FFF's NEW YEAR HONOURS

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 in' 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 definition of soulful is - full of or expressing deep emotion

The Thesaurus offered up these synonyms - ardent, deep, expressive, feeling, fiery, fervid, impassioned, meaningful, moving, passionate, stirred, stirring, tender, touching

I'm sure you get the drift ... I passed on an award a few weeks ago, so for some of you it's the double ... but you're worth it!

"THE SOULFUL AWARD goes to" -

BS5 - you are consistently funny and sweet (that's a compliment!)

Woman in the window - she watches, she thinks, she writes such beautiful soulful posts

The View from this End - well as if I need to explain!

the Lehners in France - for their new blog

Vintage Reads - two favourite words, great blog wish it were mine..I devour it!

Lyvies Limelight - I relate so much, she is soo funny & l hope we would get on IF we ever met.

A shelter from the storm - Great place to hide out in from the storm clouds,

A life in the day of - I thought I had lost her mask but now she is found and still making me laugh out loud!

Halo - Words can't descrsibe this girls inner beauty

Out and about in NYC - like Merisi I live vicariously through their images

One strangely lush mother - from y neck of the woods, a little bit of home with attitude

Suburbia & Family Affairs & Poetic License - well cos I love 'em to bits!

oh and I mustn't forget Stinking Billy cos if I do he's liable to write something bad about me or come a stalking, yes I can be bought!

If you would like to pass this award to 5 -7 bloggers whom you admire and who inspire please feel free to do so, it isn't mandatory. All I ask is that you leave a link to FFF and let me know of your post so I may follow the journey.

there are two awards, this one here and the other image at the top of the post is FFF reference free, just take your pick!

ABC wednesday - X is for...

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.

Another day, another year

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 'plans'.  Being totally selfish I wouldn't mind if they fell through so that nothing changes, but I will be staying up waiting for the time I am allowed to collect them unobtrusively.

My in laws are Scottish so there is always much spoken about first footing and Hogmanay, some coal and drink attached to the poor Labrador. I just don't get it! I know its a tradition, but it feels so melancholic in tradition and whats great about another year? Is it to wipe the slate and start again, to say goodbyes to yesteryear's woes? I'm just grateful we have another year to potentially do good, do better and be wiser.

I'm quite happy for those who 'get it' to enjoy themselves.  I would like to enjoy myself, but not sure I know how to do that for New Years Eve.  I would prefer a date with the duvet quite frankly.  This post is tad too sober methinks so my next post will be much more up beat, I promise!

frills, buttons and bows..

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...

For 17 years

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

Baz- The Wizard of Oz

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  thrown in, I'll leave that bit of sentimentality for a surprise!

Nicole showed her variety of talents, singing, comedic and dramatic with a good aristocratic accent. Hugh Jackman a favourite of mine it has to be said, brought on my palpitations and if any of you girls loved the wet shirt and chest of Brosnan in Mamma Mia, you are in for a T.R.E.A.T. 

Not sure if any men l know would go see this even in the confines of their own living room, but I think if you are a man and   did sit through that awful Pearl Harbour film you could easily enjoy this film, (lots of planes and bombs BS5)

The press have said much about the value of the film for Australian tourism. It has always been on my list of places to go see, now it's right up there on the top, it's breathtakingly beautiful!

CHRISTMAS MEME from FAMILY MATTERS (appropriately enough)

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 yourself any new clothes or books 

2. Just going shopping

3. Why don't you .........?

4. Try not to mess this room up and you WiLL feel so much better!

5. I don't want or need anything

6. Where has the  wrapping paper/ scissors/ cellotape gone?

7. Why, why, why?

7 CELEBRITIES I'D INVITE FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

1. Cat Stevens /Yusuf Islam

2. Ricky Gervais

3. Eddie Izzard

4. Gerard Butler

5. Johnny Hallyday

6. Coco Chanel

7. Jane Austen

7 FAVOURITE FESTIVE FOODS

1. Bruss el sprouts- sorry buy YES I even eat them raw

2. Eton mess

3. Sherry- several while cooking as they get me through to the meal! tee hee hic!

4. Bombay Sapphire G&T- I really only drink at christmas and only a few

5. anything my daughter makes

6. Christmas cake

7. Cream whipped

7 OTHER BLOGGERS WHO CAN PLAY FESTIVE 7

 Stinking Billy

BS5,

Woman in the window

 PMTwoman, 

Cheshire wife

Alaina

Rosecreek

Christmas past

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 choices of gifts.

My daughter and son were very pleased and happy with their gifts and I have only now just tidied them up into piles in boxes for transportation to their rooms and hoovered.

The Christmas dinner was  in the late afternoon, the turkey was moist perfection and the gravy was applauded and Larry and kids all mentioned how delicious it was and had MORE! This is rare, as I had mentioned to friends and family that I was tempted to visit the local bookies with our Xmas meal history to see if I could put on a bet as to whether there would be four of us at the dinner table, as there is always one person dilly dallying with dodgy tummy, headache or disinterest, but I would have lost gracefully and gratefully as I was proved wrong this year.

Hopefully this satisfaction will be repeated as I am cooking a sirloin joint - Larry's choice for dinner tonight - I could do with a turkey sarnie and a slice of cake myself but needs must...

Hope you all passed  a pleasant and peaceful day too.

btw - did anyone else catch Dr Who and Wallace and Gromit? 

p.s. Stinking Billy - I would have posted something yesterday  if I could have put two thoughts together, but the 4 sherries and two glasses of wine - more than I have drunk all year put together - prevented me!

A Little Magic

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

If I show you mine...ABC Wednesday...

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 is  'In the system Madam.' and there's nought I can do...I feel so bad and her BIG Christmas present hasn't arrived either...

I try so hard then I fuck up...I could cry...I know she'll be fine about it....but I feel crap now!

Anticipation rules!

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, gifts, happiness, sex....does it quite live up to the anticipation?? Usually yes... but the anticipation does last longer!

With a little help from my friends!

I found upon 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 all seem to have much in common!

Alcoholic Daze - the one who makes me laugh and cry and to whom I send a virtual (hug)

David authorblog - the one who inspires and warms my heart and mind daily

Beautiful Spectrum- she shines like a star

Suldog - the entertainer

Merisi - with whom I escape

I get by with a little help from my friends - Lennon/McCartney

Pah! this modelling mularky...

...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

Hearts and minds

Bloody heck time flies when you're.....blogging! 

Apparently I have posted 102 posts with this 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!

Photostory Friday - A66

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