Fab, Feisty and Sixty (ish)

Day one & two HERE On Day Three -  I packed Mum and Milou into the back of my car , well not literally but into the back seats, and trundled, not unlike Postman Pat to Reculver. Which is just three miles east of the bay. I've visited this many times. With family, on school and cycle trips and ' a deux' as lovers lane is on the way. Nuff said. The famous Reculver Roman Fort/ Towers is now sitting precariously on the edge of the cliff. Literally three feet away from disaster.  When the Roman fort first came into existence some 2o0o years ago. It probably consisted of trenches and a wooden structure, not dissimilar to the first incarnation of Hadrians wall. This too was soon replaced by a stone structure. The southern remnants represent the original building c 693AD.  F rom Wikipedia- " Called "Regulbium", the fort guarded the north end of what were then the broad waters of the Wantsum Channel, which separated the Isle of Thanet from the rest of Kent, and wa...

Yesterday I drove home from Kent. Back up through the spine of England. In the pouring rain. In Kent the weather had been wonderful.   Sunshine and blue skies beside the sea.  The fresh sea air was refreshing and cleansing.   I was replenished from the well of family.  Much laughter and talk fed me from the deep waters that is  the cradle of my parents home.  Day one  - We didn't stray too far. We ratched around some charity shops in town.  Then drank in the seafront promenade and a pot of tea within the renovated Bandstand.  As we sat and drank in the tea and sunshine.  Our minds were no doubt awash with our own youthful memories.  Spent dancing and romancing along this promenade. Thirty years apart. (Some of the images are clickable to enlarge) The seafront Bandstand Room with a View Inspired by people watching in cafes by Merisi,  though not quite the same Watching me, watching you! Day two -  We visited Ramsgate Cemetery. My grandmother is buried there. The cemetery is not well...

After work tomorrow, I shall be driving to Kent. Alone. To visit with my parents. We will talk, eat, drink, shop, relax, laugh and even perhaps cry a bit. We may paint some views, take some photos and watch some tv or films. My ever increasing backside will be fed by mother's FAB cooking and I will hesitate at the third helping. But only for a nano second. Oh and I will spoiled rotten. Never to lift a finger. Though I shall try hard to help out. I shall stay a few days and drive back on Monday. At least 5lbs heavier. All on my waist and arse! I like to think I shall be missed. I doubt I will.  I posted this back in August. I got scared.  l think I was being silly. Here it is again. See you soon. 1. I am a blogger and my blog name is Fat frumpy & fifty. 2. My family call me Sarita, Saz, Sazzie, Sarabelle, Lala and Mum. 3. I have lived in England, France, Mexico, Canada, USA and Spain. 4. I have also visited Italy, Tunisia, Scotland, oh and Belgium (we took a wrong turn and l w...

house of lime and 'the joys of teens'.. Reading the post I said out loud and laughing, 'the joys of teens! Isn't that an oxymoron...?' The teens and I then went on to discuss Irony and Oxymorons and Sarcasm in the same 15 minute period... of course this maybe perceived with humour and experience as an Oxymoron, I guess in grammatical terms it is not. Or am I being moronic? Over to WIKi to clarify.. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. Oxymoron is a loanword from Greek oxy ("sharp" or "pointed") and moros ("dull"). Deafening silence Sweet sorrow Forward retreat Accidentally on Purpose Bittersweet Controlled chaos Icy hot Living dead Open secret Organized mess Plastic glass Same difference Interestingly the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron.

why I like the warmer days and longer lighter evenings ... walking the dog at 9pm instead of 3.30pm wearing flip flops sitting in the car facing the sea in the rain with a 99 (an ice cream not a position) everyone seems happier (if the temperature rises above 68 degrees however they can't hack it) the garden is a vista of colour and an abundance of flora and textures all overlapping wildly wearing less mowing the lawn and pottering about in the garden and shed the sun on my face eating in the garden getting my paints and easel out serving cold cuts and salad more often (and getting away with it) getting Agatha - my beloved Pashley out of the shed (just out not riding it! I jest - I ride it to work and push it home again) the occassional BBQ long walks on the beach reading more during the day and not feeling so guilty - weird or what my uplifted spirits hearing the counds of neighbouring children shrieking and chatting with delight our dog lying on the grass soaking up the sunshine....

Yesterday my bloggy pal Suburbia, was talking about her mother's new found agility at texting.  Apparently, no technophobes, no slow learners these, our 'older' mothers. On Sunday, my Mum sent me a message enquiring as to our plans for the day. I texted her back to say I was working and I would catch up her later. Within a heartbeat she texted back with and I quote...   'Who the fuck visits a Museum on Easter Sunday.....?'   If she could receive images on her phone, I would have sent her pictures of the fuckers! btw - here are 50 Internet Acronyms parents need to know.   Be very afraid!

which items would you save? During our move in recent weeks, as items, bags, boxes and furniture were removed piece by piece, from one house to the other. I left a few choice pieces in full view, so  they wouldn't get mislaid, misplaced or misused. As someone who is in recent years quite forgetful. One who has been burgled of some prized items of jewellery. One who has also stupidly through my own fault lost other items. One who may have left their purse on a car roof and driven off littering the motorway with money, jewellery and photos.  Lost forever. One has to be more careful. Doesn't one? I try and keep special pieces of jewellery with me always or at least kept protectively hidden. I have irreplaceable and priceless items such as drawings and cards made by the children in infant school. All these and more would be lost if not coveted and stored well. But I am at a loss what I should do next to protect my treasures and keepsakes, after the latest debacle! Three special ite...

This woman will touch your heart! A breath of fresh air from this unassuming, unaffected gentlewoman.  May we all dream.

I thought I would share my few solitary days with you. I am alone. All alone. Not lonely. The last time I was alone, I thought was just a few months ago. No. It was not. The last time was when I posted this post Home Alone dated Tuesday July 22, 2008!! That's nine months ago. The same routine is being replayed. Larry has three days in the office in Manchester and so he books into an apartment rather than a hotel. This one has two bedrooms, so although my son camps out in the living room, there is a sense of holiday for them. Larry loves taking them out in the evenings. Imax - what is that? Pizza, curry, Apple shop etc. I get to rearrange the house just so, tweaking a few things here and there. This way and that. Attack our daughters room. So when she returns it not overwhelming her. Cos as it is now, I cannot see the carpet! I also get to play with my new toy. Its white and heavy and noisy! Now now! Moi, mais non! Lucky moi was out with Larry for breakfast yesterday and then we r...

ME and MY shadow! Our beloved Pippa earlier this evening seating not so patiently  while we eat our chicken dinner! For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to  Mrs Nesbitt's Place .

I'm not sure I can explain this properly. I'm not sure I can even put my finger on it. I'm not sure I even know where it has been. I'm not so sure I would recognise it if I saw it. I will try and explain. I think I began to miss it early on last year. Some days I found myself feeling as if I was detached from my body. Detached from my family and friends. Detached from my life. Detached. In limbo. It was as if I was in waiting for an event. What event? I had no knowledge of any nor any expectancy for any such happening. It has felt like the sort of thing you read about when people talk about 'out of body experiences'. I have felt sad. At times I have felt very angry. Frustrated. Fit to burst. But I know not what about. I have felt disappointment. It isn't depression. That shadow has visited. I know the difference. It is a chasm. Deep space. Off the beat. Out of sync. I have assuaged these deep and strong feelings by telling myself I am at a crossroads. A wate...

Today and tomorrow I am working,  as it is my turn on shift this Easter  The Museum doesn't close often, it is open 24/7 only closing on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. So suck it up Saz!  So whilst the family are sucking up their chocolate and  perhaps tidying the house and garden, I jest of course, I am helping visitors around the museum  and time is probably passing very slowly. My day often begins well  with an abundance of goodwill and happiness  through the bounty of bloggers  In particular this week's   Sunday Roast   feature   in David  Authorblog  McMahon's  blog . I was honoured that David asked to interview me  a short while ago for this feature  but  I am a little wary as I hardly recall 'what I writ'! So if you go to  visit  please be gentle with me!

Visit  MamaGeek  and  Cec ily , creators of Photo Story Friday. walking back to the car from the church  where my daughter  had been performing in the senior choir the sun was shining in blue skies and I was remembering how Merisi seems to  find such great shots upon her walks I thought I would try and look with her eye for interesting buildings, views and reflections these are the results of my 15 minute walk along West Walls  the oldest street in the city which nestles along the city wall view through leaded church window shadow of a naked tree on old leaded window in sandstone building West Walls an old street lantern on West Walls shadow of the street light Visit  MamaGeek  and  Cec ily , creators of Photo Story Friday. (Don't assume all of Carlisle is like this, I also have pics of grafitti walls and boarded up buildings. These are pics of the older parts in Carlisle, my adopted home town)

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,  love leaves a memory no one can steal.   From a headstone in Ireland PoeticLicense

Visit  MamaGeek  and  Cec ily , creators of Photo Story Friday. I have cherished some moments of calm and pockets of contentment this week. I guess usually at this point You would expect to see images of soppy dogs and smiley babies, but not here My segments of satisfaction are small slices from my day on Tuesday when I found myself smiling and reflecting over small portions of productivity amid clouds of calm. ***** The singing steam of the kettle Flowers from a friend cooking cute cupcakes wind blown webs of washing  bargain basement finds and bedtime bliss small wonders upon which to build Visit  MamaGeek  and  Cec ily , creators of Photo Story Friday.