I could watch this over and over...

I tumbled across this last night for the second time and again I was mesmerised. Not only by this beautiful woman, her voice, her unique delivery, her character, she is 'tres minion', but obviously by her story.
I want to share it, as it deserves to be shared, yet a part of me wants to keep it all to myself.


 Saz x

New name, new mojo...

I have decided to change the name of this blog, as the fifty will no longer apply in a few weeks, shock, horror, whatever.. I'm over it!

And so cheerio to FFF, formerly 'Fat, frumpy and fifty, obviously I wasn't feeling so good about things when I first started, but you all soon put me right and my attitude changed and I changed to 'Fab, feisty and fifty'.

It's been a fabulous ten years, so let's not let it stop here, let the craziness continue...

     

Now I am FFS! (moot!) which is kinda crazy!

I so hope to see again you soon.

Saz x

My first blog post was in July 2008...

Isn't it weird how life happens, changes ...seemingly by chance or happenstance; without warning, these things just creep upon you! Other things just change like at the ring of the doorbell, or the key in the lock, an unexpected letter on the doormat...

I have been revisiting blog-land recently, for several reasons;
for my work, to research the main changes that have taken place since I last blogged regularly;
for nostalgic reasons, my mother Moannie used to blog too, and many of our bloggy pals, overlapped; when Mum/Moannie died I lost heart in posting or writing anything.

And yet, Mum/Moanie's blog is still 'alive' and her friends still drop by and say Hi now and again. I am also reminded of the friends who are still here and others who frequent other platforms.
So much has changed both online and on the home front and yet, somethings remain the same.

I began this post by saying my first ever blog post was 8 July, 2008, in this same place, this space, which I was prompted to begin, as life was changing and I needed somewhere to be safe and alone but not by myself.

I was also becoming aware of changes within, midlife changes, approaching my 50th birthday and personal circumstance changes, and that which was unknown at that time, yet on the horizon and about to change the world as I knew it.

Now on this day 10 years later on the 'eve' of my 60th birthday and entering my 7th decade... Ouch!  sucking in my breath, that made my eyes water ... the difference is I'm ready for change, ready for the unexpected, because if the last 10 years didn't break me... then just bring it on!

just dropped by...

...to visit Mum's blog and to say Hi to a few friends...

I hope you know, you are all never very far from my thoughts.
Many of whom I happily see daily on facebook, instagram etc...
Many, like myself, put their energies in to their day to day,
others have disappeared into the ether, and leave me wondering how they are,
without any way to get in touch..
I just hope all is well with them and theirs.

love Saz x

What a difference....

a year makes!

It has taken me the better part of the last month, to access my blogs (and Moannie's) as I feared it had alas been removed from the ether. Playing around with passwords and email addresses...I'm in again.

My last post , just 10 months ago...burst my seams, as again I realised how so much has changed!

I'm still,  in my new wee home, with Joey (dog) and Monty (cat).

My lovely son has returned from uni in the USA, attained a First Class degree and started work in London last Autumn as a writer...the world his oyster for the taking! My hero!

My beautiful daughter is in Leeds, amid her Midwifery degree, working at a Brazilian first class restaurant, all loved up with the Spanish Chef.... a meeting is on the cards AND he is taking her to meet his Mama is Spain this summer, so must be serious methinks! So proud!

My hugely supportive brother (TOAOS) is living contently in the Garden of England with his wife and Harry the cutest dog!!

My younger and what a stunner sister, and this is BIG NEWS, after many years, gave birth to her first child in February, a beautiful girl, who makes us all smile and HOPE!  How Moannie and JP would have been so proud!!

I am no longer involved with the Church enterprise I spoke of in my last post, luckily these days I know my limits., on many levels!

I am temporarily employed for now...
                                         awaiting any new opportunities and life to bite me!

Now I'm off to say hello to some old friends in blogland...

Saz x

summer has arrived...

                                 ...and left us after two glorious days!

I've returned to blog-land as I miss the interaction, although I've probably been removed from many a sidebar as it's been quite a while.

It's been a year or more of ups and downs and adjusting, however I shan't bore you with all my travails right away, less is more!
                           
                                     so in brief....I've moved home (yes again) and we've moved biz premises and expanded the biz, I'm sure there has been more but that will suffice for now..

meanwhile here are some pics which hopefully tell their own stories.....

dog walking amongst the buttercups

old school room and old cotton mill chimney (once the tallest in Europe, now shorter)

my Pal Joey

new venture in basement of old church...vintage in main church hall

 

up cycling furniture in new home

new biz premises

bbc news coverage video to follow

our new jazz cafe bar

new hair??!!

Saz xx

catch up...

It has been four months or more since I last posted and in that time I have, in the in-between moments, been reflecting and healing. Life happens, shit happens, yet mostly as they say,  time heals. 

I began this blog because I needed to have an outlet, as I felt instinctively I needed to have somewhere to be, just be, a place that was safe and mine ...I had little idea how important this place would become in a few months, a lifeline, a support line and a friendship line. i thought it was my approaching 50th birthday that would be rough to deal with...ahahahaha...if that had been the all of it!!!

Like Suburbia, since our very first posts, we have found our lives and circumstances change immeasurably, and yet blog land remains. true.

It changes, people come and go, but it is in essence.. it is sitting in limbo, waiting for us. 

In May my son returned from Uni in America, after almost a year and he has since inter-railed through Europe with a group of close friends, returning home for a few weeks work...and is now in Holland visiting friends he met at Uni,. It's his 20th birthday today and the whole world is truly his oyster! 

My daughter who has also been away from me, has completed three years uni in Leeds, with a First and now has a further 3 years midwifery to complete. Now 23 yrs old, she has matured into a hard working, responsible young woman. 

I could not be more proud of them both!

My business is growing day by day, it is exciting and rewarding. We are finalists in City & County Retail Awards nominated by customers.

Joey (my boy dog) has been with me for 6 months now and is flourishing, despite the english weather probably being a huge shock for his Cypriot beginnings. Monty (boy cat) outs up with him and they play and roll around the floor in greeting several times a day, Monty slinks off out for another forage and Joey licks his wounds (minor love scratches I promise) !

Joey (jackrussell+mini cyprus poodle)

I am now a proud plotter!! I have had an allotment since late May and have whipped it into shape, with a lot of help from my friends Faye, Andy and Matt and have spent hours upon hours, digging, seeding, composting, planting, raking, hoeing, trimming, tipping, turfing and painting...oh and sometimes I get to relax too!! Its a joy!!

After two months work... my little piece of sky

I have a few plans ongoing, which may or may not come to fruition, but at this moment I am not able to talk about them as they are unofficial and don't want to jinx them (or give the game away and spoil the PR surprise).

It's been a busy few months.... 

               and then...

a few months ago, something unexpected happened....

I met a lovely man, 

a gentle man,

a kind man.... we seem to laugh all the time .......and he makes me feel like a queen!

We're taking it a day at a time...and ...well who knows!

happy days!

Saz x