grumpy old woman

A tour around my sitting room.

2007-02-04T12:13:00.000Z

As I really enjoy looking at the interiors of other bloggers' homes, I am continuing the tour of mine.

I have posted below pictures taken of my sitting room and dining area. I have split the whole thing up into not one, not two but NINE separate posts - I don't know if they will all fit onto one page, you may have to hunt for the lower ones in the archives or something. That's if you haven't died with boredom before then.

I have a lot of 'stuff' in my home. I pay very little for each item, which is usually a boot fair or charity shop find, but I treasure each thing for as long as that item is meant to stay. When the time comes I will let it go, to live with someone else, so that I can make more room for more recent finds.

As you will notice if you read the text, Dons is the BEST person with whom to go treasure hunting. She can see a tiny bit of something poking out of a load of rubbish and she'll just know that that is the very thing which will become a much loved and cherished possession.

~(:o})=

One of nine posts

2007-02-04T11:34:00.000Z

The dining area - the table and chairs are originals. The table cost £1 at a local auction. It was pointed out to me by the eagle eyed Dons :o} The record cabinet, housing some of my precious vinyl. It used to be my Dad's. I shabby chic'ed it with old looking cream paint, boot polish and gold. The claw feet at the bottom are clutching balls picked out in gold.
Part of the seating area in my sitting room. The leather 30's furniture used to belong to Dons. She saw the suite advertised in the local paper. A lovely find.
A closer side view, showing the fab shape of the chairs. The settee -

Two of nine posts

2007-02-04T11:11:00.000Z

This 50s/60s chest of drawers was spotted by Dons in a local charity shop. She bought the larger set of drawers but eventually passed them on to me :o}
My favourite coffee table, bought from a charity shop in Bromley.
Another coffee table, bought from a charity shop in Barnstaple. I didn't think I had room for any more furniture but Dons talked me into it!

Three of nine posts

2007-02-03T22:59:00.000Z

This is a 50s drinks cabinet, bought at a boot fair - spotted by Dons.
The black panels slide back within the interior to show the contents inside - Which is a large collection of the old glasses that pubs used to use before 'health and safety' made them obsolete. They all have fab motifs on them - 'Cherry B' etc. I love them and use several of them for day to day use.
My 50s 'hostess trolley'. When Dons was little she used to wish I was the sort of mummy who used a trolley. Ahhhhhh ..........

Four of nine posts

2007-02-03T22:19:00.000Z

A 50's occasional table - red formica top.
A 50s sewing box
A fantastic find - a 60s ice bucket made of teak (oops) created by the Danish designer Jens H. Quistgaard - iconic Scandinavian piece, bought for £2 - worth over £100. Pointed out to me by Dons.
Fab orange lining inside the ice bucket

Five of nine posts

2007-02-03T22:10:00.000Z

A collectable table lamp from the 60's with a 'cracked ice' resin base and fiberglass shade. Can't get enough of them :o}
Another 60's base with a modern retro Habitat shade.
A lovely 60s clock given to me by Dons.

50s wall clock and 60s coffee pot given to me by, well, you-know-who .......

Six of nine posts

2007-02-03T21:53:00.000Z

This is one of the three special 'made in Germany' pots that I have. The other two are in my office and have already been uploaded to this blog. This one was given to me by Dons this Christmas (or was it for my birthday?)
This is a Portmeirion storage jar without it's lid that I use as a plant pot.
And here is another example of Portmeirion pottery. Both of these pots were designed by Susan Williams Ellis and were either given to me or pointed out to me by the lovely Dons :o}
An original, vintage coffee pot and sugar bowl
And an arrangement of pots - love the shapes ............

Seven of nine posts

2007-02-03T21:41:00.000Z

I made the curtains myself with fabric I bought from Ikea. I had wanted some Cath Kidston fabric but it had sold out, so I bought this stuff in a panic. I am so glad that I did - they go with the room, reflecting the colour scheme and use of circles. They are quite thick with a kind of canvassy texture.
The rug is an original from the 60's.
The oval dish is more contemporary and was bought from Habitat.
The magazine rack is an original 50s one, bought for me by Dons.

Eight of nine posts

2007-02-03T08:24:00.000Z

And here are some pictures that are on the walls. The first two were painted by a talented friend. They cheered me up when I was going through a bad time in London.
This following one is vintage 60's fabric stretched on a frame.
And this was a boot fair find - a huge old book had been rescued from a fire. The book had fallen apart and all the illustrations were being sold off separately. I bought quite a few - they are quite remarkable images.

And the last - at last! Number nine.

2007-02-02T20:37:00.000Z

This beautiful throw, which is made up of strips of coloured felt on a brown felt background (it opens up to a decent size) was a present from the lovely Dons :o} Like Wendz, I too love tins. This is one of my favourites, given to me by - yeah you guessed it!
I covered this footstool in fab fabric donated by - yes, Dons again :o}
And I made a cushion to match. The cat is made out of vintage fabric - made for me by my gorgeous grand daughter Jazz.

Happy Birthday Trac

2007-02-01T19:15:00.000Z

Happy Birthday Sweetie!
I took this photo for you when I was in Australia:

I also took another one. It was in a beautiful place by a river with pretty log cabins and this huge plaque on diplay. Bizarre!

~(:o})=

Lazy Perfectionist

2007-01-30T20:19:00.000Z

A few weeks ago my kettle stopped working. Instead of being sad about it I was very pleased because it meant I could now get the red kettle of my dreams. Unfortunately I couldn't source one, so I boiled all my water in a saucepan - which after a few days became tedious but it was worth it because .....

I found my kettle yesterday - a red enamelled beauty that I LOVE.

oOo

I was talking with my friend R this evening (she was telling me more things about me that are weird) and she reminded me that I once described myself to her as a "lazy perfectionist". I had forgotten ever having said that but, yes, I identify with that.

I want to do everything I do perfectly but I really don't want to put the amount of energy in that it would take. So, I will find the easiest route possible to getting as near to perfection as I can.

What are two words you could use to describe an aspect of yourself?

Later: Oh, I have now finished my course.

I gained a MERIT overall, which I was VERY pleased with because I have done nothing like this in a very long time :o}

Shameless tonight - YAY!

~(:o})=

weird and wonderful

2007-01-21T20:12:00.000Z

Humph!! Well, Dons has tagged me to do this "6 weird things about me" thingy, so here I am. Funnily enough I had started writing a blog last night and had left it to go back to. Here it is:

Hi

I'm creeping quietly in here hoping that you'll think I've been around for ages - tho' obviously I haven't.

Since going off to Australia (which was heavenly) I came back to more course work, the Christmas madness, Alfie's accident (which affected Dons and I more than him I think) and then a heavy cold turning into tiredness and floppiness - you know what I mean?

Adding to that the fact that I don't have broadband (so I live with the situation that dear Rambling Woman couldn't bear to deal with) AND the fact that since Google have taken over I've had a really hard time even commenting on people's blogs - the worst time being when Lettuce had shared with us the good news about her mother's health.
I wrote a long heartfelt comment, only to have it rejected over and over again because I could not find the combination of words and codes that would satisfy this new, very fussy Google blog monster. It almost brought me to tears!

Since then I have tried to join the Google blog properly and I'm hoping that things will be a bit easier now.

Anyway ............ my weirdness.

I was convinced that I'm not weird at all, so I asked my nearest and dearest what they thought and they all - to a woman - agreed that I am indeed very weird. Humph!

So what things about me are weird I wanted to know? Here are some of the things they sent me, in no particular order:

'Apparently' -

I have the LOUDEST clap in the world
I have a funny 'photo face'
I am a list fanatic - even going so far as to draw pictures along with my lists when preparing to go on holiday
I stir coffee so long and vigorously it spills everywhere
I low like a cow when I'm asleep (I know that's true 'cos the lovely Dons taped it for me when she was a child)
I have to go round the supermarket in a particular order - it upsets me when it's messed up. And I have to pack everything in a particular order too - hate having someone pack my shopping for me.
I have no sense of direction and no memory of how I get from A to B even when I've done the route several times (or even many times).
I have funny choking fits at odd times - a family trait that thankfully I have not passed on to Dons or Roxy.
I have a 'thing' about stationary, having, for example, a large collection of (pilot)pens in waiting.
I have a thing about hangers - I can never have enough of them and very rarely let them go. I take them with me when I visit people, as I find no one ever provides enough hangers for me. I even dragged a load to Australia with me and yes! they were needed.
I always carry everything I might possibly need with me - something for every eventuality/type of weather.
I keep my bread in the fridge
I never use my nice soaps because they are too nice to use.
Instead of laying back in the bath to rinse my hair I bend forward
I can never have 'naughty' things in the house eg chocolates, even if they are present s for someone else because I will eat them :o{
I am always early and get panicky if there is a possibility of being late.
I also get up hours before I need to, just to make sure that I'm ready for the day
I ALWAYS check to see if clothes I am thinking of buying are 'dry clean only'

There's more, much more, but I'm going to stop there - pick out your own six from that lot.

~(:o})=

Byeeeeee!!

2006-11-05T16:23:00.000Z

I'm off very soon now - 4am on Monday morning to be precise - ugh!

Now, everyone take care and have a good time while I'm away. You all seem to have some lovely plans up your sleeves - meeting up with various bods - that's great.

I'm landing back in England on Nov. 28th so I'll have lots of catching up to do.

'Bye for now - hugs ......

~(:o})=

A dog's and a cat's diary

2006-11-03T21:48:00.000Z

A Dog's Diary

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favourite!
8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favourite!
9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favourite!
Noon - Oh boy! The garden! My favourite!
2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favourite!
3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favourite!
4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favourite!
6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favourite!
7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favourite!
8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favourite!
9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favourite!
11 pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favourite!

A Cat's Diary

Day 183 of my captivity.

My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal.
The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Maybe I should try this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. I must try this on their bed.
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little kitty cat I was. This is not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing something called
"allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are crawlers and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.
The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant. He speaks with them regularly, and I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait.
It's only a matter of time .........

~(:o})=

Feedback

2006-11-02T07:59:00.000Z

Well, my posters weren't so bad once they were up on the wall and the "play" went very well, after I spent some time in the toilets hyperventilating! No one realised I was nervous, so that in itself has got to be the best bit of acting I've ever done. Our group did the best presentation because the others gave a bog standard talk with flip charts. We got people laughing whilst getting the message across.

AND my tutor handed back a piece of work I'd handed in a few weeks ago - she gave me a DISTINCTION for it!!!! So I was very happy :o}

I won't know the final marks for all my work as a large wodge of it has had to be sent off for outside marking but all the work I've had returned by my tutor so far has been no lower than a high merit. Isn't that wonderful? I'm so amazed - didn't know I had it in me. (I hope I don't sound boastful but this is a very big thing to me - I haven't been in education for many many years).

Yesterday we were given one more (quite large) piece of work which I will have to complete before I fly off on Monday. I also have to tie up all the many loose ends at work tomorrow. I'm having to hand over the responsibility for the health and well-being of 50 people to some other co-ordinators who are filling in for me while I'm away. Oh, and I guess I need to think about preparing to go away.
So, no pressure there then - hahahahaha

Isn't this sunshine great?

~(:o})=

School's Out Tomorrow!

2006-11-01T08:25:00.000Z

I can hardly believe it - I've reached my last but one day on the study course that seems to have taken over my life for the past few months.

Today I have to take in two posters I've made (which have turned out pants) and I'm appearing in a three person skit, which should last for 15mins, but has a script that lasts for less than 5.

The other two people in my group confidently said that we can ad lib to pad it out and didn't even want to rehearse it. That is just soooo not me! I am a Capricorn - I like to be organised and well prepared and I just don't do "off the cuff"!

This looks like turning into a humiliating day - one of those experiences that I'll look back on in years to come and CRINGE ............

~(:o[)=

The Royle Family

2006-10-30T08:37:00.000Z

Hands up - who cried when Nana died???

Thanks to Wendz - pinched a quick blogging subject ~(:o})=

2006-10-28T20:11:00.000Z

Your Birthdate: January 10

Independent and dominant, you tend to be the alpha dog in most situations.
You're very confident, and hardly anything ever shakes you.
Mundane tasks tend to drain you - you prefer to be making great plans.
You are quite original. When people don't "get" you, it bothers you a lot.

Your strength: Your ability to gain respect

Your weakness: Caring too much what others think

Your power color: Orange-red

Your power symbol: Letter X

Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Hmmm - don't know if I like what this is saying about me - but then it says I care too much about what others think - so I would say that, wouldn't I? ~(:o})=

OMG - 21 days! That's three weeks!

2006-10-15T19:49:00.000Z

I'm supposed to be writing essays
but my blog looked out of date with "Happy Birthday RW" on it -
haha any excuse to get away from my desk for a while.

I'm off to Australia in THREE WEEKS now and I can't get my head round it because I'm struggling really hard to get my study course finished. I've had to write a million trillion essays (OK slight exaggeration there) and I still have loads to do before I go away.

I can't even get to see my family because I'm working so hard (although Dons did rescue me and drag me off to the movies last night - I enjoyed it sooo much).
I must go ................
~(:o})=

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAMBLING WOMAN :O}

2006-10-11T20:57:00.000Z

Happy Happy Day Sweetie

May yours troubles be little ones and your houses big! :o}

Remember Filofax's?

2006-10-08T19:16:00.000Z

Geena's comment on my room 101 blog is so true for me too.
It's funny how we put up with it, just stiffen up and endure.

That backfired on me once ......

I was waiting to get off a bus at the Elephant and Castle when a guy behind pushed forward. And as usual, instead of turning round and telling him to back off, I just bristled inside - thought to myself "Get out of my space" and tried to ignore it.

It was only when I got off the bus that I realised he's pickpocketed me! He'd taken my little red leather filofax (remember when we all had those?)
He had obviously thought it was a purse but I'd have rather he had got my purse because I had everything in that filofax - my whole life was in there and I desperately wanted it back.

Then I remembered that I'd written inside the front cover of it "£40 reward for return of this book" with my phone number. (In those days I was much better off financially than I am now, living and working in Devon, and to replace the book with all of it's contents would have cost that anyway).

Sure enough a phone call came from a guy.
Either the thief had thrown the book away in disgust and this guy had picked it up or, well, this could actually be the thief!
If it was I didn't care - I just wanted my lovely little red leather book back home where it belonged, so I arranged to meet up with him - in a public place natch.
I didn't want him to have my address and I didn't intend going to his home - all far too dodgy.

So I met him, back at the Elephant and Castle (I know, still very dodgy) out in a public area and, yes, he did turn up and I did get it back - I've still got it, even though I don't use it anymore - personal computers came along after that, didn't they?

Later: Why does Blogger lie sometimes? I dug out the filofax and took a photo of it to post in my blog. Blogger told me it had been uploded - twice - but it hadn't :o{

The book is really old and battered - I used it for years. It's got a big batch of year planners inside where you can unfold the whole year in front of you. Wow, there's loads of them in here...

Hah! I was sooo anal - I've got all my periods charted there - any PMT before - which days were light, which medium, any pain!!!! What was I like?? But if a doctor asked me about my periods (as they do) then I could tell her everything she could possibly want to know!

It also has when I gave up smoking - Feb '93. in between my Dad and my Mum dying. What a stressful time to choose to do it huh?

I'm going off now to read some more .......

~(:o})=

Room 101

2006-10-06T21:27:00.000Z

I am thinking of my darling friend R. this evening. Her father died last night and I can't be there with her, so I'm thinking about her a lot tonight.

She asked me, when I was in Scotland, "What is your "Room 101"?

She went on to tell me that hers is - people, when they get to the bottom of their yoghurt pot. They just won't let them alone - they scrape and scrape and then scrape some more - and R. wants to shout at them "IT'S FINISHED - MOVE ON! IF YOU WANT SOME MORE YOGHURT HAVE ANOTHER ONE!!"

Well yes, quite.

So I gave it some thought.
And I said that as I live on my own I don't have a room 101 -
I can do what I like when I like - I have the remote control to myself - I can buy stuff for myself without hiding it when I get home, etc etc. Then I remembered she was getting married the next day and my comments weren't really in keeping with the occasion ....

So, I tried harder and found one ... my room 101 is lying on the beach listening to beach sounds - children playing, dogs barking, waves waving - and then hearing a man (always a man with a brummie accent) shouting into his mobile phone just behind my head. And it's always about work ...
Anyone who knows me knows I use the beach after work to let go of any stress and chill.....

So .. what's your Room 101?

Elvis

2006-09-28T11:42:00.000Z

The Eagle has landed - or rather - Elvis has entered the building!

Yes, he's arrived - my very own 'dancing' Elivis air freshener, sent to me by the lovely Trac. THANK YOU TRAC - I love him!!! (and he's not really very smelly after all).

I don't want to leave him all on his own out in my car, so where shall I put him? Where would he feel most at home?

Hanging around my vinyl perhaps? Or close to my heart(s) behind the letter box?

What about here in the hallway, on the Ikea piece of 'artwork'? Or singing along with the radio?

Or would he prefer hanging out by the drinks cabinet?
Oh Elvis, I wish you could speak .............

~(:o})=

Show and Tell

2006-09-25T07:08:00.000Z

I had a lovely day yesterday. Went to the Boot Fair with Dons, Alfie and Elizabeth and found some good things. The Boot Fair will be finishing very soon now and then we'll have to wait until next summer - how shall we cope? :o{

Here are some of my purchases:
A blue and white striped plate to go with all my other blue and white ceramics by Swinnertons - Somersert Blue. This was 20p.

A huge crocheted blanket. Usually I think these can look a bit too faded and sad, but this one looks fresh and has a good combination of colours. I'm only showing a wee bit of it as it is huge. It'll be great for when my darling 16 yr old grand daughter stays - she feels the cold and loves to snuggle up in blankets in the winter. Cost £1.50

Two Sandy Denny LPs. (I love Sandy) One from 1971 and one from 1972. Perfect condition. They were priced at £2 each but the man let me have them for £3 for the two.

A handmade rug (two rugs in two days - whatever's going on?). Again, a lovely mix of colours and in perfect condition. £1

Show and Tell cont'd

2006-09-25T06:58:00.000Z

A red spotty bangle for 50p - it goes perfectly with my red spotty umberella - how cool is that?

A handpainted bedside water jug and drinking glass. I had been looking out for one as I realised I was using water kept in a plastic bottle at nights. £1

AND a beautiful little 50s/60s Swedish casserole dish. £1

~(:o})=

Rug

2006-09-23T18:22:00.000Z

I got a parcel through the post from eBay today. It was this original 70s rug. I am sooo pleased with it. It will go with all the stuff in my office, I'm sure you'll agree? ( click on May 2006 on the right). It's not the odd shape that it appears to be - that's just my bad camerawork. It's perfect - just needs a little shampoo, which I can't do right now as I'm doing my course work ( I'm just having a mealbreak right now Dons, honest!)

I spotted it a couple of days ago. It was priced at £4 then. I put a bid in, then right before the finish I got outbid and a "bidding war" started. My computer is usually too slow for such things but for once it behaved and 9 seconds before the end I managed to slip in the winning bid. OK - it had shot up to £27.50 but I had some money in my paypal account, which for some reason I always think of as free money. And that's still a brilliant price for a vintage rug in very good condition.

Happy me ~(:o})=

Fingers

2006-09-21T15:26:00.000Z

I saw an article in the Sunday paper saying that a typical male hand has a ring finger longer than the index finger, while on women's hands these fingers are more likely to be of equal length.

Professor John Manning, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Central Lancashire, forwarded the theory that the two fingers are an anatomical record of what went on in the womb in the critical first three months.

A long ring finger is a sign that the developing heart and brain were exposed to higher levels of testosterone, while a relatively long index finger is a marker of oestrogen exposure.

Manning said that "High testosterone before birth, as indicated by digit ratio, can produce behavioural problems in children, like temper tantrums, bullying, fights with other children, being hyperactive or being easily distracted"

Children with long index fingers, by contrast, are more likely to be neurotic and sensitive.

He said "The other very strong relationship to digit ratio is found in running speeds - there is a pretty good chance of predicting who is going to win a race."

So have a look at your man or boy's hands - I don't have either so can't check it out. Is it true?

Oh, and PTB about Richard Hammond - the younger one in Top Gear.

Sounds Like Your Childhood?

2006-09-18T11:53:00.000Z

I found this in someone else's blog and didn't make a note of who it was, so "thank you " to that person and I hope you don't mind me piching it!

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930’s 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren’t overweight because……
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo’s, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms……….WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn’t it?!

3D Poodle

2006-09-15T14:54:00.000Z

Dons pointed out to me that I had left out my darling 3D poodle, so here s/he is ..... a boy or a girl? I don't know - maybe one of you doggy people can enlighten me?

The wooden salt & pepper pots in the lower R/H corner of this pic below are the same as the ones that Tats has on display in her blog today!!

Lots of brightly coloured old enamelware everwhere .....................

These trays were bought very recently from Lawrence Lwellyn-Bowen's wife's shop in Port Isaac - I love them. Not vintage but I can live with that.

A look in my kitchen

2006-09-14T20:44:00.000Z

I've uploaded a bunch of photos of my kitchen to share with you (Geena, please avert your eyes now - I don't want you to get depressed again!)

Trac, I was so sad that you weren't looking at blogs - I knew that you would "get it" and you weren't around but now you're back I can happily put these photos up :o}

My kitchen is tiny and it's stuffed full of tat but I love it..............

The kitchen

2006-09-14T19:57:00.000Z

Left, top of the fridge
Picture - a "painting by numbers" Parisian scene

kitchen again

2006-09-14T19:50:00.000Z

Left: two fab Alfred Meakin bowls - look at the designs on them :o}

50s plant holder

and again

2006-09-14T19:33:00.000Z

more kitchen

2006-09-14T16:52:00.000Z

Lots of dishes that I love

and more

2006-09-12T20:40:00.000Z

Stuff, stuff, stuff

Dons made these - look at the lovely original 50s fabric
And a peg bag that Dons made

last one

2006-09-12T17:23:00.000Z

There's loads more stuff I could upload but I guess I should finish here

Which Planet am I from?

2006-09-08T21:23:00.000Z

You Are From Saturn

You're steady, organizes, and determined to achieve your dreams.
You tend to play it conservative, going by the rules (at least the practical ones).
You'll likely reach the top. And when you do, you'll be honorable and responsible.
Focus on happiness. Don't let your goals distract you from fun!
Don't be too set in your ways, and you'll be more of a success than you ever dreamed of.

What Planet Are You From?

Thanx again Geena :o}

Funnily enough, my ruling planet is Saturn

~(:o})=

What Sort of Car Should I Drive?

2006-09-07T20:19:00.000Z

You Should Drive a Saturn Sky

You're sleek and smooth, and you need a car to match your hot persona.
Besides, sometimes you want your top up - and sometimes you want it down.

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

Thanx Geena ;o}

On the way home

2006-09-07T19:53:00.000Z

Whilst waiting for the bus home I looked at the pretty buildings opposite and watched a boat being lifted on to a lorry.

The holiday in Port Isaac was great BTW. Photos of that to follow, when I get myself organised.

Nice Evening

2006-09-07T19:39:00.000Z

I've had a lovely evening. After work I popped on the local bus (one every 15 mins) went to my nearest beach and had a picnic.

I'm saying goodbye to summer - letting go - I need to squeeze every drop out of the last of the summer rays, until the next time.

Which for me, because I am very lucky, will be in Australia in November! Hurrah!

Off to Cornwall

2006-08-25T07:42:00.000Z

Just a quick entry to say I'll be away for a week with Dons and her lovely family.
I've got my bucket and spade at the ready - can't wait to hit those beaches!

I'll miss you guys :o{

Yesterday I went for a smear test and when it was done the nurse said "Have you had any children?" - I said yes, two girls. She said "Well that's surprising - I'd have said you'd not had children because you have a very pert cervix".

Well, I almost skipped out of the surgery - beaming at everyone on the way home. But who to tell? It's not the sort of information you can share with just anybody, is it? So, I'm sharing it with you ............

See ya

~(:o})=

The Wedding - The outfit

2006-08-16T18:42:00.000Z

So, the wedding weekend in Edinburgh was sooo fab! The pics show "the outfit" from all angles - oh yes, and there was a beautiful bride and handsome groom too but this is my blog ............. hee hee

Sitting on the plane setting off from Exeter, I had a wee shock when a girlie little voice came over the system saying "Hi, my name's Amy and I'm your pilot for this flight" - she only sounded about sixteen but she did a great job.

My darling BF met me with a bunch of her friends and we sat up until 3.30am drinking and bonding. I sprung awake at 6.30 am and was too excited about my best woman duties to go back to sleep.

BF and I had to go to the hairdressers, then on to Harvey Nicks for a subtle addition of eyelashes and a make up session for BF. I sneaked off to the Benefit counter and quickly got a make over before BF had time to miss me.

Keeping her grounded was impossible - she was soooo nervous and bratty.

The wedding was everything it should have been, moving, funny, tearful.

The reception the same. It was a great atmosphere - everyone seemed to get on well. I met some lovely people. One couple are going to send me an invite to one of their parties - which are, apparently, truly historic occasions.

Lots of dancing until 1am, then close friends of the couple went back to theirs for a "rave" which I slid off from at 4.30am. Slept in the bride and grooms house as did many others - so much for their "first night".

Up again at 7.30am - two lovely friends of BF took me to the airport. Arrived home on Sunday having had a total of six hours sleep over the whole weekend. Yes! - a truly great one :o}

~(:o})=

PS I forgot to mention that her Dad managed to "give her away" and held out OK during the reception too - especially once he'd got a few drinks down him :o}

The Wedding Outfit

2006-08-02T18:54:00.000Z

Oh, thank Bob - I've got my wedding outfit sorted.

I tried on hundreds of dresses and ended up with a shift shape - mushroom satin covered in black lace with a beige lacey coat to go over it. A very classic look funked up with some black Monsoon wedge sandals, a black frou frou "hat", a gorgeous little black bag that Dons has lent me (which may well get a corsage pinned to it) and some unusual bracelets.

All I need to sort now are some pants of steel to go under the frock, choose the nail varnish (had a pedicure last Friday, thanks to Roxy) and think about the makeup.
Hair kept simple I think - went to Tony and Guy's last week so it's looking OK.

I am sooo excited! I've never been a "best woman" before. I really don't want to let her down. I've talked her all through the day and we've ironed out some wrinkles.

The only cloud on the horizon is the fact that her Dad is dying and he's determined to walk her down the aisle. He should have traveled up to Scotland on Tuesday but ended up in hospital instead. It's touch and go whether he'll get there and if he'll manage to "give her away".

So she's being torn in two - part of her is deliriously happy that she's marrying the man she loves to pieces and the other part is worrying about her dad dying. A strange space for her to be in.

Gotta go - starting work .............

~(:o})=

How Quirky?

2006-07-31T07:07:00.000Z

Your Quirk Factor: 57%

You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it.
Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!

How Quirky Are You?

This rings really true for me. I only let people I know and trust see the "real" me - who is indeed pretty quirky ~(:o})=

Thanks for the link Geena.

2006-07-09T22:31:00.000Z

So .... Italy won.
I know most of my blogger friends wanted France to win but please be glad for me ...... 'cos I won the sweepstake! ~(:o})=

Back AGAIN

2006-07-09T20:58:00.000Z

Well, here I am back again. I'm sorry for the huge gap since the last entry.

Straight after getting back online my poor computer caught a virus. Then I caught a virus. I blame it on Elizabeth. Whilst helping on her weaning weekend I was up and down with her all night - got tired and she had a cold, which I caught.

I was in bed with that for a couple of days and then I got a chest infection and then I got shingles! (Don't ever get shingles).

So now I'm just coming out of that horrid period of sickness. I've been able to keep working and doing the basic stuff but I've had no energy to blog - only to read other people's blogs now and again. I've hardly even been up to commenting :o{

Went to a boot fair with Dons today and found this gorgeous enameled Norwegian coffee pot. It's in perfect condition and very collectible.

I'm Back ~(:o})=

2006-05-29T12:24:00.000Z

Hurrah, I'm back!
Poorly computer fixed at last
but I have no time to blog -
course work again.
Speak soon xxxx

2006-05-20T07:13:00.000Z

Hi, Just to let you all know that GOW is currently offline. Her computer is broken and has been taken away to be fixed so there will be no posts or comments for a while. She is very sad about this and has asked me to send you all her love, she misses you and she will be back soon. Dons xxx

Lovely Day

2006-05-14T21:51:00.000Z

Had a lovely day today, starting with the Sunday paper in bed, slow bath, full English breakfast and meeting up with Dons, Alfie and Lizzy :o}

Spent a sunny afternoon at the boot fair. I mostly got linen - 2 prs linen trousers and a HOBBS linen skirt (which Dons bought for me).

I also bought a homemaker plate - see photo and Dons bought me a lovely present - this poodle - isn't he fab?

Remembering a comment someone made about how they enjoy peeping into other blogger's homes, I have decided to do a tour chez moi (is that the right use of the French phrase there?)

I am going to start with the office that I am sitting in, where I do my blogging and where I sit during my working day when I am not out on visits.

So the blogs below will cover my (tiny) office. Hope you enjoy the tour ..........

Planters

2006-05-14T21:39:00.000Z

The first one is an enamelled baby's potty :o} The second a 50s find at a boot fair. The black ceramic one is tuquoise inside - found this one at an antique market in Barnstaple. The stallholder offered it to me for a cut price of £4!

Calender, family photos and rocking chair

2006-05-14T21:31:00.000Z

Furniture and lighting

2006-05-14T21:24:00.000Z

The storage cupboard was bought from a boot fair for me by Dons. It has an enamelled top and would have probably been used in a kitchen originally. Further down you can see inside the cupboard door - I have lined the inside with some blue spotty wallpaper that Dons gave me. She also made the white with black spotty cushion from vintage fabric. It's on the chrome chair (boot fair find). The orange light shade is used for the ceiling light - an original 60s (boot fair). The green enamelled planter on top of the storage cupboard was from a junk shop - bought for me in the 60s.

More officy things .....

2006-05-14T21:14:00.000Z

The blue thing is a 50s letter rack ( boot fair). The busby coaster was found in a box of junk. I use it on my desk which is the round 60's table that Dons spotted for me. It has one chrome tube supporting it with four chrome legs splaying out.

I love the fabric used for the cushion on the chair in front of my desk. I have two cushions and a set of curtains in that fabric. I have some over, so need to think what I can do with it.

The trolley supporting my printer is an original 60s tea trolley in orange plastic (boot fair). I put the red letter trays in there to hold the printing paper etc.

And lastly there is my lovely waste paper basket - a 50s find from a brilliant charity shop near Bromley.

Last few bits ....

2006-05-11T22:31:00.000Z

Dons had the lovely spotty noticeboard made for me in the same vintage fabric that she used to make the spotty cushions.

Click with Mick

2006-05-10T21:28:00.000Z

OK, now I'm definitely in the groove. I'm uploading pics and I'm away.
So, this is one of the Rave magazines that I found on Sunday. There are ten of them for me to read through and I'm keeping a watch for Jeff Beck - you never know, he might well have appeared around that time.
I had a call from my friend this evening. Her boyfriend proposed to her on Saturday and they are going to get married in August. She asked me on Sunday to be her "best woman". On Sunday the wedding was going to be held in Chatham, Kent. The venue has now been moved to Edinburgh.
I am so excited. She is one of my best friends and she's a lovely person. She's had a really tough life but now she has reached forty everything seems to be working out for her.
This is not going to be a traditional, formal wedding - it's going to be a bit wild and fun. But does anyone know - what is a "best woman"s role?

Hello Hello

2006-05-10T19:54:00.000Z

Well, hello there! Look what I've done - I've finally managed to upload a picture. Hurrah!

It's the photo of the Babycham glasses that I took after the bootfair a week and a half ago. I have put my Babycham bambi with them to make them feel at home.

Well now I'm back in the groove I'll try to find a photo of one of the Raves that I found this Sunday ......

Rave On

2006-05-07T16:43:00.000Z

Hi

Well, I've been trying to upload some pics again but blogger says "no" :o{

I wanted to show you the Rave magazines I bought at the Boot Fair today. There are ten of them dated from Sept. '64 (Issue 8) through to July '65, with only the March '65 issue missing from the run. I'm so looking forward to reading them - just a quick flick though shows me that there are some real gems in there - a little piece on Manfred Mann's beard for example.

I hope everyone has had a good day in the sun today.

I'm just going to post a little list of suggestions that maybe those of you with sons (or daughters) who set up home with a woman could learn from. As I no longer experience PMT I can look at it all lightheartedly now :o}

This is a handy guide that should be as common as a driver's licence
in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, or significant other!!

DANGEROUS: What's for dinner?
SAFER: Can I help you with dinner?
SAFEST: Where would you like to go for dinner?
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Are you wearing that?
SAFER: Gee, you look good in brown.
SAFEST: WOW! Look at you!
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: What are you so worked up about?
SAFER: What did I do wrong?
SAFEST: Here's fifty pounds
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Should you be eating that?
SAFER: You know, there are a lot of apples left.
SAFEST: Can I get you a glass of wine with that?
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: What did you do all day?
SAFER: I hope you didn't overdo it today.
SAFEST: I've always loved you in that robe!
ULTRASAFE: Here, have some more chocolate

Hee Hee!

Hurrah for Trac!

2006-05-02T20:38:00.000Z

Hurrah for Trac! I've been sooo unhappy these past few days because I couldn't get my blogsite to work properly and now Trac has fixed it for me :o}

The two pics that have been posted under Trac's flower were test photos that I'd made that I didn't realise had got posted after all. I got them from the bootfair on Sunday - yes, Betty, the blue bowl was the one that I bought for Donna - isn't it lovely?

Uh-oh, I just tried to upload some more photos then but it wouldn't let me. Never mind, I'm sure it will one day :o{

The other photo is showing the selection of 60s & 70s vinyl I bought on Sunday to add to my collection. Yes, that's the original Meddle there, in perfect condition - 50p!! Also a couple of Emerson, Lake and Palmers, John Lennon's Double Fantasy (OK, not 60s or 70s), a Rolling Stones release that I didn't know about before called "Made in the Shade" and a lovely find, a compilation called "A Stereo Introduction to the Exciting World of Transatlantic" - featuring Pentangle, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, The Humblebums (Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly), Steve Tilston, Stray and others.

I also bought two Babycham glasses. Happy me :o}

Another lovely thing I did at the weekend was book a trip to Australia. This is being paid for by my sister (who lives in Australia) and my two lovely daughters. I am wildly excited - don't know what state I'll be in by November, which is when I'm going. My sister and her husband went out to Australia in the 60s on the £10 assisted boat passage deal. They brought their family up there but I've never been to visit. Thankfully they have been over here but I'm going to love seeing their life and the home that they made.

Thanks to all who have been so lovely about my studies. Yes, I was very pleased with the merit but it only covers the work that I have done so far and I have loads more to do before I finish the course in November, just before I go on my trip. I am going to try very hard not to whinge about it any more - it's just that I have not studied for many years so it has been quite a shock to my poor wee brain.

My star partner is apparently Johnny Depp too Tats but he doesn't really do anything for me, so I'll not be finding it necessary to squabble with you over him.

Night night xxxx

Just dropping by with a flower...

2006-05-02T12:24:00.000Z

love Trac x

belated May Day

2006-05-02T11:20:00.000Z

poo tit bum!

2006-04-25T22:07:00.000Z

Oh poo, tit, bum! It's really late, I've just finished my last essay, I've got to go to school tomorrow and I haven't got time to blog or even comment on people's blogs :o{
I'll be back!!

What hit song of 2005 are you?

2006-04-22T19:14:00.003Z

Your 2005 Song Is

Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz

"Love forever love is free.
Let's turn forever you and me."

In 2005, you were loving life and feeling no pain.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Where was I?

2006-04-22T10:02:00.000Z

I visited a town this week to do research for my course. Can anyone tell which town it was from these (very poor) photos, which were taked from a moving car?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JASMINE :o}

2006-04-15T22:35:00.000Z

HI JASMINE.
HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE :o}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONS!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-04-15T07:43:00.000Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING DONS :O] I hope you have a fabulous day today with no hangover. As it is your special day, you are allowed to be bratty all day, for one day only...... hee hee!

introspective me

2006-04-13T11:54:00.000Z

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything.
You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life.
You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you.

Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace.
You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life.
Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times.

At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you.
You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others.
You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperment Are You?

Is this me? Well, I suppose it is true sometimes - depends what space I'm in. I do love my own company. But I don't find it hard to connect with others ..... mostly ....... makes me sound like a moody old thing, which I'm not. I think I'm easy to get on with. Hmmmm .... food for thought :o}

dons' birthday

2006-04-11T07:00:00.000Z

SSSSSSHHHHHHH!
This is a secret .........
it's Dons' birthday
on Saturday ..............
don't tell her I told you!!

show and tell

2006-04-09T20:54:00.000Z

Hi Sweeties

My day today went like this - I met up with Donna, Jasmine, Alfie and Elizabeth but could only spend a brief time with them before I had to go home to do some of my college work. I have loads of writing to get done and the deadline is getting closer and closer.

Then I got so engrossed in my writing that I forgot to watch Antiques Road Show and forgot to prepare my Sunday dinner. When I realised, it was too late to get it done - I'd have had to have eaten at about 10pm - well now, in fact. So I ended up having fish and chips :o{

So, to cheer myself up, I packed my books away and grabbed my camera. I took lots of photos of my charity shop and boot sale treasures. I'm going to show and tell four of them. They are four of my table lamps - I have many more. The pic showing a bright orange base was a boot fair find but I bought the shade from Habitat. I must say that a huge proportion of my favourite finds were pointed out to me by Dons. She can spot a treasure from a mile away!

Maybe I'll put some more kitsch things up for you another time?

Shadow Picture

2006-04-04T12:02:00.000Z

This is my favourite shadow picture. It's of my daughter "Roxy Simmons" and her husband, up in the mountains, on the day that he proposed to her. Sweet huh?

Tomorrow I am taking a day off work to go girlie shopping with Dons. I am so excited - it feels like I'm going to be playing hookey from school - having a day off in the middle of the week like this :o}

We're going to go to Exeter. I hope the weather stays as lovely as it's been for the past few days. Having said that Dons and I always seem to get good weather when we go to Exeter. Hennes here we come - hurrah!
~(:o})=

HAPPY LAUNCH DAY TATS

2006-04-02T20:51:00.000Z

HAPPY LAUNCH DAY TATS!
Thinking of you today and
wishing you everything good.
Have fun with it Sweetie :o}

Here's a pic of my black cat - for luck.

meme

2006-04-01T22:26:00.000Z

Guess I'd better get this meme done ........

How did you get the idea for your profile name? - From the fab TV prog "Grumpy Old Women" - I love those women - they are funny and come out with stuff that is so true but I didn't think to say it :o}

What song are you playing now or wish you were playing? - I'm playing a CD by Anthony and the Johnsons (given to me by Dons.)

Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry? - I have cried the most over the death of John Peel - tonight on the Book Awards on TV it was said that at least, by dying, John didn't ever have to listen to James Blunt. John's wife Sheila was there. She laughed - I cried. Silly me. I also cried when Jim Morrison died. Very shocked when Geoff Buckley died. And Paula of course.

What colour underwear are you wearing? - Black - it's still winter for goodness sake!

Do you want a baby? - Like ... duh??

What does your Dad do for a living - He was a barber but always wanted to be a writer - so that's what he did in his spare time.

What does your Mum do for a living? - Most of her life she looked after her husband and five children - when the kids were grown she worked for BT.

What is your pet's name? - I had to find my darling Minnie another family to live with when I moved because she hated it here.

What colour are your bedsheets? - Crumpled, but always very white, cotton.

What are the last three digits of your phone number? - Don't see the point of this question - am I missing something?

What was the last concert you went to? - Brian Wilson - Festival Hall

Who was with you? - My brother - he had paid for the tickets.

What was the last film you watched? - Memoirs of a Geisha

Who do you dislike most at this moment? - People who are unkind to others

What food do you crave right now? - Nothing right now thanks

Did you dream last night? - Probably - I don't usually remember my dreams

What was the last TV show you watched? - Um, oh, there was crap on tonight - what did I see? Oh, how embarassing ..... "Strictly Dance Fever" - the auditions. *blushes with shame*

What is your fav piece of jewellery? - I have many favs. Things slip in and out of favour - I got lots of lovely pieces for christmas and my birthday - I'm enjoying wearing these at the moment

What is to the left of you? - My red radiator

What was the last thing you ate? - Saag Paneer and lots of vegetables followed by a pomegranite with grapes - yum!

Who is your best friend of the opposite sex? - I guess I'd have to say right now it's Ian

Who last MSN'd you? - N/A

Where is your significant other right now? - N/A

Do you have a crush? - Not right now - I promise to let everyone know if I do!

What is his/her name? - N/A

When was the last time you had your hair cut? - January at Tony and Guys - a surprise present from Dons :o}

Are you on any meds? - I'm very lucky to be able to say "no" right now

Do you have a mental disease? - I don't think so but then I suppose I'd be the last one to know

What shirt are you wearing? - black - it is still winter!

Are you sexy? - don't know what anyone else thinks but I am to myself (does that make sense?)

What's your favourite store? - Well, I used to love buying clothes from Boules - their stuff suited my body shape - but then they went out of business - still sad about that, even tho' it was ages ago. So, now? Ummm - Hennes, Monsoon tho' I must admit that I have a fair few pieces of clothing from Primark!

Are you thirsty? - No, I've got a drink thanks :o}

Can you imagine yourself ever getting married? - No, not again. It was kind of fun at the time but I'm in a different space now.

Who's someone you haven't seen for a while and miss? - Roxy of course xxxx

Where do you work? - From my home. I live and work in a sheltered housing scheme. I love it :o}

Happy Birthday Darling Roxy

2006-04-01T21:51:00.000Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday up in the mountains, Roxy. I wish I was there with you to help you celebrate your special day but I will be thinking of you and sending you loads and loads of love.

Hugs and kisses from your Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

me again

2006-03-27T19:45:00.000Z

Had a fabulous Mother's Day yesterday - I was very spoilt with fab prezzies - then we girlies all ran off to the restaurant where Jazz works and had coffee, toast and cakes whilst sprawling on squishy sofas looking out at the beautiful bay.

Then we had to go back to the real world to meet up with Elizabeth's birthday guests and spent the rest of the day celebrating her birthday, which was great fun. Elizabeth really enjoyed it too, which was indeed a bonus. The pic shows her clapping her hands - an activity which she indulged in a lot throughout the day :o}

Tomorrow the lovely young woman who highjacked her Mum's blog to post a Mother's Day entry is coming to visit me. I feel so honoured that an almost sixteen year old young woman chooses to spend time in my company. The time we spend together is very precious to me. We don't do anything special - mooch around the shops, choose something for our evening meal, buy magazines, eat, chat, watch some TV. We can even sit together in silence, which is an indication of how comfortable we are with each other.

Lucky me....... (pressing my lips together ...... )

~(:o})=

Happy Birthday Darling Lizzie

2006-03-26T08:02:00.000Z

Dear little Lizzie,
I have found this birthday card in with my mother's keepsakes from when I had my first birthday so I'd like to share it with you xxxx

(It's interesting how the black doll can have the power to shock these days but way back then all children had a "gollywog". They were very loved. You need to look at the card in the context of the times in which it was produced.)

Anyway, moving on, for all you Mums out there - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - I'm looking forward to mine and Donna's, which will be squished into the early part of the day so that we can celebrate Elizabeth's birthday in the proper manner!

Later ......

Palm Trees in Woolwich

2006-03-22T18:04:00.000Z

The mention of palm trees in Woolwich has made me take another look at where I live/work. There are palm trees here aplenty.

This is a little oasis of calm in the middle of the town - tucked away so that no one knows it's here. I love it: :o}

Green Wing

2006-03-19T12:19:00.000Z

Hi

I'm sure you all know by now but just in case - The Green Wing series 2 starts on Channel 4 at 9pm on Friday March 31st. Hurrah!

Later: Well, I have just had a brilliant afternoon, visiting Dons and catching up with her step-father who is over from San Francisco. (He also happens to be my ex-husband.) He is such a lovely man. I hadn't seen him for ages. It was great to spend some time in his company - so thank you Dons for making that possible :o} ......... Oh and for the cream tea .............

Mid Season

2006-03-17T19:37:00.000Z

Hi

Went to the shops today and saw a sign saying "Mid Season Sale" - mid precisely what season are we talking about here?

Had a lovely afternoon on Wednesday. I took time off work to play with Lizzy while Dons was having her meeting with Mr Fabric Man. It was a magical time - I hardly ever have a 1-1 session with Lizzy 'cos there is generally at least one other sibling present who thinks they have exclusive rights to me :o} I tell you, girls, the Granny stage is the big payoff for the horrid, worrying times you can go through when you're being a parent. The whole relationship is so simple - you just love them and they love you back.

I am not responsible for working out the best way to bring them up. All I have to do is follow the parents basic rules and then enjoy. It is such a privilege to have the love and trust of a child - something money cannot buy.

Oh, I saw a couple of the real grumpy old women on Richard and Judy tonight - they're fab! So, Trac, is Linda Robson the woman that my photo reminds you of? (Bad grammar, I know).

Later: Loved everyone's choice of band/artist. Here's mine:

Name of Artist: Nick Cave
Are you male or female? – “West Country Girl”
Describe yourself: “Nobody’s Baby Now”
How do you feel about yourself? “Oh my lord!”
Describle your ex-boyfriend: “Black Hair”
Describe your favourite ex-boyfriend: “Loverman”
Describe where you want to be: “Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow”
Describe how you live: “Ordinary”
Describe how you love: “I Let Love In”
What would you ask for if you had one wish? “New Morning”
Share a few words of wisdom: “Ain’t Gonna Rain Anymore"
Now say goodbye: "Where Do We Go Now but
Nowhere?"

ICE

2006-03-14T21:18:00.000Z

Hi

Today I have a tip for those living in the UK.

All the emergency services have made a plan. They will look on your mobile if you are unconscious or ill (in an accident or whatever). They will look in your mobile's address book to see if you have made an entry named "ICE" - which stands for "In Case of Emergency".

Under the ICE heading you put the phone number of someone that you would want them to contact in those circumstances. You can have more than one number - you can name them ICE1, ICE2 ........ you get the picture?

Parents could make sure that their teenagers put the details in too.

This tip was passed on to me by a friend but I have made thorough enquiries to make sure that this is a true fact before passing it on.

I Love Sundays

2006-03-12T11:40:00.000Z

Hmmm .... well I won't go on and on about how much I love Sundays 'cos it'll make me sound like a self-centered lazy slob and that would be giving the game away - he he.

My life has been very full on recently. I run a sheltered housing scheme ( a job I really really love) and this month all the staff who still have to use up their annual leave (or lose it) have been off - then it only took a couple of people going off sick and everything went pear shaped. I've been covering two other sheltered sites besides my own - running backwards and forwards like a demented ..... um .. well .. person, I guess. I don't understand how people have difficulty using up their holiday entitlement - mine's always well gone by this time of the year. Roll on April 1st when I get some more.

I got gently told off by several dishy firemen yesterday - it was worth doing wrong to get their attention - ha ha! I was called to another site because all the fire alarms were going off - when I got there no one was reacting at all. I called the fire service and then called a fellow worker to ask where things were located. He directed me to the fire panel and told me which buttons to press to stop the dreadful noise and to reset the alarms. Of course this then prevented the firemen from seeing which alarm had been first affected - ooops!

Luckily there was no fire - I have now learned my lesson if ever the alarms go off again :o{

Dons has been working on my blog site - she is going to post a picture shortly. I have no idea what pic. we are talking about - I hope it isn't one that's too clearly in focus.

Later: Well, apparently I now have a new format, my photo, a weather pixie and all kinds of things but they are not showing on my computer yet, so I can't comment on them. THANK YOU Dons for doing this for me xxxx

2006-02-26T12:47:00.000Z

Hi

Spent some time with Tats & Co. yesterday - so lovely to see them.

Guy asked me if there was a man in my life and I found myself trying to justify to him why I'm happy as a singleton. Some people, especially men, seem to think it's a bit sad that I'm "on my own". They can't seem to be able to imagine a woman being happy without a man.

It set me thinking about all the reasons why I'm happy as I am.

I'm not a man hater - in fact some of my best friends are men - hahaha - and I'm not disrespecting the time that I spent as a married woman - I gained a lot from the experience - the most precious things of course being my two fabulous daughters - but I am really enjoying living on my own, which I have never done before.

So, here are some of the benefits of this happy, single life. (I think the list makes me sound selfish but, having spent many years being a wife and parent and generally putting the rest of the family first, then a little selfishness now is sooooo enjoyable .... hee hee).

Some of the reasons why I'm happy to be single:

Going where I want, when I want
Never having to explain what I'm up to
Having my own money and being able to spend it on what I want
Never having to explain (or hide!) a purchase

The bathroom is mine, all mine - the girlie decor and stuff around it is just how I want it
No one bangs on the door when I'm in the bath or using the loo - in fact I don't have to shut the door
No men's dribbles on the floor or toilet seat
No horrid skid marks left on the inside of the bowl
No scummy rings left around the bath

When I plump the cushions they stay that way
When I tidy up it stays tidy
The remote control is all mine - I can channel hop to my hearts content
Never having to watch a game of football ever again - or even hear the sound of a match on TV
I never have to justify the trash TV that I watch

I can cook what I like - eat what I like - when I like
I can buy what I like in the supermarket

I live with someone who respects my opinions and laughs at my jokes ........ me!

I've realised that the list could go on and on.

So, having been through the motherhood and married stage, which I'm soo glad to have had the priviledge to experience, I do really feel now like I'm on holiday all the time - it's great :o}

Happy Again ~(:o})=

2006-02-19T19:19:00.000Z

Hurrah. As soon as Dons promised to come over to have a fiddle with my computer it fixed itself - she's obviously a force to be reckoned with.

Had a fab start to my morning - padded down the stairs, made a coffee, collected the Sunday paper from the front door and went back to bed. Bliss!

One of the perks of having brought up children is that once it's done every day feels like you're on holiday :o}

I've just finished the John Peel book, so now I've started a book that Dons lent me - Steve Strange's autobiography "Blitzed". It covers the Punk and (mostly) New Romantic era - bringing back lots of memories - amazing times.

On TV I've just started watching Shameless - yes I know it's been going for ages now but I sometimes need to go to bed at 10pm, so try to keep the number of progs. I watch later than that to manageable number - but I accidentally let myself watch one a couple of weeks back and now I'm hooked.

Today, in my Sunday paper there was a free DVD of Johnny Darko. Is this film any good?

Oh and an update on the Paul McKenna book/CD ......... so far, so miraculous.

See ya ....... Oh, hahaha, the spell check suggested that I replace "fab" with "FBI" - nooo, I don't think so!

I'm Sad :o{

2006-02-18T08:23:00.000Z

Hi,

I'm sad because my blog site is not working for me properly :o{

Although I'm able to post I can't see what I've done or access any comments that may kindly have been left, so until I can get this problem fixed there's no point in me making any more entries here.

I'm hoping that Dons can look at it for me, when she has the time in between children, man, house, business and being creative ........ she is one busy ( and lovely) lady!

So that'll be a "goodbye" for now ...... I hope to be back soon ... ~(:o})=

2006-02-12T22:24:00.000Z

Hi Sweetie

Well, this is now my second attempt at posting a blog - don't know what happened to the first one - maybe it's up there and I just can't view it? Who knows - bovvered?

Right, so for my second attempt I'm going to post a meme lifted from Ms Mac .......

1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open the book to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences (#5,6,7) on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don't dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your bookshelf! I know you were thinking about it. Just grab what is closest. No cheating

So, my book is John Peel's "Margrave of the Marshes" - written by him until he went and DIED on us ( I'll never be able to forgive him for that ) ..... and then completed by his wife. I'm reading it as slowly as I can bacause I don't want ot finish it. All part of the grieving process folks. I've only got about another fifth of it to read now :o{

Page 123, fifth, sixth and seven sentence reads:

"Which I did. From then on, I kept my mouth shut. At least, until the massed Jocks in the billet invited me to join them on Christmas Rear Party. This, let me explain, isn't nearly as much fun as it may sound to some of you."

Dear old John Peel - I loved him so much ........

Night Night

There we go ......

2006-02-11T22:11:00.000Z

OMG. Dons has "persuaded" me to read the Paul McKenna book and I've commited myself to doing so tomorrow. So ......... there we go ............. watch this space ...........