tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37108730228894764902024-03-14T10:26:39.872+00:00We Are HereThis is how things are... Here! Sometimes I have the same feelings about the day, week, month ahead as I do when I stand in front of a map in a busy place.'You Are Here.' My geography isn't great... but I'm hoping to make the most of my surroundings. This blog records my thoughts while I do just that.Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-47877981603093598172012-02-07T23:46:00.000+00:002012-02-07T23:46:31.499+00:00Fun in the snowI hope you've all been making the most of this weather, if you've had it, before it goes from that magical crisp Narnia scene to that murky-coloured slippery one. Its JUST beginning to be a nuisance, but for a couple of days, we had a lot of fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZtDddRl8CNobrJ-ioIZKJKcpJ8XlMeTy38PuJa60ygWdx30dS8R-KiJVk7TLroJtuNl7gQvRvwodlC33evnXWSo0fd6khXEjtsi8uCZsFbYi_Pe5Q6KuwmO0hzHBpMIB6SCN8XUMHWM/s1600/IMG_4333+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZtDddRl8CNobrJ-ioIZKJKcpJ8XlMeTy38PuJa60ygWdx30dS8R-KiJVk7TLroJtuNl7gQvRvwodlC33evnXWSo0fd6khXEjtsi8uCZsFbYi_Pe5Q6KuwmO0hzHBpMIB6SCN8XUMHWM/s320/IMG_4333+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Ben, the snow penguin. The most wonderful thing about snowmen is how different they all are, and how they are made by what you happen to find! And also how they turn out differently from what you expected. They seem to bring everyone together too, to relive their childhood and have fun, despite any usual dislike of the cold. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72RewA78uk8B-9RmIFyPQFlBlu2EEfaGyCE0ZNXQtbHs54sKc6mnmJCK2cw20WTWh5Q6QlYR6li-llNotuNPqeuOVMYm_8-T8g2khnb0bfNiLdw06PYBzwTE1ZhX_ouxKtEJx8lXrxL8/s1600/IMG_4369+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72RewA78uk8B-9RmIFyPQFlBlu2EEfaGyCE0ZNXQtbHs54sKc6mnmJCK2cw20WTWh5Q6QlYR6li-llNotuNPqeuOVMYm_8-T8g2khnb0bfNiLdw06PYBzwTE1ZhX_ouxKtEJx8lXrxL8/s320/IMG_4369+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Snowball fights and Snow Angels are a must. We did better this snowy day, than last year's snowy days. I suppose that now we are 4 and 6 (and 30) we have more stamina against the cold, and energy to finish snowy creations without rushing home tearfully, to stamp feet and hang soggy gloves on the radiator. Although in truth, our snowguin would not have looked as majestic without the help of my fella. I was better suited to directing, and carrot-holding, while the other three produced quite a masterpiece I think. The hot chocolates waited until the light had gone. And even as it was getting very dark, the snow was still shiny and beautiful. Perhaps more beautiful at this time of day.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-4083920827593091562012-01-18T23:03:00.001+00:002012-01-19T09:26:12.201+00:00Time for a Little Something.January is nice transitional time, and I'm writing lists of things to do and people to see, on my lovely new calendar, and looking forward to some good things in the early part of 2012. So its time I took up the writing thingy once more, in my reliably-irregular fashion, and shared on here all the things that seem important at that time.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Putting 2011 Aside</span> (because it was a little naff in places).<br />
I survived the birthday, just, and held on to my sanity right the way through! It was the year I first tried cheese and onion crisps, salmon, and panetone. It was the year I started, and semi-abandoned my blog! I had my second ever holiday on an aeroplane, took in some fab live music, and I happily carried on my student's 100% exam pass-rate. <br />
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I took up crafting again, and got IDd (30 but not over the hill...) I started to use an iPod, and gained a little in confidence and happiness. Health-wise I am much improved, and I feel determination to make the best of a possible tough year with positivity and distraction techniques!<br />
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<div style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;">Could do Better</span></div>I have started on another <a href="http://www.home-start.org.uk/homepage">Homestart</a> course, and this has come at a funny time. I think I need the support now, and probably had to feel that way to get the best of the <a href="http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-articles.asp?section=00010001002200370001&itemid=1841">Power to Change Programme</a>- to be open and willing. Its hard work! I'd love to come away from it and think of myself as a person who has a career (of sorts!) and a family and a home, and a life in her own right, and is <b>not</b> an ex-victim, or still mending.<br />
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I've been feeling my isolation quite acutely once more, and need to find a way to handle this. I think I <i>less</i> need plans to meet new people and find a social life, and <i>more</i> need to become accepting of my bit, but open to change. I'm not one who can confidently move into different circles. So unless the opportunity to become part of the <i>Trendy Mummy Set</i> presents itself, I'll end this year as I began- but I need to be happy with that prospect. Lets give that a go. Post on this to follow.<br />
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Whats important to me? Because <i>those</i> things I need to channel my time into. <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Children</span>- obvs- and their confidence and wellbeing. Two sparkly cool parties are on the way for my Christmas/New Year babies within the next fortnight, and I've made a list of parents to contact so that my two can remain in touch well with their tinies, after the do's. And <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">music</span></span> is traditionally what this girl is about!... So I need to set myself the tasks of learning or reviewing a couple of pieces each month, to keep myself going. I'll let you know how that goes. And spending time with my family- particularly my <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">sister</span>. As I was too ill to travel to London this Christmas, I didn't see Pootle... which makes it nearly 3 months since I saw her last. Ahh! :(<br />
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Oh, and another thing...<br />
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There were a couple of happenings in the Autumn and Winter last year that meant that the children's contact with their dad is on apar to my sisters and mine. There will be a court process and I am quite fearful but also trying to appreciate, for however long it lasts, the opportunity to be the lone parent in the fullness of the term. Its a pretty good thing! I've decided to start another blog simply to record the Single Mummy thoughts- positive ones as well as trying ones, so that this place can be <i>free</i>r from all of my 'aside' issues. I'm readdressing the balance, and revamping the blog- bring on the photos of family time, lists and changes, crafty and musical things! I'll try to stay on topic ;)<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-36889370625775168912011-10-28T10:43:00.000+01:002011-10-28T10:43:22.632+01:00Photo Highlights.Just some of the nice things I've been up to in the last couple of months. I really enjoyed the Summer holidays- not just because I was able to get away, but because we filled the other days with nice things. It was a good precedent to set, as it seems I've had the energy and luck to carry on with little treats and days out into the Autumn. We're just off out to town to have a peruse around the shops and a little bit of lunch. Hope you're enjoying your time off if you have any!<br />
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1: a trip on a little steam train. It took us to the pebbly seaside where we had a picnic and flew our kite.<br />
2: A Venetian Fete. One of the winning carnival floats that we watched parade along the canal.<br />
3: Jimi Hendrix, the homemade kite. The children bought the things they needed from the local shop with their Grandad, and spent a morning creating our flying machine.<br />
4: Little Guy has his face painted at our day out with the Pirates.<br />
5: Pretty coastal views.<br />
6: Our Duck Tour in London. It was fantastic.<br />
7: A squirrel in St. James Park, London.<br />
8: Mini P's Paddington Bear 3rd Birthday Party<br />
9: My beautiful Missy Pickle, meeting a Mermaid.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-122654768467703732011-10-20T01:26:00.000+01:002011-10-20T01:26:47.102+01:00Daydream in Blue.I've got lots to tell you, about recent things that have occured Here. I have a post part done- I'll try and get it on here soon! Its not that I think you're all sitting on the egde of your seats waiting for it, far from that, just that I'd like to spruce the place up a bit on my blog, cheer it up a little. It will be a post of positive things, nice doings and pleasant memories. I need those a bit at the moment,<br />
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I'm good at daydreaming. I suppose really, my daydreaming at the moment could also fall into the categories of <i>sulking</i> and <i>worrying</i>. Yes, I can do the wallowy woe-is-me bit, but its the 'action' or 'plan' part I'm a bit stinky at. But hey, if you can't write these musings out here then where else do they go? And hopefully once they're written and in some kind of coherant order, I might be able to sift through it and make sense of whats occuring- get it into perspective. <br />
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So life is still a bit poo really, and I'm not myself. I have painful headaches and regular nosebleeds- sinus problems I think, and problems sleeping. Its been like this for a couple of months. I'm off to the doctors again on Wednesday, I guess they might have some more ideas now that I've tried the current prescription and the symptoms remain.<br />
What else? Well more trouble from the usual quarters, and I'm afraid its running me down. I'm finding that I'm fighting against becoming a sad little blob who mopes about in front of daytime TV, feeling blue and lack-lustre.<br />
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I haven't been seeing the fella as much as I'm used to, because work has gone all crazy again for him. Well... I have to admit that this concerns me, my inability to keep myself positive, without outside help, or, really, <i>company</i>. I've been all pro-'dating' and 'living apart' from the beginning. I don't think its because on every level I'm happy with the prospect of being a person who exists <i>aside</i> from her boyfriend, but its because I felt I needed to be able to deal with life myself, and for it to be the three of us- me, Pickle Missy and Little Guy, looking after each other. Thats why I wanted to do it. Its hard.<br />
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I was hoping that we were working towards the stage where one day we might decide to move in. If I can't look after my own happiness and wellbeing at this stage, I doubt that will be happening for a good while. Which is fine- I'm not being defensive- it is fine. I set myself the task if you like, of proving I could channel my inner Beyonce, and be self-sufficient, and I must do better at this before I can build a decent relationship with this man. It just happens that until we are together, living in the same place, I'll have to accept the weeks that we see so little of each other, because of the distance.<br />
It would be all too easy to cheer up if he was here. In the absence of my besties, and my family, the children and he are all I have to make me smile. And the children do make me smile, but when they are at school and nursery, and when they are in bed, and when they are with their dad, I feel lonely as a lonely person in lonelytown... you get the idea.<br />
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How much easier it would be to re-boot myself, into some kind of emotionally-semi-functioning person, if I had a hug in the morning, or someone to eat with, to make it worth while cooking. I'd even be appreciative of someone's work uniform right now, to make sure that I, or he, was making a dent in the laundry pile. Stuff isn't getting done with any kind of efficiency... I guess it hasn't since the headaches, and less so since these Autumn Blues arrived.<br />
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Another root of my problem really, is boredom, and with my recent reunion with High School Friends, comes the realisation that I have very little to aim for in my life right now... dictated by upper limits that I can work in hours and salary... and it feels as though I have achieved very little for myself, in life... thus far.<br />
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No firm decisions to be made here, (they're not my forte!) just a few aims to consider:<br />
-stand on my own two feet, overcome neccesity to rely on others for happiness (how on flibbing earth do I do this? No idea. Will let you know how it goes!)<br />
- sleep and eat better, sort-out my own routine. I certainly wouldn't let my children behave like this, so I must set a better example<br />
- have a re-think, and take advice about careers, house-moves and finances/cars. I really think its worth considering having new job to go to when my youngest is at school next September. It might have to be 'back to the drawing-board' on the careers thing. Now... what would I like to be when I grow up?<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-6371149375757132522011-09-27T01:10:00.001+01:002011-09-27T01:14:48.922+01:00Recent Doings.Its been a long time since I was in a sensible enough routine to spend time on my blogging and reading of blogs. I'm hoping to overcome my recent problems and keep in touch with this place somehow, because its just the sort of place I like to be. So, 'hello' again, sweet readers! I'll drop by soon.<br />
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I've had horrible things to deal with in the Single Mummy Zone, and it came to a peak on Thursday, when the ex and a mediating officer rang me out of the blue, on my Birthday, to quibble childcare decisions, and just-as-worryingly, monetary issues (which were put to bed over two years ago). Its a real source of anguish actually, and I was upset that he chose to deliver the news of his most recent plot on that particular day. I'm being tied up in knots. My very real fear is that he wants me to end up with nothing. People that know my situation in greater detail will understand that I haven't overstated that, unfortunately.<br />
Needless to say, with the emotion of the occasion, and my pathelogical dislike of most of my adulthood birthdays, (although I had intended to try and enjoy this one!) it was not a good thing. The day ended worse than it had began, and I was appreciative to all those that tried to improve things, but I decided to write it off! Better luck next year maybe.<br />
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I'm reminded of a little Monty Python clip here, something about bright sides of life... I'm trying, Eric!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1loyjm4SOa0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">''Lifes a piece of ***t, when you look at it!...</span>''</div><br />
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So I probably should end on a high. I did have a nice weekend, and had a little birthday party on the Saturday, and a picnic on the Sunday. I was thoroughly spoilt, and had a good time ringing in my thirtieth, or twenty-tenth as the children call it, despite the nearness of tears on many occasions. It wasn't easy, but I was glad that I didn't cancel and take to my bed. I do have a lovely family, and a pretty fab boyfriend, and a couple of very true friends. It really helps. <br />
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xxx<br />
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And also, a special kinda girl wrote some <a href="http://www.pinkcatcustardandcake.co.uk/2011/09/let-it-shine.html">lovely words</a> earlier, please do pop by her blog if you haven't already- I promise it'll cheer you up! I hadn't seen the content of her post before I wrote this one, but I hope I haven't spread any gloom to her corner of Blogland! She sounds all sparkly and light and as though she has been relieved of a great weight. Good for her. Theres a positive thing.Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-18000008065012976952011-09-14T23:54:00.000+01:002011-09-14T23:54:21.489+01:00Holiday, Part 2: Ibiza.This was the indulgent part, after the music and camping at Cambridge in late July. I was persuaded by friends and family who were probably very fed up of me wearily dragging my problems about, and looking grey, to go abroad on a sunny package holiday. I did it! And it was just what I needed.<br />
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We went to Santa Eulalia, which is said to be a little overlooked, as people think that all of Ibiza is in the same mode. It was very nice! All cosy and warm and very very lovely. We never even heard a DJ or passed a club. Elvis and Tom Jones impersonators galore though! Lots of clear blue skies and deep blue seas, and we saw fish and lizards and cats and dogs. Everything was simple. And there was the choice of a lounge on the beach, or by the pool, or a little stroll to the marina, up through the hills or around the town. We didn't sit around too much, and just took it all in. I think I did let my guard down, and remembered how to relax- bliss.<br />
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The best part would be very hard to pin down, but I really enjoyed the off-road-rambles, and keeping to no particular timetable. The worst part is simpler to decide: my reaction to the pressure on the plane. I did have a piercing toothache, on the return journey from my last aeroplane-holiday when I was 16. Ouchy, but I assumed I'd been unlucky that time. Hmmm. It turns out that I am not a happy flyer, and was quite nervous for the whole experience. It didn't help that my body reacted again! This time I had terrible pressure behind my left eye socket. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(And the eye itself remained a little smaller than usual for the rest of the break! Attractive. Fully recovered now though.)</span></i> Happily I was okay coming home again, so my unpleasant experiences remain at 50% for my flying journeys. But then so do my happier ones. Note to self: you have sinus issues! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIrPAON5TXBr-ZYSHpda2Y4AUVORvDorhKPjQ_7kAJAdkH9KnZiq1gwcNWiP_Osol9Je6wL-Bj4hATmSCzhtWofdoxXm1wHdvdDVviXzYBZHxvHwNDOvlTL2NY0SS6x7h2W0umohgZRk/s1600/Ibiza+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIrPAON5TXBr-ZYSHpda2Y4AUVORvDorhKPjQ_7kAJAdkH9KnZiq1gwcNWiP_Osol9Je6wL-Bj4hATmSCzhtWofdoxXm1wHdvdDVviXzYBZHxvHwNDOvlTL2NY0SS6x7h2W0umohgZRk/s320/Ibiza+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> The view from the balcony.</span></div><br />
It was lovely to laze about, and read my Agatha Christie novels, and be in my fella's company without having to try hard at anything. Quietness is ok, and so are late evenings talking lots about all sorts, and joint-effort-crosswords, and snuggly siestas.<br />
We two seem to share an inclination to 'people-watch'. Does anybody else? I can't help myself! We saw some interesting characters. And this harmless little occupation kept us going during the 8 hours that we sat around the airport, waiting for our plane to be signed as 'safe' after engine work. Eye Spy soon petered out. Not a problem- we devised secret codes for when we saw a 'Typical Brit Abroad', or someone who looked like they had a name beginning with a particular given letter. We wondered what the people in the MacDonalds queue would order, and we took great delight in observing what <i>fashionable</i> people were wearing. We saw a lot of young ladies with high buns, so obviously we had to discreetly hum the Bod tune to each other to sound the alert... <br />
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<div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><b>Here Comes Aunt Flo.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VUpbe1iZeZAgiY7QQlMtZDl7o6p6DUhpfNEmXasrftPiKzEpcZYf_TNgVnYKvQeae4LhJAhBeUR3QmcxSgEwLycrVbb9eBrgAlgwaJr_QAqPuDkkglbgOYOp7VPj4piMsFUjJFxHFAA/s1600/auntflo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VUpbe1iZeZAgiY7QQlMtZDl7o6p6DUhpfNEmXasrftPiKzEpcZYf_TNgVnYKvQeae4LhJAhBeUR3QmcxSgEwLycrVbb9eBrgAlgwaJr_QAqPuDkkglbgOYOp7VPj4piMsFUjJFxHFAA/s320/auntflo.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=aunt+flo&num=10&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=0aJ&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1440&bih=742&tbm=isch&tbnid=XwQ9t774Q06eBM:&imgrefurl=http://www.thechestnut.com/bod.htm&docid=XSKYnsQZcC9wiM&w=300&h=372&ei=gypxTvnCNJOz8QOE_NzyCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=337&vpy=170&dur=3714&hovh=250&hovw=202&tx=100&ty=104&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=159&tbnw=145&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> source</span></a></div><br />
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This was a one-off-holiday really, but I feel very lucky to have been able to have a proper break. Lets think calm blue colours and keep those stress levels under control this time.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-9354620463391402212011-09-14T10:50:00.000+01:002011-09-14T10:50:16.650+01:00Blackberry CakeI do love blackberries. And the best recipe I have for these little treasures-amongst-the-thorns, is <i>this</i> one. I needed to share it with you. Let me know if you get a chance to give it a try! I'll be collecting the last of the year's blackberries this afternoon, and making my third and final cake of the year. I'm almost completely certain you won't be disappointed.<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Blackberry Cake.</span></div>
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8 oz self raising flour</div>
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4 oz margarine</div>
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4-6oz sugar</div>
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1 egg</div>
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2 large handfuls of blackberries</div>
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Grease a shallow tin. Mix the sugar, marg and flour together with your hands. When its ready (breadcrumb-y), add the egg, then stir in the blackberries- a few at a time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSanaXjw3tI_a8wFUHcXNhOwzHjR70yVcN7m39IZPAm-NDSIADCu6e12mG6cmaBblnXkt4xcMnDBASsZvZyl1nH-WNcwCj-cqtpELWeLtSBN_TRzpb70NhELUFigF-V1AemJWlkSsnCg/s1600/Late+Summer+11+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSanaXjw3tI_a8wFUHcXNhOwzHjR70yVcN7m39IZPAm-NDSIADCu6e12mG6cmaBblnXkt4xcMnDBASsZvZyl1nH-WNcwCj-cqtpELWeLtSBN_TRzpb70NhELUFigF-V1AemJWlkSsnCg/s320/Late+Summer+11+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this point, it will look like a complete failure: a little soggy perhaps, and an alarming colour. Don't panic!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO5HNAjp1-VrFGQFjV1TefzOZymJkHEGWoT7wxqD4pCDDxuCJe2xO2GTgrTmZR0IpPaMkhMeAWwTCSHts3A_AnNlV0gVlacIxF9kw21xtqjD37ZZhZAfKWPYLGqg805-PumWcHq3LDFU/s1600/Late+Summer+11+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO5HNAjp1-VrFGQFjV1TefzOZymJkHEGWoT7wxqD4pCDDxuCJe2xO2GTgrTmZR0IpPaMkhMeAWwTCSHts3A_AnNlV0gVlacIxF9kw21xtqjD37ZZhZAfKWPYLGqg805-PumWcHq3LDFU/s200/Late+Summer+11+091.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Ahhhhh!</i></b> No really, this is fine.</span></div>
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Pop it into the tin and cook quite gently (190 degrees-ish) for a while (45 minutes-ish). Its a little vague, because the cooking time varies with the amount of blackberries you add- ie, how wet the mixture is. But this isn't the sort of recipe to be worried about accuracy and measurements. This is where my mum and I differ- she goes for a few blackberries, for flavour, and I tend to chuck them all in, in the excitement, and keep vigil by the oven for a very long time- until a skewer comes out fairly clean. A little juicy squishyness is ok- as long as it has firmed a bit, and you're satisfied that the egg is cooked, and the cake is 'done'. Both of our cakes are lovely, but mine feels more decadent, and I will readily accept my mum's point that my version needs to be eaten quickly or refridgerated, and hers doesn't. Thats fine- they never last very long in my house anyway. She also keeps back 2oz of sugar to sprinkle on the top just before she bakes, so that she has a firm topping.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Y0ihYSfovFAGkkXTFkpDjWljokerltEJFwMgILgA56o3g3CB08FL7F04tp0F0PWCK7pqIPRfb1HZY4RbU69Fzdpy7prNmSvbrI98KCqwkoRhnZkaXEXWXMSFFRiu5nMNehxKkoy-0g/s1600/Late+Summer+11+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Y0ihYSfovFAGkkXTFkpDjWljokerltEJFwMgILgA56o3g3CB08FL7F04tp0F0PWCK7pqIPRfb1HZY4RbU69Fzdpy7prNmSvbrI98KCqwkoRhnZkaXEXWXMSFFRiu5nMNehxKkoy-0g/s320/Late+Summer+11+094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yes, this is a loaf tin, but I think as lovely as it is to have a chunky 'slice' of cake, it is a bit </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">of a bugger to get the cooking times right! Shallow tins are probably better.</span></div>
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Its especially lovely served warm, and also nicest if you can resist the urge to beat the mixture into oblivion- the plain cakey taste in amongst the blackberries- and the contrasts of colour between the two, (almost a marble effect) are one of the nicest aspects. Its also a good idea to keep some fruits back, and pop them in 'whole' once the mixture is in the tin, ready for the oven. Its such a fun cake! And perhaps all the nicer, as it is a seasonal one, and something to look forward to, just a couple of times a year. I can't take the credit for this recipe- it initially came from the very lovely Mrs ABC, who always provided the most popular cakes at the bakey Children's Society Sale back home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba2_Tj_QD0FxEegOBpCbUJvO4i5AE5Tkc5-TFigX3gMhVcLhVuR7VcW7ayYMAPOF0vXBagt7fUxMsOlOgdm7ctfi7WAQ_MUMmpJ99AMxyaLYnm6TJv4pmKpm0BHjGb7nM0t2FZN_WtfQ/s1600/Late+Summer+11+097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba2_Tj_QD0FxEegOBpCbUJvO4i5AE5Tkc5-TFigX3gMhVcLhVuR7VcW7ayYMAPOF0vXBagt7fUxMsOlOgdm7ctfi7WAQ_MUMmpJ99AMxyaLYnm6TJv4pmKpm0BHjGb7nM0t2FZN_WtfQ/s200/Late+Summer+11+097.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not a great photo! A little steamy, but yummy all the same.</span></div>
<br />Enjoy. Before the blackberry picking, I'm going to nurse my cold and rest my sinusy-head, which has lingered a week- which is the main cause of my absense this time! Sorry about that... I also need to talk nicely to my washing machine and my digi-box as they have both had a rebellious moment today. Things come in threes don't they... I'll let you know what breaks down next!<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-9575644966156452282011-08-28T08:09:00.000+01:002011-08-28T08:09:47.051+01:00Holiday, Part 1: Cambridge Folk Festival.I love live music of all kinds, but I have a special little place for folk. It somehow makes me react in a happy way, every time. Thats what its all about, surely. I studied folk as often as possible during my degree and A Level, when there was free rein to prepare your own projects, and even where there wasn't but the essay title could be interpreted towards it! I soon became obsessed with the collection of it, by classical composers, (Vaughan Williams and Bela Bartok are the main ones) and how these 'songs of the people' (a middle class observation if ever I heard one... but true enough) spoke for the land from which they came, and became integral to their physical work (think sailors and shanties, and spirituals in America). Fascinating, rich stuff.<br />
Events and day tickets to folk festivals were one of the highlights of my holidays when I was little. My Uncle is an avid fan, and he always seemed to be just back from, or just off-to somewhere. I used to love the names: Chippenham, Cropredy, Sidmouth (I remember going to this one with him). His bedroom at my Grandparent's house was full of LPs and tapes, and he would get in trouble for playing it all too loudly. I loved the diversity, and the energy of it all, and I really liked the atmosphere to the gigs I went to. It was time, this year, to return to the scene!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz34eaSTYNZ_H5y6Sqnh8bZAzHZUxfZHwDajF_VcDb4AlsirSGSJPgGqFsMQX0V7F_5h-nTOQk2Mvj_xK23vPdrXLZJUnpHMxn8q2Z9yc6wvfNdHrpE_2DVTsRKLTSq1XgGw8Q-_f5_U/s1600/camfolkfest11+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz34eaSTYNZ_H5y6Sqnh8bZAzHZUxfZHwDajF_VcDb4AlsirSGSJPgGqFsMQX0V7F_5h-nTOQk2Mvj_xK23vPdrXLZJUnpHMxn8q2Z9yc6wvfNdHrpE_2DVTsRKLTSq1XgGw8Q-_f5_U/s320/camfolkfest11+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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You know the wonderful thing about folk lovers, is that they are friendly, and laid back, and smiley. One of the performers remarked in a Sky Arts interview that I saw, that this was possibly the only festival where the crowd maintained their manners enough to stay within the white lines. So that transfers to the kinda people you end up striking up a conversation with, or camping next to. All of the staff were lovely too, and the main site was fab- there was a main stage, and two secondary ones (one for local bands and workshops) and just a 5 minute walk from all the billed stuff was a beautiful huge pond, and in a smallish tent was a little intimate venue where you could feel part of amazing busking-type stuff that you'd never come across. I was called The Den, and it was a lovely teepee, complete with living room features on stage, and rugs and cushions on the floor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWeRAGvdJ3LHcYVCl-1iQm0Ff8QcHD1CNjdT_l26z3cmWrc7ofYmwF7F9bBD43PNguLiTL23vJcQD6x2FNJE98l9VNv1LzCKYL5Y8ZRRypcMRddoRZoYKDocsc0RmZs25zENTnjxSfwQ/s1600/camfolkfest11+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWeRAGvdJ3LHcYVCl-1iQm0Ff8QcHD1CNjdT_l26z3cmWrc7ofYmwF7F9bBD43PNguLiTL23vJcQD6x2FNJE98l9VNv1LzCKYL5Y8ZRRypcMRddoRZoYKDocsc0RmZs25zENTnjxSfwQ/s320/camfolkfest11+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Den </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlGMMzX5jJghDo8pq0cwUtRS-3Pej-JahkNPPaVesQbjoqikwpp0w7-fFwBi4u7EdfN8OFxFp50I82VcVgpCfwZ8ESy-Ippgyiqzil_-TCBE-lBEbK3JFRpRa8WJRG104rq0pEC7OERg/s1600/camfolkfest11+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlGMMzX5jJghDo8pq0cwUtRS-3Pej-JahkNPPaVesQbjoqikwpp0w7-fFwBi4u7EdfN8OFxFp50I82VcVgpCfwZ8ESy-Ippgyiqzil_-TCBE-lBEbK3JFRpRa8WJRG104rq0pEC7OERg/s320/camfolkfest11+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Stage 2- Fiddle Workshop. This was early on in the festival- most people </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">didn't arrive till the weekend. None of the site was this empty again!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgy8ilkUMHI3GKN54lpz063QT4Tm52KhG71EgematUocILCC4BIqKfqNdSPohbCankL8oUylOTJCMXaC9YhT5YkWAdFQsOQBYnFwFVr1mAPnyNkkRlSFPT3yKYCdud41qxXC8gZAclQo/s1600/camfolkfest11+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgy8ilkUMHI3GKN54lpz063QT4Tm52KhG71EgematUocILCC4BIqKfqNdSPohbCankL8oUylOTJCMXaC9YhT5YkWAdFQsOQBYnFwFVr1mAPnyNkkRlSFPT3yKYCdud41qxXC8gZAclQo/s320/camfolkfest11+100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Spooky Men's Chorale. As bizarre as it their name, but quite entertaining.</span></div><br />
And the program was brilliant. I watched, amazed, as new acts were announced on the website, having conversations with said Uncle about all the things that he wanted me to see on his behalf, and looking everybody up on youtube. Traditional folky stuff galore, with some mainstream greats too, and acts you've <i>probably</i> heard of, on Jools Holland, and thought you might come across again, and recent successes in the folk arena who have managed to get mainstream recognition. Just a small taster:<br />
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<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Secret Sisters,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris Wood,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bellowhead, <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Spiers and Boden also performed as a duo- fantastic!)</span></span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kate Rusby,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Richard Thompson,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saltfishforty, </span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pentangle,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peatbog Faeries,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rumer,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mary Chapin Carpenter,</span></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laura Marling,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends. </span></div><br />
Whoa! I think I saw <i>all</i> of those, or remained nearby with a Greek salad and an Old Rosie, so that I could diligently say to my Uncle that I'd 'heard them', even if it wasn't something that could drag me away from a well deserved and well-queued-for meal. So this is an interesting thing- the elements of traditional 'folk' up against more household names. The hardcore folkies who have been going for years (and they all tell me that this is something I will really want to return to), have quite a bit to choose from, and those who just want it all (um, like me) have all of the above, and the new unsigned or newly signed performers to dip into.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-iyE1_nE4Ukhs9FguwmGae6Qul4K1AEyEl8NJxsByoqVgn4gMzaz6X8M3W6A6QZdEwvrj_PaIFKwgaX-rh4K25jl9UE77hpGZVFnpCPJNyVgFO5cELn1VOBbmaEOB68qWl1xHEW6Qpc/s1600/camfolkfest11+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-iyE1_nE4Ukhs9FguwmGae6Qul4K1AEyEl8NJxsByoqVgn4gMzaz6X8M3W6A6QZdEwvrj_PaIFKwgaX-rh4K25jl9UE77hpGZVFnpCPJNyVgFO5cELn1VOBbmaEOB68qWl1xHEW6Qpc/s320/camfolkfest11+088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> lovely flags at our colourful campsite</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGTtLrY16jgRO2lBsBVc6qyPYU_djLT0_PKNaGaWT45uJocTPx33mCVrViX8DvSX6TlbQv0-CJod8uFBACTXk8RIRnutSgZScS6WaHJm-rRZ3d7SqYG4l16uK1ubfCgKALt7pk28aDd4/s1600/camfolkfest11+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGTtLrY16jgRO2lBsBVc6qyPYU_djLT0_PKNaGaWT45uJocTPx33mCVrViX8DvSX6TlbQv0-CJod8uFBACTXk8RIRnutSgZScS6WaHJm-rRZ3d7SqYG4l16uK1ubfCgKALt7pk28aDd4/s320/camfolkfest11+089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The performance tent at our site- open mics each evening. We camped away from </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the main festival and took a short bus ride in each day. It was nice to be able to retreat a little from it all, but the idea of staying on the main site is very appealing.</span></div><br />
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Then there were the announcements on the bill that made me jump up and down. So inspirational and wonderful was their music on CD and on <i>Radio 1s Live Lounge</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(an avid fan here, of that programme)</span>, that I couldn't wait to get there. I also felt the need to get to these gigs 90 minutes early or so, so that I could find a space near the stage: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Frank Turner</span> and <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Newton Faulkner</span> were the headliners.<br />
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Folk? Actually, not strictly... but there is something about this type of singer-songwriter, and story teller, that has firm roots in a folky idea- strong rhythms, personal feelings and stories, stuff that communicates so well, and is original sounding. Frank Turner (who is flibbing fantastic), has a new (beautiful) album out to promote, and is described as more of a punk-folk performer, but he was there for all of the above reasons, and he looked humbled by our reception. He was almost apologetic in interview, concerned about the reaction he might get from people who had come to see <i>folk</i>, and he sang his unaccompanied song to try and get some votes, and even had a guy on a recorder for us, but he was great. We went to the festival with my fella's sister, and two of her work colleagues, one of whom was in his 60s, and 'here for the banjos and Morris Dancers'. He thought Frank was superb.<br />
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Newton Faulkner is a feat of multi-tasking, and every single part of him is about the music-making. He has mastered a particular style of rhythmic guitar playing which includes drumming on the side of the instrument, with hammer-ons, harmonics and regular melodic and chordal playing. Its much funner to listen to than the clnical description sounds! His hit single 'Dream Catch Me' may be familiar, and it is hauntingly beautiful, but its only half of what he can do. I haven't included links so far- I highly reccomend you check Mr Frank, Laura Marling, and the Fishermen out, but you <i>must</i> listen to this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0DNr_y8kqjQC6G3R9bAKE64SI5byTd1Iwu-_85b6Oho-34Vy51vw7LSbw3rfl9xKylM8B1p5iBDX46QcvtigVC-9CVLS5GO9YJAcAQYnunrXBrS-DUkIyP4i699zK3lNXF6u_S4lRrg/s1600/camfolkfest11+037+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0DNr_y8kqjQC6G3R9bAKE64SI5byTd1Iwu-_85b6Oho-34Vy51vw7LSbw3rfl9xKylM8B1p5iBDX46QcvtigVC-9CVLS5GO9YJAcAQYnunrXBrS-DUkIyP4i699zK3lNXF6u_S4lRrg/s320/camfolkfest11+037+-+Copy.JPG" width="160" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm a bit of a fan, and there was a signing tent where I got my programme, and my Fella got his </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">guitar signed. Other musicians were there too, but the queues were long, and you ended up missing </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">great music standing there, so Newton's was the only one we collected. </span></div><br />
We were lucky enough to go to a guitar workshop with him, which was informal and relaxed, and not heaving to begin with, so we had the pleasure of being able to sit near the stage. A big part of this festival is giving people a chance to see or become involved. (Its a fantastic place for children- willow weaving, flower garland making, traditional story telling, and so it goes on...) We stumbled upon a fiddle workshop too, but I was too much of a chicken to take my violin. I will next year... I think! Anywhoo, we all sat there, struck a little dum by all that we were seeing. Its not the sort of skills you can grab in a day or a few weeks, but its just really interesting to be given a tour of his guitar and set-up, and shown what happens where and how to put it together. He tunes his strings very differently to the traditional way, which is an interesting idea, and gives an insight into just how much thought and prep goes into his style. And he's hillarious! <i>So</i> at ease with a crowd, and spontaneous and fun. What a nice guy.<br />
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We went to a vocal workshop with the Fishermen too- fantastic! You may have come across this traditional Cornish singing group- the BBC did a programme recently, with that Gareth chap from The Choir, investigating shanties, and they were featured. I think they have commercials and bits in the offing too. Good on them. They're highly entertaining- fantastic banter, wonderful accents, ofcourse (made me miss my Cornish relatives, although I do still see my dad regularly... but you know what I mean...) and beautiful harmonies and performances. Their album is good, Little Guy loves it, but you lose a little tiny 10% of something in the recorded article- they're just superb live, with minimal accompaniament , and if you ever get a chance to go to Port Isaac, I do believe they have carried on their tradition of singing by the sea on a Friday evening, for the locals. I know of a lovely fellow blogger who may have been to one of their performances on their home turf recently- we'll have to see what she says about it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrvdYYBTQhyG7mIdNPgi8Wosf3IvIFgL41CC_mdlFDm2aXKjyQR23gXqwqWtewOCupWAPtGxAq6JDPhuydOqFggcbwVyWCZ3dcS1pXyd7-Kb3e7EDEOez7MR4hdqpGhB7V0hHvBfqeIE/s1600/camfolkfest11+114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrvdYYBTQhyG7mIdNPgi8Wosf3IvIFgL41CC_mdlFDm2aXKjyQR23gXqwqWtewOCupWAPtGxAq6JDPhuydOqFggcbwVyWCZ3dcS1pXyd7-Kb3e7EDEOez7MR4hdqpGhB7V0hHvBfqeIE/s320/camfolkfest11+114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Port Isaac's Fishermen's Friends.</span></div><br />
Oh, its been so lovely to sit and reminisce, and go through my photos once more. It really is the type of festival you'd want to return to, especially if there is somebody on the bill you <i>need</i> to see, (Stornaway and Joan Armatrading have previously played) because its a great venue.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Willow-sculptures: chinese lanterns decorating the camp.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Street artists. We saw a few of these- you couldn't escape. Best to move along </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">otherwise they approached you! A beautiful fox in the background.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Returning to my little ones and their cousin, who they were staying with. I came bearing gifts! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Little Miss L is modelling her new watch, Little Guy has his bumblebee sun hat, and Pickle Missy, as she is the eldest, is sporting the folk festival essential- a flower garland.</span></div><br />
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And the camping? I survived- hurrah! The weather was very kind to us, and the camp-showers have been updated from the ones I was told about- no solar power for us! Just regular over-used get-them-while-they're-hot ones that can sustain a lovely temperature when they are largely un-used in the mid-afternoon. Oh I must just post these links, if you get a chance, and you like your <i>traditional</i> folk, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IrCRdSAXwg">The Willows</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj_dThqYHHY&feature=related">Feis Rois Musicians</a> were my favourite little discoveries of the weekend.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-33893457604507921572011-08-27T01:10:00.001+01:002011-08-27T01:19:46.537+01:00Considering the reactions.This evening, something occured which now seems a little stupid, but at the time seemed wholly upsetting. Isn't it odd how our reactions to things can be so diverse? Mine were- all in the space of a few hours. I've gone from one to the other tonight, having literally 'cooled down' in the process. Some will laugh when they read, (you can, don't feel guilty- I had a smile!) others will empathise, maybe somebody will be as outraged as I was initially. The interesting juxtaposition here is my initial reaction, with how I would have reacted a second and a third time- each different.<br />
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Imagine the scene if you will. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is like Poirot, but without the violence, happily, but also without the beautful period costumes, sadly..</span></i> I am at a loss for things to do, and I am avoiding paperwork, and okay its Friday night, which might be a friendly-kinda-rowdy in parts, but I might just go for a run... until I remember that I'm in my PJs. So instead, I'm in my garage, doing that thing I do, gently attacking something like this,<br />
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at about half speed, obviously.... (I'm still in the completely learning stage, and also, honestly, it says 'Allegro Molto', not 'Prestissississimo' or something. Whats the rush?)<br />
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And I can hear something, to my far right, outside. Although it has been raining lightly on and off since the afternoon, this isn't <i>that</i> kind of watery sound. It is another, unmistakable sound, and it is being sounded against my up-and-over door. I had heard people walk past already, probably between pubs, but hadn't realised that their convo had stopped, and somebody had paused just outside my property. What do I do? This is a bit like a sliding doors scenario- there is a small moment where my London 'walk-away' upbringing (where you don't even look partially intimidating people in the eye, let alone approach them), flickers up inside me, and then it goes. The more overwhelming urge is to go out there, interrupt him, and move them on, and probably, I envisage, they will run away fast, perhaps laughing.<br />
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So I go out there, catch him literally in the act, and shout 'What the hell are you doing?' His reaction? He chuckled, continued, and said 'I'm having a piss'. I retaliate: 'Stop it- *** off!' He says 'No'.<br />
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Now what? That wasn't what I was hoping would happen. I never expected him to carry on. This is the bit I have replayed in my head. In my updated version, I run in, dash into the back garden where a bucket of rainwater has been gathering, dash back out, and <i>water</i> him, liberally.<br />
Then and there though, I really wanted to wipe the cheesy grin off his face- I was absolutely enraged. And he would hardly have expected it of me to retaliate physically, and it would have been so easy to do. Oh and I was angry- so upset and cross and shocked at the blatentness of it all.<br />
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Please note, I did <b><i>*not*</i></b> do this. I never touched him, guv. <br />
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So what I actually do, is look towards his two laughing mates, themselves the same sort of age and reasonable build, and quickly close the door. I hold the door shut, pushing myself up against it, trying to remember how to lock it without the key, because all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I felt incredibly vulnerable. There was nobody else <i>outside</i> to help me- none of the usual taxi drivers, who have been so supportive before, no neighbours, no other pub-goers.. and nobody else <i>inside</i>.<br />
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I did my good citizen thing, and made a very likely useless call to a local police switchboard. She diligently took down the description and the particulars, and on a positive note, it was a pleasure to deal with somebody who was totally efficient, and who put me at ease. Our taxes are going somewhere useful in their training I feel.<br />
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So the other oddity of situations like this, enraging ones, vulnerable ones, bloody-good-shock ones, is that you can never get hold of anybody to chat too, to calm down about it. Nobody answered their phones when I came home from a routine abdo scan, with the news that I was unexpectedly a tiny bit pregnant 6 years ago, and nobody answered their phones <span style="font-size: x-small;">(initially- bless the lovely friend that did come to my aid though,)</span> when I had a bad shock and ran from someone and hurt my hand a while back- I just wanted to talk too fast for a loved one to understand, and cry down the phone for a bit. Similarly, nobody responded to texts this evening (I knew the parents were in, but didn't fancy worrying them).<br />
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I mentioned about the scale of anger- and my reactions if I had have dealt with it a second time that evening. It happened around 8.30, and around 9.00 I'd have done the bucket thing... in fact I sploshed some floor cleaner and water around the outside of the garage after my visitor, as you do... and left some water in the bucket by the front door just in case. He didn't show. Good- maybe the strong arm of the Friday Night Law did catch up with him before he hopped on his bus. Saddo.<br />
By 10, I was beginning to smile about it. And I was a little taken aback by the actions of this feisty girl, all alone, protecting her property, and her Faure induced peace. Maybe she did the right thing, but at 10pm, I would have popped upstairs, closed the curtains and made myself a cuppa. Yes-the garage is where I escape from the world, into my own one, and to have somebody insult it like that was upsetting, but I was daft to confront them. Its also a pretty ridiculous thing to happen, that could probably only happen to me... hence the slight grin, its just my luck- and it <i>is</i> stupid!<br />
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I'm not sure what the end of the story is. I'm going to bed, and I'm going to stop mulling it over- maybe thats the conclusion. I feel lighter about it, by a bit, but my lovely evening was rudely broken. Its odd- I was abroad when the 'London' Riots, as they were referred to then, were going on. When it started spreading to other areas, I thought that <i>that</i> kind of behaviour was for cities, and that those sorts of thugs, with their beligerance and rulebreaking, and lawlessness, could never 'belong' where I live, with its rural charm and villagey-pride. They never did reach us, but now I realise that there isn't much of a boundary. People are people. Nobody rioted and put lives and livelihoods in danger outside my house tonight, but they weren't country mice either. I guess I've just realised that you only get away for so long, with living in peace, before somethng like this happens... even if I never thought that it was at all possible, in my beautiful Here. <br />
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xxx<br />
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PS- sorry for the subject matter, but I do like to share! ;) Thank you for reading my little blog, nice posts and sad ones. I mentioned my disappointment in my last post, at not being able to sit down yet, and catch up here, and write those <b><i>'Dear Diary, I had a fab holiday'</i></b> entries. But my weekend plans have changed, so I'm a little more likely to be able to catch up with my Bloggy World than I thought, give or take some paperwork. I'll be back soon, I hope, with happy tales from my Summer, plans for September, and maybe even a cake recipe too. Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-44112258048641929892011-08-23T22:55:00.000+01:002011-08-23T22:55:31.477+01:00Just a Holiday note...Hello! Its been such a long time, but I've been away, and at home with family since we last spoke, pretty much <i>constantly</i>. You could say, I've been busy being Home and Away. I want nothing better than a long sit down and a cuppa, and a large helping or some homemade blackberry cake, so that I can catch up on all that has been going on while I have been absent, presumed missing, from my little blog.<br />
I'm looking forward to escaping for a while, from the housework and into some lovely posts, and finding some time to sit down and write a bit about <i>my</i> adventures too. It feels like much more than three weeks or so since I was here last.<br />
I promised to fill you in on the festival, which I must do, and then of course there was the week abroad, and the return home to gather the beautiful small people up into my arms and squeeze tightly. I've been doing lots of that. Our camping trip this week has been postponed due to the rain, so I'll be thinking up more local things to do, (squeezing the last out of our holiday... as we seem to only have a tiny amount left), but whether it could top the day trips we took last week with my parents, and the makey-fun we got up to, I have yet to discover. I'll let you know.<br />
We're back to London next week for a Duck Tour, then I guess we all go back to school... but lets not think about that yet. If I don't make it back, its because flying homemade kites took presidence!<br />
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Catch you soon.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-31526231375172444482011-08-02T13:18:00.000+01:002011-08-02T13:18:10.834+01:00Off we go again!I came back yesterday from Cambridge Folk Festival, and it was awesome. I'll post about it when I get a chance. I have had a bit of work today, in amongst the organising and panicking... which will continue, with, hopefully, a little rest before we leave here at 3am in the morning for Santa Eulalia, Ibiza. I am so excited its actually hard to think. But theres lots to do. Life is all or nothing around here!<br />
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Have I remembered everything? Absolutely not.<br />
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See you soon!<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-9344948525591469142011-07-30T10:00:00.001+01:002011-07-30T10:00:08.786+01:00Photo Scavenger Hunt- July 2011I am smug, and, for a change, organised. This post has been set to publish while I'm on my hols. <i>Get me</i>!! I hope you enjoyed this month's list, I had fun, and managed to get some nice snaps with the purchase of a posh new digital camera, (bought with nectar points and early Birthday money). Yey!<br />
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Red White and Blue: a window display.<br />
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Strawberries: (home grown- yum!)<br />
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Ice cream (with sparkles and sprinkles!)<br />
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A flag: bunting around a local shop, that has been prettyfying the corner ever since the Royal Wedding.<br />
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Fields:<br />
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Celebration: strawberry gateaux, for Pickle Missy's friend's birthday.<br />
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Shells:<br />
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Flip Flops:<br />
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Stars: Christmas wrapping paper!<br />
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Stripes<br />
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A kite: (sorry its not in the sky! This little pocket kite has been riding around in my handbag for about three weeks, waiting for the right weather...)<br />
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Something that makes you smile: I'll have to admit sadness and happiness mixed together when I see this little dedication, on a bench by the sea... but its the sweetest thing, and it fills me with positivity about living for the moment, and embracing the beautiful. Such wonderful words...<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-35016344824078069222011-07-15T23:27:00.000+01:002011-07-15T23:27:39.661+01:007 ThingsVicky, at Coffee and Milkies, kindly tagged me in her list of <a href="http://coffeesandmilkies.blogspot.com/2011/07/seven-things.html">7 things</a>, a 'liebster award' type thingy. Thank you! I thought it was a while since I'd done one, although it took me a some time to come up with some entirely new information. It comes at just the right time, when my blogging is slowing down because I'm all end-of-termy, and consumed with trying to find childcare for September, so I'm not so inspired to sit and write as I'd like to be. Its not going too well just now, but I <i>need</i> something to turn up, for me to continue working... and in these circumstances where something <i>needs</i> to happen, I find that somethng unexpected usually does. So we'll see!<br />
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Here are my facts.<br />
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1) I had a few ideas about my career path when I was little, (chef and journalist spring to mind), although I never really was focused on <b><i>'that one job'</i></b>... But the first little dream that I told my parents of when I was small, was that I wanted to teach the violin, in a house in the country* and have lots of cats. I have achieved two thirds of this, despite it being the career route I didn't really want to take initially... Am I finally settled? Not really! :)<br />
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<i>*NB I grew up in London: therefore all areas that weren't cities were termed 'country'! Locals may not think this is the countryside, but I'm convinced it is!</i><br />
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2) I hate olives, and coconut (although I like korma) and dislike nuts (although I love marzipan and praline)...<br />
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3) I have a completely irrational but severe fear of two particular creatures. Even the names upset me! It seriously encroaches on my ability to garden, and I thought I had it sussed, with a paved garden made entirely of pots. Not so. I'm desperate for my children to escape it, and it takes all my effort not to scream when I see one... and yes its bonkers but I've been battling it for a long time. Mind over matter... and more birds/ hedgehogs please!<br />
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4) I'm currently planning my Birthday Party, and a picnic gathering the day after, for my children's friends and families. Its making me smile, although I'm a little nervous. For some of my friends, its the first or second time they'll have been Here, and I'm not used to hosting. But I am having to think about lots of lovely cooking!<br />
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5) I don't have a coat that I like that much. In fact I don't think I've ever have had one that was entirey comfy in. What I have in my mind's eye when I go shopping is quite often entirely different to what I end up with! I'm not a natural shopper.<br />
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6) I have the most entertaining neighbours. Its a quiet road, despite a taxi rank, and the fact that my garden is next door to the pub's garden, but I do love a bit of 'hubbub'. I also love to take a glance out of the window when I'm washing up, and see the people opposite live out their colourful lives, and have noisy conversations/arguments about who finished the vodka. They're outgoing sorts, and cow outfits have been spied on the washing line...<br />
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7) I never used to like my middle name. I thought it was hideously old-fashioned, and I thought that, said together with my first name, I sounded like a ship. I still don't like it very much, and wouldn't choose it for myself, although my full name's meaning made sense to me as an angsty teen. And now, finding out that my parents named me after the year they were married in, I feel I need to accept it as part of the family history, and it sweetens it considerably.<br />
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I haven't tagged blogs individually, but please feel free to join in, if you have the time! Have a lovely weekend.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-81161959295901296582011-07-10T21:44:00.000+01:002011-07-10T21:44:46.575+01:00TV HitsI don't have a television that receives channels, as you may know. <span style="color: purple;">'Whats the point in that?'</span> you may ask yourself. I ask myself the same thing on a regular basis. I'm stuck in a digital contract without enough signal to watch it.<br />
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To be honest, I've managed so far, and its annoying, but I don't watch much tv anyway. I love my music, and I like to do 'things' with the children, rather than veg out in front of Peppa Pig, although they are indulged occasionally. I'm keen on cooking, and going out when time allows, and I can lose myself on Wikipedia of an evening, if I'm bored, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(which I LOVE- seeing who is related to who, pressing links from one page to another, which I have termed my <span style="color: purple;">Wiki-Trail!!</span>)</span></i> the way others can in front of BBC1.<br />
So I suppose, despite the money I'm paying for a service that they can't provide me with <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(after assuring me they could... grrr)</span></i> its not a bad system. I get to cherry pick the things I want to watch, when I want to watch them <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(and lets not mention that you can do that too, with your fancy recording-boxes... that I have... that I can't use...its not important!)</i></span><br />
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I've been watching bits and pieces recently, without my evil telly, and here are my top TV Hits:<br />
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I love a good documentary, all the better if its slightly biographical- I am a little bit obsessed with people's dates, where they come from, which other famous people they met... (authors, artists, muses, musicians). Also, anything cultural, particularly if its based in France, is just my thing. Enter <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Vincent Van Gogh, Painted in Words</span>, with the fabulous Benedict Cumberbatch <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(BTW- what an actor?! Great in everything I've seen him in)</span></i> as the tortured soul, that was the genius painter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsjgXdbaC3kbN78oVvMEUm4oUClFypIMaucVTKbxUsEaMx4o3IfSUk-Qbpij-HCurVWrafofQ9ftWHIsTqOpZcVmvbKa_0BCWTtUBbHyxJRtKvAnXFNlenCtto2CTqvMyFwlapVIozNY/s1600/vincent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsjgXdbaC3kbN78oVvMEUm4oUClFypIMaucVTKbxUsEaMx4o3IfSUk-Qbpij-HCurVWrafofQ9ftWHIsTqOpZcVmvbKa_0BCWTtUBbHyxJRtKvAnXFNlenCtto2CTqvMyFwlapVIozNY/s320/vincent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/images/episode/b00rzj61_640_360.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rzj61&usg=__jDtY9VajDEHvQS2yydjxnaoGIl4=&h=360&w=640&sz=60&hl=en&start=0&sig2=CP6f4bP1YTLpbWDULDaoQw&zoom=1&tbnid=jaCx8nxaE-lS4M:&tbnh=134&tbnw=200&ei=ZAcaTo6ACsaX8QOG6Ogt&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbenedict%2Bcumberbatch%2Bvincent%2Bvan%2Bgogh%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D742%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=552&vpy=104&dur=3030&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=137&ty=100&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0"> source</a></span></div><br />
Its was bloody good- an excellent portrayal of the man, <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(she says, like she knew him!)</i></span> using his own correspondance to his brother, and others, for the dialogue. Its a fascinating time in cultural history, and very sad, but very watchable.<br />
<br />
Music is always an excellent idea, but with the <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Glastonbury</span> shows, I missed so much, because when you can't see it live, its difficult to catch up on something as big as that- suddeny hour-long programmes filled with music eat into your evening <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and iPlayer stuff is usually a free-time/ weekend activity for me)</span></i>. I watched what I could <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(watched being the word with live music)</i></span>, and didn't see half of what I wanted to really- still catching up, however Elbow were great, as I <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/2011/04/build-rocket-boys-and-my-first-outfit.html">expected</a>, and I enjoyed <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/festivals/glastonbury/2011/artists/stornoway/">this</a> band, Stornaway. The first song was a little bit folktastic, and that arrangement didn't live up to the album version, for me, but the second was truly beautiful.<br />
<br />
Onwards. I have found something that I have put-by for tonight to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=fake%20or%20fortune">watch</a>. Its called <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Fake or Fortune</span>, and I saw one a couple of weeks ago at my fella's, and it was good. I've only just noticed that others in the series have made it online. Now this kind of programme is worth the licence fee! I really enjoyed the Monet trail, and it was gritty, and interesting, and pretty powerful stuff, watching a couple try to get their painting recognised as genuine, with all sorts of hoops to jump through, in an antiquated system, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(ha! literally...)</span></i> that means that one powerful family have the final decision. Philip Mould and Fiona Bruce take us through it, and she is only mildly annoying, which is good...<br />
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I love <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Miranda</span>. That is all. Hurry up BBC and get this to the people that can't watch it when its broadcast!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7w5oBiSm7DnD3L5llKF4tvvtYNRFK43tBC_3-vYVpPckIYd6pm7KA841IVT0KnkdkEK-tA7NUBB0ZabSpAo3IjyxMmPdGq1-3NBBZ4mr_S7MNYebDFcxgvb7Q6Bml1eG7ZkaH34sjpw/s1600/miranda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7w5oBiSm7DnD3L5llKF4tvvtYNRFK43tBC_3-vYVpPckIYd6pm7KA841IVT0KnkdkEK-tA7NUBB0ZabSpAo3IjyxMmPdGq1-3NBBZ4mr_S7MNYebDFcxgvb7Q6Bml1eG7ZkaH34sjpw/s320/miranda.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/12/article-1346441-0CBBB029000005DC-181_233x466.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1346441/Comedienne-Miranda-Hart-hits-comments-appearance.html&usg=__uUe3bPgEMlGVrEakzO_OMF9yGNc=&h=466&w=233&sz=31&hl=en&start=0&sig2=n-yE8_NTdNT1xdfPQf4AYg&zoom=1&tbnid=usfQ8fCbwt5ZcM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=84&ei=DggaTo6gOcKt8QOYtPAE&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmiranda%2Bhart%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D742%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=439&vpy=317&dur=3289&hovh=318&hovw=159&tx=51&ty=188&page=1&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source </span></a></div><br />
I'm also kinda enjoying the 3-part series with Guy Chambers<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (of Robbie Williams 'Angel' fame)</span></i>, called <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Secrets Of The Pop Song</span>, writing songs collaboratively, and plodding through potted history of pop genres. The first episode was a ballad, writing with the Rufus Wainright's ego, and his lovely voice too. The song turned out a little bit annoying, but it was fascinating to see the process. Part two was the project of writing a 'break-through' single for a new pop act, Tawiah and Mark Ronson. He was quite irritating too, but lets not knock the sound behind so many fantastic singles. Its The Noisettes in the part three, who I really like. Now I say 'kinda enjoying', because the whole process got me asking questions about creativity, and watching it in action, and the different processes it takes is interesting, but thinking about the power and money behind those that say 'you're gonna make it' and those who say 'you're not', and those who can drop aspiring musicians so quickly, is quite some food for thought. I find it hard not to think of them as slimy ruthless business men. Its quite unsettling. On a lighter note, Boy George has some <b>really</b> interesting things to say, rather eloquently... who'd have thought it?!<br />
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Remaining at number one for me, so to speak, is <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">The Tudors</span>. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQ1ivybW1dUcoS5WhUo9gnxUJm62Qi9Lezckp0v4Yxnp51YXv4HxZXtzhRZV3YgsPJ7etTcFSZCrR3fEW215e4_4LaVfhHYnocf2mHyF8cmYyHiP2zMT_SOgU-cNLuT_65Fp2xzzjx60/s1600/henrytudor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQ1ivybW1dUcoS5WhUo9gnxUJm62Qi9Lezckp0v4Yxnp51YXv4HxZXtzhRZV3YgsPJ7etTcFSZCrR3fEW215e4_4LaVfhHYnocf2mHyF8cmYyHiP2zMT_SOgU-cNLuT_65Fp2xzzjx60/s320/henrytudor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.celebritysentry.com/post/jonathan-rhys-meyers-trivia-for-king-henry-viii-of-the-tudors-tv-series/">source </a></span></div><br />
I blogged about it once before, but it is good enough to blog about again. Oh dear Lord, what am I supposed to do without Henry and his multiple wives to play out their dramatic lives for me?!?! <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(And the very sexy Henry Cavill!) </i></span>I have a soft spot for Jonathan Reece Meyers, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and can only hope he finds the strength to get himself back on track very quickly....)</span></i> I fell in love with him in 'Bend it like Beckham', <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(with Keira Knightly, in equal measures- not a great storyline I don't think, but she was fabulous to watch)</span></i> and was waiting for him to get a great role like this one. His very lovely blue-Hugo-Boss eyes catch me every time I walk past Superdrug.<br />
'The Tudors' was a definate Hit for me: the drama, the costumes, the characters, the time-period, so full of rich interesting storylines. I drank them all up, on the BT box very thirstily, and then found that the naughty BBC iPlayer wasn't showing the last series, so I watched them online <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(legally, but in tantilisingly small chunks as you could only watch about an hour at a time)</span></i>. I finished a week or so ago, and there is a little Tudor size hole left in my life!! I'd love to see them all over again, and may need to invest in a box set at some stage.<br />
<br />
<br />
And the 'misses'? I was very disappointed with Claudia Winkleman's new programme, <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">King Of</span>, much as I adore her. It was quite a pants set-up, and in their haste to get through the format, they lost alot of her natural humour. She's crazy and lovely, and I was so happy to see that she had her own show, but... no ta. It looks like the viewing figures back me up here.<br />
Lee Mack's <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">All Star Cast </span>was also a bit cringeable. The episode that I watched, like 'King Of', had great guests <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(in fact, Sarah Millican was in both, and she's fabulous)</span></i> but I wanted it to end for some reason, in the same way that I couldn't watch 'Noel's Houseparty' once I was old enough to realise that Mr. Blobby was <b>really</b> irritating!<br />
<br />
<br />
What are your recent TV hits?...<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-74893411871024222572011-07-09T10:56:00.000+01:002011-07-09T10:56:48.990+01:00Are you proud of me?!...This weekend is the first one that I've had by myself for ages.<br />
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I'm actually all alone.<br />
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There is nobody here apart from me.<br />
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And I have nothing specific to do.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBErJJIu26ha3nd21zMVwv1ywCHqMWLx5spoyN7tM1vqkVDpliKTncVmtx_Bp2SjDjVT4FkCAvSIC6jhwWRrVee7X_NF60KkSjItYhRjeOil3tkzgf0iaffo-SVkiN2CqfCGioGsJQOU/s1600/moomin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBErJJIu26ha3nd21zMVwv1ywCHqMWLx5spoyN7tM1vqkVDpliKTncVmtx_Bp2SjDjVT4FkCAvSIC6jhwWRrVee7X_NF60KkSjItYhRjeOil3tkzgf0iaffo-SVkiN2CqfCGioGsJQOU/s1600/moomin.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iJmUi7mzUhyphenhyphenzWvj09PabUzGkGoxsRiyi5ctFfwZm8OGZGOK9J1O1BSnmpo3O77mNU6oXETjuXAjCjN_EX9gm23_ycZ4Ce1T5BNd9wp-2MdaxGuztsPiwjSugXz6awZWToC5rucCUqWk/s220/1987559.gif&imgrefurl=http://moominblogi.blogspot.com/&usg=__xxWsbqnXZEXQZXwSVQukQDDj-UI=&h=194&w=175&sz=4&hl=en&start=4&sig2=ZopMbmX2wwza0uxqUguTYQ&zoom=1&tbnid=biBRBu3OveluAM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=93&ei=zCMYTtOWJoW38QPxmqwL&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmoomin%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D742%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span></a></div><br />
And, <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/2011/04/change-of-plan.html">unusually</a>, I'm fine with that! This is one of my long-term struggles, to be 'Me', without being a mummy, or a girlfriend, or a daughter, or anything else. I seemed to lose confidence in that a long time ago, and it often feels awkward, unnatural, boring and lonely. The children are with their dad a weekend early, and the fella is at a festival, with lots of local acts, as well as Cast and The Streets. Jealous? Much? <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(No really- its raining and he's camping!)</span></i> Its fine!<br />
<br />
Plans? Not many. Eat toast, check. Catch up on things missed on the iPlayer, check. Tidy my bedroom and finish the laundry.... yeah, I'll get back to that one... I have decided after weeks of panicking about being Bikini-Beautiful (the holiday is looming) that some people aren't made for them, and that I <i>don't </i>have fat legs, they are quite short actually, compared to my body. So theres nothing I can do about that. This is also a step forward. More toast please!<br />
<br />
He's texting me alot, with the 'wish you were heres' <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(whatever happened to the interdependant thing that we had going on?!)</span></i> but he's with man-friends that he's known for a lifetime, and I think he needs to be there as 'himself'. I'm happy where I am, being 'Me', by myself.<br />
<br />
Its a big step forward!<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-17346958386897169482011-07-06T11:39:00.000+01:002011-07-06T11:39:30.154+01:00Photo Scavenger Hunt (Better-late-than-never!) for June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqZpnV-Djz0XUrHH1I8zzRJJCz-VRhumAaamgR-za8CYjx726kXR_dy3Wh6IR66GDFDfDAYXHluWaBJvpy0jkcBopmmKfXTgQJJkcLrh8JfOGpElPurJ-j_PHtlVhvocr2iRMOCHLU5k/s1600/photo-scavenger-hunt-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqZpnV-Djz0XUrHH1I8zzRJJCz-VRhumAaamgR-za8CYjx726kXR_dy3Wh6IR66GDFDfDAYXHluWaBJvpy0jkcBopmmKfXTgQJJkcLrh8JfOGpElPurJ-j_PHtlVhvocr2iRMOCHLU5k/s1600/photo-scavenger-hunt-2010.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I mentioned the other day that I didn't manage to take part in this one... not strictly true- I hadn't completed by the time I wrote that post. But I then realised that there were only two more pictures to collect, so I decided to finish, <i>rebelliously</i>, late. If you haven't come across the Photo Scavenger Hunt, then <a href="http://postcardsfromthepp.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-form">this</a> is the link you need. Such a lovely idea, and a great way to get in touch with new people. Its always good to see how bloggers interpret the list differently, and its a handy focus for photography when you're out and about.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Please insert here the neccesary apologies for my camera dying (RIP little digicam!) and excuses about my mobile phone lens having a small scratch on it! Its actually takes a pretty decent photo considering, and I'm getting quite good at taking a shot with room to spare, so that I can crop-out the smudge later on!]</span></div><br />
Here we go:<br />
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Tree Branches<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvLcRArYret-_x5ZYhr36cydd8xoha4F_WAi7M-d3QZ6KX8GcGpto_BZQoSuMqHWvLBxUcg02V0CkClXvIb9ny6ZAeICgMfnptcrbiG9bIgQBF4WoTL9Cjge5zjvempR1_MuiBgEonZw/s1600/264650_10150293602291077_533041076_9458239_7479020_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvLcRArYret-_x5ZYhr36cydd8xoha4F_WAi7M-d3QZ6KX8GcGpto_BZQoSuMqHWvLBxUcg02V0CkClXvIb9ny6ZAeICgMfnptcrbiG9bIgQBF4WoTL9Cjge5zjvempR1_MuiBgEonZw/s320/264650_10150293602291077_533041076_9458239_7479020_n.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br />
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A Farm Animal<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQygp-H9Z-q6WzzTWPHBJewckDm_IfmrDhQcoFKCLji_h4jocaA5W9UjTCWJMm6ph-RKZGhSG18gTPmrq20E2HF5yGm1yjQMs1vSnGCnZGRe9ioOkHasXyCsGV-P6G3t1tcus1HrG3aY/s1600/265117_10150293602856077_533041076_9458248_1672874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQygp-H9Z-q6WzzTWPHBJewckDm_IfmrDhQcoFKCLji_h4jocaA5W9UjTCWJMm6ph-RKZGhSG18gTPmrq20E2HF5yGm1yjQMs1vSnGCnZGRe9ioOkHasXyCsGV-P6G3t1tcus1HrG3aY/s320/265117_10150293602856077_533041076_9458248_1672874_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>I didn't get a chance to see a real one in June, but there are a wide selection to choose from at home. This is one of them, on Little Guy's book shelf.<br />
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A Childhood Memory<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV_9CbKLRrMMDQGxlrNRJLCfMjnBve7gxh-AkFg5dwoDAUs3SKNgw52aPCyMjfbxt3tS0NuQmMYKHjTZcsnz_LgeEpDtUpN5KdQByBdmxOuIxQDiuDVN3s4uD545bqh86TmuDwRYOwy4/s1600/260358_10150293602676077_533041076_9458244_4318463_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV_9CbKLRrMMDQGxlrNRJLCfMjnBve7gxh-AkFg5dwoDAUs3SKNgw52aPCyMjfbxt3tS0NuQmMYKHjTZcsnz_LgeEpDtUpN5KdQByBdmxOuIxQDiuDVN3s4uD545bqh86TmuDwRYOwy4/s320/260358_10150293602676077_533041076_9458244_4318463_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I used to love Sylvanians! And spent many hours looking over these little collector-leaflets that came with the animals, and the furniture, trying to remember all the names, and working out what I would like to get next. I was lucky enough to have the bakery, (Mr Brown Bear and his wife were too tall to come in through the door though- it bothered me!) and I saved and saved for the little house. The grey rabbits were my first family, and my favourites, and I liked the babies as they were in pocket-money range! TMI... probably...<br />
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A Wheel Trim<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt5mX6gVq1DIUjllu1Ics-QGOcNbxPblTw6hL4qjm7pixJpoOoESC818_PFvwpYWllurw9UQK4eQypVDWQay8l8aCuz9HLIrBYXbTlNeNMon3JFxbRxmYyqj-4BfYkIAqwvjwBVLWCVM/s1600/267998_10150293602606077_533041076_9458243_1851278_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt5mX6gVq1DIUjllu1Ics-QGOcNbxPblTw6hL4qjm7pixJpoOoESC818_PFvwpYWllurw9UQK4eQypVDWQay8l8aCuz9HLIrBYXbTlNeNMon3JFxbRxmYyqj-4BfYkIAqwvjwBVLWCVM/s320/267998_10150293602606077_533041076_9458243_1851278_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was too slow to get a pic of my fella's motorbike, which came to stay for a week. Here is Pickle Missy's scooter wheel.<br />
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An Elephant<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufCiF3iNAZiIpsZuJNvpIwWoKJ9p4dpAVAb9qydATgYxA58Dyb4xV4bW9B1r0pTNXO3dn2fZcUARPa3CEJkXdpki_L4KKQFLcmt17UQnK9Ra7JcwjcvRM3zzPuohKjjGlNSpAGbLC-B8/s1600/268245_10150293602696077_533041076_9458245_979273_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufCiF3iNAZiIpsZuJNvpIwWoKJ9p4dpAVAb9qydATgYxA58Dyb4xV4bW9B1r0pTNXO3dn2fZcUARPa3CEJkXdpki_L4KKQFLcmt17UQnK9Ra7JcwjcvRM3zzPuohKjjGlNSpAGbLC-B8/s320/268245_10150293602696077_533041076_9458245_979273_n.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>On my dressing table. I love him. He keeps my rings on his nose!<br />
<br />
Architectural Detail<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyqJITDiKUAKeS3byHQQBDbtCAexqA1IYoz7jQccYseiJgRUrIAnBhDfHxSvwyJCE5ejEzzP-Rhr9V8WK4Kd7NvA13YUw9VIIlCuvCIqR8iMvMihPEip0ML20CB-4BGY1rQoFxq0eFc0/s1600/269540_10150293602566077_533041076_9458242_5352680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyqJITDiKUAKeS3byHQQBDbtCAexqA1IYoz7jQccYseiJgRUrIAnBhDfHxSvwyJCE5ejEzzP-Rhr9V8WK4Kd7NvA13YUw9VIIlCuvCIqR8iMvMihPEip0ML20CB-4BGY1rQoFxq0eFc0/s320/269540_10150293602566077_533041076_9458242_5352680_n.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>From a Baptist Church. This is around the back of the building, but I liked it as much as the finer ones near the front door. Sadly it looks out onto a loading bay and a public toilets, but its very pretty!<br />
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Cheese<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YL29IOtu8ehjiTaVBusW2nnui5Wdh1rYNH-OaAc0eMcRnp9isC_M-a_qhD0hZ0H9k3FgBGWtDLvtevBH04VbsXSTK1GNR-4TK8aVjhtOJBcztUC1egTZeXCsI4stL3jR6yhjEL9wKEw/s1600/265156_10150293602941077_533041076_9458250_7069432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YL29IOtu8ehjiTaVBusW2nnui5Wdh1rYNH-OaAc0eMcRnp9isC_M-a_qhD0hZ0H9k3FgBGWtDLvtevBH04VbsXSTK1GNR-4TK8aVjhtOJBcztUC1egTZeXCsI4stL3jR6yhjEL9wKEw/s320/265156_10150293602941077_533041076_9458250_7069432_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My newest summer discover: feta in oil, with chilli and pepper. Mmmmm...<br />
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Cutlery<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMmbHokVpPmz4I3vvqm58lRSpMV4v7HPpQch9xfljdtG4IfEpfsxarlUu4NxydieoWjjD9LHE8E8L7HY1ryUPwMGefQQ2go2fDWpGn8hljii4KZH7v41k-PVuO67W-VA8jSE4be7uYrQ/s1600/261908_10150293602906077_533041076_9458249_7300197_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMmbHokVpPmz4I3vvqm58lRSpMV4v7HPpQch9xfljdtG4IfEpfsxarlUu4NxydieoWjjD9LHE8E8L7HY1ryUPwMGefQQ2go2fDWpGn8hljii4KZH7v41k-PVuO67W-VA8jSE4be7uYrQ/s320/261908_10150293602906077_533041076_9458249_7300197_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Night<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6uxPlu4Dh5QNAX9VDMCcSyF6N7Uo4p_vOVIuIY70vVQ0wsr-z38BSjjeR-Ns8RRwSrDDMtMquSkf2ue_vfWifgtq0YhH9fWRyUvBP_-emD-z2jV7e4q1zqTN0sEQzjyiuAeRfjHexR4/s1600/261222_10150293602411077_533041076_9458240_7988319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6uxPlu4Dh5QNAX9VDMCcSyF6N7Uo4p_vOVIuIY70vVQ0wsr-z38BSjjeR-Ns8RRwSrDDMtMquSkf2ue_vfWifgtq0YhH9fWRyUvBP_-emD-z2jV7e4q1zqTN0sEQzjyiuAeRfjHexR4/s320/261222_10150293602411077_533041076_9458240_7988319_n.jpg" width="263" /></a> </div>My stair-window, at night. <br />
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Something beginning with 'Z'<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZG29MZa8AkmllLauiEnJNHHasyDpvkM5EM9d6-UjVmh8Onu_g9ZYHAmzniSWTdbX6jHfrYXH8W_Z45WK-7DZIrOghCChwE6XmqaOYIwLq8_QbIoQGj9Ucin8mChiymASPPgzUzgK7KY/s1600/270610_10150293602801077_533041076_9458247_7388406_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZG29MZa8AkmllLauiEnJNHHasyDpvkM5EM9d6-UjVmh8Onu_g9ZYHAmzniSWTdbX6jHfrYXH8W_Z45WK-7DZIrOghCChwE6XmqaOYIwLq8_QbIoQGj9Ucin8mChiymASPPgzUzgK7KY/s320/270610_10150293602801077_533041076_9458247_7388406_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br />
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Something with your town's name on it<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDaxNh8i9qVcreW0bVqOoz4bU5nru-ISB4BLC_pSn8NJqu7wcJJeXvMiWH4SXExMs_UKYkd-ku6KM4sxk82y5LlOcAgUuvgdkVzS00SQixp83D4nGYjifigMZTx2Ec5aVtMp8TueKPNg/s1600/269724_10150293602756077_533041076_9458246_6267444_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDaxNh8i9qVcreW0bVqOoz4bU5nru-ISB4BLC_pSn8NJqu7wcJJeXvMiWH4SXExMs_UKYkd-ku6KM4sxk82y5LlOcAgUuvgdkVzS00SQixp83D4nGYjifigMZTx2Ec5aVtMp8TueKPNg/s1600/269724_10150293602756077_533041076_9458246_6267444_n.jpg" /></a></div>From a tourism leaflet for the town. Sadly there are no tigers to be found, wandering down the high street, and I wouldn't have called the local animal park in 'our' area either (some artistic licence with the race track too!), but it makes a lovely central picture! <br />
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The View Right Outside Your Door<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13DRT5yX70DHCWSDI_3q19pD8NHYa4Ivz1RwR4b6msNEghjvOnhiXyE_wNPMrZcqZQaM5U3K-54Mg6C9xZWzn1TBQE92zRVeXgNXQT1QMk8AZ4iEn0xme7mswhzAXDWb6tXlHRGruz3s/s1600/263796_10150293603031077_533041076_9458252_7571327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13DRT5yX70DHCWSDI_3q19pD8NHYa4Ivz1RwR4b6msNEghjvOnhiXyE_wNPMrZcqZQaM5U3K-54Mg6C9xZWzn1TBQE92zRVeXgNXQT1QMk8AZ4iEn0xme7mswhzAXDWb6tXlHRGruz3s/s320/263796_10150293603031077_533041076_9458252_7571327_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I took this on the Friday (after four days of road closure and tea-making... literally!) that they completed work on the resurfacing of my road. There was lots of excitement about the various machines that arrived, and Little Guy and I had fun watching.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-13550220184058399072011-07-04T15:26:00.000+01:002011-07-04T15:26:21.655+01:00An Evening Concert.This should also be subtitled:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">'and a post in which it becomes more apparent what I do for a living!' </div><br />
It seems to have been a while since I blogged! I've been a busy bee, and have also been a poorly bee, and also a bee who was unable to finish her Photo Scavenger Hunt, but theres always next month. I think I'm back into routine now.<br />
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Let me tell you about a lovely evening I had at the weekend. There was me, my fella, a nice warm evening walk up to a beautiful church, and this lady:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46bQP8zAWurNiRibMww2kulafRWaWBFz4_s5v7CrnEMJkwxGPVfnQIyNGEbThxDFfGS2nFHa31ABjMCK1HTQBkTu0JOd4Hctzochbnuq4M6RE9NR3GcOJExlGHGQsnacmebI906VhxK4/s1600/tasmin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46bQP8zAWurNiRibMww2kulafRWaWBFz4_s5v7CrnEMJkwxGPVfnQIyNGEbThxDFfGS2nFHa31ABjMCK1HTQBkTu0JOd4Hctzochbnuq4M6RE9NR3GcOJExlGHGQsnacmebI906VhxK4/s1600/tasmin.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.grayshott.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Concert-Tasmin-Little.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.grayshott.com/wordpress/2011/01/28/music-stars-head-for-grayshott/&usg=__Y1wtCoSqrgANpB8mn2dnrMbFXqc=&h=800&w=631&sz=76&hl=en&start=0&sig2=SoHHkfCVKoxZIG1eyOO6lw&zoom=1&tbnid=sZLxhXBoYfNQjM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=110&ei=IboRTrjOHYXX8gPrgu3hBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtasmin%2Blittle%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D742%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1052&vpy=373&dur=622&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=92&ty=140&page=1&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0">source</a></span></div><br />
Forget your Take That tickets- this was the place to be! (Jealous, much?!..) I couldnt quite believe what I was reading when I found out that Tasmin Little was due to play with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lenehan">John Lenehan</a> at a nearby church, and assumed it would be too difficult for me to go. But somehow there were still tickets at the 11th hour, and I managed to convince my other half (not known for his classical music leanings) that this was not to be missed. We were there early, so as to get the best choice of seats in our ticket price. I was thrilled to be very near the stage. This was the programme:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> Fritz Kreisler - Praeludium and Allegro</div><div style="text-align: center;">J.S. Bach - Sonata in E major No. 3, BWV1016</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mozart - Sonata No 17 in C major, K296</div><div style="text-align: center;">Grieg - Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op 13</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tchaikovsky - Melodie from 'Souvenir d'un lieu cher'.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bartok - Romanian Folk Dances.</div><br />
What a treat! There was a time when my life was steeped in classical music, and, much as I always loved the radio, and the Top 40, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and later on, Britpop and Indie and grungie stuff of all descriptions)</span></i>, I spent my Saturday mornings in Orchestras, my Sunday afternoons in choir, and almost everyday after school was a different music-based commitment or lesson. After my studies, I had no real reason to live and breathe orchestral music, and I enjoyed escaping it all for a while. I then decided that I missed it, but after I moved, there was no real way of getting together with others to make music anymore, so I started to teach, and found new interests to occupy my evenings<i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(notably staying at home with my small children!)</span></i> But I'm an all-round <b>music</b> kinda girl, and will listen to anything, and this programme took me right back to the days when I could call myself a pretty good violinist. <br />
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The Kreisler was a particular treat- such a lovely way to open the concert, and a real indulgence of mine. Due to the concert venue, it was unavoidable to hear her warming-up, and this was the one she practised before she came in- it was interesting to hear how she went over the notes, played it through slightly un-easily, double-checked her fingering and tuning just as any other debut-soloist might... even though she's far from this! Ofcourse she just slipped into another mode, and there were no signs of nerves onstage, just pure wonderful music-making.<br />
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The Bach was also very beautiful, and it was a new listen for me, just like the Grieg, which I must look out for a recording of. Of course the Bartok was the biggest croud-pleaser. I myself have a <b><i>very</i></b> tenuous teacher-student connection with Bartok. Aside from the fact that I love him, and I based my dissertation on his piano works, he also taught my violin-teacher's proffessor. You see? He is my Great Great Teacher...! When a student of mine played some Bartok in her exam last year, I had to tell her that she was his Great Great Great pupil!<br />
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And the lady in question, seems lovely. <i>'How can you tell from a concert?'</i> I hear you ask. Ah- I just can! It was a fairly intimate performance, and she connected with everybody there. She <i>gave</i> music, and took pleasure in it, and seemed to have a wonderful musical connection with her very fine pianist. They shared smiles and private jokes between themselves during the energetic passages, through raised eyebrows and nods of heads, and they had a passion for the programme. There was a small incident where she came to the stage without the correct music, (which only made me like her more!) and he hopped off to collect it for her, and she filled the time on the mic with ease, talking fondly about the Kreisler that she had just played, and praising John Lenehan for his support and help. She also smiled, and looked genuinely grateful for applause, making the effort to look around the audience, catching the eyes of those that she could, to thank them back.<br />
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As with any good classical concert, the encore was a little bit of something special. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I once had the pleasure of seeing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Vengerov">Maxim Vengerov</a> at the Barbican in London, who, the previous summer, had sprung onto the world stage doing some impressive violinistic gymnastics at the Proms. I was a tiny bit disappointed to witness a purely Beethoven and Mozart programme, and had to wait until the second encore for a flash of his famous virtuosic playing!)</span></i> My fella seemed a little surprised that they walked on and off the stage after they completed the programme, to recieve two more bursts of applause and then sat down to give us something unscheduled! But it was worth the wait. It was their own take (ie- lots of flourishes and scales and trills, and lots of opportunity to see the pianist's genius) on Monti's Czardas. Fantastic.<br />
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And what could finish the evening off nicely? A little trip to the pub, and a chance gig by a fantastic singer-songwriter. There were lots of covers of good tunes, as well as his own material. He has one of those little boxes that Little Boots used, and Ed Sheeren has, where they record a few bars at a time, layering claps, chords, backing vocals as they go- it was amazing to see him use it live. Plenty of Newton Faulkner-like guitar techniques too. Watch out for him- he's called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/myjameskirby">James Kirby</a>. Utterly inspirational. I told you I liked all music!<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-85631081614806147822011-06-26T23:56:00.000+01:002011-06-26T23:56:31.759+01:00Full of the joys of... Summer.This muggy weather has suddenly given way, as they promised, to beautiful bright rays of sun. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(And its lovely out there)</span>. It feels as though that is the pattern for my personal life just recently too. I feel like there has been a period of grey heaviness, much as I was able to wade through it with a half-smile, and now...well, I feel like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWBWqq26rY9470biSarLYy1GGAGaQs43acM1JzMWuQeC43b8V3S2orFyDZ4EYcNfxgPY621JDsRRXmrQDaRRLVu4-GeU15d5IiGnvDEKmWgTinUVkvaFsywfAfe0NX_R0xMW11vfl4OI/s1600/sunshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWBWqq26rY9470biSarLYy1GGAGaQs43acM1JzMWuQeC43b8V3S2orFyDZ4EYcNfxgPY621JDsRRXmrQDaRRLVu4-GeU15d5IiGnvDEKmWgTinUVkvaFsywfAfe0NX_R0xMW11vfl4OI/s320/sunshine.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.glogster.com/media/2/4/70/59/4705913.jpg&imgrefurl=http://disappearinghope.glogster.com/my-only-sunshine-/&usg=__1tNiG2RrZCbAJGpV8DH6N0O2oNg=&h=343&w=300&sz=48&hl=en&start=19&sig2=2TWs6KslAs-wp3rTRKwvhw&zoom=1&tbnid=SB-Hr1KnQSHdNM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=105&ei=e6YHTtH8NIPC8QPiw6y6DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhappy%2Bsunshine%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D781%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&biw=1440&bih=781">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't you just love this image? Thats me!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The timing of my good mood is odd, because I received <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/2011/04/plan-d-to-go-with-plan-c-with-couple-of.html">another</a> <span style="color: #783f04;">Brown Envelope of Doom</span> the other day, <span style="font-size: x-small;">(this sort of depressing brand of communication is quite regular, and it always seems to contain news that gives me a bit of a shock). </span>Its hard. I was just finding my feet, setting goals, and now I'm a bit lost again. But it doesn't seem to have dampened the mood, because lots of good stuff has been happening recently.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Take a look at my <span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-size: large;">Happy List:</span></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Sports Day</span>. <br />
I was a little bit emotional- it was another Mummy Milestone, being my first. Pickle Missy did me proud. Highlights? Bouncing off in the spacehopper race before the headteacher blew the whistle, and being lifted up to the basketball hoop, to have a fairer chance (given her size!) of getting a ball through it. She also finished in last place for the little race she competed in, chiefly because she was trying to keep her sunhat on.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">A visit from the parentals.</span><br />
The children were too tired to do much, but mum and dad were in good spirits, and it was nice to have the adult conversation, and to see the bond between them, and their grandchildren.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Moving On.</span><br />
After a period of lethargy, I am motivated, and after periods of disorganization, my house and mind feel tidier. I've had a good sort-out, and I've given myself little tasks to tackle in my free time. I'm also making the effort to <i>veg</i> in a constructive way- reading, or making things, or working on my <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/p/my-thirty-thingys.html">Thirty list</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">New readers.</span><br />
I got a little mention, and a LOVELY write-up, <a href="http://www.tots100.co.uk/2011/06/10/best-of-the-mummy-and-daddy-blogs-ten-at-ten-18/">here</a>. I was really overwhelmed, and came across the link in my stats. They made me feel like I had something relevant to say, and although its a shame that that post isn't in my usual style (so I worry that I come across a bit emotional and paranoid to new readers), I was really buzzy when I read my name in the list of recommended parenty-blogs!<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sunny Sunday.</span><br />
Today in itself was a good day. We are lucky enough to have a bandstand Here, with lots of grass, and a small playground all in one enclosed (sort-of) area. You know how much I love live music... of any kind...and the weather was perfect for the brass band today. The children loved it, and I bumped into some old friends, and chatted to lots of people. Happy faces. <br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Family Life.</span><br />
I'm in a lovely routine- and the children are thriving on it. There have been more play-dates, and a structure to the contact they have with their dad since our <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/2011/05/handy-tips-for-mediation.html">mediation</a>. Yey! Pickle Missy and Little Guy suddenly seem more secure, and confident. My little girl's school report was shining recently, and her brother is very settled and smiley at nursery. And I feel like I'm gaining friends, and making plans, (getting a tiny bit of a social life). Its lovely.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">A holiday</span>.<br />
Its been booked. Bite me, <span style="color: #783f04;">Brown Envelope!</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Although technically it was booked before that last one arrived).</span> I am going here for a week in August.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hEPXXjILOXNjNobZA3Stqam_U51qhnQOWHeXgHJwlzcYnOexaa-3d7QhAKBE0RLw26IuOhmRl9eVUZ23P_BjTEhUPJIvahmN6EP4at075-ZA5EGp-an9K4s8O3eAIgmjnhGFxPaMhRo/s1600/Ibiza+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hEPXXjILOXNjNobZA3Stqam_U51qhnQOWHeXgHJwlzcYnOexaa-3d7QhAKBE0RLw26IuOhmRl9eVUZ23P_BjTEhUPJIvahmN6EP4at075-ZA5EGp-an9K4s8O3eAIgmjnhGFxPaMhRo/s320/Ibiza+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://skvots.net/ibiza-holidays-guide.html">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiQqpFAOWkYwyZPvt95-i33MHzglfxIxx8AVUcv0PKxgR0UjbspEatIckSH4We6uo3Z3TtxdErzqS0ckjDI4me9UFfs2u8K9_OTYHAm32UljRgQpmvcRMGDhC73waK4NGlpsgicC1050/s1600/ibiza+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiQqpFAOWkYwyZPvt95-i33MHzglfxIxx8AVUcv0PKxgR0UjbspEatIckSH4We6uo3Z3TtxdErzqS0ckjDI4me9UFfs2u8K9_OTYHAm32UljRgQpmvcRMGDhC73waK4NGlpsgicC1050/s320/ibiza+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://usuaris.tinet.cat/eromero/ibiza.jpg&imgrefurl=http://usuaris.tinet.cat/eromero/ibiza.html&usg=__IxnewKVrF_2oco1fvN0QkxT7-MQ=&h=700&w=907&sz=125&hl=en&start=28&sig2=3m2HLfwHzFD-MXDN11nxxA&zoom=1&tbnid=yV-fu2-cF0ovMM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=200&ei=mrYHTrDXGszD8QPE183qDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3DIbiza%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D781%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=148&vpy=421&dur=366&hovh=147&hovw=200&tx=143&ty=88&page=2&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:28&biw=1440&bih=781"> source</a> </span></div><br />
Have you guessed? Its Ibiza, although (I'm bored of justifying it, but I feel I ought to!) it won't be the clubby part- we got a lovely deal on a half-board holiday at the opposite end of the island, where all of the slower-paced-people go! It will be wandery, and relaxing. The scenery looks fantastic. Its my first sunny holiday in 14 years, and I have (modest amounts of) shopping to do for it. You'll be hearing more of this, I'm sure.<br />
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Hoping you're full of Summery joys too... <br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-83296215808717267092011-06-17T12:15:00.000+01:002011-06-17T12:15:00.356+01:00Makey-fingers: recent results.First of all, there was the necklace (because I do love a new challenge, and decided recently that I could be a master jewellary maker!) I've bought a few bits and pieces over the last couple of months to get me started with my new hobby, and have been perusing craft magazines and the Accesories departments of the shops for inspiration. I have thoughts on a memory-wire bracelet, and am writing down other ideas as I have them, to put by for later when my skills and materials have caught up with my imagination!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM-8VmMhCWLS2Ipa5kTzX4YfFuFyMYuej_ufMvQT9htgfwisptXoSRtl2Cdza-5qdnSaxdZ9RnmovPhxdJmQKKnIN5Bu4Rad9Opc2ud05_VEoe23Csto7qzWEeHscIeFcv1_MsN1wB9M/s1600/crafting+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM-8VmMhCWLS2Ipa5kTzX4YfFuFyMYuej_ufMvQT9htgfwisptXoSRtl2Cdza-5qdnSaxdZ9RnmovPhxdJmQKKnIN5Bu4Rad9Opc2ud05_VEoe23Csto7qzWEeHscIeFcv1_MsN1wB9M/s320/crafting+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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But here is my first attempt: A button necklace <span style="font-size: x-small;">(some of it is out of shot- they're terribly difficult to photograph! But its a little bit longer than it looks, and symmetrical... kinda)</span>.<br />
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Then there was the thought that I'd like to get something pretty and heart-like downstairs, to cheer up the corridor. I saw some hearts on ribbons in a shop window recently, and thought that I'd have a go myself. I fixed them together in a temporary fashion, whilst I waited for some more wire (preferring that to the ribbons once I'd experimented). And I'm glad of that, because I have changed my mind about the order of the three, and the beads between them several times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHPGetLFFg9fer3PVb0UE7f74Vu-8EPZzC-D_ydfpIYiSqNkArk0UbY-xcZww5jrbaDjJtsei4xdwuVbWG0XuidEacC-snjjPfjCb8xH291CVGIW28d7oGj5pFvEAi2Hv4Z0l3EV8EEg/s1600/crafting+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHPGetLFFg9fer3PVb0UE7f74Vu-8EPZzC-D_ydfpIYiSqNkArk0UbY-xcZww5jrbaDjJtsei4xdwuVbWG0XuidEacC-snjjPfjCb8xH291CVGIW28d7oGj5pFvEAi2Hv4Z0l3EV8EEg/s320/crafting+007.JPG" width="147" /></a></div>They're not hanging here, on a door, but, again, its all quite tricky to photograph! They're actually here, on a heart peg.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJPhTYD3p0KmAR1BTTSLO92lXXpOEo0YGVOQ_7YqO13Qrl1z6FPkgszS_D0K4_DPeG1Y4Ox2nwUgtsEbUrDbfNiG80ttPfO4NocIU0gXoFBGzEiMpxtZu5PG0EVwQ75GaWqpA69xsbzg/s1600/260164_10150269650616077_533041076_9274048_8297064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJPhTYD3p0KmAR1BTTSLO92lXXpOEo0YGVOQ_7YqO13Qrl1z6FPkgszS_D0K4_DPeG1Y4Ox2nwUgtsEbUrDbfNiG80ttPfO4NocIU0gXoFBGzEiMpxtZu5PG0EVwQ75GaWqpA69xsbzg/s320/260164_10150269650616077_533041076_9274048_8297064_n.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>And the individual hearts look a little bit like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOJOg43_wU_-zkT7E4H4xWeNKn8KCvY5HZ3t0Ni96mdEDA5QjW5XVe7aPsewiSmqVXsPrlNwcOamQC4v7bi8xfCKVoW_3rRaAg-DGNrT5X9GRJ2v74kkZre28fxGBO5wWluBnH2zKmFY/s1600/259802_10150269650656077_533041076_9274049_993003_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOJOg43_wU_-zkT7E4H4xWeNKn8KCvY5HZ3t0Ni96mdEDA5QjW5XVe7aPsewiSmqVXsPrlNwcOamQC4v7bi8xfCKVoW_3rRaAg-DGNrT5X9GRJ2v74kkZre28fxGBO5wWluBnH2zKmFY/s320/259802_10150269650656077_533041076_9274049_993003_n.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgxP4Z6cfKQKymEENOFXIv-KBp2UN5jgaKbDZ1Hk9fj1n2RK-iFE414Elp0zPa29VfXwx4IaTUtEJGnQh9NNFxtnURjqsqTKXgQk5GFW1vqsvhEZZ81-IJPAJO1CPY4jK8U4MwRW7cF0/s1600/249627_10150269650706077_533041076_9274050_4026871_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgxP4Z6cfKQKymEENOFXIv-KBp2UN5jgaKbDZ1Hk9fj1n2RK-iFE414Elp0zPa29VfXwx4IaTUtEJGnQh9NNFxtnURjqsqTKXgQk5GFW1vqsvhEZZ81-IJPAJO1CPY4jK8U4MwRW7cF0/s320/249627_10150269650706077_533041076_9274050_4026871_n.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8fEAIZdIV-I6K3nu2g41f8G8cwtniyRL5fWcXobH6Gl-scRvgssyYPr0CVeFtnQ5d9uWOMg1Xc4yEG8i4L2jfQOmOPDRQdf3oTT8vhWBybmc635I605Jw8dMnE8n3l0sIkSzw6YQqYc/s1600/252557_10150269651016077_533041076_9274054_8166140_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8fEAIZdIV-I6K3nu2g41f8G8cwtniyRL5fWcXobH6Gl-scRvgssyYPr0CVeFtnQ5d9uWOMg1Xc4yEG8i4L2jfQOmOPDRQdf3oTT8vhWBybmc635I605Jw8dMnE8n3l0sIkSzw6YQqYc/s320/252557_10150269651016077_533041076_9274054_8166140_n.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Its imperfect, but then, so am I! If I was to do this again, the words would be in the middle. I'm still considering what I could use over the top, if anything, as a fixitive... It may well change the whole feel of it, so I'm unsure...</span></div><br />
There is a musical theme here, and I got hold of some spare written-music of a couple of my favourite tunes to use, then layered with decorated tissue, and the words? A bit of Shakespeare that I am fond of, (Ariel singing in The Tempest) which is also beautifully set to music by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtwGO97lNg&feature=related">Arne</a>. (This isn't my favourite version, but its very pretty. I think I prefer it sung a little bit more simply- Emma Kirkby perhaps?...)<br />
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<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;">Where the bee sucks, there suck I:<br />
In a cowslip's bell I lie; <br />
There I couch when owls do cry. <br />
On the bat's back I do fly <br />
After summer merrily. <br />
Merrily, merrily shall I live now <br />
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.</div><br />
I love the image this gives me, being the size of a fairy, flying around in an idyllic Summer. So I guess the sweetness of it makes me smile- its lovely to pass it by a couple of times a day. <br />
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Theres also a little photo of my sister, Pootle and I, that has been hanging about (not literally on a wall unfortunately), waiting to be made use of. Unfortunately it was printed on regular paper, and was a4 size, and the original print hasn't been seen for a while. It deserved a frame of its own, and something special. I fiddled about with some watercolours and pen, and came up with this. Its one of a kind!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB2pG2sVsA7Ro-SE368VJqO83c7nH6OY8Fx86IZZ7Y2ySIxAftxUElPXWYbiJ8mJ6LzEEuCXXI-_87yUeUa6k7xpKJImIwdDltuFKYLHvto4JRoIUs2Zzcr6FYJ3jLEzPlkfwkA4YTB8/s1600/crafting+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB2pG2sVsA7Ro-SE368VJqO83c7nH6OY8Fx86IZZ7Y2ySIxAftxUElPXWYbiJ8mJ6LzEEuCXXI-_87yUeUa6k7xpKJImIwdDltuFKYLHvto4JRoIUs2Zzcr6FYJ3jLEzPlkfwkA4YTB8/s320/crafting+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've also been working on something else with pen and watercolours. Its still a work-in-progress, as although it is 'finished' and framed, I'm not entirely satisfied, so am tweaking some bits. But here is a sneak preview...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLqIVWgHp7ZiivfZmPjv9eCPBQELd55q1j_RKhfk29_oTRXuDQmD0jeeyeZWXu_gLCPNSAdznYZYT_zAqooSEfHJwMTl5RdihJrPAW0vg90ezOZJaexlAtNVFNedMjIDpkUeK3JROwxY/s1600/crafting+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLqIVWgHp7ZiivfZmPjv9eCPBQELd55q1j_RKhfk29_oTRXuDQmD0jeeyeZWXu_gLCPNSAdznYZYT_zAqooSEfHJwMTl5RdihJrPAW0vg90ezOZJaexlAtNVFNedMjIDpkUeK3JROwxY/s320/crafting+004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Not to be out-done, the children have been busy too.<br />
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So I suppose my makey-fingers have had their exercise for a while, but this is pretty much how things go around here- inactivity in the craft department (or nothing going on of note), then I find the energy (and drive) to zoom about until the early hours for a few days in a row, just to finish those things that need finishing! At least I'm making progress on my <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/p/my-thirty-thingys.html">Thirty List</a>! I can now tick off <b>4</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(the hearts: 'inspirational'? Well, its something that I love reading and it puts me in a good mood, so perhaps it is, indirectly)</span>, two of the three from number <b>5</b>, and one skill of the three (jewellary-making) of <b>9</b>.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-11504280047984577272011-06-16T23:23:00.001+01:002011-06-17T09:11:50.803+01:00The Sea.I am lucky enough to be able to get to the coast as much as I want. So most days I do.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfSK-rq7QcvR99xH4SgNl82p8nLhwGhe3zexC80_mwFLaYWmqpTye_sYjaYZtIfsVk5NkeGVpwxZSmGVWzxisKVR6vaSkBYtU6tdoCuWTfSReXsmPWRZw-sTIcEIFLk-OP7T6P0DBf6A/s1600/253933_10150267148901077_533041076_9253872_4663735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfSK-rq7QcvR99xH4SgNl82p8nLhwGhe3zexC80_mwFLaYWmqpTye_sYjaYZtIfsVk5NkeGVpwxZSmGVWzxisKVR6vaSkBYtU6tdoCuWTfSReXsmPWRZw-sTIcEIFLk-OP7T6P0DBf6A/s320/253933_10150267148901077_533041076_9253872_4663735_n.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />
My dad, a Cornishman, loves to check up on its blue-ness when he visits and I wander along that way when I finish the school run. I take walks, and I run occasionally along the pathway. Little Guy takes trips to the boats sometimes, to watch the fishermen with his nursery, <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pReWxsi5z9CKX9GNWlLOi4bD3p9kMKuntXpVA8CW05HaeTwa5Klt3sTzpr9At8FPrJqCYHZHyoOcOmkIrPoRY60gG-9V92ZWhfi5iBCbhnit2r9y_dshoF2I6uFmGEcpn5sH7Qpz2y0/s1600/225038_10150236746501077_533041076_8959580_228395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pReWxsi5z9CKX9GNWlLOi4bD3p9kMKuntXpVA8CW05HaeTwa5Klt3sTzpr9At8FPrJqCYHZHyoOcOmkIrPoRY60gG-9V92ZWhfi5iBCbhnit2r9y_dshoF2I6uFmGEcpn5sH7Qpz2y0/s320/225038_10150236746501077_533041076_8959580_228395_n.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br />
I could only have dreamed of watching fisherman with my nursery. We had treats of our own, and were located near an army barracks, so probably spent lots of time peering-in at soldiers, but I sometimes wonder at the sort of things my two will <i>get used</i> to doing, as part of their everyday lives, to look back on. And I also wonder whether they will grow up with that <span style="color: blue;">'sea loving gene'</span> that I thought had passed me by... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SMiVJjUt4Xr0l6nDTSQhpguMp47R_ro0GaWCdS4pHoQiF4Gf8sMPhjDyYCrJQTkap2Q21mY3zshbk9_NJFbFfJOtGuvNBVoXoKRzTI65s4a_stAh9LQtezxJNQSUsmmOE914Lcy6Jqw/s1600/228502_10150236746556077_533041076_8959581_6054452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SMiVJjUt4Xr0l6nDTSQhpguMp47R_ro0GaWCdS4pHoQiF4Gf8sMPhjDyYCrJQTkap2Q21mY3zshbk9_NJFbFfJOtGuvNBVoXoKRzTI65s4a_stAh9LQtezxJNQSUsmmOE914Lcy6Jqw/s320/228502_10150236746556077_533041076_8959581_6054452_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Turns out, it hasn't. Its just that living so far away from it for so many years, I never realised I had one.<br />
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Sometimes, I can be persuaded into a cycle ride, and the sea wall is a very inviting route- especially on a warm day, with a little stop at a cafe, and a spot of people-watching. (Nothing sordid! I just like to imagine what these beach-dweller's lives are like, and where they have come from, and what possessed them to wear speedos and long socks, you know... that kinda thing...) The right kind of nourishment after all that pedalling is paramount: cheesy chips, cider, and one of these. The ice-cream lady said 'would you like red sauce?' Silly question.<br />
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There are many tracks playing through my head when all I can hear is waves, and seagulls, and here is just one. Enjoy.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-70981679042964661762011-06-10T11:48:00.000+01:002011-06-10T11:48:47.803+01:00The CastleI mentioned our trip back <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/2011/05/photo-scavenger-hunt-may-2011.html">here</a>. We went to a beautiful castle a few weekends ago. <a href="http://petitfiloux.blogspot.com/2011/06/on-my-doorstep.html">Petit Filoux</a> blogged this morning about discovering somewhere lovely on your doorstep to visit, that you just hadn't got around to seeing. Its almost the same here!<br />
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This is nearby (like, about 8 minutes in the car), and I knew it was there, but just didn't think that it was accessible for the general public as it is privately owned. Well, I was right, but the owners open up the grounds once a year, to raise money for the NSPCC. Children were free, adults were £5, which I thought was spot on. It is an attraction for gardeners, as lots of independant nursery people and plant enthusiasts set up stalls for the day, and the beautiful grounds are enough to get you all inspired about your own bit of earth!<br />
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Although we couldn't go inside, (Little Guy may never forgive me!) we could pose for photos outside the grand entrances, and wander around the huge grounds, and spot people that I knew, through work, through toddlers, through school (which was a real wake-up call- ok, I don't meet these people socially, but it was lovely to think that I at least recognised so many familiar faces from my home town. Perhaps I'm settling?!)<br />
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There were several tortoises, who had very interesting names, who were caged up for the day. I can imagine the frustration of losing your gardens to a load of tourists and gardeners, when you usually have the run (well, you know, a slow run) of the place. This may explain the grumpy behaviour- most of them had decided to coop themselves up together in the dark box at one end of the run, but there were two large tortoises sunbathing and not hiding away from the people. There was also one smaller feistier one who was butting the pair, climbing over them, and nibbling their feet.<br />
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There was also a small-ish barbecue, offering hotdogs and burgers, and a stall with ploughman's lunches. I had brought my trusty standard-mummy-issue snack boxes, and water bottles because of the heat of the glorious day, but of course we sampled the tea and cake...<br />
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There were strange noises coming from above, and a presence in the trees. We went to see if we could spot the creatures. Peacocks! With attitude! Two of them stayed where they had been when we arrived, high up in the branches for the duration of our visit, and one was playing look-out from the top of the castle, watching the visitors come in and leave. But one was on top of the garage, talking to people and swinging around grandly, and ruffling, and strutting, hiding his head, and half putting his tail up like a tease. He was also keen to wander across if you had a camera, then turn around to expose his broken tatty feathers on his behind as soon as the photographers had lined their shot up. I managed to get one thought. He was fun! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Y1nOXcTiPMMJlE7nnT5cG1i_aoG_YRDgliTdoyDRbHnhVtu73B3GqET1vHEd-b8Ge5pK9UQ2cel1S_E3-NUsSrsDHKNhDtNCP4fp3AqHW_Ja4MIbURMqlo2vdpz58auWRfjmA-_kPQ/s1600/May11Phone+948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Y1nOXcTiPMMJlE7nnT5cG1i_aoG_YRDgliTdoyDRbHnhVtu73B3GqET1vHEd-b8Ge5pK9UQ2cel1S_E3-NUsSrsDHKNhDtNCP4fp3AqHW_Ja4MIbURMqlo2vdpz58auWRfjmA-_kPQ/s320/May11Phone+948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_QyzdT7d4ikoXxZYHKOdM-xwYr1LtB0PKCMxWjwx4BDSF64WjBStsB_unOYrG8dKvrGxs0qzF6zESVwKNStjM49vlJhn_Vz7B5iQvA4uBzgDhaDSYk3XJElEzuw3SKRsKbZTj0H_C3s/s1600/Saltwood+Castle+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_QyzdT7d4ikoXxZYHKOdM-xwYr1LtB0PKCMxWjwx4BDSF64WjBStsB_unOYrG8dKvrGxs0qzF6zESVwKNStjM49vlJhn_Vz7B5iQvA4uBzgDhaDSYk3XJElEzuw3SKRsKbZTj0H_C3s/s320/Saltwood+Castle+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I saw a couple of peacocks in a small theme park, in France, a few years ago. I was appauled at the state of their broken and dragging-feathers, and sad, and assumed that it was because they had been cooped up. But this handsome man was almost as bad! I wonder what state of repair the Hens are to be found in?...</span></div><br />
Did I mention the archery? A small local club had organised a little informal teaching session for a small cost. It was lovely to watch, but I wasn't particularly tempted to join in, I was a bit too embarrassed, and I've learnt that these sorts of things don't come very naturally! I'll stick to my sister's Wii I think.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4unPNU6Ff-4iSrQmjgHVT5JYN3KD1IRwsCETPaedY_UP6JMLa_RmPj36VzwfVM_4UQyVnIQJEXhbQ277TVqq8AQi1hWYRC_N_86ARncj_AUAMxVILpKgt_ipD5cbQrrBOf_ecXG34Sq0/s1600/Saltwood+Castle+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4unPNU6Ff-4iSrQmjgHVT5JYN3KD1IRwsCETPaedY_UP6JMLa_RmPj36VzwfVM_4UQyVnIQJEXhbQ277TVqq8AQi1hWYRC_N_86ARncj_AUAMxVILpKgt_ipD5cbQrrBOf_ecXG34Sq0/s320/Saltwood+Castle+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Thats my fella's board on the right. He also popped two ballons on target. I did suggest that all he needed to do to hit the middle was to take one small step to his side. Not appreciated!</span></div><br />
Daisy chains were made, and it was as calm and peaceful as anywhere might be. We just sat on the lawns for an hour or two, chatting lazily, people-watching, nibblng cake. It was safe enough and quiet enough by late afternoon for me to let the children roam a little bit freely, barefoot. It had a real atmosphere to it. And there was so much to see and enjoy that I gladly would have stayed all evening and night! Definately worth a return visit next year...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyH2W8Q3SI4punjPzXLVaQZJOkzui83nSkXlyco2Ys65ISh6VkijbP-u0j_Vi0q8IY5azyP_UEE8ju5WddagevpsbLMTBqhveZhqtsnMLlXEqa77HVtzcdTzmfOt_DQMPtIUWrq9gpBQ/s1600/May11Phone+938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyH2W8Q3SI4punjPzXLVaQZJOkzui83nSkXlyco2Ys65ISh6VkijbP-u0j_Vi0q8IY5azyP_UEE8ju5WddagevpsbLMTBqhveZhqtsnMLlXEqa77HVtzcdTzmfOt_DQMPtIUWrq9gpBQ/s320/May11Phone+938.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note the obligatory smudge in the corner of the pic! (But I couldn't crop it otherwise you'd have missed the blue of the wild flowers!) Yes, my camera is playing up again! Its very frustrating, and new batteries last for about two photos before it flashes up as 'batteries dead'. Time for a new one I think! I will put it on my list to Father Christmas :)</span></div><br />
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And when we got home, for some odd reason my children (mostly at Pickle Missy's organisation) started to call our downstairs bathroom the 'tortoise', and the upstairs the 'peacock'. (The house isn't as posh as it sounds, and I'd gladly lose a bathroom to gain a third bedroom!) It has stuck. So I have made some pictures for the doors to clarify it! Even grown-ups love colouring in.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-3076152453402466262011-06-09T10:00:00.002+01:002011-06-09T10:00:03.629+01:00Three-Photos-Thursday, 9th June<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meep, Meep, Meep!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCNgRSnixGeRWvN6reEQ52xCAWeFcB4qSsg6UZL8dSfzcGAUtdN7_onmfeJg6h2RSM3EqHqT6Slo3DroIaox-vBNIHjtOcwmrZQqEAi0FyQ4v_Y2oRMrDYPO8dFBQIdTyp-PDD-RUeUM/s1600/249627_10150250802821077_533041076_9088421_7519370_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCNgRSnixGeRWvN6reEQ52xCAWeFcB4qSsg6UZL8dSfzcGAUtdN7_onmfeJg6h2RSM3EqHqT6Slo3DroIaox-vBNIHjtOcwmrZQqEAi0FyQ4v_Y2oRMrDYPO8dFBQIdTyp-PDD-RUeUM/s320/249627_10150250802821077_533041076_9088421_7519370_n.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Under the bridge we go!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOKUZF_0pH9YkywLRumZuXGy6cQdhmT1vI_IppD3qnHo3XX_mmoqARrr5g3ktjUJEP5a6oGh7Mj-vznCBC6zKTyWUqSCAb_NdjljTFwrDlxu23x6Fmg_BbjZXnpeFz6RzJGXMeuh4C64/s1600/246610_10150250829286077_533041076_9088566_838532_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOKUZF_0pH9YkywLRumZuXGy6cQdhmT1vI_IppD3qnHo3XX_mmoqARrr5g3ktjUJEP5a6oGh7Mj-vznCBC6zKTyWUqSCAb_NdjljTFwrDlxu23x6Fmg_BbjZXnpeFz6RzJGXMeuh4C64/s320/246610_10150250829286077_533041076_9088566_838532_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we Come!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxzuOsRxGp6KvFQtdVAtC6VF04s3AHPDoVuasXtvL3svEjN6ZVDcIwr-mDzOKfnhWKWpQPovDdtj7UC6_VcCciR5-eeFABGSe_ABu8JkzBJW-7yZ-1T83b_cZ1uGH6ylru-lIXoTyo1w/s1600/247005_10150254837741077_533041076_9132887_4186886_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxzuOsRxGp6KvFQtdVAtC6VF04s3AHPDoVuasXtvL3svEjN6ZVDcIwr-mDzOKfnhWKWpQPovDdtj7UC6_VcCciR5-eeFABGSe_ABu8JkzBJW-7yZ-1T83b_cZ1uGH6ylru-lIXoTyo1w/s320/247005_10150254837741077_533041076_9132887_4186886_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aren't we fluffy?!</div><br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-88401032424726413382011-06-07T23:21:00.003+01:002011-06-08T00:29:51.634+01:00Not using the 'L' word- a Random Think...This week is <i>the anniversary</i>. The One Year of Me and my lovely Fella. And its all good. I doubt we'll celebrate, but I don't feel the need. It'll be an occasion just like the formula of us- it kinda comes and goes, and we're both happy without much fuss.<br />
I've been surprised by some things in this relationship, and I have learnt other things. Its difficult to articulate, <i>(ha! Lucky you lot!...)</i> but its worth a random think, I think. This is surely <i>(almost)</i> what blogs were made for- a perfect place to write inexpertly about complex matters of the heart and soul! Please feel free to add any thinks of your own to the comments. Here goes:<br />
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I first tried to write out what we were, together, <a href="http://me-we-are-here.blogspot.com/p/jargon-buster-and-introductions.html">here</a>- in the 'fella' section. It was the first time I'd stopped to think about it properly, (how do I introduce this guy who is sometimes on the scene, and sometimes not, but who is such a part of my life nowadays that I find him turning up in my blog posts with regular abandon?!) Well, I think it covers the situation well. We've had some fab times, a couple of less-fab ones, but I'm settled, I'm smiley... alot. There are some things about this relationship that are very different to previous ones, and I really think I'm ok about it. This came as a surprise! Its taken guts, and a 'steady hand', when sorting out my emotions, because my natural state as a girlfriend, is one of a girl that needs swooping up, and taking care of, and organising, and big emotional gestures (not to be confused with monetary ones).<br />
This is where I have been going wrong. There are a distinct lack of those things in <i>this</i> Crazy Little Thing, and even though this was what I'd decided I wanted, I still had to take it as a challenge- to make myself try something new, something slightly out of my usual pattern, something less wrapped-up and co-dependant. This was needed after my previous experiences. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yHu7m_YdkfCyzBfROScnQ67_z7P1qOn17M-rlEYHnUJtHL3DnkL4CO3u1-Vv-gOaldpbIFo01Dazhf3oEKm69NpH6mJWIMt3DXEFcxYe8wkB5YheDjUc_FaUecgayMi4Zf25RDjsWcI/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yHu7m_YdkfCyzBfROScnQ67_z7P1qOn17M-rlEYHnUJtHL3DnkL4CO3u1-Vv-gOaldpbIFo01Dazhf3oEKm69NpH6mJWIMt3DXEFcxYe8wkB5YheDjUc_FaUecgayMi4Zf25RDjsWcI/s1600/L.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maddoxtan.blogspot.com/2010/12/got-my-l-license.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><br />
We give modest presents, (most of the time- tut tut for a couple of very sweet gifts he gave me last year) we don't call every day, we don't go out every weekend, and there are only four photos in existence of us together. Hey, we hardly ever even use the 'L' word. <i>But is it neccessary just now?</i> Is it too easy to over-use that one? Its only been a year. I'll come back to that. I've realised that what we <i>do</i> have is all thats required, as long as the Crazy Little Thing meets each other's needs, and feels cosy and warm. I <i>do</i> feel cosy and warm, without feeling penned-in. Let me tell you what things I <i>do</i> have with him:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>An understanding that we have lives of our own, but a flexi-cuddle arrangement, <i>ie, as soon as one misses the other, we find ourselves making flimsy excuses to be together again.</i> </li>
</ul><ul><li>Also, that ability to be 'the only one' to the other, who understands things that happen occasionally, and can offer the right words or comfort.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Separate living spaces. He is around 40 or 50 minutes drive from Here, and aside from the fact that he has to do the 'running' because I'm still without a car, this suits us fine for now.<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> For now? I wouldn't mind carrying on in this way for a couple of years or more actually, although all-the-better if I had my own transport...</span></i></li>
</ul><ul><li>There is little talk of 'the future'. You know? <i>That Talk</i>. It really isn't essential just now- we like to be around each other and that is enough for the moment. We're more than dating, but less than people that make joint decisions about what will happen. (Bad English? Yes. Sorry!) </li>
</ul><ul><li> Stuff in common: spare-time stuff, and outlooks, and an appreciation of each other's hobbies. Theres a careful balance between this and 'couple-time' I guess, not that I've needed it yet, nor he for that matter- something thats been a struggle in previous relationships. </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN5JGMPGadKNjOTdbpWEninIdy5XxdgAxN3B7ThdHG-SfXqX7SiQfA-jzXzkTAc6B70WO6E-KBzI8jpYKXbXVDQUeUuwEzoDEsa0bi3SEAXm8X5zX95n7B59_oe2kRww3IrphgpCx568/s1600/171452_10150156701512193_681147192_8003250_4547902_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN5JGMPGadKNjOTdbpWEninIdy5XxdgAxN3B7ThdHG-SfXqX7SiQfA-jzXzkTAc6B70WO6E-KBzI8jpYKXbXVDQUeUuwEzoDEsa0bi3SEAXm8X5zX95n7B59_oe2kRww3IrphgpCx568/s320/171452_10150156701512193_681147192_8003250_4547902_o.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ha! Sneaky- you can't see my gorgeous man. I am a tease. He looks like this, but theres more of him. And he bears more than a passing resemblance to Mike from Neighbours... although obviously he's infinitely better looking!..</span></div><br />
I've always needed another half to 'complete' me. No more. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Taxi for Mr Freud please- you can no longer pin that one on me!</span></i> I like my independance, and so does he, but it doesn't detract from the feelings. And because of how things are, I'm not going to declare that I've found the love of my life- not only is it doomed to fail if I do, nobody has asked me to profess it, so I won't. Who knows what the future holds? And yes I trust him, but its taken a while. And like I said- I don't use the 'L' word like its going out of fashion anymore. Can you believe it? I can't! But it wasn't helping my doomed relationships when I did. Still getting used to that one, because I sure use it on my children everyday, but its not as vital as I thought it was with a partner, I've decided. What do you think?...<br />
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He said something interesting to me near the beginning- he didn't want us to 'burn out'. He admitted to that 'butterflies' feeling after our first date, just like me, when we sheltered under a brolly in the pouring rain, and we both felt that there was a real chance that there might be something between us... but he didn't want to lose that in a flash. Butterflies aren't an unwelcome addition to the mix are they? He didn't want them disappearing too quickly. Its not really an old fashioned courting thing, but theres no hurry, and this is why I like an older man!- he's right.<br />
You get to be in charge of things this way- not led by your heart. Theres still that element of emotional unpredictability (in a good way!), only without the 'jumping feet first' feeling, or the 'never knowing what will happen once you feel settled' feeling.<br />
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So it may read as though I <i>had</i> to join his camp and pick up on his way of doing things. I didn't. It was a conscious decision this time, to opt for a relationship like this one, and not in the format of my previous ones. I think with the children at the ages they are now, it was, and is vital, that we have our family time for me to do <i>my thing with them</i> in the Single Mummy Zone, without any relationship stuff around me sometimes. He sees them a fair amount, and I'm not saying this for the purposes of giving the right impression, but I genuinely mean it when I say: the children can't get enough of him. No plans for him to become a permanent live-in-role model in their lives just now though, even though they'd love that, so they'll have to get used to it! I'm determined not to involve him too much too soon.We come as a package, but they're not going to become his responsibility- they're all mine mine mine!<br />
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I'm not being smug- I haven't got <i>The Solution</i> to life's great questions of love, and its not perfect, in fact theres often lots of alone-times, (although I need them, if I am to work out <i>who I am</i> and <i>what I need to do</i>) but its damn hard being the single mummy trying to date a scrummy boyfriend, especially when his <i>'outside of us'</i> life is family and going out, and having a laugh with best friends, and mine, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(because I can't do those things very often, woe is me, blah blah blah...)</span></i> is going to the park, catching up on phonecalls, or tidying the kitchen. But I love (ooh- I used the L-word!) being with somebody who makes me happy, and I have found somebody who does that. <br />
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And now I will stop writing about relationships like I have a Carrie collumn in a New York paper. Normal service will be resumed! Hope you are all having a lovely week.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-66411317286926918302011-06-07T14:10:00.000+01:002011-06-07T14:10:29.252+01:00A Little Visit.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp5n6bCFTDLdJaGSyCCptVH-Qyoa3bjzYPl4VSlOpXAwk8KpQQFnyZqlIeRzFIopBqOrWg164tu55kc_Olr9rIvvTZAnB-mKVHLl9V4mQfK2OounKvVwU27wehyxz6WfzWSG6dHYeDu0/s1600/259272_10150197009095677_522255676_7383869_6498814_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp5n6bCFTDLdJaGSyCCptVH-Qyoa3bjzYPl4VSlOpXAwk8KpQQFnyZqlIeRzFIopBqOrWg164tu55kc_Olr9rIvvTZAnB-mKVHLl9V4mQfK2OounKvVwU27wehyxz6WfzWSG6dHYeDu0/s320/259272_10150197009095677_522255676_7383869_6498814_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here are my two Little People and their Cousin, Mini-P. I mentioned she would be coming on a holiday, like a Big Brave Girl, to spend time with us while her Mummy and Daddy relaxed a little bit. This picture captures it all: the very sweet relationship between the three, and the liveliness and cheekiness of each. I have however decided:<br />
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<ul><li>It is quite important to get 'those odd jobs' around the house completed before a toddler-visit! They may never be completed otherwise.</li>
<li>Similarly, things should be organised 'away'- beware boxes of 'things' and little stashes of wool and crochet etc... but be matter-of-fact, and imprecise when it comes to standards of toy-tidyness- its gonna get messy!</li>
<li>Raisins (multiple boxes) are useful, both as snacks, and bargaining tools.</li>
<li>Be organised, and have activities spare. If early risers are rising earlier than usual, get out and about and involved in something after breakfast. They may even repay you in naps later on!</li>
<li>Things don't have to cost, and you don't have to go far. This won't always be the case, but at this age, it is perfectly acceptable to visit ducks, go to the library and have picnics at the park with school friends. As I don't have a car (and would have problems fitting three car seats in if I did) this was useful. </li>
<li>Sleeping routines are easier with three!... bizarrely.</li>
<li>Prams are handy to hang things on! After a year or so without one, it was quite a welcome rediscovery.</li>
<li>Socks are optional- lifes too short.</li>
</ul><br />
I do love encouraging time together between these little three. I don't have any cousins, but I've heard tell of the wonderful relationship that cousins can have, to be 'like siblings' and 'people you always know, and have things in common with' are two descriptions from friends, that have stuck with me. I don't care about the distance- these little people are gonna<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> love</span> each other! I was pleasantly surprised with my two. Little Guy seemed to get much older this week, and take his turn at 'looking after' a younger one. Pickle Missy was quite at home, with two smaller people to help organise. But they were lovely, and very helpful, and Mini-P was never alone or at a loss for things to do. She flitted between the options of playing with my youngest, because they have lots in common, being just 9 months apart, and going ultra girly, with unicorns, and bracelet-wearing with her biggest cousin.<br />
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Did I ever tell you about Mini-P's arrival? By the photo above, you might not think that she will be celebrating her third birthday in September. Yes, small babies and petite children do run in our family, but this Little Person arrived nearly three months early, on September 30th 2008, by emergency c-section, weighing 2lb 3oz, and was eventually allowed home on New Years Eve.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_fAOAI-fpU7UeTad7cW8G5wGDTK3nRZFwD-pq3uB7cwAoTHo1p3nAodCjXW5JqJGpXshr4SVp6RRjLKY1CxTD44gRUKlpwEXEk3kmeuZLFfQtq4rpZAtVWj-gGCm_14Gcs8JicD36Ps/s1600/LydiaRoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_fAOAI-fpU7UeTad7cW8G5wGDTK3nRZFwD-pq3uB7cwAoTHo1p3nAodCjXW5JqJGpXshr4SVp6RRjLKY1CxTD44gRUKlpwEXEk3kmeuZLFfQtq4rpZAtVWj-gGCm_14Gcs8JicD36Ps/s1600/LydiaRoo.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mini-P and Mummy giving Kangaroo Cuddle Care! The best types of cuddles. My son was 6 weeks early and in special care for three weeks, (little did we know how much more we would learn about SCBU units the following year) so I remember these times too.</span></div><br />
When she is being a bit of a terror, and feeling quite willful (there were a few instances!), and driving her parents round the bend, we have to remind ourselves that if she wasn't as strong as she is, her history may have been entirely different. She is healthy and fit, and no longer under any hospital care, and very vocal!<br />
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So it was particularly lovely to see her make the long journey (two trains and a car, with the second and third leg of the journey without her mummy or daddy) confidently, and to eat well, mix well, and play beautifully.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpG44yo17Sd0BUMZ4xXCUY1o_jyufPFRFeR6YlUsZE5UNoS8DMxylR5zWBGBk2qII0uYCaODprICFPIwi-i0CaJRVy96adZi1iMHjrYWP-f2ifNeGhQRIhtwfmbTIImuWEFTe_D-tcOs/s1600/247398_10150254837406077_533041076_9132877_1057140_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpG44yo17Sd0BUMZ4xXCUY1o_jyufPFRFeR6YlUsZE5UNoS8DMxylR5zWBGBk2qII0uYCaODprICFPIwi-i0CaJRVy96adZi1iMHjrYWP-f2ifNeGhQRIhtwfmbTIImuWEFTe_D-tcOs/s320/247398_10150254837406077_533041076_9132877_1057140_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse the nude Peppa Pig- we have no idea where her dress is!</span></div><br />
Pootle, her mummy, met with friends, shopped, and got her hair done, (yey for lovely things that mummies so often don't get to do!) and (hopefully) rested for a few days, before joining us Here for two nights. Oh I do miss my sister, and am in constant awe of those who have their loved ones nearby. We drank cider, had party planning sessions, fajitas, and evening walks around town (thanks to a willing fella, babysitting and sending us out for a couple of hours to catch up). There was the usual talk about the distance, and if something might be done, if somebody might move. Its not looking do-able for the moment, but we did make use of the time together. Next meet-up will be late July I think. Looking forward to it already.<br />
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xxxMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710873022889476490.post-56394800910156162962011-05-31T21:28:00.000+01:002011-05-31T21:28:05.427+01:00Photo Scavenger Hunt, May 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLKoVSb48-TCcxWPvAa_NjtTPiWbuCo8iYoXmS5z2Vk8j4qby0B6tiqsWncQvH5yXLf3ZLZers_P0h89wwGwNsQYrD-ld9bDpcPmY277LOmKXTyHQDcK54svA4dZmrNmii3JiE1-CcS8/s1600/photo-scavenger-hunt-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLKoVSb48-TCcxWPvAa_NjtTPiWbuCo8iYoXmS5z2Vk8j4qby0B6tiqsWncQvH5yXLf3ZLZers_P0h89wwGwNsQYrD-ld9bDpcPmY277LOmKXTyHQDcK54svA4dZmrNmii3JiE1-CcS8/s1600/photo-scavenger-hunt-2010.jpg" /></a></div> <br />
I got there! It was quite a difficult list this month, but I was pleased to have completed them. There were two missed opportunities for snaps: I had a lovely picture set up outside the Doctor's Surgery, with a beautiful Lassie Dog tied to a bicycle, parked up and waiting patiently- it amused me slightly, but the owner returned, and he did not seem like the type of chap that I could ask a photographic favour from! Similarly- the emergency vehicle... Little Guy's nursery is pretty near a fire station, but I didn't manage to pluck up the courage to take a pic of them behind the consertina doors, even less so when they were being washed (yes- when I collect him on a Wednesday lunchtime the firemen are often to be found soapily scrubbing the engine. Dammit!) Maybe this is part of the exercise- building up your confidence to take the best shots! Here we go:<br />
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<b>A Local (ish) Building:</b> A complete post about my day here recently will follow shortly!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI09s0W_a0FIhiNLuxdinD8Zb4x62ozQOAUpLybGqGkt3cUN_lLJMpQtA1edchUmfvwY-GITc_bpQ-U3sojpW-5t6Zfj1hjdyokBAaTcLxuBtce-YJfpgmfrYW22S1V4oOK8Kq7jOXCOA/s1600/May11Phone+1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI09s0W_a0FIhiNLuxdinD8Zb4x62ozQOAUpLybGqGkt3cUN_lLJMpQtA1edchUmfvwY-GITc_bpQ-U3sojpW-5t6Zfj1hjdyokBAaTcLxuBtce-YJfpgmfrYW22S1V4oOK8Kq7jOXCOA/s320/May11Phone+1038.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
<b>A Bicycle:</b> well, two, stacked up in my garage:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQnp9UU85PXK7bH_FbMd2Ueswk4mEXpuWKK-wP5Byr2LEns8-3aC71gqIx4savTyTEGIZOZHfzsuO-iXQi-WkzeRgWD-RWn8Hh3oGne-TFqYfOK5iBD8VU-KbcppnKxRThtdGhcsBx88/s1600/Photos+May+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQnp9UU85PXK7bH_FbMd2Ueswk4mEXpuWKK-wP5Byr2LEns8-3aC71gqIx4savTyTEGIZOZHfzsuO-iXQi-WkzeRgWD-RWn8Hh3oGne-TFqYfOK5iBD8VU-KbcppnKxRThtdGhcsBx88/s320/Photos+May+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>A Butterfly:</b> (albeit upside down) on my glasses.<br />
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<b>A Cartoon Character:</b> Have two- this was a close contender for 'vintage'! My <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woofits">Woofits</a> duvet cover.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfj2TFOaniTDZR1jbYHhaI36C1C8zxD01SaTEMGehJvRkWwkROhbJ_HRIgj_3EeMtTnC4c_TJbrz1TUKcB78BJ3R8tVM7ioOR1Y72huauqdJ7oYU_jK9QaEGscLf54C9tJaRpKTzOaTY/s1600/Photos+May+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfj2TFOaniTDZR1jbYHhaI36C1C8zxD01SaTEMGehJvRkWwkROhbJ_HRIgj_3EeMtTnC4c_TJbrz1TUKcB78BJ3R8tVM7ioOR1Y72huauqdJ7oYU_jK9QaEGscLf54C9tJaRpKTzOaTY/s320/Photos+May+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Portrait in Black and White:</b> A cheat here, because none of my moving subjects were willing, and this little chap has been hanging about since Pickle Missy's Birthday Party (pin the bow on the Cat In The Hat).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik0rXc2khGeIM21-DBzO3goMGRPW4OtphtgxczO_QI19ia5UaJTG5dl5BODulf8smBVkKWvynwo_HXuEahFnh171tOw06fdPdelMdUHnKXTyIoPiaVD3i3HknQC7gKkbJsrGlsNq5zW8/s1600/Photos+May+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik0rXc2khGeIM21-DBzO3goMGRPW4OtphtgxczO_QI19ia5UaJTG5dl5BODulf8smBVkKWvynwo_HXuEahFnh171tOw06fdPdelMdUHnKXTyIoPiaVD3i3HknQC7gKkbJsrGlsNq5zW8/s320/Photos+May+020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><b>A Red Door:</b> Quite embarrasing to take, but I pretended I was waiting on a text message, and took a quick snap of somebody's front doors- a pair, that both say '14'. I thought they looked interesting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8SLLosXp1hyphenhyphenlNkjrZXliZH-Q2fWwgDPAZ7bl4HeX_liaT1Vub1IQsOM6KrIKwgiEEE7xoEEjOwdOm8r7VrSMncn2lVI70bAl-OH3_7F2onpHJ76eF_fs-HUZRtxKU1T1dQX7VbMArUc/s1600/248325_10150255160881077_533041076_9135626_2370451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8SLLosXp1hyphenhyphenlNkjrZXliZH-Q2fWwgDPAZ7bl4HeX_liaT1Vub1IQsOM6KrIKwgiEEE7xoEEjOwdOm8r7VrSMncn2lVI70bAl-OH3_7F2onpHJ76eF_fs-HUZRtxKU1T1dQX7VbMArUc/s320/248325_10150255160881077_533041076_9135626_2370451_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Sign of the Zodiac:</b> Inspiration hit me whilst looking for cheap alchocolic beverages. My fave tipple for this weather is cider.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ljX-hsuShr_CtIPX01hTq8zr6T9lEP0fqIe3Wqio5p0EUObgVrKTBlLthVQAbVsmMDlR_iZ4kEGX_eUGcKGr1KEnvTmSUK6kTcY4nJplZcpZ-dIbI1qGbqCcOpiGw49tMdbT-Z5NO2o/s1600/Photos+May+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ljX-hsuShr_CtIPX01hTq8zr6T9lEP0fqIe3Wqio5p0EUObgVrKTBlLthVQAbVsmMDlR_iZ4kEGX_eUGcKGr1KEnvTmSUK6kTcY4nJplZcpZ-dIbI1qGbqCcOpiGw49tMdbT-Z5NO2o/s320/Photos+May+014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Ha! Upside down, I've just realised. How apt!)</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Street Light:</b><br />
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<b>Emergency Vehicle:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDbgmbj5uax3yFe2eloSoTznaMxL0C7sJZSYFXwj9vN4PlzlfOqaEiQOSjeLjMh0EdeY7XMCIu4o9TWkI51bGSWFjIvbqnZAM2eiPZERyQ1gmAbt9jkwx_9V3DeEARlteGaUWqGSA_os/s1600/Photos+May+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDbgmbj5uax3yFe2eloSoTznaMxL0C7sJZSYFXwj9vN4PlzlfOqaEiQOSjeLjMh0EdeY7XMCIu4o9TWkI51bGSWFjIvbqnZAM2eiPZERyQ1gmAbt9jkwx_9V3DeEARlteGaUWqGSA_os/s320/Photos+May+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Something Blue:</b> My larkspurs, which are doing beautifully!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG6Ngrrr0eFP5RBkQPDkK7zSk2IVVUyEyvSobkwcCPY3iPJwZeG7CXfdqz-EBqjKBzK5PUM1ie0Rd-R3KZ_HYmUSchYvRCc5mI00cLnU1QBAK2qpqNua9u72hKHo-0K2xR2icuSPGE3E/s1600/254160_10150255161256077_533041076_9135636_1692738_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG6Ngrrr0eFP5RBkQPDkK7zSk2IVVUyEyvSobkwcCPY3iPJwZeG7CXfdqz-EBqjKBzK5PUM1ie0Rd-R3KZ_HYmUSchYvRCc5mI00cLnU1QBAK2qpqNua9u72hKHo-0K2xR2icuSPGE3E/s320/254160_10150255161256077_533041076_9135636_1692738_n.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b>Think 'Vintage':</b><br />
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<b>Texture:</b> I couldn't bring myself to crop these down to one flower. They're hugging :)<br />
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<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
PS- I was sad that I couldn't manage last month's Hunt completely. I had some lovely photos put by, but didn't complete, and didn't want to post so late after all of the others. No matter- I mention this only because of my contender for 'an interesting shop name': I was going to try and aquire a photo, somehow, of a Newsagents my sister used to live near. <i><b>Fags and Mags.</b></i> Genius!Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084214579903274748noreply@blogger.com11