Fab, Feisty and Sixty (ish)

I am mindful that by following a blog or by adding a blog to my blog list it is considered by many to be an honour. Indeed I too believe this to be so. I am also very aware that there are quite a few awards/memes that do the rounds and that by some they are received with mixed feelings, however these make me flutter with pride when I am given one I hope you like them too! The rules of these lovely Blog awards as I understand them, is usually to honour 5-7 Bloggers at a time, so that I guess their worth isn't diluted. So I have decided to create my own Award and I have given myself permission to give these to several or more of my favourite bloggers i n' FFF's New Year Honours' and I will again on my 'official Birthday' in August - (I don't want an unofficial birthday as one is way too much as it is!) I'm awarding THE SOULFUL AWARD to the bloggers I find particularly insightful, original, humorous , inspiring and yes soulful! The online Dictionary defi...

X is for kiss My daughter aged 2yrs 8 months kissing her newborn brother of 5 days (see her also in last sundays post all grown up) For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to  Mrs Nesbitt's Place .

I haven't ever understood or even enjoyed New Years Eve. I suppose in part this is because my parents didn't really celebrate it bar trying to stay up past midnight. This was probably more because they needed to be up later than the children. I do so understand that now my two are in their teens! When Larry and I were younger I would try and keep up if we were out at the pub or a party, which we often were, (we were together for 17 years before the children came along). Most times I would have stopped drinking after my limit of 3 or 4 (or else l'm anyones!) and  everyone else would continue,  so you can see why it wasn't much fun then either. It was always such an effort  keeping company with those that could drink big. Since having the children and the changes that they bring to our lives, in the last few years as they are older we have had cheese and nibbles and watched late night tele with Jools Holland into the early hours. But this year both children have 'plan...

as you can see l have been fiddling around with things here but if you  hate it  or it slows the loading up  to a snails pace let me know...

Summer 1992 For 17 years  ...  I have held you close I have watched over you I have protected you I have walked the night floors with you I have kept you warm I have fed and clothed you   I have listened to you breathe I have held your hand I have heard your every murmur in the night I have felt your pain I have applauded your efforts  I have listened to your troubles I have poured oil on troubed waters I have tried to soften the ground when you fall  I have supported your dreams     I have been proud of you     I have walked by your side I have cherished every moment we have had together I have watched you grow into a beautiful, intelligent young woman I look forward to watching you reach for your dreams I have loved you I will always love you.... Happy 17th Birthday !! Summer 2008

AUSTRALIA - THE MOVIE Late yesterday afternoon after a few hours shopping, chatting and lattes, my pal and I went to see Australia the movie.   We were expecting a good film as we have enjoyed all of Baz's previous slightly off the wall movies. And this was fabulous! It started off with some very funny scenes,  all sweeping in style and amazing cinematography. The country is so beautiful, much more than I ever realised and it make us see that the USA isn't the only 'we have it all' scenery continent. I loved it, loved it, loved it! I must have cried 6 times and sobbed at the denouement ... we felt like we had been through the wars  ourselves, as it took us high and low and high and low again. It was well paced, very theatrically BAZ LUHRMANN  in style and  its story lines.  An epic of  a  film in the tradition of Gone (walkabout) with the wind/rabbit proof fence/ the searchers  / and bit of Tora, tora, tora  ( for the boys)   and with a soupcon of  a betst loved Musical...

7 THINGS FamilyAffairs has tagged me for a "7 things" xmas thingy and as you know I lOVE listmaking of any sort ! 7 THINGS TO DO BEFORE MY PARENTS ARRIVE   1. I don;t have to do a thing as they won't be arriving as I've just got back from theirs in Kent. 7 THINGS I'VE BEEN DOING INSTEAD OF PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS 1. Blogging 2. Working 3. Blogging 4. Writing lists on a non christmas theme 5. Cleaning the bathroom as it appears no one else will tackle it, ever. 6. Bulk cooking and freezing. 7 THINGS I CAN'T DO THIS CHRISTMAS 1. Relax 2. Keep hold of the remote (or nay other time) 3. resist cake and chocs 4. and so losing weight is improbable 5. Sleep in on Christmas day 6. Make the day last longer than 24 hours 7. Keep everyone happy 7 CHRISTMAS WISHES 1. Peace in this house 2. Happiness to all 3. Bose sounddock 4. Manage to relax just a bit 5. and enjoy the four day break 6. A healthy 2009 7. A happy 2009 7 THINGS I SAY AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES 1. Don't buy...

Well the day has been and gone and if Larry had his way he'd be back at work by now.....Boxing day afternoon and my daughter is at work earning £1 every 5 minutes she works...and seemed very keen to get out there today. She's very excited because she is 17 on Sunday and I can remember my 17th like it was only yesterday. The day passed in a civilised and quite pleasant fashion, the kids were up at 8 am so l got up and we roused Larry, who washed off his bah humbugness whilst brushing his teeth and emerged in good humour. I had layered out all the gifts from Santa, family and friends and there was an impressive array- I won't post a photo as I am embarrassed at how full it looked, even though I felt I had a measured approach to pressie buying this year! Every one was pleased, Larry was particularly gobsmacked when I placed a large box in his arms - The Supreme Dalek - the gift not him - and not a hint of bah humbug has surfaced,  yet  - I  do love surprising my family with my...

soft candlelight the crunch of giftwrap childrens' laughter sparkling eyes flushed cheeks stockings on the bedpost glittering tree baubles the scent of spices jingling bells the crunch of footsteps on snow twinkling tree lights hot mince pies squeals of delight a sprinkling of love HAPPY CHRISTMAS  TO ALL MY BLOGLAND FRIENDS

For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place . W is for Wednesday Wishes ...will you... ...show me... ...yours? click on images to enlarge For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place .

shit, bugger, fuck, bum!!!!! in the rushing around today on my day off and the  juggling that has been my day today I have completely stuffed up!!! I got home from the manic town, the  post office, the bank, I have driven my son to friends, and am soon to drive him to dentist following removal of braces yesterday.   I started to wrap my daughters birthday gifts , I have bought her  some goodies and a lovely gift and I  cannot find the special gift and  then realised with a very loud oh shit fuck bugger bum,  that in error with my mind completely screwed and  stressed out even though I have got everything and am all done.....I have posted her gift to a woman who has bought my Biasia bag online !!!!!! It's my daughter's 17th birthday on Sunday and I will never get it back to me by then, even if the lady does get my email and kindly resends it to me by return from the other end of the country!! I spoke to the Local Royal Mail sorting depot, and it has already  been collected and i...

I was pondering today whilst at work - as it was so very quiet and I had nothing to do - thinking there's only a few days to go 'till Christmas day and how when I was a child it was almost excruciatingly unbearable to wait! The night before Christmas day I couldn't fall asleep how l tired and in the wee dark hours of the morning I would eventually drift off unawares.I can even visualise the various bedrooms I have been in on Christmas eve. A cold night in snowy Canada, a crisp cold one in England in the 60's and mild one in Mexico City, even creeping down the stairs in my teens in the early morning as a teenager in the 70's to see IF Papa Noel had been yet! I'm not sure about anyone else, but I've always firmly believed and cherished the feelings in the anticipation of the things, the fun of the chase, the waiting and crossing off date son a calender, saving up for that fabulous coat/bag/shoes.... and the anticipation I find that is key in anything, gi...

I found u pon my return from Kent that another fellow woman of Kent 'Sass' has honoured me with an award. This is a lovely award as it's a more personal award and I am thrilled to be given it, Thanks Sass! This is the thinking behind this particular award: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. I am very happy to pass this on to some very special people whom I have come to think of as 'friends' virtual or otherwise. If you haven't met them already pop by sometime soon! One day I would like to meet them all for real! PoeticLicence - the wise one, she is so funny too! Suburbia and Familyaffairs - we...

...isn't all its cracked up to be you know! I've just had half an hours fun with this creative widget Create your own FACEinHOLE

Bloody heck time flies when you're.....blogging!  Apparently I have posted 102 posts with t his little announcement, since er July... I'm not sure if I should be pleased or appalled, perhaps cos I don't know if this is alot or average ... anyway who cares I'm enjoying  blogging  and meeting so many interesting people, sharing stories and images, thought and problems, hearts and minds!

Hosted by  Cecily  and  MamaGeek Some images taken whilst I was travelling along the A66 to and from  Scotch Corner, Northumberland  to Penrith Cumbria.  I slowed right down and pointed the mobile phone out of the window,  hoping to catch something of the views as the skies and rural scenes were breathtakingly lit by the lowering sun. Some images taken whilst I was travelling along the A66  to and from Scotch Corner, Northumberland  to Penrith Cumbria.  I slowed right down and pointed the mobile phone out of the window,  as the skies and rural scenes were breathtakingy lit by the lowering sun. Hosted by  Cecily  and  MamaGeek