scampering past. Some night birds sing sweetly from the trees. There are wild red campions, yellow marsh marigolds and white wild lily flowers growing beside the hedgerows. After a brief rest we mount our bikes again ready to ride off towards the next village. 

At the corner we see a little village pub lit up a sign "The Bell" outside, there are a few tables, we turn right here and stop for a rest. Inside a log fire is brightly burning,  in a large fireplace. Only a  few customers inside as it is still early evening. The pub looks really old , a cottage type building, with all the original old oak panelling and beams. 

The atmosphere is warm in the pub a couple of old chaps come in seat themselves and exchange lively conversation, having a little chuckle together. When we had finished eating our sandwiches and drink, we pay and say goodnight to landlord and find our bicycles outside again. 

We have to switch on our bike lights now as it is starting to be darker. From here we ride left to the junction again and straight onto the main road leading back in to our village. 

As we ride home, there is hardly any traffic on the road and we feel the urge to go faster to get home before dark. At this stage we are flying really  fast downhill, it is quite exhilarating in the fresh evening breeze that smells of sheep and meadow grass. Up ahead the lights of the village twinkle their welcome.As we get nearer to home. we  look forward to a nice cup of tea!

🌳🌲🌲🦔🐇🕊🦅🦆🌳🌳

It has been a hectic week at home with lots of appointments, phone calls to make and some repairs to be done in the bouse.

 I was not able to attend one tutorial this week which was annoying!   but I just couldn't make it with everything going on at home.

As the 'woman' of the house I am also expected to manage things, like arrange and attend medical appointments with my son , arrange for major repairs to be done in the house, decorating, sorting out bills and paperwork, as well as the usual cleaning, shopping and cooking.

"A womans work is never finished!"

So my studies sometimes have to take second place. Hopefully I can make more time this weekend for some serious reading,  note taking and catching up!

But I am sure I 'm not the only one who has to juggle with all these things while studying at the same time !

👷‍♀️🤷‍♀️👩‍🍳  👩‍💻👩‍🚀👨‍🦯👩‍🔧 🤹‍♀️

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

Dr Martin Luther King Jr (civil rights leader 1955-1968)

« Sois un buisson si tu ne pas être un arbre. Si vous ne pouvez pas être une autoroute, soyez simplement un sentier. Si tu ne peux pas être un soleil, sois une star. Car ce n'est pas par la taille que vous gagnez ou échouez. Soyez le meilleur de ce que vous êtes" 

Dr Martin Luther King Jr (civil rights leader 1955-1968